The Rude World's Hero

I can’t hardly believe it’s been nearly ten years since I first came to Inaba. I was a huge jerk back then before I met them. I hated moving so much because my father’s or my mother’s jobs. I couldn’t keep any friends hardly. So I stop making friends with each new school I go to. Heck, I can’t even remember how many houses I’ve lived in since starting middle school. But then my parents told me they were going overseas and I had to stay with family I didn’t know very well for a whole year. I was pissed at first, but I felt it wasn’t any different then moving again. This time I thought maybe I was still going to be alone, just with a bunch of people around. So I just brush it off and played the slightly well matter nephew. When I first met my uncle Dojima in town, I thought he was just being nice since he was my mother’s brother. I didn’t even know I had a cousin name Nanako. She seem super shy of me when we first met. I just kept to myself and didn’t want to scare her. But I still try to get along with her, even if the first few family dinners were kind of awkward at first. 

Then I started school the next day.

Also saw a poor soul crash on his bike, so I leave him be. 

I had a homeroom teacher that hated me the moment he saw me. Or he just hated teenagers all together.

But as soon he called me a loser, I wanted to punch him right then and there. So instead I asked ‘Who are you calling a loser?’ I still remember the look on his face when I said that. I almost wanted to laugh when he said I made it to what he called ‘his shit list’. I did wonder if it was going to get ugly before a girl in green raise her hand and asked if I could sit next to her since the seat was empty. It was a nice save on her part. After school the same girl in green Introduce herself and her best friend to me. Chie and Yukiko. I also sort of met Yosuke that same day before Chie kicked him where it really hurts, but I didn’t know his name till the next day. They were pretty noisy, but I somehow didn’t mind it. Kind of help me relax a little in this small plain town. But it didn’t stay relaxing for long. From murders to rumors to a fantasy like world inside of a TV to finally the Personas. 

Oh, did I talk about a bear name Teddie yet? 

Crazy? I know, but stay with me on this.

Turning around, Michio gives their biggest ‘service smile’ to the customer who has spoken to them.

“Yes, I do! What can I help you find today, sir?”

Shirogane Naoto? 

Wasn’t Naoto living in a different place in a city somewhere? But this can’t be the detective Yu always knew. This person here looked so much younger. And the eye color is completely different. Should he remove his glasses and clean them? They looked so much like the blue haired fortune.

...

The memories he held before he became a loyal servant of his Lord were minimal. Mostly names and faces that were tied together, sometimes special abilities as well if they were dangerous enough. Emotions and memories were wiped clean as they were irrelevant. Which is why the only thing that he saw standing across from him was a name and power. The other possessed a power similar to his own and the young master’s. Yet it still remained different from either one of theirs. Could it be because of the other that the Lord was slain?

“…. the Lord, he does not exist in this world. Do you know who killed him?”

The silver haired man was talking on the phone with his editor. He was discussing on the second part of his book series of the story of Kuma-kuma and the golden angel. He was kind of proud of it and couldn’t wait till he starts on the third book soon. But boy, was his editor was super pushy. He always ‘remind’ Yu of his deadlines. At least he’ll be in a different city for a week before coming here to Shibuya.

“Oh, of course. I’ll email you when I get back home. Please be careful on your trip. Have a good one, Higurashi-san.” Yu hangs up on his editor before letting out a sigh. Well now that meeting was done for a while, maybe he should head home for the day? His two cats, Yoko and Niko, must be really fussy and hungry by now. They were asleep during the whole trip here to Shibuya today. They only had to stay here for another month before going back home to Osaka once another meeting his over. He felt bad for traveling so much. He was pretty sure his fluffy children were tired. But it was the only way to meet up with his editor before he leaves to go overseas soon. Speaking of traveling, maybe once work has calm down some, he can go visit Inaba. It would be nice to go see his second home again.

That thought made the world’s hero form a small smile on his face. He puts his phone away inside of his black dress pants pocket (He was also wearing white button up short sleeve shirt with the collar upward and frame-less glasses). 

But before he could think about anymore plan trips, he heard a voice. Huh? Was that Yosuke’s voice? No, this boy looks different. It almost looks like him, but he looked way too different. His hair. His eyes. And he looked younger then the Yosuke he knows of now. 

And what was this about a lord?

On tearing himself away from customers and clocking himself out for lunch, Yosuke takes off his nametag, tucks it into one of his pockets, and heads for the food court.

“Hey!” he calls out, jogging over towards a familiar face. “Sorry I took a little longer than usual. Everyone’s pulling at me today, haha. Uh, what was that? I didn’t quite catch it…?”

After hearing a voice of the magician, Yu put his smartphone away to greet his partner. “It’s alright. I wasn’t waiting long. Hm? Oh, sorry. I was thinking back on a few things when we all used to come here.”  

Honestly he couldn’t help but think back when IT was all here. Him, Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, Kanji, Teddie, Rise, and Naoto. They all were here during their teen years, trying to solve a murder mystery case to fighting fake versions of themselves or other persona users to being asked to dance at a festival by Rise with other idols. There were so many memories that he couldn’t trade for the world. 

Another day, another chance to make money for food. The work Michio does isn’t glamorous by any means, but they enjoy it well enough. 

Today, they are stocking vegetables in the grocery department. As they set the last of the cabbages on the display, they step back and admire their handiwork. Yo-Senpai would be proud of this display. They are proud of this display. 

Green onions. Green onions. Where were they at again? Junes always seems to be moving things around and don’t stay in the same place they’re always at. He needed those green onions for tonight’s dinner with the Dojimas. 

Nanako want him to get the ingredients while she tries to convince her father of staying home from work. She was really excited to her big bro again every month that he visits this town. So she really wanted everyone together before Yu had to leave.

Then he notice someone wearing a teal shirt and a hat. Did they look familiar to the silver haired man? He couldn’t tell with their backs turn to him. Maybe they know where the green onions are at? 

“Oh wow, you forgotten my name already? Damn I should’ve wore a name tag haha.” Although that was ill-advised around this time, they were still resentful but he can’t help it. 

Normally when the man was younger, he would get mad at comments like those. 

However, he grew wiser and came up with a few come backs a long the way. 

Huh… With a small smile, he holds the paper bag by the handles and held it securely in his left. With a few careful and quiet steps he approaches the man from behind. 

But he wasn’t seeing things or sleeping. This man was really here, sneaking up behind him like a snake would. That jerk, the rude man thought to himself. How old would he be now? Thirty-seven or Thirty-eight? Something like that.