2026-03-29: What Next
- Log: What Next
- Cast: Ayame Watanabe, Shinobu Shimizu
- Where: Watanabe Residence, Aoba Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: March 29, 2026
- IC Date: October 17, 2012
- Summary: After a very hard day yesterday, Ayame invites Shinobu over to talk.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Yesterday was a terrible event. Nevertheless, you must still go to school today.
...or that's how it works for the youths, but for Ayame, she instead still had to get up and make everyone's breakfast and lunches, see off her husband, and see the kids to school. Koume insisted she could go, and that was probably for the best, but Ayame is still worried about her.
This morning--late morning--she's invited Shinobu over to talk over what happened... and just to have someone to be with her, frankly. It was a very rough time.
But the couch is comfortable, the tea is fresh, and there are cookies. That's what Ayame can offer her sister once she arrives. And once she does, Ayame will open the door--
"Welcome," she says, warmly but with less exuberance than usual.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu has called out of work today. Thinking practically, she doesn't think she can pull off a day of heavy lifting after all of the other day's exertion. Being honest with herself, though, she has a lot on her mind and she really wasn't feeling up to it.
She's glad, then, when she gets Ayame's invitation. She was worried about her, and it'll probably do them both some good.
She arrives, and knocks - and offers Ayame a smile when she opens the door. It's the tired sort of smile that suggests it's mostly for her benefit.
"Hey, Nee-san. Thanks for having me over." Shinobu greets with a casual wave. "How're you doing?"
She pauses for a moment, thinking back.
"...How's Koume-chan holding up?" She asks.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Ayame smiles, too, but it's not as easy as usual. She notices the way Shinobu's is tired... "Thanks," she says, and it's not clear if it's the smile or for coming. "And you're welcome."
"I'm a little rough," Ayame admits, and saying it at all suggests it might be much worse. "I'm not feeling well, on top of...e verything."
Pause. "I think Koume-chan is almost doing better than I am. She says she wants to grow up and stop bad guys like the one in the mask."
"...But she still had nightmares last night," Ayame says sadly. "I wish..."
She shakes her head. "I don't know."
"Please, come in. Make yourself comfortable. There's tea and cookies."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu nods back as Ayame returns her thanks.
"...Yeah. I know the feeling." Shinobu admits with a sheepish shrug. Ayame admits to not feeling well. "Yeah? Awful timing for that... sorry, Nee-san."
But Koume... Ayame thinks she's doing better than she is.
"She does, huh?" Shinobu considers. She cracks a smile. "...She's a good kid. I kind of hope she never has to, though. ...But, yeah. Anyone would, after that. Those poor kids..."
She shakes her head - and considers Ayame for a moment as she starts to say something but stops herself.
Ayame invites her inside though so, with a nod, Shinobu steps inside. She moves to take a seat, gratefully helping herself to some of the tea and a cookie.
"You're a lifesaver. I definitely needed something sweet." She comments.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"It's all right," Ayame says. "I don't think the timing is random..."
"She is," Ayame agrees. "She's putting on a brave face, but at least she's able to. ...Maybe it'll stick. It's not like the last few things she told me she wanted to be when she grows up."
Those poor kids... Ayame agrees. "Most of them didn't seem to see what happened clearly, at least."
Unlike Koume.
"Oh, good. I bake when I feel bad," she says with a small laugh, "So there's plenty."
"There's also... something I want to tell you."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"It isn't, huh?" Shinobu asks, curious. She nods, though, when Ayame says Koume's putting on a brave face.
"...Yeah. Sometimes, that's the best you can hope for." She replies. It's rough, going through something like that. But facing it and moving forward is better than letting it bring you to a stop. What she says next, though... "Really, you think so?"
She 'hm's to herself. Well, Ayame would know Koume better... if she thinks it seems different than the last times she's said it, than she trusts her.
"...Well, she's got a lot of spirit, I'll give her that." She replies. Most of the other kids didn't see what happened too clearly. "That's a relief. Kids don't need to see all that."
She smirks, then, laughing along with Ayame when she does.
"Well, I'm glad I could help you deal with 'em." She comments. She takes another bite of cookie... but then, Ayame says there's something she wants to tell her.
"Always ready to listen. What's up?" Shinobu asks.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"She seems serious," Ayame says. "If she starts asking for books on law, then..." She'll be more sure. But spirit! "She does. I guess it's lucky she has her father's stubbornness." She pauses. "They really don't."
She smiles back, and it's a little more real this time, thanks to their shared laughter. "Anytime," Ayame assures her.
"I..."
She bites her lip. "I may not come with you next time," she says. "It became so much more dangerous than I thought it would. It's not that I don't want to support you! I... I still want to make a difference, but..."
"You see..."
Ayame looks up to Shinobu's face, and says, "I'm pregnant. I... should be more careful."
Pause. She sighs. "I meant to tell you about that in a happy way," she says. "Because I am. But after everything that happened... i'm so worried."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"Yeah, I guess so..." Shinobu replies with a small laugh. They might have a while before they have to worry about that, but she supposes it just depends on what path Koume decides to take. She nods, then. "Yeah, lucky her."
She nods, as Ayame assures her - and then Shinobu listens. It takes Ayame a moment to respond, but she doesn't rush her... and she listens, as Ayame begins to explain. She may not come with her next time - it became more dangerous than she though she would.
Even if it was just that, she'd understand it. Ayame has a lot more to worry about close to home than she does. And then Ayame explains why, and Shinobu's eyes open wide in surprise.
"Oh- oh shit!" Shinobu gasps - looking briefly apologetic about the outburst before a frown crosses her face as she considers the implications. Thinks about everything they just went through...
...It must hit Ayame all the harder, knowing it's not just her own safety that she has to worry about.
"I get it. You can't exactly justify putting yourself in danger, huh..." Shinbou replies, massaging the back of her neck. "...But, yeah. Things are gettin' a lot more serious, now. We're not just dealing with demons or chasing a rumored killer anymore..."
It's personal, now. She shakes her head, looking back up at Ayame. She reaches over to put a hand on her shoulder.
"You do what you gotta do, Nee-san. It's been nice fighting with you, but I'm not gonna blame you if you need to step back. Don't think anyone else would, either. You've got your family to think about."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
Oh shit!
Ayame doesn't mind the occasional swear; it's just how Shinobu is. But Ayame is upset. With everything they just went through... Yes.
"Mm. I mean, my Persona can protect me from a lot of things, but if another building ezplodes? ...If that horrible man in the mask comes back?"
"Right..."
Shinobu puts a hand on Ayame's shoulder, and Ayame sniffles, trying to hold back tears. "I-I just--"
"...If Koume-chan can be brave, then so can I. But there are some things I won't be able to do..."
"For now, I think I can keep helping," she says. "...But I might have to run, if it gets that bad. And... in another few weeks..." She gestures.
"I was afraid that with all the smoke, I'd... lose it. But so far I haven't."
"So I don't know. But I wanted to tell you. Both so that you knew why you couldn't count on me for all of this all the time... and because, well..."
"You are my sister. Now that i'm a little farther along, I wanted you to know."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu nods quietly. If another building explodes, or if the horrible man in the mask comes back - and it certainly seems like he isn't going anywhere...
She offers Ayame a sympathetic look as she holds back tears, and listens as she continues.
"...Alright. And if you gotta run - run. I'll take down anything or anyone that tries to stop you, you've got my word." Shinobu assures. Her expression and tone are deadly serious. She always has been, when it comes to her family. "...I'm glad, though, that it's still okay."
She manages a small smile, then.
"...But, hey. Thanks for telling me. I appreciate it. It's gonna be alright." Shinobu replies. She looks awkward for a moment, going from a serious moment right to this, but... "And, uh... congrats, you know? I'm happy for you."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"Sorry," she says. "I'm trying to stay composed, but..." She's more emotional even than usual, and she has a lot to be emotional about now. But Shinobu assures her. It's kind. Ayame inclines her head. "Thank you," she says. "I still think... I sstill think i can help. Even if part of e thought... Well, that maybe it was stupid for thinking I could. When he had that gun pointed at my daughter..."
"But it's what they want, isn't it? To intimidate us."
But she smiles back. "Thank you," she says. "Ikkaku and I are very happy. Since a few years ago, when things went... bad," she euphemizes, "I'm still extra-worried. But..."
"I really hope things work out, this time."
"...How about you?" she wonders. "You're being brave, but I'm your older sister, too. You can tell me how you feel about all this."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
"...You don't gotta be. I'm not gonna think any less of you if you aren't." Shinobu assures, and nods as she says she thinks she can help. "...It wasn't stupid. It's never stupid to want to help. You're right - that's what they want. They want us feeling scared and powerless so they can do whatever the hell they want..."
She shakes her head, then.
It's good to hear they're happy, and as Ayame euphemizes, Shinobu nods quietly.
"...Yeah. I hope so, too. I'll be rooting for you, you know?" She replies.
And then, Ayame asks how she feels. Shinobu leans back for a moment, running a hand through her hair as she tries to put her feelings into words.
"I'm feeling... a lot of things right now." Shinobu admits. "Scared. For you, and Reiko-chan... that asshole knew her name. He knows where you live... I never really thought that... something like that would happen, you know?"
She shrugs.
"Angry, too. That he threatened you, and Koume-chan, and everyone... I wanted to hurt him. He made me feel bad for the goddamn Joker Killer, even. No one deserves to go out like that, and he enjoyed doing it. It pisses me off..." She sighs. "...But I couldn't do a thing about any of it."
She shakes her head.
"It makes me think, should I really keep doing this...? But if I don't, who will, right? But at the same time, it puts everyone in danger... And then I keep spinning around and around in my own head until I want to yell and hit something."
With a sigh, she leans back in the chair, taking another sip.
"...Maybe I'll hit the gym after this." She needs a punching bag.
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
"Yes," Ayame agrees. "I... don't want to give that to them."
But she smiles at Shinobu's support. It comes a little easier than before.
"It disturbed me," Ayame says. "I always knew that Reiko-chan's job put her in danger, but... this is another thing entirely." And of course, herself and her family.
"Not even him," Ayame agrees. "I was so relieved when Suou-san went to arrest him... I thought it might be necessary to... end the matter permanently. But seeing the possibility that it could end better, and having that be dashed... It makes me feel guilty."
A look to Shinobu, thoughtfully, as Ayame lifts her cup. "I think it's brave and admirable, how you go out there and try," Ayame says. "If you don't, who will? ...And well..."
"If we hold back because we might be in danger, then they win. I won't say I'm not afraid..."
"But don't hold back on our account, at least. My sister's too cool to give up."
"That's a good idea," Ayame says. Of the gym. "But you can handle it. I'm sure of that."
CHARGEN: Costs updated on Ayame Watanabe's forms.
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Shinobu nods quietly. Reiko-chan...
"...Yeah." She agrees, looking down at the floor for a moment. She knew she'd be in danger, but that's something she chose for herself. It's different, when it'd be her fault if something happens to her.
She looks back up, then, as Ayame agrees with her. Suou-san... Shinobu nods.
"...Me too." She says. She said a lot of tough things during the fight, but for the opportunity to be there, and then lost... It still stings.
But Ayame says that it's brave and admirable that she still tries. If they hold back, they win... She might still be afraid, but she shouldn't hold back.
...Shinobu grins sheepishly, massaging the back of her neck. She's too cool to give up, huh...
"You really mean that, huh... Yeah. Yeah, I don't wanna give 'em that. I'm still gonna keep going. ...Thanks." She assures. "...No idea where to start, but... One thing at time. We're still licking our wounds after the last one."
<Pose Tracker> Ayame Watanabe has posed.
It stings. But Shinobu's sheepish grin makes it a little easier for Ayam to smile back at her. "I do!" Ayame is quite sure of it. "I always mean it with you. ...I've long admired the way you stood up to our parents. It makes me think... If you can do it, maybe I can keep doing it, too." All this, she means.
"But I will be more careful."
"You're welcome. Starting... I suppose we can figure that out later. It's fine to rest a bit, I think. Just so long as it's a bit, instead of giving up."
"For now..."
"Why don't you tell me what's gone on with you, lately? It would be fun to hear about the things you've been doing."
<Pose Tracker> Shinobu Shimizu has posed.
Ayame's admired her, huh... There's a lot that she could say, that she was just being childish or wanted attention, but... If that encourages her, then she isn't going to take that away from her.
"Well... I could only do it 'cause I had the two of you supporting me, too." Shinobu says. "So... if I ended up helping you too, then, cool."
She nods, as Ayame says she'll be more careful.
"Yeah... We'll need to be in top shape, so we ought to rest when we can." She agrees.
As for what's gone on with her...
"Well, I did work this pretty wild job a while back..."
And then Shinobu goes on to tell a story about the shift she took at a music store... except the customers, as it turns out, all happened to be demons.