2025-11-07: Fate is Not Forgiving

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<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"All that and he never even showed!" Yukari is grumpy this morning, in part because staying overnight in a Haunted House means there's no real facilities to clean herself up in the morning. "When we get back, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind."
 
And in part because the person who dared her to come isn't here.
 
"Ah well. There's no rush this time of the morning... let's take some time at the station to freshen up before boarding."
 
Briefly, she considers visiting Tominaga Chiropractic to adjust her spine after the crick in her neck from sleeping poorly last night.
 
Briefly, but then- she remembers the scream the last time she walked by.
 
"At least that Strega girl didn't stay." Yukari sighs, "I thought she was going to try and smother us in our sleep or something..."
 
The two at least are on their way back to the station, at a comfortable pace. "How are you holding up, anyway? I can't imagine it was all that easy for you to get any sleep either..."
 
She's not exactly put together at the moment, so she really doesn't expect them to be approached at all.

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

"I'm sure he had his reasons..." Fuuka suggests amicably, walking alongside Yukari. She hopes he has his reasons, anyway... He wouldn't just prank them like that, would he?

She seems... remarkably put together this morning, all told - but staying over at the haunted hotel does mean she's missing out on certain amenities, so she nods at Yukari's suggestion.

"Good idea..." She agrees with a nod, then considers as Yukari brings up the 'Strega girl'. "Yes, thankfully... I was surprised when she pulled out the knife. It was a relief..."

She sighs, then looks back toward Yukari as she asks how she's holding up.

"Mm... I'm still a little sore and a little tired. It wasn't very comfortable... But, I'm doing alright. How about you, Yukari-chan?" Fuuka asks. She's a bit more alert... but she isn't expecting anything, either.

<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.

    Jun didn't sleep well at all either. Aside from the brain-breaking parts of last night's encounter with a lady who was definitely an actress and not an actual Kuchisake-Onna, he had to contemplate that no one actually saw Niko leave and therefore a bloodthirsty woman with a knife is at large and could theoretically come back at any time to stab them at any time. Why wouldn't she? She's part of the group. The staff could open the doors for her.
    
    Fortunately, no murders took place. Jun, as the only boy in the group, had some discomfort anyway. He'd brought a change of clothes so he'd opted to (stay with the group) (not go out alone late at night) sleep overnight with the others, but he certainly didn't get one of the beds. In the morning, once it's bright and early, he's quite tired and ready to go home.
    
    By coincidence, he had the same thought as Yukari: head to the train station ahead of the others, freshen up at the bathroom there, go home. He doesn't even need to stay at the train station; he could just walk. Certainly he'll be showering once he's in the comfort and privacy of his home. He does not relish the idea of being naked and vulnerable somewhere where he can't lock the door right now.
    
    Jun is thus on his way out from the station, having washed his face, combed his hair, and brushed his teeth, and looking rather more relaxed than when he left the haunted hotel. As he's leaving, he spots Yukari and Fuuka approaching apart from the rest of the group. He gives them both a smile and a hand raised in greeting.
    
    "Good morning," he greets the two, walking up to them. "I take it you both decided you'd had enough too?"

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"He better have." There's something taut in her voice as she says that, because Junpei, if he's going to call her Chicken, needs to at least have the decency to show up and prove he isn't either!
 
"I'm honestly glad it was just a knife..." Yukari replies, with a glance to the side, like she might be checking if Niko is lurking somewhere nearby.
 
She does that, she's done that to her.
 
"About the same. My neck's a little stiff, and my back aches..." She sighs, "... not looking forward to a long train ride bac-"
 
'Good morning,'
 
Yukari stops walking, to look sideways at Jun offering his greeting, "Oh hey, Good Morning. You're... Kashihara-san right? We didn't exactly have much time for introductions."
 
It'd be nice if he forgot about the Evoker. It'd be very nice if he did. Yukari hopes so, in a space like this.
 
"Pretty much. Honestly the whole thing was kinda miserable..."
 
There's another light sigh, as she tries to brush her fingers through her hair, in an attempt to lightly fix it, now that he's approached, "... You think of the scary part of a Haunted House being the things you can't see, but honestly, Kuchisake-onna was pretty tame compared to that Kirosaki girl."

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Just a knife. ...Fuuka had been so focused on the knife that she didn't think about the possibility of her having something worse on her. Maybe it's a good thing she's only thinking about it now that they're on their way back...

"That's a good point..." Fuuka agrees with a sigh, and listens sympathetically as Yukari agrees with her. It seems like they're in about the same situation - and then there's a 'good morning', and Fuuka turns, looking toward the source.

"Oh, good morning, Kashihara-san. How was your night?" Fuuka returns politely - and nods, as he asks his question. "Yes, we did..."

Yukari brings up what was scariest.

"Yes... I never imagined running into her at an event like that. We'll have to let everyone know." Fuuka agrees. It was her first time seeing any of them in person, and it's certainly now what she thought. She pauses for a moment then admits of Kuchisake-onna, "I did get a little nervous when she started asking all of those questions, though... I wasn't sure what the polite thing to say would be."

Maybe that's how those kinds of ghost stories start spreading in the first place...

<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.

    "That's right. And... I'm sorry, if you two shared your names, I've quite forgotten them," Jun replies apologetically, looking from Yukari to Fuuka. "I trust you can understand why." How was his night? He grimaces. "Less than ideal."
    
    Last night was a lot--especially for someone who isn't awakened... Not that that's what Jun means. To him, the knowledge there was a murderer (or accomplice to a murderer; technically he doesn't know that Niko has ever killed anyone herself, but she's certainly worked with at least one) was rattling enough.
    
    So he quite agrees with the miserable part. At least he was able to return the EMF reader with no issues. He really would not have enjoyed Isabeau getting on his back about it--even if they could've argued about it in French...
    
    Still, why approach them if he didn't even remember their names? Well, Yukari basically says it. Jun frowns a bit as his slender eyebrows furrow. "By 'that Kirisaki girl,' do you mean Niko-san? When I ran afoul of her before, she only gave me that name."
    
    He pauses, considering her--and Fuuka too, when she makes it clear that she's familiar with Niko too. But first... "I couldn't say anything to that actress at all. You did fine, all considered," he reassures her of the Kuchisake-onna. "Though... if it's all right, may I ask what your relationship with Niko-san is?" His gaze softens with concern for both of them. "You both clearly know what kind of person she is."
    
    He doesn't ask about the gun. Maybe he chalked that one up to a hallucination or a prop too.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Jun notes if they said their names, he's forgotten them- and Yukari realizes she never gave hers, "Oh- right! Sorry, I'm not exactly at my best right now. Yukari Takeba... I'm a Second Year at Gekkoukan High, over on Tatsumi Port Island."
 
She lets Fuuka introduce herself, before giving Fuuka a sheepish look, "I don't think there's really supposed to be a polite answers. All the questions in the urban legend are usually just meant to... entrap someone with a terrible fate."
 
That it turned out otherwise, she's grateful but- is that supposed to be normal? Or is it a consequence of rumors?
 
'do you mean Niko-san?'
 
"... Yeah." Yukari sighs, "I've run into her several times before. Enough that she's decided we're friends or something... I'm not sure her definition of 'friend' is the same as anyone else's though..."
 
Though, Jun points out the 'actress' and Yukari uses that as a sort of... clue, based on how he responds to Fuuka, before he then asks...
 
... what her relationship with Niko is.
 
"Honestly? We don't really have one. She's a killer for hire and... well. Let's just say I've gotten in her way a few times."
 
She's choosing her wording carefully here, but she doesn't want Jun to get the wrong impression either. After what they said back then- she can't exactly avoid some semblance of the truth, especially after Jun's own experiences.
 
"She's... really dangerous. I'm honestly surprised I made it out alive each time, but she's decided that means I'm interesting I guess?" Her eyes drift sidelong to Fuuka, then she sighs, as she admits something she hasn't even told her, "One time, she showed up after school and just wanted to 'hang out'... and I guess, she wasn't lying? But at the time I thought she was threatening the whole school if I didn't go with her... soooo I did."

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Jun apologizes for having forgotten their names and Fuuka offers him a polite smile and a shake of her head. Even just remembering the names of all of those new people would be hard enough, but with how the event actually went? It's a wonder anyone can remember their own names.

"It's alright." She assures. Yukari answers first, and Fuuka follows up. "I'm Fuuka Yamagishi - I'm also a Second Year at Gekkoukan. It's nice to meet you."

Jun encourages her saying he did fine, he couldn't say anything - and she notes he calls the Kuchisake-onna - an actress, and Fuuka nods appreciatively... while Yukari points out that it's all a trap anyway.

"You think so? I see..." Fuuka murmurs. "I'm glad she let us go."

And then there's the question of Niko. Fuuka nods.

"Yes. I've never met her myself before tonight, but Yukari-chan warned me about her so I've been trying to keep watch." Fuuka explains, then listens as Yukari continues - and then says something she's never heard before. Fuuka gasps in surprise.

"She did? That's horrible, Yukari-chan - that must have been terrifying... I'm glad nothing happened to you." She replies sympathetically.

<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.

    "A pleasure to meet you, Takeba-san, Yamagishi-san." Jun bows to each in turn. "Again, I'm Jun Kashihara, a third year at Kasugayama High School here in Hirasaka Ward." Yukari and Fuuka may have heard of Kasugayama's reputation, but surely it can't be (all?) true if this beautiful, polite young man is a senior there.
    
    Yukari explains her experience with Niko. Jun grimaces. "Yes, she... tried to get me to call her 'Niko-chan,' right after she and her friends jumped me in an alley and threatened me, my classmates and my family for information. Fortunately, I was able to end the encounter without any bloodshed, but she clearly has something wrong with her."
    
    A killer for hire. Jun raises his free hand--the other one has his bag with his things--to rub his temple. Not that he had any reason to doubt it, but it really is true, huh... His eyes widen in surprise when Yukari admits Niko showed up at her school one day. "Good lord. That's terrifying," he utters. Then he sighs. "Honestly, I'm afraid she or her friends might do something like that to me..." He looks at the both of them with concern. "That's why I'm approaching you both like this. If you're... opposed to her and her friends..." He doesn't know what Yukari means by having 'gotten in her way,' and he has made the executive decision not to ask for details. "...then we might want to sit down and talk for a bit, if you're both willing."
    
    He pauses, then adds, "For context, you might have heard on the news that Kasugayama High School was attacked by a 'rival gang' a few months ago. It turns out that was a lie. The ones who attacked my school were the infamous Joker Killer and his allies--which include Niko-san. Fortunately, no one died... but it wasn't for lack of them trying."

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"Oh- at Kasugayama? Well, it is in the area." She had to stop herself from saying 'Cuss'. Look, it's really common to say. "It's nice to meet you as well." She does a little half bow in response.
 
Wow, a Cuss High boy who doesn't look just handsome, but downright pretty.
 
"... Yeah me too, I almost thought she wouldn't." She murmurs more softly to Fuuka since they know she's not an actress.
 
There's a reason she didn't tell SEES, not just because she didn't want them to overreact, but because... Niko told her not to trust the Kirijo Group.
 
And while she doesn't already, she's still not sure why Niko herself has a grudge.
 
"Yeah... yeah it was." She confirms to them both how terrifying it was when they ask, letting her pride go on this one. It'd be terrifying to anyone for this to happen. Not even just for girls, either... when it's a hired killer.
 
"'Do something like that to you?'" She echoes, inquisitively, because - Jun doesn't seem like he's involved in the supernatural, as a Persona User. Not if he's saying 'Actress' and thinking what she had was a gun - in the moment.
 
She figures most Persona Users encounter an Evoker pretty quickly in this city, now.
 
But then she glances aside at Fuuka and- "Sure? I'm willing if Fuuka-chan is is. Maybe... somewhere we won't be bothered then, if you know of a place?"
 
Her heart sinks some, as Jun mentions that incident at Kasugayama, "Yeah I... heard about that. I wasn't there but- it's why I thought she was threatening Gekkoukan when she just, showed up. ... I'm glad you made it out of there alive, though."
 
It's difficult to imagine how they're going to talk about this incident beyond this. She doesn't look some - girl boss at Kasugayama. So it's hard to sell she can 'get in the way' of a hired killer as is.
 
But if they might come after him...? Well, that's what SEES is supposed to be there for...
 
... even if it's not really it's purpose.
 
-=-=-
 
It's only after Jun leads them to a place, no matter where it is, and that she settles in that she asks the big question on her mind, "Why do you think they're after you, Kashihara-san? It's not that I doubt you or anything, you just don't... seem like the kind of person they'd care about, I guess."
 
After all, Niko's philosophy is that if one has supernatural powers then you can do whatever you want.
 
And those without? Are barely worth consideration.

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Jun bows to each of them, and Fuuka returns it with one of her own. He's from Kasugayama... She might normally be suspicious, but her last meeting with a Kasugayama student was surprisingly pleasant, so she's trying to avoid judgment, now. ...Though she can't help but still be surprised, either.

She offers Yukari a sympathetic nod, as she mentions she almost thought the Kuchisake-onna wouldn't them go - and as she confirms that it was terrifying.

Jun offers his own experience, and that elicits another gasp from Fuuka, her hands clasped over her mouth.

"I'm so sorry... I'm glad you were all able to get out safely." She offers sympathetically. And he's worried she'll go after him like she did Yukari... "I... hope she doesn't confront you."

It's a hope that might not be worth much, but she offers it all the same.

She looks Yukari's way as Jun explains why he's approaching them. A place to sit and talk for a bit... Fuuka nods.

"Yes, I don't mind that. Please, lead the way." She says. He offers context - news about an attack on Kasugayama... Fuuka thinks back.

"I don't think I heard about that, I'm sorry. But... I do believe you, when you say it happened." She replies. She has a good excuse, at least - it was not longer after her stay in Tartarus, while she was still recovering. "I'm... glad no one died."

---

Fuuka gladly follows them to wherever they decide to find, settling in at a seat. Yukari asks the most important question, and for now, she doesn't have much to add. Finding that out is important first and foremost.

<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.

    "Jun even looks remarkably similar to a famous older actress! He even has a similar name--Jun Kashihara, Junko Kurosu... But how much does that really matter right now? He does smile faintly, ruefully, at Yukari's tone on the name of his school, but he's used to it.
    
    Yukari tells him she's glad he got out of there alive. Jun gives her a wan smile. "Thank you. I'm glad you got away safely, too." To Fuuka, he adds, "Thank you too. I also hope that... I really don't appreciate this sort of attention."
    
    However, when Yukari echoes his words back to him, Jun can only shut his eyes, expression pained. "It's a complicated story," he replies. "I'll tell you two the whole thing, but we should go someplace quieter first." And, with Fuuka's consent as well, that's precisely what they do.
    
    ~ * ~
    
    At Smile Hirasaka, there are plenty of benches for people to sit. This early in the morning, there's barely anyone around, either. It'll get crowded later, but right now, they have privacy.
    
    Jun sits on one end of the bench, turned to face Yukari and Fuuka. "As I said, that's a complicated story. The best I can summarize it is... it's the Joker Killer who apparently has an interest in me, and Niko-san and her friends--Strega, they called themselves collectively--want to know why, even though they're allied to him."
    
    He pauses to let that sink in, watching Fuuka and Yukari both. "For the record, I have no idea what his interest in me is, and I most certainly don't want to know and don't want anything to do with him. I told Strega the same thing. I don't think they quite believed me, but they let me go anyway--with a warning that they'd be back if they decide I was lying."
    
    This is an abridged version that leaves out some details. Jun will mention them later if it turns out they're relevant. "I ended up reporting this to a police officer and a detective I'm acquainted with, but the information I could give them was limited. If the two of you have crossed paths with those people before, I'd truly appreciate it if you could let me know what you know."
    
    At the very least, having a family name for Niko--Niko Kirisaki--is a lot more than he had before. "If it helps, aside from Niko Kirisaki, I was also accosted by two young men named Takaya and Jin. I got the sense that Takaya-san was the leader, and Jin-san handled information and research. Takaya-san is rail thin, with long curly hair and tattoos on his bare arms, and Jin-san had glasses and a puffy jacket and looked annoyed to be there. If you know anything more about any of them..."

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari at least doesn't recognize Jun in that manner. Sure his name is similar and the like but, who would think you're meeting the son of a celebrity actress? She sure doesn't!
 
It would explain his looks though...
 
"I'd hate the meet the person who does..." She says to Jun, regarding someone appreciating this sort of attention, before nodding in agreement with Fuuka's hope of not being confronted.
 
Jun does ask that they go somewhere quieter, which she prefers anyway.
 
"Yeah of course."
 
Complicated... how complicated could it be?
 
-=-=-
 
Placing her bag down on the bench, she puts herself in the position where Jun and Fuuka would have to sit on either side of her.
 
It's not that she's suspicious of Jun, it's just that she naturally feels protective of Fuuka. She's just not a forceful personality, so if anything happens... she'd rather be between her and it happening.
 
And as Jun explains.
 
"The Joker Killer?!" Yukari startles, astounded by the idea of that guy being interested in him. "Are you... one of his targets? No one called him on you right?"
 
But - that seems different. Especially with Strega wanting to know why. "Huh. I'm not sure why he wouldn't just let them know... he's pretty talkative, and they seem to get along. Niko even seems... really close to him, from what she said."
 
So close that Yukari was worried that it was some... weird sexual thing between them, which Niko laughed in her face about.
 
However, Jun clarifies he has no idea... and Yukari tilts her head as if in thought, looking towards Fuuka for a moment, like she's considering something. "What we know... right. Okay." Takaya she's only heard of from Jin's grumbling - Jin though. "Uhhhh..."
 
She trails off for a time in thought, before, "So. The group has a murder for hire website called 'Revenge Request'. It's really not that different from the Joker Killer... except they want money for it."
 
She weighs something, and how to put it, without revealing the supernatural - if they tried, Jun would probably dismiss it out of hand anyway, "Do you watch the news? Maybe you heard about the mafia boss named... Kaneshiro?" She checks his response, before continuing, "They did some 'protection' work for him against... believe it or not, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."
 
It feels pretty incredible on it's face, the idea that this girl has seen them - but it's more believable than 'Also my gun summons a thing from Greek Myth out of my head.'
 
Which you know is very Greek in and of itself? Wonderful.
 
"But they failed, because they changed his heart after all. It's just, an example of the kind of dangerous people they do work for. The... Joker Killer was there with them too. As was that Jin guy, and Niko."
 
Yukari thinks she sounds real cringe in her head for describing this like she's a girl that's involved in this to a normal person, and she makes a 'why me' kind of sigh.
 
"I don't know much else, really... except uh- Niko has some kind of grudge against..." She trails off, looking out of her periphery to Fuuka. She's glad it's her, because she can at least trust her to keep this part to herself, she thinks.
 
"... the Kirijo Group. I don't know what that's about really, it's just her whole 'personality' did a 180 when she talked about it. Like... she went 'some Genki girl you'd maybe see out of an anime' to 'deadly serious' immediately."
 
She looks back to Jun - and hesitates before...
 
"I'm not really sure why the Joker Killer would have such an interest in you really, if it's not to... kill you. He didn't strike me as the kind of guy interested in much else, other than that."

<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.

Jun agrees, saying he doesn't appreciate this sort of attention. Fuuka offers him an awkward smile, and a nod as Yukari remarks that she'd hate to see the kind of person who does.

"Yes..." They sound like they would be exhausting to be around. She can't imagine what it would take for a person to be okay with that.

---

They're settled in - Fuuka on Yukari's side, with Jun on her other. She prepares herself and listens as Jun explains - the Joker Killer has an interest in him, and his friends in Strega want to know why.

Surprise crosses her face - though not so much about Strega. That, she already seems aware of.

"Even they don't know?" Fuuka asks with a frown, her brow furrowed. Yukari asks the important question - is he one of his targets? ...She doesn't think so, either. It seems like Strega would know that much, if that was the case.

Niko, Takaya, and Jin... Fuuka thinks that over, and meets Yukari's when she looks her way.

Kaneshiro and the Phantom Thieves... She watches Jun during all this, mostly, to judge his reaction - this must be a lot to take in even with some of the more credulity-stretching details elided, after all, and it's something she only believes because of what she's been through.

Yukari looks her way again, as she brings up Niko's grudge - and Fuuka offers her a small, encouraging nod. She will, in fact, keep this to herself.

"Can you think of anything that might help shed some light on it...?" Fuuka considers thoughtfully, as the question is raised. Why does the Joker Killer have an interest in Jun?

<Pose Tracker> Jun Kashihara has posed.

    "I suppose it's not impossible someone called him on me at some point, but that's not what's been going on. He hasn't tried to cause me any harm. I..." Jun rubs his head again. "...had a traumatic experience during the Kasugayama attack, so I don't fully remember what happened then... but he approached me again later in, er, plain clothes, so to speak. I thought nothing of it. It was only when I described him to my police acquaintances later that I realized..."
    
    He lowers his hand and purses his lips. "Yes... I don't understand it either. Niko-san claimed he has told them, but they want to know what I had to say about it. I don't really understand why they'd want a... a second opinion. I didn't even know until they told me." Granted, that's because of his repressed memories, but still. Jun is morbidly curious what Sutoh--no, Sudou, has told them, but what good would it do him to know, even if he could just ask?
    
    A murder-for-hire website called Revenge Request... "It sounds like something out of an urban legend. Maybe it's only natural that she showed up last night, then," Jun says, touching a hand to his chin. He frowns at the mention of Kaneshiro, but he does nod. Her specifying that he's a 'mafia boss' makes it unmistakable. When she goes on, though...
    
    "Are you serious? They're real?" he utters, eyes widening again. And Strega and the Joker Killer were fighting them? Jun's expression turns dubious, but he doesn't interrupt again. Yukari doesn't seem like the kind of girl who'd be having him on, especially given that heavy sigh she makes, and neither does Fuuka. Still, it's... unbelievable, in every sense of the word. Would Akechi or Katsuya take him seriously if he passed this kind of information on? What could they even do about it, anyway? (Jun should probably watch Akechi's TV spots more.)
    
    The information on the Kirijo Group seems more actionable, at least. That's a real business with real people who can be investigated, even if Jun doesn't see the connection. For all he knows, maybe it's personal to Niko and has nothing to do with anything else.
    
    "Yes... One would think Strega might know as his allies, but apparently not." Jun presses a couple fingers to his temple again, then smiles ruefully at Yukari and Fuuka. The latter asks him if he has any ideas at all, and... Well, he can at least tell them what he told Strega. "It seems like there's some sort of... poem, that's supposedly prophetic or something of the sort, that the Joker Killer has written, and I'm mentioned in it in an oblique way. I heard about this from my detective acquaintance--you may have heard of him; he's named Goro Akechi--who told me he heard it from the Joker Killer himself after calling him but not speaking at all. I don't... remember all the details of the poem," since they stubbornly slide off his brain, "but that much was clear." He hesitates, then adds, "Also, it seems like... if the Joker Killer really is the person I encountered... it seems like my father taught him when he was in school. He teaches World History at Seven Sisters High School, you see, and he's well-loved by his students. I don't really understand what that has to do with me, but... my entire family might be caught up in it for some reason."
    
    He shakes his head slowly, then gives the two of them another weak smile. "Thank you very much, Takeba-san, Yamagishi-san. I asked and you most certainly delivered. I don't know what I can do with this information, but that's my own problem." He bows to them both. "I'm sorry I don't have much to tell you in return. If I'm fortunate, I won't ever have anything much to tell you in return... but--" He sits up straight, eyes averted in a gloomy look. "--fate is rarely so forgiving."
    
    Rather than get up to leave, though, he hesitates. Then he retrieves his phone from his bag. "That being said, if it's all right with you two, may we trade contact information? If you two are in a position to oppose Strega somehow," and Jun doesn't know how they could but his brain is conveniently sliding around that question too right now, "then I'd feel safer if we could get in touch."
    
    Clearly this is not a boy who's threatened by asking girls to protect him. If they're okay with it, he'll trade his phone number with them; if not, and either way, he'll put his phone away and rise to his feet to bow again. "Thank you both again for your time. Please have a safe trip back to Tatsumi Port Island."