09/02 F
Cloudy/Rain
Yu overheard a pair of students on the way to school...
"I feel soooooo tired coming to school... Soooo sleeeepeeee... I can't believe I was early for class every single morning until just about a month ago..."
"You're so lucky compared to me. I've been studying for my entrance exams all summer... By the way, I'm so glad they caught the guy behind those murders. I was surprised it turned out to be a student."
"I've seen so many shows interviewing the police by now... I'm soooo sick of it."
I'm kinda sick of it, too... But I think it's for a very different reason.
Rainy... Yosuke's got an extra workload, which probably means Teddie does too, Chie and Yukiko want today to themselves, Rise's trying to persuade Kanji to make accessories and such thanks to that night she saw him make a toy store out of a box of random trash at my home...
Yu decided to stop by the Shrine in the Shopping District...
Hope the Fox isn't too mad at me... Then again, he might not have had any requests to give until after the festival, and everything was just so busy in August. He's a good listener. He'll understand.
"Did that case get solved? The customers all seem to have stopped talking about it, like all of a sudden. Is it all over now...? Be nice if it was."
... Stop glaring at me like that every time I walk by.
Yu slowly made his way from the Moel Gas Station and its attendant...
Yu walked up to the Shrine building, the Fox leaping down from the roof, as before.
Still got it, huh?
The Fox placed the ema in Yu's hands...
Very pretty, feminine handwriting... 'I want to be able to converse better. I don't want to say rude things when I'm nervous'... Not quite a standard reaction, but not that unusual. I'll poke around school tomorrow, see if a girl there wrote this one...
Yu scratched the Fox's ears. It seemed a little hesitant at first, but yipped happily not long after.
"So, we're cool?"
The fox yipped again.
As Yu stepped back onto the street, he overheard a man sighing to himself...
"The incidents... Are they really over...? Everything was really that boy's fault? If the police can't gather the evidence... The victims... Mayumi... Won't be able to rest in peace... I hope... That justice will be served..."
... Namatame. I wish I could tell him all about what's happened, but I don't think he'd believe me. I hope his pain can be eased...
Yu looked around the District...
Aiya. That's right, they have that special... 'Rainy Day Challenge! 3,000 yen Mega Beef Bowl! If you finish this quintuple-size bowl, it's free!'... Hell, why not!
Yu walked into the restaurant...
Yu stared at the massive mountain of meat placed before him...
Meat, meat, onion, meat, grease, meat and meat. I can't even see the rice... It's a little scary.
Yu cracked his chopsticks apart and began pulling piece after piece of glistening beef into his mouth...
Yu left after two hours, and began the walk home...
I... I can't believe it. Every last scrap of meat and grain of rice, gone.
Yu struggled within himself, feeling both a sense of shame and grandeur...
That night, Yu decided to talk with Dojima, Hokuto Seikun bringing him a little closer to the Hierophant...
"Ya that bored, huh? Well... Nanako, could you head to Yu's room for a little bit?"
... Hmm?
Dojima got up and looked around the living room a little bit...
"Yu, go bring Nanako down here. Take your time."
Yu nodded and left...
What has he got in mind...? And what a strange way to get both of us out of the room...
Nanako walked down with Yu, a little confused at her father.
"You told me to go over there..."
... Huh.
Yu and Nanako both spotted that a small cake and three mugs had been placed on the table...
"A cake!? Wow! What are we celebrating!?"
Dojima smiled a little at his daughter.
"Well... Today is a special day for us."
"A special day...?"
"That's right. Today's the day when you, me and Yu become 'family'."
... Dojima...
Nanako turned her confusedly.
"... What about before?"
"Er, well... A-anyways, it's the day that we become a real family."
Nanako seemed a little bewildered, but smiled anyway.
"I don't really get it, but... Cake!!"
"Alright, let's eat!"
Yu nodded to his uncle.
"Yeah."
After the three of them had finished eating, Nanako proved to have worn herself out and fell asleep. Dojima took her to bed and tucked her in, asking Yu to wait on the back porch until her returned...
What a day. Can't say I'd have eaten earlier if I knew this were coming, but it's really nice, all the same. I don't think I've seen both of them smile like that at the same time, at least not very often... I'm really happy.
Dojima opened the door and slid outside...
"Uhh, well... Heh. Er... Sorry about making you go along with this."
"It was fun."
"Huh... You're a nice guy."
Dojima smiled more sincerely than Yu had ever seen on his face before.
"I felt like I needed to do this to draw the line... And I wanted Nanako to know... She has to know how important my daughter is to me..."
Dojima stared silently into the sky for a while...
"She's looking more and more like Chisato... Her smile... Her strong attitude... It was hard for me to even look at Nanako's face, because she reminds me so much of Chisato. Chisato died because she went to pick up Nanako... There were times when I'd come close to believing that. But even then, I can't count the number of times she's saved me just by being there... If I was living by myself, I would have never have thought about taking you in."
Dojima faced Yu a little more.
"I think I was... scared. Scared to have someone else around... I was afraid we'd become a family... And then I'd lose it all again. I was running away by chasing a guy who'd run away himself... It was almost funny."
Dojima smiled sadly...
If you can see that, you don't need to feel bad anymore. That's what I think.
"Yu... I've been scared this whole time. That's why I used revenge as an excuse to spend time away from her..."
"Was it hard?"
"Yeah... Yeah, it was..."
Dojima sounded choked...
I thought so. But that was before.
"Running, regretting... That crap all ends tonight. I'm not going to lose the things that are important to me... Never again."
... I know you said I'm more like a brother to you, but right now, you seem like the best Dad in the world.
Dojima smiled more openly.
"That's the strength you've shown me. Thanks, Yu."
The two of them sat in silence for some time, before Yu took himself upstairs and fell asleep. Just before he did, a ninth Hierophant card appeared before him...
09/03 Sa
Clear
... Well, I'd better find that girl who made a wish on the ema.
Yu got up and made his way upstairs.
Start at the roof and work my way dow- Huh? There's a girl all by herself. She's kinda holding herself awkwardly...
"Hello."
"Huh...? Wh-what, don't just walk up to me and talk to me all of a sudden! Don't you know that's rude!? Oh... Umm... S-sorry for blowing up like that. It's fine. I', not in hurry to get anywhere or anything. So... Uh..."
... Wow, she's flustered. I think I got it right on my first try.
The girl started talking again.
"What do you want? St-stop staring at my face!"
Just don't react. She's asked for help...
"Wh-what? Normal people would have left by now, yelling something at me... You're weird."
Like you wouldn't believe.
"... Wh-what are you standing there for? Say something to me, you got that!?"
And with that, the awkward girl ran away...
... Well, I can just find her on Monday. Now what to do...?
Yu wound up meeting with Rise on his way out. He felt Leanan Sidhe assert herself as the idol lead him out, bringing him a little closer to the Lovers...
Geez... She gets so excited, I can't bring myself to say no.
Rise brought Yu to Okina City once again...
"Today, we're buying for... Yu!"
Haven't heard that one before... But hey, a friend is being nice to me. I'll let her make as many puns as she likes.
Rise smiled warmly.
"I'll put together the best outfit for you, so be prepared. I've already checked out most of the stores. First is... Over there.."
Rise seemed distracted...
"That ad... I see. So Kanami is the new poster girl..."
"... Erm, who? I'm not really one to follow this kinda thing."
"Oh, uh... That store's sign has a girl who was at the agency with me. Kanami Mashita... She was my junior... She was cute, so I figured she would sell."
... What the hell do I say?
"... That's good, isn't it?"
"... Huh? Oh, yeah. If some other girl takes off, I'm sure the agency will leave me alone."
Rise smiled in a way that seemed both false and genuine... Right then, a pair of teenage boys walked by...
"Man, Kanamin is sooo cute. It's crazy that she's still in middle school. I like ho0w she's not so fake, like Risette."
"Yeah, Kanamin's like... Plain, and honest. Somewhere between a little sister and the girl next door. Like, the kind of girl you want to protect."
The two continued chatting as they walked away...
"... Yeah, yeah, I'm 'fake'. That's the role I played... It was all an act... Everything..."
I dunno. What little I've seen paints Risette as a bubblier, more hyperactive version of you, at least in that anti-bullying campaign. Not the same, sure, but the way she handled stuff seemed a lot like the way you would, even if not exactly.
Something suddenly clicked in Rise about the boys' chat-
"... Hey! All that stuff about Kanami is an act, too!... Let's go home, Senpai. I don't want to be here."
Yu nodded to Rise understandingly, and followed her back to the boarding platform...
Rise and Yu walked alongside the Samegawa River, the Lovers still in a huff...
"... Senpai, are you... Happy right now? Do you like being with me... Like this, the way we are now? You like having such a cute underclassman, right? I'm an ex-idol, after all."
"That part doesn't matter."
"Y-yeah, of course not... What am I saying? You see me as Rise, huh...? The real me..."
Rise stared at the ground for a little bit...
"... I'm sorry, Senpai. I was just irritated. I drag you all the way to Okina City and then just drag you all the way back. I'm really sorry..."
"Oh, Big Bro and Rise-chan!"
Hmm?
Nanako came running up to her cousin and his friend.
"Oh, Nananko-chan... Y-you going home?"
"Yep!"
"Oh, I know... H-hey, Nanako-chan, umm... Well... Do you know who Kanami Mashita is...?"
Nanako furrowed her brow.
"Ummm... Kanami... Mashita...? Oh, you mean Kanamin? Yeah, I know her. Some of my friends like her. I tell them, 'Rise-chan's way better'!"
Yu barely held back a laugh for Rise's sake.
That was great, Nanako.
Rise nodded along.
"Y-you do, huh? Thanks...."
Rise faked a laugh herself.
"B-but I'm totally different from how I am on TV... You must be disappointed..."
Nanako looked a little confused, then shook her head.
"Nope. I like you."
"Huh? Oh... Thanks. But that means... You like the 'me' over here, huh..."
"The... 'me'...? Aren't you just Rise-chan? I like you, that's all."
"Oh, er... Ummmm...."
... 'From the mouths of babes', or something like that, right?
Rise giggled a little.
"... Thanks, Nanako-chan. I like you, too."
"Yay!"
The three stood and laughed a tiny bit, before Nanako seemed to realize something...
"Oh, the show's about to start! I'm going home now! Bye!"
Oh, right, that manga I gave her got adapted into an anime, didn't it?
Nanako ran off...
Rise gave a satisfied sigh.
"'You're just Rise-chan', huh...? Wh-what was I thinking, asking all that to Nanako-chan...?"
Rise lost her smile and sighed again, more heavily...
"Risette... I quit so I wouldn't have to think about stuff like this..."
The former idol faced Yu.
"I have no regrets about showbiz. I wouldn't want to go back. Why would I sacrifice my real self!? I just want to become a Rise who's needed by the ones who seethe real me. Like you, Senpai. That's the 'me' I want to be. It's the truth."
... Is it? I suppose... Only she can know for sure. I can just support her, and maybe help her hear herself.
"I... Got a little upset today when I heard those kids talk about Kanami... I'm sure I'll forget it by tomorrow."
Yu walked a little closer to Rise...
"-S-stop, Senpai... Though maybe I'm in the mood to be close to you right now."
I didn't mean it like that... Though, Maybe it wouldn't be so bad...
Rise continued-
"I'm sorry for being so selfish today... When I was working, I met lots of people, but at the cost of free time to met people outside of work. I had no free time at all... So when I was alone, I was truly alone. Whatever I was thinking about... I had to keep it to myself. So... Right now... I don't want to be alone... Stay with me... just a little longer..."
Yu smiled at Rise...
The two of them spent time quietly together at the River, talking about whatever came to mind, before Yu escorted Rise home as the sun went down and walked back to his house, a seventh Lovers card appearing before him as he turned away from her door...
That night, Dojima asked Yu a question just as he got back-
"Hey, Yu. I was thinking of taking Nanako to Junes... You wanna come along?"
Nanako on a Junes trip- Of course!
"Sure."
"Great! I'll get the car started..."
Yu found himself with Nanako and Dojima at the Grocery Department at Junes.
"Every day's great at your Junes!"
Just what I wanted to hear.
Nanako spotted a small pack of chocolate wafers and asked her father for them"
"Do you want something, Big Bro?"
"Go ahead and get whatever you want, but make it quick."
"Right."
Hmm... Oh, they're selling packs of Peach Seeds. They might not be very effective, but getting a bunch of them might still be a good idea if we ever go back to the World Inside the TV... And they taste pretty good, too.
Yu added his item to the cart and spent the rest of the trip answering Nanako's questions about the exotic food aisle...
09/04 Su
Clear
Well, Mr. Granter of Desires, what have you on offer today?
Yu flipped his cellphone open and placed his order...
Yu made his way to the Samegawa, where he met with Hisano...
I know she asked me to leave, but... I just don't think I can anymore. Or should.
"Yu-chan... Haa... I'm no good. I said I didn't want to see you, and yet, part of me was hoping you would come, anyway... I'm happy that you did... If it's all right with you, shall we talk?"
"Of course. That's why I came."
Yu and Hisano sat down in their usual spot near the bank of the waters...
"I was half expecting you to come, and half thinking you'd given up. Being noncommittal... Floating around, never deciding to be one thing nor another. Can a man understand that?"
"I get it."
That's not really hard to find among guys... Though I hope that's not quite me.
"I see... I suppose this kind of feeling isn't gender-specific... I just remembered something. Before we were married, you remember that my husband and I could only meet once a year, yes? So we exchanged letters, all the time. I'd wait by my mailbox every day, wondering when his next letter would arrive... The days one came would fill me with joy, but I also felt that reading it immediately would be wasteful. But I wanted to write my reply so badly, I would grow impatient and read it carefully, over and over."
Hmm...
"What were they about?"
"Do you know, I've forgotten after all this time!"
Hisano smiled and laughed a little at herself.
"When you find yourself somebody to love, try writing a letter for them Just one line can convey so much more of your feelings than a hundred speeches."
... Well, speeches have never been my thing, anyway.
Hisano sighed.
"But you know what? I've lost the letters he'd sent to me. I thought I kept them in a safe place... Well, I suppose I don't need them anymore, anyway."
... Well. Who do I know that buys things secondhand...?
Yu thanked Hisano and left, a sixth Death card appearing before him on his way...
"Welcome home, Big Bro! I went shopping today. The fridge is full of food!"
"Really? Thank you, Nanako."
Yu opened the door and checked...
Hmm... Carrots... Burdock... Kinpira!
Yu chopped the vegetables and stirfried them, adding soy sauce and mirin and taking them off the burner, letting the residual heat of the food cook the water out of the seasonings into a flavorful glaze...
09/05 M
Clear
That morning, Yu overheard a pair of girls chatting just inside the school gate...
"You know, I don't really see the police in town anymore. I've seen on the news that there are still some loose ends to this case, but the police are ready to end everything."
... Hmm... If Kubo really did it, and confessed, why're there loose ends this long after his arrest...?
"The what...? You mean those murders? Why're you still thinking about stuff from that far back? Ignore that! The school trip starts on Thursday! Both the first and second years are going! I might end up in the same group as Risette! I'm SO looking forward to it!"
"Sheesh, you never cared about idols until now..."
... There's so much to say, but I think I'll just leave them be. Won't change anything.
"Looks like we're having an eventful year. It's soooo weird. After the murder incidents, an idol comes to town, and then a detective shows up too? This town used to be so carefree. Every year was more of the same until this year came along..."
... Man, I remember when it looked like I was going to be the guy everyone talked about. Dodged a bullet there, I guess... Though I wish no one had to die for it.
"Anyway, I'm supposed to cover haiku today. Get out your textbooks. Haiku, unlike senryu, contain 'kigo', which are words associated with a particular season. Alright, why don't I test the waters with a kigo-related question? Yu-chan!"
... Don't make the puppet call my name. Geez...
Yu stood up from his desk to answer.
"Which of the following isn't a kigo for spring- Ume blossom, sardine, or frog?"
Well, one's a flower and another's just gotten its legs grown out, so that leaves...
"Sardine."
"Wow, I'm impressed, Yu-chan! You're correct! 'Sardine' is a kigo for autumn. You're all familiar with what it is, right? You know, like anchovies? But we use sardines for fish oil, animal feed, and fertilizer too. It's a very versatile fish. Oops, I got off-topic. Let's continue with the lecture..."
You made the puppet mime out sardine uses. Just... Just WHY, Mr. Hosoi?
Hmm... Who to invite for lunch...?
Yu drummed his fingers on his desk a little, before heading downstairs...
"Oh, this is quite tasty. I didn't think you'd be this good at cooking. This is fantastic! Thanks, Yu-san."
Yu ate quietly together with Naoki...
He had to have had a tough summer. It's only fair.
Oh, there's Miss Awkward. I should probably try to follow up from last time...
"... Oh, you. I was wai- I mean what are you doing here again? No one asked you to come. W-well? I'm busy, so wh-what's on your mind!?"
... Yep. She needs a little help here.
"Do you need help speaking?"
"Wha...! Wh-where'd you here that!?... Oh. I-it's not like I'm worried about it! L-leave me alone!"
... Well. I guess I'd be defensive like that if I were as worried as she is... Maybe subtlety just won't work here.
"You want me to give you some conversation lessons?"
"C-conversation lessons!? I-I don't need them! Leave me alone!... But if you really want to teach someone, then maybe I'll listen to you for a while, just to be nice."
Got her.
"Alright then, first of all..."
Yu explained a little about conversing well...
"... And if you think there's nothing to say, you can just let the other person talk, and find times when you can say something you really mean in there.
"Y-you should've told me all this earlier! Oh... Um... That's not right. 'It would have been most desirable if you would have imparted this wisdom at a much earlier occasion"... Like that? Um... Th-thank you. I hope... You can teach me again sometime. B-bye!"
... Well. Better a little stilted than a lot rude. I should check on her again soon, I think...
Yu went down the stairs and returned to the second floor...
"Hey, Yu! If you've got time, you wanna do something?"
Yosuke... Well, his extra shifts have finally ended, so this should be a good time to get back to hanging out with him.
"Alright."
"Sweet!"
Yu felt Dis slot into place, bringing him a little closer to the Magician...
Yosuke brought Yu to the Food Court at Junes, offering to pay for a bite to eat.
"So, whatcha gonna eat today?"
Well... Not steak. Maybe the takoyaki...
Just as Yu was about to answer, a pair of high school girls walked up from behind Yosuke...
"Hey, Hanamura!"
... Not those two again.
Yosuke held beck a sigh.
"... What is it today?"
"How come Kazumi can take the day off and we can't?"
"... Huh?"
"We told you before! We can't work weekends! So when we refused, they said they were going to fire us! I don't get this!"
"Hey, I talked to the manager... Senpai... Have you been taking absences without leave lately?"
"I-I just forgot to come..."
... This is pathetic, watching you two try to justify your behavior.
The girl continued...
"Besides, that's not the point! What're you going to do about this!? I have a day!"
"How come you're favoring Kazumi, huh!? You were like that with Saki, too!"
Oh. No, no... They didn't just bring HER up...!
"... Huh?"
"Don't try to hide it! We all know! You liked Saki and treated her special!"
... What the hell, girls.
"...... I don't think Saki-senpai has anything to do with this subject."
"Yeah, she does! You told the other workers to take it easy on Saki too, didn't you? You think you can do anything just because you're the manager's son!?"
"So it's Kazumi now that Saki's dead!? Don't even bother, she has a boyfriend. Didn't you get it!? Saki didn't like you! We heard from her! She may have acted that way, but..."
... Speaking ill of the dead. That's a new low.
"... I feel bad for Saki-senpai. I can't believe someone would talk about her the way you two are, especially after she's been gone. It's disgusting."
The girls stared at Yu...
"Who are you? Are you stupid!?"
Yosuke got out of his chair and practically barked back at the girls-
"Don't talk like that to Yu! Just shut up, will you!? You're really getting on my nerves!"
... Yosuke...
"What do you know about Saki-senpai!? She didn't do things half-assed like you! She looked lazy, but she worked hard! She talked bad, but she was good inside! So she hated me? I knew that! She's not here anymore! I'm left behind!... Just leave me alone."
"Wh-what the heck...?"
"... Let's go."
And with that, the two girls left...
... Good riddance. I don't like thinking about people that way, but there are some things I won't stand for.
Yu stared at Yosuke, who had the faintest traces of tears in his eyes...
"... I just blurted out a buncha crap, huh?"
"... Feel better now?"
"No... I'm more confused than ever."
Yosuke wore a smirk that seemed to someone laugh at him...
"... Damn. Another pathetic display from Yosuke, huh?... Thanks, Yu. Hearing you say that stuff to them... It made me happy."
Yosuke smiled sheepishly...
... There's still a lot left to deal with. But I'm glad he's trusting me so much...
"... I should talk to Dad. At this rate, those two are gonna quit... I should tell him and apologize..."
Yosuke walked a few paces, but stopped himself...
"I don't know... What do I want to do? I don't get it... Even though it's my own future. Sorry... I'll see you later, Yu."
Yosuke walked away... Yu went home soon after, and, despite the weight of the day's events, a seventh Magician card appeared before him on the way out of Junes...
That night, Yu found himself feeling tired and emotional drained. He politely greeted his family and went to bed not long after getting home...
"How could this possibly be, Great Wolf!?"
Wind Frog stared at his partner, tears welling up from behind his mask...
"You told me we could fix this! You told me we could get vengeance! You held your end of the bargain, and yet... My heart... It still aches..."
The wrestler dropped to his knees and cried, as Great Wolf defended him from their female assailants...
09/06 Tu
Rain
Rain... Wait, practice is still on. I'd better go... I wonder how Ayane's doing? I haven't seen her since that karaoke incident during summer vacation...
Yu approached the symphonic band room, ready for anything...
Geez, Ayane's sounding good...
Yu played his trumpet with as much effort as he could muster...
After practice, Ayane insisted on bringing Yu with her to the riverbank...
"Wow, the rain has almost let up! Senpai, over here!"
I hear ya... Good to see you so chipper, though.
Ayane faced Yu as he approached her and the water...
"This is where I usually practice. There's never anyone around, so I can relax while I play. Sorry for dragging you out here on such short notice. But I thought it would be easier for me to tell you something here..."
Ayane took a deep breath...
"I think I need to start being more selfish. For as long as I can remember, I've never expressed my opinions. I've just let them build up inside me. I was trying to protect myself from conflicts by just avoiding them. But sometimes arguing about something and talking through it is what makes a relationship stronger, I think. I'm finally starting to see that."
Ayane shuffled her feet and fell silent for a little...
"Well, no. That's not true. I've known that all along. But I was too scared to admit it... I was afraid of speaking my mind and getting shot down. I didn't want anyone to hate me. That's why I thought I could avoid getting hurt by just going with the flow... It was the easiest way out. But then... You came along... And made me realize I was just pretending not to see what I was doing. I've been keeping a lot of... unpleasant emotions buried inside. In fact, the real me can be pretty selfish. I want people to notice me, but I never make the first move. Selfish, right?"
'Be true to yourself, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind'... To quote a certain someone.
Ayane took another deep breath.
"... That's me. That's why, when I think about that one day, and how I threw away everything you did for me, I feel guilty... But you helped me do a lot of things I couldn't have done on my own. I pushed myself past my limits, and on top of that, I got to hang out with someone I really care about. But most importantly, you made me look myself in the eye. I never could have done that alone. You helped me hear my own voice."
Yu gave a reassuring smile...
I seem to do that a lot... But still, I'm touched.
Ayane nodded her head in resolution.
"So, from now on, I'm not gonna pretend I don't care what happens anymore! I'll express my opinion, say what I think, and if that gets me on someone's bad side, then that's that. If I wanna get what I want in life, I've gotta speak my mind!... I owe it all to you, Yu-senpai... Thank you!"
Ayane blushed deeply...
"Um... That being said... There's, ummm, something... else. Um... Senpai, I-I..."
... Oh, dear. I had hoped this wouldn't happen...
"... So, uh, do you wanna go get ice cream to celebrate? I'm very happy to hear you talk about yourself like this... So from one friend to another, how about it?"
"Ohh, umm... Yeah. Yeah, that would be nice."
... Yeah. It was the heat of the moment.
Yu took point for the pair. Ayane seemed a little embarrassed as they left the floodplain, but by the time they'd gotten to Junes, she seemed to have recovered...
After their celebration had ended, Yu walked home partway with Ayane. When their paths diverged and she had left his sight, an eighth Sun card appeared before him...
That night, Yu decided to work as a tutor, Cu Chulainn bringing him a little bit closer to the Tower...
"I've memorized this formula, but what does it mean in real life?"
"Well, suppose you need to figure out how far apart two places you visit often are from each other, but you only have hard numbers on how far they are from your home..."
Yu continued tutoring for a short while, before he and Shu sat down for their usual cup of tea...
"These equations can be used in a bunch of different situations, huh? The people who came up with them were geniuses. I wish I was a genius..."
"Well, work hard and you can be."
"... You can become a genius through hard work? I thought you had to be born one... I've already been trying pretty hard, in my opinion. It's still not enough...?"
That might not be the strictest definition of the word in a technical sense, but in a social one... And you're only in middle school. Genius usually doesn't manifest instantly, despite what everyone seems to think.
Shu thought to himself for a little while...
"... I'm sorry, I've been tired all day today... Can we finish the rest of this lesson next time?"
... He looks pretty pale...
Shu tried to feign health and change the subject.
"Let's change topics. What's up?"
... Hmm... Well.
"... You think the killer is really caught?"
"They talk about it all the time at school. Everyone seems to think so... Man, I get the feeling it's a lot more vicious here in this country town than in the city... Oh, I'm sorry. It looks like we're already out of time. Thanks for talking with me today. I think I was able to relax a little. I'd like to talk more later..."
Yu nodded and bid Shu good night. On his way out the door, a seventh Tower card appeared before him...
09/07 W
Clear
Yu was met by Yosuke and Kanji on the way to school, as he passed through a small intersection...
"Mornin', Senpai."
"Yo. So, are you ready for the trip yet? This guy won't shut up about it."
"Yosuke-senpai hasn't even started packing. He's all like 'Was that tomorrow'? 'Sup with that?"
"You are way too excited about this. I mean, you're even worried about how many boxes of animal crackers to bring. We're only gonna be there for two nights, dude! Besides, I'm pretty sure they have convenience stores in Port Island."
Indeed.
"For serious!? I've never really left this place, so..."
... Surely you could have figured that out, Kanji. You're not really that dumb...
Yu could see the gears work in Kanji's head...
"Huh... I wonder if the murders here got as much play over there, too. Like that Mitsuo Kubo dude. They're still showing him on TV here. Every time I switch on the tube, the news is showing like, what he wrote in his yearbook. Pisses me off, man. The freakin' media's slapping together anything they can find to make the dude look like a born criminal. People think they can say anything they want about a guy who's been branded a criminal... 's just not right."
Especially since he still hasn't been convicted of anything yet...
"Yeah, I agree."
"I mean, I still hate the guy's guts. But... I dunno, after getting involved with all this, I started to realize how off-base most rumors are... It's so messed up..."
Yosuke nodded slightly.
"Well, I gotta admit, the news can be pretty out there. Hmm? Hey, it's Naoto."
The small first year indeed walked up from behind the group...
"Yo, how's it going?"
Naoto coolly responded-
"Good morn-"
Suddenly, Kanji blurted out over him-
"Oh yeah, I'm on duty today! Eh, um, well, see ya later!"
And the Emperor took off...
... Just admit your feelings, if not to him, then to yourself.
Yosuke sighed.
"He's the messed up one..."
Upon school ending, Yu went to the roof to check on the awkward girl...
There she is... Are those tears? Oh, no...
"Th-there you are! Your lesson didn't work! I just tried starting up a cheerful conversation with a girl in my class... B-but I got nervous all of a sudden... I said something I wasn't even thinking! 'Move aside, ugly; I'm comin' through'! Wh-what should I do? She just started crying..."
"Apologize to her- You can do that, even if it is scary..."
We don't need any more people who act like my parents when this kind of thing happens.
Yu went off on a short spiel about courage and apologizing for mistakes...
"... You understand?"
"Y-you're right... I'll apologize to her. Hurting others without apologizing is selfish and cowardly... I'll go apologize. Maybe after I do, I can try and have a real conversation with her. I can't keep using my bad conversational skills as an excuse... I'll do my best. If it works, I might just visit that old shrine again..."
Yu smiled at his...
... Pupil? Well, I hope things work for her... I should check with the Fox when I can...
After that, Yu tried to slip away back home. However, he wound up cutting through the Shopping District...
"Oh. Yu-san, hello."
"Good to see you, Naoki..."
"Erm, well... I have something to ask you."
... Well, what harm could hanging out with him be?
Yu found himself talking with the Hanged Man...
Naoki brought Yu into Aiya...
"Yeah... So, the thing I wanted to tell you was... I'm thinking about quitting school."
... What!?
"I might take over the liquor shop. I really wasn't interested in our family's business... Honestly, I'm still not, but... When that woman told me that out family should unite, I knew she had a point..."
That was ages ago, though... Why're you still dwelling on it?
Naoki fell silent for a while, leaving Yu to interject...
Well, I know things are really tough for him right now, anyway...
"Well... It might be a good idea... For a while, anyway."
"It is, huh...?"
Naoki nodded...
"Up until now, I never even thought about taking over the liquor store. It's hard for me to say, but... As long as Junes is there, I know our shop has no future. It's not like it's a store with a long tradition, so I thought it'd end with Dad's generation when he retired... But... Now I think I don't have any other choice... I have to do it."
... What do I even say? My family barely even existed to me... I've only really had one for a few months, so what do I even say to someone who has more experience than me and still doesn't know what to do, in a situation I can't really and truly relate to?
"You should think it over."
"... Why did Sis Die? Er... I don't mean how she died... I don't want to know what a killed her."
I don't blame you... Though that's the only sense I could answer that question in.
"... Why... Why did she have to die...? Inadvertently dragging me and my parents down with her... Why did everything have to end up this way...?"
I can't really give him anything right now but someone who can listen... I'll just shut up for right now...
"... I'll talk with my parents. I think they'll be happy about it. Then I'll be a productive member of society and live an admirable life."
Naoki laughed falsely before returning to his food. Aside from a farewell to Yu upon returning home, he didn't say another word...
As Yu headed for his own house, a fifth Hanged Man card appeared before him...
"I'm home!"
"Welcome home, Big Bro!"
Yu confirmed with Dojima that he'd be coming home a little early to take care of Nanako the two nights Yu would be gone...
"You'd better get to sleep. travel wears on a body, y'know."
"Yeah. Good night."
There's nothing we can do!?
Don't give up! We have to believe in her!
Give her strength! Take my life if you must!
Yeah! I'm willing to risk mine, too!
She's going to face it all by herself!
No, she's not alone! I won't let her die!
*Bark! Bark!*
I won't allow this world to be destroyed!
All right. Let's do this...
A new power is yours!
Yu's Level: 48
Current Personas
Oukuninushi
Succubus
Hokuto Seikun
Black Frost
Cu Chulainn
Dis
Dominion
Triglav
Parvati
Leanan Sidhe
Genbu
Hanuman
Social Links:
Fool: Rank 7
Magician: Rank 7
Priestess: Rank 6
Empress: Rank 6
Emperor: Rank 6
Hierophant: Rank 9
Lovers: Rank 7
Chariot: Rank 6
Justice: Rank 9
Hermit: Rank 6
Strength: Rank 6
Hanged Man: Rank 5
Death: Rank 6
Temperance: Rank 8
Devil: Rank 7
Tower: Rank 7
Star: Rank 4
Moon: Rank 6
Sun: Rank 8
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