Persona: Here We Go Again

[Minerva]

]((A Persona 1x1 taking place after Persona 5 and based around the GURPS system. Playing with @The Myrmidon))

Tokyo is a city with a population of 13.62 million people. Japan as a whole has a population of 137 million on a landmass roughly the size of Germany. Electronics are a prominent part of the culture. From cellphones, to large electronic billboards, to personal computers, everyone has some sort of electronic device with them. Devices that can be used to help and to monitor. 137 million people, being watched every moment of every day.

It's been several months since the events of Persona 5. The Shadow Thieves have gone their separate ways, Masayoshi Shido has been ousted, and Japan is once again clear of a major non-North Korean threat. However, the Japanese branch of an American based information technology corporation known as Theta has begun making moves within Japanese politics, taking control of the power vacuum. They hope to improve Japan's place on the world stage and making Japan safer for its citizens.

Prologue
Date: April 8

"Today we stand outside of Theta Japan Headquarters in Roppongi where Theta Japan CEO Kuno Noburo has announced that he will be supporting the Democratic Party of Japan's Matsutani Manzo for the Diet. He is aiming for the seat of Prime Minister. This has brought on protests comparing him to Masayoshi Shido, who, several months ago attempted to take the seat of Prime Minister via illegal and unconstitutional means before being stopped by a group of whistleblowers. Both Noburo and Manzo were quick to deny this in an earlier Press Conference saying they both seek a fair and balanced election."

The United Nations Security Council has moved to place sanctions on the Philippines following an incident involving a US Naval ship... An incident involving a nuclear reactor occurred today at the Takamura-Kiyoshi Nuclear Power Plant following a small error. Power will be out for customers for a short period of time until the problem can be fixed... The US FDA has recently declared the drug Theranatal safe for Over-the-Counter purchase... Tokyo Metropolitan Police chief Toshiro Hiragaya has recently declared a crackdown on illegal street races, calling them "A hotbed for Yakuza activity and something with a negative effect on our youth." He says that over the next few months there will be teams specially tasked to infiltrate street racing clubs... Federated Airlines releases apology following an incident where a passenger was locked in a plane bathroom on a Singapore-Tokyo flight... Stocks: Nikkei 225 ^2.6% JASDAQ ^1.23% Theta Japan ^1.67% Yee-haw! Japan v1.89% Koromatsu Industrial ^.13% Westmore-Kaye v.19% Federated Air v1.20 USD ^.147 GBP v.174 EUR -.159 CNY v.27

Kosei High School, Roppongi, Minato Ward, Tokyo

Kosei has a nice campus that can be described as beautiful. It's a large campus in the middle of a network of tall buildings. Kosei High caters to the children of businessmen and politicians who live in the area. However, to talented individuals who can't afford to go, Kosei also offers scholarships for those skilled in a specific sport.

After telling your sister Hikari goodbye, you make your way towards your new school. You enter Kosei High through the front gate. The campus is nice. The walkway to the school is lined with cherry trees, which have started to bloom. Several students mill about the school, their blue uniforms blowing in the light breeze. A fountain sprays up, showing how fancy it is. A teacher stands at the door, welcoming new students into the school. All around, it's a beautiful day on a beautiful campus.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

]((A Persona 1x1 taking place after Persona 5 and based around the GURPS system. Playing with @The Myrmidon))

Tokyo is a city with a population of 13.62 million people. Japan as a whole has a population of 137 million on a landmass roughly the size of Germany. Electronics are a prominent part of the culture. From cellphones, to large electronic billboards, to personal computers, everyone has some sort of electronic device with them. Devices that can be used to help and to monitor. 137 million people, being watched every moment of every day.

It's been several months since the events of Persona 5. The Shadow Thieves have gone their separate ways, Masayoshi Shido has been ousted, and Japan is once again clear of a major non-North Korean threat. However, the Japanese branch of an American based information technology corporation known as Theta has begun making moves within Japanese politics, taking control of the power vacuum. They hope to improve Japan's place on the world stage and making Japan safer for its citizens.

Prologue
Date: April 8

"Today we stand outside of Theta Japan Headquarters in Roppongi where Theta Japan CEO Kuno Noburo has announced that he will be supporting the Democratic Party of Japan's Matsutani Manzo for the Diet. He is aiming for the seat of Prime Minister. This has brought on protests comparing him to Masayoshi Shido, who, several months ago attempted to take the seat of Prime Minister via illegal and unconstitutional means before being stopped by a group of whistleblowers. Both Noburo and Manzo were quick to deny this in an earlier Press Conference saying they both seek a fair and balanced election."

The United Nations Security Council has moved to place sanctions on the Philippines following an incident involving a US Naval ship... An incident involving a nuclear reactor occurred today at the Takamura-Kiyoshi Nuclear Power Plant following a small error. Power will be out for customers for a short period of time until the problem can be fixed... The US FDA has recently declared the drug Theranatal safe for Over-the-Counter purchase... Tokyo Metropolitan Police chief Toshiro Hiragaya has recently declared a crackdown on illegal street races, calling them "A hotbed for Yakuza activity and something with a negative effect on our youth." He says that over the next few months there will be teams specially tasked to infiltrate street racing clubs... Federated Airlines releases apology following an incident where a passenger was locked in a plane bathroom on a Singapore-Tokyo flight... Stocks: Nikkei 225 ^2.6% JASDAQ ^1.23% Theta Japan ^1.67% Yee-haw! Japan v1.89% Koromatsu Industrial ^.13% Westmore-Kaye v.19% Federated Air v1.20 USD ^.147 GBP v.174 EUR -.159 CNY v.27

---

Kosei High School, Roppongi, Minato Ward, Tokyo

Kosei has a nice campus that can be described as beautiful. It's a large campus in the middle of a network of tall buildings. Kosei High caters to the children of businessmen and politicians who live in the area. However, to talented individuals who can't afford to go, Kosei also offers scholarships for those skilled in a specific sport.

After telling your sister Hikari goodbye, you make your way towards your new school. You enter Kosei High through the front gate. The campus is nice. The walkway to the school is lined with cherry trees, which have started to bloom. Several students mill about the school, their blue uniforms blowing in the light breeze. A fountain sprays up, showing how fancy it is. A teacher stands at the door, welcoming new students into the school. All around, it's a beautiful day on a beautiful campus.

And onto the beautiful campus came Katsuo Arakawa, one of the few students accepted based on merit to the school. For a moment, the young first year stopped for a moment after passing the school gates, taking in the sight before him in quiet contemplation. A pair of girls, obviously friends from middle school as their uniforms bore the same year marking as his did, brushed past him and shot him a dirty look for stopping so suddenly, but Katsuo didn't seem to even notice them.

So this is Kosei High... just like what the brochure Aunt Hitomi showed me...

After a moment more of gazing at the awe-inspiring sight, the young man felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, almost certainly a text message. A moment hoping it might be one of his old friends vanished with a sigh as it was simply his guardian checking on him, a reply quickly sent back before the refurbished device was hidden in his pocket once again.

For a moment, he thought of turning around and heading back home - no kendo scholarship was worth being away from his old friends. Then again, he was certain he would simply be lectured by Hitomi if he skipped class and sent back tomorrow, and again the next day as well if he tried again. Besides, knowing his sister, she would try to emulate his bad behavior...

He would just have to put up with this, and hopefully not be grabbed by the cops again. With a slight scowl on his lips, the first year whose light brown hair shined almost like gold approached the school's main doors, book bag slung over one shoulder while another bag that held his practice sword hung on the other. He pushed past anyone who tried to get in his way, only politely nodding to the teacher who stood by the door as he finally managed to reach it.​

 

[Minerva]

And onto the beautiful campus came Katsuo Arakawa, one of the few students accepted based on merit to the school. For a moment, the young first year stopped for a moment after passing the school gates, taking in the sight before him in quiet contemplation. A pair of girls, obviously friends from middle school as their uniforms bore the same year marking as his did, brushed past him and shot him a dirty look for stopping so suddenly, but Katsuo didn't seem to even notice them.

So this is Kosei High... just like what the brochure Aunt Hitomi showed me...

After a moment more of gazing at the awe-inspiring sight, the young man felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, almost certainly a text message. A moment hoping it might be one of his old friends vanished with a sigh as it was simply his guardian checking on him, a reply quickly sent back before the refurbished device was hidden in his pocket once again.

For a moment, he thought of turning around and heading back home - no kendo scholarship was worth being away from his old friends. Then again, he was certain he would simply be lectured by Hitomi if he skipped class and sent back tomorrow, and again the next day as well if he tried again. Besides, knowing his sister, she would try to emulate his bad behavior...

He would just have to put up with this, and hopefully not be grabbed by the cops again. With a slight scowl on his lips, the first year whose light brown hair shined almost like gold approached the school's main doors, book bag slung over one shoulder while another bag that held his practice sword hung on the other. He pushed past anyone who tried to get in his way, only politely nodding to the teacher who stood by the door as he finally managed to reach it.​

The teacher smiled and bowed as Katsuo made his way inside. "Welcome to Kosei High." He said, giving the students a bow of respect as they walked in.

The inside of the school was also opulent. It catered mostly to dilettantes and children of businessmen, and occasionally the child of a foreign diplomat. Large hallways, high-tech classrooms, polite staff, and up-to-date lesson plans were the norm here. Several groups of students stood around chatting, mostly old friends reminiscing on past years or talking about what they did over break.

A young girl with black hair stood alone next to a classroom door. Her uniform was wrinkled, and she was brushing her hair. She seemed new to school as well, as she seemed a bit shocked by it all.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

The teacher smiled and bowed as Katsuo made his way inside. "Welcome to Kosei High." He said, giving the students a bow of respect as they walked in.

The inside of the school was also opulent. It catered mostly to dilettantes and children of businessmen, and occasionally the child of a foreign diplomat. Large hallways, high-tech classrooms, polite staff, and up-to-date lesson plans were the norm here. Several groups of students stood around chatting, mostly old friends reminiscing on past years or talking about what they did over break.

A young girl with black hair stood alone next to a classroom door. Her uniform was wrinkled, and she was brushing her hair. She seemed new to school as well, as she seemed a bit shocked by it all.

Already, as the teacher bowed to him, Katsuo felt immensely out of his depth at the school. None of the instructors of his past school had been known to bow to students - maybe to parents, but a student might receive a friendly smile from a teacher who cared for their students at most. Then again, it probably made sense that a teacher would act politely to the pupils of Kosei. Most of them were here on the basis of their connections, and more than likely, those connections were what determined if the school began to hunting for a new instructor to replace an 'unfit' one.

"Thank you, sensei," It was all he could think to say to the man before replacing his earlier nod with a bow of his own, one that bent lower than the teacher's. Better to treat them with the same respect rather than seem like the rest of the students here. He could only imagine what it would feel like to be marked as one of the snobs and brats of the school. Without another word, he moved on, vaguely listening to the people around him for any hints of where he was supposed to go. After a moment, he simply gave up on that idea, focusing on simply using intuition to guess.

Even with the immense space of the halls, it felt cramped with how many people were milling about and catching up with each other. Finally, near one of the classroom doors, Katsuo spotted someone who seemed just as confused as he did. A lost sheep brushing her hair, trying to figure out what to do in a strange pack of possible wolves - almost like him, except he preferred to be seen more like a cat.

"Hey," The young man approached the shocked girl with a curious expression, looking between her and the door. For a moment, the thought hung in the back of his mind that a student who looked somewhat like a punk in demeanor and hair color would most likely spook the girl, but he pressed on, deciding it was already too late to back down in questioning her. He raised a finger to point at the classroom, "Is this where new students go, or do we go somewhere else?"​

 

[Minerva]

Already, as the teacher bowed to him, Katsuo felt immensely out of his depth at the school. None of the instructors of his past school had been known to bow to students - maybe to parents, but a student might receive a friendly smile from a teacher who cared for their students at most. Then again, it probably made sense that a teacher would act politely to the pupils of Kosei. Most of them were here on the basis of their connections, and more than likely, those connections were what determined if the school began to hunting for a new instructor to replace an 'unfit' one.

"Thank you, sensei," It was all he could think to say to the man before replacing his earlier nod with a bow of his own, one that bent lower than the teacher's. Better to treat them with the same respect rather than seem like the rest of the students here. He could only imagine what it would feel like to be marked as one of the snobs and brats of the school. Without another word, he moved on, vaguely listening to the people around him for any hints of where he was supposed to go. After a moment, he simply gave up on that idea, focusing on simply using intuition to guess.

Even with the immense space of the halls, it felt cramped with how many people were milling about and catching up with each other. Finally, near one of the classroom doors, Katsuo spotted someone who seemed just as confused as he did. A lost sheep brushing her hair, trying to figure out what to do in a strange pack of possible wolves - almost like him, except he preferred to be seen more like a cat.

"Hey," The young man approached the shocked girl with a curious expression, looking between her and the door. For a moment, the thought hung in the back of his mind that a student who looked somewhat like a punk in demeanor and hair color would most likely spook the girl, but he pressed on, deciding it was already too late to back down in questioning her. He raised a finger to point at the classroom, "Is this where new students go, or do we go somewhere else?"​

"Umm... I don't know." The girl said. She seemed a bit on edge, most likely about being at a new school. In her hand was a crumpled note.She uncrumpled it. "I'm supposed to be looking for the room of Mister Tsuneari." She crumpled it back into her hand. "It should be somewhere around here..." She glanced up and down the hall, looking at students moving up and down it.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

"Umm... I don't know." The girl said. She seemed a bit on edge, most likely about being at a new school. In her hand was a crumpled note.She uncrumpled it. "I'm supposed to be looking for the room of Mister Tsuneari." She crumpled it back into her hand. "It should be somewhere around here..." She glanced up and down the hall, looking at students moving up and down it.

And of course she wouldn't know. Somehow, Katsuo had a feeling he had just become entangled in her confusion and wouldn't get free soon. With a sigh, he looked at the various lesson plans that hung by doors to classrooms and shrugged, "Well, you won't find it just by standing here. The lesson plan for his room should have his name, so come on, I'll help you look around." It wasn't as if he had any idea was his class was at the moment, so it didn't matter if this was a waste of time. Better to look a bit better when called out on being tardy by helping this girl.​

 

[Minerva]

And of course she wouldn't know. Somehow, Katsuo had a feeling he had just become entangled in her confusion and wouldn't get free soon. With a sigh, he looked at the various lesson plans that hung by doors to classrooms and shrugged, "Well, you won't find it just by standing here. The lesson plan for his room should have his name, so come on, I'll help you look around." It wasn't as if he had any idea was his class was at the moment, so it didn't matter if this was a waste of time. Better to look a bit better when called out on being tardy by helping this girl.​

She nodded. "R-right." She said. She picked up a messenger bag that was slung across her shoulders. She tossed her hairbrush into her backpack. "Thank you." She said. She straightened her skirt.

As the two proceeded down the hall, groups of people would cast glances at the odd pair. She looked at the floor as they walked. "Thanks again for doing this..." She said. "I feel so embarrassed."

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

She nodded. "R-right." She said. She picked up a messenger bag that was slung across her shoulders. She tossed her hairbrush into her backpack. "Thank you." She said. She straightened her skirt.

As the two proceeded down the hall, groups of people would cast glances at the odd pair. She looked at the floor as they walked. "Thanks again for doing this..." She said. "I feel so embarrassed."

Katsuo patiently waited for the girl to finish putting away her things. For a moment, he wondered why she would start brushing her hair in the middle of the hall, rather than keep looking for her classroom. However, he simply went along with it once she finished readying herself. "No problem, though best not to freeze up here," The young man answered as he began to lead the way down the hallway, looking at the classes' lesson plans for any names, "Some advice? If you don't look around, then you'll never find what you're looking for."

The young punk shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked, his eyes barely registering the curious and judgemental around them. Only the the girl's next few words managed to turn his head from the class rosters to her, no longer scowling as confusion reigned over his features. For a moment, he couldn't seem to comprehend why she would feel embarrassed, though the staring and low murmurings surrounding them soon caught his attention. His eyes narrowed as he finally began to understand then softened as he spoke.

"Hey."

"You're a freshman. They're expecting mistakes on the first day, they're expecting weirdness that doesn't fit in. Don't worry about fitting in, okay?" The words were oddly emotional and sympathetic from the boy who had seemed to perpetually be scowling as if the entire world had wronged him. He turned his head back to the rosters before beginning to move on again, once again barely noticing the people surrounding them, "Believe me, you'll get used to this place, and they'll get used to you. Besides, right now, you're just one of a bunch of freshmen, and unlike some mistakes, today's and probably every other one this year won't affect you in the long term."​

 

[Minerva]

Katsuo patiently waited for the girl to finish putting away her things. For a moment, he wondered why she would start brushing her hair in the middle of the hall, rather than keep looking for her classroom. However, he simply went along with it once she finished readying herself. "No problem, though best not to freeze up here," The young man answered as he began to lead the way down the hallway, looking at the classes' lesson plans for any names, "Some advice? If you don't look around, then you'll never find what you're looking for."

The young punk shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked, his eyes barely registering the curious and judgemental around them. Only the the girl's next few words managed to turn his head from the class rosters to her, no longer scowling as confusion reigned over his features. For a moment, he couldn't seem to comprehend why she would feel embarrassed, though the staring and low murmurings surrounding them soon caught his attention. His eyes narrowed as he finally began to understand then softened as he spoke.

"Hey."

"You're a freshman. They're expecting mistakes on the first day, they're expecting weirdness that doesn't fit in. Don't worry about fitting in, okay?" The words were oddly emotional and sympathetic from the boy who had seemed to perpetually be scowling as if the entire world had wronged him. He turned his head back to the rosters before beginning to move on again, once again barely noticing the people surrounding them, "Believe me, you'll get used to this place, and they'll get used to you. Besides, right now, you're just one of a bunch of freshmen, and unlike some mistakes, today's and probably every other one this year won't affect you in the long term."​

The girl nodded. "R-right. Thank you." She smiled. "I'll try to remember that as the year goes on." As they kept moving down the hall towards the classroom, she looked up. "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself, I'm Ito Tanabe." She gave a small laugh, and kept walking. The classroom was very close now.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

The girl nodded. "R-right. Thank you." She smiled. "I'll try to remember that as the year goes on." As they kept moving down the hall towards the classroom, she looked up. "Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself, I'm Ito Tanabe." She gave a small laugh, and kept walking. The classroom was very close now.

Once again, the boy turned his head to look at the newly introduced girl with a shrug, "Like I said, no problem." As they finally drew near to the classroom that Ito's class was to be held, he reached a hand out to pull the door open to let her in. His eyes glanced at the roster, searching for his own name in the hope that this was also his classroom.

"Katsuo Arakawa. It's nice to meet you, Tanabe-san."​

 

[Minerva]

Eventually, Katsuo would find his own classroom, and the day would start.

One Week Later:

April 15

"and here we have live coverage of the Japanese elections. Following mistrust of the Liberal Democratic Party, it seems the Democratic Party-Gamma Coalition is sweeping through, with Matsutani Manzo taking the most votes among the candidates. Theta Japan CEO Kuno Noburo has stepped forward to say that he will help this new government move forward. Interim Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Taketo Kobo says that he will try to oversee a smooth transition into the new government."

FEMA Teams dispatched in Denver to clear up chemical spill that displaced 5,000 people... Nagasaki based firm Tigress Biomedical announces that they will soon begin mass-producing Theranatal... Theta CEO Milton Bradbury announces a new project to develop solar powered airplanes... British Prime Minister Robert Winslow condemns the quarantine of American and British ships in Filipino ports... Chinese government says it will make moves to urbanize 20,000,000 people within two years... Stocks: Nikkei 225 ^1.7% JASDAQ v1.3% S&P 150 ^10.2% Theta Japan ^2.1% Yee-haw! Japan v1.34% Tigress Biomedical ^1.2% Koromatsu Industrial v.23% Westmore-Kaye ^.57 Federated Air v.12 USD ^.139 GBP v.176 EUR ^.155 CNY -.25

---

Chapter 1: Can it be a sin to know? Can it be death?

Monday, 7:30 AM

Arriving at school, he would find it quite busy. The main plaza would be packed with students in their various groups. The fountain would continue to run in its ordinary way. Next to it, a brunette with untidy hair in a green sweatshirt that read US ARMY sat chewing gum. She didn't really seem to care for anything, and sort of glanced at the Ambassador kids who wore nicer clothes.

Glancing closer towards the door, you could see a group of troublemakers loitering near the dumpster like the trash they were.​ They seemed to not be paying attention to anything, and we're laughing.

Meanwhile, a girl easily recognized as Ito actually stood in the doorway, trying to get a look at something. She stood on her toes, and kept stepping at different places in the door.

Alternatively, you could Explore the grounds some more or head straight to class.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Eventually, Katsuo would find his own classroom, and the day would start.

One Week Later:

April 15

"and here we have live coverage of the Japanese elections. Following mistrust of the Liberal Democratic Party, it seems the Democratic Party-Gamma Coalition is sweeping through, with Matsutani Manzo taking the most votes among the candidates. Theta Japan CEO Kuno Noburo has stepped forward to say that he will help this new government move forward. Interim Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Taketo Kobo says that he will try to oversee a smooth transition into the new government."

FEMA Teams dispatched in Denver to clear up chemical spill that displaced 5,000 people... Nagasaki based firm Tigress Biomedical announces that they will soon begin mass-producing Theranatal... Theta CEO Milton Bradbury announces a new project to develop solar powered airplanes... British Prime Minister Robert Winslow condemns the quarantine of American and British ships in Filipino ports... Chinese government says it will make moves to urbanize 20,000,000 people within two years... Stocks: Nikkei 225 ^1.7% JASDAQ v1.3% S&P 150 ^10.2% Theta Japan ^2.1% Yee-haw! Japan v1.34% Tigress Biomedical ^1.2% Koromatsu Industrial v.23% Westmore-Kaye ^.57 Federated Air v.12 USD ^.139 GBP v.176 EUR ^.155 CNY -.25

---

Chapter 1: Can it be a sin to know? Can it be death?

Monday, 7:30 AM

Arriving at school, he would find it quite busy. The main plaza would be packed with students in their various groups. The fountain would continue to run in its ordinary way. Next to it, a brunette with untidy hair in a green sweatshirt that read US ARMY sat chewing gum. She didn't really seem to care for anything, and sort of glanced at the Ambassador kids who wore nicer clothes.

Glancing closer towards the door, you could see a group of troublemakers loitering near the dumpster like the trash they were.​ They seemed to not be paying attention to anything, and we're laughing.

Meanwhile, a girl easily recognized as Ito actually stood in the doorway, trying to get a look at something. She stood on her toes, and kept stepping at different places in the door.

Alternatively, you could Explore the grounds some more or head straight to class.

Katsuo spared the exchange student a nod of civility, walking past the girl who looked as unkempt as he did with his unbuttoned jacket, loosened tie, and undone top button. Over the past week, he had seen her and a few others while exploring the school; students who didn't fit in at all, yet managed to get in on a scholarship or some special circumstances. A lot of them seemed to get the same stares he and Tanabe had gotten on their first day there.

Everyone was expecting some trick or show from them, like they were some sort of circus animal brought in to entertain them. Sometimes, he wondered if being here and pretending to fit in was good enough for the crowd at the moment.

Barely even noticing the obvious troublemakers (seriously, why did every group of miscreants make it obvious that they were trouble being hanging around in a group in the dark?), Katsuo walked past them without a nod to them. Instead, he focused on the girl who stood in the doorway, the one who had become the closest thing to a friend to him.

"I didn't realize today was interpretive dance, Tanabe-san."

It wasn't exactly a funny joke, but the teen never claimed to be a comedian. Joining her at the doorway, he looked up, trying to figure out what she was looking for. No reason for her to continue looking like a fool on her own, right?

"What are you looking for?"​

 

[Minerva]

Katsuo spared the exchange student a nod of civility, walking past the girl who looked as unkempt as he did with his unbuttoned jacket, loosened tie, and undone top button. Over the past week, he had seen her and a few others while exploring the school; students who didn't fit in at all, yet managed to get in on a scholarship or some special circumstances. A lot of them seemed to get the same stares he and Tanabe had gotten on their first day there.

Everyone was expecting some trick or show from them, like they were some sort of circus animal brought in to entertain them. Sometimes, he wondered if being here and pretending to fit in was good enough for the crowd at the moment.

Barely even noticing the obvious troublemakers (seriously, why did every group of miscreants make it obvious that they were trouble being hanging around in a group in the dark?), Katsuo walked past them without a nod to them. Instead, he focused on the girl who stood in the doorway, the one who had become the closest thing to a friend to him.

"I didn't realize today was interpretive dance, Tanabe-san."

It wasn't exactly a funny joke, but the teen never claimed to be a comedian. Joining her at the doorway, he looked up, trying to figure out what she was looking for. No reason for her to continue looking like a fool on her own, right?

"What are you looking for?"​

Ito laughed a small bit at the Interpretive Dance joke. "I'm just trying to see if I can see my apartment through the trees." She said, pointing to the top of the Roppongi Hills apartments beyond the trees and buildings surrounding the school.
She remained silent for a moment. "Where do you live, Arakawa-San?" She asked.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

Ito laughed a small bit at the Interpretive Dance joke. "I'm just trying to see if I can see my apartment through the trees." She said, pointing to the top of the Roppongi Hills apartments beyond the trees and buildings surrounding the school.
She remained silent for a moment. "Where do you live, Arakawa-San?" She asked.

Katsuo tilted his head with a curious look on his face, trying to understand what she was looking for. Her apartment? Where the hell do- Oh, that's where. He spotted the extravagant apartment with something akin to... disappointment. Somehow, he had thought she might not be as upperclass as the other students here. He really should have known better.

At her question, he perked up once again and thought on it for a moment. He wasn't considering whether he should be honest or lie, even if it seemed so with his silence. With a shrug, he lifted a finger and pointed in the direction that he thought was correct, "Near Sengaku-ji. Still in Minato, but not as wealthy as Roppongi district."​

 

[Minerva]

Katsuo tilted his head with a curious look on his face, trying to understand what she was looking for. Her apartment? Where the hell do- Oh, that's where. He spotted the extravagant apartment with something akin to... disappointment. Somehow, he had thought she might not be as upperclass as the other students here. He really should have known better.

At her question, he perked up once again and thought on it for a moment. He wasn't considering whether he should be honest or lie, even if it seemed so with his silence. With a shrug, he lifted a finger and pointed in the direction that he thought was correct, "Near Sengaku-ji. Still in Minato, but not as wealthy as Roppongi district."​

"Oh! That sounds nice! Takanawa, right?" She asked. "I really like that area. It's nice and quiet compared to Roppongi." She stared at the ground. "I didn't always live there. We've moved around a lot since Fukushima-Daiichi..." She dragged her left foot back and forth. She looked a bit downtrodden.

"We had a nice house there... I was in class when the earthquake struck... I was terrified.... And then we had to evacuate town, but... no one would tell me why." She looked a bit distant. "My father's just been moved around a lot for his job since then..."

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

"Oh! That sounds nice! Takanawa, right?" She asked. "I really like that area. It's nice and quiet compared to Roppongi." She stared at the ground. "I didn't always live there. We've moved around a lot since Fukushima-Daiichi..." She dragged her left foot back and forth. She looked a bit downtrodden.

"We had a nice house there... I was in class when the earthquake struck... I was terrified.... And then we had to evacuate town, but... no one would tell me why." She looked a bit distant. "My father's just been moved around a lot for his job since then..."

At least your family is still whole.

The inner voice had a tone of bitterness in Katsuo's head, but his expression remained sympathetic, not wanting to offend the girl. As she wrapped up and looked off though, he couldn't help but get at least one comment in.

"At least you don't live above an electronic repair store and are the neighborhood repair guy. Besides, even though you have to move a lot..." He paused a moment, thinking how best to make his point, "Whatever your dad is doing is for you guys. It's hard, but when you guys move, it's because he thinks it's the best thing for your safety and future. Plus, you get to meet new people and see all the things your new homes have to offer, so it can't be all bad."​

 

[Minerva]

At least your family is still whole.

The inner voice had a tone of bitterness in Katsuo's head, but his expression remained sympathetic, not wanting to offend the girl. As she wrapped up and looked off though, he couldn't help but get at least one comment in.

"At least you don't live above an electronic repair store and are the neighborhood repair guy. Besides, even though you have to move a lot..." He paused a moment, thinking how best to make his point, "Whatever your dad is doing is for you guys. It's hard, but when you guys move, it's because he thinks it's the best thing for your safety and future. Plus, you get to meet new people and see all the things your new homes have to offer, so it can't be all bad."​

"That's true..." She said, still looking at her feet. "I just... kind of miss all my old friends. And I've also been called 'Cancer Girl' and 'Chernobyl' wherever I went..." She looked back at the top of the Roppongi Hills residence towers. Her mood seemed to brighten. "Tokyo Tower's nice to walk to at night from my apartment. I try to go once a week." She smiled softly.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

"That's true..." She said, still looking at her feet. "I just... kind of miss all my old friends. And I've also been called 'Cancer Girl' and 'Chernobyl' wherever I went..." She looked back at the top of the Roppongi Hills residence towers. Her mood seemed to brighten. "Tokyo Tower's nice to walk to at night from my apartment. I try to go once a week." She smiled softly.

"Guess I'm lucky - I still know one person who attends here that went to my middle school," Katsuo replied with an aside look, almost as if glancing in the direction of the practice building where the kendo team trained. He then added with a shrug, "Then again, that guy's kind of annoying - nice, but kind of annoying. And as for names... it's like the stares we got our first day, but a bit different. Years of being called street rat taught me that only trash gives names like that to people, so don't let them hurt you."

"Tokyo Tower, huh?" There was almost a thankful sound to his voice as they got off the more depressing topics in favor of something leisurely, "Personally, I prefer Skytree over in Sumida. I don't get to visit it often, but..." He paused for a moment, his head turning up to the sky for a moment and a brief smile coming to his lips, "Up there, looking out from its observation deck, it feels nice and free."​

 

[Minerva]

"Guess I'm lucky - I still know one person who attends here that went to my middle school," Katsuo replied with an aside look, almost as if glancing in the direction of the practice building where the kendo team trained. He then added with a shrug, "Then again, that guy's kind of annoying - nice, but kind of annoying. And as for names... it's like the stares we got our first day, but a bit different. Years of being called street rat taught me that only trash gives names like that to people, so don't let them hurt you."

"Tokyo Tower, huh?" There was almost a thankful sound to his voice as they got off the more depressing topics in favor of something leisurely, "Personally, I prefer Skytree over in Sumida. I don't get to visit it often, but..." He paused for a moment, his head turning up to the sky for a moment and a brief smile coming to his lips, "Up there, looking out from its observation deck, it feels nice and free."​

"Oh! I haven't been to the Skytree yet." She said. "I bet it's amazing up there. I'll check it out sometime." She seemed to cheer up from that.

The brunette in the sweatshirt walked up. "Hey, so, apparently Ambassador kids don't like it when you go 'Oh? If your parents are so effective, then why are my parents necessary.' It really pisses them off. You guys seem chill. What are you all talking about?" She said. She had a relaxed demeanor to her.

 

[Khan of the Mardu]

"Oh! I haven't been to the Skytree yet." She said. "I bet it's amazing up there. I'll check it out sometime." She seemed to cheer up from that.

The brunette in the sweatshirt walked up. "Hey, so, apparently Ambassador kids don't like it when you go 'Oh? If your parents are so effective, then why are my parents necessary.' It really pisses them off. You guys seem chill. What are you all talking about?" She said. She had a relaxed demeanor to her.

"You should, it's amazing up there," Katsuo responded as he noticed his fellow brunette approaching them. It seemed the two of them almost shared the exact same shade of delicately soft brown hair, yet that and the decision to ignore the school's dress code was all they appeared to share. He gave the girl another nod of recognition, though her speaking to them received a raised eyebrow.

"So rather than filtering yourself to not offend, you decide to leave the group that can't handle your bluntness?" For a moment, he seemed to simply stare at her in judgment before cracking a slight smirk at her, "I like you already. I'm Katsuo Arakawa, that's Tanabe-san, and we were talking about Tokyo Tower and Skytree and the views from them."​