[Video] Gearing up for the first issue!

[dualpinkpistols]

Ciao, Vatheon~!

[ Have a perky journalist, guys. She's smiling at the screen. ]

Seems like the influx of newcomers has stopped as predicted, huh? I'd like to take the time to say "hi!" to everyone here, new and old, if we haven't already met. I'm Maya Amano, and it's nice to meet you! Things can get a little hectic here, though it's mostly a nice peaceful place, so don't worry! We'll get through this together.

[ Moving topics, she holds up what appears to be a magazine cover. The words "COOLEST" are on the front in English, and at the bottom is a little "Kismet Publishing". ]

Right! And on that note... news. Yes, that's right, this journalist is looking for her first big scoop~! If you guys have anything you think is news-worthy, call your Ace Reporter, and I'll be there in a zip, okay?

[ Have a little silly salute as she continues on. ]

I'm currently looking for stories to collect, so if any of you guys would like to tell me about yourselves, your home world, what you do, or especially about any dreams you have of the future, I might feature you in Coolest's first issue, next month! Or I may even save your story for another issue. I'm aiming for everyone to get to know each other better on top of learn about Vatheon here itself with my magazine, so I want to do a spotlight column on all of us foreigners. I don't care about what you did back home, even if you were what you'd consider "ordinary" or not!

Because "ordinary" is really only a few letters away from "extraordinary", don't you think?

[ Putting the magazine away, the camera focuses on Maya, who is jokingly holding and smiling over a microphone in her hand. ]

Doesn't matter the topic you're comfortable talking about, Vatheon! Go ahead and tell me, because you're all live with Maya now! I hope we can all get to know each other and have some fun along the way. Cheers!

[ And then the feed cuts with a wink and grin. ]

[ FILTERED TO THE P3 CAST; 70% UNHACKABLE ]

[ There is a short pause, before she makes another call. Akihiko was gone from the dorms, as she'd noticed. ]

Hey, everyone. I heard your senpai went back... I know I haven't gotten the chance to meet and talk to all of you just yet in SEES. There's Haruka-chan and Ken-kun and Junpei-kun along with Mina-chin and Yukari-chan, right? I know you guys have inducted some new members, too. But if you guys need anything, don't hesitate to talk to me! As a fellow Persona user and an adult with personal experience on this sort of thing... I'd be happy just to listen, if you want. Maya's got your back! All of you.

[ FILTERED TO THE INVESTIGATION TEAM; 80% UNHACKABLE ]

[ To the Persona 4 cast, including Souji and Kanji and Naoto, Maya gives a happy little wave, now. ]

I heard from the grapevine you guys are from Inaba... and you know the Gekkoukan kids, from Tatsumi Port Island? You met recently, right? So you guys can also use a Persona? If you don't mind, I'd really love to talk to all of you in person! Ciao~ ♥

Comments

[Video] [Private]

[dualpinkpistols]

[ ... Ah. Another boy with a troubled past, affecting his present even more. ]

... Why not? Just because you've got some extra burdens doesn't mean you should give up your dream so easily.

[Video] [Private]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but most people know by now that if they see me coming, it's bad news.

[Also he's not sure if the angels will let him just wander around like that fff-]

[Video] [Private]

[dualpinkpistols]

[ ... HUFF. ]

... It's Katsu-kun, right? Well if people think you're bad news just because of your duty or job or whatever, then they're not worth bothering with!

Where are you right now?

[ Because it sounds like Maya-nee needs to come knock some sense into you. ]

[Video] [Private]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[Whyyyyyy.]

I'm walking in the park. Why?

[Video → Action]

[dualpinkpistols]

[ Click! She promptly hangs up, and makes her way over to the park.

Where she runs into Katsu. This takes her literally two minutes, because she was in a hurry. As soon as she gets there, she's wearing a stern look. ]

Because Katsu-kun is who he is, and no one else. If I didn't know better, I think I'd slap you. Why on earth would I ever stay away from someone just because of their job?

[ Yes, she takes this very seriously. ]

You're a good kid. Stop being so hard on yourself.

[Action]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[Maya why are you confusing. He looks a little shocked at her response.]

I don't think a 'good kid' kills people, just because they're told to, outside of a war.

[Action]

[dualpinkpistols]

A misguided kid, maybe, but that doesn't make you a bad one.

[ If that was supposed to make her change her mind, it really hasn't. Jun had his failings in the same moral area, but he was also under a bad influence. ]

[Action]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

... I have more important things to take care of than school, now. Like my brother.

[Action]

[dualpinkpistols]

... Family trouble, huh?

[ Oh Katsu. :c She wants to help. Maya gestures to a nearby bench. ]

Hey. Why don't we talk for a bit? Sit down, you know--just chat. I think that you have too much weight on you for someone your age, Katsu-kun. It won't hurt anything, promise!

[Action]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

You could call it that, yeah.

[He hesitates a moment, and then sits down.]

I don't mind that much, really. It's... I... well. It's better than some of the alternatives.

[Action]

[dualpinkpistols]

... Sounds pretty difficult.

[ She's pretty happy he's talking to her, though. ]

Katsu-kun... if you don't mind my asking, what exactly happened to hurt you so much? You deserve better than this...

[Action]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

I'm not hurt.

[Okay, that's a blatant lie, but he's... less broken up about things than maybe he should be.]

It's... hard to explain the situation, though.

[Action]

[dualpinkpistols]

... Katsu-kun, I'm not here to judge you. I'm here because I want to help you.

[ Quietly, she adds: ]

Try me, please. I guarantee I'll believe whatever you have to say! I've been through some pretty crazy stuff myself...

[Action]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

... [He sighs. He's not so good at talking about himself - he usually just listens to other people talk.]

It's... well. Do you believe in demons?

[Action]

[dualpinkpistols]

[ ... There's a light smile. ]

Katsu-kun, didn't I say I've been through some crazy stuff? I've been fighting demons for awhile now! But... I also know they're not all bad. We negotiate and talk to them on a daily basis back home.

[ She is pretty sure she may have an idea where this is going, since her Persona has been pinged ever since she met this boy. ... But still. ]

[Action foreverrrrrr.]

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

You're right, you did.

[It still sounds crazy to him... bluh.]

Basically... there was a huge crisis in part of Tokyo. The entire Yamanote line area got blocked off. I was caught in that. Demons started appearing... and there was a war going on, between the demons... and I got caught up in that, too.

I defeated one of the powerful demons, and I got caught up in that war. If I had walked away, they would have just come after me and anyone else with me... so I had to keep fighting. And... I had a choice on what to do with the power. I picked the path that seemed right to me.

[He shakes his head. Maybe it wasn't right, but he had chosen it, out of his own free will, and he couldn't go back. It wasn't worth regretting his choice, or wishing the past was different.]

[dualpinkpistols]

... Oh, Katsu...

[ You know what? YOU... you are getting a hug. Whether you like it or not. ]

So that's what Artemis was sensing...

[ This is said more to herself. ]

There's so much pain... but you did what you thought was right. You can't blame yourself for that.

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[lakjdfs what why hugs do not need hugssss. Also, Artemis? ... He'll ask later.]

Yeah, I know. But I can't exactly go back to my old life. It just... wouldn't work at all.

[dualpinkpistols]

[ No need. She'll explain. ]

Ah... I forgot to mention it, but my Persona can sense things about others.

[ She gives him a smile, removing herself from his personal space now. ]

And it tells me you're a good kid. ... Maybe you can't go back, Katsu-kun... but what's stopping you from chasing a new dream?

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[He won't even try to argue that, even though he's not sure about it.]

Mm. Here, I guess I can. Though I don't really know what to shoot for.

[dualpinkpistols]

Well... maybe I can help you figure out what that is. You have time, Katsu! You're young. And...

[ She ruffles his hair here. ]

It's not much, but I'll do everything in my power to make sure that happens, okay? I want you to be able to count on me, Katsu. You deserve to have someone to lean on.

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

[alsdjf. H-hey. ;;]

Funny, that's what I say to other people.

[dualpinkpistols]

[ A smile. Also, too bad. You're cute. ♥ Hair ruffles happen, you'll live. ]

Then it's about time you had someone say it to you who meant it! Besides, I can take care of myself, don't you worry. Maya-nee has you back, Katsu-kun!

[angelphones.livejournal.com]

I never said that you couldn't.

[B-bwuh. He's used to being the person other people lean on. He doesn't want to trouble people with his problems.]

You don't have to...

[Have to what? He can't... quite put together the thought properly.]

... You shouldn't spend your time concerned about me.

[dualpinkpistols]

[ An indignant huff here. ]

Oh, please. I don't have to what? Care? Uh-uh, nope! Sorry. That's not happening. You're STUCK with me now, got it~? Concerned or not, how I spend my time is up to me, not you, Katsu-kun.

[ FOREVER. ]