video/action;

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji is sitting on the front stoop of the inn, looking around at the snow. His expression, while typically neutral, also shows a combination of excitement and pensiveness. He offers a tiny smile to the video feed.]

I think Kanji and I have to take responsibility for this event. It shouldn't be bad, though. Unless someone else's memories are mixed in, this was just a nice vacation.

[He falls silent for a couple of seconds, distracted, then addresses the network again.]

Would anyone mind helping me figure out what word we lost this time? I need to write it down.

Comments

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji looks at him blankly.]

...Whatever you said, that must be it.

video.

[jurisdick]

Can you not repeat it? Is that how this works?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[A nod.]

I can't even hear it. It's like radio static.

video.

[jurisdick]

... I see. Should I write it down for you somewhere, then?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

I'd appreciate it. That way I can add it to my list.

[...]

Or I can have someone else add it to the list.

video.

[jurisdick]

Not a problem.

[ a beat. ]

Is there a larger reason you're keeping a list?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji's quiet for a second, trying to bring together the unconscious reasons for saving words he can't even read in a notebook.]

If my friends ever show up, I want to show it to them.

[That's at least part of it.]

video.

[jurisdick]

Will they also have similar holes in their vernacular?

[ because that's the only part that makes sense to him, anyway. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

No. Kanji was the one who wrote down the first six for me. They all happened before he got here.

video.

[jurisdick]

So you're saving them simply to show them what you lost?

[ i'm sorry what. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Hey, you never asked for rational reasons.]

That's part of it. The other part is that I hope it'll help someone with figuring things out here.

video.

[jurisdick]

[ and there's the rationale he's been seeking! ]

I see. Is there someone among your friends you think capable of that, out of curiosity.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Yes. She can at least get closer than almost anyone I know.

[Sure there are some geniuses in Wonderland, but Naoto is...Naoto.]

video.

[jurisdick]

It sounds like you have a certified genius on your hands, Seta.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

I don't know if she'd use that word, but I have a lot of faith in her.

[They're from the same world, maybe Akechi's heard of her.]

Her name is Shirogane Naoto.

video.

[jurisdick]

[ .... oh. interesting. that's quite the coincidence.... ]

The name's familiar, yes. Then again, I'm not surprised considering my line of work.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

No, it's not that surprising.

[What would be surprising is if Akechi knew about the other detectives Souji has collected.]

...She'd be about 20 in 2016.

[Okay, that's a weird mental image.]

video.

[jurisdick]

I can't say our paths have crossed. Then again, I usually don't wander far from my normal station. And since you mentioned you weren't from the city, I imagine she's also stationed somewhere nearby?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

I'm not sure where she'll be by then.

[He really can't imagine it. He can't really imagine any of his friends as adults. Maybe because he's been seventeen for almost seven years.]

I think it would be interesting if you met her, though.

video.

[jurisdick]

A fated encounter, yes.

[ intriguingly so... ]

Does she also have use of a Persona?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods.]

It's called Yamato Sumeragi.

video.

[jurisdick]

... I see. It seems our groups are more alike than we originally thought.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Right down to the detectives.

[If only you know, Souji, that it's not Naoto you should be using in that comparison.]

video.

[jurisdick]

[ if ryuji blabs then you'll know sooner rather than later -- ]

I wonder - do you have a model, too?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

We have an idol. Kujikawa Rise.