"It's full moon again"
"Hey, you up?"
…
"C'mon, our stop is coming up. You can't sleep through the whole ride, Makoto."
With a groan, the blue haired boy's eyes slowly opened. Today was the day they were moving into their new dorm.
"Few more minutes," he mumbled before closing his eyes again. He laid his head back down on her shoulder.
But his sister wasn't having any of it. She moved out of the way and he quickly found himself nearly falling out of his seat.
"Kotone…"
"Hey, you've been asleep like all day. Our train was delayed and the first thing you did was take a nap! Geez, the least you could do is stay up and talk to me so I'm not bored."
"…fine," Makoto accepted defeat.
"So… what do you think? Gonna have a good school year this year? We're somewhere new. Maybe it'll be fun!" Kotone hoped.
"Maybe."
"I wonder what our dorm is like. I hope the other people are nice. Maybe we could be friends with them?"
"Yeah, I guess."
Kotone Yuki sighed. It was always like this with her brother. Truthfully, she couldn't blame him. They had both gone through the same thing. They were twins after all. But still, it tore her up inside to see the way he was. The death of their parents… they both had their own way of dealing with it.
Whereas Kotone was outwardly more peppy and excited, inside, she truly was just like her brother. They had both been desensitized to it all. They wanted time to turn back. But those things wouldn't happen. They couldn't.
"Hey, our stop is up ahead," Makoto motioned outside the window.
Considering how late the trains ended up running, it was no surprise when they were the only two to get off at their stop. No way was anyone else waiting as many hours as the train was delayed.
As they stepped off the train though, they felt a sudden shift. And as everything suddenly shut off, they felt a jolt through their minds.
They looked at each other and could tell what the other was thinking; something only siblings understood. As they stepped out of the train station, they were met by an eerie green glow. Puddles of some sort of red liquid seemed to cover the ground. It didn't matter. They needed to go.
"H-hey, Makoto?" Kotone asked nervously as she clutched her brother's arm.
"Stay close to me," he told her. "We'll be fine. Let's get going. I think I know the way to go."
Even among the coffins, nothing seemed to bother him. He simply walked through the city, navigating perfectly as though it was part of his daily routine. And as they reached their destination, a sense of déjà vu washed over both of them.
But any words that would have been shared between them were interrupted when a certain boy interrupted their thoughts.
"Oh? Well this is unexpected," Pharos noted. "I'm not sure if… no- it's alright. If you two would like to proceed, please sign here," he said, showing them the contract. "Nothing scary. All it says is that you accept full responsibility for your actions."
"Sure," Makoto shrugged. "Not like I would run from them anyway."
"And you as well, Miss," Pharos motioned for Kotone.
"Of course," she nodded.
"Good," Pharos said calmly before his expression fell. "Time is… inescapable. No matter how hard you plug your ears or cover your eyes, all will be delivered to the same end. But perhaps you two can-... No, I mustn't say anymore. What you do with your time is your own business. But I hope you two will cherish it all the same."
With those words, Pharos disappeared. The two siblings looked at each other in mutual confusion. But once more, they were interrupted.
"Who's there!?" a voice called out from the dark.
The two looked away from the reception desk at the girl that had shouted.
"How are you here at this hour? Don't tell me…" she said as she reached for her holstered weapon.
"Wait!"
The lights flicked back on and any question of whether the two Yuki siblings were a threat was immediately dispelled. In front of them were two girls they had never seen before.
"Um, are we not supposed to be here? This is Iwatodai Dorm, right?" Kotone asked.
"Kirijo-senpai?"
"It's alright, Takeba," the other girl said. "I didn't expect you two to be so late. My name is Mitsuru Kirijo. I'm one of the students living in this dorm. Apologies for any confusion. I hope you two had a safe trip here."
"It was fine," Makoto told them. "Trains got delayed for some reason so we were a bit off schedule."
"We're glad to have you. This is Yukari Takeba. She's a second year like you two," Mitsuru informed them.
"Who're they?" Yukari asked.
"Transfer students. Makoto and Kotone Yuki. It was last minute but they've been assigned to this dorm. They'll eventually be moved to their respective dorms."
"Huh…" Yukari crossed her arms. Looking back at the siblings, she spoke. "Call me Takeba."
"Kotone is fine. Since we're siblings, you should probably just call us by name to differentiate us. Nice to meet you both!" Kotone said cheerily.
"Why do you have a gun?" Makoto asked bluntly.
"Wha- Well, uh, it's sorta like… a hobby? Er, wait, no. Not a hobby but like-"
Mitsuru decided to bail her out. "You know how it is these days. It's for self defense. It's not a real gun, of course. It's getting late. I'd suggest you both get to bed. Boys on the second floor and girls on the third. You'll find your rooms at the end of the hall. Your belongings already arrived, so why don't you get some rest?"
"I can show you guys the way," Yukari offered. "Follow me."
They walked up to the second floor and quickly found themselves in front of Makoto's room. But before she left to bring Kotone to her room, Yukari had something else to ask.
"On your way from the station, was everything okay?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Makoto asked.
"You don't know? I guess that means you're fine… Well, okay. Don't worry about it, then. Anyway, c'mon, I'll show you to your room as well," she told Kotone. "Goodnight."
"Alright, goodnight, Makoto! Well, not like you need it. You slept all day!" The girl teased her brother.
"Nah I could sleep a bit longer," he responded seriously. "But yeah, goodnight to you two as well."
He watched as the two left before turning in for the night. As he entered his room, he was met by a plain, nearly empty room. He found a few boxes with all of the stuff he had sent a few weeks prior. For now, he just threw everything in the closet except for the essentials. As he laid down in bed, he quickly found himself fast asleep.
As Kotone and Yukari walked up the stairs, Yukari struck up a conversation.
"So, you two are twins, huh? I've never had any siblings, so I wonder what that must be like…"
Kotone had no problem answering her speculation. "It's fun. Of course, everything has its ups and downs. But I'm happy to say that for us, it's mostly been up. We've been on our own for a while, just the two of us. But we get by."
"Oh, that's good then," Yukari nodded before realizing how her words sounded. "That you two get along well! Not that you two are alone."
Kotone laughed. "Don't worry, I know what you meant. But yeah, Makoto has been my best friend since we were little. He's a little clueless sometimes, but he means well."
"Here we are," Yukari said as they reached the end of the hall. "Your room is right above his. Should be easy to remember since it's just all the way down the hall."
"Thanks," Kotone nodded. "And sorry about being so late. I'm sure you two are tired as well waiting for us like that."
"Oh don't sweat it. It's not your fault you guys were late. If you have any questions or concerns, my room is right next door. Don't hesitate to talk to me about anything, okay? Goodnight!"
"Yeah, goodnight to you as well," Kotone smiled at her. And as she entered her own room, she was met by a similar scene that her brother had seen. And much like he had, she figured she would just unpack tomorrow. And so, Iwatodai Dorm fell into silence as its residents slumbered.
-K-
As Kotone got ready for school, she heard the knock from below as Yukari checked in on Makoto.
She was feeling happy. Their dorm was comfy, the other students seemed nice, and today was the day they would be meeting plenty of new people. As she finished getting ready, she met the two downstairs.
"You two are all set?" Yukari asked. "Then let's get going. We'll be taking the monorail to school everyday. Pretty cool, huh?"
By the time they made it to the monorail, it was just about time for departure. Plenty of people like students, businessmen, or pretty much anyone was aboard.
"I love the ride here," Yukari told them. "It almost feels like we're flying over the ocean. We'll be the last stop: Tatsumi Port Island. It's pretty crazy. The whole island is man made and our school is right in the center.
It didn't take long for them to reach their destination. And as they stepped off and walked to school, there was plenty of hustle and bustle around them.
"Here we are," Yukari smiled. "Allow me to officially welcome you both to Gekkoukan High School. Hope you like it!"
"A… tower?" Makoto asked before shaking his head. "Sorry, I'm just seeing things. Maybe I'm still a bit tired."
"Seriously? After all that sleeping?"
Yukari couldn't help but giggle at the siblings' antics. It was endearing seeing two people so close to one another. Considering the way her own life was going, it was a breath of fresh air.
"Think you two will be okay on your own from here on out? I've got some business with the archery club before school starts, so I've gotta get going. You should probably meet with your homeroom teachers first," Yukari told them.
"Yeah, we'll be alright. I'll try to keep him in line, so you get going if you have to," Kotone smiled.
"Thanks. I'll see you guys later then!" Yukari said before running off.
"Homeroom assignments are over there," Kotone said. She was always extremely attentive to their surroundings. "Let's go check them out!"
As they walked through, a few eyes were on them, but the majority of students did their own thing. And as they checked the bulletin board, Kotone pouted.
"Aww, we aren't in the same class? Who's gonna look after my baby brother now?" She teased.
"I could say the same. Can't have my baby sister alone with some bad influences," Makoto shot back.
"Oh shut it, you know I'm not like that!" She jabbed him with her elbow. Upon further inspection of the board though, she relinquished any real worry she had. "Hey, Takeba is in your homeroom! She can watch over you just fine. I'm in 2-E so if anything happens, I'll be one classroom over."
"Sure thing," he said. "Let's get going. We should check out the faculty office like she said."
They made their way to the faculty office without any issue. And as they entered, they were soon greeted by one of the teachers.
"Oh, are you two the new second years? I'm Msz Toriumi, the composition teacher. I think I saw your pictures. You," she referred to Makoto. "You're in my homeroom. And if I remember correctly, you're in Mr. Ekoda's homeroom. I'd have you talk with him, but he's not here in the faculty office right now. I'm sorry if you two wanted to be in the same homeroom, but we need to fill out the other homerooms as well. Sorry, let me get your student records."
"It's alright," Kotone assured her. "Since Takeba is in the same class as him, I'm sure she'll keep him in check."
"You're already acquainted with Takeba? It's good that you're already making friends here. Now then, let's see… ten years ago, your parents-" Ms. Thorium I stopped herself as she read the documents. "I'm sorry, I should've read these in advance."
Makoto shook his head. "It's alright. Honestly, we don't want to be treated any differently than any other student here. Our circumstances are our own, so don't apologize for anything out of your control."
Ms. Toriumi sighed. "If that's what you want… But I don't think there's any problem in wanting some sort of sympathy. You're all students. You're too young to be dealing with stuff like this. So if we can help you feel better in any way, please feel free to talk with any of us."
"Thank you," Makoto nodded.
"Anyway, the welcoming ceremony will be starting soon. It'll be in the auditorium. Come on, I'll show you the way."
The welcoming ceremony was nothing special. A speech about ambitions and school life from the principal, garnished with talks of aspirations and the usual.
But as Makoto sat there, a student from behind him tapped his shoulder.
"You came to school with Takeba-san and another girl this morning, didn't you? What's the deal with that?"
Makoto looked at him blankly in the eyes. To be honest, he was annoyed at the sudden, prying question. But even so, he answered. "She showed us the way to school."
"Uh huh… You two seem close if you're walking to school together. You know if she has a boyfriend? Or what about that other girl?" The student asked.
"Don't know. And the 'other girl' is my sister. You've got no chance with her. Don't even bother," he said before turning back around.
Any further questioning that the boy may have done was swiftly ended when Ms. Toriumi scolded him for talking. Luckily, Makoto hadn't been caught in the crossfire.
Meanwhile, Kotone was feeling a bit out of place. Being so far and disconnected from her brother was nothing crazy, but she did feel a bit vulnerable. Being in public surrounded by people she didn't know was nerve wracking, but she wouldn't show it.
Instead, she kept the smile on her face and tried to remain friendly. She was falling asleep as she listened to the principal's speech, but she would power through.
By the time the speech had ended and everyone went to their home rooms, she noticed that plenty of students already found their cliques. As such, seats were quickly filled and students grouped themselves up.
And so she chose to sit beside the one girl that seemed to hold the same amount of nervousness externally as she had held internally.
"Hi!" She greeted. "I'm Kotone Yuki. I'm new here, so I hope we can get along!" She spoke brightly and happily.
"Um… Hi…" the girl beside her spoke softly. "I- I'm Fuuka Yamagishi. I, uh, also hope we do, Yuki-san."
"Kotone's fine," she corrected. "I have a brother in our year as well so you can just call me that instead. Don't wanna get mixed up and all."
Fuuka Yamagishi wouldn't show it, but she actually felt happy. All her life, living in a strange feeling of isolation was suffocating. Her own interests didn't align with typical feminine hobbies so she shunned herself for it. Her appearance was rather timid and she rarely put herself out there. So when someone came up and struck up a conversation with her without coming off as pitying, sarcastic, or joking, she was happy.
"Okay then, Kotone-san. Um, you can just call me Fuuka as well then," she told her.
Their conversations were cut off when their homeroom teacher began to speak.
-M-
Makoto was bored. It was pretty much his default state, but he was more bored than usual. Sure, Ms. Toriumi was nice and his classmates were normal, but he already knew all this stuff.
He closed his eyes and just rested. It certainly wasn't the best first impression he could make, but he would let his results speak for themselves. Soon enough, classes had finally ended.
"Yo! How's it going?"
Makoto looked up and found himself face to face with the boy that had been sitting beside him.
"Fine," he answered curtly.
"The name's Junpei! Junpei Iori. I transferred here when I was in middle school. Pretty tough being the new kid around so I just wanted to say hey! See what a nice guy I am?"
"Seriously?" Yukari raised an eyebrow as she walked over.
"Hey hey, Yuka-tan! Didn't think we'd be in the same class again," Junpei grinned.
"There you go again, acting like everybody's best friend. Try not to make him uncomfortable, okay?" She sighed.
Junpei threw up his arms. "Hey, I'm just trying to be friendly!"
Yukari just stared. "If you say so," she said before turning to speak with Makoto. "Anyway, who would've thought we'd be in the same homeroom?"
"Must be fate," Makoto shrugged.
Yukari giggled at his response. "You think you're so smooth, huh? But maybe you have a point. We did just meet like that, so…"
"Kotone is one class over too. Wonder if she's getting along with her classmates too," Makoto told her.
"Um, hello? Did you guys forget I'm in this class too?" Junpei interjected. "Anyways, I gotta ask. I heard you two walked to school together. What's up with that?"
"H-huh!?" Yukari looked flustered. "What're you talking about? We just happen to live in the same dorm. Why does everyone always jump to conclusions? Have rumors been spreading about this already?"
As Yukari's nerves flared up, a sudden voice from beside them tipped her off.
"How was class?" Kotone asked.
"Gah!" Yukari jumped at her sudden arrival. "Oh, it's just you… Hey, you two haven't told anyone about… you know what, did you?" She asked the siblings.
"About what?" Makoto asked.
"Just- don't say anything about last night, okay?"
Junpei's eyes widened. "L-last night? And- all three of you?"
"Wha- wait a minute! Don't get the wrong idea! Listen, I just met them yesterday, and there's absolutely nothing between us! And besides, that's his sister!" She said as her face flushed red at the implication.
"Aww, nothing?" Kotone pouted teasingly.
"I mean, I'm sure we can be friends but there's nothing going on between me and your brother!" Yukari tried to say. "Junpei, you better not start any rumors," she warned him.
"God, you're so paranoid. No one takes rumors seriously anyway. So, you two are siblings?" Junpei asked Kotone.
The girl nodded happily. "Yep! Best brother I could ask for. I'm Kotone by the way."
"Junpei Iori, at your service," he said with a cheesy bow. "You know, it is impressive though," Junpei looked at Makoto. "First day here and people are already talking about you! Believe it or not, she's actually pretty popular. You da man!"
Yukari glared at him. "Junpei…"
"I'm just kidding! C'mon, no need to look at me like that," he raised his hands in his defense.
"Nah, I believe it. I'd be surprised if she wasn't popular," Makoto admitted. "She's nice, has good looks, and seems pretty upfront about what's on her mind. What's not to like?"
"Makoto?" Kotone laughed. "Damn, laying it on thick there, huh?" She said before looking back at Yukari. "Where'd you go after you brought me to my room, huh? You didn't head down a floor, did you?"
"What? No! You heard me close my door! We literally said goodnight to each other!"
They laughed as Yukari blushed, furiously trying to defend herself.
"I'm just teasing," Kotone said. "Sorry if I went too far."
Yukari shook her head. "No, it's fine. I may not look it, but I can take a few hits. I know we're just having fun."
"Seems like this'll be good. Here's to a fun school year!" Junpei exclaimed. "Well then, we all ready to head out? We can walk to the station together."
Yukari raised an eyebrow. "We? Oh, whatever, let's just go. I did all my archery stuff earlier so if you guys want to head out, I'm free to go with. Or, if you're curious about this place, we can walk around a bit."
Makoto nodded. "Sure," he said before standing up.
"Lead the way, man! Wherever you want to go, we can explain it all," Junpei assured him.
"Oh, can we check in on my classroom?" Kotone asked. "I met a girl there who I could probably introduce you guys to."
"A girl you say?" Junpei rubbed his chin inquisitively. "Hmm, if you're offering-"
"Not like that, moron," Yukari shut his antics down quickly before answering Kotone. "If she'd like to meet us, then why not?"
"Alright! Let's go then," she said, leading the way.
But when she opened the door, her seat neighbor had already left.
"Huh. Looks like she left already. Maybe she's got stuff to do at home or something?" Kotone speculated. "Another day then."
"Are there any places with a nice view?" Makoto asked.
Yukari answered. "How about the roof? You can see like, all of Tatsumi Port Island or even the mainland from up there. It's pretty nice in the spring."
"Man, yeah, you've gotta check it out! If it's a good sight you want, then a good sight you shall have," Junpei nodded.
The four walked up the steps to the only door with roof access. And as they stepped out, they were met with an astonishing view, just as Yukari had said.
"Pretty cool, right? Hey, think you can spot your dorm from here?" Junpei asked.
"Probably not, it's-"
"Right there," Kotone interrupted. She pointed off in the distance. "Or at least, right about there."
"Wait, you can see that far!?" Junpei asked.
"Not the dorm itself, but I recognize a few of the buildings that are in line with it. We passed by them when we first walked to the dorm," she explained.
"I'm impressed," Yukari admitted with wide eyes. "I've been here for a while and even I couldn't tell you where our dorm is from here."
"Thanks for showing us this," Makoto said. "Feels right at home, actually. I like this place. But let's get going. Honestly, I'm kinda tired still," he said with a yawn.
"Dude, seriously? You slept through, like, all the classes!" Junpei was shocked.
"Eh, he's like that. You'll get used to it," Kotone waved it off.
The four made their way down and to the exit. But as they passed by a certain boy, his voice made both Kotone and Makoto look back.
"Huh? Oh, that's Sanada-senpai," Yukari explained. "He's actually in the same dorm as us, but he's usually pretty busy training."
"Oh yeah, he's a boxer," Junpei recalled. "Man, he's always got some girls wanting to talk to him. Bah, who cares? I mean, he seems like a nice guy and all, but it's not like we'd normally interact with him. Let's go."
They continued walking. It didn't take long for them to reach the monorail. And as they reached Iwatodai station, it was time for them to part ways.
"Well, I'm going this way," Junpei waved. "See you guys tomorrow!"
The three parted ways with him before continuing their walk to the dorm. Along the way, they saw plenty of life throughout town. For Makoto and Kotone, it felt strange. In their old town, they had never paid much attention to those around them. They were too busy focusing on themselves to worry about anyone else. But as they heard the hustle and bustle of city life, they found that they could appreciate it.
As they continued their walk back, Yukari spoke up.
"Junpei's a pretty good guy once you get to know him. I know he can seem overbearing at times, but he's just young and dumb. If he ever says or does something dumb, just let me know, okay?"
"Got it."
"Yes ma'am."
She raised an eyebrow at their replies but said nothing. It seemed those two were always in sync. As she checked her phone, she realized the time.
"Hey, you two want to pick up some food before we make it back? Probably pick up some dinner from a convenience store or something," Yukari suggested.
"Sure," Makoto said as Kotone nodded.
It didn't take long for them to get in, get what they needed, and go. But even just the act of going out and buying dinner with someone completely new to them was something that the Yuki twins would cherish.
When they reached the dorm, they were greeted by Mitsuru.
"Welcome back, you three. How was your first day of class?" She asked.
"Same as usual," Yukari answered.
"Seems fun!" Kotone smiled.
"Pretty easy," Makoto admitted.
"Good to hear. If you ever need any help, feel free to reach out. I'm sure both your classmates and I would be happy to help. Your first day must have been tiring, I take it? Get some rest. It'll help you out," Mitsuru told them.
They did as she said without any protest. What reason would they have to argue? And so the day had come and gone, and with it, plenty of new faces were met.
Just as it always had, a new day arrived and with it, their new normal routine. Classes went by without any hitches, but when they arrived back at the dorm this time, Yukari had been waiting for them with a strange man.
"Oh, there they are," Yukari said as she waved at them.
"Ah, so these are our new guests," the man said. "Good evening. My name is Shiho Ikutsuki. I'm the chairman of the board for your school. Please, have a seat."
Kotone and Makoto obliged without question. Though in the back of their minds, something felt wrong.
"I apologize for any confusion regarding your accommodations. Unfortunately, it may require a bit more time before you two receive the proper room assignment. Is there anything you'd like to ask?"
His nonchalant demeanor struck a wrong nerve with Kotone, but she wouldn't show it. Makoto on the other hand could tell how she was feeling but wouldn't press her for any answers. Instead, he asked his own question.
"Why are you here?"
Ikutsuki nodded. "I'm just here to welcome you two to our school. I understand that it can be difficult for you to move to a new school after spending your first year elsewhere."
"I see. Thank you for that, then," Makoto said.
"Any more questions?" Ikutsuki asked. When he received no answers, he clapped his hands together. "Well then! I'd suggest you two get to bed then! As they say, the early bird catches the bookworm!"
His joke was met by deadpan after deadpan.
"Get it? Bookworm, because you're students? Clever, right?" Without so much as a pause for affirmation, Ikutsuki got up and left.
After the door shut, Yukari couldn't help but sigh. "You'll get used to his lame jokes… I guess I'll head back to my room too. Like he said though, you should get some rest. Transferring is a real pain when you aren't used to it. Goodnight," she said as she turned to leave.
"Goodnight," the two siblings responded. Once there was no one in earshot, Kotone spoke up.
"You felt it too, right?" She whispered to her brother.
He nodded.
"I'm not sure, but I don't really like that guy. Watch what you say around him, alright?" Kotone told him.
Nonetheless, they obliged with their suggestions. Throughout all of that, they were none the wiser to the surveillance that they were under. And as the dark hour took hold and the world around them effectively stopped, a strange dream pulled them in.
A room full of blue. A large clock that seemed to tick far quicker than one usually would. A strange man with a long nose. A man and a woman dressed in an odd blue outfit. And as they looked to their sides, the two siblings saw each other. When they looked back at their surroundings, they realized something: the room was moving.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room. My name is Igor. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. These two are Elizabeth and Theodore. They are residents here, much like myself."
"Pleased to meet you," Elizabeth said softly.
"My name is Theodore. But please, feel free to call me Theo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter… Only those who have signed the contract can enter this place," Igor explained.
As the words left his mouth, the document that they had signed appeared on the table in front of him.
"From now on, you two shall be welcome here as guests in the velvet room. You were destined to hone your unique abilities and may require my assistance to do so. Though, it appears as though you may not be bound by destiny as tightly as I had imagined. Still, I ask that you abide by your contract, and assume full responsibility for the choices you make."
"We will," Makoto stated.
"Good. Then, until we meet again…" Igor nodded.
The consciousness of the twins faded, and they disappeared from the velvet room.
"Master, the velvet key?" Elizabeth asked.
"They already have it. They always have. Ever since we gave it to them, all those years ago," Igor informed her.
"Is that the boy you sought to free, sister?" Theodore asked.
"Yes. Makoto Yuki. The boy who saved the world."
"Then he and Kotone…"
"Serve the same role. I apologize for having never offered to save her as well. But, had I managed to free him, I'm sure we could have freed her as well," Elizabeth sighed. "I'm unsure how to feel about this. I've spent so much time trying to find a way back to him. But now, he's been thrust into the same seat once more. I don't know what to say."
"But neither the boy nor the girl are alone," Igor reminded them. "The power of the universe… to see two of them at the same time? How unheard of."
-M-
The bell rang, signaling the end of classes for the day. And as Makoto Yuki rubbed his eyes, he heard his friend call out to him.
"Sup! How's it going? Wanna stop somewhere on the way home?" He asked.
Makoto shrugged. "Where?"
"I dunno, maybe grab a bite to eat or something? Oh that's right, you're new around here! C'mon, I can show you. You think your sister wants to come with? Or what about-"
"Hey!" Kotone called out from behind him. Makoto was stone faced as always, offering her a wave and a small smile.
"Gah!" Junpei jumped from her sudden appearance. "Geez, again? Didn't you get Yukari with this last time? Man, I swear it's like you're a ninja or something. I can never tell when you're here."
"Oops… uh, so what were you guys talking about? I heard you mention me?" Kotone asked.
"Junpei wanted to go out somewhere before we went back to the dorm," her brother said.
"Where would we go? Oh, hang on!" She said before walking deeper into the classroom.
"Well, whenever she gets back, we could stop by Paulownia mall. Dude, they've got all kinds of stuff there," Junpei gestured excitedly.
When Kotone returned, she had Yukari in tow. She wanted to invite Fuuka along, but unfortunately, it seemed the girl had disappeared soon after the bell rang yet again.
"Oh ho! Yuka-tan, here to join us? Great thinking, Kotone!" Junpei winked.
"Not like I have much going on. Plus, I do think it'd be fun to go out with them," Yukari pointed at the two siblings.
"Oh! Your words sting!" Junpei feigned heartbreak. "Whatever shall I do now!"
"Let's just go," Yukari rolled her eyes. "C'mon Junpei, before we leave you behind."
By the time they made it to their destination, everyone was feeling hungry. Lucky for them, the nearby Chagall Cafe was open, and more than ready to accommodate them. They chatted over sweets and warm drinks before heading back out.
It was then when Junpei fell for the trap: a claw machine that was entirely willing to take all of his money. But alas, he was none the wiser.
"Woah, that's new! I gotta try this out. Let Junpei Iori show you his mad crane skills!" He said confidently.
But attempt after attempt yielded nothing. And Junpei was forced to admit defeat. That was when Makoto stepped in, ready and willing. They were sure, if anyone was gonna get it, it would be him. The claw descended, grasping tightly to the Jack Frost doll. It slowly ascended, and everyone held their breath.
Then, even faster than it had come up, it had gone down. Straight back to where it began. Makoto hung his head in defeat. But no, he couldn't stop there. Not after Junpei had passed the torch to him.
And now, they were collectively down 1800 yen with… nothing to show for it.
Makoto shook his head. He knew he had to tap out. One look at his sister was all the communication the two needed. And as Kotone stepped up to the plate…
"Dude… how can I face myself after that… Seriously? She got it on the first try!"
Junpei sulked as they walked back to the station. All that hard work, for nothing. Meanwhile, Kotone happily hugged the plush as they continued walking.
"Ah, whatever," Junpei shook it off. "I gotta go this way, so I'll see you guys later!" He said as they parted ways.
And then there were three. Yukari was nervous. Throughout all the fun they had been having, she had completely missed the text from Mitsuru. The chairman had ordered them to keep the two siblings indoors before midnight. Not that it was that close to midnight, but it didn't take much for them to lose track of time.
"You alright?" Makoto asked. She was surprised by the boy's sudden question. Throughout all the time she had known him, all… three days, she hadn't once heard him with such emotion in his voice. Normally, he would give a straight laced, deadpan response. But as she looked over, she felt her heart skip a beat. His eyes were worried. He seemed to genuinely care about her well-being despite them still barely knowing each other.
"I'm fine, thanks," she smiled.
"Just like you said to me, if you have anything concerning you, you can talk to us. Only if you're comfortable of course," Kotone said with a nod.
"Thanks, you guys. I had fun today. It's just, I've got a bit on my mind. I'll tell you when I'm ready- I promise," Yukari assured them.
"We'll be waiting then," Makoto nodded.
And as she looked out the window of the monorail, for the first time in what felt like years, Yukari found herself truly happy with the company she kept.
Welcome to my story! Yes, another one! If it wasn't obvious already, this fic is going to retell The Journey with changes made that will result in a happier ending than what we got. If you aren't a fan of endings like that, I'd suggest not reading this. Also, this should be obvious, but this will be full of spoilers.
I hadn't planned on writing this chapter. In fact, I hadn't actually planned on including Kotone at all. But after going back to play through portable and Q2, I think she deserves a happier ending. This fic has been written without any influence of The Answer as I haven't actually played it yet.
My plans for this fic are pretty simple: write something where SEES can be happy. Outside of that, the only pairing I have in mind is Yukari and Makoto. I felt as though the game sort of pushes that (first friend, the Yakushima trip, etc.), and I'm just a fan of the ship.
A few things to quickly address:
-Social link characters will probably not be focused on. Almost everything will be major story related though I may end up changing my mind.
-There will be no concrete update schedule as I only write for fun. Don't expect constant/consistent updates.
-The way I have things planned out could call for a sequel, but I'm not sure if I want to go that route.
Thank you for reading.