Catch-22: The Seedling into The Tree
By: M14Mouse
Summary: The IT see what Yu grew up to be. They have mix emotions.
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.-Steve Jobs
"Man, Sensei is going to be so pissed off! Luckily, he isn't here. I don't think that you will tell him, right?" Ryuji said as he dripped his nachos into the cheese dip.
"I can't imagine Yu getting your know…angry or pissed off?" Kanji said.
"Well…he doesn't get angry…more like disappointed."
"Urgh…just like my mom."
"The same. The same."
Kanji had to agree with the new guys. Senpai grew up to be terrifying. Senpai always had a way about him. He had a confidence that he lacked. Hell, it left him in awe half of time. Everyone in their school was awkward as fuck. Senpai had his shit together more than anyone in their school even some of the teachers.
And now?
The way that he carried himself like a mother fucking boss.
Every word that he spoke had a purpose. Every move he made was like you better get the fuck out of his way before he fucked you up.
He didn't lie…it was kind of hot.
"Kanji."
He didn't lie. He jumped like nine feet into the air when he heard his voice.
"Ye-Yes, Senpai," He mumbled out.
"You don't have to call me that."
Yes…Yes he did.
"Kind of have too…and Sensei is too weird. I mean…I am not surprised that you are a teacher. So, totally a win with the whole Sensei thing. Hell, you taught me a lot."
"In the future…you teach."
He blinked…WHAT THE FUCK?!
"What? Me? A teacher? Dude…that is impossible."
"You teach various classes in sewing, plushie making, knitting, and crocheting. You're thinking about adding more but your plushie business has taken off. So, you have put that idea off to side for now"
He just stared at him like he was nuts.
"You're an excellent teacher when you are passionate about the subject," Senpai said with a smile.
He blushed.
"I…I can't be a teacher. I…I…."
Senpai put his hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"You told me the same thing when you started your first class. You were panicking and pacing around the room. It took me and your mother forever to calm you down."
"You and my mom talk!"
"All of the time."
FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!
"It isn't that bad. We have lovely conversations."
He made a dying sound. He is going to totally fuck someone up.
"Kanji…breathe for me."
He took a deep breathe in his panic.
"I…I…"
"Kanji…breathe."
Finally, he started to breathe.
"One…
Two….
Three. Good," Senpai's voice said.
"Senpai…"
"I shouldn't have told you that. It took you a good year and a half for you to have courage to teach others and not just me. Thank you for teaching me to sew. I must say is a very useful skill to have. I fixed a lot of my students' jackets and pants because they can't afford to get new ones."
He flushed.
"You will get there, Kanji. You will."
FUCK.
Terrifying and damn fucking….
FUCK
-P4P3P5-
"Sensei is so sweet. I'm not the best cook but he always helps me get better. I know that my housekeeper doesn't mind making me stuff but I do want to go out on my own. Cooking is important and…cheaper. Heh…"
"My skills are….bad."
"Why haven't you asked Sensei? I'm sure that he will be willing to teach ya!"
Because she is embarrassed, and it was so awkward. Beside, the chief at the inn has already trying to teach her….
Maybe…if that doesn't work….
She'll asked.
Yukiko thought that Yu grew up to be so sweet.
She almost said aww….when she saw him interact with his students. Yes, there was some fear but mostly they didn't want to disappoint him which was so adorable.
Yu was kind of teacher that they wished that they had.
They talked about it. They wondered about it.
Were they only persona users?
Did anyone go through what they went through?
It was an endless number of questions with no answers.
"I learn to cook?" She asked in some amazement. She is working on that problem with her chief at the inn.
Her cooking was…hit or miss. Mostly, miss.
"The most complex dishes trip you up but you can make a wonderful stir fry. I always send you easy recipes that I come across in my travels. You and your chief always enjoy trying them out."
She giggled happily.
She always had trouble with cooking. The measurements. The timing. You have to do this to that and that to this. So many steps.
"You travel?"
"Yes because of my job."
"Oh."
It told her that Yu would leave them. They were a strange group. Odds and ends put together as her mother would say…but they fit.
With Yu gone….it made her sad.
-P4P5P4-
"Sensei always seems to know. It is kind of strange but then talking to all of you. It explains a lot," Makoto said.
"Oh?" Naoto replied.
"Experience. You guys did this stuff before."
"There are similarities but there are differences."
"Sensei did talk about our outfits," Makoto laughed.
"The outfits are different but…most uncomfortable," Naoto started to say.
"Tell me about it…" Makoto mumbled.
"You know who the man in the black mask, don't you?" Naoto asked.
Yu paused for a moment.
"Yes."
"The reason that you don't have him in custody?"
"Too many questions and not enough answers. Beside, there is nothing concrete since he operate in the other world."
"We worked on less."
She watched him…really watched him. She had a list of comparison and differences between today "Yu" and "future" Yu running in her head.
Both caution when need to be.
Older Yu more so than Younger Yu.
"We have. This is somewhat bigger than us and there are too many factors unknown to me."
"Like?"
"Connections and how much information is out there. When I was the other reality, someone else had that information on the cognitive world. I saw him take over almost all of Japan with it, Naoto."
She paled.
Differences.
Younger Yu more impulsive.
Older Yu…not so much for good reason apparently.
"Error on the side of caution," She said understandably.
He nodded in agreement.
"I'm not going to remember this but I want your thoughts. The parties have two different philosophies. They don't match up and yet…."
She nodded as well.
"They are working together. A common goal, perhaps? Or it maybe more personal? Familial? Revenge?"
He hummed for a moment.
Another commonality between the two.
"Money? Power? The list is endless. You just have to narrow down your lead…or perhaps, your instincts into finding the answer."
He hummed again.
Another difference. Since joining the group, she was able to read and understand things about their leader.
Now?
Now…she couldn't read him at all.
-P4P5P4-
"So…how did Yu take the whole talking cat thing?" Chie asked.
She had to ask. It was a given. She flipped out when she saw him but you know….
Yu really didn't flip out when he saw Morgana either.
"Actually, better than most. He thought that it was normal! Most people just start screaming. GOING…TALKING CAT! It gets annoying since I am not a cat," Morgana said.
Okay….not touching that one.
"Huh? You know he didn't really react when we met Teddie in the tv world. He just felt sorry for that guy and put his head back on."
"I know Teddie sort of grew a human. I mean…Lila kind of did too but at least, Lila had a human shape already. So, it wouldn't be too hard to imagine her human but Teddie…."
"Creepy as hell, huh?"
"Yes…Yes, it is."
" I become a police officer?" Chie asked.
"Yes."
She found talking to older Yu sort of exciting.
It was super cool that he knew the future! He didn't share much before he said that didn't want them to overreact.
(What the hell does that mean? They wouldn't overreact!)
"My uncle is your partner."
Her eyes widen.
Oh….MY….
"That…That…"
"It took some time but you two works well together."
She paled.
"You are also a step up from his last partner."
"Adachi is gone?"
She noticed that he paused before answering.
"Something like that. He is gone."
"Ah…he was a strange guy. Probably, the small-town life wasn't for him," She noted.
She always got the feeling that Adachi didn't like it there. So, it would make sense that he left.
"And you still love Kung Fu movies. I think that you made Uncle and Nanato sit through a few. I think that uncle fell asleep but you and Nanato got really into it."
She made a happy squee noise.
"I knew that would make you excited," Yu said amusedly.
"Because Yukiko don't watch them. Yosuke tends to break them. So…it is great to have a movie watching buddy."
This Yu was kind of reserved. Younger Yu is kind of reserved too. Wait…wouldn't that make the same thing? Urgh.
She meant…he did tell them stuff but he always seemed guarded. It was weird.
Not weird…weird more like strange?
She meant…urgh….
That she knew that he was hiding something.
He had secrets. She could press and Yu might tell her or might not.
Deep down…
She wondered if it wasn't for their own good.
-P4P5P3-
"So, Sensei found my sister?" Teddie asked eagerly.
HE HAD A SISTER! SENSEI IS AMAZING!
"Yes and no….More like Lila followed Sensei home," Yusuke said.
"I did the same thing," He nodded.
"Oh?"
"I wondered about your world….and I worried about the others. I hated to wait for the others and Sensei said that we are a team."
Yusuke nodded.
"Yes, we are. No matter what the world…where we are from. We're team."
"What is my sister like?"
Yusuke paused for a moment.
"Annoying. She keeps blaming me for stealing the cookies. I do not steal the cookies!"
"You probably stole the cookies."
"I didn't!"
Teddie always knew that Sensei was wise.
Very wise.
And he grew up to be even wiser!
He didn't know that it was even possible!
"What is she like?! My sister!" Teddie said excitedly.
"She is short…About this high," Sensei said as he indicated her height.
"…She has long black hair but she likes to keep it up in a bun. She likes to put her fuzzy pencils in her hair. The girls have been teaching her all sort of things. She loves sandals and high heels but hates sneakers with a passion. She does a wonderful job as my secretary. She cut down on my phone calls. It is rather nice and quiet in the afternoons when I do paperwork and schoolwork."
AWwwWW….his sister is awesome.
"And my cousin?"
"She is a spitfire. She is as tall as me. She has dark skin and equally dark hair. She is a woman made of steel but to the people that she cares about, she has a softness to her. If she doesn't like you, there are always windows and possible unknown grave location."
"Wow…"
His cousin sounds amazing.
"You might have other family members coming. Just a feeling I have," Sensei said with a shrug.
He may have another noise…but he couldn't help himself.
He was going to have a family!
SENSEI IS AMAZING!
-P4P5P4-
"Sensei has been helping me with my business plan and visit locations with me and my father from time to time," Haru said.
"Really?" Yosuke said as he tried to imagine this version of his partner.
It was hard in some ways.
Because Yu is…so Yu.
It was hard to imagine him as the head of some company.
It was hard to imagine him of anything.
"Yes…Sensei has been helping everyone with their plans and their future. Ryuji with his knee which he should have told us about because I could have helped too! Ann thinking about doing exchange program to a different country. Makoto, Sensei, and I have a lot bunch of information for her to look at! Sensei is making sure that Yusuke doesn't become a starving artist or Futaba a hermit. Ren…I think that Sensei is trying to give him the strength."
"The strength?"
"To go home."
Scratch that….Yu become the person that he thought that would be.
The guy in your corner that always had your back.
Yosuke didn't know what to make of his partner. He could read Yu better than anyone in the group. This Yu?
He was hard to get a handle on. Sometimes, it was like talking to Yu. Other times, it was like taking to an adult.
A very scary perspective adult.
"I can feel you overthinking from here." Yu said
"I'm not overthinking!" He said in a panic.
"Hmmmm…."
"Okay, maybe a little."
"But you are…and not you at the same time."
"It called growing up and possible fighting a god or two."
Wait….a god?! WHAT THE FUCK!
"What did I grow up to be?!
"You still work at Junes. You are thinking about school because you do enjoy the business aspect of Junes but not so much the retail aspect."
Urgh….he hated the retail aspect. If he had to manage another fellow student…
"Currently?"
"You are looking at schools and mildly panicking about that."
"And you suggested?"
Because Yu always had suggestions even if there were a little blunt.
"Taking a few online classes to see if you like it. There are few websites that offer different focus courses if business isn't what you thought it would be."
That was actually a good idea.
"And you become some big wig!"
"A figurehead that apparently terrified people which I don't see. Lila is more likely terrified to them than me. I have made some wonderful acquaintances and seem to stick with school longer than two months. Although, that might have to do with my boss more so than anything else…"
He could help himself…he snickered.
Maybe, Yu hasn't changed after all.
End of The Seedling to The Tree
Next Chapter: The Sidequests
A/N: Since the cast is so huge for this game, I decided to divide it up for Persona 3/Persona 4 cast. Sidequests will feature Persona 3 cast. Ren and Yu's conversation will…of course, repeat itself in another shape or form later (stupid memory plot that PQs games have.) Thank you for leaving reviews, kudos, favorites, etc. Read and Review if you wish.