eatsyourscience | (no subject)

To begin with, it was Naoto's idea to check up on things in the TV world, and it had become so normal to spend rainy afternoons inside that Souji agreed without requiring much in the way of an explanation, though she provided one anyway. He agreed with all the points she made--that they should keep an eye on the movements of the fog, the density of shadows in various places, if anything had changed since Adachi's defeat--but more than anything, he was beginning to miss that world and the time they spent there.

Chie and Yukiko passed, and so did Kanji when Souji tracked him down at lunch, but Rise was happy to accompany them--a good thing, because Souji didn't think it would be wise to go in without her--and so were Yousuke and Teddie, who agreed with Naoto about the importance of keeping an eye on what was going on in that world. Souji couldn't blame him.

Inside, everything seemed the same. Even the damp smell, the feeling of the fog against his cheeks in odd juxtaposition to the way it vanished in the view through his glasses were the same. He asked Rise to do a scan of the area, but wasn't expecting her excited, staccato announcement that there was a new area she hadn't seen before.

When Kanzeon vanished, Souji glanced around to find everyone looking at him and he almost smiled at how comfortable it had become to see them relying on him. He gave a slight nod and with Rise directing him, led the way past locations they already knew.

They stopped when the ground disappeared in front of them. An expanse of open, empty space spread in front of them, filled with a swirling fog that he could see. Resisting the urge to remove his glasses and clean them, Souji squinted. All that was visible were what looked like several bare, unornamented platforms hovering in the air, each at a greater distance than the last from where they stood.

He looked around, then down, then took a step into open space. Rise called out after him, but trailed off when a walkway materialized beneath his feet, extending for a short distance ahead of him. A few steps across what looked and felt like smooth, gray stone confirmed that it would continue to appear ahead of him as he walked instead of leaving him to step blindly and hope he hadn't come to a corner without noticing. Hefting his sword a little higher, he looked back and nodded to the others that they should proceed.

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"No way, senpai," Rise agrees. "Even if you could, we wouldn't let you."

Souji smiles and closes his eyes for a moment. "I know."

"And the others too. Definitely."

...Although they'd probably be pretty mad about not being able to be there. Kanji and Chie especially. But that was their way of caring too.

Souji nods and opens his eyes again, taking a breath. "I'll tell them about it."

It should be him.

Yousuke snickers under his breath.

"Good luck with that. You know you're gonna get it."

"Not as bad as you would."

"You're lucky we all like you so much."

"Yeah. I am."

Now would be the perfect time for a group hug and a moral-of-the-day announcement, but Naoto's phone rings.

"Ah. I believe Dojima-san is outside."

Yousuke takes that as a cue to stand, and offer his hand to Souji.

"You ready for a good yelling at?"

"Not from my uncle."

He has never been and will never be ready to be lectured by Dojima. At least this time, the police station won't be involved.

Souji hopes.

He takes the hand offered to him and gets up, taking a moment to get his balance.

"Easy, buddy," Yousuke says, giving him his shoulder to lean on, "You never know. Maybe he'll let out get some sleep before he decides to wail on you."

Souji snorts and heads for the door.

They go out through the back. Dojima's waiting, standing outside of his car with a cigarette in mouth. He doesn't look particularly pleased, but not angry at least. It may be because he has a certain someone with him.

"Big bro!"

Nanako darts out from Dojima's grasp and immediately latches herself to Souji's waist. She was with him because of the fact that Dojima rarely let her out of his sight these days, and also because of her own insistence.

Despite her size, Souji stumbles and might have fallen if not for the others standing so close by. He wraps his arms around her and smiles.

"Hey."

"Are you okay?" she asks, and looks up at him. He looks a bit scuffed up and very worn out, but otherwise alive. Her little hands cling to his shirt.

Yousuke is totally jealous.

"Fine." He puts a hand over one of hers, disentangling it from his shirt and holding onto it. Looking up at his uncle, he takes a breath. "We should go home."

Nanako holds his hand tightly. It's a double bonus-- as long as she's around, Dojima won't launch into his usual questioning mode. Score.

"I suppose this is farewell for now, then," Naoto says, glancing at her wristwatch for a lack of something to distract her from a strained goodbye, "We can gather the others and discuss this further at a later date."

Yousuke is still somewhat occupied with keeping Souji upright. He looks to him briefly, silently asking what he wanted him to do.

Souji nods, takes a moment to orient himself to being upright, then nods again to Yousuke to signal he's okay.

"I'll see you. We'll talk then." Maybe he won't have to be the one to tell Chie and Kanji what they missed out on. Double score.