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I won't start anything until we know for sure. But we'll be looking into it.
[Hang on, he should be absolutely clear who he means by 'we.' She might already know, but he hasn't heard it said in exactly so many words, so.]
Kanji and Naoto and Chie are Persona-users, too.
[Hang on, he should be absolutely clear who he means by 'we.' She might already know, but he hasn't heard it said in exactly so many words, so.]
Kanji and Naoto and Chie are Persona-users, too.
Wait! For real?! [ She doesn't know them, but— ] There's more of us?
[ She shouldn't be too surprised… he'd never made it sound like he was the only person he knew with that power. Neither had Shinjiro, for that matter, though she'd never gotten any details out of him. With Souji, she'd simply never had the opportunity to ask. ]
[ She shouldn't be too surprised… he'd never made it sound like he was the only person he knew with that power. Neither had Shinjiro, for that matter, though she'd never gotten any details out of him. With Souji, she'd simply never had the opportunity to ask. ]
They're half my team from Inaba. The people who fought their Shadows and helped save other people from their own Shadows with me. Kanji and Naoto were the tall one and the -
[There's a pause.]
-blue-haired one who played the King's Game with Ren just now.
[Tall one's a little vague, but Kanji and Naoto seemed pretty clearly a duo, and not many people are taller than Souji himself.]
[There's a pause.]
-blue-haired one who played the King's Game with Ren just now.
[Tall one's a little vague, but Kanji and Naoto seemed pretty clearly a duo, and not many people are taller than Souji himself.]
So your gang is half-back-together, and our gang is half-back-together…
[ That's a lot of halves. ]
Then, I guess I should tell you… there's someone else who can use them here, too. He doesn't really like to talk about it— we were in a contract for months and we barely brought it up with one another. You might've met him, too— Shinjiro Aragaki?
[ That's a lot of halves. ]
Then, I guess I should tell you… there's someone else who can use them here, too. He doesn't really like to talk about it— we were in a contract for months and we barely brought it up with one another. You might've met him, too— Shinjiro Aragaki?
I haven't met him yet.
[He looks over in interest.]
I knew there were other Persona users - Igor-san and Margaret said as much - but I didn't think they'd all be in Japan. Or that I'd meet any of them...
[He looks over in interest.]
I knew there were other Persona users - Igor-san and Margaret said as much - but I didn't think they'd all be in Japan. Or that I'd meet any of them...
I've known that since I bumped into you.
[You can't expect him to miss a chance for a line that smooth.]
[You can't expect him to miss a chance for a line that smooth.]
[ He wouldn't be him if he did. It gets both a flush and a giggle— in that order, before she's ribbing him gently in the side with her elbow. ]
Quit it! [ She's still smiling, though. The lady doth protest. ] Oh, hey, that reminds me. Have you found any actual cat cafes here? I kind of feel like I owe you a do-over after the last one was… not as fuzzy as we'd hoped.
Quit it! [ She's still smiling, though. The lady doth protest. ] Oh, hey, that reminds me. Have you found any actual cat cafes here? I kind of feel like I owe you a do-over after the last one was… not as fuzzy as we'd hoped.
No, but there's a petting zoo.
And even if last time wasn't what we'd been hoping for, we... survived the disappointment.
And even if last time wasn't what we'd been hoping for, we... survived the disappointment.
If someone had to be the one to get me accustomed to how the city worked, I'm glad it was you.
[He doesn't make a big thing out if it as he says it. Just matter-of-fact appreciation... and a brief, appreciative up and down glance.]
[He doesn't make a big thing out if it as he says it. Just matter-of-fact appreciation... and a brief, appreciative up and down glance.]
It's easier. Even touch generates Chroma...
[But he hears, ge's almost sure, an invitation behind that, and so he demonstrates, hand moving through the water to slide across her stomach, fingers splayed.]
I don't know how they measure or monitor it, but we'll make money, just from this.
[But he hears, ge's almost sure, an invitation behind that, and so he demonstrates, hand moving through the water to slide across her stomach, fingers splayed.]
I don't know how they measure or monitor it, but we'll make money, just from this.
[Initially a flush forms on Futaba's face. However as the reality set in of what Ann had to endure her expression went from scandalized to sadness as she looked up at Ann.
After absorbing that information for a moment she pulled Ann into a tight hug.]
I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you...
How long were you there?
After absorbing that information for a moment she pulled Ann into a tight hug.]
I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you...
How long were you there?
[He feels a bit of guilt with the fact he still hasn't taken his shower when they bump elbows, but it feels so nice and calming. While Ren wasn't exactly emotionally starved, knowing a close friend was here gave him a lot of warm feelings he hadn't really come to proper terms before he had shown up here.]
It's been about two months for me...Hifumi is here, but that's the only person I really know. [He hesitates before adding;] Well...in the sense that I knew them before coming here. There's others like us. They don't wear costumes, however.
[That was vague enough without spilling out all the information.]
It's been about two months for me...Hifumi is here, but that's the only person I really know. [He hesitates before adding;] Well...in the sense that I knew them before coming here. There's others like us. They don't wear costumes, however.
[That was vague enough without spilling out all the information.]
That is easier… but the more we do, the more we'll earn, right?
[ She breathes in deep, trying to keep relaxed under the tingling feeling of his hand skirting over her skin. Her own hand, once laid by her side, moves closer to him. She moves slowly enough that it doesn't disturb the top of the water, leading with her pinky to run a line down the outside of his thigh, casting a glance to the side just to make sure no one is paying them any mind. ]
[ She breathes in deep, trying to keep relaxed under the tingling feeling of his hand skirting over her skin. Her own hand, once laid by her side, moves closer to him. She moves slowly enough that it doesn't disturb the top of the water, leading with her pinky to run a line down the outside of his thigh, casting a glance to the side just to make sure no one is paying them any mind. ]
That's true...
[No-one is paying attention at all. The nearest observers are shrouded in steam across the pool - close enough to tell someone is there, but not enough to make out details.
Souji swallows. He's not embarrassed exactly, but the escalation, that slow, lingering touch on his bare skin, carries so much promise with it...]
I missed you.
[The acknowledgement is warm, wry - he's not just saying he missed his friend, but the daring girl who initiated him in his first threesome.
His hand slides down to the edge of her swimsuit, tracing the line there, back and forth.]
You want to earn some Chroma together?
[No-one is paying attention at all. The nearest observers are shrouded in steam across the pool - close enough to tell someone is there, but not enough to make out details.
Souji swallows. He's not embarrassed exactly, but the escalation, that slow, lingering touch on his bare skin, carries so much promise with it...]
I missed you.
[The acknowledgement is warm, wry - he's not just saying he missed his friend, but the daring girl who initiated him in his first threesome.
His hand slides down to the edge of her swimsuit, tracing the line there, back and forth.]
You want to earn some Chroma together?
Oh— h-hey, it's okay.
[ A little taken aback by the hug, she still rests a hand on top of Futaba's head, giving it a gentle pat. ]
I wasn't alone. Ren, Yusuke, Makoto, and Haru were all there at one point! …Ryuji was there the whole time I was, too.
We were there about… seven months? Give or take a week or two, maybe.
[ A little taken aback by the hug, she still rests a hand on top of Futaba's head, giving it a gentle pat. ]
I wasn't alone. Ren, Yusuke, Makoto, and Haru were all there at one point! …Ryuji was there the whole time I was, too.
We were there about… seven months? Give or take a week or two, maybe.
[ It was definitely miles above what their good pal Sakamoto-kun would do, that was for sure. If she doesn't seem surprised about that, it's for a reason. ]
I've met some. In the place we were in before. At least two different groups of people like us.
[ She'd gotten to know a few of them very… intimately, though she wouldn't actually mention that. ]
Who are they?
I've met some. In the place we were in before. At least two different groups of people like us.
[ She'd gotten to know a few of them very… intimately, though she wouldn't actually mention that. ]
Who are they?
Two groups?
[Now that surprises him. You have his undivided attention (as if you didn't before) Ann.]
I only know three of them so far...Souji, Naoto and Kanji. Well, I haven't seen Naoto use her Persona, but I'm going to assume she is a Persona user simply because her and Kanji have the world's least secret relationship.
[This is clearly important information.]
[Now that surprises him. You have his undivided attention (as if you didn't before) Ann.]
I only know three of them so far...Souji, Naoto and Kanji. Well, I haven't seen Naoto use her Persona, but I'm going to assume she is a Persona user simply because her and Kanji have the world's least secret relationship.
[This is clearly important information.]
[It was dawning on her how rough things might have been for Ann so she felt more than a little emotional. She though it was just Ann from a different point in time, but clearly things had been hard.]
Seven months?!
[She hugged harder, as hard as her little noodly arms could.]
I'm glad you had other people, but you were there for me so I wish I could have been there for you when you needed it.
Seven months?!
[She hugged harder, as hard as her little noodly arms could.]
I'm glad you had other people, but you were there for me so I wish I could have been there for you when you needed it.
Souji? [ Her eyes light up, and her head snaps to look at him. ] He's here?
[ The other names aren't familiar, but that one gets her attention; the juicy gossip does, too, and as much as she wants to latch onto that, there's so much more more important stuff to get through, first. ]
He was in that place, too… Duplicity, I mean. Only for a little while. But I've met him.
[ Oh, she's 'met' him, alright. Not now, Ann. ]
But yeah, there was another— someone else I— [ knew? Was friends with? Was in a contract with? Kinda liked? ] —met there. His name was Shinjiro Aragaki. He wouldn't tell me too much, but, he had a Persona, and he wasn't working alone, as far as I could tell.
[ The other names aren't familiar, but that one gets her attention; the juicy gossip does, too, and as much as she wants to latch onto that, there's so much more more important stuff to get through, first. ]
He was in that place, too… Duplicity, I mean. Only for a little while. But I've met him.
[ Oh, she's 'met' him, alright. Not now, Ann. ]
But yeah, there was another— someone else I— [ knew? Was friends with? Was in a contract with? Kinda liked? ] —met there. His name was Shinjiro Aragaki. He wouldn't tell me too much, but, he had a Persona, and he wasn't working alone, as far as I could tell.
[He's going to note those two away but first let's talk about the person he actually knows. He can ask about Shinjiro later.]
Silver haired, likes cats, that Souji, right? Was he by himself?
Silver haired, likes cats, that Souji, right? Was he by himself?
That's him. [ He really, really likes cats. Remind her to tell you about the cat cafe one day, Ren… ]
As far as I know, he was. He got there a few days after… after you disappeared. He was really open about what he could do, too. He didn't seem to care about hiding it from everyone like we do.
As far as I know, he was. He got there a few days after… after you disappeared. He was really open about what he could do, too. He didn't seem to care about hiding it from everyone like we do.
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