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Ren [J0ker]
Ryuji [Shu7thefup]
Ann [SweetTreat]
Shiho [Dove]
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[SweetTreat]
I kind of get it? So it's like a daydream?
[J0ker]
Pretty much. A world of the mind. I plan to look into psychology and such when I can. I have a lot of free time at night.
[Dove]
So do you believe us?
[Shu7thefup]
Are we going back?
[J0ker]
We'll talk about it at school. Morgana is complaining because he can't text and can only read the messages.
[SweetTreat]
Morgana is the magic cat, right?
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"NOT A CAT," Morgana exclaimed from Ren's bag.
Luckily, Sojiro was focused on making the curry for the day as Ren set down his phone to finish eating.
"Shhh. I technically can't bring you to school," Ren whispered.
"Hey, kid. You gonna get going soon? Don't be late. And try not to argue with teachers anymore," Sojiro advised without turning around.
"Yes, sir," Ren said quickly. "Thanks for the food, Boss. It's amazing. If you need me to help out around the café this weekend, let me know. It's the least I can do."
"…We'll talk about it later. Get going, and remember to flip the sign to open on the door."
"No problem," Ren assured him as he walked out of the café after a short bow.
---
Elsewhere
"Yu?" a regal feminine voice asked through the phone as the train he was riding approached the station.
"I'm leaving for Tokyo now. Where did you end up having Ren housed?"
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.
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"Really? I didn't know you were still in contact with him, after… well…" Yu trailed off. "He's running a café now?"
---
Shibuya Station
"RenRen!"
The off-key, sing-song voice made Ren turn. He saw Ryuji approaching with a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Don't do that," Ren said flatly. "How are you feeling? I slept like a rock."
*I figured I would go back to that prison again… but maybe it was just a dream. Or the residents there are toying with me. I could see that,* Ren thought as he spotted a blue butterfly fluttering through the station and out into the streets of Tokyo.
"I slept hard too. But Captain Kidd is pretty cool. He taught me sea shanties—we sang them before bed. But I don't remember being taught them…" Ryuji trailed off in thought. "Ah, eff it. Sea shanties are super awesome."
"Yeah… I have random knowledge now too. Like I understand some bits of French? These Persona things are weird."
"They're your other self!" Morgana piped up from Ren's bag as they squeezed into the cramped train car.
"But I don't know French," Ren stated simply.
"And I don't know sea shanties," Ryuji added.
"Collective consciousness, remember?" Morgana said. "People believe Captain Kidd knows sea shanties, and people assume Arsène Lupin would know French. So you subconsciously recall bits of those things—from past exposure and shared human perception."
"Huh?" Ryuji said.
Ren remained silent in thought as the train pulled away from the station.
---
Meeting up with Shiho and Ann on the walk toward Shujin, Ren commented that it was a bit ominous that Shujin translated to "prison," which earned him confused looks for stating the obvious.
As they approached the entrance, they saw Kamoshida standing at the steps of the school, a heavy scowl etched across his face.
*Ughhhhhhh,* Ren groaned internally.
"Ughhhhhhhh," Ryuji groaned out loud.
Shiho and Ann both sighed sharply, their shoulders tensing the moment they spotted him.
"Takamaki. Suzui. I see you're here," Kamoshida said. "I was worried when you didn't come to practice, Suzui. Have you had time to consider your resignation?" His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'm sorry, Kamoshida-sensei," Shiho began weakly, before Ann reached down and gently squeezed her hand. "I decided to quit because I have a lot going on in my life right now. Maybe I'll return in time," she added noncommittally.
"Well… the team is always here for you. Your starting position is yours. Just be safe. Right, Takamaki?"
"Uh—"
"Yo, can we go now?" Ryuji cut in impatiently, tapping his foot.
"…Yes. Behave, you two," Kamoshida said, glaring at them.
*You'll regret it either way,* he thought maliciously.
"Thank you, sensei," Ren said politely.
"Your good attitude won't matter in the end," Kamoshida scoffed quietly as Ren walked past.
---
Leblanc
Sojiro sat at the counter watching the news as he waited for his usual customers. The broadcast was little more than background noise as his thoughts lingered on his new charge.
*Kids don't act like that for no reason…* he thought, recalling the automatic "yes, sir," the flinch at physical contact, and the visible anxiety at the thought of getting in trouble.
Ring.
The bell over the door chimed before Sojiro could dwell on it any further.
"Welcome to Leblanc. What can I get you?" he said—then paused as his eyes locked onto the tall man with silver hair who had just walked in.
"Hello. My name is Yu Narukami. Are you Sojiro Sakura?" Yu asked calmly.
Sojiro's eyes narrowed.
"I've already told the government types—she didn't share any of the research with me. There's nothing. Please leave me be. I've retired."
"No, you have the wrong impression," Yu replied. "I'm something of a… big brother to Ren. And I wanted to talk to you a bit about his life in Inaba."
---