2025-10-09: Silence Breaking
- Log: 2025-10-09
- Cast: Maki Sonomura, Tamaki Uchida
- Where: Seaside Mall
- OOC Date: October 09, 2025
- IC Date: July 23, 2012
- Summary: During Maki's study break, Tamaki and Maki have a talk and get lunch. They promise to speak about the events of several years ago.
(|=============================== Seaside Mall ===============================|)
-================================================== Sumaru City/Konan Ward ====-
The Seaside Mall is well-named: it's directly across from Ebisu Beach, though
it's a short walk to the road that leads down to its sands. The view remains
magnificent, and outdoor tables dot the parking lot so one can take in the sea
breeze. For those sensitive to it, there is a door to the Velvet Room there. For
everyone else, there's a decent variety of stores.
Pirate-themed restaurant Jolly Roger is the place to go for drinks, desserts,
and curry; its melancholy owner, a blank-eyed man who was once a sailor, loves
to hear and share rumors. The interior brings to mind a wooden galleon ship with
a massive ship's wheel behind the counter, rope rigging overhead, and a Jolly
Roger flag draped on one wall between various paintings and a world map.
For those anxious about the future, there are two options. One is Hiiragi
Psychotherapy, where Dr. Reiko and her protégée Maki offer counseling amidst a
fairy tale forest aesthetic, complete with decorative pastel carousels; her kind
eyes and smile encourage one to get everything off one's mind and heal heart and
soul in the process. The other is the Sumaru Genie, where a dark-skinned woman
of the same name utilizes an Egyptian aesthetic to lend herself and her
fortune-telling a sense of authentic mystique. Her fortunes were garbage until
she recently switched to Wang Long style fortune-telling, though.
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 #2 runs this one; an
acoustic guitar version of the store's theme plays here. "o/` o/` o/` ..."
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
Hiiragi Psychotherapy is a lovely place, whimsical in execution and soothing in look. The office has the fairy tale forest look about it, even in the lobby. It's particularly welcome on a gloomy day like this one, which sees finals darkening the hearts of many students. ...Not that they have the energy to come here mostly at the moment. Don't worry about it.
Maki Sonomura spends a lot of time here, assisting Dr. Reiko, and just this moment she's behind a desk with her books out, doing some studying while she's not actively working.
There are a few people in the lobby who Maki occasionally speaks with, but for the most part, it's nice and quiet.
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Speaking of finals, Tamaki's here to handle a scheduling conflict. One of her college exams own got moved to a different time, right over her own slated therapy session!
That's little more than an inconvenience for her, though. It gives her a good reason to be in the general area and check in on what new rumors Jolly Roger's owner might have heard or pick up a magazine from the nearby pharmacy.
And, last but not least, checking in on her old high school classmate, Maki. Tamaki gives the off-duty Maki a small wave while she goes to sort out matters with reception, but that only takes a few minutes. With that business concluded, Tamaki quietly walks up to Maki's desk and whispers, "Hey! I'm, ah, not interrupting, I hope?"
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
No good!
but Maki smiles when she looks up at Tamaki, recognizing her before she actually looks up. She waits for Tamaki to finish with reception and...
"Hi!" Maki says back, quietly but brightly. "Not at all," she says. "I could use a break anyway, I'm just doing a little review for tomorrow." A final exam of her own.
"How's it going? Actually... Let's step outside so we can talk. That work?"
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki places her hands together and nods enthusiastically. "Outside it is!" Before leaving, she glances back -- one day she'll get used to primarily associating the name 'Reiko' with the doctor here. It still gives her a funny feeling today, though.
There's several options for seating: benches, food court tables, other mall establishments. Tamaki gestures for Maki to take her pick.
"I'm doing well enough. At this point, I'm not too worried about my exams. I've had a lot of time to review material while staking places out."
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
One day!! For Maki, of course, this is the main Reiko she knows...
Maki picks a food court table, even though they haven't actually gotten anything to eat. This shamelessness aside, she's happy to talk to Tamaki, and she listens along. "Great!" Maki answers. "Me, either. Even my math class this year isn't too bad, since Mom was willing to help me with it..."
Having an engineer mother is a boon.
"But I bet you have." A beat, "Any interesting places lately?"
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki considers her own math exams. "I think I did decently on mine, but I've always been just okay at math. I'm more set theory than calculations."
"Hmmm ..." Tamaki glances upwards in recall. "I haven't had much reason to go to Port Island before, that was novel. Hard to study at a nightclub, easier to study at a café, easiest to do it in an empty karaoke room."
"Oh! How's your mother doing these days?
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
"Oh, that's good," Maki answers. "Yeah, geometry, angles, shapes... That I can do. The other stuff? Siiiigh."
But, Tamaki answers and, "I haven't been there much either," Maki says. "Ha. It sounds like you found a good place. Maybe we should try real karaoke one of these days, though."
A beat, "She's good! She's enjoying her work at the moment, I think--some project or another that she thinks is really interesting, but she hasn't told me all the details."
For some people, that would be a red flag, but Maki trusts her mother. ...And the fact that she's not in the Horrible Research anymore.
"Oh, did you know? I feel like I was the last to find out, but Mark's back in town!"
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Underneath the pleasant talk, there are questions buzzing around in Tamaki's brain, ones which would kill the vibe if spoken outright. Ones which may very well damage a friendship, especially in this case, given the sensitive subject material.
"I think I misheard something about the café I went to when someone told me about it in that noisy nightclub. Turns out they sell pheromone-enhancing coffee, not Philemon coffee. I was interested in trying a new brand ..." Tamaki, for her part, isn't actually aware of Philemon -- at least not by that name, if at all.
Tamaki grins. "Well, it's good to hear that she enjoys her work. I enjoy mine." ... No, definitely don't press further on that suspicion right now, Tamaki.
"Oh! No, I hadn't heard, actually! I've been neck-deep in casework for a month straight, now. Had to get a debt paid off." Tamaki shoots a dour glance to the side. That damn cat ..!
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
There's always some. There's very sensitive matters, especiallya round Maki. But...
"Oh?" Maki asks, and then--Philemon! Maki tilts her head. "Oh, I've heard of that," Maki says. "It's supposed to make you more charming or something?" Philemon Coffee. Why would Tamaki think of that? Maki isn't sure, but she doesn't bring that up for now. Instead...
"Great," Maki says. But then--"Ohhh yeah?" A nod. "I missed it at first too--but we got to hang out some recently, now that i know." Debt...
"Ouch." A beat, "But that actually reminds me, something you should know..."
"There's been a steady increase in the number of Persona-users around here, I think."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
"(-- also yeah, karaoke does sound nice.)" Tamaki quickly mutters an aside so it's not forgotten. It's something she's fond of ... when she has the finances to pay for it. (From afar, only faintly audible, a taunting 'nya~' carries through the wind.)
In Tamaki's case? Literally just a function of auditory processing, it sounded to her like that one book in the New Testament. It was a crowded nightclub, like she said.
That last comment about the rising number of Persona-users garners an eyebrow-raise and a nod. "Yeah, so I've noticed. More customers have come knocking. Started sometime in May, it feels like." Tamaki half-closes her eyes and gives Maki a serious stare. "You got any theories as to why?"
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
"Great!" Maki won't forget. She likes that kind of thing these days--not least because being able to sing loud is something she couldn't do, back then.
...Nya...
"Sometime in May... Hmmm, that might be right." Maki pauses. "I don't know," she admits. "I don't have enough information yet. But something is going on, that much I'm sure about. Things like this Joker rumor, a lot of other rumors... A girl I thought was dead walked out of the chiropractor's shop in Hirasaka. She's got a Persona, too. And she was with another friend who has one."
"I've been keeping my distance, but... I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
"It'd be nice to see Mark again sometime. Could you get me in touch with him, you think?" Tamaki thinks the guy was a bit of a goof, but had a good heart where it counted. "I should also drop Elly a line ... hmm. If I can fit all these social visits in between exams."
Mention of the Joker Killer rumor yields a knowing nod from Tamaki. "I can't talk too much about that one, but I'm already close to those events. It's too late for me to not be involved."
"It's like in Mikage-cho. More Persona-users showing up is usually a sign that something bad's happening. I could tell something was going on back then, but ... back then, I kept my distance. I still don't know if that was the right choice or not."
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
"Sure!" Maki agrees. "I'd love to all hang out again sometime, too." She smiles. "There's after exams, too! Since a lot of us are pretty busy this week..."
Can't? Hmmm. "Well," Maki says, "Good luck with it. If I can help..." She lets that trail off for the moment, instead focusing on the broader issue. "Yeah," Maki says. "That's my feeling too. I think..."
"I think I'm not going to stay out," Maki says. "Not this time. It's my chance to do something, to help."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
This might be the moment to ask. It still requires her to be delicate about it, but that particular seal seems broken now.
Tamaki gives Maki an appreciative nod. In the years they've known each other, Maki may have never seen Tamaki this serious. She's usually much more lighthearted, things slide right off of her, or she coyly denies having any real knowledge on a given topic and laughs off inquiries. Here and now, in stark contrast, Tamaki looks somberly determined. "I don't think there's any relation to the Joker Killer, but I've been asked to look into some matters on Port Island, too. I think there's a halfway-decent chance that the events there may have some relation to what happened in Mikage-cho. It doesn't have to be now -- not this suddenly -- but sometime, I would like to know your account of what happened back then."
The seriousness evaporates from her, and she slumps forward on the table, placing her head on top of her arms. She sounds ... petulant. "Hell, I don't think I could even handle listening to that right nowwwww, ughhh. It's a nice day and I want to enjoy it!" The recognizable Tamaki seems to have returned.
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
Maki matches that seriousness--while on the surface she's her usual cheerful self, still casual of posture and smiling, her eyes are a little different. She has an intensity to her as Tamaki shows her determination. Something in Mikage-cho...
"...I'll want to know what's going on in Port Island," Maki says. "And maybe I should look into that myself. But..."
Pause.
"All right. I'd wondered if you were ever going to ask," Maki admits. "But I'll tell you. We're friends, after all."
And she trusts her enough for that, if she's this serious.
"...Haha," she laughs, and tries to go back to how casual she was before. "That's fine, then. Later's good."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki tilts her head up so her chin rests on her forearm and shows Maki a beatific expression of gratitude. "Thank yooouuu ..."
Sitting back upright, Tamaki folds her arms in front of her chest and furrows her brow in consideration. "And look, in my experience, this stuff is a marathon. You've got to pace yourself. Find ways to keep morale up in parallel to the drudgery." She pauses for a beat as she rethinks that and scratches the side of her chin. "Or maybe that's just me."
"I haven't asked since I figured if anyone wanted to talk, they'd reach out. This kind of thing doesn't feel like something you just outright ask 'hey by the way what actually happened during that so-called chemical explosion?'" Tamaki pauses again, repeating her previous gesture. "... Or maybe that's just me. I know I'm touchy about what happened at my previous high school." Tamaki gives a sidelong glance at the entrance to Hiiragi Psychotherapy.
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
A marathon. Hmm. "I think most things are like that," Maki admits. "At least in my experience. The sprints matter, but there's not as many of them. ...But you always have to worry about morale."
Maki thinks about it. "I think they're probably being quiet for me," she admits. "And I didn't really want to talk about it too much, either. ...But I'm willing to tell you." Touchy? "...Right." SHe looks to the entrance, too. "Hmm...?" The question is unspoken but probably clear.
"But that's one reason. The other is, we all agreed to keep it mostly secret. ...There's stuff that shouldn't get out, about it."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
"And given my line of work, I've been staring into the void a little too much lately. There's the Joker Killer case, and that's just the tip of the iceberg."
Tamaki nods at Maki's explanation so far. She bites the back of her index finger as she contemplates, looking conflicted for an elongated moment of silence. Finally, she pipes up. "Yeah. Same in my case. There's stuff that shouldn't get out about it."
"... But I trust you enough to trade stories, if you're interested in hearing."
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
"Ah..." Maki nods. "It's really important to remember the good things in life. What's important to you."
But, "Mm. ...It seems like that's just the order of the day, when things like this happen. There's things about it that would be dangerous if everyone knew... and things others want to cover up."
"Thanks," Maki says. "I am interested. It doesn't have to be now--you wanted to avoid just now, and... probably, so should I."
"But I'm interested."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki grins. "I think it's important to keep anchored, you know? Find joy in life, even when things seem at their darkest. While your hope may flicker, refuse to let it be snuffed out entirely. It probably sounds silly that things like karaoke with friends or having a good meal or rewatching an old TV show help to keep me going, but they do. Have you ever seen that old mystery series from America, Mirrored Mountains?"
" -- hmm. I don't know if there's anything people want to cover up, in my case." Anyone besides Tamaki herself, that is. "But I'm not sure it'd be good if certain groups knew the truth."
"Oh. Not a word of this to Nanjo, by the way. Not yet."
After a beat, Tamaki deflects back to more 'fun' things. "Oh, the place in Shinjuku near where I grew up has a dance festival this weekend. Would you like to come? I could show you some things in-person."
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
"It doesn't sound silly at all," Maki says with a smile. "I agree with you entirely." A beat, "But you know, I haven't! Do you want to check it out sometime?" Maki would probably like it.
But, "That's close enough," Maki says. "There's definitely people who don't need to know all this..."
But not to Nanjo? "...All right," Maki says. She should catch up with Nanjo soon. Has he been in the area?
Still, fun. "Oh totally! That sounds great!" Maki answers. "Not that I do a /ton of dancing, so you might have to bear with me..." she laughs. But she's into the idea.
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
"I would like to show it to you, yes! One of the protagonists on that show often makes it a point to enjoy some good pie or coffee each day. He stays chipper even after getting shot in the abdomen." It sounds like Tamaki has a bit of a role model.
Tamaki doesn't say more on Nanjo. She isn't overly suspicious of him, but given the various relationships between SEBEC, the Nanjo Group, and the Kirijo Group, she feels some caution is warranted.
Tamaki laughs at Maki's admission. "Oh, that's perfectly fine, most of the dancers are in a parade. Not everyone's a part of the choreography, we can watch from the sidelines and cheer them on."
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
"Wow!" Maki says. "That's pretty chipper." She laughs. "But I think I like that approach."
"Oh, it's like that?" she asks, "Then that's a lot easier. Cheering is something I can definitely do!"
Maki smiles. She doesn't have to argue the point on Nanjo for the moment--not before she checks in on him herself.
"...Speaking of good pie or coffee, maybe I should take an actual break..."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
"Ahaha, I know I like that approach. I feel like it's how I've functioned for years, now."
"Yeah, you're not expected to dance if you haven't been practicing with the performers. I can teach you some of the chants. It's a good way to cut loose and stop taking everything so seriously."
Tamaki's eyes slide over in the direction of a nearby restaurant. "Weeeeell, I did mean to stop by the Jolly Roger for lunch. Would you like to join me there?"
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
"Good endorsement!"
Hmmm. "Sure," Maki agrees, "That does sound fun. Cutting loose after finals sounds like just what we could both use."
Maki considers. "I'd like that," she decides. "Let me grab my stuff, and let's go!"
"I do kinda like pirates..."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
"It's on Friday and Saturday. We can pick a day to go!"
Tamaki smiles. "I'm a bit of a regular there, the owner knows a lot. There's something going on with rumors in Sumaru City recently, where reality seems to ... change itself to fit what everyone believes. Talking with people in the know is a good way to prepare in advance for whatever outlandish gossip people latch onto. The Detective Agency I work for is even in the business of spreading such rumors for paying clients." Tamaki briefly glances away, then back to Maki. "Though I don't know if I'm just re-explaining what you might already know."
<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.
"Perfect!"
A regular? "Ohhh." Hm. Rumors... "Yeah," Maki says. "I knew... something strange was going on. I've noticed some of it. But hearing it said so plainly..." She exhales. "It's good you're already on it."
"Spreading rumors, huh? ...I'm not sure I'd want to touch that. But i appreciate knowing, anyway."
She stands up, and starts back towards Hiiragi, waiting for Tamaki so tshe can get her things this time.
"I definitely need to get involved."
<Pose Tracker> Tamaki Uchida has posed.
Tamaki quickly stands up to follow her, at least to wait outside the entrance to Hiiragi. "Hey, if you ever need my help on anything, you know where to reach me."