Author's Note: So here we are, probably the chapter I am most worried about due to the focus being on a full OC and another character that I have been really worried about introducing. So read this chapter and then see my explanation at the end of the chapter. It'll make more sense then.
The buzzing of a cell phone woke Shima Okazaki from his 'peaceful' spacing out. Sitting in the gazebo at the floodplains, Shima often found himself here because it was good place to avoid people. However, now his cell phone was going off which meant one of two things. Either someone was texting him, which could only be one person off the top off his head who had his number, or it was an alarm to remind him of one of the various things he needed to do that day. Lazily pulling his phone from his pocket he confirmed it was a text.
They were there again. Meet at foodcourt. - S
With a lazy sigh, Shima put the phone back in his pocket. Why did he even bother telling her about it? It was weird seeing those three underclassmen twice on Sunday. Especially cause once was in an aisle selling mirrors and two of them were just sitting on the floor. Like who the hell does that? Shima was already annoyed by his previous interaction with them, so he figured he could just pull his usual move and scare them off. However, in a move he had not expected, Nanako Dojima stood up to him. Class president, first year student Nanako. He had heard a little about her past. She and her cop father had ended up in the hospital about 8 years ago. It was before his time in Inaba so he really couldn't care less. However, her outburst made him feel something he had felt only once before since he got to Inaba. Surprised. The other person, was currently waiting at the food court.
So he told her about his experience the previous day. No real idea as to why he did, but that was something he just felt like needed to be done. After all, what else was he going to do if not talk to her?
Tap. Clack. Slap. Tap. Clack. Slap. The rhythm wormed its way into his head listening to his uneven gait. His constant companion along side his prosthetic leg and his cane. He traveled a slow pace understandably and ultimately get his distance for the road. Behind him he heard a couple of students whispering about him.
"Is that him?" "Yeah." "He doesn't seem so bad." "You clearly haven't seen him angry." "Well maybe he just needs someone to get to know him?" "After you." "Well not me, obviously."
"Are you two done?" Shima asked without turning around. The small 'eep' was all the more gratifying when he heard it not from one of them but both of them. He did not stop to face them.
After the long trek to Junes, Shima made a stop at the vendor to get a drink before he found her. Shuffling towards her table he plopped down into his chair and hung his cane off of the edge of the table. "So what's up?" Shima asked roughly.
His conversation partner flinched at his tone and he mentally reprimanded himself. He knew she did not like it. Might as well not completely alienate the only person who will talk to him. The quiet raven haired girl finally responded.
"Those three you told me about from yesterday were back, and they were leaving from the main store," she told him.
Shima simply shrugged, "Wonder why they spend so much time in there? Oh well."
"There is more. I think you may find this particularly interesting," the quiet girl continued. Shima simply raised an eyebrow. "They looked like they just got done with a fight. Like worn out tired and the one I assume is not Nanako-chan was bruised."
"Bruised?" Shima asked his voice immediately dropping from inquisitive to somewhat angry. "Anysign of who did it?"
"No, but it if makes you feel any better, I don't think it was either of her friends," the raven hair girl responded. "Can I ask why you care?"
"What?" Shima asked surprised.
The girl twirled a lock of hair that had escaped being pulled back in her normal ponytail. She paused a moment and then finally blurted out, "You don't talk to many people. In fact I have only seen you talk to me. So when you brought up Nanako-chan by name, just seemed… interesting."
Shima scoffed. "Your interests are odd, Shiho," Shima commented idly. Shiho Suzui just gave him a simple smile. Shiho was not without her own history. While most around Inaba did not know much, Shima's time with her had helped him put some pieces together. Similar to himself, she had been seriously injured. It caused her to miss a year of school. Ending up in Inaba she was a year older than all of her other classmates. Shima had at least gotten injured at the end of a school year so he was still moved on. She had been stuck. Shiho also flinched at harsh words or aggressive body language. While he didn't know the cause of it, whatever it was made him mad thinking about it. But what could he do now? Disabled and probably years too late.
"You are an enigma Shima," Shiho said as she collected her stuff. "T-take care of yourself. Alright?"
"I'll be alright," Shima replied passively. Shiho left the food court. Her path was already planned. Buy dinner, go home, do her stretches, and ultimately go to bed. Her days usually were not composed of anything more. So a reason to talk to Shima was a welcome diversion from her regular routine. Shiho really could not wrap her head around her fellow third year. Deep inside he seemed to have a burning passion for...something. Which is where the mystery of him and his character comes from. He's rough around the edges, definitely a delinquent. But he was smart. He clearly had been a good student once, but something changed for him and he stopped caring. Shiho thinks that his leg injury was recent. However, the injury itself could not be all that there was to it, could it?
Shiho found herself in the produce section of Junes. While she was there she noticed an uniformed officer. Her brown bob cut bounced to and fro as she seemed lost in finding something.
"Excuse me, officer. Did you need help finding something?" Shiho offered. They looked at her and smiled.
"Oops, forgot to remove my badge. I am off duty. You can just call me Satonaka. If you could help me, do you know where the garlic is? I can never remember what they look like whole," Officer Satonaka asked.
"Umm," Shiho started looking around and finding what the item in question. "Right here, Satonaka-san." Shiho noticed some of the items the officer had in her basket. The logical conclusion was some kind of ramen dish. "Ramen?"
"Thank you," Officer Satonaka replied. "Yeah, it is one of the only things I know how to make without destroying my kitchen. Or my taste buds." The officer looked somewhat glum about this information. "So you are a Yasogami High student? Based on your looks, I'd say third year?"
"That is correct, Satonaka-san. My name is Shiho Suzui," Shiho introduced herself.
"Well enjoy that school while you have it Suzui-chan. I will see you around, I am sure. Thanks again," Officer Satonaka replied gratefully. Shiho simply nodded with a small smile. The officer left the produce section and Shiho seemed to slightly deflate now that she was alone. Back to her normal scheduled day. Shiho grabbed some vegetables for a stir-fry type dish and proceeded to leave Junes herself. Checking her phone compulsively, Shiho was disappointed that there was no texts from Ann. It had been over a month since the last one. Otherwise, no one talked to her outside of teachers. Her classmates didn't have time to make a new friend. It was their last year before they would go off to university. Days were quiet.
"Ann… where are you?" Shiho asked her phone like it would be able to tell her. She pocketed the device at her door. Going into her house was always a chore.
"Are you alright?" "How was your day?" "You went to Junes?" "How was that?" "Your not feeling any chest pains are you?" "Still a full range of motion?" "Can I take your bag from you?" "Do you need help preparing that?" "Do you need anything from the top shelf?"
Everyday her parents were like this. It was nice that they cared but… it was overbearing too. She understands where they are coming from. Their daughter tried to kill herself. That just wasn't something you got over. However, Shiho was feeling suffocated.
Shiho after about 200 questions finally finished making her meal and took it to her room to get away from the questions. It took a lot of convincing to get a room upstairs. She wanted the little balcony on her house to herself. To face her fear everyday, it was the only way she could think to continue making progress. Looking down over the road she recognized a group of three boys from school.
"Hey baby, wanna come down here and play?" One of them yelled. Shiho felt her pulse rise, her heart rate spiking. Memories of a disgusting man standing over her in a dark backroom. "C'mon don't be shy. We'll be gentle!" The man in her past pressed himself against her forcibly. She was no Ann, but she would do just fine. Shiho's breath hitched as she was having difficulty breathing. Their calls continued and Shiho was fixed in place unable to move. Unable to respond. It would remain like this until she saw Shima for the second time today.
Shima stayed at the food court for some time after Shiho had left. All around him, he could feel the eyes of people on him, specifically his cane hanging off the table. He could hear the less careful ones.
"What happened?" "He must have been messing around." "Look at his hair, he must be a delinquent." "I wonder what pissed him off today?" "I wonder if it hurts." "He doesn't look like he needs a cane." "Young people today, always looking for attention."
Shima adjusted his prosthetic and grabbed his cane. Raising himself to a standing position he made his way out of the food court. Tap. Clack. Slap. Tap. Clack. Slap. Out on the road, there was nobody around. He sat down on a bench and pulled up his pant leg. Taking the prosthetic off he adjusted his prosthetic sock. No wonder it was uncomfortable. After fixing it, he continued on his way home. Taking out his phone, there was nothing. Like usual, he pocketed his phone as he got to his door.
Walking into the house, the lights were off. Turning on the lights he found a note on the fridge.
Shima - Aiya's in fridge. Mom's in bed. I am at work. Turn off lights.
Shima sighed. He ripped the note off the fridge and shredded it. "Whatever," Shima mumbled as he tossed the pieces in the trash. He took the food out of the fridge. It was still slightly warm. "Really Dad? How early did you go to 'work' this time?" Shima looked at the contents of the bowl. Picking at it he just looked around the empty house. It was sterile. No clutter. No life. No… love. Shima knocked the mail off of the counter in a fit of anger. He took the bowl and chopsticks to his room. Looking at his room, it was like the rest of the house.
With the exception of a box full of CDs in the corner and one other detail you would be surprised to know that anyone actually used the room. The other detail was the tape blocking out the top of his full length mirror. It was perfect, cause the only time he was see himself was when it would block out his face, Shima ate quietly with a small spark of anger still ignited from before. He finished the food and took off his uniform. His prosthetic went first. The pant leg flopped down lazily as he released it. Changing into a pair of short, he then took off the top half of his uniform. As he went to hang up his uniform top, he caught view of the various scars on his body from surgery and injury. Just looking at it started adding fuel to the fire burning inside.
Shima threw on a long sleeve shirt and his shoes as he decided he needed to quell this fire inside of him and the only way he knew was to let it burn faster until there was nothing left. He grabbed his cane and headed back out of the house. Walking through the residential district he needed a fight. There was usually a group of people he could usually find out here.
Shima found the group of three yelling at a nearby house. Looking over at the house in question he saw someone, silhouetted against the light from inside the house, up in the balcony who had been their target. ""C'mon don't be shy. We'll be gentle!"" Shima heard. His already burning anger bloomed further into a near-blinding rage. Shima identified them as the second year 'delinquents' who got it in their heads that they could start a gang. Shima ultimately did not care about their gang-status, he just really wanted to enjoy beating the shit out of them.
The three became quiet as he approached. They looked at him and they seemed to get nervous, but pride would not let them back down. This was their undoing. As the first one approached, Shima planted his good leg behind their leg, slammed his hand into their throat, threw his weight forward and dropped the punk immediately. Giving out another punch for good measure, Shima hooked his cane behind another one's leg and then turned his attention to the third guy. Ducking under a wild swing, Shima planted his shoulder into the gut of the guy and threw him back against a nearby fence. Having pinned his target against it, Shima began raining blows against him. The one he tripped had gotten up by this point to try and grapple Shima from behind. Shima threw his weight back and crashed backwards. Rolling backwards he got himself back on solid ground and he proceeded to pepper the guy he just downed with his cane. Finally smashing his face with a meaty punch put Shima as the victor. The three got up and began to run. Shima was fully intending to follow them.
"Sh-Shima?" he heard a familiar voice ask. Turning about, Shima finally looked up and saw that it was Shiho up on the balcony of the nearby house. His looking for trouble put him right here, protecting her. "What are you doing out here?"
"N-nothing much. Community service," he replied dryly.
"Do you want to come in?" She offered seemingly not sure what to do in this situation. Shima simply shook his head.
"Nah, I should be going home. I think it generally goes without saying but uh-"
"I won't tell anyone," Shiho replied with a small smile.
Shima wanted to say something to try to make himself look like less of an animal right now, but nothing sounded good enough."Good night, Shiho," was all he could say..
Shiho watched him go. There was something primal in the way he had fought with those other boys. He was not just being protective. Something had made him angry long before he had gotten here. However, Shiho could only silently thank him over and over again. The bad memories had cleared and she was grateful for that.
Shiho watched Shima leave until she was no longer able to see him.
Author's Note Too: So... Hope you like the deeper look into Shima's character. He was a Persona character OC I made years ago shortly after playing Persona 4 for the 3rd or 4th time. Anyway the real reason I am down here... Can we talk about "The Girl that Persona 5 Forgot"? See, I get that she gets some love in Ann's confidant path line. However, I was deeply unsatisfied with that since under any other circumstances she should have either become a Confidant herself or become a party member. The other issue with tying her directly to Ann's story is that if you rush Ann's ranks Shiho suddenly becomes recovered and all squared away in a few months. So here is what you need to know for my story.
P5 takes places 6 years after the start of Persona 4, we know this because Rise is 21 at the time of Persona 5 and was 15 when Persona 4 started. So Shiho a second year student has an accident that is going to take her out of school for a while and as such will have to repeat her second year at a new school for which I decided it was Yasogami High School. Now she is a third year which is why she is one year older than her peers and is still in school when Nanako would be a first year in High School. That is why Nanako is not a second year and Yuuta's age got smudged. Because I am giving Shiho, "The Girld Persona 5 Forgot" her story. So that is why... hope that is enough to let you guys accept her appearance in this fic.
~Noxmad