Title: Your Jack Is Always There For You
Summary: Yoh’s bringing a present to a friend of his mother’s, who happens to live in Inaba. And guess who he runs into? Yup, that’s right…Kazuo! And someone else, too—one Nagisa Renge!
Who: Yoh Yamagatani, Nagisa Renge, Kazuo Yuudai.
Location: Inaba
Historically, Inaba was formerly Yasoinaba, a coal mining town. Over time, it grew from the initial settlement of coal miners into what it is today. Nobody here mines for coal any longer.
A rural town out in the country, tourists praise the air as being clean and the sky cleaner than any of the big cities surrounding it, and the sunsets as absolutely breathtaking. The town goes at its own pace throughout the day. To the average person, there is not much to see out here, with a lack of interesting historical landmarks or, really, even much of anything. Inaba is about as close to being the middle of nowhere as one can get in this part of Japan. A new department store may be the herald of encroaching urbanization.
Recently, the town has fallen on hard times. A major department store’s recent opening is seeing smaller businesses fold left and right. A serial murder case grips the attention of the local media. Rumors circulate about how if one watches a turned off TV in one’s room at midnight on a raining evening, one will see their soulmate. Bizarre meteorological patterns see great amounts of rain followed by thick, choking fog. Some say a local beef skewer stand isn’t even using real beef.
Some seem a little too welcoming of the excitement and confusion. Is it just from a change of pace, or is there a sinister truth to all these events?
Cold. Getting colder. SO COLD.
Well, maybe for winter wimps like Yoh it is. To others it is probably quite comfortable! Winter is in full swing, and warrants warming clothing. Nothing too thick, but definitely a light coat or thick long-sleeved shirt.
Most trees are close to bare, having all their leaves look up at them from the ground below the Samegawa’s waters are barely moving, appearing still to the untrained eye. Everywhere one looks, shops have welcoming signs to bring people into their heated shops, offering warming clothing, or hot food and drinks.
And tests are in full swing! Yesterday was a tough set, and Yoh is unsure of his results as he passes through the area, carrying a small box! He is in fact, delivering something to his mother’s friends house! A present bought from his new workplace, actually. Yoh was actually wearing his work uniform right now. A dark blue pair of slacks, a light blue long-sleeved button-down, and an adorable Jack Frost hat, pointed just like their own! Save it had a unique cap lid that depicted a Jack’s face on it. Oh man, where was he working to wear such a getup?
The teen plods along, minding his own business for now. Hopefully she had a warm cup of tea waiting on him there.
Nagisa is likewise bundled up... relatively so. She still wears her short-skirted dress, but rather than her thigh-high stockings, she’s wearing thick leggings as well as a jacket up top. She sits near the Samegawa, reading a thick, difficult-looking book. It’s true that the young Stregite doesn’t attend school, but she’s got other things to study... And she’s reading it very closely, with a very serious expression.
So absorbed is she in her reading that she pays Yoh no mind as he begins to approach and pass her by. The only thing that might alert Yoh to her presence—aside, of course, from her somewhat distinctive wheat-blonde hair—is the sound of a page turning.
Inaba. He’s not encountered anyone here thus far; mainly he’s just been finding people he doesn’t know outside Inaba. Which is just as well; as nice as the people he’s met are, he likes to know there aren’t that many people that have resonances nearby. Because...well, he doesn’t know what they’re capable of. And he doesn’t want to suddenly find his house blown up by somebody who doesn’t like his resonance.
He’s walking in that general area as well, near the Samegawa, trying to clear his mind after a hard day of tests. Anyone who says the teenagers have nothing to worry about should be subject to immediate curbstomping; the last few days have been hard for him. And he’s starting to show signs—the area under his eyes is a little darker, his very countenance is drooping, and his hair’s mussed from spearing his fingers through it in frustration.
After just having come down off one of those ‘AHH TESTS EXAMS GOD HELP ME I’M FREAKING OUT’ moods, Kazuo’s resonance is currently pretty clear, too. He’s frazzled, stressed, and worried about the results of his tests. So he’s...probably radiating pretty hard right then....
A moment later, something catches his attention. It’s the scent first...ozone, like the scent of ionized air during a thunderstorm. It’s likely familiar; he’s probably smelled it enough times during the week to recognize it. And then, as he passes within about arms’ reach of the reading Nagisa, he smells something else.
...Flowers? In the dead of winter?
That’s...odd. Might that be someone else’s? A quick look ‘round reveals no one holding a bouquet of flowers. Perfume? Maybe. But still....
Since he can’t find the flowers, he concentrates on the stronger, ‘ionic’ resonance. And he soon finds it—who can miss Yoh, in that hat? He smirks, and turns his steps toward Yoh. “Hey!” he greets. “Fancy meeting you here.” His voice is a little wry. Maybe he’s teasing. Because what has this been, the fourth day in a row that they’ve seen each other?
“Red, white, black or blue, your Jack is always there for youuuu~” Sings Yoh, obviously finding the little store theme catchy. Or just trying to be a good employee and memorize the song.
So far he is thoroughly enjoying his new workplace, being a Floor Jack Assembler, which is fancy-talk for ‘helping customers make their plush’, has been quite rewarding, not even counting a decent paycheck! Seeing the kids there, smiling when their Jack is ready for them, or a broken plushie gets some fix-it stitching.
As the teen walks, a girl nearby the banks of the river catches his eye. It is not often you see such a beautiful shade of hair color in Japan. Probably it’s rarity is what makes it so amazing to Yoh. But he already has an idea who it is. He stops, and clears his throat behind her at the walkway. She seemed busy, so best not to scare her!
Even though she is supposed to be an enemy and hated. Gawd Yoh, get your priorities in check.
And yes Kazuo, it has been four days in a row. How in the... Just. What is this. “H-Hey!” he says, surprised himself. The teen quickly eyes around the area for a specific NWO-based loli. None sighted. “How are tests going for you?”
Nagisa does feel the resonance of those around her—her ability for it is stronger than most Evoker users, thanks to the nature of her Persona—but the girl doesn’t count the presence of Persona-Users to be anything worth turning around for. She scours the page she’d flipped to as behind her, Kazuo greets Yoh (the beefy teenager does have a tendency to meet the same certain people over and over again, doesn’t he? Though Nagisa doesn’t seem to be among them), but it’s only as Yoh starts singing that Nagisa lifts her head thoughtfully, and when she hears him clear his through, she turns around with a faint smile, lowering her book slightly.
“That’s a cute uniform, Yoh,” she observes, as if not surprised to see him there. Of course, given that she just heard him singing, of course she wouldn’t be surprised, right? She does still tilt her head when Yoh scans the area for someone after spotting the other boy, to whom she then turns, but she doesn’t remark—yet. “Are you doing well?” she continues over to Yoh, shifting herself to be able to face the two boys without having to twist her entire body around like a pretzel.
Kazuo chuckles. “No, I don’t think Fumiko’s here,” he replies. “Unless she’s lurking in Tatsumi Textiles, buying fabric for a kimono again.” Light tease. He snickers. But no, as far as he knows, there’s not a loli anywhere in sight. At least, not one that he knows of. “But I see you’re enjoying your work, hm?”
Suddenly the girl reading the book speaks, and Kazuo pauses, so he can turn to look at her properly. He offers a smile as he looks to her, and nods politely. He quiets so that Yoh and the girl he doesn’t know can speak without him interfering.
In the meantime, he puts his hands in his pocket and tilts his head slightly, so he can consider her a little closer. He tilts his head back, scenting the air slightly, while at the same time trying not to look like that’s what he’s doing. Hm. Flowers again. Could it be the girl’s perfume...?
Yoh as well has an extremely strong resonance detection that Fuuka is helping him hone. Unfortunately a drawback is it’s maximum range is roughly five to ten feet, and he cannot sense anything after that distance. It has proven useful for spotting users in a crowd in public, but otherwise has had no application at all. They are still working on it.
“H... Heh,” Yoh lets out possibly turning a light tinge of red for a small time. “Thanks, Nagisa-san.” Change of name-honorific there. “Uh, doing okay I suppose. Got a new job!” he says cheerily, but from his outfit that was obvious. “Otherwise everything has been busy due to testing. And yourself?”
The teen laughs to his friend he is constantly seeing now. “Damn, am I that predictable, that you can guess who I was looking for? Man.” Then again, considering how the week went, anyone could guess that. “Oh! Yuudai-san, this Nagisa Renge. A... friend of mine. A good friend.” That sure seemed almost forced.
“A good friend? Do you think so, Yoh? We’re friends, certainly, but we don’t know each other very well,” Nagisa points out to the high schooler—conveniently ignoring the fact that she’d gotten smitten with certain other people within two meetings before. That never happened with her and Yoh, though she likes him quite well enough. He has the sort of attitude and personality that she can’t help but appreciate. She certainly doesn’t bother with honorifics like Yoh does, ironically given that he’s the one calling the two of them good friends (however forced the words might be). “Who is Fumiko, by the way?” Fumiko... that name sounds familiar. Was someone talking to her about a Fumiko recently...? Perhaps it’s just a coincidence.
Still, she smiles at the boy. “A job, have you? I hope you’re enjoying it. Working is an interesting experience, though I think I benefit from the fact that I have an unusual employer. You probably have a more ‘normal’ experience than I do.” The quotation marks around the word ‘normal’ are practically audible. No air quotes, though; she’s holding her book instead, whose title is partially obscured. They can at least see the words ‘THE SC E’ and on the next line, ‘OF RE ION’. “Otherwise, I’m well, all considered.” She tilts her head over at ‘Yuudai-san’ belatedly, once Yoh’s introduced them, then gives him a smile and a polite nod. She noted the way he was trying to sniff the air, but not reading too much into it, she simply says, “How do you do, Yuudai?”
Kazuo chuckles as Yoh proclaims his frustration for being predictable. He just has to point out, “Well, the three of us have been running into each other with alarming frequency this week,” he points out. So yeah. He had a pretty good idea of who Yoh was looking for. Hopefully she’s doing good with her exams too, and hasn’t fallen prey to the caffeine high any more than she had yesterday.
The noting by Nagisa of a ‘normal’ job piques his interest. ‘Normal’? As opposed to what? However, he is polite enough not to say anything about this, and doesn’t comment. Instead, he looks to Nagisa when Yoh introduces Nagisa, offering a polite bow. “Kazuo Yuudai,” he introduces. “Pleased to meet you, Renge-san,” he offers. If he even notices her lack of honourifics, he doesn’t mention it.
Her question of Fumiko draws his attention, and he notes, “Fumiko? Dresses in frilly lace and stuff like that? Looks kinda like a living doll?” Or at least, that’s what he’s intending to say. He will stop if, at any point, Yoh seems like he wants to interrupt him. Whether it’s a subtle ‘shut up’ motion or a much less subtle ‘pounce and cover his mouth’ motion!
Okay, maybe Yoh said that not expecting to be called out on it. Yoh likes Nagisa. she is thoughtful, and intelligent. Not to mention pretty. Their friendship could be so much better! ...if only it weren’t for the fact that she is with Strega attempting to ring in Armageddon. Well, such is her decision, and he respects it. “Heh, true. But when we see each other enough, you never know!” the teen states with a cheeky grin. Hey, you learn a lot about people while fighting them, too. More than people know.
“Fumiko? Oh, she is a girl that dresses a lot like Yoshino-san. Young. Real smart.” Also member of the NWO, but he promised her he would not tell anyone. “Oh, you have a job too?” Yoh says rhetorically. “Oh, it is nice, seeing all the little kids happy around all the stuffed dolls, the Jack Frost mascot walking around the store... that sort of thing.” Thankfully this one was just a guy in a suit, and not like Frost Junes. A casual look to the book, of which Yoh cannot make it out. Of course he wouldn’t.
“Tell me about it. I was starting to think that was planned!” The teen shifts the taped-up box under his arm to the other, relieving the tiring one. He speaks again after adjusting his workplace hat. “Yeah, her! Wonder why she dresses like that. Looks kinda neat though! A unique look if there ever was one.” Also expensive. Yoh ruined one of Chidori’s dresses once in a fight in Tartarus. Afterward he offered to help replace it, and nearly crapped himself at the price.
Them things are NOT CHEAP.
“Quite true,” Nagisa admits, smiling at Yoh. “You never do.”
Politeness is as politeness does. Kazuo may cast Nagisa that wondering glance, but since he never actually asks her, Nagisa merely gives him a smile, nodding once as he tells her his full name. She will, of course, immediately call him Kazuo, with no suffix; this is just how she is. She doesn’t mind being referred to more politely herself, and if Kazuo told her ‘actually, call me Yuudai-san,’ then Nagisa would... probably comply. But if he says nothing, then she’ll do as she pleases.
Even after all she’s changed, Nagisa still has that free spirit.
“Hmm... I don’t think I’ve met anyone like that,” she muses as Kazuo goes on to describe Fumiko. She’s not quite sure she understands what he means by ‘looks like a living doll’ either until Yoh explains that he means ‘like the kind of stuff Chidori wears.’ “Oh!” she utters, pale blue eyes lighting up. “I see! Yes, I haven’t met anyone like that. If I ever do, I shall try to remember that name.”
This is followed by an amused smile. She has a job too? “Yes,” she tells him simply. She did tell him about it once, after all—after a fashion. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your job. It sounds like the sort of thing you would have fun with.”
Kazuo makes no comment about the back-and-forth regarding the status of Yoh and Nagisa’s friendship. He doesn’t know Nagisa. And even if he did, it still wouldn’t be any of his business. Who Yoh makes friends with is completely up to Yoh. So while that’s going on, he doesn’t comment.
He does, however, smirk when Yoh mentions how the frequency of the three of them meeting—that is, Yoh, Fumiko, and Kazuo himself—felt planned. “Not by me, I promise,” he replies, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. As to why? He shrugs, putting his hands back in his pockets. “...Maybe she just likes looking pretty,” he suggests. There are a lot of possible reasons, but that seems the most likely to him. Anything else would be, again, ‘None Of His Business’.
Kazuo doesn’t bother with honorifics much himself, either. But voicing his feelings on the matter will wait until she actually uses his name. When her eyes light in recognition, he inquires, “Do you mind if I ask, who is Chidori?”
Yes, Yoh has forgotten she had a job. He is dumb like that. When was the last time he and Nagisa fought anyway? It has been so long. he still worries about some Strega members. Okay sure, they want you to die, but Yoh doesn’t wish the same to them! “It is quite fun, yes! Very rewarding too.” Just seeing the kids happy makes him want to forget the paycheck.
“She does like things silky and frilly, or otherwise standout-ish.” Was that even a word?
“Oh,” the teen comments to Kaz. “I know it wasn’t she said the same. Just seemed like it was planned though. Either way the studying I hope helped us.” That damn girl was so smart. No wonder her and Riki are together. “It definitely turns eyes! Whether it is good or bad looks I don’t know. I like how you can see her a mile away though. Helps from getting lost!”
He turns to look at his male friend fully. “She is a lot like Kohaku-san. Wears frilly outfits. general pretty look about her. Sad to say she seems a little mean and cold to everyone.” A small pause. “I tried talking to her when I see her, see how she is, but... man, cold shoulder if I ever did feel it.” A turn to Nagisa. “Is she ever nice to anyone? I would hope she has at least one friend.”
“Chidori is...” Nagisa pauses then, considering. Are she and Chidori friends? There was a time when she would have claimed as such unhesitatingly, but they never did spend very much time together, and it wasn’t as if Chidori ever showed more than ‘tolerance’ to her fellow Strega member. As it is now, she can’t help but be uncertain of the other girl’s feelings, if she even has them. “...a comrade of mine. She is like family,” she concludes, because that, at least, is certainly true.
If standout-ish isn’t a word, Nagisa certainly doesn’t mind. In fact, she nods in understanding. Compared to ‘normal’ people, Chidori’s fashion sense certainly does stand out. Nagisa is not much of one to pay attention to that sort of thing, but at the same time, she’s not oblivious. What would be the point, if you want to drink in the sensations of the world before you come to an end? She giggles a bit as Yoh talks about being able to spot Fumiko from a long way off, though she goes silent as Yoh asks her about Chidori.
“Chidori isn’t the type of person who tolerates the company of most people,” Nagisa replies after a long moment. “She and I get along decently, I suppose.”
Whether ‘standoutish’ is a word or not, Kazuo understands what Yoh’s talking about, and nods in agreement. Since...well, Fumiko does stand out. So it’s appropriate, right? And he agrees with the wish on studying. “I hope so, too. I’m not really sure at all how well I did today....” He sighs. Though the corner of his mouth turns up slightly when Yoh mentions how easy Fumiko is to spot in a crowd.
At the description of Chidori, Kazuo frowns slightly. “Well...I’m sure there’s been people giving her bad looks over it, and maybe she’s tired of people making comments?” He doesn’t want to speak ill of someone he doesn’t know. Besides, there are perverts, and girls who dress pretty tend to be frequent targets. So...maybe there’s a reason?
When Nagisa begins to speak, Kazuo quiets; when she stalls, he waits. And when she’s finished, he gives a hrm. “Ah, I see. That’s sad,” he replies. “I’m sure she has her reasons, though....” He offers a smile. “I can’t really say anything, because I don’t know her, and I don’t know her situation. But if she’s standoffish, I’m sure there’s a reason for it.”
Yoh stares at Nagisa for a moment, realizing with the pause, and her response, that it was probably sensitive. Or was it? “I see. Mm, sorry for prying. Probably was a little to much to ask.” Since this muscular teen is not known for making sarcastic or cynical comments ever, it was obvious he was actually sorry.
No seriously, someone needs to teach him how to make snarky comments. Or poke at sensitive issues. Make him a normal teenager instead of the fairy of happiness.
“Oh,” Yoh replies with, getting a more direct answer shortly thereafter. “Well that is good. She is kind of... cold to people. She could use a good friend, I bet.” Say, wasn’t another SEES member talking about being her friend or something not too long ago...? Who was it...
“Only way to find out; wait until grades come out, then our fates will be sealed.” Okay, maybe he does know a little sarcasm. Some friendly teasing kinds, anyway. He probably does not have it in him to insult anyone. “Oh! Yeah, that is one of her big hang-ups, she told me. She has a lot of guys hit on her apparently, and does not like it. Might have caused that!” he says. Huh. Maybe it is just guys she is cold to then? Maybe girls could get along with her! Possibly Fumiko since they like the same clothes! GOTHLOLI SHOPPING SPREE.
That was a terrible idea, Yoh.
“That’s quite true. Chidori finds other people tiresome,” Nagisa muses. “They don’t understand her, you see.” She wonders momentarily how she would react to meeting Daisuke... Daisuke would probably find her fascinating, and Chidori would probably wield her tongue like Nagisa wields her knives, which would just make her even more fascinating. ...Nagisa’s torn between wanting to introduce them or not. It’s probably best not to go out of her way for now, though...
She smiles at Yoh, though. “That’s all right,” she reassures him, though she certainly doesn’t encourage him to keep questioning either. She takes what he says at face value—a good thing, since Yoh means it at face value, too. Whether Chidori would benefit from a friend, Nagisa can’t say... though she does wonder.
“Oh, is there something big going on at school right now?” she asks, tilting her head at the two boys. As for girls, well... Nagisa is reasonably sure that Chidori would view any suggestion that she go shopping for clothes with Fumiko with contempt. Or she would be if Yoh had made that suggestion out loud.
Kazuo smirks at the ‘fates are sealed’ comment. “Hope not,” he replies. “Unless you mean what the results come in. Then it’s more like our fates are sealed inside them. Besides, if we fail, we can try again, hopefully.” Most could anyway...his dad probably couldn’t afford it if he failed. He doesn’t mention this, though. Fact, for all he asks about others, he says precious little about himself. Well, little that’s actually useful, anyway.
Something big? Her question draws Kazuo to nod. “Yeah. Final exams,” he replies. “Everybody I know is a little frazzled over them. The last ones were today, though. So everybody should be calming down in a couple days. Until the results come out, and then it’ll be a few more days of either celebrating or angsting over them.”
“Well, to each their own,” Yoh says to Nagisa. “But I wonder why. Heh, guess I will never find out.” Yoh would have a better chance at becoming The Highlander before finding out personal stuff when it came to Chidori. He would sooner find a chain hatchet in his back. Or head. Or some other vital location. He gives a polite smile to his supposed-to-be-enemy friend.
“Well, exams,” the teen speaks up with. “Also a talent show coming up at Gekkoukan. I am gonna try to participate!” He will probably powerlift or something he is good at, like be stupid on stage or eat.
“Yeah, I will go with that!” Pretty witty comment on Kazuo’s part, there. Oh man, if Yoh failed, his mother would show up at SEES and no amount of Persona Power will stop that purse of hers hitting him on the head repeatedly, and GODS HELP YOU if there was pocket change in there. OH GOD THE COINS.
“Just worrying a lot for me,” the teen says to Kazuo.
“Oh, I see,” Nagisa replies to Kazuo, despite the fact that the look on her face implies she doesn’t quite understand. She has heard of the almighty, dreaded Exams, though, so it’s not as though she’s completely clueless, either. “I hope you two did acceptably, then.”
A talent show? That seems straightforward enough, but nonetheless, the young blonde turns her head towards Yoh, interest lighting her features. “What do you mean by a talent show? It sounds interesting.” She looks back at Kazuo, curiously. “Will you be doing likewise, Kazuo? Or do you not attend Gekkoukan?” It’s not as if high school students won’t wander any which way as they please. See: Yoh right there!
“Oh?” Kazuo inquires, at the mention of a talent show. “Hn...I don’t do stuff like that,” he remarks. Though he doesn’t sound as though he’s critical of those who do. Probably because of his next words. “I don’t really have any talent.” A shrug.
Good thing Jirou’s not here, otherwise he’d try and call Kazuo on the obvious lie....
“I’m sure you’ll do all right on the exams,” Kazuo encourages Yoh, with a smile. “We did study. And I’m really hoping my own fears about how well I did are unfounded.”
He shakes his head to her comment. “No, I’m in Yasogami,” he replies. Which means he lives not too far from here, probably, since Yasogami’s in Inaba. “I don’t do any of that kind of stuff,” he notes with a dismissive wave of his hand. He barely even contributed when his school had their culture festival—he pretty much just did what he was assigned to do and that was it.
“Ha-ha, so did I.” Yoh responds with. Does he know she doesn’t go to school? Probably not. But she is not at Gekkoukan, so either must be elsewhere, home schooled or no school. Why do kids not want to go to school anyway? You make so many friends there! “Well, it is sort of like a contest! People display their unique talents and abilities while a crowd watches! Judges judge whom did the best job, and win something!” Yoh is not sure what the something is, but probably at least a trophy.
“You sure, man?” the teen asks of Kaz. “Everyone can do something neat.” Apparently people have just yet to find theirs. “Yeah, we studied three nights in a row! It should pay off.” A small pause. “Oh, you go to school here? Neat. I have a good number of friends there.”
ALL THE FRIENDS.
“Oh, you don’t? That’s sad,” Nagisa remarks sympathetically. “It must be a lonely feeling to go through life with nothing you value.” There is that itch in the back of her mind, that she should try to show him a way to value it... but it’s only an itch, and she submerges it easily enough. Instead, she opts for a curious, “Or are you only saying that?” After all, if people value things differently... And she can tell that he’s a Persona-User. If nothing else, there is that talent.
Yasogami, huh... Nagisa gives Kazuo a thoughtful look before she nods once. He doesn’t do that sort of thing, meaning... “What sort of things do you do?”
Yoh’s explanation of what a talent show entails garners more interest. Nagisa rests a hand on her chin and considers. What would she consider her unique talents and abilities? The more she thinks about it, the more she can understand why Kazuo would have said something like ‘I don’t have any talents.’ It’s hard for her to think of anything she does as particularly unique. ...though that’s probably more owing to her specific mindset. Nagisa’s aware that she’s one of billions—even her Persona abilities are not unique, or even all that special, given the concentration of Persona-Users in the area. “It sounds like fun,” she concludes. “I wish you well in it, Yoh.”
Kazuo waves that hand again. “Nah. I don’t think floating along on the edges of society is considered a talent,” he jests, with a smirk. Despite his teasing manner, it’s true, at least partially—Kazuo has managed to get by this long without his Persona attracting undue attention. No one’s tried to kill him over it yet. Of course, there’s always tomorrow. But he’s kept a streak of a couple years going!
“Oh?” Kazuo inquires, lifting a brow at the mention that Yoh has friends in Yasogami. “Mind if I ask who? Might can talk about you if I know any of ‘em.” He smirks; though he didn’t mean talk about him in a bad way....
“Eh.” Kazuo doesn’t seem particularly forthcoming when Nagisa asks him is he’s sure he doesn’t have any talent. So he shrugs. “I’m still young yet, maybe I just don’t have anything yet. Who knows?” His career choice sheets must be a nightmare to read...they’re probably blank, or have ‘I don’t know’ written on them all!
Kazuo actually shrugs to Nagisa’s question of what does he do. “I dunno, really. I just sorta...well, exist. I’m a decent student. So maybe I’d be a decent teacher....” He doesn’t sound very certain, though.
...Yeah. Really good thing Jirou and Naoki aren’t here, otherwise one of them would tell Nagisa what Kazuo does. He’s a punk, though. A thug. A bad boy. Can’t have a bad boy running around who has a nice singing voice, or who knows the intricacies of lots of different cat breeds....
Yoh... slightly frowns slowly at Nagisa’s comment. That was a little harsh. Or was she trying to prove something? He isn’t sure. It doesn’t have that callousness people can carry when saying things with intent to hurt feelings. A look over to Kazuo. Unfortunately Yoh has to be calm to sense resonance, and right now he sure isn’t he always gets at least moderately giddy and happy to see friends. A big aspect Fuuka is trying to help him with.
“Why thank you, Nagisa-san. If I do well I will be sure to thank you for the good wishes.” It will be tough for the teen to execute something that won’t give away that ‘oh my gods he has inhuman strength’ but at the same time, that was one of the few things he is good at.
“Oh!” The teen comments to Kaz. “I know uh... Thora, Shirou, Yukiko, Sayori... crap, the list is longer than I thought. But those are the ones that come to mind right now.” Heh, Yoh would never take Kazuo for a thug. Then again, who would think Yoh ran a gang in Sumaru when he was younger? Being all peppy and happy and enjoyable, yet he was pretty damn heartless and merciless then. Well, life changes people sometimes.
The teen looks at his phone for the time. Hm, might want to get moving soon so he gets to his mum’s friend’s house on time.
Nagisa gives Kazuo a long, piercing look... before she laughs faintly, eyebrows going up as she shuts her eyes, and gives a bit of a shrug. “It’s more a skill than a talent,” is her assessment. It’s hard to tell whether she’s making a joke or not. Whether she is or not, she continues, a bit more soberly when he shows a lack of confidence in the idea of him being a teacher, “I hope you find something you enjoy doing, Kazuo. It’s a sad thing to live without finding something or someone you deeply love.”
As for being hurtful... Nagisa didn’t mean to be particularly hurtful, but her blunt, graceless way of saying things can end up being like that Kazuo at least didn’t take it badly, so Nagisa only blinks curiously at Yoh but otherwise lets the frown go uncommented upon. Instead, when she spots Yoh looking at his phone, she nods to the two of them. “I’ll take my leave,” she declares. “I still have quite a bit of reading to do. Good day to you two.” And with that, she turns back to the riverside and descends again to reclaim her spot.
Kazuo didn’t seem to mind the comment from Nagisa, whether it was harsh or not. He said nothing of it. Then again, life was harsh sometimes, so maybe he was just used to it. Who knew. Either way he didn’t seem upset, whether by looks or by his resonance. It was actually calmer than it was when he’d first met the two.
With a smirk, Kazuo remembers something he does have, “Well, it’s not that I have nothing of value—I have friends. And they’re valuable to me. I just...can’t turn that into a money-making venture.” He chuckles.
The piercing look and laughter draws more of a reaction than the words, in fact. He raises a brow, curious as to what prompted the reaction. She might have been making a joke, but he will. “It is indeed; takes a lot of skill to sneak around and hide from people who also do the same thing, and are good at noticing others who sneak around.” Good gracious, is he a sneak-thief? Hopefully not!
Nagisa makes to go back to her reading spot, and so Kazuo nods. “Thanks, you too,” he offers. When she’s out of earshot, he looks at Yoh again. “I’ll mention you if I ever talk to any of them,” he offers with a smile. He means, of course, the list of people. “I better get going. See you later!” He offers a wave, and then continues in the direction he was walking before he met Yoh.
Back to the Index
Back to Kazuo Yuudai's PersonaMUSH Wiki