Hi again! Well I'm kinda went over board on this one. Still welcoming critisism to help my writing. Anyways, I'm going to be posting songs that go along with the areas at the bottom, and if you don't like them, the beauty is you can put in your own soundtrack! Warning though, that almost all my songs are going to come from Sonic the Hedgehog games. Is it just me or do those songs (Especially Knuckel's stages from SA2) sound alot like Persona music? Oh well. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 4 – Tour of the Town

February 14, 2018 – Friday [Classroom 2-C, Afternoon]

Ryo sighed; the first school day had just ended and already he felt like he was in a monotonous routine. The brunette looked over to find Aimi had already left. Ryo stood up, re-adjusted his baseball cap backwards, and began towards the door. As he walked, he was interrupted by a tall female in the same grade as him. She had brown hair like him, but had it held up in a barrette. Her skin was milky white and she had large green-eyes. She had lip gloss on with many accessories attached to her school uniform.

"Hi…" Ryo started. Her pose in the doorway was threatening; she looked at him with dead serious eyes.

"Hello, my name is Katsumi Ishida. I'm the student council president for sophomores, like you or I. I wanted to be the first to welcome you to CHAS." Katsumi said in an aggravated tone.

Ryo scratched the back of his neck. "Well… Sorry but somebody's already beat you to the punch for both my sister and I."

"Whatever." She said harshly and walked out. As she did, she bumped into Michio coming into the room. The president didn't even look back and just continued to walk.

Michio walked into 2-C and up to Ryo. "Ugh… You had a chat with her I'm guessing?" Michio said in a slightly disgusted tone.

"Well… It wasn't much of a chat and more like her getting an errand done." Ryo replied.

"Yeh, well, that was Katsumi. She's a bitch and a half. She thinks she's all high and mighty cause she's in the student council and has good looks." Michio rolled his eyes. "I heard she's from the USA, maybe that's why."

Ryo thought for a second. "That would explain why she's white…"

"Mhmm… Anyways, do not let anything she says get to you." Michio said reassuringly. "Oh yeah! Ryo, Takeo and I want to take you for a tour of Chichibu. I'll text Hikari and tell her to track down Aimi."

"Kay, let's go then…" Ryo continued for the door with Michio following behind.

February 14, 2018 – Friday [Chichibu Plaza, Afternoon]

On their way out, the two met up with Takeo and headed for town. Michio and Takeo showed Ryo the town plaza, the busiest place during the afternoon and at night. The plaza had many different shops around the edges, from clothing stores to restaurants. Michio said that if you wanted to meet up with anyone you would do it here. The plaza was extremely large, and had a slightly smaller fountain in the center. Some people were in suits rushing by people, while others were lounging on the benches, eating or just relaxing after a long day of work.

Takeo wanted to show Ryo something desperately, so the two followed the larger teen toward a simple ramen shop. "Tad-daaa~ Welcome to Kimura Ramen!" Takeo announced proudly. Michio and Ryo both shrugged and entered the relatively clean restaurant. "Pa-pa, I'm home!" Takeo called.

"Ah! Takeo? Come and help yer' old man out!" A voice hollered from the back. Takeo ran behind the counter and into a back room. After some grunts both Takeo and an even burlier man with large, ripping muscles came out. He was bald, but had small white chef's hat to cover that up. He also had a large black handle-bar moustache that covered nearly his entire face. "Welcome! How may I 'elp you two lads?" The man said with a smile.

"Pa-pa, the one with glasses is the one that's been helping with my studies, Michio Shimizu! And the one with the hat is a new friend that just transferred to CHAS with his sister!" Takeo explained with glee to his father.

"Ah-ha!" Takeo's father smiled as he examined the two teens in front of him. "Well you," Looking at Michio, "Thank you for helping my son, that boy never stops talking about how smart you are! Is it true?"

"Well…" Michio looked away, almost ashamed. "I guess…"

"Don't be shy lad! Ahaha!" Takeo's father than looked right at Ryo. "You… I don't know why… But I like yaou! Ahahaha! That fire in yer' eyes and that honest face! You got the makins' of a champion!" Takeo's Father extended it his hand. "'m Ken Kimura! What's yer' name lad?"

Ryo grabbed Ken's hand, "Ryo. Ryo Fujihara."

"Well Ryo and Michio, stop by anytime ya like! I'll always 'ive ya a discount!" Ken smiled and looked at Takeo again. "Now Takeo, ya don't need to be 'ere right now, so why don't ya keep playin' wit 'em?"

"Really! Thanks Pa-pa! Tell Ma-ma I said hi when she gets home!" With that, the three left the Ramen shop. As if on cue, Ryo's stomach growled.

"Ah-ha… Well let's go get something to eat then! Heh…" Ryo stated nervously. Instead of going back inside the ramen shop, the three decided to get something quick, like ice cream.

On their way to the ice cream store, a very thin teen came running out with a cone. He wore a CHAS uniform, and had a pair of headphones around his neck. His hair was red and curly, his eyes blue, and it looked like he was in a hurry. While running out, he crashed against Ryo, spilling his ice cream all over Ryo's jacket.

"!" He quickly blurted out handing Ryo three, hundred yen coins and then running of out of the plaza. The three were left in a little shock

Ryo finally broke the silence. "D-Do you know him?" He questioned Michio and Takeo.

"I-I think that was Isao Heikichi…" Michio replied. "He's from 2-E, class 2-C's rival class."

Ryo raised his eyebrow for a second. "Rival class? Oh whatever…" Ryo didn't decide to question it. The three got ice cream and decided they should check out downtown before it got dark. On their way there, Ryo noticed a poster of a cute girl with blonde hair wearing a white version of CHAS' normally pink girl's uniform. She was holding a microphone and posing somewhat seductively. Ryo tilted his head at this poster. "Last time Aimi checked, she said there weren't any new idols." Ryo looked around and there were several of the same posters hung up all around him that he, somehow, didn't notice until now. "Yo, Michio, do you know this girl?" Ryo asked nervously.

"Hmm?" Michio turned to see the poster Ryo was pointing at. "Oh yeh that's Sakura Nakashima. She's this student at CHAS who Principle Ito is trying to push into stardom. Sakura is not her real name, but no one can remember it for the life of them."

"Sakura-chan is really pretty!" Takeo said adoring the poster.

Michio was pulling the burly student along. "Careful Takeo, she is from 2-E as well. Now come on we still have a lot to show you!" Michio said to Ryo. Ryo took one last look at the poster and continued forward.

February 14, 2018 – Friday [Downtown Chichibu, Afternoon]

After dome more walking, they finally reached the downtown district of Chichibu. It had many flashing lights and far more stores than the plaza. It was loud, smoggy, and was even busier. They walked along the sidewalk and Ryo finally found what he was looking for, a game shop. His eyes lighted up, he knew there was one here, but his hope diminished as they checked the plaza. Ryo wanted to enter, but Michio and Takeo were already on their way. Ryo had to pry himself from the entrance to catch up with his friends. They passed some more restaurants, a couple stores a police station, and a bar before finally getting to a back alley.

Michio stopped. "Fair warning when coming down here, these back allies are filled with criminals and thugs. If you need any help just run straight for the police-" Michio was suddenly pulled violently by an unseen hand into the alley. Both Ryo and Takeo ran into the alley for their friend to find him being mugged by a man with a large, purple Mohawk. His hand was in the shape of a gun and inside his jacket's pocket.

"Give me all your money kid!" The mugger said. Takeo then walked up and punched the mugger square in the face. The mugger fell down when he looked up to see the extremely large teenager before him. He scrambled onto his feet and ran down the alley.

"Ahem… Like I was saying-"Before Michio could finally compose himself and finish his sentence, another voiced echoed.

"Yo hombres! Ya better be careful, or else the snake might strike again!" The unknown voiced said.

"Viper, knock it off before we call the cops on you again!" Michio called back. "Ugh… That's Ricardo Culebra, he calls himself Viper. He's a punk that came from Mexico last year. Since then, he single handedly increased the crime rate in Chichibu!" Michio explained to Ryo.

"Hey, hey! I couldn't have done it without mi amigos!" The voice, Viper, echoed back; many cries of celebration could be heard right afterward.

"C'mon let's go…" Michio said as the three stalked out of the alley. As they did, they realized how late it was. The stars were already shining, so the three decided to part ways and go home for the night.

February 14, 2018 – Friday [Fujihara Apartment, Late Night]

Ryo walked into the apartment and found his sister tearing up on the couch, watching TV. Aimi noticed her brother walk in. "W-Where have you been!" She asked very harshly. Her eyes were filled with concern, and her face was pale.

Ryo was shocked and then looked at the clock in the kitchen; 11:00 PM it read. "Sorry, Michio and Takeo wanted to show me around the city…" Ryo replied with an ashamed look on his face. "…Were you crying?"

Aimi was frozen for a seconded and then recomposed herself. "Yeh, b-but it was at this soap opera…" Ryo looked at the TV screen. It was on a wrestling show.

"Yeh… Wait I thought we didn't have power."

"Well, I asked, and the man at the front desk gave us one free week of power and water. But we seriously need to start paying bills."

Ryo put two and two together and realized that she was telling him to get a job. He suddenly realized how tired and unmotivated he was. Ryo yawned, he never needed a job at the orphanage. "Well I'm going to bed…" He started to head for his bedroom.

"Good night…" Aimi softly said.

Ryo stopped. "Night…" With that Ryo went into his room and plugged in his now dead PSV. He was dead tired and getting a job AND going to school wasn't what he wanted to hear. Soon enough he drifted into sleep.

February 14, 2018 – Friday [The Velvet Room, Late Night]

Ryo once again found himself in the blue room sitting in a chair surrounded by monitors. Igor was sitting at his desk like last time, grinning wildly. He outstretched his hands, and the three screens behind him showed the face of the long nose man instead of the usual dark city. "Welcome to the Velvet Room!"

"My, my…" Igor continued. "Look at your progress… Already you have established your first social link! That is a great accomplishment that no other guest has ever done." Igor clapped for Ryo over this achievement. "You may not know what this means, but in due time you will! Just remember to keep this bond and cherish it forever."

Ryo looked at Igor questionably. "What's his aim?" But, hell, he was too tired to ask anything.

"Now… What does our guess have in store for him now?" Igor waved his hand and the same deck of cards appeared. With another wave, he separated two cards again and flipped both over. "Ah the Sun Arcana in the downward position… Tsk, tsk that shows great signs of depression and sadness. The other is the Death Arcana in the upright. Hope. Take that any way you please, but hope for the future."

Igor waved his hands once again to dismiss the cards. "Well you were quite quiet tonight… Maybe that will change the next time, which will be soon. Until then, goodbye! And continue your search for life's fulfillment!" Igor raised his arms and Ryo felt his eyes become heavy once again.

Song time! (Give them a quick YouTube search if your interested.)

CHAS School Grounds: Aquatic Mine (Sonic Adventure 2)

Chichibu Plaza & Fujihara Apartment: Wild Canyon (Sonic Adventure 2)

Downtown Chichibu: Meteor Herd (Sonic Adventure 2)

Velvet Room: A Poem to Everyone's Souls (Persona Series)