May 19th: 4:31 AM: Weather Misty
The loud ring of Leiko's phone from her nightstand permeates the silent dorm room, waking the girl from her slumber. Grunting, her hand darts out from under the covers, feeling around for the device, grabbing it after the fifth try, accepting the call.
"Hello?" She asks sleepily as she sits up in her night shirt to check the clock, while the blanket falls unceremoniously to the floor.
"This is Leiko Mizaki, correct?" An almost familiar female voice answers. It's one that Leiko has heard on TV commercials and singing songs on the radio and TV, but she doesn't register it with her groggy state of mind.
Leiko's mind chugs slowly as she struggles to talk and stay awake, "That's r…right, but wh…o am I speaking to and why are you callin…ing me this early in the morning!"
"Sorry, this is Rise Kujikawa from Inaba." The voice answers cheerily. "I'm calling because I'll be in Ainoska today for a bit of work and I wanted to invite you and one of your friends to the photoshoot I'm part of that starts at noon so we could become better acquainted once it's over. So would you be interested at all?"
"O…f course I w…would be. Just text me…the…location…later." The girl answers with a yawn, her eyes drooping, almost half asleep again as her words slur. She really wasn't aware of what she was saying.
"I'll see you over there. I'm sorry for waking you up, Leiko." Rise answers as she hangs up the phone.
Leiko's cell falls from her hand to the floor as she collapses back on her pillow, unaware of what she had just committed to.
Izumi looks over the text message on Leiko's phone as she, Labrys and Leiko walk towards school, handing it over to Labrys to look at. "That was sort of mean of her to call you up and get you to commit while half asleep."
"She wasn't trying to be mean." Labrys remarks in a semi defensive tone, swinging her school bag around animatedly as she reads the message, "Rise might have a naughty playful side, but she's never outright mean or spiteful. I heard from Yukiko and Chie that her schedule has been unpredictable lately. Maybe this was her only free moment she had to ask Leiko to spend time together?" She hands the phone over to Leiko, who is trailing behind them with a yawn
"That sounds rough for someone who's doing scouting and photo shoots." Izumi utters in worry, but she soon gives a positive nod, "I'm she can find a better balance soon."
"I'm sure she will." Labrys answers, finding Izumi's positivity infectious. "So who are you going to take with you?"
"I don't really know." Leiko ponders as the trio crosses the street, "You two are busy with the fundraising money at Junes for shrine repairs after school with Ms. Yamagishi. Yamato will probably be at the Kendo Club or work after school. I'll check in with Towa to see if he wants to come."
"You're forgetting Megumi." Labrya couldn't help but grin because the kid was fun to be around, "I doubt she'd want to miss something like this."
The pink haired woman shakes her head as the trio approach the school's gate, "I've asked and she declined saying that it was a better bonding opportunity to go with another person."
"Awww, that's too bad. I'm sure she would have had fun." The android girl replies disappointedly, "Leiko, Izumi and I need to go talk with Ms. Yamagishi about the fund raising we're doing. We'll see during homeroom!"
"See you later." Leiko calls out as both women take off into the school ground.
"Leiko-senpai!" Towa projects loudly rushing up to Leiko's side with a folder under his arm, "Do you have a moment to spare before school to talk with me?"
"Of course I do Towa. What's going on?" Leiko warmly replies with a smile.
"I just want to apologize for how I've just ignored and avoided you since I became part of the team." The boy answers, looking away from Leiko for a brief moment, "I'm jealous of you senpai! Jealous of how you have the courage to stand up to Shimoi and of how strong of a person you are. I hate myself for feeling so weak and sacred, along with being terrified of you because of how you defended me."
"Towa, you don't need to apologize for being jealous or any of that." The woman answers gently, "I get that I can be rather fiery and passionate when I'm salty and defending others, so I apologize for scaring you. The courage to stand up to her is something I had to learn by pushing myself. I used to be so scared trying to help others before I changed. You shouldn't hate yourself at all, you might not see it but you're already changing. Use that jealousy to make a change for the positive to foster that spark of courage deep inside yourself to grow."
"I should try nurturing that spark that Izumi-senpai and the rest of you were able to help me gain. I think if I can build the courage that you see in my senpai, I'll eventually be able to overcome this self loathing I feel, even if I need some extra encouragement." Towa confides gripping their folder tightly, feeling a bit of weight lifting off himself. "Thank you for listening to me, Senpai. I should get going, I don't want to crush the story in my folder before I get it to the school newspaper!"
"I'll see you lat…" Leiko begins, only stopping herself upon having a sudden idea, "Towa, would you be interested in coming with me at eleven to the park? I was invited by a certain friend of Detective Satonaka to their photoshoot there and they said I could bring a friend."
"A photoshoot?" Towa questions, thinking they were hearing things at first, "This wouldn't happen to be the same Photoshoot that Shimoi was talking about last month would it?"
"Now that you mention that…I think you might be right on that." The girl answers, placing her fist up against her mouth, wondering if she made a mistake. She also suddenly realized if it was that same event, then Yukari Takeba is going to be at.
"Thank you for the invite Senpai, but I've another commitment with interviewing Ms. Okumura at her cafe for the school paper! I'm sorry." With a quick bow, the black haired boy jogs towards the school.
"That was very kind of you to invite him...even if he had something else to do. Just make sure you have clearance from a teacher before leaving." A low energy, almost dull sounding feminine voice from behind Leiko mutters.
The pink haired girl turns around, a large mint colored phone blocking her view of a girl with wiry blue black hair styled in an intricate braid and jade colored eyes who stands at 5' 10 just at her shoulder. "Morning Hibari, I was going to inform Ms. Yamagishi before homeroom begins. I just wanted to get to know Towa better since we are friends, but I guess another time. Aren't you late for a student council meeting, Vice President Taketomi?"
"Hardly, I'm barely relevant in any of the meetings and it's going to be the same thing they've been on about since before midterms, finding a new member for some committee." Hibari comments, her eyes never leaving her phone. She walks away, giving a half hearted wave at Leiko as she goes.
The nineteen year old follows Hibari into the school, ready for whatever the classes had in store for her today.
Leiko walks past the gate of the park fifteen minutes after leaving school. The park is filled with children and caregivers running around in the playset area or under the large trees. Many older folks are sitting on benches or sitting at stone tables playing chess, while others are fishing on the banks of the river that cut through the park.
The woman marvels at the beauty of the park, feeling like she lost a month not knowing it or other places around town, "This place is so peaceful." From where she is within the park, Leiko can sense two Persona users ahead, one of which is probably Rise's, while the second must belong to Yukari.
As the girl continues walking along the cobblestone path, a large conglomeration of people, trailers, an ambulance, and equipment comes into her field of vision as she arrives before a large roofed enclosed pavilion with a picnic area in front of it near the beach.
A woman standing at 5 '8 with dark blue hair tied up in a high bun, a black suit and heels marches over to her with a look of disgust within her brown eyes, "Mizaki, why are you here? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"I was invited to this event by Rise herself, Satori. I can show you my text messages and my call log as proof too if you want. I got a teacher's permission to leave early too." Leiko answers, mentally groaning at this encounter. Satori works for a big entertainment and advertising agency here in town, but is also Yamato's sister, with whom he didn't get along with.
"It's a hardly believable story that Rise would text or even invite you to this." Satori utters dismissively, "Just turn around and…"
"Come hang out with me for a bit." A voice cheekily calls out from behind them, interrupting the blue haired woman. The teen reels around, spying a woman in her early 30's with styled mid length copper hair, brown eyes wearing pink earrings, a cream colored dress with butterflies in different colors, dark leggings and brown knee high boots sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree, smiling warmly at her
"Just…go. Don't cause any trouble for Rise." Satori remarks grumpily, storming off to check how the crew is doing with setup.
The teen swiftly makes her way over to the former idol with a look of relief, "Thanks for the save there senpai." Leiko voices as she takes a seat on the bench.
"It was nothing, I did invite you after all. You're more saving me from the boring wait before I have to get ready in a few minutes." Rise answers as she gazes at Leiko from head to toe. "I know I should have invited you sooner, but between my scouting talent, the last of my minor appearances on TV, prepping for this, and not wanting to distract you from exams, this morning was the only chance I had. I apologize for ambushing you like I did. As of tomorrow, things will return to normal for me. How did you do on your exams?"
Leiko gazes up into the branches of the tree, watching a critter move about the leaves, "I'm not going to hold it against you Rise." She lowers her gaze to the woman next her, continuing on, "I did well, but I didn't even check to see where I ranked at all."
"I think that the rankings don't matter as long as you are satisfied with the results." Rise answers, stretching her arms above her head. "Has Yu-Senpai contacted you at all?"
Leiko shakes her head frowning, "Not yet. I could really use his help in identifying something that Mitsuru-Senpai and I found on a door in the Clotho hall annex the other day."
"He probably has his reasons for being radio silent." The copper haired woman answers gently, having an idea, "If you've got a picture or drawing of whatever it was maybe I can help."
"I've taken a picture of it. Mitsuru-Senpai thinks it a Persona even through its well, take a look." Pulling up the photo, Leiko and Rise lean in close together to look at the image.
"I never seen Yu-Senpai use something like that. He probably didn't want to gross any of us out with a giant penis monster if he did. Sorry I can't be much help." The idol answers with furtive glances at the young woman's eyes, quickly changing the subject with a sweet smile, "You know, your eyes are really pretty and you're cute too. Has anyone told you that before?"
"No one has." Leiko is taken aback by the idol's words, her cheeks flushing slightly, "You're the only person to have ever said anything like that to me." Was this the naughty playful side of Rise that Labrys had mentioned or was she seeing something others didn't?
"What? Seriously, no one?!" Rise expresses in genuine shock, "While I'm the first, I sure hope I'm not the last. Whoever falls for you will see the inner you that I'm partly seeing now that's beyond the surface."
"I really want to be lucky enough that the woman I fall for will be kind of like you personality wise, Rise-Senpai." Leiko answers her blush slowly ebbing away.
"Maybe you've already encountered that somebody and you just don't know it yet." Rise answers in a teasing tone. Her intuition tells her there is someone at Orimasu or elsewhere in town just right for Leiko that she hadn't encountered yet.
"For some reason, you actually make me believe that it is a real possibility, Rise." Leiko lightly quips, trusting her Senpai's words.
"Excuse me!" A voice shouts in the distance preventing the two Persona users continuing their conversation and they shift their focus in the direction of the speaker.
A woman in a pearl colored cashmere skirt with loafers, a dark orange top with a frilly material on the cuff, quickly walks over to them. She has red eyes and auburn hair in a high ponytail that stops at her neck with a set of burettes clipped into her hair on the left side of her head creating two Xs and two I's.
"Is that the designer holding this event?" Leiko quietly asks with a slight frown. She just wanted to confirm her suspicions.
Rise energetically nods, gripping the edge of the bench, "That's right, Kotone Shiomi. Is there something you want to know about her?"
"No." Leiko shakes her head fervently, "I suspect I know her daughter from school. We have a mutual dislike of each other to say the least."
"Takabe and Takamaki are here and having their makeup done, their hair touched up and clothing set up." The woman states swiftly, stopping a meter from the pair, "You had better follow suit and get ready Kujikawa."
"Thank you for alerting me, Kotone! I'll head to my trailer with my friend! What about Deyama, is she not here yet?" She answers, jumping to her feet, looking the woman in the eye with worry.
Kotone speaks with crisp sternness, "About that, there is a small problem. Kaede Deyama, is out due to a sudden illness. We'll need a replacement for her quickly and I don't have time or feel like calling an agency for a temporary backup. This shoot needs to happen NOW."
Her eyes flick over to Leiko, whom she recognizes from her daughter Kimiko's description, "Your "friend's" body shape and measurements are a remarkable match to Deyama's and they are close to her in age, so either she acts as Deyama's substitute or she can leave and we'll cancel the photoshoot until next month. I'm sure everyone will understand if she refuses and wastes everyone's time."
The copper haired woman pouts at this ultimatum, grinding her heel into the grass. "I hate that you're being so petty, refusing to call an agency for backup, that you would cause a month's delay that will throw people's lives into chaos if Lekio doesn't…"
"Rise, It's alright!" Leiko projects loudly, standing up to stare Kotone in the eyes, "Ms. Shiomi, If it means that my involvement will prevent disrupting the schedules and preventing chaos in the lives of everyone involved including Rise's, I'll wade out of my comfort zone to be the substitute model." It was no mistake, this woman is certainly Kimiko's mother, the apple didn't fall far from the tree in behavior.
Kotone closes her eyes, turning her back on the pair with a devilish smirk, "Perfect, you and Rise will be sharing the green trailer. I'll send Takamaki to check on you both soon. Now, snap to it and get ready!" The woman walks back towards one of the many staff tents, her voice barely audible as she gestures at a box as she glares at two cameramen standing around.
"I'm so sorry that you had to be roped in like this Leiko just to stop that pettiness." Rise apologetically verbalizes in embarrassment as she and the pink haired teen rush over to a green three feet by four feet trailer and slip inside, "It's rather cramped in here with the clothing ranks. We'll just have to deal with it while we change in front of each other."
"This sort of seems like just another part of Shiomi's pettiness. This isn't something you need to apologize for when I'm willing to help." The girl closes the door swiftly, gazing upon the several outfits on their hangers, footwear included below them. Each is tagged with a number and either Deyama's name or with Rise's. "Do you have any good advice for this modeling shoot, senpai?"
"Just relax, have fun and do poses that you feel are comfortable and natural to you." Rise answers brightly as she unlaces her boots and kicks them into a corner. "Leiko, what's the first set of outfits that we're wearing?"
"First up are swimsuits, followed by clothes worn for dates and cheerleading outfits. Then four others after that." She speaks quickly as she unhooks the button at the top of her school uniform having just removed the purple ribbon from her collar.
There is a sudden rap at the door, "Rise, it's Tamamaki! I'm coming in." The door opens just enough for a woman to slip inside who has chest length blonde hair in pigtails with her bangs sweeping across her forehead to the right. She has crystal blue eyes with white studded earrings. The woman is wearing pink sandals, a strapless bikini top of dark green with a pink leaf pattern with the same color and pattern on the bikini bottoms.
Leiko steps back rather quickly, bumping her hand against Rise's chest, "Crap, sorry Rise-senpai!"
"It's not your fault Leiko." Rise coos, patting the girl's shoulder, "We just rushed in here to change Ann!"
"Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt. I was sent over by makeup and Shimoi to tell you they're nearly finished with Takeba and will be ready for you in like five minutes." The woman answers as her eyes dart around the trailer, "I'll see you both out there and I'll introduce myself then to your friend." The woman quickly slips back outside, allowing for Rise and Leiko to return to getting change.
Rapidly downing a bottle of water, Leiko approaches the on site ambulance wearing her school uniform once more. The photoshoot had wrapped up ten minutes ago at five o'clock and most of the crew had left shortly after, but Shiomi wanted the three models and the teen to meet back at the pavilion for a final chat with her.
Wanting to wait for Rise, the pink haired woman leans against the side of the vehicle, tired relief shining in her eyes that the shoot is over.
"Get your ass off the damn ambulance! It isn't something to lean against, Mizaki! How many times have I told you that in the past when it came to you or Neko leaning against my car or stuff?!" A familiar male voice remarks in annoyance as they approach Leiko.
"Nori!?" Leiko gasps as shock spreads across her face, sensing the presence of a Persona as she looks upon a twenty six year old man with a slender build. It was the same Persona she had felt while changing back to her uniform in the trailer.
The man is 6'5 with very light brown hair that is three inches long and is parted to his left, has thick sideburns and cobalt colored eyes, wearing a blue smock over his clothes, "I heard you became an EMT through the news, but I didn't realize you were here in Ainoska. Why did you quit playing pro football and why didn't you say you were here earlier?"
The man scoffs, leaning against the ambulance next to the teenage girl, "I had no intention of doing so when I arrived to cover the end of the shift for someone a half hour ago, You forced my hand by leaning up against my work vehicle!"
He snorts lightly at her, looking away, "If you must know, I retired from playing because Neko fell into a coma three years ago and I just didn't have the mindset to continue. It's all Kenji Nagata and Naoya Usato's fault that she ended up in that state because of the weird masked creatures in those Burrows. Those bastards even tried to get me to join them and let slip you were a Persona user."
"I…I'm so sorry Nori. I had no idea that even happened." Leiko sadly answers with a hint of anger at the actions of those two. As much as she loathed Neko for using her as bait five years ago, the pink haired girl felt awful that this was the fate that befell her former friend, "Then your Persona awoke because of what happened to her?"
"Should have known you'd sense it, but yeah. Her name is Eir." He answers gruffly, crossing his arms, "Whatever, it's not important and in the past. Right now I need to focus on the present and that means I've got to clean up around here. Maybe we'll run into each other around town as long as it's nothing Shadowy related and you keep me out of it. Keep pressing forward on that future as a mangaka, hopefully meeting Takeba has made you more inspired to realize that dream." Straightening up, Nori rounds the backside of the vehicle to gather up garbage left by the crew and clean up any medical bags left out.
"How are you holding up after that long photography session and being a replacement model?" A feminine voice asks as a woman with brown eyes and neck length light brown hair that curls slightly to the right and around her pierced ears approaches, leaning a long thin bag up against the vehicle next to Leiko. The woman is wearing a pink shoulderless shirt with a white trim at the collar with a sky blue over shirt tied just below the upper chest with shorts and light brown ankle boots.
"I'm alright, just feeling drained from everything that we did." She sips on her water for a brief moment as she stands up straight, stealing a glance at the elder Persona user, "How are you doing Yukari-Senpai?"
Yukari hums at the question, "Well, I'm actually energized after all that for some reason. I managed to have a great time with everyone, even though Shiomi was difficult to work with at first. "
"She was berating us just for trying to bring some levity into the situation, until we both snapped at her. It didn't help that I felt like I was screwing up for twenty minutes until I was comfortable and feeling confident with certain poses. It was fun being able to hang with all of you." Leiko answers with a smile knowing she did her best.
"She did seem rather adverse to us having fun and bonding together as a group." Yukari frowns as she thinks deeply on the matter. Something just felt very off about the behavior of this designer. "I've never had an experience with modeling like that. We're usually encouraged to become friends and have fun."
Leiko couldn't deny that what Yukari said about Kotone being against bonding did feel pretty accurate, though she wondered if Ann or Rise had any experiences similar to this with people on other projects.
"You two seem to be getting pretty friendly. What are you talking about?" Ann shouts over to them as she sidles up to them wearing her usual street clothes, which consist of a mint button up shirt with a matching skirt, black leggings and brown boots. Rise walks alongside her, waving to Yukari and Leiko with a large smile.
"Just about an observation I was making." Yukari answers as she hoists her bag back over her shoulder, "It's not that important. Come on, we shouldn't keep Kotone waiting on us any longer."
The four women swiftly make their way through the crowded picnic area over to the pavilion, where they see the fashion designer waiting for them at the back of the structure. Stepping across the threshold, the group suddenly disappears, leaving behind a ripple floating in the center of the entryway. The ripple expands, distorting the pavilion as its image fades away revealing a large stone outcropping with a glowing maw in its place.
A/N: So this is the lasts full chapter I had done since about near the end of June and since then life has been well life, with allergies hitting and a lack of focus etc. I am how in the middle of writing that next section rather slowly, but I am getting there. Now, as for the mara stuff, I was on a mixed mind of Yu would have fused one or even used it, so I went with a no on the matter. As with Rise, I might have gotten a bit silly with her. I apologize if I went ooc with her. I hope I've been consistent thus far as well. If you have any comments or questions, I encourage you to ask them of me, I'll do my best to answer.