[ Oh. His brows draw together, unsure how to take what Eikichi says about Tatsuya. It's concerning, and while it's not Junpei's business... not really, there's a part of him that feels -- he doesn't know. Protective, maybe? Wanting to step in on behalf of his bro and get to the bottom of it. Maybe a little jealous, too. Of this bond they have and how Eikichi can so easily tell there's something Tatsuya is withholding.
Junpei keeps those thoughts to himself. He smiles a little, shaking his head. He wasn't talking about the power. It's more than that. It's a strength of will kinda thing. Giving up all those memories of the good times he and his team had. Giving up memories of meeting Chidori. Losing that feeling he had of being worthwhile or a hero. Giving up the life he now knew, that's the sort of strength he doesn't know if he could have -- even at the cost of the world.
Junpei doesn't get to say that either, though, because he's busy staring at Eikichi at the start of this story. ]
Eikichi.... what the fuck?
[ He's just.......confused???? How did this jump from Tatsuya joining a band to beating him down and kidnapping a girl??? ]
What? [Wait!] WAIT! No no! I didn't kidnap a girl! My bros did! Well...WAIT NO! T-they didn't kidnap a girl, they asked her to come to band practise and told me she was a fan. I even gave her food! Then they wrote a letter to Tatsuya saying I kidnapped her!
T-there hearts were in the right place! They were just trying to help a bro out!
[...]
H-he did end up joining my band later, y'know. And the kicker? They kidnapped Miyabi! I didn't know at at the time cause she'd grown up and called herself Kozy.
Anyway...
[Siiiiiiigh.]
Okay this is the stupid part.
[Because, yes there is more. He did say this was stupid after all, you'd been warned Junpei. No take-backs on hearing his stories.]
[ His eyebrows raise real high. Because they are only now getting to the stupid part? That wasn't reached at the sending fake kidnapping letters to score a new band mate? Or kidnapping Miyabi??? ]
O-okay so. I had...a reputation. I mean I was the Death Boss of Kasugayama High! But also uh...I beat up a lot of bullies. I got picked on a lot as a kid, so I started to fight back and...gave them a taste of their medicine.
[URGH. THIS IS HARD. His childhood stutter which he works so hard to keep in check returns in force.]
...
Y-you k-now...a r-real man shouldn't have d-done it but...I'd h-humiliate them by p-pulling their pants d-down.
Well...yeah. Sure I hid behind the fact it was just people who were bullying others but...it wasn't the right thing to do. It just continued the circle, you know?
Lisa's words callin' me Undie Boss pissed me off and made me ashamed to be called that...that I tried to attack them with my Persona...I didn't know it was a Persona at the time...thankfully it reawakened their Personas too I guess? Ta-chan kinda kicked my ass with a fire attack if we're bein' honest.
[ Undie boss. Heh, that's kinda clever. Junpei just casually scratches his nose with his whole hand. It's not like he's trying to cover a smile or anything. ]
So!
[ Recovering. ]
Your friends kicked your ass to set you straight. And this was...
...
--wait, bro! How many times do you lose your memory of your friends in your timeline??
[Bro he sees it. That's why Junpei getting a very tiny punch on the elbow. Just a tad.]
Twice, I guess? The first time was more due to a childhood trauma that got us all separated, and the fact we all wore masks around each other. The other was when...well..you know.
It probably will exist in the new reality, but I don't think it would show us the old memories anyway since we won't have them. Besides, it's not like I'd think to go there and inside the caverns specifically. They're kinda well hidden.
[ Junpei shakes his head. It doesn't seem fair. Eikichi had to go through this shit twice. And there's no tracing back their steps from the first time. No easy fixes. ]
I wanna believe in impossible odds. I wanna say some shounen manga bullshit like 'believe in the power of your friendship. You did it once, and you'll do it again!' But...
Sometimes the story doesn't get the happiest ending, bro. I look at it this way - at least we got an ending. We get to fix the issue, right? At least earth isn't dead like last time.
[In a way, he understands the significance of the sacrifice.]
Well. I say that's bullshit! It's not an ending! It's a to be continued. I didn't get you those flowers for no damn reason! You're not forgetting your friends. Or me.
[ Which. Junpei is also a friend. But decided to put himself in a separate category because he's not one of Eikichi's from home friends. ]
If you guys can't pull yourself out of it, then I'm gonna be there to throw you a rope. That's what I'm gonna do with this power I still got! That's my new mission as the de facto leader of SEES!
[It's a little snicker at first, as his elbows start to shake trying to keep himself composed before he can't help himself.
Eikichi starts to laugh. A real laugh, not just because of all the friendship stuff Junpei said and he's genuinely touched despite the insanity of it all, but also it feels good to laugh between the tears and the pain of everything he said before. He slumps downwards and let his his body hit the bed, back on the covers and arms outstretched but the smile doesn't leave his lips.]
Damn, I really needed that. Fine, fine we'll try to find a way. I'm convinced now, Junpei Iori.
[ ?! Wait! Why is he laughing?? Junpei flushes a little, until he realizes that Eikichi's not necessarily laughing at him. He's just laughing. And suddenly the mood feels a little lighter, the future a little brighter. ]
As you should be. This is my chance to show everyone I should've been the leader of SEES in the first place. I'm not gonna screw up this mission!
[ He smiles and holds out his hand. A shake or a high five are both perfectly acceptable forms of sealing the deal. ]
Besides! If we pull this off, that'll do wonders for my rankings on the persona user tier list, riiiight?
[ Says Junpei, blissfully unaware Yosuke had been killed in the not so distant past. But handshake! And then Eikichi's getting dragged right in for a bro hug because it's been approximately five minutes since Junpei had touched him and clearly that's too long. ]
I like seeing you smile, man.
[ He draws back to reach up and give one of Eikichi's cheeks a good pinch. ]
[ So much makeup. But it suits him! When Junpei's finished playing around, he draws back a little -- still smiling. ]
Do what? Mess with him? Yeah, all the time, bro. Minato is kind of a keep to himself kinda guy and he would always make comments like too close or whatever. But he's gotten used to me by now.
[ He tilts his head. ]
Why, Eikichi-kuuun? Is that a thinly veiled complaint, Eikichi-kun??
[ Lightly poking Eikichi's forehead with each question. ]
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Junpei keeps those thoughts to himself. He smiles a little, shaking his head. He wasn't talking about the power. It's more than that. It's a strength of will kinda thing. Giving up all those memories of the good times he and his team had. Giving up memories of meeting Chidori. Losing that feeling he had of being worthwhile or a hero. Giving up the life he now knew, that's the sort of strength he doesn't know if he could have -- even at the cost of the world.
Junpei doesn't get to say that either, though, because he's busy staring at Eikichi at the start of this story. ]
Eikichi.... what the fuck?
[ He's just.......confused???? How did this jump from Tatsuya joining a band to beating him down and kidnapping a girl??? ]
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[...]
IT WASN'T MY FAULT!!!
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[ Is he following this right? Again, what the fuck? ]
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[...]
H-he did end up joining my band later, y'know. And the kicker? They kidnapped Miyabi! I didn't know at at the time cause she'd grown up and called herself Kozy.
Anyway...
[Siiiiiiigh.]
Okay this is the stupid part.
[Because, yes there is more. He did say this was stupid after all, you'd been warned Junpei. No take-backs on hearing his stories.]
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....?
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[Deep breathes Eikichi.]
O-okay so. I had...a reputation. I mean I was the Death Boss of Kasugayama High! But also uh...I beat up a lot of bullies. I got picked on a lot as a kid, so I started to fight back and...gave them a taste of their medicine.
[URGH. THIS IS HARD. His childhood stutter which he works so hard to keep in check returns in force.]
...
Y-you k-now...a r-real man shouldn't have d-done it but...I'd h-humiliate them by p-pulling their pants d-down.
[He looks like he wants to sink into a hole now.]
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[ o k a y. ]
So that's what Lisa meant in your memory when she called you a perv.
[ He places a solemn hand on Eikichi's shoulder. ]
...
[ What does he say??? What would be profound right now?? ]
... only guys, right?
[ Does that make it better or worse?? He doesn't know. ]
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[Junpei??]
Well...yeah. Sure I hid behind the fact it was just people who were bullying others but...it wasn't the right thing to do. It just continued the circle, you know?
[He means the cycle.]
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Well it's not awesome, but you reformed and that's what counts, my guy!
[ ... ]
So you pantsu'd Tatsuya and that's how he joined your band?
[ Seems like a whole lot is missing in this story!! ]
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[...]
Lisa's words callin' me Undie Boss pissed me off and made me ashamed to be called that...that I tried to attack them with my Persona...I didn't know it was a Persona at the time...thankfully it reawakened their Personas too I guess? Ta-chan kinda kicked my ass with a fire attack if we're bein' honest.
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[ A palm hits his forehead. ]
Oh my god, I just got it.
[ Undie boss. Heh, that's kinda clever. Junpei just casually scratches his nose with his whole hand. It's not like he's trying to cover a smile or anything. ]
So!
[ Recovering. ]
Your friends kicked your ass to set you straight. And this was...
...
--wait, bro! How many times do you lose your memory of your friends in your timeline??
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Twice, I guess? The first time was more due to a childhood trauma that got us all separated, and the fact we all wore masks around each other. The other was when...well..you know.
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[ He says out of reflex more than pain at the light punch, letting out the barely contained laugh. He pretends to nurse his 'injury.' ]
How did you remember the first time?
Me realizing the pain just keeps going
There are reflecting pools there that...showed us our childhood memories. We kinda understood what we'd forgotten then.
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Would...you be able to go there again? Like after everything goes down? Or is it gone now?
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Does that make sense?
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[ Junpei shakes his head. It doesn't seem fair. Eikichi had to go through this shit twice. And there's no tracing back their steps from the first time. No easy fixes. ]
I wanna believe in impossible odds. I wanna say some shounen manga bullshit like 'believe in the power of your friendship. You did it once, and you'll do it again!' But...
[ Even Eikichi's writing off the possibility. ]
I dunno, dude. I'm sorry.
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[In a way, he understands the significance of the sacrifice.]
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[ Which. Junpei is also a friend. But decided to put himself in a separate category because he's not one of Eikichi's from home friends. ]
If you guys can't pull yourself out of it, then I'm gonna be there to throw you a rope. That's what I'm gonna do with this power I still got! That's my new mission as the de facto leader of SEES!
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[It's a little snicker at first, as his elbows start to shake trying to keep himself composed before he can't help himself.
Eikichi starts to laugh. A real laugh, not just because of all the friendship stuff Junpei said and he's genuinely touched despite the insanity of it all, but also it feels good to laugh between the tears and the pain of everything he said before. He slumps downwards and let his his body hit the bed, back on the covers and arms outstretched but the smile doesn't leave his lips.]
Damn, I really needed that. Fine, fine we'll try to find a way. I'm convinced now, Junpei Iori.
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As you should be. This is my chance to show everyone I should've been the leader of SEES in the first place. I'm not gonna screw up this mission!
[ He smiles and holds out his hand. A shake or a high five are both perfectly acceptable forms of sealing the deal. ]
Besides! If we pull this off, that'll do wonders for my rankings on the persona user tier list, riiiight?
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Pffft! Poor Yosuke.
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[ Says Junpei, blissfully unaware Yosuke had been killed in the not so distant past. But handshake! And then Eikichi's getting dragged right in for a bro hug because it's been approximately five minutes since Junpei had touched him and clearly that's too long. ]
I like seeing you smile, man.
[ He draws back to reach up and give one of Eikichi's cheeks a good pinch. ]
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[He would find out that Eikichi is made of skin and bones. And lots of makeup.]
Owww.
[Junpei is really the touchy-freely kinda guy isn't it? Good thing a couple of the bros were like that too.]
Do you do that to your leader too or is he more of a personal space kinda guy?
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Do what? Mess with him? Yeah, all the time, bro. Minato is kind of a keep to himself kinda guy and he would always make comments like too close or whatever. But he's gotten used to me by now.
[ He tilts his head. ]
Why, Eikichi-kuuun? Is that a thinly veiled complaint, Eikichi-kun??
[ Lightly poking Eikichi's forehead with each question. ]
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1/2
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I'm sorry I had to
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I am sorry this is so much detail lmao
stop i love it >(
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