Chapter II

THE EMPEROR

**

November 22nd, 2015

Tuesday Afternoon

12:11 PM

**

"Here you go sir, your bag".

A blonde attendant waited for Souji to stand up and adjust his laptop bag over his shoulder before handing him his duffle bag which to Seta looked like she was having a hard time even with two hands.

Souji took his duffle bag off the attendant's hands and she sighed with an "umpf" in there somewhere as it looked like her arms were going to pop off.

He lifted his bags and turned to the exit door, walked a few steps until he faced the door. It happened to open automatically as he closed his eyes. He took two steps forward, opening his eyes and a cool breeze graced the side of his face. It was the gentle, calm familiar wind of Inaba that he came to love so much, three years ago. He stepped off the train and onto the platform, looking around before hearing a very familiar voice.

"Oooi, Seta! Over here!"

Souji looked around for a second but it wasn't long at all before he found the same Dojima he left behind. Ryotaro Dojima was Seta's detective Uncle, still had short messy brown hair, a very short scruffy beard, his favorite jacket over his shoulder and other hand in the air waving to Souji.

Souji smiled and walked over to Dojima. Same gray shirt, same red tie.

"Dojima-san, you've no idea how much I appreciate what you've done for Mom and I…"

"Wow, you've sure changed a bit since I've last seen you. You were never this sentimental.." Dojima said, but realizing that the changes in Seta Souji were most likely the direct results of the recent events involving his sister and brother-in-law.

Souji looked at Dojima with narrowed eyes. He noticed a slight change in his demeanor also, but didn't expect Dojima to comment on it. His eyes started to feel so much heavier than before, perhaps since he was trying to fight back tears.

"Souji, I understand. The day before you left Inaba three years ago, Nanako and I both told you. You're not just a distant relative. You're part of our family now. You're like my younger brother instead of my nephew. You are always welcome in Inaba. Always".

"Thanks…."

The car ride to Dojima's house was fairly occupied with conversation. They caught up with each other about work, school, involvement with females, rather the lack there of on both ends.

"I haven't picked up a job since I started attending I.T. Japan, the work load is …. a lot to say the least".

"Oh, well if you think about it, it's not so bad. The sooner you finish school the sooner you can try to find a place to stay permanently, preferably in Inaba!" said Dojima with a smile at the end.

"I've been extremely busy between the small stuff in Inaba, and keeping in contact with Okinawa Police, about your parents….. Ah … misdemeanors mainly, and training your friend Satonaka on the force. She's really something!"

It had seemed Dojima hit another soft spot on Souji's heart. His parents. He was slightly relieved that Dojima was making sure something was happening on the police's end in Okinawa. He wasn't ready to talk about it, but was wondering what else had happened since he was interviewed as a murder suspect. He was ready to move on. So he thought at least.

"Satonaka? You mean Chie-chan's on the force? Good for her…."

"Yeah, she's still the department's rookie, but she's one hell of an officer".

"I bet, you don't want to know how many critical hits to the groin Yosuke took by her our sophomore year" Seta said with a reminiscing smile that took quite a bit of strength.

"Oh the Junes boy? Speaking of Hanamura, the two of them have been dating for about ... oh just shy of a year now. That's what Nanako says anyway" Dojima added, both hands on the steering wheel, focusing his eyes on the road ahead.

"We all saw that coming. I thought they would've started when we were still investigating the serial murders with the way they constantly argued. Just like an old married couple!" Souji laughed. He was slowly forgetting the troubles of the past month. The more and more he heard about how his friends were doing, the less pain he felt in his chest.

"So… how about the others? Do you still keep in touch with the old gang?" Seta asked.

"Well, most of them. Shirogane has been helping us at the station on her time off and she's attending law school in Tokyo. Ahh, Kanji-kun finally started a line of dolls, and a clothing line by one of the closed stores across from his mothers textile shop and he's doing phenomenal".

"That really good to hear, so everyone has just about been occupied and back to normal?"

Souji had an almost sad demeanor to his question, almost as if he didn't want everything to be "normal" without him. But he knew they were waiting for him the whole time…. So in the end, it was just fine that way.

"All in all… yeah. There haven't been any murders, Adachi's been sentenced life in prison for double murder, Nanako turned 10 recently and is the top of her grade. She recovered just fine from the incident a few months after you'd left. You'd think she'd adjusted to the changes by now but she still misses you. Nanako constantly asks about you nearly every day".

"That's really good. I knew she'd take after her big bro!" Souji laughed with Dojima about Nanako's affection for her 'Big Bro'.

"Ah, here we are…" Dojima said, reversing the car into the side driveway.

"Home…" Souji muttered under his breath. He took a deep breath, and exhaled most of the stress that had been tormenting him lately.

"Hm? What was that?" Dojima asked while opening the trunk to get Souji's duffle.

"Oh…. I just said I'm finally 'home'".

"Home sweet home huh? Oh, Nanako's still at school, so she'll be thrilled to see you. How about you drop your stuff in your room upstairs, take a few minutes and come downstairs when you're ready. I'll take ya to lunch, it's on me". Dojima insisted, leaving the duffle with Souji before locking the car doors and walking inside.

"That'd be great.."

**

12:59 PM

**

"It's…."

Souji was at a loss for words.

Everything was exactly as he left it. Of course it had been dusted, and kept clean, but the futon and table were in the same place. His books and study material were still on his desk, nice and neat. The love seat, the TV and the long table against the wall. Even the stand by the door where he kept his books and other miscellaneous goods.

He put the laptop bag down on the table, and his duffle over his futon. He was too tired and slightly anxious to unpack just yet. He wandered the room from place to place, running his hands over everything. He felt like he had never left Inaba, but he knew that was far from the truth.

"Enough…" he muttered to himself. He was tired of feeling depressed. There was no point in remaining sad about something that couldn't be reversed.

He left the room, closing the door gently behind him.

"Dojima-san, whenever you're ready!"

**

1:18 PM

**

Dojima chose the restaurant he was treating his nephew to, but Souji couldn't help but feel as if something were out of place. As they approached the front door to the diner, Souji stopped in his steps. "So…. Dojima-san, I don't remember this restaurant being here. Wasn't this a tofu shop?"

Souji had scratched the back of his head in confusion. They took down Rise-chan's grandmother's Tofu Shop? That's ridiculous… He thought to himself.

"It was, until the Kujikawa family decided to turn it into a small comfortable diner. Of course, tofu's still on the menu though!" Dojima added with a slight laugh.

"Oooh, that's good. I thought they sold it or got bought out…" Souji mentioned with relief.

They were both greeted by a bubbly waitress once inside, who was quick to sit them down with a pair of menus.

"Can I get you guys something to drink while you check out our menus?"

"Coffee, black, one sugar" Dojima requested.

"I'll just have an iced water" Souji asked.

"Souji.. when you're ready to enroll in school, let me know – I found a great business school for you which is about 20 minutes out of town southbound on route 8, they'll accept your credits and you can finish your bachelor's degree while living permanently right here in Inaba!" Dojima said trying to start conversation.

"That's great… when's the deadline for the application?" Souji asked, quietly.

The waitress took their orders and drifted off rather quickly into the background like she had just seen a celebrity. Souji and Dojima both watched her leave.

"That was weird…. Anyway, classes for this year start in January and registration must be done by December 15th" Dojima explained to his nephew about school registration.

"That'll be plenty of time. In fact I wish I could start sooner."

After waiting a good five or so minutes, their beverages were served respectfully to each end of the table; coffee to Dojima, water to Souji.

The waitress was just so bubbly she looked like she was going to burst from holding something in for ages…

"Oh my god, are you Seta Souji-kun from Yasoinaba High… um, three years ago!?"

Souji and Dojima both answered at the same time.

Dojima said 'Yeah' and Souji shook his head with a flat 'no' at the same time. Seta glared at his uncle who had an apologetic look on his face for not only speaking for Seta, but for answering 'yes' to the question.

The waitress looked at them funny and apologized for the confusion and walked away, almost disappointed.

"Dojima-san, I don't think I'm ready for people to know I'm here just yet… I don't feel like I can keep composed in front of everyone… ya know?"

"Oh… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have answered for you anyway".

"Don't worry about it…" Souji said in the comfort of Dojima's company.

Well before their meals were served, Souji noticed the level of water in his glass begin to produce ripples, then felt the ground shake and even Dojima noted the table shaking. Then 'thud thud thud'.

"What the hell?" Dojima said with a quizzical look on his face.

"SENPAI!!!!!!"

Souji immediately recognized that voice and his head almost fell back and off his shoulders. He did not want attention… but at the same time, he was anxious to see everyone. Anxious to see everyone but did not want everyone to see him in such a vulnerable, weakened state. He would not be exemplifying the qualities he did three years ago as their leader.

An overly excited Kujikawa Rise came stampeding from the kitchen to Souji's table. She greeted him with a real tight hug. A real tight hug. Souji coughed quietly, winced as he felt all the blood from his torso up spike to his head and he felt a slight headache coming on.

Rise backed up a bit and waved 'hi' to Dojima.

"Hi Dojima-san! He~y senpai! Didja miss me!?!?! Huh? When did you get into town!?!!?" Rise asked, unable to conceal her excitement through her upward inflections.

"Hey Rise-chan, we just got in this afternoon and I don't want to sound mean, but you could keep hush hush for a bit?" Dojima asked.

"Oh… um, sure. Is everything okay?"

Souji adjusted himself in his chair.

"Everything's fine.. I uh, I just don't feel very well. I just don't want the gang to see me like this.."

"Like what? You look fine senpai. Is there something you're not telling me?" Kujikawa asked, pulling over a chair from another table.

She sat down with Dojima and her senpai, with a real concerned look on her face.

"Rise…" Souji began.

"My parents…. they….."

**

2:47 PM

**

The car ride back to Dojima's house was silent unlike the ride from the train station. Meeting with Kujikawa was great and all Souji thought, but to have brought his parents into the conversation and using it as an explanation as to why he was here. He didn't want to admit that, but he had so much experience in dealing with his true self and watching others face their true selves also he simply acknowledged the truth, albeit he did not like it at all. "I'm here on the account of my parents being dead…."

"Souji, I'm going to surprise Nanako and pick her up from school. So I'm going to leave you home for a bit and I'll be back shortly with your lil' sis. Okay?" Dojima said with a smile emphasizing lil' sis, trying to break through Souji's depression. "Don't let that conversation with Kujikawa upset you. They're bound to find out, ya know? And they'll be able to help you cope. It'll only benefit you!"

He appreciated it so much, but he couldn't get his mind off of his loss, or how it happened. Seta still had so many questions left unanswered. He wondered if they'd ever be answered.

"That's okay, I'll be fine. I'll have a chance to unpack and get settled in while you get Nanako".

Dojima pulled up to the front door instead of parking, seeing as he wasn't staying long".

"There you go, go take a bath, get situated, I'll be back in awhile with Nanako".

Souji closed the car door and watched the exhaust from Dojima's car rise as he drove off. He turned to the house, walked in, and shut the door behind him.

Unpack, or bath first… he thought.

Screw it, a soak sounds perfect.

Seta left his room alone sans grabbing a change of clothes from his duffle bag first and heading to the bathroom and running the hot water. He unbuttoned his long white button-down and hung it on the door knob behind him. With his jeans unbuttoned, he dropped those to the floor along with his undergarments. He placed his cell phone on the floor behind the tub and slowly stepped into the tub, sitting all the way down and setting his head back while embracing, loving every hot, soaked moment. He rose his hands with a puddle of water to the top of his head allowing his silky gray hair to moisten and clump to his head. He sighed and closed his eyes.

Mom….. Dad…..Why?

"I welcome your return to the Velvet Room, friend".

What the…

"It is… extremely rare for an individual to return here after their contract is fulfilled. I suppose it should not be a surprise since you yourself are not so common".

The voice was all too familiar. Souji opened his eyes and immediately recognized the blue velvet layout of what looked like the back of an expensive limo. He blinked to focus his eyes and restore his blurry vision. The first thing he saw was the awkwardly long nose of an old acquaintance, the blonde hair and stern but beautiful face of a good friend.

"Igor… Margaret…"

"Ahh, I'm glad you remember us" said the little old man, folding his hands together under his chin.

"Why am I here?" Souji asked, absolutely confused.

The one who was referred to as Igor leaned back in his seat, averting his eyes away from a naked Souji who was positioned well enough to at least cover his essentials. Souji had been accustomed to getting caught in the Velvet Room at some rather inconvenient times where clothes weren't available.

"I see you have been offered another contract" said Margaret, who kept her eyes fixed at Souji's feet. "It seems the last tarot reading we performed for you three years ago suggested we would meet with an old friend around this time. And this old friend is to face trials and tribulations in the coming years".

"Trials and tribulations huh?", Souji asked, wondering if that had any correlation to what had been going on recently. If the murders are part of the tribulations, is there more? he thought.

Igor sat forward on the edge of his seat and removed his hands from his chin and placed them on his thighs. "I believe we can assume that you would accept your new contract. We will allow you to maintain your rather impressive powers with regards to Persona. The purpose is to deal with remnant shadows that have been found in the alternate world and your personal life at the same time. Will you do this for your fellow man?" Igor asked, cutting straight to the chase.

Igor had tendencies to beat around the bush and cover everything in mystery, but felt as if he had a strong connection to Seta Souji; as if there was something to be done, he could rely on Seta to get the job done.

"Yes…. I can do that". Souji agreed to the proposition. He would retain his abilities as a Persona-user, a person who could summon physical manifestations of ones alter ego; shadows that have been tamed. What made Souji special, and Igor to rely on him as such, was the fact that Souji had the uncommon ability to summon and fuse multiple persona as opposed to being restricted to an individual.

After defeating Izanami-no-okami three years ago, he figured shadows wouldn't exist. The more he thought about the proposition the more it made sense. If evil, curiosity, and ill-will existed in the hearts of man, shadows would always exist to some degree. If shadows existed in the alternate world, the opportunity for the real world to be affected negatively would always exist as well. If by wielding persona and eliminating dangerous shadows could help mankind in any way shape or form, Souji would always be there.

"Then it is settled…" Igor said with a slight smile that lifted his large nose. "Margaret will continue to assist me in managing your compendium , if that is not a problem with you".

Souji agreed to the terms easily as he, Igor, and Margaret all got along regardless of the relative short time spent together.

"We will allow you the use of portals to the Velvet Room as we did before. If we need you, we'll contact you like this in the future. Oh, and I'm absolutely confident you will not let us down." added the stern blonde. Margaret maintained her posture as she looked Souji directly in his gray eyes.

Seta's vision of Igor and Margaret started to become blurry and faded away into a black nothingness.

What felt like only minutes had gone by, he heard the front door open in the living room and Nanako's voice saying something to Dojima about her test score, and something to the effect that she's just as good at test-taking as her 'big bro'. Seta smiled. He missed the rug-rat. He reached over the edge of the tub and grabbed his cell. Upon clicking 'O.K.' he looked at the front of his phone, it read '3:34p'

They must've stopped somewhere on the way home…. And I must've fallen asleep if I was in the Velvet Room… he thought to himself. Oh well, it looks like living here will prove fulfilling in more ways than one at least.

Souji made a point to clean up while he had the chance and before the water became too cold. When finished, he dried off and got into a clean pair of jeans and a white button down shirt which he left unbuttoned, showing his slender body as he drained the tub. He put his phone in his front pants pocket and bundled his dirty clothes into the laundry bin, just like he used to when he lived here three years ago.

Everything really does feel as if I never left…

After finishing to clean up the bathroom and draining the tub, he exited into the kitchen to grab a glass of water and saw Nanako sitting at her usual spot with paper in front of her, more than likely homework. Nanako heard a door close in the vicinity of the bathroom and continued pacing herself at an assignment from school.

"Dad I hope you didn't leave the toilet seat up like you did last night! I almost fell in this morning!" Nanako exclaimed.

"What are you talking about? I'm right here!" Dojima said, a grin on his face from the kitchen table with the daily newspaper in his hands.

Nanako looked up in confusion and her little mouth about hit the very table she was working on. She stood up so fast she nearly knocked the table over with the power of her knees and darted straight towards Souji. She tackled and hugged him so hard he nearly dropped his glass.

"Big bro!" Nanako cried. She wasn't as much of a rug-rat as he last remembered. She had gained some height and left her hair down. She was still the cute, precious Nanako-chan. She dug her face into his lower chest and attacked him with a death grip. Souji placed the glass of water on the table before squatting down enough to see her at eye level and hugged her.

"You're back! Just like you said!!!" Nanako said, wiping her eyes! She backed away to look at her big bro. Seeing him there was like opening her most requested gift on Christmas morning. Her excitement was simply obvious.

"Oh… how long are you staying this time?" Nanako asked, wanting to know before she got her hopes up. Her 'big bro' smiled when he said…

"I'll be in Inaba permanently now".

"Yaaayyyy!! Did you hear that dad?" she questioned with such glee.

"Big bro we're gonna make a big supper for you tonight!! Are you hungry yet?"

"Not right now Nanako, Souji and I just had lunch shortly before I picked you up from school. How about later?" was added to the conversation by Dojima, which put a slight damper on Nanako's mood but she understood that they just ate.

"That'll be great…" Souji said with a faint smile.

"I'm a little tired, I'm going to go lay down… okay?" he added looking at both Dojima and Nanako, almost for approval.

"Okay!" they said in unison. "I'll call you down when suppers ready. We may have to run to Junes for groceries so don't be alarmed if you hear us leave for a bit" Dojima mentioned, trying to make things as comfortable as possible for his nephew.

"Sure thing…I'll be upstairs".

**

7:25 PM

**

Souji's eyes had opened as he stretched and yawned in his futon, rolling around to find another comfortable spot. He saw the time on his alarm clock and wondered if Nanako and Dojima had been to the grocery store yet or if they had even started dinner. He felt a pang at his stomach that brought nausea to his head which was probably from hunger.

I should've had more than just water and a chow mein sandwich… he thought to himself. Luckily the headache he felt from earlier was gone.

Pi

Pi

Pi

Pi

Pi

He sat up in bed at the sound of his cell going off. He checked the front display label and it read 'Yosuke'.

"Yosuke's calling? Why would…. ugh, Rise…. she told him.." he spoke out loud as if someone were listening to him. Though he tried to keep his arrival hush hush, it didn't seem like it was going to stay that way for very long. He pressed 'Call' and then placed the phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Souji-kun?"

"Hai… Yosuke? How've you been?"

"How've you been? That's all you can say!? Partner I heard you're back in Inaba! And you weren't going to tell us!!?!!?" Yosuke said raising his voice.

"Well… I was, but I needed a day or two to readjust to everything. My p…rofessor suggested I rest up the day I get in so I don't feel overwhelmed. That's all…." He had lied, a little. Just enough to get him away from that painful subject. It didn't seem like Rise had mentioned what they discussed at the diner earlier that afternoon. At least he hoped she didn't…

"Ooooh, well… we'll still meeting up tomorrow you hear me!? It's been WAY to long! We've got a LOT to talk about and I'm sure everyone wants to see you just as bad as I do!" Yosuke exclaimed.

"Well, don't make a huge deal out if it. Maybe we can grab a coffee and a bagel tomorrow morning or something like that?" Seta suggested to his friend.

"That sounds great, Chie and I have tomorrow off … so … we'll meet up with you somewhere for breakfast!" Yosuke said with much enthusiasm. Yosuke hasn't changed at all… Souji thought happily.

The pain of recent events seemed to slowly dissipate and felt more comfortable talking about anything in general now that he had something else to focus on rather than death and loss.

"So… Yosuke-kun, I hear you and Chie-chan have been…. seeing eachother?" Seta said with a smile on his end of the phone. He chuckled at the end of his statement.

"Ah, er… h-how'd you hear about that? I mean it's not like … oh what am I saying. Yeah we've been together for awhile now. You must've heard from Ri… I mean Dojima-san!"

Souji caught the first sound Yosuke made and it wasn't going to be Dojima he said at first. Ri…. He had to have begun to say Rise! So they did talk today!

"Yes… I did hear from Dojiima-san about you and Chie-chan but I also told Rise n.o.t. to call everyone and announce the fact that I was in town just yet!" Souji said with a scolding tone not particularly aimed at his friend on the phone.

"I didn't talk to …. argh. Okay okay Rise did call me this afternoon but she was just so excited to see you back in town when she saw you earlier and, well… frankly… it hasn't been the same without you partner!" Yosuke confessed. He didn't want to lie or hide anything from Seta, and felt it best to just be frank.

"I'm….. also really sorry to hear about your parents. I wouldn't have ever imagined something like that would've happened… ever…" he continued.

Souji's hand clenched the phone slightly but realized his friends just meant the best of intentions.

"I … appreciate that Yosuke-kun. Hm… I thought it would have been best not to make plans just yet nor let anyone know I was here. I know that was stupid on many levels. One Inaba is small enough word would've spread like wildfire and two, I'll just beat myself to death thinking about everything. You think we could get together … often?" Souji asked as he admitted some of his swollen feelings.

Yosuke on the other line however felt bad that he couldn't meet with Souji as much as he'd probably like…. "Well, I only have tomorrow off this week; but we'll definitely make time for you after work – as much as you need!"

Souji took comfort in that his friends were there for him. Adjusting to life back in Inaba after a few years in the city would take a little time but he felt maybe it wouldn't be as hurtful and depressing as he first thought.

"I have a … somewhat personal question if you don't mind Yosuke.." Souji asked, taking a deep breath, and feeling slightly embarrassed. Yosuke however was ready for anything, after finding out what happened to his best friend's parents.

"Ah..forget I said anything. It was silly" Souji said, backing away from the thoughts that were bothering him. Yosuke however wasn't letting it go easily.

"Buddy you gotta talk to us about it. You'll never feel better if you keep everything to yourself. Belieeeeve me, I know… I didn't really feel free until after I reconciled my feelings about Saki-senpai, and moving on about it with you and the others, remember?"

Souji thought about the times he had with Yosuke by the riverbed, the countless discussions about Yosuke's feelings towards Konishi Saki, the daughter of a local liquor store owner and fellow student who was murdered in Toru Adachi's scheme. He remembered Yosuke's personality didn't begin to change until after he faced his fears and started talking to his friends about it. Maybe I shouldn't be so hung up on what they think of me as their former leader…

"I was …. Going to ask you, what do you think of me? Like….. a leader still?" Souji confessed, giving into Yosuke's 'plea'.

"Souji-kun you'll always be our leader; and we'll never think any less of you even if you're hurt. You may always be our leader but you're still human. You can use us as your crutch, partner. We certainly all took turns using you as a crutch!" Yosuke said laughing on his end.

"You're the best Yosuke-kun… hey listen, I'm due for dinner downstairs soon… so call or text me when you're ready for coffee in the morning".

Yosuke's voice became less empathetic and more excited about tomorrow already.

"Sure thing partner. Call me if you need anything!" Hanamura said putting emphasis on anything. "Oh um… theres probably something I should tell you too.." He added.

Like what? Souji thought with furrowed eyebrows.

"I'm sure you figured I found out from Rise since she told me she was the only one you saw today.. and don't be surprised if you get phone calls from the others tonight!" Yosuke admitted to the things Souji eventually became self-aware of, and after talking things through a bit with Yosuke, Seta didn't mind if his phone rang again.

"I kinda figured that by now, it's okay – don't worry about it".

Souji's eyes were fixed on the door when he heard knocking, followed by Nanako's voice.

"Supper'll be ready in about ten or so minutes okay big bro?"

"Thanks Nanako-chan, I'll be right down!"

"Ah, that'd be Nanako-chan calling me for dinner – I gotta let you go Yosuke-kun. I'm looking forward to tomorrow".

"I'm really glad you're back Souji-kun. Things weren't the same with you gone. I just wanted you to know that." said Yosuke

"And I'm really grateful to be back home with you guys" confirmed Souji.

"I'll see ya tomorrow early!"

"Ja ne Yosuke-kun!"

"Ja!"

They ended their conversation on a pleasant note, and with perfect timing from Nanako

Souji heard light footsteps moving down the stairs which he assumed was Nanako returning to the kitchen. He stood up and stretched, raising his hands above his head and let out a deep yawn. He tidied up the futon and went downstairs for supper. After opening the door, he caught the delightful odor of marinated and possibly grilled beef wafting its way upstairs, and on that note he felt his stomach rumble and heard it grumble.

He focused his view on his feet as he stepped down the stairs, catching the sides of his white button down now slightly wrinkled and bouncing by his bare sides as he moved.

As he turned the corner at the base of the stairs he saw four plates placed at the kitchen table with four glasses filled with ice.

Four? There's only us here… who's the fourth plate!? Souji thought. He saw Nanako and Dojima by the sink and no one else was in the living room.

The bathroom doors closed, lights and faucet on.. hmm…

Souji walked into the kitchen behind his cousin and uncle and offered his assistance but was told to have a seat as they'd start eating shortly. As he grabbed the chair opposite of where Dojima usually sat he noticed there was a red coat hanging off the side of the couch in the living room. The sound of the faucet stopped and he fixed his eyes to the entrance to the hallway by the stairs leading upstairs.

Nanako and Dojima watched Souji intently, waiting for his reaction to their guest as they were fully aware of who was joining them for dinner.

After the company who had used the sink in the bathroom had exited and turned away from the steps leading upstairs, Souji immediately recognized that immaculate black hair accompanied by a red hair band that accentuated the fair skin it all surrounded. That and the red coat, he knew exactly who was joining him for dinner.

"…. Souji-kun!" said the guest. She knew her favorite gray haired investigation partner was in town. Although she wasn't anticipating the effect he had on her chest, how heavy it made her feel with longing, as if they hadn't seen each other in forever's time. The sound of her voice made it obvious that she felt as if everything was complete again. The happiness simply leaked from her facial expression.

I… Souji started in his brain, speechless even in thought. His lil' sis and uncle relished the moment, knowing if anything could make Souji feel better, it was his first and only love.

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