Disclaimer: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha belongs to Seven Arcs and all respective license holders. The Persona Series belongs to ATLUS. I only own this fic and nothing else. I also own all the mistakes too.
Chapter 33:Friction in Fiction
Though it was early in the morning, there was a bustle about the city. People of all ages walking the streets, all to greet the first morning of the New Year. Nanoha too added to the noise, walking in loud clacking geta alongside Fate. The two of them were in kimono, pink and black respectively, and looking quite cute if she had anything to say about it. Between them, was a young man, in his usual attire. And in the same spot was a deafening silence, one she could no longer ignore.
"Is something wrong Ren? You've been quiet all morning? Well quieter than usual." Nanoha felt that something was off about her boyfriend this morning. He always was quiet, but this was more than usual. He would at least be paying attention to what was happening, but he seemed distracted. She thought it was cute at first, that he was just more tired this morning, but no. Something was wrong, at least that's what she felt.
"Huh? Uh… no. Nothing's wrong..." Yes, something was definitely wrong. His eyes weren't focused. They looked at her, but it was by force. There was none of the warmth and care that he would normally look at her with. There was a spark of it, but it was only embers; a muffled and smothered light. Why he was holding back she couldn't figure out.
"Hmmm…" she intoned, a twinge of sarcasm at its edge. The way he answered her at least alleviated the worry that he didn't care about them anymore. It was the tone he used when he was trying to be careful with his words. However that also annoyed her even more. "Ren!" She called his name with a bit more force than normal as she brought the three of them to a stop.
"Y-yes!?" That was unusual. He was surprised, as if something was about to go horribly wrong, in turn that had caught her off guard. She'd never seen him so on the back foot because of her before, at least not for so little.
"Well… firstly I'm just calling your name," Nanoha told him to try and assure him that she didn't mean him harm. She never would if she could help it.
"R-right… I'm just not used to your voice being… never mind. What do you need?"
Her voice? What about it? No that wasn't important. "Ren, how many times do I have to tell you. If there is something on your mind, you can tell me and Fate. As long as we're together, we'll always be on your side."
"Always," Fate joined in to say. "Remember that we promised that we'd be open and clear with each other, but you've been hiding something since this morning." Nanoha felt emboldened in her suspicions now that Fate had made clear that she had felt the same.
"…" Ren remained quiet, but his eyes flitted between the two of them. "It's… I promise I'll talk to you two about it when we get home. Let's not hold up the sidewalk."
"Oh!"
"Alright…" Nanoha and Fate blushed a bit, realizing that they were having their little spat in public in front of an uncountable number of other people. They returned to walking towards the shrine, a bit more quiet in part to wanting to disappear away from prying eyes.
"By the way, have you two seen Morgana?" Ren asked, causing confusion for Nanoha and Fate.
"What are you talking about? He said yesterday that he would just do his own thing this morning." Fate answered.
"Losing your memories too? Okay, when we get home, we're going to have a long discussion at the table," Nanoha said, her worries only growing as Ren's face fell into contemplation. It seemed to her that he wanted to ask something else, but refrained.
"Hey, I just got a text from Kasumi-chan, she says she's already at the shrine's torii gate," Fate said, holding up her phone showing the aforementioned text.
"We'd better hurry then. Come on Ren!" Nanoha said as she grabbed his hand, and Fate grabbed the other, and briskly made their way towards the shrine.
As they got closer and closer, the crowds thinned, the noise softened, at first a bit, then ever more. The path to the shrine, which they had expected to be full, grew emptier and emptier as they approached. And then once they were at the shrine proper, there was almost no one there.
"Hey, over here!" A girl with bright red hair, in a yellow kimono adorned with red flowers waved at them from beneath the torii gate.
"Hey there!" Nanoha said as she, Fate, and Ren walked over to where she was. "Sorry for being late."
"Oh it's okay, I was honestly early. Besides, you're here before everyone else," Yoshizawa said as she splayed her arm towards the shrine grounds, only two or three others there, none of whom were the ones that they had promised to meet up with. "We can get a head start on our New Years prayers."
"That's true," Fate started as the four of them started to walk towards the shrine's main building. "Although I have to admit there isn't much I'd want to wish for."
"Same here, but I guess we can just wish for other people's wishes to come true," Nanoha offered instead. It just all seemed to be going right. She was in a relationship with the two most important people in the world to her, they were all on track to Tokyo University; she didn't know what more she could want without coming off as spoiled and selfish.
"Well I'll be praying for good results come the next meet. I've still got my work cut out for me," Yoshizawa said, psyching herself up. "What about you senpai? Knowing you, you've probably already got your wishes fulfilled seeing both your hands full there."
"Huh? Sure…" Ren tersely replied, a bit of a blush painting his face as he realized his hands were still being held by the two girls at his side.
"You better make sure you make the two of them happy, or else I'll have to call you the scum of the Earth," Yoshizawa was smiling, and yet was not smiling somehow.
"I uh…" sweat started to pour at the side of Ren's face, unsure of how to deal with so much… overtly hidden wrath.
"We already told you, we all agreed to this. I love Fate just as much as I do Ren," Nanoha said firmly, her voice stern but polite.
"It is the same for me. I love Nanoha and Ren. We're happy like this," Fate added, her tone just the same. "We wouldn't want it any other way, even if it is so strange."
"I guess… honestly I couldn't imagine having to share a guy with someone else," Yoshizawa said with a reluctant sigh.
"We're sharing each other, not just Ren," Fate clarified. "He's sharing Nanoha with me too."
"Exactly," Nanoha added right as they got to the donation box in front of the shrine. "Enough of that though, let's give our prayers for the New Year."
A silent nod (not before a soft grumble by Yoshizawa) was shared among them before they placed their hands in prayer and remained quiet. As she had thought earlier, Nanoha did not know what to pray for. Everything she could have ever wanted was with her, her dreams had already come true, and she was already confident in the near future. Perhaps she'd want a ring for her and Fate to be given to her by Ren, but she was sure of that as well. But then her mind wandered. She opened an eye, and what had she spied, a Ren so confused, troubled.
Her instinct flared, she wanted to help. No matter how, but she didn't know how to begin. Perhaps however it could at least start with a prayer, that whatever troubled Ren, they'd see it through, together. And so she did, she in her mind sent her prayer to Kami-sama, please help Ren with what troubles him so that they could start the New Year right. Yes, that would do it.
"Yo!"
"What's up!"
"You guys are already here!" The four of them turned around to see the rest of their entourage appear. Ryuji, giving a great wave as he closed in with the rest of Ren's friends, the girls in equally beautiful kimono while the two other men were simply dressed for the weather.
"Everyone you're here, even Hayate-chan," Nanoha said, noting that the young girl and her family had arrived. "You guys too!" She said looking at Chrono's family walking in alongside Yuuno and Amy. The two young boys walking side by side with Chrono's mother and father while Amy tagged along just to the side.
"Hey everyone!" Amy said waving her arm that was covered by her own kimono.
"Sorry we're late," Yuuno apologized, looking up at Nanoha from below.
"We got a bit lost navigating the trains," Clyde said, scratching the back of his head.
"You mean you got lost dear. Had you listened to me we'd have been here sooner," Lindy said, a mix of a giggle and sigh escaping her. "Come now Chrono, say hi to your older sister and her… friends."
"She's not my older sister," Chrono said, with an embarrassed blush on his face.
"Come on, we've been over this. Your mother and her mother are long time friends. She's known you since you were in diapers. Now stop being so shy, and at least say hi to her," Clyde said with a light shove on Chrono's back.
"He's right, family is important to keep in good contact with," Amy said as she grabbed Chrono's hand and brought him along.
"Hey, I'm 14. I can do it myself…" Chrono said as he shook off Amy's grasp. An act that she responded to with puffed up cheeks and being given internal apologies by Nanoha and Fate. All that said he still looked nine years old, and so his tantrum looked more cute than anything else. "I hope you're doing well," he said in an almost inaudible volume, but it was enough.
"I am thank you. I'm glad to see your doing good as well. Mother, you're here too with Arf." Precia held a small orange puppy in her arms, looking distant and stern, but she seemed to always be like that to Nanoha's recollection. Nanoha swung her head to the side… she felt something was off in Ren's direction, but whatever it was had vanished. Probably just her imagination.
"We wouldn't miss this for the world," Hayate said in her own cute little kimono, as were Signum, Vita, and Shamal. Next to them was Reinforce, holding Zafira's leash who was looking fierce as always. Reinforce Also seemed distant though that was probably just because she was shy.
"As would I. Such a mesmerizing sight, a true embodiment of Japanese beauty," Yusuke held his fingers in a rectangle to frame the view before him.
"Oh… thank you. But it's too bad Alisa-chan and Suzuka-chan couldn't be here today, they're apparently busy with some other family stuff, but they send their regards," Hayate told the rest of them.
"That's too bad, but I guess it makes sense," Nanoha said with a bit of sadness. They were still too young to be out on their own. Weird how she had made friends with girls that young, but stranger things have happened.
"We'll just have to pray for them, though I suppose the four of you have already gone ahead and done yours," Makoto said, noting where they were standing.
"Hey since everyone's here, why don't we grab a bite to eat after we're done praying," Ryuji offered, which wasn't a bad idea at all to be honest.
"Sorry, but I'll be heading out with my family once we're finished here," Makoto declined with a bit of excited glee.
"I as well already have plans that I must keep," Yusuke also declined.
"Me too, I'll be dining with my father somewhere, though he hasn't told me where." Nanoha couldn't help but notice something move in the corner of her eye. Ren had moved. It was subtle, and he was trying to hide it, but he moved suddenly. Why was that? Was that because of Haru? But what was wrong?
"I'll be hitting up some New Year's sales with my mom and Sojiro!" Futaba declared. There it was again, it was small, but Ren seemed to grow ever more confused. And she was no closer to an answer now, even with it occurring more and more. There wasn't anything that should make him so nervous, at least not that she could surmise.
"We'll also have to decline. We're going to be having a small family get together, isn't that right everyone?" Hayate turned towards her family.
"Yes, we'll be going to a barbecue place we reserved," Signum explained.
"Korean Barbecue apparently. We'll be able to grill it right there in front of us," Shamal added with a bit of excitement on her face.
"Nuh-uh, like we said, you're not going to cook anything. We're leaving that to Hayate-chan and Reinforce!" Vita reprimanded Shamal, much to the woman's chagrin.
"Aww…" A small laugh was shared by the others from the family and hearty bark from Zafira. Always such a cute puppy.
"Then I guess we'll do our own thing. I'll be meeting up with Shiho later so I should probably get going after our prayers as well," Ann said as she and the others started to walk up to where they would pray.
"After this we'll be having a meal somewhere I've always wanted to try and what better time than the New Year!" Lindy said as she raised a hand into the air in excitement.
"We'd invite you, but like everywhere else, reservations," Clyde let out a hearty laugh. "Next time, we promise!"
"That's okay, have fun," Fate said with a soft smile. "Don't hold back on our account."
"We'll before all that we should pray first," Haru reminded them.
As the others walked towards the shrine, Fate turned to her mother. "What about you Mother? What will you and Arf do after this?" Fate asked. "And where is Alicia?"
"She… is at home. She wanted to sleep in today. You know how your older sister is..." Precia explained in a slow, cautious voice. "Young man," she suddenly called to Ren.
"Yes?" Ren responded. There was hesitation in his voice, probably unsure of why he was called, but Nanoha and Fate didn't know either.
"How… has your… relationship been?" Precia continued to speak slowly, the pauses punctuated with a clear hesitation from her mind, wanting to find the right words.
"It's still a surprise…" Ren answered back as slowly as Precia had asked, as if probing back. It was such an odd conversation to Nanoha, who didn't understand why they seemed so, for lack of a better word, afraid. And of what for that matter?
"I see."
Before Precia could speak anymore, a phone rang out from someone among them. "Oh that's mine!" Yoshizawa pulled her phone out and checked the text. "It's my dad. He says we've got relatives coming over. He decided to come all the way out to here to get me…. My family's kind of serious about their get-togethers."
"That's nice. Family should be together at this time of year," Fate said with a nod, before looking over to where Precia and Arf was. The dog, noticing her master's gaze, gave a hearty bark before panting and wagging her tail.
"I should probably call my family as well." All this talk of family reminded Nanoha that she should also give them a call at the very least. Though her older brother and father would probably still give her an earful about her choice in relationships… Well she should still call all the same.
"Hello there!" An unfamiliar man walked up to them sporting a bright orange coat over slacks and a conspicuous pair of red glasses.
"Dad! You're here sooner than I thought you'd be," Yoshizawa said in surprise.
"Well I was already walking out of the station when I sent that text. Anyways, who do we have here? I believe this is our first time meeting." Nanoha thought she recognized the man. He was a TV Host, not that she watched a lot, but she did at least recognize that when she remembered Yoshizawa said where her dad worked.
"Well first off, this is Ren-senpai, the one I told you about before? And beside him are Nanoha-chan and Fate-chan, along with Fate's mother and Arf."
"Rarf!" Arf barked upon hearing her name said.
"Ah, aren't you a cute little puppy. And it's finally nice to meet you Ren-kun. My daughter talks about you all the time," Yoshizawa's father said with a bit of a teasing smirk.
"Not all the time!" Yoshizawa complained only to receive laugh at her expense by her dad.
"Really? That's not how I remember it," he said before turning to Ren. "I was told you picked these out for me, too. I know it's pretty late for it, but thank you all the same." He held is bright red glasses out in front of himself.
"You're welcome. I'm glad you like them." He remembered, though just barely. Yoshizawa asked him for help during the time where he was giving out his Linker Core to the Book.
"Like? He wears them all the time, even to work."
"I'm quite the fan of them. Well that aside, it was nice to meet all of you. Š̸̢̨̝̤͍̬̹͐̾̍̾̇̀͆̀̇̆̕͘͠͠û̵̪̩̝̘͉͈͍̫̙͂̀̏̅̒̽̄̑̈̈͒͝͝m̵̢͇̠̮̭̦̩̭̎̾̊̐͂͊͐̐͐̕̕͘͝ͅi̵̙̟̜͎̤̩̦̘̳̜̩̔̿̇͌́̔̓͂̌͊̕r̴̟͎̂͊͘e̶̢̖̬̜͊́̿̆̃͋̓̈́͊, we should get going."
Nanoha saw how both Ren and Yoshizawa both panicked, but in different ways. Yoshizawa seemed caught off guard, meanwhile Ren was instead more surprised. Nanoha was too because she felt like she was supposed to hear something, but it didn't come out right.
"Is something wrong?" Yoshizawa's father asked, noticing how her daughter had paused.
"Ah… No, nothing!" She deflected before turning to the rest of them. "We'll be parting here, let everyone else know that I'm going back first okay?"
"Sure."
"Of course we will," Ren and Fate said one after the other, waving goodbye to the Yoshizawa family as the departed.
"No need to say anything, we overheard at the end there," Makoto said as she and the others walked over to where they were standing.
"That being said, we will also be taking our leave here," Yusuke said with his usual panache. "I wish you all a good year."
"Same here!" Ryuji said as he swung his arm over Ren's shoulders. "Don't do anything I wouldn't Ren-Ren!" Before Ren could respond, he had already pushed him a bit to the side and made way for the station.
"Ren-Ren… can I call you that too?" Hayate asked with wide eyed expectation, something that caused a conflicting knot to tie itself in Ren's stomach.
"Come on Hayate, we have to get going or else we're going to miss our reservation," Signum said before turning towards Ren. "Take care Ren-Ren."
"Have a pleasant New Year Ren-Ren."
"Yeah, Ren-Ren," Shamal and Vita said, the latter more so sneered while Zafira barked twice in a similar tone. All Ren could do was put palm to face in embarrassment. He could hear the others begin saying their own goodbyes as well, but he was more so focused on how he was going to deal with being called that by Hayate's family from now on.
"Ren-Ren." A sigh escaped from Ren as he looked up to see… Reinforce standing in front of him, much to his surprise. "I received a cellphone from my master. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to share your phone number with me as well. They… insisted that I asked you in person."
"Oh, did you get that over the past few days?" Nanoha asked.
"Yes… I originally believed that I didn't need one, but I've since decided that it may be necessary for the time being," Reinforce said in her usual cautious tone.
"I will also like to ask if you would share your… phone number was it, with me as well," Precia said as she brought out her own cell phone, a purple flip model, but still usable.
"Why do you want Ren's phone number Mom?" Fate asked, surprised as the rest of them.
"Why not? Your mother can decide who she wishes to associate with, and your boyfriend is not by any means a poor option for acquaintance given your own relationship with him. Also why shouldn't I have something of an acquaintanceship with someone who may one day be my… Son-in-law," she explained, but Nanoha felt that it was a bit forced somehow, the last words being particularly dragged out. That being said, having the parent of a partner's phone number was not too weird, only a little.
As she thought this, Ren had already finished sharing his phone number with the two of them, Reinforce and Precia. "That should do it," Ren said as he confirmed that his contact info was saved in their phones.
"Reinforce, we've got to get going!" Hayate yelled out from a ways a way, the rest of the family having already walked far enough to seem only like specks.
"I must be going. Thank you. I'll contact you if something happens, Ren-ren," Reinforce said before walking at a heightened pace towards where Hayate was waving from, leaving Ren in the dust before he could ask her to stop calling him that.
"I will be returning home where Alicia is Fate… please visit if you are able to," Precia said before leaving without another word. That left Nanoha, Ren and Fate alone with themselves.
"I guess we should go home as well. Every where's probably packed and we've still got some left over curry from the other day," Fate suggested. It sounded like a good idea to Nanoha.
"I agree. Besides that, we have to talk about what's been bothering Ren today." That was most important now. "And before you say anything, no Ren, you're not getting out of it."
"I'm… okay. Let's talk then." He figured it would be better to go along than not, and that he might be able to do something about whatever was going on. But beneath all of that… there was a fleck of something in him that felt that… it was nice to have people who cared about him like that, that would listen to him like that. But it was only a small fleck, one that he buried.
"Good. Morgana should also be home by the time we get back so he'll also be there," Fate said as the three of them began to walk the quiet streets. As they made their way, the girls, without words, or even a hint of their intentions, grabbed his hands again. And like that, the whole way, they went home.
-0 -0-33-0-0-
"Yo, you're back!" A black haired, handsome young man said from the couch, watching TV as they returned home. Ren opening his mouth wanting to ask who was that only for Nanoha to say something first.
"Hey Morgana, finished your morning errands?" Nanoha said nonchalantly while Ren's eyes widened to size of dinner plates and his mouth much the same.
"All done, though I'm thinking of checking in on Lady Ann Later… is something the matter Ren?" The… man who was apparently Morgana asked him. His mind raced over the changes, but this probably was the most drastic one so far. Dead coming back to life, the girls suddenly becoming his age, all of them being in Tokyo, and now this. He was about to just call this the weirdest and most prolonged New Years dream ever, world record possibly, and go to sleep and hope it all would go away. That was a great idea.
"Well… that's something we're going to find out very soon," Fate said as she took her shoes before entering the kitchen, turning the stove on to heat the curry pot. Ren sighed as he was reminded that said idea… was not going to happen just yet.
"Come on Ren, table," Nanoha said as she tapped it with her hand. "Do you want to join us Morgana?"
"I'll be alright. Sounds like love trouble and I think I should probably stay out of it. Good luck though." Ren couldn't tell if that was directed at them all or just him. "In fact let me get out of your way now. I'll go out to see Lady Ann as part of the New Year."
"Alright, take care then," Nanoha said as she put her purse down on the counter, taking out the keys and some such.
"Bye," Fate said from the kitchen with a small wave.
"I'll be going," with a wave of his hand, Morgana left the apartment to them. Once more Ren was left alone with the… well they were women now weren't they, not girls. Regardless of whatever objections he had, he was made to sit at the table, Nanoha eyeing him like a hawk as he pulled a seat out.
She then walked into… their room, as it were. "Stay there, I'm going to change. Are you coming Fate?" Nanoha called to Fate who was still in the kitchen.
"Yeah. Ren I've set the timer, if we're not done before it goes off, please turn the heat off the stove." Fate shot him a look, which Ren returned with a nod by instinct, before disappearing into the room with Nanoha, and closing the door. Though without locking it, he realized when a second click hadn't happened. He threw the though out of his mind.
With that out of the way, a sense of relief washed over him. It inflicted in him something resembling vertigo to look at Nanoha and Fate. Nanoha's twintails were instead now a single long sidetail that reached her hips, which given her growing into an adult was quite an impressive length for hair. She was still shorter than him, but now the difference was measured in centimeters, rather than the near full meter and change like it was before. Regardless Nanoha, while more confident, still felt like the same girl.
Fate was similar, growing around Nanoha's height. He hadn't taken the time to directly measure them against one another, but Fate seemed a bit taller, still shorter than he was. Like Nanoha, the adult Fate had eschewed her old twin tail hair style in favor of a single ribbon tied near the end that reached down to the back of her knees. While still somewhat reserved, Fate now felt more open as a person. Beneath it all however was still attentive girl that wanted to please those around her.
Through the similarities and differences, he could feel his brain cells smashing into each other trying to reconcile them, but each second of effort drew him closer and closer to an aneurysm. He could tell when they talked to him, it was them, but those bodies weren't, but they could be, but it was… but…. Just when he thought his mind had enough-
"Okay Ren, let's talk," Nanoha said, walking out with Fate, now changed into more casual wear. Nanoha wore a dark pink dress in combination with a lighter pink outer wear while Fate wore her own dress, a light gray button down top with a long pleated purple skirt. This only made served to strain Ren's mind further looking at the mature choices in fashion.
"You really aren't okay. I'll get some water," Fate said as she went back into the kitchen. A beeping could be heard from the room right before she entered, shutting off abruptly. Afterwards water could be heard pouring into something.
"I thought it was just your mood, but is it something physical now?" Nanoha said as she walked over to where Ren was sitting, and placing her forehead against his. It was then that Ren was able to notice: she was wearing make up. It was light, just a bit of coloring to accent her natural beauty, but it was noticeable up close. And with it was a slight floral scent, a light perfume that tickled his nose.
Regardless of their application, it was just something that the younger Nanoha never did. And when he thought of it Fate was also wearing make up as well. This did nothing to help him, even more differences…
"Hmm… it's not a fever." Nanoha pulled away, relieved that he wasn't coming down with sickness, which would be a bad start to the year. "But you still look unwell." She grabbed a seat adjacent to his own, all the while holding on to his hands. Her hold on him was soft, but it was firm. Gentle, but it would not be easy to wrest himself of it if he were to try.
"I'm back with water," Fate was carrying a tray with a full pitcher and three glasses stacked on top of one another. She placed the tray down, grabbing one of the glasses and the pitcher before pouring a glass out and placing it next to Ren. She then walked to the other side of the table and sat opposite to Nanoha, still adjacent to him, effectively sandwiching him between the two women.
"Okay Ren, it's just us right now. Let me ask again, what's bothering you?" Nanoha asked once more.
"And no holding back. You know us, we'll be able to tell if you are," Fate followed. At least that didn't seem to change. Even as kids, Nanoha and Fate had already seemed to have his number, though their more grown up appearance had placed a greater weight to their words now more than before.
Ren's mouth opened, trying to respond as quickly as he could, but he stopped himself. Just what could he ask? He wasn't sure. So much was just wrong. There was too much all at once. Was he actually the crazy one? Maybe that was it. But that wasn't true. He knew it wasn't.
The world grew dim, and in the corner of his eye he spotted it, a blue butterfly.
"…" It was muffled. He knew sounds were coming from it, it was like the dream he had last night, following the butterfly. But the voice was so distant he couldn't figure out what exactly she was trying to say. But even without being able to hear clearly its words, he knew that it was trying to remind him not to give in. To push against and break whatever this was… But he had to figure out how.
And so, without much else he could pin his hopes on, he decided to just ask. "Is… something wrong recently?" Ren asked, trying to start with some way to ease the conversation in.
"That's what we're asking you Ren," Nanoha replied, somewhat confused by the question.
"I… How old are you two?" Ren asked another strange question for the two. Nanoha and Fate looked at one another, even more confused.
"We're 18, just like you are Ren," Fate answered this time. "Did you forget? We celebrated our birthdays together, see?" Fate walked over to a table by the wall that had a number of pictures situated on it, turning on a nearby light to illuminate them. Then she pointed to a set of them showing him, Nanoha, and Fate celebrating different birthdays, presumably with the person in the center of each picture being the one whose birthday was being celebrated.
He didn't remember those. Those had to be fake of some sort because something like birthdays would be something he'd at least have a vague recollection of, but not in the slightest. He then scoured the rest of the table, looking at the other pictures, and as he did so, perusing slowly down the line, he saw the three of them getting younger and younger, as if stepping backwards through time. First year in high school, middle school photos, then elementary photos. In all of them there was him, and Nanoha and Fate, but the Nanoha and Fate. All together, the same age. It was only in those photos of their supposed childhood was there the Nanoha and Fate he recognized, the girls who still wore their hair in twintails, who had not yet been so graced by puberty, and not even a single speck of make up. And they were next to him as a child.
"Hmm? Oh man, remember how we both used to wear twintails?" Nanoha said as she followed the line of Ren's eyes. She walked over and picked up one of the photos, it was a child Ren sitting next to the two girls at a picnic watching the sakura in full bloom. "Honestly though, I think we could still pull it off."
Ren had no words, Nanoha and Fate's conversation faded into a murky background noise, indiscernible. He could make out the sight of Nanoha getting up to look at the photo with Fate, but no more than just a recognition of the act.
He... was he childhood friend with them? These photos existed, but he had no memories of it. The two of them are supposed to be kids right now, not his age. They didn't grow up together. But… then he looked at the two girls. It was them, he felt it deep within. The way they spoke, carried themselves, how they even spoke to each other and to him. It was them, but it couldn't be.
"Ren?" Nanoha called his name, bringing his mind back to what purported to be reality.
"Huh? Yes? Umm…"
"What is it?" Fate asked next, as the two waited patiently for him to say something, hopefully something that would elucidate just what was going on.
"Are you sure those are real?" He asked bluntly, pointing to the pictures. His hand was unsteady, but he was able to calm it just enough to be relatively unnoticeable. However he was at his wits end, this weird reality he didn't recognize had thrown him completely off balance, with no hope of being able to get back on his feet, not without a hard swerve.
"Ren, you gave me this picture," Nanoha replied as she held it up to him. The innocent happiness in the photo a stark contrast with the growing worry on her face. "Your parents were the ones that took it." Nanoha then looked to Fate, who looked back, equally as worried about the situation.
"Ren, maybe you should get some sleep. You're probably just tired," Fate offered to him as she looked at Nanoha. "Have you checked his temperature?"
"He's fine. No fever as far as I can tell," Nanoha answered back. "Still Ren, I also think you should get some sleep."
"No I'm not tired. I'm… I'm just…" Ren paused again, unsure of just what exactly it was he needed to say, but he knew he had to say something.
"Just what, Ren?" Nanoha asked and almost mothering tone of voice with concern in her eyes, and it was the same with Fate. "Look even if you aren't tired, maybe you should just rest for the day. Perhaps that will make you feel better at least."
"Yes, even if it doesn't solve the issue, taking a break might help in the long run," Fate backed Nanoha. The two of them walked over to him about to touch him. He felt like he needed to say something now, but he was running out of time to find the right words. And so he said the first thing he could think of before he felt that he would past the rubicon.
"I… is this really how it's supposed to be?" Ren asked, the words coming out as soon as they were thought. "Are you sure the two of you are my age?" Even as he spoke in a rush, he tried to give a measured, and careful tone. The two women grew even more flustered by his questions, but he felt that he had to keep going, one last question to ask. Though perhaps he should have stopped.
"Are you sure we're actually in a relationship?"
He immediately realized that he'd messed up, even before looking at the two women. That question was one too far. Even if he didn't disapprove of the feelings behind it, the question itself was a terrible one to ask in this circumstance. He realized he had adrenaline pumping in his veins and his face flushed and hot, only by way of the fact that it was beginning to leave him, and leaving in its place a decimating cold
"Ren" A sinking pit dropped in his stomach, hearing the warmth in Fate's voice fade bit by bit. "What do you mean by those questions?" It wasn't so much anger, so much as it was a growing sadness, fear.
"How could you even ask those questions?" Nanoha asked right after. A fire had lit within her. Whereas Fate had receded, she was beginning to boil. Her voice had become sharp as knives, yet twinged with the same sadness. "What do you even mean to say by asking if 'we're sure we're actually in a relationship'? Does everything we've done to stay together mean nothing to you?"
"What do you…" Ren couldn't even finish his sentence before he was interrupted.
"You forgot that as well?" Nanoha and Fate's eyes went wide, upon realizing he for some reason didn't know, among all of the other things he seemed to have forgotten. Nanoha had become beside herself in frustration, sitting down in a chair at table to try and keep herself from falling apart.
"When… when you were taken away to Tokyo for probation, almost everyone around us told us to stay away from you and forget about you. But we didn't listen to them. We believed you when you said you were innocent. We called you as much as we could, tried to keep in touch all the time," Fate explained as she too took a seat at the table.
"Even when your parents threw you out, and all your old friends abandoned you, we didn't. Even when you told us to stay away for our own good, we followed you to Tokyo. And after everything, when you were found innocent, through all of that, even going so far as to move to be with you, what do you mean that's not a relationship?" Nanoha spoke up again. "Just what is it that you want to say?"
"Do you… not want to be in this relationship anymore? Is that it?" Fate asked, her expression shadowed in darkness as her head hung low, eyes out of sight. "Is this all a roundabout way of saying that you want to leave?" His stomach turned. He wanted to figure out what was going on, but he didn't want it to hurt them.
"I…" He wanted to say something, but he hesitated. What should he say? Well first he should apologi-
"Well is that it?" Nanoha spoke up before he could, her eyes becoming misty with tears on the cusp of being shed. "Is that's what's been bothering you this whole time, how to tell us… this?"
"No, that's… I mean… I'm sorry..."
"Sorry for what? That you're breaking up with us on New Years?" Nanoha's voice had gone raspy, desperate. The adverse reaction was not what Ren had intended. "This is a joke right? You're just making a really bad joke."
"Ren, please tell us this is a joke. You're just joking, right?" Fate was in just as much distress
"I'm… I…" Ren stopped himself. Closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He couldn't give in. Not now, even when he so desperately wanted to. If he was to get to the bottom of this, he needed to resolve himself. But that didn't mean he had to keep doing it so tactlessly. At the very least he would try.
"I want the two of you to believe me when I say, that the both of you are two of the most important people in my life, and I want it stay that way."
The words were like honey to Fate and Nanoha, but they could see the flies stuck inside. The tone and cadence were not ones that implied a happy end. However they could do nothing but wait for Ren to finish what he started.
"However, not like this. This isn't right. This shouldn't be how this relationship is made."
A slam upon the table, a screech of the chair against the floor. It had all happened so suddenly, catching Ren off guard as he could only see the aftermath with Nanoha standing at the table, her face hanging low.
"Enough…"
"Excuse me-"
"Just go!" Nanoha yelled at him.
"Leave, Ren…" He turned to see Fate in much the same state, though still seated. Her eyes and face hidden by hair that kept him from being able to read her expression. In fact it was as if her hiding her expression was deliberate. "Stop trying to make excuses. If you want to leave, do it." Not a single bit of affection remained in that voice. Even if one could rationalize it as being in the moment, it was still freezing cold.
"That's not what I-"
"Get out…" Nanoha said, this time with more control, but no less venom. Ren's mouth opened, then closed. There was nothing he could say, at least nothing he could think to say. He didn't want them to hate him more than now… so he did as he was asked. He got up out of his seat picked up his bag that Morgana used to sit in. Silence was all that accompanied him. Nanoha and Fate said not a single word. He turned around to see that Nanoha and Fate didn't even want to look at him.
This made him… feel unwelcome, even more than when he had first transferred to Shujin. Hastened by such a feeling, he opened the door, the feeling of the cold outside somehow warmer than inside the apartment, and closed it. Now, with the two women no longer in view, he was all by himself. That moment when he finally felt down to his core that he was alone, he collapsed, leaning against the door. He was drained.
He sat there, looking up at the gray sky overhead, and listening to the bustle of the city… but that wasn't enough to drown out the crying he heard from behind the door he was leaning against.
In that moment, he wished he could take back what he said, maybe say something different, maybe not say anything at all. He regretted it. He felt that he needed to try and figure out what was going on, but he didn't mean to hurt them in the process. They didn't deserve it. He wanted desperately to go back inside and tell them that it was a joke, but he couldn't. He wouldn't lie to them. But if that meant hurting them…
"You really screwed up dad…" He whipped his head about, trying to figure out where that voice had come from, but the only thing that he could feel that was different was Olivie in his soul, flickering a little brighter than usual before it's light returned to normal. When that feeling had subsided, he felt a wind blow against him, the chill of the outside beginning to reach his bones, but it still wasn't as chilling, as cold as what he could still hear behind the door.
And then his phone notified him of a message. "Please come to my residence as soon as you are able." It was from Precia…
-0 -0-33-0-0-
"Ren!" Alicia hugged him as soon as she realized it was him after opening the door. He felt his brain reach the edge of sanity again. Despite Alicia still apparently being Fate's older sister… she was still a diminutive petite little girl, looking no different to how she was before. "Come in Come in! Happy New Year, you little rascal you! How's my precious little sister doing?"
"She and Nanoha are doing fine…" He said, trying to scramble some semblance of poise and control as he was let into the house.
"That's great! Though why have you come to visit? Not that I mind a visit from my little brother-in-law-to-be."
Before he could answer Precia walked into view from a side room while he got his shoes off. "He's here because I called him. I need his help for something Alicia." The woman was wearing, of all things, a cute patterned apron with a bear on it. The image was a slight reprieve in humor for Ren, if only because it made a bit of sense, but still ridiculous. Regardless the small bit of levity was not unwanted, though its effect subdued.
"Is something funny?" Precia raised an eyebrow at the young man.
"Just to me." Ren coughed into his hand to reset himself.. "Anyways, what is it that you need my help with?"
"Yeah, why'd you call him and Reinforce-san for help, Mom?" Alicia asked, causing Ren to look at the girl.
"Reinforce is here?"
"Yeah, she got here just a little bit before you did. She's in the living room, you remember where it is right? Down the hall, can't miss it! I'll go to the kitchen and grab something for you."
"Thank you," Ren could barely get the words out before Alicia disappeared. He turned to Precia who looked longingly where Alicia had turned down the hall. "I'm going to go to the living room."
"Hmm? Yes, please. Make yourself comfortable." Precia walked down the way, following after her daughter as Ren went the other towards the living room. Once inside, he saw Reinforce sitting on one side of the couch by herself. She sat still, moving nary an inch, almost doll like in the way she carried herself. However that illusion was broken once she noticed him, and turned to greet him.
"Ren-Ren, it's good to see you," the manifestation of the Tome of the Night Sky said to him, a strange warmth beneath her otherwise cold and stoic demeanor.
Ren couldn't help but raise in eyebrow at her calling him, both because of the name and the tone. "You don't sound surprised to see me."
"I knew you were approaching," was all that was said by Reinforce as she took another sip of tea.
"Okay…" He took a seat on the couch as well, the other side of it. "How have you been doing?" He asked once he was situated.
"Better than expected. However you seem to be disquieted. Is something wrong?" The better question was what was right. "I understand that the current situation is unusual, but if there are other extenuating circumstances that are bothering you, I can, as they say, offer an ear," Reinforce said, more accommodating than Ren had expected.
"Isn't Hayate your master? What are you trying to pull fussing over me?" He tried to joke, even when he wasn't in the mood to.
"Well, you see…"
"Drinks and snacks!" Alicia said as she placed the tray with presumably Ren's cup of tea on the table, interrupting what Reinforce was going to say.
"Not so much force Alicia, you're going to spill everything," Precia said as she walked in behind her eldest daughter. "Anyways, I have something to discuss with the two of them. Go and play with Arf and Linith in your room."
"Mom I'm not a kid. I have a job," Alicia said with her tongue sticking out.
"And I believe I told you that selling pictures of yourself in cosplay and playing card games at tournaments are not real jobs. I want you to be able to take... Anyways if you could just leave us be for a moment, mother would very much appreciate it," Precia asked once more, gathering herself so as to not start scolding Alicia in front of the others.
"I got it. It was nice seeing you again Ren. Bye!" With a wave goodbye, Alicia disappeared behind the walls, leaving her mother with Ren and Reinforce. Ren grabbed a cup of tea from the tray, not really sure what else to do in the situation, instead opting to wait. He didn't have to wait long as Precia coughed and then began to speak.
"Anyways, now that we are alone, are you two aware of why I have called both of you here?" Precia asked, caution returning to her voice, the same as it was this morning at the shrine.
"I believe so… how about you Ren-Ren?" Reinforce asked, just as much hesitance to be found in her voice as well.
"I'm… not sure. A lot's kind of happened all at once and I'm a bit in a daze to be honest," Ren answered as best he could. He truly didn't know, and seemed to be the only one here that didn't. He decided to tell the truth, but he couldn't make an educated guess as to what the two of them were alluding to.
"A lot has happened… does that include things being… out of place or unusual?" Precia continued to question him in the same cautious tone.
"Sort of…" Ren was just as cautious in return. He didn't want a repeat of what happened but a half-an-hour ago. He probably couldn't handle it a second time in the same day. That said what Precia asked was something similar to what Reinforce had said earlier.
"Precia, I will speak more bluntly," Reinforce said. And then without waiting for an answer by the woman, Reinforce continued. "Do you consider it strange that Nanoha and Fate are not children? That individuals who are supposed to not be here inexplicably are? Do you also find it unusual how we have been transferred to Tokyo?"
"Yes I do," Ren answered right away, even before he realized he had. His eyes widened in excitement and relief. "Does that mean that you two also realize how weird everything is?"
"I have been aware that things were changing since we defeated Quelle," Reinforce admitted to him. "Ever since then I have observed changes in the fabric of this dimension… abnormalities and oddities, among other things. Now today, those changes are the most drastic yet."
Ren nodded at Reinforce before turning over to Precia. "Then you also find all of this weird?" Ren asked the woman.
"Yes," Precia answered. "One moment I was at the TSAB headquarters in my holding room, the next I was here on Earth. I was thrown for a loop for a moment, but I had hoped you would also be aware of the changes. The Tome of the Night Sky also being aware of the shift in reality was unexpected but a great boon all the same," Precia said as she took a sip of tea.
"Then do you know what's going on?" Ren asked, pinning his hopes on the answer.
"No I do not. What of you?" Precia turned the question towards Reinforce.
"To answer Ren's initial query, I am not aware of the reasons why for the change either." And there went Ren's hopes. "Regardless I believe it was important all the same for us to establish that we are living in an altered reality with the majority of our acquaintances unaware of the shift. I propose that we jointly investigate the underlying circumstances of the situation for the time being."
"Yes, I was about to propose the same," Precia jumped in to say. "We should being our investigation as soon as possible."
Another ring of Ren's phone interrupted whatever Precia was going to say after. With a nod from the two of them, Ren picked up his phone.
"Senpai!? It's Yoshizawa! I'm in Odaiba right now, and… uh…"
"What's happened?" Ren asked, trying to get her to calm down from her clear distress.
"Um, I don't really understand what I'm seeing, but I'm just going to describe it to you… It's that building, the one that overtook Uminari Hospital, the Palace I think you guys mentioned, it's faint but I can see it."
"A palace?" Precia let out, unsure of what the terminology meant, though she could surmise it meant something to Ren.
"I know this is sudden, but could you come to Odaiba right away?" Yoshizawa pleaded.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," he replied by instinct.
"I understand. I'll see you soon!" And then she hung up.
As he was getting up from his seat, Precia did as well. "Wait for a moment. I'll come with you."
Ren turned to her as he was adjusting his bag over his shoulder. "You don't have to, this is… actually maybe this is related to what's happening right now." The same palace here? That's not a coincidence, and not even in the Metaverse even.
"I will also accompany you. This is probably our best chance to learn more about the situation at hand," Reinforce said, getting up as well.
Ren looked between the two women. He was unable to find a reason to say no, not that he tried very hard to. "Okay, let's get going then."
-0 -0-33-0-0-
"Senpai! And… you two as well?" Yoshizawa said first with glee and then with confusion as she realized that Precia and Reinforce had also arrived.
"We were with him when he received your call as well as not having any pressing engagements," Precia explained.
"Precia-san… are you aware of what Senpai and-"
"Yes, I am," Precia cut off Yoshizawa. "I have also become privy to the concept of Palaces." Ren had explained it to her and Reinforce on the way. "I am also in some respects a backer for Ren if that helps you grasp my understanding of things."
"I see, well okay. As they say, the more the merrier," Yoshizawa accepted before moving on. "Do you two know the situation regarding this Palace?"
"We are not, if you would be so kind as to tell us," Reinforce asked.
Yoshizawa answered with a nod. "You see I just so happened to slip into this Palace with Senpai and Morgana-senpai a while ago back in… Uminari… but wait we're in Uminari… No we're in Tokyo." Yoshizawa's face scrunched up, a feeling of conflict brewing in her mind as she tried to reconcile memories that existed, and those that never were. "Wait, I'm not supposed to be in Tokyo, none of us are!" Her eyes widened in realization as she came to the truth. "This has gotten even more strange. How could I forget about that?"
"Your memories aren't the only things that have been altered. Something has caused a shift in reality as we know it. We are hoping that perhaps this Palace is connected to it," Precia explained while Yoshizawa came to grips with the fact that her mind had been altered.
"I suppose that makes some sense. I just happened to be passing by on my way home when I came across this. And since no one else is saying anything about it…" Yoshizawa looked about the street they were on, and indeed not the slightest hint of panic or wonderment could be seen or heard. "I guess only we can see it."
"Or it doesn't evoke any real reaction," Reinforce proposed as another reason.
"Yes that's it. I asked some people in the area, and none of them seemed to care at all about its appearance," Yoshizawa recounted to them, her brow furrowing in thought.
"I suggest then that we investigate without further delay. If it is not related to our situation then at the very least we'll be able to mark it off as soon as possible and move from it," Precia said. "Of course given its semi-solid state…" The Palace was translucent, both as if there and not. "Do we have a means to enter?"
"We do," Ren answered, his phone in hand. "So should Kasumi."
"Right!" Yoshizawa, though caught off guard by her name being called pulled out her phone to show off her own Navigation app. "Oh a search history, let me check… Is the name supposed to be censored like that Senpai?"
"No… it should be clear, but it's not a problem. We can probably get in even with that," Ren answered. "Is everyone ready to go in?"
"I'm going to?" Yoshizawa was a bit taken aback.
"Do you wish to stay behind?" Reinforce asked as she looked intensely at the Metaverse Navigation app on the phone.
"No, I want to come, I was just surprised to be de facto included is all. Anyways, I'm ready to go whenever you are!" Yoshizawa said with a pump of her arms in enthusiasm. A final look was shared between them, and then Yoshizawa tapped her phone.
-0 -0-33-0-0-
"This place… I'm only just noticing now how mysterious it is…" Yoshizawa said as they approached the entrance to the palace. "I mean, what is this building supposed to be?"
"Whatever the ruler thinks it is. If we go in, we'll probably be able to figure it out," Joker answered, as the only one able to at the moment. He and Yoshizawa were already wearing the Metaverse outfits the moment they had entered.
"Is that so… by the way," Yoshizawa turned to look at Precia and Reinforce, both of whom still wore their civilian outfits. "Are you two going to be alright? I mean, I know Reinforce can use Personas and magic, but what about you Precia-san?"
"I have my own means of self defense…" Precia waved her hand, open and expecting… only for nothing to happen. Surprised by the lack of effect, she waved her hand once more. Once again, nothing happened. She waved one more time.
"Is something blocking your magic?" Joker asked. He knew how powerful Precia was, so it was worrying to see none of the power coming to fore.
"No… it's not blocked. I would know if it was. It's more like… like… It's more like it's not there to begin with," Precia declared with a growing worry on her face.
"I'm feeling the same," Reinforce spoke up, affirming Precia's feelings. "I've attempted to cast a basic flight spell just now, only to be met with nothing heeding my call. It is as if magic doesn't exist. Perhaps it is another of the alterations that have been made to this reality."
"But Senpai and I have donned our Metaverse outfits," Yoshizawa gestured towards herself and Joker, who was wearing his signature black coat and mask.
"Perhaps powers related to Personas are unaffected…" Reinforce speculated before reaching for a Persona herself. A sound of broken glass and azure flame erupted from Reinforce's feet, and behind her floated a small snow man with a pointy blue jester cap like hood, cute enough to be worthy of being a mascot. "Yes that seems to be the case," Reinforce confirmed as Jack Frost faded away.
"That's still quite worrying that there is no magic, not that I was that much a mage at all. Precia, perhaps you should turn back then?" Joker said to the woman as he worried about her safety.
"I will be fine. I have other means of self protection," the woman stated without fear or trepidation as she began to walk towards the entrance. "Come, let us not delay any further."
"Okay, if you say so," Yoshizawa said with a shrug, trusting in whatever Precia claimed to have up her sleeves. With Precia already half way through the entrance, the others rushed after her, not wanting to be left behind.
As they made their way into the building, not much had changed. The inside was just as pristine as Joker had remembered it, its architecture just as baffling and impossibly tall. However there was something out of place.
"There's more people in here than I remember there being. In fact there being people at all wasn't how it was last time," Yoshizawa said as they walked through the building. "If I remember right, you said these were not real people, but cognitions, right Senpai?"
"Yeah, but it's still weird that they're here this time. They all seem to be gathering over there where I found you last time we were here," Joker pointed to the open area that looked like a welcoming counter, people bustling about the place.
A screeching sound echoed through the hall as a PA system was brought to life. "Welcome, and thank you for coming, patients. You will be guided to one of our specialty care facilities according to your individual desires. We will assist each and every one of you. Rest assured. Everyone can become happy."
"That's a strange announcement. It almost sounds like the ones at the TSAB Hospital, but more so the psychiatric wing, and a bad one at that," Precia noted, more and more questions brewing in her mind from both scientific curiosity and plain wonderment.
"Well for now, let's continue inwards. We will most likely be able to learn more if we venture deeper within," Reinforce said, prompting them to walk past the counter tending to the cognitions without another thought spent on them. However just as they walked past-
A strange ink black shadow of a man dressed in a white coat sprung up from the ground in front of them from a pool of equally black shadow. "Those guises… You aren't among those who desire salvation. Leave. You are unwanted here. Do not disturb our Lord's research- this world's salvation."
"That… sounds kind of culty…" Yoshizawa noted.
"A hint about the Ruler's ideology. Anyways, how about you just look the other way, and we'll pretend we left. Is that okay?" Joker tried, though the smarmy tone that wrapped every word that came out of his mouth would make most people think otherwise.
"Why do you willingly strive for self-suffering? Why are you reaching out to your own pain?" The shadow asked, almost with pity in its voice.
"Huh?" Something about those words apparently caused Yoshizawa to react, but before Joker could ask what, the Shadow burst into darkness before re-emerging as its true form, a demonic humanoid figure a black skin tight suit, white head, and a golden scythe held behind it.
"Precia, stand back, we've got this," Joker said as he drew his gun, only for Precia to walk in front of them. "What are you doing?"
"Testing something… I'm a researcher, and I've recently been studying an energy never before seen by the TSAB until just recently. Now is the perfect time to witness the fruits of my research," Precia half explained but only so much that Joker could tell that Precia hadn't any fear. In fact she had the opposite.
As the woman stepped forward, a blue flame began to emanate from the bottom of her heel, each step the bright azure flame crawled up her body more and more, faster and faster. It was a familiar sight to Joker, a feeling of nostalgia washing over him as Precia became fully consumed by the flames. Underneath, shapes were forming, things were changing, what looked to be a staff appeared in one hand. It was the blazing silhouette of a mage. And then the staff was raised ever so slightly off the ground, and the slammed back down with a gust of incredible wind. The gale blew away the fire and in its place, Precia wore something not so different from when Joker had first met her, but now with a darkmask shaped like bat wings on one end and fairy wings on the other that covered her eyes.
Without delay, before any of the others could speak, she raised her hand to her mask, and pulled it off.
"Come to me!" Precia's voice echoed with all the might she could muster as her mask burned away in the same azure fire it had been born from, and behind Precia, a being that could only be described as a witch had appeared behind the woman, her face obscured by a classic witches hat, its body hidden in a cloak. Only the way the clock hugged the Personas body did it reveal its gender as a woman. From it, Joker could feel the crackle of power coming from it, a master of all things magic, a power worthy of legend.
"Smite them! Morgan!"
Author's Note:
We're getting into the swing of things. Are you surprised by my choice of who to give a Persona besides Reinforce? I've been trying to leave hints in a sense.
As for what I said earlier, yes I do still plan to have Nanoha as the main focal point of view for this arc, but for now Ren's is more useful, the next chapters later will be more focused on Nanoha's side of things, and a bit of power availability reversal from the start of this fic. Besides that I do hope I've made their fight believable with tension.
Anyways, I don't have much else to say other than I hope you're looking forward for what's to come and that you have yourselves a wonderful day. As always thanks for reading, please leave a review, and take care.