obfuscate | 001 ☾ VIDEO // ACTION FOR ROUTE 29

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001 ☾ VIDEO // ACTION FOR ROUTE 29

[It's around nighttime when this video post comes up. A girl in a school uniform with a pair of read headphones on her neck smiles at the camera, seemingly used to this situation and not bothered by it at all. Judging by the scenery, she's already left New Bark Town.]

Hey, wandering around the woods at night like this reminds me of a story. If you're interested, keep listening. After all, no one's ever too old for a nice bedtime story!

[Her smile not faltering, she begins to recount the horrifying tale.]

Okay, so here it goes. Rumor has it that should one ever venture into a forest at night, you'll have the chance of encountering a creature resembling a very tall and skinny man wearing a suit with no face. His arms and legs are so thin and long, that they almost look like wires! If you stare at him too long, he will take you. But no matter how far you run, he'll always be there when you look back. Just standing there and watching.

Some say that if he doesn't take you away right there and then, you'll start to feel sick from that day on. Not only that, but if you look out your window, he'll be there. Just standing and watching. Until the day you go insane or he finally takes you away. Now, some rumors say that his victims are found a few days later hanging off the branches of dead trees, their internal organs removed and put back inside, only encased in a strange sac of unknown material.

Oh, and the thing about him? The more you think about him, the more likely he'll come to you.

[Without any warning, the face of a Duskull flies towards the camera. A deliberate jump scare. Minato giggles, pulling the Duskull away from the camera and holding him with her free arm.]

Well then! Wasn't that a fun story? I should make this a routine or something! Wouldn't that be nice?

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[Don't think he didn't notice that falter -- but he won't mention it. Maybe she didn't really like the look of Dusclops..?

But her words don't match his thought, so maybe not.]

I just wasn't expecting it, I guess! And John-kun -- he's the one who gave me Reaper-san's egg -- has a Dusknoir, which is the final form of Duskull, and he was really amazing looking. [His Dusclops agrees. Dusknoirs are awesome and hey wait why didn't you buy her a cloth while you were paying for that dawn stone.]

[Good, everything's going smoothly. Everything will be fine. Like they always are.]

Ooh, I really want to see a Dusknoir sometime if they're really that cool looking! [Her Duskull seems to be just as excited at this prospect.] I'll be sure that Thanatos becomes big and strong too! I'll become the very best like no one ever was and stomp all the Gyms!

[A trainer, huh!!

Well no that isn't a surprise. The majority of people he's met have been trainers.]

Then I'll have to learn your name so I can congratulate you when that happens, right?

[... That just adds to the theory that this may be before they met. Though she'll need to test a bit more. Keep it cool, keep it cool...]

Aww, but I went to Gekkoukan too, Ryoji-kun! [Minato gestures to the school uniform she's wearing for emphasis.] You don't remember me at all~?

[Which is why he's

really confused as to why he doesn't know her.]

You know my name, but I don't know yours at all. I'm sorry. [There's no heartbreak in it now -- just an easy-going flair, like he uses with most girls.] I was sure I had gotten all of the names of the girls back at Gekkoukan too.

[...Why's the screen so small, anyway --?]

Would you mind refreshing my memory?

[What. So... he already went to school? So, why doesn't he remember? That doesn't make sense at all. She's used to things not making sense, but... This was a whole different matter!

... Oh well. It's probably time to drop the bombshell.]

W... [Wait, she has to have a more chipper tone than that! Okay, do over.] Well, I guess it can't be helped! After all, it's kind of easy to forget things if you've been here for a while, hahaha!

[There was no turning back after this...]

I'm Minato Arisato, from Class 2-F.

[Minato Arisato?

The name tugs Ryoji away from Johto and back ho-- back to Iwatodai. The clear, understanding look in a pair of cool grey eyes, shaded like the moon. The softness of a bed underneath him -- the way he tried not to shake and found his voice more level than how he felt when he asked for the young leader's decision.

Waiting for the cock of a gun and --

finding himself waking up in a bed, with a woman ushering him out of the house for his journey.

There's other times, too, that start to file in after the memory. Kyoto, the hot springs, picking fortunes, hanging out with him and Junpei, meeting him. Being a young boy and visiting him every night, the feeling of sadness he had held in his heart when he felt himself fade after the last Shadow had been killed, meeting him.

Ten years ago, too -- killing a young boy's parents. Being sealed away. Trying to cry and rip out. Pulling him, ever so gently, to Iwaotdai --]

[There's no way this girl could be connected to the Minato he knew. Name similarities aside. Last name similarities aside.

But he would've known her if she had been in his class --

Which she said she was.

He smiles, but it's a ghost of the one he wore before.]

It's nice to meet you [again? She knew him, so --], Minato-chan. I'm not sure how I missed a face as lovely as yours, especially if you were in the same class as I was.

Edited 2012-09-19 02:50 (UTC)

[And with just those few words, her efforts to maintain a cheerful aura crumble. Again, the mixed expression of confusion and sadness from before shows up. It was almost as if her mind shut down after failing to make sense of this.

It seemed like for a brief moment, when Minato was studying his face, that he remembered everything. The days where he reminded her of the full moons. The day they met at school and he was instantly drawn to her. The day they spent at the riverside in Kyoto eating crepes, only for it to be ruined when she and the girls found him and the guys in the hot spring. But for some reason, it seemed like knew those things happened.

Only that those things happened without her in them.

Why...?

She thought that this means they didn't have to be apart anymore, that they could laugh and talk about things like they used to... Her head already hurts just thinking about it.]

[... She'll think about it some other time. Minato didn't want Ryoji to see her brooding like this, even if he didn't know her anymore.

So she smiles back, though she couldn't find the energy to hide her sadness any longer.]

N-Nice to meet you again, Ryoji-kun... Is anyone else from home here? Like Yukari, or Junpei... Maybe Aigis or Fuuka? Sanada-senpai or Kirijo-senpai?

[Her questions seem slightly desperate. There has to be someone out there who remembers her, right? Even if the person that's most dear to her among her important friends doesn't remember her, she'd be fine as long as at least one of her friends did...]

[She even knows all of them -- Ryoji's brow furrows for a moment and he shakes his head.]

I'm sorry. Rangiku-san said Yukari-chan had been here before, since they travelled together and were friends, but she left some time ago... I'm sorry.

[...He tucks his chin into his scarf quietly. The second sorry isn't about friends -- but that he can't remember her, if he ever knew her. She seems so lonely.]

[So... she's practically alone. Great. Well, she had mentally prepared herself for something like this... After all, she needed to have resolve for what she did on January.

Still, when you're living and breathing like this, it's hard not to feel lonely.]

It's fine, I guess it can't be helped... [An awkward pause. She should just leave it at that, but...] Hey, Ryoji... I mean, Ryoji-kun. Can I ask you one more thing?

[...The more he looks at her face, the guiltier he feels. He had loved and treasured everyone he had met, even if he was fated to bring death to all of them in the end --

(That's why they should just kill him and spare themselves the pain --)]

What is it, Minato-chan?

[Minato quickly figures out how to lock the call, and does so. It probably wouldn't do any good for either of them if anyone saw what they were about to talk about.

Any hint of a carefree attitude in her voice is gone by now, and instead replaced by a tone of seriousness. Slowly and with purpose, she presses the tips of her right index and middle fingers against the side of her head, mimicking a gun.]

... Does this mean anything to you?

[Does it mean anything to him?

He thinks of the Evoker at Minato's side. He thinks of how they're used - to summon Persona, like the one Aigis had. To destroy Shadows.

To destroy him.

He had been ready to beg, if it had come to that -- to die. To ease the pain of those he cared for.

He nods slowly, trying to keep from shaking. He doesn't think he could speak, for the moment, but he tries anyway.]

... Yes. It's how you summon a Persona, right?

[There's no cheer in his voice either. Just regret.]

... Yeah.

[She lowers her hand and gives a small nod. That pretty much gauges where Ryoji comes from. Minato feels a bit bad, having to force him to remember those things.]

I'm really sorry I had to bring it up. It's weird, isn't it... That I know all these things when you don't even know me. I understand if you don't want to talk about it anymore. I mean... I wouldn't want you to hate me.

It's... okay. [It isn't. But he's still confused.] If you know that, then you're probably one of Minato-kun's friends, but... I didn't see you when I was with them.

[...Minato Arisato, though. The coincidence is too much. But...

Ryoji hesitates, then drapes the end of his scarf over the Gear. For some reason, he doesn't think he could handle that sad look anymore.]

I'm sorry I don't remember you, Minato-chan. It must be harder on you than it is for me.

[It's almost he's wrapping it around her head. It would have been a sweet gesture, if only he remembered...]

It's fine, but I'm a bit confused... As far as I know, I'm the only Minato that's part of SEES.

You were never there, Minato-chan. Minato-kun was the only one I ever knew.

[...]

Were... you their leader, Minato-chan?

[Well, of all the weird things she's been put through, someone important to her pretty much telling her that she didn't exist was new. Surprising, even.]

... Yeah. I'm guessing "I" was a totally different person from what you remember.

So you were the one to decide if...

[...He wants to know.

It isn't the Minato he remembers, but it's something --]

Did you take my advice and kill me, Mianko-chan? Or did you decide to take on the impossible task of trying to defeat Nyx?

[He sounds just as he was in December; hollow, resolved to die. Ready to beg for it.]

[So he's from that time... It must be painful for him. She kind of feels bad for forcing him to remember.

She genuinely smiles though, despite him not seeing it. Despite the sacrifice she made... Minato didn't regret it. She was oddly satisfied with how things went.]

You don't have to worry. Everything's fine now. I'm sure that... Minato-kun will make the same decision I did. The right one.

[She gives a small laugh, and next thing she says is more quiet, as it was mostly towards herself than Ryoji.]

Besides, there's no way I could hurt the person I was in love with.

Edited 2012-09-26 20:06 (UTC)

The right one isn't to sacrifice yourself for a needless cause! [Hypocritical, isn't he? He's all too ready to die just to give them some peace of mind --

He hesitates on continuing though, not quite sure if he heard her right. If he did, then... He's hurt her more than he realized. He moves the scarf out of the way, studying her face.

After a moment:] Forgive what I just said, Minato-chan. [It was thoughtless. It was her decision, after all --] Would you... like to meet up with me, somewhere? I'm staying in Violet City right now, which is only a few days from New Bark Town, if you wouldn't mind travelling with me for a bit. I want to see you.

Edited 2012-09-26 23:23 (UTC)

[Minato couldn't help but flinch slightly at his outburst. Of course he'd feel that way. She still had no regrets, but seeing him in such pain was tough.

She's not sure if it was right to tell him what happened after that day, but at least she'll have time to think about it before she makes a decision, thanks to his offer.]

I don't mind at all. I think traveling like this would be better done in a group, really.

[Plus, she wanted to see him too, even if he didn't remember her. Plus, there was something she'd like to give him.]

I'll probably stay the night at Cherrygrove once I arrive there, so I'll be at Violet City probably around the 25th. Will that be okay?

That'll be fine. [...What else should he say..?] I look forward to travelling with such a lovely young woman again.

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001 ☾ VIDEO // ACTION FOR ROUTE 29

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