2026-10-27: Questions And Preparations
- Log: Questions And Preparations
- Cast: Reiya Aomori, Fuuka Yamagishi
- Where: Naganaki Shrine
- OOC Date: October 27, 2026
- IC Date: January 31, 2013
- Summary: After a couple of days away on a mission for Ikutsuki, Reiya returns. Fuuka happens upon the Naganaki Shrine while he's there, and they have a conversation--and a hope that they'll finish their mission before they, too, graduate.
(|============================= Naganaki Shrine ==============================|)
-================================================== Iwatodai City/Iwatodai ====-
Naganaki Shrine is a piece of tradition in the middle of the city. Long stairs
lead up to a stone-pathed pavilion lined with sacred trees; immediately to one's
left is a children's playground, with slide, see-saw and a jungle gym. The first
part of the shrine proper is the cleansing area, where one washes out one's
mouth and hands in order to respectfully meet the Gods. This done, one may
approach the shrine.
Two lion-dogs fiercely guard the monetary offering booth, where many a student
has come praying for academic success. Off to the side, one may receive a
relationship fortune and tie it off, in hopes of growing closer to a special
someone. To the other side of the shrine are red pillars which lead one to the
/Inari/ Shrine, another place for prayer. One may receive items, here, if items
are sacrificed in turn. Beside the Inari Shrine is a great sacred tree,
protected behind a fence and by a series of tags tied about it from a holy rope;
a sign beside it describes the history of this place, going into the sacred tree
and the Shrine's deity.
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Soon, they'll be third-years--Reiya and many others in SEES. Time to start thinking about futures, about entrance exams, about where they're going...
Though Reiya already knows some of that, of course. School's out for the day, and he has made his way to Naganaki Shrine, to look out over the area from the edge of the raised platform. The weather is fine, if chilly; Reiya himself is still in unform, and quiet. He's been missing from the dorms for the past couple of nights, on a mission from Ikutsuki that took up both nights.
But now, he's here! The playground rests behind him; it's empty. Indeed, the whole shrine is empty just now.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
The future... Fuuka thinks about it from time to time. She's torn between two possible futures - the future she wants for herself, and the expected path set before her. There's still time to think about that... but if she waits too long, that time will vanish before she knows it.
It's difficult. But for now, Fuuka heads back to the dorm - and, as she often does, elects to stop by Naganaki Shrine on her way back. She lacks to come here every now and then to think, or just generally relax.
She heads up the steps... and finds that today, there's a familiar face here. She looks up at him, briefly shading her eyes from the sunlight. Reiya... She knows he's been off on a mission.
"Welcome back, Aomori-san." Fuuka greets. She climbs up the stairs to meet him. "When did you return?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Time will not wait.
When Fuuka greets him, Reiya turns towards her. It's even odds he noticed her coming, but Fuuka doesn't startle him as a rule; she's a safe presence. ...Of course, it's likely given their training that she might've spotted him before she could see him, too.
"Thank you, Yamagishi-san." Pause. he turns towards her, noticing her shielding her eyes against the sun, and walks towards the shade of a tree to talk.
"Just in time for club activities," he says. "And to pick up the schoolwork I missed."
"How are you?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Their training has been fruitful. She's becoming much better at detecting others. She could even do it with her eyes closed... Though she'd prefer not to need to.
She nods as he thanks her, following him as he moves into the shade of a tree.
"Oh, that's good..." Fuuka replies with a nod, as he says he returned in time for club activities and schoolwork. That's extra important at this time of year.
"I'm doing well, thank you. It's been busy, but... manageable. And how are you, Aomori-san?" She replies with a polite nod. "We've been holding down the fort while you've been gone... How did things go?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
It is important!
"I see... There is a lot to do," he agrees. "But I am..."
He was going to just generically say 'well', but he ilts his head, looking down at his hand. "I am concerned," he says. "The number of the Lost seems to be increasing. We were unable to secure the Hierophant Shadow... has the New World Order released it under their control? Or is it a coincidence? ...or is it something different still?"
He shakes his head. "I completed my mission, at least. I found a cache of Kirijo technology in the hands of those who shouldn't hold it."
"I was certain that you could handle matters while I was away, however."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"There is..." Fuuka agrees, when he says there's a lot to do. He starts to say something... but trails off. Something must be on his mind, but she doesn't have to wait long to hear an answer. The Lost... She nods quietly.
"Yes... It's worrying." She comments. She listens to the hypotheticals he raises. The Hierophant Shadow... she shakes her head.
"I'm afraid I haven't been able to pick up any useful readings. I hate to think they may have found a way to control it, but we have to be prepared for any possibility." Fuuka replies. This is the first time this has happened. "Will it reappear? Or will it be something else? ...I suppose the only thing we can do for now is continue keeping an eye on the moon in the Dark Hour..."
Reiya completed his mission, at least - and Fuuka breathes a sigh of relief.
"That's good... It's worrying that they were able to get a hold of it, but it's good that you were able to locate it." Fuuka replies. That's some good news, at least. Kirijo technology in the wrong hands... that seems bad.
"Thank you." She replies. "We did our best."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Fuuka would know better than most whether the Shadow had shown itself; Reiya is glad that she's willing to share her insight. "We must be prepared," he agrees. "You are correct. We'll be relying on you and Kawase-san especially. ...But I know that you'll do your best."
"Mm. It's strange... But Ikutsuki-san has good intelligence."
And they did their best! "..."
"Yamagishi-san," he says. "Have you been making friends, in the dormitory? In our group?"
Pause. "I apologize if it's a personal question."
"I wonder..."
"Will it changes, with Kirijo-senpai and Sanada-senpai, when they graduate?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Reiya agrees with her, and Fuuka nods.
"Yes. If we detect anything at all out of the ordinary, we'll be sure to let everyone know." Fuuka assures. Reiya agrees that it's strange they had Kirijo tech, but Ikutsuki has good intelligence... Fuuka nods. "It seems like he does..."
Fuuka considers Reiya for a moment - and she's surprised at what he asks next. Her eyes widen briefly - but when he apologizes, she shakes her head.
"Oh, no, it's okay..." She assures. "But, um... I'd like to think I have. ...How about you, Aomori-san?"
He raises a question. Will it change, with Mitsuru and Akihiko? She goes quiet for a moment.
"...I'm not sure. I hadn't considered that, but... I wonder what they'll do. I suppose... it's inevitable that things would change somehow, but I don't know what that'll mean." She murmurs.
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"Thank you," Reiya says. He trusts Fuuka on that front. And Ikutsuki? "He's very reliable, despite his sense of humor."
Her surprise is something Reiya more or less expects; but she does answer. "I see... That's good, I think. I also have, more than I expected. I assumed I would get along reasonably well with the team, but to find friends is.. unexpected."
He pauses. "I don't know either," he says. "There are many things I don't know."
"...Regardless," he says, "I wonder... will we have solved this matter, by the time we graduate, too? Will it still be ongoing by then?"
"..."
"I apologize. i'm ruminating."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Reiya comments on Ikutsuki's reliability and his sense of humor, and Fuuka laughs.
"Yes, he is." She agrees. It's good to have an adult they can rely on.
She nods as Reiya acknowledges her answer - and when he says that he has, too, she smiles.
"Really? I'm glad to hear that, Aomori-san." She replies. She gets along well with him, but she does worry sometimes.
There are many things he doesn't know... She nods. In the end, that might be something only Mitsuru and Akihiko can answer themselves.
"...I wonder, too. I hope so, but..." She trails off, and when he apologizes, she shakes her head.
"No, it's okay. It's important to... um, ruminate, sometimes." Fuuka assures. She looks away, briefly. "It's... better than being blindsided by something you didn't expect."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
It's good that Ikutsuki is such a helpful man. Reiya knows him better even than most of them!
But indeed. "...Thank you," Reiya says, not entirely sure what to do with Fuuka being glad he's making friends. His stoicism remains somewaht difficult to read. But the things they don't know...
"I also hope that. We can only work towards our goal as diligently as possible."
Then... Hmm. "That... is true," he admits. "We cannot anticipate everything, but we can anticipate some things."
"...Speaking of," he says, "I would like to venture into Tartarus again soon. I wwish to test some new abilities. My family has kept records of certain techniques... I have been able to apply them to my Persona."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka smiles as Reiya thanks her - and she can perhaps since his uncertaity, because she doesn't linger on that for long.
"For everyone's sake..." She agrees. Work diligently... and maybe someday, they'll see the end of it.
She nods, then.
"Yes. And the more we prepare ourselves, the better we'll be able to adapt to what we didn't anticipate." She agrees.
And speaking of...! Fuuka listens thoughtfully as she mentions that he'd like to go into Tartarus again soon. New abilities - techniques from his family, applied to his Persona...
"Wow... That's remarkable. Being able to influence your Persona's abilities... That's no small feat." She comments, impressed. "Of course. We'll find some time to go. It might be best to ensure we've done as much training as we can, if something does happen soon..."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Someday. They must.
"Indeed. It's just so." For preparation. And Fuuka calls it remarkable. Reiya is quietly pleased, giving a small nod. "Gradnmother has been researching the old ways. It would seem that my mother's theories were correct--that our ancient legends had to do with this power. ...But there's much we don't yet know."
"Yes, let's. I'll suggest it to the Arisatos as well. But if they call..."
"Please ask them to rely on me."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"Fascinating..." Fuuka remarks with interest. "I didn't realize the power of Persona went back that far. If it's something you can talk about with others, I'd like to hear more about them sometime."
She pauses for a moment to add,
"Oh, but I understand if it's something you need to keep secret."
She nods, though, as he agrees, and says he'll suggest it to the Arisatos as well.
"Of course, Aomori-san. I will." She assures with a nod.
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Reiya reflects on it for a moment. "It is of course possible that it's a different, related phenomena that we were able to adapt," he says. "...But I believe that it is the same. This suggests to me that there are other such crises in history..."
"I should not be discussing it," he admits, "But..."
"I prefer not to keep all of this secret from SEES. From all of you."
"So I will instead have to hope that you keep my secrets as well."
"Thank you," he says.
"...Take care, Yamagishi-san. I think... I am going to take more of a walk."
He stands, thoughtful--and the next time Fuuka looks away, he's gone.
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
A different, related phenomenon... Fuuka nods thoughtfully. That's certainly a possibility.
"Even if it isn't the same... If it's similar enough that you're able to adapt teachings to your Persona, then it means it's worth learning more about." Fuuka considers. "But, yes - record of such powers logically indicates that there was once a need for them. And that they expected later generations may have need of them, as well... I think it's important to understand what they left for you."
Reiya admits that he shouldn't be discussing them... but he'd prefer not to keep it a secret from them, and hopes instead they'll keep his secret. She's stunned for a moment - and then bows her head politely.
"...Thank you, Aomori-san, for trusting us. I won't betray that trust." She assures.
He bids her to take care, and she nods.
"Of course, Aomori-san. You take care, too - enjoy your walk." She replies.
And sure enough - at the first distraction, he's gone. After how long they've worked together, she isn't even surprised by that.