The Other Chance
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I do not own anything connected with Persona, Atlus or ancient deities used for cultural influence. I only own myself. Woohoo.
Now, please enjoy the story…
Chapter 1: New Arrivals
April 6, 2009:
The railway terminal was busy as usual. People rushed about, chatted and bought expensive trinkets they otherwise did not need.
Amongst the crowd were three siblings; an older young man and a set of twins.
The older young man had medium length, shaggy, light brown hair and bright blue eyes. The male twin had dark straight hair and deep blue eyes, while his female twin had long, vibrant brown hair tied up behind her head with burning crimson eyes.
The older young man had a duffle bag slung over one shoulder and a wooden sword wrapped in a cloth on his back. Each twin carried a similar duffle bag.
They looked around for their terminal.
"Either of you two see it," the young man, Akio, asked.
"Nah"/"Nope" replied the twin in unison. Akio hated when they did that. Replying in unison was so cliché.
The girl twin, Minako, stepped up. "I think we need to keep going in that direction," she said pointed toward the nearest gate.
"But if we go too far then we'll miss the train altogether," retorted her twin brother, Minato.
"I'm sure if we just keep going we'll find it," she snapped at him.
"If we miss this train there's no telling when we'll be able to get on the next one," he shot back at her.
She stuck her tongue out at him while he scowled deeply at her. Suddenly, a hand smacked both of them on the head.
They turn to see Akio glaring at them and pointing toward their gate, which happened to be where Minako had been pointing.
"She's right that's our gate," he informed them holding up their tickets.
"Told ya so," she quipped at her twin.
"Whatever," the dark hair twin replied.
"This is gonna be a long year, I just know it," Akio said to himself while practically dragging his siblings to the boarding station.
Meanwhile, in a small dorm room. A young girl with light brown hair, wearing a pink outfit, sat on the floor holding what appeared to be a pistol. She breathes heavily.
"Ok. I just put it to my head…" she does so, still breathing heavily.
After a moment she steels herself but stops. She lets the "pistol" fall from her hand and sighs deeply. "I can't…I just can't do it," she says to herself.
The train headed for Iwatodai was late. Really late.
Over the PA the train conductor had informed the passengers: "Due to a malfunction in the switching system, today's rail schedule has been greatly altered. We apologize to any customers who were in a hurry. The next stop is Iwatodai."
As the sibling waited, Akio noticed that his younger brother and sister had fallen asleep and were leaning against each other for support.
Akio couldn't help but smile to himself. 'If only they could be like this when they're awake…damn,' he thought to himself.
He allowed himself to close his eyes for a moment, relishing in the peace. Just then, an image of a blue butterfly fluttered across his mind.
His eyes shot open and he looked around but saw nothing.
"I know I've seen that butterfly before…but where?" he asked himself quietly, not wanting to wake his siblings.
Suddenly, the train came to a stop and the monsters were awakened.
"Nothing lasts forever," Akio said smirking to himself.
The train conductor announced that it was Iwatodai and the doors opened. Akio pushed his half-sleeping siblings out the door before it closed.
Yawning, Minako began looking around. "Where are we?" she asked.
"Iwatodai, I imagine," her twin replied. "At least that's what the announcement said."
"If you two had been paying attention then you would know where we are and how late we are," Akio scolded.
Minako and Minato looked up at the clock. Sure enough, it was almost midnight. Both gasped and looked back to their older brother.
"It's almost time, ya know," Akio said smiling. But the twins did not find his humor amusing.
The clock struck midnight but before even the first ding, the world began to change. Electronic equipment suddenly shut down. The sky turned a putrid green, the moon to an awful yellow and all round them the world became dark and foreboding.
People around them suddenly were inside coffins, tall ones, short ones, coffins of all kinds of shapes and sizes.
The sibling were huddled together, not out of fear but from habit. Ever since they were small they had perceived this extra facet of time. This "extra hour" as they came to call it. At first it was frightening but over time they learned to accept it as a "normal" part of life.
Akio pulled out his map from his bag and looked at it. The twins soon found themselves looking at it as well.
"Ok. If we're here…then we need to go…there," Akio said pointing to different spots marked on the map. "We better hurry. It's not good to be out in the open like this."
They exited the terminal into the street. Coffins were everywhere and blood puddles lined the streets.
"God, I hate this time of day," Minako said to herself.
"It's only an hour. It'll be over soon," Minato assured her.
"I know but…it's so creepy. Even after ten years it still creeps me out," she told him.
"I know what you mean," he twin replied. "But we've lasted this long on our own…"
"Yeah, but we mainly stay indoors while it happens," Akio retorted. "I don't like being in the streets while it's like this. Make me jumpy," he said not looking up from the map.
The twins hung their heads a little before rushing to keep up with their brother.
The three, at last, came to a large dorm building. Akio looks from his map to the building. Minako reaches into her bag and pulls out her admissions packet. Inside the packet she pulls out a picture of their dorm.
"This is it," she informs them. Her brothers nod and they all head for the door.
They step inside the front door and look around. They notice a small TV in the corner of the living room area, a few couches and two chairs. Beyond that a dining room area is set up with twelve chairs.
While Minako and Minato begin to move closer to the living room area, Akio looks to the desk and sees a small boy in stripped pajamas looking at him.
"Welcome, it's wonderful to see you again." the boy says. Minato and Minako turn around suddenly to see him. "You late," the boy continues, "I've been waiting a long time."
Akio looks at the boy puzzled. "Again?" he inquires.
The boy smiles wider and replies, "Oh, nevermind. If you don't remember it's fine."
Akio is about to ask what he means when the boy suddenly holds out a piece of paper to Akio. "If you want to proceed, then please sign here. It's a contract." Akio takes it from him and looks at it carefully.
All it says is 'I chooseth this fate of mine own free will.' Akio can't help but feel a sort of déjà vu while looking at it.
"There's no need to be scared," the boy replies. "It only means that you will take responsibility for your actions."
Minato and Minako walk up and notice that there is only one piece of paper.
Before they can speak the boy cuts them off. "You are responsible for them, aren't you?" the boy asks Akio.
"Yeah," Akio replies sternly.
"Then there's no need for them to sign, only you." The boy eagerly waits for Akio to sign the contract, as if he has waited his whole life for that moment.
Akio takes a pen from the desk and signs his name: AKIO ARISATO
The boy slowly takes the contract from Akio.
"Very well," the boy says, "Time is something no one can escape. It delivers us all to the same end. Wishing won't make it go away. But you know that already don't you."
Akio looks to the boy as he slowly backs up into the shadows. Before the boy is covered by the darkness he whispers, "And so…it begins again…"
Before Akio can call out to him the boy disappears right in front of the Arisato siblings.
The siblings are left dumbfounded. Suddenly, the sound of footstep accompanied by a voice.
"Who's there!"
The sibling look to the stairs to a young girl with light brown hair, in a pink outfit, staring down at them.
"How can you be…But it's…!" she yells to them. "Don't tell me…"
The girl pulls out what looks like a gun from a holster on her leg. The twin sibling instinctively take a step back, while their older brother stand in front of them.
'Holy crap,' Akio thought to himself, 'were being mugged, in our dorm, by a girl…damn.'
The girl begins to lift the gun when another girl with long, vibrant red hair comes down the stairs behind her.
"Wait!" the other girl calls out. The girl in pink looks back to the other girl as do the sibling.
Akio can't help but think how majestic she looks. But at the same time, this whole event feels nostalgic but he can't figure out why.
Then just as suddenly as the darkness came, the light returns. The lighting in the building shoots back to life and the girl in pink is noticeably reassured.
The long, red haired girl comes all the way down the stairs and stands with the girl in pink.
She address the siblings. "I didn't think you'd arrive so late. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo. I'm one of the students who live in this dorm."
Akio moves to speak but is cut off by the girl in pink. "Who're they?" she asks Mitsuru.
"Transfer students," Mitsuru replies, "It was a last minute decision to assign them here. They'll eventually be moved to a room in the normal dorms."
Akio finally finds a moment to speak. "Nice to meet you," he says politely, "I'm Akio Arisato. This is my little brother and sister," indicates his siblings.
The pink hair girl cuts in, talking only to Mitsuru. "…Is it okay for them to be here?"
Mitsuru smiles and replies, "I guess we'll see…"
The siblings look to each other confused. Mitsuru notices and approaches them.
She gestures to the girl in pink, "This is Yukari Takeba. She'll be a junior this spring."
Minako cuts in, "Just like us," looking to her twin.
Yukari slowly approaches them her guard evidently still up. "…Hi, I'm Yukari." She tries her best to be polite.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Minato Arisato." Minato says quickly not wanting to be rude.
Yukari smiles gently at him, "Nice to meet you, too," she replies. They look at each other for a moment before Minako jumps in.
"So…Why do you have a gun?" she says pointing to Yukari's "gun" that she still holds tight in one hand.
Akio resisted the urge to face-palm; his sister certainly wasn't shy about asking questions better left unsaid.
"Huh?" Yukari replies before realizing she is still holding the "gun". Nervously, she replaces it back in the holster.
"Um, well, it's sorta like a hobby…" she explains, "Well, not a hobby, but…"
"That's a…strange hobby you got there," Akio retort, one eyebrow raised. Mitsuru, sensing tension, attempt to alleviate it.
"You know how it is these days…" she tells them, "It's for self-defense." She smiles warmly at them. "It's not a real gun, of course."
Minako scratches her head in embarrassment. "Oh, sorry. It just kinda…took me by surprise is all."
"That's quite alright," Mitsuru assured. "But it's getting late." She moves toward the stairs but Akio calls out to her.
"Wait a sec." She turns to face him. "What did you mean by 'okay to be in this dorm'? Isn't this a normal dorm?"
Mitsuru stops and turn back to him. Yukari stiffens, remembering her comment. "Oh, uh…of course it is!" Yukari says adamantly.
"…Not quite," Mitsuru interjects, "It's a co-ed dorm, for one thing, and there are other differences as well."
"Such as…" Akio inquires. Mitsuru smiles at him and replies, "I'll explain later. For now let's get you to your rooms."
Akio wants to ask more but knows it's not the right time. Besides, he tired, as are his sibling and he wants to get to bed as early as possible. School would begin the next morning after all.
Mitsuru and Yukari lead them up the first flight of stairs. "Your things should already be there." Mitsuru informs them, "I suggest you tuck in for the night."
"We'll do that, thanks." Akio said before his siblings could respond. He didn't want any more awkward conversations because of his sister's big mouth.
Minato, however spoke up anyway. "So…where exactly are our rooms?"
"Oh…" Yukari said smiling, "I'll show you guys the way to your rooms. Follow me."
"And I'll show you to your room, Minako." Mitsuru told the bubbly twin. "It's on the third floor."
"It's gonna be weird not sharing a room with Minato," the girl twin said, "Ever since we were kids we've been in the same room."
Mitsuru smirked at the comment, "Well, sorry but here men and women are on different floors for…obvious reasons."
Minako tilted her head in confusion. "Obvious reasons?" Before she could say anymore Mitsuru dragged her up the stairs to the third floor, leaving the boys and Yukari to stare wide-eyed as they left.
"Well…anyway," Yukari said fighting a blush. "This way."
Yukari led both Minato and Akio to their rooms which were right next to each other. Akio was at the far end of the hall while Minato was in the middle.
As they reached their rooms Yukari asks them, "So, any questions?"
The brothers paused for a second before Minato asked, "Does that boy live here, too?"
Yukari looked them utterly confused. "What are you talking about?" she asks.
Akio stepped up, "I signed a contract when I got here. A little kid had me do it." Yukari continues to stare at them baffled. "A little boy in stripped pajamas," Akio explained further.
Yukari begins to feel very uncomfortable. "…C'mon guys, it's not funny."
"But…" Minato started. Akio clasps a hand over Minato's mouth. "Never mind, just a joke between us." Akio laughs nervously. Yukari shrugs and lets it go.
Akio whispers to Minato. "Don't worry about it. Either way we'll figure it out, later." Minato nods and Akio releases him. Akio turns to Yukari.
"Thanks for showing us to our rooms," he says smiling to her.
"Oh…No problem, senpai," she responds kind of embarrassed. She turns to leave but stops and addresses them again. "Um…Can I ask you something?"
They look to each other and shrug. "Sure," Akio says.
"On your way here from the station, was everything okay?" she asks.
Both of the brothers stiffened slightly. Akio and his siblings had learned years ago not to mention the strange things they call could see and hear during the strange "extra hour".
"What do you mean?" Minato responded. "You know what I…" Yukari began but quickly stopped.
She pauses for a moment, thinking. "…Never mind," She finally says to them, "It seems like all of you are alright, anyway."
"And why wouldn't we be?" Akio questions.
"Oh, no reason," she replies waving her hand at them. "Well, I'd better get going…"
She turns to leave again but stops again and turns back to them. "Um…I'm sure you still have other questions but let's save them for later, okay?"
"No problem," Minato answers quickly, earning a look from his older brother.
"Good night," Yukari calls as she heads for the stairs leading to the girls floor. She proceeds up the stairs. After she is gone, Minato notices his brother grinning at him.
"What?" he asks flustered. "Oh, nothing," his older brother replies, "I'm just sad she's not a year older but…Damn, she fine."
Minato stared at his brother blushing. "What?" was all that came out of his mouth.
"Just saying. If she was in my class I'd stake my claim early before the claim-jumpers jump all up on her, if ya know what I mean…"
Minato blushes a deeper red and moves past his brother toward his room. Akio continues to grin at him.
"Remember…Stake your claim early." Akio continues.
"I-I'm going to bed. We've got school tomorrow," Minato replies. And before Akio can chide him more he quickly opens the door and shuts it in his brother's face.
Akio laughs to himself as he makes his way to his room. "And I thought this year was gonna be boring. Thank God for innuendo."
Akio enters his room, seeing all of his stuff piled next to his bed. He decides that unpacking would be too tiring and plops down on the bed.
"I'll worry about that stuff later. For now…sleepy time." And with that he falls into a deep slumber.
To Be Continued…
Hey everyone. So it finally begins…again…for the fourth time…at least for me. Anyway you know the drill. R and R please. Hope you enjoy this as much as I do writing it. Flames welcome for use in my BBQ.