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[Time for Wonderland's fifth annual Japanese KFC Christmas! The diner has been decorated just like everything else in the Mansion. Of course, like every year, Souji's made his own additions, with Minato's help. They've dragged out the Colonel (it took them several tries to get one that wasn't made of gingerbread) and in the background of the feed, Minato is stringing him with twinkling fairy lights.

Souji isn't helping. Sitting at the counter in front of a small army of strawberry Santas, he's holding one in one hand, looking at it from all angles, as though deciding which direction it's best to attack from. To the side are several undecorated Christmas cakes, which Minato will be tending to once he's finished helping the Colonel get dressed.

Realizing the device is recording, Souji sits up a bit straighter, because he totally wasn't slacking off.]

The diner's ready for anyone who wants to eat fried chicken. [He smiles a little. In the background, Minato waves to the camera.] We do this every year, but if you weren't here before, it's a tradition from home. In Japan--the Japan I'm from anyway--we eat fried chicken and Christmas cake each year.

We'll be making it from now until Christmas, as long as things stay like they are now.

[I.e. without too much ridiculous chaos going on.]

[Note: Both Minato and Souji will answer responses (separately from one another). Feel free to have Mirrors wander in as well. There is enough chicken and cake for everyone.]

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[Souji smiles at the compliment and says his thanks for that quietly.]

No, I've been here for six years straight.

[It's been a very long time.]

I got lucky that some of my friends from home were here for part of it.

[ Oy vey. ]

Still, that... ain't easy, though, eh?

[ Mondo munches his next bite of the chicken slowly, giving himself time to decide whether he should ask or not. ]

...Don'cha... y'know, miss home sometimes?

[ Assuming 'back home' for Seta is safer than the things here. ]

A lot of the time.

[There are things he actually likes about Wonderland. But it isn't home.]

After awhile, you start to think that going home just isn't possible. I mean, six years is a third of my life.

Now that you've mentioned it. Sorry, man. [ That's rough, buddy. ] ...My bad for bringin' it up, too. 'Course it won't be easy.

[ As if noticing the mellow mood, Komo stares at Seta with his doe eyes, laying his face on the counter as he makes soft noises of... probably consolation? Who knows. ]

Guess 's not so bad here, at least...?

[ What a terrible attempt to console. Even he knows that isn't always the case. ]

Don't worry about it.

[It's a normal point of conversation really. Souji shakes his head, reaching across the counter to pet Komo as he responds to Mondo.]

No, it's not that bad a lot of the time. Even the events aren't always bad. Like this one. It's a little inconvenient, but that's all.

[ Komo's enjoying the gentle touches. He's leaning his head against Seta's palm, occasionally nuzzling his cheek against it. ]

Yeah, y'can say that again. The previous events 're real worse than this one. 's it always like that? Were there even... events that're actually pleasant?

There are some of them. We had one over the summer where we were at a ski lodge. There was a big snow storm, but the rest of it was a lot of fun.

[It had been from his memory, too, so it was kind of nostalgic for him.]

[ Mondo continues munching his chicken while Seta talks, and swallows when he finishes. ]

Heh. Meaning mostly bad, and some rare good ones?

[ Kinda cynical for him to say, but it's hard not to feel that way when that's what he's been experiencing so far. ]

Not quite that bad, but pretty much.

[Souji leans against the counter, tapping one finger against its surface idly.]

It's really subjective, though, whether an event is good or bad. It's usually a mix.

[ Humming in response, Mondo considers what Seta said. ]

When people 're dyin', it ain't subjective, don'cha think? Some of those events just straight up endangerin' people here.

That's true. But even then...

[He tilts his head a little.]

The um. Hot, humid place where you bathe. That event was from my world. It was dangerous, but for me it was kind of nostalgic.

[ He narrows his eyes. ]

That one? Nostalgic?

[ Totally can't relate with that. He'll never wish for an event from his world to happen here, especially if it's got to do with what he had to deal with last before coming here. And even if it does happen anyway, he doubts he'd ever feel nostalgic about it.

All of the sudden, the chicken feels... tasteless. ]

In what way? Didn't you feel fucked up inside knowing people are hurting from that?

[Souji winces. Just a little, but it's there.]

...Even a bad piece of home is a piece of home.

[He's not saying it didn't suck for a lot of people. But he's been here a really long time.

He'd normally leave it at that, but this clearly bothers Mondo and he doesn't want to give a bad impression, so he clarifies.]

I've been in that place a lot of times. Once was to help a friend I'm close to.

[ He's aware that his words aren't exactly the kindest, but he's not taking them back either. It's what he feels. ]

Guess I won't get that. There's nothing I really wanna remember about home.

[ It's a lie, partly. He's had some fond memories, even if the bad overpowers it. But that's exactly why when looking back, only bitter ones will show up for him. He can count the better ones in one hand. ]

...What happened?

[Souji supposes he can understand, though there are so many things at home he wants to hang onto. That's honestly the worst part about events from his world, regardless of what actually happens--even if he's kind of happy to be reminded of home, it's also painful knowing he just lost something important.]

He was kidnapped and ended up in that...place where it was humid and hot.

[Man, it's hard to easily describe a bathhouse without being able to use the word bathhouse.]

[ Mondo's been wondering from earlier but, why don't just use the word? What's with this guy? Raising an eyebrow, he blurts out. ]

Just say bathhouse, nothin's taboo 'bout that, right?

[ Or is it... If so then welp. ]

What kinda place 's that supposed to be, anyway? Doesn't look like a normal one to me.

[ No bathhouses have weirdass... whatever those are. Monsters, whatever. ]

Whatever you just said, I don't know the word anymore. I can't say it.

[Literally can't.]

It's a place based on a what's hidden in a person's heart.

[ What. What the hell's he saying?! ]

Haah?!

[ But before he can question that further, Seta brings up an incredibly curious information ー more than the former. ]

Wait a min... that sounds familiar. [ He ponders for a moment. ] D'ya by any chance... know this dude called Ryuji Sakamoto?

[Souji nods.]

It's similar to the world he talks about.

So... what, you guys had to beat up some monsters and shit to save your friend or somethin'? You the part of... uh, what was it again? Fantasy Thief?

[A small smile.]

That's pretty much it. But I'm not one of the Phantom Thieves. I'm older than all of them by three or four years.

[ Ah yeah, that. It's good to know Seta isn't one though, Mondo'd hate to lump him with that shithead. ]

But same world, then, I guess?

[ It's a concept that Mondo can't really fathom still, delving into someone's heart and trying to change them from the inside like that. ]

Did your friend have some issue? I mean... that shit-- uh, Sakamoto said that they had to bring the... castle? down to get some bad dudes to repent... or somethin'. I heard about some really weird stuff during the event, too.

[ Like the doppelganger thingy. With him only getting all these information secondhand, it's incredibly vague, but he's pretty sure that made some sense. ]

We're from the same world, but things worked a little different for my team than they did for his.

[He takes a moment to pet Komo before going on.]

There was a world inside the TV. When people ended up in there, the area where they were would take on a warped appearance to match whatever problems they had in their hearts that they didn't want to or couldn't handle. That one from the event was from my friend Tatsumi Kanji. He was here for awhile, but he's gone home since then.

[ Komo responds with a tiny satisfied noise, nuzzling his nose against the warm hand. Mondo appreciates the gesture, though he might not be showing it much... if anything, he does spare a few looks and for that moment the look in his eyes soften.

Though that's quickly interrupted with the mention of a familiar name. ]

Tatsumi--! I remember him. That was his? [ 'Problems that they didn't want to or couldn't handle'... huh. ] Did he... return 'cuz the event from his memory happened? [ That couldn't be it, right? Seta has been for six years, there's no way he hasn't seen an event from his own memory. But it's weird that it happened to Tatsumi. Coincidence? ]

It was from both of us. So I don't think that's why he left.

[Though he has to agree that it was a pretty big coincidence for Kanji to leave not long after.]

That's the seventh event from my world.

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