2026-06-14: Training Under the Moon
- Log: Training Under the Moon
- Cast: Fuuka Yamagishi, Reiya Aomori
- Where: Naganaki Shrine
- OOC Date: April 14, 2026
- IC Date: October 25, 2012
- Summary: Fuuka and Reiya wrap up a training session during the Dark Hour, and sit down to rest before heading back to the dorm. There they talk about the differences both of them faced in joining SEES, family, and working as a team. Together, they resolve to continue learning more.
(|============================= 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> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
The key to honing one's talents is constant training. This is true even for Persona Users - and even for Navigators, though their talents take on a different form. For a while now, Fuuka and Reiya have been training together. Fuuka, to sharpen her sight and widen her field of vision, and Reiya, to become better able to evade the sight of others through his own talents as an Anti-Navigator.
Tonight's venue is Naganaki Shrine. It's a wide, open space that gives them plenty of area to work with while still being close enough to the dorm in case something happens... and, it has the added bonus of letting them help Koromaru keep his treasured place free of trouble.
Fuuka stands in the center of the shrine, her eyes shut in concentration. Lucia surrounds her as she casts her vision outward, peering beyond with her third eye.
...But they've been at this for a while now. It's been a productive day, at least.
"Good work, Aomori-san. I think that's enough for tonight." Fuuka says. She lets Lucia fade and Fuuka relaxes, opening her eyes. "We still have some moonlight left before the Dark Hour ends... I think I want to sit down for a bit before we head back."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
Reiya's talents as an anti-Navigator have grown considerably since he first joined SEES, and he's been using those to help Fuuka find ways to deal with similar talents. The wide, open space is useful; Reiya has plenty of places to practice hiding both his regular self and his Persona.
Kunimitsu reappears as Lucia fades, and then he fades in turn, Reiya releasing his Persona and his quiet. "...That's a good idea," he says. "It was quite taxing."
Reiya walks over and sits down on the other side of the bench, looking up to the Dark Hour's sky.
"I think it will be good to see how our practice is helping. ..."
"Do you want quiet?" he asks. "I find myself restless; I think I'd prefer to talk, if you're up for it."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"Yes, it was... Training is good, but we don't want to overexert ourselves." Fuuka agrees. It's good to know their limits, but there's such a thing as going too far. She looks over to Reiya as he joins her, and nods. "I think so, too. I want to be of even more help..."
She follows his gaze up to the Dark Hour's sky, and the moon looming ahead. He admits, though, to finding himself restless. She can understand that, a little.
"No, I don't mind." Fuuka assures, looking back at him. "What would you like to talk about? There's been so much going on, I think it would be good to catch up."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"Yes."
Even more help... "Your hardworking attitude is an asset," Reiya notes of Fuuka. "...I think that you'll accomplish that goal. I want the same, for myself."
Restless, yet kind of tired; both are true.
"All right." He looks back at her in turn. "...I was thinking about the team nature of our endeavors. it is..."
He considers. "I am used to the idea of working for others," he says. "But with others is not always the same."
"But also..."
"Did I ever tell you that, while you were missing, I searched at the locale of your parents' home?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"Oh... thank you. I'm glad you think so." Fuuka replies with a polite nod. He wants the same for himself... "I think it's the same for you. I know how dedicated you are. I'm sure you will, too."
The team nature of their endeavors... She listens curiously as he explains. The difference between working for and working with... She considers that for a moment.
"...Yes. It's different, when everyone's counting on each other equally." She agrees. But he has something else to speak of, too - and surprise crosses her face when he mentions that he searced at her parents' home.
"You did? No... I don't think so." She replies with a shake of her head. She hesitates for a moment. Does she want to know? "...What did you see?"
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"Thank you," he says back.
"Indeed. ...It's different, to notice it; my family is accustomed to hierarchy. I'm the heir, but my mother is my elder until I come of age. We have a clear sense of where we all 'fit'."
"...But yes, I went to your home. I didn't sneak in," he explains. "I purely observed. But..."
He frowns. "I saw nothing out of the ordinary. Their routine seemed normal. There was no... disarray."
"It disturbed me by its lack, more than by what I saw. No one seemed to investigate your room, not that I could see fromt he window. Police were never there..."
"...Had you indicated you might go anywhere, at some point?"
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Hierarchy... That's something she noticed. His family works differently than what she's used to.
"I see... I gathered it was something like that. We have some structure, but otherwise, we're fairly flexible." Fuuka replies thoughtfully. She listens, then, as he explains that he observed... and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
No changes to the routine. No disarray.
Fuuka wants to be surprised. ...But she really isn't. She looks away, and the look on her face is the one of someone who's expectations have been met, to their disappointment.
"That... doesn't really surprise me." Fuuka admits quietly. She looks back at him. "I told them I was going to meet a friend for a study session, but... that was it."
She pauses for a moment.
"That... was a lie, of course." She admits, just a bit sheepishly. He can probably guess where she really went.
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"We are. Who is in charge of which matter varies depending on the issue at hand; we have field leaders and designate individuals to handle certain missions. It's... different."
But...
Reiya frowns slightly. It's hard to spot, but Fuuka may be accustomed enough to reading subtle expressions by now. "I see. ...So that's why."
"...That should've held up for a night," he says, "But not consistently for that long. ...And I think I've stumbled onto a sore point, so for that I apologize."
"But you deserved to have the information, in any case."
"...is it better?" he asks. "Living at the dorms, then."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
Fuuka nods, and considers him for a moment.
"...Do you like it?" Fuuka asks. "It being different, I mean."
It is hard to spot - but by now, she can spot it. She sees that slight frown. For a night, maybe, but not for that long... She nods. But he apologizes, too, and at that, she shakes her head.
"No, it's okay. I'm... used to it, by now. But... thank you, for telling me. I appreciate it." She replies. It's good to know. "It wasn't always like that, but... that's how things are, now."
Is it better, he asks? She doesn't even need to think about that.
"Oh, yes." Fuuka confirms with a nod. "It's much better. I'm surrounded by friends and people I can rely on... and, I feel like I have a place there. Somewhere... I feel like I can be useful."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"I'm not sure," Reiya muses. "It is... pleasant, being in the dorm with others who share the mission, and who are near the same age. But it's different, being away from my sisters."
A pause. "Mother is usually away regardless, so that hasn't changed."
But she's used to it... "You're welcome then," he answers. "...I see. Unfortunate."
"Good," Reiya says. "I think..."
"You do have a place. You are very helpful to us."
Pause.
"You are more than useful to SEES, I think. You are one of us."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
He isn't sure. Fuuka nods. That makes sense, she supposes - it's quite the different experience from what he's used to.
"I see... I don't have any siblings, so I don't know what that's like. I can imagine, though..." Fuuka replies. His mother being away usually, though - that she can sympathise with. "I'm sorry..."
She nods, as he accepts her thanks. Unfortunate... It is, but... there's nothing she can do about that but accept it, now.
He says she has a place - that she's very helpful to them. She smiles, just slightly.
"...Thank you. I'm glad that you feel that way." She replies. ...But he wasn't finished. She's more than useful to SEES - she's one of them. That causes her to pause, surprised.
She's one of them... She smiles, just a little wider.
"...Yes. I'm thankful for that. Being here with everyone... it's important to me."
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"Yes. ...I try to look after my sisters, but I have my own work to do, now."
But she's sorry... "Her work is important--it helps all of us. ...But I do have some concerns."
She smiles, and he nods back, a pleasant if ostensibly neutral expression on his face as he looks back to her. "I do. ...And yes. I think..."
"It's quite rewarding to act as part of the team. I think... I'm also learning a lot, but it's worth it in and of itself."
He looks up. "The Dark Hour will end soon, I think..."
<Pose Tracker> Fuuka Yamagishi has posed.
"I imagine that must be nervewracking at times... but I'm sure they're alright." Fuuka replies. As for his mother's work... well, Fuuka is aware of a little of that by now, after meeting Aigis. "That's normal, I think..."
He nods back. She accepts his pleasant-if-neutral expression for what she assumes it is.
"It is. I'm glad you feel that way, too." She agrees. "We're all learning a lot. But we're doing it as a team, so we can support each other in the process. So... let's keep learning together, Aomori-san."
She follows his gaze up once more.
"Oh, you're right... Shall we start heading back?" She asks.
<Pose Tracker> Reiya Aomori has posed.
"A bit. ...I know that Sachiko-chan can defend herself, at least. It's the other things I worry about; the normal, everyday things." She, too, is a ninja after all. "But they seem to do well. And... I suppose it is normal."
"Yes, Yamagishi-san. Let's do that."
"And... yes, I think."
He rises from the bench. "Let us go."