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2026-10-10: Finishing Touches

2026-10-11T20:08:03Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Finishing Touches''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Remi Ryuuja *'''Where:''' Le Chat Marron *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-10-11 *'''IC Date:''' Wed, Jan 23 2013 *'''Summary:''' ''In an effort to conceal his identity at the butler cafe, Hyousuke calls on Remi for help with some makeup.'' ---- (|============================== Le Chat Marron ==============================|) -========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====- Take a..."

*'''Log: Finishing Touches'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Remi Ryuuja]]
*'''Where:''' Le Chat Marron
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-10-11
*'''IC Date:''' Wed, Jan 23 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''In an effort to conceal his identity at the butler cafe, Hyousuke calls on Remi for help with some makeup.''

----

(|============================== Le Chat Marron ==============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
Take a left off the streets of Electric City, then down a stairway, and you'll
find a door with a frosted glass window labeled 'Le Chat Marron'. On the side is
a menu stand listing the seasonal offers and any specials.

Inside, one will be greeted by a cozy but elegant cafe setting with a vaguely
European Old World feel. The white walls are accented by dark wood wainscot half
panels, above which are framed posters of turn-of-the-century lithographs from
European artists such as Jules Chéret, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Alphonse Mucha.
There's a bar against one wall, with various bottles set against a mirrored
display. Lighting is kept bright enough to portray the place as elegant, while
also being dim enough to feel cushy.

You'll be attended to by a butler of your choosing, though who is available
largely varies from day to day. Unlike many cafes, the butlers may be female or
male, and their theme, while in keeping with the general turn of the century
European feel, can run the gamut otherwise, as will their quality, acting, and
ability to speak English (or any other language, for that matter). Really, it's
more likely you'd be here for the desserts, savory snacks, teas, and fancy
drinks (non-alcoholic, as this is an all-ages cafe!) than the butlers, but there
is a certain appeal to being called 'ojou-sama', 'danna-sama', or 'bocchama'. If
your butler is particularly good, you just may feel like a member of the upper
class!
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
No matter how many times he wore the suit, Hyousuke could never manage to get used to it. It wasn't that it didn't fit, even if it had taken a small miracle to find an ensemble that fit his height and build. It wasn't that he felt he looked ridiculous - he'd spent enough time in the company of other, more experienced butlers to be assured that he looked passable. It was more a clash with who he was as a person, and nowhere was that more apparent than when he dressed up for the day.

The gloves covered worn skin on his knuckles. The shirt obscured a small patchwork of bruises. The trousers hid scrapes and scratches he'd taken in the course of his explorations. He still stood without complaint, but it felt odd to him to act the part of a refined gentleman when he thought - hell, when he *knew* - he was little more than a screaming brute. But whatever discomfort cropped up was quickly quashed by the prospect of a decent paycheque, even if it still lingered in the background of his mind whenever he went about his work.

As experienced as he was at putting on the uniform by that point, however, there was one part that always gave him trouble - the makeup. The jet-black and medium-length wig sat well upon his head, the matching reading glasses were a staple of his outfit, and he'd long since broken in the shoes. But when he looked in the mirror and squinted at the layer of concealer he'd applied to his face, a frown began to weave itself into his features. That deep trench carved from brow to cheek might have been hidden from a distance, but with how close he needed to be to serve patrons, he doubted it'd hold up.

"Ryuuja-san?" He asked, not looking away from the mirror. "Need your help with the makeup again. Doesn't look like it's sitting right..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, by contrast, has taken to the role with relative ease. Oh, she needed a fair bit of instruction at first in the finer details of customer work and interacting with customers--that was not a thing she ever had to worry about with her upbringing, though she didn't exactly ''advertise'' her upbringing.

But for the actual ''role'', that of a mysterious French gentleman with a charming yet sad fallen nobility air to hi... she had taken to it quite well. And even some of the small lapses she'd made early on with unfamiliar takes she had managed to work into her character, with some coaching.

Of course, she has her own set of injuries that she kept hidden, but that's just par for the course.

Her own wig is a light brown, with no glasses, but she uses makeup regularly to help contour her face a little, to sell the fantasy of being a male butler. Her wig is off, though, and she's slowly working on removing that makeup, looking at the mirro but her thoughts far distant.

'Ryuuja-san?'

Remi blinks, the question taking a moment to sink in. She shakes her head and looks over. "Hmm?" Her eyes--brown with green flecks--squint as she studies Hyousuke's face. "Ahh, I see." She puts her makeup wipe down and steps closer. "Mmm. Chin up, dear," she says softly, "Let me see."

She leans this way and that, nodding to herself. "You're applying it unevenly. Would you like a hand?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke moved as instructed once he had Remi's attention. Stepping away from the mirror and towards her, he angled himself to give her a better look, and remained as still as possible to keep the light overhead from interfering too much. As helpful as it could be in obscuring something that could very well identify him outside of the cafe, the lighting could just as easily prove a hindrance to detailed work. However, he also made sure to keep a slight distance from her. He tolerated her proximity, given its necessity, but that didn't make him comfortable with it.

"Could you? I've been trying to figure out doing it myself, but it's..." He pulled a slight face in place of finishing his sentence, letting his displeasure with yet another failure speak for itself. With him still and angled right, it was clear to see that - compared to when he'd first stumbled in and asked for a job - Hyousuke had gotten markedly better. While part of that was no doubt down to the scar being a single, clean, line carved across into his face, the very basics of application were there. But he was still an inexperienced rank amateur, and his work definitely needed tidying up. "Just wish I didn't have to wear it at all. Feels kinda weird to keep putting it on."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi can see the improvement, of course. Though a part of her ''does'' wonder if it's fully necessary to hide the scar--it's distinctive, and adds character... but she also knws she' not up on all of the butler 'tropes'.

Still...

But Hyousuke agrees, and Remi nods. "Certainly. Hold still a moment." The first step is to remove the existing concealer, of course. But when Hyousuke trails off she just nods. "Mm-hmm. It is a skill, dear.

But it feels weird... Remi hmms. "Well, you ''could'' go without, of course, and..." Her voice drops to a faux, conspiratorial whisper, "There are some girls who go for that sort of thing," She chuckles softly and picks up the brush and concealer once she's finished. "But I would wager that most men in your position do not have the benefit of regular practice--so it is little wonder if it might take you some time to become adept."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
His discomfort with her working on him was clear for anyone that cared to look closely enough. He remained as still as he could, but his jaw clenched tight and his gaze remained dead ahead. He was the very image of someone locking up in an attempt to not react. Despite that, he remained, recognising that it was a necessity if he was to learn to do it himself.
"Gotta admit, getting more customers is tempting..." Hyousuke said, either too dense to realise the implications or making an active effort to ignore them. "...But I don't want anyone knowing I work here. And it's hard to hide that when I've got this out in the open."

It was sizeable enough that the glasses folded up next to him would only partially obscure it, after all, and there were precious few other options available that wouldn't have clashed with the outfit. Ones that he was aware of, at least.
"Besides, I don't think men in general wear any of this stuff." He said, in regards to her other point. He said it rather flatly, with the same ease that he'd have said water was wet, or snow was cold. Like it was a simple fact of life that men would not know much about makeup. "Not like I could ask 'em even if I knew any. It'd be bad enough if they found out I was pretending to be someone's butler, but I'd never live it down if they found out I was wearing makeup for it too."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi can't fail to notice that discomfort, being so close, but it can't be helped if she's going to be applying makeup. She ''is'' working as swiftly as she can, though.

Later, when they have more time, she'll walk Hyousuke through the process and provide instruction. Right now this is for just getting things done. But he doesn't want people knowing that it's him. "Mmm... I suppose that is a conundrum, dear..."

But as for men in general... "You may be right about that, of course... but the number may be higher than you think--turn this way for me? Yes, like that. I daresay you have seen a live-action actor or TV perosnality on the screen before, yes?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
While Hyousuke was most certainly not an actor, professional or otherwise, his impression of a nervous pet at the groomer's was remarkable. Of course, he didn't howl or tremble in despair, but there was still the abject discomfort in his expression. It was mitigated somewhat as time went on and he got used to her presence, but there was no actual relaxation there. Even when he turned for her, it was more like someone shifting a stone in place than the natural, fluid, movement of someone manipulating their own body.

"Sometimes. I leave the TV on for background noise when I'm doing stuff around the dorm, if that counts." Given that it likely encompassed everything from the news to trashy dramas that he was more invested in than he cared to admit, he supposed it probably counted. "Why? Do they got something to do with this?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi, at the very least, is taking care not to linger, even if she doesn't seem overly concerned with the discomfort. "One last little touch and--there!" She stepped back to an arm's length, looking Hyousuke over. "Look in the mirror, dear. Tell me what you think."

As for the TV. "Certainly that counts. And I'll let you in on a little secret--every single person you see on camera is wearing makeup. ''Even'' the men."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Though he tried to suppress the brunt of it - if only for the sake of politeness - there was no hiding all of the relief that was on Hyousuke's face when he was finally allowed to turn back around. When he looked at himself in the mirror, however, at least that relief was born of seeing the results rather than being allowed to keep his distance once again. He angled his head this way and that, letting the light hit him at different angles to better see how he looked, but the pleased look never faded.

"You've *really* gotta show me how you do this one day. Thanks, Ryuuja-san, you're a lifesaver." Hyousuke said, hoping that sufficed in showing his approval - though he made sure to address the other point when that was done. "And you're saying all of them gotta wear stuff like this? Like, all the time?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Remi won't take offense, at Hyousuke wanting to keep his distance. That's why she stepped back when she was done. But there's a warm smile, at seeing--and hearing--the approval. "You're quite welcome, dear--and I would be ''more'' than glad to give you a lesson, when we both have more itme for it."

She sits down and resumes work on removing her own makeup. "They certainly do--at least, while they're on camera. The lighting is extraordinarily bright, in order to facilitate recording by the video cameras. But exposing a face to such powerful lighting can wash the face out--so they use makeup to compensate."

She looks at Hyousuke again. "... if it helps, for this purpose, try to think of it as just a tool. It's no different than that wig or those glasses."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke didn't look directly at Remi, instead performing some final checks on the last of his costume, but he was quiet and attentive nonetheless. He nodded along, then remained still when she offered that closing remark, moving only to pick up the wig and place it gingerly on his head. Neatly arranged, jet black in hue, and possessed of a healthy sheen - or, at least, as much as a wig like that could have - it was a rather stark departure from the honey-blonde and shortly-cut locks that were compressed beneath.

"Just a tool..." He said, looking at his alter-ego - his prim, proper, man-of-few-words alter ego - in the mirror, and nodded firmly. It was a short, quick, gesture, but no less decisive for it. "...Still feels weird to be dolled up like this, but I'll try and think of it like that. Thanks. And for the help with everything else." He tugged at the collar a little, shifted the wig, and adjusted the glasses, until he looked every part the tall, dark, and mysterious man that customers seemed to have a fondness for. Enough that he still had a place in the cafe, at least.

"Anyway, I'm up soon. I'll be counting on you teaching me soon - can't rely on you helping me out all the time." He chuckled, before standing up straight and pulling his tie the rest of the way up.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
And as Hyousuke puts on his wig, Remi takes hers off, along with a wig cap, setting both on a stand. Her face is back to its normal contours now that the makeup is removed. (She also has honey-blonde hair, but it also happens that she's half-French, so she doesn't look fullyJapanese anyway. At least it helps her character...)

But Hyousuke will try. "That's the spirit. And ''do'' try to relax, a true butler exudes a sense of calm and purpose." She speaks as if she's dealt with actual butlers before. But what are the odds. "I'll be happy to give you a lesson any time. Au revoir, dear, and break a leg!"
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-10-03: The Mystery of Mizunagi

2026-10-03T22:19:23Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: The Mystery of Mizunagi''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Maria Sakurai *'''Where:''' Sumaru City *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-10-03 *'''IC Date:''' Sat Jan 19 2013 *'''Summary:''' ''Hyousuke and Cherry - a mysterious figure claiming to know him - enter the wreck of the Mizunagi, hoping to unravel the mysteries contained within.'' ---- (|================ Monad - The Inscrutable Region: Mizunagi ================|) -==== Round 1 - Challenge Level 1 ==========..."

*'''Log: The Mystery of Mizunagi'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Maria Sakurai]]
*'''Where:''' Sumaru City
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-10-03
*'''IC Date:''' Sat Jan 19 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Hyousuke and Cherry - a mysterious figure claiming to know him - enter the wreck of the Mizunagi, hoping to unravel the mysteries contained within.''

----

(|================ Monad - The Inscrutable Region: Mizunagi ================|)
-==== Round 1 - Challenge Level 1 ===========================================-
| Card: side.SOL .. intro 0 .. TURNTABLE SATURN: "the gate" |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Academics |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1 and Stupor - Academics Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

Tumbling through the void, you fell through at least ten gates, all stacked
at physically impossible angles. It felt like forever before you landed
here, in the center of a vast, flooded cavern cut into the abominable stone.

The vagarious iridescence of reflections from the water seethes across the
cavern walls, glittering like waterborne gems that may or may not actually
be present in the dancing floodwaters. Though the water is deep enough that
you can't see the bottom, you may still stand easily on its surface, as
solid as glass, only the lightest ripple indicating your passing.

A torii gate stands on the water behind you, a dark, impossible mirror to
the space above, crimson red with pitch-black ofuda hanging forlornly from
its posts. Ahead lay a crippled, sunken ship, lopsided and run aground,
buried in a rocky shore that looks like the outer facade of a building,
tilted to a bizarre, mad slant.

The ship is silent, bitter and lonesome. All rotting steel and overgrown
with green vines, it's lit solely from a single consecrate beam of bright
light from far above. The dilapidated ship lists dangerously, hull sitting
at almost a forty five degree angle above the floodline, the fore and bridge
decks of the vessel unreachably high towards the top of the cavern, with the
aft section melding into the rock face.

A small, shattered helicopter is crumpled like paper, rotors snapped off
and bent around it. It's all but wrapped around a shattered helipad that
used to be attached to the ship, itself now forming a loose bridge that
cants towards the cargo area, allowing entry to the ship. But one method of
entering the ship itself is a keypad outside of the aft cargo hold,
flickering with barely-functional illumination.

Instead of a numerical code, the door is secured by a password system, and
the door to the hold is secured with what appears to be ancient clockwork
gears instead of any actual modern latching system. The password doesn't
seem to be anything basic, and changes on the day and the whim of the
blasphemous world. Only a passing knowledge of the ship itself -- or a
willingness to get physical with the interlock -- will gain entry to the
ship's interior spaces.

(OOC NOTE: Passages in red text will appear in some rooms. These represent
omnipresent thoughts or feelings that can be detected by those open to it.)

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke's mind was a maelstrom of thoughts, all clamouring for attention, each making a desperate attempt to drown out the others. His own future, the wellbeing of his friends, the motives and aims of the enigmatic fencers and those that held their reins... All those and more lingered within his mind, but none could hold the fore more than a few moments before something else strove to take his place. One thing managed to worm its way onto centre stage more often than the others, however, most likely because of recency - his brother.

Ten years, he'd not seen the man. Ten years that he'd languished with his parents and with those that had pretended to be his friends, while his brother had wandered off into the middle of Tokyo to pursue some government job or other, presumably living a cushy life far away from all that transpired in his absence. He could have simply vanished off the face of the Earth, severing contact with all that had known him before he'd left... and yet, despite it all, the man had swooped in at the last minute, and saved Hyousuke from some ignominious span in juvie.

Why, he wondered, did he help? Why did he not turn his back on someone he owed nothing to, and only stood to risk losing time, money, and reputation by helping? Someone he'd not seen in just over a decade by that point, no less. Leaning against the back of a bench in the dead of night, having taken a stroll through the bitter cold to try and clear his head, Hyousuke found himself no closer to an answer than he had been the first time he'd posed the question to himself. In fact, he only had more - something exacerbated by the presence of a thin, red, string, laced neatly around his finger.

He didn't quite know what compelled him to follow it. Down empty streets and through derelict backalleys, he stumbled around, too distracted to think much of anything that he saw. So when he came to the torii gate, sanguine red and towering above him, he almost stepped through without thinking. He blinked as his foot edged near the threshold, and he waited as every instinct in his body screamed above the noise of active thought, demanding that he step back. That past that gate was nothing good - that only death or worse awaited. But Hyousuke, more curious and reckless than was sensible, couldn't resist the urge to figure out another supernatural phenomena.

Hyousuke stepped tentatively out, sharp eyes dragging slowly across the landscape before him. The water rippled, but did not break, its surface like a plane of stygian glass. It seemed impossible that he could walk on it, and the animal part of his brain railed at the idea. But he'd seen and done plenty of hitherto impossible things in the past six months alone. To walk towards that decaying husk of a ship, and what remained of the broken helicopter, was nothing special. Not even if it mean traversing the water's surface.

While Hyousuke recognised that a password was needed, and that there were no doubt clues scattered around the area, he was just smart enough to know how dumb he was. Feeling as though he'd never figure out the code, Hyousuke stretched a little while looking over the gears, before reaching forward and attempting to open it manually.
</poem>
MONAD: Hyousuke Suzuki has acted with Warmup toward side.SOL .. intro 0 .. TURNTABLE SATURN: "the gate"! Diligence and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

Brightly-colored sneakers splash across the mirror-like surface of the water. Their owner pauses, then turns about to regard the iridescent surroundings. Overcome, they then hop up onto the air, absolutely taken by the sights they've come across.

"Yes! It worked! It wasn't just a prank, this time!" Maria -- or rather, as she is now, Cherry -- cheers, flashing a V with her fingers at the torii gate through which she's just passed. "This is so cool! I'm in a new place! --Huh?"

She's just realized she's not alone in here.

"Hey!" she says, rushing over to Hyousuke. "--Oh! It's you!"

She pauses, looking him over, clad in her Will of Rebellion tattered thief outfit, cybervisor and all. She's not someone he'll know, like this. On the other hand, he's someone that she--

"You really helped me out last time, you know? I'm really glad! ...Even if it kind of hurt," Cherry admits, pulling her mouth in a moue of dismay as she remembers that encounter, if from the remove of the curse having taken her over.
Or, that is, the curse that had taken /Maria Sakurai/ over. Cherry is a completely different person, definitely.

"So, you heard about that rumor, too? --Oh! Did you tie one on to remember something?" she remarks, of the string on his finger. "You're supposed to used a handkerchief, though!" she admonishes him, wagging a finger in his face.

"But come on, come on, let's check this place out!" she exhorts, grabbing an arm and tugging if that's what it takes before she dashes off towards the ship.

They might be of similar minds on this front, though, for instead of trying to figure out the code she first stretches her legs and then--

Kicks at the door.
</poem>
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Warm-Up Stretches toward side.SOL .. intro 0 .. TURNTABLE SATURN: "the gate"! Specialty!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== side.SOL .. intro 0 .. TURNTABLE SATURN: "the gate" - Round 1 =========-
Hyousuke Suzuki Proficiency Success
Warmup Diligence and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria Sakurai Proficiency Success
Warm-Up Stretches Specialty Fatigue: 0 Morale: 2
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Clumsy-2 and Stupor-2
Final Conditions: Clumsy-1 and Stupor-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 1/6 |= | ===================================================-
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Maria Sakurai was someone Hyousuke would have recognised, and understood that he'd helped. Cherry - who was most certainly a different person he'd never met before - was, in fact, not someone he remembered helping. He blinked at her, eyes glassy and face as blank as a canvas, attempting to remember even the vaguest detail that might have helped him figure out who she was. Alas, he had nothing. Unable to hide a thing, Hyousuke simply gave as firm and confident a nod as he could in her direction.
"Any time! No idea who you are, but I'm happy to help" He said, flashing a toothy grin before returning to his work. "Dunno what gave me these powers, but if getting a ghost to beat people up's gonna save 'em, I'll do it."

Indeed, the adventers it had taken him on were quite bizarre, but they could be considered later. For now, the door was the main concern.
"No idea what the red string's for though. I just looked down, and it was there. Dunno if it'll come off, but it looks like it's on tight. Besides, it got me here, so I'm wondering if taking it off's even a good idea. Probably gonna get lost without it..." He gave it a cursory tug or two, mostly just to see how it'd react, but left it largely alone before continuing on.

Their repeated efforts were not in vain. Even without a code, their repeated efforts to brute force the entrance open bore fruit. The creaking, groaning, and screeching of metal being kicked and wrenched away filled the room in a deafening cacophony, before stopping altogether once the gap was wide enough to walk through.
"Come on, let's get going. This thing's not gonna figure itself out." Hyousuke said, dusting off his hands.
</poem>
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has drawn a new Challenge!

(|================ Monad - The Inscrutable Region: Mizunagi ================|)
-==== Round 2 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: side.SOL .. track VI .. GEMINI RECORD: "The Brothers" |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Guts |
| Conditions: Clumsy - Proficiency Down L1, Hard - Understanding Down L1, |
| Shuffle - Draw 1 Minor Arcana., and Stupor - Academics Down L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

The chamber that follows is a cascading series of vaulted archways, leading
through a narrow hall before branching out onto the main floor, a pristine
space of black and white. It seems to be lit almost entirely from below, the
floor a pulsing, preeminent white. Overhead, the deckhead is pitch black,
its contours shaped by thready scarlet pulses of light, tracing overhead
pipes and superstructure in the black.

He stands between two stone pillars in the center of the chamber,
leather-wrapped hands gripping the pipework lining them.

The figure is humanoid but not human, a titan of a man's silhouette
standing at almost twice the size of any normal person. He is a machine,
made of brass and wearing the armor and helmet of a samurai. Powerful, the
bushi stands in self-imposed bondage between the twin pillars, only barely
aware of your presence.

Between the light-sucking black above and the preternaturally bright below,
the machine samurai and the two pillars around him are the only things
capable of casting shadows dark enough to be seen. As he notices you, two
searchlight eyes lift, and an ominous growl rakes across the stone around
him.

'KAZUHIRA,' it seems to say.

Despite the feral, iron sound, it is not him who comes for you. His shadow
bifurcates, pulled in twain by the shadows of the pillars, separating into
two smaller silhouettes, less than half his size. The machine presses
together two leather-clad hands in an arcane gesture, and the silhouettes
come to life, rising from the floor in flickering black figures.

It's then you will realize that those vague silhouettes are not duplicates
of the machine, but young boys -- its children. And yet, it is those
creatures that draw their shadowy blades and come for you when summoned all
the same. Defeating or escaping them is the only way that the machine will
concede the path to you.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

GAME: Maria Sakurai flips a coin! The coin comes up tails!

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

"Eh? You don't know who I--"

Realization cracks over her like dawn over the horizon. "Oh! Yeah! I'm Cherry! Your super-cute superhero!" Cherry cheers at him, making a heart with her hands.

And he says he doesn't know what the string's for. "Realllly? If you're wearing it not to forget... maybe you need another one to not forget that you had something to not forget?" Cherry wonders, quite seriously. "Well, my grandmother always said, if it's important, it'll come back again! I'm sure it'll come back. Hey, you want to take a look around, right? This place is super pre~tt~y~"

And then as one they went and broke open a door. It's fine. It's probably fine.

"Wow!" chirps Cherry, checking out this place as if she were a tourist in Paris. "Look at this! How's it fit down here? How do they do the lighting? Oh, maybe it's an illusion, though? I saw something like this on a show once, about mirrors? You know, in haunted houses?"

She natters on even as she draws ever closer to the figure that looms like a towering mountain in the chamber, indeed, who is the only real thing in here other than the pillars.

Its shadow splits and comes for the both of them as soon as those searchlight eyes fall upon her -- and him.

"Eh...?" Maria utters, gazing at the shadow that lunges for her. She hops back as it swings, a bladed polearm manifesting in her hands.

"You know," says Cherry, suddenly dead-serious.

"I don't think you're being very nice."

She swipes at the shadow-child herself, this time, reaching up then to touch her hand to her visor -- her mask -- and then pull it and her face away.

"Persona!"

One way to make a Shadow stop existing is to drown it in darkness.
</poem>
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Go Loud toward side.SOL .. track VI .. GEMINI RECORD: "The Brothers"! Bravery and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"...Nope, still don't recognise you." Hyousuke saw little point in pretending. He knew just enough to know he wasn't exactly an exemplar when it came to acting. But that didn't mean he had any intent of making her feel unwelcome. "Well, Cherry-your-super-cute-superhero, I'm Hyousuke Suzuki. Dunno where I helped you, but I'm glad I did. Maybe you could help return the favour and help me figure out what this string's for?" Evidently, he hadn't been keeping up with the message boards as much as he should have. A fact he would find out later on, perhaps.

Hyousuke's outfit was far less recognisable than Cherry's. Dressed in a simple ensemble of a t-shirt, some well-loved navy jeans, and trainers that were long past their best years, he looked more like he was dressed for a late-night walk than a drawn-out exploration and brawl (though that was mostly because that was exactly the case). Even so, he pressed ever onwards, waiting to see what the depths of the place held for the both of them.
"Or maybe it's some supernatural stuff. Maybe it's demons lightning things up. Or the bulbs *are* the demons. Or maybe-" He responded, just loud enough for Cherry to hear, though giving precious little for anyone - or anything - else to latch onto. Her nattering was matched by his idle musing, only stopping when they came upon the next room.

The very moment he saw that figure, Hyousuke balled his fists and threw them halfway towards a fighting stance, his feet ready to dig in and stabilise at a moment's notice. Yet still, he observed, jaw clenched and nails digging into the skin of his palm.
"I don't like this..." He muttered, slowly slinking around the outer edges of the room. "Feels like we're walking right into something trying to get the jump on us." He darted his gaze from side to side, but even then, little more than the figure and that which it was lashed to revealed themselves.

"KAZUHIRA." It seemed to say, and though Hyousuke wanted to take a moment to try and wrack his brains for a memory, two enemies - shadows massed into the shape of children - rose to meet him and Cherry. Now fully in his stance, Hyousuke's mouth split into an ever-so-slightly-maddened grin, and he readied himself for battle.
"Gonna be like that? Fine! Cherry, let's do this - Persona!" With that command, something else creaked from the dark, this time from behind them. A mass of battlescarred bronze tore its way out of the void, forcing itself upon reality with the shrieking of grinding metal, the heavy clanks betraying how the figure strained under the weight of its own titanic armour. Achilles had entered the fray, and with a single command, burst forward as a streak of screaming bronze.
</poem>
MONAD: Hyousuke Suzuki has acted with Bravado toward side.SOL .. track VI .. GEMINI RECORD: "The Brothers"! Bravery and Focus!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== side.SOL .. track VI .. GEMINI RECORD: "The Brothers" - Round 2 =======-
Hyousuke Suzuki Guts Success
Bravado Bravery and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria Sakurai Guts Success
Go Loud Bravery and Focus Fatigue: 0 Morale: 4
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Clumsy-1, Hard-2, Shuffle: Sword-0, and Stupor-1
Final Conditions: Hard-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 2/6 |== | ===================================================-
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

She laughs. "It's just Cherry, silly!" she tells him, giving him a wink from behind her visor. "A superhero needs a special code name! Or else, they can't protect their secret identity and the people close to them. Riiight~? But don't worry, don't worry! You definitely helped me out! It's ok if you don't remember, because I do!" she continues, flapping her hand in a dismissive wave. "Oh, maybe that's what you're wearing the string for?"

Cherry pauses for a long moment.

"...Just kidding," she tells him.

Her own outfit is loud and bold, exactly like... she is? Or at least, that's the impression someone might well get.

"Oh, maybe! Maybe! We should find out, for real!" she answers him in kind, before their questions are quite rudely answered.

To that, they can only reply in kind.

Kazuhira. Peace, perhaps. It's not something Cherry thinks about for particularly long -- no, not when there's a shadowy child intent on her pain to handle.

In this, she and Hyousuke are of similar mind: destroy that which assails them, and then, once they have defeated their opponents--

"If you do that again, I won't be nice, either," Cherry says to the samurai statue, pointing her weapon at it. Her eyes narrow, her Artemisia ready with blade at her side.

But though it had moved once, it does not do so again, not with its shadow crushed.
</poem>
MONAD: Hyousuke Suzuki has drawn a new Challenge!

(|================ Monad - The Inscrutable Region: Mizunagi ================|)
-==== Round 3 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: side.SOL .. track XVIII .. AQUARIUS RECORD: "Legacies" |
| Approach Options: Academics or Understanding |
| Conditions: Box - Add 1 Item/Money/Gear., Educational - Academics Up L1, |
| Hard - Understanding Down L1, and Soft - Understanding Up L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

'I was but a boy
Seeing him, peerless tensai
Hidden legacies...?'

The iron space in the belly of the ship is a labyrinthine network of
compartments, conduit and piping running overhead with the near constant
drip of water into the partially flooded compartments. Many strange
phenomena run rampant over the ship, but here there is subtle beauty. A
quiet beauty, in the way the overhead lights scatter across the flooding
basin below the catwalks, casting the harmless, entrancing shimmers of
dappled and caustic light filtering through the pipes and against the inner
hull walls.

Fireflies made from origami flit through the space you come to, a
convoluted tangle of passageways and bulkhead doors, all stacked up on top
of eachother in a physics-defying gallery of wheel cranks and safety
interlocks.

Not that he pays it any mind, the aging machine on the deck in the center
of the knot of doors. He wears a smooth, featureless mask, and sits on his
knees before a low shosai-ki writing table marked with the three leaves of
an ancient clan. He has earned the right to silk, to kimono, to a
comfortable cushion to sit on, but still he works. The machine is made of
lightly tarnished brass, glass lenses and leather-gloved hands to hold the
ink brush.

He is hard at work, drawing the sleeve of his haori up the length of his
arm, revealing the elaborate gearing and springs that drive him as he ties
the sleeves back with an ornamental cord.

There is a heavy, locked tome on the table beside his inkwell, but he works
on an open scroll before him, dipping his brush into the ink, his scribe
exact. Attempting to interrupt him during this time -- or really any other
-- will result in the paper fireflies that encircle him unfurling into
massive walls of paper that absorb force like steel, pushing violently back
away from the aging, faceless samurai and his work. The air of decades of
experience and centuries of history separate you.

Instead of saying anything, he presses his ink seal down twice, first on
the corner of the scroll, then on the silk ribbon he uses to seal it.
'MOTOMARO,' it says. This scroll is what he presents to you.

At first glance, the scroll is a musing of a shinobi's life and death, and
of protecting secret knowledge, but hidden deep in dense meter of poetry and
allusion is hidden information on the door and path to the next compartment.
The automaton's writing uses ancient ciphers, and deciphering it will reveal
the right door. Any other invites danger from the waters and worse outside.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke looked as if he seriously considered that *that* was what the string was supposed to be for. He certainly didn't have any better ideas on what it was supposed to be about, after all. Still, she dismissed the theory, and he was inclined to do so as well - though it still left the question of who exactly Cherry was.
"If you say so." He said, shrugging nonchalantly as he ambled through the ship, hoping something would help clue him in on where to go, what to do, or what had even been transpiring in the depths. "You just seem like someone I'd remember meeting."

-----

"Kazuhira... what do you think that meant? Someone's name?" Hyousuke said, more thinking out loud than actually asking. "Might've been that guy's name. Or one of those weird things we fought." Hyousuke's face visibly contorted with the effort required to form a coherent thought, but he dismissed it before too long. He needed to focus on the here and now, rather than the ramblings of some strange, chained, thing that had once stood in his path. It was just as well too - his train of thought was interrupted quite suddenly.

"You hear that? Sounded like a poem or something. Dunno what it was trying to tell us though, it's pretty damn cryptic." Hyousuke asked, casting his eyes around the area, trying to figure out a source. None made itself apparent, but that automaton in the centre of the room seemed as good a thing to ask as any other denizen of the realm. Hyousuke stepped forward, his shoes beating out steady footfalls as he closed the distance between himself and the unharried artist, hoping to glean some knowledge about the realm he and Cherry were in.

"Hey, you, you know anything about-" Hyousuke never got to finish the sentence. Stunned at first by the fathomless centuries and the mastery they granted a man, he could only numbly accept the scroll pressed into his hands. Somehow, despite being a sheet of something light with nothing heavier than silk to adorn it, the scroll weighed in his hands like an anvil. Unfurling it was a tentative affair, but he did so anyway, callused fingers working slowly to make certain that the thing remained intact.

"MOTOMARO..." Hyousuke repeated, scanning his eyes over the available material before handing it off to Cherry. "Can you look at this? Feels like I'm missing something on this, but I can't tell what."
</poem>
MONAD: Hyousuke Suzuki has acted with Understanding toward side.SOL .. track XVIII .. AQUARIUS RECORD: "Legacies"! Base!

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

Cherry considers this for a moment.

Then: "I dunno. Sometimes it's just like that?" she supplies, helplessly.

----

"Maybe? I think it's a name?" As a word, it'd probably be pronounced 'wahei' if it's written the way she supposes, she thinks; she might be near the bottom of her class in grades (as of the last exam period, RIP) but this is the kind of stuff even she can figure out. So, it's probably a name.

But whose name?

"Don't know," Cherry says, at last. This is way above her paygrade as it stands. "If we continue... maybe we'll figure it out, though?" she muses, folding her arms over her chest.

There's a sound, he claims. She pricks her ears and tilts her head, listening in as if straining to pick up what he's hearing. "...Yeah," she says at last. "I hear it too. Is that haiku?" There are other forms of poetry than that, but it's the first one that came to mind. "Where's it coming from?"

This is the point where they both come across that new machine, this one in the guise of a scholar as it carefully writes out, character by character, the contents of a scroll.

"Wow... that's really good, even for a machine," Cherry gushes, watching the brush as if transfixed. She doesn't interrupt: she just gazes on as the brush moves across the paper, watches as it stamps the scroll... and then recoils as the scroll is offered to both of them. "Ehhh? For us? I mean, sure! Thanks!" she chirps, accepting it along with Hyousuke as she leans over to see what it says.

"...Oh, wow... even the stuff in literature class isn't this dense..." she laments, her shoulders slouching. "This is really deep... and I don't know some of these characters..."

Taking the scroll from him, she works more slowly to re-read the passages again. "It's really... ornate here," she says, her gaze following a few characters of the text. "It's really... wow. Yeah." She pauses.

"But, there's all these numbers in here, too? I wonder if they mean something."

Weren't the doors they passed numbered? It can't be the whole of the puzzle, but perhaps it's a part.

"And... there's this part about the passage of the seasons. Maybe... you have to turn around? You know? Like the seasons?"

It's the best she's got. Neither of them may have been made for this sort of puzzle...
</poem>
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Understanding toward side.SOL .. track XVIII .. AQUARIUS RECORD: "Legacies"! Base!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== side.SOL .. track XVIII .. AQUARIUS RECORD: "Legacies" - Round 3 ======-
Hyousuke Suzuki Understanding Failure
Understanding Base Fatigue: 2 Morale: 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria Sakurai Understanding Success
Understanding Base Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Box-0, Educational-2, Hard-1, and Soft-2
Final Conditions: Educational-1 and Soft-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 3/6 |=== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 2, Gear: 0
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
It was fair to say that Hyousuke didn't quite get it. Before Maria took the scroll, he'd been twisting and turning it, craning his neck around like a perplexed hound. In the end, he could make neither heads nor tails of it. Simply reading the page aloud seemed to havehim stumbling here and there, but to parse the meaning hidden deeper within the work itself? He was visibly frustrated when he handed it off to Cherry, and even stole peeks at it while she surveyed whatever text was on it.

"You got all that from just that scroll?" He asked, as he made his way to (what he hoped was) the correct door. "You must be pretty smart if you know how all that poem and decoding stuff works. I could barely read the thing." There was a slight edge to his voice when he said that - not jealousy, but frustration. It wasn't directed at her, but it was there all the same, before being blunted by his need to refocus and continue onwards. "So if we're going off of seasons, it should be... this door!" With a flourish, Hyousuke pushed open the door, and stepped through.
</poem>
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has drawn a new Challenge!

(|================ Monad - The Inscrutable Region: Mizunagi ================|)
-==== Round 4 - Challenge Level 3 ===========================================-
| Card: side::LUNA > The Hierophant; Taurus > BARRIER |
| Approach Options: Proficiency or Academics |
| Conditions: Annoying - Charm Down L2, Educational - Academics Up L1, |
| Educational - Academics Up L1, Ineptitude - Proficiency Down L2, and Soft |
| - Understanding Up L1 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

(BGM: https//youtu.be//puLnIQ-plR8 Toshio Masuda - "Shinen")

The corridor is plain: dark wood flooring and steeple ceiling contrasting
with white plaster walls. It's lit with natural indirect light, cast in from
narrow openings between the wall and roofing. The air feels crisp and chill,
like late fall.

A red thread spools on ahead of you towards a far off exit, but the moment
you step on the horizontally-laid floor boards, you hear an oddly melodic
creak. A wooden door suddenly slams down, sealed with a simple lock. Simple,
right?

A lock is just a barrier with a cheat called a key.

Alas, when the door is opened, there's another door a few meters away,
made of thicker wood and a more complex lock. After that, there will be a
metal door, with similarly tougher lock.

The pattern will continue to escalate, with one added complication: fall
has turned to winter, and the air is now frigid with the touch of snow. As
fingers become numb and exhaustion threatens to set in, you'll hear a young,
bell-like giggle, as if someone finds your effort hilarious. Nonethless, you
must persevere to get to the end, no matter what.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

"Well... kinda?" she tells Hyousuke, tilting her head slightly like a somewhat baffled dog. "There's just a lot of number mentions and... I noticed them? I'm not that good at this stuff, really, but... I just noticed it. That, and the seasons stuff. It just came up over and over." She shrugs, as if feeling awkward about it just now, far from the confident and cheerful girl who'd greeted him without hesitating on entry to this place. "I don't really get the poem. Or what it's trying to say." Even a broken clock is right twice a day, as it's said.

And it just so happens that they're the right clues to follow.

"But I guess it worked out, right? So that's good!"

She's back, ladies and gentlemen.

The door branches into a plain corridor. Speaking of the seasons, in here it seems as if it were the late fall in terms of temperature and mood. "It's kind of nice in here," she remarks, before stooping.

"Look! It's red thread like yours!"

This is when the first door slams down.

"..."

"...Rude," Cherry remarks, getting up on her feet. Tilting her head, she could swear she hears something, just now. "A lock, huh... and there's a lock here..."

She brandishes a hairpin, pulled from somewhere on her person with a flourish. "Luckily! I can pick locks!"

It goes swimmingly with this one.

And the one after that.

And after that.

And--

Then, it's when nature pulls its cruelest trick and it starts snowing. Cherry, jogging in place in an attempt to stay warm and keep her temperature up, stretches her fingers before the next attempt.

"How many more are there? They're getting hard," she complains.

And it's getting cold. So very cold.
</poem>
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Warm-Up Stretches toward side::LUNA > The Hierophant; Taurus > BARRIER! Specialty!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Sounds like smart people stuff to me." Hyousuke replied. He didn't even blink when he said it - the words came as naturally from his mouth as breath. "Noticing patterns and stuff and making links... that kinda stuff doesn't just happen." Well, it sometimes did, but chalking it up to luck felt rather disingenuous.

The corridor was plain, but Hyousuke had learnt not to trust appearances by that point in time. There was no telling what strange things lurked in the shadows, what traps waited beneath the floorboards, or what manner of strange beast might have had its eyes on them. Sharp eyes of emerald green darted around as he moved down the corridor - that, at the very least, he could manage. Certainly better than trying to pick apart the themes of something that he could barely begin to read, let alone fully understand.

A creak was followed by a slam, and that slam heralded yet another obstacle to bar their path.
"Seriously, what's up with this place?" Hyousuke grumbled while leaning in to take a better look at the lock. "I get it's all about supernatural weirdness and people's thoughts and stuff, but man... This is just rude." He echoed her sentiments without much hesitation, and let her get to work. There was only one lock, after all, and an extra set of unpractised hands was bound to make things far more difficult than they had to be. Especially since there was another.

And another.

And yet another.

Over and over again, the number kept ramping up. Only when it felt like they'd been plunged into the depths of winter did the most complicated of them all come crashing down like thunder, but it was only the lock that bothered Hyousuke - the cold never even seemed to touch him. It crept its way in slowly and insidiously, but he was an athlete at heart, and he knew how to keep warm.
"Here, you gotta do it like this." He said, looking to Cherry as he spoke. "Put your feet about as wide as your shoulders, and start moving your arm around..."

Even if he couldn't help with the lock, he could help her help herself with the lock. That was just as good, right?
Perhaps he needed to ask Tsubasa for some lessons in thievery later on...
Huh? (Type "help" for help.)
</poem>
MONAD: Hyousuke Suzuki has acted with Warmup toward side::LUNA > The Hierophant; Taurus > BARRIER! Diligence and Focus!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== side::LUNA > The Hierophant; Taurus > BARRIER - Round 4 ===============-
Hyousuke Suzuki Proficiency Success
Warmup Diligence and Focus Fatigue: 2 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria Sakurai Proficiency Success
Warm-Up Stretches Specialty Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Annoying-2, Educational-1, Educational-2, Ineptitude-2,
and Soft-1
Final Conditions: Annoying-1, Educational-1, and Ineptitude-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 4/6 |==== | ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 2, Gear: 0
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

"Eh... eh, no way," Cherry protests. It's too embarrassing to mention where she'd landed in the last exam period, so she's just not /gonna/. "I just, I dunno. Numbers, right?" she says, coupling it with a nervous laugh. "I think I just got lucky!"

She's not /that/ stupid. She knows people don't think she's all that bright.

Still, it's a point she can only argue about for so long. It's onwards and outwards (or something like that) eventually, and before long... even that passage is curtailed by those seriously rude doors.

It's a good thing that she'd decided to start picking locks last year, and it's an even better thing that Tsubasa taught her how to pick them properly. At least in a place like this, it's not like she's going to get in trouble for this, and...

The cold, while biting, is soon abated by proper warm-up stretches.

"Hm! Like that? We used to do it like /this/ when I was on the team," she remarks. But he's got a good point, it's a little easier to do like /this/ compared to like /that/, and before long she's not feeling so much of the ache in her fingers or the numbness in her joints.

There's another door after this one, and then... then, blessedly, they're free!

"I wonder what this place is about. I saw a post, you know, so I figured, I'd check it out and tell everyone what I found?" she remarks to Hyousuke. "But, it's really weird, isn't it? It's like we're in a weird boat... that's way too big."

She pauses, then nods as if to agree with herself. "Super weird."
</poem>
MONAD: Hyousuke Suzuki has drawn a new Challenge!

(|================ Monad - The Inscrutable Region: Mizunagi ================|)
-==== Round 5 - Challenge Level 2 ===========================================-
| Card: side.SOL .. track X .. JUPITER RECORD: "Unrealized" |
| Approach Options: Understanding or Charm |
| Conditions: Annoying - Charm Down L2, Bothersome - Charm Down L1, |
| Educational - Academics Up L1, Hard - Understanding Down L1, and |
| Ineptitude - Proficiency Down L2 |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

The flooded spaces in the ship's corridors apparently drain through this
chamber, an idyllic water garden running through the ship's cargo areas.
Despite the ostensibly utilitarian space, beyond the ship's bulkheads and
partitions lays a spread of basins, water tables and fountains, all draining
into one another and filling the room with the omnipresent sound of
trickling water, and the distant, serene clack of noise-maker sozu bamboo
pipes.

While the footpath is both overlooked and overlooks multiple basins, the
vast below drops off into lush forever, brush and greenery swallowing up
lower basins and water tables in a nonsensical drop further down the
suggestions of an artificial mountainside. Most of the flowers this high up
are types of waterborne lotus, all serene and white, however many of these
flowers are toxic to the touch, paralyzing whosoever tries to touch them.

He doesn't wear armor, not like the others. He is a boy cut from
refracting, shimmering light, an apparition standing on the other side of a
compound lens folding out of the floor. The complex assortment of lenses,
rocker arms and focusing arrays channels a single lonely beam of moonlight
from above to project the boy at play, a boy in a lavishly patterned kimono
and a white lightning bolt shot through his shock of black hair. A sword,
far too large for the boy, is tucked in a sheath at his back. The mechanical
lenses portray him in shimmering, liquid relief, as if on the outer edge of
an event horizon. He bounces a colorful ball -- the only thing real -- on
the ground, focusing on the play.

Every so often he looks up, as if searching for someone to play with. Every
time he looks up, he finds no one in the lonely garden. Ignoring you at
first, the boy sighs, and continues.

At even junctures, the footpath shifts, the apparition shimmering. Folding
into the floor, the entire apparatus disappears only to unfurl somewhere
else, projecting the shimmering boy and his lonely game somewhere else. The
ball bounces from place to place, following his path and play.

Slowly but surely, he'll find his way to a gravestone at the center of the
garden. On it is written a name: 'ISATO.'

A dangerous place, a lonely game. The boy will only be here for a short
time until he is gone, disappearing at the grave. Though the boy does not
speak but for the click of the complex machinery around him, understanding
why he is here or getting his attention off of his doomed dream may prompt
him to point you to the way out of the chamber.

(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
With the cold kept at bay long enough for Maria to work her magic on the lock, the two moved forwards through the ship. Not content to let their only company be the sound of rushing water, creaking metal, and an assortment of other distant noises, Hyousuke nodded along and responded in earnest.
"Figures there'd be a post about this place. But I'm guessing the ones you've seen didn't tell you anything worth thinking about." He pulled a face, trying to draw a link between all he'd seen, and perhaps even pick apart the symbolism. However, rushing through everything had not left him with a lot of chances to soak in the details. "...Probably something to do with samurai and ninjas and stuff. Real old history - the kind you get in textbooks. I dunno - I was out for a walk and just stumbled into this place. Walked through a torii gate in some Sumaru backalley."

Middling as his grades were, Hyousuke could not offer much more than that at first blush. What he did seem to take the time to drink in the sight of, however, was the cargo hold's rather expansive water garden. Rushing waters, once muffled by the walls and barriers that had barred their way, at once grew louder and more serene. He was exposed to it all directly, thatmuch was true, but it was organised into a symphony rather than a discordant cacophony. Water tables, streams, and noisemakers all came together in aligned harmony, drowning out the blare of hammering waves and tides.

There was as much elegance to the scene before him as there was danger. The mountainside, no matter how artificial, was still a work of art. It being carved by man, nature, or the tides of thought, was irrelevant. He couldn't help but gaze down, distracted only when his eye caught on a lily.
"Flowers? Here? Didn't know they'd grow in water like this." Hyousuke said, internally chalking it up to supernatural weirdness, or a species he'd not seen. Before he could make the questionable decision to reach out and touch one to investigate, the faintest graze of a petal met with his skin. It only took one look at his hand, flopping and unresponsive, to show why that would have been a bad idea. "...Shit. Poison. Maybe don't grab those."

He was fortunate, at least, that he didn't need his hand to watch. He let it hang uselessly by his side as he observed the child, staying silent and distant at first, cautious that it was another lure to bring him to his death. He gazed on as that child, wrought from rays of light carved and sliced until it took the shape of something human, played amidst the garden. He even held his hand out, signalling for Maria to hang back, and not to trust it - though how he expected to be taken seriously with the hand not working right was another story entirely.

"This... It... He looks..." Hyousuke squinted. He inclined his neck forwards, trying to get a better view of the boy before he stumbled into what could have been another trap. But, as ever, curiosity got the better of him - though it was helped along by a vague sense of recognition. Hyousuke took one small step forward, then another, and then a few more, until he was close enough to the child that he had no doubt he could be heard. Crouching, in the hopes that a six-foot slab of athletic muscle topped with blonde hair and a scarred face wouldn't scare him, Hyousuke beamed a warm grin at the child.

"Hey, kid, are you doing alright?" He asked, though got little more than whirring and clicking of mechanisms firing off around him in response. Nevertheless, he pressed on, fresh out of better ideas. "Looks to me like you knew who's in there. Did you wanna talk about 'em?" He had questions. More than he could ever hope to ask in one sitting, and mos the doubted the childlike figure could answer. But he and Cherry needed out at some point, or directions through the ship at the very least, so he pushed past that in the hopes his efforts with the boy would not be in vain.
</poem>
MONAD: Hyousuke Suzuki has acted with Brush it Off toward side.SOL .. track X .. JUPITER RECORD: "Unrealized"! Friendliness and Focus!

<Pose Tracker> Maria Sakurai has posed.
<poem>

"Nope!" says Cherry, cheerfully. "I saw a post that said they found an interesting place but that you needed a black kifuda? And then walk around the torii gate three times with it. And, it worked, you know?" she tells him, nodding as she explains. "But that's all. Just, a place that shouldn't exist, and how to get in. I figured, it sounded pretty interesting, so..."

She shrugs. "I used the ones at Alaya, of course. You know, they didn't let us go there on our own when I was little..." She pauses as she works on the lock, glancing up at him.

"A little boy was killed there, once. But I didn't know about it back then."

But they're through, after that, and they're onwards into the depths.

"Wow..." Cherry gushes, looking this way and that. "Those flowers! They're lotus, I think? Pretty~" Her mother works in a flower shop part time, and while lotus don't lend themselves terribly well to arrangements, it's not as if she hasn't seen them for herself.

That's before Hyousuke reaches out to touch one. "Ah! Your hand! Are you okay?" she frets. "You're not gonna die, right? I can't do anything about dying!" She's not kidding, her Persona can't do healing or even deal with status effects at all.

But they're not alone down here, as it were. Halted by his outstretched hand, Cherry holds her position until further notice.

"He's just a kid."

He's probably not even real, like the statues above had been. But, that doesn't mean...

Trailing after him and the child, she watches on intently as he approaches the grave and then--

And then that's when Cherry strikes.

"Hey, what's your name? Do you come here to visit often? I saw that ball you had. It's pretty!" she chatters, as she proceeds to go on and on.

"It's pretty nice weather today, isn't it? Hey, don't you like it when it rains, though? The sound of the rain on the roof just sounds so comforting. And it makes the world pretty afterwards! Though, the nice thing about sunny days is that you can go out and play, right? But I also like it when it's overcast sometimes, because it's kind of nice when it's got that grey feeling. Oh, and when there's a storm, and you have to hunker down..."

Behold, the power of chatter, featuring Cherry.
</poem>
MONAD: Maria Sakurai has acted with Girls' Talk toward side.SOL .. track X .. JUPITER RECORD: "Unrealized"! Patra and Efficient!

(|============================ Monad - Results =============================|)
-==== side.SOL .. track X .. JUPITER RECORD: "Unrealized" - Round 5 =========-
Hyousuke Suzuki Charm Success
Brush it Off Friendliness and Focus Fatigue: 2 Morale: 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria Sakurai Charm Success
Girls' Talk Patra and Efficient Fatigue: 0 Morale: 5
-============================ Party Conditions: =============================-
Starting Conditions: Annoying-1, Bothersome-2, Educational-1, Hard-2, and
Ineptitude-1
Final Conditions: Hard-1
-====================================== Party Result: Success: Reach Up! ====-
-==== Reach: 6/6 |=====| ===================================================-
-==== Loot So Far: ==========================================================-
Items: 0, Money: 2, Gear: 0
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

(|================ Monad - The Inscrutable Region: Mizunagi ================|)
-==== Round 6 - Challenge Level 1 ===========================================-
| Card: side::LUNA > World; Earth > THE ORACLE SPEAKS |
| Approach Options: None |
| Conditions: Chest - Add 2 Item/Money/Gear. and Revelation - The best |
| result. |
-==== Challenge =============================================================-

(BGM: https://youtu.be/m3ewe2uF6O4 Toshio Masuda - "Kotowari")

This machine is not one to give its secrets in one visit, but this visit
has proven fortuitous. In the distance, you can see and hear the click-clack
of many rooms moving around, blithely working to protect a 'treasure' that
has been already found.

In watery fields lie a steep hill with a stone stairway, crossed other
with red torii gates. At the top is a gnarled old apple tree, covered in a
lush carpet of pink blossoms. Rain falls from a distant hole far up,
sparkling against vibrant beams of moonlight.

Stepping stones allow you to access the foot of the stairs, but even if
you did step into the water, it is clean, cool, and clear. You can see many
red threads lazily undulating in the waters before running up the hill's
sides.

At the top of the hill you see where all the red threads end. At the base
of the apple tree is a slumped doll the size of a young woman, her eyes
open, her expression blank. The layered, heavy silks she wears are faded,
covered in old petals. From carefully modelled hands tumble five origami
shapes, settling on the petal-littered stone below.

Each origami shape will hold some kind of significance; you'll know which
one is meant for you. Unwrapping it reveals a fortune that will strike close
to home, like it was made for you and you alone.

(OOC: Your fortune is up to you. You can derive it from the major
tarot/planet/elements in the title of the rooms you passed through, or make
up your own! The only rules are that it is something that will be 'truthful'
in some way. In addition, send a @mail to Shiryuu if you need help deciding
what random loot you get!)

Final Loot: 3 boxes of Money and 1 Pieces of Gear! That could be... Gear:
Mysterious Accessory, Money: Mysterious Art, or Money: Mysterious Gems!
(|=========================================================== Monad 1.2 ====|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke regarded Maria with calm, composed, interest when she relayed her story about Alaya. He remained neutral throughout, never offering more than a slow nod to show he was listening.
"A little boy? Poor kid... I had no idea. I only got to Sumaru at the start of the school year, so I got no idea about stuff like that. Feels like people just kinda assume you already know it since you're here." He shrugged, not particularly bothered by it, and soldiered on.

-----

"Nah, don't worry, I got this. I'm probably not gonna die. Not unless it's got some of those neurotoxins or whatever."
Hyousuke held his hand up - or, rather, his wrist - and studied his hand as it fell numbly to one side. He seemed a lot less worried about it than Maria - indeed, much less worried than he realistically should have been - before fishing a skill card out of his pocket to heal whatever minor damage had been wrought. The numbness did not subside, but any scratches and aches vanished along with the glow of green light, so at least he didn't have to worry about cleaning it up.

The boy didn't speak. He never spoke - not unless the subtle sounds of machinery working away in the surroundings counted as his end of a conversation. But between Hyousuke's attentions, and Maria's chatter, he at least seemed to understand that there were people around him. He looked between them, silent as the grave that he stood by, the ball held loosely between two hands. Whether he understood or cared what either of his visitors had to say, he did not show nor say. His face brooked no discernible expression, and his lips never parted. But he did grant them the response of pointing towards an exit, some ways off in the distance.

The space's secrets were bared for all to see as soon as the pair transitioned away from the gravesite. A steep hill of lush green stood as the place upon which the foremost of them rested, its surface pockmarked with the red of torii gates, and meandered through by stone paths of a plain grey. The climb was a long and arduous one, but it was hardly one that he could not make - his hiking experience saw to that. Rather, his slower pace was partly from caution, and partly to take in his surroundings, feeling as though there was something he was supposed to take from it all.

His slower pace came to a stop altogether when he came to the top of the hill. Moonlight passed through the thin curtain of rain, silently piercing the pattering veil to cast its gaze upon what lay at the gnarled tree's base. Nestled atop a bed of pink blossoms lay a doll, propped idly up against the trunk. No expression had been crafted onto her visage, no pose had been enforced with which to glean context. All that remained there was her, and five origami shapes scattered into the petals below.

"Geez... This isn't gonna be something else that gets up and attacks us, is it?" Hyousuke asked, once he'd gotten over the initial awe of seeing the scene laid out before him. Picking his way carefully through the blooms - and taking care to expose as little skin to them as humanly possible - he kneeled down and peered into the doll's eyes. But there was nothing there that he could discern as notable. It was a well-crafted piece - eerily so, now that he looked at it - but nothing that he found to be actionable.

The origami shapes, however... Those spoke to him. Or, more specifically, one did. A sheet of blank paper, white as the driven snow and folded crisply along each edge, it had been folded into the shape of a hound. There was no telling what breed or any other details apart from the general species - in fact, he only 'knew' it to be a dog because of the gut feeling that entered him the second he held it to the pale light shining down upon them. But his mind was firm in its assertion, and he unfurled the piece to see what lay within.

'Do not be bound to time. Strength cannot be found in the chains of the past that hang you, nor should it be sought in shacking yourself to a future. Forge bonds with those you love, and in that you shall find your freedom.'

Hyousuke stared at it a while, blinking and wondering what it was supposed to mean. He angled it, held it up to the light, looked upon its back, but found nothing. Yet, despite how odd he found it, something seemed to stir in the back of his mind, and in the depths of his gut. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and he wished to cast it out, but it lingered like the numbness in his hand. He sighed, folded the paper, and slipped it into his pocket to study later.
"Come on, we should get out of here." He said, turning to face Maria. "I don't want to get caught out by the doll coming to life or something."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

Fictional Pop Culture and Brands

2026-09-28T22:16:08Z

MrGuy: Added "Daughters of Foxes"

This is a non-exhaustive list of various in-universe pieces of pop culture, brands, celebrities, places, items, and so on. Entries may be added as we think of them or as they get ICly released. Players may add entries of their own, but please don't edit already existing entries. If you see something that you think is wrong or should be changed, please send a request to staff.

== Fashion ==

; Rosa Candida (Persona 2)
: A fashionable boutique in Sumaru City's Aoba Ward that sells a variety of stylish clothes and accessories. Rumor has it they also sell quality armor.

; Croco Fur (Persona 4)
: A clothing store in Okina City that offers a wide range of outfits and accessories, from bags to boots, swimsuits to Halloween costumes. Run by Reiko Osa, charismatic fashionista.

; Tsurukame Diamond (Persona 5)
: A jewelry store in the Shibuya Underground Mall.

; Furugi no Neuchi (Persona 5)
: A vintage clothing store in Kichijoji. The perfect place to do some thrifting or sell old, unwanted clothes.

; Adios Shoes (Persona 3)
: A cheap knock-off of a more popular brand; sold by Tanaka's Amazing Commodities. Say "goodbye" to your foes.

; Baipas (Persona 4)
: A brand of sports bags that's similar to Adidas, right up to the logo.

; Remarclo (VRM Original)
: A Japanese clothing brand that has chains all over the world. Known for its monthly collaborations with various artists and franchises.

; Greetings Cat (VRM original)
: A brand centred around a cat living in the United Kingdom, as well as a cast of other cute characters. Though the brand was originally limited to accessories, it has since grown into a global multimedia franchise that has captivated children and adults alike.

== Entertainment ==

=== Music ===

; Giga Macho CD (Persona 2)
: Hosts a big CD store, production studio, and flamboyant radio DJ wearing a red hoodie and shades known as 'Meteor Masa,' who hosts 'Meteor Masa to the Max.'

; Kenneth Arnold (Persona 3)
: A CD and DVD chain store that has a location within Paulownia Mall.

; Babel Records Music Store (Persona 5)
: A CD and DVD store in the Shibuya Underground Mall.

; Gas Chamber (Persona 2)
: The band of Kasugayama High's Leader, Eikichi Mishina, who is the lead singer. Not yet fully formed, as Eikichi is still scouting members... and getting the members he does have to learn how to play instruments. It's not a failure, it's pre-successful.

; Muses (Persona 2)
: A hot new three-member idol group that's been successfully hyped by their manager, Ginji Sasaki. Many people are very excited for their upcoming debut.

; Hug-My-Heart (Persona 5)
: Debut single by a boy band.

; 3SHINE
: An idol trio from the 90's known briefly for the bittersweet hit 「ＡＮＯＴＨＥＲ♩ＬＩＦＥ」, but disbanded in 2007 after the lead singer died in a car crash.

; Hatsune Kiku (Persona 4 Dancing All Night)
: The Vocaloid Virtual Idol is one of the most recognizable Japanese Pop Culture Icons of the past few years.

=== Video/Computer Games ===

; Groove On Fight (Persona 1)
: Atlus fighting game.

; Innocent Sin Online (Persona 3)
: A mysterious MMO that's been running for years, it tells a fictionalized larger than life version of the Innocent Story version with Tatsuya and Maya. How it came about in this world is a mystery. (Don't use this to establish knowing things about the Other Side. Just don't.)

; Condemnation of Witchcraft (Persona 3 - Original)
: The new biggest MMO that everyone is leaving Innocent Sin Online for due to all the gold farmers and dupers. Affectionately known as CoW by its fans, it's a game wherein the Holy Empire of Sturmward fights the Witch Queen and her coven of 'The Abhorred'. A PvE game with PvP elements.

; Game Parade Games
: House of the Deceased - A horror game with terrifying zombies. Raises Guts.
: Real Wheel Racing - An intense racing game. Raises the equipped Persona's agility.
: Print Club - A purikura-style booth. Raises charm.
: High School of Youth - Dating sim game. Raises Charm.
: You're the Answer - Quiz show-style arcade game. Raises Academics.
: Punch Boxer - Fighting Arcade game. Raises the equipped Persona's strength.
: Edgar's House of Fortunes - Fortune-telling tarot game. Raise the equipped Persona's Magic.
: Super Game Spaceshot - Space shooter.

; Computer Software
:Lessons in Etiquette - PC software for learning manners that will charm others.
:Virtual Diet - PC software for helping you attain a beautiful body via watching videos.
:Language Made Easy - PC Software for learning English through pictures and images.
:Animal Othello - PC software for children. Adults need courage to play this.
:TypinGhoul - PC software that requires courage to defeat zombies through typing.
:Muscle Boot Camp - PC Software for learning how to effectively strengthen your muscles.
:Mindful Boot Camp - PC Software for growing your mind through meditation.
:Umiushi Fan Book - For those who love beef bowls. Has a membership code for the official site.

; Photochop (Persona Q)
: Graphics editor that has become the most used digital art software in the world. Due to image manipulation that is then posted online becoming so ubiquitous, the program has popularized the slang term 'Photochopped' worldwide.

; Star Forneus (Persona 5)
: Retro console shooting game with a space theme.

; Super Bash Bros. (Persona 5)
: Long-running crossover Versus Battle game. 'Challenger Approaching!'

; Gambla Goemon (Persona 5)
: A game about a notorious thief who fell into the depths of hell… Demons make you gamble with games of chance to pass through gates in hell and move on to further challenges.

; Stray Sheep Dolls (Persona 5)
: A puzzle game about sheep. Now with more off-kilter gender commentary! Procreate or else!

; Featherman Seeker (Persona 5)
: A retro game based on the popular long-running tokusatsu show, Phoenix Rangers Featherman. It follows the story of Gray Pigeon and their mentor-guided training to acquire power that will rival the Phoenix Rangers.

; Matador <nowiki>re:fancio</nowiki> (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A video game about a skeletal bullfighter who must find a way to fancy up his life. May or may not be looking for a nice candelabra.

; Drake Adventure (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A massively popular and influential JRPG series, with cute monsters and a cartoonish medieval fantasy vibe. It is currently on its ninth entry.

; Last Saga (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A series of games in which every entry is different from the last. Very popular.

; Night Parade (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A classic fighting game series by the Motojima Corporation, known for its theme of supernatural yokai and their hunters as the fighters. Latest release is Ultimate Night Parade 4 Remix Lightning Edition.

; Stiletta (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A much-beloved urban fantasy action-adventure game about a stylish succubus who fights to find her lost memories using her transforming hair and weaponized heels. Utterly fabulous. The hotly-anticipated sequel has recently been announced.

; The Epic of Zerta (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An action roleplaying/puzzle game series centred around the Triangular Force, made up of the Angle of Strength, the Angle of Knowledge, and the Angle of Bravery. These games follow the hero, Tie, as he eternally saves Princess Zerta from the evil King Gammon. (In some entries, he's King Gammonturf. Using the wrong name can and has caused epic flame wars.)

; Tetraitis (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A puzzle game where you need to match four blocks to clear them. Apparently, it was named because the creator was so feverishly invested in playing an alpha build he almost didn't finish the game at all.

=== Other Games ===
; Hammerstrike - War in the 42nd Millenium (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A grimdark franchise originating from the west, centring around numerous spacefaring factions warring for control over the galaxy. While it started as a tabletop wargame using handpainted miniatures, a multitude of books, animations, and games have come out for it since its inception the late 1980s.

; Faerie<nowiki>:</nowiki> The Beckoning (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A card game centred around lands, creatures, and magical spells, with a great amount of depth. The lore centres around the Seelie and Unseelie courts of the Fae and their various adventures. New card sets are released each year!

=== Books and Manga ===

; Bookworms (Persona 3)
: A small but robust bookstore in the Iwatodai Strip Mall, owned and run by an elderly married couple, Bunkichi and Mitsuko Kitamura.

; Taiheido Bookstore (Persona 5)
: A bookstore on Shibuya Central Street with shelves also available outside the entrance.

; Rubber-Armed Pitcher Hero (Persona 4)
: Sports shounen manga about baseball.

; Witch Detective (Persona 4)
: A ploddingly written romantic comedy manga about a girl on her first day of school in a new town. Vampires are involved.

; The Great Thief (Persona 5)
: The story of Arsène Lupin, greatest thief of all time.

; Zorro the Outlaw (Persona 5)
: The story of Zorro, the dashing masked vigilante.

; Pirate Legend (Persona 5)
: The story of Captain Kidd, a Scottish-American privateer.

; The Alluring Dancer (Persona 5)
: The story of Carmen, an opera about a seductive Romani woman.

; The Gallant Rogue (Persona 5)
: The story of Goemon Ishikawa, a legendary outlaw hero.

; Speed Reader (Persona 5)
: A book that gives the reader tips on how to read more quickly and efficiently.

;The Whimsy of Orange Streets (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:An older romantic comedy manga about a old fashioned high school student in a love triangle with two delinquents. Reading it might help you understand relationships better.

;Dragon Sphere X (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:A martial arts manga that takes inspiration from Journey to the West. Probably helps your Guts.

; Titanomachy (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An enormously popular mecha franchise that draws heavily from Greek mythology for inspiration. Having been around for close to 30 years, it has spawned numerous films, anime, and manga series, as well as a plethora of different model kits.

'''Asteroeides (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)'''
:A hard science fiction manga about debris removers in Earth orbit, in the near future.

; Daughters of Foxes (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A relatively obscure series of period dramas written in the eighties. Set in feudal Japan, the books follow two women - Reina and Kyoko - and tell the story of how they navigate the political intrigue of the age. Fans of the series often remark that the two leads have far more chemistry with each other than they ever had with the various (and temporary) love interests.

=== TV Shows ===

; Scarlet (Persona 5)
: DVD/Blu-Ray rental store. Has a very generous membership plan for students.

; Phoenix Ranger Featherman (Persona 2)
: Long-running tokusatsu franchise with tons of seasons, movies, and extensive merchandising. Much beloved by the Japanese youth.

; Tanaka's Amazing Commodities (Persona 3)
: A home shopping program hosted by Tanaka, who is also the CEO of the company. Its jingle: "Here comes Tanakaaaaa~ Over the airwaves to youuuuu~ Granter of your desires!" Sells a wide range of products, from high quality to possibly less-than-stellar knock-offs. Things go quick, so buy buy buy!

; Wraith (Persona 5)
: TV show about a woman who can speak to ghosts.

; The X-Folders (Persona 5)
: Sci-fi investigation TV show. The opening theme involves a spooky whistle.

; Bubbly Hills 90210 (Persona 5)
: A Western teen romantic drama TV show set in the ritzy upscale neighborhood of Bubbly Hills.

; ICU (Persona 5)
: Medical drama show about high stakes saves in the emergency ward.

; The Running Dead (Persona 5)
: Zombie drama about fast zombies. Humans in this drama are the real monsters.

; Mouse M.D. (Persona 5)
: A maverick rodent's medical heroics. Learn about true kindness.

; D. Housewives (Persona 5)
: Women's stories of love and passion.

; 31 (Persona 5)
: A writer and editor battle looming deadlines. Praised for its gutsy tension.

; Tee (Persona 5)
: A teacher helps revive a near defunct high school golf team.

; Not-so-hot Betsy (Persona 5)
: A TV show that tells the story of a homely girl who captivates people with her inner charm.

; Jail Break (Persona 5)
: A jailbreak TV drama.

; Fist of the Phantom Star (Persona 5)
: A post apocalyptic martial arts retro anime that codified a lot of Shounen tropes. Contains numerous beefy men rescuing beautiful women from their rivals.

;Yureka Six (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:An anime about growing up in a war torn world of robots, aliens, and flying skateboards. The main character starts off as rather childish but grows mature through facing the shortcomings of adults.

;Front Range (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An American cartoon series set in Colorado. The story material is often topical to American events, usually obscene, and once in a while funny. Explaining episode plots sounds like gibberish. The Japanese fandom tends to focus on the BL potential of the male leads, all schoolchildren in a quiet mountain town.<br />
=== Movies ===

; Climax Theater (Persona 2)
: Sumaru City movie theater where rumors have made the films occasionally quite strange.

; Screen Shot (Persona 3)
: Movie theater chain throughout Japan.

; Friday in a certain day (Persona 3)
: A film starring Catherine Billey. Its tagline is, "Fans of a Dutch soccer team, Americans heading off to war are facing." Yes, just that.

; The more than dreamin (Persona 3)
: A film about an alien visitor.

; Detonator (Persona 3)
: Starring Sharon Waxman and Craig.S.Smith. Its tagline is, "A troubling trend for a Dutch." It's a film about boxing! (It references Lennox Lewis and Andrew Golata's boxing match.)

; Worst Detective (Persona 3)
: A film noir about a detective who is terrible at his job.

; Loan of the Rings (Persona 4)
: Fantasy epic film.

; Dumminator II (Persona 4)
: Film on… Why?

; Trial of the Dragon (Persona 4)
: Kung fu epic film.

; My Neighbor Dodoro (Persona 5 - Original)
: A classic heartwarming children's movie about two young sisters meeting a big yellow bird and having adventures together. Includes a cat that is also a large vehicle.

; Tanktop Millionaire (Persona 5)
: Movie about a scrappy kid who came from the slums to win big on a quiz show.

; The Cake Knight Rises (Persona 5)
: A cake-themed vigilante avenges a friend who was wronged by a psychopathic baker. It's a ridiculous film, but the protagonist's passion to fight for his friend is touching.

; Like a Dragon (Persona 5)
: Yakuza action film.

; Mes Miserables (Persona 5)
: Apparently just like the real work except with even more theological commentary. (A bishop is the antagonist rather than Javert.)

; Pach-Saw (Persona 5)
: Horror film involving an elephant and torture elements.

; Wild Max (Persona Q2)
: Post-Apocalyptic film series praised for its fight choreography in vehicles.

; [[SMILE (2012)]] (Velvet Room MUSH - Persona 2/Original)
: A slasher movie released at the end of August 2012, starring Junko Kurosu as the killer. Part crime movie, part suspense horror, part slasher, noted for its well executed twists in an otherwise kind of schlocky but fun slasher.

== Food and Drink ==

=== Vending Machine Beverages ===
; First Appeared in Persona 3
: Aguafeena - Extensively purified tap water.
: BauerBar - Keeps you going for 24 hours straight.
: Cielo Mist - Beverage imported from Jamaica.
: Cylon Tea - Comes in 12 different varieties.
: Definitely Lemonade - A fresh, lemon-based drink. A bit watery.
: Dr. Salt - Salty soda. Popular, but an acquired taste.
: Fountain Dew - A disturbingly yellow soft drink.
: Happiness Water - Water that tastes like happiness.
: Mad Bull - A mildly bitter beverage with a flavorful kick.
: Moonkist - Soda with the slogan, "Kist my full moon!"
: Nastea - Tea that tastes great, despite its name.
: SoBay - Popular tea often auctioned online.
: Starvicks - Famous coffee, mixed with cough syrup.
: 1UP - Soft drink coveted by old-school gamers.
: 4biotic Pack - A set of 4 probiotic drinks.

; First Appeared in Persona 4
: Dokudami Tea - An herbal tea good for detoxes.
: Dr. Salt NEO - An intensely carbonated beverage.
: Orange Smash - A refreshing citrus beverage.
: Second Maid - A cold beverage that got heated.
: TaP Soda - Old-fashioned fizzy beverage.

; First Appeared in Persona 5
: Arginade - Contains arginine.
: Chunky Potage - You can never drink all the kernels.
: Creature - A drink that blows away sleepiness.
: Durian-au-Lait - Made from the king of fruits.
: Earl Green - A blend of Eastern and Western tea.
: Joylent - Unsettlingly nutritious.
: Manta - Makes you want to dance all night.
: Muscle Tea - Popular tea often sold online.
: Oh! Shiruko - So good it makes you say, "Oh!"
: Udagawa Soda - Triple-filtered carbonated Shibuya water.
: Udagawa Water - Triple-filtered Shibuya river water.
: Ultimate Amazake - Makes you think you're drunk.
: Water of Rebirth - Blended with placenta.

=== Dining Out ===

; Peace Diner (Persona 1/Persona 2)
: Franchise that serves mostly fast food; there's a branch in Yumezaki's Yumezaki Center. Rumormonger Chikarin can be found here almost daily working on the Sevens school newspaper. The part timer at the register loves Japanese period dramas, and so talks like a ninja. Menu: Peace Burger, Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Burger, Peace Double Meat, Big Peace Burger, Fries, Peace Shake, Value Meal.

; Gatten Sushi (Persona 2)
: Popular sushi shop in Rengedai's Lotus Mall, run by the Mishina family. Head chef is Kankichi Mishina. It's the popular hangout of Rumormonger Kenta "Toro" Yokouchi, whose favorite sushi is the olive flounder fish fin, despite his nickname meaning Fatty Tuna. Menu: Tuna, Squid, Sweet Shrimp, Eel, Sea Urchin, Salmon Roe, Fish Fin, Fatty Tuna.

; Double Slash (Persona 2)
: Internet cafe in Aoba's Aoba Way that offers a surprisingly robust menu of drinks, snacks and even meals. The teenager who mans the counter is pretty lazy. Menu: Coffee, Cafe au Lait, Milk Tea, Herbal Tea, Double Sandwich, Pizza Toast, Spaghetti, Curry Rice.

; Jolly Roger (Persona 2)
: Pirate-themed restaurant in Konan's Seaside Mall. The rumormongering proprietor is sad and trades in rumors as a balm for the sea, to which he can no longer return. Menu: Coffee Blend, Tea Blend, Veggie Juice, Special Cocoa, Baked Apple Pie, Chocolate Cookie, Brown Rice Curry, Pirate’s Set.

; Clair De Lune (Persona 2)
: Classy French restaurant in Narumi's Hotel Pleiades, served by Garçon Soejima. May or may not also sell top-notch armor on the sly. Menu: Vichyssoise, Escabèche, Cassoulet, Brochette, Brandade, Bouillabaisse, Ballotine, Navarin.

; Wilduck Burger (Persona 3)
: A fast food burger chain with a location in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. The mainline item is the Mystery Burger for those with the Guts to try it.

; Hagakure Ramen (Persona 3)
: A ramen restaurant in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. Their mainline item, the Pork Ramen, is full of collagen to make the eater's skin silky smooth and Charming.

; Wakatsu Kitchen (Persona 3)
: A sushi restaurant in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. The seafood in their Prodigy Platter is healthy and full of omega-3s--the perfect brain food to help the Academically challenged.

; Yon-Germain Bakery (Persona 5)
: A small bakery located at the Ginza Line Gate at Shibuya Station. Perfect for when you need to grab a snack in between train transfers. Menu: Sandwich, Fruit Danish, Moist Katsu Bun (rainy day special), Melon Pan (summer-only; limited product).

; Bikkuri Boy (Persona 5)
: A spacious family diner located up a stairwell off Central Street in Shibuya. Practically deserted when it rains, so you can concentrate extra-well for study sessions in between meals. Menu: Hot Coffee (coffee with free refills), Surprise Sando (crayfish paste sandwich), Nostalgic Steak (salisbury steak like grandma made), Frui-Tea (tea made with lots of fruit), Totem Pole (tower of ice cream).

; Big Bang Burger (Persona 5)
: A fast food chain with a location on Shibuya Central Street that holds the Big Bang Challenge, wherein people can become a 2nd Mate, 1st Mate, or Captain by completing various stages. Menu: Big Bang Burger, Saturn Fries, Venus Salad (fruit salad), Earth Burger (seasonal spring offering with veggies), Moon Burger (seasonal autumn offering where the egg looks like the moon).

; Ore no Beko (Persona 5)
: Beef bowl restaurant on Shibuya Central Street. The beef part is pre-made so a worker only has to assemble and serve a bowl.

; Wilton Hotel (Persona 5)
: Upscale hotel chain with a location in Shibuya. Known for its high-priced gourmet buffet.

; Melty Donut (Persona 5)
: A donut franchise popular with cops, lawyers, and security guards.

; Katsuo Shokudo (Original)
: A mom-and-pop restaurant in Inaba, well-known to locals for its excellent food. Or it was, as with the declining Inaban economy, it finally had to close its doors in early 2010. The owner and primary cook, Hideji Aoki, moved away to the big city with his daughter Hibari.

=== Bars and Pubs ===

; Izakaya Shiraishi (Persona 2)
: An Izakaya bar in Hirasaka's Kameya Alley that absolutely doesn't serve ramen--except for banana ramen. Rumor has it the proprietress, Ma'am, is a former spy that can give tips on finding anyone. Hangout of Rumormonger Toku-san. Menu: Edamame, Yakitori, Sesame Chicken, Oden, Red Bean Gyoza, Banana Ramen, Beer, Sake.

; Parabellum (Persona 2)
: A noir-ish bar in Aoba's Aoba Way with an elderly gentleman barkeeper who makes firearms-themed cocktails. Rumor has it they also secretly sell weapons. Menu: Revolver, Double Action, Magnum, Bullet Core, Browning Power, Angel Trigger, Tilt Barrel, Derringer.

; Ebony (Persona 2)
: Classy bar in Narumi's Hotel Pleiades, run by a rumor-lovin' bartender who's as quick with a rumor or a story as she is with a cocktail. Menu: On the Rocks, Between the Sheets, Gimlet, Blue Lagoon, Green Eyes, Mockingbird, Angel's Kiss, Spritzer.

; Crossroads Bar (Persona 5)
: An adult entertainment bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The bartender and owner is Lala Escargot; the shop logo includes a snail. On top of wines, beers, and cocktails, there are a few snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available.

; Izakaya Nichinan (Original)
: An izakaya in Konan Ward. Known more for its beer selection than its food, it gets most of its business from younger office workers who live in the ward.

== Pharmacies and Convenience Stores ==

; Yin and Yang (Persona 1)
: Convenience store chain. They'll sell you medicine, and if you get friendly with the owner, they might let you see their collection of airsoft guns too. Yin and Yang stores operate in supernatural spaces, too -- and under those conditions, they'll sell you ''real'' weapons.

; Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy (Persona 1)
: Vibes less like they're gonna conquer the world, unlike the Sumaru City branch. Has an infectious theme song explaining what each item they sell does.

; Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy (Persona 2)
: Drugstore chain throughout Sumaru City. All the shopkeepers look the same, and are open about being sisters. Don't worry about the music overhead or why it has a different style in each store, just don't.

; Mayo Mart (Persona 4)
: A 24-hour konbini (Japanese convenience store) in Inaba.

; 777 (Persona 5)
: Convenience store chain with special sales on all days ending in 7. Pronounced 'Triple Seven.'

=== Convenience Store Food ===

; Sham (Original)
: Preserved ham in a can. Originally popular in America, it became a big deal in Okinawa -- so big, in fact, that Sham is now more popular in Okinawa than America! Most Okinawans will have strong opinions about the right and wrong way to slice Sham... and about right and wrong ways to cook it.

; Potech (Persona 3)
: A brand of 'American-style' potato chips. They come in big bags for their price and have an eclectic variety of flavours, including some otherwise rare in Japan like salt and vinegar. They're most popular with students (and immigrants).

== Other Notable Shops ==

; GOLD Gym (Persona 2)
: Major gym workout chain with locations throughout the world.

; Kaori (Persona 2)
: Perfume and aromatherapy shop in Rengedai; scents that cleanse the soul, perhaps more literally than you'd think...

; Padparadscha (Persona 2)
: Jewelry store in Hotel Pleiades in Narumi.

; Rafflesia (Persona 3)
: Floral shop franchise throughout Japan; has various smaller branches everywhere. Sometimes includes services where they'll grow and nurture your plants for you.

; Junes Department Store (Persona 4)
: Department megastore chain. The jingle goes: 'Every day's great at your Junes!' A new store is presently being built in Inaba -- look forward to the grand opening!

; Moel Gas Station (Persona 4)
: A gas station chain where one can go to fuel up one’s vehicle. May or may not have a grey-haired gas station attendant, or job openings.

; Untouchable Airsoft Shop (Persona 5)
: A military-esque airsoft shop in a back alley off Shibuya Central Street. Although all their goods are models, the proprietor, Iwai, has a scary look.

; Electronics Superstore Akindo (Persona 5)
: A huge electronics store in Akihabara.

; De La Mancha (Inspired by Soul Hackers 2)
: Or just Mancha. A chain discount store that sells just about everything, from groceries to electronics to clothing. Notorious for overloaded shelves so they can offer more products. Very lucky shoppers may occasionally find a cognitively useful item buried in there, whether a consumable, equipment, or even a card!

== Services and Appointments ==

; Hiiragi Psychotherapy (Persona 2)
: Run by Dr. Reiko, located in Seaside Mall.

; Sumaru Genie (Persona 2)
: Fortune-teller based in Seaside Mall who goes by the same name as the store. Her fortunes stopped coming true after Wang Long fortune-telling rose into prominence.

; Time Castle (Persona 2)
: Clock shop run by the eclectic Time Count, a man who acts the part of a Victorian gentleman who gets a little intense sometimes. Offers Skill Card services.

; Tominaga Chiropractic (Persona 2)
: Run by Mr. Tomi, a bombastic chiropractor trained in the US who has a US-themed 'flair' to his personality. He utilizes his ultimate technique, the Gold Finger, to adjust any spine, satisfaction guaranteed.

== Housing ==

; Lunar Palace (Persona 2)
: Apartment complex chain; there's one such apartment building in Konan. Maya Amano, Ulala Serizawa, and Shiori Miyashiro live there.

== Famous People ==

; Eriko "Elly" Kirishima (Persona 1)
: Popular rising model. Her hobby is the occult and she gives no comment on any potential boyfriend situation.

; Hidehiko "Brown" Uesugi (Persona 1)
: Talk show host. He's known for his boisterous laughter and nonstop jokes.

; Junko Kurosu (Persona 2)
: Veteran actress who's been in the profession for decades. She doesn't get quite as many roles now that she's in her 40s with a son who's nearly an adult, but she's still going strong.

; President Tanaka (Persona 3)
: CEO of and host to a TV home shopping show every Sunday morning, both of which are called Tanaka's Amazing Commodities.

; Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)
: The first Detective Prince, who comes from a famous detective family and has been solving crimes across the country for years from a very young age.

; Rise Kujikawa (Persona 4)
: A popular middle school-aged rookie idol who's appeared in a few commercials so far.

; Goro Akechi (Persona 5)
: The second Detective Prince, sometimes called the Second Coming of the Detective Prince. A rookie compared to Naoto Shirogane, but nonetheless a high schooler who solves crimes for the police and gets consulted all the time.

; Ann Takamaki (Persona 5)
: An exotically beautiful model of mixed Japanese, American, and Finnish descent.

; Mika (Persona 5)
: A budding model, just starting out in the industry.

; Suguru Kamoshida (Persona 5)
: A professional athlete who won the gold medal for volleyball in the 2008 Summer Olympics and was teaching gym at Shujin Academy until recently. He turned himself in for abusing his students after he received a strange calling card from someone(s) calling themselves the "Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

; Ichiryusai Madarame (Persona 5)
: A famous artist celebrated for his incredibly broad range of styles. He recently confessed that his "range" was actually plagiarized from his various students, again after receiving a strange calling card from the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

; Subaru Amamiya (Persona 5 - Original)
: The soft-spoken and stern Mayor of Inaba, elected for four terms and presently trying for a fifth. He doesn't speak of [[Ren Amamiya|his son]] often. It's rumoured that he has greater politicial ambitions than being the Mayor of a small town. His wife Akira often acts as his unofficial assistant.

;Gozaburou "Zabu" Gessou (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:Talk show host and media personality. "Good Evening, Sumaru" is his show focusing on the weird rumors and happenings of Sumaru. He is also the son of a once influential political family whose patriarch died under mysterious circumstances.

[[Category: Setting]]

2026-09-28: Of Bentos and Brothers

2026-09-28T00:12:06Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Of Bentos and Brothers''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ichika Kawase *'''Where:''' Kasugayama High School *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-28 *'''IC Date:''' Tue, Jan 15 2013 *'''Summary:''' ''Hyousuke has finally worked up the courage to talk to his brother, but as Ichika finds out on Kasugayama's rooftop, he's got mixed feelings about it.'' ---- (|=============== Kasugayama High School - Classroom Building ================|) -=============================..."

*'''Log: Of Bentos and Brothers'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Kasugayama High School
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-28
*'''IC Date:''' Tue, Jan 15 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Hyousuke has finally worked up the courage to talk to his brother, but as Ichika finds out on Kasugayama's rooftop, he's got mixed feelings about it.''

----

(|=============== Kasugayama High School - Classroom Building ================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Hirasaka Ward ====-
Nicknamed "Kasu High" by its students and "Cuss High" by its detractors,
Kasugayama High School's poor reputation is reflected in the dinginess of the
building itself. It's been around since before World War II, as reflected by the
fact that its basement was used as an air raid shelter back then, so many of its
facilities are woefully out of date. Many if not most of its students are
delinquents, and the teachers turn a blind eye to all manner of bad behavior.

Its main three floors contain the school's various classrooms for its three
years of students, who are overwhelmingly boys. The boys wear a one-note teal
uniform with black buttons and a high collar, while the girls wear an equally
unexciting sailor uniform in teal with a black neckerchief and a single white
line on the cuffs and collar.

Though some girls attend, their generally rough nature and the severely unequal
numbers mean many of the male students lament their lack of dating options and
seek out girls from other schools. It has a large gym and a huge track circle
out back, and the roof is a decent place for students to hang out.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
A bitter chill plagued the roof. Though December had long since passed, and January was halfway through, they'd not escaped winter's clutches quite yet, and the colder temperatures - in conjunction with the breezes that whipped past the wire fences surrounding the roof's edges - left the place far colder than the school below. Yet, despite all that, Hyousuke couldn't help but take pleasure in his lunches there. It was a quiet and contemplative space (a rarity on Kasugayama's grounds), there was ample space to sit for anyone that didn't mind the floor, and the view was a lot more pleasant than lengths of concrete or the hustle and bustle of lunchtime.

The bento box he'd brought with him was a rather unremarkable thing, all things considered. A solid, sturdy, and undecorated thing, it didn't have much personality beyond being a reliable piece of kit, but it held food and stayed shut. That was enough for Hyousuke, evidently. The food inside seemed to follow a similar trend. The rice had been packed in haphazardly, the egg rolls were messy chunks, and he'd only bothered cutting down the hotdogs to size - there wasn't a hint of artistic flourish to them. It was a roughly-cut mishmash of foods, but it was functional and he seemed to enjoy the taste well enough.

"Pudding's last playdate went well." Hyousuke said, either continuing a conversation, or starting it again after a lull in his and Ichika's. "I think it's gonna be a while until Lance gets used to him, never mind other dogs, but Tsubasa-san seems pretty confident about it." That was the impression he'd gotten during his last visit to their place, at least.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's cold. Cold as balls!

But Ichika doesn't care about that too much; she's tough! Tough, and fashionable! ...yeah she's still baring her midriff in uniform, don't worry about it. At least she has a long skirt.

Ichika has her own lunch, which she made herself; it isn't super cute or anything, but it is well-made and functional without being ugly or aesthetically unpleasing. Her rice is neat. Everything is orderly.

The difference between bentos...!

"That's good," Ichika says. "I bet they're super cute. ...Yeah, they've got good reaosn to be. They're really good with dogs now." Which is impressive, considering.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, they've got a knack for it. Lance seems real happy with 'em..." Hyousuke smiled, and it was a genuine look. There was little doubt that he was happy for Tsubasa and Lance both. Yet, when he spoke, he seemed to trail off a little. He stared out into the distance, fiddled with his chopsticks without plucking anything from his messily-assembled assortment of foodstuffs, and remained quiet for a few moments longer than might have been expected for a simple lull in the conversation. "I just hope I can do the same thing for Pudding."

Hyousuke popped an egg roll into his mouth. Partly because he was hungry and lunchtime was limited, but also to stall for a moment longer to organise his thoughts. Even when he did finally speak, having presumably given some sort of shape to what he wanted to say, he didn't speak with his usual blundering confidence.
"But at least I've got a place for us. I think. They take pets, and I can probably afford it so long as I get enough hours and do a few, uh, side gigs. It's just that I can't sign the paperwork myself. I..." He paused, swallowed empty air, and forced himself to continue. "...I had to call my brother for it."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"She is," Ichika says. "...But you know, a lot of what it takes is just caring. And you've got that in spades." It's nice to see a real smile out of Hyousuke--something she's not used to except over food, out of him. Still...

He's stalling. And then--

"Yeah?" Ichika asks. "That's great! Having a place to go is really important." Pause. he can't sign the paperwork. Ichika knows how that goes; she's lucky on that front. But...

"How'd that go?" she asks, her tone more sympathetic in preparation.
BBS: New BB message (11''42) posted to 'Code' by Junes: Bugfixes
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
A long, thoughtful, quiet filled the air. The sound of whipping winds was about the loudest thing there, with even Hyousuke's breathing beginning to grow long and low. He did not so much speak the words as allow them to fall free of him - there was none of the usual bravado behind what he said.
"I don't know." Was the best, most honest, answer that he could give her in that moment. He was silent again, and stared into the middle distance, though his mind seemed to be somewhere else entirely.

"We haven't spoken since he... Since I..." Hyousuke's lips went taut. Every fibre of his being railed against that spark of honesty in him, screaming at him to smother it and leave the matter alone. His good friends would not pry if he did not want her to, of that he was confident. He was positive nobody else knew him well enough to even begin poking and prodding him about it. The matter could be avoided, and life could continue on as normal. But as he considered it, the words of friends and mentors alike began to tease at the edges of his mind, and began to force that screaming back.

If he could not be honest with a friend that had fought by his side, then who? If he could not be honest now, with nobody around to hear them, and nothing to interrupt save the passage of time, then when? If he could not speak freely about helping his own pet, and striving for a better life for both them and himself, then what could he speak true on? Hyousuke firmed his lips, and steadied his voice. He still did not seem entirely sure of himself, but it was a far better state than moments before.

"We haven't spoken since he got me out of going to juvie. We hadn't spoken for years before that, but he promised he'd help me with anything he could if I called him. I just... I didn't *want* to call him."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Winds..

He doesn't know; it's honest, at least. Ichika turns her face towards Hyousuke's to listen. She can tell how difficult it is for him, without having to read his mind; talking about himself is far from Hyouuske's favorite pastime. Still, eventually...

"I see," Ichika says, and looks thoughtfuly forward. "I guess... that wouldn't be a good memory."

"Why not?" she wonders.
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Why not, she asks. As if he had an answer for that he could put into words. Tempted as he was to give her a bitter laugh, and make some wry remark, he kept quiet. He wasn't there to try and brush things off. She'd earned his honesty, and he needed to tell *someone* about what had happened. About what *was* happening. A breath escaped him as a long and low sigh, and he lowered his chopsticks onto the box. He'd stopped eating by that point, instead fiddling with the two pointed lengths to try and keep his fingers busy.

"Our parents were pieces of shit." Hyousuke said. Blunt as the answer was, there was no good way to dress it up - the bitterness in his voice alone told a story. "But he got out. He got a government job while I was young and moved to Tokyo, then just... I dunno... fucking vanished." The hesitance came back, creeping like ivy around hi throat, strangling the life from him as well as any confidence born from his spite. "Ten fucking years he left me with them, telling me how I should've been more like him. How I was a fucking failure, and- He wasn't *there.* He could've helped get me out, he could've told them to knock it off, he could've- I don't know, he could've just fucking *called* for once. And then he swans back in when I'm about to get dragged off, and he acts like he's been my best friend my whole fucking life."

He paused, collecting himself, and tried to keep the bitterness in his words in check.
"...I think the worst part's that he means it when he says he wants to help me. Asshole stuck his neck out for me to get me here, and now he's doing it again so I can move outta the dorms. I just... I don't get what he's trying to do here."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika has feelings about brothers--the idea of being distant from a sibling is not foreign to her, either. Not with how things were with Ririka for a while.

Hyousuke, though, does explain. That bitterness does tell a story to her. "I see..."

"That sucks," Ichika says first, but her tone is much softer than her rough words. "Being left..."

"Mm."

"I don't want to make something up and speak for him," she says. "But it sounds like... yeah, you believe him."

"That's hard. I think... you don't owe him some kind of tender relationship, for that. ...But you might owe yourself the chance to ask him."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Maybe." Hyousuke said, forcing the word out just so he could give *a* response before the quiet dragged on too long. His mouth twitched and shifted, trying to find an expression he thought fit his mood, but his mind was a storm of emotions and disparate thoughts. He could not settle on what he thought of the whole situation, and neither could his expression. "I might not owe him a relationship, but I... I dunno, I feel like I owe him *something.* He could've just stood back and pretended I didn't exist, and now he's risking his reputation for me."

"Hell, I don't even know what I'd ask him if we spoke." He paused, shrugged, and let his posture slacken as his muscles abandoned their strength. "...Maybe I'd just ask him 'why.'"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Maybe. Ichika watches Hyousuke; she doesn't mind the quiet for a while, as he gathers his thoughts on a fraught topic. What he owes...

"That's fair," Ichika says. "It's important to me... saying that you don't owe somebody affection, or whatever. But..."

"Maybe what you owe him is to make the most of it," she suggests. "He's risking for you--you should make sure it's worth it, as much as you can."

She pauses. "But I think that's a good question. I think you should, when you're ready."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke kicked himself mentally for not making the connection earlier. So lost was he in his own thoughts that Ichika's own had slipped his mind. He just counted himself lucky both of them seemed to be taking it in stride. He supposed it was best just to move on - if she didn't want to call much attention to it, neither would he.
"I don't know if I'll ever be ready." He confessed, a little glumly. "It took me ages just to call him, and I only did that because Pudding needed a place, not me. But... I gotta do it, even if I'm not. Can't just put this off forever. Got someone counting on me to get this place."

That 'someone' wasn't even Hyousuke himself, but that hardly mattered to him.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It doesn't bother Ichika.

"Sometimes you're not," Ichika says. "....I think that's right, though. Ready or not... You owe it to ''yourself'' to not put it off forever."

Counting him...

Ichika smiles. "That's right. You've got Pudding to think of, now."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Though Hyousuke's expression had been in flux the entire conversation, it stayed stable for quite a while when Ichika mentioned that he owed it to himself.
"For... myself?" He asked, the words lingering on his mind far longer than they did on his lips. "I... yeah, I guess I do." He said. His mouth moved strangely, and the words felt odd when he spoke them. He wasn't entirely sure he believed what he'd said, or that he agreed, though that might have been more a consequence of not thinking about it that way until someone had bludgeoned him over the head with the notion.

"...I guess I owe it to the both of us." He paused, steeled himself, then spoke again. "...And you. Tsubasa-san too. And everyone else that's been helping me. You guys believed in me, and I... I dunno. It means a lot."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"For you," Ichika reiterates. "Yeah!" She's pleased to hear Hyousuke acknowledge it, anyway; getting him to understand that he could deserve good things has been... a project, to say the least. Even the smallest progress towards it is nice.

"I'm glad," Ichika says. "That it means something. It's because we're friends, Hyousuke-kun. ...We want to see good things for you. That's what that mens."

"So good luck, OK? And if it gets weird, you can talk to me."
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Despite having faced down monstrosities many times his size, serial killers with no qualms about making sure his death hurt, and the physical manifestations of humanity's massed thoughts, it was Ichika's earnest desire to see his life get better that made him stop and start. He found himself lost for words, staring bashfully down at his lunch, and popping a chunk of rice into his mouth just so he had something to focus on other than his complete lack of things to say in response.
"...Then I guess I'll be counting on you again. Thank you. I... It's..."

He frowned as his train of thought began to falter, and he sighed, eventually abandoning it altogether. "...Thanks. For everything."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-28: Forewarned is Forearmed

2026-09-28T00:05:22Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: Forewarned is Forearmed'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Kazusa Motojima]]
*'''Where:''' Tokyo, Kichijoji
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-28
*'''IC Date:''' Thu Jan 10 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa has two vital pieces of information that need to be relayed to Katsuko, but Shujin's ears have walls. The two meet to talk over coffee, and a deadly revelation is brought to light...''

----

(|============================= Kichijoji - Main =============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Kichijoji ====-
When people list their most desirable places to live in Tokyo, Kichijoji nearly
always tops the list. Minutes away from scenic Inokashira park, the district
itself feels warm and inviting with its billboard of a chibi mascot happily
dining at the entrance to Sanpo Road, the main thoroughfare.

People line up here for a quick lunch with quality street food and''or finer
dining at the cafes alike, while shuttered alleys light up at night with open
air bars and izakayas. Entertainment is easy enough to find here, as businesses
eschew aggressive barkers for more welcoming signs, drawing people in. More
discerning customers know exactly where to look for some of the more hidden gems
among the clubs of Tokyo.

Even the monks outside the local Buddhist temple seem part of the experience,
offering people the opportunity for quiet meditation away from the rat race of
daily life.
(|============================================================================|)

OST: The Fragrance of Dark Jazz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMnrl0tmd3k

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Far past the glitz and glamour of Kichijoji's more high-end eateries, behind the apartments and houses of well-to-do inhabitants, and nestled into a maze of winding streets and dimly-lit backalleys, lay a simple, wooden, door. Stained a dark shade that left it closer to black than ebony, with well-polished fittings that granted it a contrast in silver, it was a rather unassuming place. The sign above it - a simple one with a silhouette of a black cat etched into its surface - did little to rectify this. Its creaking in the breeze was likely to draw more attention than the place's aesthetics.

The inside was afar cry from the brick walls and blackened door, however. Four walls in stone grey stood above an oaken floor, with framed pieces of contemporary art arranged neatly upon it in evenly-spaced intervals. The furniture followed a similar style. Wrought from oak and topped with dark fabric, the chairs and stools seemed as old as the frost-haired man standing dutifully behind the counter, polishing mugs and tending to the occasional brew. No doubt they all held a story, but the scattered few patrons there seemed to have little interest in asking about them. Or in talking in general, it seemed. Students and salarymen alike sipped idly on coffee and took bites out of whatever pastry was on offer that day, but none regarded the other's presence, wishing simply to tend to their own businesses.

It was in the corner that Katsuko waited. To her right was a mug of steaming coffee. Mixed into a tasteful shade of brown, foam popped and bubbled at its surface, while thin wisps of steam drifted past the rim. To her left was an opened copy of Daughters of Foxes - an obscure period drama with two female leads, each of whom were *remarkably* close with each other for a book written in the eighties. She waited, reading and sipping slowly, occasionally glancing at her phone in anticipation of a certain someone's arrival...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa was still feeling rattled and a bit upset from what had taken place only a few days before. The very last day of Winter Break had been a horrifying discovery.

She was on a serial killer's list. And so was Katsuko Yoshinagi. They weren't exactly ''friends'', really. More like business partners. Katsuko needed something from her, and had offered something valuable to Kazusa in exchange.

... But this went beyond that arrangement.

Kazusa stepped into the small cafe, eyes scanning the place. She was still in her Shujin uniform, with black tights to counteract the winter chill. She spotted Katsuko right away, but went to the counter first to place her own order.

She eventually sat down with with a latte topped with some simple latte art and a slice of handmade cake. And of course, she immediately pulled out her phone to snap a photo. "... not the worst latte art I've ever seen," she commented. "The place has a good vibe."

She's mostly talking to fill in space while her brain tries to figure out how she's even going to broach this topic.

She doesn't pay any attention to Katsuko's book.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The barista - and the owner, as it happened - regarded Kazusa with a still and unassuming gaze. His responses were short and functional, usually spanning no more than a handful of words, but his actions spoke far louder anyway. His was an expertise honed by practice and experience, and though the art in the cup was simple, the smell that rose up from beneath it was divine. Warm and rich, but not so much that it overpowered the senses, it was a masterclass in careful brewing.

Katsuko had even less to say. She shipped quietly on her own drink while she waited for Kazusa to speak, watching with cold and expectant eyes. She made no noise, with the slight clink of the mug being replaced on its saucer the loudest one she made. Tempted as she was to simply ask Kazusa what was so urgent that they had to speak outside of school, however, she saw little point in being rude. If it was something to do with their agreement, Katsuko supposed it could've been discussed over text, or at school - the fact that neither option had been taken left Katusko curious indeed.

"It's one of my favourites." Katsuko eventually said, taking a sip of her coffee as if to demonstrate. "It's quiet here, and the owner takes great care with every drink." That was about as much of the niceties as Katsuko could stand before shutting her book, however. A quiet thud filled the air between them when she did so, and her attention went solely to Kazusa. "So what did you need from me?"

The cover, for those that cared to look, depicted two women at each other's sides, surrounded by leering figures dressed in the garb of feudal lords. They were close - very close. Surely the artist just meant to depict them as stalwart allies and friends.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
The silent bartender type. Kazusa isn't afraid to be exacting with her orders, (though being an outright Karen sometimes is also one of those things she's trying hard to unlearn.)

She doesn't post the photo right away--she ''so'' does not want to give anybody a live update on her position right now--but she does take a sip, taking a moment to sit with the flavor. "... Mmm." Quietly she mutters. "... the art isn't worth it but he could probably charge more for just the brew and still make a profit."

That's surely all the artist intended, and there's nothing deeper to read into the cover.

Having run out of her own pleasantries, Kazusa's almost neutral expression settles into a stern frown. "... Actually," she said, keeping her voice low. "... it's less that I need something from you, and more that I have something for you. Information, as per our agreement."

"But," she was quick to add. "It comes with some conditions. I have other information for you that isn't part of the agreement, and agreeing to my conditions is the price to get all of it."

Does this count as changing their deal? Yes, it does. But this isn't Kazusa being capricious. Her gaze is serious and steady.

... but there's an undercurrent of fear, too, perhaps most easily recognized with the way she keeps glancing over her shoulder towards the window or entrance to make sure nobody is observing them.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Information, but with a catch. Katsuko's expression hardened at that reveal, and she pushed her things to one side to make it clear that she was listening. The fact that she was willing to risk letting such a brew go even a degree past its most optimal temperature should have spoken volumes on just how important it all was to her, though the way she inclined her head - and then the rest of her body - just an inch forward might have served to highlight the fact as well.

"Then tell me the conditions." Katsuko said flatly. Her expression had dropped from something neutral and polite to something noticeably colder and harder. Her features were like the jagged edge of a glacier - cold, hard, and unyielding, she regarded Kazusa with sharp eyes that noted every twitch and shift in expression. It should have been no surprise, then, that she noticed Kazusa glancing to one side. Curious, she peered in the same direction, and then back to Kazusa once certain nobody was there. "...Are you afraid someone'll overhear us? Nobody here cares about what anyone else has to say. They won't even look at you unless someone's life is in danger."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa isn't in a position to appreciate the intricacies of Katsuko setting her brew aside--she's got too much going on in her own head at the moment to worry about it.

Back from her latest glance she looks down at her mug, huffing quietly. "I'm worried about being ''followed''." She looks up, her expression still serious. "... you made sure you weren't followed, right?"

She takes a deep breath to try and steel herself, hands gripping her mug. "Alright. Here's the conditions. You can't ask where I got this information. You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Actually, she's a little bit worried Katsuko ''might'' believe the story, and it's for that and other reasons that leads into next condition. "Second, you can't take any of what I'm about to tell you to the police."

"... but if you can agree to both of those conditions, I promise I ''do'' have something that might be of interest to you."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
"Of course I made sure. I don't need anyone else but us knowing what we talk about." Katsuko said, making an effort to keep her tone reassuring - or, at the very least, flat and inoffensive. She was very slightly insulted that Kazusa even had to ask, but it wasn't loud nor prominent enough to manifest itself as anything more than a stray thought. Nevertheless, Kazusa's cautiousness left Katsuko intrigued. Something seemed to have rattled her bad enough to leave her glancing around, and if she was being allowed the privilege of knowing what it was...

"Must be serious." Katsuko said tersely. It was stating the obvious, but if it conveyed to Kazusa that Katsuko understood the severity of the situation - if not its details - then all the better. "Alright. I agree. Whatever you say here, stays here."
Akihiko Sanada has disconnected.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa nods, as Katsuko says she made sure not to be followed. She's extremely worreid and on-edge, but she's pretty sure Katsuko isn't the type to take her own security lightly. "... okay. Good."

She doesn't ''mean'' any insult, of course, but maybe Katsuko will understand once Kazusa explains.

"It is." Serious. But Katsuko agrees, and Kazusa nods, taking a deep brath. "... okay."

Even having gotten Katsuko's agreement, she's aware it still sounds, frankly, kind of insane. She leans in and drops her voice. "... something has taken control of a second-year student named Shinichi Nagisa. I know you've had a run-in with him recently, just before Winter Break." She wouldn't even ''say'' his name--because this isn't Shinichi's fault, and she wants to cause as little problems for him when he's freed as possible, but...

... if she ''doesn't'' say the name, Katsuko might not be fully informed of the danger. Shinichi could approach her and strike, if she doesn't know to avoid him.

Kazusa doesn't know that Katsuko is capable of sensing the Homunculus. It would be a lot easier to explain, if she did.

Sorry, Shinichi. But hopefully living with someone thinking you're a weirdo will be an easier pill to swallow than having someone's blood on your hands, if only just.

"... I know that sounds crazy, but I need to make sure you understand how serious things are. That thing is out to kill everyone who's 'wronged' him. he's..." Kazusa can't suppress a shudder. "... been stalking them. You're on that list."

She looks down at her mug. "... as am I."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Slight - almost imperceptible as it was, Katsuko flinched when Kazusa spoke of her incident with Shinichi.
"...It was naive to hope nobody would hear about that." She muttered, not caring about whether Kazusa heard or not. The cat was out of the bag now, after all. That was all she said in response, however, instead choosing to keep her counsel until Kazusa had finished. Still as a statue, and with an expression that was twice as stony, it took an active effort on her part not to give some kind of reaction the whole way through.

She took some small solace in her silence giving her time to figure out how she was to approach things. Homunculi were nothing new to her, after all, as were a great many supernatural phenomena. But Kazusa thought Shinichi's would be, and she had to sell it. *Maybe* Kazusa was panicked enough that a few slip-ups in her acting could be excused, and *maybe* she'd built up enough of a reputation as impassive and ice-cold that she could get away with no reaction at all. But it wasn't worth the risk.

Her reaction to the list, however, was nothing short of genuine. She knew the Homunculus to be a detestable thing, with its conduct towards her and others standing as proof of that, but to go so far as to stalk and kill... It left her looking down at the table, fingers locking as she tried to steady the onslaught of thoughts that flooded her mind. Her hands tensed, as did her jaw, and Katsuko attempted to provide some semblance of steadiness to her mind. But the Homunculus wanted her dead, and had the means to do so.

She was silent for several agonisingly long seconds, then looked back up at Kazusa.
"...Say I believe you. If we can't call the police, what do we do about this?"
Not that she would have called them, but she had to act like they were an option.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko was surprised people heard about that. Kazusa looks up from her mug without lifting her head. "It's Shujin. You know how gossip gets around there."

''She'' does. She used to spread it.

And even if she hadn't heard, somehow, she could've ''guessed'' that something happened anyway. How else would she be on that list?

Kazusa might be extremely hypervigilant, but she's not watching ''Katsuko'' so closely in particular. She's also still abit in shock, so maybe she won't pick up on everything.

But she wouldn't blame Katsuko for being out of sorts. ''She's'' still out of sorts.

"... we can't call the police because there's no way to provide them with evidence." Well, they know where the evidence ''is'', but... how would they explain how they found it? "... and because the thing controlling him ''isn't'' Shinichi Nagisa," she says firmly.

"... Some people I know are handling it. I wish I could say more, but..." She shakes her head. Better not to give Katsuko, who is definitely not Awakened, any more information than she has to. She looks up ot Katsuko again. "What ''you'' can do is watch your back. Don't let yourself be alone with him, and be careful of anybody trying to tail you."

If only Kazusa could take her own advice--she still has to go to class and sit in the same room as him. She's trying to hold herself together, but her expression still looks deeply troubled.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko did, unfortunately, know all about how those rumours spread. She'd kept her ear to the ground to try and hear about any useful ones, after all, and there'd been talk of her using them to nudge someone into doing as she willed. But that was talk for another time, and for a person she trusted far more than she did Kazusa.
"I don't know if I fully believe all of this." Katsuko said eventually, doing her level best to appear as though she was some helpless, troubled, civilian, instead of Grim's civilian identity. "But this is serious, isn't it?"

She went quiet again, but not just to sell the illusion. She needed to think. She needed to weigh her options, assess what she could and could not do, who could help her... It was all so much to consider, and she didn't even have the comfort of knowing that she could rely on supernatural forces for protection. She was unbearably human, and all too vulnerable to the whims of something that had no regard for the things that held humans back.
"I'll do what I can. Just.. make sure your people get it done. Please."

There was only so much she could do, of course. There were precious few people Katsuko - rather than Grim - thought she could rely on, and none that knew of the mask she wore. Her options for protection were slim at best, and the Homunculus had already proved its physical capabilities. She was, as much as she hated to admit it, a sitting duck. But she'd never admit that much out loud, much less to Kazusa. Something odd struck her when she looked and saw just what the situation did to Kazusa, however, and stopped any trains of thought dead in their tracks. The sight alone was enough to cause discomfort to her, twisting her stomach in knots and sapping the colour from her face. Katsuko paused, considering her response carefully, then lowered her voice to something that - for a woman of her repute - was strangely kind.

"And let me know if you need someone to watch your back as well."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa cna't really fault KAtsuko for not being trusted. She hasn't proven to be a really trustworthy person in the past, even if she's trying now.

Katsuko doesn't fully believe this. "... yeah, that's... fair," Kazusa coneeds. "I..." She looks a bit uncomfortable as she admits that. She ''knows'' how insane it all sounds. "I know it sounds crazy. I wouldn't even be saying this much if I didn't think-- if I didn't think it was necessary, to keep you from getting hurt."

Or worse.

Katsuko says she'll do what she can and... that's all Kazusa can hope for, at this point. She nods. "We're working on it. I'll... let you know when things are safe."

It takes her a moment to respond to Katsuko's kindness, shaking herself out of her thoughts as she looks up. "Oh, um. Thanks. But I've got people looking out for me."

It was only a partial truth. She ''could'' hjave her brother playing bodyguard for her, but... she had Kazuhiro looking out for Wakana instead.

Deep breath. "Alright, well. That was the important thing I had to tell you." Kazusa reached into her backpack and pulled out a small USB drive and slid it across the table. "Everything you asked me to look at checked out as far as I could tell. But I noticed one of our EULAs had a significant update in the timeframe you asked me to look at."

She nods to the thumb drive. "So I thought I'd bring it to your attention."

What Katsuko will find, later, is a couple of PDFs, with the differences between them highlighted for ease of reference.

Te EULA has to do with one line of Motojima Corporation's smart TVs, and the biggest changd section has to do with data collection.

"... I don't know if it's what you''re after, but it was a pretty significant update. Hope it helps."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa had people looking out for her. Katsuko supposed she shouldn't have been surprised by that - the sheer number of people that had mounted an assault on her Atelier alone should have told her that there were at least a few people willing to extend an olive branch out to her. But when it was juxtaposed against her own solitary nature, Katsuko couldn't help but consider how strange it felt to hear it. She did her best not to show it, but those with sharp enough eyes might have seen the muscles in her cheeks tighten, or her gaze dart away just a little.

"If you say so. Offer's still on the table, though." She said, before taking something else that was on the table. She turned the thing over, clutching it lightly between two fingers, before stowing it safely into her bag. One of the inner pockets, with a zip for extra security. "...Changes to the EULA? But that's the same as-" Katsuko cut herself off before she could expound on the point. For all she knew, it could have just been a clarifications of previous points, or tweaks to account for changes in the law. It wouldn't do to get too excited now.

Regardless, Kazusa had fulfilled her end of the bargain, and Katsuko nodded.
"Thank you. I'll look into this as soon as I can." She said, sounding as genuinely grateful as the human incarnation of a glacier could. With their business concluded, she drew her coffee and her book back in, then looked to Kazusa's own coffee. "I know this isn't part of the agreement, but let me treat you if you come here again. It's the least I can do for you warning me."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
As Kazusa recently reminded Kasumi--she barely knew most of the people who showed up to fight in her Atelier. Many of them were people she had interacted with at one point or another, but almost none of them she'd consider a ''friend''.

Kazusa might be being a bit self-sacrificial here, but her words weren't entirely untruthful, at least.

"I'll remember that," she says of the offer.

For all she might not catch all of KAtsuko's physical cues, she ''does'' catch the auditory one. "Changes in what?" she asks, eyebrow arched.

But she lets it go readily enough.

She pulls her own latte and cake towards herself, getting ready to move to another table. "Hope it helps. If you tell me more of what you're looking for, it'll help me refine my search." But then there's an offer, and Kazusa pauses. "... I'll think about it. Thanks."

And with that she'll give Katsuko some space while she finishes, and then leave quickly thereafter.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-28: Forewarned is Forearmed

2026-09-27T23:53:08Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: Forewarned is Forearmed'''
*'''Cast:''' <Who is involved. Format each character like this: [[Character Name]]>
*'''Where:''' <The location(s) the log occurs in.>
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-28
*'''IC Date:''' Thu Jan 10 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa has two vital pieces of information that need to be relayed to Katsuko, but Shujin's ears have walls. The two meet to talk over coffee, and a deadly revelation is brought to light...''

----

(|============================= Kichijoji - Main =============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Kichijoji ====-
When people list their most desirable places to live in Tokyo, Kichijoji nearly
always tops the list. Minutes away from scenic Inokashira park, the district
itself feels warm and inviting with its billboard of a chibi mascot happily
dining at the entrance to Sanpo Road, the main thoroughfare.

People line up here for a quick lunch with quality street food and''or finer
dining at the cafes alike, while shuttered alleys light up at night with open
air bars and izakayas. Entertainment is easy enough to find here, as businesses
eschew aggressive barkers for more welcoming signs, drawing people in. More
discerning customers know exactly where to look for some of the more hidden gems
among the clubs of Tokyo.

Even the monks outside the local Buddhist temple seem part of the experience,
offering people the opportunity for quiet meditation away from the rat race of
daily life.
(|============================================================================|)

OST: The Fragrance of Dark Jazz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMnrl0tmd3k

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Far past the glitz and glamour of Kichijoji's more high-end eateries, behind the apartments and houses of well-to-do inhabitants, and nestled into a maze of winding streets and dimly-lit backalleys, lay a simple, wooden, door. Stained a dark shade that left it closer to black than ebony, with well-polished fittings that granted it a contrast in silver, it was a rather unassuming place. The sign above it - a simple one with a silhouette of a black cat etched into its surface - did little to rectify this. Its creaking in the breeze was likely to draw more attention than the place's aesthetics.

The inside was afar cry from the brick walls and blackened door, however. Four walls in stone grey stood above an oaken floor, with framed pieces of contemporary art arranged neatly upon it in evenly-spaced intervals. The furniture followed a similar style. Wrought from oak and topped with dark fabric, the chairs and stools seemed as old as the frost-haired man standing dutifully behind the counter, polishing mugs and tending to the occasional brew. No doubt they all held a story, but the scattered few patrons there seemed to have little interest in asking about them. Or in talking in general, it seemed. Students and salarymen alike sipped idly on coffee and took bites out of whatever pastry was on offer that day, but none regarded the other's presence, wishing simply to tend to their own businesses.

It was in the corner that Katsuko waited. To her right was a mug of steaming coffee. Mixed into a tasteful shade of brown, foam popped and bubbled at its surface, while thin wisps of steam drifted past the rim. To her left was an opened copy of Daughters of Foxes - an obscure period drama with two female leads, each of whom were *remarkably* close with each other for a book written in the eighties. She waited, reading and sipping slowly, occasionally glancing at her phone in anticipation of a certain someone's arrival...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa was still feeling rattled and a bit upset from what had taken place only a few days before. The very last day of Winter Break had been a horrifying discovery.

She was on a serial killer's list. And so was Katsuko Yoshinagi. They weren't exactly ''friends'', really. More like business partners. Katsuko needed something from her, and had offered something valuable to Kazusa in exchange.

... But this went beyond that arrangement.

Kazusa stepped into the small cafe, eyes scanning the place. She was still in her Shujin uniform, with black tights to counteract the winter chill. She spotted Katsuko right away, but went to the counter first to place her own order.

She eventually sat down with with a latte topped with some simple latte art and a slice of handmade cake. And of course, she immediately pulled out her phone to snap a photo. "... not the worst latte art I've ever seen," she commented. "The place has a good vibe."

She's mostly talking to fill in space while her brain tries to figure out how she's even going to broach this topic.

She doesn't pay any attention to Katsuko's book.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The barista - and the owner, as it happened - regarded Kazusa with a still and unassuming gaze. His responses were short and functional, usually spanning no more than a handful of words, but his actions spoke far louder anyway. His was an expertise honed by practice and experience, and though the art in the cup was simple, the smell that rose up from beneath it was divine. Warm and rich, but not so much that it overpowered the senses, it was a masterclass in careful brewing.

Katsuko had even less to say. She shipped quietly on her own drink while she waited for Kazusa to speak, watching with cold and expectant eyes. She made no noise, with the slight clink of the mug being replaced on its saucer the loudest one she made. Tempted as she was to simply ask Kazusa what was so urgent that they had to speak outside of school, however, she saw little point in being rude. If it was something to do with their agreement, Katsuko supposed it could've been discussed over text, or at school - the fact that neither option had been taken left Katusko curious indeed.

"It's one of my favourites." Katsuko eventually said, taking a sip of her coffee as if to demonstrate. "It's quiet here, and the owner takes great care with every drink." That was about as much of the niceties as Katsuko could stand before shutting her book, however. A quiet thud filled the air between them when she did so, and her attention went solely to Kazusa. "So what did you need from me?"

The cover, for those that cared to look, depicted two women at each other's sides, surrounded by leering figures dressed in the garb of feudal lords. They were close - very close. Surely the artist just meant to depict them as stalwart allies and friends.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
The silent bartender type. Kazusa isn't afraid to be exacting with her orders, (though being an outright Karen sometimes is also one of those things she's trying hard to unlearn.)

She doesn't post the photo right away--she ''so'' does not want to give anybody a live update on her position right now--but she does take a sip, taking a moment to sit with the flavor. "... Mmm." Quietly she mutters. "... the art isn't worth it but he could probably charge more for just the brew and still make a profit."

That's surely all the artist intended, and there's nothing deeper to read into the cover.

Having run out of her own pleasantries, Kazusa's almost neutral expression settles into a stern frown. "... Actually," she said, keeping her voice low. "... it's less that I need something from you, and more that I have something for you. Information, as per our agreement."

"But," she was quick to add. "It comes with some conditions. I have other information for you that isn't part of the agreement, and agreeing to my conditions is the price to get all of it."

Does this count as changing their deal? Yes, it does. But this isn't Kazusa being capricious. Her gaze is serious and steady.

... but there's an undercurrent of fear, too, perhaps most easily recognized with the way she keeps glancing over her shoulder towards the window or entrance to make sure nobody is observing them.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Information, but with a catch. Katsuko's expression hardened at that reveal, and she pushed her things to one side to make it clear that she was listening. The fact that she was willing to risk letting such a brew go even a degree past its most optimal temperature should have spoken volumes on just how important it all was to her, though the way she inclined her head - and then the rest of her body - just an inch forward might have served to highlight the fact as well.

"Then tell me the conditions." Katsuko said flatly. Her expression had dropped from something neutral and polite to something noticeably colder and harder. Her features were like the jagged edge of a glacier - cold, hard, and unyielding, she regarded Kazusa with sharp eyes that noted every twitch and shift in expression. It should have been no surprise, then, that she noticed Kazusa glancing to one side. Curious, she peered in the same direction, and then back to Kazusa once certain nobody was there. "...Are you afraid someone'll overhear us? Nobody here cares about what anyone else has to say. They won't even look at you unless someone's life is in danger."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa isn't in a position to appreciate the intricacies of Katsuko setting her brew aside--she's got too much going on in her own head at the moment to worry about it.

Back from her latest glance she looks down at her mug, huffing quietly. "I'm worried about being ''followed''." She looks up, her expression still serious. "... you made sure you weren't followed, right?"

She takes a deep breath to try and steel herself, hands gripping her mug. "Alright. Here's the conditions. You can't ask where I got this information. You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Actually, she's a little bit worried Katsuko ''might'' believe the story, and it's for that and other reasons that leads into next condition. "Second, you can't take any of what I'm about to tell you to the police."

"... but if you can agree to both of those conditions, I promise I ''do'' have something that might be of interest to you."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
"Of course I made sure. I don't need anyone else but us knowing what we talk about." Katsuko said, making an effort to keep her tone reassuring - or, at the very least, flat and inoffensive. She was very slightly insulted that Kazusa even had to ask, but it wasn't loud nor prominent enough to manifest itself as anything more than a stray thought. Nevertheless, Kazusa's cautiousness left Katsuko intrigued. Something seemed to have rattled her bad enough to leave her glancing around, and if she was being allowed the privilege of knowing what it was...

"Must be serious." Katsuko said tersely. It was stating the obvious, but if it conveyed to Kazusa that Katsuko understood the severity of the situation - if not its details - then all the better. "Alright. I agree. Whatever you say here, stays here."
Akihiko Sanada has disconnected.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa nods, as Katsuko says she made sure not to be followed. She's extremely worreid and on-edge, but she's pretty sure Katsuko isn't the type to take her own security lightly. "... okay. Good."

She doesn't ''mean'' any insult, of course, but maybe Katsuko will understand once Kazusa explains.

"It is." Serious. But Katsuko agrees, and Kazusa nods, taking a deep brath. "... okay."

Even having gotten Katsuko's agreement, she's aware it still sounds, frankly, kind of insane. She leans in and drops her voice. "... something has taken control of a second-year student named Shinichi Nagisa. I know you've had a run-in with him recently, just before Winter Break." She wouldn't even ''say'' his name--because this isn't Shinichi's fault, and she wants to cause as little problems for him when he's freed as possible, but...

... if she ''doesn't'' say the name, Katsuko might not be fully informed of the danger. Shinichi could approach her and strike, if she doesn't know to avoid him.

Kazusa doesn't know that Katsuko is capable of sensing the Homunculus. It would be a lot easier to explain, if she did.

Sorry, Shinichi. But hopefully living with someone thinking you're a weirdo will be an easier pill to swallow than having someone's blood on your hands, if only just.

"... I know that sounds crazy, but I need to make sure you understand how serious things are. That thing is out to kill everyone who's 'wronged' him. he's..." Kazusa can't suppress a shudder. "... been stalking them. You're on that list."

She looks down at her mug. "... as am I."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Slight - almost imperceptible as it was, Katsuko flinched when Kazusa spoke of her incident with Shinichi.
"...It was naive to hope nobody would hear about that." She muttered, not caring about whether Kazusa heard or not. The cat was out of the bag now, after all. That was all she said in response, however, instead choosing to keep her counsel until Kazusa had finished. Still as a statue, and with an expression that was twice as stony, it took an active effort on her part not to give some kind of reaction the whole way through.

She took some small solace in her silence giving her time to figure out how she was to approach things. Homunculi were nothing new to her, after all, as were a great many supernatural phenomena. But Kazusa thought Shinichi's would be, and she had to sell it. *Maybe* Kazusa was panicked enough that a few slip-ups in her acting could be excused, and *maybe* she'd built up enough of a reputation as impassive and ice-cold that she could get away with no reaction at all. But it wasn't worth the risk.

Her reaction to the list, however, was nothing short of genuine. She knew the Homunculus to be a detestable thing, with its conduct towards her and others standing as proof of that, but to go so far as to stalk and kill... It left her looking down at the table, fingers locking as she tried to steady the onslaught of thoughts that flooded her mind. Her hands tensed, as did her jaw, and Katsuko attempted to provide some semblance of steadiness to her mind. But the Homunculus wanted her dead, and had the means to do so.

She was silent for several agonisingly long seconds, then looked back up at Kazusa.
"...Say I believe you. If we can't call the police, what do we do about this?"
Not that she would have called them, but she had to act like they were an option.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko was surprised people heard about that. Kazusa looks up from her mug without lifting her head. "It's Shujin. You know how gossip gets around there."

''She'' does. She used to spread it.

And even if she hadn't heard, somehow, she could've ''guessed'' that something happened anyway. How else would she be on that list?

Kazusa might be extremely hypervigilant, but she's not watching ''Katsuko'' so closely in particular. She's also still abit in shock, so maybe she won't pick up on everything.

But she wouldn't blame Katsuko for being out of sorts. ''She's'' still out of sorts.

"... we can't call the police because there's no way to provide them with evidence." Well, they know where the evidence ''is'', but... how would they explain how they found it? "... and because the thing controlling him ''isn't'' Shinichi Nagisa," she says firmly.

"... Some people I know are handling it. I wish I could say more, but..." She shakes her head. Better not to give Katsuko, who is definitely not Awakened, any more information than she has to. She looks up ot Katsuko again. "What ''you'' can do is watch your back. Don't let yourself be alone with him, and be careful of anybody trying to tail you."

If only Kazusa could take her own advice--she still has to go to class and sit in the same room as him. She's trying to hold herself together, but her expression still looks deeply troubled.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko did, unfortunately, know all about how those rumours spread. She'd kept her ear to the ground to try and hear about any useful ones, after all, and there'd been talk of her using them to nudge someone into doing as she willed. But that was talk for another time, and for a person she trusted far more than she did Kazusa.
"I don't know if I fully believe all of this." Katsuko said eventually, doing her level best to appear as though she was some helpless, troubled, civilian, instead of Grim's civilian identity. "But this is serious, isn't it?"

She went quiet again, but not just to sell the illusion. She needed to think. She needed to weigh her options, assess what she could and could not do, who could help her... It was all so much to consider, and she didn't even have the comfort of knowing that she could rely on supernatural forces for protection. She was unbearably human, and all too vulnerable to the whims of something that had no regard for the things that held humans back.
"I'll do what I can. Just.. make sure your people get it done. Please."

There was only so much she could do, of course. There were precious few people Katsuko - rather than Grim - thought she could rely on, and none that knew of the mask she wore. Her options for protection were slim at best, and the Homunculus had already proved its physical capabilities. She was, as much as she hated to admit it, a sitting duck. But she'd never admit that much out loud, much less to Kazusa. Something odd struck her when she looked and saw just what the situation did to Kazusa, however, and stopped any trains of thought dead in their tracks. The sight alone was enough to cause discomfort to her, twisting her stomach in knots and sapping the colour from her face. Katsuko paused, considering her response carefully, then lowered her voice to something that - for a woman of her repute - was strangely kind.

"And let me know if you need someone to watch your back as well."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa cna't really fault KAtsuko for not being trusted. She hasn't proven to be a really trustworthy person in the past, even if she's trying now.

Katsuko doesn't fully believe this. "... yeah, that's... fair," Kazusa coneeds. "I..." She looks a bit uncomfortable as she admits that. She ''knows'' how insane it all sounds. "I know it sounds crazy. I wouldn't even be saying this much if I didn't think-- if I didn't think it was necessary, to keep you from getting hurt."

Or worse.

Katsuko says she'll do what she can and... that's all Kazusa can hope for, at this point. She nods. "We're working on it. I'll... let you know when things are safe."

It takes her a moment to respond to Katsuko's kindness, shaking herself out of her thoughts as she looks up. "Oh, um. Thanks. But I've got people looking out for me."

It was only a partial truth. She ''could'' hjave her brother playing bodyguard for her, but... she had Kazuhiro looking out for Wakana instead.

Deep breath. "Alright, well. That was the important thing I had to tell you." Kazusa reached into her backpack and pulled out a small USB drive and slid it across the table. "Everything you asked me to look at checked out as far as I could tell. But I noticed one of our EULAs had a significant update in the timeframe you asked me to look at."

She nods to the thumb drive. "So I thought I'd bring it to your attention."

What Katsuko will find, later, is a couple of PDFs, with the differences between them highlighted for ease of reference.

Te EULA has to do with one line of Motojima Corporation's smart TVs, and the biggest changd section has to do with data collection.

"... I don't know if it's what you''re after, but it was a pretty significant update. Hope it helps."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa had people looking out for her. Katsuko supposed she shouldn't have been surprised by that - the sheer number of people that had mounted an assault on her Atelier alone should have told her that there were at least a few people willing to extend an olive branch out to her. But when it was juxtaposed against her own solitary nature, Katsuko couldn't help but consider how strange it felt to hear it. She did her best not to show it, but those with sharp enough eyes might have seen the muscles in her cheeks tighten, or her gaze dart away just a little.

"If you say so. Offer's still on the table, though." She said, before taking something else that was on the table. She turned the thing over, clutching it lightly between two fingers, before stowing it safely into her bag. One of the inner pockets, with a zip for extra security. "...Changes to the EULA? But that's the same as-" Katsuko cut herself off before she could expound on the point. For all she knew, it could have just been a clarifications of previous points, or tweaks to account for changes in the law. It wouldn't do to get too excited now.

Regardless, Kazusa had fulfilled her end of the bargain, and Katsuko nodded.
"Thank you. I'll look into this as soon as I can." She said, sounding as genuinely grateful as the human incarnation of a glacier could. With their business concluded, she drew her coffee and her book back in, then looked to Kazusa's own coffee. "I know this isn't part of the agreement, but let me treat you if you come here again. It's the least I can do for you warning me."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>
As Kazusa recently reminded Kasumi--she barely knew most of the people who showed up to fight in her Atelier. Many of them were people she had interacted with at one point or another, but almost none of them she'd consider a ''friend''.

Kazusa might be being a bit self-sacrificial here, but her words weren't entirely untruthful, at least.

"I'll remember that," she says of the offer.

For all she might not catch all of KAtsuko's physical cues, she ''does'' catch the auditory one. "Changes in what?" she asks, eyebrow arched.

But she lets it go readily enough.

She pulls her own latte and cake towards herself, getting ready to move to another table. "Hope it helps. If you tell me more of what you're looking for, it'll help me refine my search." But then there's an offer, and Kazusa pauses. "... I'll think about it. Thanks."

And with that she'll give Katsuko some space while she finishes, and then leave quickly thereafter.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-28: Forewarned is Forearmed

2026-09-27T23:51:34Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Forewarned is Forearmed''' *'''Cast:''' <Who is involved. Format each character like this: Character Name> *'''Where:''' <The location(s) the log occurs in.> *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-28 *'''IC Date:''' Thu Jan 10 2013 *'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa has two vital pieces of information that need to be relayed to Katsuko, but Shujin's ears have walls. The two meet to talk over coffee, and a deadly revelation is brought to light...'' ---- (|========================..."

*'''Log: Forewarned is Forearmed'''
*'''Cast:''' <Who is involved. Format each character like this: [[Character Name]]>
*'''Where:''' <The location(s) the log occurs in.>
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-28
*'''IC Date:''' Thu Jan 10 2013
*'''Summary:''' ''Kazusa has two vital pieces of information that need to be relayed to Katsuko, but Shujin's ears have walls. The two meet to talk over coffee, and a deadly revelation is brought to light...''

----

(|============================= Kichijoji - Main =============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Kichijoji ====-
When people list their most desirable places to live in Tokyo, Kichijoji nearly
always tops the list. Minutes away from scenic Inokashira park, the district
itself feels warm and inviting with its billboard of a chibi mascot happily
dining at the entrance to Sanpo Road, the main thoroughfare.

People line up here for a quick lunch with quality street food and''or finer
dining at the cafes alike, while shuttered alleys light up at night with open
air bars and izakayas. Entertainment is easy enough to find here, as businesses
eschew aggressive barkers for more welcoming signs, drawing people in. More
discerning customers know exactly where to look for some of the more hidden gems
among the clubs of Tokyo.

Even the monks outside the local Buddhist temple seem part of the experience,
offering people the opportunity for quiet meditation away from the rat race of
daily life.
(|============================================================================|)

OST: The Fragrance of Dark Coffee - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMnrl0tmd3k

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Far past the glitz and glamour of Kichijoji's more high-end eateries, behind the apartments and houses of well-to-do inhabitants, and nestled into a maze of winding streets and dimly-lit backalleys, lay a simple, wooden, door. Stained a dark shade that left it closer to black than ebony, with well-polished fittings that granted it a contrast in silver, it was a rather unassuming place. The sign above it - a simple one with a silhouette of a black cat etched into its surface - did little to rectify this. Its creaking in the breeze was likely to draw more attention than the place's aesthetics.

The inside was afar cry from the brick walls and blackened door, however. Four walls in stone grey stood above an oaken floor, with framed pieces of contemporary art arranged neatly upon it in evenly-spaced intervals. The furniture followed a similar style. Wrought from oak and topped with dark fabric, the chairs and stools seemed as old as the frost-haired man standing dutifully behind the counter, polishing mugs and tending to the occasional brew. No doubt they all held a story, but the scattered few patrons there seemed to have little interest in asking about them. Or in talking in general, it seemed. Students and salarymen alike sipped idly on coffee and took bites out of whatever pastry was on offer that day, but none regarded the other's presence, wishing simply to tend to their own businesses.

It was in the corner that Katsuko waited. To her right was a mug of steaming coffee. Mixed into a tasteful shade of brown, foam popped and bubbled at its surface, while thin wisps of steam drifted past the rim. To her left was an opened copy of Daughters of Foxes - an obscure period drama with two female leads, each of whom were *remarkably* close with each other for a book written in the eighties. She waited, reading and sipping slowly, occasionally glancing at her phone in anticipation of a certain someone's arrival...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Kazusa was still feeling rattled and a bit upset from what had taken place only a few days before. The very last day of Winter Break had been a horrifying discovery.

She was on a serial killer's list. And so was Katsuko Yoshinagi. They weren't exactly ''friends'', really. More like business partners. Katsuko needed something from her, and had offered something valuable to Kazusa in exchange.

... But this went beyond that arrangement.

Kazusa stepped into the small cafe, eyes scanning the place. She was still in her Shujin uniform, with black tights to counteract the winter chill. She spotted Katsuko right away, but went to the counter first to place her own order.

She eventually sat down with with a latte topped with some simple latte art and a slice of handmade cake. And of course, she immediately pulled out her phone to snap a photo. "... not the worst latte art I've ever seen," she commented. "The place has a good vibe."

She's mostly talking to fill in space while her brain tries to figure out how she's even going to broach this topic.

She doesn't pay any attention to Katsuko's book.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The barista - and the owner, as it happened - regarded Kazusa with a still and unassuming gaze. His responses were short and functional, usually spanning no more than a handful of words, but his actions spoke far louder anyway. His was an expertise honed by practice and experience, and though the art in the cup was simple, the smell that rose up from beneath it was divine. Warm and rich, but not so much that it overpowered the senses, it was a masterclass in careful brewing.

Katsuko had even less to say. She shipped quietly on her own drink while she waited for Kazusa to speak, watching with cold and expectant eyes. She made no noise, with the slight clink of the mug being replaced on its saucer the loudest one she made. Tempted as she was to simply ask Kazusa what was so urgent that they had to speak outside of school, however, she saw little point in being rude. If it was something to do with their agreement, Katsuko supposed it could've been discussed over text, or at school - the fact that neither option had been taken left Katusko curious indeed.

"It's one of my favourites." Katsuko eventually said, taking a sip of her coffee as if to demonstrate. "It's quiet here, and the owner takes great care with every drink." That was about as much of the niceties as Katsuko could stand before shutting her book, however. A quiet thud filled the air between them when she did so, and her attention went solely to Kazusa. "So what did you need from me?"

The cover, for those that cared to look, depicted two women at each other's sides, surrounded by leering figures dressed in the garb of feudal lords. They were close - very close. Surely the artist just meant to depict them as stalwart allies and friends.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

The silent bartender type. Kazusa isn't afraid to be exacting with her orders, (though being an outright Karen sometimes is also one of those things she's trying hard to unlearn.)

She doesn't post the photo right away--she ''so'' does not want to give anybody a live update on her position right now--but she does take a sip, taking a moment to sit with the flavor. "... Mmm." Quietly she mutters. "... the art isn't worth it but he could probably charge more for just the brew and still make a profit."

That's surely all the artist intended, and there's nothing deeper to read into the cover.

Having run out of her own pleasantries, Kazusa's almost neutral expression settles into a stern frown. "... Actually," she said, keeping her voice low. "... it's less that I need something from you, and more that I have something for you. Information, as per our agreement."

"But," she was quick to add. "It comes with some conditions. I have other information for you that isn't part of the agreement, and agreeing to my conditions is the price to get all of it."

Does this count as changing their deal? Yes, it does. But this isn't Kazusa being capricious. Her gaze is serious and steady.

... but there's an undercurrent of fear, too, perhaps most easily recognized with the way she keeps glancing over her shoulder towards the window or entrance to make sure nobody is observing them.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Information, but with a catch. Katsuko's expression hardened at that reveal, and she pushed her things to one side to make it clear that she was listening. The fact that she was willing to risk letting such a brew go even a degree past its most optimal temperature should have spoken volumes on just how important it all was to her, though the way she inclined her head - and then the rest of her body - just an inch forward might have served to highlight the fact as well.

"Then tell me the conditions." Katsuko said flatly. Her expression had dropped from something neutral and polite to something noticeably colder and harder. Her features were like the jagged edge of a glacier - cold, hard, and unyielding, she regarded Kazusa with sharp eyes that noted every twitch and shift in expression. It should have been no surprise, then, that she noticed Kazusa glancing to one side. Curious, she peered in the same direction, and then back to Kazusa once certain nobody was there. "...Are you afraid someone'll overhear us? Nobody here cares about what anyone else has to say. They won't even look at you unless someone's life is in danger."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Kazusa isn't in a position to appreciate the intricacies of Katsuko setting her brew aside--she's got too much going on in her own head at the moment to worry about it.

Back from her latest glance she looks down at her mug, huffing quietly. "I'm worried about being ''followed''." She looks up, her expression still serious. "... you made sure you weren't followed, right?"

She takes a deep breath to try and steel herself, hands gripping her mug. "Alright. Here's the conditions. You can't ask where I got this information. You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Actually, she's a little bit worried Katsuko ''might'' believe the story, and it's for that and other reasons that leads into next condition. "Second, you can't take any of what I'm about to tell you to the police."

"... but if you can agree to both of those conditions, I promise I ''do'' have something that might be of interest to you."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
"Of course I made sure. I don't need anyone else but us knowing what we talk about." Katsuko said, making an effort to keep her tone reassuring - or, at the very least, flat and inoffensive. She was very slightly insulted that Kazusa even had to ask, but it wasn't loud nor prominent enough to manifest itself as anything more than a stray thought. Nevertheless, Kazusa's cautiousness left Katsuko intrigued. Something seemed to have rattled her bad enough to leave her glancing around, and if she was being allowed the privilege of knowing what it was...

"Must be serious." Katsuko said tersely. It was stating the obvious, but if it conveyed to Kazusa that Katsuko understood the severity of the situation - if not its details - then all the better. "Alright. I agree. Whatever you say here, stays here."
Akihiko Sanada has disconnected.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Kazusa nods, as Katsuko says she made sure not to be followed. She's extremely worreid and on-edge, but she's pretty sure Katsuko isn't the type to take her own security lightly. "... okay. Good."

She doesn't ''mean'' any insult, of course, but maybe Katsuko will understand once Kazusa explains.

"It is." Serious. But Katsuko agrees, and Kazusa nods, taking a deep brath. "... okay."

Even having gotten Katsuko's agreement, she's aware it still sounds, frankly, kind of insane. She leans in and drops her voice. "... something has taken control of a second-year student named Shinichi Nagisa. I know you've had a run-in with him recently, just before Winter Break." She wouldn't even ''say'' his name--because this isn't Shinichi's fault, and she wants to cause as little problems for him when he's freed as possible, but...

... if she ''doesn't'' say the name, Katsuko might not be fully informed of the danger. Shinichi could approach her and strike, if she doesn't know to avoid him.

Kazusa doesn't know that Katsuko is capable of sensing the Homunculus. It would be a lot easier to explain, if she did.

Sorry, Shinichi. But hopefully living with someone thinking you're a weirdo will be an easier pill to swallow than having someone's blood on your hands, if only just.

"... I know that sounds crazy, but I need to make sure you understand how serious things are. That thing is out to kill everyone who's 'wronged' him. he's..." Kazusa can't suppress a shudder. "... been stalking them. You're on that list."

She looks down at her mug. "... as am I."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Slight - almost imperceptible as it was, Katsuko flinched when Kazusa spoke of her incident with Shinichi.
"...It was naive to hope nobody would hear about that." She muttered, not caring about whether Kazusa heard or not. The cat was out of the bag now, after all. That was all she said in response, however, instead choosing to keep her counsel until Kazusa had finished. Still as a statue, and with an expression that was twice as stony, it took an active effort on her part not to give some kind of reaction the whole way through.

She took some small solace in her silence giving her time to figure out how she was to approach things. Homunculi were nothing new to her, after all, as were a great many supernatural phenomena. But Kazusa thought Shinichi's would be, and she had to sell it. *Maybe* Kazusa was panicked enough that a few slip-ups in her acting could be excused, and *maybe* she'd built up enough of a reputation as impassive and ice-cold that she could get away with no reaction at all. But it wasn't worth the risk.

Her reaction to the list, however, was nothing short of genuine. She knew the Homunculus to be a detestable thing, with its conduct towards her and others standing as proof of that, but to go so far as to stalk and kill... It left her looking down at the table, fingers locking as she tried to steady the onslaught of thoughts that flooded her mind. Her hands tensed, as did her jaw, and Katsuko attempted to provide some semblance of steadiness to her mind. But the Homunculus wanted her dead, and had the means to do so.

She was silent for several agonisingly long seconds, then looked back up at Kazusa.
"...Say I believe you. If we can't call the police, what do we do about this?"
Not that she would have called them, but she had to act like they were an option.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Katsuko was surprised people heard about that. Kazusa looks up from her mug without lifting her head. "It's Shujin. You know how gossip gets around there."

''She'' does. She used to spread it.

And even if she hadn't heard, somehow, she could've ''guessed'' that something happened anyway. How else would she be on that list?

Kazusa might be extremely hypervigilant, but she's not watching ''Katsuko'' so closely in particular. She's also still abit in shock, so maybe she won't pick up on everything.

But she wouldn't blame Katsuko for being out of sorts. ''She's'' still out of sorts.

"... we can't call the police because there's no way to provide them with evidence." Well, they know where the evidence ''is'', but... how would they explain how they found it? "... and because the thing controlling him ''isn't'' Shinichi Nagisa," she says firmly.

"... Some people I know are handling it. I wish I could say more, but..." She shakes her head. Better not to give Katsuko, who is definitely not Awakened, any more information than she has to. She looks up ot Katsuko again. "What ''you'' can do is watch your back. Don't let yourself be alone with him, and be careful of anybody trying to tail you."

If only Kazusa could take her own advice--she still has to go to class and sit in the same room as him. She's trying to hold herself together, but her expression still looks deeply troubled.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko did, unfortunately, know all about how those rumours spread. She'd kept her ear to the ground to try and hear about any useful ones, after all, and there'd been talk of her using them to nudge someone into doing as she willed. But that was talk for another time, and for a person she trusted far more than she did Kazusa.
"I don't know if I fully believe all of this." Katsuko said eventually, doing her level best to appear as though she was some helpless, troubled, civilian, instead of Grim's civilian identity. "But this is serious, isn't it?"

She went quiet again, but not just to sell the illusion. She needed to think. She needed to weigh her options, assess what she could and could not do, who could help her... It was all so much to consider, and she didn't even have the comfort of knowing that she could rely on supernatural forces for protection. She was unbearably human, and all too vulnerable to the whims of something that had no regard for the things that held humans back.
"I'll do what I can. Just.. make sure your people get it done. Please."

There was only so much she could do, of course. There were precious few people Katsuko - rather than Grim - thought she could rely on, and none that knew of the mask she wore. Her options for protection were slim at best, and the Homunculus had already proved its physical capabilities. She was, as much as she hated to admit it, a sitting duck. But she'd never admit that much out loud, much less to Kazusa. Something odd struck her when she looked and saw just what the situation did to Kazusa, however, and stopped any trains of thought dead in their tracks. The sight alone was enough to cause discomfort to her, twisting her stomach in knots and sapping the colour from her face. Katsuko paused, considering her response carefully, then lowered her voice to something that - for a woman of her repute - was strangely kind.

"And let me know if you need someone to watch your back as well."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

Kazusa cna't really fault KAtsuko for not being trusted. She hasn't proven to be a really trustworthy person in the past, even if she's trying now.

Katsuko doesn't fully believe this. "... yeah, that's... fair," Kazusa coneeds. "I..." She looks a bit uncomfortable as she admits that. She ''knows'' how insane it all sounds. "I know it sounds crazy. I wouldn't even be saying this much if I didn't think-- if I didn't think it was necessary, to keep you from getting hurt."

Or worse.

Katsuko says she'll do what she can and... that's all Kazusa can hope for, at this point. She nods. "We're working on it. I'll... let you know when things are safe."

It takes her a moment to respond to Katsuko's kindness, shaking herself out of her thoughts as she looks up. "Oh, um. Thanks. But I've got people looking out for me."

It was only a partial truth. She ''could'' hjave her brother playing bodyguard for her, but... she had Kazuhiro looking out for Wakana instead.

Deep breath. "Alright, well. That was the important thing I had to tell you." Kazusa reached into her backpack and pulled out a small USB drive and slid it across the table. "Everything you asked me to look at checked out as far as I could tell. But I noticed one of our EULAs had a significant update in the timeframe you asked me to look at."

She nods to the thumb drive. "So I thought I'd bring it to your attention."

What Katsuko will find, later, is a couple of PDFs, with the differences between them highlighted for ease of reference.

Te EULA has to do with one line of Motojima Corporation's smart TVs, and the biggest changd section has to do with data collection.

"... I don't know if it's what you''re after, but it was a pretty significant update. Hope it helps."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Kazusa had people looking out for her. Katsuko supposed she shouldn't have been surprised by that - the sheer number of people that had mounted an assault on her Atelier alone should have told her that there were at least a few people willing to extend an olive branch out to her. But when it was juxtaposed against her own solitary nature, Katsuko couldn't help but consider how strange it felt to hear it. She did her best not to show it, but those with sharp enough eyes might have seen the muscles in her cheeks tighten, or her gaze dart away just a little.

"If you say so. Offer's still on the table, though." She said, before taking something else that was on the table. She turned the thing over, clutching it lightly between two fingers, before stowing it safely into her bag. One of the inner pockets, with a zip for extra security. "...Changes to the EULA? But that's the same as-" Katsuko cut herself off before she could expound on the point. For all she knew, it could have just been a clarifications of previous points, or tweaks to account for changes in the law. It wouldn't do to get too excited now.

Regardless, Kazusa had fulfilled her end of the bargain, and Katsuko nodded.
"Thank you. I'll look into this as soon as I can." She said, sounding as genuinely grateful as the human incarnation of a glacier could. With their business concluded, she drew her coffee and her book back in, then looked to Kazusa's own coffee. "I know this isn't part of the agreement, but let me treat you if you come here again. It's the least I can do for you warning me."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Kazusa Motojima has posed.
<poem>

As Kazusa recently reminded Kasumi--she barely knew most of the people who showed up to fight in her Atelier. Many of them were people she had interacted with at one point or another, but almost none of them she'd consider a ''friend''.

Kazusa might be being a bit self-sacrificial here, but her words weren't entirely untruthful, at least.

"I'll remember that," she says of the offer.

For all she might not catch all of KAtsuko's physical cues, she ''does'' catch the auditory one. "Changes in what?" she asks, eyebrow arched.

But she lets it go readily enough.

She pulls her own latte and cake towards herself, getting ready to move to another table. "Hope it helps. If you tell me more of what you're looking for, it'll help me refine my search." But then there's an offer, and Kazusa pauses. "... I'll think about it. Thanks."

And with that she'll give Katsuko some space while she finishes, and then leave quickly thereafter.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-22: For Both Our Sakes

2026-09-22T00:03:34Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Cutscene: For Both Our Sakes''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki *'''Where:''' Kasugayama Boys' Dorms *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-22 *'''IC Date:''' Tue Sep 22 *'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke can brook no more delays. If he is to find a place for himself and Pudding to live, there's only one person he can turn to for help.'' ---- <poem>The phone was a simple chunk of plastic. No more than a few grams, and small enough to sit comfortably in the palm of Hyousuke's hand, the..."

*'''Cutscene: For Both Our Sakes'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]]
*'''Where:''' Kasugayama Boys' Dorms
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-22
*'''IC Date:''' Tue Sep 22
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke can brook no more delays. If he is to find a place for himself and Pudding to live, there's only one person he can turn to for help.''

----

<poem>The phone was a simple chunk of plastic. No more than a few grams, and small enough to sit comfortably in the palm of Hyousuke's hand, the device was nothing remarkable. There were not even any decorations to speak of, unless one were to count the various scratches scattered across the outer shell. Yet, when Hyousuke held it before him, the thing felt as though it weighed enough to collapse his hand. Even taking it out of his pocket felt like a Herculean task, and that was to say nothing of using the thing.

It felt like a lead weight when he dragged his hand out with it clutched between his fingers. His muscles strained, and his mind raced, telling him to set the thing down and forget the call ever had to be made. There was a moment's deliberation, and he let it slide back into its confines, a slight rustle accompanying his disappointed sigh. He'd lost count of how many times the ritual had been carried out that day alone, never mind how many times he'd repeated it ever since he'd resolved to call his brother.

It would have been easy to forgo making the call. He could just ignore the man's presence, as his brother had every year he'd been forced to live with his parents. He could have just decided to forge his own path, with his own strength, and his own ambition, not relying on the help of others. He could simply put the phone away, and avoid the awkwardness of breaking the months-long silence between them with a request for help rather than reconciliation. But something kept making him pick up that phone and, against his better judgement, try and try again.

Pudding was, of course, oblivious to the effect it had on Hyousuke. He was a dog, after all. He was oblivious to a lot of things - the emotional ramifications of his presence and the effect it had on the Suzuki family's interpersonal dynamics was just the tip of the iceberg. But that did not stop him from affecting such things anyway. He wandered blithely over, padding along the dorm room's floor with his tail wagging slowly from side to side, a toy clutched between his teeth until he came to a stop at Hyousuke's feet.

He dropped the toy at Hyousuke's feet and looked up. Eyes wide and tongue lolling out, Pudding panted expectantly at his new master, gold fur gleaming in the weak sunlight filtering in through the window. Hyousuke's smile matched those pale rays when he sank to one knee in front of his pet, and it remained when he reached out to lightly brush his palm across Pudding's head.
"I know boy, I'm trying. It's just... It's hard, you know?" He said. Pudding didn't know, but he could infer that his master was not feeling well, and sought to remedy that with a series of vigorous licks and the rubbing of his head into Hyousuke's palm.

"Hey, easy now, we still haven't gone out yet. You don't want to get tired before we even get to the park, do you?"
Hyousuke laughed as he finished speaking, and ruffled Pudding's fur once more. The little dog barked once in excitement, recognising the sounds coming from Hyousuke's mouth as ones that precluded a walk, but not hearing the word outright left its excitement capped somewhat. Nevertheless, his master wanted to do something that he enjoyed very much, and he made no attempt to hide how he felt, nudging into Hyousuke’s hand and leg and panting in anticipation.

Hyousuke looked down at Pudding. Briefly, he wondered what it would be like to live in such blissful innocence. To be oblivious to the troubles of the world, and to how he was abandoned and left for dead... It was a kind of innocence, he supposed. Something worth preserving, at least in this one, singular, creature. Besides, he'd made a promise. He would take care of Pudding, come what may. No matter how much time, money, or effort he needed to expend, that dog deserved to have the kind of life that he himself had been denied.

The phone still felt heavy as he slowly tapped the numbers in. The shaking as it rang almost made him drop the thing. But he had to - if not for his sake, then for his new friend's.
</poem>

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-17: Let’s Make a Deal

2026-09-18T22:12:34Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Let’s Make a Deal''' *'''Cast:''' Katsuko Yoshinaga, Misato Fushihara *'''Where:''' Tokyo/Kichijoji *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-17 *'''IC Date:''' Fri Jan 11 2013 *'''Summary''': ''After a long and gruelling search, Katsuko finally finds the book she's been hunting for. Unfortunately, so does Misato.'' ---- (|============================= Kichijoji - Main =============================|) -========================================================= Tokyo/..."

*'''Log: Let’s Make a Deal'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Misato Fushihara]]
*'''Where:''' Tokyo/Kichijoji
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-17
*'''IC Date:''' Fri Jan 11 2013
*'''Summary''': ''After a long and gruelling search, Katsuko finally finds the book she's been hunting for. Unfortunately, so does Misato.''

----

(|============================= Kichijoji - Main =============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Kichijoji ====-
When people list their most desirable places to live in Tokyo, Kichijoji nearly
always tops the list. Minutes away from scenic Inokashira park, the district
itself feels warm and inviting with its billboard of a chibi mascot happily
dining at the entrance to Sanpo Road, the main thoroughfare.

People line up here for a quick lunch with quality street food and''or finer
dining at the cafes alike, while shuttered alleys light up at night with open
air bars and izakayas. Entertainment is easy enough to find here, as businesses
eschew aggressive barkers for more welcoming signs, drawing people in. More
discerning customers know exactly where to look for some of the more hidden gems
among the clubs of Tokyo.

Even the monks outside the local Buddhist temple seem part of the experience,
offering people the opportunity for quiet meditation away from the rat race of
daily life.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko wasn't an uncommon sight in Tokyo bookshops. She was an avid reader, after all - the shelf in her bedroom packed with political thrillers and detective novels was a testament to that, as well as the few potboilers she'd packed into her bag on account of them being cheap and seeming reasonably interesting. However, she *was* an unusual sight in the older, dustier, bookshops dotted around Tokyo. Finding them was hard enough, after all, and finding something good in them was a gamble at times. Far better was it, she reckoned, to go somewhere that she knew carried things she would be fine with reading.

However, major bookstores near her tended to carry one of three varieties of books: Classics, bestsellers, and high-profile new releases. If one wanted to find even a single entry into an obscure series from the eighties - let alone the entire collection - one had to rummage through the shelves of every store they could gain entry to. Thus, Katsuko found herself striding in through the door of some dusty little bookshop tucked away into a corner of Kichijoji that seemed almost abandoned. Few people milled through the street of even that hub of activity, and she'd have thought the store abandoned if it weren't for the older man poring idly over some paperback propped up on his desk.

Dressed in a wheat-brown longcoat over a cream turtleneck jumper, Katsuko dealt with all the normal formalities of greeting the shop's apparent owner and asking after the third instalment in the 'Daughters of Foxes' series, then proceeded to the shelves once it was clear that he didn't know whether or not he even had *any* of the books in that series present. She lamented that things wouldn't be so easy, but supposed that such was to be expected. She just hoped that nobody else had snatched it up before she had the chance...
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Tokyo is pretty far for Misato to travel on a whim, at least on a school day. Not that she has anything against a trip that conveniently takes her away from home for most of the day, but it's usually something she saves for when she needs it...

This counts though, she thinks. For today, Misato is here on a Mission. She's after a very particular book - and unfortunately for her, it's old enough that the only way to find it is by making her way store by store through second-hand bookstores. She's narrowed her search down to a few likely candidates... and her search today brings her to a certain bookstore in Kichijoji.

She stands out a little in this store - surrounded by muted tones, she practically shines like the sun in bright yellow track jacket with white accent lines down the side. A similarly yellow ribbon ties her hair back in a short ponytail.

And right now... she's holding a book on her hands, with a pleased look on her face.

She's standing in front of a very specific shelf - the same shelf hosting the bookstore's period drama section... And the cover - the cover art is unmistakable...!
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko, in stark contrast to Misato's brilliant hues, was the very epitome of neutral. Though it was underscored by grace - in part due to how she carried herself - the black tone of her long hair and the charcoal grey of her trousers did not leave her striking a particularly vibrant image. However, while she might have looked a little dull when browsing the shelves, life seemed to run through her like the shock of a lightning bolt when she caught the cover of her desired book out of the corner of her eye.

It was just a shame, then, that it was in someone else's hands.

Unable to keep a slight note of hopefulness out of her normally flat and unassuming tone, Katsuko closed the distance until Misato was at just about arm's length, and spoke to her.
"Excuse me," she said, trying to sound as neutral as humanly possible, "Are you going to buy that? I've been looking for it everywhere." Despite her best efforts, Katsuko bore a striking resemblance to a cat doing its level best to beg - or steal - food from the table. She blinked slowly, waiting for a response, eyes darting down to the book's cover every few seconds or so.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Misato's admiration of her find is broken when she hears a voice from nearby. She looks up and over to the other girl as she approaches her with a question. She hears that neutral tone... but also see that expression that fails to mask that Want.

So, someone else was on the hunt for this exact same book too, was she...?

"Everywhere? Gosh, you must be pretty determined..." Misato acknowledges. "But... yes, I am. I've been looking all over for it, too."

She taps a finger against the cover, shifting the book under one arm... as if taking it protectively under her wing to reduce temptation.

"But, goodness... I'm surprised anyone else has even ''heard'' about this series, much less went looking for it..." She comments.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
So, it wasn't idle curiosity that had drawn the stranger's eye. Katsuko had tried to assure herself that the treasure she'd sought for so long would not be snatched out from under her at the last moment, but there the stranger was, declaring that she'd been in exactly the same position. Her lips tightened a little as she began to consider what the best response was, or how she could try and weasel the book out of her grasp, but another thought began to cross Katsuko's mind as well.

"...You've read more of Nakashima's work as well?"
Rather than seem irate that the very thing she'd been searching for was about to vanish into the ether, Katsuko was simply as surprised as Misato. It didn't manifest quite so openly - her voice was level, and her expression barely changed - but it was just strong enough an emotion that anyone could have seen the change if they squinted hard enough. Katsuko blinked once, looked from the book back up to Misato, and continued on. "What did you think of the first two? I did not expect the subplot about Reina and her friend to be as intriguing as the court drama, but Nakashima is remarkably skilled to have written both so well."

Katsuko put an unusual - if still slight - amount of emphasis on the word 'friend' when speaking of the main character.
If she had a reason for doing so, she remained tight-lipped about it.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Misato watches Katsuko carefully, assessing this girl she doesn't know. What is her interest in this series? There's multiple levels of appeal to it... so which one is she drawn to? She considers that question, too, and wonders if she's planning something... but what she gets instead is a question. It's a small surprise - but Misato recovers quickly.

"I have!" She answers brightly. ...It seems that she isn't the only one surprised... it's hard to see at first, but she's fairly good at reading people. She 'hm's thoughtfully to herself as Katsuko puts forth the question. She hears the emphasis on 'friend'.

"Actually, that subplot is the reason I first started reading them..." Misato explains. "I think their friendship is quite wonderful."

She laughs, just slightly.

"I didn't expect to be so taken by the court drama, though! I find the way Reina navigates the tenuous relations between the various members of the court to be quite fascinating." She says.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko blinked slowly in response to Misato revealing the reason she'd started reading in the first place. Was it her recognising some kind of implication? A simple coincidence that she'd made that gesture when Misato had finished speaking? It was unclear just from watching, and Katsuko seemed disinclined to reveal a thing. W hat she did do clearly was acknowledge what Misato said after, nodding once - but firmly - before responding.
"She seems to have a talent for playing people against each other. Nobody ever seems to suspect that a woman of her station can be so clever, let alone deadly."

She let the statement hang in the air a little, giving it time to stew in both their minds, before continuing.
"I'm worried about Kyoko, though. Reina can't keep her out of this forever. It's only a matter of time before someone tries to get to her through Kyoko." Katsuko said it rather matter-of-factly, for someone that hadn't read more than the first two instalments. It was as if she knew more about schemes and political plays than she let on. Or maybe she just read a lot of espionage thrillers.
Either was possible.

"...Kyoko seems smart as well, though. Perhaps she has plans of her own."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Misato lets it pass without acknowledgment. If there's anything deeper to it... she isn't about to say that just yet. Instead, she considers what Katsuko says next.

"Mm-hm, mm-hm! It's fascinating, isn't it? Planting words like little seeds so that they sprout when it's most advantageous to her. It's fascinating to read back and see when she put the ideas into their heads and how long it took for them to come into play." Misato agrees. ...It's kind of dark when she puts it that way, but she still sounds as cheery as ever.

Katsuko expresses her worry for Kyoko, though, and Misato nods thoughtfully. She does catches the implication in her tone. If she got into this for the court drama and the scheming... maybe she's seen similar plots unfolding before.

"That's true, but... I think Kyoko is stronger than most people give her credit for. People underestimate her, but I think that's how she prefers it." Misato comments - and then nods. "Yes, exactly."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Dark as it was, Katsuko couldn't help but agree. Nodding again - slowly, this time, and only slightly inclining her head - she took in the rest of what Misato said, before offering her own opinion on things.
"Both of them seem to be underestimated. It makes me wonder how they'll manage to maintain their plans if they ever manage to acquire the power they seek. Once people begin to expect them, I expect things will get far more dangerous for them." Again, she let the statement hang in the air for no reason at all, before blinking and looking back at the book.

"I would need to read the next book to figure that out, of course. But it seems that's the only copy either of us have found after extensive searches." Katsuko didn't hide her displeasure at the fact. Granted, it only manifested through a minute shift in expression and tone, but it was there for any that listened closely enough. Then, she had an idea, and some semblance of light flickered into her eyes. "...Tell me. Would you open to making a deal?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
It looks like they're on the same page. Misato listens thoughtfully as Katsuko agrees with her... but also states how she expects things to play out.

"Mm-hm, mm-hm!" Misato agrees cheerily, and nods. "I'm real curious, too..."

The thought of danger, though, doesn't deter her at all.

"Yes, it's exciting, isn't it~?" Misato agrees brightly. "I don't ''mind'' a story goes completely smoothly, but it's nice to see how they react to the obstacles in their path. A character's best traits don't really come out until they've been tested, wouldn't you agree?"

...But as Katsuko says, she'd need to read the next book to figure that out.

"Of course~." Misato agrees - but doesn't seem to even consider handing it over, even when she sees that slight shift. And then... Katsuko makes a suggestion.

"A deal, hm? Now that's intriguing~..." Misato comments thoughtfully. "What are you proposing?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko was quick to make her offer, a subtle confidence creeping into her voice as she spoke. Her posture reflected it as well, straightening and solidifying a little while she made her address.
"I have a lead on the fourth volume. A reliable one at that - they're willing to hold it for me if they have it. If they have it, or if I find it, I will buy it before anyone else can, and I will lend it to you upon request. However, if you want me to lend it to you..."

Katsuko glanced down at the volume in Misato's hands.
"...I will need you to loan me the third when you are finished with it. And if you spoil anything, the deal is off." Katsuko's face remained as still as stone, while her expression was utterly impenetrable. Thus, it was nearly impossible to tell if she'd made a joke, a serious statement, or both at the same time. Regardless, she had been deadly serious about the deal. "So? What do you say? We lend each other the books, and neither of us has to go without."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko explains - she has a lead on the fourth volume... a reliable one. Misato can't hide the interest on her face. She's not going to admit it out loud - but she actually ''has'' been looking into further entries in the series, too, but hasn't found any leads on them yet.

"Oh, you have?" Misato wonders thoughtfully. She makes a show of thinking about it - and then Katsuko explains what ''she'' wants in return. And her request is... a pretty fair one, actually.

"Hm... okay! That seems pretty reasonable." Misato agrees - but then raises a finger dramatically. "But! I'm gonna to have to hold ''you'' to that, too! No spoilers under pain of death!"

She pauses, and then laughs.

"...Or, at least, I'll be ''very'' sad." She adds - and then extends a hand. "I think you've got yourself a deal, miss...?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
"Cross my heart." Katsuko solemnly promised. Again, it was difficult at best to tell if she'd joked, made a pithy response in confirmation, or both. Regardless, she didn't seem inclined to spoil Misato on the details of the story, and *was* inclined to reach a hand forward for a firm - though short - shake. "Katsuko Yoshinaga." She said, introducing herself quite plainly, but efficiently. "Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"
At the same time, Katsuko pulled out her phone, making no attempt to hide that her thumb was poised to enter a number.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Misato nods, an uncharacteristically serious expression - at least compared to her demeanor so far - crossing her face... but she can't hold it for long, because she breaks into laughter soon after. She shakes Katsuko's hand, pleased.

"Misato Fushihara! Nice to meet you~." She offers with a wink.

Her other hand is already moving to present her phone with a flourish so they can exchange numbers. If they're going to do this they'll need to be able to contact each other, after all...
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-09-08: Pets, Apartments, and Parents

2026-09-10T23:58:29Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Pets, Apartments, and Parents''' *'''Cast:''' Ren Amamiya. Hyousuke Suzuki *'''Where:''' Leblanc Cafe *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-08 *'''IC Date:''' Sun Jan 06 2013 *'''Summary''': ''Finally following up on Ren's invitation, Hyousuke pays a visit to Leblanc. The two find they've more in common than an appreciation for warm drinks and hot meals.'' ---- (|======================== Back Alleys - Leblanc Cafe ========================|) -=====================..."

*'''Log: Pets, Apartments, and Parents'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Ren Amamiya]]. [[Hyousuke Suzuki]]
*'''Where:''' Leblanc Cafe
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-09-08
*'''IC Date:''' Sun Jan 06 2013
*'''Summary''': ''Finally following up on Ren's invitation, Hyousuke pays a visit to Leblanc. The two find they've more in common than an appreciation for warm drinks and hot meals.''

----

(|======================== Back Alleys - Leblanc Cafe ========================|)
-======================================================= Tokyo/Yongen-Jaya ====-
Tucked into one of the alleyways of Yongen-Jaya is a yellow shop with a
red-painted awning and doorway, and several pot plants flourishing in a nook --
coffee&curry Leblanc, according to the lettering above the entry. Prices for the
cafe are hand-written on a chalkboard propped up on a wooden chair, while a
green welcome mat labelled 'Leblanc' calls visitors in.

Cafe Leblanc is a cosy, intimate dining affair, with three tables for groups and
several high chairs at the front counter to let visitors enjoy coffee or curry
whilst chatting with its proprietor, the stern yet deeply kind Sojiro Sakura. A
yellow pay-phone lets visitors call for anyone they might need, while several
blends of coffee are featured on the walls behind the counter, alongside a
kitchen tucked away from visitors. There's a sink and a TV on one side of the
room, near the toilet and stairs; on the other side of the room, by the
entryway, a lavish potplant and pendulum clock are further decorated by a
beautiful piece of fine Japanese art -- the woman's portrait, 'Sayuri'.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was sure that, by now, most of his peers were sitting down for some kind of exam or other. He, on the other hand, found himself everywhere but at one. Pudding had been walked earlier that morning, and with the dog worn out and more inclined to laze around than demand another play session - until it'd finished its nap, at least - Hyousuke found himself wandering around with his own thoughts, hoping to kill time until he felt inclined to go back. Hirasaka was his first choice, but as he surveyed the menu of a nearby cafe and felt a distinct hole begin to form in his stomach, he remembered an invitation that'd been extended to him some months ago.

Leblanc was a little difficult to find at first, though that could have been chalked up to Hyousuke's unfamiliarity with the area, rather than any sort of obscurity on the establishment's part. Keen-eyed observers might have noticed him bumbling aimlessly around Yongen-Jaya for no small amount of time before eventually finding the door, partly because of a need to clear his head and get some fresh air, and partly because his ability to pick his way through unfamiliar territory left a lot to be desired. He ended up where he wanted to go eventually, however, and stepped lightly into Leblanc.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Hyousuke said, gently closing the door behind him as he made his way through. The door had been unlocked, and it was roundabout lunchtime, so he assumed the place was open. But it never hurt to be sure. He glanced around the place, noting it was a touch less rough than some of the places he frequented near Kasugayama, and immediately felt a little underdressed in his plain t-shirt and 'well-loved' jeans.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Winter break is almost over. A lot has happened over vacation, both good and bad. Ren sent texts to their third-year friends--and boyfriend--wishing them luck on the college entrance exams, and has otherwise had a quiet day in. Though, by 'a quiet day in,' that really means they've been minding the cafe while Sojiro's out handling some business. The curry is on the stove, and they've gotten quite good at making coffee, so both of them are confident they'll do just fine.

They're washing dishes when Hyousuke comes in, having just said good-bye to a couple of regulars who'd also come by for a curry lunch. Thanks to that, it's pretty empty at the moment--no wonder that Hyousuke asks if anyone's home at first.

"Be right with you," they call over their shoulder as they hear the door open and the bell jangle. They finish up what they've got, rinse their hands and flick off the water, then turn around as they dry them.

"Welcome," they say mildly, wearing their usual glasses and a Leblanc apron over a V-neck white shirt and jeans. They recognize Hyousuke, and though it was some time ago, they remember that they'd encouraged him to come by at some point. "What'll it be, Suzuki-san?"

In case he needs it, they tilt their head upwards, towards the menu hanging over the cafe counter. It's mostly about different types of coffee, but there's also the curry, as Ren had mentioned before. Today there's plain and chicken curry.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
As Ren recognised him, so too did Hyousukre recognise them. It didn't manifest as much - nothing more than his brow shifting a fraction of an inch upon seeing them - but anyone sharp-eyed enough would have been able to catch the shift in his expression for the fleeting moment it was there.
"Take your time, I'm not going anywhere yet." He said, letting a gentle and joking tone thread through his words to try and keep the mood light. All the while, he ambled leisurely over to a seat at the counter, and began to mull over the menu the moment he sat down.

There was a brief lull in the conversation as Hyousuke surveyed his options, interrupted only by brief and quiet mumbles about the various options on offer. His eyes travelled slowly down, though he appeared to stop paying much attention at about the halfway mark. Before he'd reached the end, Hyousuke decided he'd made his mind up, and turned back to Ren with a polite, gentle, smile hanging on his lips.
"Chicken curry looks good. Mind if I get that with a mocha?" He didn't just know tea. He knew *more* about tea, but even he'd needed to stop by an as-yet-unnamed coffee chain for a dose of caffeine now and again.

Another brief pause on his end passed, and Hyousuke spent it dragging his gaze slowly across Leblanc's interior, soaking in the atmosphere while he had the time for it.
"Nice place you got here." He said, not quite looking at Ren, but very much talking to them. His attention seemed to be on the array of equipment and kitchenware stocked behind the counter, though even that didn't hold him for long before he drifted back to facing Ren directly. "I would've come sooner, but a lot's been happening. Been hard to find the time, you know?"

He couldn't tell Ren *quite* what, however. After all, Ren Amamiya was a perfectly ordinary student who was most certainly not supernaturally-inclined.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren does recognize that brief recognition in Hyousuke's eyes, though it hardly surprises them. The only reason he'd come to a restaurant this far afield from where he lives is if he were coming based on their recommendation. They ''had'' said they part-time here, but he could have forgotten that much, though.

They nod amiably and wait as Hyousuke seats himself and looks over the menu. During that time, they move on to drying the dishes and putting them away. By the time they finish, Hyousuke's ready to put in his order.

"Not at all. Coming right up," they reply. First, the mocha; it starts with brewing the house blend, then adding in chocolate, sugar, and milk. Ren serves that up in a cup and saucer with quiet grace, then takes a moment to head into the kitchen and come back with a plate of rice and chicken curry. "Here you go. Take your time."

Hyousuke comments on the place and then how long it'd been. "Thanks," Ren says simply to the first, and to the second, "It's like that sometimes. Vacation's a good time to catch up on things you've been meaning to do." Like, in their case, playing Drake Adventure. Not a lot of time for video games otherwise. Fortunately, as an early video game, it didn't take them long to get through.

It does strike them, though, that Hyousuke's here and not taking entrance exams. They're not sure, but they think he's a third-year like Ichika and Tsubasa. Rather than ask about that directly, though, they wonder, "You graduating soon? If you don't mind my asking."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was quick to take the cup, but slow to take the first sip. Initially, it was hesitance, born of an aversion to searing his tongue before he'd even had a chance to taste the coffee. The next was a simple desire to savour it. He blinked slowly, letting himself focus on the taste of the drink rather than anything around him. For a moment, Leblanc did not exist, save for the faint notes of curry and coffee that lingered in the air. There was no conversation with a friend of a friend, no pressures from the outside world - just him and a warm, sweet, drink.

He set the coffee down as slowly as he'd raised it to his lips, and allowed it to rest with quiet *clink* before looking back up to Ren. He didn't say anything about it - not immediately - but the polite smile he'd worn had begun to shift into something wider and more satisfied.
"You're fine. Yeah, I'm graduating soon - not gonna be in college though, if that's what you're asking." Dense as he was, Hyousuke wasn't a complete idiot. Even someone like him, whose skull was ostensibly as thick as a dam, could read between the lines once in a while.

Hyousuke took another sip, more out of a need to fill time and think of how to follow that up than anything else, before deciding that perhaps he could preemptively try and assuage any misgivings about his choices. A few people had already expressed concern, after all, and he didn't want to add to the tally.
"Figured I'd just be wasting my time since my exam scores weren't great. Not bad, just... not the kinda stuff you get into university with. Figured I'd focus on getting some work, finding a place to live, that kinda deal."

A bite of the curry came next, and he treated it in much the same way as he did the coffee. A small bite at first, testing the waters to see if it was cool enough to dig into properly. A larger spoonful followed, and he treated it with all due reverence, taking the time to assess the flavours rather than simply shovel it down his gullet.
"Man, that's good." Hyousuke remarked, once his mouth was clear. "Really hits the spot when it's this cold out too. I should've come here earlier!" He chuckled a little, then turned the conversation back around to Ren. "So what about you? What're you doing this year? Got any plans about what you're doing after?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
It's always nice to see someone enjoy a cup Ren brewed for them. They watch him savor it, hands in their apron pockets, with a slight smile. The silence while Hyousuke has his moment is thus cozy and comfortable, and when Hyousuke's smile seems more sincere after his first couple of sips, Ren shares in that satisfaction.

Hyousuke understands what Ren was getting at, and they simply nod. Nothing wrong with not going to college. Ren had always assumed that's where they were headed after high school, but now they're not so sure... Though apparently unlike Hyousuke, it's due to other circumstances rather than their grades.

So once again they simply nod. They do note how he says he'd be 'wasting his time' rather than he's 'not interested,' which has its own implications, but Ren's willing to leave that alone for the moment. "Cool. Good luck."

Hyousuke digs in, and Ren takes a moment to pull out a crossword puzzle from under the counter and work on it with a pencil stub. This isn't the one that Goro partially filled out ages ago--that one has a special spot in their room upstairs--but that doesn't stop them from mulling over the clues and filling in possible solutions while there's nothing to do.

"It really does," they remark. Curry was already a favorite food of theirs, and thanks to how good Leblanc's is, they can get away with eating it every day and never getting tired of it. Lucky for them.

Less lucky is the question Hyousuke asks back--very logical, especially in response. "I've still got a year to go before I graduate," they reply, which does not in any way answer what their post-high school plans are, considering they don't actually know. They don't even know where they're going to be for their third year. They were only supposed to live in Tokyo for one year...

But once again, that's not something they're going to go into with someone they barely know, even if he's a trusted friend of trusted friends.

"I'll probably keep part-timing for now," they conclude. It's true enough, and maybe it might help Hyousuke feel better about his own situation.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke sipped thoughtfully on the coffee as Ren spoke, taking the time to digest the answer he was given as much as he did the coffee that followed soon after. Small mouthfuls of both were the order of the day - he was willing to risk either going cool, rather than simply downing both and never getting a chance to appreciate the work that had gone into them. Ren mentioned that it was still a while until they'd graduate, but Hyousuke said nothing, simply looking forward expectantly. He waited for something a little more concrete - a dream, an ambition, even a vague idea - but settled for the answer of part-timing for the time being.

Even so, the expectant look lingers for a few seconds longer, as if he expected a followup, before falling back down to the curry. He'd hardly made much of a dent in it, but appeared to be enjoying it all the same, picking at it with a slow but consistent rhythm.
"Word of advice if you get work somewhere you gotta move to." Hyousuke eventually said. He glanced around quickly, as if looking for something - or someone - before glancing back to Ren. "Start looking for a pet-friendly apartment early. Getting into one of them's supposed be bad enough when you can sign the paperwork yourself. Finding somewhere when you've got no full-time work and you're still relying on someone else to sign for you... It's a pain in the ass."

The small laugh that followed was wry, and carried a bitter note, but it was a laugh nonetheless.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren's had dreams and ambitions, even still has some, but the ones they have now are ones they can't share to those outside The Phantoms, and the ones they had in the past... are no longer relevant. They see that expectant look of Hyousuke's, and they pretend not to.

However, when he offers his advice, they look up at him, eyebrows rising to express interest along with the attention. That look turns blank, then slightly troubled when he gives it. "That's... something I'll have to keep in mind. Thanks."

Ren had never actually considered that before, considering Morgana isn't a pet. That's absolutely something they'd have to keep in mind if they ever do get an apartment here in Tokyo. They're less worried about having to find somewhere else to live now at least, now that Sojiro has warmed up to them pretty fully after they helped Futaba leave her room, but you never know when an emergency might happen--and they still don't know what's happening to them after this year.

"You have a pet?" they wonder. They hadn't heard about that, but they also don't know much about Hyousuke beyond their last meeting and what they've seen of him when he shows up in a fight. It's a pretty big gap, but Ren's used to that. Isn't there a huge gap between how they present now and how they present as Joker, too?

Though there's something else that's even bigger there, considering that bitter laugh. "...You got someone to sign for you?" God knows it's been hard enough for Tsubasa, and might well get much worse now. Ren would hate having to find a new place to live if they had to beg ''their'' parents to sign for them.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke, of course, had no idea that Morgana was not a pet. He'd seen Mona, of course, and he'd seen the cat. But connecting the two was another matter entirely. To him, Ren was just another student with a feline friend.
"Pudding. He's a dog I adopted just before Christmas." Bitterness became barely-restrained enthusiasm when he began to speak of his pet, and while he managed to hold himself back from outright gushing about Pudding, he couldn't stop himself from showing a picture of it on his phone. Small, golden-furred, and with a face that was unusually angular for a dog that looked - in some regards - like a cross with a larger labrador or retriever, Pudding looked every bit as sweet as its namesake.

Whatever wind was in his sails was knocked right out again when it came to talking about who was signing for the apartment itself. Hyousuke scraped at the curry again, but none of it was lifted to his mouth. It was more him fidgeting than making any attempt to eat, and he pondered carefully how best to put across the situation he'd found himself in. Even if he weren't inclined to keep his own counsel, Ren was a virtual stranger. Even Hyousuke knew it to be rude to simply dump all manner of personal baggage on someone like that.

"Yeah." He began, then frowned, and started again. "No. Kind of. It's... complicated." He took another drag of the coffee. Another short delay to organise his thoughts, though by that point, he got the inkling that it was getting a little obvious. "Me and my parents, we... don't speak." Not 'don't speak a lot' or 'don't talk much.' It was a very deliberate choice on his part to say they did not speak at all. "My brother says he's willing to help, and all I gotta do is call, but we don't speak either. Not because he's an asshole, it's just that..."

He pulled a face, shrugged a little, and breathed softly out. "...It's complicated.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
"Cute name," Ren comments on Pudding. They lean over the counter to look at the offered picture, and add, "Cute dog, too."

It's nice to see Hyousuke brighten up when talking about his new dog. It's less nice to see him deflate when the topic turns back to the matter of his would-be apartment. They watch him without returning their crossword when he struggles to answer, and continues to listen quietly when he finally starts to work his way through.

He and his parents 'don't speak.' Yeah, Ren recognizes that one. They glance away slightly, hand lifting to mess with a lock of their bangs, as he goes on. "...I don't have siblings myself, so I don't fully get it, but if he offered... seems like it's a better option, at least."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Ren wasn't the only one to spot something in the other's mannerisms. That quick glance away didn't tell Hyousuke the whole situation, but it told him enough. That hand reaching up to fiddle with their hair only served to reinforce what he thought he perceived, and he set the coffee down on its saucer to commit fully to talking. Hyousuke spoke a little softer and a little more quietly - still enough to be heard clearly over whatever noise filtered in from outside, but the shift was noticeable to all but the most oblivious.

"Yeah. I think he means it, and I'm gonna talk to him for Pudding's sake, I just... need to work up to it." Hyousuke fell silent again, and willed himself not to follow it up with any questions about Ren's personal life. He knew well that they might not be willing to share, even if he sensed they were kindred spirits. It was all in vain, however, as his tongue moved faster than his mind, and he looked to Ren with a somewhat rueful expression. "You got problems with yours too?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Ren nods once when Hyousuke admits he does believe his brother, it's just a matter of working up the nerve to reach out. They can understand that too. Hopefully it'll work out better for him than it did for them. "Good luck."

Silence follows. It seems to Ren like the conversation is probably over; Hyousuke still seems fidgety, so they still keep an eye on him, but they start to return to their crossword puzzle. They haven't even put pencil to paper yet when he blurts out that question, though.

"My parents?" Ren says, raising their eyebrows at him; they already said they don't have any siblings, after all. Those eyebrows soon sink. "I guess. We don't talk either. It's not a big deal, though. They do their thing and I do mine."

It's hard to care about people you know (believe) don't care about you. Not the ''real'' you, anyway. If they're all disappointments to each other, better to not think about it. It's... just harder right now, considering they don't know what's happening to them after the end of this school year. Maybe they should ask Sojiro to talk to them for him. They're sure they'd take him more seriously anyway. On the other hand, they're not sure they like leaning on someone else to do something they know they should do themself... They scratch their head with that pencil stub. Who to ask for advice on the matter?

...Well, there's someone going through something similar himself right now, isn't there? "If you didn't have your brother to help you out, what would you do instead? Try to talk to your parents anyway? Try to get someone to talk to them for you? Or something else?" they wonder.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Though he displayed no outward reaction, Hyousuke couldn't help but feel a little perplexed at Ren's stance on things. Though he could not gauge what exactly the nature of their relationship with their parents was, he felt confident in saying it wasn't a good one. Why, then, did apathy - or what appeared to be it - colour their reactions? It was then that images of a rooftop, and the sound of a familiar counsellor's voice, both flashed into his mind, and the notion twisted into something different. The question was turned on him, and he wondered just why there was so much anger in his.

He dismissed the thought. They had given him every right to be furious. They had failed in all but the most basic, legal, requirements of their duties despite his efforts, and even that was debatable. It did not bear thinking about - certainly not now. Not when there was a conversation to resume, at least. Once more, Hyousuke found himself thrown for a loop, but it was for a different reason entirely. His lips tightened, and he stared off in a different direction, pondering what indeed he would do if he had nobody to turn to but himself.

"...Hard to say. If my brother didn't stick his neck out for me, I wouldn't even be here." It was a little cryptic of a response, but given how close Ren had come to being met with the full force of the law, they might have been able to figure it out. He sighed, scratched the back of his head with one hand, and leaned forward onto the counter with the other. "Maybe I'm just proud or stubborn or whatever the counsellor'd call it, but I sure as hell wouldn't go back to 'em. I don't want those assholes feeling like I owe them any favours. Courts couldn't care less about helping you either."

As much as he hated to tell Ren that he didn't know, or that someone in that position was up the proverbial, it looked more and more like that was the only response he could give with any degree of confidence. However, stubborn and prideful to the end, Hyousuke refused to give in, and offered something he hoped was at least a little less dismal a response.
"Could try and make it seem like it'd be a bigger problem for them if they didn't sign it. Tell 'em they can sign the papers and let me pay for everything so we can go back to not talking. Or, I dunno... find someone to crash with. A friend or something. Probably wouldn't be easy, but at least you'd have a place."

Not that he'd had either as an option, but they were the first things he thought of that at least seemed feasible.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
When Ren asks that question, something about Hyousuke's vibe... changes. Unlike the friendly aura he'd had a moment ago, now he feels a lot angrier. Maybe this is closer to his true self, given what he's like when he's fighting with his Persona. Then again, sometimes certain things just set off your anger.

"...I see. That's rough." Ren ''does'' get a pretty good picture of the situation based on that limited description. It's a good thing for Hyousuke he has a brother he can rely on in any capacity, then. Ren has a lot of people they can rely on now, but when they first came to Tokyo, it really did feel like they had nothing and no one to turn to--that they were barely tolerated by those who were supposed to take care of them.

The answer doesn't help all that much for them, though. They appreciate Hyousuke's honesty, but trying to blackmail their parents would turn out terribly, and they've already looked into crashing with friends in the past. Thinking on that, though, does remind them of Maruki's offer to put them up... They raise their gaze to the ceiling, considering this. It was a kind offer, and one that Ren isn't dismissing out of hand, but how helpful would it actually be to them if they had to move somewhere based on the location of a future job? No, it's good to have a better idea of what to do if they had to find a place all on their own.

So they look back at him. "How much does it cost to live on your own?" Hyousuke might not know yet since he's clearly still in the process of finding an apartment, but he's also clearly been doing research, so it's worth asking as long as he's here.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
It was a difficult question to answer - that much was writ clear on his face. He kept the stance he'd had when giving his previous answer to Ren, and though his voice wasn't any more settled than before, it was at least hesitant instead of just outright resigned.
"You're not gonna like this, but that's hard to say too. Doesn't look like the average place is gonna cost much if you're just renting for yourself, especially if you get it one of the cheaper areas. Could probably pull off renting on a part-time budget if the job's good enough."

He let out a breath that fell somewhere between a sigh and a grunt, manifesting his frustration as that noise so that it didn't linger in his speech.
"Problem is that I'm not on my own. And I'm guessing you won't be either." He said, assuming Morgana was Ren's, and not Leblanc's. "I've been looking around for somewhere I can actually afford with my work, but a pet jacks up the price, and everyone does it differently. Probably wouldn't be as bad if I was working full-time or something, but all I've got's some part-time stuff and whatever gigs I can get between shifts."

What he neglected to mention that his side gigs were mainly selling off Mementos goodies, raiding treasure chests out in the Dark Hour, and shaking down whatever Demons were unfortunate enough to cross his path. He couldn't say that to Ren, however, so continued on with more mundane talk.
"'Course, you get what you pay for. Part-timing'll get you an apartment, but it's basically just four walls and a sink. I'm gonna have to start figuring out what to do for a real job if I'm gonna move me and Pudding somewhere nice."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ren Amamiya has posed.
<poem>
Though Morgana is a friend and not a pet, that's going to be what any landlord assumes, even if there ''is'' somehow a Persona-using landlord out there. (There's at least one Persona User cop, so why not?) Hyousuke's assumption is thus not out of place. If it came down to it, Ren could probably let Morgana stay with someone else--maybe Haru, maybe Sojiro and Futaba--but... they've been together for so long, it just feels natural. Obviously they don't hang out every single second of every single day, and Morgana is savvy enough to work the train to get where he needs to get to if they have to part ways out in the city, but it hurts Ren's heart to think of the two of them just not living together anymore.

So when Hyousuke explains that it'd only be affordable if they were on their own and otherwise it's much more expensive and all over the place, Ren's mouth pulls to one side in a brief half-grimace. At least it sounds like doing it that way would be more or less what they've been doing up until now, but they can immediately see the ways it'd be worse: they wouldn't get a guaranteed meal a day, and who knows how close the nearest bathhouse and laundromat would be? They rub the back of their neck as they consider this.

"Thanks for being straight with me. That sounds really tough," they murmur. They'll have to continue to save their money, they guess.

Of course, they ''also'' earn a lot of money in Mementos and Palaces and so on--but that money is the team's money. That's for equipping everyone, getting medicine and other medical supplies, and so on. Dr. Takemi gives them a pretty good discount on her stuff, which is a huge help, but if they had to move away, she wouldn't be right around the corner anymore either. Things might get harder for The Phantoms too if they couldn't stay at Leblanc anymore.

...to say nothing if their parents tell them they have to return to Inaba.

"If you find any full-time jobs, let me know. I only got part-time stuff," they add. Thinking on it, Umie has a tiny-as-hell apartment in Shibuya based on a part-timer's income... Then again, they're not sure she's got the option to have pets. Maybe they'll try asking her about apartment-hunting too. It might not be an immediate concern, but from what Hyousuke's told them, it's smart to be prepared.

"'Til then--how about you tell me more about Pudding?" they suggest, as much out of a genuine desire to see more of that pup as to change to subject to something less of a downer and see Hyousuke happier too.

Once that happens, he can better enjoy his lunch, too.

...And at the bottom of the stairs, a furry ear twitches, just before Morgana silently pads back up to the attic.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-31: Hoping for the Best

2026-08-31T23:39:18Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Hoping for the Best''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Shinobu Shimizu *'''Where:''' Saihouji Shrine *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-31 *'''IC Date:''' 01 Jan 2013 *'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke and Shinobu run into each other at Saihouji Shrine in Aoba, and chat about the year to come.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed. <poem> Alya Shrine might have been one of Sumaru's bigger ones, but Hyousuke was - for better or worse - a Persona user. To go ther..."

*'''Log: Hoping for the Best'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]]
*'''Where:''' Saihouji Shrine
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-31
*'''IC Date:''' 01 Jan 2013
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke and Shinobu run into each other at Saihouji Shrine in Aoba, and chat about the year to come.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Alya Shrine might have been one of Sumaru's bigger ones, but Hyousuke was - for better or worse - a Persona user. To go there would have meant being being plagued by its ever-pervasive sense of sadness and a general ominous feeling, and while he might have tolerated it at any other time of the year, Hyousuke thought it a bad omen to start the year off that way. Thus, in his search for options, he decided to head over to Aoba, and visit the shrine there. Alas, he had to do it alone.

His friends - the ones he'd asked, at least - had plans to visit the shrine with someone else, and he didn't think it was right to invite himself along to their trip. He'd not bothered asking the rest, getting the gnawing feeling that they had other plans and closer friends - or, indeed, family - to go with, rather than him. It would have taken little effort to simply phone them up or ask them in person, but whenever his fingers hovered over his phone, some sort of pit began to carve itself into the depths of his stomach.

So it was that he found himself shuffling along with the rest of the crowds without anyone else by him. Dressed in a light, charcoal-grey jacket and a pair of well-loved jeans, it wasn't his clothing that made him stand out, but the fact that he was six feet tall with a short crop of blonde hair. At the very least, it made him easy to pick out of a crowd for anyone that, by chance, might have recognised him. He himself thought he spied someone *he* recognised on way to the shrine, but with everyone milling around so close together, he had to squint and shield his eyes just to make out any one of their features.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
If there's one thing you can count on, it's that the shrines are going to be packed during the first three days of the new year. It's pretty much unavoidable. ''Not'' going, however, isn't an option either. Shinobu needs all the help she can get, frankly, so she sure isn't going to skip hatsumode.

There's a shrine in Hirasaka... but Shinobu is partial toward Saihouji in Aoba. The atmosphere is nice and relaxing, even when it's crowded like this.

Some people dress up, but Shinobu is as casual as ever, walking through the crowd with her hands tucked in the pocket of her winter coat.

Her first instinct is to get in and get out as quickly as she can... but as she walks, she spots a familiar face over the crowd.

He ''is'' quite easy to spot.

Shinobu draws a hand from her pockets, waving over the crowd.

"Hey, Suzuki!" Shinobu calls out, making her way through the crowd.

"'Scuse me," She asides to the people in her way, until eventually...

"Didn't expect to see you all the way out here, Suzuki. Nice to see you, though." She offers with a nod.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
As it happened, the person Hyousuke thought he'd recognised was indeed someone he recognised. Shinobu calling out to him was enough to confirm it - her coming closer and getting easier to see only served to bolster that. Hyousuke made his own way forward, awkwardly trying to shuffle between the throngs of people while giving out awkward "excuse me"s and "sorry, coming through"s to whoever was unfortunate enoguh to be in his way, and came to a slow stop when he was close enough with Shinobu to speak.

"Oh, Shimizu-san, good to see you too. Yeah, I was gonna do Alya, but that place just kinda feels weird." He couldn't quite place why, and wasn't about to deliberate while in the middle of a crowd of people that (presumably) didn't know the things he and Shinobu did. But if she'd been there, he supposed she'd know what he was talking about. "But coming here was worth the trip. It's nice out here." Even with the dreary layer of grey clouds looming overhead, the masses of people shuffling up towards the shrine for the yearly fortune, and a biting breeze stinging at the skin, the blooms that lined the well-maintained path gave the area a rather serene feeling.

"Still... It was a hell of a year, wasn't it? Doesn't look like it's gonna let up this year either..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Fortunately, it's easy to track Hyousuke's movement through the crowd. They meet in the middle, where they can finally talk face to face that much more easily. She nods as he returns her greeting.

"Alaya Shrine... Yeah, good to go with your gut on that one. If you feel that way, it's probably for a reason." She replies. She doesn't know the deal, herself... but when you're in their business long enough, you learn to listen to feelings like that.

"It is, isn't it?" She agrees with a nod. "Found this place while visiting my older sister one year, made a point of coming back ever since. It's nice. Peaceful-like, even with all these people here."

A hell of a year, though... Shinobu cracks a grin.

"Sure wise. A real rollercoaster. You told me how things were gonna go this time last year, I wouldn't believe you." She agrees. "...But, yeah. Things are only gonna ramp up further, I can tell."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"You and me both." Hyousuke said, commiserating with Shinobu as she spoke of how the events of the year were, to the uninitiated, unbelievable at best. Thumbs in his pockets and eyes forward - only occasionally shifting to Shinobu, and even then just to be polite - he began to think back on how much had happened in just the span of a handful of months. Whether it was him getting distracted by his own wistfulness, put at ease by the surrounding scenery, or simply just being in the company of someone that understood and empathised with him in a way others didn't, he spoke again, but in more detail.

"Hell, even without all the supernatural stuff, if you'd told me things'd turn out like this for me... I probably would've laughed at you." His voice was an odd thing to hear. Relief was tinged by sadness, but all was overpowered by a pensive tone that pervaded even his very features. "Got new friends, I'm doing better at school, I'm looking at places to live, even got a dog." It sounded like things were going well for him - which made it strange when the sadness in his voice turned from a quiet note to something very slightly stronger.

As for the dog, Pudding could not be present for the scene, on account of being a dog and thus unable to understand the intricacies of human society.

He had also wanted to take a nap.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu smirks. It seems they feel the same way on that account. Not that that's surprising. It's been quite the year. She does look his way every so often too, as they walk.

Her eyes linger on him longer, though, when he remarks on just how unbelievable it'd be for him, even without the supernatural. It's a rare sort of tone to hear from him - whatever he's thinking about must be pretty significant to him.

She lets out an appreciative whistle as he lets it all out, nodding thoughtfully.

"Sounds like things are looking up. Happy for you, Suzuki." She offers with a smile, and thinks about it for a moment. "Hey, if you find a place but need someone to vouch for you, let me know, alright? I'd be glad to help out."

She then considers the last point on his list.

"A dog, though, huh? That's a lot of responsibility... But that can be good for you, too. They're good friends. You can bet they'll stick by you." She comments. She loves dogs, though she doesn't have one of her own. "Tell me about this dog of yours."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
A solemn nod was the response Shinobu got in regards to the responsibility of caring for a dog. It was something he was well aware of - no few people had reminded him of it, but there was no mistaking the serious look on his face. However, Hyousuke's eyes lit up - just a little - at the prospect of talking about the dog, and he immediately launched into a slew of information that he only barely managed to organise.
"The dog? Well, his name's Pudding, since he's got fur that's about the same colour as one. I'm pretty certain he's a cross, but nobody's sure what with, since he-"

His face dropped a little, but Hyousuke still endeavoured to keep himself from looking *too* glum, or *too* serious. It wouldn't do to let his appearance slip now, of all times.
"...He was abandoned. His old owners didn't want him, and I wasn't going to give him up to a shelter or some strangers, so I... I took him in. Poor little guy got scared and lashed out so much he turned into a rumour demon, so when me and some friends got him back only for those *assholes* to tell me they left him in the forest to die, I just- I couldn't just abandon him. He was alone, and he was scared, and he just wanted someone to let him know he was gonna be alright..."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
It looks like he knew that already - that's good. When he nods, Shinobu nods back... and she smiles, as he eyes light up when she prompts him to tell her about him.

"Cute name." Shinobu remarks, when he explains that his name is pudding - but she frowns, as he continues. She can see the way his mood drops. She can't blame him, with what he tells her.

"Shit. Assholes." Shinobu spits with a grimace. "How irresponsible can you get? People like that don't deserve dogs. I'm inclined to ask if you got their names... but maybe I better not."

She shakes her head, offering him a small smile as she decides to focus on the positive.

"Still... You did the right thing. Sounds like you both found each other right when you needed each other. I'm glad for both of you." She says.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke glanced at Shinobu with a puzzled look, his brow arched just a little when he did so. Sure, Pudding gave him a companion, had spurred him on to better both himself and his living situation, and was generally a source of joy for all those around him, but what else could Hyousuke say that he'd needed from the dog?
"When we needed each other? I-" Hyousuke thought better of questioning what he needed from Pudding, deciding that it was best to simply let the matter rest and move onto other, rather pertinent, ones.

"'Course, I can't just keep him in the dorms forever. Even if I wasn't graduating in a few months, our dorms ain't fit for a pet. So I gotta find an apartment or something." He let the thought hang in the air for a moment, processing it - and giving Shinobu the chance to do the same - before continuing. "I... appreciate you willing to vouch for me, but I still gotta get someone to sign the papers and all that. I've got that one covered, I think, but it's... It's complicated. Family stuff."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
If he doesn't know the answer to that yet, then, well... it's better to give him the time to figure it out for himself. So Shinobu leaves that there, too, and listens as he continues.

"Yeah, that's true..." Shinobu comments with a frown, folding her arms in front of herself. It's rough hiding a dog for that long, she's sure - for both of them. Finding a place is the better option... but ''that'' has its complications, too. She looks his way.

...It's true. She can act as a character witness, but there are some things she can't help with and he still has a while before he can do things like that on his own. So until then...

"'Family stuff', huh..." Shinobu comments. Complicated... "...Yeah. It usually is."

She looks his way again.

"Do you wanna talk about it? Or do you, uh, wanna ''not'' talk about it?" She asks. She'll leave it up to him to decide.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Did he want to talk about it? If the look on his face was any indication, not particularly. Just thinking about it was enough to have him seem remarkably uncomfortable, unable to hide it even in such a crowded and public place. His lips were tight, his eyes were distant, his fingers twitched a little as he clutched at his pockets. But, despite all that, he sighed a little and said as much as he could bear.
"My parents are assholes and I'm glad we don't speak. But my brother, he... I dunno. We don't speak, but it's not because he's an asshole. I think."

Friends though they were, Hyousuke couldn't bring himself to say much else to Shinobu. Even dredging the memories up left him fidgeting, no matter how close people were, or how much risk there was of being seen and heard. Eager to shift gears and the conversation back to Shinobu, he forced a more pleasant look on, and faced her.
"What about you? Got any big plans for twenty-thirteen? Apart fromd ealing with, you know, everything that's been going on."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
The look says it all. He looks uncomfortable - she wouldn't blame him if he decided to drop it then and there - but he does say ''something''.

Shinobu nods in understanding.

"I see... That's rough." She offers sympathetically - and when he diverts the topic of conversation to her instead, she's glad to give him the out.

"Let's see... That's a good question." Shinobu considers thoughtfully. She's not really the 'big plans' type of person - she takes what she can get as she gets it, but...

"Well outside of ''all that''," She says with a casual wave of her hand, in regards to 'everything that's been going on', "I've been saving up for a vehicle... Figure it'll open up a lot more job opportunities if I can haul more stuff around. My bike can only carry so much stuff."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, a car or something'd help loads with that. Got a friend with one, and she seems pretty happy with it." From what he'd seen of Ichika with it, at least. He'd not seen a huge amount, but she'd certainly not seemed displeased with it. "Be good to have it for the freedom too. Being able to go wherever, do whatever, it sounds nice." From the way he spoke about it, it sounded like Hyousuke wanted one too. Robust as the various public transit options were, they had their limits.

The crowd continued to shuffle forward bit by bit, and it wasn't long until the shrine was clearly in view. Quite how long it would take for it to be their turn, Hyousuke wasn't sure of, but he figured it wouldn't be long now.
"So, what're you thinking?" He asked, more looking to make idle conversation by that point, rather than redirect away from his complicated relationship with his family. "Gonna get a van, a car, or something else?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu nods her agreement.

"Oh yeah? They're pretty useful, yeah." She remarks when he mentions that he has a friend that has one. Freedom, though... Shinobu thinks about that for a moment. It wasn't a big part of the equation for her... but she can see the appeal. If she knew more what she wanted to do, maybe she'd think about that more... She can tell he wants that, though. "Yeah, it's real nice. Just having the option... That's big."

They proceed forward, slowly but surely, as the crowd ahead of them starts to thin out.

She thinks on it for a moment as he asks her what she's thinking.

"I was thinking one of those kei trucks? More on the compact side so I can get around our roads easy, but still with plenty of room for stuff. I'd be looking to carry cargo more than people, so I don't need somethin' with a lot of seat space... Just me and room for a passenger's good enough." Shinobu explains. "Place I used to work at has one, driving it around was really nice."

The shrine itself comes into view, now.

"Oh, here we are." Shinobu says. She looks toward him. "You ready?"
BBS: New BB message (11''25) posted to 'Code' by Junes: Passives Added!
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke nodded along. He didn't seem to have much to add, not being much of a driver - or having designs for it - himself, but he recognised the wisdom in her words.
"Sounds pretty handy if you're doing all different kinds of work. Nice to have something versatile." A vehicle that was good for its utility as well as its most basic use as something to get around in. Even someone like Hyousuke could see the merit to that. However, without much else to say, he was glad when Shinobu brought up that they were close.

"Yeah. Let's get this done. Hope the gods are in a good mood today..." Hyousuke muttered the last part - as if divine beings wouldn't have been able to eavesdrop on him and Shinobu, if they so chose - and made his way forward once it was his turn. Most of it was just rote repetition, and him carrying out the motions without much thought behind them. He treated it with all the dignity it was due, if only out of the fear that not doing so would anger *something* in the cognitive realm, but he only really stopped to think when it came time for the prayer.

The gentle 'clink' of a five-yen coin heralded a deep bow, and Hyousuke took a moment to ponder just what he was supposed to ask for. Good fortune? Protection against evil? The strength to become that protection himself? Previous years had just seen superficial wishes at best, but now... Even in the privacy of his own mind, he couldn't figure it out. Hyousuke all but stumbled away from the shrine towards the disposal site for old charms, his eyes a little blank as he did so.
"I'll wait for you by the fortunes." He said, as he passed by Shinobu, before heading off that way.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah. That's what I'm thinkin'." Shinobu agrees with a nod.

She smirks at Hyousuke's quiet muttering.

"Yeah, here's hopin'." She agrees.

She approaches. She's done this many times before - it's routine for her, performing each step.

"Sure thing." Shinobu offers to Hyousuke with a nod. And when it comes time to pray, she doesn't need to wonder. It's the same thing she asks for every year.

Sure, she'll take whatever scraps of good fortune that get thrown her way... but more importantly, the happiness and safety of her sisters - and in the case of her older sister, the rest of her family, too.

That's all she needs. She jumps into danger too much to ask it for herself.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Shinobu says, eventually joining Hyousuke by the fortunes.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"You're good. Not like I was waiting long." Hyousuke said, before turning his attention back to the fortunes. He looked to it, waiting with his thumbs in his pockets again, a taut look pulled across his face. "It's just paper... The hell am I getting so worried about?" He mumbled, mostly to himself, but partly to Shinobu as well. Never mind the very real phenomenon of words having tangible effects on the real world, or the maze of tunnels and monsters formed by humanity's collective consciousness. Nor the fact that such an event was widespread and ingrained into society at large, and surely had some effect on the world beyond the veil.

Hyousuke stepped forward, and once more went through the rigmarole. Some pittance was exchange for a fortune, and the box's contents clattered around something finally shook loose.
"Thinking I might go get something to eat after this." He said, ambling slowly alongside Shinobu, as if to delay revealing his fortune just for a few seconds more. Like he was walking to the gallows, and simple conversation would preserve his life just that much longer. "Saw some stands on the way in that looked good. Want to come with?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
"Cool." Shinobu replies with a nod. She looks toward the fortunes, then, and offers him an encouraging grin.

"Try not to worry about it." She assures. "If it's ''really'' bad, you can always just put it up with the rest."

He gets a fortune - and then she does, too. She ''is'' curious about his... but she won't rush him, if he'd rather put it off. Instead, food!

"Sounds good to me." She replies with a nod, and then grins. "The food here is always super expensive, but it's too damn good to pass up."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Between Pudding and Christmas gifts, I've spent a hell of a lot this month... But I think I've still got enough for some good food." He said back, offering a grin in return. Though a little weaker, it was no less genuine. There was always enough for some good food, after all. Besides, it was a holiday - he had to celebrate at least a little. But that would come later. for now,t he fortunes took precedence. He'd paid for it now, so he might as well grab it. Even with that thought in mind, he hesitated for a moment as he gripped that small slip of paper, and unfurled it slowly.

Hyousuke stood reading it for perhaps a little longer than he should have. His expression never changed from that taut, somewhat tense, look, and his body language was all but inscrutable - though its stillness might have said something in and of itself. Slowly, he turned away from the gathered fortunes, and trod towards where the rest of them were hanging.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
"Always seems to add up around this time of year, huh." Shinobu comments. She watches as he opens his fortune - and she doesn't have to ask him what he got from the reaction.

...Maybe she won't say that she got a favorable result from hers.

"...Well, there's plenty of time to turn things around." She offers, following along.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah. I don't need to worry about it." Hyousuke said, very much appearing to worry about it, at least a little bit. "C'mon, let's get something warm. My hands still freezing from washing them off." Ramen, a drink, both... As long as it took his mind off his fortune and the cold out of his fingers, it was fine by him.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-22: A Brief Briefing

2026-08-23T17:55:24Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: A Brief Briefing''' *'''Cast:''' Katsuko Yoshinaga, Misato Fushihara *'''Where:''' Aoyama-Itchome Station *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-22 *'''IC Date:''' Sat Dec 29 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Grim announces that she needs to put a hold on her treasure hunting, drawing Magus's curiousity.'' ---- (|========================== Aoyama-Itchome Station ==========================|) -==================================================== Tokyo/Aoyama-Itchome ====- A c..."

*'''Log: A Brief Briefing'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Misato Fushihara]]
*'''Where:''' Aoyama-Itchome Station
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-22
*'''IC Date:''' Sat Dec 29 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Grim announces that she needs to put a hold on her treasure hunting, drawing Magus's curiousity.''

----

(|========================== Aoyama-Itchome Station ==========================|)
-==================================================== Tokyo/Aoyama-Itchome ====-
A crowded train station leads to sunny streets and colorful businesses, but this
is an illusion of freedom. Your perspective narrows as you continue to walk, no
matter whether you turn down the main walk or cut through the alleyways. Darker
shadows line the way, past the temptation of vending machines, as the gates and
higher walls of the building come into view.

March along with your fellow students to your destination, some few of whom
understand that society forces them to consign themselves each day to
imprisonment. The kanji for 'Shujin' in local prep school Shujin Academy means
'Utmost Excellence,' but it also sounds like the word for 'Prisoner.' That
wordplay is all too apt, concealing in plain sight the fact that you are a
prisoner here for six days a week and the majority of your waking hours...

And then you go home.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
With one final strike, the demon faded away into nothingness, leaving behind the usual fare of items. A handful of cash, some loot that one of them would no doubt sell off given how little relevance it held to either of them, and yet another piece of the map that they had been looking for. Grim stepped forward, silent as the grave, and snatched it out of the air before it even had a chance to touch a single edge against the ground. She held it aloft, turning it over in her taloned hand, inspecting it as she had with the others.

It was, in all regards, a fairly simple-looking thing. A somewhat tattered scrap of paper with some fragments of a location etched into it, the thing was all but useless on its own. Combined with the pieces they'd already amassed, however, it helped the answer to their puzzle coalesce just that little bit more. It could have proved an integral piece that would no doubt make a good bargaining chip for Grim, should it ever be needed to ensure the two's continued cooperation... which was what made it strange when she, unprompted, handed it over to Magus.

"Take it." She said tersely, stowing her short-barrelled rifle with the other hand. "I'm taking a break from treasure hunting for a while. Don't know how long, but something important's come up. Just let me know if you find anything. Losing the treasure wouldn't hurt half as much as never knowing what it was."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Tokyo is fairly far out of Magus's field. She's been expanding her reach of late, though, realising the opportunities that await her further out. ...More than that, though, she's been looking for more and more excuses to get out of the house. These hunts with Grim have been a good opportunity for that. Tracking down this treasure proves a worthwhile distraction.

Between the two of them, the demon offers little in the way of difficulty. A masterful strategy eliminates all of its options, before one final strike eliminates the demon itself. The prizes are scattered... but Grim seizes the greatest prize of the bunch, another piece of the map that's puzzled them so far.

Magus isn't about to start a fight unnecessarily. She's willing to concede and resolve herself to being more attentive next time - but it is, indeed, a surprise, that Grim hands it over without complaint.

Magus eyes her cautiously.

"...How generous of you. But where are the strings?" Magus notes. She doesn't take it right away, and it's clear that she's trying to figure out if this is part of some scheme...

...And then Grim explains that she's taking a break, and how never knowing what the treasure was would hurt more than losing it. Cautiously, Magus accepts the fragment of the map.

"...I see. Personal business?" Magus asks.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Grim let go of the map piece without a word, and without a fight either. She barely even looked at it before she strode over to poke through what remained of the loot she could take - though that didn't take long, given the lacklustre nature of it. She spoke as she began to split it, carefully calculating how much of each could be split to give them both a take-home of equal worth, excluding the potentially massive boost in wealth or power that the treasure could provide.
"Just business." She said, finally turning to Magus.

"How much do you know about Homunculi?" Grim asked, though spoke quickly enough that there wasn't time for an immediate answer without speaking over her. "I've got it on good authority that there's one around here somewhere. Doesn't seem to be around here now, but my source is never wrong about this sort of thing. It'll probably be around during the day." Grim had long since learnt of the protection her Awakening afforded her, but even so, didn't care to lay all her cards out on the table in one go. The less people knew about or suspected of her, the better.

"I can't commit to treasure hunting until that thing's dealt with, and I don't know how long that'll take."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Magus observes as Grim divides up the loot - but even on that, she needn't be too concerned. As far as she can tell, she's splitting it up evenly. She relaxes, somewhat.

'Just business', Grim says, and Magus considers that for a moment. She explains, then. Magus doesn't blame her for keeping her cards close - information can be just as dangerous as any weapon.

A Homunculus... There's one in the area, according to her source - generally around during the day...

"...I see." Magus comments. "I've heard of the term... but I've never personally encountered one."

She may need to look it up after this.

"Is it dangerous?" Magus asks.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Grim deliberated on the question for a few seconds. Her expression was, as ever, inscrutable. Impenetrable darkness and a glinting mask made it difficult to perceive anything approaching an emotion when she kept her body still. Even when she did finally deign to speak, Grim's tone remained flat and impassive, explaining the facts as she knew them with all the passion of someone reading the instructions to assemble a piece of furniture.
"No. Not if you find it in the real world." To anyone else, it would have looked like Grim had just decided to scan the area again. However, those that knew the area well might have noted how she lingered on the direction Shujin lay in.

"It's a parasite. Possesses someone and wears their body while the real them gets locked away in a supernatural space. Unless you can get in there and free them, the Homunculus breaks them down and kills them." Grim knew it was a *very* abridged version of things, but she'd not made a point of studying them in the way the Wild Hunt did. What she was unsure of, she did not elaborate on, preferring instead to make a note to study it later. What she was certain of, however, was warning against one other thing.

"Doesn't mean you can after it in the real world, though. You do that and you agitate the Homunculus - killing whoever it's possessing in the process." She crossed her arms slowly, recalling what else she knew. "Only way to beat it's to get into the person's Atelier and fight the Homunculus there."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Grim explains the situation matter-of-factly. Magus appreciates that. For a topic like this the plain, blunt approach is best - she's not against expressions of emotion, but it's better to keep things firmly in reality when you're discussing serious topics.

And right now, this sounds pretty serious.

Magus frowns thoughtfully as Grim explains. A supernatural parasite, that takes over a person and gradually consumes them... Not dangerous in the real world - but they still can't be addressed in reality without harming the host.

"...I see. How grotesque." Magus remarks. "This 'Atelier' you mentioned - I take it it's another form of supernatural space?"

She's aware of what an atelier it, but it doesn't sound like she's just talking about a workshop...

"Do you know who the victim is?" Magus asks.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Grim nodded.
"You need two things. An object that the person was attached to, and a 'lonely' place that they were attached to. Bring one to the other, and you'll be able to access it. Just go to an internet cafe with the object, and go to this site." Again, it was an abridged version. She didn't explain why each part mattered, the details, the resonance - that much she would have to leave to more learned individuals. Perhaps, if she encountered Kazusa in a supernatural space again, she could organise a meeting between her and Magus. It certainly seemed an easier option than asking her to reveal herself as a Persona user to the Wild Hunt, and have them provide an explanation.

"I'm leaving out a lot of details we don't have the time to cover. If we meet again, I'll come back with more information." Grim said, handing over a slip of paper as she did so. On it was the address needed for Ateliers - something someone else would have to elaborate on, if she chose to hunt the Homunculus down as well. "If you still want to go after that thing, then it's possessing a Shujin student called 'Shinichi Nagisa.' I don't have anything but a name, but if you find anything out, don't go after it on your own. Took a whole team of us just to clear a path to it. Took more to finally take the thing out."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Misato Fushihara has posed.
<poem>
Magus's frown deepens as Grim explains how to access an Atelier. So it's not just a matter of ascertaining the foes strengths and weaknesses - you need to learn more about the person behind it, too...
That makes things difficult. Forcing one to interact with people, digging into their true self and facing stark reality... That's not something someone can do idly.

"...How complicated." Magus comments. "But I think I understand the basics. That should be enough for the time being."

She accepts the slip of paper, taking note of the address listed on it. An phone app that accesses Palaces, and a website that accesses Ateliers... Magus wonders if there's any connection, there. Those are human creations.

"'Shinichi Nagisa'..." Magus repeats, glancing around. They're not far from Shujin now, aren't they?

"So you've faced one before? ...Very well. I'll be cautious." Magus replies. "It's foolish to pick a fight you can't win."

So many people just to take down one enemy... These Homunculi must be foes of great strength.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
"...One more thing."
Grim hesitated before she left. There were scant few minutes left to the Dark Hour, but enough that she could turn back to Magus and deliver one last word of warning. "If you do see Nagisa, it's not him. However he acts, it's the parasite seizing his mind and piloting his body. Remember that for when he's free of its influence." With that, Grim said her goodbyes, and vanished into the night. She found it a pity that she could not peer behind Magus's mask. Being able to coordinate with a reliable ally like her would help to no end.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-23: Welcome to Your New Life, Pudding

2026-08-23T16:58:49Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Welcome to Your New Life, Pudding''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ririka Kawase, Fuuka Yamagishi, Hitomi Mandai, Moriko Kumamoto, Akihiko Sanada *'''Where:''' A park near Gekkoukan High School *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-23 *'''IC Date:''' Sat, Dec 29 2012 *'''Summary''': ''With the case of the rumour demon attacking people in the night solved, and the dog's (previous) owners found, Hyousuke introduces it to those involved with helping it.'..."

*'''Log: Welcome to Your New Life, Pudding'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], [[Hitomi Mandai]], [[Moriko Kumamoto]], [[Akihiko Sanada]]
*'''Where:''' A park near Gekkoukan High School
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-23
*'''IC Date:''' Sat, Dec 29 2012
*'''Summary''': ''With the case of the rumour demon attacking people in the night solved, and the dog's (previous) owners found, Hyousuke introduces it to those involved with helping it.''

----

(|======================== Port Island Station - Main ========================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City''Tatsumi Port Island ====-
A sunny arrival greets people who ride the monorail to the artificial island
every day, as once off the platform, Port Island Station is open-air, allowing
the sea breeze to spread throughout it. Columns slice a diagonal towards a
curved wall that makes the station take on an amphitheater type appearance.

A vendor at Rafflesia makes the enticing offer of flowers for decorations and
gifts to your sweetheart alike, while Screen Shot Cinema presents matinee
pricing for students getting away from the stress of school and wanting to catch
the latest releases. Police dot the place, stopping people before they might
make a wrong turn towards certain alleys. Of course, you wouldn't know anything
about going to places like that, now would you?
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
December weather was rarely pleasant - at least in the traditional sense - and that Saturday was no different. The sky was a dreary shade of grey, overcast and letting only faint streaks of cold light pass through. The wind, though gentle for the most part, picked up in cold and biting gusts, stabbing at the skin like knives. The temperature was, at least, manageable enough that Hyousuke didn't feel compelled to wear anything more than a light jacket and jeans. Then again, he'd not worn anything heavier than a beanie that year, so perhaps it was just him.

The dog that pottered along beside him - or, indeed, ahead of him, when something particularly interesting was detected - did not seem to be particularly aware of the cold either. Whether it was the coat of short and golden fur that hung off its body, it just being naturally resistant, or simply it having worked up some heat after trotting along beside him on the way to a park near Gekkoukan, he could not say. He doubted the dog would have much to say on it either, but he still glanced down at it as if he would get one.

"Not far now." He said, receiving a glance back in response. The dog looked at him with those round, shining eyes, then turned its head back to the path ahead, clearly not understanding a word of what had just been said. Its face was a little odd, if going by the standards of standard breeds. Its ears were an odd middle ground between rounded and sharp, while its features below were more angular than one might have expected from a golden-furred breed. The same could be said of its stature, it being small but well-proportioned.

It wasn't long before the two rounded a path and came to large, empty, stretch of grass. Somewhere perfect to play around the the dog, though a smattering of benches were nearby for those who wished to sit. The dog did not wish to sit. A stick was clutched between its teeth, and it jabbed its snout incessantly into Hyousuke, barking sharply past it to try and initiate something less boring than standing around.
"Hey, easy now. We can play all you like once we're done introducing you, got it?"
The dog barked. It had heard 'play,' but that was about *all* it had heard.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka had been concerned about the dog they had helped Hyousuke rescue, though she'd been hoping that Hyousuke would be able to find the owner. Getting a text from Hyousuke to come meet for an update, though, had left her hoping it was good news...

But she frowns a little in worry as she arrives to the meeting spot to see the dog. She's bundled up, jacket, jeans, sneakers, hat and scarf. "Hey there, remember me?" she asks of the dog, kneeling down and offering a freshly de-mittened hand. She looks up to Hyousuke next. "Hey, Suzuki-san. Still no luck finding the owner?" she asks with a note of worry.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke had texted everyone asking to meet up. Fuuka can't help but be curious about what's come up... She agreed, of course - and so, arrived ahead of time at the park they agreed to meet at.

And so, she's seated patiently on a bench. She's in her favorite winter wear - a black turtleneck sweater alongside a forest green capelet and matching skirt with three layers.

She looks up as she hears the barking of the dog - and spots Hyousuke currently in the middle of arguing with it. She looks between the two of them and gasps in understanding, popping up from the bench and hurrying over to the two of them.

"Suzuki-san! Is that...?" Fuuka asks. The way Ririka speaks of the dog practically confirms it - and with a smile, Fuuka offers her hand to the dog, too.

"You look great!" Fuuka praises - though her mood turns somewhat downward, as Ririka asks about the owners. So they haven't been found yet...?
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Local Schoolgirl in "Suspiciously Good Mood"
Authorities Vow Investigation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eu3q-wOJjQo

Hitomi Mandai didn't go home for the winter break, or at least, not to stay. As such, the welcoming invitation from Suzuki got a promptish 'I'm in!' from Hitomi.

The cold doesn't bother her, although she is warmly dressed. Her habitual leggings, yes, along with a skirt, but over most of it is a wine-red cloth coat, which was a pretty popular design at Un*qlo last year. It still fits just fine, and that's just ducky. If anything it's a little daring, because it's a ''guy'' cut and Hitomi's personal style trends quite femme. (She is also bigger than most of the boys. She is about an inch shorter than Akihiko, if significantly less MUSCULAR)

The big accent piece is a red silk scarf, and this is a bright vivid red, wrapped around the neck twice and trailing rakishly over one shoulder.

Hitomi's also all but skipping. She's smiling at nothing in particular. "We never kept a dog when I was a kid, but I wish we had," she comments to Suzuki. "How about you, you grow up with dogs?" But then!!

Hitomi makes a :D! face at the sight of the dog. "''Look at you'' oooh what a friendly little guy! Look at this guy, Ririka," Hitomi enthuses to Ririka, until they get to an open space. And...

"So hi, I'm Hitomi Mandai," she says unto the dog. "I'm a Scorpio, AB negative. You don't know what that means, you're a dog." Hitomi looks to Fuuka. "I'm completely hopeless here, introduce us?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko similarly alongside his SEES compatriots. He arrives in a tan suit jacket and pants, with a black turtleneck undernearth and a red woolen scarf wrapped overtop.

"Yo, Suzuki." Akihiko says casually, as he removes a hand from his packet in greeting. He chuckles a little, as he sees the dog excitedly try to play. Ririka asks the question on his mind, so there's not much else but to wait for a response. Instead, Akihiko crouches down and similarly beckons the pup over. "Here, boy. He coos gently.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
Wearing a long coat, long skirt and overall cozy vibe, Moriko's one of the later ones to arrive, mostly by dint of her having had to walk. And you know, getting side tracked. It happens. A hand goes up, greeting the gatherin as she spots the dog first, then some of the others in that 'actually recognizing who all's here" sort of way.

The headphones come down. She rubs her ears for warmth and she steps up, fishing around in her pockets as she looks down to said dog!

"Scorpio?" Moriko asks, a bit confused. "To the dog?" She adds, following up.

Still, she doesn't have any treats so she offers her hand out, palm down for the dog to sniff and maybe get pets too.

This many people will probably get it all excited!"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Hey, you guys. Glad to see you could all make it." Hyousuke gave a short wave at them with his free - and bare, in contrast to some in attendance - hand. "I want to introduce you to- Hey, watch it!"

The dog did indeed remember Ririka. The dog remembered her very well, and Hyousuke stumbled a little trying to hold it back when it bolted towards her. Keeping it just a little away from her, he let Ririka approach it on her own terms, though there was no escaping the absolute storm of licks, nuzzles, and excited barking once it *was* within reach of her. Suchw as its enthusiasm that it had even dropped its stick on the way to meet her, leaving it in the dirt, forgotten and forlorn.

Another stranger offered their hand. The dog did not know Fuuka, but it did know that she was a person with hands. People with hands usually meant attention. And attention meant pets. If there was one thing that the wagging little thing could not get enough of (besides treats), it was attention. It returned Fuuka's affection with reckless abandon, rubbing all over her hand before someone else caught its attention.

The dog stared at Hitomi with barely-blinking eyes. It listened. It waited. It panted with its tongue out and its tail whipping up a storm. It... understood nothing. But it did understand that she was paying attention to it, so really, it didn't need to know anything else. Especially when it was allowed to sniff at her. It even snoffed at her. It was a veritable storm of sniff-snoffing, and on occasion, snoff-sniffing.
"I'm sure he's thrilled to meet you." Hyousuke said, a little dryly, but smiling nonetheless. "Dunno what his blood type is or anything, but the vet was pretty sure he's a dog." He was also pretty sure that it was a dog. The dog was pretty sure there were more people it needed to demand pets from.

The dog was anything but gentle with Akihiko. The very second it was allowed, it bounded over and placed its head into Akihiko's hand, as if it were its God-given right to take pets from whoever dared to cross paths with it. Whether it remembered him or not was unclear, but Akihiko seemed friendly enough to take affections from, and that was all it seemed to care about.

Moriko unvoiced assertion was indeed correct. The dog was *very* excited. To be around that many people was excitement enough, but all of them wanting to pay attention to it at once? The little diva was positively ecstatic. It had energy to spare as it took her pets with reckless abandon, returning the affections with rubs and licks in spite of the lack of treats.

"As I was saying..." Hyousuke said, smiling a little as he shook his head. He looked back at those gathered with an expression that was markedly less energetic than the dog's. Not as tired as it had been the other day with Ichika, but the smile was weak, and his posture sagging a little. "I wanted to introduce you to this little guy. Turns out the rumour demon we were all chasing after was, well, this dog." The dog that seemed fascinated with a passing leaf, before immediately losing interest and laying at the feet of whoever was nearest, looking up expectantly.

"I... Well, me and a detective I know... we found his owners." The hesitance he gave to that simple sentiment and the note of bitterness that came with the word 'owners' was nothing short of foreboding. But if that was not picked up on, then the visible contorting of his expression might have been. His lips curled down a little, his gaze hardened, and his grip on the leash tightened just a fraction - but a fraction was enough to whiten his knuckles a touch. "Tracked 'em down to their apartment. I showed up with him, and they..."

Hyousuke paused, searching for the words. Even when he managed to string together a sentence, it didn't come out easy, and everything he said was tinged with venom.
"They didn't want him. They'd *abandoned* him. Those fuckers said they'd call the cops if I came back, and- and they-" It was a simple and blunt statement, but he could feel the poison on his tongue. The words hurt to say - just the memory of the day made bile rise in his throat. "They hadn't lost him, they'd left him in the woods to die! Those assholes, they-" He clenched his teeth and looked down, unable to finish the thought. He took a moment, but even after collecting himself, Hyousuke found himself with anger still bubbling up inside. "So now I'm looking after him. I'm... I'm sorry I couldn't give you better news than that. But I figured you guys'd want to know."

The dog looked up at him, wondering what the sudden change in tone was about. It didn't seem worried - more curious than anything else, if the tilting head was any indication.
"The vet and Igor said he'd be alright as long as someone took care of him, at least. Couldn't find anything wrong with him, just that he was tired."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka nods to Fuuka. "I got to see him really quick after we helped... rescue him. I'm glad he's in good spirits still, at least." She'll let Hyousuke explain the details further, though.

But the concern Ririka has doesn't last long in the face of Hitomi's ''skipping'' (or almost skipping). "We never had a dog growing up either," she adds. "Or any pet. Koro-cha's kind of the closest..." There's a quiet laugh. "I'm looking, I'm looking. Don't worry."

(Ririka's not used to ahving another girl around who's even taller than ''her'', but Hitomi hits that mark.)

Ririka giggles quietly as she sees the dog's excitement, and will, indeed, approach."Hey, easy there, I'm not going anywhere...And more laughs as it greets her with a storm of ''licks''. "Wh-whoa, easy there, easy!" She's not doing much to dissuade the dog, though. "Save some of that energy for everyone else!" she jokes.

She's not surprised that the rumor beast they were chasing was the dog. She'd heard that part. But she looks up with a frown as she hears Hyousuke mention that the owners wer,e in fact, found. "You did...?"

Then why...?

Ririka gasps. as Hyousuke lays out the ugly truth. "They ''what''? That's terrible! Can they even ''do'' that!?" She's about to get angry too, but she takes a deep breath. "... Wow. What a shitty move."

She stays kneeling, regarding the dog for a moment. "... Well, at least he's got you to look after him now. Do you need any help with that?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
The dog returns Fuuka's affection - and one can practically ''see'' her eyes sparkle as she lets out an adoring 'aww', giving the Good Dog the pets it so rightly deserves.

"I hope Koro-chan won't be too jealous..." Fuuka comments consideringly. Growing up with dogs...

"...We didn't have an pets growing up, either. I wanted one, but... my parents always refused." Fuuka comments with a sigh. She looks toward Hitomi, then, as she asks for introductions. It's nice to see how enthusiastic she is about meeting the dog, too.

"Well, you see..." She starts. Hyousuke does the honors, though - this dog is the true form of the rumor demon they encountered. "I thought so..."

Fuuka listens as Hyousuke continues. He and a detective he knows ''did'' find his owners, but...

They abandoned him.

Shock, horror, and disappointment crosses her face.

"That's... that's ''awful''. How could anyone do that to another living being...?" She replies, shaking her head. ...Well. Truthfully, she knows how. She doesn't want to imagine it, though. She looks back toward the dog.

"You poor thing..." She murmurs, leaning in for a quick hug. The dog, at least, seems unbothered about all this. ...It's probably for the best. Better that he not know... She pulls back, looking toward Hyousuke.

"That's a big undertaking, Suzuki-san..." Fuuka comments. "But... I'm glad someone's looking after him."

She nods, as Ririka asks if he needs any help.

"Yes, please let us know." She agrees.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"He said we were doing introductions!" Hitomi protests without much force at Moriko's comment. She then observes what Akihiko is doing, and attempts to imitate it, which in this case mostly means she ends up sitting down in a way that suggests she did not, successfully, crouch down. She *is* able to tuck her legs into something resembling a seiza.

Hitomi looks into the dog's eyes.

No thoughts. Only GOOD BOY.

She does hold out a hand. When sniffed: she smells like a human. (She showered this morning.) "I don't even know if dogs have blood types," Hitomi continues, to Hyousuke, still with good cheer. And then BUMP, he goes for the muscle (Aki baby). "Aw!"

Hitomi's ebullience is then given a single clear challenge. Hyousuke's account of the dog's former masters... who *abandoned him*?? "What the hell!" Hitomi exclaims. "Did they just get tired of this little sweetie?? Shit!" After this she says, to Akihiko specifically, "Sorry, I just -- sheesh."

Meditative silence from Hitomi as she regards yon dog.

"That has to be illegal," Hitomi half-agrees with Ririka. "Did he have tags or anything? You have to get them shots, right? Or is that just cats?"

Caretaking. "Hmm... if you need like, a leash and bowls and stuff, I'd be glad to chip in... are you alright on the food? Like, long term," Hitomi says, looking towards Hyousuke. "I actually don't know how much it costs to feed 'em, that was just kind of the reason my mom said for why we didn't have a dog."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
The dog definitely gets plenty of attention from Moriko, who's happy to crouch down if it lingers long enough to give it good ear scritches and a bit of baby talk. Because of course she would!

"That's.. pretty horrible." She mutters, trying not to let it into her voice as she pets the dog, figuring her tone would matter more than the words around the dog and not wanting to risk it thinking anything was wrong.

More or less confirmed when Hyousuke's tone gets the dog's attention.

"He might be excited to have a friend to play with. Most dogs are pretty social right?" She replies to Fuuka ,eyebrow raised briefly.

"Oh." is the simple reply to Hitomi, still maybe a little confused. "Dunno what it was though." Suggesting she's not big on those sorts of horoscopes.

"Could pitch in to try and help out. Maybe bring a few things in from the shop, I dunno what we'd have with mechanics, but..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko is glad to dote on the dog some, stritching under the chin and behing the ears. "He does seem to have endless energy." Akihiko replies to Ririka. He could probably do this all day... But the dog must greet everyone else too, so Akihiko raises back to standing and putting his hands back into his pockets.

Akihiko does remember the chase, and finding the dog at the end. So, he was abandoned... Aki leans to the side, and looks at the happy little dog. It doesn't seem to have had that big of an effect on him.

Then, Hitomi swears- and apologies to him. He lets out a laugh. "If there's any time to swear, this is a fine moment." He says with a smile.

"It's good that we found him, then." Akihiko says more seriously now, to Hyousuke. "There's a lot that goes into taking care of a dog, Suzuki-san." He opts to focus on the immidatel. He nods along with Hitomi. "Are your parents, or dorm, alright with it...?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Though both he and Ririka exercised some measure of restraint, Hyousuke's anger was still visible anger. The tells were far from subtle, but the paled knuckles and the twisting muscles in his face were a far cry from the hateful, impassioned, words he wished to sling at the dog's previous owners.
"Doesn't matter if they can or can't. I don't think I would've let him go back to owners as shitty as them anyway. He... he deserves better than that." It deserved a family and a home to go back to, and love whenever it needed it, and everything else it could possibly want.

Not whatever a family like that would give it.

Fuuka's question caused him to look down slowly. It was, ostensibly, at the dog. His eyes pointed in that direction, at least. But he seemed somehow distant, in both voice and manner.
"They said they wanted a purebreed." Hyousuke said, taking a few pets of his own from the dog, who was only too eager to return them. It was a generous overlord, after all - it did not take without giving back. "They didn't want a mutt. All they saw was a burden, so they threw him out the first chance they got. Assholes..."

It wasn't a strong enough word, though he was certainly not the only one to express himself in such a way. He looked knowing at Hitomi, sharing her distaste towards its previous 'owners,' thoguh gave no more a gesture than that while he responded.
"No tags, no chip, nothing. All we found its old collar, but the thing was too damaged to make anything out. We managed to figure out the area he was living in, but I had to ask around just to figure out where his owners... well, his old owners, were living. Even if it is illegal though, I can't do anything about it. Cops aren't gonna listen to me, and that's even if they give enough of a shit to do anything in the first place."

Whether the Sumaru Police Department's reputation preceded them in other areas of Japan, Hyousuke could not say, but he wasn't afraid to make his own opinions on them known.

"Horrible don't cover it." Hyousuke said in response to Moriko, trying to keep his tone a little lighter so as not to worry the dog. Not that the dog seemed particularly worried. overwhelmed by the affection it had received - and continued to receive - from everyone, it bounded from hand to hand, even shuffling its body into any waiting pairs it could reach. Privately, Hyousuke worried if it was going to expect this kind of treatment from now on, but supposed it was probably the least of his problems at this point. "Look at him. How the hell could you do that to him? To anyone?" There it was again - the venom. He could feel the bile, and unpleasant memories from farther back than the dog, stirring in him.

Akihiko's concerns were met with a frown, silence, and then a measured tone. It was flat, and it was restrained, like he holding himself back from expressing anything. It was far from an actual calm - more like the silence before a storm.
"The dorm's probably not alright with it, but there's probably about three teachers in Kasugayama that'll try and enforce *any* of the rules, and I'm pretty sure one of them's Ijuuin-sensei. The guys there won't snitch anyway. It's a good way to get yourself hurt, and they all like dogs too."

His neglecting to mention his parents was very much on purpose, though Akihiko's mention of them drew a slight and subtle twitch of his facial muscles. It was probably nothing, though. Just an errant gust of wind blowing dirt into his eye.

Everyone else's shared sentiment - about whether there was anything they could do to help - Hyousuke answered at the end.
"I've got food and stuff covered. I've been getting some help with what stuff to buy, and I make enough from my job and my 'jobs' to cover it." Ichika's experience with Lance had proven invaluable in picking out everything from assorted accessories to the essentials, and everything in between. Meanwhile, his job at the butler cafe alongside Ryuji had proven quite lucrative for something part-time, and his frequent midnight outings had helped to alleviate the financial stress. Yet, the way he trailed off made it clear there was soemthing else bugging him.

"Problem is finding a place that'll take pets that I can afford. And I gotta talk to someone about signing the papers... I can't talk to my folks, but there's someone that-" He couldn't even hide his consternation. Hyousuke tried, of course. He tried to play it off as the pain anyone would have with trying to find somewhere affordable to stay that wasn't a dump. But the hesitation lingered too long, his frown a little too deep, and his eyes diverted a little too much. "...It's complicated. I'll figure it out, it's just a lot to deal with on top of... everything."

The dog, living in blissful ignorance, did not know of nor understand the complex family dynamics plaguing the Suzukis. It did, however, notice that its friend was a little down, and generously bestowed affection on Hyousuke. He crouched down and pet it for its troubles, ruffling that glossy golden fur gently, before it andered back off to partake of the others once more, satisfied its job had been done. It even began to take its stick with it, dropping the thing at their feet in the hopes one of them might break way from the conversation to play. It would settle for pets, though, if its expectant look and wagging tail were any indication.

"Thinking about it though, there's something you guys probabl *could* help with." Hyousuke's tone lightened a little - just a little - and he regarded each of the people there. "I didn't bother naming him since I didn't think I was gonna keep him, but I'm sure as hell not giving him up now. So I guess I do need a name. I was thinking of something like Melonbread or Pudding because of his fur, but that's about *all* I got so far."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka hopes Koromaru won't get jealous. "W-well, we could always ask Aigis, I guess...?" Ririka suggests lightly to her fellow Navigator.

"There wasn't a tag or a chip or anything," she notes to Hitomi. "I think that's part of why it took so long to find the--" Well, 'owner' hardly seems the appropriate word now.

She nods to Akihiko. "I'm g-glad the dog is in good spirits, at least..." That's something, considering the circumstances.

They wanted a purebred. "Well that's a shitty thing to do. I can't believe they'd do that. And he's super affectionate, too."

There's some difficulty, with finding a place. She doesn't know what's going on with Hyousuke and his parents, but... There's someone, apparently. "I hope they can help, then," she offers quietly.

But the name thing comes up, and Ririka had been about to ask. "Melonbread's a mouthful... but Melon could work, as could Pudding. Those are kind of cute." Sh considers, fingers drumming on her knee. "Is there a particular food he likes?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka looks toward Moriko as she points out that Koromaru might be excited to have a friend to play with.

"That's a good point... I'm sure he could use another dog friend." She considers, then looks toward Ririka as she suggests asking Aigis. "That's a good idea, too."

She looks toward Hyousuke. She can see the anger seeping out of him - she can feel it, too. But she can also see the restraint that keeps him from lashing out.

"...I don't blame you." Fuuka replies with a shake of her head. "Even if they were his rightful owners... if they aren't willing to take responsibility, it wouldn't be safe for him."

They wanted a purebreed, he says, and Fuuka frowns. A burden...

She does feel conflicted when he mentions the police, but - he's probably right.

"It's awful." Fuuka agrees, with a shake of her head. She listens, then, as he talks about the practicals. The dorm... She can imagine how he'd have difficulties. It's rare that dorms allow dogs.

Their own situation is different, of course. Koromaru isn't a pet, but a noble member of the team.

But it seems like that won't be a problem... and he has food covered, too. But there is ''one'' thing they can help with. Names!

"Oh, 'Pudding' is really cute..." Fuuka comments thoughtfully.
Hitomi Mandai (hitomi) pages: weirdly specific question, is the dog confirmed Boy (Gender) not just Boy (Good)
Hitomi Mandai (hitomi) pages: n''m got an idea
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"Hmm... what do they call it when dogs hang out, anyway?" Hitomi muses as the prospect of hanging with Koro-chan (from the perspective of Dog-san here) comes up. Then to Moriko: "It's my sun sign. I know it's all Wang Long and everything now but these things are trends, right?"

Hitomi smiles at Akihiko, and then listens to Hyousuke's account. She frowns slowly, thoughtfully. Her brow knits for a moment. A lot to deal with...

"I bet you really wanted to beat their asses," Hitomi comments. "Glad you didn't, tho, cuz now you have someone else to worry about." Heh heh, Hitomi congratulates herself, even as she sits to be sitting sidewise on the ground, legs tucked to her left instead of her butt on her heels.

She watches the dog. She thinks. She listens.

Without looking back, she says, "You know, I almost ended going to that school. It sounds like all the guys there're gonna look out for him, huh? If you ever need to stash him for a few days, let me know, I know someone in Konan with a place."

The statement seems to trouble Hitomi subtly, despite the fact that it's already made. But before she can get too wistful or worried or otherwise spoil her high mood, they're asked to propose a name. "<Ace of Spade,>" Hitomi says immediately, in English. Or at least English-shaped words.

A full beat passes.

"Ehhehe, though Pudding's good too!" Hitomi exclaims, a little hastily. "Ace of Pudding, maybe! That sounds cool and you can go with Ace for short. Or Pudding," Hitomi concludes, "but I guess I'm wondering about his dignity. Her dignity?" Hitomi leans over more, as if she's trying to angle behind the noble dog to confirm one way or another.

Moriko Kumamoto has disconnected.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
He can understand an awkwardness around parents. For now, Akihiko focuses on the Dorm bit. He nods. Thank goodness there was a place to stay at least. "If you ever need help taking care of them, I'd be happy to help." He similarly offers. "We're taking care of a dog back at our dorm, too."

"A pack?" Akihiko replies to Hitomi, wondering about it. "I can't imagine Koromaru would have any trouble... It might be good for him to socialise." He suggests.

Akihiko nods in agreement with Pudding. And he lets out stifles a noise as Hitomi suggests ''Ace of Spades'', and desperately tries to cover herself. "For some reason, I think about white chocolate with I see him.... So, maybe ''Chocolat''." He says, offering the French word.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Ririka's mention of food got an immediate look from the dog, only for it to realise she did not have any food, and thus nothing of interest. Apart from pets. Or stick-throwing. Or, in time, its new name. Hyousuke, however, considered Ririka's question much more thoughtfully than his canine companion.
"A food he likes...? I haven't really noticed him liking anything in particular. He just kinda eats whatever I put in his bowl and then looks at me like I'm gonna give him any of the food I'm eating too. I think liked the chicken I was cooking once. Or was it the noodles? It might've been both, I think he was just hungry."

Fuuka's response draws a slight smile over his face. The situation was indeed awful, and he quite clearly had no regrets about getting the dog out of there. But hearing it from someone else - that he'd done the right thing, the law be damned - was vindicating in its own right. As was hearing that he had a good ear for names, as far as a dog's one might go.
"The law can kiss my ass if they think I'm giving him up to people that won't love him. I don't care what anyone says, I'm looking after him now. Still... that's two votes for Pudding so far." Assuming Ririka could be counted as voting for 'Pudding.'

Chicken was hardly one he was keen on - even if he'd heard of a couple of people naming their dog Beef - but Noodle didn't seem like a bad option.

"I was this close." Hyousuke confided to Hitomi, in a not-particularly-private manner. "I kinda shouted at them before I left though. Called 'em things for leaving him out there. I wanted to do more, but I don't think he would've been happy with me if I did." 'He' seemed very happy as things stood, however. Sitting down to rest with its tongue lolling out, it watched idly, now a little more settled. Only a little, however. It still took the time to poke its nose at anything interesting. "Oh, yeah, he's definitely a guy. Had the vet check it and everything. Dunno if there's anything we can do about his dignity, but he doesn't seem too worried about it."

The dog had far more important matters to concern itself with, like sniffing at strangely crunchy leaves. Or turning around to sniff at more leaves. Perhaps, in its spinning and twisting, a glance might be afforded to Hitomi.
"Ace of Pudding sounds pretty cool though. Or Pudding Ace... Didn't I see something like that at the arcade?" It certainly sounded like an arcade-y game.

Others had mentioned Koromaru, but it was Akihiko that got Hyousuke thinking about it seriously, even scrunching his face up for a moment as the matter of socialising was raised.
"It *would* be good to get him used to other dogs." Hyousuke said thoughtfully. "Koromaru seemed pretty friendly too, the last time I saw him at least. If you guys really wouldn't mind bringing him out one day, that might actually really help." He also wanted to see Koromaru again and pet one of his other fuzzy friends, but kept that part quiet. For now.

'Chocolat' interrupted Hyousuke's train of thought, but was the first idea he outright dismissed. He did so gently, shaking his head softly at name, but it was a denial nonetheless.
"It's a good name, but I dunno... I can barely do Japanese, giving him a French name seems like it's just asking for trouble." With that, Hyousuke began to tally up the votes - all four of them - and ruffled the dog's fur again. It turned to face him, wondering what the occasion was, and he spoke again. "So, looks like Pudding's gonna be his new name. You like that, boy? You wanna be called Pudding?"

The dog yapped once, and panted. Maybe it liked the name. Or maybe it liked being pet.
Aigis was not there to clear things up, but it seemed happy either way.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"She can at least check that he's okay, right...?" Ririka suggests to Fuuka, of Aigis. "Though... he seems energetic enough. I guess Suzuki-san's been doing a really good job..."

Hitomi asks a question, and Ririka considers. "Well, ''we'd'' probably call it a playdate? But... maybe they call it 'packing up' or something." That's almost a pun.

But Hitomi offers a place to take the dog, if needed. "Oh, that's so good to hear." It's nice to ahve backup options.

But there is a suggestion. "`Ace of Spade`...?" She repeats in English, then goes back to Japanese. "Like... the playing card? 'Ace' ''is'' a pretty cool name, though..."

Ririka wouldn't offer to just take care of the dog at the dorm, but if Akihiko is the one offering, maybe that's okay? But Akihiko has a suggestion, too. "Oooh... 'Chocolat' sounds so fancy..."

Ririka ''definitely'' has more pets, and maybe a stick-throw if Hyousuke's let the dog off the leash. "Chicken might be too confusing..." she points out.

"... yeah, it's probably best you kept it to yelling... you don't want to give them any reasons to follow through on calling the cops..."

But the dog... yawned, and then panted. "Maybe he just needs to get used to it?" Ririka tried patting her lap. "C'mere, Pudding. Who's a good boy, Pudding?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
A pack... Fuuka looks between Hitomi and Akihiko, and nods at the latter.

"That's true..." She agrees. She looks back to Hyousuke. She smiles back.

"I think I agree..." Fuuka agrees, on the subject of keeping it to yelling. That would complicate things - not just for him, but for the dog, too...

She looks toward Hitomi at her name suggestions. Ace of Spades - then Ace of Pudding...

"...That sounds regal." Fuuka notes. There ''is'' something cute about a dog having a very important-sounding name... Dogs can have titles, too.

Hyousuke asks about Koromaru.

"He is!" Fuuka agrees, about Koromaru seeming friendly. "We can ask if he's interested..."

It ''would'' be cute to see him playing with another dog.

The decision is made, though - Pudding.

"Congratulations, Pudding!" Fuuka beams.
Fuuka Yamagishi has reconnected.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi considers Akihiko as he speaks. French, she thinks. Do they all speak French? Huh. A mental note is filed. She then answers Hyousuke, eyes turning towards him as she rocks her head back; she seems to like looking at people while looking up.

"It's good you didn't," she says.

"You'd just be making bad karmas for everybody. They're gonna get neglected themselves, in the future, right? 'cause that's what they did to this guy. Might be a while, but it all gets back to you eventually."

~RELIGION CHOPS~

Dog is more interesting. "Hmm. Yeah, I guess we could." Pudding seems to carry the day, and Hitomi nods once to Pudding. Ace can be his secret stage name, if necessary.

"Maybe they arrange pack-ups by p-mail," Hitomi tells Ririka.

After this... she starts getting up. "Ooff... does he really fetch sticks, though?" Hitomi may say this literally at the exact moment when the newly dubbed Pudding has, in fact, fetched a stick.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
"Pudding. What a cute name.~" Akihiko says with a smile. He's not upset that his suggestion lost. Nope, not at all!!!

(And no, he only knows French from osmosis. Be friends with Mitsuru for a long enough time...)

On the law... "I doubt anyone'll complain very much if you're taking care of him, and the owners don't want to." He pauses. "So long as you remain calm about it, of course." He says with a half-chiding smile. There's no point in getting into a screaming match with the owners. "If there wasn't any collar or chip, I'd get that done soon."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke considered Hitomi's suggestions again when Ririka brought up shortening it to just 'Ace.'
"You're not wrong. Ace *is* a pretty cool name. Kinda makes him sound like an action hero or something." Or a superhero. Or one's faithful canine companion. A brief sense of deja vu kicked in, but it was gone before Hyousuke could consider it, and he didn't really think enough of it to bother rummaging around in his head for what it could have referenced. Partly because she brought up something more pertinent. "Yeah, that's probably it. I guess he doesn't really care *what* we call him so long as he's got something."

Indeed, it seemed all the dog cared about was trotting over to Ririka for more pets. Hyousuke, hoping that there wouldn't be any problems, allowed it to slip the leash. It ran immediately, but only so that it could snatch up the stick it had laid somewhere, and returned to Ririka immediately to offer it to her. Not to toss, however. Not immediately. It wanted a game of tug-of-war first - a vigorous play growl proved that much.

"I guess he should have something regal-sounding too. Little guy's damn majestic." Hyousuke said to Fuuka, beholding the majesty of a creature that immediately dropped its stick because it tried to bark, then barked again at the indignity of having lost its stick to the laws of physics. "But yeah... If think Koromaru'd like it, let's have set up a playdate. Or a pack-date? A play-pack?" Hyousuke gave the idea far more thought than he realistically should have, then shrugged. "Guess it doesn't matter. I'm sure they'll have fun, whatever we call it."

"I hope they get what's coming to them. They deserve it. Still wish I'd have given it to 'em, but you're all right. No need to give the cops a reason to start coming at me." Hyousuke said to Hitomi, his voice carrying more than just a subtle edge. He quietly left out the part where it wouldn't even have been the first time he'd dealt with them as a suspect. They didn't need to know that, and he didn't need to say it. "As for sticks, I don't think he's *stopped* fetching them. Seems like every time we come back to the dorms he tries to smuggle one in. He got one between the station and the park. I don't even know where he got it, but he did."

It wasn't the stick he lay at Hitomi's feet. That was a different stick. A cooler one too.

The dog did not seem to care what it was called, only that attention was being paid to it. As long as Akihiko managed that, Hyousuke wagered that it could be called anything with an upbeat tone and be no worse off for it.
"Tag's gonna be the first thing I get when I'm back in Sumaru." He said, nodding to the collar. Though one was fixed in place, there was no tag - the dog did not have a name, after all. "But I gotta book an appointment for the chip since I know I'm taking care of it now. Hopefully it don't sting as much as the checkup..."

Hyousuke laughed a little, even if it was slightly rueful, but even that faded before long.
"But yeah... I guess that settles it. Welcome to your new life, Pudding." The smile Hyousuke wore was a small and gentle thing, yet so laden with affection that one ten times as wide could not have matched it. Pudding looked up with a curious gaze, before clamping its jaws around a stick and trotting a little ways way from the group. It turned back after a few seconds and barked, daring anyone to give chase and take its prize.

As Pudding held its head high, wagged its tail, and let out a muffled bark around its stick, that chilly December afternoon grew just a little warmer.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yeah, having Koto-chan meet Pudding might be good for both of them...

Secret stage name!

Ririka laughs at Hitomi's p-mail joke. "Maybe, yeah!"

Akihiko brings up the collar and chip, and Ririka nods along. "Yeah, for sure... and ones with sturdy tags." No point having a repeat of before--though with Hyousuke unlikely to outright abandon the dog, that might not be as big a worry.

"Okay, okay, I'll throw the stick, Pudding." Does saying the name a lot help the dog learn it? She has no idea! But she laughs when Pudding growls, and playfully tugs back. "Who's feeling playful, huh Pudding?"

Once she gets the stick free, she'll toss it for Pudding to chase down. And afer she does that she looks to Hyousuke. "... you're doing a good thing for him, Suzuki-san. It's good to know he'll be taken care of."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-18: It's a Big Deal

2026-08-18T22:26:32Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: It's a Big Deal'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Outside Paulownia Mall
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-18
*'''IC Date:''' Thu, Dec 27 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Seeking advice and to inform Ichika of recent developments, Hyousuke pays a visit to Iwatadoi. A dog is also there.''

----

(|============================== Paulownia Mall ==============================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
A great glass dome surrounds Paulownia Mall, its name displayed in great letters
on its rim. Within this circular structure, made beautiful with water features,
the mall bustles. A central fountain pours out, eternally, surrounded by benches
for weary shoppers; two more pools stand by the entrance, decorated by
well-trimmed hedges behind them. The brown patterning on the floor emphasises
the circular nature of this place, all carved to equal segments; pillars
surrounding the sides provide structure and guidance, separating each store from
the other.

And the shops one can find here are many. Game Parade is a popular arcade,
particularly amongst nearby Gekkoukan students, and its crane game has foiled
many a hopeful date. Kenneth Arnold offers music albums, while Mandragora
Karaoke Bar, up a flight of stairs nearby, offers live music experiences for
those who prefer active participation. Club Escapade is another great option for
music-lovers, alongside those seeking Fortune-Telling services or looking for
shady informants -- but it's only open at night, and technically, it's only for
people who are over 18. Practically speaking, teenagers sometimes sneak in,
anyway... but curious teens ought to be careful, because a few shops over, one
can find the Tatsumi East Police Station. Chagall Cafe, at least, is both open
during the day and open to all ages! Aohige Pharmacy offers pharmaceuticals to
cure any ailment, while Be Blue V offers an eclectic variety of items and
treatments to improve one's health and wellbeing. Finally, Mayoido Antiques
offers unique weapons and armour for those who bring in supernatural
materials... and the proprietor seems to know more than she really ought to
about that world.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke would not normally have made the trip up to Iwatadoi solely for shopping. Pet-related goods were sold more or less everywhere - even if the quality was somewhat variable - and there wasn't much else up there that he needed but could not find elsewhere. It wasn't some exclusive coffee, or a misdelivered package. However, Ichika was there, and there were things he'd been hoping to talk to her about, and inform her had happened. That was as good a reason as any to make the journey up there, he supposed. And if the dog came with? All the better.

Having texted her shortly beforehand that he'd be visiting the pet store at the mall, Hyousuke waited a little ways out from it. Close enough that he could see the place without craning his neck, but far away enough that he could talk to Ichika while they walked, and expect some small degree of privacy. He doubted any of the passers-by were interested in what two young delinquent-looking students had to say to each other, after all, even if there was a remarkably friendly-seeming dog trotting at Hyousuke's heel.

The dog itself had not seen that part of Iwatadoi before, and like with all new locations, sniffed tirelessly at anything that seemed remotely of interest. It was kept reasonably close, of course, but Hyousuke couldn't say no to those big, round, eyes when they were cast up at him.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Dog! It's always nice to see a dog. Hyousuke's cool too.

Ichika could use a moment to get out of her mother's hair anyway; so, she set herself up and got going! Today, she arrives in a long skirt and simple jacket over another top, and doesn't beat the 'delinquent' rap with the spikes she's wearing. That's fine, though.

"Well," Ichika says, "Somebody's having a good time."

A beat, "HOw's it going, Hyousuke-kun?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog was excited about a lot of things. New smells, new friends, familiar smells, old friends, the list went on. Thus, when Ichika showed up and the dog bounded towards - or, at least, as close to her as the leash allowed - Hyousuke wasn't in the least bit surprised. However, that might also have been because there was a distinctly exhausted look on his features. He smiled, but it was weak. He waved, but it didn't quite have the vigour of the little guy at his heel. His eyes lacked a spark as well. They regarded her fondly, for she was his friend, but there was a certain lethargy to the slight droop the lids suffered from.

"Ichika-san! Glad you could make it." He called out, genuinely happy to see her, but still plagued by a little tiredness. "Looks like he's happy about it too." The dog recognised Ichika. The dog knew she was kind and gave pets. Therefore, the dog recognised Ichika as friend. In fact, he considered it something of an insult that Hyousuke kept him on the leash, and looked back with expectant - perhaps a little demanding - eyes. "Thanks for the teapot, by the way. You've got no idea how handy something like that is for the dorms. Being able to keep my drinks warm's a game changer..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Dogs deserve excitement. Ichika is sure of this one.

...But Hyousuke, Hyousuke she can worry a little about; she notices how tired he seems to be. Ichika kneels down to give the dog some pets after a moment, and smiles. "You're welcome," Ichika says. "I know all about it--I use a similar one," since she also mostly lives in the dorms. The lovely Kasu High girls dorms with bars on the windows. She totally knows!

"And you! It's so nice to see you!"

She looks back up to Hyousuke. "But how about you?" she wonders. "How's it going?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke paused, managing to catch himself before his reflexive dismissal of his own state of mind had a chance to manifest itself. He knew he wasn't fine, she probably knew he wasn't fine, but at least the dog seemed fine. Once it got some attention, at least. Though not quite satisfied with 'some' attention, it decided to occupy itself with more smells and sights and sounds, becoming very interested in a very particular patch of grass while the two of them spoke.
"I've... been better." He said. The words took effort to speak, but they were honest.

"I found this guy's owner's a couple days ago. I tried to give him back, but they..." Hyousuke's face froze for a second, and shifted into something very clearly attempting to remain strong when it thawed. He couldn't look her in the eye, instead diverting his gaze back to the blissfully unaware animal keeping itself occupied. "...They didn't want him. They... the fuckers abandoned him. They just fucking left him in the woods to- to-!" Hyousuke couldn't bring himself to say the word, but the implication hung in the air like a spectre.

"And since I can't just hand him over to a shelter, and I don't know anyone that can actually take care of him, he's... I'm..." The dog, as if sensing it was being looked at, turned around to glance up between Hyousuke and Ichika with curious eyes. Hyousuke smiled weakly back, ruffled its head, and let it get back to its very important business. Somehow, that seemed to instil him with just enough strength to look Ichika in the eye, even if it took no small amount of effort. "...I'm gonna do it myself. Little guy's got nobody else he can go to, and I can't just leave him alone out there. Not like..."

There was a pause. A hesitating, angry, teeth-gritting, pause. "Not like them."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Awww grass.

Ichika rises to her feet agian, and listens. THe honesty is something she appreciates in the moment. But they didn't...

"Mm."

Ichika nods along as hyousuke explores what he's saying, and then Ichika looks irght back to Hyousuke, in the eye. "Then he's got you," Ichika says. "That counts for a lot."

"...Ugh. People like that..." She shakes her head. "Well, forget them. They don't matter."

"This little guy matters. And you're going to take care of him, right?"

"That's a big deal."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke nodded firmly. Of course he was going to take care of him. For all that had happened, the dog itself didn't seem to mind too much, though she'd not been there on the day. She'd not seen how it looked with a door slammed in its face, or for the hours afterwards wondering where its people were. But that was a matter for another time. Today was a day of action, and planning for it.
"Damn right it is. I'm not letting him go through that. Not again. Fuck those assholes that did this to him... I'm gonna make sure he's got a home to go back to no matter what."

That, in itself, reminded him of what else he'd wanted to speak with her about. The issue, at that point, lay in how to bring it up. It was clear that there was *something* on his mind, with how his face scrunched a little in thought, and he looked away from her to think, but quite what was unclear until he opened his mouth again.
"I just... I don't know how I'm gonna do that. I can barely take care of myself, never mind a whole-ass dog." He spoke jokingly, but there was a note of bitterness to his words. Not enough to overwhelm, but still there. Enough for anyone observant to notice.

"I talked to some people about it. How to... how to move forward with things, I guess. What I'm supposed to do about everything." His words came a little slower, and Hyousuke seemed a touch more hesitant about continuing on. Was it still truly about the dog by that point? Was the topic of taking care of a pet enough to cause him to slow down and drag his words out? Or was there something more to it? Hyousuke seemed hesitant to say, no matter how much he kept speaking.

"I asked Marlowe-sensei about it. How to deal with the future and stuff. He said if I wanted to ask about how to, I dunno... finding new paths, I think he said? I should come talk to you."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

A dog can be resilient--any living thing can be resilient... but Ichika doesn't want them to have to be. Not like that. "Right. Good for you. If he can't count on anyone else... at least he can count on you."

But something's up for sure, and it's not ''just'' that Hyousuke doesn't know how to do that. "Mm. Well, you're already doing the most importnat part--caring. You're giving him attention, giving him the knowledge that somebody cares. Food, toys, all that stuff... it's important, but the most important thing is hwat you're doing."

But moving forward... Hmm.

"Oh!"

Ichika smiles. "Yeah," she says. "It's hard, going from no hope to thinking you might have a future..."

"For me, it was luck; I met this really cool reporter and decided I liked what she was doing, that it resonated with me. But the trick is, you just have to open your eyes. Look around at the world, see where you ''could'' fit, if you had the chance."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Ichika's response left Hyousuke quiet. Noticeably so, and for several seconds at that. There was no mumbling, no sound of acknowledgement, even his breathing became something so eerily quiet that the rise and fall of his chest became the only sign that it actually occurred. He didn't hold her gaze, but while one might have assumed it was simply a reflex that happened in deep thought, there was something else there. Once more, he found himself unable to look her in the eye - another thought flashed into his mind, and it would not leave.

Find somewhere to fit in, she said. Look for a place he could fit, had he the chance. How was he to tell her that he thought his place was going toe-to-toe with monstrosities, and the monsters that wielded them? How was he supposed to tell her that while others had found passions and love and meaning in peace, he was coasting along without purpose every time he had to set his weapons down? He had no answer for himself, and doubted he would for a long while. Better to keep it quiet, he supposed, rather than air them to someone he did not even know could help.

"Easier said than done." Hyousuke eventually said. It was the most amount of honesty he could manage. An acceptance of her words, but an acknowledgement of the difficulty he knew he would face. It barely scratched the surface, but he hadn't the right words for anything past the thin ice upon which he trod. "...But I guess there's no harm in looking. I'll figure something out if I keep at it long enough." Even if it seemed like nobody else had figured it out. Shinobu drifted from place to place and from job to job, Julian seemed more unsure of himself than he figured a counsellor would be, and there was a part of him that suspected Tamaki wasn't quite as put together as she presented herself to clients and coworkers alike.

If they hadn't figured things out, what hope had he?

"Marlowe-sensei said something about taking things slow." Hyousuke continued, fiddling with the lead out of a need to keep his hands busy. "Said I should figure out a concrete first step, or something. I... I think I can at least do that. I can't keep this guy at the dorms, and we're all graduating soon anyway. So since I'm not in the entrance exams, I'm thinking I'm gonna try and figure out moving out."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Ichika doesn't expect it to be an easy thing; Hyousuke's feelings about combat and battle and protecting others are plain to anyone who knows him. It wouldn't surprise Ichika to hear anything about it. But when he oes say easier said than done... "True," Ichika says. "Like I said, I lucked out; I saw things I could do... And I went for it. But that doesn't mean you can' find it if you don' keep looking."

She has some ideas, but...

SHe isn't asked, so she doesn't hsaare them for now. Instead--

"Slow is good. And a first step--there you go. Find a new place to live, one where you can help your new friend out."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"It's just... I need to call someone about it. parents aren't gonna sign the papers, we don't even speak to each other anymore." The hesitance was replaced by bitterness, and just enough anger reared its ugly little head to jostle alongside it. He smiled, but itwas more of a grimace than anything else - him bracing for what he supposed was inevitable. "I got a job and Mementos and everything, so it's not like I need *them* or their money... But no landlord that'll let me keep a pet in their place is gonna take a minor without someone signing for them."

Another handful of seconds passed, and Hyousuke spoke with a smaller, quieter, voice.
"Shit... I really am gonna have to call my brother about this, aren't I?" Hyousuke asked. The anger faded with the mention of the man, but the bitterness - while blunted - still remained. He didn't look at Ichika, but rather, through her. Though his body was present and his gaze was levelled in her direction, his mind was elswhere, and his eyes saw things that weren't there. Then, he blinked. And once more. He came back to his senses.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

"Yeah..." It's hard, being in this limbo; near graduating high school, but too young to rent or do most things that require an 'adult'. Ichika notices the anger and the bitterness for sure. "I can get what you mean. That's going to be rough..."

But... a brother?

"...Sounds like that's a little rough a relationship," Ichika says sympahetically. "You OK there?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke considered his answer. He considered it for a while. What felt like moments stretched on for hours, and those hours to eternity. Every heartbeat slowed to a crawl, with a chasm between them. Every breath strained his lungs, and every blink was made with leaden eyes. Every part of him screamed to dismiss. Every cell of his mind, every fibre of muscle, every mote of his being, it railed against the thought that he had to be honest with her. But he'd done so with Shinobu. He'd managed with Julian. To an extent, he had with Tamaki. If he could not with a friend like Ichika, then who could he? If not now, then when?

"...More like we've got no relationship." He eventually murmured, trying to strengthen himself with humour, but failing miserably. He couldn't keep the tone up, and the sad droop to his features left little doubt that there was more to the two than those words could ever encapsulate. "We don't talk, but it's... It's not for the same reasons I don't talk with my parents. Our parents, I guess. We..." The sudden flare of courage died out, fading to an ember, and his throat seized before he could offer anything more substantial. "...It's complicated."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Ichika waits through those dark moments; it doesn't seem quite as long to her, but it's long enough that she looks down at the new dog friend. ...Eventually, though...

"I see," Ichika answers. "That's rough in its own way, isn't it?" No having a relationship with your own brothers. "It's OK if it's complicated," she says. "Family can be."

"...But it osunds like you need to talk to him after all. So..."

"Let me know if I can help, all right?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"...Sure. I'll... I'll let you know."
The words were less a complete thought, and more like fragments cobbled together into something that resembled a reply. His thoughts were disjointed, his plans in disarray, and slowly, they began to slip the leash he held them on. He recalled his brother, he thought of what he was supposed to say, how he was supposed to say it, what he was supposed to do, what would happen if he left it too la-

He stopped.
There was something on his leg.
Hyousuke looked down, blinked, and smiled.

The dog stood there, looking up with expectant eyes, its tail wagging a little as it let out a soft bark. It tugged against its leash, trying to drag Hyousuke with it, clearly bored out of its mind with just standing around without so much as a stick to gnaw on or an insect to sniff and snoff at.
"Actually, there's something I do need help with." He said, shaken out of whatever state he'd been in before. He looked to Ichika with a kinder, warmer, look than he'd worn since they'd met up, and replied with a tone to match. "I'm still not sure what I need for taking care of a dog, and I haven't had a chance to ask Tsubasa-san about it yet. You think you could help me pick some stuff out?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

It must be really difficult. Ichika looks sympathetic, but then when Hyousuke smiles, Ichika looks down to. ...Awww.

"Yeah?" Ichika asks, and then smiles again back. "Cool," the tall girl says. "I know what you need. I can help you with stuff like that. Lance gave me a good primer."

Hyousuke said he can cover it, thanks to part-time jobs and Mementos, so Ichika won't press her nose in there--but she can definitely help pick stuff out.

"It'll be fun."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-18: It's a Big Deal

2026-08-18T22:25:56Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: It's a Big Deal''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ichika Kawase *'''Where:''' Outside Paulownia Mall *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-18 *'''IC Date:''' Thu, Dec 27 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Seeking advice and to inform Ichika of recent developments, Hyousuke pays a visit to Iwatadoi Island.'' ---- (|============================== Paulownia Mall ==============================|) -======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====- A g..."

*'''Log: It's a Big Deal'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Outside Paulownia Mall
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-18
*'''IC Date:''' Thu, Dec 27 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Seeking advice and to inform Ichika of recent developments, Hyousuke pays a visit to Iwatadoi Island.''

----

(|============================== Paulownia Mall ==============================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
A great glass dome surrounds Paulownia Mall, its name displayed in great letters
on its rim. Within this circular structure, made beautiful with water features,
the mall bustles. A central fountain pours out, eternally, surrounded by benches
for weary shoppers; two more pools stand by the entrance, decorated by
well-trimmed hedges behind them. The brown patterning on the floor emphasises
the circular nature of this place, all carved to equal segments; pillars
surrounding the sides provide structure and guidance, separating each store from
the other.

And the shops one can find here are many. Game Parade is a popular arcade,
particularly amongst nearby Gekkoukan students, and its crane game has foiled
many a hopeful date. Kenneth Arnold offers music albums, while Mandragora
Karaoke Bar, up a flight of stairs nearby, offers live music experiences for
those who prefer active participation. Club Escapade is another great option for
music-lovers, alongside those seeking Fortune-Telling services or looking for
shady informants -- but it's only open at night, and technically, it's only for
people who are over 18. Practically speaking, teenagers sometimes sneak in,
anyway... but curious teens ought to be careful, because a few shops over, one
can find the Tatsumi East Police Station. Chagall Cafe, at least, is both open
during the day and open to all ages! Aohige Pharmacy offers pharmaceuticals to
cure any ailment, while Be Blue V offers an eclectic variety of items and
treatments to improve one's health and wellbeing. Finally, Mayoido Antiques
offers unique weapons and armour for those who bring in supernatural
materials... and the proprietor seems to know more than she really ought to
about that world.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke would not normally have made the trip up to Iwatadoi solely for shopping. Pet-related goods were sold more or less everywhere - even if the quality was somewhat variable - and there wasn't much else up there that he needed but could not find elsewhere. It wasn't some exclusive coffee, or a misdelivered package. However, Ichika was there, and there were things he'd been hoping to talk to her about, and inform her had happened. That was as good a reason as any to make the journey up there, he supposed. And if the dog came with? All the better.

Having texted her shortly beforehand that he'd be visiting the pet store at the mall, Hyousuke waited a little ways out from it. Close enough that he could see the place without craning his neck, but far away enough that he could talk to Ichika while they walked, and expect some small degree of privacy. He doubted any of the passers-by were interested in what two young delinquent-looking students had to say to each other, after all, even if there was a remarkably friendly-seeming dog trotting at Hyousuke's heel.

The dog itself had not seen that part of Iwatadoi before, and like with all new locations, sniffed tirelessly at anything that seemed remotely of interest. It was kept reasonably close, of course, but Hyousuke couldn't say no to those big, round, eyes when they were cast up at him.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Dog! It's always nice to see a dog. Hyousuke's cool too.

Ichika could use a moment to get out of her mother's hair anyway; so, she set herself up and got going! Today, she arrives in a long skirt and simple jacket over another top, and doesn't beat the 'delinquent' rap with the spikes she's wearing. That's fine, though.

"Well," Ichika says, "Somebody's having a good time."

A beat, "HOw's it going, Hyousuke-kun?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog was excited about a lot of things. New smells, new friends, familiar smells, old friends, the list went on. Thus, when Ichika showed up and the dog bounded towards - or, at least, as close to her as the leash allowed - Hyousuke wasn't in the least bit surprised. However, that might also have been because there was a distinctly exhausted look on his features. He smiled, but it was weak. He waved, but it didn't quite have the vigour of the little guy at his heel. His eyes lacked a spark as well. They regarded her fondly, for she was his friend, but there was a certain lethargy to the slight droop the lids suffered from.

"Ichika-san! Glad you could make it." He called out, genuinely happy to see her, but still plagued by a little tiredness. "Looks like he's happy about it too." The dog recognised Ichika. The dog knew she was kind and gave pets. Therefore, the dog recognised Ichika as friend. In fact, he considered it something of an insult that Hyousuke kept him on the leash, and looked back with expectant - perhaps a little demanding - eyes. "Thanks for the teapot, by the way. You've got no idea how handy something like that is for the dorms. Being able to keep my drinks warm's a game changer..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Dogs deserve excitement. Ichika is sure of this one.

...But Hyousuke, Hyousuke she can worry a little about; she notices how tired he seems to be. Ichika kneels down to give the dog some pets after a moment, and smiles. "You're welcome," Ichika says. "I know all about it--I use a similar one," since she also mostly lives in the dorms. The lovely Kasu High girls dorms with bars on the windows. She totally knows!

"And you! It's so nice to see you!"

She looks back up to Hyousuke. "But how about you?" she wonders. "How's it going?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke paused, managing to catch himself before his reflexive dismissal of his own state of mind had a chance to manifest itself. He knew he wasn't fine, she probably knew he wasn't fine, but at least the dog seemed fine. Once it got some attention, at least. Though not quite satisfied with 'some' attention, it decided to occupy itself with more smells and sights and sounds, becoming very interested in a very particular patch of grass while the two of them spoke.
"I've... been better." He said. The words took effort to speak, but they were honest.

"I found this guy's owner's a couple days ago. I tried to give him back, but they..." Hyousuke's face froze for a second, and shifted into something very clearly attempting to remain strong when it thawed. He couldn't look her in the eye, instead diverting his gaze back to the blissfully unaware animal keeping itself occupied. "...They didn't want him. They... the fuckers abandoned him. They just fucking left him in the woods to- to-!" Hyousuke couldn't bring himself to say the word, but the implication hung in the air like a spectre.

"And since I can't just hand him over to a shelter, and I don't know anyone that can actually take care of him, he's... I'm..." The dog, as if sensing it was being looked at, turned around to glance up between Hyousuke and Ichika with curious eyes. Hyousuke smiled weakly back, ruffled its head, and let it get back to its very important business. Somehow, that seemed to instil him with just enough strength to look Ichika in the eye, even if it took no small amount of effort. "...I'm gonna do it myself. Little guy's got nobody else he can go to, and I can't just leave him alone out there. Not like..."

There was a pause. A hesitating, angry, teeth-gritting, pause. "Not like them."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Awww grass.

Ichika rises to her feet agian, and listens. THe honesty is something she appreciates in the moment. But they didn't...

"Mm."

Ichika nods along as hyousuke explores what he's saying, and then Ichika looks irght back to Hyousuke, in the eye. "Then he's got you," Ichika says. "That counts for a lot."

"...Ugh. People like that..." She shakes her head. "Well, forget them. They don't matter."

"This little guy matters. And you're going to take care of him, right?"

"That's a big deal."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke nodded firmly. Of course he was going to take care of him. For all that had happened, the dog itself didn't seem to mind too much, though she'd not been there on the day. She'd not seen how it looked with a door slammed in its face, or for the hours afterwards wondering where its people were. But that was a matter for another time. Today was a day of action, and planning for it.
"Damn right it is. I'm not letting him go through that. Not again. Fuck those assholes that did this to him... I'm gonna make sure he's got a home to go back to no matter what."

That, in itself, reminded him of what else he'd wanted to speak with her about. The issue, at that point, lay in how to bring it up. It was clear that there was *something* on his mind, with how his face scrunched a little in thought, and he looked away from her to think, but quite what was unclear until he opened his mouth again.
"I just... I don't know how I'm gonna do that. I can barely take care of myself, never mind a whole-ass dog." He spoke jokingly, but there was a note of bitterness to his words. Not enough to overwhelm, but still there. Enough for anyone observant to notice.

"I talked to some people about it. How to... how to move forward with things, I guess. What I'm supposed to do about everything." His words came a little slower, and Hyousuke seemed a touch more hesitant about continuing on. Was it still truly about the dog by that point? Was the topic of taking care of a pet enough to cause him to slow down and drag his words out? Or was there something more to it? Hyousuke seemed hesitant to say, no matter how much he kept speaking.

"I asked Marlowe-sensei about it. How to deal with the future and stuff. He said if I wanted to ask about how to, I dunno... finding new paths, I think he said? I should come talk to you."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

A dog can be resilient--any living thing can be resilient... but Ichika doesn't want them to have to be. Not like that. "Right. Good for you. If he can't count on anyone else... at least he can count on you."

But something's up for sure, and it's not ''just'' that Hyousuke doesn't know how to do that. "Mm. Well, you're already doing the most importnat part--caring. You're giving him attention, giving him the knowledge that somebody cares. Food, toys, all that stuff... it's important, but the most important thing is hwat you're doing."

But moving forward... Hmm.

"Oh!"

Ichika smiles. "Yeah," she says. "It's hard, going from no hope to thinking you might have a future..."

"For me, it was luck; I met this really cool reporter and decided I liked what she was doing, that it resonated with me. But the trick is, you just have to open your eyes. Look around at the world, see where you ''could'' fit, if you had the chance."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Ichika's response left Hyousuke quiet. Noticeably so, and for several seconds at that. There was no mumbling, no sound of acknowledgement, even his breathing became something so eerily quiet that the rise and fall of his chest became the only sign that it actually occurred. He didn't hold her gaze, but while one might have assumed it was simply a reflex that happened in deep thought, there was something else there. Once more, he found himself unable to look her in the eye - another thought flashed into his mind, and it would not leave.

Find somewhere to fit in, she said. Look for a place he could fit, had he the chance. How was he to tell her that he thought his place was going toe-to-toe with monstrosities, and the monsters that wielded them? How was he supposed to tell her that while others had found passions and love and meaning in peace, he was coasting along without purpose every time he had to set his weapons down? He had no answer for himself, and doubted he would for a long while. Better to keep it quiet, he supposed, rather than air them to someone he did not even know could help.

"Easier said than done." Hyousuke eventually said. It was the most amount of honesty he could manage. An acceptance of her words, but an acknowledgement of the difficulty he knew he would face. It barely scratched the surface, but he hadn't the right words for anything past the thin ice upon which he trod. "...But I guess there's no harm in looking. I'll figure something out if I keep at it long enough." Even if it seemed like nobody else had figured it out. Shinobu drifted from place to place and from job to job, Julian seemed more unsure of himself than he figured a counsellor would be, and there was a part of him that suspected Tamaki wasn't quite as put together as she presented herself to clients and coworkers alike.

If they hadn't figured things out, what hope had he?

"Marlowe-sensei said something about taking things slow." Hyousuke continued, fiddling with the lead out of a need to keep his hands busy. "Said I should figure out a concrete first step, or something. I... I think I can at least do that. I can't keep this guy at the dorms, and we're all graduating soon anyway. So since I'm not in the entrance exams, I'm thinking I'm gonna try and figure out moving out."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Ichika doesn't expect it to be an easy thing; Hyousuke's feelings about combat and battle and protecting others are plain to anyone who knows him. It wouldn't surprise Ichika to hear anything about it. But when he oes say easier said than done... "True," Ichika says. "Like I said, I lucked out; I saw things I could do... And I went for it. But that doesn't mean you can' find it if you don' keep looking."

She has some ideas, but...

SHe isn't asked, so she doesn't hsaare them for now. Instead--

"Slow is good. And a first step--there you go. Find a new place to live, one where you can help your new friend out."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"It's just... I need to call someone about it. parents aren't gonna sign the papers, we don't even speak to each other anymore." The hesitance was replaced by bitterness, and just enough anger reared its ugly little head to jostle alongside it. He smiled, but itwas more of a grimace than anything else - him bracing for what he supposed was inevitable. "I got a job and Mementos and everything, so it's not like I need *them* or their money... But no landlord that'll let me keep a pet in their place is gonna take a minor without someone signing for them."

Another handful of seconds passed, and Hyousuke spoke with a smaller, quieter, voice.
"Shit... I really am gonna have to call my brother about this, aren't I?" Hyousuke asked. The anger faded with the mention of the man, but the bitterness - while blunted - still remained. He didn't look at Ichika, but rather, through her. Though his body was present and his gaze was levelled in her direction, his mind was elswhere, and his eyes saw things that weren't there. Then, he blinked. And once more. He came back to his senses.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

"Yeah..." It's hard, being in this limbo; near graduating high school, but too young to rent or do most things that require an 'adult'. Ichika notices the anger and the bitterness for sure. "I can get what you mean. That's going to be rough..."

But... a brother?

"...Sounds like that's a little rough a relationship," Ichika says sympahetically. "You OK there?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke considered his answer. He considered it for a while. What felt like moments stretched on for hours, and those hours to eternity. Every heartbeat slowed to a crawl, with a chasm between them. Every breath strained his lungs, and every blink was made with leaden eyes. Every part of him screamed to dismiss. Every cell of his mind, every fibre of muscle, every mote of his being, it railed against the thought that he had to be honest with her. But he'd done so with Shinobu. He'd managed with Julian. To an extent, he had with Tamaki. If he could not with a friend like Ichika, then who could he? If not now, then when?

"...More like we've got no relationship." He eventually murmured, trying to strengthen himself with humour, but failing miserably. He couldn't keep the tone up, and the sad droop to his features left little doubt that there was more to the two than those words could ever encapsulate. "We don't talk, but it's... It's not for the same reasons I don't talk with my parents. Our parents, I guess. We..." The sudden flare of courage died out, fading to an ember, and his throat seized before he could offer anything more substantial. "...It's complicated."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Ichika waits through those dark moments; it doesn't seem quite as long to her, but it's long enough that she looks down at the new dog friend. ...Eventually, though...

"I see," Ichika answers. "That's rough in its own way, isn't it?" No having a relationship with your own brothers. "It's OK if it's complicated," she says. "Family can be."

"...But it osunds like you need to talk to him after all. So..."

"Let me know if I can help, all right?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"...Sure. I'll... I'll let you know."
The words were less a complete thought, and more like fragments cobbled together into something that resembled a reply. His thoughts were disjointed, his plans in disarray, and slowly, they began to slip the leash he held them on. He recalled his brother, he thought of what he was supposed to say, how he was supposed to say it, what he was supposed to do, what would happen if he left it too la-

He stopped.
There was something on his leg.
Hyousuke looked down, blinked, and smiled.

The dog stood there, looking up with expectant eyes, its tail wagging a little as it let out a soft bark. It tugged against its leash, trying to drag Hyousuke with it, clearly bored out of its mind with just standing around without so much as a stick to gnaw on or an insect to sniff and snoff at.
"Actually, there's something I do need help with." He said, shaken out of whatever state he'd been in before. He looked to Ichika with a kinder, warmer, look than he'd worn since they'd met up, and replied with a tone to match. "I'm still not sure what I need for taking care of a dog, and I haven't had a chance to ask Tsubasa-san about it yet. You think you could help me pick some stuff out?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

It must be really difficult. Ichika looks sympathetic, but then when Hyousuke smiles, Ichika looks down to. ...Awww.

"Yeah?" Ichika asks, and then smiles again back. "Cool," the tall girl says. "I know what you need. I can help you with stuff like that. Lance gave me a good primer."

Hyousuke said he can cover it, thanks to part-time jobs and Mementos, so Ichika won't press her nose in there--but she can definitely help pick stuff out.

"It'll be fun."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-19: Hounded Down

2026-08-16T23:36:24Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: Hounded Down'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], [[Akihiko Sanada]], [[Hitomi Mandai]]
*'''Where:''' An off-trail on Mt Katamatsuri
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-19-07
*'''IC Date:''' Wed Dec 12 2012
*'''Summary''': ''The beast has finally been driven back to its lair. There is nowhere for it to hide, and no place for it to run - this is the fight that will determine its fate. Take care not to grow overconfident, however. There is little more dangerous than a cornered beast...''

----

(|============================= Mt. Katatsumuri ==============================|)
-==================================================== Sumaru City/Vicinity ====-
Mt. Katatsumuri is a beautiful mountain vista just past the city limits of
Sumaru City. The greenery is plentiful and particularly dazzling in autumn as
the colors change. Once a popular tourist destination for hikers, nature lovers,
and explorers alike, it's seen considerably less traffic after the cable car
lift to the mountain's peak broke down. That's not going to change anytime soon,
for the local government has not seen fit to distribute funds to fix it.

Perhaps that's for the best. While it's a beautiful nature site, the only
buildings here are Morimoto Sanitarium at the peak and Goketsuji, a Buddhist
temple, on the inclines. A sanitarium is not a place that any "normal" person
should want to visit, and the monks at the temple probably prefer the isolation
anyway.

But the walking paths remain, some of them wilder than others. One even leads
all the way up to the back of the sanitarium for those with more courage than
common sense. There's also an old, small Shinto shrine along the way whose
offering box is not yet full and can still accept ¥100 coin donations.

BGM: Mt. Katatsumuri - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odyfd9Q2WY8
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
OST: Horror Ambience Music 3 (ThrillShowX)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUyrTDvA5SY

During the day, the hiking path was an idyllic stretch of land. A meandering path shaded on all sides by a dense canopy of leaves, the incline was not so great as to deter casual climbers, but still enough that the view from the trail's apex was a sight to behold. During the night, it was as though some wretched abyss took its place, and what had once been picturesque was twisted into something eerie. The peaceful quiet became an ominous silence, its foreboding nature amplified by the impenetrable darkness that stretched all around. The densely-packed trees did little to provide comfort, with their clustered trunks providing ample cover for lurking beasts. Even the air itself warned away the faint of heart, carrying with it the stench of festering vegetation and stagnant water.

Yet Hyousuke trod onwards, for he sought one of those monstrosities stalking the gloom that night. Clad in fibres and plastics of purple and gold, he stalked through the dark with his shotgun held at the ready, finger twitching upon the trigger as he waited for any sign of life to present itself. A shifting shadow, a snapping branch, even the rustling of leaves underfoot - anything that he could latch onto, his head snapped towards, hoping to catch even the faintest glimpse of the predator that had eluded him for so long.

"Careful. It's here somewhere, I can feel it." Hyousuke grunted, his voice almost a whisper as he spoke to whoever had elected to accompany him. "Watch each other's backs. You see anything, say so. We're on its turf now, and it's gonna be pissed." It was a cornered animal, after all. Rather than the intelligent demons and coherent Shadows that could at least be talked to or manipulated, the beast he hunted was a true animal - a feral thing, clawing and snapping at anyone or anything that got too close for comfort.

Yet even now, at what was to be the end of a weeks-long hunt, there was some slight degree of hesitation to Hyousuke's actions. His every step was slowed by caution a degree beyond what was necessary, his aim swayed a fraction of a second slower than he would have liked, and he hesitated despite his words when he thought he saw something lurking in the undergrowth. His were not the reflexes of someone that held no doubt about putting down a savage monster. They were the movements of someone that could not shake that single, lingering, shred of doubt, no matter what.

Even in the face of this, Hyousuke pressed onwards, levelling that barrel of cold and merciless iron at whatever so much as resembled the canine form of his quarry. Deeper and deeper he descended, pushing into the yawning void that was the forest depths, the still air almost suffocating him with the tension it brought about. That was until something shifted in the corner of his eye. It wasn't some branch, bending beneath its own weight, nor was it the shadow of some foliage drifting on an errant gust of wind. When that pale and sickly moonlight pierced through the canopy, the thing gleamed.

OST: Eyes In The Void (Scott Buckley)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYbrvEtwTOc

Two eyes followed the group from the farthest reaches of the dark, tracking their every movement. Rows of fangs lined a slavering mouth, each one white as polished ivory and dagger-sharp. Even its fur shone when caught beneath the fetid glare of the Dark Hour's moon, revealing to the gathered hunters the form of their target. Tall as any man, the canine stalked forward on limbs wreathed in taut muscles, and then again by tawny fur. Stripes cut sideways across its back, emphasised further by how its coat raised in anger and fear, while its shifting postured showed the white of its underbelly. Large as its form was, the beast was nevertheless possessed of a sharp, lean, body, without a scrap of wasted fat upon it. Below it all, claws as keen as knives cut through the dirt and underbrush, carving trenches into the dirt with every padded step it took.

"Wait!" Hyousuke growled, muscles tensing like coiled springs. "Don't attack unless you know it's the real deal, this thing makes illusions of itself!" He waited, finger on the trigger, watching with a hardened gaze. His weapon creaked beneath the strain of his grip, while the cold abyss of the barrel stared back at the snarling monster. Eyes forward, ears pricked, and stance adjusted, he watched the thing like a guard hound waiting for its handler to loose it against a looming threat. He prowled closer, while it stalked through its territory, both eroding the gap between them until each was no more than a stone's throw from the other.

Something moved - but not in front of him. It snapped a branch and rustled leaves beneath its feet, and lunged towards him.

Hyousuke darted to the side the instant he heard it, but it wasn't enough. Razor-sharp claws swept past his torso, carving bloody trails jsut beneath his ribcage. Crimson trailed down his body, heralding a stinging pain that followed a heartbeat later, but even a cursory glance told that it was only a shallow wound. He would tend to it later, when the snarling hound was no more.
"There! That one!" He bellowed, all attempts at subtlety cast to the wind as he fired off a thundering shot. "Take it down before it gets another chance to hide!"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
The group fan out through the undergrowth, marking a path through the otherwise idyllic hunting trail. Even for someone like Akihiko, the oppressive atmosphere, where the group can just as quickly become the prey... It's testing even his guts.

Akihiko won't run off though. Never again. The beast will die here and now.

They come face to face to the beast once more. Akihiko goes for his Evoker as the beast reveals itself, slashing at Hyousuke. "Oh, no you don't!" He calls out, pressing the trigger to his temple to send out a Zio. He's too late however, and Hyousuke gets scratched, the lightning bolt hitting a nearby tree.

"Damn it!" Akihiko curses as he runs up next to Hysouke's side. "Form up!" He calls out. "That thing can escape anywhere. Be alert!" He casts another spell. "Weaken him!"
</poem>
AS: Persona! Akihiko Sanada has used the Almighty skill Tarunda on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Akihiko Sanada's Tarunda.
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
SEES had investigated the tale of the beast stalking the Dark Hour in Sumaru City. They split into two groups to cover more ground - and now, they join Hyousuke to track it down once more. Where he shows no hesitation, Fuuka...

...Has her doubts.

It's behavior doesn't match that of any Shadow she's encountered. Not the coherent ones of Mementos, nor the mindless ones that stalk Tartarus. Even most demons can be spoken with - even if ''understanding'' them is a different matter. What is it about this beast...? It seemed mostly concerned with ''retreating'', until they had it cornered...

"...Is this the right thing to do?" Fuuka wonders quietly.

...She puts that thought aside, though. As Hyousuke says, the beast is capable of illusions - they'll need a good Navigator to track it down. Hyousuke calls out the real one, and as Akihiko casts Tarunda...

"Give me a sec, I'll scan it." Fuuka informs them. "Lucia... Let me see past that would obscure my vision..."

She shuts her eyes tight, expanding her senses. She looks, instead, with her spiritual eye - to see past the illusions and discern the beast itself.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Full Analysis.
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Strength Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki resists Pierce!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Weakness Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki is weak against Light!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Support Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki has passive skills Ailment Boost, Dark Amp, Heavy Weapon, Invigorate 2, and Pierce Amp!

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi Mandai has been following after the others. Let's be real: mostly Akihiko. Let's also be real: Akihiko is not suffering from this but he's the man of muscle mystery. Hitomi Mandai is not a woman of wuscle wistery. No sir, she is none of those things, not least because two of those words are made-up.

It was, at least, a relief to be in a forest. Is it, though? Ironically enough, Hitomi's starting to get positive associations about Tartarus. Tartarus may be a distortion in the fabric of reality, but like, it's places like forests and asylums where things get *bad*.

Either way, she's still kind of out of breath once they get close, though she does not hunch over. The adrenal dump of hearing the beast, seeing it scream, seeing it *strive* to maul Hyousuke. Does it qualify as a mauling? Hitomi can't tell.

Weaken him, Akihiko says.

Hitomi's eyes turn towards Fuuka. "... What're you thinking?"

Then she twists her hand up in that card-trick fillip of a gesture, and a moment later Tyche appears before her, the Grecian statue gazing mournfully at the Beast for a moment before something emanates outwards. Something loosely pink and energetic. Something confusing.

"Even if it's some kind of innocent," Hitomi wheezes a little, "I'm... not gonna be sad if it gets confused. Seriously, I am *so sweaty*." And it's cold out!! Which makes it even worse!!
</poem>
AS: Persona! Hitomi Mandai has used the Almighty skill Marin Karin on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Hitomi Mandai's Marin Karin.
| Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka is here in her SEES uniform, Amphion already summoned as she hangs back, casting her senses out at the world around her. "Right," she says, as Hyousuke calls out the use of illusions.

Akihiko calls out for them to form up. "Hai, senpai!" She moves into place--still in the back, but closer in formation.

Fuuka calls out taht she'll scan the beast. "Got it, Yamagishi-san! We couldn't get it to stay still long enough for that last time."

"Hang in there, Mandai-chan," Ririka tries to say reassuringly. "Just a little bit longer and we can wrap this all up..." She hopes.

But weaken it. "On it. Amphion! Go!"

Amphion strums his lyre, and a mess of jangly, high-pitched sounds issue forth to try and disorient the unknown beast.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Dissonant Song on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Dissonant Song.
| Crt_Dn (Critical down!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko's lightning bolt might not have struck the beast, but the display most certainly caught its attention. Its dark eyes snapped towards him after Hyousuke shoved it away, and its focus was only tightened when he cursed it with that strength-sapping spell. Slaver, thick and glistening in what little light managed to reach them, lined its maw as it sized up Akihiko, before striking out with claws that shone like polished gems. No sooner had it launched that attack than it retreated, however, deftly moving back like a shadow to strike against its next foe.

Whatever Fuuka's thoughts were on the monster, it did not seem to be of any mind to hear them. All it saw was an intruder, coming there to attack it. To hurt it. To chase it, and never leave it alone until they got what they wanted from it. Maddened by the rage and instinct both, it ignored whatever she said and did, either not recognising that she had scanned it or simply not caring. It pounced at her, heaving the full weight of its enormous body into her, growling all the while.

It did not follow through, but not because it had had second thoughts. Something had begun to twist its mind, and it swayed on its feet, before staggering to one side. Its vision was blurred, and its balance was off. It hadn't been struck, yet it felt dizzy all the same, like the whole world had twisted and distorted around it. Whatever reprieve that had earnt the party was only temporary, for the moment it noticed there was another, the hound surged forward into a snarling charge. Its maw widened into a vicious chasm, lined with the razor-point teeth, before coming down to clamp onto whatever part of her it could gnash at.

Then there came that song. A damnable thing, discordant and disorienting, sending it reeling back with a short and sharp snarl at the direction it had come from. Its eyes focussed on her, snapping swiftly away from Hitomi, sizing up this new and strange thing before it. There was little thought before it howled at her, its voice a booming, bellowing, shockwave that ripped through the air. Smashing waves of staggering force streaked towards her, distorting the air, but its howling was cut off by a vicious uppercut to its jaw.

"Not on my watch!" Hyousuke shouted, barrelling forwards to heave his fist into the monster again, only to be battered back by the flat of its paw. Even without the keen claws digging into his flesh, the beast's strength was prodigious enough to send him staggering back, grunting in pain as he did so. "Come on, big guy! You got nowhere to run to this time!" The words did not feel right on his tongue, and it was there to hear for all that listened closely enough. It manifested as a wavering hesitation to his words - subtle, and overpowered by his stubborn need to fight, but there nonetheless.
</poem>
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Slash skill Slashing Swipe on Akihiko Sanada! 2 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage!
| Aggression: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: >>> You still have 3 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill Crashing Smash on Fuuka Yamagishi! 2 Hits!
AS: >>> You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Gnashing Fangs on Hitomi Mandai! 2 Hits!
AS: >>> You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Wind skill Wind Howl on Ririka Kawase! 3 Hits!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
| Hyousuke Suzuki regains 6 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Block Worst! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 42 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Crashing Smash. Critical Hit!
| Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Neutral! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 19 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Crashing Smash.
AS: Avoid Worst! Hitomi Mandai takes 51 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Gnashing Fangs.
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hitomi Mandai takes 84 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Gnashing Fangs. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Akihiko Sanada takes 22 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Slashing Swipe.
AS: Avoid Best! Akihiko Sanada takes 10 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Slashing Swipe. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 11 Wind damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wind Howl. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 11 Wind damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wind Howl. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 11 Wind damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wind Howl. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko manages to dodge and weave, calling upon several years of boxing experiences. Close quarters fisticuffs tend to be his pride after all. Any wounds he takes are brush against him.

"Not bad, everyone! Keep it up!" Akihiko calls out, bringing his evoker to his temple once more. He hesitates for a moment, as Hyousuke cuts the beast off. "Back up, Suzuki-san! Don't push yourself!" Akihiko is still worried about that wound Hyousuke took earlier. When he backs up, Akihiko will take the chance to fire off a Mazionga.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Akihiko Sanada has used the Elec skill Mazionga on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 171 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Mazionga. Critical Hit!
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
What is she thinking? Fuuka pauses for a moment, frowning. ...It's hard to put into her words - especially not now, when they have the beast cornered. It's lashing out - but who wouldn't?

"...It doesn't feel like an indiscriminate monster. When we pursued it before, it was only concerned with escaping from us, until we cornered it." She comments.

Ririka says that they weren't able to get it to stay still long enough to scan last time, and she nods.

"We couldn't, either. ...I suppose there's nowhere left for it to run to, now..." This time, she's able to scan it. The aura flares to life before her, and she focuses.

"It's very powerful... Beware darkness and piercing attacks!" Fuuka warns. "It's weakness is Light..."

It turns its eyes upon her, and pounces. There's a moment of hesitation - just enough that for a moment, her defenses are weaker. But it does not meet flesh - its body ''crashes'' into Lucia's protective globe. Regardless, Fuuka winces. It might not have struck her physically, but she ''feels'' like she got the breath knocked out of her. Lucia protects her directly, but she can still feel the force of the impact through her - enough that she's knocked briefly off balance.

"Understood." She nods toward Akihiko. She sensed Darkness before. In that case...

"Lucia... Protect me from the night." Fuuka requests. A protective aura surrounds her, to mitigate her weakness. And for the others...

"...Focus on its attacks. See the way it moves... Everyone... Be careful." Fuuka says. She tries to predict its movements - to use Lucia's divine sight to provide advance warning and give them the information they need to defend against its attacks.
</poem>
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi spends Limit on Exploit! Fuuka Yamagishi can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Recovery skill Dark Wall on Fuuka Yamagishi!
AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Dark Wall.
| Dark_Wall (Dark Affinity Up!) added!
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Almighty skill Divine Sight on Akihiko Sanada, Ririka Kawase, Hitomi Mandai, and Fuuka Yamagishi!
| Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's turn has ended.
| Fuuka Yamagishi: Blast removed!
AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Divine Sight.
| Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Divine Sight.
| Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Divine Sight.
| Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"Heh," Hitomi breathes at Ririka's encouragement. "I'm more worried about the big guy." Adjusting her glasses, her attention tries to stay on the Beast despite her usual habit of looking at people when they're talking. (It's polite, you know.)

Besides, there's much more delicious people out there.

The Beast is at bay, and is lurching. Maybe this will be an anticlimax. Maybe that's what Fuuka was seeing, thinks Hitomi, before the Beast looks at her.

Hitomi takes a step back. In hindsight that was really good, because when the Beast comes towards her and snaps downwards, teeth clacking once and then hitting with a crunch at the same time as the propulsive force of impact knocks her backwards --

The Beast lead with claws that might have sunk into her belly.

When the Beast disengages - good thing it has other people to worry about - Hitomi isn't bleeding. She hunches forwards for a moment and heaves herself upright, exhaling.

"These protectors are really good, huh?" Hitomi says to Fuuka, not looking at her. "That time I got shot it actually caught it on the back side, isn't that wild? Anyway, I'm feeling kind of complicated about this creature now because I see what you were talking about and" Hitomi's hand sort of whips out like she's snapping her fingers, barely interrupting the flow of her conversation "I'm gonna say it feels a little personal but also we kind of have a hard time just being rational if we have this guy here and his primary argument is bite, right?"

Deep breath, push it out.

She is a little shaken up, yes.

That little flick of her hands was dice though, which bounce off the forest floor and pop up. The Beast will be delighted to find out they burst like firecrackers (and then seem to fly back in Hitomi's direction), we are sure. Delighted? Yeah, animals love fireworks.
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Hitomi Mandai has used the Strike skill Back Shot on Hyousuke Suzuki! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Hitomi Mandai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 9 Strike damage from Hitomi Mandai's Back Shot. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 26 Strike damage from Hitomi Mandai's Back Shot.
AS: Take! Akihiko Sanada takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Divine Sight.
| Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Suzuki-san! We're here to back you up, don't forget!" Ririka calls out with urgency as she sees Hyousuke take another hit. She's with her fellow members of SEES, it's easier for her to remember she's got backup here.

But bellowing shockwaves come to counter Amphion's song, and Ririka grabs her katana from her belt. Her grip tightensas she cleaves into the first blast, violent winds whipping around her as she slices through the first shockwave. She meetrs the second and the third, and by the time the last one dies down she's panting a little, but her hands are steady. "Th-that was close..."

Akihiko calls out the good work, and Ririka calls back, "We're covering you, snepai! Keep it up!"

Fuuka comments on how it doesn't feel like a monster. "We caught it disguising itself as another Shadow before... but... if all it wants to do is escape, why is everyone so concerned about it...?"

"We hought we had it pinned before, too..."

She takes in that guidance readily; she's got her own version of that skill, she's familiar with it and welcomes it. "Thank you, Yamagishi-san."

Hitomi is worried about the big guy. Ririka's kind of concerned about Hyousuke, but Akihiko and the beast are both pretty big, too... And there are reasons to be concerned for''about each. "Yeah, I hear you."

Fuuka's helping them navigate the fight, so Ririka decides to help their defenses. "Amphion! Marakukaja!"

Amphion strums, and fortifying energy flows up from the earth to envelop them all and help bolster their defenses.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Marakukaja on Akihiko Sanada, Fuuka Yamagishi, Hitomi Mandai, and Ririka Kawase!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Akihiko Sanada takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"I'm fine! It's just a scratch!" Hyousuke shouted back. He hadn't lied. It was only a flesh wound, and the bleeding - exacerbated by his movement - made it look worse than it felt. It was the still-healing wounds Tsurugi had dealt him earlier that day that Akihiko should have been concerned about. Not more than a few hours old, whatever progress he'd made towards recovery was unwound with every movement, thread by sanguine thread. He still had enough left in the tank to fight, however, and certainly had the strength to push back the beast and leap quickly away.

It was not his body he needed to shield afterwards, but his eyes. A mighty flash of lightning struck the beast, hitting it like cannonfire and ripping an anguished howl from the beast. Already left unbalanced by Hitomi, the blast was enough to knock it off its feet and send it careening into a wall, though there was still fight left in it. Fight enough that it could stagger back up at a moment's notice, and fix its gaze on Fuuka. It prowled, waiting for another strike to come, or for that *thing* that had shielded her to appear once more. But nothing happened. Its twitching gaze recognised that something had happened, but it did not retaliate, even if it issued a warning growl.

Even if a plan to strike had been brewing in its mind, the thing did not get the chance to execute it. Dice fell into the ground beside it, snatching its attention away from the fight for a split second. But that split second was all that was needed for one of the dice to make it flinch away in sudden, burning, pain. It tried to dart away from the other, but with its footing thrown off, it still found itself caught in the second burst. It snarled, teeth bared to savage her again, but refused to strike. Ririka's strumming caught its ear instead.

Bereft of the ability to truly understand human speech, it did not understand that those notes were to bolster her teammates, not beat it into submission. It understood a moment later that it was not a spell directed at it, but the damage had been done. Its momentum had been interrupted yet again, and it reverted back into a defensive stance. Muscles tensed and eyes switching from target to target, it backed up slowly, snapping and barking and snarling at anyone or anything that dared to come too close.
"Don't worry about me, I can take whatever it's got!" Hyousuke said back to Ririka, even as he circled with the beast, prowling around it like a gladiator in the sands. "Just try and lock it down before-"

The hound bolted away, leaving behind no more than footprints by the oppressive darkness. Like a shadow, it slipped into the gloom between the trees, its hulking form vanishing behind trees that should have been too thin to hide it, with a silence that did not belong to such a large and vicious creature.
"Shit, it's doing it again...!" Hyousuke hissed, immediately drawing close to the group, and heaving his arms up into a tight guard. "Eyes open, and watch the trees! That thing could be hiding anywhere!"

The beast revealed itself, once more appearing as two eyes glinting in the dark. Then, it appeared again, manifesting behind the group. Then another. And another. Pairs upon pairs surrounded the group like a wolfpack, closing slowly in on them, prowling closer and closer while Hyousuke studied each with frantic eyes. One of them had to be real. One of them had to have a difference that marked it out as the true target - but which? He couldn't even wait to see which one lunged first. Each struck at the group, and each proved to be an illusion, their strikes swinging through the group like smoke.

In amidst that storm came was a flash of black, however, and claws shrouded in darkness carved into Akihiko before vanishing back into the flood of bodies. Fangs snapped at Fuuka from the side, seeking to rend her apart before the beast sunk back into the shadows again, vanishing behind another illusory copy. Hitomi was next, with one lunging at her from the front, while the beast - the true beast - slammed into her from behind with tremendous force. Ririka was the last, but was given no more mercy for it. It ran at her, swift as the wind, and swiped its claws at her as it shot past the party.

Hyousuke chased after it, firing shot after shot, but each only winged the beast - and, in turn, angered it further. It lunged at him next, gnashing and swiping, only stopping its onslaught when he slammed his elbow down into its snout.
"Damn it... This thing just doesn't quite, does it?!" He held his gun level at it, the barrel trained on its forehead, but his finger only trembled on the trigger. It didn't strike at him again. It bristled with anger, snarling and growling and snapping its jaws, but its posture was defensive.

He shook his head. No time to think about it now. There was a fight to win.
</poem>
AS: >>> Player not found, or player not in room.
AS: >>> Player not found, or player not in room.
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Illusory Ambush on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage!
AS: >>> You still have 3 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Illusory Ambush.
| Cloak (Non-Area Damage Mitigated!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Shrouded Strike on Akihiko Sanada!
| Aggression: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: >>> You still have 2 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Mauling Jaw on Fuuka Yamagishi!
AS: >>> You still have 1 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Wolfpack on Hitomi Mandai! 2 Hits!
| Hyousuke Suzuki takes 45 damage from Stress!
AS: >>> You still have 0 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Slash skill Swiftclaw on Ririka Kawase!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
| Hyousuke Suzuki: Paralyze removed!
| Hyousuke Suzuki regains 6 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Block Neutral! Hitomi Mandai takes 59 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wolfpack. Critical Hit!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Worst! Hitomi Mandai takes 55 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wolfpack.
AS: Block Neutral! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 28 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Mauling Jaw. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka watches the beast carefully... and for a moment, their eyes meet. She holds her breath. Lucia is her everpresent Guardian - she does not vanish like most Persona do, instead remaining on the field to serve as Fuuka's shield and watchful eyes. She stares at the beast through Lucia's globe - but she doesn't strike.

She hears that warning growl.

"...Please. We don't have to fight." She urges in response. "Can you hear me...? We just want to understand..."

She hesitates - but it's beginning to move again, illusions bolstering itself until it appears to be as if its own pack. Even through Lucia's eyes, it's hard to discern the truth. Its claws swipe across Lucia's globe. Fuuka feels it as surely as if it were across her own skin. She draws in a breath, but endures it for now. She sees, too, the way it halts, even as Hyousuke points a gun at it.

...For now, there's only one thing she can do.

"Kawase-san!" Fuuka calls out. "It's difficult to track alone... but if we combine our talents, we maybe be able to see past its illusion!"

See past its illusions - and maybe come to a better understanding of what they're up against. She shuts her eyes and focuses intently, reaching out to Ririka mentally to join their efforts.
</poem>
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi has initiated a fusion spell! The spell still requires 1 Strong attacks and Any Magical! Anyone can join!

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Regardless of the facts, (and so say that Akihiko is simply worried for worried sake), he has to stay focused. This is a dangerous foe, and even a moment's injury can snowball into a disaster.

The beast seemingly multiplies, but Akihiko and Hyousuke both realize the illusions. As the beasts tries to close in, Akihiko is glad to try and give it as much as he gets, using controlled jabs. They dissipate into smoke upon contact.

With the moments blindness, Akihiko reflexively guards, and is slashed at. In the moment the beast is engaged however, Akihiko is glad to return the favour with his own fists, properly this time. "Gah! get back here!"

Then, Hyousuke tries to chase after the beast, and Akihiko follows. "Suzuki-san, be careful! Don't stray from the line!"
</poem>
AS: Tandem! Akihiko Sanada has used the Strike skill Cyclone Uppercut on Hyousuke Suzuki! 3 Hits!
| Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi brings a hand up to catch the dice. The thing is running. Hitomi watches it; she is not trying to maneuver, possibly being tired, possibly being embarrassed at being a big rampaging lump of meat, and perhaps because she isn't going to try to hit the thing in the mouth with her hand.

Hitomi watches. She breathes, rather shallowly, but she breathes. She watches -- and when it comes for her, she flinches backwards.

Which means the Beast smashes underneath her and throws her in the air. She lands, again, on the ground, if this time on her ass, and as she does, she can feel her teeth *clack* as she squeezes her eyes shut. It moves on, as it must, perhaps, in the face of this assault, but afterwards she takes a deep breath and pushes herself back up to her feet.

Which, well, this is lucky too, isn't it? It's a charmed kind of life Hitomi lives, even if sometimes it doesn't quite seem that way to her at the time. Right now, it hurts. Right now, she's starting to forget about being scared. Right now, she's *embarrassed*. Right now, she's back on her feet.

"Alright," says Hitomi quietly. "I was feeling a little bit of sympathy about you despite myself but now this is feeling kind of PERSONAL you big hairy asshole," and then she takes in a huge breath. Behind the glasses, her eyes widen.

"TYCHE!" Her hands spread out and raise. The Persona rises behind her again, facing, somehow, directly towards the Beast. Its illusions may shroud it enough for *Hitomi* to not see it, but the statue gets lucky. Or maybe the heart can't truly be fooled.

"Light him up!"

Then follows a sudden shimmering constellation of golden lights followed by a bursting barrage of gold-and-red fireworks, aiming on the Beast. If it loved the dice, it's going to *adore* this kind of an explosive pulse towards a finale, and if nothing else, it might mean it won't notice what Fuuka and Ririka are up to until its too late.

(Hyousuke and Akihiko are being kind of more obvious.)
</poem>
AS: Persona! Hitomi Mandai has used the Fire skill Explosion of Fortune on Hyousuke Suzuki! 3 Hits!
| Aggression: Hitomi Mandai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
| Hitomi Mandai: Paralyze and Prophecy removed! Prophecy: 150 healing!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 11 Strike damage from Akihiko Sanada's Cyclone Uppercut.
AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 1 Strike damage from Akihiko Sanada's Cyclone Uppercut.
AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 1 Strike damage from Akihiko Sanada's Cyclone Uppercut.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 30 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 52 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 93 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Sure, that one scratch is just a scratch, but Ririka's seen how those can add up... "Just..." She sighs. Maybe right ''now'' isn't the time to have a conversation.

There may be illusions at work, but Ririka is a navigator, and she whirls around to meet the slash as it comes for her, raising her katana to block it. There's a brief struggle before she can push back, and she looks around warily.

Fuuka calls for them to combine their talents, and Ririka nods firmly. "Right, Yamagishi-san! I'll follow your lead!"

"Everyone, please hang on, we'll try to pin down which one it is," Ririka calls. She closes her eyes too, reaching out, sharing her particular view of the world, bridging that gap...

If they can understand it, they may know how to get it to stop running off.
</poem>
AS: Ririka Kawase has joined Fuuka Yamagishi's fusion spell! The spell is ready!
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi and Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Abeyance on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's turn has ended.
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
| Ririka Kawase: Prophecy removed! Prophecy: 150 healing!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Abeyance.
| Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) added!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Blood!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka's words fell on deaf ears. Whether enraged, frightened, or both, the thing took heed of neither her words, nor the tone they were delivered with. It struggled against the party, lashing out and leaping around, throwing attacks out in a desperate frenzy, its eyes wild and teeth bared.

Even in that frenzied state, the beast still held control over itself, and moved with preternatural agility for something of its size. It was a fact Akihiko was to learn the hard way after the first clean hit. Its pupils darted towards the other incoming blows, and with a short growl of effort, it threw its body back until only it took only glancing blows from his onslaught.

What Akihiko's strike lacked in power it made up for in being a distraction. So focussed on moving away from the bludgeoning blows was the beast, that it failed to notice Hitomi until it was too late. It saw the statue looking towards it, but instinct ruled its mind, and it could not fathom that she had merely been bluffing. Any inkling of it was cast from its mind the moment it saw the array of lights cast by Tyche, and every iota of strength it had was dedicated to fleeing the blasts.

The first blast threw it off balance, landing at its feet. The second threw it off its feet, hammering into its side with a mighty burst of light and noise. The third detonated in its face, driving it into the ground with a crumpling thud, leaving it struggling to its feet and defenceless against what the navigators levelled against it.

It did not notice some of its illusions flickering as the spell was woven, and its magicks began to take effect. It could not see, past the smoke and dirt cast into the air by Hitomi's salvo, that some of them grew faint. In the dark of the night and the heat of battle, such things might have been difficult to see at first, but they only grew more intense with every passing moment.

"Whatever you're doing, it's working!" He called out to Ririka and Fuuka, not acknowledging Akihiko's concern openly, but backing up at his command. "We keep the pressure on, and we'll finally stop this thing! Count on it!" Not 'end this thing.' Not tear, or rip, or rend, or break, or any other pejorative he had spat at any number of his human and demon adversaries. He would *stop* it. Consciously or not, it was a word he had chosen.

He watched the beast, waiting for it to act. More illusions? Ripping fangs, or tearing claws? Another display of feral magic? He knew not what to expect, but he could see - even from that distance - that the thing grew more desperate, and frightened, and furious, with every second they remained.

There was no skill in how it lunged at the party, swinging wildly while sending the last of its illusions in to try and cover its mad tacke against Akihiko. There was no primal finesse to its assault against Fuuka - just the deafening cry of a cornered animal, demanding that she turn tail and flee its home. There was no precision in its maddened state, as Hitomi was shown when its claws - doused in black and terrible energy - swiped down to carve away at whatever it could reach. And there was no restraint in its bites, as it sought to rip into Ririka, its fangs gleaming with the spit that ran between each.

It reared back, readying another round of illusions to fill in the gaps left between the fading images around it, but Hyousuke shot again to distract it. But the pellets did not strike its face. A few missed almost completely, grazing its fur and sinking unceremoniously into the dirt, but the rest hit against its shoulder. One might have thought he'd missed, were it not for how he had clearly aimed that short-barreled shotgun at that spot on it.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Desperation on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage!
AS: >>> You still have 3 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Desperation.
| Atk_Dn and Crt_Dn removed!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Wolfpack on Akihiko Sanada! 2 Hits!
| Hyousuke Suzuki takes 45 damage from Stress!
AS: >>> You still have 2 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Threatening Roar on Fuuka Yamagishi!
AS: >>> You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Slash skill Shadowed Slash on Hitomi Mandai! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: >>> You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Mauling Jaw on Ririka Kawase!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
| Hyousuke Suzuki regains 6 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Block Worst! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 41 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Threatening Roar.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona''Tandem!) added!
AS: Block Best! Hitomi Mandai takes 38 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shadowed Slash. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Neutral! Hitomi Mandai takes 54 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shadowed Slash.
AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 86 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Mauling Jaw.
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi spends Limit on Shift! Akihiko Sanada can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Akihiko Sanada! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Shift! Hitomi Mandai can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Hitomi Mandai! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Block Best! Akihiko Sanada takes 30 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wolfpack.
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Best! Akihiko Sanada takes 30 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wolfpack.

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko at least, catches the beast on one, but whiffs continually. The beast charges at Akihiko, and he braces for the hit, tanking it effectively.

"You won't get away!" Akihiko calls as he loads a special clip into his evoker. He presses it to his head, and casts Heat Riser on himself. With a sudden burst of speed, Akihiko launches himself at the beast, using his lightning augmented fists to wail on the horrifying beast.
</poem>
AS: Akihiko Sanada spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Akihiko Sanada has used the Elec skill Lightning Spike on Hyousuke Suzuki! 3 Hits!
| Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.
| Akihiko Sanada: Hyper, Prophecy, and Psych removed! Prophecy: 150 healing!
AS: Akihiko Sanada spends Limit on Shift! Fuuka Yamagishi can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Fuuka Yamagishi! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Hitomi Mandai spends Limit on Exploit! Hitomi Mandai can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Hitomi Mandai spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 83 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Lightning Spike. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 64 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Lightning Spike.
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 83 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Lightning Spike. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
No response. At this point, Fuuka doesn't expect it - but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it to ''try''. It's always worth it to try.

And as Fuuka and Ririka join their efforts, they have a better time tracking it through its illusions.

"It appears so..." Fuuka replies to Hyousuke. 'Stop', he says - not 'end it'. ...A part of her is relieved to hear that.

To her, the beast unleashes a threatening roar. She flinches. A part of her ''does'' want to flee - but she can't. Abandoning this now would be...

...She has to see it through. The darkness-warding curtain Lucia provided her before holds strong, and Ririka's fortifying Marakukaja provides stability.

"I'm sorry." She apologises. She hears Hyousuke fire - but she sees him ''miss''.

...Or maybe he hit exactly what he intended to?

"Lucia... Ease our spirits. Wash away this darkness that blinds us." Fuuka requests of her Persona, her other self. Lucia spreads her arms, and a wave washes over everyone present like water. It's like cool, refreshing rain on a hot day, providing relief and succor.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Recovery skill Relaxing Wave on Akihiko Sanada, Hitomi Mandai, Ririka Kawase, and Fuuka Yamagishi!
| Fuuka Yamagishi takes 90 damage from Panic!
| Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Recovery skill Me Patra on Akihiko Sanada and Hitomi Mandai!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's turn has ended.
| Fuuka Yamagishi: Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Panic, Dark_Wall, Hyper, and Prophecy removed! Prophecy: 150 healing!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi spends Limit on Shift! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Ririka Kawase! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Me Patra.
| Haze removed!

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
[stop] it. Even now, Hyousuke wants to [stop] it.

It must be said that Hitomi, too, has a competitive streak, but while it's close to a vicious one, it's not the same. His words are perhaps a neuro-linguistic spell, and so Hitomi changes, just the tiniest bit, as the Beast comes closer. Hitomi stares at it.

And it is not Hitomi who moves, but Tyche. The great statue almost seems to pirouette (did one arm move) and the blow smashes against it. The Persona crushes against Hitomi, and it cracks, momentarily fragmented, but Hitomi's flesh isn't torn, her skull isn't shaken, her blood isn't shed.

Most of the anger and pain leaves her under Fuuka's ministration. Hitomi focuses on the Beast.

I hate its damn illusions, thinks Hitomi.

Her eyes narrow.

But what if.

"Tyche!" Hitomi says, and the Persona appears, and it floats like usual (if subtly more cracked-up looking) and there are two sudden bursts of flame downwards to bracket the Beast. She's not aiming to miss but they are a little off set: Hitomi might be figuring the Beast has to dodge at least one.

EXCEPT...

"Hey," says Hitomi.

From momentarily behind the Beast, on a backdrop of red. The Dark Hour's sullied moon gleams off one lens of her glasses as she leans a little to the side.

"It's a big mistake to assume you're the only one who can use misdirection."

"I can trick you into being in the wrong place, too," Hitomi concludes. There is a snap of her fingers, in between which is a small tube of something blue which momentarily splashes onto her hand. Then there's a shrieking blur and a column of flame that aims to consume the Beast in incinerating force before it can react!

Well.

Poach the Beast. Actually, that's a good term. Context appropriate. ''Lightly poached''. Fair, after all, is fair.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Hitomi Mandai has used the Fire skill Double Agi on Hyousuke Suzuki! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Hitomi Mandai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Theurgy! Hitomi Mandai has used the Fire skill You're Burning for Me on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
| Hitomi Mandai: Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Hyper and Psych removed!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 133 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Double Agi. Critical Hit!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 148 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Double Agi. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 155 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's You're Burning for Me.
GAME: Save complete.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"We'll keep it up, Suzuki-san!" Ririka calls back. "I think we're starting to figure out which ones are the illusions now." With Fuuka she keeps the Navigator link open, sharing their combined sight with the others.

She catches that word, too. Stopping is good. This thing only fought when backed into a corner...

But the beast lunges once again, and Ririka tries to catch the jaws with her Jatana, bracing the back of the blade with her other hand as she struggles, trying to stay on balance. "Get-- ''down''!" she spits out through gritted teeth.

She's exhausted, and this battle is taking far longer than she'd like. They're doing the best they can, but...

And--there! "I think I see an opening-- I'm going to take it!Amphion! Let's make an opening!"

Amphion strums, and Earth Break is cast at the gbeast, and then Ririka points her Katana. "Now--strike! Double time!"

]Doiulders are torn from the earth and flung at the beast, hoping to catch it at just the right moment.,
</poem>
AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Exploit! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Earth Break on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Earth skill Magna on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Earth skill Magnara on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
| Ririka Kawase: Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Hyper removed!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Earth Break.
| Earth_Break (Earth Affinity Down!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 44 Earth damage from Ririka Kawase's Magna.
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added! Haze removed! Explosion! 15 damage!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 174 Earth damage from Ririka Kawase's Magnara.
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added!
| Hyousuke Suzuki is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko's first strike left the beast reeling, the surge of electricity working in tandem with the force of the blow to stun it. It stumbled back, helpless to avoid the other two blows, each of which struck like bolts thrown from the heavens themselves. Its legs splayed, barely supporting the weight above them, but the flurry of strikes had not dimmed the fire in its eyes.

But that fire was no match for Hitomi's blazing wrath. With whatever strength was left in its tattered body, the beast practically threw itself to one side, a short and sharp snarl cutting through the air as pain shot through its muscles. What had been intended as a distraction struck true, singing the whites and browns of its hide a charred black. Wracked with pain and robbed of strength, it could only try to limp feebly away when the culmination of Hitomi's strategy drowned it in an all-consuming pyre.

There was a moment - no longer than a heartbeat - where it looked to Fuuka from behind the flames. There was anger, yes, but there was more. There was desperation in its expression. There was whimpering fear. There was almost a plea for help - or a warning to leave. Whatever it was, Hitomi burnt it away before it had a chance to set, and Ririka's onslaught bludgeoned it out of the beast.

There were no illusions left to protect it, no shadows in which it could hide, no cover behind which it could fling itself. Its defences brought low by Amphion's spell, its feeble attempts at evasion were met with Ririka's boulders, and it topped sideways into the open.

Right within Hyousuke's reach.

Hyousuke fixed the beast with a piercing, fiery, glare. His body, burdened by the injury and exhaustion of this fight and the the battle against the fencer, struggled to hold itself upright beneath its own weight. His fists were clenched tight, nails digging into his own hands so harshly that it felt like they would carve through the gloves of his armour. Even his breathing was not spared. His lungs screamed for oxygen, and his chest heaved with every ragged breath, before releasing in a growling exhale that shook his throat like a quake.

The beast stared back at him, dark eyes gleaming in the pallid moon. It tried to raise to its full height, but the hunters' relentless assault had robbed it of all but the faintest motes of strength, of which it clung desperately to. Its claws, slick with blood and dirt, sank into the forest floor whenever it tried to brace itself, visibly tightening the muscles in its legs in the process. Its breathing made its exhaustion clear for those that could not see the other signs, with great steamclouds rolling past its fangs, jaw left slack as it tried to suck down air into its heaving lungs.

The tension turned the air to glass, and Hyousuke felt like any single movement could shatter it. The two watched each other, still and quiet save for their desperate attempts at clawing back some measure of strength, waiting for their foe to move. To act. To do something they could counter. The moment stretched out for what felt like an eternity, until finally, they moved. It was hard to say who had leapt forward first, but it mattered little. Only barest fraction of a second lay between one's action and thje other's, and it was only a blink before they were entangled in a savage melee.

The beast howled in pain as Hyousuke sent his fist crashing into its jaw, knocking its head sideways, before another vicious blow struck down at the top of its snout. It retaliated, lunging out with with its claws outstretched. It swiped across his stomach, a hair's breadth from eviscerating Hyousuke, before snapping its jaws down like a trap to seize the arm striking down at it. Hyousuke clenched his teeth and braced against the pain, fighting it back so that he could hammer his fist back into the monstrous jaw.

He was a warrior, trained and armoured and bestowed with supernatural powers. It was a vicious, snarling, beast, warped by forces beyond its control. And yet, there they were, scrapping in the dirt, blood and sweat and spit spattering into the ground and turning it to mud. It was a brutal and ugly mess, reducing them both to little more than animals. Only when a decisive, cracking, strike rang out did the entire debacle come to an end, but was not some triumphant feat of strength and determination. It was a single, unceremonious, strike thrown out by Hyousuke in utter desperation.

He stood, bloodied but unbowed, panting as he watched the whimpering thing collapse into a crumpled heap. But before he could land the finishing blow, the beast began to change. Bathed in gentle, yet all-consuming glow, what had once been a howling predator shed its form, leaving Hyousuke standing back and watching cautiously. Limbs shortened while claws blunted and retracted, fur lengthened and shifted to a golden hue, its maw shortened until it was a shorter thing ending in a wetted, black, nose... By the end of it, the thing did not even vaguely resemble the beast that had once plagued them.

He watched, not relieved that the battle was over, but horrified that it had resolved in such a way. He was silent, stunned into it by transformation, despite how his jaw shook in some vain attempt at speech. The silence was not broken by a whimper, however, but a shout.
"STOP!" Hyousuke cried. His was not the voice of a commander, but a desperate man throwing himself in front of an injured hound. "Wait! There's- There's something wrong! Kawase-san, Yamagishi-san, I need- Anyone, I need healing! It's... Oh God, please..."

He tore the mask away and cast it aside, not caring to see where it landed. A glove followed suit, tossed away so that he could place a bare hand against the small, gold-furred dog laying unconscious by him as he kneeled.
"It... It's still breathing... It's still alive..." Another silence, once more only lasting the span of a heartbeat. When he spoke again, however, his tone was hardened, bolstered by steely determination in spite of the wavering that could still be heard beneath. "Get me to the Velvet Room. We need to go. NOW."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
The battle draws to a close. Not with glorious triumph, but with vicious reality and the dawning horror of their opponent's true form. Fuuka gasps, hands clasping around her mouth.

She looks to the others, as Hyousuke shouts for them to stop. Healing... Can they heal this? Healing spells only work on those Personas... does the supernatural still cling to this dog enough for that to work. She hesitates - but she'll try anyway.

"Lucia... Please." Fuuka requests - and Lucia sprinkles the waters of healing around, to tend to everyone's wounds. And when Hyousuke asks them to get him to the Velvet Room...

"...Let's find the shortest route, Kawase-san." Fuuka says.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka pants as she has Amphion send off the final spell, watching as the beast they've been hunting is laid low. "Okay... maybe... maybe now we can... contain it, I guess? Or..." She glances to Fuuka. "... maybe we can scan it together, and figure out--"

But right then the beast and Hyousuke leap for each other, brutally brawling until they're both scrapping in the mud. ""Suzuki! ''Hyousuke''!" she shouts, alarmed. "It's already down--"

But she watches in amazement as it starts to change. "That fur... We found that fur where it slipped away from us!" But Hyousuke asks for healing, and Ririka hesitates. she's thinking the same thing Fuuka is.

But they don't lose anything by trying, right? "Amphion. Diarama." She glances to Fuuka and nods. "Hai." Ririka reaches out and starts to play her keyboard as she starts to search.

With both of them working in tandem, they can get moving all that much faster.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-16: Simple Souls

2026-08-16T22:36:32Z

MrGuy:

*'''Cutscene: Simple Souls'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]]
*'''Where:''' Aoba Ward
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-16
*'''IC Date:''' 24 Dec 2012
*'''Summary''': ''With the lost dog's family tracked down (see [[2026-08-14: Small Steps Forward]]), Hyousuke moves to return it to them.''

----

Hyousuke supposed, in retrospect, that managing to narrow down the area the dog's owners lived in was a stroke of good luck that he couldn't count on continuing. Under other circumstances, he might have spent days - weeks, even - pottering around Sumaru, hoping that the dog both caught a scent and communicated where he needed to go to find the source. To have been in just the right place at just the right time was nothing short of a Christmas miracle. But, even then, some legwork was required. Fortunately for both him and the dog, they had energy to spare and no obligations to speak of.

He had little in the way of a process. He wasn't as sharp as some of his peers, he didn't have Tamaki's training, and there were no spirits or demons lingering nearby that would have aided him without incurring some great price - assuming they deigned to give him the truth at all. But what he lacked in technique, Hyousuke made up for in determination. That, and it seemed that fate had decided he would have a good day that day, and it didn't take long for someone to recognise just who the dog belonged to.

Their reaction had been puzzling, however. They seemed to know the family that the dog belonged to, they seemed to know that they *had* a dog - but they'd not heard any news about it going missing. Hyousuke and the stranger assumed that it was simply because they didn't know the family particularly well and thought no more of it, but even so, the interaction lingered in the back of his mind. The dog seemed to have no such worries, however. Once it recognised the route home, and scents that were no doubt familiar, its pace grew ever quicker, and its barking ever louder.

It bounded forward, straining against the leash with all of the might that a little dog could muster. It turned back to Hyousuke, partly to look at him and wonder why it was being restrained so much, and partly to check that his new friend was still there to join him on the journey back. Hyousuke himself couldn't help but smile. To see it so overjoyed at the prospect of going home, knowing that there was a loving family waiting to welcome it back with open arms... It was a joyous occasion for him too.

He found it strange, then, that his heart felt heavy at the thought he would have to let his new friend go. Intellectually, he knew there was no reason for it. This was the culmination of a case that had been weeks in the making. He had come to Tamaki, begging for help with it. He had housed the dog, fed it, watered it, looked after it, made sure it was hale and healthy, all in service of making sure that it went back to the people that loved it the most. So why did the thought of it hurt so much?

No matter how he tried to push the thoughts back, or sequester them away in some corner of his mind like the rest of his mind's unwanted tangents, he couldn't stop thinking on it. He wanted to. How desperately did he want to, and allow himself to continue the rest of his life in peace. But every time he looked down at that dog, bounding along and tugging him ever closer to the apartment of the people that he truly belonged to, the thoughts were dredged up from the depths of his mind, and bared for him to witness all over again.

Hyousuke came to the door of the family in question before too long. He'd already spent quite a while with the pup, but even then, it felt like it hadn't been time enough. An idle thought crossed his mind that they might be willing to let him visit, but he cast it away. It would be best not to ask. They no doubt had enough going on, and would need time to recover after being put through so much. He couldn't impose on them like that, even if it hurt him to walk away.

Hyousuke rapped on their door, his knuckles sending out a few short, sharp, noises ringing towards the other side. He stood back, stock-still and doing his utmost to maintain a straight face, while the dog fidgeted about on the spot in a desperate attempt at breaking free of its bindings. Its efforts only intensified when the door creaked open, and a man stepped through to regard him. Hyousuke waited a moment, thinking he needed a second to realise what was happening, but all he was met with was a blank, neutral, stare.

"Can I help you?" The man asked, his voice flat as his expression. Stunned by his indifference, Hyousuke could only stare on in shocked silence. His mouth moved as if to say something, but the words wouldn't come. He pushed through it, as he did with many things he had misgivings about, but the shock never quite left his voice.
"Y-your dog. I found your dog. He was missing, and I-"
"I'm sorry, you must have the wrong apartment. We don't have a dog."
If the indifference had been a leading punch, the denial was a haymaker to his jaw. Stammering, Hyousuke searched for the words, but none came easily.

"B-but your address-"
"Again, we don't have a dog. I'm not sure whose this is, but it's not ours."
The dog itself seemed to think differently. It strained with all its might against the leash, barking and leaping and bounding as much as its little legs could manage. It alternated between looking up at the man with round, begging, eyes, and turning them back towards Hyousuke as if to demand that it be allowed to slip the leash and return to its family.
"But I- But he- He recognises you! Look!"

Hyousuke's insistence drew a call from behind the man. A woman, if the voice was any indication. Even if the stranger was not in his way, Hyousuke would not have been able to see in from the angle he stood at, but he was certain he could hear the sound of a child playing nearby as well.
"Honey?" She called out, sounding more inquisitive than concerned. "Is everything alright?"
"It's fine dear, no need to worry." He called back, before sighing and leaning in a little. Voice lowered and expression hardening, he spoke in a stony, insistent, tone.

"Look, kid. I'm going to be honest with you. We don't want that thing anywhere near us."
A third blow knocked the wind from Hyousuke, like a sledgehammer to the chest. He hadn't even the strength to offer a stammering rebuttal, and the stranger spoke uninterrupted. "Me and my wife thought we were gonna get a purebreed. Something worth keeping around. Instead, some piece of shit sells us a mutt and skips town before we can do anything about him. Do you know how much that thing might cost to feed? To treat? Hell, we don't even know if it's stopped growing yet, and it's pushing the size limit on most apartments as it is."

Hyousuke found his voice, but not the strength to back it up. The blows had come one after the other, and left reeling, he hadn't been able to gather himself enough to put force behind his words.
"But he's family...! You can't just-"
"It's a *dog.* It's not even one we wanted. I don't know what you think it is to us, but it's sure as hell not family."
Hyousuke didn't even blink at that. Too shocked to even act on reflex, he felt his mind go blank and any thoughts of calm leave him. Slowly, but surely, they were burnt away by violent, incandescent, rage.

"You're... abandoning him."
"That's not quite how I'd put it, but-"
"BULLSHIT!" Hyousuke's face contorted into something. Anger, maybe. Frustration, perhaps. Sadness, even. It was hard to tell what exactly plagued his features, but the guttural roar that was his voice left no doubt that he was upset. "You didn't see how desperate he was to try and get back home! Out there, where you- where you ABANDONED him! He was scared, he was alone, and he was lashing out at people, and all he wanted was to come back home! And you're telling me you LEFT HIM THERE?"

"Honey, is everything alright?" The woman asked again, audibly stepping closer, her slippers a rapid and rhythmic patter against the wooden floor. "Do I need to call the-"
"No need, dear. He was just leaving." The stranger turned from his wife to Hyousuke, then hissed in a low enough voice that their child would not risk hearing. "I don't give a shit what you do with that thing. But if I see you or it here again, I'm calling the cops."
He didn't wait for a response before slamming the door in Hyousuke's face, but that didn't stop him from bellowing one out.
"ASSHOLES! EAT SHIT! FUCK YOU!"

The dog had stopped barking by that point. Instead, it whined. First at the door, then at Hyousuke. It pawed at him too, desperately - but quietly - trying to grab his attention. He snapped his head down, the rage still lingering on him, but it all softened the moment he beheld that poor, innocent, creature.
"...I'm sorry." He said, just as quietly. His anger had blazed hot, but short, burning itself away until only cold ash remained. Despair, sadness, dismay - whatever it was, it hollowed out a pit in his stomach, and left him staggering dumbly away.

Hyousuke didn't know when he'd made it back to the park. Perhaps it'd been minutes. perhaps tens of them. Perhaps an hour. It was hard to say, with the sky in a perpetual state of darkness, and the timing of sun's daylight arc shifting from day to day. But it didn't matter. He all but collapsed into the first bench he found, unable to support his own weight any longer, and slumped forward with his arms crossed loosely on his knees. The dog padded forward, staring up and whining softly, nudging its nose into his leg to try and grab his attention. Hyousuke didn't even hesitate, though his movements were shaky. He reached down, and held a shaking hand to the head of the dog, smiling weakly.

"Shit... why wouldn't they... How could they..." A million thoughts roiled in his head, each struggling to drown the other out. Every time he tried to figure out an answer to one, or force another to remain quiet long enough that he could focus on something else, two more took its place and wracked his mind. His hands gripped his knees tight, his knuckles paled, his arms shook, and then - with him unable to maintain even the faintest semblance of strength - something spattered against the back of his hand.

The sky was thick with clouds of a dark and foreboding grey, but no rain fell upon them.
Yet still, it hammered down against his hands.

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-16: Simple Souls

2026-08-16T22:35:25Z

MrGuy:

*'''Cutscene: Simple Souls'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]]
*'''Where:''' Aoba Ward
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-16
*'''IC Date:''' 24 Dec 2012
*'''Summary''': ''With the lost dog's family tracked down (see [[2026-08-14: Small Steps Forward]]), Hyousuke moves to return it to its family.''

----

Hyousuke supposed, in retrospect, that managing to narrow down the area the dog's owners lived in was a stroke of good luck that he couldn't count on continuing. Under other circumstances, he might have spent days - weeks, even - pottering around Sumaru, hoping that the dog both caught a scent and communicated where he needed to go to find the source. To have been in just the right place at just the right time was nothing short of a Christmas miracle. But, even then, some legwork was required. Fortunately for both him and the dog, they had energy to spare and no obligations to speak of.

He had little in the way of a process. He wasn't as sharp as some of his peers, he didn't have Tamaki's training, and there were no spirits or demons lingering nearby that would have aided him without incurring some great price - assuming they deigned to give him the truth at all. But what he lacked in technique, Hyousuke made up for in determination. That, and it seemed that fate had decided he would have a good day that day, and it didn't take long for someone to recognise just who the dog belonged to.

Their reaction had been puzzling, however. They seemed to know the family that the dog belonged to, they seemed to know that they *had* a dog - but they'd not heard any news about it going missing. Hyousuke and the stranger assumed that it was simply because they didn't know the family particularly well and thought no more of it, but even so, the interaction lingered in the back of his mind. The dog seemed to have no such worries, however. Once it recognised the route home, and scents that were no doubt familiar, its pace grew ever quicker, and its barking ever louder.

It bounded forward, straining against the leash with all of the might that a little dog could muster. It turned back to Hyousuke, partly to look at him and wonder why it was being restrained so much, and partly to check that his new friend was still there to join him on the journey back. Hyousuke himself couldn't help but smile. To see it so overjoyed at the prospect of going home, knowing that there was a loving family waiting to welcome it back with open arms... It was a joyous occasion for him too.

He found it strange, then, that his heart felt heavy at the thought he would have to let his new friend go. Intellectually, he knew there was no reason for it. This was the culmination of a case that had been weeks in the making. He had come to Tamaki, begging for help with it. He had housed the dog, fed it, watered it, looked after it, made sure it was hale and healthy, all in service of making sure that it went back to the people that loved it the most. So why did the thought of it hurt so much?

No matter how he tried to push the thoughts back, or sequester them away in some corner of his mind like the rest of his mind's unwanted tangents, he couldn't stop thinking on it. He wanted to. How desperately did he want to, and allow himself to continue the rest of his life in peace. But every time he looked down at that dog, bounding along and tugging him ever closer to the apartment of the people that he truly belonged to, the thoughts were dredged up from the depths of his mind, and bared for him to witness all over again.

Hyousuke came to the door of the family in question before too long. He'd already spent quite a while with the pup, but even then, it felt like it hadn't been time enough. An idle thought crossed his mind that they might be willing to let him visit, but he cast it away. It would be best not to ask. They no doubt had enough going on, and would need time to recover after being put through so much. He couldn't impose on them like that, even if it hurt him to walk away.

Hyousuke rapped on their door, his knuckles sending out a few short, sharp, noises ringing towards the other side. He stood back, stock-still and doing his utmost to maintain a straight face, while the dog fidgeted about on the spot in a desperate attempt at breaking free of its bindings. Its efforts only intensified when the door creaked open, and a man stepped through to regard him. Hyousuke waited a moment, thinking he needed a second to realise what was happening, but all he was met with was a blank, neutral, stare.

"Can I help you?" The man asked, his voice flat as his expression. Stunned by his indifference, Hyousuke could only stare on in shocked silence. His mouth moved as if to say something, but the words wouldn't come. He pushed through it, as he did with many things he had misgivings about, but the shock never quite left his voice.
"Y-your dog. I found your dog. He was missing, and I-"
"I'm sorry, you must have the wrong apartment. We don't have a dog."
If the indifference had been a leading punch, the denial was a haymaker to his jaw. Stammering, Hyousuke searched for the words, but none came easily.

"B-but your address-"
"Again, we don't have a dog. I'm not sure whose this is, but it's not ours."
The dog itself seemed to think differently. It strained with all its might against the leash, barking and leaping and bounding as much as its little legs could manage. It alternated between looking up at the man with round, begging, eyes, and turning them back towards Hyousuke as if to demand that it be allowed to slip the leash and return to its family.
"But I- But he- He recognises you! Look!"

Hyousuke's insistence drew a call from behind the man. A woman, if the voice was any indication. Even if the stranger was not in his way, Hyousuke would not have been able to see in from the angle he stood at, but he was certain he could hear the sound of a child playing nearby as well.
"Honey?" She called out, sounding more inquisitive than concerned. "Is everything alright?"
"It's fine dear, no need to worry." He called back, before sighing and leaning in a little. Voice lowered and expression hardening, he spoke in a stony, insistent, tone.

"Look, kid. I'm going to be honest with you. We don't want that thing anywhere near us."
A third blow knocked the wind from Hyousuke, like a sledgehammer to the chest. He hadn't even the strength to offer a stammering rebuttal, and the stranger spoke uninterrupted. "Me and my wife thought we were gonna get a purebreed. Something worth keeping around. Instead, some piece of shit sells us a mutt and skips town before we can do anything about him. Do you know how much that thing might cost to feed? To treat? Hell, we don't even know if it's stopped growing yet, and it's pushing the size limit on most apartments as it is."

Hyousuke found his voice, but not the strength to back it up. The blows had come one after the other, and left reeling, he hadn't been able to gather himself enough to put force behind his words.
"But he's family...! You can't just-"
"It's a *dog.* It's not even one we wanted. I don't know what you think it is to us, but it's sure as hell not family."
Hyousuke didn't even blink at that. Too shocked to even act on reflex, he felt his mind go blank and any thoughts of calm leave him. Slowly, but surely, they were burnt away by violent, incandescent, rage.

"You're... abandoning him."
"That's not quite how I'd put it, but-"
"BULLSHIT!" Hyousuke's face contorted into something. Anger, maybe. Frustration, perhaps. Sadness, even. It was hard to tell what exactly plagued his features, but the guttural roar that was his voice left no doubt that he was upset. "You didn't see how desperate he was to try and get back home! Out there, where you- where you ABANDONED him! He was scared, he was alone, and he was lashing out at people, and all he wanted was to come back home! And you're telling me you LEFT HIM THERE?"

"Honey, is everything alright?" The woman asked again, audibly stepping closer, her slippers a rapid and rhythmic patter against the wooden floor. "Do I need to call the-"
"No need, dear. He was just leaving." The stranger turned from his wife to Hyousuke, then hissed in a low enough voice that their child would not risk hearing. "I don't give a shit what you do with that thing. But if I see you or it here again, I'm calling the cops."
He didn't wait for a response before slamming the door in Hyousuke's face, but that didn't stop him from bellowing one out.
"ASSHOLES! EAT SHIT! FUCK YOU!"

The dog had stopped barking by that point. Instead, it whined. First at the door, then at Hyousuke. It pawed at him too, desperately - but quietly - trying to grab his attention. He snapped his head down, the rage still lingering on him, but it all softened the moment he beheld that poor, innocent, creature.
"...I'm sorry." He said, just as quietly. His anger had blazed hot, but short, burning itself away until only cold ash remained. Despair, sadness, dismay - whatever it was, it hollowed out a pit in his stomach, and left him staggering dumbly away.

Hyousuke didn't know when he'd made it back to the park. Perhaps it'd been minutes. perhaps tens of them. Perhaps an hour. It was hard to say, with the sky in a perpetual state of darkness, and the timing of sun's daylight arc shifting from day to day. But it didn't matter. He all but collapsed into the first bench he found, unable to support his own weight any longer, and slumped forward with his arms crossed loosely on his knees. The dog padded forward, staring up and whining softly, nudging its nose into his leg to try and grab his attention. Hyousuke didn't even hesitate, though his movements were shaky. He reached down, and held a shaking hand to the head of the dog, smiling weakly.

"Shit... why wouldn't they... How could they..." A million thoughts roiled in his head, each struggling to drown the other out. Every time he tried to figure out an answer to one, or force another to remain quiet long enough that he could focus on something else, two more took its place and wracked his mind. His hands gripped his knees tight, his knuckles paled, his arms shook, and then - with him unable to maintain even the faintest semblance of strength - something spattered against the back of his hand.

The sky was thick with clouds of a dark and foreboding grey, but no rain fell upon them.
Yet still, it hammered down against his hands.

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-16: Simple Souls

2026-08-16T22:34:37Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Cutscene: Simple Souls''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki *'''Where:''' Aoba Ward *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-16 *'''IC Date:''' 24 Dec 2012 *'''Summary''': ''With the lost dog's family tracked down (see2026-08-14: Small Steps Forward), Hyousuke moves to return it to its family.'' ---- Hyousuke supposed, in retrospect, that managing to narrow down the area the dog's owners lived in was a stroke of good luck that he couldn't count on continuing. Under other circum..."

*'''Cutscene: Simple Souls'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]]
*'''Where:''' Aoba Ward
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-16
*'''IC Date:''' 24 Dec 2012
*'''Summary''': ''With the lost dog's family tracked down (see[[2026-08-14: Small Steps Forward]]), Hyousuke moves to return it to its family.''

----

Hyousuke supposed, in retrospect, that managing to narrow down the area the dog's owners lived in was a stroke of good luck that he couldn't count on continuing. Under other circumstances, he might have spent days - weeks, even - pottering around Sumaru, hoping that the dog both caught a scent and communicated where he needed to go to find the source. To have been in just the right place at just the right time was nothing short of a Christmas miracle. But, even then, some legwork was required. Fortunately for both him and the dog, they had energy to spare and no obligations to speak of.

He had little in the way of a process. He wasn't as sharp as some of his peers, he didn't have Tamaki's training, and there were no spirits or demons lingering nearby that would have aided him without incurring some great price - assuming they deigned to give him the truth at all. But what he lacked in technique, Hyousuke made up for in determination. That, and it seemed that fate had decided he would have a good day that day, and it didn't take long for someone to recognise just who the dog belonged to.

Their reaction had been puzzling, however. They seemed to know the family that the dog belonged to, they seemed to know that they *had* a dog - but they'd not heard any news about it going missing. Hyousuke and the stranger assumed that it was simply because they didn't know the family particularly well and thought no more of it, but even so, the interaction lingered in the back of his mind. The dog seemed to have no such worries, however. Once it recognised the route home, and scents that were no doubt familiar, its pace grew ever quicker, and its barking ever louder.

It bounded forward, straining against the leash with all of the might that a little dog could muster. It turned back to Hyousuke, partly to look at him and wonder why it was being restrained so much, and partly to check that his new friend was still there to join him on the journey back. Hyousuke himself couldn't help but smile. To see it so overjoyed at the prospect of going home, knowing that there was a loving family waiting to welcome it back with open arms... It was a joyous occasion for him too.

He found it strange, then, that his heart felt heavy at the thought he would have to let his new friend go. Intellectually, he knew there was no reason for it. This was the culmination of a case that had been weeks in the making. He had come to Tamaki, begging for help with it. He had housed the dog, fed it, watered it, looked after it, made sure it was hale and healthy, all in service of making sure that it went back to the people that loved it the most. So why did the thought of it hurt so much?

No matter how he tried to push the thoughts back, or sequester them away in some corner of his mind like the rest of his mind's unwanted tangents, he couldn't stop thinking on it. He wanted to. How desperately did he want to, and allow himself to continue the rest of his life in peace. But every time he looked down at that dog, bounding along and tugging him ever closer to the apartment of the people that he truly belonged to, the thoughts were dredged up from the depths of his mind, and bared for him to witness all over again.

Hyousuke came to the door of the family in question before too long. He'd already spent quite a while with the pup, but even then, it felt like it hadn't been time enough. An idle thought crossed his mind that they might be willing to let him visit, but he cast it away. It would be best not to ask. They no doubt had enough going on, and would need time to recover after being put through so much. He couldn't impose on them like that, even if it hurt him to walk away.

Hyousuke rapped on their door, his knuckles sending out a few short, sharp, noises ringing towards the other side. He stood back, stock-still and doing his utmost to maintain a straight face, while the dog fidgeted about on the spot in a desperate attempt at breaking free of its bindings. Its efforts only intensified when the door creaked open, and a man stepped through to regard him. Hyousuke waited a moment, thinking he needed a second to realise what was happening, but all he was met with was a blank, neutral, stare.

"Can I help you?" The man asked, his voice flat as his expression. Stunned by his indifference, Hyousuke could only stare on in shocked silence. His mouth moved as if to say something, but the words wouldn't come. He pushed through it, as he did with many things he had misgivings about, but the shock never quite left his voice.
"Y-your dog. I found your dog. He was missing, and I-"
"I'm sorry, you must have the wrong apartment. We don't have a dog."
If the indifference had been a leading punch, the denial was a haymaker to his jaw. Stammering, Hyousuke searched for the words, but none came easily.

"B-but your address-"
"Again, we don't have a dog. I'm not sure whose this is, but it's not ours."
The dog itself seemed to think differently. It strained with all its might against the leash, barking and leaping and bounding as much as its little legs could manage. It alternated between looking up at the man with round, begging, eyes, and turning them back towards Hyousuke as if to demand that it be allowed to slip the leash and return to its family.
"But I- But he- He recognises you! Look!"

Hyousuke's insistence drew a call from behind the man. A woman, if the voice was any indication. Even if the stranger was not in his way, Hyousuke would not have been able to see in from the angle he stood at, but he was certain he could hear the sound of a child playing nearby as well.
"Honey?" She called out, sounding more inquisitive than concerned. "Is everything alright?"
"It's fine dear, no need to worry." He called back, before sighing and leaning in a little. Voice lowered and expression hardening, he spoke in a stony, insistent, tone.

"Look, kid. I'm going to be honest with you. We don't want that thing anywhere near us."
A third blow knocked the wind from Hyousuke, like a sledgehammer to the chest. He hadn't even the strength to offer a stammering rebuttal, and the stranger spoke uninterrupted. "Me and my wife thought we were gonna get a purebreed. Something worth keeping around. Instead, some piece of shit sells us a mutt and skips town before we can do anything about him. Do you know how much that thing might cost to feed? To treat? Hell, we don't even know if it's stopped growing yet, and it's pushing the size limit on most apartments as it is."

Hyousuke found his voice, but not the strength to back it up. The blows had come one after the other, and left reeling, he hadn't been able to gather himself enough to put force behind his words.
"But he's family...! You can't just-"
"It's a *dog.* It's not even one we wanted. I don't know what you think it is to us, but it's sure as hell not family."
Hyousuke didn't even blink at that. Too shocked to even act on reflex, he felt his mind go blank and any thoughts of calm leave him. Slowly, but surely, they were burnt away by violent, incandescent, rage.

"You're... abandoning him."
"That's not quite how I'd put it, but-"
"BULLSHIT!" Hyousuke's face contorted into something. Anger, maybe. Frustration, perhaps. Sadness, even. It was hard to tell what exactly plagued his features, but the guttural roar that was his voice left no doubt that he was upset. "You didn't see how desperate he was to try and get back home! Out there, where you- where you ABANDONED him! He was scared, he was alone, and he was lashing out at people, and all he wanted was to come back home! And you're telling me you LEFT HIM THERE?"

"Honey, is everything alright?" The woman asked again, audibly stepping closer, her slippers a rapid and rhythmic patter against the wooden floor. "Do I need to call the-"
"No need, dear. He was just leaving." The stranger turned from his wife to Hyousuke, then hissed in a low enough voice that their child would not risk hearing. "I don't give a shit what you do with that thing. But if I see you or it here again, I'm calling the cops."
He didn't wait for a response before slamming the door in Hyousuke's face, but that didn't stop him from bellowing one out.
"ASSHOLES! EAT SHIT! FUCK YOU!"

The dog had stopped barking by that point. Instead, it whined. First at the door, then at Hyousuke. It pawed at him too, desperately - but quietly - trying to grab his attention. He snapped his head down, the rage still lingering on him, but it all softened the moment he beheld that poor, innocent, creature.
"...I'm sorry." He said, just as quietly. His anger had blazed hot, but short, burning itself away until only cold ash remained. Despair, sadness, dismay - whatever it was, it hollowed out a pit in his stomach, and left him staggering dumbly away.

Hyousuke didn't know when he'd made it back to the park. Perhaps it'd been minutes. perhaps tens of them. Perhaps an hour. It was hard to say, with the sky in a perpetual state of darkness, and the timing of sun's daylight arc shifting from day to day. But it didn't matter. He all but collapsed into the first bench he found, unable to support his own weight any longer, and slumped forward with his arms crossed loosely on his knees. The dog padded forward, staring up and whining softly, nudging its nose into his leg to try and grab his attention. Hyousuke didn't even hesitate, though his movements were shaky. He reached down, and held a shaking hand to the head of the dog, smiling weakly.

"Shit... why wouldn't they... How could they..." A million thoughts roiled in his head, each struggling to drown the other out. Every time he tried to figure out an answer to one, or force another to remain quiet long enough that he could focus on something else, two more took its place and wracked his mind. His hands gripped his knees tight, his knuckles paled, his arms shook, and then - with him unable to maintain even the faintest semblance of strength - something spattered against the back of his hand.

The sky was thick with clouds of a dark and foreboding grey, but no rain fell upon them.
Yet still, it hammered down against his hands.

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-14: Small Steps Forward

2026-08-16T22:32:33Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: Small Steps Forward'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Tamaki Uchida]]
*'''Where:''' Aoba Way
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-14
*'''IC Date:''' 24 Dec 2012
*'''Summary''': ''With the mystery of the monster stalking Sumaru during the night resolved, Hyousuke meets Tamaki to inform her of the good news. However, even with that case closed, another remains to be resolved.''

----

(|================================= Aoba Way =================================|)
-=================================================== Sumaru City/Aoba Ward ====-
Ample shopping can be found at the stores that dot Aoba Way, but not just the
normal kind. Aside from a door to the Velvet Room for Persona Users, one can
hear and spread all kinds of rumors at Kuzunoha Detective Agency. At the
internet cafe Double Slash, one can surf on the web to find some of those very
rumors *and* munch on various snacks served at the back bar by an apathetic
teenage boy. The blue carpeting and wall-to-wall aquariums lend the place a
relaxing atmosphere.

The bar Parabellum has a more noir vibe, with a mostly wooden interior, brown
leather seats, green glass lamps, and brick pillars along the walls. The elderly
barkeeper offers a number of unique mixed drinks, all named after weapons...
which might be a clever cover for the fact that, according to rumor, he sells
*real* weapons. The fashion boutique Rosa Candida offers the latest in trends
and (per rumor) armor, its decor stark yet stylish, with clothes and bags alike
on display for customers along the walls and on a central table. A pair of
changing rooms are naturally available; to use them, just get the permission of
the saleswoman in red first.

Etheria offers spa treatments to the weary among bright lamps, stained glass
windows, off-white decor, and an esthetician with a giant blue crystal crown.
The name of the place fuses "ether" and "materia," and the treatments are
effective: those who use this spa walk away feeling refreshed in mind and body.

And, of course, it's not Sumaru City without a local Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy
branch. This one looks the same as all the others: aisles and walls laden with
medicine of all kinds, overseen from the back counter where magazines are
available by one of seven identical sisters. Satomi Sister #1 runs this one; an
English-language piano version of the store's theme plays here. "Always in the
side of those who fight: our local... drug store~ o/`"
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The depths of December were rarely a pleasant time of year, at least when it came to the weather. Cold winds and chilled breezes whipped through Sumaru like razors, cutting and stinging at any skin that had the audacity to remain exposed. Even when the air remained still, the lingering cold sapped the strength from those who remained in it for too long, gnawing at their very bones and siphoning the heat from the cores of their bodies. The sky was a monotone sheet of grey, only occasionally broken up by clouds meandering across that bleak canvas, while the sun itself struggled to maintain more than a weak glow upon the land.

Hyousuke paid little mind to it all as he lingered on a lone park bench. There were two other, far more important, things that took his attention up. The first was all the advice he had received thus far from the people he'd spoken to. The future was a daunting thing, and even after those extensive talks with people he thought might have the answer, he had only gotten marginally closer to one. It was too late to do anything about the entrance exams - even if he were inclined to apply, the deadline had long since passed. But the rest of the future... he could still do *something* about that. But what, and how?

The second important thing sat idly at his feet, gnawing on a stick it had found along the way. Short, though well-proportioned for its smaller stature, the golden-furred dog padded around and jabbed intermittently at Hyousuke's leg, demanding he play with a low - but far from aggressive - growl. Its features were a little strange, for something with a fur that colour. While most might have expected the rounded face and details of a retriever, it instead had pointed ears a more angular shape to its face, reminiscent of some Japanese breeds.

"Not now, we're still waiting for Uchida-san." Hyousuke said, chuckling a little while he rubbed his friend's head. "Maybe after." The dog simply growled again, not understanding the words, but getting a vague understanding from his tone. That did not stop it from jabbing at his leg again, however.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

Sweatpants. Windbreaker. Scarf. Headband. The grey-clad Tamaki Uchida, teasingly nicknamed 'Muscle Freak' in high school, decides to kill two birds in one stone and get her daily jogging in on the way to see Hyousuke in Aoba Park. What better way to stay warm in the cold than to bundle up ''and'' get some cardio in?

Especially after being cooped up while recovering from the encounter with Tsurugi some time ago, and studying for finals, and catching up with her casework ...

Speaking of casework! That's the occasion that calls her to meet with Hyousuke in the first place. As she approaches him and his new canine friend, she pulls her scarf down and smiles at them both, still jogging in place. "Hiii! Hope I'm not -- " ''huff'' " -- too late -- " ''huff'' " -- hahaha."

She takes a seat next to him on the bench and retrieves her phone from her sweatpants pocket to go over her notes while she catches her breath. "So! You want to go first, or should I?" She gives the little dog a sidelong glance and adds, "I think you might have one major development to fill me in on, if I'm inferring things correctly."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke, for his part, didn't wear anything particularly noteworthy. A jacket that was perhaps a little thinner than most might have expected so late in the year, a pair of jeans that had clearly seen their fair share of usage, and some recently-cleaned walking shoes. He didn't seem bothered much by the cold, with his most noteworthy reaction being a short squint when the wind blew into his eyes - in fact, he seemed quite comfortable in the cold, having settled in quite nicely while the dog demanded that he do literally anything *but* that.

"Nah, I've only been here a little while." Hyousuke said to Tamaki, before shuffling over to make sure there was enough room on the bench. He'd already left plenty, but it never hurt to make sure. While he gave her room, the dog was intent on doing the exact opposite, and ambled over to her with the comically large stick still clenched between his teeth. It attempted to try and lick her, but Hyousuke held the leash firm, doing his best to keep it from slobbering over people who weren't prepared for it.

"Guess I'd better go first. Little guy looks like he wants me to do introductions anyway." Hyousuke chuckled, reaching down to ruffle the dog's fur, before straightening back up again. It tried to bark affectionately, but there was only so much that could be done while there was a chunk of tree still wedged between its jaws. Alas, it was too stubborn to let go, and not quite smart enough to recognise what the problem was in the first place. "You remember that rumour about something going around attacking people at night? Well... you're looking at him."

It was indeed the dog that was getting frustrated at the stick for not allowing it to bark to its fullest potential. Hyousuke said it without a note of deception to his voice.
"Me and some friends found a rumour demon in the same place as the collar, and it turned back into this little guy when we beat it. I'm thinking it's a dog that got lost on a walk and started lashing out because it was scared, so when rumours started getting around..." He was sure she knew the rest, given her line of work.

"I've been looking after him since then. Got him checked out by Igor and the vet. But it's weird... I know the collar got damaged, but he's got no chip, there's no missing posters or people asking for help finding a dog... I can't find a thing that'd help me get him back to his family." He looked a little mournfully down at the dog. The dog did not return the gesture, instead looking up with eyes that demanded it be freed to greet Tamaki, or instead be played with so it could stave off boredom.

"How about you? Any luck with that collar?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

Maybe it's a sign of something that Tamaki's neither a fan of the cold nor water, and snow is ''both''. No wonder she bundles up so much and tries to keep her blood pumping in this weather.

Tamaki doesn't rebuff the dog's enthusiastic affection, and she offers her hand out to the pup when it bounds over to her. "Good boy! Good ''boy''!" With a good-natured chuckle, she ruffles the top of his head and pulls her hand back as she returns her attention to Hyousuke.

Her expression softens at Hyousuke's explanation that this is the same dog as in the rumor. She peers back at the dog in ''recognition'', a reminder of someone else from her past: someone who was more gentle in reality than what popular perception of him suggested, someone abandoned by his family who lashed out because he found no support network in his peers or authority figures.

Someone who was the sole reason she got into this mess, among other consequences, some too painful to think about too closely in the company of others. All she responds with is a quiet, understated, "... sounds about right. Good on you for looking after him."

As for the collar: "Well, I ''did'' figure out the brand and make of the collar, and I figured out a few likely pet stores it came from and have a rough sketch of a radius of where its owner most likely lives in relation to those, but ..." She folds her arms and tilts her head. "'Pet detective' is honestly a separate kind of detective entirely. Most of my time was spent researching how others do it, and it ''does'' involve being the one to put up missing posters, trying to walk around town to locate the pet for a few days, or asking around. That's on me, but -- "

She slumps her head forward. "Most of the advice out there in the 'pet detective' profession is about finding ''cats''. About an 80% to 20% ratio in terms of information density when it comes to tracking down dogs." At least in Japan.

She sits upright again, and her gaze slides back over to the dog. "That said, I do have one idea." Wordlessly, she retrieves the collar from her bag and holds it out for him to sniff. "Recognize this, boy?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog did not know nor care what Tamaki was a fan of. Unless she was a fan of it. In that case, it was very concerned with it, and was all too happy to soak up her affection. With the closest thing to a happy expression it could make with that slab of discarded tree lodged in its gob, the dog leaned up into her pets, tail wagging with abject delight at the fact that yet another person had recognised how it deserved affection and attention in equal measure. It wasn't enough to drop the stick, however.

It was, in fairness, a very nice stick.

"Couldn't just leave him out there." Hyousuke said, in regards to her remark about taking care of the dog. "Poor guy wasn't trying to hurt anyone. He was... he was just scared, that's all. He was lost and alone, and he needed someone to just make sure he was doing alright." The smile on Hyousuke's face grew taut for a moment, more something that was forced to remain on his lips than any expression of politeness or mirth. He recovered quickly enough, but something soft and quiet as a whispering breeze fell from him before it did. "...Least you've got a family to go back to."

Hyousuke listened intently to Tamaki's explanation when it was given. While the finer details were lost on him, he at least appeared to be capable of grasping the broader strokes, and why she'd had trouble with his case in particular. His expression shifted slowly, but noticeably, turning from intrigue to consternation and then right back to fascination. The dog, meanwhile, showed little sign of understanding anything. New friend was talking, and it listened, but it was only in hopes that she would deign to grant it more attention. However, when she produced the collar, it dropped the stick almost immediately, and moved eagerly in.

It sniffed. It snuffed. It snuffed, and then it sniffed. It was clear that it recognised it, but to what degree was unclear until it drew back and barked loudly, wagging its tail furiously while looking up at Tamaki.
"Huh. Looks like that got a reaction out of him. What do we do with it now though? Is he gonna track its scent back to his house or something?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

Something cuts too closely for Tamaki's comfort when Hyousuke remarks on family. Not about her own, but that figure the dog reminds her of. Just as immediately, her mind locks the train of thought down again; thinking about it now just strikes her like needlessly touching a hot stove.

''Hic sunt dracones.'' That map's territory has already been explored thoroughly, well-trod and worn. Nothing lies in that direction but pain! Distantly, the jingle of Aoba Way's pharmacy reaches her ears, speaking of medications of all sorts to soothe what ails her, topological ointments to treat the cuts and bruises.

"'Least he has you," she offers in turn.

Then, after the dog deeply sniffs of the collar and begins barking his head off, Tamaki thinks ''Jackpot.'' Well, kind of. Tamaki stands up and stretches her limbs for a few moments, then shrugs in Hyousuke's direction. "Is that how it works? We can give it a shot, at least. If it doesn't work out, I can put in a word for you with a proper pet detective, or I can do the work when it comes to tracking down his ''owners'' ..."

She bends down, planting her hands on her knees, and looks directly at the dog before glancing at the sidewalk leading back out of Aoba Park. "Well, boy? Which way?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog, though perhaps not understanding exactly what Tamaki had said, was eager to go regardless.He bolted off, almost sweeping Hyousuke off his feet with how suddenly moved, leaving him scrambling to maintain his footing and keep the dog at a reasonable distance.
"At least we know he's got something!" He joked, though his voice was a little strained from trying to balance keeping the dog close and not choking it with the collar. He made a quiet mental note to look for a harness that fit later on - perhaps once the furore of Christmas shopping and the various sales had died down.

He then chided himself, remindinghimself that he wasn't keeping the dog. In fact, if the lead went anywhere, it was to be relinquished before too long.

Before the dismay at such a notion had a chance to settle in, Hyousuke found a comfortable pace for both him and the dog, despite how eager it seemed to slip the leash and find its people. Back and forth, left and right, it followed whatever invisible trail its nose led it down, only stopping when he found a dead end. Even then, it didn't stop for long, instead turning right back around and trotting off in another direction entirely.
"Hoping he'll have his family back soon instead of just me." Hyousuke eventually said in response to Tamaki, albeit quite belatedly. He seemed a little sheepish as he did so. Like he'd let slip something he didn't want her hearing, but knew it was too late to pretend like nothing had happened. "I'm just here to make sure he gets where he's going. I can barely take care of myself, I can't imagine handling this little guy... I don't even have my own place yet."

Finally, the dog came to a stop, though it was in the middle of the pavement slap-bang between an assortment of apartments. It sniffed and snuffed and snoffed once more, but despite its attempts at finding the trail once more, it remained in place and whined. With wide and begging eyes, it looked between Hyousuke and Tamaki, as if they themselves stood a chance of picking the scent back up and taking him back home.
"Damn, i think that's about as far as he can get us. You think the collar lost some of its scent while it was in the woods? It looked like it'd been there a while. Can't imagine it'd be easy to track a scent through concrete either."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

He got ''something'', at least. Off he goes! It's a good thing Tamaki's in her winter jogging gear as the dog explores all around here, all around there, all around everywhere.

Hyousuke's belated response garners a shrug from Tamaki. "I mean, if he ''does'' have just you, that's better than no one -- which is what he had before you got involved. Give yourself some credit for the improvement in his circumstances from before, yeah? Even if you're just helping him get along to where he belongs."

It doesn't go unnoticed that Hyousuke's putting some thought into things. "It's good that you're considering these things; maybe you can figure out what you'd need your life to be like so you ''could'' one day soon be in a position to handle 'that little guy.'" Beat. "Or some other little guy."

A shiver of ... ''some'' feeling shoots down her spine, and it isn't from the snow.

(Hey, Tamaki, isn't that advice you should follow, too? What, you think it's too ''cringe'' to relate your past problems to Hyousuke's situation? Gotta fill your eyes and with more recent sights and sounds to distract you?)

Hesitantly, quietly, some honest part of her breaks through her cheery facade and does finally admit, "... if his family does take him back, letting go is much easier said than done."

Eventually the trail the dog seems to be following goes as cold as the December weather.

As for Hyousuke's most recent question, Tamaki blankly stares back and shrugs haplessly. "... Probably? Don't look at me, I don't know how well scent-tracking for dogs works. I'm more of a cat person." As she examines their surroundings more closely, she does get an inkling. "He might have recognized some areas along the way, though. You think we should go ask around the place and see if people recognize him? It's a lot easier to do that with him right here with us instead of going off of an old collar like I had."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Intellectually, he knew what Tamaki said was true. He'd freed the dog of the supernatural influences binding its heart, he'd fed and housed it when there was nobody to take care of it, and he went to every possible length to try and get it back to its owners. But even so, when he looked down at the dog and how it seemed so happy to have finally caught a whiff of its people, the weak smile he wore turned just a little more hollow. He did what he could to hide it, but there was only so much that could be done when in such close proximity.

"...If he's happy, then I'll be happy. He deserves that much after everything he's gone through."
Hyousuke wasn't sure what that sentiment said about him, especially when said in response to what Tamaki had told him, but it was what he'd settled on. He hadn't lied either. He wanted that poor thing to find its loving family and a warm home. He wanted it to have somewhere to go on Christmas, and not linger in some small, closed-off room where the closest thing it had to company was the memory of friends with better places to be.

So why did it all leave his heart so heavy?

It didn't bear thinking about. There was a job to do, and Tamaki had already moved the conversation along to something else that made him stop and think. Hyousuke had to bite back a remark that she was the third person to have expressed a similar sentiment to him. Instead, he pondered what he could tell her that wasn't some pithy remark that contributed nothing. It took a few seconds, and all of them were spent staring thoughtfully ahead at the middle distance. When he finally spoke it, he didn't seem happy or sad about the sentiment Julian had instilled in him. Rather, he spoke how he looked. Thoughtful.

"Just need to figure out one concrete thing I can do. Take a step forward." The road was long and winding, shrouded by fog, and he was certain it would double back on itself and be fraught with danger. But such was life, and he had little choice but to walk it. Speaking of walks, the dog's one had come to an abrupt pause, but Tamaki at least had a plan of action that he could get behind. "You sure you want to spend Christmas Eve with me, asking about a stray dog?"

He chuckled, conveniently ignoring the fact that he himself had nobody to spend it with, before a look of realisation dawned.
"Oh, crap, I almost forgot. Here, take this. Now, I know what it looks like, but I swear it's nothing I shouldn't be able to get." The ornate bag was made from thick and decorated paper, with a couple of strings at the top to secure it and keep the contents away from prying eyes. It looked, for all intents and purposes, like a bottle of wine wrapped up nice. That was because it was a bottle of wine.

Cooking wine. Fancy cooking wine with a fancy-looking label, but perfectly legal for a minor to purchase.

"I know it's not much, but I wanted to do something to say thanks for everything you did this year. So, uh, thanks. And merry Christmas, Uchida-san."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

Much the same could be said of Tamaki. 'Time heals all wounds,' they say, and still ...

Why did it leave her own heart so heavy?

... ''is'' this what Tamaki wants to do with her Christmas Eve? Single as she is now, she doesn't have anyone else in mind to spend it with, but ... She gives Hyousuke a look which very much suggests that no, she would rather be somewhere else on this holiday. She sheepishly rubs the back of her neck and glances away, back towards the direction of her own home.

"I have ... plans," she lies, wholly transparently.

Her mood turns around instantly when Hyousuke brings out the gift of (cooking) wine, and it's only to prevent a minor from being seen with it in public that she hastily snatches it away from him. "Oh, thank you! You shouldn't have! I mean -- you ''shouldn't'' have, but -- " She looks up to the sky and presses a finger against her chin before she winks at Hyousuke. "Let's just refrain from mentioning this from Suou-tantei."

At least she does realize this is the kind of wine best meant for cooking and not drinking.

Tamaki points at Hyousuke as she starts to walk away back to her apartment. "Merry Christmas to you, too!"
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-16: Options

2026-08-16T21:20:03Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Cutscene: Options''' *'''Cast:''' Katsuko Yoshinaga, Hiroyuki Yoshinaga *'''Where:''' Setagaya, Tokyo *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-16 *'''IC Date:''' Thu Dec 20 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Following the events of 2026-08-05: A Fault in the Ice, Katsuko weighs her option son how to deal with Shinichi's Homunculus, and protect herself from it at the same time.'' ---- Katsuko's options were limited. Shinichi - or, rather, the Homunculus that had take his body - neede..."

*'''Cutscene: Options'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], Hiroyuki Yoshinaga
*'''Where:''' Setagaya, Tokyo
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-16
*'''IC Date:''' Thu Dec 20 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Following the events of [[2026-08-05: A Fault in the Ice]], Katsuko weighs her option son how to deal with Shinichi's Homunculus, and protect herself from it at the same time.''

----

Katsuko's options were limited.

Shinichi - or, rather, the Homunculus that had take his body - needed to be dealt with, but such a thing would come in due course. Until then, its actions had to be countered, and its desires needed to be kept in check. As she stalked through the halls, taking care to watch her back and keep an eye on the shadows in case Shinichi showed up again, Katsuko began to weigh what few options she had available. She could find an authority figure at the school and beg their assistance, she could try and provoke her peers into action through seeding gossip and rumours, or she could seek the counsel of her father.

The teachers were the first option to be dismissed. Shujin's faculty was, to put it bluntly, useless. The vast majority of them seemed too concerned with their own personal glory to care too much about what one particular teacher did, or were determined to keep their heads down so that they could, in turn, keep their jobs. The few that actually seemed like they cared enough to step in if a student was being harassed had little power, and if she was to be frank, she doubted the Homunculus would have listened to them much beyond what was needed to get them off its back.

The students were equally worthless. Their reactions had all been mixed, of course - that much was typical of any large gathering of people. Some saw it as an example to be followed, praising its assertiveness and its treatment of certain rogue elements in the school. Others saw it as dangerous, and were determined to stay out of its way, hoping they could make it to the end of the school year before they had a chance to draw its attention. Others still were drawn to it, and his efforts at seducing them were welcomed with open arms. But none, save perhaps for the delinquent and the mop-haired criminal, seemed in any way inclined to rebel against the common sentiment. Any efforts she made would have been snuffed out before they had a chance to gain traction.

Then there was her father - an option that became much more apparent when she stepped through the door to her home, and announced her arrival. Her father rounded a corner to meet her, moving as quickly as his injured legs would allow. The smile he gave her was as warm as a summer breeze, twice as soft, and the single most genuine thing she had ever had the pleasure of beholding. His eyes twinkled with that selfsame expression as soon as he saw her, and he made no attempt to suppress the warmth in his voice as he greeted her.

"Katsuko-chan, there you are. You're home late - did the literature club keep you long?"
She shook her head a little. Raven locks drifted with the small gesture, and although she did not return his warmth as openly, she wore a smile for him that - while smaller and weaker than most others would have, even in polite neutrality - spoke volumes when compared to how different it was to her usual stony exterior.
"A little. I needed to ask for advice with my exams as well."
"Ah, finals. I still remember mine... I don't envy you. Well, you don't need to worry about that right now. Come and sit down, before your dinner gets cold."

Perhaps, just this once, it could help to ask him for help. To pull some strings, at least - she didn't expect him to get involved directly. She didn't need much, just enough pressure on the faculty to actually do something, and keep the Homunculus suppressed long enough that she could conduct her investigations without being interrupted. Surely, she could ask him for just that - safety in the knowledge that she wouldn't be hounded down and hurt when she returned to school, or forced to undergo some humiliating ritual to satisfy a monster's ego.

She slipped her blazer off, ready to head upstairs and change so she could eat her meal in comfort. But her father saw marks on her wrist, and before she had a chance to hide them, he strode forward.
"Katsuko-chan, your wrist." He said, a little quiet, a little forceful, and quite notably concerned. "Did something happen?"
She shook her head again, a little more firmly than she had when greeting him.
"I bruised it during gym. It'll be fine." She said, stood still in the doorway while he looked to her with slowly-mounting worry.

"Katsuko-chan..." He looked sympathetically at her, yet there was no denying the firmness in his eyes. Hard and flint-edged, his gaze was twice as sharp as hers on her best days, and thrice as unyielding. He would not force her to say - she knew that. Or, at least, she trusted that he would not. But the concern he showed her, unrestrained and unabashed, disarmed her in the kind of way that no taunting from a demon or honeyed words from other manipulators could hope to do. But she knew that man better than anyone living, she thought, and knew what total honesty would bring.

Because she could see the subtle tells that others might not have. The furrowing of his brow, the firming of his lips, the way his knuckles whitened just a little as he gripped the table's edge a little harder at the sight of even a slight injury on her. He knew it was no accident, and she knew it was useless to try and insist otherwise. But to speak to him with total honesty would be to invoke his wrath, not his assistance. All too quickly did she remember that, and with a heavy heart did she imagine what he would do if he knew the full extent of what had happened.

"It's nothing. I've dealt with it." She eventually said. She straightened as she answered, more in an attempt to firm her own convictions than to sell the idea that she was completely well. Not that it would have worked. The tells grew stronger, and there was small - yet no less present - edge to his voice. It was a razor's blade, unassuming but wickedly sharp.
"...Alright. But even if you can't tell me what this is about, will you at least let me know if I can help?" It was a difficult thing for her to reconcile. The fires of restrained fury crackled alongside abject concern, and addressing either was difficult enough. To attack both and quell them... Anyone else, she'd have negotiated a solution or brushed them off. But this was her father. He had no ulterior motives *but* to help her.

But he was a charismatic man with no shortage of connections, and no moral compunctions about using them. If he learnt what had happened to her, and who had done it, she had no doubt 'scorched earth' would be underselling what happened to Shinichi and his family. And while it was one thing to negotiate a agreement with people, deliver punishment to those who deserved it, or manipulate people to extract information from them, it was another thing entirely to attack someone that could not control their actions and get their family caught in the crossfire.

"...I will." She said, offering him another smile, though much weaker than the last. Her father didn't seem particularly happy about the response, but nodded anyway, his own face pulled into a small - but accepting - smile.
"Alright. I'll be here whenever you need me." With that, he held his arms open a little wider, and she took the invitation quickly. The hug was short and simple, but the affection between them was as clear as day. "Just say the word, okay?"
Katsuko nodded.
"Okay."
"Thank you."

Before another word could be said, his phone emitted a shrill tone, and he excused himself to answer it. The conversation was short, but it was spirited to say the least. Her father's voice did not get excessively loud, but the venom with which he addressed the person on the other line had Katsuko feeling like she should have been flinching backwards. That was not to mention the way his demeanour changed. What had once been a relaxed - if nevertheless worried - countenance contorted into snarling anger, his muscles tensed, his knuckles whitened to the point where it looked like he would snap the phone... and then he just let it all fall away the moment he hung up. Like flipping a switch.

"Katsuko-chan, I... have some bad news about our trip."
Katsuko blinked, and what happiness she'd had began to shift to worry. Still subtle, but to her father, it was extremely evident - his own expression began to soften and shift in return. "I won't be able to make it. I'm sorry, but work needs me. Something big's come up, and if I don't go in now, I-"
"It's fine." Katsuko said sharply. She did her best to maintain a calm and placid expression, even smiling a little to try and reassure him. But they both knew the truth of the matter.

Her expression wavered as her father tried to think of something to say, but in the end, all he could really do was pull her in for another lingering embrace. She returned it, but she was ashamed to admit - even privately - that part of the reason was to hide the look of disappointment, sadness, and outright anger that plagued her.
"We'll go another time, Katsuko-chan. I promise. So just wait a little longer, alright?"
"I..." She looked at him when he pulled away. If she insisted he stayed, would he? If she reminded him of how many times he'd said that before, would he change his mind?

"...Okay." She said, nodding.
It was all she could bring herself to do.

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-14: Small Steps Forward

2026-08-16T12:51:51Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Small Steps Forward''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Tamaki Uchida *'''Where:''' Aoba Way *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-14 *'''IC Date:''' 24 Dec 20212 *'''Summary''': ''With the mystery of the monster stalking Sumaru during the night resolved, Hyousuke meets Tamaki to inform her of the good news. However, even with that case closed, another remains to be resolved.'' ---- (|================================= Aoba Way =================================|) -==..."

*'''Log: Small Steps Forward'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Tamaki Uchida]]
*'''Where:''' Aoba Way
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-14
*'''IC Date:''' 24 Dec 20212
*'''Summary''': ''With the mystery of the monster stalking Sumaru during the night resolved, Hyousuke meets Tamaki to inform her of the good news. However, even with that case closed, another remains to be resolved.''

----

(|================================= Aoba Way =================================|)
-=================================================== Sumaru City/Aoba Ward ====-
Ample shopping can be found at the stores that dot Aoba Way, but not just the
normal kind. Aside from a door to the Velvet Room for Persona Users, one can
hear and spread all kinds of rumors at Kuzunoha Detective Agency. At the
internet cafe Double Slash, one can surf on the web to find some of those very
rumors *and* munch on various snacks served at the back bar by an apathetic
teenage boy. The blue carpeting and wall-to-wall aquariums lend the place a
relaxing atmosphere.

The bar Parabellum has a more noir vibe, with a mostly wooden interior, brown
leather seats, green glass lamps, and brick pillars along the walls. The elderly
barkeeper offers a number of unique mixed drinks, all named after weapons...
which might be a clever cover for the fact that, according to rumor, he sells
*real* weapons. The fashion boutique Rosa Candida offers the latest in trends
and (per rumor) armor, its decor stark yet stylish, with clothes and bags alike
on display for customers along the walls and on a central table. A pair of
changing rooms are naturally available; to use them, just get the permission of
the saleswoman in red first.

Etheria offers spa treatments to the weary among bright lamps, stained glass
windows, off-white decor, and an esthetician with a giant blue crystal crown.
The name of the place fuses "ether" and "materia," and the treatments are
effective: those who use this spa walk away feeling refreshed in mind and body.

And, of course, it's not Sumaru City without a local Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy
branch. This one looks the same as all the others: aisles and walls laden with
medicine of all kinds, overseen from the back counter where magazines are
available by one of seven identical sisters. Satomi Sister #1 runs this one; an
English-language piano version of the store's theme plays here. "Always in the
side of those who fight: our local... drug store~ o/`"
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The depths of December were rarely a pleasant time of year, at least when it came to the weather. Cold winds and chilled breezes whipped through Sumaru like razors, cutting and stinging at any skin that had the audacity to remain exposed. Even when the air remained still, the lingering cold sapped the strength from those who remained in it for too long, gnawing at their very bones and siphoning the heat from the cores of their bodies. The sky was a monotone sheet of grey, only occasionally broken up by clouds meandering across that bleak canvas, while the sun itself struggled to maintain more than a weak glow upon the land.

Hyousuke paid little mind to it all as he lingered on a lone park bench. There were two other, far more important, things that took his attention up. The first was all the advice he had received thus far from the people he'd spoken to. The future was a daunting thing, and even after those extensive talks with people he thought might have the answer, he had only gotten marginally closer to one. It was too late to do anything about the entrance exams - even if he were inclined to apply, the deadline had long since passed. But the rest of the future... he could still do *something* about that. But what, and how?

The second important thing sat idly at his feet, gnawing on a stick it had found along the way. Short, though well-proportioned for its smaller stature, the golden-furred dog padded around and jabbed intermittently at Hyousuke's leg, demanding he play with a low - but far from aggressive - growl. Its features were a little strange, for something with a fur that colour. While most might have expected the rounded face and details of a retriever, it instead had pointed ears a more angular shape to its face, reminiscent of some Japanese breeds.

"Not now, we're still waiting for Uchida-san." Hyousuke said, chuckling a little while he rubbed his friend's head. "Maybe after." The dog simply growled again, not understanding the words, but getting a vague understanding from his tone. That did not stop it from jabbing at his leg again, however.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

Sweatpants. Windbreaker. Scarf. Headband. The grey-clad Tamaki Uchida, teasingly nicknamed 'Muscle Freak' in high school, decides to kill two birds in one stone and get her daily jogging in on the way to see Hyousuke in Aoba Park. What better way to stay warm in the cold than to bundle up ''and'' get some cardio in?

Especially after being cooped up while recovering from the encounter with Tsurugi some time ago, and studying for finals, and catching up with her casework ...

Speaking of casework! That's the occasion that calls her to meet with Hyousuke in the first place. As she approaches him and his new canine friend, she pulls her scarf down and smiles at them both, still jogging in place. "Hiii! Hope I'm not -- " ''huff'' " -- too late -- " ''huff'' " -- hahaha."

She takes a seat next to him on the bench and retrieves her phone from her sweatpants pocket to go over her notes while she catches her breath. "So! You want to go first, or should I?" She gives the little dog a sidelong glance and adds, "I think you might have one major development to fill me in on, if I'm inferring things correctly."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke, for his part, didn't wear anything particularly noteworthy. A jacket that was perhaps a little thinner than most might have expected so late in the year, a pair of jeans that had clearly seen their fair share of usage, and some recently-cleaned walking shoes. He didn't seem bothered much by the cold, with his most noteworthy reaction being a short squint when the wind blew into his eyes - in fact, he seemed quite comfortable in the cold, having settled in quite nicely while the dog demanded that he do literally anything *but* that.

"Nah, I've only been here a little while." Hyousuke said to Tamaki, before shuffling over to make sure there was enough room on the bench. He'd already left plenty, but it never hurt to make sure. While he gave her room, the dog was intent on doing the exact opposite, and ambled over to her with the comically large stick still clenched between his teeth. It attempted to try and lick her, but Hyousuke held the leash firm, doing his best to keep it from slobbering over people who weren't prepared for it.

"Guess I'd better go first. Little guy looks like he wants me to do introductions anyway." Hyousuke chuckled, reaching down to ruffle the dog's fur, before straightening back up again. It tried to bark affectionately, but there was only so much that could be done while there was a chunk of tree still wedged between its jaws. Alas, it was too stubborn to let go, and not quite smart enough to recognise what the problem was in the first place. "You remember that rumour about something going around attacking people at night? Well... you're looking at him."

It was indeed the dog that was getting frustrated at the stick for not allowing it to bark to its fullest potential. Hyousuke said it without a note of deception to his voice.
"Me and some friends found a rumour demon in the same place as the collar, and it turned back into this little guy when we beat it. I'm thinking it's a dog that got lost on a walk and started lashing out because it was scared, so when rumours started getting around..." He was sure she knew the rest, given her line of work.

"I've been looking after him since then. Got him checked out by Igor and the vet. But it's weird... I know the collar got damaged, but he's got no chip, there's no missing posters or people asking for help finding a dog... I can't find a thing that'd help me get him back to his family." He looked a little mournfully down at the dog. The dog did not return the gesture, instead looking up with eyes that demanded it be freed to greet Tamaki, or instead be played with so it could stave off boredom.

"How about you? Any luck with that collar?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

Maybe it's a sign of something that Tamaki's neither a fan of the cold nor water, and snow is ''both''. No wonder she bundles up so much and tries to keep her blood pumping in this weather.

Tamaki doesn't rebuff the dog's enthusiastic affection, and she offers her hand out to the pup when it bounds over to her. "Good boy! Good ''boy''!" With a good-natured chuckle, she ruffles the top of his head and pulls her hand back as she returns her attention to Hyousuke.

Her expression softens at Hyousuke's explanation that this is the same dog as in the rumor. She peers back at the dog in ''recognition'', a reminder of someone else from her past: someone who was more gentle in reality than what popular perception of him suggested, someone abandoned by his family who lashed out because he found no support network in his peers or authority figures.

Someone who was the sole reason she got into this mess, among other consequences, some too painful to think about too closely in the company of others. All she responds with is a quiet, understated, "... sounds about right. Good on you for looking after him."

As for the collar: "Well, I ''did'' figure out the brand and make of the collar, and I figured out a few likely pet stores it came from and have a rough sketch of a radius of where its owner most likely lives in relation to those, but ..." She folds her arms and tilts her head. "'Pet detective' is honestly a separate kind of detective entirely. Most of my time was spent researching how others do it, and it ''does'' involve being the one to put up missing posters, trying to walk around town to locate the pet for a few days, or asking around. That's on me, but -- "

She slumps her head forward. "Most of the advice out there in the 'pet detective' profession is about finding ''cats''. About an 80% to 20% ratio in terms of information density when it comes to tracking down dogs." At least in Japan.

She sits upright again, and her gaze slides back over to the dog. "That said, I do have one idea." Wordlessly, she retrieves the collar from her bag and holds it out for him to sniff. "Recognize this, boy?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog did not know nor care what Tamaki was a fan of. Unless she was a fan of it. In that case, it was very concerned with it, and was all too happy to soak up her affection. With the closest thing to a happy expression it could make with that slab of discarded tree lodged in its gob, the dog leaned up into her pets, tail wagging with abject delight at the fact that yet another person had recognised how it deserved affection and attention in equal measure. It wasn't enough to drop the stick, however.

It was, in fairness, a very nice stick.

"Couldn't just leave him out there." Hyousuke said, in regards to her remark about taking care of the dog. "Poor guy wasn't trying to hurt anyone. He was... he was just scared, that's all. He was lost and alone, and he needed someone to just make sure he was doing alright." The smile on Hyousuke's face grew taut for a moment, more something that was forced to remain on his lips than any expression of politeness or mirth. He recovered quickly enough, but something soft and quiet as a whispering breeze fell from him before it did. "...Least you've got a family to go back to."

Hyousuke listened intently to Tamaki's explanation when it was given. While the finer details were lost on him, he at least appeared to be capable of grasping the broader strokes, and why she'd had trouble with his case in particular. His expression shifted slowly, but noticeably, turning from intrigue to consternation and then right back to fascination. The dog, meanwhile, showed little sign of understanding anything. New friend was talking, and it listened, but it was only in hopes that she would deign to grant it more attention. However, when she produced the collar, it dropped the stick almost immediately, and moved eagerly in.

It sniffed. It snuffed. It snuffed, and then it sniffed. It was clear that it recognised it, but to what degree was unclear until it drew back and barked loudly, wagging its tail furiously while looking up at Tamaki.
"Huh. Looks like that got a reaction out of him. What do we do with it now though? Is he gonna track its scent back to his house or something?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

Something cuts too closely for Tamaki's comfort when Hyousuke remarks on family. Not about her own, but that figure the dog reminds her of. Just as immediately, her mind locks the train of thought down again; thinking about it now just strikes her like needlessly touching a hot stove.

''Hic sunt dracones.'' That map's territory has already been explored thoroughly, well-trod and worn. Nothing lies in that direction but pain! Distantly, the jingle of Aoba Way's pharmacy reaches her ears, speaking of medications of all sorts to soothe what ails her, topological ointments to treat the cuts and bruises.

"'Least he has you," she offers in turn.

Then, after the dog deeply sniffs of the collar and begins barking his head off, Tamaki thinks ''Jackpot.'' Well, kind of. Tamaki stands up and stretches her limbs for a few moments, then shrugs in Hyousuke's direction. "Is that how it works? We can give it a shot, at least. If it doesn't work out, I can put in a word for you with a proper pet detective, or I can do the work when it comes to tracking down his ''owners'' ..."

She bends down, planting her hands on her knees, and looks directly at the dog before glancing at the sidewalk leading back out of Aoba Park. "Well, boy? Which way?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog, though perhaps not understanding exactly what Tamaki had said, was eager to go regardless.He bolted off, almost sweeping Hyousuke off his feet with how suddenly moved, leaving him scrambling to maintain his footing and keep the dog at a reasonable distance.
"At least we know he's got something!" He joked, though his voice was a little strained from trying to balance keeping the dog close and not choking it with the collar. He made a quiet mental note to look for a harness that fit later on - perhaps once the furore of Christmas shopping and the various sales had died down.

He then chided himself, remindinghimself that he wasn't keeping the dog. In fact, if the lead went anywhere, it was to be relinquished before too long.

Before the dismay at such a notion had a chance to settle in, Hyousuke found a comfortable pace for both him and the dog, despite how eager it seemed to slip the leash and find its people. Back and forth, left and right, it followed whatever invisible trail its nose led it down, only stopping when he found a dead end. Even then, it didn't stop for long, instead turning right back around and trotting off in another direction entirely.
"Hoping he'll have his family back soon instead of just me." Hyousuke eventually said in response to Tamaki, albeit quite belatedly. He seemed a little sheepish as he did so. Like he'd let slip something he didn't want her hearing, but knew it was too late to pretend like nothing had happened. "I'm just here to make sure he gets where he's going. I can barely take care of myself, I can't imagine handling this little guy... I don't even have my own place yet."

Finally, the dog came to a stop, though it was in the middle of the pavement slap-bang between an assortment of apartments. It sniffed and snuffed and snoffed once more, but despite its attempts at finding the trail once more, it remained in place and whined. With wide and begging eyes, it looked between Hyousuke and Tamaki, as if they themselves stood a chance of picking the scent back up and taking him back home.
"Damn, i think that's about as far as he can get us. You think the collar lost some of its scent while it was in the woods? It looked like it'd been there a while. Can't imagine it'd be easy to track a scent through concrete either."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

He got ''something'', at least. Off he goes! It's a good thing Tamaki's in her winter jogging gear as the dog explores all around here, all around there, all around everywhere.

Hyousuke's belated response garners a shrug from Tamaki. "I mean, if he ''does'' have just you, that's better than no one -- which is what he had before you got involved. Give yourself some credit for the improvement in his circumstances from before, yeah? Even if you're just helping him get along to where he belongs."

It doesn't go unnoticed that Hyousuke's putting some thought into things. "It's good that you're considering these things; maybe you can figure out what you'd need your life to be like so you ''could'' one day soon be in a position to handle 'that little guy.'" Beat. "Or some other little guy."

A shiver of ... ''some'' feeling shoots down her spine, and it isn't from the snow.

(Hey, Tamaki, isn't that advice you should follow, too? What, you think it's too ''cringe'' to relate your past problems to Hyousuke's situation? Gotta fill your eyes and with more recent sights and sounds to distract you?)

Hesitantly, quietly, some honest part of her breaks through her cheery facade and does finally admit, "... if his family does take him back, letting go is much easier said than done."

Eventually the trail the dog seems to be following goes as cold as the December weather.

As for Hyousuke's most recent question, Tamaki blankly stares back and shrugs haplessly. "... Probably? Don't look at me, I don't know how well scent-tracking for dogs works. I'm more of a cat person." As she examines their surroundings more closely, she does get an inkling. "He might have recognized some areas along the way, though. You think we should go ask around the place and see if people recognize him? It's a lot easier to do that with him right here with us instead of going off of an old collar like I had."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Intellectually, he knew what Tamaki said was true. He'd freed the dog of the supernatural influences binding its heart, he'd fed and housed it when there was nobody to take care of it, and he went to every possible length to try and get it back to its owners. But even so, when he looked down at the dog and how it seemed so happy to have finally caught a whiff of its people, the weak smile he wore turned just a little more hollow. He did what he could to hide it, but there was only so much that could be done when in such close proximity.

"...If he's happy, then I'll be happy. He deserves that much after everything he's gone through."
Hyousuke wasn't sure what that sentiment said about him, especially when said in response to what Tamaki had told him, but it was what he'd settled on. He hadn't lied either. He wanted that poor thing to find its loving family and a warm home. He wanted it to have somewhere to go on Christmas, and not linger in some small, closed-off room where the closest thing it had to company was the memory of friends with better places to be.

So why did it all leave his heart so heavy?

It didn't bear thinking about. There was a job to do, and Tamaki had already moved the conversation along to something else that made him stop and think. Hyousuke had to bite back a remark that she was the third person to have expressed a similar sentiment to him. Instead, he pondered what he could tell her that wasn't some pithy remark that contributed nothing. It took a few seconds, and all of them were spent staring thoughtfully ahead at the middle distance. When he finally spoke it, he didn't seem happy or sad about the sentiment Julian had instilled in him. Rather, he spoke how he looked. Thoughtful.

"Just need to figure out one concrete thing I can do. Take a step forward." The road was long and winding, shrouded by fog, and he was certain it would double back on itself and be fraught with danger. But such was life, and he had little choice but to walk it. Speaking of walks, the dog's one had come to an abrupt pause, but Tamaki at least had a plan of action that he could get behind. "You sure you want to spend Christmas Eve with me, asking about a stray dog?"

He chuckled, conveniently ignoring the fact that he himself had nobody to spend it with, before a look of realisation dawned.
"Oh, crap, I almost forgot. Here, take this. Now, I know what it looks like, but I swear it's nothing I shouldn't be able to get." The ornate bag was made from thick and decorated paper, with a couple of strings at the top to secure it and keep the contents away from prying eyes. It looked, for all intents and purposes, like a bottle of wine wrapped up nice. That was because it was a bottle of wine.

Cooking wine. Fancy cooking wine with a fancy-looking label, but perfectly legal for a minor to purchase.

"I know it's not much, but I wanted to do something to say thanks for everything you did this year. So, uh, thanks. And merry Christmas, Uchida-san."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>

Much the same could be said of Tamaki. 'Time heals all wounds,' they say, and still ...

Why did it leave her own heart so heavy?

... ''is'' this what Tamaki wants to do with her Christmas Eve? Single as she is now, she doesn't have anyone else in mind to spend it with, but ... She gives Hyousuke a look which very much suggests that no, she would rather be somewhere else on this holiday. She sheepishly rubs the back of her neck and glances away, back towards the direction of her own home.

"I have ... plans," she lies, wholly transparently.

Her mood turns around instantly when Hyousuke brings out the gift of (cooking) wine, and it's only to prevent a minor from being seen with it in public that she hastily snatches it away from him. "Oh, thank you! You shouldn't have! I mean -- you ''shouldn't'' have, but -- " She looks up to the sky and presses a finger against her chin before she winks at Hyousuke. "Let's just refrain from mentioning this from Suou-tantei."

At least she does realize this is the kind of wine best meant for cooking and not drinking.

Tamaki points at Hyousuke as she starts to walk away back to her apartment. "Merry Christmas to you, too!"
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-10: Crossroads

2026-08-11T21:04:44Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: Crossroads'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Julian Marlowe]]
*'''Where:''' Kasugayama High School
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-10
*'''IC Date:''' Dec 19 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Seeking advice about how to proceed with his college applications - or lack thereof - Hyousuke brings the topic up in one of his sessions with Julian. While no concrete solutions are reached, and many issues are left unaddressed, the fog clouding the road ahead grows a little thinner.''

----

(|=============== Kasugayama High School - Classroom Building ================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Hirasaka Ward ====-
Nicknamed "Kasu High" by its students and "Cuss High" by its detractors,
Kasugayama High School's poor reputation is reflected in the dinginess of the
building itself. It's been around since before World War II, as reflected by the
fact that its basement was used as an air raid shelter back then, so many of its
facilities are woefully out of date. Many if not most of its students are
delinquents, and the teachers turn a blind eye to all manner of bad behavior.

Its main three floors contain the school's various classrooms for its three
years of students, who are overwhelmingly boys. The boys wear a one-note teal
uniform with black buttons and a high collar, while the girls wear an equally
unexciting sailor uniform in teal with a black neckerchief and a single white
line on the cuffs and collar.

Though some girls attend, their generally rough nature and the severely unequal
numbers mean many of the male students lament their lack of dating options and
seek out girls from other schools. It has a large gym and a huge track circle
out back, and the roof is a decent place for students to hang out.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was, like a great many other students, busy with finals. Whether it was cramming in some last-minute revisions sessions before the fated days arrived, or actually taking the dreaded tests themselves, his schedule was jam-packed with things that some of Kasugayama's less savoury elements weren't particularly keen on caring about. That was not to mention the plethora of supernatural activities he had to undertake. Mementos runs, run-ins with the New World Order, rampaging beasts and the taming thereof... It was a miracle he found the time to sleep, much less pretend to be a functioning human being.

Even so, he still found time to attend regular sessions with Julian. How much progress he made in each was debatable, and he was never entirely sure what he wanted to say going in, but he'd made a promise to at least try and be a better man than the one that had stumbled into Kasugayama all those months ago. Thinking back, it felt like a lifetime. Like the person then was a completely different beast to the one he was now. He wagered that, if he saw them in a mirror, he might not have recognised them at all.

The door creaked on its hinges, signalling his arrival as the light from the hall slowly began to spill into Julian's room. Hyousuke still seemed unsure about the entire affair, though his demeanour was not that of a wild animal lashing out at anything that got near it this time. It was tentative, yes, and still not entirely trusting. But it was more on the level of hesitance, like a stray offered shelter and sustenance by a well-meaning stranger. He stalked slowly in, clicking the door gently shut behind him, before settling into the rigmarole that had occurred again and again since he'd first submitted himself to Julian's scrutiny.

"Marlowe-sensei." Hyousuke said by way of greeting. It was a little terse, but he meant nothing by it. "Almost didn't make this one. Exams have been kicking my ass." His attempt at levity was less a genuine joke, and more an attempt at easing himself into the conversation - a measure intended to make himself comfortable, rather than Julian.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>

Students often make the mistake of thinking Exam Time means teachers have it easy. Just gotta sit in a classroom watching students doing their work. Some of them literally taking a nap, not even bothering to keep a close eye on any cheating going on. They're not doing jack, right?

Obviously there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than that, even aside from the grading, which is already a ton of work. And for Julian (who watches for cheating attempts like a hawk, by the way) there's the added workload on the counseling side of things. This is understandibly a stressful time for students in general, which translates into his schedule there being busier than usual as well.

Not that anyone could tell, looking at Julian, the personification of the stiff upper lip principle in the face of adversity. He's not having an easy time right now for a multitude of reasons, but no one would ever know by looking at him. His students especially can't know of his woes, doubly so the ones who come to him for counseling.

Which is to say that, when Hyousuke enters his office, Julian is seated at the central with placid smile and freshly brewed tea at the ready. "<Mister> Suzuki, good to see you again," he greets in that genuine way of his, far removed from the sarcastic tone of the average teacher when scolding latecomers. "I quite understand, it is indeed a busy and stressful time. I hope you've managed to hold up in that regard?" And, of course, not one to assume that anything said in the context of a session is a joking matter.

"Please, have a seat," he says only then, indicating the chair opposite his. "Fresh out of scones I'm afraid, but help yourself to some tea if you like. It's chamomile, does wonders to ease stress, mighty fine floral taste as well."

As usual, he lets the student set the pace and tone from there, no rush or judgement. Perhaps him never saying anything about 'progress' doesn't aid any worries in that regard, but on the flip side, there's never any particular pressure coming from him either.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The pace was, at first, a little stilted. Hyousuke nodded in acknowledgement, and poured himself a mug of tea. Not much - just enough to fill it to the halfway mark - but enough to show that the hospitality was being acknowledged and appreciated. He was going to try and be polite so that he could win at counselling, which was a real and attainable goal that was in no way unhealthy. He sipped lightly once he'd finished pouring - with surprising deftness, for a Kasugayama student, especially one that looked so rough-hewn - and set the mug into his palm as he began to elaborate on why he was there.

"Kinda." Hyousuke began, pulling a face as he looked at Julian. He couldn't maintain eye contact for longer than a few seconds, though whether it was out of awkwardness, shame, or just reflexively looking away to think was unclear. He paused for a moment, collecting himself before speaking again, though even then it seemed like he was just letting the words fall past his lips rather than making an active attempt to shape them. "You know how I was talking about college before all this, and how I wasn't gonna do the entrance exams?"

He paused again, once more trying to restructure the sentence in his head. What was he supposed to say? What did Julian want to hear? What did he himself actually want to say? Intellectually, he knew he was supposed to be open and honest, but it was like pulling teeth. He had to practically drag the words from his throat, and each one spoken was painful to hear.
"I still don't think it's worth trying. It's taking all I've got just to pass *these* exams. But I got to talking with a friend about it."

Hyousuke tensed his fingers around the mug. It was do-or-die time - if he didn't say it then, when could he? When *would* he? Steeling himself and using every mote of courage he could summon, he continued on.
"She said I should try anyway. That the worst that was gonna happen was that I'd have to just take it again next time. And I know she's right, I might as well just do it. Worst thing that happens is I'm out a few yen 'cause of the train fare. But I'm... I don't know. It still feels like it'd be wrong to try."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>

Winning at counselling is perfectly possible, after all, it's an activity in which everyone's a winner just by participating! Or so Julian might phrase it. Mentally only, so as not to dissuade anyone with a competitive mind from giving it their all. Nothing to lose by maintaining a winning attitude, if you ask him. The counselor himself on chases victory in regards to those across from him at the table, he'd certainly like to see them win at life in any and every way they possibly can.

Calmly sipping his own cup of tea, Julian doesn't make a habit of seeking extended eye contact during a session when the student doesn't seek it themselves. Especially not when they seem to be actively avoiding it, as seems to be the case here. No point in guessing the reason - with patience, the words will come in due time. What, after all, would be the alternative? To just sit in silence and drink tea? Surely no one would choose to visit a counselor of their own accord just to do that.

"I remember," is his only initial response to Hyousuke's question, nothing particularly changing about his bearing. If there's anything he wants to hear, he's not about to offer any hints. This is an incomplete thought, he'll give Hyousuke all the time he needs to complete it. Only after he mentions talking to a friend about it do his eyes show a glint of expectation, and he sets down his cup. "Is that so?" ...And yet, perhaps vexingly, no more than that, leaving it all up to Hyousuke to find the words to follow once more.

"Wrong...?" Julian adjusts his monocle, frowning slightly. "I'm afraid you lost me somewhere along the way, <Mister> Suzuki. By my interpretation, you seem to have come to the conclusion that there is no harm in trying. If there is no harm, then wherein lies the wrong that you see?"
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke pulled another face. He knew the question was coming but even so, he still didn't have an answer prepared. With eyes falling somewhere between consternation and wry amusement, he finally looked back up at Julian, though it didn't seem like he was looking to him. Rather, he seemed to look through him - like he was focussed on the wall behind his head, or his mind was a million miles away and focussed on something else entirely.
"Should've seen that one coming... Geez, how do I put it? It's kinda like..."

He drummed his finger son the mug, hoping for something to come to mind that he could compare it to. Nothing came to mind, but he couldn't let dead silence reign, so forced himself to say whatever fell past his lips first.
"I didn't think I'd make it this far." In the end, he resorted to telling Julian what he'd told Shinobu. The raw, honest, truth. The kind that felt like ripping his chest open and thrusting his still-beating heart into another's hands, and letting them see the visceral parts kept hidden in the depths of his soul.

"Always thought that I was gonna end up this dumb little asshole doing shit jobs just so I'd stay alive a little bit longer. Figured I'd keep doing that until... Well, until I *wasn't* alive, I guess. But then I got thrown in here. Now I've got a teacher that's helping me get my act together, my friends are supporting me, I'm- I'm actually *passing* my exams." Cs were nothing to write home about for many, but it only took one glance at his academic records during previous years to see just how monumental consistent mediocrity was for a person like Hyousuke.

"But then I look at how far I've still got left to go, and it just... it feels like I've done a whole lot of nothing. Like..." Hyousuke clenched his teeth, straining both mind and body as he attempted to think in the abstract, and construct an analogy that might actually have made sense. "Imagine you were climbing out of a hole in the ground. You keep going up and up and suddenly there's- there's this *light* up there. And- and it makes you feel like you're actually *going* somewhere. But then you get over it, and suddenly, all it's doing is reminding you just how far you gotta keep climbing just to catch up with everyone else. I'm still a dumbass, I've still got no goals aside from just making it to tomorrow, and even if I did get in, I- I wouldn't even know what I was supposed to *do* there."

His face settled, but less in the way of someone calming down. It was like the muscles in his face all lost strength at once, and he hadn't the energy to pick them up again, save for a weak smile worn like a mask.
"Might not lose anything, but I'm not getting anything either. Just... just gonna remind me that I'm still just *me.*"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>

Julian of course knew exactly what he was doing, putting the ball back in Hyousuke's court. It was obvious there was more to tell, and he wasn't about to respond before he'd heard the entire story, in whatever way it was deemed appropriate to tell it. As only appropriate for an activity where you win just by participating, there are no wrong ways to go about it. What way Hyousuke deems appropriate, that's what really matters.

And in that regard, he is pleasantly surprised. He doesn't show it, or indeed much of any emotion, until he starts taking a positive tone about the help he's been getting, a small smile appearing not quite at the point of a teacher helping him, but at hearing more of the support of his friends. Honesty is always refreshing, but all too often the value of the most important aspects get underestimated, even overlooked. For someone who doesn't think he has his act together, Hyousuke's situation is looking better than many others', from his point of view.

Though he doesn't interrupt Hyousuke's words, he does nod a number of times, in a thoughtful way. Not meaning to exactly affirm what is being said, but meaning to spur him on to keep speaking his mind freely. Only once the energy falls away from those words does Julian hook into things.

"It is important to see that light at the end of the tunnel. But it is just as important to not stare directly at it." He idly stirs his tea spoon, as he directs his gaze to his cup. "You are not mistaken that the road to change can be quite a long one indeed. Taking that first step, seeing your initial successes, those are important milestones, worthy of pride in how far you've come. But the future is nebulous, is it not?"

Letting go of his spoon, he folds his hands together in front of him, resting him on the table as he directs a wry smile in Hyousuke's direction. "Suzuki-san," he begins, purposely switching address. "Would I be correct in assuming that you believe that in order to be a successful adult, you need to have a solid grasp of how life works, and what you want from it? Because let me tell you right now, this is entirely false. Believe it or not, but I quite frequently have no idea what I'm doing."

He pauses to allow Hyousuke a moment to react, before letting out a chuckle. "That's right. The secret is that there is no secret. There is no one correct path, no foolproof plan to reach one's goals. What's important is that you ''have'' goals - the will to attempt improving things that you wish would improve. Even if the road there seems long, as long as you have the determination to reach your intended destination, it really matters little if you are unsure how far you have yet to go, or end up taking a few detours along the way. No path is more correct than any other, you will find your way there if you persevere."

He takes a moment to sit back, calmly taking a sip of tea, before his expression turns serious. "...But perhaps I'm overlooking an important element in all this. Tell me, Suzuki-san. To what degree do your worries relate to your... extracurricular activities?"

That sure isn't generally a topic he can broach in a session. But at the Kuzunoha Detective Agency, it was made clear that Julian knows more than most of what goes on, on the supernatural side of things. Being aware of Hyousuke's involvement in this as well, it's hardly a topic he could pretend not to be a possible factor here. Though he holds up a hand, clarifying, "I don't seek to dissuade you from anything, mind. I am merely curious how you fare at balancing all the different aspects of your life."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Julian's advice was not met with a nod, or a cocked brow, or anything that signified a sudden revelation. Instead, he met it with a small, wry, chuckle. It was devoid of any kind of mirth or amusement - rather, it was a dry and joyless thing, given more as a recognition of something uncanny.
"She said the same thing. My friend." It was part of why he'd asked her, after all. She didn't know what she was doing either. To his mind, she seemed to be stumbling through life, figuring things out a step at a time and hoping for the best. "Ended up telling me to come here and talk to you, and now you're telling me the same thing." Again, there was no mirth, but no resentment or resignment either. It was merely a recognition of a fact, in the same way that one might remark on there being rain two days in a row.

He had other things to say, but kept them down until Julian had finished speaking. Better to save his questions for the end, he reckoned, rather than interject every so often. When Hyousuke did listen to the end, however, he found himself pondering the very same question. Bereft of an answer, he looked away thoughtfully, his face scrunching a little as he began to weigh it all up. And it felt odd. For one of vanishingly few times in his life, Hyousuke wished to be open and honest with someone, hoping that they might root around in the mess that formed his mind, and help him reorganise it into something he could work with. But what was he supposed to tell Julian? That he spent every night hunting down supernatural beasts for money and strength? That he had dragged a mutt to some extradimensional space, and begged the owner for help in keeping it safe?

That, despite the litany of injuries he'd taken and the trauma he'd suffered, Achilles lending his strength to Hyousuke had been what had made him truly feel alive?

Unable to give an honest answer, Hyousuke bobbed his head from one side to the other.
"I'm balancing it alright." He said. It wasn't a lie. Not in its entirety. He recognised that what he did was not healthy, and was supremely dangerous at times, but he was alive and stumbling forwards. So he was balancing things alright. "I only really go there when they got cases I can work anyway. Most of the time it's just regular detective stuff, and I ain't got a license or the brains for that kinda thing."

"...You talked about a road, and persevering, and stuff. Earlier, I mean."
There'd been a pause before Hyousuke had spoken again. Though only a few seconds long, the tension he felt dragged it out into eternity, with every iota of it rife with thoughts storming through his mind. "But I didn't think I'd make it onto the road. And now that I am, I don't even know where I'm supposed to take it. It just... it feels like everyone's telling me to keep moving forward, but I don't know where forward *is.* I don't know what I'm supposed to want, or do, or feel, and I don't know what I'm supposed to *do* about it. Everyone's got goals and places they want to be, and things they want to do, but I've got nothing, and I don't know how I'm supposed to get *something.*"

And then a slow, creeping, realisation dawned on him, once the thoughts became words, and the words made the thoughts concrete in his mind rather than vague fragments of a notion.
They weren't just moving on.
They were leaving him behind.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>

"Ah, truly? Sounds as if your friend has an adult's wisdom." Julian lets out another pleasant chuckle, feeling as if he may have met this friend of Hyousuke's, perhaps most recently at that very Agency. "Maybe they should be the one sitting in this chair."

He says it jokingly, but there are certainly times he does feel that anyone with enough life experience and the will to help people could do this job. But that's not exactly a thing to get into in the middle of a session. Or with anyone else, ever.

Though, perhaps not everyone would have as keen a sense for when someone isn't telling the whole truth. Julian's instincts are telling him that much when Hyousuke claims to be 'balancing it alright', though if you asked him, vague affirmative phrasing like that should make anyone suspicious. Not that he needed instincts for this one. He knows Hyousuke's habits better than this, that fighting style alone speaks so many volumes it could fill multiple sessions all on its own. ...But that, in turn, is something he can't let on about knowing. So, the other type of inference will have to be the limit.

"...I see. Well, so long as that's truly the case. What you said earlier about 'just staying alive a little longer' gave the sense of a struggle for survival, if you don't mind my saying so. I have no wish to pry in that regard, but if those sorts of thoughts or situations continue to interfere with your day-to-day life, it is easy to imagine one's perspectives would turn more somber as a result." He raises his arms slightly in a gesture of helplessness. "I may not be able to identify exactly, but should you wish to go into detail about that, now or in the future... please don't hesitate."

Doesn't feel great, not being able to use all the material you have access to... nor to put the initiative for those matters on Hyousuke, knowing very well there's no way he could talk about that stuff in such great detail. He can sure say all that with the straight face of someone who doesn't know any better, all the same.

The part that Hyousuke continues with, that he can say a little more about. Raising a finger, he points out, "Did you notice? You said 'supposed' in there no less than four times. Suzuki-san, you are not ''supposed'' to do anything. I understand the perceived pressure of what is 'expected' of you quite well, but please, take these words to heart: the only right path for you is the one you decide for yourself. And if you have no idea what path that is right now? That's alright too. You don't need to make any major plans for the future, all at the same time. All you need is a single next step. Something concrete, something within your interests, something that feels attainable."

A hand goes to his chin. "Dare I suggest... a club activity? Something to spark the imagination, show you a way of doing things that you may not have considered before...?" He clears his throat, looking momentarily embarrassed as he straightens his tie. "At the risk of being called a 'shill' for this... have you seen the school newspaper? I happen to be its sponsor, at Ichika Kawase's request. Might I suggest you speak to her about it? Not necessarily to join, mind. I simply feel that, if you talk to one your own age who very recently found a new path for herself, you might gain new insight in how such things can come to be. I freely admit my advice can come across as a little too theoretical at times, so what say you to a practical example?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"...It's complicated. Not something I really like thinking about." Was about the extent of what Hyousuke cared to say regarding a struggle for survival. Not an outright denial, but it it cleared little up. It asked more questions than it answered, really. Of course, if Julian were so inclined, he could glance at Hyousuke's file and gain some insight. He hadn't transferred to Kasugayama, after all. He'd been put there on probation. As it stood, however, the man himself was disinclined to spill any great secrets. He didn't distrust Julian as much as before, but there was a long way to go before he told an adult and authority figure the whole story.

And there it was. The earlier remark about nobody knowing where to go or what to do had done little to budge his mindset. It was something he'd heard before, after all, and to little avail. And, perhaps to some degree, he knew there was merit in striving for something of one's own volition, and seizing control of one's own life. He was friends with two Will of Rebellion users, after all - it was a little hard not to let some of them rub off on him. But hearing the words said, and being forced to confront the reality of his own... that stunned him like a hammer blow.

Still reeling, Hyousuke couldn't think of anything meaningful to say when Julian suggested looking into clubs. There was plenty he could have remarked on, of course, but trying to organise his thoughts was like trying to grab pages from a howling tempest and order them on the spot. It was all he could do to nod dumbly and mumble acknowledgement of Julian's ideas, never mind offer any kind of significant response to them. But, in the end, he managed to force his thoughts into some kind of order. Though still scattered, there was enough order to manage a coherent response.

"I'm gonna stick with Muto-sensei's training until I graduate. It's... It's been good for me. Gives me something to focus on." Muto-sensei was, of course, a PE teacher at Kasugayama that moonlit as a martial arts instructor. A stone-faced man with ash-grey hair, he seemed as old and rugged as the Earth itself, with a voice as deep and booming as a thunderclap. It was no secret Hyousuke took lessons from him - a fair few students could attest to his effective, if uncompromising, methods. "...But you're right. I think maybe I should talk with Ichika-san. She might have some ideas about what to do about all... this."

"Dunno if I'll get the chance to do it before break. But I'll keep it in mind. Thanks."
Hyousuke's words were fired out at a staccato pace, voice rigid and tone uneven. But he was no less genuine for it, no matter how stilted it all sounded. Then, out of nowhere, he spoke again. "Just something concrete..." He muttered, clearly more as a thought to himself he hadn't realised he'd spoken. But a quiet, private, breakthrough was still one nonetheless.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-10: Crossroads

2026-08-11T21:04:20Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Crossroads''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Julian Marlowe *'''Where:''' Kasugayama High School *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-10 *'''IC Date:''' Dec 19 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Seeking advice about how to proceed with his college applications - or lack thereof - Hyousuke brings the topic up in one of his sessions with Julian. While no concrete solutions are reached, and many issues are left unaddressed, the fog clouding the road ahead grows a little thinner.''..."

*'''Log: Crossroads'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Julian Marlowe]]
*'''Where:''' Kasugayama High School
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-10
*'''IC Date:''' Dec 19 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Seeking advice about how to proceed with his college applications - or lack thereof - Hyousuke brings the topic up in one of his sessions with Julian. While no concrete solutions are reached, and many issues are left unaddressed, the fog clouding the road ahead grows a little thinner.''

----

(|=============== Kasugayama High School - Classroom Building ================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Hirasaka Ward ====-
Nicknamed "Kasu High" by its students and "Cuss High" by its detractors,
Kasugayama High School's poor reputation is reflected in the dinginess of the
building itself. It's been around since before World War II, as reflected by the
fact that its basement was used as an air raid shelter back then, so many of its
facilities are woefully out of date. Many if not most of its students are
delinquents, and the teachers turn a blind eye to all manner of bad behavior.

Its main three floors contain the school's various classrooms for its three
years of students, who are overwhelmingly boys. The boys wear a one-note teal
uniform with black buttons and a high collar, while the girls wear an equally
unexciting sailor uniform in teal with a black neckerchief and a single white
line on the cuffs and collar.

Though some girls attend, their generally rough nature and the severely unequal
numbers mean many of the male students lament their lack of dating options and
seek out girls from other schools. It has a large gym and a huge track circle
out back, and the roof is a decent place for students to hang out.
(|============================================================================|)
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was, like a great many other students, busy with finals. Whether it was cramming in some last-minute revisions sessions before the fated days arrived, or actually taking the dreaded tests themselves, his schedule was jam-packed with things that some of Kasugayama's less savoury elements weren't particularly keen on caring about. That was not to mention the plethora of supernatural activities he had to undertake. Mementos runs, run-ins with the New World Order, rampaging beasts and the taming thereof... It was a miracle he found the time to sleep, much less pretend to be a functioning human being.

Even so, he still found time to attend regular sessions with Julian. How much progress he made in each was debatable, and he was never entirely sure what he wanted to say going in, but he'd made a promise to at least try and be a better man than the one that had stumbled into Kasugayama all those months ago. Thinking back, it felt like a lifetime. Like the person then was a completely different beast to the one he was now. He wagered that, if he saw them in a mirror, he might not have recognised them at all.

The door creaked on its hinges, signalling his arrival as the light from the hall slowly began to spill into Julian's room. Hyousuke still seemed unsure about the entire affair, though his demeanour was not that of a wild animal lashing out at anything that got near it this time. It was tentative, yes, and still not entirely trusting. But it was more on the level of hesitance, like a stray offered shelter and sustenance by a well-meaning stranger. He stalked slowly in, clicking the door gently shut behind him, before settling into the rigmarole that had occurred again and again since he'd first submitted himself to Julian's scrutiny.

"Marlowe-sensei." Hyousuke said by way of greeting. It was a little terse, but he meant nothing by it. "Almost didn't make this one. Exams have been kicking my ass." His attempt at levity was less a genuine joke, and more an attempt at easing himself into the conversation - a measure intended to make himself comfortable, rather than Julian.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>

Students often make the mistake of thinking Exam Time means teachers have it easy. Just gotta sit in a classroom watching students doing their work. Some of them literally taking a nap, not even bothering to keep a close eye on any cheating going on. They're not doing jack, right?

Obviously there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than that, even aside from the grading, which is already a ton of work. And for Julian (who watches for cheating attempts like a hawk, by the way) there's the added workload on the counseling side of things. This is understandibly a stressful time for students in general, which translates into his schedule there being busier than usual as well.

Not that anyone could tell, looking at Julian, the personification of the stiff upper lip principle in the face of adversity. He's not having an easy time right now for a multitude of reasons, but no one would ever know by looking at him. His students especially can't know of his woes, doubly so the ones who come to him for counseling.

Which is to say that, when Hyousuke enters his office, Julian is seated at the central with placid smile and freshly brewed tea at the ready. "<Mister> Suzuki, good to see you again," he greets in that genuine way of his, far removed from the sarcastic tone of the average teacher when scolding latecomers. "I quite understand, it is indeed a busy and stressful time. I hope you've managed to hold up in that regard?" And, of course, not one to assume that anything said in the context of a session is a joking matter.

"Please, have a seat," he says only then, indicating the chair opposite his. "Fresh out of scones I'm afraid, but help yourself to some tea if you like. It's chamomile, does wonders to ease stress, mighty fine floral taste as well."

As usual, he lets the student set the pace and tone from there, no rush or judgement. Perhaps him never saying anything about 'progress' doesn't aid any worries in that regard, but on the flip side, there's never any particular pressure coming from him either.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The pace was, at first, a little stilted. Hyousuke nodded in acknowledgement, and poured himself a mug of tea. Not much - just enough to fill it to the halfway mark - but enough to show that the hospitality was being acknowledged and appreciated. He was going to try and be polite so that he could win at counselling, which was a real and attainable goal that was in no way unhealthy. He sipped lightly once he'd finished pouring - with surprising deftness, for a Kasugayama student, especially one that looked so rough-hewn - and set the mug into his palm as he began to elaborate on why he was there.

"Kinda." Hyousuke began, pulling a face as he looked at Julian. He couldn't maintain eye contact for longer than a few seconds, though whether it was out of awkwardness, shame, or just reflexively looking away to think was unclear. He paused for a moment, collecting himself before speaking again, though even then it seemed like he was just letting the words fall past his lips rather than making an active attempt to shape them. "You know how I was talking about college before all this, and how I wasn't gonna do the entrance exams?"

He paused again, once more trying to restructure the sentence in his head. What was he supposed to say? What did Julian want to hear? What did he himself actually want to say? Intellectually, he knew he was supposed to be open and honest, but it was like pulling teeth. He had to practically drag the words from his throat, and each one spoken was painful to hear.
"I still don't think it's worth trying. It's taking all I've got just to pass *these* exams. But I got to talking with a friend about it."

Hyousuke tensed his fingers around the mug. It was do-or-die time - if he didn't say it then, when could he? When *would* he? Steeling himself and using every mote of courage he could summon, he continued on.
"She said I should try anyway. That the worst that was gonna happen was that I'd have to just take it again next time. And I know she's right, I might as well just do it. Worst thing that happens is I'm out a few yen 'cause of the train fare. But I'm... I don't know. It still feels like it'd be wrong to try."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>

Winning at counselling is perfectly possible, after all, it's an activity in which everyone's a winner just by participating! Or so Julian might phrase it. Mentally only, so as not to dissuade anyone with a competitive mind from giving it their all. Nothing to lose by maintaining a winning attitude, if you ask him. The counselor himself on chases victory in regards to those across from him at the table, he'd certainly like to see them win at life in any and every way they possibly can.

Calmly sipping his own cup of tea, Julian doesn't make a habit of seeking extended eye contact during a session when the student doesn't seek it themselves. Especially not when they seem to be actively avoiding it, as seems to be the case here. No point in guessing the reason - with patience, the words will come in due time. What, after all, would be the alternative? To just sit in silence and drink tea? Surely no one would choose to visit a counselor of their own accord just to do that.

"I remember," is his only initial response to Hyousuke's question, nothing particularly changing about his bearing. If there's anything he wants to hear, he's not about to offer any hints. This is an incomplete thought, he'll give Hyousuke all the time he needs to complete it. Only after he mentions talking to a friend about it do his eyes show a glint of expectation, and he sets down his cup. "Is that so?" ...And yet, perhaps vexingly, no more than that, leaving it all up to Hyousuke to find the words to follow once more.

"Wrong...?" Julian adjusts his monocle, frowning slightly. "I'm afraid you lost me somewhere along the way, <Mister> Suzuki. By my interpretation, you seem to have come to the conclusion that there is no harm in trying. If there is no harm, then wherein lies the wrong that you see?"
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke pulled another face. He knew the question was coming but even so, he still didn't have an answer prepared. With eyes falling somewhere between consternation and wry amusement, he finally looked back up at Julian, though it didn't seem like he was looking to him. Rather, he seemed to look through him - like he was focussed on the wall behind his head, or his mind was a million miles away and focussed on something else entirely.
"Should've seen that one coming... Geez, how do I put it? It's kinda like..."

He drummed his finger son the mug, hoping for something to come to mind that he could compare it to. Nothing came to mind, but he couldn't let dead silence reign, so forced himself to say whatever fell past his lips first.
"I didn't think I'd make it this far." In the end, he resorted to telling Julian what he'd told Shinobu. The raw, honest, truth. The kind that felt like ripping his chest open and thrusting his still-beating heart into another's hands, and letting them see the visceral parts kept hidden in the depths of his soul.

"Always thought that I was gonna end up this dumb little asshole doing shit jobs just so I'd stay alive a little bit longer. Figured I'd keep doing that until... Well, until I *wasn't* alive, I guess. But then I got thrown in here. Now I've got a teacher that's helping me get my act together, my friends are supporting me, I'm- I'm actually *passing* my exams." Cs were nothing to write home about for many, but it only took one glance at his academic records during previous years to see just how monumental consistent mediocrity was for a person like Hyousuke.

"But then I look at how far I've still got left to go, and it just... it feels like I've done a whole lot of nothing. Like..." Hyousuke clenched his teeth, straining both mind and body as he attempted to think in the abstract, and construct an analogy that might actually have made sense. "Imagine you were climbing out of a hole in the ground. You keep going up and up and suddenly there's- there's this *light* up there. And- and it makes you feel like you're actually *going* somewhere. But then you get over it, and suddenly, all it's doing is reminding you just how far you gotta keep climbing just to catch up with everyone else. I'm still a dumbass, I've still got no goals aside from just making it to tomorrow, and even if I did get in, I- I wouldn't even know what I was supposed to *do* there."

His face settled, but less in the way of someone calming down. It was like the muscles in his face all lost strength at once, and he hadn't the energy to pick them up again, save for a weak smile worn like a mask.
"Might not lose anything, but I'm not getting anything either. Just... just gonna remind me that I'm still just *me.*"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>

Julian of course knew exactly what he was doing, putting the ball back in Hyousuke's court. It was obvious there was more to tell, and he wasn't about to respond before he'd heard the entire story, in whatever way it was deemed appropriate to tell it. As only appropriate for an activity where you win just by participating, there are no wrong ways to go about it. What way Hyousuke deems appropriate, that's what really matters.

And in that regard, he is pleasantly surprised. He doesn't show it, or indeed much of any emotion, until he starts taking a positive tone about the help he's been getting, a small smile appearing not quite at the point of a teacher helping him, but at hearing more of the support of his friends. Honesty is always refreshing, but all too often the value of the most important aspects get underestimated, even overlooked. For someone who doesn't think he has his act together, Hyousuke's situation is looking better than many others', from his point of view.

Though he doesn't interrupt Hyousuke's words, he does nod a number of times, in a thoughtful way. Not meaning to exactly affirm what is being said, but meaning to spur him on to keep speaking his mind freely. Only once the energy falls away from those words does Julian hook into things.

"It is important to see that light at the end of the tunnel. But it is just as important to not stare directly at it." He idly stirs his tea spoon, as he directs his gaze to his cup. "You are not mistaken that the road to change can be quite a long one indeed. Taking that first step, seeing your initial successes, those are important milestones, worthy of pride in how far you've come. But the future is nebulous, is it not?"

Letting go of his spoon, he folds his hands together in front of him, resting him on the table as he directs a wry smile in Hyousuke's direction. "Suzuki-san," he begins, purposely switching address. "Would I be correct in assuming that you believe that in order to be a successful adult, you need to have a solid grasp of how life works, and what you want from it? Because let me tell you right now, this is entirely false. Believe it or not, but I quite frequently have no idea what I'm doing."

He pauses to allow Hyousuke a moment to react, before letting out a chuckle. "That's right. The secret is that there is no secret. There is no one correct path, no foolproof plan to reach one's goals. What's important is that you ''have'' goals - the will to attempt improving things that you wish would improve. Even if the road there seems long, as long as you have the determination to reach your intended destination, it really matters little if you are unsure how far you have yet to go, or end up taking a few detours along the way. No path is more correct than any other, you will find your way there if you persevere."

He takes a moment to sit back, calmly taking a sip of tea, before his expression turns serious. "...But perhaps I'm overlooking an important element in all this. Tell me, Suzuki-san. To what degree do your worries relate to your... extracurricular activities?"

That sure isn't generally a topic he can broach in a session. But at the Kuzunoha Detective Agency, it was made clear that Julian knows more than most of what goes on, on the supernatural side of things. Being aware of Hyousuke's involvement in this as well, it's hardly a topic he could pretend not to be a possible factor here. Though he holds up a hand, clarifying, "I don't seek to dissuade you from anything, mind. I am merely curious how you fare at balancing all the different aspects of your life."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Julian's advice was not met with a nod, or a cocked brow, or anything that signified a sudden revelation. Instead, he met it with a small, wry, chuckle. It was devoid of any kind of mirth or amusement - rather, it was a dry and joyless thing, given more as a recognition of something uncanny.
"She said the same thing. My friend." It was part of why he'd asked her, after all. She didn't know what she was doing either. To his mind, she seemed to be stumbling through life, figuring things out a step at a time and hoping for the best. "Ended up telling me to come here and talk to you, and now you're telling me the same thing." Again, there was no mirth, but no resentment or resignment either. It was merely a recognition of a fact, in the same way that one might remark on there being rain two days in a row.

He had other things to say, but kept them down until Julian had finished speaking. Better to save his questions for the end, he reckoned, rather than interject every so often. When Hyousuke did listen to the end, however, he found himself pondering the very same question. Bereft of an answer, he looked away thoughtfully, his face scrunching a little as he began to weigh it all up. And it felt odd. For one of vanishingly few times in his life, Hyousuke wished to be open and honest with someone, hoping that they might root around in the mess that formed his mind, and help him reorganise it into something he could work with. But what was he supposed to tell Julian? That he spent every night hunting down supernatural beasts for money and strength? That he had dragged a mutt to some extradimensional space, and begged the owner for help in keeping it safe?

That, despite the litany of injuries he'd taken and the trauma he'd suffered, Achilles lending his strength to Hyousuke had been what had made him truly feel alive?

Unable to give an honest answer, Hyousuke bobbed his head from one side to the other.
"I'm balancing it alright." He said. It wasn't a lie. Not in its entirety. He recognised that what he did was not healthy, and was supremely dangerous at times, but he was alive and stumbling forwards. So he was balancing things alright. "I only really go there when they got cases I can work anyway. Most of the time it's just regular detective stuff, and I ain't got a license or the brains for that kinda thing."

"...You talked about a road, and persevering, and stuff. Earlier, I mean."
There'd been a pause before Hyousuke had spoken again. Though only a few seconds long, the tension he felt dragged it out into eternity, with every iota of it rife with thoughts storming through his mind. "But I didn't think I'd make it onto the road. And now that I am, I don't even know where I'm supposed to take it. It just... it feels like everyone's telling me to keep moving forward, but I don't know where forward *is.* I don't know what I'm supposed to want, or do, or feel, and I don't know what I'm supposed to *do* about it. Everyone's got goals and places they want to be, and things they want to do, but I've got nothing, and I don't know how I'm supposed to get *something.*"

And then a slow, creeping, realisation dawned on him, once the thoughts became words, and the words made the thoughts concrete in his mind rather than vague fragments of a notion.
They weren't just moving on.
They were leaving him behind.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>

"Ah, truly? Sounds as if your friend has an adult's wisdom." Julian lets out another pleasant chuckle, feeling as if he may have met this friend of Hyousuke's, perhaps most recently at that very Agency. "Maybe they should be the one sitting in this chair."

He says it jokingly, but there are certainly times he does feel that anyone with enough life experience and the will to help people could do this job. But that's not exactly a thing to get into in the middle of a session. Or with anyone else, ever.

Though, perhaps not everyone would have as keen a sense for when someone isn't telling the whole truth. Julian's instincts are telling him that much when Hyousuke claims to be 'balancing it alright', though if you asked him, vague affirmative phrasing like that should make anyone suspicious. Not that he needed instincts for this one. He knows Hyousuke's habits better than this, that fighting style alone speaks so many volumes it could fill multiple sessions all on its own. ...But that, in turn, is something he can't let on about knowing. So, the other type of inference will have to be the limit.

"...I see. Well, so long as that's truly the case. What you said earlier about 'just staying alive a little longer' gave the sense of a struggle for survival, if you don't mind my saying so. I have no wish to pry in that regard, but if those sorts of thoughts or situations continue to interfere with your day-to-day life, it is easy to imagine one's perspectives would turn more somber as a result." He raises his arms slightly in a gesture of helplessness. "I may not be able to identify exactly, but should you wish to go into detail about that, now or in the future... please don't hesitate."

Doesn't feel great, not being able to use all the material you have access to... nor to put the initiative for those matters on Hyousuke, knowing very well there's no way he could talk about that stuff in such great detail. He can sure say all that with the straight face of someone who doesn't know any better, all the same.

The part that Hyousuke continues with, that he can say a little more about. Raising a finger, he points out, "Did you notice? You said 'supposed' in there no less than four times. Suzuki-san, you are not ''supposed'' to do anything. I understand the perceived pressure of what is 'expected' of you quite well, but please, take these words to heart: the only right path for you is the one you decide for yourself. And if you have no idea what path that is right now? That's alright too. You don't need to make any major plans for the future, all at the same time. All you need is a single next step. Something concrete, something within your interests, something that feels attainable."

A hand goes to his chin. "Dare I suggest... a club activity? Something to spark the imagination, show you a way of doing things that you may not have considered before...?" He clears his throat, looking momentarily embarrassed as he straightens his tie. "At the risk of being called a 'shill' for this... have you seen the school newspaper? I happen to be its sponsor, at Ichika Kawase's request. Might I suggest you speak to her about it? Not necessarily to join, mind. I simply feel that, if you talk to one your own age who very recently found a new path for herself, you might gain new insight in how such things can come to be. I freely admit my advice can come across as a little too theoretical at times, so what say you to a practical example?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"...It's complicated. Not something I really like thinking about." Was about the extent of what Hyousuke cared to say regarding a struggle for survival. Not an outright denial, but it it cleared little up. It asked more questions than it answered, really. Of course, if Julian were so inclined, he could glance at Hyousuke's file and gain some insight. He hadn't transferred to Kasugayama, after all. He'd been put there on probation. As it stood, however, the man himself was disinclined to spill any great secrets. He didn't distrust Julian as much as before, but there was a long way to go before he told an adult and authority figure the whole story.

And there it was. The earlier remark about nobody knowing where to go or what to do had done little to budge his mindset. It was something he'd heard before, after all, and to little avail. And, perhaps to some degree, he knew there was merit in striving for something of one's own volition, and seizing control of one's own life. He was friends with two Will of Rebellion users, after all - it was a little hard not to let some of them rub off on him. But hearing the words said, and being forced to confront the reality of his own... that stunned him like a hammer blow.

Still reeling, Hyousuke couldn't think of anything meaningful to say when Julian suggested looking into clubs. There was plenty he could have remarked on, of course, but trying to organise his thoughts was like trying to grab pages from a howling tempest and order them on the spot. It was all he could do to nod dumbly and mumble acknowledgement of Julian's ideas, never mind offer any kind of significant response to them. But, in the end, he managed to force his thoughts into some kind of order. Though still scattered, there was enough order to manage a coherent response.

"I'm gonna stick with Muto-sensei's training until I graduate. It's... It's been good for me. Gives me something to focus on." Muto-sensei was, of course, a PE teacher at Kasugayama that moonlit as a martial arts instructor. A stone-faced man with ash-grey hair, he seemed as old and rugged as the Earth itself, with a voice as deep and booming as a thunderclap. It was no secret Hyousuke took lessons from him - a fair few students could attest to his effective, if uncompromising, methods. "...But you're right. I think maybe I should talk with Ichika-san. She might have some ideas about what to do about all... this."

"Dunno if I'll get the chance to do it before break. But I'll keep it in mind. Thanks."
Hyousuke's words were fired out at a staccato pace, voice rigid and tone uneven. But he was no less genuine for it, no matter how stilted it all sounded. Then, out of nowhere, he spoke again. "Just something concrete..." He muttered, clearly more as a thought to himself he hadn't realised he'd spoken. But a quiet, private, breakthrough was still one nonetheless.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-19-07: Lone Wolves

2026-08-10T18:11:33Z

MrGuy: MrGuy moved page 2026-19-07: Lone Wolves to 2026-07-19: Lone Wolves: Misspelled title

#REDIRECT [[2026-07-19: Lone Wolves]]

2026-07-19: Lone Wolves

2026-08-10T18:11:33Z

MrGuy: MrGuy moved page 2026-19-07: Lone Wolves to 2026-07-19: Lone Wolves: Misspelled title

*'''Log: Lone Wolves'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], Igor (played by [[Pachinko Silver]])
*'''Where:''' The Velvet Room
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-19-07
*'''IC Date:''' Wed Dec 12 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Two hounds, wounded and exhausted, seek the aid of the Velvet Room in securing their fates.''

----

(|============================= The Velvet Room ==============================|)
-======================================= Dream and Reality/Mind and Matter ====-
There is a feeling of transition, and not merely in the material sense.

Stepping within feels like it takes a second or two too long to cross the
threshold. Afterwards, you are met with praise in the form of an ethereal aria
accompanied by a masterfully played grand piano. The slash of a brush across a
canvas, violence in motion, breaks your queer introduction to this place.

And a well-dressed, balding man with a long, long nose smiles at you from his
seat on a plush chair. Look around, and the room has the sense of a private
lounge--blue patterns across velvet, low lighting bringing the center of
attention not upon the performers but upon you.

You are their guest here, after all. Despite his sinister appearance and deep
voice, the long-nosed man greets you cordially.

"Welcome to my Velvet Room."

OOC: This description does not represent personalized Velvet Rooms. They are,
after all, specific to an individual.

BGM - The Velvet Room - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9GkTgg-Ou4

Alternate BGM - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk8lvG9huC8
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Pachinko Silver has posed.
<poem>
This is no place for a dog, regardless of why it needed to be brought in.

The curtained room is a deep, vibrant blue, with the middle being a set of two artfully skewed stage platforms where the Velvet Room staff are assembled. The first one is Nameless, a handsome man wearing a blue blindfold, who plays a grand piano a meter away from Belladonna, a statuesque woman with majestic hair, who sings into a microphone. In one corner is the Demon Painter in front of his easel, a scruffy looking long-haired man with shades, a black beanie, and a black outfit, complete with trenchcoat.

And lastly, near the center of the stage is Igor, sitting in a blue upholstered chair with his legs crossed. "Welcome, welcome," the oddly proportioned man says, with a long nose, ring of white hair, gravelly voice and all. "Welcome to my Velvet Room. How may I be of assistance, Hyousuke Suzuki?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Under normal circumstances, Hyousuke might have felt some trepidation about walking into that room. There was always the sense that something was wrong, or that he didn't belong. That he was less of a guest there, and more of a client, making his presence known whenever he required the services the place provided. However, in that moment, there was wariness to his demeanour, no distance or caution to his tone or his mannerisms. There was simply desperation, restrained by exhaustion. He staggered in, his face contorted by worry and weariness both, before speaking.

"Help me. Please." Hyousuke asked, dropping any pretence he might have held up during previous visits. In his arms was the limp, unconscious form of a dog. A small thing with golden fur, there was no telling at a glance what breed it was. Mismatched features, a diminutive stature, a fur colour not often found on Japan's more popular breeds - it was, by all appearances, a cross of some kind. But he didn't care about that. He only cared about saving it. "There- there was a rumour demon, and I- we beat it, but it turned into... this."

His mouth moved before he could think, and the words practically fell from him. Staccato and stuttering, he could barely compose himself long enough to form a full sentence, level though his voice might have been.
"It's alive, but I don't know how to wake it up. I thought- I thought that maybe you could do something. Anything. I don't know if it's like the Joka or whatever, but there's gotta be something you can do. Please, just- anything."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pachinko Silver has posed.
<poem>
'It's alive, but I don't know how to wake it up.' Igor's eyes keep on Hyousuke with that steady grin, and bloodshot eyes; Hyousuke has his full attention, but that's been a constant since the young man entered. 'I thought- I thought that maybe you could do something.'

"I see. Well, rest assured, your worries shall be put to rest." Igor raises a hand, all while his gaze keeps on Hyousuke. "We have two clients here."

Nameless's playing slows to a quiet melody, and Belladonna follows suit, her singing growing to a lullaby.

"By the power of rumors, your canine friend has become a demon of rumor. However, your suspicion is correct; we can intervene, and change this tragedy to trimuph. Being touched by the power of rumor is a heavy weight, indeed, but the fierceness of a lion can be quelled by the inner power of determination."

He gets out his phone. "Please, set your friend down. It will need attention after this, but we can make sure that when it wakes up it shall be back to its normal self."

Once Hyousuke does so, Igor begins speaking into the retro-looking phone, as a ring of glowing cards circles over head. His lips mumble something, and he nods, carrying on a arcane conversation as card shaped lights firm and spin into a circle, growing brighter, until, with a rush of sound--

The dog will still be there, of course.

"We have sealed away the influence, for now. It is up to its bonds to keep it to its path; you and your friends may suffice in helping it heal and pursue its original path in life, or find a new one. As always, it is on those with free will to decide what's best."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Whatever his thoughts on the Velvet Room or its occupants were, Hyousuke put them aside the moment that Igor confirmed that he could help. Nothing else mattered when he was asked to set the dog down, and he moved with as much haste as he dared once the order came. Gingerly, he let the animal rest, though releasing it took some monumental effort. Letting it go, even into the care of someone who seemed to have their own vested interest in addressing such matters, was something he practically had to force himself to do, if for no other reason than he wished to keep it safe.

Hyousuke watched like a hawk as Igor set to work, eyes switching from the dog to the cards to him, and then back once more. His hands were no more settled, unable to decide between clutching against his sides, drumming in some uneven rhythm, or clenching until his nails threatened to carve through the skin of his palms. Only when the sound subsided and the light faded did some mote of that tension fade, and he strode forward to lay his hand against its side. He ran his palm over its side, smoothing the fur and lingering on its chest to feel its breathing, half wanting to comfort it, half wanting to confirm it still lived.

"Help it find a path?" Hyousuke said weakly, looking up as the words began to take root in his mind. "How- How am I supposed to do that? I can't even find my own-" The floodgates, left open by a panicked mind, were slammed shut as soon as he realised what he was saying, and to someone he barely knew. He clamped his jaw shut and tightened his lips, looking back down at the dog with barely blinking eyes, as if he did not dare to take his eyes away from it fro even the barest fraction of a second.

He was quiet for a while. In reality, it was only some handful of seconds, but it felt to him like hours. The rush of thoughts that swallowed his mind like a flood left him scrambling for an answer, wrangling with emotions he thought he had buried too deep to ever unearth. His hand quivered amidst that golden fur, fingers twitching while his palm hovered over its side. He looked down at the still form that he had once held, and he remembered the anger. The howling rage, and the knife-clawed fury. But he remembered more than that.

He had seen the exhaustion and the fear written in its eyes that night as the brawled beneath the pallid moon. His mind raced with the memory of how it had run, and how it had only lashed out when he had cornered it. He saw a frightened, lonely, thing, wearing its anger like warplate against those it was scared would harm it, and it stirred something within him that refused to be silenced. Slowly, Hyousuke looked up at Igor, and nodded. It was a gentle and subtle thing, but the conviction in it could not be denied.

"I don't know how." Hyousuke confessed, his voice weak and wavering. "But... I'll try. I can't abandon it. Not after all that. It just... it just needs help, doesn't it? I think it... it just needed someone to be there with it. To keep it close and to..." He swallowed, and looked back down, unable to to look Igor in the eye any longer. "...To let it know it's not alone."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pachinko Silver has posed.
<poem>
It's hard to determine what thoughts lurk behind the admittedly eerie looking man's face-- throughout the process, his expression had remained a constant.

It is not with any maliciousness or kindness, however, that Igor responds to Hyousuke's tightened fists. "Rest easy. No harm shall come to your friend. I take what happens here in my domain very seriously."

The pianoist and the singer collaborate with a soothing classical piece.

"You would be far from the first to admit that here," Igor continues in a neutral tone, bushy eyebrows bobbing as he switches from one leg to the other in his sitting position. "It takes a certain person to even enter this room, in the first place. What you do with that ability, and power, is determined by you alone. The same goes for your friend, now that he is freed by you and your friends' actions. What sorts of things could you learn from one another, I wonder?"

The demon painter paints away at his canvas, his ideas for the blank white surface still unknown from the thin strokes laid.

"You're coming to your own answer, I see." Igor leans his head on one gloved hand. "What you choose shall determine the bonds you create, and how you maintain them. If you see some of yourself in another's loneliness, that is something you decide to understand. I shall facilitate the boons of certain breakthroughs, should you come to me. That, too, is up to you."

"Can you handle such a responsibility, Suzuki-san? Such answers will be borne of your own actions."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"I don't know."
The truth he spoke was not one born of any warmth, or a desire to bare his heart to someone that may have held some manner of insight. It was the uncomfortable, teeth-itching, stomach-churning feeling of long-buried feelings being dragged into the cold light of day. It was insecurities and inadequacies being dragged to the fore so that they could be addressed, rather than allowed to lurk within the depths of his soul. But no matter how it made him feel, it was the truth, and he had spoken it without inhibition.

"I just... I don't know." He combed his fingers deeper, but even so, his touch was nothing but gentle. Heavy hands, leather-tough and littered with wounds and calluses, coursed along it with tenderness that did not belong to the brutish, animalistic, man that they were attached to. Eyes as sharp and green and gleaming as polished gems looked down at it, bearing a softness that stone should never have held. His body exuded heat, but something had dimmed the hot-blooded blaze that fuelled him, and all that emerged was a comforting warmth.

"But I have to try. I can't just leave it like this. Not when I know there's something I can do." It was a scared and lonely thing. It had lashed out and hurt those close to it, and it had bared its fangs to protect itself against a world that bore down upon it at every turn. But it did not have to be that way, and the conviction that steeled his gaze made it clear he believed so. However, that did not mean he had no misgivings or questions.

"So what's it gonna be like when it wakes up?" He asked, looking to Igor expectantly. "I know you said you sealed it and all, but is it gonna be... You know, like me? Am I gonna have to worry about it fighting with a persona and stuff?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pachinko Silver has posed.
<poem>
The sound of Hyousuke's uncertainty is allowed to stand without comment, as it needs none.

Igor watches, an impassive specter, firm in his role.

"Then let the world bear witness to whatever truths you wish to present, in due time." Igor gestures with a splayed hand. "I shall await your return, if your journey has need of me."

What's it going to be like when it wakes up, Hyousuke asks. Igor's smile never dims.

"That will depend on it. I sealed away what made it a demon, but it can always revert back, should circumstances re-align. Do take care to ensure that doesn't happen."

The cushions squeak as Igor shifts from palm to palm. "As for a Persona, that will depend on it. That is the burden you must carry, for your choice to become involved. It may not develop one, or it may."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
More silence. Not a contemplative one like before, but a tense one rife with runaway thoughts. Hyousuke's anxiety towards what might befall him and the dog was writ clear on his face, twitching and twisting his features as they crept through his mind like tendrils. Responsibility already weight heavy on his shoulders, but to have the fate of another living being thrust into his hands like that. To be told that how it lived was under his control... It was enough to stun him into silence, as though he'd been struck with a hammer and left reeling.

"So I just have to wait and see while I take care of it." He murmured, more to himself as way to process what he'd heard, than as an actual reply to Igor. "...Fine. If that's what it takes to make sure it's alright, I'll do it." His conviction wavered, battered as it was by the waves of uncertainty, but it never broke. Not when he looked down at it, and it truly dawned on him that this was to be his responsibility. "...Shit, I don't even know if I *can* do it. He's probably got people looking for him. They're probably worried sick about him, and I'm acting like he's mine..."

The storm of thoughts never truly subsided. It waxed and waned, but his tired and busy mind was offered no true rest. What little it could claim was disturbed when he felt the dog stir in his grasp. It did not wake, but it seemed that such a thing was not far off.
"I'll... I'll figure it out. I have to. I've got some good friends I can ask for... help." The words felt strange in his mouth, and left an odd taste there. Asking for backup was one thing, but to beg help of another... He'd think on it in the morning. He hadn't the time nor the energy for it now. "...And, uh, thanks. For this."

Awkward and stilted as his farewell may have been, the gratitude it held was palpable.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Pachinko Silver has posed.
<poem>
'So I just have to wait and see while I take care of it.' "Yes. It will need some care to recover; that much shall be left in the hands of a proper specialist of your choosing."

Alas, no chests here to help pay for a potential vet bill. It may be up to Hyousuke and his friends to cough up the funds needed.

"If that is what you desire, going forward. There are many paths available. Perhaps your friend has an owner; do you seek them out? Or do you treat him first?" Igor gestures towards Hyousuke as the other hand pockets his cordless phone. "Such is the meaning of having 'free will', and 'bonds'. Make of them what you will, Hyousuke Suzuki-san."

Had Hyousuke ever introduced himself? All the same, Igor knows his name, and by the way the other attendants regard him, it seems to be the same. "Your friend will not awaken until you leave, rest assured. It will be confused, most likely, but not remember the previous events. This may change in the future, but... that is up to its and what it choices, as well."

The spindly man leans back with confidence, crossing his legs anew and leaning his chin on one long-fingered hand. "It is my pleasure to assist you now, and in the future, should you come again."

It is? That face doesn't seem to hold an iota of what it may be at all, with that bloodshot, wide-eyed look the way that it is. No hint of comfort is found in the mein of this man, but neither is maliciousness.

The dog may have less trouble expressing what it feels, once it wakes up, but for now, in this moment of stillness, Hyousuke is allowed to regather his thoughts before moving out.

.... that is, if he doesn't mind Igor's constant gaze.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-19-07: Hounded Down

2026-08-10T18:11:09Z

MrGuy: MrGuy moved page 2026-19-07: Hounded Down to 2026-07-19: Hounded Down: Misspelled title

#REDIRECT [[2026-07-19: Hounded Down]]

2026-07-19: Hounded Down

2026-08-10T18:11:09Z

MrGuy: MrGuy moved page 2026-19-07: Hounded Down to 2026-07-19: Hounded Down: Misspelled title

*'''Log: Hounded Down'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ririka Kawase]], [[Fuuka Yamagishi]], [[Akihiko Sanada]]
*'''Where:''' An off-trail on Mt Katamatsuri
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-19-07
*'''IC Date:''' Wed Dec 12 2012
*'''Summary''': ''The beast has finally been driven back to its lair. There is nowhere for it to hide, and no place for it to run - this is the fight that will determine its fate. Take care not to grow overconfident, however. There is little more dangerous than a cornered beast...''

----

(|============================= Mt. Katatsumuri ==============================|)
-==================================================== Sumaru City/Vicinity ====-
Mt. Katatsumuri is a beautiful mountain vista just past the city limits of
Sumaru City. The greenery is plentiful and particularly dazzling in autumn as
the colors change. Once a popular tourist destination for hikers, nature lovers,
and explorers alike, it's seen considerably less traffic after the cable car
lift to the mountain's peak broke down. That's not going to change anytime soon,
for the local government has not seen fit to distribute funds to fix it.

Perhaps that's for the best. While it's a beautiful nature site, the only
buildings here are Morimoto Sanitarium at the peak and Goketsuji, a Buddhist
temple, on the inclines. A sanitarium is not a place that any "normal" person
should want to visit, and the monks at the temple probably prefer the isolation
anyway.

But the walking paths remain, some of them wilder than others. One even leads
all the way up to the back of the sanitarium for those with more courage than
common sense. There's also an old, small Shinto shrine along the way whose
offering box is not yet full and can still accept ¥100 coin donations.

BGM: Mt. Katatsumuri - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odyfd9Q2WY8
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
OST: Horror Ambience Music 3 (ThrillShowX)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUyrTDvA5SY

During the day, the hiking path was an idyllic stretch of land. A meandering path shaded on all sides by a dense canopy of leaves, the incline was not so great as to deter casual climbers, but still enough that the view from the trail's apex was a sight to behold. During the night, it was as though some wretched abyss took its place, and what had once been picturesque was twisted into something eerie. The peaceful quiet became an ominous silence, its foreboding nature amplified by the impenetrable darkness that stretched all around. The densely-packed trees did little to provide comfort, with their clustered trunks providing ample cover for lurking beasts. Even the air itself warned away the faint of heart, carrying with it the stench of festering vegetation and stagnant water.

Yet Hyousuke trod onwards, for he sought one of those monstrosities stalking the gloom that night. Clad in fibres and plastics of purple and gold, he stalked through the dark with his shotgun held at the ready, finger twitching upon the trigger as he waited for any sign of life to present itself. A shifting shadow, a snapping branch, even the rustling of leaves underfoot - anything that he could latch onto, his head snapped towards, hoping to catch even the faintest glimpse of the predator that had eluded him for so long.

"Careful. It's here somewhere, I can feel it." Hyousuke grunted, his voice almost a whisper as he spoke to whoever had elected to accompany him. "Watch each other's backs. You see anything, say so. We're on its turf now, and it's gonna be pissed." It was a cornered animal, after all. Rather than the intelligent demons and coherent Shadows that could at least be talked to or manipulated, the beast he hunted was a true animal - a feral thing, clawing and snapping at anyone or anything that got too close for comfort.

Yet even now, at what was to be the end of a weeks-long hunt, there was some slight degree of hesitation to Hyousuke's actions. His every step was slowed by caution a degree beyond what was necessary, his aim swayed a fraction of a second slower than he would have liked, and he hesitated despite his words when he thought he saw something lurking in the undergrowth. His were not the reflexes of someone that held no doubt about putting down a savage monster. They were the movements of someone that could not shake that single, lingering, shred of doubt, no matter what.

Even in the face of this, Hyousuke pressed onwards, levelling that barrel of cold and merciless iron at whatever so much as resembled the canine form of his quarry. Deeper and deeper he descended, pushing into the yawning void that was the forest depths, the still air almost suffocating him with the tension it brought about. That was until something shifted in the corner of his eye. It wasn't some branch, bending beneath its own weight, nor was it the shadow of some foliage drifting on an errant gust of wind. When that pale and sickly moonlight pierced through the canopy, the thing gleamed.

OST: Eyes In The Void (Scott Buckley)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYbrvEtwTOc

Two eyes followed the group from the farthest reaches of the dark, tracking their every movement. Rows of fangs lined a slavering mouth, each one white as polished ivory and dagger-sharp. Even its fur shone when caught beneath the fetid glare of the Dark Hour's moon, revealing to the gathered hunters the form of their target. Tall as any man, the canine stalked forward on limbs wreathed in taut muscles, and then again by tawny fur. Stripes cut sideways across its back, emphasised further by how its coat raised in anger and fear, while its shifting postured showed the white of its underbelly. Large as its form was, the beast was nevertheless possessed of a sharp, lean, body, without a scrap of wasted fat upon it. Below it all, claws as keen as knives cut through the dirt and underbrush, carving trenches into the dirt with every padded step it took.

"Wait!" Hyousuke growled, muscles tensing like coiled springs. "Don't attack unless you know it's the real deal, this thing makes illusions of itself!" He waited, finger on the trigger, watching with a hardened gaze. His weapon creaked beneath the strain of his grip, while the cold abyss of the barrel stared back at the snarling monster. Eyes forward, ears pricked, and stance adjusted, he watched the thing like a guard hound waiting for its handler to loose it against a looming threat. He prowled closer, while it stalked through its territory, both eroding the gap between them until each was no more than a stone's throw from the other.

Something moved - but not in front of him. It snapped a branch and rustled leaves beneath its feet, and lunged towards him.

Hyousuke darted to the side the instant he heard it, but it wasn't enough. Razor-sharp claws swept past his torso, carving bloody trails jsut beneath his ribcage. Crimson trailed down his body, heralding a stinging pain that followed a heartbeat later, but even a cursory glance told that it was only a shallow wound. He would tend to it later, when the snarling hound was no more.
"There! That one!" He bellowed, all attempts at subtlety cast to the wind as he fired off a thundering shot. "Take it down before it gets another chance to hide!"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
The group fan out through the undergrowth, marking a path through the otherwise idyllic hunting trail. Even for someone like Akihiko, the oppressive atmosphere, where the group can just as quickly become the prey... It's testing even his guts.

Akihiko won't run off though. Never again. The beast will die here and now.

They come face to face to the beast once more. Akihiko goes for his Evoker as the beast reveals itself, slashing at Hyousuke. "Oh, no you don't!" He calls out, pressing the trigger to his temple to send out a Zio. He's too late however, and Hyousuke gets scratched, the lightning bolt hitting a nearby tree.

"Damn it!" Akihiko curses as he runs up next to Hysouke's side. "Form up!" He calls out. "That thing can escape anywhere. Be alert!" He casts another spell. "Weaken him!"
</poem>
AS: Persona! Akihiko Sanada has used the Almighty skill Tarunda on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Akihiko Sanada's Tarunda.
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
SEES had investigated the tale of the beast stalking the Dark Hour in Sumaru City. They split into two groups to cover more ground - and now, they join Hyousuke to track it down once more. Where he shows no hesitation, Fuuka...

...Has her doubts.

It's behavior doesn't match that of any Shadow she's encountered. Not the coherent ones of Mementos, nor the mindless ones that stalk Tartarus. Even most demons can be spoken with - even if ''understanding'' them is a different matter. What is it about this beast...? It seemed mostly concerned with ''retreating'', until they had it cornered...

"...Is this the right thing to do?" Fuuka wonders quietly.

...She puts that thought aside, though. As Hyousuke says, the beast is capable of illusions - they'll need a good Navigator to track it down. Hyousuke calls out the real one, and as Akihiko casts Tarunda...

"Give me a sec, I'll scan it." Fuuka informs them. "Lucia... Let me see past that would obscure my vision..."

She shuts her eyes tight, expanding her senses. She looks, instead, with her spiritual eye - to see past the illusions and discern the beast itself.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Full Analysis.
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Strength Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki resists Pierce!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Weakness Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki is weak against Light!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's Support Scan! Hyousuke Suzuki has passive skills Ailment Boost, Dark Amp, Heavy Weapon, Invigorate 2, and Pierce Amp!

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi Mandai has been following after the others. Let's be real: mostly Akihiko. Let's also be real: Akihiko is not suffering from this but he's the man of muscle mystery. Hitomi Mandai is not a woman of wuscle wistery. No sir, she is none of those things, not least because two of those words are made-up.

It was, at least, a relief to be in a forest. Is it, though? Ironically enough, Hitomi's starting to get positive associations about Tartarus. Tartarus may be a distortion in the fabric of reality, but like, it's places like forests and asylums where things get *bad*.

Either way, she's still kind of out of breath once they get close, though she does not hunch over. The adrenal dump of hearing the beast, seeing it scream, seeing it *strive* to maul Hyousuke. Does it qualify as a mauling? Hitomi can't tell.

Weaken him, Akihiko says.

Hitomi's eyes turn towards Fuuka. "... What're you thinking?"

Then she twists her hand up in that card-trick fillip of a gesture, and a moment later Tyche appears before her, the Grecian statue gazing mournfully at the Beast for a moment before something emanates outwards. Something loosely pink and energetic. Something confusing.

"Even if it's some kind of innocent," Hitomi wheezes a little, "I'm... not gonna be sad if it gets confused. Seriously, I am *so sweaty*." And it's cold out!! Which makes it even worse!!
</poem>
AS: Persona! Hitomi Mandai has used the Almighty skill Marin Karin on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Hitomi Mandai's Marin Karin.
| Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka is here in her SEES uniform, Amphion already summoned as she hangs back, casting her senses out at the world around her. "Right," she says, as Hyousuke calls out the use of illusions.

Akihiko calls out for them to form up. "Hai, senpai!" She moves into place--still in the back, but closer in formation.

Fuuka calls out taht she'll scan the beast. "Got it, Yamagishi-san! We couldn't get it to stay still long enough for that last time."

"Hang in there, Mandai-chan," Ririka tries to say reassuringly. "Just a little bit longer and we can wrap this all up..." She hopes.

But weaken it. "On it. Amphion! Go!"

Amphion strums his lyre, and a mess of jangly, high-pitched sounds issue forth to try and disorient the unknown beast.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Dissonant Song on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Dissonant Song.
| Crt_Dn (Critical down!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko's lightning bolt might not have struck the beast, but the display most certainly caught its attention. Its dark eyes snapped towards him after Hyousuke shoved it away, and its focus was only tightened when he cursed it with that strength-sapping spell. Slaver, thick and glistening in what little light managed to reach them, lined its maw as it sized up Akihiko, before striking out with claws that shone like polished gems. No sooner had it launched that attack than it retreated, however, deftly moving back like a shadow to strike against its next foe.

Whatever Fuuka's thoughts were on the monster, it did not seem to be of any mind to hear them. All it saw was an intruder, coming there to attack it. To hurt it. To chase it, and never leave it alone until they got what they wanted from it. Maddened by the rage and instinct both, it ignored whatever she said and did, either not recognising that she had scanned it or simply not caring. It pounced at her, heaving the full weight of its enormous body into her, growling all the while.

It did not follow through, but not because it had had second thoughts. Something had begun to twist its mind, and it swayed on its feet, before staggering to one side. Its vision was blurred, and its balance was off. It hadn't been struck, yet it felt dizzy all the same, like the whole world had twisted and distorted around it. Whatever reprieve that had earnt the party was only temporary, for the moment it noticed there was another, the hound surged forward into a snarling charge. Its maw widened into a vicious chasm, lined with the razor-point teeth, before coming down to clamp onto whatever part of her it could gnash at.

Then there came that song. A damnable thing, discordant and disorienting, sending it reeling back with a short and sharp snarl at the direction it had come from. Its eyes focussed on her, snapping swiftly away from Hitomi, sizing up this new and strange thing before it. There was little thought before it howled at her, its voice a booming, bellowing, shockwave that ripped through the air. Smashing waves of staggering force streaked towards her, distorting the air, but its howling was cut off by a vicious uppercut to its jaw.

"Not on my watch!" Hyousuke shouted, barrelling forwards to heave his fist into the monster again, only to be battered back by the flat of its paw. Even without the keen claws digging into his flesh, the beast's strength was prodigious enough to send him staggering back, grunting in pain as he did so. "Come on, big guy! You got nowhere to run to this time!" The words did not feel right on his tongue, and it was there to hear for all that listened closely enough. It manifested as a wavering hesitation to his words - subtle, and overpowered by his stubborn need to fight, but there nonetheless.
</poem>
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Slash skill Slashing Swipe on Akihiko Sanada! 2 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage!
| Aggression: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: >>> You still have 3 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Strike skill Crashing Smash on Fuuka Yamagishi! 2 Hits!
AS: >>> You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Gnashing Fangs on Hitomi Mandai! 2 Hits!
AS: >>> You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Wind skill Wind Howl on Ririka Kawase! 3 Hits!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
| Hyousuke Suzuki regains 6 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Block Worst! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 42 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Crashing Smash. Critical Hit!
| Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Neutral! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 19 Strike damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Crashing Smash.
AS: Avoid Worst! Hitomi Mandai takes 51 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Gnashing Fangs.
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hitomi Mandai takes 84 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Gnashing Fangs. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Akihiko Sanada takes 22 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Slashing Swipe.
AS: Avoid Best! Akihiko Sanada takes 10 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Slashing Swipe. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 11 Wind damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wind Howl. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 11 Wind damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wind Howl. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 11 Wind damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wind Howl. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko manages to dodge and weave, calling upon several years of boxing experiences. Close quarters fisticuffs tend to be his pride after all. Any wounds he takes are brush against him.

"Not bad, everyone! Keep it up!" Akihiko calls out, bringing his evoker to his temple once more. He hesitates for a moment, as Hyousuke cuts the beast off. "Back up, Suzuki-san! Don't push yourself!" Akihiko is still worried about that wound Hyousuke took earlier. When he backs up, Akihiko will take the chance to fire off a Mazionga.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Akihiko Sanada has used the Elec skill Mazionga on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 171 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Mazionga. Critical Hit!
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
What is she thinking? Fuuka pauses for a moment, frowning. ...It's hard to put into her words - especially not now, when they have the beast cornered. It's lashing out - but who wouldn't?

"...It doesn't feel like an indiscriminate monster. When we pursued it before, it was only concerned with escaping from us, until we cornered it." She comments.

Ririka says that they weren't able to get it to stay still long enough to scan last time, and she nods.

"We couldn't, either. ...I suppose there's nowhere left for it to run to, now..." This time, she's able to scan it. The aura flares to life before her, and she focuses.

"It's very powerful... Beware darkness and piercing attacks!" Fuuka warns. "It's weakness is Light..."

It turns its eyes upon her, and pounces. There's a moment of hesitation - just enough that for a moment, her defenses are weaker. But it does not meet flesh - its body ''crashes'' into Lucia's protective globe. Regardless, Fuuka winces. It might not have struck her physically, but she ''feels'' like she got the breath knocked out of her. Lucia protects her directly, but she can still feel the force of the impact through her - enough that she's knocked briefly off balance.

"Understood." She nods toward Akihiko. She sensed Darkness before. In that case...

"Lucia... Protect me from the night." Fuuka requests. A protective aura surrounds her, to mitigate her weakness. And for the others...

"...Focus on its attacks. See the way it moves... Everyone... Be careful." Fuuka says. She tries to predict its movements - to use Lucia's divine sight to provide advance warning and give them the information they need to defend against its attacks.
</poem>
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi spends Limit on Exploit! Fuuka Yamagishi can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Recovery skill Dark Wall on Fuuka Yamagishi!
AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Dark Wall.
| Dark_Wall (Dark Affinity Up!) added!
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Almighty skill Divine Sight on Akihiko Sanada, Ririka Kawase, Hitomi Mandai, and Fuuka Yamagishi!
| Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's turn has ended.
| Fuuka Yamagishi: Blast removed!
AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Divine Sight.
| Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Divine Sight.
| Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Divine Sight.
| Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
"Heh," Hitomi breathes at Ririka's encouragement. "I'm more worried about the big guy." Adjusting her glasses, her attention tries to stay on the Beast despite her usual habit of looking at people when they're talking. (It's polite, you know.)

Besides, there's much more delicious people out there.

The Beast is at bay, and is lurching. Maybe this will be an anticlimax. Maybe that's what Fuuka was seeing, thinks Hitomi, before the Beast looks at her.

Hitomi takes a step back. In hindsight that was really good, because when the Beast comes towards her and snaps downwards, teeth clacking once and then hitting with a crunch at the same time as the propulsive force of impact knocks her backwards --

The Beast lead with claws that might have sunk into her belly.

When the Beast disengages - good thing it has other people to worry about - Hitomi isn't bleeding. She hunches forwards for a moment and heaves herself upright, exhaling.

"These protectors are really good, huh?" Hitomi says to Fuuka, not looking at her. "That time I got shot it actually caught it on the back side, isn't that wild? Anyway, I'm feeling kind of complicated about this creature now because I see what you were talking about and" Hitomi's hand sort of whips out like she's snapping her fingers, barely interrupting the flow of her conversation "I'm gonna say it feels a little personal but also we kind of have a hard time just being rational if we have this guy here and his primary argument is bite, right?"

Deep breath, push it out.

She is a little shaken up, yes.

That little flick of her hands was dice though, which bounce off the forest floor and pop up. The Beast will be delighted to find out they burst like firecrackers (and then seem to fly back in Hitomi's direction), we are sure. Delighted? Yeah, animals love fireworks.
</poem>

AS: Weapon! Hitomi Mandai has used the Strike skill Back Shot on Hyousuke Suzuki! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Hitomi Mandai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 9 Strike damage from Hitomi Mandai's Back Shot. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 26 Strike damage from Hitomi Mandai's Back Shot.
AS: Take! Akihiko Sanada takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Divine Sight.
| Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Suzuki-san! We're here to back you up, don't forget!" Ririka calls out with urgency as she sees Hyousuke take another hit. She's with her fellow members of SEES, it's easier for her to remember she's got backup here.

But bellowing shockwaves come to counter Amphion's song, and Ririka grabs her katana from her belt. Her grip tightensas she cleaves into the first blast, violent winds whipping around her as she slices through the first shockwave. She meetrs the second and the third, and by the time the last one dies down she's panting a little, but her hands are steady. "Th-that was close..."

Akihiko calls out the good work, and Ririka calls back, "We're covering you, snepai! Keep it up!"

Fuuka comments on how it doesn't feel like a monster. "We caught it disguising itself as another Shadow before... but... if all it wants to do is escape, why is everyone so concerned about it...?"

"We hought we had it pinned before, too..."

She takes in that guidance readily; she's got her own version of that skill, she's familiar with it and welcomes it. "Thank you, Yamagishi-san."

Hitomi is worried about the big guy. Ririka's kind of concerned about Hyousuke, but Akihiko and the beast are both pretty big, too... And there are reasons to be concerned for''about each. "Yeah, I hear you."

Fuuka's helping them navigate the fight, so Ririka decides to help their defenses. "Amphion! Marakukaja!"

Amphion strums, and fortifying energy flows up from the earth to envelop them all and help bolster their defenses.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Marakukaja on Akihiko Sanada, Fuuka Yamagishi, Hitomi Mandai, and Ririka Kawase!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Akihiko Sanada takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Marakukaja.
| Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"I'm fine! It's just a scratch!" Hyousuke shouted back. He hadn't lied. It was only a flesh wound, and the bleeding - exacerbated by his movement - made it look worse than it felt. It was the still-healing wounds Tsurugi had dealt him earlier that day that Akihiko should have been concerned about. Not more than a few hours old, whatever progress he'd made towards recovery was unwound with every movement, thread by sanguine thread. He still had enough left in the tank to fight, however, and certainly had the strength to push back the beast and leap quickly away.

It was not his body he needed to shield afterwards, but his eyes. A mighty flash of lightning struck the beast, hitting it like cannonfire and ripping an anguished howl from the beast. Already left unbalanced by Hitomi, the blast was enough to knock it off its feet and send it careening into a wall, though there was still fight left in it. Fight enough that it could stagger back up at a moment's notice, and fix its gaze on Fuuka. It prowled, waiting for another strike to come, or for that *thing* that had shielded her to appear once more. But nothing happened. Its twitching gaze recognised that something had happened, but it did not retaliate, even if it issued a warning growl.

Even if a plan to strike had been brewing in its mind, the thing did not get the chance to execute it. Dice fell into the ground beside it, snatching its attention away from the fight for a split second. But that split second was all that was needed for one of the dice to make it flinch away in sudden, burning, pain. It tried to dart away from the other, but with its footing thrown off, it still found itself caught in the second burst. It snarled, teeth bared to savage her again, but refused to strike. Ririka's strumming caught its ear instead.

Bereft of the ability to truly understand human speech, it did not understand that those notes were to bolster her teammates, not beat it into submission. It understood a moment later that it was not a spell directed at it, but the damage had been done. Its momentum had been interrupted yet again, and it reverted back into a defensive stance. Muscles tensed and eyes switching from target to target, it backed up slowly, snapping and barking and snarling at anyone or anything that dared to come too close.
"Don't worry about me, I can take whatever it's got!" Hyousuke said back to Ririka, even as he circled with the beast, prowling around it like a gladiator in the sands. "Just try and lock it down before-"

The hound bolted away, leaving behind no more than footprints by the oppressive darkness. Like a shadow, it slipped into the gloom between the trees, its hulking form vanishing behind trees that should have been too thin to hide it, with a silence that did not belong to such a large and vicious creature.
"Shit, it's doing it again...!" Hyousuke hissed, immediately drawing close to the group, and heaving his arms up into a tight guard. "Eyes open, and watch the trees! That thing could be hiding anywhere!"

The beast revealed itself, once more appearing as two eyes glinting in the dark. Then, it appeared again, manifesting behind the group. Then another. And another. Pairs upon pairs surrounded the group like a wolfpack, closing slowly in on them, prowling closer and closer while Hyousuke studied each with frantic eyes. One of them had to be real. One of them had to have a difference that marked it out as the true target - but which? He couldn't even wait to see which one lunged first. Each struck at the group, and each proved to be an illusion, their strikes swinging through the group like smoke.

In amidst that storm came was a flash of black, however, and claws shrouded in darkness carved into Akihiko before vanishing back into the flood of bodies. Fangs snapped at Fuuka from the side, seeking to rend her apart before the beast sunk back into the shadows again, vanishing behind another illusory copy. Hitomi was next, with one lunging at her from the front, while the beast - the true beast - slammed into her from behind with tremendous force. Ririka was the last, but was given no more mercy for it. It ran at her, swift as the wind, and swiped its claws at her as it shot past the party.

Hyousuke chased after it, firing shot after shot, but each only winged the beast - and, in turn, angered it further. It lunged at him next, gnashing and swiping, only stopping its onslaught when he slammed his elbow down into its snout.
"Damn it... This thing just doesn't quite, does it?!" He held his gun level at it, the barrel trained on its forehead, but his finger only trembled on the trigger. It didn't strike at him again. It bristled with anger, snarling and growling and snapping its jaws, but its posture was defensive.

He shook his head. No time to think about it now. There was a fight to win.
</poem>
AS: >>> Player not found, or player not in room.
AS: >>> Player not found, or player not in room.
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Illusory Ambush on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage!
AS: >>> You still have 3 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Illusory Ambush.
| Cloak (Non-Area Damage Mitigated!) and Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Shrouded Strike on Akihiko Sanada!
| Aggression: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: >>> You still have 2 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Mauling Jaw on Fuuka Yamagishi!
AS: >>> You still have 1 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Wolfpack on Hitomi Mandai! 2 Hits!
| Hyousuke Suzuki takes 45 damage from Stress!
AS: >>> You still have 0 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Slash skill Swiftclaw on Ririka Kawase!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
| Hyousuke Suzuki: Paralyze removed!
| Hyousuke Suzuki regains 6 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Block Neutral! Hitomi Mandai takes 59 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wolfpack. Critical Hit!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Worst! Hitomi Mandai takes 55 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wolfpack.
AS: Block Neutral! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 28 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Mauling Jaw. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka watches the beast carefully... and for a moment, their eyes meet. She holds her breath. Lucia is her everpresent Guardian - she does not vanish like most Persona do, instead remaining on the field to serve as Fuuka's shield and watchful eyes. She stares at the beast through Lucia's globe - but she doesn't strike.

She hears that warning growl.

"...Please. We don't have to fight." She urges in response. "Can you hear me...? We just want to understand..."

She hesitates - but it's beginning to move again, illusions bolstering itself until it appears to be as if its own pack. Even through Lucia's eyes, it's hard to discern the truth. Its claws swipe across Lucia's globe. Fuuka feels it as surely as if it were across her own skin. She draws in a breath, but endures it for now. She sees, too, the way it halts, even as Hyousuke points a gun at it.

...For now, there's only one thing she can do.

"Kawase-san!" Fuuka calls out. "It's difficult to track alone... but if we combine our talents, we maybe be able to see past its illusion!"

See past its illusions - and maybe come to a better understanding of what they're up against. She shuts her eyes and focuses intently, reaching out to Ririka mentally to join their efforts.
</poem>
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi has initiated a fusion spell! The spell still requires 1 Strong attacks and Any Magical! Anyone can join!

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Regardless of the facts, (and so say that Akihiko is simply worried for worried sake), he has to stay focused. This is a dangerous foe, and even a moment's injury can snowball into a disaster.

The beast seemingly multiplies, but Akihiko and Hyousuke both realize the illusions. As the beasts tries to close in, Akihiko is glad to try and give it as much as he gets, using controlled jabs. They dissipate into smoke upon contact.

With the moments blindness, Akihiko reflexively guards, and is slashed at. In the moment the beast is engaged however, Akihiko is glad to return the favour with his own fists, properly this time. "Gah! get back here!"

Then, Hyousuke tries to chase after the beast, and Akihiko follows. "Suzuki-san, be careful! Don't stray from the line!"
</poem>
AS: Tandem! Akihiko Sanada has used the Strike skill Cyclone Uppercut on Hyousuke Suzuki! 3 Hits!
| Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
Hitomi brings a hand up to catch the dice. The thing is running. Hitomi watches it; she is not trying to maneuver, possibly being tired, possibly being embarrassed at being a big rampaging lump of meat, and perhaps because she isn't going to try to hit the thing in the mouth with her hand.

Hitomi watches. She breathes, rather shallowly, but she breathes. She watches -- and when it comes for her, she flinches backwards.

Which means the Beast smashes underneath her and throws her in the air. She lands, again, on the ground, if this time on her ass, and as she does, she can feel her teeth *clack* as she squeezes her eyes shut. It moves on, as it must, perhaps, in the face of this assault, but afterwards she takes a deep breath and pushes herself back up to her feet.

Which, well, this is lucky too, isn't it? It's a charmed kind of life Hitomi lives, even if sometimes it doesn't quite seem that way to her at the time. Right now, it hurts. Right now, she's starting to forget about being scared. Right now, she's *embarrassed*. Right now, she's back on her feet.

"Alright," says Hitomi quietly. "I was feeling a little bit of sympathy about you despite myself but now this is feeling kind of PERSONAL you big hairy asshole," and then she takes in a huge breath. Behind the glasses, her eyes widen.

"TYCHE!" Her hands spread out and raise. The Persona rises behind her again, facing, somehow, directly towards the Beast. Its illusions may shroud it enough for *Hitomi* to not see it, but the statue gets lucky. Or maybe the heart can't truly be fooled.

"Light him up!"

Then follows a sudden shimmering constellation of golden lights followed by a bursting barrage of gold-and-red fireworks, aiming on the Beast. If it loved the dice, it's going to *adore* this kind of an explosive pulse towards a finale, and if nothing else, it might mean it won't notice what Fuuka and Ririka are up to until its too late.

(Hyousuke and Akihiko are being kind of more obvious.)
</poem>
AS: Persona! Hitomi Mandai has used the Fire skill Explosion of Fortune on Hyousuke Suzuki! 3 Hits!
| Aggression: Hitomi Mandai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
| Hitomi Mandai: Paralyze and Prophecy removed! Prophecy: 150 healing!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 11 Strike damage from Akihiko Sanada's Cyclone Uppercut.
AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 1 Strike damage from Akihiko Sanada's Cyclone Uppercut.
AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 1 Strike damage from Akihiko Sanada's Cyclone Uppercut.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 30 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 52 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 93 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Sure, that one scratch is just a scratch, but Ririka's seen how those can add up... "Just..." She sighs. Maybe right ''now'' isn't the time to have a conversation.

There may be illusions at work, but Ririka is a navigator, and she whirls around to meet the slash as it comes for her, raising her katana to block it. There's a brief struggle before she can push back, and she looks around warily.

Fuuka calls for them to combine their talents, and Ririka nods firmly. "Right, Yamagishi-san! I'll follow your lead!"

"Everyone, please hang on, we'll try to pin down which one it is," Ririka calls. She closes her eyes too, reaching out, sharing her particular view of the world, bridging that gap...

If they can understand it, they may know how to get it to stop running off.
</poem>
AS: Ririka Kawase has joined Fuuka Yamagishi's fusion spell! The spell is ready!
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi and Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Abeyance on Hyousuke Suzuki!
| Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's turn has ended.
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
| Ririka Kawase: Prophecy removed! Prophecy: 150 healing!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Fuuka Yamagishi's Abeyance.
| Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) added!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Exploit! Hyousuke Suzuki can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Blood!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Fuuka's words fell on deaf ears. Whether enraged, frightened, or both, the thing took heed of neither her words, nor the tone they were delivered with. It struggled against the party, lashing out and leaping around, throwing attacks out in a desperate frenzy, its eyes wild and teeth bared.

Even in that frenzied state, the beast still held control over itself, and moved with preternatural agility for something of its size. It was a fact Akihiko was to learn the hard way after the first clean hit. Its pupils darted towards the other incoming blows, and with a short growl of effort, it threw its body back until only it took only glancing blows from his onslaught.

What Akihiko's strike lacked in power it made up for in being a distraction. So focussed on moving away from the bludgeoning blows was the beast, that it failed to notice Hitomi until it was too late. It saw the statue looking towards it, but instinct ruled its mind, and it could not fathom that she had merely been bluffing. Any inkling of it was cast from its mind the moment it saw the array of lights cast by Tyche, and every iota of strength it had was dedicated to fleeing the blasts.

The first blast threw it off balance, landing at its feet. The second threw it off its feet, hammering into its side with a mighty burst of light and noise. The third detonated in its face, driving it into the ground with a crumpling thud, leaving it struggling to its feet and defenceless against what the navigators levelled against it.

It did not notice some of its illusions flickering as the spell was woven, and its magicks began to take effect. It could not see, past the smoke and dirt cast into the air by Hitomi's salvo, that some of them grew faint. In the dark of the night and the heat of battle, such things might have been difficult to see at first, but they only grew more intense with every passing moment.

"Whatever you're doing, it's working!" He called out to Ririka and Fuuka, not acknowledging Akihiko's concern openly, but backing up at his command. "We keep the pressure on, and we'll finally stop this thing! Count on it!" Not 'end this thing.' Not tear, or rip, or rend, or break, or any other pejorative he had spat at any number of his human and demon adversaries. He would *stop* it. Consciously or not, it was a word he had chosen.

He watched the beast, waiting for it to act. More illusions? Ripping fangs, or tearing claws? Another display of feral magic? He knew not what to expect, but he could see - even from that distance - that the thing grew more desperate, and frightened, and furious, with every second they remained.

There was no skill in how it lunged at the party, swinging wildly while sending the last of its illusions in to try and cover its mad tacke against Akihiko. There was no primal finesse to its assault against Fuuka - just the deafening cry of a cornered animal, demanding that she turn tail and flee its home. There was no precision in its maddened state, as Hitomi was shown when its claws - doused in black and terrible energy - swiped down to carve away at whatever it could reach. And there was no restraint in its bites, as it sought to rip into Ririka, its fangs gleaming with the spit that ran between each.

It reared back, readying another round of illusions to fill in the gaps left between the fading images around it, but Hyousuke shot again to distract it. But the pellets did not strike its face. A few missed almost completely, grazing its fur and sinking unceremoniously into the dirt, but the rest hit against its shoulder. One might have thought he'd missed, were it not for how he had clearly aimed that short-barreled shotgun at that spot on it.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Recovery skill Desperation on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage!
AS: >>> You still have 3 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Hyousuke Suzuki's Desperation.
| Atk_Dn and Crt_Dn removed!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Wolfpack on Akihiko Sanada! 2 Hits!
| Hyousuke Suzuki takes 45 damage from Stress!
AS: >>> You still have 2 regular actions and 1 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Dark skill Threatening Roar on Fuuka Yamagishi!
AS: >>> You still have 2 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Slash skill Shadowed Slash on Hitomi Mandai! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: >>> You still have 1 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Tandem! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Mauling Jaw on Ririka Kawase!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
| Hyousuke Suzuki regains 6 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Block Worst! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 41 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Threatening Roar.
| Panic (Damage when using Persona''Tandem!) added!
AS: Block Best! Hitomi Mandai takes 38 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shadowed Slash. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Neutral! Hitomi Mandai takes 54 Slash damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shadowed Slash.
AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 86 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Mauling Jaw.
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi spends Limit on Shift! Akihiko Sanada can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Akihiko Sanada! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Shift! Hitomi Mandai can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Hitomi Mandai! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Block Best! Akihiko Sanada takes 30 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wolfpack.
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Best! Akihiko Sanada takes 30 Dark damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Wolfpack.

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko at least, catches the beast on one, but whiffs continually. The beast charges at Akihiko, and he braces for the hit, tanking it effectively.

"You won't get away!" Akihiko calls as he loads a special clip into his evoker. He presses it to his head, and casts Heat Riser on himself. With a sudden burst of speed, Akihiko launches himself at the beast, using his lightning augmented fists to wail on the horrifying beast.
</poem>
AS: Akihiko Sanada spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Akihiko Sanada has used the Elec skill Lightning Spike on Hyousuke Suzuki! 3 Hits!
| Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.
| Akihiko Sanada: Hyper, Prophecy, and Psych removed! Prophecy: 150 healing!
AS: Akihiko Sanada spends Limit on Shift! Fuuka Yamagishi can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Fuuka Yamagishi! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Hitomi Mandai spends Limit on Exploit! Hitomi Mandai can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Hitomi Mandai spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 83 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Lightning Spike. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 64 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Lightning Spike.
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 83 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Lightning Spike. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
No response. At this point, Fuuka doesn't expect it - but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it to ''try''. It's always worth it to try.

And as Fuuka and Ririka join their efforts, they have a better time tracking it through its illusions.

"It appears so..." Fuuka replies to Hyousuke. 'Stop', he says - not 'end it'. ...A part of her is relieved to hear that.

To her, the beast unleashes a threatening roar. She flinches. A part of her ''does'' want to flee - but she can't. Abandoning this now would be...

...She has to see it through. The darkness-warding curtain Lucia provided her before holds strong, and Ririka's fortifying Marakukaja provides stability.

"I'm sorry." She apologises. She hears Hyousuke fire - but she sees him ''miss''.

...Or maybe he hit exactly what he intended to?

"Lucia... Ease our spirits. Wash away this darkness that blinds us." Fuuka requests of her Persona, her other self. Lucia spreads her arms, and a wave washes over everyone present like water. It's like cool, refreshing rain on a hot day, providing relief and succor.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Recovery skill Relaxing Wave on Akihiko Sanada, Hitomi Mandai, Ririka Kawase, and Fuuka Yamagishi!
| Fuuka Yamagishi takes 90 damage from Panic!
| Insight: Fuuka Yamagishi gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Fuuka Yamagishi takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Persona! Fuuka Yamagishi has used the Recovery skill Me Patra on Akihiko Sanada and Hitomi Mandai!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi's turn has ended.
| Fuuka Yamagishi: Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Panic, Dark_Wall, Hyper, and Prophecy removed! Prophecy: 150 healing!
AS: Fuuka Yamagishi spends Limit on Shift! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Ririka Kawase! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Relaxing Wave.
| Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Recovery healing from Fuuka Yamagishi's Me Patra.
| Haze removed!

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.
<poem>
[stop] it. Even now, Hyousuke wants to [stop] it.

It must be said that Hitomi, too, has a competitive streak, but while it's close to a vicious one, it's not the same. His words are perhaps a neuro-linguistic spell, and so Hitomi changes, just the tiniest bit, as the Beast comes closer. Hitomi stares at it.

And it is not Hitomi who moves, but Tyche. The great statue almost seems to pirouette (did one arm move) and the blow smashes against it. The Persona crushes against Hitomi, and it cracks, momentarily fragmented, but Hitomi's flesh isn't torn, her skull isn't shaken, her blood isn't shed.

Most of the anger and pain leaves her under Fuuka's ministration. Hitomi focuses on the Beast.

I hate its damn illusions, thinks Hitomi.

Her eyes narrow.

But what if.

"Tyche!" Hitomi says, and the Persona appears, and it floats like usual (if subtly more cracked-up looking) and there are two sudden bursts of flame downwards to bracket the Beast. She's not aiming to miss but they are a little off set: Hitomi might be figuring the Beast has to dodge at least one.

EXCEPT...

"Hey," says Hitomi.

From momentarily behind the Beast, on a backdrop of red. The Dark Hour's sullied moon gleams off one lens of her glasses as she leans a little to the side.

"It's a big mistake to assume you're the only one who can use misdirection."

"I can trick you into being in the wrong place, too," Hitomi concludes. There is a snap of her fingers, in between which is a small tube of something blue which momentarily splashes onto her hand. Then there's a shrieking blur and a column of flame that aims to consume the Beast in incinerating force before it can react!

Well.

Poach the Beast. Actually, that's a good term. Context appropriate. ''Lightly poached''. Fair, after all, is fair.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Hitomi Mandai has used the Fire skill Double Agi on Hyousuke Suzuki! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Hitomi Mandai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Theurgy! Hitomi Mandai has used the Fire skill You're Burning for Me on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
| Hitomi Mandai: Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Hyper and Psych removed!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 133 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Double Agi. Critical Hit!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 148 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Double Agi. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 155 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's You're Burning for Me.
GAME: Save complete.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"We'll keep it up, Suzuki-san!" Ririka calls back. "I think we're starting to figure out which ones are the illusions now." With Fuuka she keeps the Navigator link open, sharing their combined sight with the others.

She catches that word, too. Stopping is good. This thing only fought when backed into a corner...

But the beast lunges once again, and Ririka tries to catch the jaws with her Jatana, bracing the back of the blade with her other hand as she struggles, trying to stay on balance. "Get-- ''down''!" she spits out through gritted teeth.

She's exhausted, and this battle is taking far longer than she'd like. They're doing the best they can, but...

And--there! "I think I see an opening-- I'm going to take it!Amphion! Let's make an opening!"

Amphion strums, and Earth Break is cast at the gbeast, and then Ririka points her Katana. "Now--strike! Double time!"

]Doiulders are torn from the earth and flung at the beast, hoping to catch it at just the right moment.,
</poem>
AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Exploit! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Earth Break on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Earth skill Magna on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Earth skill Magnara on Hyousuke Suzuki!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
| Ririka Kawase: Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Hyper removed!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Earth Break.
| Earth_Break (Earth Affinity Down!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 44 Earth damage from Ririka Kawase's Magna.
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added! Haze removed! Explosion! 15 damage!
AS: Avoid Worst! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 174 Earth damage from Ririka Kawase's Magnara.
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added!
| Hyousuke Suzuki is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Akihiko's first strike left the beast reeling, the surge of electricity working in tandem with the force of the blow to stun it. It stumbled back, helpless to avoid the other two blows, each of which struck like bolts thrown from the heavens themselves. Its legs splayed, barely supporting the weight above them, but the flurry of strikes had not dimmed the fire in its eyes.

But that fire was no match for Hitomi's blazing wrath. With whatever strength was left in its tattered body, the beast practically threw itself to one side, a short and sharp snarl cutting through the air as pain shot through its muscles. What had been intended as a distraction struck true, singing the whites and browns of its hide a charred black. Wracked with pain and robbed of strength, it could only try to limp feebly away when the culmination of Hitomi's strategy drowned it in an all-consuming pyre.

There was a moment - no longer than a heartbeat - where it looked to Fuuka from behind the flames. There was anger, yes, but there was more. There was desperation in its expression. There was whimpering fear. There was almost a plea for help - or a warning to leave. Whatever it was, Hitomi burnt it away before it had a chance to set, and Ririka's onslaught bludgeoned it out of the beast.

There were no illusions left to protect it, no shadows in which it could hide, no cover behind which it could fling itself. Its defences brought low by Amphion's spell, its feeble attempts at evasion were met with Ririka's boulders, and it topped sideways into the open.

Right within Hyousuke's reach.

Hyousuke fixed the beast with a piercing, fiery, glare. His body, burdened by the injury and exhaustion of this fight and the the battle against the fencer, struggled to hold itself upright beneath its own weight. His fists were clenched tight, nails digging into his own hands so harshly that it felt like they would carve through the gloves of his armour. Even his breathing was not spared. His lungs screamed for oxygen, and his chest heaved with every ragged breath, before releasing in a growling exhale that shook his throat like a quake.

The beast stared back at him, dark eyes gleaming in the pallid moon. It tried to raise to its full height, but the hunters' relentless assault had robbed it of all but the faintest motes of strength, of which it clung desperately to. Its claws, slick with blood and dirt, sank into the forest floor whenever it tried to brace itself, visibly tightening the muscles in its legs in the process. Its breathing made its exhaustion clear for those that could not see the other signs, with great steamclouds rolling past its fangs, jaw left slack as it tried to suck down air into its heaving lungs.

The tension turned the air to glass, and Hyousuke felt like any single movement could shatter it. The two watched each other, still and quiet save for their desperate attempts at clawing back some measure of strength, waiting for their foe to move. To act. To do something they could counter. The moment stretched out for what felt like an eternity, until finally, they moved. It was hard to say who had leapt forward first, but it mattered little. Only barest fraction of a second lay between one's action and thje other's, and it was only a blink before they were entangled in a savage melee.

The beast howled in pain as Hyousuke sent his fist crashing into its jaw, knocking its head sideways, before another vicious blow struck down at the top of its snout. It retaliated, lunging out with with its claws outstretched. It swiped across his stomach, a hair's breadth from eviscerating Hyousuke, before snapping its jaws down like a trap to seize the arm striking down at it. Hyousuke clenched his teeth and braced against the pain, fighting it back so that he could hammer his fist back into the monstrous jaw.

He was a warrior, trained and armoured and bestowed with supernatural powers. It was a vicious, snarling, beast, warped by forces beyond its control. And yet, there they were, scrapping in the dirt, blood and sweat and spit spattering into the ground and turning it to mud. It was a brutal and ugly mess, reducing them both to little more than animals. Only when a decisive, cracking, strike rang out did the entire debacle come to an end, but was not some triumphant feat of strength and determination. It was a single, unceremonious, strike thrown out by Hyousuke in utter desperation.

He stood, bloodied but unbowed, panting as he watched the whimpering thing collapse into a crumpled heap. But before he could land the finishing blow, the beast began to change. Bathed in gentle, yet all-consuming glow, what had once been a howling predator shed its form, leaving Hyousuke standing back and watching cautiously. Limbs shortened while claws blunted and retracted, fur lengthened and shifted to a golden hue, its maw shortened until it was a shorter thing ending in a wetted, black, nose... By the end of it, the thing did not even vaguely resemble the beast that had once plagued them.

He watched, not relieved that the battle was over, but horrified that it had resolved in such a way. He was silent, stunned into it by transformation, despite how his jaw shook in some vain attempt at speech. The silence was not broken by a whimper, however, but a shout.
"STOP!" Hyousuke cried. His was not the voice of a commander, but a desperate man throwing himself in front of an injured hound. "Wait! There's- There's something wrong! Kawase-san, Yamagishi-san, I need- Anyone, I need healing! It's... Oh God, please..."

He tore the mask away and cast it aside, not caring to see where it landed. A glove followed suit, tossed away so that he could place a bare hand against the small, gold-furred dog laying unconscious by him as he kneeled.
"It... It's still breathing... It's still alive..." Another silence, once more only lasting the span of a heartbeat. When he spoke again, however, his tone was hardened, bolstered by steely determination in spite of the wavering that could still be heard beneath. "Get me to the Velvet Room. We need to go. NOW."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
<poem>
The battle draws to a close. Not with glorious triumph, but with vicious reality and the dawning horror of their opponent's true form. Fuuka gasps, hands clasping around her mouth.

She looks to the others, as Hyousuke shouts for them to stop. Healing... Can they heal this? Healing spells only work on those Personas... does the supernatural still cling to this dog enough for that to work. She hesitates - but she'll try anyway.

"Lucia... Please." Fuuka requests - and Lucia sprinkles the waters of healing around, to tend to everyone's wounds. And when Hyousuke asks them to get him to the Velvet Room...

"...Let's find the shortest route, Kawase-san." Fuuka says.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka pants as she has Amphion send off the final spell, watching as the beast they've been hunting is laid low. "Okay... maybe... maybe now we can... contain it, I guess? Or..." She glances to Fuuka. "... maybe we can scan it together, and figure out--"

But right then the beast and Hyousuke leap for each other, brutally brawling until they're both scrapping in the mud. ""Suzuki! ''Hyousuke''!" she shouts, alarmed. "It's already down--"

But she watches in amazement as it starts to change. "That fur... We found that fur where it slipped away from us!" But Hyousuke asks for healing, and Ririka hesitates. she's thinking the same thing Fuuka is.

But they don't lose anything by trying, right? "Amphion. Diarama." She glances to Fuuka and nods. "Hai." Ririka reaches out and starts to play her keyboard as she starts to search.

With both of them working in tandem, they can get moving all that much faster.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-08-05: A Fault in the Ice

2026-08-05T22:29:14Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: A Fault in the Ice''' *'''Cast:''' Shinichi Nagisa, Katsuko Yoshinaga *'''Where:''' Shujin High School *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-05 *'''IC Date:''' Thu Dec 20 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Set on dealing with the Homunculus piloting Shinichi's body, Katsuko makes a move to see if she can finesse any usable information from it. But even the ice queen is all too human, and it's enough to give the Homunculus the advantage.'' ---- (|=================== Shujin Aca..."

*'''Log: A Fault in the Ice'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Shinichi Nagisa]], [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]]
*'''Where:''' Shujin High School
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-08-05
*'''IC Date:''' Thu Dec 20 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Set on dealing with the Homunculus piloting Shinichi's body, Katsuko makes a move to see if she can finesse any usable information from it. But even the ice queen is all too human, and it's enough to give the Homunculus the advantage.''

----

(|=================== Shujin Academy - Classroom Building ====================|)
-==================================================== Tokyo/Aoyama-Itchome ====-
Shujin Academy is split between its main classroom building, which faces the
back streets of Aoyama-Itchome, and its practice building out back. The
classroom building is a grim concrete building with sleek glass doors, three
stories tall, with classrooms for the third years on the ground floor, second
years on the second, and first years on the top. The faculty office is on the
second, and the student council room and the library on the third. Vending
machines dot the hallways here and there, and the bathrooms are kept clean. Its
front gates are wrought iron with a circular design, and a stylized clock on the
eastern wall informs students just how late they are.

The foyer is lined with glass cases proudly displaying trophies earned by its
top students, and just past them is the school store, though the yakisoba bread
there is almost always sold out. Billboards across the school announce various
articles and notices of interest. Past there, the walls are gray and white, the
floors are wooden, student lockers line the walls, and the sliding classroom
doors sport diamond windows. The classrooms themselves are rather more sober,
with simple desks and chairs for the students and a taller desk at front before
the chalkboard for the teacher. The windows to the outside seem simple, and even
have yellow curtains that can be pulled shut, but are lined in a diamond pattern
to prevent shattering. We wouldn't want our students to escape, now would we?

There is a fenced-in roof, but the door to it displays a sign stating students
aren't allowed. Despite this, it isn't locked, so nothing stops anyone from
hanging out there anyway--at least, not until they get caught. Oddly, there's
also several small planters there too for growing flowers and vegetables.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>

It's a chilly Thursday afternoon, and the bell rang hours ago. That doesn't mean everyone is gone though. There's clubs, and people staying over to watch the clubs.

Case in point, Shinichi Nagisa, once again on the Lacrosse Club's team, is standing in the breezeway between Classroom Building and Practice Building.

There's a portion of the walk about halfway where it becomes a bricked in alcove with a table and a couple of vending machines.

Right now he's in his track suit, and balanced against the wall with a single arm. Right between him and the wall? A giggling first year girl with a dark bob cut and a ribbon in her hair.

"You were really cool out there during Practice..."

"What a coincidence." He says with a wolfish smile and a certain gleam in his eyes, "You were really cute out there during Practice, I saw you watching."

The girl blushes some, at the implication that she was noticed. "... You wanna head out of here? We could go somewhere nice, just the two of us..."

"A-Ah... well..."

She's hesitating, not because she's not into the idea some, but- it's also moving a little faster than she ever has, and she's trying to figure out whether she wants to go with him or not.

But in the end, it feels like there's only one way this could go...

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Though the bells had rung hours ago, Katsuko still lingered within Shujin's halls. Part of it was club attendance - the literature club had just about reached the end of one of their projects, and called for all available hands to make that last push before the semester was out. The other part of it was that she still felt that uneasy presence within the vicinity. It was a teeth-itching, flesh-gnawing thing that left her on edge no matter where in the halls she strode, but that just made it all the more imperative that she keep tabs on it.

It hadn't been hard to piece together who - or, rather, what - the source was. The rumours surrounding Shinichi Nagisa were widespread, and she'd been involved enough with the events surrounding Kazusa's Homunculus that she could confidently put two and two together. The problem, then, was figuring out how to deal with it. She wasn't close to him, nor to any of his friends, and what information she'd finagled out of others was mostly hearsay. Much as she hated to admit it, it was perhaps one of those times where she needed answers straight from the horse's mouth.

Or the wolf's maw, as it were.

She did not have to search far. Whether some first-year had bitten off more than she could chew, or he'd cornered some unfortunate target of his affections, it mattered little. She seemed hesitant, if not outright cautious, and there was every risk that her lashing out as a result could agitate the Homunculus. And the last thing she needed, Katsuko thought, was some shambling monstrosity puppeteering Shinichi's body through the halls. There was far too much chance that it would make him unpredictable and thus liable to interrupt scheming or or reading time.

"Nagisa-san." She said, her voice as sharp and cold as an ice-wreathed dagger. "I thought you were with Fuyuki-san. Have you broken up already?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>

"A-Ah...!" The girl stammers, as Katsuko approaches embarrassed at being caught, and an unconcerned Homunculus in Shinichi's skin glances sideways at Katsuko.

"Last I heard, she was still together with her boyfriend. If she wants to be exclusive, then she needs to break up with him first."

He then looks back to the other girl with a smile, "Until then, there's nothing wrong with exploring other options, right?"

This gives the girl some obvious mixed feelings, but at the same time, she seems to still be cautiously on his side, "Right yeah? There's uh- nothing wrong with him, being around other girls if she's still with him."

"Exactly. Same way I wouldn't try to tie you down either." He smirks, "... Unless you wanted to be..."

Now the other girl is a deep red, speechless at the innuendo inherent in the exclusivity. Shinichi now glances back at Katsuko.

"Why are you hanging around here so long after school anyway? Don't you need to rush home to take care of the cripple?" He says, dismissively of Katsuko's presence.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The corner of Katsuko's lip twitched the faintest fraction of an inch, spurred on by consternation at the events unfolding. She'd been banking on shame or awkwardness spoiling the mood between Shinichi and his latest target, but that had clearly failed. Neither seemed to have much shame to speak of, and her remark had done little to sour tension - romantic, lustful, or otherwise - that hung like fog between them. Her mind raced, positing different options for dialogue and branching out his potential responses. She pruned the tree based on her summations, constantly whittling it down in the scant gaps between speech until she could think of something that would resolve the situation.

Katsuko intended to make some pithy remark about how she had fallen for some cheap playboy's ploy, and insinuate that she was expecting far too much of a *thing* that would give far too little, but Shinichi took an axe to the base of that tree when he made his own remark at her. She knew well who he meant by 'cripple,' and despite her conscious mind demanding that she rein herself in and keep from losing her calm, she was still far more human than she was at all comfortable with.

Her gaze grew sharp as a razor's edge and cold as the depths of winter, until ice verged on forming across the surface of her eyes. She grew still, to the point where even the subtle rise and fall of her chest became almost imperceptible. Behind it all, every gear and thought in her mind turned towards biting back, the Homunculus and her plans be damned.
"He can take care of himself." She snapped back, outwardly calm, but in the same way that the frozen surface of Arctic waters could be described as 'calm.' "But you clearly cannot. Are you so desperately lonely that you have to force yourself on women who are without the benefit of experience?" Her head snapped to the girl, fast and sudden as the north wind. "And you. Do better. Try to set your standards for a fling a little higher than... that."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>

Whether the Homunculus marks a change within Katsuko or not, is not quite clear, it's like she's only on the periphery right now and down his list of concerns to being 'tertiary' at best.

'He can take care of himself.'

"...That's not what I heard."

This monster had to draw from his memories to know that Katsuko's father was badly injured and now disabled in that accident. It's unlikely to make something up from nothing.

Which means, that people around the school have been talking, and he's just forming his own conclusions to what Shinichi Nagisa heard.

Right?

'Are you so desperately lonely...?'

Now he stiffens and stands up straight, peeling his hand away from the wall. "Babe, hate to be the one to break it to you- but I'm not exactly struggling for company..."

Then the girl got berated and- "I- what- my standards aren't- what's wrong with-" She stammers, getting tongue-tied on trying to defend herself.

And Shinichi looked her way. "Why don't you go home while I deal with this? I'll text you later..." He already had her phone number!?

The girl nodded wordlessly twice, then fled, with her head down. Shinichi watches her go for a moment, waiting until she's out of sight, leaving the two of them alone.

Then abruptly, unless Katsuko is lightning fast, she'll find him on top of her, and her right arm being wrenched in the grip of his left hand. "The fuck is your problem?"

His eyes gleamed strangely. "You so fucking miserable from being single and saddled with your cripple of a Dad that you have to inflict it on everyone else around you?"

He looms close to her, being a good deal taller, his build athletic, as he angrily makes a sound akin to a snarl, "Giving everything to someone worthless like that. It's turning you into some ''bitch'' that can only take from the people around her- and give nothing worthwhile back."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
The first objective, be it through instinctive guile or mere coincidence, had been achieved. The nameless first year was, for the time being, beyond arm's reach. With any luck, Katsuko hoped, she would come to her senses and decide to focus her attention on someone that wasn't possessed by something masquerading as a human. She had no room for relief, however. At first it was because of rage - cold as ash, rather than some blazing inferno, but all-consuming nevertheless. Then it was when she felt her body thrown about like a ragdoll, her wrist already gripped.

Grim was a shadow - preternaturally fast and quiet, ascending beyond human limits to become some dark and deadly force. Katsuko Yoshinaga was, regrettably, human. She made some token effort and wrenching herself free or gaining some breathing room, but it was clear from the outset that there was no way she could break free of him with brute strength alone. Slowly, subtly, and gently, she drew in a long breath, and used that singular force of will to clear some portion of her mind. Rage still burnt cold, and panic borne of the primal part of her all-too-human mind screamed at her to fight back, but she had to focus.

Time slowed to a crawl, and in a blink, Katsuko focussed on the practical.

The objective was to release herself from Shinichi's grasp. She had no idea what he intended, but there was little chance it was anything good. As brute force had proven to be ineffectual at best, she wracked her mind for other options in the rapidly-dwindling fractions of a heartbeat she had before he acted again. Her bag was to her side, and the stationery in there was sharpened to a point. A brazen attack could distract him - but that would require her reaching in with her free hand. Impractical at best, inviting more danger at worst. Her nails, perhaps? They were sharp enough to scratch a bleeding wound into him. With the right timing, one above his eyes could leak blood into them, and grant her some precious few seconds to escape. But the Homunculus, for all its fumbling with his memories, seemed to Know Shinichi's body well. If he moved faster, it would prove disastrous.

It was to be guile, then. She would have to strike some balance between taunting him enough to distract him, while not inviting further retaliation or sending the Homunculus spiralling out of control. Then there was the small matter of avenging her father's honour. To have attacked him so... Even Katsuko, whose face never twitched further than a fraction of an inch when shifting expression, bore some semblance of a tight frown at that personal attack.

"And what exactly do you 'give' people?" She asked, her voice as still and level as floe. It was a concerted effort to keep it that way. She was in danger, and she knew it. But she had to keep him talking and distracted, if only to find the right moment to lash out or break away. "Enlighten me, Nagisa-san. What has your bravado done for you that you can feel proud of?" It was a stupid question. of course he'd feel proud about his 'conquests.' But any chance to keep him spouting drivel was one she'd take.

If it gave her an opening to put a mark on his face, then all the better.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>

Indeed, as a monster in human skin, it isn't necessarily stronger, or faster than Shinichi Nagisa. It's just that it isn't bound by the things that would cause most people to hold back.

Most boys wouldn't just ambush a girl without warning. They certainly would be hesitant to lay their hands on them. And even if they did, they'd likely hold back all the same.

This Homunculus has no care about abiding by the limits people set upon themselves for the collective good, even when they're acting poorly.

Then she asks a question of him, and he arches an eyebrow, as if incredulous at the idea of it. Then- he smirks at the next question.

"Haven't you heard? I'm back on the Lacrosse Team, and I'm already outplaying everyone on it. Don't you know what a man is supposed to provide women, hun? Safety, security... is dear ol' Dad so useless that you've forgotten that much?"

He leers at her, "Real men don't just let some dumb bitch like yourself walk up and degrade another woman like that without consequences. They protect them. They teach them the right way to act."

He looks her right in the eyes, and there's an odd- sheen, behind them. As if his eyes would shine in the darkness, like some feline stalker's.

"So here's what you're gonna do. You're gonna apologize to her next time you see her. You're gonna apologize ''to me'' right now for getting up in our business."

A beat.

"And I don't mean just any apology. Down on your knees, forehead to the ground. I want full dogeza. You say you're sorry - and you promise you're gonna act more like a girl ought to from now on. ... You do that, and I'll let you leave."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
"I'm sure women feel *very* safe and secure around someone that barges into their locker rooms."
Emotionless as she made every attempt to appear, even she could not keep from letting a sarcastic lilt plague that reply. She'd heard what had happened with Isabeau - it had been hard not to, in fact - and her pride refused to let her simply take that insult to her father without biting back somehow. She wished she could say more, and lay into that Homunculus about what she truly thought about its macho act, but it wasn't just her at risk. Regrettably, she bit her tongue.

She was, however, a little surprised that he managed to keep from mentioning the women he'd somehow managed to convince to spend time with him. An insight into the Homunculus' mind, perhaps? It was a tidbit she'd have to analyse later. Much as she wished to spend time poring over what it had said to her and compare it to every other piece of information she'd collected, the reality of the situation was that he'd made a demand of her. He wanted her not to just feign an apology, but to outright grovel.

It took her every mote of restraint she had not to simply tell him to take his demands and choke on them in the most biting way possible. She deserved to have her vengeance for that, and for all the things he'd said about her father. There was a need in her, deep and cold as a pit, that demanded she take her pound of flesh from him. But time and again, she reminded herself that it was a Homunculus. It wasn't Shinichi. There was no point to any of this without the prospect of usable information, and agitating it would only cause the situation to spiral out of control. Worse, it might kill Shinichi - and having the Homunculus around permanently was a nuisance she could not abide.

The sheen of his eyes met the cold glare of a sheet of ice - she was stoic and impassive against him, no matter how her mind raced. And race it did, all towards finding a solution. Somewhat ironically, it was his demand for submission that allowed her the chance she needed, though not out of placating him. He'd need to let her arm go for it to happen properly. A true dogeza needed proper hand placement, after all. But for her to suddenly acquiesce to dropping down after all that had happened would seem suspicious, she thought. There had to be some measure of resistance, but not enough to truly agitate the Homunculus.

"You're not serious. Do you really expect me to bow just for that?" Katsuko said, injecting just enough of a hiss into her flat tone to sell the illusion. She was not truly rattled, after all. Being assaulted by a man stronger than her, making demands that she submit without question and conform to her place in society, was not something that could affect her at all. No - it was simply a facade. A ruse. An act to lure him into a false sense of security, and not a desperate attempt by her adrenaline-flooded mind to rationalise why her jaw clenched as tight as it did. Besides, outright anger, rather than shock, risked invoking the Homunculus' wrath. Surprise, hesitation, and just a grain of fear, were something she suspected it expected.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>

There's a very exaggerated eyeroll at her words, "Oh grow up. I stayed just inside the door and behind the wall where I wouldn't see anything. I just went in to teach Fontaine-san a lesson."

There's something smoldering on his expression now, "Every single girl in that room was on my side, that fat dumb Gaijin bitch had been bullying them all for ages and didn't feel like they could do a single thing about it."

His expression is growing more taut, angry, it's a gradual thing as they walk, "It was a man's job to teach her she's not better than anyone else here."

It is interesting, isn't it? Why isn't he mentioning all the girls? Well, perhaps it's because the Homunculus parodies Shinichi as some sort of 'gentleman'.

A hypermasculine 'protector' and 'ally' of women.

Even when his behavior is the opposite, it's what many teenage boys would believe is the right way to act, isn't it? He merely takes it to extremes.

When she started to drop down, his grip did loosen in response some, though remaining present, as if to help guide her to the ground.

However- unless she reacts quite quickly, it grasps back hold of her when she says fearlessly that 'You're not serious. Do you really expect me to bow just for that?'

"Heh." One might think that her show lacking any fear might be intimidating enough. But there is one place wherein Katsuko has miscalculated.

There is not a teenage boy in this country who doesn't think they can't overpower the average teenage girl physically.

That 'Heh.' and the smirk that follows is the only warning Katsuko gets, before his opposite hand whips up, trying to strike her hard across the face with the back of his hand in a jaw-rattling slap.

"Not serious... I want to know." As he tries to hold eye contact after the act, "What part of what I said was a 'joke' to you?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Shinichi was not the only one primed to move. Readied like a hawk catching the essence of prey on the wind, her muscles were taut, wound like springs as she waited to release them. She feigned submission as best she could, trying to sell him the idea that even if she did not believe in his ideals, could be browbeaten into following them. She lowered herself slowly, swallowing down both her bride and the bile that rose from her stomach, waiting for just the right moment to enact her plan. It was a foolhardy thing that required a man with limits and a woman with far superior athletic traits, but rarely were all the pieces aligned in such a perfect manner.

The moment she was low enough to dart past him, and in the scant few moments that his grip was loose enough for her to wrench herself free, Katsuko seized the opportunity tighter than any predator sinking talons into its hapless target. It hurt, leaving her wrist aching as she leveraged the weight of her entire body to rip herself free. Combined with the awkward angle her arm bent at as she surged past him, there was no denying the jolt of pain that shot through her arm like a bolt. But it was a small price to pay for escape.

The swing hit nothing but the ends of her hair, those raven locks trailing behind her as she darted behind him. She was no match for him athletically - she was a scholar first, and an artist second. But she knew how to run, as any who sighted her in the early morning would attest, and she put every ounce of that experience and stamina into fleeing like the wind. Despite the adrenaline that whipped through her veins, Katsuko did not simply run blindly, however. Her mind raced as her body did, using every spare second she had to her advantage.

He was stronger than her. Katsuko knew that, and thought it a reasonable assumption that he was faster too. Even with the headstart she no doubt had, he would catch her if she simply made for the nearest exit and bolted in a straight line until she was off of school grounds. But if she found safe harbour in a room nearby, then she stood a fighting chance. But where? Dr Maruki's office wasn't close enough. She couldn't be certain Kawakami was even in. Her peers were useless - they would hesitate to step on an ant for fear of getting their shoes dirty. There was no telling which classrooms were open, or even if the teacher inside would be inclined to get involved.

But the staff room... One teacher would be able to turn a blind eye, two could collaborate, but a whole host of them? The expectation to do *something* would surely be there. It was a long shot, but her only one. Her path resolved, Katsuko fled, eyes forward and hand digging through her bag for something sharp.

It never hurt to have a backup plan.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinichi Nagisa has posed.
<poem>

The Homunculus seems startled for a half second as she slips his grasp, and avoids the slap.

It's wise to think he might run after her- indeed, given how angry he seemed, it feels very likely!

But instead, as she takes off running, he yells after her.

"Cowardly bitch!" He barks, clenching his hands at his sides, "You think you can mouth off to a man and avoid taking responsibility for it? Go ahead and run! Run and hide behind your 'Daddy'! You'll still get yours!"

That she got away? That's fine. A Homunculus is a predator.

And it can enjoy the hunt just as much as the toying with its prey that comes after.

Just like with Motojima. He'd do whatever it took to make sure she paid for it before long.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Katsuko Yoshinaga has posed.
<poem>
Katsuko had any number of pithy remarks to shoot back at him, and no shortage of venomous ones too. There was little she wanted more than to hold that Homunculus at gunpoint and make it know the full extent of her wrath before executing it for all that it had had the temerity to say and do. But to turn around now just for the chance to taunt something she knew she would kill, one way or another, was unwise at best. Even when practically drowning in adrenaline, Katsuko knew that much. Thus, she kept running.

Only when she came to the staff room did she think to stop, but even then, it was a slow and stumbling motion that ended with her all but falling through the door. Hair messed and sweat beading down her face, she was far from the solemn and dignified girl that her teachers had all grown used to seeing, so it surprised her little when they glanced towards her with a mixture of curiosity and vague worry.
"Yoshinaga-san? Is everything alright?" One asked, polite concern - likely faked, she suspected - set into their words.

Katsuko parted her lips, thinking to tell them in no uncertain terms what Shinichi had been doing. But then a thought occurred to her. Word of his 'exploits' had no doubt already spread like wildfire, with no shortage of eyewitnesses either. There was little chance that, if news had spread through the student body, the faculty was completely unaware. They could not claim ignorance - they were complicit in covering things up, if not outright abetting such actions. She wished she could say the thought was a surprise, but it was Shujin. It'd taken vigilantes to bring Kamoshida to justice... What use was expecting them to deal with Shinichi?

"...I'm fine." She said dismissively. "I just needed to ask for clarification regarding next semester's curriculum."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-31: What Is, and What Can Be

2026-07-31T18:17:30Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: What is, and What Can Be'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]]
*'''Where:''' Hirasaka Ward
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-07-31
*'''IC Date:''' Mon Dec 17
*'''Summary''': ''Unsure of what the future holds, or if he can truly break from his past, Hyousuke asks for advice from someone he believes might have the experience needed to help him.''

----

(|============================= Hirasaka - Main ==============================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Hirasaka Ward ====-
The westernmost ward of the city, and also the one furthest inland, Hirasaka is
considered one of the least desirable places to live in Sumaru. This is in part
due to the bad reputation of local Kasugayama High School, nicknamed "Kasu High"
by its students and "Cuss High" by its detractors. A school of overwhelmingly
boys but some errant girls, it's said to be for delinquents, poors, and other
"problem" children. Just down the street is Sumaru Prison, which is not a prison
but an underground club with a live stage, and either way the parents of Sevens
students hate it.

It's not all bad in Hirasaka, though. The shopping is second to none, with a
huge five-story mall called Smile Hirasaka that offers a wide variety of
businesses and conference meeting rooms; just be sure to go on a day when the
stores aren't closed. For those who want a more homey atmosphere for their
purchases, there's Kameya Alley. Plenty of office buildings populate the area,
too.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Even as he relaxed on the bench, Hyousuke looked nerve-stricken. He did his best to hide it, of course. He kept a still expression, his body didn't move much, and his gaze meandered as if surveying the landscape. But as he sat in some quiet corner of the bench on that cool December day, it was the subtle signs that told of his true feelings. His expression was still, but perhaps a little too still, having been forced to remain that way. His body was much the same - save for the drumming of fingers or the wringing of hands, he forced himself to try and look natural. Even his eyes betrayed him, unable to focus on any one spot for too long before flitting away.

He could not leave, however. He'd already texted Shinobu, after all. He'd tried to make it sound as casual as possible, but when it came down to it, he had asked her for advice. It wasn't a simple hunt, or for some pointers with his woodworking, but actual, adult-to-child, advice. He'd even left his pup in the care of others so as to avoid any distractions, though he knew he would catch flak for it when the dog smelled the scent of the park on him. All that was left to do was wait, and try not to appear as anxious as he felt.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke's message had been casual... but Shinobu usually has a pretty good read on things. If it was something he wanted to ask her in person, it's probably something important. She agreed to meet with him, of course. She could hardly turn a request like that down.

...It still baffles her sometimes that there are people, teenagers, who look to ''her'' for advice now. She never really thought of herself that way... but if she ''can'' help, she wants to.

And so, she arrives at the park. Winter has begun, so she's dressed warmly in winter wear, now, with a larger coat than her usual. She scans the horizon, looking for who she came to meet - and when she spots Hyousuke she approaches, raising a hand in a casual wave.

"Hey, Suzuki. Been waiting long?" Shinobu greets. She takes a moment to assess his expression, then nods to the bench. "Mind if I sit?"

If he doesn't mind, she'll take a seat on the other side of the bench.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was quick to wave at Shinobu when he spotted her, and quicker still to shuffle over a little to make sure there was room on the bench for her. Dressed in lighter clothes than her he stuck out a little amongst those that dressed for the season, though he still seemed to be warm enough. Indeed, his discomfort seemed to stem from something else entirely, even as he attempted to maintain a casual air when he gestured to the open space.
"It's cool, I only got here a few minutes ago."

With the niceties taken care of, he looked off into the distance. His eyes were pointed in the direction of various pieces of flora and fauna, and may have instinctively followed a person or two passing by, but he focussed on nothing in particular. Like his mind and his body were separate, and his consciousness was a million miles away.
"Weather's nice." He said idly, with no real emphasis on any word, and a light tone that held no notable expression. "Hoping it'll stay like that. I got a trip coming up, and I..."

Hyousuke trailed off, and his smile turned a little rueful. More like a grimace, or the gritting of teeth, while he braced for a blow that was yet to come.
"...Ah, hell with it. Shimizu-san, I need some advice. About school. And work. And, uh, things like that." He paused a moment, shook his head, and looked to her with an expression that was halfway between sheepish and apologetic. "Fuck, sorry, I'm not making any sense. Been having some trouble focussing on what to say about it."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
"Cool." Shinobu replies with a nod, as he assures her that he only get here a few minutes ago. She doesn't know if he's just ''saying'' that, but she'll take him at his word. He's trying to stay casual, but she can tell ''something's'' up... Especially with the way he looks off into the distance at nothing.

"It is. Little chilly, but I don't mind that." She agrees. It's casual small talk. Is he stalling for time? The way he trails off... "Oh yeah, a trip? Hope you have a good time."

...But she knows he didn't come here just to tell her that - and that expression a moment later confirms it as he lets it all out, explaining that he needs advice.

...Sounds like there's a lot eating him up right now. School, work, and things like that... She shakes her head as he apologizes.

"Hey, no need for apologies. Sounds like there's a lot going on." She assures, shaking her head. "Take your time, sort it all out, and ask me when you're ready."

She can wait. She knows what it's like to have a thousand things going through your mind at once.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was glad for her allowing him time, as he felt like he desperately needed it. The seconds ticked by, and though it was only a handful before he spoke again, it felt as though an age had passed. Every heartbeat stretched out into eternity, every blink was an aeon... And through it all, his thoughts grew no clearer, much less organised. Unwilling to let the silence go on longer, save for the errant gust of cold wind that whipped past them, Hyousuke spoke from the heart. Raw and unrefined, perhaps, but it was at least something.

"I was talking with a friend the other day." Hyousuke began, looking down at his wringing hands instead of the middle distance. Still not at Shinobu, however, even as he spoke with her. "We were talking about what we were going to do over the break, or for Christmas, or... something. And I told her I wasn't going to take the entrance exams for uni. She was uh... she was surprised. Though I should try for it anyway." His smile never grew any more mirthful. There was still a lingering note of bitterness, bordering on outright dismay.

"Thing is, I know I'm not gonna pass it. Hell, I'm barely getting by with my regular exams. I'm sure as hell not getting into any kinda uni that respects itself." He let out a chuckle that matched the somewhat sorrowful nature of his smile, then continued. "Even if I did get in, I wouldn't even know what to do there. I'm not gonna be a doctor, or a scientist, or anything that needs... you know, thinking. But she got me thinking... should I bother trying anyway? Even if... even if I *know* I'm gonna fail hard? I always figured I'd be better off doing what you do, and just taking whatever jobs I can now and figuring it out from there, but she's telling me I got a chance, and I... I don't know."

He sighed a little, and rose his head mournfully.
"...I just don't know."
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Time ticks by, and Shinobu waits as he gets his thoughts together. She doesn't get impatient - she knows that whatever's going through his head right now must be important. Until, finally, he speaks. She watches him as he wrings his hands, but he speaks anyway.

Entrance exams, huh... He doesn't think he'd make it, and wouldn't know what to do even if he did... Doing what ''she'' does...

...She can sympathise. He's a lot like her, in that way. Confused and uncertain about his future... In a lot of way, she's ''still'' that way. She 'hm's to herself thoughtfully as she considers what to say.

"...When I was in your shoes, I thought the same way." Shinobu says finally. "I didn't think there was a future for me in it, so I didn't bother trying. Went straight to work out of school. Not like the kind of things I do today - a desk job, y'know. 'Proper' work, usin' the term loosely. ...Didn't last long. Sexist asshole pushed too much buttons, so I put him through a table."

She laughs.

"...They don't tend to keep you around after that, even if he deserved it. And that kind of reputation sticks with you, so it got hard to get any other sort of 'proper' work. I had to take what I can get, but this kind of thing... it's not stable work. You live paycheck to paycheck, gig to gig, and you're screwed if things just don't turn up, or they line up just poorly enough. I had to lean on my sisters more than once to keep me going before I settled into a good rhythm, and made friends who could connect me with more work. ...Dunno where I'd be now without any of them. I dunno what sort of lifelines you have right now, but it can be rough if you don't have anything to fall back on." She shakes her head, and looks at him more seriously.

"...So I think what I'm trying to say is... I think back, and sometimes I kick myself for not trying back then. Sure, maybe you think you're not going to pass... but you don't ''know''. And if you ''do'' fail? You can see where you're at and decide if you're good where you are, or try again next year. It's not a one-and-done kinda thing." Shinobu says... and then laughs, massaging the back of her neck sheepishly. "...But I get not knowing what you'd do, or what you wanna be. Even I don't have everything figured out right now... I'm still not sure about myself, either. But I figure, that's the kind of thing you can pick up when you get there. Until then, you can just focus on the... getting there part."

She shrugs.

"Does that make sense?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke listened intently. He barely looked at her, sparing no more than a glance between long bouts of staring into nothingness. He was almost entirely silent through the whole ordeal, with what little noise he did make being drowned out by the chilled air that meandered through the park. He barely even reacted at all, with his expression lingering on something pensive, or mournful, or perhaps both. But he did listen. When he was quiet afterwards, it was him turning her words over in his mind, wondering how best to respond to them, before electing to do as he had before - let his heart speak.

"I want better than what I got. I... I think I do." The words burnt like acid as they came out. Honesty - the raw, primal, kind that came only from tearing open one's chest and baring the heart - did not come natural to him, and peeling back even the first layer of his defences and walls left him shaking and quiet. But he had asked her help. He had called her out there, and despite every fibre of his being railing against telling her the truth, he resisted the urge to tell her that everything was fine and not to worry. For if he was not honest then, he reminded himself, what good would any of this be?

"But I didn't think I'd get this far. Always figured I was gonna fighting and hurting people, maybe picking up some odd jobs or some dead-end thing that I got because nobody else wanted it. But now..." Hyousuke's lips curled into something. He couldn't tell if it was a frown, a smile, a grimace, a snarl... All he knew was that he did not know how he felt, and his features struggled to show it. "I got a teacher that's spent since the start of the year whipping me into shape. I got friends that are telling me to do better, I'm not even failing at school any more. It's making me feel like I actually got a chance."

Hyousuke paused. There was more to it - there had to be. He would not be there if he felt hopeful enough to trudge onwards, after all.
"Used to be that I didn't think about what was coming next because I didn't think I needed to. I knew I was gonna be a fuckup for the rest of my life, until I... well, until wasn't. People dragged me outta that and made me clean my act up. But it's not like it's cleaned up enough to *do* anything with it. I'm still dumb. I still don't know what kinda uni I'd go to if I *was* smart enough to impress someone. And I don't even know what I'd even do if I *did* get in. I got no skills, no money, no lifelines except for Achilles... I guess I got my brother, but he-"

For the third time in what had been less than a handful of weeks, Hyousuke forced himself to cut his own thoughts short after catching himself speaking on matters nobody else had a right to know about. Suddenly, he seemed far more awake and alert than before, as if physically slapped out of his reverie.
"He's not important." He said, dismissing that entire notion with a single phrase, though the haste and insistence with which he spoke did not agree with the assertion. "Anyway, it's just... I got nothing and nobody to fall back on, I don't know where I'm supposed to go or what I'm supposed to do, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do about that that I'm not already doing. Feels like I'm stuck, and like the only thing I can do is dig in and try to make the best out of shit situation. Getting there's important, but what do I do if I don't even know where I'm supposed to be going?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke takes time to sort through her words, and she sits back and gives him the opportunity. Things like this aren't going to be decided in one short interaction, after all. And when he starts to respond, she gives him her full attention.

Thinking that fighting and hurting is the only path for him, odd jobs and dead-end things, not thinking about the future because it felt like you didn't have one...

...That's a familiar thought. She felt the same way. ...In a lot of ways, she still does.

She doesn't interrupt him just yet as he continues.

It's a difficult situation to be in. Making strides in improving your life, but being in a position where it feels like those improvements don't even matter...

It's a rough thing for an adult to deal with. Much less a teenager.

She sees, too, the way he freezes up - becomes more watchful, dismissive, when he lets slip a comment about his brother.

There's something to that - something that changed his demeanor immediately. She wonders what the situation there is... and if that has something to do with this current dilemma.

...Well, she's smart enough to know when it's better to let a topic lie. It already must have been difficult enough to ask her about this - she doesn't want to make him regret it by angling toward an uncomfortable subject.

...This would be easier, though, if his problems weren't the same as her own. If she knew how to figure out what one's future should be and how to choose it, her situation would be pretty different...

...But she's still as aimless and afraid to commit to any one path as ever.

"Well... digging in is one option. Maybe you could make it work." Shinobu replies. "Or... you could ask for a hand up. Go around, talk to people, hear what they have to say about your situation. ...You've already off to a good start with that, comin' to me."

She looks to the sky for a moment, then back down to him.

"It's not gonna be easy. Might be the hardest thing you'll do... harder than fighting Shadows and Demons, that's for sure. Ask your teacher, ask your friends. Bet that Marlowe'd be glad to give you some advice, too. If any of 'em are as dedicated to helping you pick yourself up as it sounds, I bet they'd be willing to talk." She says. "When you're not sure where you're going, sometimes what you need is a new perspective. New ideas... advice on things you might've never thought about on your own."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was quiet again, clearly ruminating on her words. Each one took what felt like an age to process. Each one lingered in his mind, and his instincts told him to reject them. Everything he'd been taught, everything he'd taught himself, it all railed against her telling him to reach out to others, and against striving to be better than some lowlife with the bare minimum of an education. Even with her, someone that knew his troubles and had proven herself an ally, he was visibly distant and uncomfortable. Not through any fault of her own, of course, but the years had not been kind to him.

"I don't think I know how."
The statement was delivered quietly, but even so, Hyousuke's voice strained to sound the words out. Each syllable was all but forced out, and even by the end of it, the whole thing felt more like a collection of sounds he'd manipulated his throat into making than a sentence of any kind. But the words were there, and hung in the December chill, only to be carried off into the great beyond by a stiff gust. "Just feels wrong to ask them for help with this. Fighting a Demon or a Shadow or whatever, yeah, I'll call for backup. That's just what you do. But this... I dunno."

He drummed his fingers against his thigh, wrung his hands shifted his features - he fidgeted, in other words. Hyousuke twitched and twisted and turned, wracked with uncertainty but unable to give a voice to it until another pregnant pause had lingered between him and Shinobu.
"Besides, they've all got their own shit going on. They're all moving on to different places, and doing different things, and this feels like a problem *I* should be figuring out. I can't put that on them when they've got so much happening to them."

His friends had futures. They all did. The adults had their jobs and their duties. And there he was, dug in and waiting for life to hit him. Even reaching out to Shinobu had been a monumental effort, and staying there talking to her took no small amount of it too. To seek the aid of those closest to him, and give them little in return... It was laughable, almost.
"Maybe Marlowe-sensei." He eventually conceded, albeit hesitantly. "Guess it's kinda his job to help me with things like this."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
'I don't think I know how', he says. ...That answer doesn't surprise her. He seems the type - she knows that because she was, too, but she had the support structure to encourage her to get past that. He, as far as she can tell, doesn't - or at the very least, isn't used to having one. It feels wrong, he says. They've got their own things going on. A problem ''he'' should be figuring out.

"Yeah. It's hard, feelin' like you're imposing on someone. Like I said... hardest thing you might ever do." Shinobu concedes with a nod. "...But I gotta ask, and this might sound harsh - are you saying that 'cause you ''know'' they're too busy, or because it makes it easier to avoid it if you tell yourself that?"

She shrugs.

"If they're real friends, even if they can't drop everything and help you handle your own shit, they can at least sympathise and maybe offer some ideas of their own." She says. "I'm sure they'd rather know what you're goin' through."

He concedes on Marlowe, though, and Shinobu nods at that too.

"Yeah, I mean... He's gotta have resources and shit, to help point people in your position in the right direction. Helping prepare you for the future is all part of his job, like you said." She agrees.
Shizuka Kuroki has connected.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was quiet, but it was not quite the contemplative silence that he had displayed before. Rather, it was something tense, with an expression that belied a great deal of thought - and a hint of frustration. Her question regarding whether it was his friends holding him back from asking for help, or if they were fetters he had placed upon himself, was not one that he had an answer to. Not immediately, at least. Even as other questions and thoughts were brought up, none managed to shout above the clamour that one question had sparked.

After all, if he had placed that burden upon himself and impeded his own progress, what else was he guilty of? What potential had been stifled by his own action, or lack thereof? How much of it was the fault of those that had wronged him, and how much of his fate had been wrought by his own hand? Much as he strained his mind, he had no clear answer, and could offer her nothing in return.
"I just hope he can do something before the semester's over. Once I graduate, I'm gonna be on my own..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu studies him as he thinks about her question. She can see the frustration on his face of not having an answer. She's been there, too.

She nods, as he expresses his concern.

"...Yeah, I get that. Hopefully something works out." Shinobu replies. "...But, hey, I'll still be around, even after that. Anything happens, you can still reach out to me, alright?"

And with that she stands up, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"...But, that's a lot of hard thinking for one day. C'mon, why don't we grab something to eat, my treat. Give our brains a rest." Shinobu suggests.

No good decisions are made on an empty stomach. That holds true even today.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-31: What Is, and What Can Be

2026-07-31T18:17:18Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: What is, and What Can Be''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Shinobu Shimizu *'''Where:''' Hirasaka Ward *'''OOC Date:'''2026-07-31 *'''IC Date:''' Mon Dec 17 *'''Summary''': ''Unsure of what the future holds, or if he can truly break from his past, Hyousuke asks for advice from someone he believes might have the experience needed to help him.'' ---- (|============================= Hirasaka - Main ==============================|) -======================..."

*'''Log: What is, and What Can Be'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]]
*'''Where:''' Hirasaka Ward
*'''OOC Date:'''2026-07-31
*'''IC Date:''' Mon Dec 17
*'''Summary''': ''Unsure of what the future holds, or if he can truly break from his past, Hyousuke asks for advice from someone he believes might have the experience needed to help him.''

----

(|============================= Hirasaka - Main ==============================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Hirasaka Ward ====-
The westernmost ward of the city, and also the one furthest inland, Hirasaka is
considered one of the least desirable places to live in Sumaru. This is in part
due to the bad reputation of local Kasugayama High School, nicknamed "Kasu High"
by its students and "Cuss High" by its detractors. A school of overwhelmingly
boys but some errant girls, it's said to be for delinquents, poors, and other
"problem" children. Just down the street is Sumaru Prison, which is not a prison
but an underground club with a live stage, and either way the parents of Sevens
students hate it.

It's not all bad in Hirasaka, though. The shopping is second to none, with a
huge five-story mall called Smile Hirasaka that offers a wide variety of
businesses and conference meeting rooms; just be sure to go on a day when the
stores aren't closed. For those who want a more homey atmosphere for their
purchases, there's Kameya Alley. Plenty of office buildings populate the area,
too.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Even as he relaxed on the bench, Hyousuke looked nerve-stricken. He did his best to hide it, of course. He kept a still expression, his body didn't move much, and his gaze meandered as if surveying the landscape. But as he sat in some quiet corner of the bench on that cool December day, it was the subtle signs that told of his true feelings. His expression was still, but perhaps a little too still, having been forced to remain that way. His body was much the same - save for the drumming of fingers or the wringing of hands, he forced himself to try and look natural. Even his eyes betrayed him, unable to focus on any one spot for too long before flitting away.

He could not leave, however. He'd already texted Shinobu, after all. He'd tried to make it sound as casual as possible, but when it came down to it, he had asked her for advice. It wasn't a simple hunt, or for some pointers with his woodworking, but actual, adult-to-child, advice. He'd even left his pup in the care of others so as to avoid any distractions, though he knew he would catch flak for it when the dog smelled the scent of the park on him. All that was left to do was wait, and try not to appear as anxious as he felt.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke's message had been casual... but Shinobu usually has a pretty good read on things. If it was something he wanted to ask her in person, it's probably something important. She agreed to meet with him, of course. She could hardly turn a request like that down.

...It still baffles her sometimes that there are people, teenagers, who look to ''her'' for advice now. She never really thought of herself that way... but if she ''can'' help, she wants to.

And so, she arrives at the park. Winter has begun, so she's dressed warmly in winter wear, now, with a larger coat than her usual. She scans the horizon, looking for who she came to meet - and when she spots Hyousuke she approaches, raising a hand in a casual wave.

"Hey, Suzuki. Been waiting long?" Shinobu greets. She takes a moment to assess his expression, then nods to the bench. "Mind if I sit?"

If he doesn't mind, she'll take a seat on the other side of the bench.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was quick to wave at Shinobu when he spotted her, and quicker still to shuffle over a little to make sure there was room on the bench for her. Dressed in lighter clothes than her he stuck out a little amongst those that dressed for the season, though he still seemed to be warm enough. Indeed, his discomfort seemed to stem from something else entirely, even as he attempted to maintain a casual air when he gestured to the open space.
"It's cool, I only got here a few minutes ago."

With the niceties taken care of, he looked off into the distance. His eyes were pointed in the direction of various pieces of flora and fauna, and may have instinctively followed a person or two passing by, but he focussed on nothing in particular. Like his mind and his body were separate, and his consciousness was a million miles away.
"Weather's nice." He said idly, with no real emphasis on any word, and a light tone that held no notable expression. "Hoping it'll stay like that. I got a trip coming up, and I..."

Hyousuke trailed off, and his smile turned a little rueful. More like a grimace, or the gritting of teeth, while he braced for a blow that was yet to come.
"...Ah, hell with it. Shimizu-san, I need some advice. About school. And work. And, uh, things like that." He paused a moment, shook his head, and looked to her with an expression that was halfway between sheepish and apologetic. "Fuck, sorry, I'm not making any sense. Been having some trouble focussing on what to say about it."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
"Cool." Shinobu replies with a nod, as he assures her that he only get here a few minutes ago. She doesn't know if he's just ''saying'' that, but she'll take him at his word. He's trying to stay casual, but she can tell ''something's'' up... Especially with the way he looks off into the distance at nothing.

"It is. Little chilly, but I don't mind that." She agrees. It's casual small talk. Is he stalling for time? The way he trails off... "Oh yeah, a trip? Hope you have a good time."

...But she knows he didn't come here just to tell her that - and that expression a moment later confirms it as he lets it all out, explaining that he needs advice.

...Sounds like there's a lot eating him up right now. School, work, and things like that... She shakes her head as he apologizes.

"Hey, no need for apologies. Sounds like there's a lot going on." She assures, shaking her head. "Take your time, sort it all out, and ask me when you're ready."

She can wait. She knows what it's like to have a thousand things going through your mind at once.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was glad for her allowing him time, as he felt like he desperately needed it. The seconds ticked by, and though it was only a handful before he spoke again, it felt as though an age had passed. Every heartbeat stretched out into eternity, every blink was an aeon... And through it all, his thoughts grew no clearer, much less organised. Unwilling to let the silence go on longer, save for the errant gust of cold wind that whipped past them, Hyousuke spoke from the heart. Raw and unrefined, perhaps, but it was at least something.

"I was talking with a friend the other day." Hyousuke began, looking down at his wringing hands instead of the middle distance. Still not at Shinobu, however, even as he spoke with her. "We were talking about what we were going to do over the break, or for Christmas, or... something. And I told her I wasn't going to take the entrance exams for uni. She was uh... she was surprised. Though I should try for it anyway." His smile never grew any more mirthful. There was still a lingering note of bitterness, bordering on outright dismay.

"Thing is, I know I'm not gonna pass it. Hell, I'm barely getting by with my regular exams. I'm sure as hell not getting into any kinda uni that respects itself." He let out a chuckle that matched the somewhat sorrowful nature of his smile, then continued. "Even if I did get in, I wouldn't even know what to do there. I'm not gonna be a doctor, or a scientist, or anything that needs... you know, thinking. But she got me thinking... should I bother trying anyway? Even if... even if I *know* I'm gonna fail hard? I always figured I'd be better off doing what you do, and just taking whatever jobs I can now and figuring it out from there, but she's telling me I got a chance, and I... I don't know."

He sighed a little, and rose his head mournfully.
"...I just don't know."
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Time ticks by, and Shinobu waits as he gets his thoughts together. She doesn't get impatient - she knows that whatever's going through his head right now must be important. Until, finally, he speaks. She watches him as he wrings his hands, but he speaks anyway.

Entrance exams, huh... He doesn't think he'd make it, and wouldn't know what to do even if he did... Doing what ''she'' does...

...She can sympathise. He's a lot like her, in that way. Confused and uncertain about his future... In a lot of way, she's ''still'' that way. She 'hm's to herself thoughtfully as she considers what to say.

"...When I was in your shoes, I thought the same way." Shinobu says finally. "I didn't think there was a future for me in it, so I didn't bother trying. Went straight to work out of school. Not like the kind of things I do today - a desk job, y'know. 'Proper' work, usin' the term loosely. ...Didn't last long. Sexist asshole pushed too much buttons, so I put him through a table."

She laughs.

"...They don't tend to keep you around after that, even if he deserved it. And that kind of reputation sticks with you, so it got hard to get any other sort of 'proper' work. I had to take what I can get, but this kind of thing... it's not stable work. You live paycheck to paycheck, gig to gig, and you're screwed if things just don't turn up, or they line up just poorly enough. I had to lean on my sisters more than once to keep me going before I settled into a good rhythm, and made friends who could connect me with more work. ...Dunno where I'd be now without any of them. I dunno what sort of lifelines you have right now, but it can be rough if you don't have anything to fall back on." She shakes her head, and looks at him more seriously.

"...So I think what I'm trying to say is... I think back, and sometimes I kick myself for not trying back then. Sure, maybe you think you're not going to pass... but you don't ''know''. And if you ''do'' fail? You can see where you're at and decide if you're good where you are, or try again next year. It's not a one-and-done kinda thing." Shinobu says... and then laughs, massaging the back of her neck sheepishly. "...But I get not knowing what you'd do, or what you wanna be. Even I don't have everything figured out right now... I'm still not sure about myself, either. But I figure, that's the kind of thing you can pick up when you get there. Until then, you can just focus on the... getting there part."

She shrugs.

"Does that make sense?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke listened intently. He barely looked at her, sparing no more than a glance between long bouts of staring into nothingness. He was almost entirely silent through the whole ordeal, with what little noise he did make being drowned out by the chilled air that meandered through the park. He barely even reacted at all, with his expression lingering on something pensive, or mournful, or perhaps both. But he did listen. When he was quiet afterwards, it was him turning her words over in his mind, wondering how best to respond to them, before electing to do as he had before - let his heart speak.

"I want better than what I got. I... I think I do." The words burnt like acid as they came out. Honesty - the raw, primal, kind that came only from tearing open one's chest and baring the heart - did not come natural to him, and peeling back even the first layer of his defences and walls left him shaking and quiet. But he had asked her help. He had called her out there, and despite every fibre of his being railing against telling her the truth, he resisted the urge to tell her that everything was fine and not to worry. For if he was not honest then, he reminded himself, what good would any of this be?

"But I didn't think I'd get this far. Always figured I was gonna fighting and hurting people, maybe picking up some odd jobs or some dead-end thing that I got because nobody else wanted it. But now..." Hyousuke's lips curled into something. He couldn't tell if it was a frown, a smile, a grimace, a snarl... All he knew was that he did not know how he felt, and his features struggled to show it. "I got a teacher that's spent since the start of the year whipping me into shape. I got friends that are telling me to do better, I'm not even failing at school any more. It's making me feel like I actually got a chance."

Hyousuke paused. There was more to it - there had to be. He would not be there if he felt hopeful enough to trudge onwards, after all.
"Used to be that I didn't think about what was coming next because I didn't think I needed to. I knew I was gonna be a fuckup for the rest of my life, until I... well, until wasn't. People dragged me outta that and made me clean my act up. But it's not like it's cleaned up enough to *do* anything with it. I'm still dumb. I still don't know what kinda uni I'd go to if I *was* smart enough to impress someone. And I don't even know what I'd even do if I *did* get in. I got no skills, no money, no lifelines except for Achilles... I guess I got my brother, but he-"

For the third time in what had been less than a handful of weeks, Hyousuke forced himself to cut his own thoughts short after catching himself speaking on matters nobody else had a right to know about. Suddenly, he seemed far more awake and alert than before, as if physically slapped out of his reverie.
"He's not important." He said, dismissing that entire notion with a single phrase, though the haste and insistence with which he spoke did not agree with the assertion. "Anyway, it's just... I got nothing and nobody to fall back on, I don't know where I'm supposed to go or what I'm supposed to do, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do about that that I'm not already doing. Feels like I'm stuck, and like the only thing I can do is dig in and try to make the best out of shit situation. Getting there's important, but what do I do if I don't even know where I'm supposed to be going?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke takes time to sort through her words, and she sits back and gives him the opportunity. Things like this aren't going to be decided in one short interaction, after all. And when he starts to respond, she gives him her full attention.

Thinking that fighting and hurting is the only path for him, odd jobs and dead-end things, not thinking about the future because it felt like you didn't have one...

...That's a familiar thought. She felt the same way. ...In a lot of ways, she still does.

She doesn't interrupt him just yet as he continues.

It's a difficult situation to be in. Making strides in improving your life, but being in a position where it feels like those improvements don't even matter...

It's a rough thing for an adult to deal with. Much less a teenager.

She sees, too, the way he freezes up - becomes more watchful, dismissive, when he lets slip a comment about his brother.

There's something to that - something that changed his demeanor immediately. She wonders what the situation there is... and if that has something to do with this current dilemma.

...Well, she's smart enough to know when it's better to let a topic lie. It already must have been difficult enough to ask her about this - she doesn't want to make him regret it by angling toward an uncomfortable subject.

...This would be easier, though, if his problems weren't the same as her own. If she knew how to figure out what one's future should be and how to choose it, her situation would be pretty different...

...But she's still as aimless and afraid to commit to any one path as ever.

"Well... digging in is one option. Maybe you could make it work." Shinobu replies. "Or... you could ask for a hand up. Go around, talk to people, hear what they have to say about your situation. ...You've already off to a good start with that, comin' to me."

She looks to the sky for a moment, then back down to him.

"It's not gonna be easy. Might be the hardest thing you'll do... harder than fighting Shadows and Demons, that's for sure. Ask your teacher, ask your friends. Bet that Marlowe'd be glad to give you some advice, too. If any of 'em are as dedicated to helping you pick yourself up as it sounds, I bet they'd be willing to talk." She says. "When you're not sure where you're going, sometimes what you need is a new perspective. New ideas... advice on things you might've never thought about on your own."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was quiet again, clearly ruminating on her words. Each one took what felt like an age to process. Each one lingered in his mind, and his instincts told him to reject them. Everything he'd been taught, everything he'd taught himself, it all railed against her telling him to reach out to others, and against striving to be better than some lowlife with the bare minimum of an education. Even with her, someone that knew his troubles and had proven herself an ally, he was visibly distant and uncomfortable. Not through any fault of her own, of course, but the years had not been kind to him.

"I don't think I know how."
The statement was delivered quietly, but even so, Hyousuke's voice strained to sound the words out. Each syllable was all but forced out, and even by the end of it, the whole thing felt more like a collection of sounds he'd manipulated his throat into making than a sentence of any kind. But the words were there, and hung in the December chill, only to be carried off into the great beyond by a stiff gust. "Just feels wrong to ask them for help with this. Fighting a Demon or a Shadow or whatever, yeah, I'll call for backup. That's just what you do. But this... I dunno."

He drummed his fingers against his thigh, wrung his hands shifted his features - he fidgeted, in other words. Hyousuke twitched and twisted and turned, wracked with uncertainty but unable to give a voice to it until another pregnant pause had lingered between him and Shinobu.
"Besides, they've all got their own shit going on. They're all moving on to different places, and doing different things, and this feels like a problem *I* should be figuring out. I can't put that on them when they've got so much happening to them."

His friends had futures. They all did. The adults had their jobs and their duties. And there he was, dug in and waiting for life to hit him. Even reaching out to Shinobu had been a monumental effort, and staying there talking to her took no small amount of it too. To seek the aid of those closest to him, and give them little in return... It was laughable, almost.
"Maybe Marlowe-sensei." He eventually conceded, albeit hesitantly. "Guess it's kinda his job to help me with things like this."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
'I don't think I know how', he says. ...That answer doesn't surprise her. He seems the type - she knows that because she was, too, but she had the support structure to encourage her to get past that. He, as far as she can tell, doesn't - or at the very least, isn't used to having one. It feels wrong, he says. They've got their own things going on. A problem ''he'' should be figuring out.

"Yeah. It's hard, feelin' like you're imposing on someone. Like I said... hardest thing you might ever do." Shinobu concedes with a nod. "...But I gotta ask, and this might sound harsh - are you saying that 'cause you ''know'' they're too busy, or because it makes it easier to avoid it if you tell yourself that?"

She shrugs.

"If they're real friends, even if they can't drop everything and help you handle your own shit, they can at least sympathise and maybe offer some ideas of their own." She says. "I'm sure they'd rather know what you're goin' through."

He concedes on Marlowe, though, and Shinobu nods at that too.

"Yeah, I mean... He's gotta have resources and shit, to help point people in your position in the right direction. Helping prepare you for the future is all part of his job, like you said." She agrees.
Shizuka Kuroki has connected.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was quiet, but it was not quite the contemplative silence that he had displayed before. Rather, it was something tense, with an expression that belied a great deal of thought - and a hint of frustration. Her question regarding whether it was his friends holding him back from asking for help, or if they were fetters he had placed upon himself, was not one that he had an answer to. Not immediately, at least. Even as other questions and thoughts were brought up, none managed to shout above the clamour that one question had sparked.

After all, if he had placed that burden upon himself and impeded his own progress, what else was he guilty of? What potential had been stifled by his own action, or lack thereof? How much of it was the fault of those that had wronged him, and how much of his fate had been wrought by his own hand? Much as he strained his mind, he had no clear answer, and could offer her nothing in return.
"I just hope he can do something before the semester's over. Once I graduate, I'm gonna be on my own..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu studies him as he thinks about her question. She can see the frustration on his face of not having an answer. She's been there, too.

She nods, as he expresses his concern.

"...Yeah, I get that. Hopefully something works out." Shinobu replies. "...But, hey, I'll still be around, even after that. Anything happens, you can still reach out to me, alright?"

And with that she stands up, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

"...But, that's a lot of hard thinking for one day. C'mon, why don't we grab something to eat, my treat. Give our brains a rest." Shinobu suggests.

No good decisions are made on an empty stomach. That holds true even today.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-27: A Horrifying Shadow Beast

2026-07-27T23:12:24Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: A Horrifying Shadow Beast'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ririka Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' A park in Iwatadoi
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-07-27
*'''IC Date:''' Sun, Dec 16 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke asks Ririka to help him tame that most terrifying of beasts... an energetic dog that wants attention.''

----

(|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
The intersection of high speed rail along the coast of Tokyo and Tatsumi Port
Island's monorail line from the mainland across the sea to its artificial
island, Iwatodai Station is the cornerstone of daily life to the inhabitants of
this place. Even the most jaded salaryman could get lost in the experience of
looking out upon the glittering sea as they ride across it to their daily life.

A multi-story strip mall across the street from the station offers students such
selections as Wakatsu for sushi high in omega-3s to increase that brain power,
Hagakure Ramen with all the collagen you could desire for skin care, or even
Wilduck's infamous Mystery Burger for those who desire an impromptu test of
courage. Net cafes selling some of the latest releases and hole-in-the-wall
bookstores give people endless options of what to do with their evening.

With this blend of local flavor and modern convenience, Iwatodai Station truly
is the ideal option to stop by whether you're coming or going home.

BGM - Tranquility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvwVzA1z44

-==== Players =================================================================-
Hyousuke Suzuki [VII]
-=================================== Exits ====================================-
<D> Walk back to Iwatodai Dormitory
<M> Take a walk to The Moonlight Bridge
<N> Go to Naganaki Shrine
<T> Take the Express Train by the Sea to Aoyama-Itchome Station
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
> dog's doing better now
> want to come meet him

Whether Ririka responded in the affirmative or not was irrelevant. Hyousuke had business near Iwatadoi regardless, and while the fee and equipment required to take a dog onto the subway without issue was a little bit steep for someone that only worked part-time, he was loathe to pass up the chance to take the as-yet unnamed dog out for a lengthy walk. The dog itself did not seem averse to the idea either. While it was at first a little apprehensive about the crate and the subway, it was happy enough to take the chance to laze around, and even seemed a little stubborn about leaving.

The promise of walkies and a little jostling from Hyousuke got it to amble along though the entire thing had been its idea, however, and the two made their way towards the only park in Iwatadoi that he actually remembered the directions to. Even then, it took him a little while to get to the appointed spot, though the golden furball trotting along at his heels hardly seemed to think it was a bad thing. In fact, it seemed a little disappointed that he came to a stop at a bench, looking at him expectantly until he ruffled the fur atop its head.

"Easy now, we're just waiting for someone." He said, smiling a little as he placated it. The dog pushed into his hand, not so much asking for affection as it was demanding it. Sitting and waiting was boring, after all, especially when there was so much room to go for more walks on. And the sticks - there were so many sticks of so many shapes and sizes. What cruel and unusual punishment had been visited upon it, that it had been denied the chance to sally forth and clamp a stick between its jaws?
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
> of course!
> just tell me where

Yesterday... had been a lot of fun. And ririka had been happy to have a chance to see Ikumi again--even if she was a bit shy about having been seen in maid uniform. (But the good kind of shy, that made her heart do funny things.) And it was nice to do something festive for the school, too.

But... she has to go back to the study grind. She's geen trying to take things easier, but she's still feeling the itch to maintain decent grades, so she's been putting all of her spare time into it. Which, at least, is a lot more spare time now that she isn't cramming her schedule full of other music practice.

Still, the chance to see the dog they rescued was too good to pass up. Ririka grabbed a a jacket for the chill and headed out.

"Suzuki-san!" Ririka called as she spotted the other student and the dog both. She's dressed in a jacket, skirt, tights, and her favorte calf-high (but not chunky) boots. She gives a way as she calls out, and picks up the pace. "Hey, this must be your new friend. You're looking a lot better."

She kneels a little, offering her hand out for the dog to sniff.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog turned to face the new human at the same time as Hyousuke did, offering her a glimpse of its features. It was a small thing, properly-proportioned and covered in coat of short, golden, fur from head to tail. Though its body seemed a little round, its features - and, indeed, the face they were set into - were somewhat sharp and angular. The glimpse she was offered only lasted briefly before it ambled over to sniff at her hand. It took only a few seconds of investigation with a bowed head before it nudged into her palm.

She was a person, after all, and she had hands. Was it not his right to demand a tithe of pets?

"He's gonna keep doing that until you pet him." Hyousuke said, smiling a little as he watched the dog all but command Ririka to lavish attention upon it. "Come to think of it, he's probably gonna keep doing that after you stop as well. He's been like that ever since Igor got rid of the curse, and he's had a chance to sleep." For all the fussing the dog did, Hyousuke didn't seem particularly unhappy about it. If anything, seeing it potter around and burn off energy made him the happiest he'd been for a fair while.

"How about you?" He asked, looking back up with a polite, but curious, look. "You been doing alright? I heard Gekkoukan's stalls were pretty busy."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka smiles as the dog wanders over and sniffs. "Awwww. Here you go." She quickly shifts her hand to petting the top of his head. "You know, we never had a pet... someday I kind of thing I'd like a dog, but... not right now. But here you go." Besides, there's Koromaru to take care of, so that's fine.

"So he had a curse...? How awful... he's looking a lot better now, at least. Did Igor say if he'd have any lintering effects? I wonder how he got cursed to begin with..."

"I'm... good. You know. Trying to keep my nose in the books and all that for finals. Are... you feeling okay about finals?" She looks up and laughs a little, "Yeaaaah... one of our classmates kiiind of caused a big commotion and the maid cafe got... ''really'' popular. Turns out, people are ''really'' into the tsundere maid thing... go figure. I had some people ask ''me'' for that, but Iiiii'm nowhere near as good at it as Takeba-san."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog was, of course, pleased with this development. It did not attempt to hide this fact either. Its head wagged as much as its tail did, though while its tail batted the air furiously as its demands were fulfilled, its head rubbed vigorously into her palm with all the energy of a dog that had done little but nap and amble around all day.
"Not a curse, more like a rumour. Me and Ichika-san went hiking and found a collar about where we fought him, so I think it was just a lost dog that was lashing out at people. Rumours started spreading about something in the woods that was attacking people, and well..."

There was still a beast attacking people. However, that beast had shifted its method of attack from savage bits and fearsome slashes to slobbering all over a person's palm and then mopping it up with its own fur. Truly, a most terrifying opponent.
"I don't think there's anything else to worry about for now. Little guy's not got any resonance as far as I can tell, and he's not transformed back as long as I've had him. But Igor said I was gonna have to be responsible for making sure it stays that way. Dunno how he expects me to do that... I don't even have a place to keep him in."

Such notions were not understood by the dog. Blissfully unaware of Hyousuke's current predicament, it focussed instead on sniffing around Ririka's hand, and at whatever other parts of her it could reach. Ankle, hand, arm, hand, wrist, hand again... It may have mentioned it wanted petting before, but insisted upon it again.
"Tell you the truth? I've been doing all I can for finals, but I know I'm not getting into uni. Just passing's been hard enough to do, so I'm not gonna waste anybody's time trying." He laughed, but there was a little bitterness to it. A twinge, carried away by the wind as soon as it manifested, but it was there. "Glad to hear your cafe went well though. Think you'd have had any luck if they'd asked for a rockstar maid instead?" The smile and light chuckle that came with the joke were genuine, at least, even if they were partially intended to clear the air after a rather morose remark.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's hard not to be in a good mood with an affectionate dog demanding pets. Ririka listens to Hyousuke's story, though, with a concerned expression."A rumor... how terrible... if h had a collar... is anybody looking for him? Is he chipped?"

Ririka is providing plenty of pets. And scritches! Scritches for chins and ears. She doesn't mind the slobber so much.

But she closes her eyes and concentrates, listening past the sounds of the park and the happy dog noises. There's nothing as far as she can tell, either. But she opens her eyes, looking up at Hyousuke with some surprise. "Igor said you'd have to be responsible for him...? Huh. Maybe... if he doesn't fit the rumor of 'lost dog attacking people' it can't... target him or something?"

But she straightens up a bit more. "You don't have a place to keep him in? Then... what are you going to do? How'ev you been taking care of him so far?"

There's a laugh, and a slight relaxing of her concerns as the dog ges for all the snoffing. "Wha-- hey there, boy, you're friendly, huh...?" Ririka mostly smells like teenage girl, there's some faint traces of hot beverages and sandwiches from yesterday, and her breakfast this morning.

Oh, and she might also smell a little bit like a Shiba Inu that happens to stay at their dorm.

But Hyousuke's convinced he's not getting into uni, and Ririka finds her brow furrowing again. "Hey... even if it's tough... it might not be too late. Nee-chan was worried about that for a while but she's planning for the future again. I bet there's something you can do."

There's a soft smile and a little bit of a laugh at the joke. "Ohh, I could probably manage that. Put my hair up, put on some leather, maybe the boots and the torn tights..." she muses for a moment. "Well, if it comes up next year maybe I'll try it."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke shrugged, the motion jostling the lead a little. The dog looked behind itself, tilting its head a little at what it thought had been a call for its attention, before turning back to face Ririka once it had been established that Hyousuke had not actually tried to shift its focus. Hyousuke himself continued on, either oblivious to the dog's confusion, or simply not thinking it worth remarking on.
"No chip, collar's too damaged to figure anything out... Nothing. I asked Uchida-san if she could help, and I've been poking around when I can, but we've got nothing so far."

He looked the dog over. Even after all it had been through, and even with it no doubt missing its true owners, it still managed to act as calm as could be and adapt to its new environs with remarkable speed. The sheer amount of attention it had gotten over the past few days, as well as long and frequent(ish) walks had no doubt helped, but it was hardly as if he could let the poor thing languish on its own.
"...Don't tell anyone, but I've been keeping him at the dorms. It's only for now, and I'm giving him back as soon as I find his owners. It's just... I can't sign any of the paperwork until I'm older, and there's no chance in hell my parents are gonna talk to me, never mind help me. The only one that could's my brother, but he-"

Hyousuke caught himself before he elaborated, and silently chided himself for lapsing in focus enough for the mention of a sibling to even happen. He made all haste to move on from the subject, doing so with such speed that even the dog's ears pricked up when it happened. It might also have just been it catching the scent of another dog on Ririka's hand, amidst the smells of food and teenage girl-ness.
"A-anyway, it's not important. I'm sure we'll find his owners soon. They're probably missing him as much as he's missing them, so he'll be back home before you know it. Nobody'll have to worry about him turning back if he's back with his family."

Sure, the collar had come off, the dog had no chip, and it was perfectly happy to lounge around in a stranger's room. But he was confident the dog's people would be found eventually. That thought helped him settle himself a little - even if there was a hint of sadness still lingering in the back of his mind for one reason or another - and he began to scratch at the dog's back. It, of course, appreciated attention from both ends, and wagged into both of its friends.
"...We'll see about uni, I guess. Honestly, I haven't even been looking for a place in one. I've just been trying to figure out if there's any jobs that'll take me right now. Maybe I should ask Shimizu-san about it..." He seemed resigned to it - like failure at the entrance exams was a foregone conclusion. Like the attempt would just be wasted effort, and a burden on all involved.

"Call me up if you ever do that rocker-maid thing though. *That* is something I've gotta see."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"No chip, and nothing from the collar... that's too bad... I wonder if anyone's reported a missing dog..." Who do you go to for that? Vets? The police? Ririka ''hoped'' it wasn't the police. Especially not the police in ''Sumaru''.

But the dorms. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me, Suzuki-san." She nods along quietly. Can't sign the paperwork, that makes sense. But she pauses as Hyousuke mentions parents and a lack of help. That's concerning, as is the mention of a brother that isn't finished.

Ririka gets having complicated feelings about your parents. Though... Ririka's always known, deep down, she could go to her parents for help--it was mostly her trying to hold herself up to some impossible standard that kept her from doing so. (She still feels like it might be possible, but she's trying to talk herself down from it,.) From what little Hyousuke had just said... that might not be the case for him.

Still, she's curious, but she doesn't want to press the issue, since she doesn't know what the situation is like. It doesn't sound good, though...

"Yeah... you'll find his owners, I'm sure of it. And if you need any help with that, or with getting supplies for him, let us now, okay? I think you're doing a really nice thing to take care of him until you can return him home." She offered what she hoped was a comforting smile. "Oh, you mentioned finding the collar, right? Did you at least find out what his name was?"

Ririka's always been certain about what she'd be doing--but her problem, at the moment, is chosing ''how''. But that's not something she's going to share in the moment. "Well, I hope you can find something you like to do, Suzuki-san. Maybe..." She let that trail off. Better not say too much on that subject.

She grinned a little. "Sure! Dunno when I might, but... I'll let you know if I do."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Ririka keeping the secret safe was enough to draw a warm - if somewhat weak - smile onto Hyousuke's face. Her offering some comforting words only served to further reinforce that. The dog itself did not quite understand what had happened, but it understood that the two humans got along and were relatively happy, and that made it happy. It also alerted it to the fact that they were paying attention to each other, and not to it. Such a travesty was not allowed to stand, and it huffed a little, looking expectantly up at Ririka for more pets.

"I know we'll find them soon. I've been checking missing animal reports around that area since we got back, and I'm sure Uchida-san'll probably be able to figure something out once she gets a good look at him." It was, after all, rather distinct. Gold-furred breeds were not unheard of, but most were too big for an apartment in the city - a small one with such features was bound to be, at the very least, recognisable to its owners. "'Course, it probably *would* be easier with the name, but the collar was too damaged for that. I don't want to give him a new name if I'm not even gonna have him for a week, but it's been getting pretty awkward. You think it'd be alright if I gave him one for now?"

The dog gave no answer. It seemed to have no preference, instead taking an interest in a passing insect, pulling away from the pets to sniff at the ground and discern what this strange new creature's business was.
"Maybe Melon Bread? He kinda looks like it." Hyousuke pondered the thought for a moment, before pulling a face. "...Nah, that's too much of a mouthful. Maybe Pudding. His fur kinda looks like the right colour for it." Hyousuke, much like the dog, seemed oblivious to the fact that he'd listed off two sweet foods as potential (and temporary) names.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Don't worry, don't worry, I haven't forgotten you," Ririka cooed to the dog, resuming the pettings. "Who's a good boy and isn't a horrifying shadow beast? It's you!"

"Well, Uchida-san is a detective--or in training, I guess--I'm sure she can figure something out. That's kind of what she's training for, huh?" But the collar couldn't illuminte the name, either. "Shoot. That's too bad..." And Hyousuke doesn't want to give him one, if this is temporary. Ririka nods along. "Oh, yeah, I guess I get that."

But she considers the naming matter. "I mean... it might be nice not to have to refer to him as 'the dog'? Even if it's only for a couple of days... we know you're not trying to keep him, right? So I think it's okay."

Ririka lets the dog wander off, and stiffles a giggle into her hand when Hyousuke names two sweet things as suggestions. that's cute! "'Melon Bread' might be a little unwieldy," she agree. "'Pudding' is cute. Maybe... if you try some names with him he might have a reaction?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
It was indeed him that was not a twisted abomination born from man's subconscious. The dog did not quite get what Ririka had said, and did not particularly care to. All that mattered to it was that she had given it attention. And that there was an insect wandering by. Upon further inspection, it was an ant. A fascinating creature, the dog seemed to think - assuming it had a thought going on behind those eyes in the first place. Hyousuke, for his part, was more invested in the conversation than in the local flora and fauna.

"Then until Uchida-san gets back to me, I guess I can try seeing if he likes any of the names. I'm pretty sure sure he'd react to any kinda name with food. Or walks."
He looked at the crouched and sniffing dog, noting how its tail had slowed, but had not stopped wagging completely. "...Or insects, I guess. Thinking about it, I'm probably gonna be here a while doing that, aren't I?" He chuckled, half at his own joke, half at the dog making its own fun. "...But thanks. For coming out with me. And for offering to help with the little guy. I've got it covered for now - me and some friends are hitting Mementos hard to make sure I don't run out of food for him, and the guys in the dorm are fine with looking after him while I'm out - but it's good to know I can count on you."

Hyousuke paused for a moment, afflicted with the feeling he probably should have reflected on those words, before dismissing it out of hand.
"...Actually, I think there's something you *can* help me with right now. Maybe Yamagishi-san, Mandai-san, and Sanada-san too. I got no real idea what to name a dog, and you guys helped him as much as I did that night, so I think it's only right you guys get a say in it too."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Such are the mysterious contemplations of the dog...

Ririka nodded, standing up now that the dog had lost interest in her for the moment. "I think that's all you can do..." she commented of the name. She offered a smile. "I'm sure he'll tell you what he likes, though."

She chuckled. "Not unless you find a name he likes really fast, right?" The smile grew warmer as Ririka nodded. "Hey, sure, you're welcome." But the smile faded as Hyousuke mentioned Mementos. "Oh, well... just be careful, okay? You've gotta be able to keep taking care of him, right?"

"Hmm? Oh!" Ririka considered it, fingers tapping on her thigh. "Wellll... if you want us to give you some ideas, I can ask them if they have any. I'll ask Mandai-chan, too. Oh! and..."

Ririka slipped off her backpack, and reached into it to retrieve a small package. "I know it's a little early, but since I wasn't sure when we'd both run into each other again..." She offered it forward. "Do you mind if I give it to you now? You can wait to open it if you want."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke took the package and gave it a curious look, tilting his head a little as if the different angle would shed any light upon what lay within the present's confines. Noticing that Hyousuke had taken an interest in something, the dog padded up and stood at his feet, canting its own head sidewards as it looked at this strange new object. Though it leaned up to try and sniff at it, Hyousuke made sure to keep it out of reach. Upon being denied the chance to investigate something, the dog let out a soft - but notably indignant - bark.

"Oh, you didn't have to..." Hyousuke said, though the broad and beaming smile that curled his lips made it patently clear how he truly felt about it. "...But thanks. Really, I mean it. Not just for this either - you've been doing a lot for me this year, and it's... Well, it's appreciated." Hyousuke had faced down beasts twice his size and men with murderous spirits puppeteering their every movement. But it was baring his soul and giving heartfelt thanks that he seemed to truly struggle with, even with how genuine his sentiments were. "I wasn't sure I'd get to see you before break, so I gave yours to Ichika-san. I don't know if you're gonna wait to open yours, but I think I'm gonna do it for yours."

He fixed it with another curious gaze, as if there were something else he wanted to say, but the sentiment vanished quickly when he felt something pawing at his leg.
"Alright, alright, we'll get going. Honestly, what am I gonna do with you..." Hyousuke chuckled, then stood straight. "I think he's getting impatient. You want to walk and talk? You can take his lead, if you want. I think he likes you." The dog thought it liked Ririka too. She was a nice human and gave pets when they were demanded. Unlike a certain someone that did not give it strange rectangles when it was clearly entitled to them.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
What Hyousuke discovers by looking at the box from a different angle is that... it has a different outline. Isn't Geometry fun?

"I didn't, but... I wanted to," Ririka said with a grin. "You're welcome. It's been... some kind of year, huh?" But Ichika has ''hers''--and Ririka clocks the use of the first name but doens't comment. "Oh! Cool. Thanks, Suzuki-san! I'll wait, promise."

The next gaze reveals... a different outline! Though it's pretty similar to the previous one...

Ririka pulls her backpack back on and nods. "Sure, I don't mind walking with you for a bit. Stretching my legs will do me some good..." She'll take the leash if offered, and he can spend a little bit more time walking and talking--and giving the dog pets, of course.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-27: A Horrifying Shadow Beast

2026-07-27T23:12:02Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: A Horrifying Shadow Beast''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ririka Kawase *'''Where:''' <The location(s) the log occurs in.> *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-07-27 *'''IC Date:''' Sun, Dec 16 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke asks Ririka to help him tame that most terrifying of beasts... an energetic dog that wants attention.'' ---- (|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|) -==================================================..."

*'''Log: A Horrifying Shadow Beast'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ririka Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' <The location(s) the log occurs in.>
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-07-27
*'''IC Date:''' Sun, Dec 16 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke asks Ririka to help him tame that most terrifying of beasts... an energetic dog that wants attention.''

----

(|============================= Iwatodai Station =============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
The intersection of high speed rail along the coast of Tokyo and Tatsumi Port
Island's monorail line from the mainland across the sea to its artificial
island, Iwatodai Station is the cornerstone of daily life to the inhabitants of
this place. Even the most jaded salaryman could get lost in the experience of
looking out upon the glittering sea as they ride across it to their daily life.

A multi-story strip mall across the street from the station offers students such
selections as Wakatsu for sushi high in omega-3s to increase that brain power,
Hagakure Ramen with all the collagen you could desire for skin care, or even
Wilduck's infamous Mystery Burger for those who desire an impromptu test of
courage. Net cafes selling some of the latest releases and hole-in-the-wall
bookstores give people endless options of what to do with their evening.

With this blend of local flavor and modern convenience, Iwatodai Station truly
is the ideal option to stop by whether you're coming or going home.

BGM - Tranquility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvvwVzA1z44

-==== Players =================================================================-
Hyousuke Suzuki [VII]
-=================================== Exits ====================================-
<D> Walk back to Iwatodai Dormitory
<M> Take a walk to The Moonlight Bridge
<N> Go to Naganaki Shrine
<T> Take the Express Train by the Sea to Aoyama-Itchome Station
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
> dog's doing better now
> want to come meet him

Whether Ririka responded in the affirmative or not was irrelevant. Hyousuke had business near Iwatadoi regardless, and while the fee and equipment required to take a dog onto the subway without issue was a little bit steep for someone that only worked part-time, he was loathe to pass up the chance to take the as-yet unnamed dog out for a lengthy walk. The dog itself did not seem averse to the idea either. While it was at first a little apprehensive about the crate and the subway, it was happy enough to take the chance to laze around, and even seemed a little stubborn about leaving.

The promise of walkies and a little jostling from Hyousuke got it to amble along though the entire thing had been its idea, however, and the two made their way towards the only park in Iwatadoi that he actually remembered the directions to. Even then, it took him a little while to get to the appointed spot, though the golden furball trotting along at his heels hardly seemed to think it was a bad thing. In fact, it seemed a little disappointed that he came to a stop at a bench, looking at him expectantly until he ruffled the fur atop its head.

"Easy now, we're just waiting for someone." He said, smiling a little as he placated it. The dog pushed into his hand, not so much asking for affection as it was demanding it. Sitting and waiting was boring, after all, especially when there was so much room to go for more walks on. And the sticks - there were so many sticks of so many shapes and sizes. What cruel and unusual punishment had been visited upon it, that it had been denied the chance to sally forth and clamp a stick between its jaws?
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
> of course!
> just tell me where

Yesterday... had been a lot of fun. And ririka had been happy to have a chance to see Ikumi again--even if she was a bit shy about having been seen in maid uniform. (But the good kind of shy, that made her heart do funny things.) And it was nice to do something festive for the school, too.

But... she has to go back to the study grind. She's geen trying to take things easier, but she's still feeling the itch to maintain decent grades, so she's been putting all of her spare time into it. Which, at least, is a lot more spare time now that she isn't cramming her schedule full of other music practice.

Still, the chance to see the dog they rescued was too good to pass up. Ririka grabbed a a jacket for the chill and headed out.

"Suzuki-san!" Ririka called as she spotted the other student and the dog both. She's dressed in a jacket, skirt, tights, and her favorte calf-high (but not chunky) boots. She gives a way as she calls out, and picks up the pace. "Hey, this must be your new friend. You're looking a lot better."

She kneels a little, offering her hand out for the dog to sniff.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog turned to face the new human at the same time as Hyousuke did, offering her a glimpse of its features. It was a small thing, properly-proportioned and covered in coat of short, golden, fur from head to tail. Though its body seemed a little round, its features - and, indeed, the face they were set into - were somewhat sharp and angular. The glimpse she was offered only lasted briefly before it ambled over to sniff at her hand. It took only a few seconds of investigation with a bowed head before it nudged into her palm.

She was a person, after all, and she had hands. Was it not his right to demand a tithe of pets?

"He's gonna keep doing that until you pet him." Hyousuke said, smiling a little as he watched the dog all but command Ririka to lavish attention upon it. "Come to think of it, he's probably gonna keep doing that after you stop as well. He's been like that ever since Igor got rid of the curse, and he's had a chance to sleep." For all the fussing the dog did, Hyousuke didn't seem particularly unhappy about it. If anything, seeing it potter around and burn off energy made him the happiest he'd been for a fair while.

"How about you?" He asked, looking back up with a polite, but curious, look. "You been doing alright? I heard Gekkoukan's stalls were pretty busy."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ririka smiles as the dog wanders over and sniffs. "Awwww. Here you go." She quickly shifts her hand to petting the top of his head. "You know, we never had a pet... someday I kind of thing I'd like a dog, but... not right now. But here you go." Besides, there's Koromaru to take care of, so that's fine.

"So he had a curse...? How awful... he's looking a lot better now, at least. Did Igor say if he'd have any lintering effects? I wonder how he got cursed to begin with..."

"I'm... good. You know. Trying to keep my nose in the books and all that for finals. Are... you feeling okay about finals?" She looks up and laughs a little, "Yeaaaah... one of our classmates kiiind of caused a big commotion and the maid cafe got... ''really'' popular. Turns out, people are ''really'' into the tsundere maid thing... go figure. I had some people ask ''me'' for that, but Iiiii'm nowhere near as good at it as Takeba-san."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog was, of course, pleased with this development. It did not attempt to hide this fact either. Its head wagged as much as its tail did, though while its tail batted the air furiously as its demands were fulfilled, its head rubbed vigorously into her palm with all the energy of a dog that had done little but nap and amble around all day.
"Not a curse, more like a rumour. Me and Ichika-san went hiking and found a collar about where we fought him, so I think it was just a lost dog that was lashing out at people. Rumours started spreading about something in the woods that was attacking people, and well..."

There was still a beast attacking people. However, that beast had shifted its method of attack from savage bits and fearsome slashes to slobbering all over a person's palm and then mopping it up with its own fur. Truly, a most terrifying opponent.
"I don't think there's anything else to worry about for now. Little guy's not got any resonance as far as I can tell, and he's not transformed back as long as I've had him. But Igor said I was gonna have to be responsible for making sure it stays that way. Dunno how he expects me to do that... I don't even have a place to keep him in."

Such notions were not understood by the dog. Blissfully unaware of Hyousuke's current predicament, it focussed instead on sniffing around Ririka's hand, and at whatever other parts of her it could reach. Ankle, hand, arm, hand, wrist, hand again... It may have mentioned it wanted petting before, but insisted upon it again.
"Tell you the truth? I've been doing all I can for finals, but I know I'm not getting into uni. Just passing's been hard enough to do, so I'm not gonna waste anybody's time trying." He laughed, but there was a little bitterness to it. A twinge, carried away by the wind as soon as it manifested, but it was there. "Glad to hear your cafe went well though. Think you'd have had any luck if they'd asked for a rockstar maid instead?" The smile and light chuckle that came with the joke were genuine, at least, even if they were partially intended to clear the air after a rather morose remark.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's hard not to be in a good mood with an affectionate dog demanding pets. Ririka listens to Hyousuke's story, though, with a concerned expression."A rumor... how terrible... if h had a collar... is anybody looking for him? Is he chipped?"

Ririka is providing plenty of pets. And scritches! Scritches for chins and ears. She doesn't mind the slobber so much.

But she closes her eyes and concentrates, listening past the sounds of the park and the happy dog noises. There's nothing as far as she can tell, either. But she opens her eyes, looking up at Hyousuke with some surprise. "Igor said you'd have to be responsible for him...? Huh. Maybe... if he doesn't fit the rumor of 'lost dog attacking people' it can't... target him or something?"

But she straightens up a bit more. "You don't have a place to keep him in? Then... what are you going to do? How'ev you been taking care of him so far?"

There's a laugh, and a slight relaxing of her concerns as the dog ges for all the snoffing. "Wha-- hey there, boy, you're friendly, huh...?" Ririka mostly smells like teenage girl, there's some faint traces of hot beverages and sandwiches from yesterday, and her breakfast this morning.

Oh, and she might also smell a little bit like a Shiba Inu that happens to stay at their dorm.

But Hyousuke's convinced he's not getting into uni, and Ririka finds her brow furrowing again. "Hey... even if it's tough... it might not be too late. Nee-chan was worried about that for a while but she's planning for the future again. I bet there's something you can do."

There's a soft smile and a little bit of a laugh at the joke. "Ohh, I could probably manage that. Put my hair up, put on some leather, maybe the boots and the torn tights..." she muses for a moment. "Well, if it comes up next year maybe I'll try it."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke shrugged, the motion jostling the lead a little. The dog looked behind itself, tilting its head a little at what it thought had been a call for its attention, before turning back to face Ririka once it had been established that Hyousuke had not actually tried to shift its focus. Hyousuke himself continued on, either oblivious to the dog's confusion, or simply not thinking it worth remarking on.
"No chip, collar's too damaged to figure anything out... Nothing. I asked Uchida-san if she could help, and I've been poking around when I can, but we've got nothing so far."

He looked the dog over. Even after all it had been through, and even with it no doubt missing its true owners, it still managed to act as calm as could be and adapt to its new environs with remarkable speed. The sheer amount of attention it had gotten over the past few days, as well as long and frequent(ish) walks had no doubt helped, but it was hardly as if he could let the poor thing languish on its own.
"...Don't tell anyone, but I've been keeping him at the dorms. It's only for now, and I'm giving him back as soon as I find his owners. It's just... I can't sign any of the paperwork until I'm older, and there's no chance in hell my parents are gonna talk to me, never mind help me. The only one that could's my brother, but he-"

Hyousuke caught himself before he elaborated, and silently chided himself for lapsing in focus enough for the mention of a sibling to even happen. He made all haste to move on from the subject, doing so with such speed that even the dog's ears pricked up when it happened. It might also have just been it catching the scent of another dog on Ririka's hand, amidst the smells of food and teenage girl-ness.
"A-anyway, it's not important. I'm sure we'll find his owners soon. They're probably missing him as much as he's missing them, so he'll be back home before you know it. Nobody'll have to worry about him turning back if he's back with his family."

Sure, the collar had come off, the dog had no chip, and it was perfectly happy to lounge around in a stranger's room. But he was confident the dog's people would be found eventually. That thought helped him settle himself a little - even if there was a hint of sadness still lingering in the back of his mind for one reason or another - and he began to scratch at the dog's back. It, of course, appreciated attention from both ends, and wagged into both of its friends.
"...We'll see about uni, I guess. Honestly, I haven't even been looking for a place in one. I've just been trying to figure out if there's any jobs that'll take me right now. Maybe I should ask Shimizu-san about it..." He seemed resigned to it - like failure at the entrance exams was a foregone conclusion. Like the attempt would just be wasted effort, and a burden on all involved.

"Call me up if you ever do that rocker-maid thing though. *That* is something I've gotta see."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"No chip, and nothing from the collar... that's too bad... I wonder if anyone's reported a missing dog..." Who do you go to for that? Vets? The police? Ririka ''hoped'' it wasn't the police. Especially not the police in ''Sumaru''.

But the dorms. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me, Suzuki-san." She nods along quietly. Can't sign the paperwork, that makes sense. But she pauses as Hyousuke mentions parents and a lack of help. That's concerning, as is the mention of a brother that isn't finished.

Ririka gets having complicated feelings about your parents. Though... Ririka's always known, deep down, she could go to her parents for help--it was mostly her trying to hold herself up to some impossible standard that kept her from doing so. (She still feels like it might be possible, but she's trying to talk herself down from it,.) From what little Hyousuke had just said... that might not be the case for him.

Still, she's curious, but she doesn't want to press the issue, since she doesn't know what the situation is like. It doesn't sound good, though...

"Yeah... you'll find his owners, I'm sure of it. And if you need any help with that, or with getting supplies for him, let us now, okay? I think you're doing a really nice thing to take care of him until you can return him home." She offered what she hoped was a comforting smile. "Oh, you mentioned finding the collar, right? Did you at least find out what his name was?"

Ririka's always been certain about what she'd be doing--but her problem, at the moment, is chosing ''how''. But that's not something she's going to share in the moment. "Well, I hope you can find something you like to do, Suzuki-san. Maybe..." She let that trail off. Better not say too much on that subject.

She grinned a little. "Sure! Dunno when I might, but... I'll let you know if I do."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Ririka keeping the secret safe was enough to draw a warm - if somewhat weak - smile onto Hyousuke's face. Her offering some comforting words only served to further reinforce that. The dog itself did not quite understand what had happened, but it understood that the two humans got along and were relatively happy, and that made it happy. It also alerted it to the fact that they were paying attention to each other, and not to it. Such a travesty was not allowed to stand, and it huffed a little, looking expectantly up at Ririka for more pets.

"I know we'll find them soon. I've been checking missing animal reports around that area since we got back, and I'm sure Uchida-san'll probably be able to figure something out once she gets a good look at him." It was, after all, rather distinct. Gold-furred breeds were not unheard of, but most were too big for an apartment in the city - a small one with such features was bound to be, at the very least, recognisable to its owners. "'Course, it probably *would* be easier with the name, but the collar was too damaged for that. I don't want to give him a new name if I'm not even gonna have him for a week, but it's been getting pretty awkward. You think it'd be alright if I gave him one for now?"

The dog gave no answer. It seemed to have no preference, instead taking an interest in a passing insect, pulling away from the pets to sniff at the ground and discern what this strange new creature's business was.
"Maybe Melon Bread? He kinda looks like it." Hyousuke pondered the thought for a moment, before pulling a face. "...Nah, that's too much of a mouthful. Maybe Pudding. His fur kinda looks like the right colour for it." Hyousuke, much like the dog, seemed oblivious to the fact that he'd listed off two sweet foods as potential (and temporary) names.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Don't worry, don't worry, I haven't forgotten you," Ririka cooed to the dog, resuming the pettings. "Who's a good boy and isn't a horrifying shadow beast? It's you!"

"Well, Uchida-san is a detective--or in training, I guess--I'm sure she can figure something out. That's kind of what she's training for, huh?" But the collar couldn't illuminte the name, either. "Shoot. That's too bad..." And Hyousuke doesn't want to give him one, if this is temporary. Ririka nods along. "Oh, yeah, I guess I get that."

But she considers the naming matter. "I mean... it might be nice not to have to refer to him as 'the dog'? Even if it's only for a couple of days... we know you're not trying to keep him, right? So I think it's okay."

Ririka lets the dog wander off, and stiffles a giggle into her hand when Hyousuke names two sweet things as suggestions. that's cute! "'Melon Bread' might be a little unwieldy," she agree. "'Pudding' is cute. Maybe... if you try some names with him he might have a reaction?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
It was indeed him that was not a twisted abomination born from man's subconscious. The dog did not quite get what Ririka had said, and did not particularly care to. All that mattered to it was that she had given it attention. And that there was an insect wandering by. Upon further inspection, it was an ant. A fascinating creature, the dog seemed to think - assuming it had a thought going on behind those eyes in the first place. Hyousuke, for his part, was more invested in the conversation than in the local flora and fauna.

"Then until Uchida-san gets back to me, I guess I can try seeing if he likes any of the names. I'm pretty sure sure he'd react to any kinda name with food. Or walks."
He looked at the crouched and sniffing dog, noting how its tail had slowed, but had not stopped wagging completely. "...Or insects, I guess. Thinking about it, I'm probably gonna be here a while doing that, aren't I?" He chuckled, half at his own joke, half at the dog making its own fun. "...But thanks. For coming out with me. And for offering to help with the little guy. I've got it covered for now - me and some friends are hitting Mementos hard to make sure I don't run out of food for him, and the guys in the dorm are fine with looking after him while I'm out - but it's good to know I can count on you."

Hyousuke paused for a moment, afflicted with the feeling he probably should have reflected on those words, before dismissing it out of hand.
"...Actually, I think there's something you *can* help me with right now. Maybe Yamagishi-san, Mandai-san, and Sanada-san too. I got no real idea what to name a dog, and you guys helped him as much as I did that night, so I think it's only right you guys get a say in it too."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Such are the mysterious contemplations of the dog...

Ririka nodded, standing up now that the dog had lost interest in her for the moment. "I think that's all you can do..." she commented of the name. She offered a smile. "I'm sure he'll tell you what he likes, though."

She chuckled. "Not unless you find a name he likes really fast, right?" The smile grew warmer as Ririka nodded. "Hey, sure, you're welcome." But the smile faded as Hyousuke mentioned Mementos. "Oh, well... just be careful, okay? You've gotta be able to keep taking care of him, right?"

"Hmm? Oh!" Ririka considered it, fingers tapping on her thigh. "Wellll... if you want us to give you some ideas, I can ask them if they have any. I'll ask Mandai-chan, too. Oh! and..."

Ririka slipped off her backpack, and reached into it to retrieve a small package. "I know it's a little early, but since I wasn't sure when we'd both run into each other again..." She offered it forward. "Do you mind if I give it to you now? You can wait to open it if you want."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke took the package and gave it a curious look, tilting his head a little as if the different angle would shed any light upon what lay within the present's confines. Noticing that Hyousuke had taken an interest in something, the dog padded up and stood at his feet, canting its own head sidewards as it looked at this strange new object. Though it leaned up to try and sniff at it, Hyousuke made sure to keep it out of reach. Upon being denied the chance to investigate something, the dog let out a soft - but notably indignant - bark.

"Oh, you didn't have to..." Hyousuke said, though the broad and beaming smile that curled his lips made it patently clear how he truly felt about it. "...But thanks. Really, I mean it. Not just for this either - you've been doing a lot for me this year, and it's... Well, it's appreciated." Hyousuke had faced down beasts twice his size and men with murderous spirits puppeteering their every movement. But it was baring his soul and giving heartfelt thanks that he seemed to truly struggle with, even with how genuine his sentiments were. "I wasn't sure I'd get to see you before break, so I gave yours to Ichika-san. I don't know if you're gonna wait to open yours, but I think I'm gonna do it for yours."

He fixed it with another curious gaze, as if there were something else he wanted to say, but the sentiment vanished quickly when he felt something pawing at his leg.
"Alright, alright, we'll get going. Honestly, what am I gonna do with you..." Hyousuke chuckled, then stood straight. "I think he's getting impatient. You want to walk and talk? You can take his lead, if you want. I think he likes you." The dog thought it liked Ririka too. She was a nice human and gave pets when they were demanded. Unlike a certain someone that did not give it strange rectangles when it was clearly entitled to them.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.
<poem>
What Hyousuke discovers by looking at the box from a different angle is that... it has a different outline. Isn't Geometry fun?

"I didn't, but... I wanted to," Ririka said with a grin. "You're welcome. It's been... some kind of year, huh?" But Ichika has ''hers''--and Ririka clocks the use of the first name but doens't comment. "Oh! Cool. Thanks, Suzuki-san! I'll wait, promise."

The next gaze reveals... a different outline! Though it's pretty similar to the previous one...

Ririka pulls her backpack back on and nods. "Sure, I don't mind walking with you for a bit. Stretching my legs will do me some good..." She'll take the leash if offered, and he can spend a little bit more time walking and talking--and giving the dog pets, of course.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-25: Frosty Fracas

2026-07-27T22:56:17Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Frosty Fracas''' *'''Cast:''' Katsuko Yoshinaga, Ichika Kawase, Shinobu Shimizu, Remi Ryuuja *'''Where:''' Mt Katamatsuri *'''OOC Date:''' 2026/07/25 *'''IC Date:''' Sat Dec 15 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Inclement weather - rain, snow, and heavy winds - have plagued a few hiking trails outside of Sumaru for a few days now. Such events are not unusual, and often pass by uneventfully, without causing much more trouble than some prospective ramblers and..."

*'''Log: Frosty Fracas'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Katsuko Yoshinaga]], [[Ichika Kawase]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Remi Ryuuja]]
*'''Where:''' Mt Katamatsuri
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026/07/25
*'''IC Date:''' Sat Dec 15 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Inclement weather - rain, snow, and heavy winds - have plagued a few hiking trails outside of Sumaru for a few days now. Such events are not unusual, and often pass by uneventfully, without causing much more trouble than some prospective ramblers and dog-walkers having to alter their plans for the day. But when that weather causes some overconfident hikers to get lost for a few hours, and they then attempt to blame their absence on everything but poor planning, rumours abound. Now, a few days after the incident, the inclement weather has grown worse and a Yuki-Onna has taken up residence on one of the more popular trails. Eager to clear the path so that hikers can make their way up without fear of freezing to death and/or being abducted by a malicious snow spirit, some concerned citizens have put out a bounty on the Demon's head.''

----

(|============================= Mt. Katatsumuri ==============================|)
-==================================================== Sumaru City/Vicinity ====-
Mt. Katatsumuri is a beautiful mountain vista just past the city limits of
Sumaru City. The greenery is plentiful and particularly dazzling in autumn as
the colors change. Once a popular tourist destination for hikers, nature lovers,
and explorers alike, it's seen considerably less traffic after the cable car
lift to the mountain's peak broke down. That's not going to change anytime soon,
for the local government has not seen fit to distribute funds to fix it.

Perhaps that's for the best. While it's a beautiful nature site, the only
buildings here are Morimoto Sanitarium at the peak and Goketsuji, a Buddhist
temple, on the inclines. A sanitarium is not a place that any "normal" person
should want to visit, and the monks at the temple probably prefer the isolation
anyway.

But the walking paths remain, some of them wilder than others. One even leads
all the way up to the back of the sanitarium for those with more courage than
common sense. There's also an old, small Shinto shrine along the way whose
offering box is not yet full and can still accept ¥100 coin donations.

BGM: Mt. Katatsumuri - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odyfd9Q2WY8

-==== Players =================================================================-
Katsuko Yoshinaga [IV] Remi Ryuuja [XVI]
Multiboss [?]
-=================================== Exits ====================================-
<O> Back down the Mountain to Yumezaki - Main
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Multiboss has posed.
<poem>
The gifts granted to Katsuko by whatever supernatural force lurked beyond the veil were many. Strength, speed, stamina, a Persona - all allowed her to clash with people and demons alike. What was not included amongst those powers, however, was the ability to ward off the cold. No sooner had she stepped foot upon Mt Katamatsuri than she felt a chill whip through her body, and a shiver plagued her spine. It was bitterly cold, even at just the foot of the mountain, and the paths further up were supposed to be worse.

She sighed into that silvered half-mask, then began to make her way up. The money was too good to pass on, no matter the temperature, though she made a mental note to spend a part of her share on a hot drink the moment she got back.

It wasn't long - nor was it far - before conditions intensified to an alarming degree. What had once been cold and biting winds turned into a fierce tempest, with sharp and storming winds so cold that they pierced the skin and stole the warmth down to one's very bones. The odd flake or spray of snow turned to a sheer wall of frozen white, with barely a few metres' worth of visibility before she had even reached the summit. Below, it had layered upon itself into an inches-thick carpet that slowed movement to a crawl, and then again further still as landmarks and paths were left completely obscured.

Then, out of nowhere, the winds began to die down. It was not by much, and it was an agonisingly slow process, but the increase in visibility was not hard to notice. Grim's first instinct was to feel relief - it was a break in the storm, however small, and a chance to recuperate some lost strength while she got her bearings. Her second instinct was suspicion. The storm was not a natural thing, and the break in it might not have been either. Quickly, she raised her scout rifle to a ready position, waiting for whatever came next.

As she squinted past the shadow cast over her eyes by her hood, she saw something emerge from the fog. It was a blur at first, little more than a dark grey smudge in the air. But that smudge sharpened with every passing moment. First into the form of a person, with a round smear for the head, and longer, thinner, ones extending out for the arms. That too sharpened in turn, turning from a distant silhouette to a shadow, distinct enough for her to make out the features of it.

It looked human at first glance. It walked on two limbs, obscured though they were by whatever cloth it wore. Its two arms hung loose by its sides, themselves draped in something too, but no less visible for it. A head held straight and upright sat atop its shoulders, not moving once or turning to shield itself from the wind. All seemed in order, but as Katsuko began to focus on the figure that approached them, she couldn't shake the sense of wrongness that pricked at her mind. Not like the Mark, or some other supernatural phenomena. It was something more primal, like an animal noticing something out of place.

The silken robes draped over its form - white as the snow around them, trimmed in blue and hemmed in purple - hid it to some extent, but anyone focussing on the shapes beneath would have been able to see the truth of it. The limbs were a little too long, the body a little too slender, the fingers longer and thinner than a human's should have been, and the face... It was enough to have her eyes strain as she tried to make certain she saw the truth. The eyes were a hair too big, the lips thin as a knife's edge and wide as her face, while the rest of the features upon the figure looked sharp enough to have been carved and whetted. Then, as the fog began to dissipate, the most damning thing of all became apparent.

The skin stretched over its form was the pale blue of the newly dead. It looked as though every mote of vitality had been drained from it, to the point where even the thick curtains of black that formed its hair - still lush, still swaying in the wind - seemed drained of the living's essence.
"Careful." Katsuko said, speaking to whoever was closest. "That has to be her. Don't hold back - we don't know what this thing can do." Before she could raise her rifle to fire a round through the Yuki-Onna's skull, the demon turned her gaze on the party, lips curled into what was supposed to be a smile.

"Weary travellers, so far from home, and lost in the storm..."
The Yuki-Onna's mouth moved, but did not match the words. Grim could not tell if the movements lagged behind, or did not match the sounds at all, but the end result was the same. The Yuki-Onna's words were carried on the wind, striking at Grim's ears like the howling storm that plagued the world around them. Were it not for the figure standing before them, she wouldn't even have been able to tell where they were coming from. But the worst part was how weak they made her feel.

"You must be exhausted, travellers... Come to me, and rest as you deserve." She said, her voice a sirensong that beckoned all who heard it closer. The words crept into Grim's mind like ivy, ensnaring it in thin and twisting vines, and forcing her to focus on the ghoulish figure standing astride the topmost layer of snow. She tried to raise her gun, but her arms trembled, hesitating before her will won out. But even as she held the demon in her sights, she found she could not pull the trigger, instead shaking her head to try and clear away whatever influence gripped her.

"Lay your heads down, my beloveds... and sleep."
</poem>

AS: Multiboss has readied for combat as Yuki-Onna! They are now fully healed! Ready for 3 opponents!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Recovery skill Irresistible Allure on Shinobu Shimizu!
| Ruin: Multiboss gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Recovery skill Irresistible Allure on Ichika Kawase!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Recovery skill Irresistible Allure on Remi Ryuuja!
AS: Multiboss's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Irresistible Allure.
| Bomb (Attacker takes damage on damaging attacks!) and Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Irresistible Allure.
| Bomb (Attacker takes damage on damaging attacks!) and Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!
AS: Nerve Up! Remi Ryuuja's SP +8!
AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Irresistible Allure.
| Bomb (Attacker takes damage on damaging attacks!) and Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ichika Kawase wouldn't call herself lost; she'd say she was hunting. She ''likes'' the trails around Katatsumuri, and has been on many of them herself in better circumstances.

"Yeah, I'm not planning to underestimate her," the Ogre says, her armor and costume helping protect her against some of the snow--but only some. Ice is a problem for her, after all. She's fucking cold!

But there's no way around it. She continues on, until they reach the source of the cold and ice. And there...

"No," Ogre answers, "MOMIJI!"

She calls forth her Persona, and the mountain demon whirls into being in blue fire. She lifts a hand--and the Charm effect that was clouding Ichika's senses disappears.

...She can't do anything about the other, though...
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Me Patra on Ichika Kawase, Remi Ryuuja, and Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Ichika Kawase takes 90 damage!
| Support: Ichika Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Me Patra.
| Charm removed!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Me Patra.
| Charm removed!
AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Me Patra.
| Charm removed!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu's saving up for a big purchase. As a result, she needs to take some extra jobs on the side if she wants any extra spending money. A dangerous bounty, therefore, is right up her alley.

She needs to let off a little extra steam, anyway.

It's cold, so she's bundled up in winter gear. It'll only do so much against supernatural cold... but for the trip there, it's just the ticket.

She share's Grim's suspicion, though, when the storm lets up. She looks toward the others, and then into the fog... and then, a figure emerges. A woman, but stretched... too long, and too thin.

"...Right." Shinobu agrees with Grim and Ogre both. "Night Parade really doesn't prepare you for the real thing, huh..."

And, she ''speaks''. The words carry on the wind, and Shinobu feels her body stiffen. For a moment, all she wants is to do what she asks, to let the woman of ice take care of her...

But soon enough that's chased away as Ogre calls upon her Persona, Patra clearing away the fog in her mind.

"Thanks. I wasn't ready for that." Shinobu calls out. She reaches into her winter coat, tossing something to Ogre. "Here, take this and pass it around."

It's a thermos full of hot cocoa - it's cooled off a little by this point, but it's still warm enough to help chase away the icy grip of her voice.

Shinobu, though, races forward with her staff drawn. There's still a part of her that wants to rebel against the idea of attacking the Yuki-onna, remnants of her compelling voice, but she forces herself forward regardless.
</poem>
"Sorry, lady... I'm not ready to settle down just yet." She replies with a grimace, jabbing her staff forward.
AS: Weapon! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Jab Flurry on Multiboss! 3 Hits!
| Shinobu Shimizu takes 90 damage from Bomb!
| Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu's turn has ended.
| Shinobu Shimizu regains 15 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Help Up! Bomb removed from Ichika Kawase! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Ichika Kawase! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Help Up! Bomb removed from Remi Ryuuja! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Remi Ryuuja! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Multiboss takes 25 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry.
AS: Avoid Worst! Multiboss takes 74 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Multiboss takes 74 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Jab Flurry. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Tsurugi isn't out here for the bounty. She's not even here out of a sense of duty or a desire to protect travelers and hikers.

No, she's just here to because this is a valid target for some of her frustrations, and if it also happens to protect others in the process, that's a happy accident.

The cold is testing her determination, though. Despite the fact that her fencing suits are insulted as best as they can be, ''and'' the black trenchcoat she's wearing for extra warmth, she's still shivering, teeth clattering. She's taking it worse than most might.

She's carved her own path through the snow with liberal applications of Garu and Agi, and she perhaps stands out easily in the flurry--her all black fencing suit against the white.

But as those words drift out even she is affected, and she falters, shaking her head to try and dispell it until Ogre's Me Patra helps clear her head. "My thanks."

"La Maupin!" she shouts as she raises her revolver-shaped Evoker to her head. Blue flame and glass hail the arising of an androgynous figure in a red leather straightjacket, clutching a chipped rapier through the straightjacket's sleeve.

"My rest will not come by the likes of you!" she shouts as she holds out her sword to La Maupin. "Flarebrand!" she shouts, and flames spring to life to coat both blades. "Better hands than yours have tried and failed!"

They'll both charge forward in unison, flame-coated blades leaving trails of steam as they swing throught the snow--La Maupin swings low, and Remi follows after with a leap and a swing.

When she finishes pressing the attack she reaches into the pocket and throws a handwarmer to Shinobu. "Catch!"
</poem>
AS: Tandem! Remi Ryuuja has used the Fire skill Flarebrand on Multiboss! 2 Hits!
| Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit!
AS: Remi Ryuuja's turn has ended.
| Remi Ryuuja: Hyper removed!
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Help Up! Bomb removed from Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Avoid Worst! Multiboss takes 101 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Flarebrand. Weak!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 39 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Flarebrand. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Multiboss has posed.
<poem>
The Demon noted Ogre's resistance, and turned the smile towards her. It was a strange thing. It took the shape of a human expression, but it looked more like someone had drawn it on her face rather than anything remotely natural, and the proportions of her features did little to aid this. Her entire visage became only a close approximation of a person's, and nowhere was this exemplified better than when her face contorted into anger at Ogre.
"Insolent child. You would spurn my generosity?" She spat, the winds whipping around her as her frustration mounted. "Then fall."
Those same winds grew to a deafening howl, and surged towards Ogre, carrying with them a shredding blast of hail.

What winds were left still winding around the Yuki-Onna surged harder upon seeing Shinobu and Remi cured. It was only moments before she was once more surrounded by a shredding gale, snow and ice forming a white flurry about her as her cold fury manifested itself in frigid, physical, form. It did little to avail her against Shinobu's onslaught, however, and the first two blows caught her in the torso despite her attempts to glide sideways. The last struck against her head, sending the thing reeling backwards, almost spinning like a figure skater across the snow before she came to a silent, graceful, halt.
"Ungrateful... All of you. You must be punished for it." She hissed, and with an outstretched arm, sent the winds around her to slice at Shinobu.

Before she could mount another strike on Shinobu, flames wielded by Persona and some black-clad figure tore through the storm. She avoided the first blade with deft and quiet precision, moving across the snow with practised ease. The other flame carved through her with blazing ferocity, however, and drew a shriek with her that turned the air as white as the ground.
"You would direct your rage at me? I seek only to grant you the sleep you so deserve. If you will not accept it... then the storm shall claim you instead." She answered with her own blade. Ice, clear as crystal and sharp as a razor's edge, lengthened in her grip. Then, with the speed and force of tempest, she struck down at Remi.

Grim had long since vanished into the storm, and it was only when the crack of a rifle rang out that her position was revealed. Every shot was from a different angle, and neither could be discerned as hers or her Persona's. She was an annoyance, to be certain - but the frontliners were the Demon's targets for now.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Water skill Hailstorm on Ichika Kawase! 3 Hits!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Wind skill Gale Force on Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Water skill Cleaving Cold on Remi Ryuuja! 3 Hits!
AS: Multiboss's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 25 Water damage from Multiboss's Hailstorm. Weak!
AS: Block Best! Ichika Kawase takes 25 Water damage from Multiboss's Hailstorm. Weak!
AS: Block Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 80 Water damage from Multiboss's Hailstorm. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Block Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 71 Wind damage from Multiboss's Gale Force.
| Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 61 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 40 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold.
AS: Counter Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 90 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Critical Hit!
| COUNTER! Multiboss takes 49 Slash damage in return for their attack!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Ogre downs some of the cocoa with a quick untwisting motion on the thermos, recaps it, and tosses it to Tsurugi. "Go!" she calls. An enemy now and then can be an ally today; they all freeze if they don't work together.

Insolent child, the Demon calls her, and Ogre smiles under her mask, her lower face stung by the cold but still visible. This means the demon can see this smirk.

But the frostbitten blast rushes Ogre, and Ogre falls. "Agh--" The cold scythes through her bones, it feels like--oh, she blocks the first and the second with her shield, but then it goes ''around'' her barrier, and sinks in.

"Fuck... your 'insolent'," Ogre coughs, as she rises to her feet. "Yo, big sis!" Ogre calls, in the way of a girl ganger to an older, cooler adult. Her words have power; she exposes an Opportunity.

Meanwhile, Ogre calls forth her Persona again, and this time, Momiji in her kimono dances over all of them, healilng the wounds of each combatant who isn't a demon.

Sorry, Yuki-Onna. "Anybody seen the Grim chick?" she wonders then.
</poem>
AS: Ichika Kawase spends Limit on Shift! Shinobu Shimizu can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Shinobu Shimizu! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Ichika Kawase, Shinobu Shimizu, and Remi Ryuuja!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
| Ichika Kawase: Hyper removed!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 180 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 180 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 180 Recovery healing from Ichika Kawase's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
There's someone here she didn't expect to see. Tsurugi... Shinobu watches her cautiously.

Just as she's wondering if she's here to cause trouble, though... she attacks the Yuki-onna, and tosses her a handwarmer. Shinobu catches it.

...Ordinarily she'd be suspicious, but right now, she could ''really'' use the heat.

"...Thanks." Shinobu replies begrudgingly, gripping onto it tightly and letting the warmth flow into her hands and through the rest of her body. "Guess we've got bigger things to worry about today than each other."

...As difficult as it is for her to admit ''that'', when she's still carrying a grudge.

Shinobu's strike connects. So, she is ''physical'' - at least enough for strikes to connect.

The Yuki-onna's fury is the fury of the mountains, and that fury is visited upon her now. The winds rush toward her and Shinobu spins her staff in front of her to disperse them. It only deters them somewhat - the bitter cold winds still race past her, cutting deep and carrying with them a chill that leaves her weapon arm feeling sluggish.

'Ungrateful'? You decided what was best for us all on your own." Shinobu replies. "You think we ''want'' to freeze to death?"

She hears Ogre calling out to her, and it doesn't take long for her to spot the opening she calls out.

"Right! Lachesis!" Shinobu calls. Lachesis appears behind her, measuring rod at the ready. She levels it at the Yuki-onna, as if taking her measure... and then a ''pulse'' emanates out toward her, to try to stoke the embers of rage in even this frozen ghost's heart, even as it instills weakness into her.

Shinobu is right on her heels, rushing forward and swinging her staff in two quick sweeps.

As she moves, she feels the pain lessen. She sends Ichika a grateful nod. And as for Grim...

"I dunno where she is, but -" She's interrupted by the 'crack' of a rifleshot, off in the distance. "- seems like she's still going, at least."
</poem>
AS: Persona! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Almighty skill Goading Break on Multiboss!
AS: Weapon! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Sweeping Strike on Multiboss! 2 Hits!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu's turn has ended.
| Shinobu Shimizu: Hyper removed!
| Shinobu Shimizu regains 15 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Avoid Worst! Multiboss takes 0 Almighty damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Goading Break.
| Phy_DN (Physical Attack''Defense Down!) added!
AS: Block Neutral! Multiboss takes 43 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Sweeping Strike.
AS: Block Worst! Multiboss takes 101 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Sweeping Strike. Critical Hit!
Huh? (Type "help" for help.)
Shinobu Shimizu has reconnected.

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
'You would direct your rage at me?' "Yes. There is no rest for one such as I. Not while others yet hold my leash."

Strikes with the fury of a tempest come, and Tsurugi does her best to deflect the first two blows, looking for an opening--and suddenly she lunges, lashing out with her rapier even as she takes a grevious injury and is forced back, grasping at her shoulder. She grits her teeth, mostly to force her way through what little pain she still feels, as much as to keep her teeth still.

She catches the thermos and tucks it into a pocket of her trenchcoat. She'll be a lot worse off with the cold if she takes her fencing mask off--and she'll reveal her identity besides. But it is at least nice qnd warm to hold.

But healing magic settles over her, and after a moment she pulls her hand away from the wound. Better. "I see." Mental note, protect the healer for this fight.

Has anybody seen the Grim chick? "If you are ferring to the one with the rifle, she is providing long-range support. Heed the gunshots."

She gives Shinobu a nod. "Yes. My only aim this day is to slay the demon." Is she shivering, despite all the heavy layers? Nah, surely not.

"The only one to be laid to rest this day is you-- Persona!" Persona and User touch blades again, and this time when the flames explode, they flow over the blades and down their bodies to splash around them. "Let's go!"

They both charge forward again, leaving large swaths of steam billowing in their wakes as they leave trails of flame. Persona and user split and attack from different angles in unison.
</poem>
AS: Tandem! Remi Ryuuja has used the Fire skill Scorching Wrath on Multiboss! 3 Hits!
AS: Remi Ryuuja's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Multiboss takes 64 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Weak!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 46 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 37 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Scorching Wrath. Weak!

<Pose Tracker> Multiboss has posed.
<poem>
"Do not direct your anger at me, child." She said, her voice reaching odd pitches and her tone becoming many things at once. A siren's call, the fury of a raging storm, the admonishment of a mother to a daughter... All of them merged into something that spoke from all angles that the wind blew from, reaching the ears of those that listened at a pace that did not match her lips. "And do not keep your friends from their slumber. They are tired, child, and they must rest... Like you."

"I think you desire rest." She said, responding to Shinobu's question with a cold and bitter voice, as much as the winds that began to roil about her. "You travellers are weary, and I am granting you the chance to finally lay your burdens down. Do not seek to strike me down for my charity, wretch." It wasn't clear where Lachesis' work ended, and the Demon's true feelings began. What was indisputable was that her cold, cold, heart had had some sparks of fury stoked within it, and that rage left her unfocussed enough that Shinobu's blows caught her with frightening force. The first staggered her, leaving her open to the second, which sent her reeling backwards with a wailing shriek.
"Fool... to spurn me in such a manner? I will teach you humility..."

Remi's sword struck true, and the blade carved a portion of her thin body away. The silks hid it, but the wound had been made, and the Demon glared at Remi with frostbitten hatred.
"Should you not then be grateful?" She spoke. Her voice rose with the winds, always a hair louder, always audible above even the most deafening of gales. "I offer you the solace of rest. Of peace. You would know serenity... and you reject me." She spoke, even as she weaved around Remi's strikes. Shinobu was right in that she was physical enough to hit, but in that moment - even as flaming strikes hacked away pieces of her robes - she seemed more wraith than anything tangible.

Whipped up by fury, the winds surrounding the Yuki-Onna grew ever more intense, whirling about her and picking snow up into their grasp as they moved. Her form first grew obscured, then hidden, and then lay on the cusp of vanishing entirely. She was only a mere handful of seconds from disappearing back into the void and striking with hidden impunity before something streaked out from the sidelines, striking her in the shoulder. The line from the tracer round was a bright red, glowing like fire, and streaked through the air to show precisely where the party's target was. Distracted, the winds died down just enough to grant them all a clear shot once more, but the tradeoff was made clear when the Demon's head snapped to the source - Grim.

"Changing position!" She shouted out, wasting no time in hurrying away as storm of crystalline shards rained down upon her previous hiding spot. With Grim driven off, the Yuki-Onna once more turned her attention to the rest of the party. The winds still shielded her, but their intensity had been lessened, and her position revealed. She was still a viable target - as long as the offensive was pushed.
"If you will not accept my offer..." She began, raising higher upon streaks of icebitten wind, "...Then I shall take you to your rest myself." Ice and wind dispersed into the air, and the Demon's magic was made manifest. Some seeped into her wounds, mending whatever damage had been done with a faint, blue, glow. The rest stole what little warmth it could from the air, and when even that was gone, it stole it from the party instead. Skin, flesh blood, bone - nothing was safe from the Yuki-Onna's freezing magicks.
</poem>
AS: Multiboss spends Limit on Broad!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Recovery skill Absolute Zero on Ichika Kawase, Shinobu Shimizu, and Remi Ryuuja!
AS: Multiboss spends Limit on Medicine! +75 HP to Multiboss!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Water skill Snowstorm on Remi Ryuuja!
AS: Multiboss spends Limit on Exploit! Multiboss can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Water skill Snowstorm on Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Recovery skill Flash Freeze on Ichika Kawase!
AS: Multiboss's turn has ended.
| Multiboss: Broad removed!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Absolute Zero.
| Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) and Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 148 Water damage from Multiboss's Snowstorm. Critical Hit!
| Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Absolute Zero.
| Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) and Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Flash Freeze.
| Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!
AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Absolute Zero.
| Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) and Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! Remi Ryuuja takes 59 Water damage from Multiboss's Snowstorm.
| Spd_Dn (Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu has the matter of not wanting to freeze to death covered. Ogre chimes in, "Yeah! We didn't ask you for shit!"

But Shinobu also takes advantage of the opening she gave--and Grim seems to still be going, so that's good enough. Remi and Shinobu can both identify her with the rifle.

Then--

"Yeah I'm tired," Ogre says. "Tired of you!" And, admittedly, of studying for exams. But she's not going to tell the demon that.

She doesn't want to learn humility, either. The snows get much more intense--but Grim is still helping. Ogre feels ''cold'' from thsoe assaults, frigid cold--she can't move, her shield is brittle, it's all the worst.

"Shhhhh," Ogre answers.

Then she narrows her eyes. "Is that how it is?' she asks. "All right."

"Momiji," Ichika directs. "Let's kick some ass."

She throws out her hand, and Momiji ''rushes'' the Yuki-Onna, hurling out rock and stone from the snowy earth and tossing it straight for the demon twice over!
</poem>
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Earth skill Sequence Magna on Multiboss! 2 Hits!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
| Ichika Kawase: Paralyze removed!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 13 Earth damage from Ichika Kawase's Sequence Magna.
AS: Avoid Worst! Multiboss takes 83 Earth damage from Ichika Kawase's Sequence Magna. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Tsurugi says her only aim this day is to slay the demon, and Shinobu considers her carefully for a moment. ...And then she sighs, massaging the back of her neck. She can't deny that they could use the help - the Yuki-onna is pretty strong.

"...Alright. Then let's get along for now." Shinobu replies.

She nods her approval as Ogre echoes her sentiment.

The Yuki-onna thinks she desires rest, and Shinobu grimaces. She says they're ''weary'', and she's granting them the chance to lay their burdens down.

"Deciding what we want ''for'' us now, are you?" Shinobu mutters. "Projecting your wants onto us, and getting mad when we reject them..."

...It's like dealing with her mother, she finishes in her head. But at least her mother only ''metaphorically'' causes the temperature to drop whenever she enters a room.

"'Humility'? You're one to talk." Shinobu bites back.

The Yuki-onna certainly seems angrier than before, and the chilling winds around her only intensify. And for a moment, she seems to vanish - at least until something strikes her. She's visible now, but that's only a small solace. The air freezes, and a snowstorm is unleashed. Shinobu's body feels sluggish - and due to that, she takes the full brunt of the blizzard. She's hammered by the snowstorm, and for a moment she seems to be buried beneath it...

...but a moment later, Lachesis bursts out of the snow, Shinobu hauls herself out it a moment after. She finds herself very grateful for her new winterwear.

"After me." She calls over to Tsurugi, to prepare an opening. "Lachesis!"

At her call, Lachesis races forward. Her measuring rod lashes out at the Yuki-onna... but as it flies through the air the weapon bends, to strike at impossible angles. The apportioner is not limited to measuring distance alone. This might create an opening one can act on.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Measure Twice on Multiboss! 2 Hits!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu's turn has ended.
| Shinobu Shimizu regains 15 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu spends Limit on Shift! Remi Ryuuja can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Remi Ryuuja! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 10 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Measure Twice.
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 10 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Measure Twice.

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
"A hound knows no rest than what its benefactors allow," Tsurugi retorts to the Yuki-onna. "And I will not rest while I ahve yet more work to do. The only thing I require of you is your demise!"

Biting winds come and tear at Tsurugi--cutting at her through the multiple heavy layers she's been trying to use to resist the draining of her ehat. Her body lets out a violet tremble as she hunches over, and the clacking of teeth is definitely audible now.

It takes her a few moments longer than is maybe desireable for her to recover herself. Anybody really close to her might hear her swearing under her brath. "... of all the things I c-can still feel..."

Why did it have to be the ''cold''?

Shinobu accepts getting along, for now. "V-very well." This really isn't the time to turn this into a battle on two fronts anyway.

But that frigid, blinding cold and win will be a hinderance if they can't do somethinga bout it. "Burn, brilliant blaze!" she calls while gesturing for the demon. La Maupin gestures, and a scorching fireball ''explodes'' to try and cut through the chill and snow, evaporating the snow.

But that's not all she can do. "Come, swift winds!" At her direction, winds explode from beneath herself, Ogre, and Shinobu before wrapping up around them to enhance their movements, and maybe to push back against the winds of the storm just a little.

Then, Shinobu calls to follow after her, and Tsurugi calls out, "Acknowledge!" With Shinobu and Laches creating the opening, Tsurugi and La Maupin dart in in tandem. As they run their blades ignite with flame once more as they try to hit another coordinated attack.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Fire skill Agilao on Multiboss!
| Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit!
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Exploit! Remi Ryuuja can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Almighty skill Masukukaja on Remi Ryuuja, Ichika Kawase, and Shinobu Shimizu!
AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Masukukaja.
| Spd_Dn removed!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Masukukaja.
| Spd_Dn removed!
AS: Tandem! Remi Ryuuja has used the Fire skill Flarebrand on Multiboss! 2 Hits!
AS: Remi Ryuuja's turn has ended.
| Remi Ryuuja: Hyper removed!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Remi Ryuuja's Masukukaja.
| Spd_Dn removed!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 111 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Agilao. Critical Hit! Weak!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 81 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Flarebrand. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Multiboss takes 119 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Flarebrand. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Multiboss spends Limit on Break!
AS: Multiboss spends Limit on Broad!

<Pose Tracker> Multiboss has posed.
<poem>
"Your petulance will do nothing to aid you." She said, seemingly drifting on the wind to vanish away from the first rock. It barely managed to scrape her, leaving little more than scrapes and grazes in its wake. It was the second she inadvertently dodged into that struck with the force to knock her back, but wind and snow propped her up against rock and stone. "What follows will be your faults... and yours alone."

The strikes came at unnatural angles, but there was no angle the wind could not blow, nor any that the cold could not infest. The Yuki-Onna moved as the air did, the strikes barely skimming the edges of her shoulders as she levelled a gaze as cold and piercing as the driving winds at Shinobu. Blackened eyes narrowed at her while she spoke, and the Demon's anger mounted.
"Your exhaustion is clear. Your burdens drag you further down. Accept me, and what I give freely to you, or your end shall be painfu-"

Whatever else she had to say was cut short by a burst of flame, striking into her like a cannonball. Another wailing screech ripped into the air and drowned out the storm, high-pitched enough that frozen ground around them began to crack, if only a little. She moved as swiftly as she fought, ducking dodging on the myriad winds that plagued the mountain, but it was of no use. The fire seared away pieces of her that the ice struggled to reconstitute, and she was left a glaring, battered, thing.
"Then like a rabid hound, I shall put you down. All of you... shall join me."

She broke suddenly from the fight, fast as gale and far from the reach of even Grim's tracer rounds. What few came close to the Yuki-Onna were battered away by swift winds, leaving the tracer rounds a little more than signals of both her and the Demon's positions.
"Embrace me, travellers. Embrace me, and lay your weary selves to rest in your graves." A wave of energy, pale as the driven snow and quicker than a blink, burst from her as she raised her hands and brought them out to her sides. When it hit, however, there was no pain - but neither was there any other feeling but the biting, draining, cold. It was a freezing curse that chilled deep, reaching past even the depths of one's body to steal the life from their very soul, and drain them until they were naught more than frigid, grey, husks.

She followed it no more than a metre behind, the very air freezing in her palm and sharpening to a keen and gleaming edge. The icy blade in her hand looked as though it had been wrought from crystal, and what little light still reached them caused the thing to gleam like a gem as she swung it down with unfettered ferocity. Ogre, Shinobu, Tsurugi - all had made their choices in her eyes, and if they would not acquiesce to her demands and meet a peaceful end, they would be dragged to their rests kicking, screaming, frozen, and mutilated.
</poem>
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Recovery skill Frost Curse on Ichika Kawase, Remi Ryuuja, and Shinobu Shimizu!
| Ruin: Multiboss gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Multiboss has used the Water skill Cleaving Cold on Ichika Kawase, Remi Ryuuja, and Shinobu Shimizu! 3 Hits!
AS: Multiboss's turn has ended. It's time for an All-Out Attack!
| Multiboss: Break and Broad removed!
AS: Take! Ichika Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Frost Curse.
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon''Tandem!) and Water_Break (Water Affinity Down!) added!
AS: Nemesis! Ichika Kawase can take another Weak action this round!
AS: Avoid Best! Ichika Kawase takes 39 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Weak!
AS: Avoid Worst! Ichika Kawase takes 127 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Best! Ichika Kawase takes 39 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Weak!
AS: Take! Shinobu Shimizu takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Frost Curse.
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon''Tandem!) and Water_Break (Water Affinity Down!) added!
AS: Nemesis! Shinobu Shimizu can take another Weak action this round!
AS: Nerve Up! Remi Ryuuja's SP +8!
AS: Take! Remi Ryuuja takes 0 Recovery healing from Multiboss's Frost Curse.
| Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon''Tandem!) and Water_Break (Water Affinity Down!) added!
AS: Nemesis! Remi Ryuuja can take another Weak action this round!
AS: Avoid Worst! Remi Ryuuja takes 99 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 67 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Remi Ryuuja takes 67 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Shinobu Shimizu takes 69 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Shinobu Shimizu takes 71 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Shinobu Shimizu takes 38 Water damage from Multiboss's Cleaving Cold. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Tsurugi, the hound... "Sucks to trapped," Ogre says--but then she spots her reaction to the cold. ...It's not any kinder than Ogre's own reaction. "You OK?"

They're going to get along for now. And Shinobu--she's right again, for Ogre. Besides, on that note...

"'Humility'," Ogre says. "It's nice when you're being social, I guess. But I'm a Phantom Thief. I stylishly steal hearts while gloriously battering my way through whatever obstacles they put before me."
5rOgre grins, though she's still fucking ''freezing''. "Humility's for other people. Mona would say so."

But suddenly--the demon comes at them again. Embrace her, she says--and Ogre feels that curse again, that attempt to ''drain'' her, until an icy blade hacks away at her.

She throws up her shield, but ice is her weakness; each toll of blade on metal sinks into her bones, until the blade cuts her arm deeply. "Tch--"

"Sorry guys," Ogre says. "I can't take much more--so I'm not gonna stop to heal this time."

"I'm gonna BREAK IT!"

Momiji reappears, extending her clawed fingers towards the Demon--and from the sky a stone ''smashes'' down towards her.

"Yo, Tsurugi! Time to bite!"

And then four small waves of force seek to slam the demon Yuki-Onna back up again!
</poem>
AS: Ichika Kawase spends Limit on Shift! Remi Ryuuja can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted''Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Remi Ryuuja! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Earth skill Magnara on Multiboss!
AS: Persona! Ichika Kawase has used the Wind skill Mazan on Multiboss!
AS: Ichika Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Worst! Multiboss takes 174 Earth damage from Ichika Kawase's Magnara.
| Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added! Haze removed! Explosion! 30 damage!
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Avoid Worst! Multiboss takes 124 Wind damage from Ichika Kawase's Mazan.
| Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu glances toward Tsurugi. ...It seems like she has problems with the cold. Maybe that's why she has so much fire.

"Don't freeze, now." Shinobu says. Ogre speaks on humility - Shinobu isn't a Phantom Thief, but battering through whatever obstacles are in her way... That's something she can approve of.

"Not bad." She replies with a nod, and turns her attention back to the Yuki-onna. Her exhaustion is clear, she says - even if she gets interrupted. She sends Tsurugi an approving nod at her timely interruption, then looks back to their target. Shinobu rolls her neck.

"I see how it is. We're allowed to choose, as long as it's what ''you'' want." Shinobu replies.

She's reached the end of her patience, it seems. A wave of energy erupts out from her. Painless - but carrying with it a deathly cold, chilling her to her core. And right behind it, the Yuki-onna herself. Shinobu's movements are sluggish, but she raises her staff in time, trying to parry and redirect her icy blade. The frost cuts deep... but she isn't frozen yet.

"Sorry... Can't do that yet." She replies.

Ogre apologizes, saying she isn't going to stop to heal this time. Shinobu shakes her head, offering her a grin.

"Nah, I get it. Get her ass, Ogre." Shinobu encourages. And sure enough, Ogre puts on a pretty impressive display... She'll have to give just as good, too. She flexes her fingers to shake off the chill, readying her staff. "Alright, Lachesis... let's break the ice."

She extends her hand, and a card of the Hanged Man appears before her. She grasps it and holds it aloft, letting its power shine on Lachesis.

She leaps and Lachesis swings her rod, catching her and sending her flying. Shinobu accelerates downward toward the Yuki-onna with a meteoric dropkick, slamming her staff down at the same time. Lachesis materializes once more to follow it up, striking with her measuring rod from the opposite direction.
</poem>
AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Shinobu Shimizu has used the Strike skill Measured Fate on Multiboss! 3 Hits!
| Shinobu Shimizu takes 90 damage from Exhaust!
| Aggression: Shinobu Shimizu gains 1 Limit!
AS: Shinobu Shimizu's turn has ended.
| Shinobu Shimizu: Exhaust and Atk_Dn removed!
| Shinobu Shimizu regains 15 HP from Regenerate!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 34 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Measured Fate. Critical Hit!
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Multiboss takes 70 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Measured Fate.
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 28 Strike damage from Shinobu Shimizu's Measured Fate.
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Remi Ryuuja has posed.
<poem>
Lika a rabid hound Yuki-onna will put them all down. "You shall not," is her short rebuke. And mayube the heat from her blade is helping her to warm up a little bit more.

Or she ''was'' doing better until that frigid curse tried to claim them all. She staggers for a moment, almost frozen in place, and it's that moment that the Yuki-onna's blade strikes true. She grunts as she bears it, and at least manages to stir into motion to deflect the next blows, pushing back with some effort with her rapier atgainst the crystaline edge.

Ogre asks if she's okay. "I will endure." That's... not exactly a ''yes''. She's still trembling as she tries to warm up. Shinobu says not to freeze. "''This'' will not be the threat that ends me." One might note that while she is dealing with the cold... ''especially'' poorly, her ''Persoa'' does not seem especially wake to it.

Curious.

But Ogre calls on ''her'' to bite, and Tsurugi lets out a bitter laugh. "Very well." She caught what Ogre said about not lasting much longer--so they need to end this in a hurry.

She forces herself upright. "Burn the demon! Agi!" If she can time it with Ogre's spells she may be able to have a greater influence.

"Now-- Ouragan!" Both her and her Persona take up positions, and a flurry of winds erupt around the Yuki-onna. Tsurugi and Ogre stream forward, using the winds to dart around the Yuki-onna and slice her.

And then, at the end, with a shout, Tsurugi launches herself forward, seeking to drive her rapier right ''through'' the demon. "Perish!"
</poem>

AS: Persona! Remi Ryuuja has used the Fire skill Agi on Multiboss!
| Aggression: Remi Ryuuja gains 1 Limit!
AS: Remi Ryuuja spends Limit on Psych!
AS: Tandem! Remi Ryuuja has used the Wind skill Ouragan on Multiboss! 3 Hits!
| Remi Ryuuja takes 90 damage from Exhaust!
AS: Weapon! Remi Ryuuja has used the Pierce skill Balestra on Multiboss! 2 Hits!
AS: Remi Ryuuja's turn has ended.
| Remi Ryuuja: Exhaust, Hyper, and Psych removed!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Multiboss takes 110 Fire damage from Remi Ryuuja's Agi. Weak!
| Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added! Bind removed! Explosion! 75.75 damage!
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Avoid Best! Multiboss takes 78 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Ouragan.
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Multiboss takes 135 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Ouragan. Critical Hit!
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Multiboss takes 116 Wind damage from Remi Ryuuja's Ouragan.
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Multiboss takes 98 Pierce damage from Remi Ryuuja's Balestra.
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Avoid Worst! Multiboss takes 172 Pierce damage from Remi Ryuuja's Balestra. Critical Hit!
| Multiboss is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Multiboss has posed.
<poem>
She raised her blade again, ready to strike once more and end the fight for good, but something stopped her. A reflection in the flat of her blade - the glint of a sniper's scope. She snapped her head around, but it was too late to do anything before a burst of fire erupted near her hand. That explosive round had detonated right on target, and all that Grim had left her with was the hilt and a shattered half-blade. But the disarming had always been the secondary objective. The first was to distract.

The Yuki-Onna no doubt had some withering remark for Ogre. Some reprimand a mother might give to a disobedient child, or a rejection of her ideas outright. But whatever she'd thought of was summarily knocked from her by the strike of stone. Descending like a hammer blow, it crushed her completely and utterly, smothering the screams of her pain beneath mounds upon mounds of earth. Waves of force stole even the ability to scream from her, knocking the wind from whatever passed for Demon's lungs, and all she could do was level a glare at Ogre before Shinobu dove in for the kill.

She was let faring no better by Shinobu's strikes. A sickening crack could be heard as both foot and stuff plunged down onto her back, and one more unnatural feature was forced upon the Yuki-Onna - a spine bent at at an angle that neither Demon nor human should have been able to twist themselves into. She had no chance to straighten, as she never hit the ground. The measuring rod came first, and once more, she bent in a way that filled the air with a thunderous SNAP.

Even so, she drifted to her feet. Ragged and cut apart and burnt nearly to cinders, but she was upright nevertheless. The winds howled, the snow clustered, the ice crept forward from around her... and all was cut short by the hound's onslaught. Fire engulfed her form in crimson, and erupting winds only served to fan them further. Cut and burnt again, she writhed in place, the very screams robbed from her as the air was burnt out of her lungs, only for that too to be stolen from her. Pierced clean through the heart, the Yuki-Onna took one last, mournful look at the party. Her mouth hung open as if to speak, but all that emerged was the quiet whisper of dying winds, followed by her body crumbling into a snow stolen away by the wind.

With her vanished the storm. The gales dropped to gusts, and then again to winter breezes. The freezing cold that stole the very life from those trapped within it began to thaw, and though it was still a December night, the cold was - at the very least - sensible. The snow remained, thick and pristine in the parts not scarred by battle, but it too would no doubt be drained away once the sun's warmth once more draped itself across the land. All that seemed to persist of the Yuki-Onna were her robes and her blade.

The robes, damaged though they were from the relentless barrage of attacks from the party, were still in remarkable condition. The white was as pure as the drifts of fresh snow around them, while the hem and trim had been applied with such surgical precision that any master artisan would have found the work remarkable. The blade, on the other hand, was a far rougher piece of work. Less a fine blade and more an approximation of a katana, it held the vague shape of one, but the details had been lost to the Demon's haste. There were, however, two notable things about it. The first was how, no matter how it was warmed, the crystal remained cool to the touch. It never remained heated for long, retaining even the heat imparted by scorching flames for moments at a time.

The second was how a chunk of the blade was missing.

Grim was, of course, nowhere to be found. Unwilling to reveal her identity to strangers, she had vanished into the night like a shadow, leaving not even footprints behind. But surely she had nothing to do with that.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-21: Someone I’d Like You To Meet

2026-07-21T22:02:40Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Someone I’d Like You To Meet''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ichika Kawase *'''Where:''' Hirasaka Ward *'''OOC Date:'''2026-07-21 *'''IC Date:''' Thu, Dec 13 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Having just emerged from the vet with a new friend in tow, Hyousuke asks Ichika if she would be inclined to meet them.'' ---- (|============================= Hirasaka - Main ==============================|) -=============================================== Sumaru City/Hi..."

*'''Log: Someone I’d Like You To Meet'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Hirasaka Ward
*'''OOC Date:'''2026-07-21
*'''IC Date:''' Thu, Dec 13 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Having just emerged from the vet with a new friend in tow, Hyousuke asks Ichika if she would be inclined to meet them.''

----

(|============================= Hirasaka - Main ==============================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Hirasaka Ward ====-
The westernmost ward of the city, and also the one furthest inland, Hirasaka is
considered one of the least desirable places to live in Sumaru. This is in part
due to the bad reputation of local Kasugayama High School, nicknamed "Kasu High"
by its students and "Cuss High" by its detractors. A school of overwhelmingly
boys but some errant girls, it's said to be for delinquents, poors, and other
"problem" children. Just down the street is Sumaru Prison, which is not a prison
but an underground club with a live stage, and either way the parents of Sevens
students hate it.

It's not all bad in Hirasaka, though. The shopping is second to none, with a
huge five-story mall called Smile Hirasaka that offers a wide variety of
businesses and conference meeting rooms; just be sure to go on a day when the
stores aren't closed. For those who want a more homey atmosphere for their
purchases, there's Kameya Alley. Plenty of office buildings populate the area,
too.
(|============================================================================|)
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke had had misgivings about returning to the park with his new companion in tow. It hadn't been because of the weather - December was always cold, but that day was at least the tolerable sort, for man and animal both. It wasn't because he was busy. It was a Thursday afternoon, and the people milling about were few and far between. It wasn't even that it was too far from the vet to walk. No more than a hop, skip, and a jump away, even his lethargic new friend found it easy enough to make the trip, albeit with a rest at a bench once they were there.

The reason was that it had been that park that had seen so many of their fights. So much bloodshed, so much anger and bellowing and fighting... and for what? to drive off the beast? To scare it into submission, or beat it into the ground? Igor had said the dog would not remember the incident, but even so, he worried that some lingering instinct would be there within its mind. The dog had no such worries, and seemed quite happy to spend some time ambling around at the end of a leash, before insisting on a rest near a fortunately-placed bench.

While there, Hyousuke took the chance to pull his phone out and send a message to Ichika.

> can you get to the park
> got someone i want you to meet
> don't bring lance

With that, he sat back and took a proper look at the dog now that they both had a chance to rest and relax. By the standards of typical city pets, it was a little on the larger side, though still small enough to find residency in an apartment. Covered in short, golden, fur, the proportions of its body and the patterns upon it gave little indication as to what breed it was. Its sharp and angular features might have given others some idea, but Hyousuke was not nearly well-versed enough in canines to make a guess.

He supposed it mattered little at that point in time. It wasn't as though the dog was his to keep, even if it - sitting idle at his feet, halfway between wake and sleep - was in his care for now. Best not to dwell on details that weren't important for now, he silently supposed, before leaning back into the bench.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Finals are approaching, but Ichika is willing to get a little fresh air. Sure, it's cold, but whatever. She has discipline! She has power! She has... midriffs!

As usual, Ichika is sacrificing for fashion; her uniform is as it usually is, with long skirt and short top. and she is still in uniform, of course. And earlier:

> Sure
> Oh yeah? Cool

Don't bring Lance... that suggests an ''animal''. So Ichika is looking forward to it when she gets there, and as she arrives:

"Oh!" the cool, collected Thorn Boss says. "You made a friend!"

Ichika comes around the bench. "Hey there."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog stirred before Hyousuke could act, its ears pricking up as the presence of a new human - a human that was lingering nearby, and not simply passing through - was registered. It drew slowly up and regarded her, padding slowly up to her, though Hyousuke kept a hold on the leash for safety's sake. He seemed a little uncertain about it, however, as if he was only aping what he'd seen others do when handling their own pets. Regardless, the dog stopped as soon as it felt its leash go a little taut, and Hyousuke stood slowly up to meet Ichika.

"We've actually been meeting up for a while now. Kinda." Hyousuke said awkwardly, looking down at the dog to make sure that it would be as friendly with her as it had been with him. It showed no signs of aggression, but then again, it showed no signs of anything besides curiosity. It ambled closer to her as soon as it was allowed, sniffing gently before sitting back down and looking expectantly up at her. All the while, Hyousuke kept talking, explaining the situation as best as his still-reeling mind could manage.

"You remember that rumour demon I've been chasing for about a month now? The one that'd been cutting people up and mauling them whenever they got too close? This is it." He nodded down at the dog, still looking up at Ichika with a gently wagging tail, though it had started bowing its head a little as if trying to incite her harder to pet it. "Me and some friends from Gekkoukan tracked it to the path we found that collar on. I've got nothing concrete yet, but I think it was probably something that got lost and started attacking people 'cause it got scared. The rumours started getting out of control, and... well..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Dog!!

Ichika smiles at Hyousuke, but then her attention is on the dog. But Hyousuke is awkward--well, that's not surprising. "Yeah?" she asks, and kneels down to ''pet dog''.

She blinks in surprise, pausing mid-pet, at Hyousuke's explanation. "Wow," she says. "That's ''this'' guy?" she asks. ...She resumes pets. "So he was misunderstood, and the rumors got out of hand," Ichika summarizes. "Poor thing..."

Pet pet pet.

"How'd you..."

She gestures.

"He doesn't seem like a violent scary rumor dog ''now''."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Ichika, fool that she was, had fallen for the dog's manipulations and played right into its paws. It had her exactly where it wanted her - petting it. Its mouth opened just enough for its tongue to loll out, and as soon as it did, it began to pant and wag its tail just that much harder. It even licked at her hand when it wasn't too busy nuzzling into her, demanding her attention at every turn. Deciding that it was safe to let the dog be while he talked, Hyousuke kept a firm hold on the leash, but allowed himself to tear his gaze away from it a little more.

"We had to fight it. I... I think that might've been my fault. The others seemed more like they were trying to understand it, but I just saw a bounty."" He was less awkward then, but only by virtue of seeming more ashamed instead. He went quiet, looking down at the dog - who seemed confused by the momentary interruption, but no less eager for pets - before continuing. "Igor sealed the demon away, but he told me I had to handle the rest. Said I'm responsible for making sure it doesn't come back out."

Hearing the first of its friends speaking at length, the dog looked back with a curious glance, before demanding more attention from Ichika. Hyousuke, meanwhile elected to explain himself further.
"I just don't know what he's expecting me to do. Little guy's probably got a family and everything looking for him right now, and he'll be outta my hands after. It'd be easy if he had a chip, or a collar, or something, but all I've got's that collar I gave to Uchida-san..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Pets! Ichika pats his head, ruffles his ears, and generally bestows more pets upon the dog. Hand licks are acceptable, though face licks owuld not be.

But Hyousuke mentionis fighting it. "Well," Ichika says, "I don't blame that. Monsters are usually monsters, right>?" But Igor was able to seal it... "Yeah," Ichika answers then, "Igor's cool. All those guys in there are pretty cool."

Pet pet. "Take care of him, I guess. Or find his family, if he's got one."

"...But I don't know. If you don't find one..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Fortunately for Ichika, there were no face licks. Still too tired to make any meaningful attempts at jumping up, it instead settled for hand licking, and for the many attentions bestowed upon it by her. Though he could not see its face, Hyousuke could see its tail, and could see that it felt remarkably pleased by this turn of events. It trudging forwards to try and get her to pet it more was only further proof of that, though it did pause briefly to lift its chin up and expose that to her as well. Chin scritches were desired, and it expected its demands to be fulfilled.

"I'm going to find them." Hyousuke said, with a voice and an expression as firm as stone. "This dog had a collar, and he got lost on a hiking path. He had to have gotten lost on a walk, or something like that. He's got people that love him that want him back home, and if getting him back to them means he's not alone any more, then that's what I'm doing." A rueful look crossed his face as he looked between Ichika and his new friend, who had taken to placing its chin directly onto her palm.

"...Besides, I don't even have my own place yet. I can't sign the paperwork for one, I don't talk to my parents any more, and my brother's-" Hyousuke cut himself off, tightened his lips, then shook his head. "...Point is, I've got nowhere I can keep it. Moment anyone finds out I'm keeping him at the dorms, I'm done for."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Chin scritch! "There you go..." Ichika will eventually get tired and stand back up, but not yet. She smiles at the dog.

Hyousuke's stony expression is welcoem this time. "Yeah," she says. "Same one we found you think?" Since... that's where it was. "Right. Well, that's cool." But...

"Yeah," Ichika says. "I guess that's fair." She considers. His borther...? Hm.

"Yeah... unless..."

"Hey, you think the detectives'd spread a rumor that dogs are allowed in Kasu High's dorms?" she jokes.

"Nah, you're right. You should look for them if you can. It's cool of you to take responsibility for him like this." Pat, pat. Then, she moves to stand. "Good boy."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The remark about dorms draws a chuckle, at least. Enough to break him out of that rather dour state he'd been in at the mention of his family, and return his attention to happier thoughts The dog, however, seemed remarkably less happy about the arrangement, if only because Ichika had chosen to stand up. Though it did not voice its dissatisfaction, it still made it known by jamming its snout into her shin to try and get her attention, before looking up in a way that was at once both imperious and pleading.

"Yeah, I don't think they'd be too happy about people asking to spread that kinda rumour. But I don't think any of the guys'd snitch on me if I *did* bring him back. They might ask to pet it as a bribe for keeping quiet, but they don't seem like they'd go ratting me out." Hyousuke blinked, then looked at her with a more neutral expression. "...Not that I'm friends with all of them, I just think they'd rather just fight me than get a teacher involved if they got a problem."

"Anyway, if you hear anyone talking about a lost dog or anything like that, point 'em my way. Poor little guy probably misses his people."

The poor little guy seemed to be managing just fine, given how demanding he was in his pursuit for attention.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Ichika will remember that Hyousuke's brother is a sore spot though.

"Right, I get you," Ichika says. "In the dorms, you're not always friends, but it's you against everybody else. There's something to that."

Rather not get a teacher involved; it's just how Ichika thinks of it, really. "Besides, you'd have to be a real asshole to have a problem with taking care of a dog."

"Will do." She looks down. "...But," she says, "I do think he likes you."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The dog barked in response. Or was it an attempt to drag her back down to its level, and get her to lavish more pets upon it? It was difficult to say, though Hyousuke leaned towards the latter.
"I guess so. He seems like he'd let me know if he didn't." Again, it elected to do something that may or may not have been a response, and turned around to demand attention from Hyousuke instead. He, unable to resist its charms, crouched down briefly to ruffle its fur and make sure it knew it was being listened to.

"Seems like he likes you too. You're welcome to play with him or walk him or whatever, if you think you can sneak him outside the dorm without anyone noticing. Just not today. He's fine, just tired after... everything, I guess." Hyousuke looked down at the dog. The dog, consciously or not, disagreed with his assessment quite vehemently, and displayed that by tugging lightly at the leash towards the end of the path. "...By the way, if you or some other others have a night free, I could use someone to help me out with Mementos. I had enough to cover the vet bill, but that was kinda *all* I could cover."

Alas, he was but a student, and his money was a finite resource. And who had ever heard of a student making six figures before the end of the year through part time jobs and the occasional plunge into supernatural subways?
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>

Ichika smiles down at Mr. Dog. (He'll need a name). But for now, Hyousuke has that covered, and Ichika says, "He seems friendly to me. But hmmm..." Ichika is pretty good at sneaking around dorms, as it happens. "Maybe," she says. "But yeah? You got it. I can help." With going to Mementos, anyway. "I need to get in some training, anyway."

Nobody, of course. How could that happen?

"Lance is gonna wonder who I was hanging out with," she jokes.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-19: Lone Wolves

2026-07-19T22:26:23Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Lone Wolves''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Igor (played by Pachinko Silver) *'''Where:''' The Velvet Room *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-19-07 *'''IC Date:''' Wed Dec 12 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Two hounds, wounded and exhausted, seek the aid of the Velvet Room in securing their fates.'' ---- (|============================= The Velvet Room ==============================|) -======================================= Dream and Reality/Mind and Matter ====- There..."

2026-07-19: Hounded Down

2026-07-19T21:54:39Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Hounded Down''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ririka Kawase, Fuuka Yamagishi, Akihiko Sanada *'''Where:''' An off-trail on Mt Katamatsuri *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-19-07 *'''IC Date:''' Wed Dec 12 2012 *'''Summary''': ''The beast has finally been driven back to its lair. There is nowhere for it to hide, and no place for it to run - this is the fight that will determine its fate. Take care not to grow overconfident, however. There is little more dange..."

Fictional Pop Culture and Brands

2026-07-17T22:02:23Z

MrGuy:

This is a non-exhaustive list of various in-universe pieces of pop culture, brands, celebrities, places, items, and so on. Entries may be added as we think of them or as they get ICly released. Players may add entries of their own, but please don't edit already existing entries. If you see something that you think is wrong or should be changed, please send a request to staff.

== Fashion ==

; Rosa Candida (Persona 2)
: A fashionable boutique in Sumaru City's Aoba Ward that sells a variety of stylish clothes and accessories. Rumor has it they also sell quality armor.

; Croco Fur (Persona 4)
: A clothing store in Okina City that offers a wide range of outfits and accessories, from bags to boots, swimsuits to Halloween costumes. Run by Reiko Osa, charismatic fashionista.

; Tsurukame Diamond (Persona 5)
: A jewelry store in the Shibuya Underground Mall.

; Furugi no Neuchi (Persona 5)
: A vintage clothing store in Kichijoji. The perfect place to do some thrifting or sell old, unwanted clothes.

; Adios Shoes (Persona 3)
: A cheap knock-off of a more popular brand; sold by Tanaka's Amazing Commodities. Say "goodbye" to your foes.

; Baipas (Persona 4)
: A brand of sports bags that's similar to Adidas, right up to the logo.

; Remarclo (VRM Original)
: A Japanese clothing brand that has chains all over the world. Known for its monthly collaborations with various artists and franchises.

; Greetings Cat (VRM original)
: A brand centred around a cat living in the United Kingdom, as well as a cast of other cute characters. Though the brand was originally limited to accessories, it has since grown into a global multimedia franchise that has captivated children and adults alike.

== Entertainment ==

=== Music ===

; Giga Macho CD (Persona 2)
: Hosts a big CD store, production studio, and flamboyant radio DJ wearing a red hoodie and shades known as 'Meteor Masa,' who hosts 'Meteor Masa to the Max.'

; Kenneth Arnold (Persona 3)
: A CD and DVD chain store that has a location within Paulownia Mall.

; Babel Records Music Store (Persona 5)
: A CD and DVD store in the Shibuya Underground Mall.

; Gas Chamber (Persona 2)
: The band of Kasugayama High's Leader, Eikichi Mishina, who is the lead singer. Not yet fully formed, as Eikichi is still scouting members... and getting the members he does have to learn how to play instruments. It's not a failure, it's pre-successful.

; Muses (Persona 2)
: A hot new three-member idol group that's been successfully hyped by their manager, Ginji Sasaki. Many people are very excited for their upcoming debut.

; Hug-My-Heart (Persona 5)
: Debut single by a boy band.

; 3SHINE
: An idol trio from the 90's known briefly for the bittersweet hit 「ＡＮＯＴＨＥＲ♩ＬＩＦＥ」, but disbanded in 2007 after the lead singer died in a car crash.

; Hatsune Kiku (Persona 4 Dancing All Night)
: The Vocaloid Virtual Idol is one of the most recognizable Japanese Pop Culture Icons of the past few years.

=== Video/Computer Games ===

; Groove On Fight (Persona 1)
: Atlus fighting game.

; Innocent Sin Online (Persona 3)
: A mysterious MMO that's been running for years, it tells a fictionalized larger than life version of the Innocent Story version with Tatsuya and Maya. How it came about in this world is a mystery. (Don't use this to establish knowing things about the Other Side. Just don't.)

; Condemnation of Witchcraft (Persona 3 - Original)
: The new biggest MMO that everyone is leaving Innocent Sin Online for due to all the gold farmers and dupers. Affectionately known as CoW by its fans, it's a game wherein the Holy Empire of Sturmward fights the Witch Queen and her coven of 'The Abhorred'. A PvE game with PvP elements.

; Game Parade Games
: House of the Deceased - A horror game with terrifying zombies. Raises Guts.
: Real Wheel Racing - An intense racing game. Raises the equipped Persona's agility.
: Print Club - A purikura-style booth. Raises charm.
: High School of Youth - Dating sim game. Raises Charm.
: You're the Answer - Quiz show-style arcade game. Raises Academics.
: Punch Boxer - Fighting Arcade game. Raises the equipped Persona's strength.
: Edgar's House of Fortunes - Fortune-telling tarot game. Raise the equipped Persona's Magic.
: Super Game Spaceshot - Space shooter.

; Computer Software
:Lessons in Etiquette - PC software for learning manners that will charm others.
:Virtual Diet - PC software for helping you attain a beautiful body via watching videos.
:Language Made Easy - PC Software for learning English through pictures and images.
:Animal Othello - PC software for children. Adults need courage to play this.
:TypinGhoul - PC software that requires courage to defeat zombies through typing.
:Muscle Boot Camp - PC Software for learning how to effectively strengthen your muscles.
:Mindful Boot Camp - PC Software for growing your mind through meditation.
:Umiushi Fan Book - For those who love beef bowls. Has a membership code for the official site.

; Photochop (Persona Q)
: Graphics editor that has become the most used digital art software in the world. Due to image manipulation that is then posted online becoming so ubiquitous, the program has popularized the slang term 'Photochopped' worldwide.

; Star Forneus (Persona 5)
: Retro console shooting game with a space theme.

; Super Bash Bros. (Persona 5)
: Long-running crossover Versus Battle game. 'Challenger Approaching!'

; Gambla Goemon (Persona 5)
: A game about a notorious thief who fell into the depths of hell… Demons make you gamble with games of chance to pass through gates in hell and move on to further challenges.

; Stray Sheep Dolls (Persona 5)
: A puzzle game about sheep. Now with more off-kilter gender commentary! Procreate or else!

; Featherman Seeker (Persona 5)
: A retro game based on the popular long-running tokusatsu show, Phoenix Rangers Featherman. It follows the story of Gray Pigeon and their mentor-guided training to acquire power that will rival the Phoenix Rangers.

; Matador <nowiki>re:fancio</nowiki> (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A video game about a skeletal bullfighter who must find a way to fancy up his life. May or may not be looking for a nice candelabra.

; Drake Adventure (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A massively popular and influential JRPG series, with cute monsters and a cartoonish medieval fantasy vibe. It is currently on its ninth entry.

; Last Saga (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A series of games in which every entry is different from the last. Very popular.

; Night Parade (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A classic fighting game series by the Motojima Corporation, known for its theme of supernatural yokai and their hunters as the fighters. Latest release is Ultimate Night Parade 4 Remix Lightning Edition.

; Stiletta (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A much-beloved urban fantasy action-adventure game about a stylish succubus who fights to find her lost memories using her transforming hair and weaponized heels. Utterly fabulous. The hotly-anticipated sequel has recently been announced.

; The Epic of Zerta (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An action roleplaying/puzzle game series centred around the Triangular Force, made up of the Angle of Strength, the Angle of Knowledge, and the Angle of Bravery. These games follow the hero, Tie, as he eternally saves Princess Zerta from the evil King Gammon. (In some entries, he's King Gammonturf. Using the wrong name can and has caused epic flame wars.)

; Tetraitis (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A puzzle game where you need to match four blocks to clear them. Apparently, it was named because the creator was so feverishly invested in playing an alpha build he almost didn't finish the game at all.

=== Other Games ===
; Hammerstrike - War in the 42nd Millenium (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A grimdark franchise originating from the west, centring around numerous spacefaring factions warring for control over the galaxy. While it started as a tabletop wargame using handpainted miniatures, a multitude of books, animations, and games have come out for it since its inception the late 1980s.

; Faerie<nowiki>:</nowiki> The Beckoning (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A card game centred around lands, creatures, and magical spells, with a great amount of depth. The lore centres around the Seelie and Unseelie courts of the Fae and their various adventures. New card sets are released each year!

=== Books and Manga ===

; Bookworms (Persona 3)
: A small but robust bookstore in the Iwatodai Strip Mall, owned and run by an elderly married couple, Bunkichi and Mitsuko Kitamura.

; Taiheido Bookstore (Persona 5)
: A bookstore on Shibuya Central Street with shelves also available outside the entrance.

; Rubber-Armed Pitcher Hero (Persona 4)
: Sports shounen manga about baseball.

; Witch Detective (Persona 4)
: A ploddingly written romantic comedy manga about a girl on her first day of school in a new town. Vampires are involved.

; The Great Thief (Persona 5)
: The story of Arsène Lupin, greatest thief of all time.

; Zorro the Outlaw (Persona 5)
: The story of Zorro, the dashing masked vigilante.

; Pirate Legend (Persona 5)
: The story of Captain Kidd, a Scottish-American privateer.

; The Alluring Dancer (Persona 5)
: The story of Carmen, an opera about a seductive Romani woman.

; The Gallant Rogue (Persona 5)
: The story of Goemon Ishikawa, a legendary outlaw hero.

; Speed Reader (Persona 5)
: A book that gives the reader tips on how to read more quickly and efficiently.

;The Whimsy of Orange Streets (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:An older romantic comedy manga about a old fashioned high school student in a love triangle with two delinquents. Reading it might help you understand relationships better.

;Dragon Sphere X (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:A martial arts manga that takes inspiration from Journey to the West. Probably helps your Guts.

; Titanomachy (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An enormously popular mecha franchise that draws heavily from Greek mythology for inspiration. Having been around for close to 30 years, it has spawned numerous films, anime, and manga series, as well as a plethora of different model kits.

'''Asteroeides (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)'''
:A hard science fiction manga about debris removers in Earth orbit, in the near future.

=== TV Shows ===

; Scarlet (Persona 5)
: DVD/Blu-Ray rental store. Has a very generous membership plan for students.

; Phoenix Ranger Featherman (Persona 2)
: Long-running tokusatsu franchise with tons of seasons, movies, and extensive merchandising. Much beloved by the Japanese youth.

; Tanaka's Amazing Commodities (Persona 3)
: A home shopping program hosted by Tanaka, who is also the CEO of the company. Its jingle: "Here comes Tanakaaaaa~ Over the airwaves to youuuuu~ Granter of your desires!" Sells a wide range of products, from high quality to possibly less-than-stellar knock-offs. Things go quick, so buy buy buy!

; Wraith (Persona 5)
: TV show about a woman who can speak to ghosts.

; The X-Folders (Persona 5)
: Sci-fi investigation TV show. The opening theme involves a spooky whistle.

; Bubbly Hills 90210 (Persona 5)
: A Western teen romantic drama TV show set in the ritzy upscale neighborhood of Bubbly Hills.

; ICU (Persona 5)
: Medical drama show about high stakes saves in the emergency ward.

; The Running Dead (Persona 5)
: Zombie drama about fast zombies. Humans in this drama are the real monsters.

; Mouse M.D. (Persona 5)
: A maverick rodent's medical heroics. Learn about true kindness.

; D. Housewives (Persona 5)
: Women's stories of love and passion.

; 31 (Persona 5)
: A writer and editor battle looming deadlines. Praised for its gutsy tension.

; Tee (Persona 5)
: A teacher helps revive a near defunct high school golf team.

; Not-so-hot Betsy (Persona 5)
: A TV show that tells the story of a homely girl who captivates people with her inner charm.

; Jail Break (Persona 5)
: A jailbreak TV drama.

; Fist of the Phantom Star (Persona 5)
: A post apocalyptic martial arts retro anime that codified a lot of Shounen tropes. Contains numerous beefy men rescuing beautiful women from their rivals.

;Yureka Six (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:An anime about growing up in a war torn world of robots, aliens, and flying skateboards. The main character starts off as rather childish but grows mature through facing the shortcomings of adults.

;Front Range (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An American cartoon series set in Colorado. The story material is often topical to American events, usually obscene, and once in a while funny. Explaining episode plots sounds like gibberish. The Japanese fandom tends to focus on the BL potential of the male leads, all schoolchildren in a quiet mountain town.<br />
=== Movies ===

; Climax Theater (Persona 2)
: Sumaru City movie theater where rumors have made the films occasionally quite strange.

; Screen Shot (Persona 3)
: Movie theater chain throughout Japan.

; Friday in a certain day (Persona 3)
: A film starring Catherine Billey. Its tagline is, "Fans of a Dutch soccer team, Americans heading off to war are facing." Yes, just that.

; The more than dreamin (Persona 3)
: A film about an alien visitor.

; Detonator (Persona 3)
: Starring Sharon Waxman and Craig.S.Smith. Its tagline is, "A troubling trend for a Dutch." It's a film about boxing! (It references Lennox Lewis and Andrew Golata's boxing match.)

; Worst Detective (Persona 3)
: A film noir about a detective who is terrible at his job.

; Loan of the Rings (Persona 4)
: Fantasy epic film.

; Dumminator II (Persona 4)
: Film on… Why?

; Trial of the Dragon (Persona 4)
: Kung fu epic film.

; My Neighbor Dodoro (Persona 5 - Original)
: A classic heartwarming children's movie about two young sisters meeting a big yellow bird and having adventures together. Includes a cat that is also a large vehicle.

; Tanktop Millionaire (Persona 5)
: Movie about a scrappy kid who came from the slums to win big on a quiz show.

; The Cake Knight Rises (Persona 5)
: A cake-themed vigilante avenges a friend who was wronged by a psychopathic baker. It's a ridiculous film, but the protagonist's passion to fight for his friend is touching.

; Like a Dragon (Persona 5)
: Yakuza action film.

; Mes Miserables (Persona 5)
: Apparently just like the real work except with even more theological commentary. (A bishop is the antagonist rather than Javert.)

; Pach-Saw (Persona 5)
: Horror film involving an elephant and torture elements.

; Wild Max (Persona Q2)
: Post-Apocalyptic film series praised for its fight choreography in vehicles.

; [[SMILE (2012)]] (Velvet Room MUSH - Persona 2/Original)
: A slasher movie released at the end of August 2012, starring Junko Kurosu as the killer. Part crime movie, part suspense horror, part slasher, noted for its well executed twists in an otherwise kind of schlocky but fun slasher.

== Food and Drink ==

=== Vending Machine Beverages ===
; First Appeared in Persona 3
: Aguafeena - Extensively purified tap water.
: BauerBar - Keeps you going for 24 hours straight.
: Cielo Mist - Beverage imported from Jamaica.
: Cylon Tea - Comes in 12 different varieties.
: Definitely Lemonade - A fresh, lemon-based drink. A bit watery.
: Dr. Salt - Salty soda. Popular, but an acquired taste.
: Fountain Dew - A disturbingly yellow soft drink.
: Happiness Water - Water that tastes like happiness.
: Mad Bull - A mildly bitter beverage with a flavorful kick.
: Moonkist - Soda with the slogan, "Kist my full moon!"
: Nastea - Tea that tastes great, despite its name.
: SoBay - Popular tea often auctioned online.
: Starvicks - Famous coffee, mixed with cough syrup.
: 1UP - Soft drink coveted by old-school gamers.
: 4biotic Pack - A set of 4 probiotic drinks.

; First Appeared in Persona 4
: Dokudami Tea - An herbal tea good for detoxes.
: Dr. Salt NEO - An intensely carbonated beverage.
: Orange Smash - A refreshing citrus beverage.
: Second Maid - A cold beverage that got heated.
: TaP Soda - Old-fashioned fizzy beverage.

; First Appeared in Persona 5
: Arginade - Contains arginine.
: Chunky Potage - You can never drink all the kernels.
: Creature - A drink that blows away sleepiness.
: Durian-au-Lait - Made from the king of fruits.
: Earl Green - A blend of Eastern and Western tea.
: Joylent - Unsettlingly nutritious.
: Manta - Makes you want to dance all night.
: Muscle Tea - Popular tea often sold online.
: Oh! Shiruko - So good it makes you say, "Oh!"
: Udagawa Soda - Triple-filtered carbonated Shibuya water.
: Udagawa Water - Triple-filtered Shibuya river water.
: Ultimate Amazake - Makes you think you're drunk.
: Water of Rebirth - Blended with placenta.

=== Dining Out ===

; Peace Diner (Persona 1/Persona 2)
: Franchise that serves mostly fast food; there's a branch in Yumezaki's Yumezaki Center. Rumormonger Chikarin can be found here almost daily working on the Sevens school newspaper. The part timer at the register loves Japanese period dramas, and so talks like a ninja. Menu: Peace Burger, Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Burger, Peace Double Meat, Big Peace Burger, Fries, Peace Shake, Value Meal.

; Gatten Sushi (Persona 2)
: Popular sushi shop in Rengedai's Lotus Mall, run by the Mishina family. Head chef is Kankichi Mishina. It's the popular hangout of Rumormonger Kenta "Toro" Yokouchi, whose favorite sushi is the olive flounder fish fin, despite his nickname meaning Fatty Tuna. Menu: Tuna, Squid, Sweet Shrimp, Eel, Sea Urchin, Salmon Roe, Fish Fin, Fatty Tuna.

; Double Slash (Persona 2)
: Internet cafe in Aoba's Aoba Way that offers a surprisingly robust menu of drinks, snacks and even meals. The teenager who mans the counter is pretty lazy. Menu: Coffee, Cafe au Lait, Milk Tea, Herbal Tea, Double Sandwich, Pizza Toast, Spaghetti, Curry Rice.

; Jolly Roger (Persona 2)
: Pirate-themed restaurant in Konan's Seaside Mall. The rumormongering proprietor is sad and trades in rumors as a balm for the sea, to which he can no longer return. Menu: Coffee Blend, Tea Blend, Veggie Juice, Special Cocoa, Baked Apple Pie, Chocolate Cookie, Brown Rice Curry, Pirate’s Set.

; Clair De Lune (Persona 2)
: Classy French restaurant in Narumi's Hotel Pleiades, served by Garçon Soejima. May or may not also sell top-notch armor on the sly. Menu: Vichyssoise, Escabèche, Cassoulet, Brochette, Brandade, Bouillabaisse, Ballotine, Navarin.

; Wilduck Burger (Persona 3)
: A fast food burger chain with a location in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. The mainline item is the Mystery Burger for those with the Guts to try it.

; Hagakure Ramen (Persona 3)
: A ramen restaurant in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. Their mainline item, the Pork Ramen, is full of collagen to make the eater's skin silky smooth and Charming.

; Wakatsu Kitchen (Persona 3)
: A sushi restaurant in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. The seafood in their Prodigy Platter is healthy and full of omega-3s--the perfect brain food to help the Academically challenged.

; Yon-Germain Bakery (Persona 5)
: A small bakery located at the Ginza Line Gate at Shibuya Station. Perfect for when you need to grab a snack in between train transfers. Menu: Sandwich, Fruit Danish, Moist Katsu Bun (rainy day special), Melon Pan (summer-only; limited product).

; Bikkuri Boy (Persona 5)
: A spacious family diner located up a stairwell off Central Street in Shibuya. Practically deserted when it rains, so you can concentrate extra-well for study sessions in between meals. Menu: Hot Coffee (coffee with free refills), Surprise Sando (crayfish paste sandwich), Nostalgic Steak (salisbury steak like grandma made), Frui-Tea (tea made with lots of fruit), Totem Pole (tower of ice cream).

; Big Bang Burger (Persona 5)
: A fast food chain with a location on Shibuya Central Street that holds the Big Bang Challenge, wherein people can become a 2nd Mate, 1st Mate, or Captain by completing various stages. Menu: Big Bang Burger, Saturn Fries, Venus Salad (fruit salad), Earth Burger (seasonal spring offering with veggies), Moon Burger (seasonal autumn offering where the egg looks like the moon).

; Ore no Beko (Persona 5)
: Beef bowl restaurant on Shibuya Central Street. The beef part is pre-made so a worker only has to assemble and serve a bowl.

; Wilton Hotel (Persona 5)
: Upscale hotel chain with a location in Shibuya. Known for its high-priced gourmet buffet.

; Melty Donut (Persona 5)
: A donut franchise popular with cops, lawyers, and security guards.

; Katsuo Shokudo (Original)
: A mom-and-pop restaurant in Inaba, well-known to locals for its excellent food. Or it was, as with the declining Inaban economy, it finally had to close its doors in early 2010. The owner and primary cook, Hideji Aoki, moved away to the big city with his daughter Hibari.

=== Bars and Pubs ===

; Izakaya Shiraishi (Persona 2)
: An Izakaya bar in Hirasaka's Kameya Alley that absolutely doesn't serve ramen--except for banana ramen. Rumor has it the proprietress, Ma'am, is a former spy that can give tips on finding anyone. Hangout of Rumormonger Toku-san. Menu: Edamame, Yakitori, Sesame Chicken, Oden, Red Bean Gyoza, Banana Ramen, Beer, Sake.

; Parabellum (Persona 2)
: A noir-ish bar in Aoba's Aoba Way with an elderly gentleman barkeeper who makes firearms-themed cocktails. Rumor has it they also secretly sell weapons. Menu: Revolver, Double Action, Magnum, Bullet Core, Browning Power, Angel Trigger, Tilt Barrel, Derringer.

; Ebony (Persona 2)
: Classy bar in Narumi's Hotel Pleiades, run by a rumor-lovin' bartender who's as quick with a rumor or a story as she is with a cocktail. Menu: On the Rocks, Between the Sheets, Gimlet, Blue Lagoon, Green Eyes, Mockingbird, Angel's Kiss, Spritzer.

; Crossroads Bar (Persona 5)
: An adult entertainment bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The bartender and owner is Lala Escargot; the shop logo includes a snail. On top of wines, beers, and cocktails, there are a few snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available.

; Izakaya Nichinan (Original)
: An izakaya in Konan Ward. Known more for its beer selection than its food, it gets most of its business from younger office workers who live in the ward.

== Pharmacies and Convenience Stores ==

; Yin and Yang (Persona 1)
: Convenience store chain. They'll sell you medicine, and if you get friendly with the owner, they might let you see their collection of airsoft guns too. Yin and Yang stores operate in supernatural spaces, too -- and under those conditions, they'll sell you ''real'' weapons.

; Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy (Persona 1)
: Vibes less like they're gonna conquer the world, unlike the Sumaru City branch. Has an infectious theme song explaining what each item they sell does.

; Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy (Persona 2)
: Drugstore chain throughout Sumaru City. All the shopkeepers look the same, and are open about being sisters. Don't worry about the music overhead or why it has a different style in each store, just don't.

; Mayo Mart (Persona 4)
: A 24-hour konbini (Japanese convenience store) in Inaba.

; 777 (Persona 5)
: Convenience store chain with special sales on all days ending in 7. Pronounced 'Triple Seven.'

=== Convenience Store Food ===

; Sham (Original)
: Preserved ham in a can. Originally popular in America, it became a big deal in Okinawa -- so big, in fact, that Sham is now more popular in Okinawa than America! Most Okinawans will have strong opinions about the right and wrong way to slice Sham... and about right and wrong ways to cook it.

== Other Notable Shops ==

; GOLD Gym (Persona 2)
: Major gym workout chain with locations throughout the world.

; Kaori (Persona 2)
: Perfume and aromatherapy shop in Rengedai; scents that cleanse the soul, perhaps more literally than you'd think...

; Padparadscha (Persona 2)
: Jewelry store in Hotel Pleiades in Narumi.

; Rafflesia (Persona 3)
: Floral shop franchise throughout Japan; has various smaller branches everywhere. Sometimes includes services where they'll grow and nurture your plants for you.

; Junes Department Store (Persona 4)
: Department megastore chain. The jingle goes: 'Every day's great at your Junes!' A new store is presently being built in Inaba -- look forward to the grand opening!

; Moel Gas Station (Persona 4)
: A gas station chain where one can go to fuel up one’s vehicle. May or may not have a grey-haired gas station attendant, or job openings.

; Untouchable Airsoft Shop (Persona 5)
: A military-esque airsoft shop in a back alley off Shibuya Central Street. Although all their goods are models, the proprietor, Iwai, has a scary look.

; Electronics Superstore Akindo (Persona 5)
: A huge electronics store in Akihabara.

; De La Mancha (Inspired by Soul Hackers 2)
: Or just Mancha. A chain discount store that sells just about everything, from groceries to electronics to clothing. Notorious for overloaded shelves so they can offer more products. Very lucky shoppers may occasionally find a cognitively useful item buried in there, whether a consumable, equipment, or even a card!

== Services and Appointments ==

; Hiiragi Psychotherapy (Persona 2)
: Run by Dr. Reiko, located in Seaside Mall.

; Sumaru Genie (Persona 2)
: Fortune-teller based in Seaside Mall who goes by the same name as the store. Her fortunes stopped coming true after Wang Long fortune-telling rose into prominence.

; Time Castle (Persona 2)
: Clock shop run by the eclectic Time Count, a man who acts the part of a Victorian gentleman who gets a little intense sometimes. Offers Skill Card services.

; Tominaga Chiropractic (Persona 2)
: Run by Mr. Tomi, a bombastic chiropractor trained in the US who has a US-themed 'flair' to his personality. He utilizes his ultimate technique, the Gold Finger, to adjust any spine, satisfaction guaranteed.

== Housing ==

; Lunar Palace (Persona 2)
: Apartment complex chain; there's one such apartment building in Konan. Maya Amano, Ulala Serizawa, and Shiori Miyashiro live there.

== Famous People ==

; Eriko "Elly" Kirishima (Persona 1)
: Popular rising model. Her hobby is the occult and she gives no comment on any potential boyfriend situation.

; Hidehiko "Brown" Uesugi (Persona 1)
: Talk show host. He's known for his boisterous laughter and nonstop jokes.

; Junko Kurosu (Persona 2)
: Veteran actress who's been in the profession for decades. She doesn't get quite as many roles now that she's in her 40s with a son who's nearly an adult, but she's still going strong.

; President Tanaka (Persona 3)
: CEO of and host to a TV home shopping show every Sunday morning, both of which are called Tanaka's Amazing Commodities.

; Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)
: The first Detective Prince, who comes from a famous detective family and has been solving crimes across the country for years from a very young age.

; Rise Kujikawa (Persona 4)
: A popular middle school-aged rookie idol who's appeared in a few commercials so far.

; Goro Akechi (Persona 5)
: The second Detective Prince, sometimes called the Second Coming of the Detective Prince. A rookie compared to Naoto Shirogane, but nonetheless a high schooler who solves crimes for the police and gets consulted all the time.

; Ann Takamaki (Persona 5)
: An exotically beautiful model of mixed Japanese, American, and Finnish descent.

; Mika (Persona 5)
: A budding model, just starting out in the industry.

; Suguru Kamoshida (Persona 5)
: A professional athlete who won the gold medal for volleyball in the 2008 Summer Olympics and was teaching gym at Shujin Academy until recently. He turned himself in for abusing his students after he received a strange calling card from someone(s) calling themselves the "Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

; Ichiryusai Madarame (Persona 5)
: A famous artist celebrated for his incredibly broad range of styles. He recently confessed that his "range" was actually plagiarized from his various students, again after receiving a strange calling card from the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

; Subaru Amamiya (Persona 5 - Original)
: The soft-spoken and stern Mayor of Inaba, elected for four terms and presently trying for a fifth. He doesn't speak of [[Ren Amamiya|his son]] often. It's rumoured that he has greater politicial ambitions than being the Mayor of a small town. His wife Akira often acts as his unofficial assistant.

;Gozaburou "Zabu" Gessou (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:Talk show host and media personality. "Good Evening, Sumaru" is his show focusing on the weird rumors and happenings of Sumaru. He is also the son of a once influential political family whose patriarch died under mysterious circumstances.

[[Category: Setting]]

Fictional Pop Culture and Brands

2026-07-17T20:24:54Z

MrGuy:

This is a non-exhaustive list of various in-universe pieces of pop culture, brands, celebrities, places, items, and so on. Entries may be added as we think of them or as they get ICly released. Players may add entries of their own, but please don't edit already existing entries. If you see something that you think is wrong or should be changed, please send a request to staff.

== Fashion ==

; Rosa Candida (Persona 2)
: A fashionable boutique in Sumaru City's Aoba Ward that sells a variety of stylish clothes and accessories. Rumor has it they also sell quality armor.

; Croco Fur (Persona 4)
: A clothing store in Okina City that offers a wide range of outfits and accessories, from bags to boots, swimsuits to Halloween costumes. Run by Reiko Osa, charismatic fashionista.

; Tsurukame Diamond (Persona 5)
: A jewelry store in the Shibuya Underground Mall.

; Furugi no Neuchi (Persona 5)
: A vintage clothing store in Kichijoji. The perfect place to do some thrifting or sell old, unwanted clothes.

; Adios Shoes (Persona 3)
: A cheap knock-off of a more popular brand; sold by Tanaka's Amazing Commodities. Say "goodbye" to your foes.

; Baipas (Persona 4)
: A brand of sports bags that's similar to Adidas, right up to the logo.

; Greetings Cat (VRM original)
: A brand centred around a cat living in the United Kingdom, as well as a cast of other cute characters. Though the brand was originally limited to accessories, it has since grown into a global multimedia franchise that has captivated children and adults alike.

== Entertainment ==

=== Music ===

; Giga Macho CD (Persona 2)
: Hosts a big CD store, production studio, and flamboyant radio DJ wearing a red hoodie and shades known as 'Meteor Masa,' who hosts 'Meteor Masa to the Max.'

; Kenneth Arnold (Persona 3)
: A CD and DVD chain store that has a location within Paulownia Mall.

; Babel Records Music Store (Persona 5)
: A CD and DVD store in the Shibuya Underground Mall.

; Gas Chamber (Persona 2)
: The band of Kasugayama High's Leader, Eikichi Mishina, who is the lead singer. Not yet fully formed, as Eikichi is still scouting members... and getting the members he does have to learn how to play instruments. It's not a failure, it's pre-successful.

; Muses (Persona 2)
: A hot new three-member idol group that's been successfully hyped by their manager, Ginji Sasaki. Many people are very excited for their upcoming debut.

; Hug-My-Heart (Persona 5)
: Debut single by a boy band.

; 3SHINE
: An idol trio from the 90's known briefly for the bittersweet hit 「ＡＮＯＴＨＥＲ♩ＬＩＦＥ」, but disbanded in 2007 after the lead singer died in a car crash.

; Hatsune Kiku (Persona 4 Dancing All Night)
: The Vocaloid Virtual Idol is one of the most recognizable Japanese Pop Culture Icons of the past few years.

=== Video/Computer Games ===

; Groove On Fight (Persona 1)
: Atlus fighting game.

; Innocent Sin Online (Persona 3)
: A mysterious MMO that's been running for years, it tells a fictionalized larger than life version of the Innocent Story version with Tatsuya and Maya. How it came about in this world is a mystery. (Don't use this to establish knowing things about the Other Side. Just don't.)

; Condemnation of Witchcraft (Persona 3 - Original)
: The new biggest MMO that everyone is leaving Innocent Sin Online for due to all the gold farmers and dupers. Affectionately known as CoW by its fans, it's a game wherein the Holy Empire of Sturmward fights the Witch Queen and her coven of 'The Abhorred'. A PvE game with PvP elements.

; Game Parade Games
: House of the Deceased - A horror game with terrifying zombies. Raises Guts.
: Real Wheel Racing - An intense racing game. Raises the equipped Persona's agility.
: Print Club - A purikura-style booth. Raises charm.
: High School of Youth - Dating sim game. Raises Charm.
: You're the Answer - Quiz show-style arcade game. Raises Academics.
: Punch Boxer - Fighting Arcade game. Raises the equipped Persona's strength.
: Edgar's House of Fortunes - Fortune-telling tarot game. Raise the equipped Persona's Magic.
: Super Game Spaceshot - Space shooter.

; Computer Software
:Lessons in Etiquette - PC software for learning manners that will charm others.
:Virtual Diet - PC software for helping you attain a beautiful body via watching videos.
:Language Made Easy - PC Software for learning English through pictures and images.
:Animal Othello - PC software for children. Adults need courage to play this.
:TypinGhoul - PC software that requires courage to defeat zombies through typing.
:Muscle Boot Camp - PC Software for learning how to effectively strengthen your muscles.
:Mindful Boot Camp - PC Software for growing your mind through meditation.
:Umiushi Fan Book - For those who love beef bowls. Has a membership code for the official site.

; Photochop (Persona Q)
: Graphics editor that has become the most used digital art software in the world. Due to image manipulation that is then posted online becoming so ubiquitous, the program has popularized the slang term 'Photochopped' worldwide.

; Star Forneus (Persona 5)
: Retro console shooting game with a space theme.

; Super Bash Bros. (Persona 5)
: Long-running crossover Versus Battle game. 'Challenger Approaching!'

; Gambla Goemon (Persona 5)
: A game about a notorious thief who fell into the depths of hell… Demons make you gamble with games of chance to pass through gates in hell and move on to further challenges.

; Stray Sheep Dolls (Persona 5)
: A puzzle game about sheep. Now with more off-kilter gender commentary! Procreate or else!

; Featherman Seeker (Persona 5)
: A retro game based on the popular long-running tokusatsu show, Phoenix Rangers Featherman. It follows the story of Gray Pigeon and their mentor-guided training to acquire power that will rival the Phoenix Rangers.

; Matador <nowiki>re:fancio</nowiki> (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A video game about a skeletal bullfighter who must find a way to fancy up his life. May or may not be looking for a nice candelabra.

; Drake Adventure (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A massively popular and influential JRPG series, with cute monsters and a cartoonish medieval fantasy vibe. It is currently on its ninth entry.

; Last Saga (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A series of games in which every entry is different from the last. Very popular.

; Night Parade (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A classic fighting game series by the Motojima Corporation, known for its theme of supernatural yokai and their hunters as the fighters. Latest release is Ultimate Night Parade 4 Remix Lightning Edition.

; Stiletta (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A much-beloved urban fantasy action-adventure game about a stylish succubus who fights to find her lost memories using her transforming hair and weaponized heels. Utterly fabulous. The hotly-anticipated sequel has recently been announced.

; The Epic of Zerta (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An action roleplaying/puzzle game series centred around the Triangular Force, made up of the Angle of Strength, the Angle of Knowledge, and the Angle of Bravery. These games follow the hero, Tie, as he eternally saves Princess Zerta from the evil King Gammon. (In some entries, he's King Gammonturf. Using the wrong name can and has caused epic flame wars.)

; Tetraitis (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A puzzle game where you need to match four blocks to clear them. Apparently, it was named because the creator was so feverishly invested in playing an alpha build he almost didn't finish the game at all.

=== Other Games ===
; Hammerstrike - War in the 42nd Millenium (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A grimdark franchise originating from the west, centring around numerous spacefaring factions warring for control over the galaxy. While it started as a tabletop wargame using handpainted miniatures, a multitude of books, animations, and games have come out for it since its inception the late 1980s.

; Faerie<nowiki>:</nowiki> The Beckoning (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A card game centred around lands, creatures, and magical spells, with a great amount of depth. The lore centres around the Seelie and Unseelie courts of the Fae and their various adventures. New card sets are released each year!

=== Books and Manga ===

; Bookworms (Persona 3)
: A small but robust bookstore in the Iwatodai Strip Mall, owned and run by an elderly married couple, Bunkichi and Mitsuko Kitamura.

; Taiheido Bookstore (Persona 5)
: A bookstore on Shibuya Central Street with shelves also available outside the entrance.

; Rubber-Armed Pitcher Hero (Persona 4)
: Sports shounen manga about baseball.

; Witch Detective (Persona 4)
: A ploddingly written romantic comedy manga about a girl on her first day of school in a new town. Vampires are involved.

; The Great Thief (Persona 5)
: The story of Arsène Lupin, greatest thief of all time.

; Zorro the Outlaw (Persona 5)
: The story of Zorro, the dashing masked vigilante.

; Pirate Legend (Persona 5)
: The story of Captain Kidd, a Scottish-American privateer.

; The Alluring Dancer (Persona 5)
: The story of Carmen, an opera about a seductive Romani woman.

; The Gallant Rogue (Persona 5)
: The story of Goemon Ishikawa, a legendary outlaw hero.

; Speed Reader (Persona 5)
: A book that gives the reader tips on how to read more quickly and efficiently.

;The Whimsy of Orange Streets (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:An older romantic comedy manga about a old fashioned high school student in a love triangle with two delinquents. Reading it might help you understand relationships better.

;Dragon Sphere X (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:A martial arts manga that takes inspiration from Journey to the West. Probably helps your Guts.

; Titanomachy (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An enormously popular mecha franchise that draws heavily from Greek mythology for inspiration. Having been around for close to 30 years, it has spawned numerous films, anime, and manga series, as well as a plethora of different model kits.

'''Asteroeides (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)'''
:A hard science fiction manga about debris removers in Earth orbit, in the near future.

=== TV Shows ===

; Scarlet (Persona 5)
: DVD/Blu-Ray rental store. Has a very generous membership plan for students.

; Phoenix Ranger Featherman (Persona 2)
: Long-running tokusatsu franchise with tons of seasons, movies, and extensive merchandising. Much beloved by the Japanese youth.

; Tanaka's Amazing Commodities (Persona 3)
: A home shopping program hosted by Tanaka, who is also the CEO of the company. Its jingle: "Here comes Tanakaaaaa~ Over the airwaves to youuuuu~ Granter of your desires!" Sells a wide range of products, from high quality to possibly less-than-stellar knock-offs. Things go quick, so buy buy buy!

; Wraith (Persona 5)
: TV show about a woman who can speak to ghosts.

; The X-Folders (Persona 5)
: Sci-fi investigation TV show. The opening theme involves a spooky whistle.

; Bubbly Hills 90210 (Persona 5)
: A Western teen romantic drama TV show set in the ritzy upscale neighborhood of Bubbly Hills.

; ICU (Persona 5)
: Medical drama show about high stakes saves in the emergency ward.

; The Running Dead (Persona 5)
: Zombie drama about fast zombies. Humans in this drama are the real monsters.

; Mouse M.D. (Persona 5)
: A maverick rodent's medical heroics. Learn about true kindness.

; D. Housewives (Persona 5)
: Women's stories of love and passion.

; 31 (Persona 5)
: A writer and editor battle looming deadlines. Praised for its gutsy tension.

; Tee (Persona 5)
: A teacher helps revive a near defunct high school golf team.

; Not-so-hot Betsy (Persona 5)
: A TV show that tells the story of a homely girl who captivates people with her inner charm.

; Jail Break (Persona 5)
: A jailbreak TV drama.

; Fist of the Phantom Star (Persona 5)
: A post apocalyptic martial arts retro anime that codified a lot of Shounen tropes. Contains numerous beefy men rescuing beautiful women from their rivals.

;Yureka Six (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:An anime about growing up in a war torn world of robots, aliens, and flying skateboards. The main character starts off as rather childish but grows mature through facing the shortcomings of adults.

;Front Range (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An American cartoon series set in Colorado. The story material is often topical to American events, usually obscene, and once in a while funny. Explaining episode plots sounds like gibberish. The Japanese fandom tends to focus on the BL potential of the male leads, all schoolchildren in a quiet mountain town.<br />
=== Movies ===

; Climax Theater (Persona 2)
: Sumaru City movie theater where rumors have made the films occasionally quite strange.

; Screen Shot (Persona 3)
: Movie theater chain throughout Japan.

; Friday in a certain day (Persona 3)
: A film starring Catherine Billey. Its tagline is, "Fans of a Dutch soccer team, Americans heading off to war are facing." Yes, just that.

; The more than dreamin (Persona 3)
: A film about an alien visitor.

; Detonator (Persona 3)
: Starring Sharon Waxman and Craig.S.Smith. Its tagline is, "A troubling trend for a Dutch." It's a film about boxing! (It references Lennox Lewis and Andrew Golata's boxing match.)

; Worst Detective (Persona 3)
: A film noir about a detective who is terrible at his job.

; Loan of the Rings (Persona 4)
: Fantasy epic film.

; Dumminator II (Persona 4)
: Film on… Why?

; Trial of the Dragon (Persona 4)
: Kung fu epic film.

; My Neighbor Dodoro (Persona 5 - Original)
: A classic heartwarming children's movie about two young sisters meeting a big yellow bird and having adventures together. Includes a cat that is also a large vehicle.

; Tanktop Millionaire (Persona 5)
: Movie about a scrappy kid who came from the slums to win big on a quiz show.

; The Cake Knight Rises (Persona 5)
: A cake-themed vigilante avenges a friend who was wronged by a psychopathic baker. It's a ridiculous film, but the protagonist's passion to fight for his friend is touching.

; Like a Dragon (Persona 5)
: Yakuza action film.

; Mes Miserables (Persona 5)
: Apparently just like the real work except with even more theological commentary. (A bishop is the antagonist rather than Javert.)

; Pach-Saw (Persona 5)
: Horror film involving an elephant and torture elements.

; Wild Max (Persona Q2)
: Post-Apocalyptic film series praised for its fight choreography in vehicles.

; [[SMILE (2012)]] (Velvet Room MUSH - Persona 2/Original)
: A slasher movie released at the end of August 2012, starring Junko Kurosu as the killer. Part crime movie, part suspense horror, part slasher, noted for its well executed twists in an otherwise kind of schlocky but fun slasher.

== Food and Drink ==

=== Vending Machine Beverages ===
; First Appeared in Persona 3
: Aguafeena - Extensively purified tap water.
: BauerBar - Keeps you going for 24 hours straight.
: Cielo Mist - Beverage imported from Jamaica.
: Cylon Tea - Comes in 12 different varieties.
: Definitely Lemonade - A fresh, lemon-based drink. A bit watery.
: Dr. Salt - Salty soda. Popular, but an acquired taste.
: Fountain Dew - A disturbingly yellow soft drink.
: Happiness Water - Water that tastes like happiness.
: Mad Bull - A mildly bitter beverage with a flavorful kick.
: Moonkist - Soda with the slogan, "Kist my full moon!"
: Nastea - Tea that tastes great, despite its name.
: SoBay - Popular tea often auctioned online.
: Starvicks - Famous coffee, mixed with cough syrup.
: 1UP - Soft drink coveted by old-school gamers.
: 4biotic Pack - A set of 4 probiotic drinks.

; First Appeared in Persona 4
: Dokudami Tea - An herbal tea good for detoxes.
: Dr. Salt NEO - An intensely carbonated beverage.
: Orange Smash - A refreshing citrus beverage.
: Second Maid - A cold beverage that got heated.
: TaP Soda - Old-fashioned fizzy beverage.

; First Appeared in Persona 5
: Arginade - Contains arginine.
: Chunky Potage - You can never drink all the kernels.
: Creature - A drink that blows away sleepiness.
: Durian-au-Lait - Made from the king of fruits.
: Earl Green - A blend of Eastern and Western tea.
: Joylent - Unsettlingly nutritious.
: Manta - Makes you want to dance all night.
: Muscle Tea - Popular tea often sold online.
: Oh! Shiruko - So good it makes you say, "Oh!"
: Udagawa Soda - Triple-filtered carbonated Shibuya water.
: Udagawa Water - Triple-filtered Shibuya river water.
: Ultimate Amazake - Makes you think you're drunk.
: Water of Rebirth - Blended with placenta.

=== Dining Out ===

; Peace Diner (Persona 1/Persona 2)
: Franchise that serves mostly fast food; there's a branch in Yumezaki's Yumezaki Center. Rumormonger Chikarin can be found here almost daily working on the Sevens school newspaper. The part timer at the register loves Japanese period dramas, and so talks like a ninja. Menu: Peace Burger, Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Burger, Peace Double Meat, Big Peace Burger, Fries, Peace Shake, Value Meal.

; Gatten Sushi (Persona 2)
: Popular sushi shop in Rengedai's Lotus Mall, run by the Mishina family. Head chef is Kankichi Mishina. It's the popular hangout of Rumormonger Kenta "Toro" Yokouchi, whose favorite sushi is the olive flounder fish fin, despite his nickname meaning Fatty Tuna. Menu: Tuna, Squid, Sweet Shrimp, Eel, Sea Urchin, Salmon Roe, Fish Fin, Fatty Tuna.

; Double Slash (Persona 2)
: Internet cafe in Aoba's Aoba Way that offers a surprisingly robust menu of drinks, snacks and even meals. The teenager who mans the counter is pretty lazy. Menu: Coffee, Cafe au Lait, Milk Tea, Herbal Tea, Double Sandwich, Pizza Toast, Spaghetti, Curry Rice.

; Jolly Roger (Persona 2)
: Pirate-themed restaurant in Konan's Seaside Mall. The rumormongering proprietor is sad and trades in rumors as a balm for the sea, to which he can no longer return. Menu: Coffee Blend, Tea Blend, Veggie Juice, Special Cocoa, Baked Apple Pie, Chocolate Cookie, Brown Rice Curry, Pirate’s Set.

; Clair De Lune (Persona 2)
: Classy French restaurant in Narumi's Hotel Pleiades, served by Garçon Soejima. May or may not also sell top-notch armor on the sly. Menu: Vichyssoise, Escabèche, Cassoulet, Brochette, Brandade, Bouillabaisse, Ballotine, Navarin.

; Wilduck Burger (Persona 3)
: A fast food burger chain with a location in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. The mainline item is the Mystery Burger for those with the Guts to try it.

; Hagakure Ramen (Persona 3)
: A ramen restaurant in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. Their mainline item, the Pork Ramen, is full of collagen to make the eater's skin silky smooth and Charming.

; Wakatsu Kitchen (Persona 3)
: A sushi restaurant in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. The seafood in their Prodigy Platter is healthy and full of omega-3s--the perfect brain food to help the Academically challenged.

; Yon-Germain Bakery (Persona 5)
: A small bakery located at the Ginza Line Gate at Shibuya Station. Perfect for when you need to grab a snack in between train transfers. Menu: Sandwich, Fruit Danish, Moist Katsu Bun (rainy day special), Melon Pan (summer-only; limited product).

; Bikkuri Boy (Persona 5)
: A spacious family diner located up a stairwell off Central Street in Shibuya. Practically deserted when it rains, so you can concentrate extra-well for study sessions in between meals. Menu: Hot Coffee (coffee with free refills), Surprise Sando (crayfish paste sandwich), Nostalgic Steak (salisbury steak like grandma made), Frui-Tea (tea made with lots of fruit), Totem Pole (tower of ice cream).

; Big Bang Burger (Persona 5)
: A fast food chain with a location on Shibuya Central Street that holds the Big Bang Challenge, wherein people can become a 2nd Mate, 1st Mate, or Captain by completing various stages. Menu: Big Bang Burger, Saturn Fries, Venus Salad (fruit salad), Earth Burger (seasonal spring offering with veggies), Moon Burger (seasonal autumn offering where the egg looks like the moon).

; Ore no Beko (Persona 5)
: Beef bowl restaurant on Shibuya Central Street. The beef part is pre-made so a worker only has to assemble and serve a bowl.

; Wilton Hotel (Persona 5)
: Upscale hotel chain with a location in Shibuya. Known for its high-priced gourmet buffet.

; Melty Donut (Persona 5)
: A donut franchise popular with cops, lawyers, and security guards.

; Katsuo Shokudo (Original)
: A mom-and-pop restaurant in Inaba, well-known to locals for its excellent food. Or it was, as with the declining Inaban economy, it finally had to close its doors in early 2010. The owner and primary cook, Hideji Aoki, moved away to the big city with his daughter Hibari.

=== Bars and Pubs ===

; Izakaya Shiraishi (Persona 2)
: An Izakaya bar in Hirasaka's Kameya Alley that absolutely doesn't serve ramen--except for banana ramen. Rumor has it the proprietress, Ma'am, is a former spy that can give tips on finding anyone. Hangout of Rumormonger Toku-san. Menu: Edamame, Yakitori, Sesame Chicken, Oden, Red Bean Gyoza, Banana Ramen, Beer, Sake.

; Parabellum (Persona 2)
: A noir-ish bar in Aoba's Aoba Way with an elderly gentleman barkeeper who makes firearms-themed cocktails. Rumor has it they also secretly sell weapons. Menu: Revolver, Double Action, Magnum, Bullet Core, Browning Power, Angel Trigger, Tilt Barrel, Derringer.

; Ebony (Persona 2)
: Classy bar in Narumi's Hotel Pleiades, run by a rumor-lovin' bartender who's as quick with a rumor or a story as she is with a cocktail. Menu: On the Rocks, Between the Sheets, Gimlet, Blue Lagoon, Green Eyes, Mockingbird, Angel's Kiss, Spritzer.

; Crossroads Bar (Persona 5)
: An adult entertainment bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The bartender and owner is Lala Escargot; the shop logo includes a snail. On top of wines, beers, and cocktails, there are a few snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available.

; Izakaya Nichinan (Original)
: An izakaya in Konan Ward. Known more for its beer selection than its food, it gets most of its business from younger office workers who live in the ward.

== Pharmacies and Convenience Stores ==

; Yin and Yang (Persona 1)
: Convenience store chain. They'll sell you medicine, and if you get friendly with the owner, they might let you see their collection of airsoft guns too. Yin and Yang stores operate in supernatural spaces, too -- and under those conditions, they'll sell you ''real'' weapons.

; Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy (Persona 1)
: Vibes less like they're gonna conquer the world, unlike the Sumaru City branch. Has an infectious theme song explaining what each item they sell does.

; Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy (Persona 2)
: Drugstore chain throughout Sumaru City. All the shopkeepers look the same, and are open about being sisters. Don't worry about the music overhead or why it has a different style in each store, just don't.

; Mayo Mart (Persona 4)
: A 24-hour konbini (Japanese convenience store) in Inaba.

; 777 (Persona 5)
: Convenience store chain with special sales on all days ending in 7. Pronounced 'Triple Seven.'

=== Convenience Store Food ===

; Sham (Original)
: Preserved ham in a can. Originally popular in America, it became a big deal in Okinawa -- so big, in fact, that Sham is now more popular in Okinawa than America! Most Okinawans will have strong opinions about the right and wrong way to slice Sham... and about right and wrong ways to cook it.

== Other Notable Shops ==

; GOLD Gym (Persona 2)
: Major gym workout chain with locations throughout the world.

; Kaori (Persona 2)
: Perfume and aromatherapy shop in Rengedai; scents that cleanse the soul, perhaps more literally than you'd think...

; Padparadscha (Persona 2)
: Jewelry store in Hotel Pleiades in Narumi.

; Rafflesia (Persona 3)
: Floral shop franchise throughout Japan; has various smaller branches everywhere. Sometimes includes services where they'll grow and nurture your plants for you.

; Junes Department Store (Persona 4)
: Department megastore chain. The jingle goes: 'Every day's great at your Junes!' A new store is presently being built in Inaba -- look forward to the grand opening!

; Moel Gas Station (Persona 4)
: A gas station chain where one can go to fuel up one’s vehicle. May or may not have a grey-haired gas station attendant, or job openings.

; Untouchable Airsoft Shop (Persona 5)
: A military-esque airsoft shop in a back alley off Shibuya Central Street. Although all their goods are models, the proprietor, Iwai, has a scary look.

; Electronics Superstore Akindo (Persona 5)
: A huge electronics store in Akihabara.

; De La Mancha (Inspired by Soul Hackers 2)
: Or just Mancha. A chain discount store that sells just about everything, from groceries to electronics to clothing. Notorious for overloaded shelves so they can offer more products. Very lucky shoppers may occasionally find a cognitively useful item buried in there, whether a consumable, equipment, or even a card!

;Remarclo (VRM Original)
: A Japanese clothing brand that has chains all over the world. Known for its monthly collaborations with various artists and franchises.

== Services and Appointments ==

; Hiiragi Psychotherapy (Persona 2)
: Run by Dr. Reiko, located in Seaside Mall.

; Sumaru Genie (Persona 2)
: Fortune-teller based in Seaside Mall who goes by the same name as the store. Her fortunes stopped coming true after Wang Long fortune-telling rose into prominence.

; Time Castle (Persona 2)
: Clock shop run by the eclectic Time Count, a man who acts the part of a Victorian gentleman who gets a little intense sometimes. Offers Skill Card services.

; Tominaga Chiropractic (Persona 2)
: Run by Mr. Tomi, a bombastic chiropractor trained in the US who has a US-themed 'flair' to his personality. He utilizes his ultimate technique, the Gold Finger, to adjust any spine, satisfaction guaranteed.

== Housing ==

; Lunar Palace (Persona 2)
: Apartment complex chain; there's one such apartment building in Konan. Maya Amano, Ulala Serizawa, and Shiori Miyashiro live there.

== Famous People ==

; Eriko "Elly" Kirishima (Persona 1)
: Popular rising model. Her hobby is the occult and she gives no comment on any potential boyfriend situation.

; Hidehiko "Brown" Uesugi (Persona 1)
: Talk show host. He's known for his boisterous laughter and nonstop jokes.

; Junko Kurosu (Persona 2)
: Veteran actress who's been in the profession for decades. She doesn't get quite as many roles now that she's in her 40s with a son who's nearly an adult, but she's still going strong.

; President Tanaka (Persona 3)
: CEO of and host to a TV home shopping show every Sunday morning, both of which are called Tanaka's Amazing Commodities.

; Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)
: The first Detective Prince, who comes from a famous detective family and has been solving crimes across the country for years from a very young age.

; Rise Kujikawa (Persona 4)
: A popular middle school-aged rookie idol who's appeared in a few commercials so far.

; Goro Akechi (Persona 5)
: The second Detective Prince, sometimes called the Second Coming of the Detective Prince. A rookie compared to Naoto Shirogane, but nonetheless a high schooler who solves crimes for the police and gets consulted all the time.

; Ann Takamaki (Persona 5)
: An exotically beautiful model of mixed Japanese, American, and Finnish descent.

; Mika (Persona 5)
: A budding model, just starting out in the industry.

; Suguru Kamoshida (Persona 5)
: A professional athlete who won the gold medal for volleyball in the 2008 Summer Olympics and was teaching gym at Shujin Academy until recently. He turned himself in for abusing his students after he received a strange calling card from someone(s) calling themselves the "Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

; Ichiryusai Madarame (Persona 5)
: A famous artist celebrated for his incredibly broad range of styles. He recently confessed that his "range" was actually plagiarized from his various students, again after receiving a strange calling card from the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

; Subaru Amamiya (Persona 5 - Original)
: The soft-spoken and stern Mayor of Inaba, elected for four terms and presently trying for a fifth. He doesn't speak of [[Ren Amamiya|his son]] often. It's rumoured that he has greater politicial ambitions than being the Mayor of a small town. His wife Akira often acts as his unofficial assistant.

;Gozaburou "Zabu" Gessou (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:Talk show host and media personality. "Good Evening, Sumaru" is his show focusing on the weird rumors and happenings of Sumaru. He is also the son of a once influential political family whose patriarch died under mysterious circumstances.

[[Category: Setting]]

Fictional Pop Culture and Brands

2026-07-17T20:10:35Z

MrGuy: Added "Remarclo" under "Other Notable Shops"

This is a non-exhaustive list of various in-universe pieces of pop culture, brands, celebrities, places, items, and so on. Entries may be added as we think of them or as they get ICly released. Players may add entries of their own, but please don't edit already existing entries. If you see something that you think is wrong or should be changed, please send a request to staff.

== Fashion ==

; Rosa Candida (Persona 2)
: A fashionable boutique in Sumaru City's Aoba Ward that sells a variety of stylish clothes and accessories. Rumor has it they also sell quality armor.

; Croco Fur (Persona 4)
: A clothing store in Okina City that offers a wide range of outfits and accessories, from bags to boots, swimsuits to Halloween costumes. Run by Reiko Osa, charismatic fashionista.

; Tsurukame Diamond (Persona 5)
: A jewelry store in the Shibuya Underground Mall.

; Furugi no Neuchi (Persona 5)
: A vintage clothing store in Kichijoji. The perfect place to do some thrifting or sell old, unwanted clothes.

; Adios Shoes (Persona 3)
: A cheap knock-off of a more popular brand; sold by Tanaka's Amazing Commodities. Say "goodbye" to your foes.

; Baipas (Persona 4)
: A brand of sports bags that's similar to Adidas, right up to the logo.

== Entertainment ==

=== Music ===

; Giga Macho CD (Persona 2)
: Hosts a big CD store, production studio, and flamboyant radio DJ wearing a red hoodie and shades known as 'Meteor Masa,' who hosts 'Meteor Masa to the Max.'

; Kenneth Arnold (Persona 3)
: A CD and DVD chain store that has a location within Paulownia Mall.

; Babel Records Music Store (Persona 5)
: A CD and DVD store in the Shibuya Underground Mall.

; Gas Chamber (Persona 2)
: The band of Kasugayama High's Leader, Eikichi Mishina, who is the lead singer. Not yet fully formed, as Eikichi is still scouting members... and getting the members he does have to learn how to play instruments. It's not a failure, it's pre-successful.

; Muses (Persona 2)
: A hot new three-member idol group that's been successfully hyped by their manager, Ginji Sasaki. Many people are very excited for their upcoming debut.

; Hug-My-Heart (Persona 5)
: Debut single by a boy band.

; 3SHINE
: An idol trio from the 90's known briefly for the bittersweet hit 「ＡＮＯＴＨＥＲ♩ＬＩＦＥ」, but disbanded in 2007 after the lead singer died in a car crash.

; Hatsune Kiku (Persona 4 Dancing All Night)
: The Vocaloid Virtual Idol is one of the most recognizable Japanese Pop Culture Icons of the past few years.

=== Video/Computer Games ===

; Groove On Fight (Persona 1)
: Atlus fighting game.

; Innocent Sin Online (Persona 3)
: A mysterious MMO that's been running for years, it tells a fictionalized larger than life version of the Innocent Story version with Tatsuya and Maya. How it came about in this world is a mystery. (Don't use this to establish knowing things about the Other Side. Just don't.)

; Condemnation of Witchcraft (Persona 3 - Original)
: The new biggest MMO that everyone is leaving Innocent Sin Online for due to all the gold farmers and dupers. Affectionately known as CoW by its fans, it's a game wherein the Holy Empire of Sturmward fights the Witch Queen and her coven of 'The Abhorred'. A PvE game with PvP elements.

; Game Parade Games
: House of the Deceased - A horror game with terrifying zombies. Raises Guts.
: Real Wheel Racing - An intense racing game. Raises the equipped Persona's agility.
: Print Club - A purikura-style booth. Raises charm.
: High School of Youth - Dating sim game. Raises Charm.
: You're the Answer - Quiz show-style arcade game. Raises Academics.
: Punch Boxer - Fighting Arcade game. Raises the equipped Persona's strength.
: Edgar's House of Fortunes - Fortune-telling tarot game. Raise the equipped Persona's Magic.
: Super Game Spaceshot - Space shooter.

; Computer Software
:Lessons in Etiquette - PC software for learning manners that will charm others.
:Virtual Diet - PC software for helping you attain a beautiful body via watching videos.
:Language Made Easy - PC Software for learning English through pictures and images.
:Animal Othello - PC software for children. Adults need courage to play this.
:TypinGhoul - PC software that requires courage to defeat zombies through typing.
:Muscle Boot Camp - PC Software for learning how to effectively strengthen your muscles.
:Mindful Boot Camp - PC Software for growing your mind through meditation.
:Umiushi Fan Book - For those who love beef bowls. Has a membership code for the official site.

; Photochop (Persona Q)
: Graphics editor that has become the most used digital art software in the world. Due to image manipulation that is then posted online becoming so ubiquitous, the program has popularized the slang term 'Photochopped' worldwide.

; Star Forneus (Persona 5)
: Retro console shooting game with a space theme.

; Super Bash Bros. (Persona 5)
: Long-running crossover Versus Battle game. 'Challenger Approaching!'

; Gambla Goemon (Persona 5)
: A game about a notorious thief who fell into the depths of hell… Demons make you gamble with games of chance to pass through gates in hell and move on to further challenges.

; Stray Sheep Dolls (Persona 5)
: A puzzle game about sheep. Now with more off-kilter gender commentary! Procreate or else!

; Featherman Seeker (Persona 5)
: A retro game based on the popular long-running tokusatsu show, Phoenix Rangers Featherman. It follows the story of Gray Pigeon and their mentor-guided training to acquire power that will rival the Phoenix Rangers.

; Matador <nowiki>re:fancio</nowiki> (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A video game about a skeletal bullfighter who must find a way to fancy up his life. May or may not be looking for a nice candelabra.

; Drake Adventure (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A massively popular and influential JRPG series, with cute monsters and a cartoonish medieval fantasy vibe. It is currently on its ninth entry.

; Last Saga (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A series of games in which every entry is different from the last. Very popular.

; Night Parade (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A classic fighting game series by the Motojima Corporation, known for its theme of supernatural yokai and their hunters as the fighters. Latest release is Ultimate Night Parade 4 Remix Lightning Edition.

; Stiletta (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A much-beloved urban fantasy action-adventure game about a stylish succubus who fights to find her lost memories using her transforming hair and weaponized heels. Utterly fabulous. The hotly-anticipated sequel has recently been announced.

; The Epic of Zerta (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An action roleplaying/puzzle game series centred around the Triangular Force, made up of the Angle of Strength, the Angle of Knowledge, and the Angle of Bravery. These games follow the hero, Tie, as he eternally saves Princess Zerta from the evil King Gammon. (In some entries, he's King Gammonturf. Using the wrong name can and has caused epic flame wars.)

; Tetraitis (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A puzzle game where you need to match four blocks to clear them. Apparently, it was named because the creator was so feverishly invested in playing an alpha build he almost didn't finish the game at all.

=== Other Games ===
; Hammerstrike - War in the 42nd Millenium (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A grimdark franchise originating from the west, centring around numerous spacefaring factions warring for control over the galaxy. While it started as a tabletop wargame using handpainted miniatures, a multitude of books, animations, and games have come out for it since its inception the late 1980s.

; Faerie<nowiki>:</nowiki> The Beckoning (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: A card game centred around lands, creatures, and magical spells, with a great amount of depth. The lore centres around the Seelie and Unseelie courts of the Fae and their various adventures. New card sets are released each year!

=== Books and Manga ===

; Bookworms (Persona 3)
: A small but robust bookstore in the Iwatodai Strip Mall, owned and run by an elderly married couple, Bunkichi and Mitsuko Kitamura.

; Taiheido Bookstore (Persona 5)
: A bookstore on Shibuya Central Street with shelves also available outside the entrance.

; Rubber-Armed Pitcher Hero (Persona 4)
: Sports shounen manga about baseball.

; Witch Detective (Persona 4)
: A ploddingly written romantic comedy manga about a girl on her first day of school in a new town. Vampires are involved.

; The Great Thief (Persona 5)
: The story of Arsène Lupin, greatest thief of all time.

; Zorro the Outlaw (Persona 5)
: The story of Zorro, the dashing masked vigilante.

; Pirate Legend (Persona 5)
: The story of Captain Kidd, a Scottish-American privateer.

; The Alluring Dancer (Persona 5)
: The story of Carmen, an opera about a seductive Romani woman.

; The Gallant Rogue (Persona 5)
: The story of Goemon Ishikawa, a legendary outlaw hero.

; Speed Reader (Persona 5)
: A book that gives the reader tips on how to read more quickly and efficiently.

;The Whimsy of Orange Streets (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:An older romantic comedy manga about a old fashioned high school student in a love triangle with two delinquents. Reading it might help you understand relationships better.

;Dragon Sphere X (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:A martial arts manga that takes inspiration from Journey to the West. Probably helps your Guts.

; Titanomachy (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An enormously popular mecha franchise that draws heavily from Greek mythology for inspiration. Having been around for close to 30 years, it has spawned numerous films, anime, and manga series, as well as a plethora of different model kits.

'''Asteroeides (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)'''
:A hard science fiction manga about debris removers in Earth orbit, in the near future.

=== TV Shows ===

; Scarlet (Persona 5)
: DVD/Blu-Ray rental store. Has a very generous membership plan for students.

; Phoenix Ranger Featherman (Persona 2)
: Long-running tokusatsu franchise with tons of seasons, movies, and extensive merchandising. Much beloved by the Japanese youth.

; Tanaka's Amazing Commodities (Persona 3)
: A home shopping program hosted by Tanaka, who is also the CEO of the company. Its jingle: "Here comes Tanakaaaaa~ Over the airwaves to youuuuu~ Granter of your desires!" Sells a wide range of products, from high quality to possibly less-than-stellar knock-offs. Things go quick, so buy buy buy!

; Wraith (Persona 5)
: TV show about a woman who can speak to ghosts.

; The X-Folders (Persona 5)
: Sci-fi investigation TV show. The opening theme involves a spooky whistle.

; Bubbly Hills 90210 (Persona 5)
: A Western teen romantic drama TV show set in the ritzy upscale neighborhood of Bubbly Hills.

; ICU (Persona 5)
: Medical drama show about high stakes saves in the emergency ward.

; The Running Dead (Persona 5)
: Zombie drama about fast zombies. Humans in this drama are the real monsters.

; Mouse M.D. (Persona 5)
: A maverick rodent's medical heroics. Learn about true kindness.

; D. Housewives (Persona 5)
: Women's stories of love and passion.

; 31 (Persona 5)
: A writer and editor battle looming deadlines. Praised for its gutsy tension.

; Tee (Persona 5)
: A teacher helps revive a near defunct high school golf team.

; Not-so-hot Betsy (Persona 5)
: A TV show that tells the story of a homely girl who captivates people with her inner charm.

; Jail Break (Persona 5)
: A jailbreak TV drama.

; Fist of the Phantom Star (Persona 5)
: A post apocalyptic martial arts retro anime that codified a lot of Shounen tropes. Contains numerous beefy men rescuing beautiful women from their rivals.

;Yureka Six (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:An anime about growing up in a war torn world of robots, aliens, and flying skateboards. The main character starts off as rather childish but grows mature through facing the shortcomings of adults.

;Front Range (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
: An American cartoon series set in Colorado. The story material is often topical to American events, usually obscene, and once in a while funny. Explaining episode plots sounds like gibberish. The Japanese fandom tends to focus on the BL potential of the male leads, all schoolchildren in a quiet mountain town.<br />
=== Movies ===

; Climax Theater (Persona 2)
: Sumaru City movie theater where rumors have made the films occasionally quite strange.

; Screen Shot (Persona 3)
: Movie theater chain throughout Japan.

; Friday in a certain day (Persona 3)
: A film starring Catherine Billey. Its tagline is, "Fans of a Dutch soccer team, Americans heading off to war are facing." Yes, just that.

; The more than dreamin (Persona 3)
: A film about an alien visitor.

; Detonator (Persona 3)
: Starring Sharon Waxman and Craig.S.Smith. Its tagline is, "A troubling trend for a Dutch." It's a film about boxing! (It references Lennox Lewis and Andrew Golata's boxing match.)

; Worst Detective (Persona 3)
: A film noir about a detective who is terrible at his job.

; Loan of the Rings (Persona 4)
: Fantasy epic film.

; Dumminator II (Persona 4)
: Film on… Why?

; Trial of the Dragon (Persona 4)
: Kung fu epic film.

; My Neighbor Dodoro (Persona 5 - Original)
: A classic heartwarming children's movie about two young sisters meeting a big yellow bird and having adventures together. Includes a cat that is also a large vehicle.

; Tanktop Millionaire (Persona 5)
: Movie about a scrappy kid who came from the slums to win big on a quiz show.

; The Cake Knight Rises (Persona 5)
: A cake-themed vigilante avenges a friend who was wronged by a psychopathic baker. It's a ridiculous film, but the protagonist's passion to fight for his friend is touching.

; Like a Dragon (Persona 5)
: Yakuza action film.

; Mes Miserables (Persona 5)
: Apparently just like the real work except with even more theological commentary. (A bishop is the antagonist rather than Javert.)

; Pach-Saw (Persona 5)
: Horror film involving an elephant and torture elements.

; Wild Max (Persona Q2)
: Post-Apocalyptic film series praised for its fight choreography in vehicles.

; [[SMILE (2012)]] (Velvet Room MUSH - Persona 2/Original)
: A slasher movie released at the end of August 2012, starring Junko Kurosu as the killer. Part crime movie, part suspense horror, part slasher, noted for its well executed twists in an otherwise kind of schlocky but fun slasher.

== Food and Drink ==

=== Vending Machine Beverages ===
; First Appeared in Persona 3
: Aguafeena - Extensively purified tap water.
: BauerBar - Keeps you going for 24 hours straight.
: Cielo Mist - Beverage imported from Jamaica.
: Cylon Tea - Comes in 12 different varieties.
: Definitely Lemonade - A fresh, lemon-based drink. A bit watery.
: Dr. Salt - Salty soda. Popular, but an acquired taste.
: Fountain Dew - A disturbingly yellow soft drink.
: Happiness Water - Water that tastes like happiness.
: Mad Bull - A mildly bitter beverage with a flavorful kick.
: Moonkist - Soda with the slogan, "Kist my full moon!"
: Nastea - Tea that tastes great, despite its name.
: SoBay - Popular tea often auctioned online.
: Starvicks - Famous coffee, mixed with cough syrup.
: 1UP - Soft drink coveted by old-school gamers.
: 4biotic Pack - A set of 4 probiotic drinks.

; First Appeared in Persona 4
: Dokudami Tea - An herbal tea good for detoxes.
: Dr. Salt NEO - An intensely carbonated beverage.
: Orange Smash - A refreshing citrus beverage.
: Second Maid - A cold beverage that got heated.
: TaP Soda - Old-fashioned fizzy beverage.

; First Appeared in Persona 5
: Arginade - Contains arginine.
: Chunky Potage - You can never drink all the kernels.
: Creature - A drink that blows away sleepiness.
: Durian-au-Lait - Made from the king of fruits.
: Earl Green - A blend of Eastern and Western tea.
: Joylent - Unsettlingly nutritious.
: Manta - Makes you want to dance all night.
: Muscle Tea - Popular tea often sold online.
: Oh! Shiruko - So good it makes you say, "Oh!"
: Udagawa Soda - Triple-filtered carbonated Shibuya water.
: Udagawa Water - Triple-filtered Shibuya river water.
: Ultimate Amazake - Makes you think you're drunk.
: Water of Rebirth - Blended with placenta.

=== Dining Out ===

; Peace Diner (Persona 1/Persona 2)
: Franchise that serves mostly fast food; there's a branch in Yumezaki's Yumezaki Center. Rumormonger Chikarin can be found here almost daily working on the Sevens school newspaper. The part timer at the register loves Japanese period dramas, and so talks like a ninja. Menu: Peace Burger, Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Burger, Peace Double Meat, Big Peace Burger, Fries, Peace Shake, Value Meal.

; Gatten Sushi (Persona 2)
: Popular sushi shop in Rengedai's Lotus Mall, run by the Mishina family. Head chef is Kankichi Mishina. It's the popular hangout of Rumormonger Kenta "Toro" Yokouchi, whose favorite sushi is the olive flounder fish fin, despite his nickname meaning Fatty Tuna. Menu: Tuna, Squid, Sweet Shrimp, Eel, Sea Urchin, Salmon Roe, Fish Fin, Fatty Tuna.

; Double Slash (Persona 2)
: Internet cafe in Aoba's Aoba Way that offers a surprisingly robust menu of drinks, snacks and even meals. The teenager who mans the counter is pretty lazy. Menu: Coffee, Cafe au Lait, Milk Tea, Herbal Tea, Double Sandwich, Pizza Toast, Spaghetti, Curry Rice.

; Jolly Roger (Persona 2)
: Pirate-themed restaurant in Konan's Seaside Mall. The rumormongering proprietor is sad and trades in rumors as a balm for the sea, to which he can no longer return. Menu: Coffee Blend, Tea Blend, Veggie Juice, Special Cocoa, Baked Apple Pie, Chocolate Cookie, Brown Rice Curry, Pirate’s Set.

; Clair De Lune (Persona 2)
: Classy French restaurant in Narumi's Hotel Pleiades, served by Garçon Soejima. May or may not also sell top-notch armor on the sly. Menu: Vichyssoise, Escabèche, Cassoulet, Brochette, Brandade, Bouillabaisse, Ballotine, Navarin.

; Wilduck Burger (Persona 3)
: A fast food burger chain with a location in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. The mainline item is the Mystery Burger for those with the Guts to try it.

; Hagakure Ramen (Persona 3)
: A ramen restaurant in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. Their mainline item, the Pork Ramen, is full of collagen to make the eater's skin silky smooth and Charming.

; Wakatsu Kitchen (Persona 3)
: A sushi restaurant in the Iwatodai Strip Mall. The seafood in their Prodigy Platter is healthy and full of omega-3s--the perfect brain food to help the Academically challenged.

; Yon-Germain Bakery (Persona 5)
: A small bakery located at the Ginza Line Gate at Shibuya Station. Perfect for when you need to grab a snack in between train transfers. Menu: Sandwich, Fruit Danish, Moist Katsu Bun (rainy day special), Melon Pan (summer-only; limited product).

; Bikkuri Boy (Persona 5)
: A spacious family diner located up a stairwell off Central Street in Shibuya. Practically deserted when it rains, so you can concentrate extra-well for study sessions in between meals. Menu: Hot Coffee (coffee with free refills), Surprise Sando (crayfish paste sandwich), Nostalgic Steak (salisbury steak like grandma made), Frui-Tea (tea made with lots of fruit), Totem Pole (tower of ice cream).

; Big Bang Burger (Persona 5)
: A fast food chain with a location on Shibuya Central Street that holds the Big Bang Challenge, wherein people can become a 2nd Mate, 1st Mate, or Captain by completing various stages. Menu: Big Bang Burger, Saturn Fries, Venus Salad (fruit salad), Earth Burger (seasonal spring offering with veggies), Moon Burger (seasonal autumn offering where the egg looks like the moon).

; Ore no Beko (Persona 5)
: Beef bowl restaurant on Shibuya Central Street. The beef part is pre-made so a worker only has to assemble and serve a bowl.

; Wilton Hotel (Persona 5)
: Upscale hotel chain with a location in Shibuya. Known for its high-priced gourmet buffet.

; Melty Donut (Persona 5)
: A donut franchise popular with cops, lawyers, and security guards.

; Katsuo Shokudo (Original)
: A mom-and-pop restaurant in Inaba, well-known to locals for its excellent food. Or it was, as with the declining Inaban economy, it finally had to close its doors in early 2010. The owner and primary cook, Hideji Aoki, moved away to the big city with his daughter Hibari.

=== Bars and Pubs ===

; Izakaya Shiraishi (Persona 2)
: An Izakaya bar in Hirasaka's Kameya Alley that absolutely doesn't serve ramen--except for banana ramen. Rumor has it the proprietress, Ma'am, is a former spy that can give tips on finding anyone. Hangout of Rumormonger Toku-san. Menu: Edamame, Yakitori, Sesame Chicken, Oden, Red Bean Gyoza, Banana Ramen, Beer, Sake.

; Parabellum (Persona 2)
: A noir-ish bar in Aoba's Aoba Way with an elderly gentleman barkeeper who makes firearms-themed cocktails. Rumor has it they also secretly sell weapons. Menu: Revolver, Double Action, Magnum, Bullet Core, Browning Power, Angel Trigger, Tilt Barrel, Derringer.

; Ebony (Persona 2)
: Classy bar in Narumi's Hotel Pleiades, run by a rumor-lovin' bartender who's as quick with a rumor or a story as she is with a cocktail. Menu: On the Rocks, Between the Sheets, Gimlet, Blue Lagoon, Green Eyes, Mockingbird, Angel's Kiss, Spritzer.

; Crossroads Bar (Persona 5)
: An adult entertainment bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The bartender and owner is Lala Escargot; the shop logo includes a snail. On top of wines, beers, and cocktails, there are a few snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available.

; Izakaya Nichinan (Original)
: An izakaya in Konan Ward. Known more for its beer selection than its food, it gets most of its business from younger office workers who live in the ward.

== Pharmacies and Convenience Stores ==

; Yin and Yang (Persona 1)
: Convenience store chain. They'll sell you medicine, and if you get friendly with the owner, they might let you see their collection of airsoft guns too. Yin and Yang stores operate in supernatural spaces, too -- and under those conditions, they'll sell you ''real'' weapons.

; Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy (Persona 1)
: Vibes less like they're gonna conquer the world, unlike the Sumaru City branch. Has an infectious theme song explaining what each item they sell does.

; Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy (Persona 2)
: Drugstore chain throughout Sumaru City. All the shopkeepers look the same, and are open about being sisters. Don't worry about the music overhead or why it has a different style in each store, just don't.

; Mayo Mart (Persona 4)
: A 24-hour konbini (Japanese convenience store) in Inaba.

; 777 (Persona 5)
: Convenience store chain with special sales on all days ending in 7. Pronounced 'Triple Seven.'

=== Convenience Store Food ===

; Sham (Original)
: Preserved ham in a can. Originally popular in America, it became a big deal in Okinawa -- so big, in fact, that Sham is now more popular in Okinawa than America! Most Okinawans will have strong opinions about the right and wrong way to slice Sham... and about right and wrong ways to cook it.

== Other Notable Shops ==

; GOLD Gym (Persona 2)
: Major gym workout chain with locations throughout the world.

; Kaori (Persona 2)
: Perfume and aromatherapy shop in Rengedai; scents that cleanse the soul, perhaps more literally than you'd think...

; Padparadscha (Persona 2)
: Jewelry store in Hotel Pleiades in Narumi.

; Rafflesia (Persona 3)
: Floral shop franchise throughout Japan; has various smaller branches everywhere. Sometimes includes services where they'll grow and nurture your plants for you.

; Junes Department Store (Persona 4)
: Department megastore chain. The jingle goes: 'Every day's great at your Junes!' A new store is presently being built in Inaba -- look forward to the grand opening!

; Moel Gas Station (Persona 4)
: A gas station chain where one can go to fuel up one’s vehicle. May or may not have a grey-haired gas station attendant, or job openings.

; Untouchable Airsoft Shop (Persona 5)
: A military-esque airsoft shop in a back alley off Shibuya Central Street. Although all their goods are models, the proprietor, Iwai, has a scary look.

; Electronics Superstore Akindo (Persona 5)
: A huge electronics store in Akihabara.

; De La Mancha (Inspired by Soul Hackers 2)
: Or just Mancha. A chain discount store that sells just about everything, from groceries to electronics to clothing. Notorious for overloaded shelves so they can offer more products. Very lucky shoppers may occasionally find a cognitively useful item buried in there, whether a consumable, equipment, or even a card!

;Remarclo (VRM Original)
: A Japanese clothing brand that has chains all over the world. Known for its monthly collaborations with various artists and franchises.

== Services and Appointments ==

; Hiiragi Psychotherapy (Persona 2)
: Run by Dr. Reiko, located in Seaside Mall.

; Sumaru Genie (Persona 2)
: Fortune-teller based in Seaside Mall who goes by the same name as the store. Her fortunes stopped coming true after Wang Long fortune-telling rose into prominence.

; Time Castle (Persona 2)
: Clock shop run by the eclectic Time Count, a man who acts the part of a Victorian gentleman who gets a little intense sometimes. Offers Skill Card services.

; Tominaga Chiropractic (Persona 2)
: Run by Mr. Tomi, a bombastic chiropractor trained in the US who has a US-themed 'flair' to his personality. He utilizes his ultimate technique, the Gold Finger, to adjust any spine, satisfaction guaranteed.

== Housing ==

; Lunar Palace (Persona 2)
: Apartment complex chain; there's one such apartment building in Konan. Maya Amano, Ulala Serizawa, and Shiori Miyashiro live there.

== Famous People ==

; Eriko "Elly" Kirishima (Persona 1)
: Popular rising model. Her hobby is the occult and she gives no comment on any potential boyfriend situation.

; Hidehiko "Brown" Uesugi (Persona 1)
: Talk show host. He's known for his boisterous laughter and nonstop jokes.

; Junko Kurosu (Persona 2)
: Veteran actress who's been in the profession for decades. She doesn't get quite as many roles now that she's in her 40s with a son who's nearly an adult, but she's still going strong.

; President Tanaka (Persona 3)
: CEO of and host to a TV home shopping show every Sunday morning, both of which are called Tanaka's Amazing Commodities.

; Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)
: The first Detective Prince, who comes from a famous detective family and has been solving crimes across the country for years from a very young age.

; Rise Kujikawa (Persona 4)
: A popular middle school-aged rookie idol who's appeared in a few commercials so far.

; Goro Akechi (Persona 5)
: The second Detective Prince, sometimes called the Second Coming of the Detective Prince. A rookie compared to Naoto Shirogane, but nonetheless a high schooler who solves crimes for the police and gets consulted all the time.

; Ann Takamaki (Persona 5)
: An exotically beautiful model of mixed Japanese, American, and Finnish descent.

; Mika (Persona 5)
: A budding model, just starting out in the industry.

; Suguru Kamoshida (Persona 5)
: A professional athlete who won the gold medal for volleyball in the 2008 Summer Olympics and was teaching gym at Shujin Academy until recently. He turned himself in for abusing his students after he received a strange calling card from someone(s) calling themselves the "Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

; Ichiryusai Madarame (Persona 5)
: A famous artist celebrated for his incredibly broad range of styles. He recently confessed that his "range" was actually plagiarized from his various students, again after receiving a strange calling card from the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.

; Subaru Amamiya (Persona 5 - Original)
: The soft-spoken and stern Mayor of Inaba, elected for four terms and presently trying for a fifth. He doesn't speak of [[Ren Amamiya|his son]] often. It's rumoured that he has greater politicial ambitions than being the Mayor of a small town. His wife Akira often acts as his unofficial assistant.

;Gozaburou "Zabu" Gessou (Velvet Room MUSH - Original)
:Talk show host and media personality. "Good Evening, Sumaru" is his show focusing on the weird rumors and happenings of Sumaru. He is also the son of a once influential political family whose patriarch died under mysterious circumstances.

[[Category: Setting]]

2026-07-14: Prowling the Plaza for the Perfect Present

2026-07-14T21:51:31Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: Prowling the Plaza for the Perfect Present'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Lotus Plaza
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-07-14
*'''IC Date:''' Sun Dec 09 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke and Ichika go behind Tsubasa's back to plot something nefarious. Something dastardly. Something secret, and utterly devious. They plot... Christmas presents.''

----

(|=============================== Lotus Plaza ================================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Rengedai Ward ====-
This shopping mall offers an unparalleled view of the river that flows around
Rengedai. It boasts somewhat fewer stores than comparable malls and shopping
centers around Sumaru City, but it's only a few blocks away from Seven Sisters
High School, so it's a favored hangout for teenagers all the same. Its stores
include Time Castle, a strange antique store run by the Count, and, for those
with the eyes to see its door, the Velvet Room.

To eat, there's Gatten Sushi, a sushi restaurant run by the Mishina family; with
stone flooring for most of the store, raised bamboo flooring for tables, bar
seating for those who want to watch the sushi chef and restaurant owner Kankichi
work his magic, and a massive aquarium, the atmosphere is welcoming and
encourages one to fill up. It's a favorite of Sumaru rumormonger Kenta "Toro"
Yokouchi, a successful salesman (and Persona user).

For the weary, there's Kaori, a perfume store owned by the eponymous Miss Kaori;
its naturalistic wooden flooring, potted plants, and ivy lattice that arches
over the glass doors inspire a relaxing atmosphere. The fragrances for sale
there only underscore this--the scents are *so* relaxing that they can literally
heal customers, body and soul.

And, of course, it's not Sumaru City without a local Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy
branch. This one looks the same as all the others: aisles and walls laden with
medicine of all kinds, overseen from the back counter where magazines are
available by one of seven identical sisters. Satomi Sister #6 runs this one; the
classic version of the store's theme plays here. "The eternal ally of those who
fight: our city's friendly drug store! o/`"
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke had recruited Ichika for a secret mission. It was something that he had stressed nobody else could know about, for fear of word getting out and their cover being blown. It was a devious, nefarious, scheme that had to be kept quiet, right up until the very moment that all the pieces were in place. He had, of course, recruited her to go Christmas shopping with him for Tsubasa's present. It was only natural that he asked her to help him, he supposed - he couldn't very well ask them directly if he wanted to remain a surprise, after all.

So it was that he found himself striding into Lotus Plaza, looking idly around at the dizzying array of shops and stalls. Thumbs wedged firmly into his pockets, he said nothing for the first few seconds after entering, though the scrunched-up look on his face made it clear that he was deep in thought. His gaze latched onto a sign here and there, or a colourful product that stood out amongst the rest, but there was little that held his attention for long. Eventually, his wandering eyes found their way back to Ichika, and he turned slightly towards her to speak.

"Lotta choices here..." He said, stealing one more glance at the variety on the ground floor alone. "I've got no idea where to start. Tsubasa likes birds, don't they? And sewing? I don't really know much about sewing, and I don't know any place that sells bird-themed stuff apart from plushes, so I'll take any ideas if you've got 'em."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
A secret mission...!

Ichika was in the dorms this weekend as she is ''most'' weekends, so it was easy to get her for this. She's on board with the idea. Of all the ways to conspire about Tsubasa, this is one of the better ones.

So, on they go to Lotus Plaza...

"True," Ichika says to Hyousuke about all the choices. Lotus Plaza sure does have a lot of shops and such. It may be smaller than Smile Mall, but it's less likely they'll run into people who live in Hirasaka.

"They like birds a lot. But a literal bird might be a problem..." Since where they live...

Hm. "Let's look around and see what they've got?" she offers.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke nodded firmly.
"Yeah, and I dont know if Lance'd be happy about the new roommate. Still, sounds like a plan. One of these shops has got to have *something* they'd like." He hoped that was the case, at least. Lotus Plaza had a lot of shops, so by law of averages, at least one of them had to have something that was at least passable as a gift. Whatever the case was, he moved off slowly, deciding to take his time so that they could properly take stock of everything that was around them. At the very least, a walk could help narrow down their options.

"...Thinking about it, should we get something for Lance too? I don't want 'em feeling left out." That was not a joke. Hyousuke asked the question with all the seriousness he would have if Lance was a person. There was a few moments of silence as he considered what their mutual dogfriend would like before he continued on, his head turning slowly on its swivel. "We can figure that one out later. We've still gotta find one for Tsubasa-san." He glanced at a few clothing stores clustered together, and then at the ensembles displayed in the window. "No, not clothes, I can't give people that... What about threads and stuff though? I know I'd be happy if someone gave me some primo stuff to carve with."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"...Heh. That'd be cute." Lance and bird...

"Right." The shops have to have something! There's a lot of possibilities, anyway. Ichika walks along just as slowly, glancing here and there to get ideas for something.

"Yes," Ichika says. "I got Lance some dental treats to keep her healthy, and a couple toys," Ichika says. "More toys are probably better."

But later! Tsubasa...

"Hmm... Materials for shit are good," she says. "Stuff they can work with."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke rubbed the back of his neck a little sheepishly, and let out something that sounded a little like a sigh.
"Yeah, but I don't know what good sewing stuff looks like, and I don't know if I trust the store enough to recommend me something that's *actually* good instead of what they're being paid to *say* is good." He sounded a little bitter at the notion, and for a second, even pulled a face about it. But it passed quickly enough, and he went right back to pondering, his plodding pace giving him plenty of time for it.

"You see anything bird-themed around here? I don't know anything about sewing, but I know if something looks cute when I see it." While there was nothing explicitly bird-centric on offer, there were a great many stores that potentially sold bird-themed paraphernalia. A clothing store renowned for its graphic tees was nearby - a little pricey, perhaps, but Hyousuke was willing to spend for a friend as good as them. A homewares store was across the way as well, touting no shortage of decorative items, cookware, cutlery, mugs, and other such things, some of which would no doubt have animal iconography. And he had no doubt that there were shops selling stuffed toys and other cutesy paraphernalia - a little kitschy, maybe, but overwhelming cuteness had its charm.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Hmm... We could look? I can read people OK." They can be sre! still, the matter of Hyousuke's face... Ichika looks sympathetic, hbut doesn't push it. Instead--

She doesn't see anything at first, but there.... tees!

"Oh, there's birds on this shirt," she says, gravitating there first.. There's also ''mugs'' with birds on them down the way in particular. No plushies yet, but only because they haven't gotten to the plushies yet.

"Hmm..."

Ichika starts flipping through shirts to see sizes and all.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Could you? There's a craft store up one floor. I've gone there a couple times to pick up some stuff for carving." The relief in Hyousuke's voice when Ichika offered to help him with picking out craft supplies was palpable, though his attention quickly turned away from such things and towards the clothing store. It was hard not to be drawn towards it, what with with the bright red sign affixed to the entrance, and the litany of clothes that were displayed in its windows. There were some plain ones, yes, but those were not what caught his eye.

"Oh hey, check it out. They're doing a collab with Greetings Cat this month." Hyousuke pulled a top from the rack and held up for Ichika to see. The design was a fairly simple one, using bold and black lines to draw a simplified version of the series' mascots upon the front. However, simple though the aesthetic was, the characters were no less recognisable for it. The titular cat herself was on most of the tops, of course, but there were other characters too - penguins, chicks, and ducks included.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Let's check it out when we're done here." Ichika can help with that! And well, the clothing store does have a big sign...

"Cute," Ichika comments. Greetings Cat is ''very'' cute. And there... The penguin! Heropen, the brave penguin. Ichika looks at this one for a moment. "Hmmm..."

And also a duck! "Nice little guys..."

"Hmm, they're not gonna wear the cute stuff," Ichika reflects, "But if there's a collab, there might be things they'd ''use''."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Use? What do you mean? I don't come in here much, so if they do more stuff than just clothes, I wouldn't know." Hyousuke asked, tilting his head a little as he pondered what she meant. Hyousuke certainly didn't look like he knew. Though Remarclo sold a variety of basic clothing items - jeans, vests, shirts, and the like - his were cheaper items from cheaper stores. Nothing that bore the label of a brand like them. He turned the shirt towards him when Ichika was done looking it over, but his eyes lingered on it for a second more than someone just casually looking it over.

He then hatched a devious plan. A terrible, no-good, secret, and nefarious plan that sparked an uncharacteristically devilish glint in his eyes, before he finally placed it back onto the rack. When he turned back, the look was gone, and he was his usual sunny - if slightly dull - self.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, just--Like, not clothes but other stuff with the patterns on," she says. "But not here maybe. The clothes though..." Hmm. "Well, maybe one of these vests..."

But Hyousuke gets an ''idea''.

Ichika tilts here head, seeing that devious plan. "...Hm?" she wonders.
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke shook his head softly.
"No, nothing, just thinking about something else." He said. Like a liar. At the very least, it didn't seem too be anything to worry about, though there was an argument to be made that Hyousuke having an idea was a worrying thing in and of itself. Either way, he seemed content to dropt he subject and move onto other things, stroking his chin a little as he considered what Ichika said. "You're right though. If they're doing clothes like this, they might have other stuff like it. The home goods place probably has some stuff, and there's that place that sells all the merch... Gah, can't remember the name."

Whatever the case was, it seemed like they had options, though his gaze still lingered on the available options for clothing scattered around the shop.
"Want to keep going? Or was there anything you wanted to get while we're here?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Something else...? Well, Ichika isn't going to press for the moment if he doesn't want to talk about it. Hyousuke having ideas is something to encourage! Especially when thinking about gifts. But, "Yeah, let's have a look. It's just down the way anyway, we don't have to remember what it's called."

But clothes? "Nah, I'm good," Ichika says of that. "I've got the staples covered right now. ...Trying not to overdo it on stuff."

"But there's next door?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Might as well since we're here." Hyousuke said offhandedly, at the mention of the homeware store right next to them. While it was perhaps not as trendy as Remarclo, or as charming as some of the independent shops, there was no denying that the place had its own kind of appeal. With the furniture sectioned off to one part of the store, cookware and dining utensils off to the other, and other miscellaneous homeware at the far end, the place sparked a feeling of homeliness. Like he was being invited to turn his room from mere quarters into an actual living space, such as the dorm would allow for.

As lovely as the various chairs, couches, and tables looked, he did not suspect them to be particularly good gifts for Tsubasa at present. Instead, Hyousuke made for the smaller items. Mugs and glasses, cutlery and cookware, cushions and bedsheets - all were at his fingertips, and all could have cases made for being presented as gifts. However, two things stood out to him the most, and he seemed to have a little trouble deciding between them. In one hand, he bore a set of four mugs, each one in seasonal hues with a simple illustration of a seasonal animal upon them. What really drew his attention was the winter one, however. Pale blue on the top half with a smattering of white snow below, a shima ennaga - the 'Snow Fairy,' as Hokkaido's long-tailed tit was known - could be seen bobbing around. The other hand clutched a blanket with an owl woven into it, no doubt part of a larger night-themed pattern across the whole thing.

"I could just get both..." Hyousuke said, smiling a little sheepishly at Ichika.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yes," Ichika answers, and lets the shirt go, instead following Hyousuke out. She looks around at the other pieces as she goes; stuff there isn't room for in her dorm, but that might be nice when she moves out for...

Well, whatever she does after high school. She isn't sure yet.

Still, they go for small items, and Ichika glances at a number. There are many possibilities! But Hyousuke sees...

"Oh," she says, "That's really cute." She doesn't say 'adorable' because that doesn't suit her cool image. But it's adorable. "That mug's nice."

Pause. Then the blanket... "Oh..."

"You could," Ichika says. "But that could cost a lot. Tell you what--if it's too much to get both, I'll chip in for the blanket too."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
With a warm - if somewhat bashful - smile, Hyousuke shook his head gently at Ichika, before pulling the items just a little closer in towards himself.
"It's fine. You guys have been... You've helped me a lot ever since I got here. Buying a blanket and some mugs is the least I can do to say thanks for everything." Simple though his words were, he still struggled a little to get them out. Not because they were anything less than genuine, of course. It was the fact that they were nothing *but* genuine that made it difficult for him to say.

He let the words hang in the air for a moment, then followed up with something a little more lighthearted.
"Besides, I've been making good money at my new job. Before you ask, it's a real job, not like the, uh... other stuff."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
No? Ichika waits on that for a moment, until Hyousuke confirms it's fine. She won't push the matter--but it's true that she likes the blanket too.

"...All right," she says. "I respect that. You don't owe me," she says, because it's hers to say, "But if you want to give a gift for them..."

She smiles. "That's cool with me."

"oh, yeah? That's cool." She's curious what he's doing... but Ryuji was weird about telling he what he's doing...

"Cool. You wanna talk about it sometime, I'm interested," she says. "If not, that's cool too. But a job's a good thing for a guy to have."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Again, Hyousuke took on a bashful look, but not like he had when speaking from the heart. It was closer to embarrassment. Not heavy or intense enough to come anywhere close to shame, but more the kind of expression someone would have when giving a wildly incorrect answer when called on by a teacher.
"Eh, maybe another time. It's, uh, kinda difficult to explain." It was not, in fact, difficult to explain. Though the minutiae of the job were difficult to master, explaining the broad strokes of it was not.

Partially in an attempt to distract her, and partially because he'd forgotten up until that point, Hyousuke offered something else up to her.
"But there *is* something I need you to do for me." He said, before drawing something out of his side-slung bag. It was an envelope, red in colour with gold - or, at least, some approximation of it - embellishments upon the front. "Could you give this to your sister when you see her? I don't know if I'm gonna be going by Gekkoukan before Christmas. It's a gift card. Good for a reservation at any date for two people at this teahouse I've been to a couple times. It's a real nice place, and she mentioned wanting to do something with a friend of hers, so I figured she might like this."

From the way he said it, it seemed quite clear he had no idea who the 'friend' was.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Embarrassment! So many guys seem to be weird about that lately... (Well, two is a lot!)

"OK," Ichika says, and doens't pry further. It's fine.

But instead--something to do? "Sure," she says, and then takes the envelope. Two people...

Ichika grins. She gets it.

"Sure," Ichika says, "I'll do that. I bet she'll enjoy it, too."

"Thanks on her behalf. I'll let you know what she says."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
What had she grinned at? Did she know something he didn't? Ichika knew many things that Hyousuke did not, but something told him there was more at play there than a simple mismatch of knowledge. He blinked quizzically at her for a moment, giving her a stare to match, before deciding to drop it. It was probably nothing, and he still had things to do that day.
"Thanks. I wish I could give it to her myself, but I've got a lot going on right now. Guess I'll just have to meet up with her afterwards."

He flashed a quick smile at Ichika, then turned to wards the counter.
"Anyway, I'm gonna go pay for this. Want to grab lunch after we're done here?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Tell you what," Ichika says, "If she comes out to visit, I'll see if she's got time to drop by to see you, too."

Ichika does not explain the grin!! Instead, she smiles at her friend. He's done good today!

"Sounds good," Ichika says. "I'm into lunch."

She'll walk along with the counter--probably pick up something small while she's here, just because.

But it'll be fun!
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-07-14: Prowling the Plaza for the Perfect Present

2026-07-14T21:50:26Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Prowling the Plaza for the Perfect Present''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ichika Kawase *'''Where:''' Lotus Plaza *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-07-14 *'''IC Date:''' Sun Dec 09 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke enlists Ichika's help in finding Tsubasa the perfect Christmas present.'' ---- (|=============================== Lotus Plaza ================================|) -=============================================== Sumaru City/Rengedai Ward ====- This shop..."

*'''Log: Prowling the Plaza for the Perfect Present'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' Lotus Plaza
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-07-14
*'''IC Date:''' Sun Dec 09 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke enlists Ichika's help in finding Tsubasa the perfect Christmas present.''

----

(|=============================== Lotus Plaza ================================|)
-=============================================== Sumaru City/Rengedai Ward ====-
This shopping mall offers an unparalleled view of the river that flows around
Rengedai. It boasts somewhat fewer stores than comparable malls and shopping
centers around Sumaru City, but it's only a few blocks away from Seven Sisters
High School, so it's a favored hangout for teenagers all the same. Its stores
include Time Castle, a strange antique store run by the Count, and, for those
with the eyes to see its door, the Velvet Room.

To eat, there's Gatten Sushi, a sushi restaurant run by the Mishina family; with
stone flooring for most of the store, raised bamboo flooring for tables, bar
seating for those who want to watch the sushi chef and restaurant owner Kankichi
work his magic, and a massive aquarium, the atmosphere is welcoming and
encourages one to fill up. It's a favorite of Sumaru rumormonger Kenta "Toro"
Yokouchi, a successful salesman (and Persona user).

For the weary, there's Kaori, a perfume store owned by the eponymous Miss Kaori;
its naturalistic wooden flooring, potted plants, and ivy lattice that arches
over the glass doors inspire a relaxing atmosphere. The fragrances for sale
there only underscore this--the scents are *so* relaxing that they can literally
heal customers, body and soul.

And, of course, it's not Sumaru City without a local Satomi Tadashi Pharmacy
branch. This one looks the same as all the others: aisles and walls laden with
medicine of all kinds, overseen from the back counter where magazines are
available by one of seven identical sisters. Satomi Sister #6 runs this one; the
classic version of the store's theme plays here. "The eternal ally of those who
fight: our city's friendly drug store! o/`"
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke had recruited Ichika for a secret mission. It was something that he had stressed nobody else could know about, for fear of word getting out and their cover being blown. It was a devious, nefarious, scheme that had to be kept quiet, right up until the very moment that all the pieces were in place. He had, of course, recruited her to go Christmas shopping with him for Tsubasa's present. It was only natural that he asked her to help him, he supposed - he couldn't very well ask them directly if he wanted to remain a surprise, after all.

So it was that he found himself striding into Lotus Plaza, looking idly around at the dizzying array of shops and stalls. Thumbs wedged firmly into his pockets, he said nothing for the first few seconds after entering, though the scrunched-up look on his face made it clear that he was deep in thought. His gaze latched onto a sign here and there, or a colourful product that stood out amongst the rest, but there was little that held his attention for long. Eventually, his wandering eyes found their way back to Ichika, and he turned slightly towards her to speak.

"Lotta choices here..." He said, stealing one more glance at the variety on the ground floor alone. "I've got no idea where to start. Tsubasa likes birds, don't they? And sewing? I don't really know much about sewing, and I don't know any place that sells bird-themed stuff apart from plushes, so I'll take any ideas if you've got 'em."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
A secret mission...!

Ichika was in the dorms this weekend as she is ''most'' weekends, so it was easy to get her for this. She's on board with the idea. Of all the ways to conspire about Tsubasa, this is one of the better ones.

So, on they go to Lotus Plaza...

"True," Ichika says to Hyousuke about all the choices. Lotus Plaza sure does have a lot of shops and such. It may be smaller than Smile Mall, but it's less likely they'll run into people who live in Hirasaka.

"They like birds a lot. But a literal bird might be a problem..." Since where they live...

Hm. "Let's look around and see what they've got?" she offers.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke nodded firmly.
"Yeah, and I dont know if Lance'd be happy about the new roommate. Still, sounds like a plan. One of these shops has got to have *something* they'd like." He hoped that was the case, at least. Lotus Plaza had a lot of shops, so by law of averages, at least one of them had to have something that was at least passable as a gift. Whatever the case was, he moved off slowly, deciding to take his time so that they could properly take stock of everything that was around them. At the very least, a walk could help narrow down their options.

"...Thinking about it, should we get something for Lance too? I don't want 'em feeling left out." That was not a joke. Hyousuke asked the question with all the seriousness he would have if Lance was a person. There was a few moments of silence as he considered what their mutual dogfriend would like before he continued on, his head turning slowly on its swivel. "We can figure that one out later. We've still gotta find one for Tsubasa-san." He glanced at a few clothing stores clustered together, and then at the ensembles displayed in the window. "No, not clothes, I can't give people that... What about threads and stuff though? I know I'd be happy if someone gave me some primo stuff to carve with."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"...Heh. That'd be cute." Lance and bird...

"Right." The shops have to have something! There's a lot of possibilities, anyway. Ichika walks along just as slowly, glancing here and there to get ideas for something.

"Yes," Ichika says. "I got Lance some dental treats to keep her healthy, and a couple toys," Ichika says. "More toys are probably better."

But later! Tsubasa...

"Hmm... Materials for shit are good," she says. "Stuff they can work with."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke rubbed the back of his neck a little sheepishly, and let out something that sounded a little like a sigh.
"Yeah, but I don't know what good sewing stuff looks like, and I don't know if I trust the store enough to recommend me something that's *actually* good instead of what they're being paid to *say* is good." He sounded a little bitter at the notion, and for a second, even pulled a face about it. But it passed quickly enough, and he went right back to pondering, his plodding pace giving him plenty of time for it.

"You see anything bird-themed around here? I don't know anything about sewing, but I know if something looks cute when I see it." While there was nothing explicitly bird-centric on offer, there were a great many stores that potentially sold bird-themed paraphernalia. A clothing store renowned for its graphic tees was nearby - a little pricey, perhaps, but Hyousuke was willing to spend for a friend as good as them. A homewares store was across the way as well, touting no shortage of decorative items, cookware, cutlery, mugs, and other such things, some of which would no doubt have animal iconography. And he had no doubt that there were shops selling stuffed toys and other cutesy paraphernalia - a little kitschy, maybe, but overwhelming cuteness had its charm.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Hmm... We could look? I can read people OK." They can be sre! still, the matter of Hyousuke's face... Ichika looks sympathetic, hbut doesn't push it. Instead--

She doesn't see anything at first, but there.... tees!

"Oh, there's birds on this shirt," she says, gravitating there first.. There's also ''mugs'' with birds on them down the way in particular. No plushies yet, but only because they haven't gotten to the plushies yet.

"Hmm..."

Ichika starts flipping through shirts to see sizes and all.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Could you? There's a craft store up one floor. I've gone there a couple times to pick up some stuff for carving." The relief in Hyousuke's voice when Ichika offered to help him with picking out craft supplies was palpable, though his attention quickly turned away from such things and towards the clothing store. It was hard not to be drawn towards it, what with with the bright red sign affixed to the entrance, and the litany of clothes that were displayed in its windows. There were some plain ones, yes, but those were not what caught his eye.

"Oh hey, check it out. They're doing a collab with Greetings Cat this month." Hyousuke pulled a top from the rack and held up for Ichika to see. The design was a fairly simple one, using bold and black lines to draw a simplified version of the series' mascots upon the front. However, simple though the aesthetic was, the characters were no less recognisable for it. The titular cat herself was on most of the tops, of course, but there were other characters too - penguins, chicks, and ducks included.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Let's check it out when we're done here." Ichika can help with that! And well, the clothing store does have a big sign...

"Cute," Ichika comments. Greetings Cat is ''very'' cute. And there... The penguin! Heropen, the brave penguin. Ichika looks at this one for a moment. "Hmmm..."

And also a duck! "Nice little guys..."

"Hmm, they're not gonna wear the cute stuff," Ichika reflects, "But if there's a collab, there might be things they'd ''use''."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Use? What do you mean? I don't come in here much, so if they do more stuff than just clothes, I wouldn't know." Hyousuke asked, tilting his head a little as he pondered what she meant. Hyousuke certainly didn't look like he knew. Though Remarclo sold a variety of basic clothing items - jeans, vests, shirts, and the like - his were cheaper items from cheaper stores. Nothing that bore the label of a brand like them. He turned the shirt towards him when Ichika was done looking it over, but his eyes lingered on it for a second more than someone just casually looking it over.

He then hatched a devious plan. A terrible, no-good, secret, and nefarious plan that sparked an uncharacteristically devilish glint in his eyes, before he finally placed it back onto the rack. When he turned back, the look was gone, and he was his usual sunny - if slightly dull - self.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, just--Like, not clothes but other stuff with the patterns on," she says. "But not here maybe. The clothes though..." Hmm. "Well, maybe one of these vests..."

But Hyousuke gets an ''idea''.

Ichika tilts here head, seeing that devious plan. "...Hm?" she wonders.
GAME: Save complete.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke shook his head softly.
"No, nothing, just thinking about something else." He said. Like a liar. At the very least, it didn't seem too be anything to worry about, though there was an argument to be made that Hyousuke having an idea was a worrying thing in and of itself. Either way, he seemed content to dropt he subject and move onto other things, stroking his chin a little as he considered what Ichika said. "You're right though. If they're doing clothes like this, they might have other stuff like it. The home goods place probably has some stuff, and there's that place that sells all the merch... Gah, can't remember the name."

Whatever the case was, it seemed like they had options, though his gaze still lingered on the available options for clothing scattered around the shop.
"Want to keep going? Or was there anything you wanted to get while we're here?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Something else...? Well, Ichika isn't going to press for the moment if he doesn't want to talk about it. Hyousuke having ideas is something to encourage! Especially when thinking about gifts. But, "Yeah, let's have a look. It's just down the way anyway, we don't have to remember what it's called."

But clothes? "Nah, I'm good," Ichika says of that. "I've got the staples covered right now. ...Trying not to overdo it on stuff."

"But there's next door?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Might as well since we're here." Hyousuke said offhandedly, at the mention of the homeware store right next to them. While it was perhaps not as trendy as Remarclo, or as charming as some of the independent shops, there was no denying that the place had its own kind of appeal. With the furniture sectioned off to one part of the store, cookware and dining utensils off to the other, and other miscellaneous homeware at the far end, the place sparked a feeling of homeliness. Like he was being invited to turn his room from mere quarters into an actual living space, such as the dorm would allow for.

As lovely as the various chairs, couches, and tables looked, he did not suspect them to be particularly good gifts for Tsubasa at present. Instead, Hyousuke made for the smaller items. Mugs and glasses, cutlery and cookware, cushions and bedsheets - all were at his fingertips, and all could have cases made for being presented as gifts. However, two things stood out to him the most, and he seemed to have a little trouble deciding between them. In one hand, he bore a set of four mugs, each one in seasonal hues with a simple illustration of a seasonal animal upon them. What really drew his attention was the winter one, however. Pale blue on the top half with a smattering of white snow below, a shima ennaga - the 'Snow Fairy,' as Hokkaido's long-tailed tit was known - could be seen bobbing around. The other hand clutched a blanket with an owl woven into it, no doubt part of a larger night-themed pattern across the whole thing.

"I could just get both..." Hyousuke said, smiling a little sheepishly at Ichika.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Yes," Ichika answers, and lets the shirt go, instead following Hyousuke out. She looks around at the other pieces as she goes; stuff there isn't room for in her dorm, but that might be nice when she moves out for...

Well, whatever she does after high school. She isn't sure yet.

Still, they go for small items, and Ichika glances at a number. There are many possibilities! But Hyousuke sees...

"Oh," she says, "That's really cute." She doesn't say 'adorable' because that doesn't suit her cool image. But it's adorable. "That mug's nice."

Pause. Then the blanket... "Oh..."

"You could," Ichika says. "But that could cost a lot. Tell you what--if it's too much to get both, I'll chip in for the blanket too."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
With a warm - if somewhat bashful - smile, Hyousuke shook his head gently at Ichika, before pulling the items just a little closer in towards himself.
"It's fine. You guys have been... You've helped me a lot ever since I got here. Buying a blanket and some mugs is the least I can do to say thanks for everything." Simple though his words were, he still struggled a little to get them out. Not because they were anything less than genuine, of course. It was the fact that they were nothing *but* genuine that made it difficult for him to say.

He let the words hang in the air for a moment, then followed up with something a little more lighthearted.
"Besides, I've been making good money at my new job. Before you ask, it's a real job, not like the, uh... other stuff."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
No? Ichika waits on that for a moment, until Hyousuke confirms it's fine. She won't push the matter--but it's true that she likes the blanket too.

"...All right," she says. "I respect that. You don't owe me," she says, because it's hers to say, "But if you want to give a gift for them..."

She smiles. "That's cool with me."

"oh, yeah? That's cool." She's curious what he's doing... but Ryuji was weird about telling he what he's doing...

"Cool. You wanna talk about it sometime, I'm interested," she says. "If not, that's cool too. But a job's a good thing for a guy to have."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Again, Hyousuke took on a bashful look, but not like he had when speaking from the heart. It was closer to embarrassment. Not heavy or intense enough to come anywhere close to shame, but more the kind of expression someone would have when giving a wildly incorrect answer when called on by a teacher.
"Eh, maybe another time. It's, uh, kinda difficult to explain." It was not, in fact, difficult to explain. Though the minutiae of the job were difficult to master, explaining the broad strokes of it was not.

Partially in an attempt to distract her, and partially because he'd forgotten up until that point, Hyousuke offered something else up to her.
"But there *is* something I need you to do for me." He said, before drawing something out of his side-slung bag. It was an envelope, red in colour with gold - or, at least, some approximation of it - embellishments upon the front. "Could you give this to your sister when you see her? I don't know if I'm gonna be going by Gekkoukan before Christmas. It's a gift card. Good for a reservation at any date for two people at this teahouse I've been to a couple times. It's a real nice place, and she mentioned wanting to do something with a friend of hers, so I figured she might like this."

From the way he said it, it seemed quite clear he had no idea who the 'friend' was.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Embarrassment! So many guys seem to be weird about that lately... (Well, two is a lot!)

"OK," Ichika says, and doens't pry further. It's fine.

But instead--something to do? "Sure," she says, and then takes the envelope. Two people...

Ichika grins. She gets it.

"Sure," Ichika says, "I'll do that. I bet she'll enjoy it, too."

"Thanks on her behalf. I'll let you know what she says."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
What had she grinned at? Did she know something he didn't? Ichika knew many things that Hyousuke did not, but something told him there was more at play there than a simple mismatch of knowledge. He blinked quizzically at her for a moment, giving her a stare to match, before deciding to drop it. It was probably nothing, and he still had things to do that day.
"Thanks. I wish I could give it to her myself, but I've got a lot going on right now. Guess I'll just have to meet up with her afterwards."

He flashed a quick smile at Ichika, then turned to wards the counter.
"Anyway, I'm gonna go pay for this. Want to grab lunch after we're done here?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Tell you what," Ichika says, "If she comes out to visit, I'll see if she's got time to drop by to see you, too."

Ichika does not explain the grin!! Instead, she smiles at her friend. He's done good today!

"Sounds good," Ichika says. "I'm into lunch."

She'll walk along with the counter--probably pick up something small while she's here, just because.

But it'll be fun!
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-28: Information Collation

2026-06-29T18:04:48Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Information Collation''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Shinobu Shimizu, Tamaki Uchida, Julian Marlowe *'''Where:''' Kuzunoha Detective Agency *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-28 *'''IC Date:''' Sat Dec 01 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Left with more questions than answers in the wake of the confrontation with Ulala Serizawa, Hyousuke, Shinobu, Julian, and Tamaki meet to try and make sense of things.'' ---- (|======================== Kuzunoha Detective Agency..."

*'''Log: Information Collation'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Shinobu Shimizu]], [[Tamaki Uchida]], [[Julian Marlowe]]
*'''Where:''' Kuzunoha Detective Agency
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-28
*'''IC Date:''' Sat Dec 01 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Left with more questions than answers in the wake of the confrontation with Ulala Serizawa, Hyousuke, Shinobu, Julian, and Tamaki meet to try and make sense of things.''

----
(|======================== Kuzunoha Detective Agency =========================|)
-=================================================== Sumaru City/Aoba Ward ====-
The first thing that greets visitors to Kuzunoha Detective Agency is a giant
golden lucky cat statue that, with its left paw raised, bids a hearty welcome to
customers and opportunities alike. Inspect it, and a mewling voice will ask for
donations: 100 yen from students and other children, and 1000 yen from adults.

A pair of dark couches that frame a coffee table have an excellent view of the
massive HDTV and dual stereos on the far right wall. On the far left wall are
shelves upon shelves full of books, none of which definitely can slide to one
side. A large desk with a lamp and computer stands in front of it. This is where
the portly older ex-gumshoe, Chief Daisuke Todoroki, makes his business, as...
blessed... by the agency's original owner. He investigates (and will spread) all
manner of rumors to find out the truth (and change reality), assisted by veteran
Persona User Tamaki Uchida.

The back room is nothing special; it has a stove and a sink, so it's a simple
task to always have tea ready for customers. There's a bathroom there too, but
it seems like it's always occupied. Don't ask who's in there, meow.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Gathering information on the men that had been spying on them had been arduous at best. Hyousuke knew it was a long shot - even if the way they dressed stood out amongst Sumaru's usual citizenry, that didn't guarantee that anyone knew about them. Even if they did have a clue about who they were, that too did not guarantee that any of them would even be inclined to talk about them to any useful degree. It wasn't like he could blame people for being cagey. The men seemed dangerous, or at the very least, disconcertingly calm for people in the presence of a possessed Ulala. He could have sworn they had guns as well, and had made an educated guess that they weren't the model ones he and his friends tended to use.

But Hyousuke was a very potent blend of headstrong and stubborn. Mortal danger had never warded him away from a situation before, and the idea that his Persona would not have been able to protect him in the real world against real bullets and real criminals did not seem to deter him much, if at all. So it was that - whether through luck, skill, or simply running out of other options to interrogate - Hyousuke happened upon two rumourmongers with some choice words to say about the men that had been there that day.

But Hyousuke was still a student. A child, in other words. There was precious little he could do on his own, as much as he hated to admit it, and he doubted that Shinobu would have been able to do much more than he. He couldn't speak for Vesper, not having a clue as to what the man's identity even was, but didn't care to gamble on some mystery man being powerful enough to bring their schemes to a crashing halt. Thus, a meeting was organised with Tamaki at the detective agency. If nothing else, handing off the information to someone that might have known how to act on it was a far better plan than just sitting on said files.

Hyousuke slipped in through the door and deposited the appropriate sum without much thought, his arm seeming to move on instinct by this point. He paid no mind the to the clattering of coin, instead scanning his eyes around the agency proper.
"Uchida-san? We're here." He said unceremoniously, still in his uniform, still with his bag slung over his shoulder.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
The fact that men like that were lurking around was... concerning, to say the least. To be able to mobilize that quickly... Did they already have some idea that something was happening? Was their interest in Ulala, or the people trying to help her - or was it a cover for something else...?

There's a lot of possibilities, but the fact is even with the information they've gathered there's still a lot of unknowns. She might know people, but there's a limit to what her connections can tell her... so in this situation, it's better to go to an expert.

Shinobu follows Hyousuke into the Kuzunoha Detective Agency building, drawing out some money and making an offering to the cat following his example.

It pays to be generous when you're asking about something dangerous.

"How've you been holding up after the other day?" Shinobu adds.

She's wearing a long winter coat alongside a pair of nice boots. Her duffel bag is slung over one shoulder.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
As the lucky cat gives its customary plea to those who enter the agency's doors, she stands up from her chair, spreads her hands, and gives her well-practiced cheery smile as she addresses Hyousuke and the others. "Hello, and welcome to the Kuzunoha Detective Agency!"

She folds her arms, leans forward, and specifically speaks to Hyousuke with a raised eyebrow, "You're putting a lot on my plate recently, but I can't complain about getting more opportunities to work."

Shinobu asks how well Tamaki's been holding up. At least in front of Shinobu and the others, right here, right now, she looks perfectly fine and dandy. (The contrast may be most evident to Hyousuke, who had seen her a couple of days earlier.) When being asked so point-blank about it, her facade cracks, her smile falters, and she avoids the gaze of anyone as she replies, "Better than I was. I'm still trying to figure out if there's anything I can do to make amends for what I said. It ... wasn't exactly my proudest moment."

She shakes her head and moves right along to a subject that leaves her less-vulnerable. "We don't need to dwell on me, though; how about yourself? How's your sister these days?"

Tamaki presses her hands together and bends them forward as she looks at the group. "Alright. Are we waiting on anyone else? What's this about?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>
Julian has yet to fully explain his absence at the time, soon after entering the gym. There may have been good enough for it, even aside from that shady-looking group of gangster types. One could theorize something like an attempt to alert the authorities, only to get into trouble for disturbing the peace not long before, leaving him stuck explaining himself. He hadn't exactly behaved himself like the perfect gentleman towards the bystanders while chasing Makimura, after all.

He did apologize like one at least, for not informing anyone beforehand, and pledged his assistence where he could be of help from here. If nothing else, he couldn't very well leave one of his students to handle a dangerous situation on his own. Welcome or not, now the teacher is insisting on being involved with the rest of this, too.

He is however very much the fish out of water here. It already starts once he enters, a short while after the others do. He carries a briefcase at his side, and clearly also came here from school, not that him going around in a full suit is anything out of ordinary for him, regardless of the time of year. But then the lucky cat pipes up. As his first time here, he's surprised to hear a request for 1000 Yen. "My word. Is that truly the customary amount...?" He complies, all the same, though given his pained expression, one might imagine him wondering about the frequency of his visits here.

Overqualified or not, he's a recent hire, and starting salaries are never great in the field of education. Considering the amount of work he does, he's almost certainly underpaid. ...It's not actually a concern, considering his 'side job', but then, he hasn't exactly told anybody about that. And if there's one thing he knows, it's how to keep up appearances. A calm smile is thus back on his features in short order as he proceeds inside.

"Suzuki-san, Shimizu-san. And... Uchida-san. Good to see you again. I hope you managed to find what you were looking for, that time."

Of course that time Tamaki was investigating the Kasugayama basement was far from the most recent time they met, but, keeping up those appearances. He did seem to be aware of some of the more supernatural goings-on at the school... but how much does he know about, really?
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke wasn't sure how he was supposed to respond to Tamaki's comment - doubly so since he wasn't even sure he *should* have brought the other case to her. He'd been desperate, with few others he could turn to for such a predicament, but should he have looked harder? Searcher farther? Asked more people? There was little point in wondering about it, he silently supposed. The deed was done, and payment had been promised.
"I think this one's a little more exciting than lost dogs." Hyousuke said, giving Tamaki a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

He remained quiet when Shinobu asked Tamaki about how she was faring. Though he looked between them as the conversation bounced back and forth, he'd already seen how Tamaki had been doing after dealing with Ulala, and had no intention of butting in again. Before he could pipe up and speak on something he actually knew about - the topic of the meeting, in other words - someone else entered the picture. Hyousuke swung his head around to face the newcomer, and with a partially arched brow, he beheld Julian. His expression settled a moment or two after, but not into something that was entirely pleased to see him.

Trust issues regarding the man aside, there was the fact that Julian was very much not aware of the supernatural goings-on with Ulala. He glanced at Shinobu, silently hoping that she had an answer about how they were supposed to navigate the topic with him in tow, but ultimately decided it was best to simply respond to Julian as though nothing was wrong.
"Marlowe-sensei. Glad you could make it." He said, the flash of a smile on his lips once more not quite reaching past them. He turned back, and dug something of his own out of his bag, before placing it unceremoniously onto the nearest empty spot on the nearest flat surface he could find between them all.

"You two remember the guys that were watching us after we dealt with the guy in the locker rooms?" Hyousuke asked, looking to his notes instead of them while he leafed through his notebook. He either ignored how out of place he looked between three adults, or was simply too oblivious to notice it, as he barrelled on through with reading what he'd written down. "Asked around a bit to try and figure out who they were. Didn't get much - most people didn't seem like they wanted to talk about them, *if* they knew about them in the first place. but a couple rumourmongers - Chikarin and Master - came up with something."

He ran his finger down to a hastily-scrawled list in the middle of the page. His handwriting had gotten nominally better ever since he'd enrolled in Kasugayama and actually taken his studies seriously, but it was still far from anything one could call neat.
"They're supposed to be some guys in the Taiwanese mafia acting out of Club Zodiac. Chikarin called them the 'Tien Tao Lien' - said they're involved with all kinds of sh- cra- *things* back in Taiwan. Master said that some guy called Yung Pao's leading them and looking for his brother in Japan, and that we'd know him by the scar on his face, but that's all he had on him."

Hyousuke drew back up and looked between the other three.
"You ask me, this is just giving us more questions than answers. The hell's the Taiwanese mafia getting involved with people like Serizawa-san for?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
She'd never say it to his face, but Shinobu figures it's probably a good thing that Julian had gotten waylaid and couldn't participate in the fight itself. She doesn't doubt that he's capable... but a normal guy getting mixed up with a Joker Killer would never end well. She accepted his apology easily.

"Yup. Nothin' to do but bear with it..." Shinobu replies, as he comments on the donation.

"Good to see you." Shinobu replies with a nod and a casual wave to Tamaki as she greets them. She meets Hyousuke's look - but she shakes her head. Her idea right now? Now to worry about it. Right now, the most pressing issue for them is... the distressingly mundane men with guns. That's something anyone can understand. "And you too, Marlowe."

She sees that crack in Tamaki's facade and Shinobu massages the back of her neck, nodding in understanding.

"...Yeah. I get that. Times like that... I guess the best thing is to be open and honest with your feelings, yeah? Gonna suck, but... rip the band-aid off, y'know." She offers. Tamaki changes the subject, though, and Shinobu doesn't persist.

"Still worried about Serizawa, and whatever's gonna happen next now that we've got a bunch of ticking time bombs, but... other than that, can't complain." She shrugs. She smiles, though, as Tamaki asks about Ayame. "Oh, yeah, she's been doing pretty well. Thanks for asking. ...Actually, she's got another kid on the way now, so she might be taking a step back from... you know, all the excitement."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke leads them in - and Shinobu lets him do the talking, since he seems set on it.

"Oh yeah, I remember those guys, alright." She confirms with a nod. "...Yeah, that lines up with what I heard. Even just a description is enough for people to act like they've already got a gun to their head..."

She shakes her head. He has a good question, though.

"Yeah, I mean... It didn't seem like they just ''happened'' to be hanging around the gym. Guys like that don't ''do''... casual loitering." She adds with a shrug.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki chuckles good-naturedly at Hyousuke's response. "'Exciting.' Please, I'm a grinder. Our niche is that we take on the unglamorous stuff. Helps us avoid competing with the good old 'second coming of the Detective Prince', after all!" She laughs a second time -- more openly, but slightly tinged with a hint of bitterness.

Julian may be the proverbial fish out of water here, but Tamaki's reaction causes her to physically resemble one as she remains momentarily stunned with her mouth frozen in an open smile. Of all the people she would have guessed would come in alongside the other two, he wasn't high up on the list. After a few seconds, she regains her composure and stammers out a greeting, "A-ah! ''Mister'' Marlowe! It's good to see you, too! And yes, we did find it, so thank you very much for your assistance in the matter."

"You could always ignore the statue, or really, give only what you're comfortable giving." she comments with a shrug as she shakes her head. "It wasn't anything we set up ourselves. It's the darndest thing; a local rumor spread about how donating enough to it would bring good fortune to its benefactors, then it just started talking one day. Neither Todoroki nor myself can make heads or tails of it." This is, admittedly, a bit of a half-truth, but the secret of the statue remains secret ... for now. "Think of it more as a way to gauge someone's intent and character than anything financial."

Like the first two who walked through the doors today, her mind kicks into overdrive to try and find a way to navigate the topic at hand in front of someone ostensibly not involved with the supernatural. Hyousuke's a student, so it's the adults' responsibility to make sure he's safe, but Julian's unprotected when it comes to the supernatural, so it's ''their'' responsibility to keep ''him'' safe, and -- oh boy, that's a complicated thread to weave. Through the next few moments of the conversation, her eyes are on Julian to gauge how he reacts.

"It ... wouldn't be the first time," she responds to Hyousuke. "They were at the sanitarium, too." Granted, most of them were dead. "Or at least a rumormonger by the name of Baofu identified them as such."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>
It's easy enough for Julian to tell that Hyousuke has some misgivings about his presence. He's a psychologist, it's his job to see through fake smiles. Also, to not be overly confrontational about the things he can't help but notice, that's rarely helpful. "Of course," is the simple and polite reply of the teacher who came to assist, of his own accord.

His bow to the adults is perhaps a bit over the top in formality, better suited to one of those butler cafes that are all the rage now. Intended genuinely, all the same. "My pleasure, I assure you," is his response, to the welcome and his earlier assistance to Tamaki both.

He laughs politely, at the explanation for the statue. "That's perfectly alright, Uchida-san. If that's the way things are, then far be it from me to deny myself or others good fortune." Just taking that one entirely in stride, huh. Well, one could hardly be in Sumaru for this long, even just for work, and not pick up a thing or two about the rumor culture.

As Hyousuke explains, a study of Julian's expression would show it yet entirely unchanging, nodding along as if he's already heard this story before. Indeed, he clarifies after Shinobu speaks, "Indeed, their appearance did suggest as much. Not that I've had any dealings, of course. But I did do some digging of my own, and came to the same conclusion."

...Which begs the question, who did Julian approach for his intel? He stops short of volunteering that much. The info in regards to the sanitarium is news to him, as he arrived late that time... but Julian Marlowe had not been there at all, of course, so his expression appropriately goes a little blank there. Once there's a pause, he looks about at the others present, then clears his throat.

"Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I somewhat feel as if I'm intruding. I do apologize, if that's the case. I realize this is not exactly my... wheelhouse, as it were. Even so, believe me when I say that my wish to assist comes from a place of true concern, for the safety of my students." He glances in Hyousuke's direction with a knowing smile, as if expecting some kind of protest there.

Still, he continues just as calmly, "Honestly, I have no students in particular in mind when I say this. I've come to realize that Sumaru is a dangerous place, for more reasons than most people know. Perhaps someone like myself has little in the way of ability to change that. Yet, it is my belief that with awareness comes responsibility. Thus, I have decided to do what I can, in that regard."

It's a roundabout way of saying it, but it's his way of suggesting that there's no need to walk on eggshells around him. He'll navigating things from there based on the response.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"They were there for *something.*" Hyousuke said through clenched teeth, agreeing with Shinobu, though not sounding too happy about the fact that neither of them knew precisely what that 'something' was. "Those guys are dangerous, but they were just watching what happened. Didn't step in to stop what happened with Serizawa-san, but they didn't help her either. They were just... there." Hyousuke felt like kicking himself. Again, he'd blundered through a situation with brute force, and this time there was a not-insignificant chance that it had cost them all a vital clue.

He laughed with Tamaki, though it was a hollow gesture lacking any real mirth. A polite response to a joking remark - nothing more, nothing less. Hyousuke didn't care to think about it much further, his attention was instead taken up by Julian mentioning having done some digging of his own. He couldn't help but wonder what exactly that digging entailed, and just who he'd approached for any kind of information. Most citizens had been reticent when he and Shinobu had approached them, and wrangling even a few scraps of useful information from the two rumourmongers had been a task and a half. There was more to Julian than him being a simple counsellor, of that much Hyousuke was sure. But quite what that meant eluded him, and *that* only served to raise his suspicions further.

Then came Tamaki's comment about the sanitarium. He did not respond to it immediately, instead taking a moment to process the memory of it. His arms, crossed loosely over his chest, tightened a little as he remembered the events of that night, and all that he'd witnessed there. Parts of him began to seize, the muscles tensing and his jaw clamping upon itself. His breathing hitched a little, then grew a shade harsher. His gaze - just for a moment - grew distant, looking through Tamaki rather than at her.

Then he nodded, and all returned to normal, save for his fingers clutching his arm a little harder than they had before.

"I remember." Hyousuke said tersely. He paused, trying to figure out how best to phrase what else he had to say. Julian wasn't involved with anything but the most surface-level of events - talking of the undead and Joker Killer and all the other associated supernatural phenomena would have raised some very awkward questions. Saying he remembered being at the sanitarium had already risked blowing his cover more than he was comfortable with. "You think they were looking for something there? I heard they lost a lot of people. Whatever they were doing there must've been important."

Julian's question snapped him out of his reverie, and Hyousuke looked slowly towards him. Part of him wanted to say yes, Julian was out of his depth, and it was best if he went home and forgot the entire incident. Things would be remarkably easier to discuss if everyone there was in tune with the supernatural, after all. The more practical side of him wondered if it was best to let him stay, and contribute any information he'd dug up. Another meeting could be arranged, after all, and it could be one where everyone spoke more openly.

Another, more prideful, part of him wanted to give the protest Julian expected. Though he recognised it was probably not a fantastic idea, he let it slip the reins a little, unable to resist defending his pride.
"Well, you don't have to worry about me, at least. I can take care of myself." He said back, though even with him attempting to maintain a calm and neutral demeanour, it was less an assurance and more a demand.When he processed the rest of what Julian had said - and cautiously chose to believe him in that regard - Hyousuke let out a slow, quiet, breath past gritted teeth. He did not know why he suddenly felt like he'd been wrong-footed, but it was a terribly uncomfortable feeling, and one he felt compelled to correct.

"...But if you want to help keep everyone else safe, maybe it wouldn't hurt to make sure you know what kinda guys're creeping around this place. What's the saying? 'Forewarned is forearmed' or something like that?"
Hyousuke had, contrary to popular belief, actually read the books he'd been assigned during class. He even remembered some of them. Whether he truly understood them was a question for another day.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu cracks a smirk at Tamaki's bitter laugh. The plight of someone who has to take whatever work they can get... For someone who jumps from job to job like her, that's familiar, even if their fields are vastly different.

"I can get that." She replies with an understanding nod.

She looks back toward the lucky cat as Tamaki explans its history, 'hm'ing thoughtfully.

"That so, huh...? I guess all's it takes is the right spark to get a rumor rolling..." She considers. ...Well, that's just life in Sumaru City, really.

She looks toward Julian as he agrees, too. He did some digging of his own... She does wonder just that entailed for him.

Tamaki brings up something that she had forgotten - those men... they were there at the sanitarium, too. Baofu had indentified them.

"...You're right. I hadn't put the pieces together..." She replies with a thoughtful frown. "That time, they were after Sudou... At least, that's what Baofu was saying. Think there's a connection there?"

She looks toward Julian then. Intruding... She listens to what he has to say, and then Hyousuke's response - and then at the end Shinobu offers a dimissive wave.

"Nah. You're not intruding. I mean, you seem kinda straight-laced for mafia talk... But if we haven't scared you off already, not much we can do about that, right? You're a grown-ass man." She comments with a shrug. "...Just think about whether or not this is the kinda stuff you ''want'' to get involved in. Some things you can't unlearn, you know?"

She nods toward Hyousuke, then.

"...Kid's got a point, too. This probably won't be the last time they poke their noses around."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Julian's bow briefly dazzles Tamaki to the point where she forgets herself for a few moments. She won't complain about his manners, even if she isn't used to them.

Tamaki sighs after Hyousuke muses on why the Tien Tao Lien were skulking around the gym. "Well, you did better than me on that front; I saw them, but didn't think to look into who they actually were. It, uh." She awkwardly clears her throat behind a hand, glossing over the other thoughts that had her occupied near the end of the night. "It had slipped my mind. I hadn't realized it was ''them'' until you identified them by name just now."

She gives Hyousuke a concerned glance at his reaction to her mention of the sanitarium. Oh. Right.

Shinobu's mention of the name 'Sudou' causes Tamaki to swivel her head towards her away from Julian and visibly startle with a jolt where she stands. Even if she had meant Tatsuya, he shares a surname with the Foreign Affairs Minister. Her nervousness subsides when Hyousuke and Shinobu ask about any potential connection, and her expression grows more pensive. "Well ... what else did both incidents have in common? I can think of one, but ..." Julian's presence stops her from continuing further just yet.

Tamaki gives Julian a long, probing stare when he claims that they don't need to dance around certain subjects with him. After some internal debate, something in her seems to reluctantly relent. Even so, she advises caution: "Some of this stuff goes pretty deep. There are some things that I can't even be candid with around these two." Shinobu, she expects to understand, but she offers Hyousuke an apologetic glance as she admits this. "Shimizu-san is right, there's no unringing certain bells. However, I'll be as ... open as I can be."

Having said this, she continues: "Both incidents involved a Joker of some sort. The first: the Joker Killer himself. The second: a 'Joker' originating from the story that Wang Long Chizuru spread on TV. If they show up around a third, then ... well, twice is coincidence, thrice is a pattern."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>
Julian's resting calm expression can be intolerably hard to read. Which is the point. Even if disappointing his parents is far from his mind now, he can't change how he was raised. And for all the strictness, he can't deny that there was a good policy at the heart of it. In truth, he's observing reactions, taking everything in from context clues.

Hyousuke is suspicious, but he hardly assumes that's personal. The objection was expected, and is not argued against, which doesn't necessarily mean tacit approval. His final conclusion however, that get him to smile.

"Quite right," he agrees with Hyousuke's use of the proverb, stopping short of dropping into teacher mode by doling out praise for paying attention in class. Even if he may never be able to fully keep things separate in his mind, he tries his best to keep school matters confined to when school is actually in session. Everyone has a life beyond that. Some, a much more eventful one than most are aware of.

Shinobu seems fairly laid back about most things, including this one. He adjusts his monocle at the name drop of 'Sudou', but doesn't comment right away, one way or another. That smile is also directed at her, and he bows his head in acknowledgement, more casual this time. "I do appreciate your caution. Though I rather believe I may have learned a bit too much for that already."

Tamaki seems to be extending a bit of an olive branch, ready to divulge a bit more in his presence. Though is that trust, or a test? "I fully understand," he claims regardless. "Far be it from me to blame anyone for a healthy dose of caution. Hopefully, I'll be able to impress upon you that this is far from a whim on my part, and I have done my due diligence to be as prepared as I can be."

All in all, they took his statement of intent well enough. But it doesn't quite sound as much as if the extent of his awareness has really gotten across. But that's on him, playing it cautiously, not saying anything unnecessary. As is in his nature. But in this case it may be less than helpful. In which case... perhaps this is the appropriate time to take a first step in trusting others a little more, volunteer a bit more than he normally would.

He finds his opening in combining Shinobu dropping the name 'Sudou' with Tamaki broaching the subject of the Joker Killer. "Then, I assume that the Sudou that Shimizu-san mentioned would be Tatsuya Sudou, as he and the Joker Killer turned out to be one and the same."

He continues speaking, not leaving room for immediate interruption. "His attack on a student in the very school building itself is what set me on this path. So long as forces like that exist, students will not be safe anywhere. I cannot simply sit idly by and allow such things to continue."

He doesn't go so far as to specify what he's done in that regard. More central to the point is the current matter at hand. "...Unfortunately, it does seem as if the end of the Joker Killer was not the end of the Joker. If anything, the issue has worsened. And I concur with your implication, Uchida-san. If this group was indeed after Tatsuya Sudou, then perhaps it was not the man, but rather the demon that held their interest."

He looks about, expression neutral. Playing field sufficiently levelled, he hopes, or at least point proven that they're on the same page - the exact same one, including in regards to the elements that fewer people would believe even exist.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke couldn't help but agree with Shinobu, even if it only manifested as a slow and subtle nod when she spoke. Much as he had his suspicions regarding Julian, the fact remained that he was still an adult, and still capable of deciding whether or not he wished to engage with such matters.
"She's right. You gotta figure out if this is the kinda thing you're ready to get involved in yourself - I don't think we can make that decision for you." A lesson he'd learnt one fateful day on Kasugayama's rooftop. A lesson he still felt ashamed of taking so long to learn.

Tamaki's musings on Sudou - a name he wasn't sure should have been mentioned in such a context, given present company - had him twisting his lips as if he had something to say. He had a feeling that he'd reached the same conclusion as her, and had every intention of saying so, but Julian was right there. What was he supposed to say when he was right there? Was any of this appropriate to discuss around him? Hyousuke's face contorted a little as he considered his options, and made it visibly clear that he was deep in thought.

Until Tamaki openly mentioned the Joker Killer, at least.

Though Hyousuke kept his head relatively still, he snapped his gaze between the two, barely blinking as he tried to figure out how things would go. Tamaki had openly mentioned the Joker Killer, after all. Before he could even think to formulate a reaction to that, Julian's response came as the second blow of that one-two punch to his psyche. and Hyousuke was once more left with more questions than answers.
"You knew? Since when? What've you been *doing* all this time?" Hyousuke asked, unable to keep the surprise from manifesting in his features. Seeing Demons roaming Sumaru was not unheard of - that much he'd learnt during the investigation into a certain mirror. But to speak so confidently, and to such an extent...

Hyousuke shook his head a little. There would be time to muse on that later. There were more pertinent matters to attend to before that.
"...But yeah, you're right. If things like this keep happening, everyone's gonna be in danger. We just gotta do what we can about this, whatever that means." Hyousuke sounded a little frustrated, rather than resolved. Like he was lamenting how little they could actually do with what little they actually had, rather than vowing to protect the vulnerable. Like he felt powerless to stop whatever came next.

"Assuming they're connected..." Hyousuke said, having finished with his mini moping session, "...And I *am* assuming they are connected, what're they even getting from this? I'd get it if the people getting attacked were getting in the way of them doing their thing, but Serizawa-san didn't seem like the kind of person that'd have anything to do with that..." He looked to Tamaki as he trailed off, his eyes expectant. She knew Ulala far better than he, after all. She'd be able to correct him if Ulala was actually embroiled in such things, he hoped.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu openly mentioning Sudou - even if not explicitly saying he was the Joker Killer - was something that had Hyousuke snapping his gaze onto her. The name was hardly an obscure one, after all, given the political ties it held. It was bound to raise questions that he wasn't sure they were ready to answer. Nevertheless, Hyousuke couldn't help but agree with Shinobu, even if it only manifested as a slow and subtle nod when she spoke. Much as he had his suspicions regarding Julian, the fact remained that he was still an adult, and still capable of deciding whether or not he wished to engage with such matters.
"She's right. You gotta figure out if this is the kinda thing you're ready to get involved in yourself - I don't think we can make that decision for you." A lesson he'd learnt one fateful day on Kasugayama's rooftop. A lesson he still felt ashamed of taking so long to learn.

Tamaki's musings on the sanitarium and subsequent events had him twisting his lips as if he had something to say. He had a feeling that he'd reached the same conclusion as her, and had every intention of saying so, but Julian was right there. What was he supposed to say when he was right there? Was any of this appropriate to discuss around him? Hyousuke's face contorted a little as he considered his options, and made it visibly clear that he was deep in thought.

Until Tamaki connected the both the killer and the curse, openly and explicitly.

Though Hyousuke kept his head relatively still, he snapped his gaze between the two, barely blinking as he tried to figure out how things would go. Tamaki had openly mentioned the Joker Killer, after all. Before he could even think to formulate a reaction to that, Julian's response came as the second blow of that one-two punch to his psyche. and Hyousuke was once more left with more questions than answers.
"You knew? Since when? What've you been *doing* all this time?" Hyousuke asked, unable to keep the surprise from manifesting in his features. Seeing Demons roaming Sumaru was not unheard of - that much he'd learnt during the investigation into a certain mirror. But to speak so confidently, and to such an extent...

Hyousuke shook his head a little. There would be time to muse on that later. There were more pertinent matters to attend to before that.
"...But yeah, you're right. If things like this keep happening, everyone's gonna be in danger. We just gotta do what we can about this, whatever that means." Hyousuke sounded a little frustrated, rather than resolved. Like he was lamenting how little they could actually do with what little they actually had, rather than vowing to protect the vulnerable. Like he felt powerless to stop whatever came next.

"Assuming they're connected..." Hyousuke said, having finished with his mini moping session, "...And I *am* assuming they are connected, what're they even getting from this? I'd get it if the people getting attacked were getting in the way of them doing their thing, but Serizawa-san didn't seem like the kind of person that'd have anything to do with that..." He looked to Tamaki as he trailed off, his eyes expectant. She knew Ulala far better than he, after all. She'd be able to correct him if Ulala was actually embroiled in such things, he hoped.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Shinobu meets Tamaki's look as her head swivels toward her. ...Maybe she should've been more careful with the name, but... she needed to set what they know on the table. What else did both incidents have in common...?

She looks toward Julian, then, perhaps sensing the reason for why she doesn't continue just yet. He seems to think it over - and then smiles, bowing his head. Shinobu shrugs.

"Fair enough." She says. If he thinks that, she won't try to stop him... and as he says - he might know too much already. He's given this considerable thought, it seems...

...And he's already put two-and-two together. She listens as he explains ''why'' he's interested.

"...So that's it, huh. Yeah... I remember that day. You never bought that whole story on the news, then, huh? ...I can see why that'd move you to action. When someone goes after your own... that's as good as a declaration of war." She comments, massaging the back of her neck.

...And as he says, it's only going to get worse.

She looks toward Tamaki as she admits that there are things she can't talk about around even then. From the look on Shinobu's face, that is, indeed, completely expected.

She listens as she sums everything up. Not the man, but the demon...

"...That's the question." Shinobu says with a shrug and a frown, at Hyousuke's question. "They didn't even ''do'' anything. They just... watched. Is it 'cause we moved in too quick for them to act? Or were they just gathering information? On the 'Joker', or the people looking into it... Or maybe both."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki's olive branch to Julian skews more on the side of trust than test; while he may be subject to the latter, the test isn't for her to administer. Shinobu had already broken the seal on some aspects, and Julian filled in the gaps without further prompting.

"That's all well and good, but ..." she starts.

A conflicted expression clouds her face as Julian proclaims that he can't sit idly by while forces like that threaten students. She feels a mixture of admiration and frustration towards the teacher. She wonders quietly, ''Why didn't my schools -- either of them -- have anyone like you around? Why was it all left to us when we were kids?''

It wouldn't do for her to ask those questions so openly, so bitterly. It isn't as if any of it was his fault. Instead, it comes out constrained, reframed as a cautious question of, "... How long have you been teaching in this country, ''Mister'' Marlowe?"

It didn't start with her. It didn't stop with her. It may not ever stop at all. "If that is the case, then you may be at this for quite some time."

"... furthermore, ''Mister'' Marlowe, if the situation ever gets immediately hectic, we have ways of protecting ourselves that you very likely lack. Sumaru can indeed be a dangerous place, as you say. When we give the call for you to scramble -- trust us, your life depends on it. Is that understood?"

To Hyousuke's outburst, she quietly suggests, "I'm sure he's been doing what he can." She pointedly glares at Julian and gives a firm nod. There's an edge in her voice as she asks, "Haven't you?"

As to his question about Ulala's involvement with the Tien Tao Lien, Tamaki shakes her head and shrugs. "I doubt she had any direct connection with them -- anything more than you or I." Shinobu asks about what their purpose was and why they had only watched at the time. "We might have scared them off from doing something that night. That's my guess."

"If the new variant of the curse affects those who invoked the Joker Curse originally, then we can start by keeping track of people we know who did just that. We might not be able to save everyone, but it's better than nothing." Tamaki gives a glance around the room. "So hands up if you called the Joker Killer on someone." Her own hands stay staunchly flat at her sides.

"At the very least, I know of a ... was it a Sevens student or a Shujin student?" She snaps her fingers. "Or some broken up boyfriend and girlfriend. Any of you remember offhand?"

"In the meantime, I'll ... go ask some of my other sources about what they might know." Baofu. Matsuoka. Eriko. Tsubasa might be able to find some paper trail. Probably more beyond that ... provided they're still able to be contacted.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Julian Marlowe has posed.
<poem>
Julian would be lying if there isn't a certain sense of satisfaction in taking people by surprise. He can revel in it more openly as his alter ego, but the sensation is no less present here. Or in his counseling sessions, for that matter. Few things satisfy more than opening another's eyes to possibilities not previously considered.

Even so, though he'd decided to take a step towards trust, he should yet be careful not to reveal too much. There are too many advantages to keeping his secret identity a secret - and too many potential risks in the wrong people finding out. For now, he'll try to establish a middle ground that serves everyone's best interests, and see how things go from there.

For now, he considers another overly fancy bow to be no more than appropriate. "Let me assure you that I meant no deception, merely caution. As you have all rightly pointed out, there are risks involved, and my position is a vulnerable one. Yet... I find myself dissatisfied with my inability to make a meaningful difference. Doing so through counselling does not feel enough, knowing of the more direct threats out there."

Even so, he perfectly understands Hyousuke's reaction, having kept up the guileless act right under his nose for as long as he has. "My apologies for keeping you in the dark, Suzuki-san. Let me amend that I have additional, more personal reasons for wanting to stay out of the spotlight. More the fool am I for believing it would be so easy to keep hidden from prying eyes." He shakes his head.

"But never you mind my personal affairs. Suffice it to say that where it comes to matters such as this... I have my sources, which I am not at liberty to reveal. If you wish to keep your sources, you must keep them confidential, as I'm sure Uchida-san will attest."

Though it doesn't seem context clues are enough for people to suspect he and Vesper are one and the same, he suspects the same does not hold true for suspecting they're working together. He did take that possibility into account, before making this decision. But there's no need to get into it now. He'll cross that bridge when he comes to it.

He lets out a sigh, when Shinobu brings up the lack of publication about the Joker Killer's attack on Kasugayama. "I found out through student accounts, myself." One can imagine there were many visits to the counselor following that incident. "Yet when I brought it up in a faculty meeting, I was told in no uncertain terms that 'gang violence' was the truth they had decided on, and I was to convince students that claimed to have seen something else that they were mistaken."

He doesn't bother to hide the distaste in his expression. "Needless to say, I declined. I could not do so openly, but behind the scenes, I did what little I could." Sad state of affairs though it may be, he's not going to sugarcoat the fact that the majority of the adults at Kasugayama will not take the students' side over their own interests. What Tamaki remembers from the past is still predominantly the state of the present. A lot is probably explained by his answer to the question she poses to him.

"Since the beginning of the school year this April. Not long after my arrival in the country, it all ended up going rather fast." In more ways than one, it seems, assuming he had no prior knowledge of the supernatural.

Raising in arms in surrender, he doesn't argue the point that follows. "I'm aware of that also - believe me when I say that I know my limits. I wish only to be of assistance, not a liability."

He can't be of any where it comes to knowledge of people who called the Joker Killer, though. "Certainly not," where it comes to himself, and where it comes to others, "While I am sworn to confidentiality in what students tell me in counseling sessions, believe me when I say that I am not aware of any Kasugayama students that have done so. Which isn't to say there couldn't have been any, of course."

That much wasn't a lie. A student's mother, though... what of Tsubasa's case? Even if that was technically said outside of a session, it would still feel like a breach of trust to tell others about something shared in confidence. What to do? He still has no answer.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke nodded firmly. Once more, Shinobu had said something he couldn't help but concur with.
"Damn right. Someone hurts the people you care about, you can't just let that stand." As soon as the words left his lips, and as soon as he understood how Shinobu's statement related to Julian, Hyousuke couldn't help but feel somewhat conflicted. He was certain the man was hiding things out of more than just professionalism, and the revelation during their meeting had only reinforced such notions. But if he was so dead-set on defending his charges, perhaps such lies were more well-intentioned than he suspected?

Again, Hyousuke felt as though he'd been wrong-footed. His distrust of Julian was not exactly the most well-kept secret, but even he felt bad about the look Tamaki shot him. He himself looked down, pondering just how he'd managed to let that outburst happen. It seemed like exactly the sort of thing that Tamaki had warned him against the other day, but he'd just spoken without thinking for a moment. Something to reflect on later, he told himself. It would not do to get distracted now. Not when they were busy trying to figure out any kind of plan of action.

"It's fine." Hyousuke said in response to Julian, shaking his head a little to try and dismiss that unpleasant feeling in his gut. "I kinda... snapped. I don't wanna pry if it's personal." He did wish to pry, but not because he was nosy or a gossip. He was simply suspicious. Perhaps that wasn't better, but at the very least, it wasn't malicious.

Despite attempts to refocus himself, he couldn't help but fix Tamaki with a quizzical look. The expression she'd taken on while listening to Julian hadn't escaped him, and though he couldn't even guess at the source, he couldn't help but wonder what had caused her to pull such a look anyway. Whenever he saw or spoke to her, she seemed quite composed - more so than he, at least - so to notice such a shift piqued his curiosity to no end. There would be time for pondering such mysteries later, however. Tamaki asked for information, and Hyousuke was dead-set on delivering.

"The student...?" Hyousuke questioned. He canted his head a little to the side, and once more, his face began to shift as he tried to dredge up whatever memories he could of the incident. He'd not been involved at the time - there were other things on his plate, he thought. But even as specifics failed to come to mind and he shook his head, he seemed far from dejected. "I don't know, I can't think of anyone. I'll ask around though, someone's bound to know something about that." If the Death Boss and the Thorn boss couldn't point him in the right direction for someone that knew about such things, after all, who could?

Julian's statement that he didn't know of any Kasugayama students that had invoked the Killer's services only reinforced his resolve to ask one - or both - of his contacts for help.
"I'll make some calls. I know some people that might know more." Hyousuke frowned a little, then stepped back. "First the Joker Killer, now the Curse... God damn it, it never ends, does it..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke receives an approving nod. They're on the same wavelength, there.

Julian sighs, and Shinobu listens as he brings up what happened around that time.

"Yeah... I get it. You try to go against the line, and you find yourself out of a job real fast. It's good that you were able to do anything at all." She replies.

Shinobu listens as Tamaki questions Julian, asking how long he's been teaching and advising him to run if they give him the call to. She nods.

"Yeah. That I'm gonna be firm on." She agrees.

Tamaki assumes that they scared them off from doing something. She frowns. ...She's not sure she wants to know that ''something'' is, but they'll have to find out sooner or later if they want to stop it.

"Then we'll have to be on guard. Next time, they might be ready for us." She replies.

The new variant affecting those who invoked the Joker Curse... She can think of a few cases with unspecified callers, and a few that she ''does'' know.

"I'm clean." Shinobu replies with a shrug. As for the case she brings up...

"Yeah... Maria Sakurai. She's a Sevens kid - I was there when the Joker Killer went after her." Shinobu confirms. "She called the Joker Killer on her ex, then called him ''again'' on herself to try and ask him to call it off. ...I dunno what's going to happen to someone who called him twice, but... she didn't seem like a bad kid. Hope we can do somethin' for her."

She shakes her head.

"I'll keep an ear out on my end, too. I'll see if I can turn up names of anyone else who mighta made a call." She replies.
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-25: Maintaining Grace

2026-06-25T21:34:55Z

MrGuy:

*'''Log: Maintaining Grace'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Tamaki Uchida]]
*'''Where:''' Kuzunoha Detective Agency
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-25
*'''IC Date:''' Fri Nov 30 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke visits the Kuzunoha Detective Agency not as someone seeking work, but as a client. What starts as a simple requests turns into him and Tamaki showing parts of themselves out of step with their usual conduct, however.''

----
(|======================== Kuzunoha Detective Agency =========================|)
-=================================================== Sumaru City/Aoba Ward ====-
The first thing that greets visitors to Kuzunoha Detective Agency is a giant
golden lucky cat statue that, with its left paw raised, bids a hearty welcome to
customers and opportunities alike. Inspect it, and a mewling voice will ask for
donations: 100 yen from students and other children, and 1000 yen from adults.

A pair of dark couches that frame a coffee table have an excellent view of the
massive HDTV and dual stereos on the far right wall. On the far left wall are
shelves upon shelves full of books, none of which definitely can slide to one
side. A large desk with a lamp and computer stands in front of it. This is where
the portly older ex-gumshoe, Chief Daisuke Todoroki, makes his business, as...
blessed... by the agency's original owner. He investigates (and will spread) all
manner of rumors to find out the truth (and change reality), assisted by veteran
Persona User Tamaki Uchida.

The back room is nothing special; it has a stove and a sink, so it's a simple
task to always have tea ready for customers. There's a bathroom there too, but
it seems like it's always occupied. Don't ask who's in there, meow.
(|============================================================================|)
<poem></poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
It wasn't unusual to see Hyousuke pass through the doors of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency. Many a time, he'd elected to earn some spending money by brawling a Demon someone had put a bounty out on. It might as well have been a part-time job for him, for all the fighting he'd done in the name of money. It wasn't even unusual to see him looking a little worse for wear as he walked in - though mercifully, at least in his eyes, it being the depths of November gave him an excuse to cover up the worst of his healing wounds.

Dressed in Kasugayama's winter uniform, the vast majority of the damage he'd sustained was hidden beneath layers of fabric. Not all of them were from the fight with Ulala either, however, with the vast majority being clearly older ones, while some fresh new marks littered his skin. Cuts from claw, pierced skin from fangs gnawing at his limbs, bruises and scrapes from where he'd been thrown to the ground - all of it was there, but all of it remained hidden. All that could be seen were some red marks on his knuckles, and the wisps of exhaustion clinging stubbornly to his eyes.

But that could just be attributed to Ulala, could it not?

"Uchida-san? You in?" Hyousuke called out idly as he stepped in from the cold. A stiff gust followed him once the door had swung fully open - a bitter chill surging in and stealing what warmth it could, before he closed the door against the elements once more. He didn't even look to the totally innocuous cat off to the side as he made his way forward. By that point, offering it the customary sum was muscle memory. It would have taken a conscious effort to keep himself from paying, rather than having to actually remember to do it.

"Was hoping you could take a look at something for me."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
As commonplace as it is, it is a ritual, and must be observed. The cat statue starts its usual tinny message, but skips in the middle as the money lands. "Nya~! Nya~! N -- THANK you, nya~!"

Tamaki doesn't exactly look in top form today, herself. She sits at her desk with poor posture as she lazily moves her mouse to peruse files on her monitor. Dark circles have formed underneath her bleary eyes. Some redness-reducing eye drops from a certain pharmacy sit beside her mousepad.

A yawn exits her mouth before her actual reply to Hyousuke. "Hwaaaaa. Yeah. I'm in." She doesn't stand, and instead swivels her chair so her body faces Hyousuke's direction. "What's up?"

A more alert Tamaki may have immediately taken more keen notice of Hyousuke's own state and gotten up to provide first aid supplies ... but that isn't this Tamaki, whose eyelids sluggishly droop and rise out of sync as she blinks.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke instinctively reached his hand to his pocket to pull out the singular piece of evidence he had to work with, but he stopped halfway through when his own beleaguered mind finally processed what he'd been seeing. He fixed her with a perplexed look at first, tilting his head a little to the side and blinking quietly, before straightening himself and looking altogether more concerned.
"You doing alright?" He asked, the matter of his business put to one side for the time being. He remained standing, still looking at her, still concerned. Hyousuke kept the look restrained, but it was easy to see it either way.

"Still hurting from the other day? I can come back another time." Hyousuke asked, his tone softer than the one he'd walked in with. His posture was a completely different story. Though it appeared relaxed at first pass, he shifted a little from foot to foot, his hand fiddled with the item in his pocket, and the other tapped idly against his thigh as he fixed her with a concerned - yet somehow still expectant - look. While the offer had been made, it would have been fair to assume that he didn't want her to take it.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki stares at Hyousuke for several seconds before she rises to her feet and gestures for him to come closer. In sequence, she flatly answers his questions: "I've honestly lived through worse. Much worse." (But can she really call it living?)

" -- more emotionally than physically. Serizawa-san was -- " She makes a face before she corrects herself. " -- ''is'' a friend, still. I think."

With a commanding tone, she sharply adds, "Stay. Show me what you've got." She holds her hand out, palm-up, and motions for Hyousuke to offer it for her to examine. Having something to concentrate on seems to have helped her fight through the fatigue.

"You don't look so good, yourself." The fight with Ulala involved ... wind and illusions. Bruises may line up, scrapes slightly less so, but slicing cuts and piercing marks don't. Her eyes briefly narrow at the sight, then she adds, "Get some proper rest sometime, alright? Medical supplies are in the closet here, as usual, if you want them."

Hand still offered, she adds, "You're dealing with something else, aren't you?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke, of course, had little reaction to the statement she'd lived through worse. She was older than him, and had no doubt been in the business of supernatural investigations far longer than he'd even been aware it was a thing. What reason had he to think that she was referring to anything but a particularly tough fight? As such, it should hardly have been a surprise when his sole response to her rebuttal was to nod slowly, and step forward slowly.
"I think she still is. Whatever that curse was, I don't think it was really her talking." He didn't know if that was true or not, strictly speaking, but even he could tell that something foul had been afoot. But he didn't know the woman, nor her relationships with others. Better to let sleeping dogs lie, he supposed, and move on.

Once close enough, he drew the collar - or, rather, what remained of it - from his pocket, and placed it gingerly in her palm. Unfortunately for Hyousuke, doing so exposed just enough of his injuries that anyone with sharp enough eyes or paying enough attention would have been able to see a hint of them. The red-rawness of his knuckles was to be expected. He was a brawler, and it had been a gruelling fight back then, even with his training. The bruises and scrapes could be excused by the fight as well, given that he'd taken some nasty hits and been thrown against a wall.

But the trenches that had been carved into his flesh when his collar shifted at just the right angle, the lines of skin broken by savage fangs that were bared when his sleeves rode up... Ulala hadn't issued any attacks that could do that. They were injuries that could invoke suspicion, if nothing else, but Hyousuke either didn't notice that he'd exposed them or had elected to try and avoid calling attention to the fact. Whatever the case, he drew back once the damaged collar had been dropped into Tamaki's hand, and shook his head slowly.

"It's fine, I already cleaned 'em up before I came over here. And I'd rather we just focus on that for now." Hyousuke's tone was insistent. Palpably so. It wasn't something that crept in without his knowledge, it was him stating that he didn't wish to speak of it. Whether that was for the time being, or at all, was anyone's guess. "I found this while I went hiking with a friend. We think the dog that was wearing it got loose in the woods, and we're guessing it's still out there, but we've got almost no leads on how to find it or who it belongs to. This collar's the only thing that we've got."

The item in question was a strip of leather, dark brown in colour, though damaged from its time in the dirt. Each end made it clear it had been torn off, rather than simply removed, while the scratches and faded colour lent credence to the idea that it had been laying in the dirt for at least a few days. The tag - a round and brass thing, dulled by exposure and damage - had fragments of once-legible characters engraved into it, though scratches and other damage had removed any useful information from its surface.

"I know this is the kinda thing the cops or whoever should be looking at, but I don't trust 'em to do jack shit." Hyousuke didn't care that he'd spoken rather uncouthly around someone that was, by that point, effectively his boss. The dog was clearly his focus. "Poor thing's probably scared and alone out there, waiting for someone to do something - anything - to help it. I'll pay whatever it takes, just- just give me *something.* Please."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
What reason would Hyousuke have for doubt, indeed? Tamaki sees it a little differently; she is only several years older than him. She's still in university. If he's expecting a truly seasoned veteran, then that's Todoroki at the much larger desk on the far end of the room. Part of the friction between herself and Ulala was that the latter apparently views the former as picture-perfect, put-together, a professional who had at least proven herself capable of attracting a partner, even if that relationship fizzled post-proposal.

Tamaki gives Hyousuke an unamused stare in response to his attempt at condolences, then pinches the bridge of her nose. "I appreciate it what you're trying to do, but ... that ''was'' the real her speaking. Same as it was the real me tearing into her just as badly. It may not have been the entirety of her, but make no mistake: it was a very real portion of her."

She lowers her head slightly while she keeps her gaze fixed on Hyousuke. "Remember, that ugliness came from somewhere. She called the Joker Curse on someone. The rumor which Wang Long's originator spread only brought forward something which had already existed. We're all capable of such thoughts and deeds. Even you. Even myself. Don't ever forget that."

She watches him closely, anticipating her own disappointment if he manages to make the same category error as Ulala had. Then again, Tamaki doesn't really make it easy for anyone to perceive the truth of the matter, does she ..? First she doesn't want people to know more about what she's been through, but then she gets upset that they don't see that about her? ''Which one is it?'' It's an ever-shifting goalpost with her contrarian nature, endlessly circling the field to the opposite approach someone takes towards her.

Like Hyousuke, she doesn't like when people focus on her own wounds. "Sure," she brusquely offers in reply to his insistence. Immediately, she frowns when the collar serves as a hint to the task: finding a lost dog. How unglamorous. How unexciting. It can't be worth the time nor pay, she starts to wonder. She's got rent to pay, tuition, groceries, all on the commission an apprentice such as herself makes subcontracted out under Todoroki, and in the growing world of the supernatural, there's also opportunity.

'From love affairs to ghosts,' her tagline goes. A pang of guilt shoots through her heart -- she wanted to be in this position to help out people who would otherwise fall through the gaps. This fits that very definition, doesn't it? Her frown softens as she scrutinizes the collar and tag, taking its details into her memory.

She waves a hand dismissively at Hyousuke. "We can talk payment later. I can help you out. Which woods did you find this in, exactly? I'll do some analysis and take a hike out there myself sometime."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke's lips twitched a little when Tamaki corrected him, and the heat of shame washed through his veins. He tried to maintain a still expression, and he attempted to keep himself from saying anything else that would risk offence. It wouldn't do to tarnish his image in front of someone that he relied on, after all. It wouldn't do to make himself seem like even more of a dumb, impulsive, brute than he already had. But even so, some few things still slipped out. The tensing of muscles, the twitching of fingers, the momentary breaking of his gaze... It was subtle, but it was there.

"I understand. I'll keep it in mind. I'll... try to control myself." Hyousuke said tersely. He wasn't entirely sure he did understand - no surprises there - but he at least made the attempt. That aside, it wasn't the hammer's place to question why it was driven into a nail. He was there to fight whoever he was thrown at - nothing more, nothing less. Who did he think he was, trying to provide some measure of solace, or trying to put together a puzzle he'd not even investigated the pieces of? Besides, there were other matters to attend to.

The seconds between Tamaki taking the collar and offering her answer stretched out into what felt like aeons. Hyousuke didn't dare to breathe, lest it risk drawing her ire and jeopardising his case. But there was only so much he could suppress, even if he made an active effort to remain as still and silent as humanly possible. His fingers twitched, motioning as if he wanted to clutch at his jacket in anticipation, only to be forced back. He couldn't hold her gaze for long, glancing down every so often before he had the stomach to look her in the eye again. His feet shifted in place, only some fraction of an inch at a time, but they shifted nonetheless.

It was only when she spoke again that he resumed some measure of vigour and alertness, as if he were soldier called to arms. Air rushed into his lungs as he indulged in the luxury of drawing breath once more, only for it to slowly fall past his face in a relieved exhale.
"It's a trail just outside Tokyo. My friend took some pictures of the spot we found the collar in as well." He handed Tamaki his phone, turned to face her the right way up. Amongst the pictures Ichika had sent him was a few pictures of the signage before the trail, and a spot marked on a map showing where the trail began as well as roughly where they'd come across the sole lead he possessed.

Another few seconds of silence passed. It wasn't a thoughtful quiet - it was dead air. Stillness in which one could hear a pin drop. Hyousuke broke it eventually, but it was with an uncharacteristically awkward lilt to his voice.
"Thank you. I know it's not your usual thing, but I didn't know who else I could go to, and I don't know who even could help me, and I can't stand knowing that it's just out there alone and waiting for someone to come find it but not seeing anyone and-"

Hyousuke swallowed to cut himself off, suddenly realising that he'd lost control no more than a minute after he'd promised not to. Another embarrassment to flood his psyche with shame. Another display of abject weakness. He hoped that, at the very least, bowing a little in gratitude would help hide his face some.
"...I mean, thank you. For this."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Too sharp. Tamaki let her tongue go loose again. She sighs in exasperation, primarily aimed at herself. "It isn't so much about control as it is about understanding. I lost control."

She places her forehead in the palm of her hand and props it up with an elbow. "I'm ... telling myself this just as much as I'm telling you. Or maybe I'm projecting. Give yourself some grace, either way."

Whatever the case is, her hackles seem lowered. She peers at Hyousuke's phone and nods. She quietly mutters, "Could you text me those? Thanks."

"It kind of is my usual thing. You ... ''do'' know how few cases of mine are supernatural, right? They're the exception, not the norm." She chuckles. "Honestly, I could use a breather after the gym ..."

Her final reply is simple. "You're welcome. It's what I'm here for."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-25: Maintaining Grace

2026-06-25T21:34:22Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Maintaining Grace''' *'''Cast:''' <Who is involved. Format each character like this: Character Name> *'''Where:''' Kuzunoha Detective Agency *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-25 *'''IC Date:''' Fri Nov 30 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke visits the Kuzunoha Detective Agency not as someone seeking work, but as a client. What starts as a simple requests turns into him and Tamaki showing parts of themselves out of step with their usual conduct, however.'' ---- (|======..."

*'''Log: Maintaining Grace'''
*'''Cast:''' <Who is involved. Format each character like this: [[Character Name]]>
*'''Where:''' Kuzunoha Detective Agency
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-25
*'''IC Date:''' Fri Nov 30 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke visits the Kuzunoha Detective Agency not as someone seeking work, but as a client. What starts as a simple requests turns into him and Tamaki showing parts of themselves out of step with their usual conduct, however.''

----
(|======================== Kuzunoha Detective Agency =========================|)
-=================================================== Sumaru City/Aoba Ward ====-
The first thing that greets visitors to Kuzunoha Detective Agency is a giant
golden lucky cat statue that, with its left paw raised, bids a hearty welcome to
customers and opportunities alike. Inspect it, and a mewling voice will ask for
donations: 100 yen from students and other children, and 1000 yen from adults.

A pair of dark couches that frame a coffee table have an excellent view of the
massive HDTV and dual stereos on the far right wall. On the far left wall are
shelves upon shelves full of books, none of which definitely can slide to one
side. A large desk with a lamp and computer stands in front of it. This is where
the portly older ex-gumshoe, Chief Daisuke Todoroki, makes his business, as...
blessed... by the agency's original owner. He investigates (and will spread) all
manner of rumors to find out the truth (and change reality), assisted by veteran
Persona User Tamaki Uchida.

The back room is nothing special; it has a stove and a sink, so it's a simple
task to always have tea ready for customers. There's a bathroom there too, but
it seems like it's always occupied. Don't ask who's in there, meow.
(|============================================================================|)
<poem></poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
It wasn't unusual to see Hyousuke pass through the doors of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency. Many a time, he'd elected to earn some spending money by brawling a Demon someone had put a bounty out on. It might as well have been a part-time job for him, for all the fighting he'd done in the name of money. It wasn't even unusual to see him looking a little worse for wear as he walked in - though mercifully, at least in his eyes, it being the depths of November gave him an excuse to cover up the worst of his healing wounds.

Dressed in Kasugayama's winter uniform, the vast majority of the damage he'd sustained was hidden beneath layers of fabric. Not all of them were from the fight with Ulala either, however, with the vast majority being clearly older ones, while some fresh new marks littered his skin. Cuts from claw, pierced skin from fangs gnawing at his limbs, bruises and scrapes from where he'd been thrown to the ground - all of it was there, but all of it remained hidden. All that could be seen were some red marks on his knuckles, and the wisps of exhaustion clinging stubbornly to his eyes.

But that could just be attributed to Ulala, could it not?

"Uchida-san? You in?" Hyousuke called out idly as he stepped in from the cold. A stiff gust followed him once the door had swung fully open - a bitter chill surging in and stealing what warmth it could, before he closed the door against the elements once more. He didn't even look to the totally innocuous cat off to the side as he made his way forward. By that point, offering it the customary sum was muscle memory. It would have taken a conscious effort to keep himself from paying, rather than having to actually remember to do it.

"Was hoping you could take a look at something for me."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
As commonplace as it is, it is a ritual, and must be observed. The cat statue starts its usual tinny message, but skips in the middle as the money lands. "Nya~! Nya~! N -- THANK you, nya~!"

Tamaki doesn't exactly look in top form today, herself. She sits at her desk with poor posture as she lazily moves her mouse to peruse files on her monitor. Dark circles have formed underneath her bleary eyes. Some redness-reducing eye drops from a certain pharmacy sit beside her mousepad.

A yawn exits her mouth before her actual reply to Hyousuke. "Hwaaaaa. Yeah. I'm in." She doesn't stand, and instead swivels her chair so her body faces Hyousuke's direction. "What's up?"

A more alert Tamaki may have immediately taken more keen notice of Hyousuke's own state and gotten up to provide first aid supplies ... but that isn't this Tamaki, whose eyelids sluggishly droop and rise out of sync as she blinks.

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke instinctively reached his hand to his pocket to pull out the singular piece of evidence he had to work with, but he stopped halfway through when his own beleaguered mind finally processed what he'd been seeing. He fixed her with a perplexed look at first, tilting his head a little to the side and blinking quietly, before straightening himself and looking altogether more concerned.
"You doing alright?" He asked, the matter of his business put to one side for the time being. He remained standing, still looking at her, still concerned. Hyousuke kept the look restrained, but it was easy to see it either way.

"Still hurting from the other day? I can come back another time." Hyousuke asked, his tone softer than the one he'd walked in with. His posture was a completely different story. Though it appeared relaxed at first pass, he shifted a little from foot to foot, his hand fiddled with the item in his pocket, and the other tapped idly against his thigh as he fixed her with a concerned - yet somehow still expectant - look. While the offer had been made, it would have been fair to assume that he didn't want her to take it.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Tamaki stares at Hyousuke for several seconds before she rises to her feet and gestures for him to come closer. In sequence, she flatly answers his questions: "I've honestly lived through worse. Much worse." (But can she really call it living?)

" -- more emotionally than physically. Serizawa-san was -- " She makes a face before she corrects herself. " -- ''is'' a friend, still. I think."

With a commanding tone, she sharply adds, "Stay. Show me what you've got." She holds her hand out, palm-up, and motions for Hyousuke to offer it for her to examine. Having something to concentrate on seems to have helped her fight through the fatigue.

"You don't look so good, yourself." The fight with Ulala involved ... wind and illusions. Bruises may line up, scrapes slightly less so, but slicing cuts and piercing marks don't. Her eyes briefly narrow at the sight, then she adds, "Get some proper rest sometime, alright? Medical supplies are in the closet here, as usual, if you want them."

Hand still offered, she adds, "You're dealing with something else, aren't you?"

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke, of course, had little reaction to the statement she'd lived through worse. She was older than him, and had no doubt been in the business of supernatural investigations far longer than he'd even been aware it was a thing. What reason had he to think that she was referring to anything but a particularly tough fight? As such, it should hardly have been a surprise when his sole response to her rebuttal was to nod slowly, and step forward slowly.
"I think she still is. Whatever that curse was, I don't think it was really her talking." He didn't know if that was true or not, strictly speaking, but even he could tell that something foul had been afoot. But he didn't know the woman, nor her relationships with others. Better to let sleeping dogs lie, he supposed, and move on.

Once close enough, he drew the collar - or, rather, what remained of it - from his pocket, and placed it gingerly in her palm. Unfortunately for Hyousuke, doing so exposed just enough of his injuries that anyone with sharp enough eyes or paying enough attention would have been able to see a hint of them. The red-rawness of his knuckles was to be expected. He was a brawler, and it had been a gruelling fight back then, even with his training. The bruises and scrapes could be excused by the fight as well, given that he'd taken some nasty hits and been thrown against a wall.

But the trenches that had been carved into his flesh when his collar shifted at just the right angle, the lines of skin broken by savage fangs that were bared when his sleeves rode up... Ulala hadn't issued any attacks that could do that. They were injuries that could invoke suspicion, if nothing else, but Hyousuke either didn't notice that he'd exposed them or had elected to try and avoid calling attention to the fact. Whatever the case, he drew back once the damaged collar had been dropped into Tamaki's hand, and shook his head slowly.

"It's fine, I already cleaned 'em up before I came over here. And I'd rather we just focus on that for now." Hyousuke's tone was insistent. Palpably so. It wasn't something that crept in without his knowledge, it was him stating that he didn't wish to speak of it. Whether that was for the time being, or at all, was anyone's guess. "I found this while I went hiking with a friend. We think the dog that was wearing it got loose in the woods, and we're guessing it's still out there, but we've got almost no leads on how to find it or who it belongs to. This collar's the only thing that we've got."

The item in question was a strip of leather, dark brown in colour, though damaged from its time in the dirt. Each end made it clear it had been torn off, rather than simply removed, while the scratches and faded colour lent credence to the idea that it had been laying in the dirt for at least a few days. The tag - a round and brass thing, dulled by exposure and damage - had fragments of once-legible characters engraved into it, though scratches and other damage had removed any useful information from its surface.

"I know this is the kinda thing the cops or whoever should be looking at, but I don't trust 'em to do jack shit." Hyousuke didn't care that he'd spoken rather uncouthly around someone that was, by that point, effectively his boss. The dog was clearly his focus. "Poor thing's probably scared and alone out there, waiting for someone to do something - anything - to help it. I'll pay whatever it takes, just- just give me *something.* Please."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
What reason would Hyousuke have for doubt, indeed? Tamaki sees it a little differently; she is only several years older than him. She's still in university. If he's expecting a truly seasoned veteran, then that's Todoroki at the much larger desk on the far end of the room. Part of the friction between herself and Ulala was that the latter apparently views the former as picture-perfect, put-together, a professional who had at least proven herself capable of attracting a partner, even if that relationship fizzled post-proposal.

Tamaki gives Hyousuke an unamused stare in response to his attempt at condolences, then pinches the bridge of her nose. "I appreciate it what you're trying to do, but ... that ''was'' the real her speaking. Same as it was the real me tearing into her just as badly. It may not have been the entirety of her, but make no mistake: it was a very real portion of her."

She lowers her head slightly while she keeps her gaze fixed on Hyousuke. "Remember, that ugliness came from somewhere. She called the Joker Curse on someone. The rumor which Wang Long's originator spread only brought forward something which had already existed. We're all capable of such thoughts and deeds. Even you. Even myself. Don't ever forget that."

She watches him closely, anticipating her own disappointment if he manages to make the same category error as Ulala had. Then again, Tamaki doesn't really make it easy for anyone to perceive the truth of the matter, does she ..? First she doesn't want people to know more about what she's been through, but then she gets upset that they don't see that about her? ''Which one is it?'' It's an ever-shifting goalpost with her contrarian nature, endlessly circling the field to the opposite approach someone takes towards her.

Like Hyousuke, she doesn't like when people focus on her own wounds. "Sure," she brusquely offers in reply to his insistence. Immediately, she frowns when the collar serves as a hint to the task: finding a lost dog. How unglamorous. How unexciting. It can't be worth the time nor pay, she starts to wonder. She's got rent to pay, tuition, groceries, all on the commission an apprentice such as herself makes subcontracted out under Todoroki, and in the growing world of the supernatural, there's also opportunity.

'From love affairs to ghosts,' her tagline goes. A pang of guilt shoots through her heart -- she wanted to be in this position to help out people who would otherwise fall through the gaps. This fits that very definition, doesn't it? Her frown softens as she scrutinizes the collar and tag, taking its details into her memory.

She waves a hand dismissively at Hyousuke. "We can talk payment later. I can help you out. Which woods did you find this in, exactly? I'll do some analysis and take a hike out there myself sometime."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke's lips twitched a little when Tamaki corrected him, and the heat of shame washed through his veins. He tried to maintain a still expression, and he attempted to keep himself from saying anything else that would risk offence. It wouldn't do to tarnish his image in front of someone that he relied on, after all. It wouldn't do to make himself seem like even more of a dumb, impulsive, brute than he already had. But even so, some few things still slipped out. The tensing of muscles, the twitching of fingers, the momentary breaking of his gaze... It was subtle, but it was there.

"I understand. I'll keep it in mind. I'll... try to control myself." Hyousuke said tersely. He wasn't entirely sure he did understand - no surprises there - but he at least made the attempt. That aside, it wasn't the hammer's place to question why it was driven into a nail. He was there to fight whoever he was thrown at - nothing more, nothing less. Who did he think he was, trying to provide some measure of solace, or trying to put together a puzzle he'd not even investigated the pieces of? Besides, there were other matters to attend to.

The seconds between Tamaki taking the collar and offering her answer stretched out into what felt like aeons. Hyousuke didn't dare to breathe, lest it risk drawing her ire and jeopardising his case. But there was only so much he could suppress, even if he made an active effort to remain as still and silent as humanly possible. His fingers twitched, motioning as if he wanted to clutch at his jacket in anticipation, only to be forced back. He couldn't hold her gaze for long, glancing down every so often before he had the stomach to look her in the eye again. His feet shifted in place, only some fraction of an inch at a time, but they shifted nonetheless.

It was only when she spoke again that he resumed some measure of vigour and alertness, as if he were soldier called to arms. Air rushed into his lungs as he indulged in the luxury of drawing breath once more, only for it to slowly fall past his face in a relieved exhale.
"It's a trail just outside Tokyo. My friend took some pictures of the spot we found the collar in as well." He handed Tamaki his phone, turned to face her the right way up. Amongst the pictures Ichika had sent him was a few pictures of the signage before the trail, and a spot marked on a map showing where the trail began as well as roughly where they'd come across the sole lead he possessed.

Another few seconds of silence passed. It wasn't a thoughtful quiet - it was dead air. Stillness in which one could hear a pin drop. Hyousuke broke it eventually, but it was with an uncharacteristically awkward lilt to his voice.
"Thank you. I know it's not your usual thing, but I didn't know who else I could go to, and I don't know who even could help me, and I can't stand knowing that it's just out there alone and waiting for someone to come find it but not seeing anyone and-"

Hyousuke swallowed to cut himself off, suddenly realising that he'd lost control no more than a minute after he'd promised not to. Another embarrassment to flood his psyche with shame. Another display of abject weakness. He hoped that, at the very least, bowing a little in gratitude would help hide his face some.
"...I mean, thank you. For this."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
<poem>
Too sharp. Tamaki let her tongue go loose again. She sighs in exasperation, primarily aimed at herself. "It isn't so much about control as it is about understanding. I lost control."

She places her forehead in the palm of her hand and props it up with an elbow. "I'm ... telling myself this just as much as I'm telling you. Or maybe I'm projecting. Give yourself some grace, either way."

Whatever the case is, her hackles seem lowered. She peers at Hyousuke's phone and nods. She quietly mutters, "Could you text me those? Thanks."

"It kind of is my usual thing. You ... ''do'' know how few cases of mine are supernatural, right? They're the exception, not the norm." She chuckles. "Honestly, I could use a breather after the gym ..."

Her final reply is simple. "You're welcome. It's what I'm here for."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-23: A Trace on the Trail

2026-06-23T20:24:31Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: A Trace on the Trail''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ichika Kawase *'''Where:''' A hiking trail outside of Tokyo *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-23 *'''IC Date:''' Thu Nov 29 2012 *'''Summary''': ''With the normal hiking paths near Sumaru still at risk of harbouring demons, Hyousuke and Ichika choose a different trail. There, they make an unsettling discovery, with no immediate solution in sight.'' ---- <Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed. <poem> The l..."

*'''Log: A Trace on the Trail'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ichika Kawase]]
*'''Where:''' A hiking trail outside of Tokyo
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-23
*'''IC Date:''' Thu Nov 29 2012
*'''Summary''': ''With the normal hiking paths near Sumaru still at risk of harbouring demons, Hyousuke and Ichika choose a different trail. There, they make an unsettling discovery, with no immediate solution in sight.''

----

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
The last days of November were close at hand, and Hyousuke felt it on every inch of bare skin. Every breeze carried with it a stark chill, yet even when the air was still, it nipped at his hands and his cheeks, pricking them like needles. The sun shone through a barely-clouded sky, but the light was cold, its warmth stifled before it could so much as reach past the canopy reaching over the trail. A little heat was trapped by the dense foliage to either side of him, and more was held to his skin by a few thin layers of long-sleeved clothes, but it was nevertheless safe to say that winter was well and truly underway.

For his part, Hyousuke wore nothing out of the ordinary. Ankle-length trousers and a sturdy pair of walking shoes reached below his waist, while above it, he wore some plain - yet eminently breathable - longsleeve shirt. Atop it was a russet-brown jacket, a little loose on his shoulders, but an otherwise good fit. They provided more than just warmth, however. They were, at that time of year, an inconspicuous way of covering the various cuts and scratches and bruises he'd sustained, both from the brawl with Ulala, and with the beast he'd been pursuing.

"What do you think so far?" Hyousuke eventually asked, as he and Ichika made their way up the new trail. "Seems like a nice change of scenery to me. Quiet, not too steep... No demons either." The last part was said with a hushed voice. Not so quiet he could not be heard, but enough that the crunching of dirt and leaves and other foliage underfoot would keep passersby from eavesdroppping.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's definitely a little cold, but Ichika doesn't mind a bit of a chill; she's dressed for it. Jeans for the hike, boots, and a jacket over her tanktop. She doesn't need to cover so many injuries as Hyousuke, but it's still important not to leave too much exposed to the elements (and prickly plants). Besides, it's a good idea to check in with Hyousuke... and she likes a chance to get out into nature.

"Yeah, we're lucky," Ichika says of the demons. "I wasn't sure how far they'd go..."

A pause. "But it's nice, that aside. Good trail. Quiet, but pretty."

"And I haven't been this way before."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"I bet it's nice when it's snowing." Hyousuke said offhandedly, sounding more as though he was thinking aloud, rather than making some deep and valued contribution to a conversation. "You'd have to watch the path if it gets too difficult to walk it, but it'd look nice." The bite of a midwinter gust contrasting against the warmth of a thick coat, the crunch of snow underfoot drowning out the rustling of the leafy canopy overhead, the stillness of the air as more and more people were driven away by the cold... Hyousuke imagined it to be a peaceful scene. Calming and remote, far from anyone that might seek to disturb one's reverie.

"Might be nice to take some tea up here. Go to the top, look up at the stars, and just..." Hyousuke mused in an uncharacteristically poetic fashion. Perhaps something about the trail had brought that out in him. Perhaps the recent spate of fights and his lack of proper rest had shaken something loose in his brain. It was difficult to say, and it was unlikely he would have had an answer anyway. That aside, there was something that caught his eye, distracting him the moment that he saw it.

He at first gave it little thought, passing it off as a trick of the light, or some stubborn frost catching the rays at just the right angle. But as the trail wound closer, and he was given a chance to examine it, Hyousuke noticed something off. He paused in place, then crouched down to examine the item. Picking it up, he saw it was no wayward scrap of ice, but a strip of leather. Deep brown in colour, whatever gloss had once adorned it had long since faded, leaving it as little more than a length of cured hide with a dulled tag dangling off the front.

"That's weird..." Hyousuke said, turning the thing over in his hands, while brushing any dirt from it. "What's something like this doing here? And it's torn up real bad too..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
Snowing! "I bet," Ichika agrees, taking a moment to look around and imagine it. It does seem nice. Still, "Right." It's a good, peaceful idea. And Ichika doesn't particularly dislike snow; indeed, she's come to appreciate the winter months a lot more in the passt couple of years.

"You and tea," she says, but it's not displeased; it's nice to see Hyousuke so interested in something. But when he trails off, she glances his way and then down to the item.

Leather... With a tag.

"Huh," Ichika says, and steps closer to look down at whatever it is. Still...

"Somebody's pet?" she wonders. "..."

Ichika grimaces. "Well, it ''was'' somebody's pet. I guess there are scarier animals out here..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke's lips tightened into a frown at the thought of something savaging whatever the collar had once belonged to. He went quiet for a moment, clearly thinking on the idea, before shaking his head a little.
"This close to the city? I don't know... It'd have to be a pretty small dog to get got by anything that lives this close to a place as big as Tokyo, and the collar looks way too big for that." He showed it to her to demonstrate his point, and held it between them while he explained his findings further.

"Tag's scratched to hell too. I can't figure out a thing it says. You getting anything?" Hyousuke held it out towards Ichika, but he suspected she'd have no better luck than he. The tag had clearly been engraved, but most of the characters had been scratched over by something. The elements, claws, teeth - it was hard to place the onus on any one thing, but the end result was the same. They had no name, no contact information, and no animal. "Shit... It's probably been here a few days too. Someone's probably getting real worried right about now."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
It's Ichika's first thought, anyway. But the way Hyousuke counters the idea... "Oh, good," she says. "Wasn't a really happy thought, you know?" she says, though it's not really a question. "OK, hm..."

Ichika looks to the tag--but she doesn't see anything, either. "Nope," she says. "Not a thing."

no name, no contact..

"Yeah..."

She thinks of Lance, and how worried she'd be.

"I don't know what we can do, though."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Suppose we could take a detour if you want to go looking for it." Hyousuke suggested, though the tone with which he said it made it quite clear he didn't put much stock in the idea. Whatever doubt may have lingered, he made sure to clear up a moment later when he looked around the wooded areas to either side of them. "But it's a big place, and just the two of us aren't going to cover much ground. And that's assuming it's not just gonna get scared and run off while we try and help."

"Poor thing." Hyousuke eventually said, shaking his head a little and sighing quietly. "It's probably scared as hell and all alone out there." He paused for a moment, tight-lipped and quiet. For second - and only a second - his gaze went blank. He looked forward, but his mind was somewhere else, as though he saw something far different to the trail before them. "I don't like it, but I don't think there's anything we can do. Can't talk to its owners with the tag like this, and the cops probably wouldn't take any of this seriously."

Another pause, this time with a tapping foot, and no more distant looks.
"Think Uchida-san'd take the case? I need to ask her about something anyway."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"...Mm." Ichika doesn't see any more possibility than Hyousuke seems to about it, shaking her head. "Right. Which it would; we don't have anything familiar or anything to reassure it..."

She sighs, too. "Yeah," Ichika says. She notices that blankness, but... "Yeah. Sometimes there's not much to do..." But--

Hm.

"Maybe," Ichika says of Tamaki. "I'm not sure what she'd do, but... I gues it's worth asking? Here, sec."

Ichika pulls out her phone. "Let me take some pictures so we can identify where we are later. It might help."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Send 'em over when you can." Hyousuke said, while crouching back down to sift through various mounds of dirt and fallen leaves, in the hopes of finding something that would help him - or, rather, Tamaki - put a case together. "I don't know what I'm hoping for. Maybe she can see something on the tag that we can't, or figure something out with it." He didn't sound particularly hopeful about the idea. His tone leaned more towards desperation, like he was grasping at any lifelines he could get. Searching for further clues had already yielded nothing, after all, and that meant one less lead to go on.

"Its owner's probably worried sick about it. Losing someone that close to you... I don't know if I could sleep, knowing that my friend was out there." Another distant gaze, though it lingered a little longer than it had before. "Far from home, all alone... I couldn't stand knowing it was going through that without me." If one were to listen closely, they might have heard something faint in his otherwise restrained tone - bitterness. Small, but lingering, like poison in the veins. He shook it off a moment later though, and turned to face Ichika. "I don't think there's anything else we can do right now. At least we know where it went missing..."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
<poem>
"Will do." Ichika takes a few photographs; the place they found the collar, the horizon here, the trees around. Then, she takes a moment to figure where they are relative to the rest...

"I don't know either," she admits. "There might be nothing she can do."

But...

"It sucks," Ichika agrees. "But there's stories about that, you know? Pets who find their way to their owners even after long separations. ...I don't know if that's something that's going to happen here, but... It's not totally hopeless."

She hears it.

"Yeah. Let's get up what we can and send it to her. Whether it pans out or not... At least we'll know someone tried."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
There was silence between them. Not a lull in the conversation, but a heavy, thoughtful, pause. Rather than interrupt it, the breeze that meandered through only served to highlight it, until Hyousuke nodded firmly.
"Yeah. At least someone tried to help." He paused, and his lips moved, as if he had more to say on the matter. But that thoughtful quiet reigned again, ended only when he turned his gaze further up the trail, and squinted. "Still got plenty of day left, if you want to go further up. I think we can make it."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-20: Gifts and Getaways

2026-06-20T12:48:51Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: Gifts and Getaways''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Moriko Kumamoto *'''Where:''' Paulownia Mall *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-20 *'''IC Date:''' Tue Nov 27 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Eager for a change of scenery, Hyousuke invites Moriko to go shopping with him at Paulownia Mall. Plans are made for both gifting and the break.'' ---- (|============================== Paulownia Mall ==============================|) -======================================= Iwato..."

*'''Log: Gifts and Getaways'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Moriko Kumamoto]]
*'''Where:''' Paulownia Mall
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-20
*'''IC Date:''' Tue Nov 27 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Eager for a change of scenery, Hyousuke invites Moriko to go shopping with him at Paulownia Mall. Plans are made for both gifting and the break.''

----

(|============================== Paulownia Mall ==============================|)
-======================================= Iwatodai City/Tatsumi Port Island ====-
A great glass dome surrounds Paulownia Mall, its name displayed in great letters
on its rim. Within this circular structure, made beautiful with water features,
the mall bustles. A central fountain pours out, eternally, surrounded by benches
for weary shoppers; two more pools stand by the entrance, decorated by
well-trimmed hedges behind them. The brown patterning on the floor emphasises
the circular nature of this place, all carved to equal segments; pillars
surrounding the sides provide structure and guidance, separating each store from
the other.

And the shops one can find here are many. Game Parade is a popular arcade,
particularly amongst nearby Gekkoukan students, and its crane game has foiled
many a hopeful date. Kenneth Arnold offers music albums, while Mandragora
Karaoke Bar, up a flight of stairs nearby, offers live music experiences for
those who prefer active participation. Club Escapade is another great option for
music-lovers, alongside those seeking Fortune-Telling services or looking for
shady informants -- but it's only open at night, and technically, it's only for
people who are over 18. Practically speaking, teenagers sometimes sneak in,
anyway... but curious teens ought to be careful, because a few shops over, one
can find the Tatsumi East Police Station. Chagall Cafe, at least, is both open
during the day and open to all ages! Aohige Pharmacy offers pharmaceuticals to
cure any ailment, while Be Blue V offers an eclectic variety of items and
treatments to improve one's health and wellbeing. Finally, Mayoido Antiques
offers unique weapons and armour for those who bring in supernatural
materials... and the proprietor seems to know more than she really ought to
about that world.
(|============================================================================|)

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
> shopping for presents at paulownia
> you want to come with

The invite was as blunt as it was simple, but Hyousuke's messages were rarely anything else. It was just a simple invitation for Moriko to hang out with him while he attended to some Christmas-related business. He supposed that there might be questions about why he did not simply visit Lotus Plaza, or any of Sumaru's numerous shops and stalls, but he didn't think too much about providing an excuse beyond needing a change of scenery. It wasn't a lie, after all - he would just deign to leave out the part where he'd been prowling Sumaru at night in search of a certain bounty, and getting carved up for it.

Hyousuke didn't wear anything particularly special. Nothing that would stand out in the winter, certainly. A long-sleeved jacket, mud-brown and wrought from some durable fabric or other, hung off of his frame with the front undone. The jacket parted, it revealed a simple green shirt underneath, itself just about thick enough to ward off the worst of the late November chill. Below, his ever-reliable jeans and walking shoes remained, well-loved but lovingly maintained. Silently, he thanked the weather for the opportunity to wear such things without suspicion. They hid his cuts and bruises and litanies of other injuries quite well.

For once, however, the hunt and the state of his body were not at the forefront of Hyousuke's mind. It only took one look at him eyeing a row of gratuitously large stuffed toys in a shop's window to tell that he was thinking about them instead, and the hand stroking his chin only served to reinforce such a notion.
BBS: New BB message (4''32) posted to 'Scene Announcements' by Scene System: Hounded Down
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
Moriko is more than happy to get out and about when she's not out and about doing things out and about. Which is a lot of words to say she showed up. Though as noted prior, it's gotten too cold to ride, especially with snow risks and everything else. So, she's actually dressed less tomboyish for once. A long skirt, stockings and a sweater. As well as her over ear headphones. Necessary for garage work if you don't want to get distracted by all of the other things happening. Mostly in greens and blacks though, color wise.

Somewhat offput by the riding boots. She's comfortable though, and they're warm.

Walking up behind the familiar figure, seh says simply, "Looking for a cuddly monkey?" Head tilted ot the side, finger to her lips like she's not giving him a bit of a hard time.

"Who were you shopping for?" Figuring she's here to help and, well she's happy to be doing so.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke started a little - out of surprise, rather than embarrassment - but returned to normal in the blink of an eye. Thumbs shoved haphazardly in his pocket, he kept his gaze on Moriko for a little while, but his eyes drifted slowly over to the display again as the conversation continued on.
"Friends." He said flatly, hoping she didn't catch on that he'd left family out very much on purpose. "Them, and my uh..." He scrunched his face a little. "...Boss? No, that's not right." He searched for the word for a few seconds, then seemed to abandon the endeavour, as evidenced by his face unclenching.

"Problem is I don't know what I'm supposed to get 'em. I asked one of the guys if tea's good, but apparently that's for old people or something." Hyousuke looked - and sounded - marginally offended by the memory, as though it'd left a bad taste in his mouth. "And my carving's not good enough for me to make stuff either, so I'm stuck. How about you? Looking to get anything while you're here?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
"Tea's for old people?" Moriko sounds utterly baffled by the concept. "Foreigner?" Because she doesn't know anyone that doesn't at least touch the bottled stuff, does she? "Which friends?" That one's a straight question, "Helps to know what kind of people you're fishing for really. Or.. boss?" She rubs her chin, "Dunno."

"Carving's a good gift though. Even if it isn't as good as you think it is. Shows a lot of care goes into it right?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke shrugged a little at her questioning about the tea. He was at as much of a loss as her, and quite miffed about the whole ordeal. Her asking about the friends was a lot easier for him to answer, however, and was a topic he was remarkably less annoyed about.
"Gotta get one for Ichika-san and her sister. Kawase-san, I mean. Tsubasa-san too. It's been a rough year, and they've been good friends, so something like this is the least I can do for them." There was an unusual weight to his words as his explanation tailed off, and the moment of quiet only emphasised it.

"Dunno what kinda things adults like though. I don't really speak to 'em much outside of school." And various supernatural matters, but such things were not to be discussed in broad daylight, and it wasn't like much of it amounted to more than barked orders or warnings of incoming attacks. "Man, why's Christmas gotta be so hard? I know I could carve stuff, but it wanna get 'em something cool too. Not just a bit of wood that kinda looks like a bear." In fairness to him, his efforts had paid off in recent weeks. His latest attempt even had a snout that vaguely resembled something mammalian.

"How about you? Looking to buy stuff for anyone while we're here?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
"Who doesn't like tea?" She sounds utterly baffled by this. "I bet they're over cooking it or stewing it or something." This is an utterly alien concept to Moriko. Not that it's a big deal, but still! Well, sure there are some that won't like it, but still. Old people?

"Hm." Crossing her arms. Tapping her foot, "Gimme a rundown of them? I don't think I know them as well as I should." She looks at the stuffed animals htough, "Do any of them seem particularly like stuffed animal sorts? I mean cute and cuddly's not a bad bet for most girls at least."

"Depends on the adult." She notes there, "Back at the inn, you'd have the single guys that were visiting that might like something alcoholic or lewd. You'd get the families that might like something practical. You'd get the newly weds that.. you could do both." She shrugs. Seeming to think on it. "It's not that hard." She suggests, "Mostly just have to think about something that isn't going to bankrupt you. Even if we do have dubious methods of earning extra."

"I need to find something to send my mom. My brother's getting some packs of cards and maybe a figure or something. Grandpa's getting something nostalgic. I haven't decided fully there. Classmates... I have no idea. Probably little key charms or something. I can design them and get them printed in time."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"That might be a problem, I dunno if they're gonna like alco-" Hyousuke paused, put his hand to his chin, then considered. "...Actually, I don't think I've ever heard them say they don't like it. The problem's probably gonna be getting some of-" He paused again, then shook his head. "No, that's not a problem either, there's a guy that-" He cut himself off once more, then snapped his eyes up at Moriko, a vaguely serious look in them as he beheld her. "You didn't hear that. You didn't hear any of that."

"As for the cute and cuddly stuff... I dunno. Hard to say. I think Ichika-san likes it, but she likes other stuff too. Nature stuff like gardening and hiking, I think she likes cooking too... Oh, right, she got a car too. Is that anything?" He cocked his head a little in that manner he so often did when he was questioning or curious, before continuing on with his explanations. "Kawase-san... I think she's one of yours, ain't she? I know she does music and skateboarding, but I don't know anything about either of those. As for Tsubasa-san..."

He scrunched his face again, attempting to figure out what to say.
"...Am I allowed to buy people swords? Gonna be real awkward if they unwrap that around people that don't know about what we do. Could get 'em something for their dog. Or does the dog get a separate present..." He paused, then snapped his finger. "Birds. They like birds. And colourful stuff. And colourful birds." He nodded as though he'd happened upon the greatest secrets of the universe, then concluded. "Thinking I'll bake something small for the rest. Show 'em I didn't forget 'em."

The talk of families left him quiet. Not unusual, given it wasn't his turn to speak, but Hyousuke was stiller than usual, and perhaps looked a little distant as well. Those with sharp enough senses or a keen knowledge of how he acted might even have detected a hint of hesitation in his voice.
"Want to go walking to find something for your mum? I ain't looking to go in there just yet unless you want to browse, so I don't mind going for a walk." His gaze did flit to one in particular when he said it, but too quickly for any but the most eagle-eyed of observers to know which.

"...Not gonna buy anything lewd for anyone though. They want to deal with that, they can buy it themselves."

</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
"You're going to have a hard time buying the alcohol though." She notes, "Could maybe convince someone I Know to pick it up with the caveat of it definitely absolutely goes to the adults." She scratches her cheek, "Not that they care, but I don't want the blowback." When Hyousuke suggests he has his own contacts Moriko shrugs, "I know the right people already."

"You probably can't afford anything for the car unless you know how to repair damaged CD players or something." She taps her foot, thinking. "Seat covers maybe if it's beat to the hells." She looks over, "Gardening stuff is a good one if she is into it."

"Workout stuff, skateboard stuff. Yeah. I assume you mean her and not the older one."

Arms get crossed again. "Swords maybe? Call it a replica? Or tell them to open it in private and make it funny shaped." Though with birds, "Small carved birds are good practice and would fit that you know."

"I have to think on what I want to get her. I usually send stuff that feels souvenier-y since we're traveling and she's back home." She points, "Was thinking of heading home for the holiday, but- eh." She shrugs, "I also was handing out brochures and trying to convince people to head that way. That's my real gift to her if you ask me." Because it's meaningful. In a sort of mercenary way.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"I'll think about it. They'd probably be happier if didn't get them something that'd get us both in trouble, but if I've got no other ideas..." Hyousuke said, almost immediately ignoring the fact that he'd insisted they didn't speak of the matter further. In public, at least. To his credit, he at least tried to keep his voice a little hushed about it. "I need to pay 'em a visit for a job I'm working on anyway, so I can try and figure it out." Quite how someone as tactless as him could do so without ruining the surprise for Tamaki was anyone's guess, but at least he had intent.

Hyousuke listened to the explanation of car-related presents and why him buying them was probably not a great idea.
"Nah, it's looking too good for anything like that. Far as I can tell, she takes care of that thing well. Gardening's probably the best I can do, but that's not something I know about either. Could probably tell you a bunch about wildflowers, but that's it. She's probably got the tools she needs too. It'd be like someone buying me new gloves when I've already got a good pair. Maybe one of those little planters. Y'know, the ones you see people put on their windows or their balconies when they got their own apartments."

He nodded at the clarification. Hyousuke listened to her, of course, but his eyes wandered around the mall, looking at the various shops and stalls that surrounded them.
"Yeah, that's the one. I dunno much about skateboards and music, but I *do* know workout stuff. But what kind..." Something told him that a giftwrapped tub of protein powder would probably make for an odd gift. Perhaps a talk with Ichika was in order, or the girl herself. Whichever one had time for him, he supposed, though with finals fast approaching he couldn't be certain either would.

When it came to small, carved, birds, Hyousuke shook his head a little.
"Nah, that's not gonna cut it. I can't even make carvings that look like bears, and I've been practising them as long as I've been doing it. If I tried to make it look like a bird, it... well, it's not gonna look anything like a bird." He frowned, then considered the other option. "...Maybe a bird-themed sword. Oh, right, they like makeup and sewing stuff too! Stuff I... don't know about either. You got a clue about it?"

While souvenir-esque items were outside of his area of expertise - partly due to him not being all too familiar with Sumaru, let alone Iwatadoi and its associated areas - Hyousuke did seem to perk up a little at the mention of Moriko trying to get people into the inn.
"I could drop by during the break, if you don't mind me coming." He said, trying to make his proposal seem as casual as possible, unwilling to seem like an overeager hound that had just heard the word 'walk.' "I've got nothing going on, and I could use a change of scenery. Might be nice to get some time away from... all of this."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
"Eeh it'll be fine." Moriko insists, hands held up, "You're not about to get arrested just for talking about the idea. Especially if we're routing it through someone else to someone legal." She frowns, "Though that does sound remarkably bad when put that way doesn't it." Tapping her foot, "Was he the cook? Good cooking wine or something is a nice middle ground." Even if the rule she's always heard was cook with what you'd drink.

"Tools yes, but new seeds, or things that might be nice to replace as they're wearing out sort of thing? Even if it's as simple as soil, fertilizer and hats with gloves or something." She shrugs, palms out, "It's what I got my mom one year. I know a bit about growing some vegetables and whatnot. And I go through gloves quickly enough I'd probably be alright with a spare pair."

"I wouldn't recommend protein powder to a woman unless she tells you she wants to look like the guy from that robot movie." She strikes a pose, flexing in immitation for emphasis. "Maybe some weights, jump ropes and the like?" She shrugs. "If I knew more about boards I'd see if she needs a new one, but that's a bit beyond me." She is a different kind of 'xtreme!' after all.

"Birds are easy. Get the rough shape, then carve the lines in." She suggests, "It's subtractive." She has done some very minor clay sculpting. Even alabastar once, but that broke on her. "Makeup? Kawase senior? She helped with mine. I only knew enough to match makeup to my eyes." She admits. "Do you know her preferred colors? Or the color of her eyes even?" There's a grin, she thinks he might be after more there.

"Hm. I had suggested to others we all go." She rubs the back of her head with that wry look, "Mostly because I thought we could use the break and I could try to get the higher ups to bankroll it." Call it a training exercise or something. Or morale trip.

It's probably morally dubious really. It's for a good reason though!
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
"Oh, no, Uchida-san's the boss. I don't know what she likes. But now that you mention it, cooking wine's not a bad idea." Hyousuke trailed off a little, clearly giving the idea more serious thought than he had to actual booze intended to serve primarily as a drink. "Seems like something that anyone can use. I dunno what, I've never made anything that needs it, but I'm pretty sure she could figure it out." She was a detective, after all. If she couldn't detect recipes that used a moderately expensive cooking wine, then it was a poor detective agency indeed.

"Seeds and soil... Cooking and-" Hyousuke's eyes widened a little, and he turned to Moriko with a broad smile. It was almost bare-toothed, with how enthusiastic he seemed about the idea. "Veggies. I can get veggies. Pair of gloves, a nice hat, a set of flowers and veggie seeds, it's two things in one. Kumamoto-san, you're a genius." An immediate mental note was made to visit a shop that sold gardening supplies and suchlike. Perhaps he could ask Tsubasa what colours she liked as well. He owed her that much for all she'd done, at the very least.

"Makeup? For- Oh, no, I'm not getting it for her." Hyosuke blinked at her, a blank look written on his face. His eyes were almost vacant, his face resting in a neutral expression. He did not pick up that she had been hinting at something - the man was as dense as a neutron star, it seemed, with a skull thicker than a dam. "I'm getting it for Tsubasa-san. The bird... person?" They weren't a girl. They weren't a guy. But 'bird person' made them sound like a Featherman extra. Something he'd have to think on later, he suppose. "They're the one you're asking me to carve for. I can try it, it's just... they're probably gonna like some nice eyeshadow more than a lump of wood that looks kinda like a peacock."

Quite why he picked that specific bird, Hyousuke could not say.
It was probably nothing.

Hyousuke listened. Hyousuke nodded. Hyousuke considered... something. Then, when Hyousuke spoke, he did so slowly and carefully, as if broaching a rather sensitive topic.
"Do you think I could join SEES for the break? For collaborative purposes." Despite committing all his brainpower to sounding smart and managing to utter a word with more than two syllables, Hyousuke doubted that his jest would be taken seriously, and spoke a moment or two later. "But seriously, I'll go. I'd ride there with you guys, but if I'm getting on the train I might as well just go and meet you there."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
"The boss huh?" She gives him a funny look. "Didn't think you were into that." Moriko isn't sure what she means either. Don't worry about it. "If you're going to do that.." She taps her cheek, "Maybe let's hit up one of the stores that specialize in it. If you want to do the meaningful gift, we should do some research and get good."

"Yeah, I've heard that before. Usually inbetween questioning my intentions in classes after hitting people or falling asleep." There's a wry smile there. "I hope she likes it though. What kind of veggies were you thinking?"

"For.. you? Maybe some good eyeliner?"

"I mean either way." Clearly not at all understanding what's happening, but it'll be fine. She can worry about that sort of thing later.

"Flashy bird. Brown or party colored?"

"You could just say you want to visit Osaka and want the group discount." She says in a tone that suggests she's both okay with it, and not at all thinking about anything, other than he's trying to save a buck or two. "I've got no problem with it. Probably not as a SEES thing, I can't vouch for everyone else, but I'm always happy to show off my home and the inn."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke wasn't sure what Moriko meant by that. He tilted his head, curious about it, but didn't seem to worry too much - he was perfectly happy to drop that line of questioning before it even started.
"Sounds good." He said, nodding firmly, before looking in the vague direction of what he thought was a gardening store. "I think we should pass by one of them if we head to the gardening stores that way." Then again, he didn't often come to this mall, so he could have been entirely wrong. It was anyone's guess.

"Thinking something easy to grow. Probably not one of them that grows into the ground, like carrots." Despite not knowing the specific name for root vegetables, at least Hyousuke seemed to understand the concept of growing vegetables with limited space. "Or maybe she'd like herbs. They don't seem like they'd need a lot of space, and we can't just go up on the roof and start planting a garden." Such an idea was a ridiculous one, especially in Kasugayama High. It was a preposterous idea to gather a group of friends and start growing various flora there.

"It's for Tsubasa-san. I don't wear the stuff." Hyousuke waved his hand a little dismissively, then clarified. "I ain't getting anything that precise done right. I'd probably stab myself in the eye before I get anything looking good." The fact that he might actually look good in it either did not occur to him, or did occur to him and he simply didn't care because it was too much work. "Gotta be a bright colour. A party colour. Like a parrot, or a peacock, or something like that. I think they'd like that." He wasn't completely certain, but he was reasonably certain. It was better than nothing.

He glanced back at the plush store after looking in the direction of other shops, and his eye caught on something. It was only for a moment, and only in its vague direction, but it was enough to cement a decision in his mind. In the meantime, there was the talk of group discounts and suchlike to concern himself with.
"Then you should show me around." He said offhandedly, looking more at her than the shop's entrance, but only barely. "I don't know a whole lot about Osaka, so it'd be nice to have someone showing me all the good spots."

There was a slight pause, and the cogs in his head began to whir. The gears turned, the hamster wheel squeaked... He had an idea.
"...Actually, do you wanna grab lunch first? It's about that time. You pick the place and get us some seats, I gotta pick something up real quick."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Moriko Kumamoto has posed.
<poem>
Moriko doesn't push it any further herself!

"Hm. We might have a hard time finding gardening here. We could probably go elsehwere for that. We're stuck with the trains though." She points, "Too cold, too wet, too icy for riding right now." She does have a license! Just no car.

"So you'll want to avoid tubers and other things" She ticks off, "I'd avoid tomatoes because they're a pain to grow without supports. Maybe herbs or spices is the right call? Just not mint."

"I mean, I'm not going to worry about it." She shrugs, "I already draw enough weird looks, who am I to point at anyone else?"

"We're not super far from the gardens. So we'll all have to make a trip out that way." She insists. "Other than that? The bay maybe? I mean we're still a city." Even if she has the country drawl.

"Lunch? Sure." She frowns, looking around. "I'll wander off. It'll be easy."
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-15: The Hunt is On

2026-06-15T21:55:18Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Cutscene: The Hunt is On''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki *'''Where:''' Sumaru, Hirasaka Ward *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-15 *'''IC Date:''' Sun Nov 25 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke strikes out on his own to hunt down a rumour demon he's been tracking for a while. However, who is the hunter and who is the hunted quickly becomes unclear.'' ---- Like thin paints seeping into each other upon a palette, putrid shades of sickly green and bile yellow crept across a lan..."

*'''Cutscene: The Hunt is On'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]]
*'''Where:''' Sumaru, Hirasaka Ward
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-15
*'''IC Date:''' Sun Nov 25 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Hyousuke strikes out on his own to hunt down a rumour demon he's been tracking for a while. However, who is the hunter and who is the hunted quickly becomes unclear.''

----

Like thin paints seeping into each other upon a palette, putrid shades of sickly green and bile yellow crept across a land blackened by night. Stars were swallowed, first by the light of the city, and then again by the hues forced upon the sky by supernatural forces. Even the moon itself was not free from the clutches of forces from beyond the veil. What had once been pale and serene had been warped into an icon of putrescence, looming above humanity as streaks of yellow light washed over the landscape below.

Hyousuke ignored it. He ignored all of it, no matter how disconcerting such things should have been. He ignored what had once been crystalline waters, flowing or still, even though that had turned a sanguine red. He turned his gaze away from the gibbering masses of supernatural energy, not wishing to engage the Shadows in combat and waste both precious time and energy. He did not acknowledge the chittering and lumbering and gossiping hordes of Demons around him, unwilling to expend the energy required to negotiate or fight his way past them. On any other night, he might have torn loot from them, or used them to hone his skills. But not that night.

That night, Hyousuke had a target.

He knelt by the edge of a park, and peered into the dirt and flattened grass. The last of the cultists had long since fled, and though he was sure that some cleanup was still required in the aftermath, he doubted that the police - let alone those in Sumaru - would have lingered for long instead of leaving the case to fester in a cabinet somewhere. Thus, he was certain that the tracks he saw could not have belonged to either party. It could have been chalked up to normal people active during the day, he supposed. The park still saw use by the general public, and their many canine companions, but there were a few factors that excluded them from being the creators of the shapes in the dirt.

For one, the pawprints were massive. Far larger than any domestic dog he knew of - certainly too large to be a human's, even if the shape were to match. Moreover, marks left by extended claws could be seen about the place, carved into the ground as much as they were into surfaces nearby. The result of a fight, perhaps? The marking of territory? Simple boredom? Hyousuke was not nearly well-versed enough in such matters to make a judgement, but he took it as a sign that he was on the right path. One he took alone.

He ignored that it was folly to chase after such a demon on his own. He quieted the voice telling him to come back another day, and bring with him a partner or several. He was strong enough to fight this thing on his own, he told himself. He was strong enough to handle any bounty or Shadow or creeping monstrosity without resorting to begging on his hands and knees for assistance that might not even have come. He was not some gnat to be swatted by the supernatural terrors that plagued the Earth - he was a fighter, plain and simple.

Dirt crunched underfoot, but he stood upon the grass. Leaves rustled, but the air was still and stagnant. Branches and twigs bent underfoot, before splintering apart - but Hyousuke had long since rooted himself to the spot, senses honed to pick up any sign of what lurked near him. There was something out there, prowling through the dark, eyeing him like prey. He could feel it in his guts, and hear it in the air. But he was not something to be hunted. He raised his gun to his shoulder, finger coiled around the trigger, while something great and creaking dragged itself from behind him. There, hunched beneath the weight of its own armour before standing tall, was his Persona. His Achilles.

The 'something' that had been stalking him prowled out of the dark, emerging silently and slowly, like a sculpture rising through tar. The dark seemed to slough away from its form, scattering to the air as it revealed its form to him, bathed as it was in the moon's sick light.

Tall as a man - perhaps taller, were it not crouched down and snarling - its frame was lean, yet strong. Every inch of the thick, tawny, fur clung to well-honed muscles that shifted with every long stride it took around the boy that had dared to encroach upon its territory. As the fur bristled, and its hunched body angled to the side, the streaks of black and lines of white fanning away from its spine could be seen, as if dividing the expanse of the creature's hide in two. All of this clung to a form that was, for a beast, somehow sharp and angular. Every feature that was set into its body, from the rows of razor-keen fangs within its maw, to the fire-bright eyes glowing yellow atop its skull, were as sharp as the claws that carved the earth beneath it.

One would have been formidable enough. Two would have been a Herculean task. Three, almost impossible. But there were four. Five. Six. More. Every step the creature took seemed to spawn a new thing from the darkness, one after the other, until a pack of them had formed a ring around him. Hyousuke didn't hesitate. Others might have scanned the beasts, looked for a way out, or displayed some tactical acumen. But not him. He let loose a volley of shrapnel before charging in, swinging his fist to meet the first beast to charge head-on.

Hyousuke swung at the beast. He swung through the beast. It lunged into him like a wolf, but vanished like smoke, fading into the air within a heartbeat. The rest piled upon him in a flurry of claw and fur, but as he and Achilles hacked and bludgeoned, so too did they disappear like mist. It was a frenzy of fist and bronze, marked by shouting and creaking and clanking and thudding, but no damage was dealt. Hyousuke had struck nothing, and been struck by nothing... until he staggered forward from something striking at his back.

Blade-sharp claws ripped three gashes into his suit, and clawed apart the skin to let loose a hot, red, stream. Adrenaline followed quickly after, followed by the green shine of a healing spell. It would not fix the wound, but it could limit the damage, and stem the tide. It would have to do until the beast was slain. Hyousuke lunged towards it, the mirror image of the monster leaping at him, and the two collided. Theirs was a furious melee, tearing at cloth and skin and fur and eyes, their snarls and shouts ripping into the air until neither could be distinguished from the other.

Every swipe of the claw was met with a bludgeoning fist. Every snap of the beast's jaw was returned with a wild kick. The demon slammed its body into him - Hyousuke was sent stumbling back, but surged forwards with a shoulder check of his own, and a wild-eyed headbutt. Man fought beast, beast clashed with man, and their tangled forms proved indistinguishable in that bloodsoaked frenzy. A swipe snagged against Hyousuke's visor, clawing streaks into the plastic, but it wasn't enough to gouge his eyes. He took that moment to burst forwards, and cannoned a fist into the beast's snout in return, wringing a whimper from it as it staggered backwards in pain and surprise.

Before he could think to follow through, more of the beasts surrounded him, while the one he'd fought - the one damaged and bleeding - darted back into the cover of dark. Hyousuke surged forwards, bludgeoning past the pack, but saw no sign of his target. No tracks, no shed fur, no drops of blood that did not stem from him. Nothing. The trail had gone cold, and once the rest of the monsters had vanished, all he had to show for it was a litany of scratches and bruises and gouges.

He sighed, and turned towards the Kasugayama dorms. The Dark Hour, by his estimation, was close to its end. Though it left a bitter taste in his mouth, retreat was the order of the day. There was no time to pursue the beast further, regardless of the state it had left him in, and there was the matter of people in the waking world catching him as he dragged himself past the gates. He tried to console himself, telling himself that it was only a temporary setback, and that he had gathered usable intel for next time, but it rang hollow. He'd failed to take down his quarry yet again, and had been forced to retreat.

There was a bitter taste in his mouth as his form faded into the dark, not born of the blood or sweat that had filtered onto his tongue.

[[Category:Cutscenes]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

2026-06-14: How Best to Buttle

2026-06-14T18:37:21Z

MrGuy: Created page with "*'''Log: How Best to Buttle''' *'''Cast:''' Hyousuke Suzuki, Ryuji Sakamoto *'''Where:''' Le Chat Marron *'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-14 *'''IC Date:''' Sat Nov 24 2012 *'''Summary''': ''Looking to earn some extra money through means that don't require bodily harm, Hyousuke seeks employment at a butler cafe. There's a familiar face waiting for him there, however.'' ---- (|============================== Le Chat Marron ==============================|) -============..."

*'''Log: How Best to Buttle'''
*'''Cast:''' [[Hyousuke Suzuki]], [[Ryuji Sakamoto]]
*'''Where:''' Le Chat Marron
*'''OOC Date:''' 2026-06-14
*'''IC Date:''' Sat Nov 24 2012
*'''Summary''': ''Looking to earn some extra money through means that don't require bodily harm, Hyousuke seeks employment at a butler cafe. There's a familiar face waiting for him there, however.''

----

(|============================== Le Chat Marron ==============================|)
-========================================================= Tokyo/Akihabara ====-
Take a left off the streets of Electric City, then down a stairway, and you'll
find a door with a frosted glass window labeled 'Le Chat Marron'. On the side is
a menu stand listing the seasonal offers and any specials.

Inside, one will be greeted by a cozy but elegant cafe setting with a vaguely
European Old World feel. The white walls are accented by dark wood wainscot half
panels, above which are framed posters of turn-of-the-century lithographs from
European artists such as Jules Chéret, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Alphonse Mucha.
There's a bar against one wall, with various bottles set against a mirrored
display. Lighting is kept bright enough to portray the place as elegant, while
also being dim enough to feel cushy.

You'll be attended to by a butler of your choosing, though who is available
largely varies from day to day. Unlike many cafes, the butlers may be female or
male, and their theme, while in keeping with the general turn of the century
European feel, can run the gamut otherwise, as will their quality, acting, and
ability to speak English (or any other language, for that matter). Really, it's
more likely you'd be here for the desserts, savory snacks, teas, and fancy
drinks (non-alcoholic, as this is an all-ages cafe!) than the butlers, but there
is a certain appeal to being called 'ojou-sama', 'danna-sama', or 'bocchama'. If
your butler is particularly good, you just may feel like a member of the upper
class!
-==== Players =================================================================-
Hyousuke Suzuki [VII]
-=================================== Exits ====================================-
<O> Return to Electric Town - Main
(|============================================================================|)
<poem></poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke was not one for formal clothes. Jeans, shorts, t-shirts, all were within the purview of his wardrobe. What did not often - or perhaps ever - find its way into his ensembles were suits, tuxedos, and other such items. Indeed, his jackets were perhaps the smartest things he owned, and they hardly constituted suitable attire for a black tie event. Yet the allure of a decent wage without having to plumb the depths of supernatural subways, or ascend up the towering heights of Tartarus, was enough to to have him throw it on, and make an effort to look good in it.

That did not, however, mean that he took any pleasure in the act. As he emerged from the changing room, Hyousuke looked visibly uncomfortable. His steps were somewhat awkward, the movements of his arms stiff and robotic, while his neck constantly craned this way and that so that he might try and see with his own eyes what was so uncomfortable. The piece fit a man of his frame surprisingly well, so he ruled out that as an option, and he had been assured it was not some cheap rags assembled into the shape of a uniform, so he did not believe it to be a matter of material either.
"You'll get used to it." A member of staff remarked as he walked by, as if he was not the first to feel uncomfortable due to inexperience.

"I hope I do. Can't imagine walking around feeling like this for eight hours..." Hyousuke clearly did not relish the thought of wearing it for more than a minute, let alone an hour, but stomached his displeasure and sallied forth. "So who am I working with today? You said you had someone else that could teach me how this works."
"Of course, of course. He's just through there - please, introduce yourself. I'm sure he'll be glad to make your acquaintance."
Hyousuke nodded curtly, straightened his posture, then stepped forward to meet his new mentor. Fully intent on seeming like he was at least trying to appear more refined, he spoke in as formal a manner as he could muster, before abruptly cutting himself off.
"Good day to you. It's a pleasure to meet y-"

He stood, stared, and remained silent for a moment. His expression froze, before shifting into something that fell halfway between puzzled and surprised.
"Sakamoto-san?!"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
Ryuji has been at this Butler thing for a little bit now. As one of the more popular butlers, he has seen a lot and dealt with even more. Still, he feels weird in his suit, often going out of his way to make sure this one lasted him.

Today, he was training a new hire and he actually felt a little proud that someone was going to have to listen to -his- expertise. The blonde yawns as he leans back on one of the chairs, glad he didn't need to maintain a stiffness now that customers were out of the building. He yawns as he looks at his manga, waiting for the new hire to show. It was good he had some down time before the real work was going to begin.

Finally, he hears his name and turns his head, almost jumping out of his chair. This was the delinquent he was training? Heh, it figures. After a moment, Ryuji shuts his manga and sets it down on the table, cracking his neck with a swift motion. "Hey, Suzuki. Heh, guess I'm training ya. Good, good."

He stands and walks toward the other boy, looking him over. "Hmmm. How much about this kind of stuff do you know about? Lets start there and I'll get to the nitty gritty stuff like how you stand and how you talk. Those take the most time to commit to memory."

"It's a lot harder than you think but also a lot easier in other ways....Basically it's a lot of acting a certain way to give our customers an experience consistent with the theme of this place. Obviously I'm talking to you pretty normally but we're gonna practice the dos and don'ts once we get there."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke remained still and quiet as Ryuji spoke. Head canted a little in curiosity - or perhaps simple confusion - he remained fixated on attempting to figure out just what he was looking at, and how the two of them had wound up together. His head tilted to one side or the other a couple of times, but that was about the only movement that he made, until prompted to speak. Slowly, the tension in his body began to fall away, and Hyousuke found himself a little more relaxed once it sank in that he was in the company of a friend.

"Not much." Hyousuke confessed with a shrug. "I watched a couple episodes of The Stygian Servant, but all I know's what I've seen on TV." In other words, he saw people dressed nice and talking formally, looking like something out of a Western-style period piece as they poured cups of Earl Grey. "I know stuff about tea though. I can brew it good, and I know what snacks work well with 'em." Given how often tea seemed to be associated with such places, he wondered - and, on some level, hoped - that was the reason he'd been hired.

And not because the place needed someone to cater to customers wishing for a more 'rugged' sort.

Hyousuke glanced around the place, thumbs tucked haphazardly into his pockets as he took stock of the situation. For the most part, it seemed like most of the staff had started to attend to preparations for the next batch of customers, though made sure to give him and Ryuji space to practice in.
"I don't have to know much English, do I?" He asked, sounding about as worried as he dared to be - not much, in other words, but enough to convey a general sense of apprehension. "And don't even get me started on French."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
Ryuji blinks when the other boy mentions a butler anime, feeling his hand go to his face for a moment. "Ok...yeah that's not much but we can fix that....First off, you need to stand straight and walk while maintaining it. It makes you look disciplined and dependable. It's ok to mess up at first but the ideal is about this." The blonde demonstrates, losing his delinquent lean and becoming much more straight in his posture. "When you walk, it's a pace thats not too fast but not too slow. I can show you but obviously my limp will kinda make it different from what you need to do."

After a moment, Ryuji walks back and forth with a deliberate pace. "While you can use some style in developing your character, the closer you are to the standard, the more likely you will picked. Our clients expect a certain amount of this to be right. Don't stress too much though since you're just learning."

On the question about language, Ryuji pauses and just stares. "Uhhh I mean you gotta know the stuff we serve but hell if I can speak English or French." He recalls the Wild Hunt criticizing his French and smirks.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke looked the typical delinquent at first, if one were to ignore his clothes. Scarred, with a crop of blonde hair, his frame did little to aid potential perceptions of him. However, the second that Ryuji began to demonstrate an example for him, it was as though a switch had been flipped inside him. His wandering eyes focussed like a hunting hound's, his posture straightened, and remained still whilst waiting for the instruction to end. The only real movements he made were to nod, and the only sounds he made were short ones of acknowledgement - clearly, someone had taught him to be a good student.

Off in the distance, far away from any kind of butler-related establishment, Mutou-sensei sneezed. It was getting to be about that time of year, he supposed, then continued on with his work.

"The walking I can do." Hyousuke said eventually, once he was certain that all had been said. He'd already assumed a better posture than the one he'd walked in with - a straight one, not so rigid as to appear forced, but firm enough that he did not seem languid either. It was more akin to a martial arts stance tweaked for another purpose, rather than something purpose-built for butlering, but it was already a marked improvement. "The acting, I can probably do." He sounded markedly less sure about it, but eager nevertheless. He seemed willing to practice, if nothing else. "And remembering the names... I can remember the tea?" He gave a sheepish grin, before standing off to the side, and attempting to recreate how Ryuji had walked.

It was certainly no hunched-over shuffle, or ego-laden swagger, but it was clear he'd not had to attend a formal event in many a year. Indeed, with his back straight and shoulders back, his gait seemed to put speed and distance over the precision required to appear refined. Useful for closing the distance in a fight, perhaps, but the butler cafe was most certainly not a boxing ring or the depths of Mementos.
"How's that look?" He asked, turning on his heel at the end of his attempt.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
"Hm. Not bad. You're picking all of this up pretty well." Ryuji watches the other delinquent move, nodding slowly. When he mentions only remembering the tea, he laughs a little shrugging his shoulders. "I mean that's good enough for now. You should probably also memorize our tea blends and come up with one of your own. If you need help, we can probably come up with something bold and rugged since that is kinda the vibe you're conveying."

"Ok, lets try bowing. Do you know the three levels of bowing and when to use them?" He watches the other boy, crossing his arms as he thinks about whats next. "Basically, it's greeting, a little more formal and when you mess up something or cause an inconvenience. Each one is lower but while still maintaining the rigidness in your posture. Key thing to remember is to maintain a level of elegance, even when you mess up."

Ryuji goes to the table and fetches a plastic kettle, a tray and some cups. "We're gonna start with these cuz the real thing breaks easily and they get kinda annoyed if you keep dropping them. So lets go over how to drop something off and walking to a table."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke couldn't hide the proud little smile he wore at the knowledge that it was good enough. It was his first try, after all, and he did not expect it to be perfect from the outset, so 'not bad' was already a better result than he could have hoped for. There was no time to dwell on it, nor to rest on his laurels, however. There was more ground to cover, and it was territory that Hyousuke was wholly unfamiliar with. He shook his head slowly, the sheepish look returning as he did so.

"Not really. I know you gotta bow deeper for some stuff, but I don't really do it all that much." He then looked over to the plastic and gave them a cursory examination. Strangely enough, the tray received more attention than the pot or the cups, though not by much. He eventually nodded, straightened back up, then looked back to Ryuji for his next instructions. "Guessing you can't just slide it onto the table and tell 'em to enjoy it." He remarked, about as wryly as a person like him was capable of.
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
"Ok so standard bow is this." Ryuji demonstrates by bending so his upper body is parallel with the floor. "Then you have the more polite one, which is for moments when you need to be a bit more formal." He bends a little lower. "Then if you mess up or need to deliver bad news, it's this one" Ryuji bows even lower before leaning back up. He adjusts his stance and gestures for Hyousuke to try.

"Honestly, it just takes practice and some patience."

When Hyousuke mentions just sliding it on the table, Ryuji grins and shakes his head. "Nah, it's more a presentation thing so it has to be extra fancy. You place down the cup and then pour them a cup before setting down the kettle in the center of the table. If they want another cup, you pick it up and repeat the process. It's a lot more involved."
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.
<poem>
Hyousuke watched intently, examining every minute movement that served to clue him in on how best to serve potential patrons. Once more, he was quiet. Once more, he was observant. But unlike with the walk, his efforts at bowing were far less fluid. It was not as though the concept of doing so was completely anathema to him - he still engaged with society to some extent, and that required bowing at times. Indeed, the base motion was something he might normally have managed without much issue. The issue came when he attempted precision with it. What had once been a movement he'd been forced to practice due to social norms became a stiff and awkward attempt at achieving a precise angle, leaving the whole thing feeling forced. The salt in the wound was that his angles ended up imprecise as well. Each was deeper than the other, certainly, but that was the kindest thing that could be said for them.

"Thinking I need to start carrying a protractor around..." Hyousuke remarked, sounding a little put off, but soldiering on nonetheless. Ryuji served up an introduction to tea next, and he seemed remarkably keen on moving on to cover that. "Pick it up and pour it out... I can do that." He murmured, before peering down at the plastic tea set. His expression shifted to one of consternation, however, and he latched a couple of fingers to his chin, before looking to Ryuji. "...Alright, what's the catch? What kinda fancy butler stuff do I need to do when I'm pouring it out?"
</poem>
<Pose Tracker> Ryuji Sakamoto has posed.
<poem>
Ryuji watches as Hyousuke bowed and felt his face tighten in a frown. The walk was fine but he needed some work on the bow. "Hmmm. You're much too stiff...even if I said you need to be rigid, there is an elegance to it." He demonstrated each bow again, trying to show the fluidity of the movement. In truth, he felt like an ass being this strict but if he wasn't, this guy wasn't going to make as much money.

"Hmmm Ok I think we got everything but the basics of talking and to be honest, that shit is easy? Madame, Lady, and the highest honorics and you can't go wrong....Tell you what, how about we sit down and discuss it over some tea and I can let you have the crash course on all of this...It is a bit dry but if you stick to it, you'll make some good money at this." Ryuji grins, patting the other boy on the shoulder. "Come on, lets get some of my blend while we figure out your character, alright?"
</poem>

[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Season 1]]
[[Category:Season 1, Episode 2]]

09-06-2026: Fooling the Fae

2026-06-13T02:02:42Z

MrGuy: MrGuy moved page 09-06-2026: Fooling the Fae to 2026-06-09: Fooling the Fae: Misspelled title

#REDIRECT [[2026-06-09: Fooling the Fae]]