Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The day after the death of Kinshiro Morooka, Jun walked into the man's classroom and nearly cursed as he felt four different Persona resonances.

This new job was supposed to be good, despite the tragic circumstances. After over a year working as a substitute teacher for the different schools in Inaba and even some schools in Okina City, he had been hired to replace Morooka and teach philosophy. But now his homeroom was full of Persona users. Again.

It wasn't as much of a shock as it could have been at least. He knew weird stuff had started happening in Inaba.

After a quiet year settling in, the murders at the start of the school year had sent the town into a tizzy. Jun had kept Akira close for a bit, worried about what might happen, but eventually let him keep to his usual explorations, with promises to update him via the mobile phone he bought the kid and to never go somewhere completely alone, even if he just brought Morgana.

But Morgana had informed him that he sensed the Velvet Room had come to town. Which meant something was happening that required Persona users.

Jun had started feeling resonances while at Junes or out in the town, and carefully didn't pay attention to them. Morgana had, after some investigation of his own, claimed that he was pretty sure the dangers this time were well contained. He promised to let Jun know if the danger increased, but for now Jun was decidedly staying out of it.

Or he was trying to. It didn't help that Akira had definitely befriended one of the Persona users. He'd seen Yu Narukami on his class list, so he'd expected one, but not more. A mistake, clearly.

Feeling the resonances of his students, his heart ached. He remembered his class in Iwatodai and the Persona users there. Especially Arisato.

(None of the others ever reached out to him after the funeral. He hoped they were okay.)

This time, he would keep a professional distance. He'd keep an eye out, but he'd try not to get involved. Hopefully these Persona users could handle whatever they were facing. Besides, Jun never saw the Velvet Room, despite its presence. Surely that meant he wasn't needed.

All of this ran through his head as he organized his papers and looked over his new students. He forced himself to look over the ones without Personas, too. He had a duty to them all, to teach them, and to ease the transition after the death of their previous teacher.

(Based on the gossip he could hear, Morooka had not been well liked. But his death would still have an impact on these people.)

Once he had himself under control, he spoke up.

“Good morning, class!” he said, putting on a smile. “My name is Jun Kashihara and I will be your homeroom teacher for the rest of the year, after Mr. Morooka's passing. Until summer break, I will be focusing on finishing up any course material you need to know for your coming exams, as well as some review. I look forward to getting to know you all.”

The class broke into whispers, and Jun let them get their energy out for a few moments before he called their attention back to him and started his class.

Hopefully he could just stay their teacher. He really didn't want to get involved beyond that. Not right now.

—

Almost two weeks after the murder of Morooka, Ryotaro Dojima sighed as he looked at the new paperwork. They were getting sent another detective from another precinct. Apparently he was being sent to help them catch the new murder suspect. A few days ago, they almost had him, but he'd disappeared.

But Ryotaro was used to reading between the lines in this kind of paperwork. He got a distinct sense that this was a situation similar to when Adachi had been sent here. Why city cops thought Inaba was the best place to drop their junk detectives, he had no idea.

He knew he wasn't being fair, either to Adachi or to this newcomer. He shouldn't judge before he met the guy, and Adachi did try sometimes. He meant well, at least. But with that kid detective running around, not to mention the way his nephew kept popping up in this case, he could feel a headache brewing already. He just hoped this Tatsuya Suou would be more help than hindrance.

—

Tatsuya Suou looked up at the entrance to Junes and sighed. How had things ended up this way?

He knew the answer to that question, really. He was getting too nosy, getting a reputation for being a snitch against his fellow cops. It burned inside him, the idea that he was supposed to overlook wrongdoing just because the wrongdoer was another cop. They had to be held to a higher standard, given their power, not a lower one.

But he'd reported another rotten apple, and now he was transferred to a small town. He'd been told he was being sent to help with a manhunt for a murder suspect, but everyone knew the truth. It was only a small mercy that he got transferred instead of fired. No one had arranged an “accident” for him either yet, so that was good.

He pulled out the lighter he'd started carrying in high school, flipping the top idly as he tried to bring his mind back from dark thoughts. He was at the store to pick up groceries for his new little apartment. He should go in and grab those. But the injustice of it all dragged at him. What was the point of trying to deal with corruption in the police if doing so got him sent away?

No. Focus. One thing at a time. Later there would be time to see if he could still work on corruption in Sumaru. In the short term, he had to prove himself as reliable to this new force and hope they were less corrupt.

When he'd introduced himself earlier today, he saw the way most of the detectives looked at him with weary eyes.

There had been two main differences. Naoto Shirogane had greeted him very professionally, so he'd done his best to respond the same. The kid was obviously trying hard to be taken seriously, although Shirogane had ignored him after that point.

And then Tohru Adachi had slung an arm around his shoulder in a quiet moment.

“Heyy! Welcome! And my condolences,” the man said with a goofy grin.

“Condolences?” Tatsuya asked.

“You got kicked out to the boonies, just like me, probably for only making one little mistake,” he explained.

Tatsuya managed to withdraw from the overly familiar arm. His eyebrows shot up as he considered how to answer. He wasn't wrong, exactly. But there were a lot of things that would be considered a “mistake.” And he would turn in those dirty cops every time.

He decided to shrug. “I'm here now,” he said. “I'll do my job, whether it's here or home.”

Adachi chuckled. “Aw man, you're a stick in the mud, aren't you? I thought I might finally have someone to liven the place up!”

Tatsuya shrugged again, the corner of his mouth ticking up. “I wouldn't call myself boring. But I've gotta get to know you better first.”

Adachi nodded. “That's fair, I guess. Well, don't be a stranger. And I should probably get back to work before Dojima catches me slacking off again.”

Adachi was a slacker, looking for chances to escape work, it seemed. That was probably why he'd been sent to Inaba. He seemed harmless enough, but Tatsuya planned to get a sense of how this department functioned before he told anyone why he'd been sent away or opened up too much.

Tatsuya let out a groan and pocketed his lighter, shaking his head to pull himself back. Junes. Groceries. Food.

He made himself walk forward, through the automatic doors, only to crash into someone. They both lost their balance with twin grunts as they fell back.

Tatsuya looked at the stranger. He had one grocery bag clutched to his chest, his free hand keeping him on his butt instead of his back. Another bag had fallen and spilled cans and boxed goods to the floor.

The part of him that was a cop assessed him like he'd do for a suspect. Late twenties to early thirties, same as him. Black hair cut to swoop over his face, brown eyes. A flower pinned to his shirt, a watch on one wrist, clothing unremarkable, no distinguishing marks visible.

The rest of him thought this was the most beautiful man he'd ever seen.

“I'm sorry,” the man said as he scrambled to gather his things. Tatsuya couldn't bring himself to speak yet, but he shifted to his knees and helped gather the various foodstuff. “I wasn't looking where I was going,” the man continued. His voice was beautiful too.

Their hands met over the last can and the man finally looked at him. His eyes flew open wide as his voice choked off. He almost looked… scared.

“Are you okay?” Tatsuya finally asked.

The man opened and closed his mouth a few times, before he forced a smile. “Yes, Ta- sir. I'm just fine. No damage done.”

The man stood up and Tatsuya matched him, his chest tight. “I… I'm new in town,” he said, the words awkward in his mouth. “Trying to get to know people. I'm Tatsuya Suou. What's your name?”

—

Jun's internal monologue was currently a litany of curses. What luck was this? He knew Inaba was a small town, but to run into Tacchi- into Suou this soon after he'd moved to town?

Maya had warned him as soon as she heard about Suou's move. He'd planned to avoid the man. Interacting with him would likely bring only pain. And what if he somehow triggered his memories?

But now Tatsuya was looking at him like he was some sort of miracle. It was almost like he used to look, back after they'd gotten together, before the world ended. Awe and wonder and trepidation and maybe even yearning. What was missing was the familiarity and gratitude.

It wasn't fair. Jun wanted him back. Chronos called out for his other half. And if he was reading Suou right, then Suou was at least attracted to him. If he didn't have his memories, maybe they could have built something new.

But, as it was, it would be supremely unfair to get that close to Tatsuya. Not when he had to keep such a big secret from him. Not when he'd keep seeing how he used to be and never even be able to explain.

He couldn't ice him out, not completely. He wasn't strong enough. And maybe he could put in some damage control, establish a history before he started to get suspicious.

“I'm Jun Kashihara.” he said after a far too long pause as he examined the ground. “You said your name was Suou? You wouldn't happen to know a Katsuya Suou, would you?”

Suou pulled a lighter out of his pocket and Jun's mouth grew dry. He knew it couldn't be the lighter he still kept with other keepsakes. But the familiar flip-click of the lid hit him like a physical blow.

“Katsuya is my brother. You know him?” Suou replied.

Jun nodded. “I met him through another friend of mine, a few years ago. That's an odd coincidence.”

Suou gave a small smile. “I'll have to mention you to him. Do you… need any help with the bags?”

Jun immediately shook his head. “No, I'm alright. I should head home before my son misses me.”

His heart twisted as he saw Tatsuya's expression fall a bit. Disappointed at the response, or possibly assuming a kid meant he already had a partner.

Jun gave another smile. “It was nice to meet you, Suou-san,” he said, before heading out the doors.

Suou waved, his smile back. “See you around, Kashihara,” he called.

Jun didn't turn around. He didn't want anyone to see the tears burning in his eyes.

Chapter Text

Akira had noticed that Jun had been… off, since a little before classes ended for break. And when he asked, Jun had admitted that he ran into someone he used to know, but who didn't remember him. There was old grief in his eyes and Akira didn't know how to help.

He mostly just nudged Morgana at Jun. Both Jun and Morgana definitely knew what he was doing, but they seemed okay with it. Jun had been making a lot more phone calls to his grown up friends, too. Akira wanted to help more, but it was clear from the way Jun spoke that this was related to when Akira had been a baby. Both that time and the idea of lost memories made him nervous, almost scared. Thinking about it made his neck itch.

Maybe that desire to help was what had him give in so easily about the yukatas.

It was the first Sunday of summer break when Jun brought it up. “So, Akira. The summer festival is about 3 weeks away,” he began over breakfast.

Akira tilted his head, urging the man to go on.

“I know last year you said no to a yukata, but I thought I'd ask again if you want one this year. I was planning to go to Tatsumi Textiles today. I want a new one for myself. You can come with, if you want. You could choose a pattern for the fabric, and an obi to go with. Or a hakama and haori if you prefer that.”

Akira thought about it, putting aside his chopsticks so he could sign once he knew what he wanted to say.

Jun always took the opportunity to wear a yukata or a kimono, Akira had learned over the years. Whether it was for festivals or the new year or anything else, the man loved to dress up. Up until this point, Akira had always refused any offers to get him one of his own. At first, he hadn't wanted to be too indebted to Jun, or have too much tying him to the man. Besides, he'd been convinced he would have to leave him eventually, and he didn't know if he could keep fancy clothes safe wherever he might end up.

Some of those feelings faded with time. Akira was as convinced as he could make himself that he wouldn't be leaving Jun any time soon. But new feelings cropped up. Fancy clothes were expensive, and he was starting to hit big growth spurts. A yukata wouldn't be usable for long. Besides, next to Jun, he worried he'd look silly in comparison. And at festivals, he tended to run around and play in ways that would get a yukata dirty.

A look at Jun showed poorly hidden yearning. Jun wanted to give him this. And, despite it all, the idea of matching with Jun in that way sounded nice.

Maybe, he finally replied, and grinned a little when Jun lit up. But won't I grow out of it fast?

Jun shrugged. “We can ask Tatsumi-san to make it so it can be let out as you grow,” he replied happily. “You'd probably need a new one eventually, but if the seams can be let out, then it will last a lot longer.”

Akira nodded along. I want to be able to run around at the festival, too, though.

Jun's smile widened. “Well, there's two days for the festival. You could wear the yukata one day and more casual clothes the other. Anyway…” He trailed off for a moment, before coming back. “I've had some discussions with my friends. Some of them might come to visit for the festival. You've been making some friends lately. You should ask them if they want to hang out with you one of the days. Then you won't get bored by my friends.” His tone took on a teasing lilt.

Akira considered this. Yu was…

A whistle sounded in his mind. Another quiet teen at a shrine. It hurt too much to look at just then.

Not Yu. He was probably busy, anyway. He had lots of friends.

Maybe if he ran into Nanako they could hang out, but if Yu showed up, Akira had no explanations to give her.

Yoshitaka might want to hang out. Maybe he was going with friends from his class, but maybe Akira could tag along. Yoshitaka was slowly learning JSL, too, which would be helpful after the sun went down. And Akira would probably peel off so it was just him and Morgana at some point, too.

It was a decent plan.

I'll ask Yoshitaka, Akira signed, a small smile on his lips. And… I'll come with you to look at yukata.

Jun grinned outright. “Fantastic.”

Morgana perked up from his spot on the table, rubbing against Akira's arm with a meow. Akira didn't need a translation or the AAC device to know that Morgana was proud of him.

—

Morgana claimed a spot on Akira's shoulder for the walk to the shopping district. He knew it might mean he got sent outside when they went into the shop. The Tatsumis wouldn't want cat hair on their nice fabrics, and they wouldn't know that Morgana didn't shed. But he hoped that, by now, he'd have enough of a reputation for being “well-behaved” and smart that he could watch. He wanted to be able to be more active with this. Maybe help Akira pick a fabric if he was having trouble deciding.

Besides, this felt like a family thing. And Morgana was part of this family, even if most only thought he was a pet! Akira and Jun knew he wasn't.

The thought of Jun and Akira dressed up in yukata was a nice one, too. It brought back memories of the Thieves and that rained-out fireworks show. And now it showed Akira was letting down more of his walls, letting Jun buy this for him.

Wearing the yukatas felt like a family thing, too. In a way, it'd make Jun and Akira match.

Morgana let out a sigh as the three headed for the shopping district. Jun had explained as they walked how measuring would go, promising that he'd warn Tatsumi-san not to touch his neck or arm scars. He'd just brought up that he knew there was symbolism for most of the traditional patterns, although he wasn't an expert. Akira had raised his hands, probably for a question, but he stilled and looked back at Morgana at the sigh. Jun was looking at him too.

What's up? Akira asked.

Morgana shifted, feeling a bit nervous. “It's nothing important,” he said. “I just… sort of wish I could participate too.”

Jun automatically translated for him to Akira. It had been nearly 2 years since they'd started that practice, and it had become much more normal the more Jun translated. When they were in private, Morgana usually used the AAC device, but they'd grown comfortable with this form of communication too. After translating, Jun replied. “You mean, wear a yukata of your own?”

Akira perked up at the idea, even as Morgana nodded. “But they don't make yukata for cats,” he said, trying not to sound bitter.

Jun fiddled with his watch after he translated, eyes going distant in thought, although he focused back when Akira began to sign.

Why can't they make a yukata for a cat, though? he asked, his chin rising stubbornly.

Jun tapped his lips with a finger. “We can ask about it. We probably have a better shot at a textile shop like this that regularly does custom work than we would at somewhere more corporate.”

Morgana felt hope surge. He tried to temper it, but it would be really cool to be able to dress up like the rest of his family.

At Tatsumi Textiles, Tatsumi-san adjusted her glasses as she looked over Morgana. “A cat yukata…” she repeated thoughtfully. “Well, I can definitely bring out my fabrics for the two of you to choose for your own yukata, but… Well, I'll ask my son while I'm at it. He should still be here.”

With that, the stately woman glided back from the shop into her house.

After a few minutes, during which Jun, Akira and Morgana looked over some of the wares on display, Tatsumi returned holding a thick book, accompanied by a teen with bleached hair and a black tank top. His expression was intense, and Morgana immediately locked eyes with him, even as he heard Jun suck in a breath to the side.

“Is that the cat?” the boy asked, something almost excited in his tone.

Jun nodded. “This is Morgana. Do you think you could fit a yukata and obi for him?”

The teen sauntered up, tilting his head. “Probably, yeah. If he'll hold still enough for measurements.”

Akira nodded, and Jun added, “He's very intelligent, and knows when to behave, so you shouldn't have problems.”

The elder Tatsumi cut in, her elegance a stark contrast with her son's punk appearance. “This is Kanji Tatsumi, my son,” she introduced. “We can get to measurements soon, but first you'll want to pick out patterns, yes?” She placed the thick book down. It had tabs dividing it up. “This has a number of my fabrics in it. You'll want to look at the first section, for more general patterns, and the third for summer appropriate patterns.”

Akira approached, pulling out his notepad. They'd been around town for long enough that Tatsumi didn't bat an eye at it.

Jun said that fabric patterns have symbolism. Do you know about that? he wrote.

Tatsumi took the notebook, her son leaning in to read it. Both of them smiled, and suddenly it was a bit more obvious that they were related. “That's right, young man. We can go through the traditional patterns and their meanings, if you'd like.”

Akira nodded fiercely, eyes shining.

And so they spent a while, Morgana's little family and Tatsumi crowded around the book as Tatsumi waxed poetical about the symbolism of each pattern. Morgana watched as Akira turned over the options. Uroko, a pattern of triangles, to protect and bring good luck? Koi, for perseverance, courage, triumph and virility? He almost picked the Hagi pattern just because it looked like coffee beans, but Tatsumi said it was associated with fall.

Jun wasn't as intensely interested as Akira, although he perked up for any floral patterns. That was fair. Jun already owned several yukata and kimono. This would be Akira's first. (Or at least the first he could remember. Morgana didn't know if Akira had ever worn a yukata in his previous life, just that he hadn't brought any to Tokyo.)

Morgana kept an eye out for what he wanted. He knew he didn't want anything cutesy. Although the meanings of devotion and intelligence appealed to him, he would refuse any rabbit themed fabric for instance.

Then the page turned to a stylized cloud pattern, white on blue. “Clouds on cloth can be part of a design,” Tatsumi began. “Or just on their own. They stand for hope and change, and proximity of gods.”

Morgana straightened, leaning a bit closer. It wasn't overly cutesy. And the meaning made sense for him. “This one.” he declared.

Tatsumi looked at him the way most people did, like he was just a cute kitten. “Looks like Morgana-chan likes that one,” she commented with a smile.

Jun nodded, staying serious, although giving him a smile. “Yes. I think this cloud pattern would work well for his yukata. With a white obi, I think.”

Akira shot him a look, and Morgana gave a small nod. Akira grinned in return, before diving back into the book to choose his own pattern.

It took a while to both decide and measure both Akira and Morgana. Kanji was careful and practiced when he measured Morgana, although he kept muttering things about how cute Morgana was, how cute the yukata would look on him. Tatsumi measured Akira after he finally picked his own pattern. Stylized birds, called chidori, flying over mountains, for the ability to overcome life's difficulties, in gold on black.

Jun didn't need measurements since he'd bought from this shop before, but he still picked a new design. He’d chosen something in navy, with purple and red campanula bell flowers. It symbolized obedience, but more importantly for Jun unchangeable love and honesty.

Eventually they were done in the shop. Jun would be coming back in 2 weeks to pick up the yukata. The week after that would be the summer festival, and Morgana was excited to be able to dress up with Jun and Akira for the first time. Even though he knew he'd have to deal with a lot of comments about how cute he was.

Chapter Text

Two weeks later, a week before the summer festival started, Jun went back to Tatsumi Textiles. Morgana was with him, wanting to make sure his yukata looked right, but Akira had gone off on his own.

(The day before, the police had announced that they had caught the killer who had eluded the police since April. Morgana said the Velvet Room was still in town, so there may have still been some dangers, but Jun figured things had to be a lot safer and lifted some of the restrictions he'd asked Akira to follow, like not going somewhere completely alone. So Akira was taking advantage of the increased freedom, probably to climb trees or hunt bugs or something.)

It was a hot, sunny day, right in the middle of August. It took some time in the Tatsumi’s traditional shopfront to get the yukata and obi all packed up, mostly because Morgana tried on his yukata as soon as he could. The deep blue brought out his eyes and made him look refined, although the teenage son, Kanji, definitely thought he was adorable.

(And Jun was doing his absolute best to ignore the boy's Persona and its resonance. It wasn't his problem, or his business.)

Finally, with a bundle of cloth carefully wrapped in tissue paper in his arms, and Morgana having left ahead of him, Jun stepped back to the main street. He planned to go straight home and put the clothes away, when heard someone call.

“Jun-kun! Oh, I've been looking for you!” a woman's voice called.

Jun looked and saw Noriko Kashiwagi, her top as low-cut as usual, walking up to him with a sway in her step, something he struggled to describe as anything but “predatory” in her eyes. The woman was in the usual rotation of substitute teachers, so he'd met her and firmly didn't like her.

“Kashiwagi-san,” he said, carefully polite. “Was there something you needed?”

She shot him a smile and fluttered her lashes. “I've been wanting to get to know you better, especially since you got the new job,” she said. Was that a hint of jealousy he detected?

She walked up to him, getting into his space. Jun bit back a grimace. His hands were full. He tried to back up to keep an appropriate distance, but she walked faster than him. She plucked off the flower on his breast, the stem dragging free from the metal pinning it there, and held it to her nose, before holding it near her cleavage, an obvious attempt to make him look at her breasts. Jun wanted to roll his eyes, but he held back.

“Well, I'm fairly busy at the moment,” he said, his politeness straining. “Maybe we can talk again some other time.” Or never.

“Jun-kun,” Kashiwagi purred, seeming completely assured of her own charms even as she lowered her voice. “I'd say we're probably the two most attractive people in this town. It's natural to feel a pull towards me. There's no need to be shy.”

Jun took a deep breath. She was his senior, technically, and he didn't want to cause any problems at work, especially not when he’d just gained the new role at Yasogami. He had to be polite. But he couldn't stop a bit of venom sneaking its way in. “Kashiwagi-san, I am afraid you must have misunderstood. I do not think of you in that way. In fact, I do not think of you at all.”

The flash of hurt in her eyes quickly shifted to anger, but Jun kept talking. “I am much too busy looking after my son for such matters.”

The anger in her eyes was shoved back for the moment. “Well, that's why you have to get to know me, silly! You need a break from all that responsibility. You should come with me to the festival next weekend!” she tried to chirp, but the mask was cracked.

“I already have plans,” Jun said coolly.

The anger flared up. She surged forward, grabbing him by the upper arms. Jun held on tighter to the yukatas, unable to push her away without dropping them, and felt a bit of fear thrill through him. “What sort of plans could you possibly have? Focusing on babying that little-”

The word she used was one Jun had heard before. Students used it sometimes. And it was a word he knew Akira had heard before. A word he'd had thrown at him for his lack of speech. It was a nasty, mean word. With students, when he could, he'd try to discuss it with them, help them realize how hurtful it could be.

Some part of him recognized this wouldn't be the last time someone used that slur for his kid. But it was the first time Jun heard someone call Akira that word.

His heart pounded in his ears and his mind went blank. His hands shook around the paper-wrapped cloth. He could hardly hear Kashiwagi over his own heart. What he could hear didn't ease the fury pounding through him. She was ranting, speculating about Akira being a throwaway child. Shifting into speculating on why Jun wasn't interested in her. Was he gay? Did he think she was too old?

The ice in Jun's veins worked slowly as he stared at the woman in his face. He felt himself ready to do something, although he couldn't have said what if asked later. Yell? Insult her? Attack her physically?

Whatever he would have done, it never came to pass. Before he could act, rough hands tore Kashiwagi off of him.

She shrieked. “Let me go!” she cried, crocodile tears brimming suddenly in her eyes. “You're hurting me!”

Jun looked past her, to the man holding her. Tatsuya scowled at the woman. “You were hurting him.”

“Someone help me! Call the cops!” the snake of a woman cried.

Tatsuya scoffed. “I am a police officer. I was stopping a disturbance,” he said, before letting her go, positioning himself so he was between her and Jun.

She stared at him, mouth opening and closing like a fish. Jun took a deep breath as the ice trickled back out of his veins.

“Move along, ma'am, before I write you up,” Tatsuya warned.

Kashiwagi closed her mouth and sniffed, offended, before turning around and stomping off, dropping Jun's flower as she went.

Jun watched the iris, half-crushed, fall to the ground, before he turned back to Tatsuya. A smile tugged at his lips and he almost opened his mouth to speak before he remembered.

This wasn't his Tacchi. This was Suou, who he had met once and then spent a couple weeks avoiding, the brother of a friend but practically a stranger.

Suou gave him a look over. “Are you alright, Kashihara-san?”

Jun adjusted the cloth in his arms, checking it over to make sure it was undamaged by the situation. (He pushed aside bemusement at hearing Tatsuya call him Kashihara-san. He expected the family name, but the Tacchi he remembered hardly ever used honorifics. Was this a fundamental difference between them, or a function of growing older and becoming a cop?)

“Yes, thank you, Officer Suou,” he said with a small bow. “At worst I might bruise on my arms, but I doubt it. It was more shocking than anything.”

Suou frowned, looking back towards where she'd left. “Could you tell me what happened? I mostly heard her being… mean.”

Jun huffed a laugh at the lame descriptor. “She must have lost her temper,” he explained. “She was trying to ask me on a date to the summer festival. I was not interested. Unfortunately, she caught me with my arms full or I could have kept her at a greater distance.”

Suou nodded and subtly relaxed, bringing more of his focus to Jun. “That's this weekend, right?”

Jun nodded.

Suou pulled out his lighter, and Jun swallowed back grief. “Do you think she'll give you any more trouble, leading up to or during the festival?” the man asked.

Jun frowned. “I… don't know,” he said, looking out at the street. “She strikes me as the sort more likely to spread rumors if she has time to think, but I don't know her very well. One of the days of the festival, I'll have some friends with me who should be able to hold her off if needed, but the other I plan to spend with my son, and I really don't want her to interact with him.”

Suou nodded. For a long moment, they were both silent, before Suou dredged up the words to speak. “You have other worries about her.”

Jun turned back and met his eyes, surprised to be read so well. “Well… it isn't my place to say…” he tried to demure.

Suou shook his head. “She's… a concerning person. I want to know how much of an eye I need to keep on her.”

Jun bit his lip, then sighed. “Then let's find somewhere a little quieter to talk.”

They ended up walking, heading out towards the flood plain until they found a bench to sit on. Jun found himself being far more honest than he would normally be, but he told himself he needed to share what he knew. Kashiwagi worried him, more than just for himself. As a substitute teacher, she hopefully didn't have much opportunity to do harm, but if she got a full time position and therefore more consistent contact with the same group of kids…

He'd tried to speak to some of his coworkers about her when he first realized what kind of person she was. But everyone brushed it off. It was frustrating, but he knew most people didn't consider that kind of behavior a big deal. When it was a female teacher targeting male students, it was even less of a concern to most.

Maybe it was because of his parents. His father had been his mother's high school teacher. They hadn't gotten together until after she graduated, but he'd had some uncomfortable conversations with both of them about it, especially once he decided to be a teacher himself. His parents worked together despite the way they'd met, not because of it. And in the early stages of their relationship, there had been a lot of conversations, with his father making sure he wasn't taking any advantage of his mother.

(Part of him wondered if that had been the same in the other timeline, or if that had been part of what made them so different.)

So when Suou gave him that serious look and asked what his concerns were, he was truthful. He didn't know much, just jokes and gossip. They'd hardly spoken until today.

He went over the interaction with Kashiwagi in more detail, generally keeping his eyes on his lap so the sight of his old best friend wouldn't throw him. Although he looked from time to time, to see his reactions. How did Suou react when he heard how angry Jun had gotten? How did he react to mention of Akira's disabilities and adopted status, or the fact that Kashiwagi had accused him of being gay?

Tatsuya had been hard to read, but Jun had been able to do it, once, easily. That practice helped him here to some degree, but there was always an edge of uncertainty. This wasn't the same man he once knew.

Finally, Tatsuya rolled his neck, looking out towards the river. “I'll definitely look into her on my own, to see if anything comes up. I'll have the time, now that the manhunt for that murderer is done. As for the festival…”

He turned to Jun finally. “One of the friends you're meeting up with is my brother, right?”

Jun nodded. “I heard he planned to spend one of the festival days with you,” he commented.

Tatsuya shoved a hand in his pocket. “Mm-hm. You know he's an ex-cop, right? Maybe we can shadow you and your kid in case she shows up. Hopefully, we'll all enjoy the festival, just vaguely near each other, but if she tries to make problems then we can step in.”

Jun shook his head. “I don't want to take away from your time with your brother,” he protested. But one look at Suou's stubborn expression made him bite back a curse.

“You're going to do this no matter what I say, aren't you?” he asked hopelessly.

Suou looked surprised for a moment, before nodding. “You're right,” he said. “Your kid shouldn't have to hear Kashiwagi if she decides to throw a tantrum.”

Jun fiddled with his watch as he thought. “Fine,” he said. “What had you been planning to do on the other festival day?”

Tatsuya shrugged. “Aniki is hanging out with you and your friends. I was planning to explore on my own.”

Jun nodded, then stood up suddenly. He'd need to talk to the others, but maybe he could help the Suous get a little more time together.

Chapter Text

When Jun got home, Morgana and Akira were both waiting for him. The sight, and the sound of Akira's hum of greeting and Morgana's clear excitement as he tapped away on the AAC device, had him grinning and putting his worries aside. Akira tried to hide some of his excitement, but he kept grinning. Jun helped Akira try on the new yukata, since Morgana had tried his own at the shop, and was rewarded with one of the largest honest smiles he'd ever seen from Akira. Then, at Morgana’s urging, they both helped Morgana into his own yukata before Jun slipped into the one he’d chosen.

The black and gold of Akira's outfit made him look a little more mature, even as the cartoony birds kept him from looking like he was trying too hard. Morgana still looked distinguished. He was almost unearthly, the blue of his yukata making his eyes pop. And Jun knew he looked good, of course. The more feminine design and colors were one of the few ways he could get close to crossdressing these days, and he loved to indulge when he could.

Looking at his family in the mirror, Jun couldn't stop his smile either. It was a strange family, and Jun sometimes struggled with the labels. Akira was his son, legally, and for simplicity's sake that was what he called him. But he remembered thinking of him like a baby brother long ago. Morgana was more complicated. They couldn't acknowledge his true importance to anyone but those in the know. Sometimes he felt like another one of Jun's children, like an older sibling. Jun even caught himself referring to “his kids” when talking to Maya and the other Persona Users. Sometimes, Morgana felt like another adult helping care for Akira. Mostly, though, it was easier to just not label things. Just appreciate the not-cat for everything he brought to their lives.

They only wore the clothes long enough to make sure they fit and for Jun to snap some pics. Once the other two were changed back to normal wear, they dashed out of the house before Jun could say anything.

Jun let out a sigh. He'd need to talk to them, to give them a heads up before the festival. He'd told Morgana that Tatsuya was moving to town so he wouldn't be caught off guard, but he hadn't mentioned the meetings they'd had.

But if Tatsuya would be shadowing them, he had to let them both know. He knew Akira was nervous about cops, and Morgana had his own thoughts on the police. And he wanted to warn them both about Kashiwagi.

First, though, he had to talk to Maya and her friends. His friends too at this point?

It took a bit to hear back from everyone, but all of them were okay with Tatsuya coming along. As Serizawa put it, “it's not like we were planning to talk about Personas. Especially if there's other Persona-users in town.” It was put to Katsuya to give the news to his brother, and Katsuya seemed quietly pleased about the whole thing.

Everyone expressed concern and outrage when Jun explained what had happened with Kashiwagi. He had to spend most of the conversation talking them all down from stalking the woman or doing other inadvisable things. Yes, really, the Suous would be enough. No, he didn't want Serizawa to punch her or Maya-nee to try to write an article to ruin her name. He didn't want anything to blow back on him or his family. Although he did accept Saga’s offer to find a photo of Kashiwagi, both so Katsuya could recognize her and so he could show his kids.

Despite what everyone said, though, he had a sense that he'd have more than two shadows following him on the second day of the festival.

—

“Akira, Morgana, there's something I should show you,” Jun said a few days before the festival, right after breakfast.

Akira shrugged and nodded as Morgana meowed something that probably meant “okay.” Akira grabbed the AAC device Morgana used for more complicated communication and followed Jun to his computer.

“This is all just to be cautious,” Jun started to explain as he booted up the computer. “I don't think there will actually be a problem, but I want to warn you two, just in case.”

What's going on? Akira asked.

Jun sighed, half turned so he could watch Akira even as he pulled up a program. “I had a run-in with a woman who wanted to go with me to the festival, and she got mad when I turned her down,” he explained. “I don't think she'll do anything, but if she does, she might try to insult you, Akira. I don't think she knows what you look like, but she knows you exist, so when we're together…”

Akira tilted his head in thought, even as Morgana started typing. He could handle insults. He'd been insulted enough. It hurt a little, but he could push through it. Jun's expression said it was worse, though.

What else did she do?

Jun gave a rueful smile. “She grabbed me. I don't know her very well, so I don't know how far she'd go. I really do hope she wouldn't try to make a scene at the festival, but I wanted to warn you.”

The AAC device sounded, speaking for Morgana. “What's the plan to deal with her?”

Akira nodded, straightening a little. Even if nothing happened, a plan sounded good.

Jun smiled a little wider, then turned his computer monitor to show a photo of a brunette woman. “Well, this is her. Her name is Noriko Kashiwagi. Generally, the plan is to avoid her if we can. The first day, I'll be with my friends and they can deal with her if needed. The second day, I think some of my friends are planning to shadow us as guards, but I know specifically Katsuya Suou and his brother will be lingering nearby.”

Akira nodded. He'd met Katsuya. The man clearly had a lot of feelings about the past Akira didn't remember, but he was a good baker and had learned not to bring up the past to him. Plus he and that whole friend group had learned JSL.

But before he could sign anything, Morgana went stiff, yowling out something in shock.

Jun opened his mouth, a faint blush, growing on his cheeks, then closed it and offered a sheepish shrug.

Akira rolled his eyes. What did he say? he demanded.

Morgana's tail lashed anxiously as Jun explained, eyes continually flicking away before glancing back. “He… knows Katsuya's brother, Tatsuya. Tatsuya moved to Inaba a couple weeks ago. I didn't mention it to you, Akira, because I knew him from the other timeline, and I'd intended to avoid him…”

His blush was growing. It made Akira feel antsy. But they'd long established that Akira never wanted to hear about weird things or the old timeline. It was fine. He was a little curious what was causing all these reactions, and why Jun failed to avoid this man, but he knew any talk about the old timeline would get him upset.

Fine, you two can talk about that yourselves, he signed, huffing a breath.

Jun nodded and Morgana brushed against him in a silent apology. Akira gave a jerky shrug and attempted a smile. Anything else important?

Jun nodded, turning serious again. “First of all, Kashiwagi said some very cruel things about you. My main goal is to make sure you don't have to hear that. If you see her, or if trouble starts with her, I want you to run away, Akira. I'll leave with you if possible.”

Akira rolled his eyes. I've been insulted before, he pointed out. I'm not a baby.

Jun gave a fond half-smile. “I know. I know you could handle it. But the festival is supposed to be fun. You shouldn't have to handle it. Besides, I figure if we all avoid her or get away from her, it'll cut down on how bad things can get.”

Morgana gave a mrrp clearly asking them to wait for him to type, before replying, “Keeping her away from her targets is mission success.”

Akira considered this for a moment, before nodding.

Jun turned to face the two of them fully. “I also wanted to give you a heads up, Akira. Tatsuya is a police officer.”

Akira felt himself stiffen, even as Jun kept talking.

“I trust him for this, and you shouldn't have to interact with him directly. He stepped in when Kashiwagi grabbed me before, and offered to keep watch for us again. I don't think he'll be in uniform, but his job will give him the authority to make Kashiwagi stop if she causes problems.”

Akira tugged his bangs nervously as he thought that over. If I can avoid him, it's fine, he eventually decided.

Jun gave a smile. “Alright. Finally, I really don't want this to impact our time at the festival. This is all for the worst case scenario, but I want us all to have fun, okay?”

Akira nodded. She doesn't get to ruin our fun, he agreed, lifting his chin.

Morgana meowed his assent, sitting up straight. Jun just smiled. “Well, that's all.”

Akira gave a weak smile. I'll let you two talk about that other stuff. I should work on my homework, he signed.

And so he went, doing his best to ignore the itching on the back of his neck.

—

The moment Akira had left, Morgana pinned Jun with a hard look. “Are you sure about this, Jun?” he asked.

Jun's smile fell as his shoulders slumped. “No,” he admitted. “Not entirely. But Tacchi was going to guard us no matter what I said.”

Morgana hopped to the computer table, looking over Jun in concern. “Was he showing any signs of remembering?”

Jun shook his head, although he began to blush again. “No signs of deja vu. But I can tell he's still attracted to me. And I can't ever explain why it wouldn't work…”

Morgana leaned against Jun's arm in silent support. “Then I guess you'll go back to avoiding him after this?”

Jun blushed even brighter. “Actually…”

“Oh, great…” Morgana muttered, earning a glare.

“Well, he was supposed to spend that day with his brother!” Jun protested. “He's using that time to protect us. So I… I offered for him to spend the first day of the festival with my group.”

“And everyone's okay with that?”

Jun nodded. “I checked with them first. It should be fine. Maya-nee thinks it would be nice to see what this Tatsuya is like, and Katsuya-san doesn't think it would pose any danger, since we shouldn't be talking about Personas anyway.”

Morgana's tail twitched. “And what about you? Will you be able to handle it?”

Jun shrugged. “I hope so. Maybe if I can see the differences more clearly, it'll make things easier for me.”

“Hmmph. I still can't believe Tatsuya became a cop,” Morgana muttered.

Jun gave an attempt at a smile. “I think he's been trying to change things. Katsuya implied something like that. You should ask him.”

Morgana nodded. “Sounds like a plan. Plus, Katsuya always gives me treats.” He started to smirk. “He knows how to properly treat a cat-shaped-being.”

—

“Alright, you have your money? Your phone? You know where you're meeting your friend?” Jun asked at the edge of the festival.

Akira nodded, his black Featherman mask positioned on the side of his head for the moment. While Jun wore one of his older yukatas, something dark gray with scattered dragonflies, Akira was in shorts and a light long-sleeved shirt, ready to play. Morgana perched on his shoulder, eyeing the stalls and the thin crowds with interest.

“Alright, have fun. I'll meet you back here in a couple hours,” Jun said, patting Akira on the head. Akira gave a quick grin, slipped the mask on fully, and ran off.

For some time, he ran around the fair, playing games and trying out fair food. He spent a while with Yoshitaka, competing at various games. Akira tended to win the ones that required aiming, but Yoshitaka was more dextrous. He was good at patiently scooping up superballs with paper cups or carving out the candy molds for katanuki.

Competing scratched an itch and made Akira think about Goro. He hoped Goro got a chance to enjoy a festival near him. And maybe someday they could go to the same festival. Akira made sure to not get too competitive with Yoshitaka, though. And when the two split off, the younger boy gave him a big smile, so he was pretty sure he'd played well.

After that, Akira focused more on Morgana and finding things the two of them could do together. He got a water yoyo and figured out a game in the corner where they tried to hit the yoyo past each other. With the mask on, JSL was harder. Any signs that required mouthing or other facial movement were impossible unless he lifted the mask. But in a way, it felt better to have limited communication with Morgana. They didn't want to use the AAC device with so many people around, but they both knew each other so well. It was easy to read each other. And it felt like a fun secret. The mask only helped the feeling.

The water yoyo game continued until Akira hit the ball a little too hard and the balloon popped, spraying both him and Morgana with water. Akira burst out laughing, even as Morgana yowled in complaint.

It was nearly full dark, the lanterns casting dreamy shadows in the dusk, when Akira returned to the stalls. He'd helped Morgana dry off, but he wanted to play the festival games again, maybe win a new water yoyo.

Soon, this found Akira and Morgana at the shooting stall. Yoshitaka and him had passed on the stall before, finding it far too crowded, but the crowd was more manageable now. Various kids and teens shot at prizes with wooden air guns. Akira stepped into line.

He was almost at the front, his mask temporarily tilted up so he could see better when he shot. Then he heard a young voice cry out, “Akira!” When he looked, Nanako Dojima had dipped out from the line, looking very cute and a little unbalanced in her pink yukata and geta sandals.

Akira adjusted his mask so it wouldn't cover his face at all, and grinned at the girl. Hi, Nanako-chan, he signed carefully, making sure she'd be able to read him with the poor lighting.

Her grin grew. “I'm so glad I saw you!” she said. “Big bro and his friends are around somewhere, but it's getting late and Dad said we have to go home soon.”

At her words, Akira scanned the area. No sign of Yu, like she said. But that was her dad, the cop, slipping out of the line and coming up with a smile on his face.

Akira felt himself tense up, and felt Morgana grow alert on his shoulder. He kept up a smile for Nanako, but he started glancing about for escape routes. Well, it's good to see you, but I have to meet up with someone, he said.

Nanako's expression immediately fell. “Oh, you've gotta go?” she replied forlornly.

“You have to go?” her dad repeated, clearly only getting half the conversation. “Akira-kun, right? It's almost your turn for the shooting range. Don’t you want to wait for that?”

Akira nodded, even as Nanako started rambling. “Yeah, he's friends with Big Bro! And he's got an awesome cat, and is why I'm learning JSL!”

“I remember, Nanako,” her dad said with a smile.

The whole time, Akira stayed frozen. Nanako's expression pricked at him. She shouldn't care that one kid had to leave, but she did, clearly. And she was nice, and he'd hoped to hang out with her. But he'd forgotten her dad would probably be there.

Katsuya's brother was a cop too, and he'd be nearby tomorrow. Akira hadn't actually stolen anything in over a year (Jun had convinced him that it wasn’t worth it in a small town where he could get a reputation), and there was no reason why a cop would have that kind of interest in him. He didn't want to ruin his fun tomorrow with fear. And he didn't want to ruin his fun right now. But looking up at Dojima made his chest grow tight.

Through the cloth of his shirt, Akira felt the faintest prick of Morgana's claws. A glance at him showed understanding, and a willingness to follow his lead. Morgana would be willing to make a scene right now to help him get away, if he wanted it.

Suddenly, he felt his mask, the sensation and weight of it clear. He didn't want to let Nanako down or ruin his own fun. And he could push through this.

All this happened as Nanako explained what Akira had said to her dad. It gave him enough time to square his shoulders and raise his chin. I don't have to leave quite yet, he signed. Do you want to play together, Nanako-chan?

The beaming smile the girl gave him was almost enough to override the constant awareness of her dad's presence.

Akira ended up joining the Dojimas a little further back in line, where a kind soul had saved their spot while they talked to Akira. As he interacted with Nanako and her dad, mostly listening to her chatter about all the fun things she'd done, he forced himself to relax over and over. Dojima asked him questions, but they were similar to the kinds of questions Yoshitaka's parents asked him when they met, or the kinds of questions Jun had asked his own friends. There were some little things that put Akira on edge. Dojima continually called the shooting stall a practice range before correcting himself. There was an alertness to him that made him read as more dangerous than most parents. And there were times when he didn't know things about Nanako, or little awkward moments between them, that made Akira worry. But over time Dojima felt more and more like a dad, and less like a cop. By the time they could take positions with the wooden guns and shoot for prizes, Akira was able to almost entirely ignore Dojima to focus on his own shooting.

“Wow, you’re really good!” Nanako exclaimed as they collected their prizes. “You’re almost as good as dad!”

Akira ducked his head, but signed a quick “thank you”, before handing over a little plush radish. For you. Because you’re vegetables girl, he signed.

“Oh, thanks! Um…” Nanako started looking among her small stash of prizes, but Akira shook his head.

I don’t need anything, he signed.

“Um, if you say so…” she replied, before looking back at her dad. “How did you do, dad?”

“Pretty good, Nanako. Though I don’t have much use for this stuff, so would you mind holding onto it for me?” He had a gently teasing smile as he handed over a collection of things obviously chosen to appeal to the girl, before giving her a one-armed hug.

Meanwhile, Akira carefully stored his winnings in his pockets and bag, and Morgana hopped in the bag to investigate the new things.

Akira ended up spending a little more time with the Dojimas, until they had to leave for Nanako’s bedtime. And he was pretty proud of himself. He never fully relaxed around the elder Dojima, but he had genuine fun. Morgana let both of the Dojimas pet him, and Nanako got very excited when she learned Morgana would be wearing a yukata the next day.

Eventually, the two headed out, but Akira and Morgana continued to wander the festival for another hour or so. They ate festival food and watched the other people around, with plenty more games in between. The end of the night found them at the same spot they started. Jun came over, his grown up friends following behind him.

Chapter Text

Katsuya showed up to Tatsuya's new apartment the Saturday of the festival, his arms piled high with pastry boxes. Tatsuya couldn't stop the small grin at the sight, even as he rushed to take some of the boxes and invite him in.

“C'mon, Aniki, put it down in the kitchen,” he urged. “You know you don't need to bake me things every time you visit, right?”

His brother grinned back, expression so much more carefree than it used to be. Katsuya's career change, while disappointing at the time when Tatsuya was in the midst of his own police training, had clearly been good for him. Every year, he seemed lighter. The change in dynamics when Tatsuya became the Suou still in the police had taken getting used to, but now that they were both firmly adults, Tatsuya found he liked it. There was less pressure to live up to the example, even as Katsuya remained willing to support him.

“Only one of those boxes is yours,” Katsuya warned. “And I like making things for people. Now. Let me look at you.”

With the boxes to the side, Katsuya placed his hands on Tatsuya's shoulders, looking him over, his expression growing more serious. “Father and I are both trying to reach out to what contacts we still have to bring you home, little brother. You're holding up here?”

Tatsuya ducked his head, stepping back to get his space. “It is what it is,” he replied. “We all know this transfer isn't the worst thing that could happen to me. But… since, on paper, it isn't a punishment, I know it's harder to fight.”

He walked to the couch and gestured for his brother to join him. Katsuya gave a quick smile. “You're right on all of that. I guess there isn't much else to say on getting you home. Suou determination can get us far but…”

“But it doesn't guarantee anything,” Tatsuya finished, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling. He knew that. Something in the pit of his stomach worried that he'd be forced to become another Suou ex-cop. Until and unless that happened, he just had to try to make what change he could.

Katsuya hummed in agreement. “So,” he said after a long pause. “How have things been going here?”

Tatsuya let himself smile briefly. “Not all bad,” he shared. “Haven't run into any corruption yet, but everything's been a mess with the high-profile murders. I don't get the sense any of the higher-ups are trying to cover for anyone, though they definitely want the case closed more than anything else.”

“And what about outside the job?” Katsuya pushed.

Tatsuya felt himself blush. “Is this about Kashihara?” he asked, turning away. “I know you know him.”

Katsuya shrugged and eased back a little. “A little,” he replied, voice deceptively bland. “You're going to bat for him pretty quickly, with this Kashiwagi woman.”

Tatsuya covered his face and groaned.

“Mostly, I just want to know how you're adjusting,” Katsuya offered, easing back more.

Face still in his hands, Tatsuya shrugged, before lifting his head to speak. “I'm getting by,” he commented. “People are friendly enough. Kashihara seems… nice, but I don't plan to stay here long.”

The conversation eased into more regular catching up. Katsuya managed to get Tatsuya to share about how different things felt in a small town, and the people he stayed in contact with back in Sumaru. Anna Yoshizaka especially had become something of a lifeline. Katsuya in turn updated him on how things were going on his end. He shared well wishes from their parents and admonishments to call them more often, and funny stories from his pastry shop.

Throughout it all, they danced around the matter of Jun Kashihara. Katsuya nudged at the topic, testing and probing, but Tatsuya was reluctant to open up. Kashihara felt like a soap bubble. Shimmering, beautiful, but getting too close could ruin everything. There were definitely some mixed signals, but it felt more negative than positive.

Eventually, he pushed back. “Aniki, what do you know about Kashihara?” he asked. “You know him better than I do. I've only really run into him twice.”

Katsuya looked sad for a moment, before sighing. “You know he met me through Maya Amano, right?” he asked.

Tatsuya nodded.

“They were childhood friends and got back in contact a couple years ago,” Katsuya began to explain, gaze going distant. “Honestly, a lot of the reason why she introduced us is because of his son, though…”

Tatsuya nodded, brows together, not sure what the boy had to do with it.

“You remember, your last year of high school,” Katsuya began. “There was a baby who I was trying to adopt.”

Tatsuya couldn't help the way he tensed and his breath caught, but Katsuya kept talking. “We lost him in the system. Jun adopted him a year or so ago. When Maya-san realized who Akira-kun was, she told me.”

Tatsuya dug out his lighter and started to fidget with it. “He's the baby you tried to adopt?” he asked.

He felt unsteady. Katsuya barely ever talked about anything that happened in 1999. Tatsuya had woken up one day in the hospital, the news in an uproar, with no memory of the past several months. He'd run away from home, according to his parents. He'd started acting strange, Anna told him. Katsuya at first had tried to claim he knew nothing more than anyone else. But he was never the best liar.

That had led to fights. Tatsuya bursting into shouts so he wouldn't let himself beg to know what Katsuya was hiding from him. In the end, they reached a stalemate. Katsuya admitted he knew some things, but that he couldn't and wouldn't tell Tatsuya. He asked that Tatsuya stop looking for the truth himself. And, eventually, Tatsuya stopped looking. Some part of him whispered to trust his brother and let this go. Some part of him would always wonder, but he had to believe that if there was anything about that time that he needed to know, Katsuya would tell him.

Throughout that all had been the baby his brother had begun to care for, and the strange new friends who dropped by his place over and over, helping out. The same friends who'd come to meet Kashihara for the summer festival.

“So, Amano introduced your friend group to Kashihara because you'd all known his son, Akira?” Tatsuya confirmed.

“Right,” Katsuya said, relief and something almost like evasion on his face.. “Though Akira-kun doesn't remember any of us, obviously. He was a baby at the time. He went through some traumas back then that still affect him, so he doesn't like to talk about it. And he doesn't like it when any of the rest of us get too familiar. Which…” Katsuya sighed, a little wistful. “It's fair. There's a lot of emotion on our side, on my side. But he doesn't feel anything like that in return, so it gets weird for him. I think I've gotten better at not overwhelming him…”

Tatsuya nudged his brother with his shoulder, a little expression of comfort, and got a smile in return. The whole matter of that baby had been strange for him, since the baby had been orphaned by the crisis Tatsuya couldn't remember, but the grief his brother went through had been clear, and even as a punkass teen, Tatsuya had seen it and tried to help.

“Trauma…” he brought back. “He… had a brain injury, right? I remember you saying that. And Kashihara said he's mute.”

Katsuya nodded. “That's exactly right,” he said. “Overall, he's mostly recovered from that brain injury, but the muteness stuck. Actually… if you want to be friends with Kashihara, learning JSL so Akira-kun can communicate with you easier would help.”

Tatsuya couldn't stop the blush this time, and gritted his teeth as his brother's smile grew. “I… I'm not sure if Kashihara wants to be… friends with me in return,” he replied. “I've been getting mixed signals.”

Katsuya's expression shifted into something Tatsuya struggled to read. “That's fair. You may have to actually ask him directly, or have a conversation about it.” The suggestion,which easily could have been teasing, was completely serious, something Tatsuya was grateful for. “Even if he's not interested, I doubt he would be cruel.”

Tatsuya flipped his lighter closed one more time, before shoving it in his pocket. “You might be right,” he admitted, before blatantly changing the subject. “So, what did you bake for me this time?”

Katsuya smiled and grabbed one of the boxes from the kitchen, handing it over. When Tatsuya opened it, he smiled at the sight of a simple slice of castella cake. It was still his favorite desert from his brother's kitchen. “Thanks, as always,” he said, before he quickly dug in, savoring the sweet honey taste.

Later, the two brothers headed to the local shrine. Tatsuya led the way at first more familiar with these streets, but when they reached the sparse crowds, he hung back.

Finally, Katsuya lit up, raising a hand as he approached a group of men and women in yukatas. They turned and Tatsuya felt their eyes on him, even as they smiled at his brother.

Tatsuya scanned over the three friends he could somewhat recognize. Ulala Serizawa and Maya Amano were in floral prints, the first in purples and the second in yellows. Kaoru Saga had his long hair tied back and had a brown yukata with geometric patterns.

And then there was Jun Kashihara. The sight of him in his dark yukata took his breath away. The man met his eyes and gave a small smile, and it felt like Tatsuya's heart stopped for a moment.

He hung back as the others welcomed Katsuya into their group and Katsuya handed out treats. Saga and Kashihara both got delicate little traditional desserts, while Amano got a green tea mochi and Serizawa a small slice of cheesecake. Saga immediately popped his mizumanju into his mouth as the others admired their treats.

“Where are Akira-kun and Morgana-kun?” Katsuya asked Kashihara. “I have treats for them too.”

Kashihara looked up from admiring the delicate floral scene depicted in his kingokyu-kan and smiled. “Oh, they already took off. They'll say hi towards the end of the night,” he said.

Tatsuya dug out his lighter. At the first click, he felt Kashihara's eyes on him. “Who's Morgana?” he asked. The name sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't place it.

“Oh, that's Akira's cat,” Kashihara explained. “They're practically inseparable.”

Tatsuya cut a glance at his brother, a small smirk on his lips. “A cat? Aniki, I thought you'd finally accepted your allergies,” he teased.

Katsuya rolled his eyes, smirking in return. “Morgana-kun's special,” he retorted. “We don't know why exactly, but he's never triggered my allergies.”

Tatsuya couldn't stop the grin, even as the others joined in on teasing his brother for his love of cats. For a moment, he felt like part of the group.

That feeling didn't last long, but it also wasn't the only time it happened. That evening was… strange. Tatsuya kept to the edges of the group, mostly, only occasionally joining the conversations. They discussed their lives and their favorite festival foods. Funny office stories and old stories from past meet-ups. He learned that the Inaba festival last year was more crowded, and that Serizawa had helped Amano pick her yukata. And sometimes it felt like things clicked. Like it was perfectly natural to trail behind this group, occasionally joining in the conversation when he had something to say or someone asked him something. Sometimes, Kashihara joined him on the edges of the conversations, and sometimes that felt natural too. Even though he couldn't figure out what the look Kashihara kept giving him meant, it felt normal when he didn't think about it.

But, those moments didn't always last. Sometimes, it was just the awkwardness of talking to people he barely knew. Everyone did their best to include him, but it was normal for that to feel awkward.

And then sometimes, Tatsuya felt like an outsider. Sometimes someone would start to say something and cut off, and all the others would exchange glances. Once, they passed by a group of teens and every single one of his group tensed at the same time. It reminded him of when he was younger, after those months of lost memory. The feeling of things not being said. He tried to tell himself it made sense. These were friends Katsuya had made during the crisis. It was the same hidden thing as always, and he wanted to be able to let it go.

But Kashihara was part of it, too. Maybe it was because of his son? Akira's parents had died during the crisis, so maybe he knew something about it.

He did his best to ignore it. He knew the answer he'd get if he asked. But, somehow, Kashihara being in on whatever this secret was hurt. He at first thought it might be because a total stranger was trusted with information Tatsuya couldn't have. But that didn't feel right. There was something more visceral about it. He couldn't figure out what it was. Just that it felt wrong.

On top of all that, he never let himself fully relax. He kept an eye out for that Kashiwagi woman, just in case.

Despite all of that, he did have a good time. He munched on festival food and enjoyed watching so many people have fun. No one pulled him too far out of his comfort zone, but they didn't let him stay out of everything. He ended up having good, simple conversations with all of his brother's friends.

Amano, as a journalist, was looking into police corruption in Sumaru, and they shared some understanding. They both understood what it felt like to be unwilling to step away from a fight they could never fully win. Serizawa on the other hand brought him into a conversation about music, and Saga chatted with him about how to keep up with changing technology. Kashihara told him about how the festival was last year and started pointing out people he recognized from town, sharing gossip. And his brother ended up back in his orbit over and over, where they fell into easy talk about sports or the food around them or other things.

By the end of the evening, Tatsuya felt drained, though. He trailed behind the group as Kashihara led them towards a kid with messy black hair wearing a Featherman Black mask, a black and white cat on his shoulder.

The cat meowed loudly when he noticed them. The boy raised a hand in a wave, though his expression was hidden by the mask. Katsuya immediately came up, Kashihara right behind him, the others following behind. “That's Akira Kashihara, and his cat Morgana,” Saga explained briefly. Tatsuya nodded, shifting a little to the side so he could watch the interactions better.

“Hello, you two,” Katsuya said once he reached them, pulling out two food boxes and offering them to Akira. “The top one is for Morgana, the bottom for Akira.”

Akira moved his hands in what had to be sign language and the cat let out another meow. Then the kid crouched down, placing the boxes on the ground and opening them up. Akira finally pushed his mask out of the way, revealing intense gray eyes, although he grinned at the offerings. He signed something to Katsuya, even as Morgana hopped off his shoulder and dragged what looked like taiyaki out of the box.

“Coffee for you, and though it isn't usual, I put tuna in Morgana's,” Katsuya replied.

Akira signed something as his cat meowed, before Morgana dug into his taikayi and Akira pulled out a light brown roll cake, hummed happily, and began to eat.

“Surprised you like coffee at your age,” Tatsuya commented, ambling up.

Both the boy and the cat froze, eyes snapping to him. They both seemed to look him over. Morgana immediately went back to eating, but Akira wiped cream from his chin and gave a smile that… didn't seem quite sincere. He glanced over at the others—at Kashihara? Probably, since the man stepped forward.

“Suou-san, this is Akira Kashihara, my son,” Kashihara said. “Since it's too dark for writing, I can translate anything he signs. Akira, Tatsuya Suou is Katsuya-san's brother and plans to help us out tomorrow.”

The boy's eyes flicked between his father and Tatsuya, clearly nervous behind the smile. Maybe a little annoyed? He signed something to Kashihara, movements jerky.

Kashihara bit his lip. Surprisingly, Katsuya stepped forward. “I… should probably talk to you more privately about that,” Katsuya said, looking both at Akira and… was he seriously getting distracted by the cat?

“What's going on, Aniki?” Tatsuya asked, feeling more and more like this kid didn't trust him.

“It's…” Katsuya started, before trailing off. Kashihara signed something at Akira, and soon they were having a whole conversation, while Tatsuya watched awkwardly.

Finally, Akira turned towards him, that nervous smile still in place but something challenging in his eyes. He signed, and Kashihara translated.

“‘I like coffee,’” Kashihara said for his son, smiling a bit. “‘It's nice to meet you.’”

“It's, uh, nice to meet you too,” Tatsuya said in return, bringing out his lighter to fidget with it.

A long moment of silence.

Kashihara gave Akira a questioning look, and the boy shook his head, intentionally turning away and focusing on his cake again.

Kashihara stepped between Tatsuya and the kid, an apologetic smile on his face. “Sorry, Suou-san, he gets shy around new people,” he explained.

Somehow, Tatsuya was pretty sure that wasn't the full truth.

After that, they all split off their different ways. After some whispers among the others, Katsuya said he wanted to spend some time at the Inn the others were staying at, but he'd head over to Tatsuya's place early tomorrow.

Which left Tatsuya going home, alone, feeling out of place.

Chapter Text

Although Katsuya Suou said he'd go to the Amagi Inn with Maya and the others, Morgana wasn't surprised when he came back with the Kashiharas. Morgana had questions about Tatsuya, and Akira, although he hadn't shut down and had recovered quickly, was clearly uncomfortable to the point of hostility.

Akira, meanwhile, tilted his head at Katsuya and signed, Why are you following us? when the man split off from the others.

Katsuya rubbed the back of his neck. “I wanted to explain to you two some things about Tatsuya. Maybe if you understand him, you'll be less nervous?”

Akira tensed up. I know he has to be around for safety, he justified. I hung out with a friend and her dad is a cop and it was fine. I'll be fine.

Jun smiled a little. “I'm happy you got to hang out with your friend. Did you refuse to talk to her dad?” he asked.

Akira paused, then shook his head. Morgana nudged his cheek comfortingly. Akira had had to be coaxed to say anything to Tatsuya, and he only did because the alternative was explaining to the cop that cops made him nervous.

“Okay, then do you know what the difference was between your friend's dad and Suou-san?” Jun prodded.

Akira tugged his hair fringe as he thought. I didn't want to make Nanako-chan sad, he replied finally. And by the end he felt more like a dad than a cop.

Jun nodded, and Katsuya cut in. “I don't want you scared when you should be having fun,” he started. Akira made a face, but he kept going. “Hopefully what I say can help recontextualize Tatsuya like you did with your friend's dad.”

Akira rolled his eyes. Fine. But I wasn't scared. I was just… His hands stalled.

“Hostile,” Morgana suggested. Jun automatically translated for him, and Akira turned to give Morgana a grin.

Yeah, hostile is good. he replied. I don't see why I have to interact with him anyway.

Jun sighed. “I think it's more about being able to if something comes up. Like if he tries to talk to you.”

Akira huffed a breath, clearly unconvinced, but Jun gracefully shifted the conversation to the festival itself. All four of them got to talk about what they'd done at the festival. Akira showed off his small stash of winnings, and Katsuya commented on how skilled some of the cooks at food stalls were. Morgana shared some funny stories of people he'd observed while Akira had been focusing on games, and teased Akira about splashing him with water, with Jun's help translating.

By the time they reached their house, they'd started planning things they wanted to do together tomorrow. However, when they headed in, Jun headed towards his room. “I'd like to change into something more comfortable. Akira, Morgana, are you okay starting this conversation without me, or do you want me here?”

Akira considered it for a moment, and Morgana couldn't help being proud. At the start, he would have tried hard to not be a burden and immediately let Jun head off. But now, Morgana felt like if he did need Jun here he'd say so.

This time, he shook his head, though. It'll be awkward either way. Let's get it over with, he signed, pulling out Morgana's AAC device.

Morgana nodded, typing out his reply. “Same here.”

Which led to Katsuya sitting across from Akira and Morgana in their living room. There was a long pause, before Akira broke it, signing, What did you want to say?

Katsuya took a deep breath, before getting started. “First of all, I want to say I completely understand why cops make you nervous, or hostile, or whatever. It's a lot of why I stopped being a cop. Some people join with good intentions. But plenty don't. And even with good intentions, it's hard to actually do good. Powerful people get protected while vulnerable people get worse treatment, and it's very rare that any one person in the system can change any of that. Most often, you end up a cog in the machine. And that machine hurts people.

“Tatsuya… he wanted to be a cop because I had been one, and our father had been one. Both my father and I left the force because of the corruption within it, in varying ways. I warned him about it and he… well, he's decided that nothing will change if no one does anything about it. So he's spent most of his career turning in dirty cops and trying to untangle that corruption. That's how he ended up in Inaba.”

Morgana and Akira both gave questioning looks, and Katsuya continued. “It's nothing explicit, but it's clear to basically everyone involved in Sumaru that his transfer here was a punishment for snitching too much. Honestly, he's lucky he hasn't been fired or framed for something instead.”

Akira considered this, and Morgana stayed still for the moment. He had his own questions, but Akira's response was more important right now.

Finally, Akira replied. So what is he planning now? he asked.

Katsuya shrugged. “He's been trying to get transferred back to Sumaru. I've been helping with that. But… it might not work. I think he's coming to terms with that right now, while trying to do what good he can with his position here.”

Akira frowned, and Morgana nudged against him. He tapped at his AAC device. “Does that help?”

Akira shrugged. I guess. But he's still… you called it like being a cog? He's still a cog. Even if he means good, he could have to do something bad. I won't ever trust him all the way, not while he's a cop. But I'll try not to ignore him like that.

Morgana let out a purr. “I hope he gets a different job too,” he typed out. “He was too cool to turn into a cop.”

Katsuya huffed a quiet laugh as Jun came back in.

Katsuya left soon after to head for the Inn. Akira headed to bed, and Morgana followed. He was tired but happy from the big day. Akira still seemed happy too, despite the awkwardness at the end. And hopefully tomorrow would be just as good.

—

The next afternoon, Jun pulled out the three yukata. Akira and Jun were both in light tank tops and shorts to go under. It was weird to have his arm and the scar there exposed, but the yukata sleeves would cover it soon.

Akira was happy to help put Morgana's yukata on. Then Jun helped him with his own.

He considered protesting that he could do it on his own. But something about the ritual feel of it was… nice. Jun adjusting the cloth to make sure it hung correctly, before tying a butterfly knot in his obi. It was something done for family.

Jun even let Akira help with his own yukata, even though he clearly could do it all himself. Akira did his best to make sure that Jun looked good, that everything was even. He didn't help much, he knew. Jun did most of it. But he still helped.

Finally, once they were all dressed, Jun pulled out two folding fans. “For if it gets too hot,” Jun explained, handing over one in black and red and keeping a purple one for himself.

Akira opened the hand fan, smiling as he saw the red poppies scattered across the black background. Jun opened his own to show irises, then snapped it closed and slipped it in his obi.

“The bauble on the end helps counterweight so it stays in the obi,” Jun explained.

Akira nodded, slipping his own fan in his obi, before signing Red poppies are for fun, right?

Jun nodded. “It seemed fitting for a festival.”

Then he glanced over. Morgana was walking back and forth in front of a mirror, admiring himself. Jun and Akira shared a smile before Jun called, “Morgana, stop preening for a moment. I want to get a family picture.”

Morgana perked up and hurried over with a meow.

After that, it didn't take them that long to reach the festival. And it was a lot of fun! Jun let Akira and Morgana pull him from stall to stall as they tried fair food and played games. Jun translated softly for Morgana whenever needed.

Akira did notice the shadows they had. Throughout their time together, Akira spotted all of Jun's grown up friends, plus the cop brother, at least once. It was kind of annoying, but he supposed it was to protect Jun so he could deal with it.

Eventually, they decided to make wishes at the shrine. Jun wrote his quickly, and was helping write one for Morgana. Akira thought for a long moment, before writing down, “I wish to come to more festivals with my family.”

When he showed his ema to Jun and Morgana, Jun smiled and gave him a hug, his eyes suspiciously shiny. Morgana headbutted him, purring loudly. And then Jun showed their own wishes. “I wish to protect my family,” from Morgana. “I wish to keep my family close,” from Jun.

Akira couldn't stop the wide smile on his face.

“Shall we hang them up?” Jun asked.

Akira nodded. Carefully, they put their three emas up on the pegs.

Then, a voice from behind them. “Jun-kun, you look wonderful!”

From the way Jun tensed next to him, Akira wasn't shocked when he glanced back to see Noriko Kashiwagi.

“Go,” Jun whispered, still facing the shrine. “I'll deal with her.”

Akira shook his head. This was his family. He wasn't going to abandon them, even if it got him hurt.

Jun frowned, frustration and anger on his face. Akira wasn't scared of him, though. He knew it was because Jun wanted to protect him too.

“Jun-kun, did you hear me?” Kashiwagi called, and Jun turned around.

Akira did too, to see Suou striding over, Katsuya behind him. Kashiwagi was wearing a yukata too, the opening in front pulled down way too much. The colors and patterns were garish and overdone.

“Ma'am,” he called. “I'm going to have to ask you to leave this gentleman be.”

Kashiwagi glanced back, taking in the brothers, before stepping in towards Jun. “I'm just paying a compliment. Just trying to talk. Is there something wrong with that?” she said sweetly.

Akira shifted on his feet, seeing Morgana disappear into the shadows from the corner of his eye. She wasn't doing anything wrong, she was right. Many cops would use their position to get what they wanted anyway, but he could see it make Suou falter.

“Kashiwagi-san, thank you for the compliment, but I am currently busy with my family, as you can see,” Jun said, chin held high.

Kashiwagi took another step forward. “That's very nice, I'm sure,” she said. Her tone made it clear she didn't think it was nice at all. “But you're done with your wishes, right? Surely your kid isn't so needy he'd keep you from having… friends your own age.”

She tugged at the opening of her yukata, bringing it a little lower. Akira couldn't keep from making a disgusted face.

Her eyes snapped to him. “Hey, what's that face for?” she demanded.

Akira immediately signed back. You're gross, and trying too hard, and Jun isn't interested in you.

Jun covered a laugh with his hand.

Obviously Kashiwagi didn't know what he said, though. Jun opened his mouth to translate, but she interrupted. “Oh, I forgot for a moment,” she said, poorly hiding her sneer. “He's… special. I suppose I can forgive him for making a face.”

Jun's amusement disappeared immediately. Akira felt anger bubbling up in his chest. She was one of the worst kinds of people.

“He was merely pointing out what I've already told you,” Jun said. “That I'm not interested.”

Her expression shifted to a snarl briefly, but a glance at the crowd had her acting “nice” again. Katsuya stepped forward, hands up. “Ma'am, as one of Kashihara-kun's friends, you're clearly making him uncomfortable,” he said.

“Oh, come on, Jun-kun!” she whined, ignoring Katsuya completely. “It's such a romantic night, can't you give me one chance? I promise you'll be glad you did!”

“No,” Jun said, immediately. “Please let us pass.” He stepped forward, trying to walk around her, but she reached to put her hands on his chest.

Akira snarled silently, leaving his spot from behind Jun. He felt something bubbling up inside him, something that reminded him of the protective looks Jun would give him at the most serious of moments. He wanted to yell for her to stop touching Jun when he was clearly uncomfortable. He could hear some of the watching people calling out for her to leave him alone, and see Katsuya stepping forward too.

He did the best he could to communicate in a way even she would understand. He poked her in the leg so she looked down at him, then blew a raspberry at her.

For some reason, that tipped her over. “You little brat!” she cried out. “Stop getting in the way!” She grabbed him by the shoulder and slapped him across the face. Then, she kicked out at his stomach.

Akira took the hit and lost his balance with a cry. When he fell, it almost felt like slow motion. He heard a yowl from Morgana. He saw Jun reach for him, eyes wide. He saw Suou racing forward and Katsuya shifting to stand between him and Kashiwagi.

At least with how he'd doubled over to grab his stomach, he didn't hit his head. His back still hurt from hitting the hard stones, and his cheek stung. He hoped his yukata was okay.

A glance up saw Morgana clinging to Kashiwagi and scratching wildly, hissing and yowling all the while. Jun knelt by his side, the lanterns putting his face in shadow. Akira tried to give him a smile. Kashiwagi stared down at him with a mixture of smugness and shock. Footsteps rang against the stone as a voice called out, “Noriko Kashiwagi, you are under arrest for assault.”

—

Jun rushed to Akira, his sweet, brave kid, the moment he started to fall. He scanned the boy over for blood, his hands hovering, even as he heard Morgana yelling curses and insults at Kashiwagi. He hesitated to touch, even when Akira tried to give him a smile. But he couldn't devote himself fully to his kid. Kashiwagi was still there. What if she hurt Morgana? What if she got past Katsuya and attacked again?

“Noriko Kashiwagi, you are under arrest for assault.”

Jun couldn't stop the way he focused in on that voice. It was Tacchi's leader voice, the one he'd used to direct them in battle or get them to settle down. The bite of anger burned underneath.

Morgana took a look and hopped off of Kashiwagi, back into the shadows. Her face and hands were littered with scratches.

“You have a right to remain silent,” Tatsuya continued. “You have a right to an attorney at the trial. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you.”

She gaped at Tatsuya for a moment, before shaking her head. “But that kid was so disrespectful!” she spluttered. “And-and, aren't you going to do something about that dangerous animal?”

Tatsuya pulled out a pair of handcuffs, bringing Kashiwagi's hands behind her back. She didn't struggle. She continued to try to give excuses, each one lamer than the next. Tatsuya stayed silent.

And Jun couldn't stop watching. Some of it was worry of what would happen if he took his eyes off of Kashiwagi. But mostly it was Tatsuya.

Jun could see the differences. Tatsuya was more sure of himself. He had no expectation of backup. He was less ready to fight. This wasn't quite the same person Jun once knew. Even if it had been his Tacchi, he wouldn't be the same.

He felt his heart breaking as he realized he could love this Tatsuya too. But it still wouldn't be fair. Not while Jun remembered and Tatsuya couldn't even be told about it.

Jun kept staring as Tatsuya led Kashiwagi away, until Akira sitting up drew his attention back.

“Woah, stay there for a minute,” he cautioned. “Did you hit your head at all?”

Akira scowled but laid back down. No, just my back, he signed. Why were you staring at the cop?

Jun opened his mouth, then closed it. “Sorry,” he said instead of explaining.

Katsuya was hovering behind them, looking nervous and guilty. “I'll find the first aid stall,” he said. “Sorry we didn't stop it before this happened.”

“You were trying to avoid a bigger scene,” Jun said. Even if he wished Kashiwagi had been stopped sooner, she might have done something worse if pressed. Something that she could claim innocence for while smearing Jun’s reputation. “Go get more help.”

Katsuya rushed off as Akira looked up at him. Morgana crept back from the shadows. “I'll keep watch until he gets back,” he said, before settling before them.

Jun translated the words for Akira, who nodded. Then, he asked an important question. “Akira, why didn't you go when I told you to?”

Akira's expression grew stubborn. I don't regret it. he signed. She was making you uncomfortable. I didn't want to abandon you.

Jun sighed. It touched his heart but maybe she wouldn't have lashed out if Akira wasn't there. Or at least she wouldn't be able to target Akira.

Akira kept signing. Besides. Now she won't be a problem again.

Jun rolled his eyes, a fond smile on his lips. “I guess that's a silver lining. But you know this means you might have to go to the doctor's?”

Akira groaned in annoyance, before carefully sitting up. He winced a little. She didn't hit me that hard. he replied. Plus she was wearing soft sandals.

Jun saw Katsuya rushing back with someone from the first aid stall, and planted a kiss on Akira's head. “Well, we'll ask the first aid people if they think it's important.”

Akira leaned into Jun as he watched the people come up. I just hope my yukata is okay, he added.

“We can get any rips repaired and any stains cleaned later,” Jun said. “Right now, you're more important. My brave little protector.”

Akira looked stunned for a moment, before giving a bashful smile in return.

In the end, Akira wasn't hurt that badly. He got ice packs for his back, stomach, and cheek, but they didn't have to go to the doctor after all. The incident did pretty much end their night, though. Akira and Morgana were both clearly on edge, looking for danger, and Jun wasn't feeling much better. Besides, Akira's yukata had a rip on the back and some dirt stains, and he wanted to get home and take care of it as soon as possible.

Katsuya had apologized over and over for not preventing the whole thing. Jun did his best to wave him off. Did he wish they had been able to prevent the whole scene? Of course. But it was done now, and if he dwelled on it, that wouldn't help anything. He did ask Katsuya to thank his brother for the help. And then he went home with his family.

Chapter Text

After the festival, there wasn't much time left of summer break. Jun found himself busy, preparing for the term ahead, arranging for Akira's yukata to be cleaned and mended, and making sure Akira had done all his summer homework.

One issue started to loom large in his mind. The high school class trip would begin a week after the start of school, and Jun was supposed to chaperone it. The trip itself would be simple enough. The students were visiting Iwatodai of all places, so Jun was familiar. It was easy enough to find a cheaper hotel that wouldn't give anyone bedbugs to book for the students, and he'd chaperoned school trips in Sumaru so he didn't expect any problems.

The thing that worried him was Akira. Akira had gotten more clingy since the summer festival, and a little more on edge, although he did his best to hide it. And Jun had never been away from Akira for so long. For most kids, this would be when he asked someone to babysit, but Akira wouldn't be comfortable with someone he didn't know well. And Maya and her friends all had work lined up that they couldn't miss.

Morgana would be there. And maybe someone could check in on Akira to make sure he was doing alright? There were a few people around town who might be willing to check in on him…

Jun spent some time asking around before bringing it up to Akira on the day of the fireworks festival.

“So, the high school has their class trip leaving on September 8th,” he said as they finished up breakfast. “As a homeroom teacher, it's my job to chaperone my class.”

Akira frowned. So you have to go away? How long? he asked. Jun could see both the anxiety in his expression and his attempts to control it. He clenched and unclenched his fists and tugged at his bangs.

“The 8th is a Thursday. I'd come back on Saturday evening,” Jun explained.

That's not that long. Morgana and I can handle things on our own here, Akira replied. He glanced nervously at Morgana, who was half-asleep, then tried for a smile.

Jun smiled back. “I know you're good at being independent. And I'm not going to stick you with someone you don't know well watching over you the whole time,” he conceded.

Akira squinted at him. But?

“But I don't want to leave you two completely alone either. How would you feel if we got someone from town to check in on you once or twice? Plus, I'd give you their contact info for if you need immediate help. Of course, you can always text me, and if an emergency happens, just let me know and I'll come back as fast as I can. But it’s several hours by train.”

Akira mulled this over as Morgana stretched and tuned into the conversation. Depends on who it is. I don't want a total stranger, he finally signed. Where are you going anyway?

“The trip is actually to Iwatodai,” Jun said. Both Akira and Morgana perked up at that. “And I'm only asking people you know, although I don't have anyone picked for certain.”

Akira fiddled with his hair again before signing, I guess that would be okay. Maybe the bookshop people?

Jun sighed. “I thought of them, but they'll both be out of town that weekend, visiting family. I'm asking around, and I'll let you know who your options are as soon as I can.”

Morgana padded over to the AAC device and soon the device's robot voice said “I'll keep an eye on Akira too.”

Jun and Akira both shot him smiles. When Akira stood to clear his plate, Jun thought the conversation would be over. But soon Akira had put down his things and turned back to Jun, a serious expression on his face. If you can, can you visit Minato's grave? And say hello from me? he asked.

Jun put a hand on Akira's shoulder. “Of course,” he said warmly. “I was planning to visit him regardless.”

Akira met his eyes, mouth tight with grief. It had been a year and a half. The grief had softened, but it still ached sharply. Grief never fully disappeared, either. The boy nodded, then turned away.

Later that day, as the sun began to sink, Jun, Akira and Morgana were setting up with a blanket to watch the fireworks. They were by the riverbank, and it was pretty crowded. Akira was a little jumpy at first, but when his friend Yoshitaka came up, soon he was racing off to some sort of game, Morgana clinging onto Akira with a plea to “Slow down!”

This meant when Tatsuya Suou noticed Jun and made a beeline for him, Jun had no one to worry about but himself. For a moment, grief flashed through him as he watched the man approach, but he pushed it down. He needed to thank Suou, anyway.

He stood up and met the man as he reached the edge of his blanket, giving a small smile. “Hello, Suou-san. Thank you for helping last week,” he said.

He could feel Tatsuya's eyes roving over his face, before the man looked away and shrugged. “I wish I could have done more, or acted before she actually hurt Akira-kun,” he said.

Jun couldn't stop the smile. “Your brother felt the exact same way. And he apologized enough for both of you.”

A long pause. Suou pulled out a lighter. He was trying to build up the nerve to say something. Jun decided to help out. “Was there something specific you came to me about?” he asked.

Suou shuffled his feet and rubbed the back of his neck, unable to look directly at Jun, before finally spitting it out. “I… can't tell how you feel about me,” he started. “Sometimes you push me away or brush me off, but your expression…”

Jun bit the inside of his cheek, waiting for Suou to gather his words. He couldn't bring himself to speak.

“Do you want me to leave you alone?” Suou finally asked.

Jun sighed, hugging himself as he considered the question. At first he had definitely wanted Suou to leave him alone. But was that still the case?

Could he turn away from Tatsuya again? He didn't have to. Tatsuya clearly wanted to be friends, even if Jun could never let it become something more. He was different, but so was Jun. The biggest problem was still that secret that lay between them.

Finally, fiddling idly with his watch, Jun replied. “No, I don't want you to leave me alone, at least not now,” he began. “I… I'd like to be friends, Suou-san. But… I should warn you. It can't be more than friends.”

He met Tatsuya's eyes and couldn't stop himself from reaching out, brushing the back of his fingers against Tatsuya's cheek. Tatsuya gasped, eyes darkening. He leaned in.

And Jun stepped back. “There is something between us. I've seen the way you look at me, too. It's not your fault, Tatsuya. But there's something else. A complication. It means it would be unfair to you if we became more than friends.”

Tatsuya clenched his hand around his lighter, looking down and away. Jun could see him thinking hard. Then he met Jun's eyes again. “Does this have to do with the secrets my brother keeps?” he asked, something resigned in his tone.

Jun swallowed, hating having to hurt him like this. “Yes. Yes, it does.”

Tatsuya slumped, and put his lighter away. “Then, I understand. As much as I can, anyway.”

Jun wanted to reach out and ease away all his worries. But he couldn't. Instead, he stepped back on the blanket. “Come join me. The fireworks should be soon, and I think Akira has run off with a friend.”

Tatsuya eased himself to sit on the blanket, and Jun did as well.

“Speaking of Akira-kun,” Tatsuya began. “Well, for one, I'm curious what the story is between you two. How you met and all. But also, if we're friends, I'd like to get to know him better. And I was wondering… do you have any advice for learning sign language?”

Jun felt himself smile. “I have some books I can lend you,” he said. “Akira might get nervous around you, but if you're patient, I think he'll warm up eventually. Now that I think about it, there's a favor I want to ask you. I'll tell you how we met after…”

—

As the fireworks exploded in the sky, signaling the end of summer, people clung to the warmth and relaxation. Kids played and chattered and bickered. A boy with messy hair and a cat clinging to his shoulder played tag with some younger kids. Adults relaxed in the summer heat, holding onto those close to them and admiring the colors above them. Two men sat and chatted, getting to know each other, feeling out how to make a friendship work.

Chapter Text

It took until the weekend after school started for Jun to present Akira with his options for Replacement Adults during the school trip, and the options… weren’t great. Tatsumi from the shopping district. Their next door neighbor, who Akira barely knew. A few other vague acquaintances. And Tatsuya Suou.

(Apparently, they’d talked at the firework festival and exchanged numbers, and Suou had been up for helping out.)

Akira considered this, and appreciated that Jun let him work it out, discussing it with Morgana. They went over the pros and cons and what they knew about these people. It shouldn’t have been as hard of a choice as it was. Akira had spent years and years being looked after by people he didn’t know well or trust at all. This shouldn’t be any different.

But it was. Akira had gotten used to things with Jun, and having to deal with some other grown up was frustrating at the very least. None of the options knew JSL, though apparently Jun had lent Suou a book to learn it.

That ended up being a big point in his favor, even if Akira was confused why Suou cared enough about him to learn. Morgana vouched that when he knew him last he was trustworthy, but admitted that that had been a long time ago, and people change. He was a cop, but he had acted well at the festival, and Katsuya’s explanations of his motivations painted him more as overly idealistic than a danger himself.

And Akira had spent a while near Dojima, who didn’t even have all that going for him. He could handle this.

When he gave his answer to Jun, he chose Tatsuya Suou.

The next Thursday morning, Jun was clearly as anxious about the separation as Akira felt. But this was a normal thing to deal with. And they could deal with it. So, after Jun said goodbye for the twentieth time and double-triple-quadruple checked that Akira had Suou’s number and everything else he needed, Jun headed to the high school, and Akira headed to the elementary school, Morgana in tow.

And then Akira returned home, and Jun wasn’t there.

It wasn’t the first time he’d been at home while Jun wasn’t there. Sometimes he was running errands or helping out after school or doing other things Akira didn’t care about.

But somehow, knowing Jun was all the way back in Iwatodai, that he wouldn’t be back until Saturday, made it feel… off. Strange.

He tried to pretend it wasn't. He’d been alone before, so this wasn't any harder.

Except actually he'd never really been alone, had he? Sure, there had been years and years where there was no one who cared about him but Morgana, but there had always been people around. It was never quiet like this.

Akira ended up wandering around the house, anxious and unsettled, all throughout that afternoon and evening. He’d step outside to try to distract himself, full of plans to go catch bugs or visit Yoshitaka. But he never got very far before he turned around and headed back to the house. He couldn’t even explain why he didn’t want to leave it be. It was like jiggling a loose tooth. Something was wrong and he couldn’t ignore it.

He talked with Morgana, using the AAC device, but the device was always a little slower than he wanted. Still, Morgana did his best to cheer him up and help him with the baseless anxiety, even if it came with some teasing.

Maybe it was that Jun was going back to Iwatodai. Maybe Akira was still worried for Jun after everything with Kashiwagi. Maybe it was something else.

(Sometimes, throughout his life, thoughts would pop up in his mind, when certain things happened or when he was stressed. Thoughts that didn't make sense. He could always feel how those thoughts were different. Now, he could identify that they were from before. It was easy to push those thoughts down these days. He knew he didn't want to remember or know about the past. It was dangerous and made his neck itch. So when thoughts popped up of waiting for someone to come home, afraid of what they'd do but too helpless to do without them, he smothered them.)

It wasn't all bad, the first day. Sometimes he could forget that Jun wasn't there, when he got distracted. But, even past the unsettling feelings, he missed him. He found himself wanting to tell Jun about something on his mind, or ask for his opinion. When he remembered Jun wasn't there, it felt like a weight dropping on him.

He knew it was just three days. Not even three full days. He knew this anxiety was baseless, that everything would be fine and Jun would be back soon. But before the first day was up, Akira started counting the hours until Jun's return.

Every time Jun texted him to check in, to make sure he and Morgana were doing okay, Akira told him that he was fine. He didn't want to worry him, or make him think he had to come back early, or wouldn't be able to go away again. This was for his job, and Akira wasn't a baby, he was eleven, and he could be left home alone.

When he went to sleep that night, he clutched his flower blanket close. His dreams were anxious and fuzzy.

(When he woke up, overtop the anxiety itching at him to keep his people close, he was mostly annoyed at his brain and how much it was overreacting.)

The next day was more of the same. He still had classes to distract him. After classes, he found himself wandering his house like a ghost once more. The next day was Saturday, though. He'd have to distract himself for much longer, at least until Jun came back Saturday evening. It made him even more nervous.

Tatsuya Suou had texted him a few times to check on him, and Akira assured him he was fine and didn’t need anything each time. But on Friday, he texted that he’d drop in to check on Akira in person Saturday morning. That Saturday, Akira was making himself and Morgana breakfast when the doorbell rang. Akira made a face, but Morgana gave him a look until he sighed and went to answer the door.

He knew Suou was fine, or as fine as a cop could be. He’d chosen Suou to check on him, certain he could handle it. And, if Jun was still here, he could probably handle seeing him easily. But now, with his skin itching, Suou felt like danger. So, when he opened the front door and saw him just standing there in his professional button-up shirt, his eyes too intense, he shied away without really meaning to.

(He'd never noticed before, but with his mind so out of sorts, his walls were weaker. There was something else about Tatsuya Suou, something that dug up thoughts he didn't want to have. He pushed them down before he could even identify what kind of thoughts they were.)

Suou smiled and gave him a friendly hello, which softened his eyes a little, but Akira’s gaze fell away from him, and he sort of just awkwardly gestured for him to come in. He wasn't technically supposed to be using the stove unsupervised (and apparently Morgana didn’t count as supervision), but he was, and he didn’t want to get into more trouble for leaving it alone in the kitchen if Jun ever found out.

“So how are things?” Suou asked, as Akira padded back to the kitchen in his socks. “Have you been okay without Jun here the last couple days?”

Akira shrugged, making sure to grab a pad of paper in case he needed to actually use any words. Briefly, he considered writing something like “You’re making me nervous. Can you just go?”

But his instincts screamed against showing a cop vulnerability like that, even a cop who had been vetted by so many people as a good person.

“How’s school been going?” Suou asked, as Akira turned his attention back to the stove.

Akira clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. Why was that always the thing adults asked about? School was school.

“Yeah…” Suou chuckled self consciously. “I guess that’s probably not something you want to talk about, huh? Plus, I haven’t managed to learn any JSL yet, so…”

Akira shrugged, then shook his head no.

“I guess I didn’t like talking about school when I was your age either,” Suou said.

There was a long, awkward silence. Akira stared at the stove. Morgana meowed next to the AAC device, obviously exasperated by the awkward situation. Akira looked back at him, frowning. He knew he'd said he would try to be friendlier with Suou, and Suou was clearly trying to be friendly with him, but right now he didn't have the energy to try. He was a cop.

Plus… the more he interacted with the man, the more Suou felt subtly off, just… different than it felt like he should be. It was weird. He was weird.

Akira didn't want to think about it. He made faces at Morgana instead.

And then Suou said, “You know, I’m kind of hoping I’ll be around more soon. I want to get to know Jun better. You too.”

Akira’s breath caught, and he started. He did not like the way Suou said that. Kind of wistful, and very… intentional? Too much like the strange way Jun had stared at Suou during the festival. Something sad was there too. Akira grasped onto something he could barely understand, and started thinking that it sounded a lot like Suou liked Jun. Like, he liked Jun. And something Akira had learned from Jun reared up inside him. There were times when he looked at his guardian and saw that Jun would fight for him. Akira still sometimes had a hard time wrapping his mind around how far Jun would go for him. It was a little scary to believe that someone would feel like that, for him.

But today, like that day at the festival, when Kashiwagi tried to touch Jun, Akira felt a fire burn in him, and it was like how he thought Jun might feel when he was getting ready to fight. He did not want someone worming their way into Jun’s life, and stealing him away just when Akira was getting secure in his little family. And he definitely didn't want that someone to be a cop. He whirled on Tatsuya, expression hard, a roaring something in his chest, and slammed an angry hand down on-

Oh.

On the stove.

He jerked his hand off the stove and curled around it, face twisting into a mask of misery, a soft “Ffffff” leaking out of him. He’d put his hand right in the pot, and while he’d snatched his hand back out in time to stop it from really getting hurt, the angry slap had sent hot liquid splashing up his wrist and arm, where it was still sitting and burning. Akira’s whole brain crumbled into a wall of pain so that the thought of getting it off didn't even occur to him.

His heart beat wildly from sheer pain. Distantly, he could hear Morgana yowling and Suou panicking his way into the kitchen. Akira cringed away, curling further into himself, hiding his arm from Suou as the adult tried to get a look at it. He hissed and cried, and hated himself for crying in front of Suou.

“Okay,” Suou said, still sounding panicked. He reached up and shut off the stove, then actually physically lifted Akira off the kitchen floor to carry him out of the room. “We are going to get you to the doctor.”

Akira shook his head no, furiously, but Suou either didn’t see him or ignored the movement. If Jun had been there, he would have known how much Akira hated going to the doctor. If Suou could understand Morgana, then Morgana could have told him. But it was just Akira being put into the backseat of Suou’s car (Suou’s police car, as if today couldn’t get any worse), completely unable to do anything to convince Tatsuya that he didn’t want to be taken to a doctor.

(Or at least not alone. Not without Morgana there to comfort him and Jun to shut down the comments about all his problems. He knew seeing the doctor was important sometimes, really, he did. Jun and him had managed to work out how to make it as painless as possible. None of that would help now.)

His arm hurt so bad…

Suou ended up taking him to the hospital. Akira didn’t know why. Maybe Suou didn’t know a closer doctor’s office, or maybe he thought this really was bad enough to go to the emergency room. Akira didn’t know, and since he was clutching his burned arm close to his chest, protecting it from getting hurt any worse, he couldn't sign or write or do anything to ask or argue. All he could do was focus on breathing as slow and deep as he could manage, and try not to think about it.

(It didn’t work too well)

He didn’t get seen right away. Even in Inaba, at 9:00 in the morning, there was a wait to be seen. Akira by this point had given up on avoiding a doctor, and his brain had started to lose the hard edge of panic that had made it so hard to think on the way over here. He mostly focused on trying to ignore the pain, and… he just wasn't having a good time.

“It’s going to be okay,” Suou said.

Akira ignored him.

“The doctors are going to be able to help you,” Suou continued.

Akira continued to ignore him. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

Suou started to purr.

The surprise of it somehow managed to break through the wall of pain around his mind, because it sounded so much like the noise Akira himself made when happy. For years and years, ever since he was a kid, it had been something between him and Morgana, but now here was Suou doing it too. The same noise. The same kind of rev up into the rumble of a purr, and Akira looked up from his arm to stare at him with wide, confused eyes.

Suou misinterpreted his expression, and stopped purring. “I know it’s a little weird,” he said with a half smile. “But motorcycle noises and other impressions are my only party trick. I kind of thought it might be a good distraction?”

Akira, a little bit tentative, purred back. He almost didn’t want to, because as far as he was concerned, all this was Suou’s fault. But he’d never heard anyone else purring the way he did. Even if he called it motorcycle noises.

(It was obviously a purr)

Suou looked surprised, then delighted, and for a second he smiled down at Akira.

Then the doctors came to take a look at him.

Even though Akira came to this hospital when he sprained his ankle last Spring, that time had been with a different doctor. Still, Akira was pretty sure he had a file here. The doctor looking at his arm had either looked at it and didn't care, or hadn't looked at it at all. He seemed to think Akira was just too stubborn or in too much pain to answer his questions, and ignored him like he’d ignore any normal eleven year old. Suou was even a little helpful. He answered the doctor’s questions instead. That made it a little easier for Akira to grit his teeth and get through the examination without biting anyone.

(There was an odd moment. Suou shot him a look towards the beginning, uncertain and questioning, his head tilted towards the doctor. Akira read it as a question. “Do you want me to tell him about you not talking?” or something like that. Akira shook his head a little. It would just make things more frustrating. It wasn’t like Akira could write with his hand and arm burned. The idea must have gotten through, because Suou didn’t say anything. But it was weird that they could communicate that way.)

“Now what’s this?” the doctor asked, when Akira’s arm was finally clear of hot liquid, and mostly covered in burn cream. “This- oh. It’s an old scar.”

Okay, he definitely didn't read Akira's file. Akira wanted to end this before that changed. He made a high noise and tried to wriggle his arm out of the doctor’s grip, but it only rubbed the raw burn on his arm in a way that hurt more. He didn’t like the way the doctor looked at the old scar on his arm. The new burn had painted a mottled pattern of raw red skin over it, but the pattern was still pretty visible.

Suou leaned in to look, and sucked in a breath when he saw it.

It’s not that bad, Akira wanted to say. It’s not that bad, it doesn’t even usually hurt, so leave it alone. But the doctor tutted at the scar, and told Akira very sternly that he’d have to be more careful with this burn if he didn't want another scar on top of his old one.

And Suou stared.

Even as the doctor asked him questions about Akira’s parents (and then about Jun, when Suou corrected him), Suou kept looking back at Akira’s forearm. At the old swoop of a scar there. When the doctor stepped away to actually call Jun and deliver the bad news, Suou asked, “Where did you get that?” in a sort of breathless tone.

Akira shrugged. He didn’t know, not really. It was from before, and Morgana and Jun were the ones who knew about that.

He was getting tired of getting poked about that. First his brain kept trying to pull up old feelings, and now Suou asked about it.

“It’s very important,” Suou insisted, his expression intense. “Akira-kun, I need to know how you got that scar.” He glanced around, then muttered, “Crap, there's no paper or pen…”

Akira shook his head hard, and for his own satisfaction signed I don't know! as pointedly as he could without using his wrist. Shook his head hard, too, so hopefully Suou would get it. He didn't want to be interrogated.

“It’s important,” Suou said. “I'll find you somewhere to write but… Please.”

Please.

Not telling, or ordering. It wasn't a command from a police officer, just… somebody scared and desperate.

But Akira didn't know.

Suou had started to search himself and finally found a pad of paper and a pen. The papers were some sort of official form, but Suou ripped one free, drew an X over the form and placed the blank back up on the counter near Akira. He offered the pen, all the intensity in his eyes mingling with desperation and something… lost.

Akira didn't know. But Suou was desperate enough that he'd give what he could. His good hand was burned. Writing would be hard if not impossible. But… wait. His phone was in his pocket. It had been the whole time.

He pulled it out and pulled up a random text chain. There, without sending it, he typed out a message and showed it to Suou.

I don't remember. I was a baby.

Suou read it and deflated. Then, he tugged on his right hand sleeve and gave a strained smile. “Alright. I'm sorry for dredging up the past.”

Chapter Text

Jun was looking forward to heading home, even if his students were all excited to make the most of the rest of the free time they had in Tatsumi Port Island.

The trip overall had gone pretty well. He’d gotten to say hello to the faculty at Gekkoukan. There had been no major problems with his students. He did his best to give good advice on where to visit on Port Island, and his students seemed to appreciate having advice from someone who’d lived there before.

(He was doing his absolute best to ignore the Persona resonances, but he couldn’t help but identify the group of students, some of them first-years, who all hung out together and all had Personas. Not to mention the “stuffed bear” they brought into the hotel that also clearly had a Persona too. He didn’t need to know and it wasn’t his business. He would have tried to sneak Akira and Morgana in wherever they went back in his own teen years. He just had to hope they wouldn’t cause problems on the trip. And, as far as he knew, they didn’t.)

On Friday, he visited Minato Arisato’s grave. He brought incense, and flowers. An iris and a shion flower, for the game they played together. Bluebells for gratitude for what Arisato did for them. And an amaryllis, for the shy child Arisato helped, the one waiting back at home and now much less shy.

He cleaned up the grave, although there was little he had to do. It was clearly well tended. He placed the flowers in the vase and lit the incense.

He spent quite a while there, before the grave of a courageous young man. He thanked him again for everything he’d done for Jun, for Akira, and for the world. He talked about his new life in Inaba, his hopes for peace and his worries about whatever drew the Velvet Room to the town. He talked about Tatsuya and reminisced on the friends that no longer remembered him. He said hello from Akira, and promised to find time to bring him to visit himself.

He didn’t know if Arisato could hear him. Ghosts had been real in Sumaru when rumors were reality, but he didn’t know how things like this worked without that influence. Besides, Arisato’s illness… it likely hadn’t been natural. That could have affected matters, although Jun had no idea how.

But even if Arisato couldn’t actually hear him, it felt good to say it. It felt good to reflect on his life. Despite the worries and the problems, his life was quite good. Akira was doing well. Morgana enjoyed having more people he could talk with. Without Arisato, would he have given up on Akira? He didn’t know. But he was glad to have the kid in his life. Glad to watch him grow.

Everything continued as normal. He checked in with Akira, and with Tatsuya, via text. Both said everything was fine, although Tatsuya admitted he hadn’t visited Akira, just texted him. Jun encouraged the man to actually get eyes on Akira, although he figured that everything probably was fine enough.

And then he got a call. As he was leaving the hotell for some final sightseeing himself, his phone rang. It was from the hospital. Akira had been brought in with burns on his arm. The doctor started to explain how it wasn’t severe as Jun immediately turned back into the hotel.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’m in Tatsumi Port Island so it will take a few hours,” he said. And hung up.

It was quick work to inform the other faculty that he had to leave ahead of schedule and to close up his mostly-packed suitcase. He nearly ran to the train station to purchase a ticket. Once he was waiting, he called Tatsuya.

“Hello,” Tatsuya said.

“It’s Jun,” Jun said. “What happened?”

“He… slapped the hot water in a pot. I got him to the hospital as quick as I could.” There was something… off about his tone.

“Did Morgana come with you?”

“No.” He sounded confused.

Jun bit back a curse. “What’s happening right now?”

“The doctor’s bandaging the burns. He said he has instructions on how to care for it, and he’ll write them out for you.”

“Alright. Put me on with Akira.”

There was a pause, before a sound of assent and the rustle of a transfer.

A sound of a tongue click.

Jun immediately softened. “Hey,” he said. “Let’s go one click for yes, two for no, okay?”

One click.

“I’m on my way back as soon as I can. You can text me anything else you want me to know about it, but I wanted to tell you I’m sorry I couldn’t be there.”

Two clicks. Jun smiled.

“I know it’s more complicated than that. Do you have your phone with you?”

Two click.

“Alright. Let’s talk over there so you’re not limited to yes or no.”

A click, and then the call ended.

Soon, he got a text. As the train came and Jun settled in with his luggage, he spent the time texting with Akira.

Akira: its not your fault it happened and we both agreed to you leaving

Jun: That’s fair. I’m just sad I couldn’t be there to help with the doctor.

Akira: i didnt bite anyone

Jun: Good job. Seriously.

Akira: it was on my right arm. i dont think the doctor actually read my file so he was less annoying. its not that bad though.

Jun: Sounded like it wasn’t that bad. It’s more the doctor’s visit, right?

Akira: yeah i guess. and suou made me nervous today

Jun: How so?

Akira: im just on edge a little. its fine. hes weird and a cop.

Akira: he asked where i got my scar

Jun: Oh.

Akira: gotta stop texting, dr giving me instructions

 

Akira: okay suou is taking me home.

Jun: I still have a couple hours unfortunately. I’ll be there this afternoon. Do you think Tatsuya being around will help more or hurt more? Honest answer please. If it’s uncomfortable with him but dangerous without, it’s better for him to be there.

Akira: um. i have the instructions. i have one fully working arm and mona. mona cant help as much if hes there. so no suou.

Jun: Alright. Please be careful with yourself until I get home.

Akira: i think i mostly need to relax.

Jun: Okay. Morgana can help with that.

 

—

 

Jun: Tatsuya-san, thank you so much for helping Akira. I talked with him, and I think it’s best if he has more alone time until I can get back.

Tatsuya: It’s the least I could do. If you think it’s best, I’ll head out. He disappeared into his room with his cat for now. Though, there’s a worry I’d like to talk with you about, after you’re home and settled.

Jun: I may know what you’re talking about. And I may not be able to give you the answers you want.

Tatsuya: That’s. fair. I need to ask, though, at the very least.

 

—

 

Jun: Back home with Morgana?

Akira: yeah hes been calling me stupid for slapping a hot thing.

Jun: What exactly happened?

Akira: it was just an accident. I was cooking with suou there to supervise. he said something that made me mad and i wanted to slap the counter but i hit the water instead

Jun: What did he say?

Akira: nothing important dont worry about it.

Jun: … You know that’s not very convincing. We can talk about that in person if you want, though.

Akira: whatever.

Jun: Is it making it harder to sign?

Akira: only a little. but id have to write with my off hand. dr said it should heal in a couple days.

Jun: Alright, we’ll sort out what alternate forms of communication to use until you’re better.

Akira: how much longer til youre home?

Jun: Three more hours.

Akira: ew.

Jun: My feelings exactly.

Jun continued to text with Akira on and off, needing the reassurance of the contact, as he watched landscapes rush past through the window. Akira told him some about what he got up to (which sounded like not much.) Jun confirmed that he'd visited Arisato's grave and shared stories of things he'd seen or strange things his students had done.

Until finally he was back in Inaba. And, after some walking, back home.

“I'm home!” he called as he toed off his shoes. From the living room, he heard Morgana and Akira both welcome him home in their own ways.

And then Akira walked into the entryway, looking Jun over as if he had been the one injured. The bandages on his arm were clearly visible. The moment Jun stepped into the house proper, Akira surged forward into a hug. He was clearly being careful with his right arm, but the left squeezed fiercely around Jun's middle. Jun hugged back just as tight.

When he pulled back, Akira was blushing faintly. I missed you, he admitted, his signs with his right hand a little awkward.

“I missed you too,” Jun replied.

With a hand still on Akira's back, he led them back to the living room, where Morgana was waiting with the AAC device. The not-cat immediately pressed a button to make the device speak for him. “Akira moped the entire time you were gone.”

Although the device was toneless, Morgana's expression was smug enough to make up for it.

Akira just stuck his tongue out at his friend, before grabbing the doctor's instructions on burn care.

They spent a while discussing that and other logistics. Akira gave in and agreed that he'd have to bring the AAC device to school if he couldn't write by Monday, and Jun promised to contact his teachers to make sure he'd get help with note-taking.

And then Jun brought up what had made Akira so evasive over text. “What did Tatsuya say that made you angry?” Jun asked, trying to gentle his tone.

Akira immediately stiffened and looked down, and Morgana turned from Jun to look at him. 

“If there's a conflict with you two—beyond the whole police matter—I want to know,” Jun pressed. “I want to help. If it's related to him being a cop, I still want to know.”

It really isn't important, Akira signed. 

“If it isn't important, then surely it's easy enough to tell me, right?” Jun pressed.

Akira pressed his lips together and shook his head. Jun felt worry spiking. He didn't know what would cause Akira to clam up on this, when he'd been open about everything else. Maybe he was embarrassed? Or… was he worried Jun would take Tatsuya's side.

“You know I'm here for you,” Jun tried one last time. “The way you're acting is worrying me, so I'm not going to let this go. If I need to, I'll just ask Morgana.”

Morgana glanced at him with a nod, before meeting Akira's eyes challengingly. Akira glared at him, before slumping and turning back towards Jun.

He… I think he likes you. Like more than friends, Akira admitted slowly. He glanced up and met his eyes. Jun didn't know what his expression was doing, but something in it made Akira stiffen back up, his signs growing bigger and more intense. 

You're not allowed to date him! he protested. I'm just getting comfortable and I don't want anyone else interfering! And he's a cop!

Jun held up his hands in a woah motion. “It's okay, Akira,” he said. “I already know Tatsuya likes me, and you don't have to worry. I want to be his friend, but there's reasons why I could never date him.”

Akira frowned, examining his expression. You like him back, he accused.

Jun opened his mouth to reply, and had to swallow back a lump. Finally, he sighed.

“Okay,” he started. “First of all, no matter what, no matter who else I befriend or date, I promised you I'd be there for you, and nothing is going to change that.”

Akira met his eyes, stubbornness and worry mingling in his own eyes. Jun went on.

“I wouldn't want to control who you bring into your life, although I'd hope you'd listen to me if I have concerns about someone. Likewise, I'll listen to any concerns you have about people. And…” Jun had to think for a long moment, to make sure he was making the right call, and phrasing it right.

“If I was bringing someone to join our family,” he finally settled on. “I would do my best not to bring someone who makes you feel unsafe. Which means, in most cases, police officers are right out. If I ever bring someone to join our family, it would be a slow process, too. But, Akira, you wouldn't like it if I said you couldn't be friends with someone outright, right?”

Akira considered this, biting his lip. Not outright. I'd want you to explain why and be able to disagree, he replied, looking deeply uncomfortable.

Jun nodded. “Exactly,” he said. “The same goes for any friend I make, or any romance, on my end. If you have concerns, I'll listen. And you don't have to be friends with my friends, or anyone I romance. But you don't get to control me, and I don't get to control you.”

In truth, he couldn't picture any romance lasting long if Akira didn't warm up to them in time. But, he didn't want to tell Akira that, at least not when he was in a mulish headspace like this.

Actually…Jun struggled to picture himself in a relationship at all. Before he'd remembered, no one had felt right. Now, any time Jun tried to picture something like that, it always ended up with Tatsuya. And Tatsuya wasn't an option. But this was all besides the point. The point was, Jun knew he could get possessive. It seemed Akira had some similar tendencies. And Jun knew that tendency was something you had to keep an eye on.

He waited as Akira chewed the thoughts over. He shrank into himself as he thought, before huffing a frustrated breath. Okay, fine, he conceded. But you never said if you like Suou.

Jun leaned back and rubbed a hand on his face. “I… do like him in that way. But circumstances mean we wouldn't work as a couple.”

Morgana nodded along, but Akira tilted his head. What do you mean? he asked.

Jun sighed. “It has to do with weird stuff, fair warning, but I’ll tell you if you want.”

Akira considered this, before shrugging and motioning Jun to go on.

Jun shifted to look at his watch, the wrong watch. “In the other timeline, I knew Tatsuya very well. We were childhood friends, part of a group of five. For a short period of time, we dated, but soon after, the world ended and we had to make a deal to restart the timeline, this time without knowing each other,” he covered, keeping an eye on Akira for any signs he was getting too uncomfortable with the topic. But Akira looked fine enough, so he went on.

“When I remembered, and when Maya-nee remembered, we both got the memories of the Other Side on top of the memories of This Side. Right before the Sumaru Crisis happened, Tacchi remembered in some sort of different way. The him from the Other Side awoke in the body of the him from This Side. For some reason, this allowed weird things to start happening in Sumaru again. It took him, along with Maya-nee and her friends, a lot of work to prevent another apocalypse. There were five of us who made the deal to erase our friendship to save the world. If all five of us remembered, the timelines would merge and the world would end.”

Akira frowned. You’ve told me this stuff before, back when you first remembered, he pointed out.

“Right, but you got… stressed out by it back then, and it’s been a while so I didn’t know how well you remembered.”

What does this have to do with dating now?

Jun groaned softly. “The Tatsuya from the Other Side went back to that timeline. Maya-nee says he was planning to rebuild as much as he could. Leaving the Tatsuya from This Side here, and missing a couple months of memory. Maya-nee’s friends kept an eye on me and my old friends, including Tatsuya, because the more of us remember, the more dangerous it might be. But they– we don’t know for sure what might cause something like the Sumaru City Crisis to happen again. Tacchi was the link between the timelines back then. So him remembering might be more dangerous than any of the rest of us. And I have memories of him, important ones that he doesn’t, and can’t share. I also know the secret of what happened to him during the Crisis, and can’t tell him. It wouldn’t be fair to him to enter a romantic relationship when I’m holding back so much information. Does that make sense?”

Akira tugged on a lock of hair with his left hand, thinking it over. Then he glanced away. Because you remember and he doesn’t, he summarized.

“Exactly,” Jun said.

Akira hunched in place. I don’t remember either, he pointed out.

Jun straightened up. “No, no, no, it’s different!” he protested. In the corner of his eye he saw Morgana start to type on his AAC device, but his vision zeroed in on his son.

It’s the same, Akira argued. You remember things about me that I don’t. So does Morgana. Doesn’t that mean you shouldn’t be too close to me?

Jun thought quickly. He knew in his gut there was a major difference, but it took him long moments to figure out what that difference actually was. He considered saying that Akira had been a baby, but that wasn’t quite the truth. He considered pointing out the brain injury, but that wasn’t quite the right point. Then he managed to figure it out.

“It’s… not about memory, not all the way,” he started, holding up a hand at Akira’s skeptical look. “It’s more about knowledge, for me. If I was able to explain to Tacchi about all of this, or offer to explain to him, we might be able to go forward with something. But I can’t, because it’s dangerous. I’ve offered to explain to you what I know about your past that you don’t remember. I know Morgana would be willing to explain as well. You made the choice that you didn’t want to know, and that’s okay. But the fact that you can make that choice, when Tacchi can’t, is the major difference.”

Akira considered this for a long moment. Before he could respond, Morgana finished typing and hit send on his AAC device. 

“For me, I decided to stay with you because you treated me with respect even without remembering me,” he’d written. “I wanted to look out for you. So does Jun. You’re a kid. People looking after kids usually know more to protect the kids better. Jun and I can know about it and use that knowledge if we need to.”

Akira sank back in the cushions of the couch, fiddling with his bangs. There was a long silence. Jun held himself back, letting Akira consider these ideas.

Finally, Akira sighed. I can see the difference. I just don’t want you thinking I’m… bad, because I don’t want to know.

Jun and Morgana traded a glance. In truth, Jun wasn’t sure if ignorance was the best path for Akira. He wasn’t sure what it was that made Akira so firm in not wanting to remember, although the way he covered his neck as he got up from the couch gave him some clues. Akira’s past had a lot of trauma in it, and maybe it was easier for him to ignore it, but Jun could see ways it affected him. Maybe if he knew the truth, he’d be able to understand himself better.

But Jun’s opinion on the matter wasn’t very important. He wasn’t sure what would be the best path for Akira, but he knew going against his wishes in this matter would be disastrous. So, as Akira wandered towards the kitchen, Jun followed, and said. “I don’t think you’re bad. I think it’s a choice only you can make.”

Jun found time to talk to Tatsuya the next day, at the gazebo by the river. One look at him told Jun he was full of pent-up nerves and trying to look calm. Jun swallowed back emotion and sat down across from him. “You wanted to talk, Suou-san?” he asked.

Tatsuya fiddled endlessly with the cuff of his right sleeve as he replied. “Yeah. I… know you might not be able to tell me about it but… I saw the scars on Akira-kun's arm, when I took him to the doctor. He's doing okay, right?”

Jun nodded, finding himself fidgeting with his watch in turn. “Yes,” he replied. “He's more annoyed by it than anything, and it'll keep him from writing for a few days, but he's doing alright. Is that what you wanted to…?”

Tatsuya shook his head. “No, I wanted to talk because of the scar.” He looked down at the wooden table, not meeting Jun's eyes as he struggled to formulate his words. Jun couldn't bring himself to help. He dearly wanted this conversation to turn in any way but the obvious one.

Tatsuya kept going, though. “He told me he didn't know how he got it,” he finally said. “Do you know?”

Jun bit his lip. “Not first-hand,” he settled on. “But I've found out the details.”

Jun had glanced away, but when he looked back up, Tatsuya's gaze pinned him in place. “You can't tell me, can you?” he said.

Jun shook his head, grateful not to have to say it out loud.

He sought for some change of subject, when Tatsuya undid the button on his cuff and rolled it up. Jun felt his heart stutter in fear as he saw the black brand grasping up Tatsuya's arm. A hand grabbing onto him, with the same strange symbol as in Akira's scar.

It was over ten years and a timeline ago since Jun was Joker, since he had held Nyarlathotep in the place where his Persona belonged. Still, some things stayed with him. When he saw that brand, he knew instinctually whose work it was. Chronos could feel faint echoes of dormant power in it. Dormant, but not dead, because the Crawling Chaos was part of humanity, and as long as humanity existed, so would he.

A shudder went through Jun as he tore his eyes away from the physical reminder of the threat Tatsuya's memories posed. Tatsuya's expression made him clench a fist under the table. He looked concerned, for Jun and not himself.

Jun offered a weak smile, and Tatsuya glanced down at his own arm. “I've had this tattoo since my last year of high school. I don't remember how I got it…” he said. “I know you can't explain anything but… I guess the root question is this. Is Akira-kun in danger?”

Jun could see a second question there. Was Tatsuya in danger? He wanted to shut it down immediately. Of course they weren't in danger. It was over, and scars could be reminders, but they were only that.

The serious way Tatsuya looked at him forced him to really consider the question, though. Of course there was always some danger to life, no matter who you were. Plus, the Velvet Room was in Inaba, which spoke to danger. That wasn't what Tatsuya was asking about, though.

Nyarlathotep could be a danger to both Tatsuya and Akira if he ever came back. Jun remembered the way his “father” had reacted when Jun first brought Akira to him, as if he'd received a wonderful gift. Morgana had told him how Nyarlathotep had tormented both Tatsuya and Akira in the current timeline. 

Plus, Jun sensed from the brand that it wasn't fully severed. He feared that Tatsuya remembering again, even if Jun and Maya forgot, could be very dangerous indeed.

But Tatsuya had shown no signs of the déjà vu Jun remembered experiencing during the Sumaru City Crisis. If anything, he was very cautious about the subject, as if some part of him sensed the danger. He wasn't particularly happy to have information kept from him, but he accepted it with zero fight.

Morgana had mentioned some things about some sort of deal between Philemon and Nyarlathotep, too. The not-cat wasn't clear on the details, having heard it all third-hand from residents of the Velvet Room, but he said it would keep either of them from interfering, and explained why there was less access to the Velvet Room these days.

Jun mentally weighed the circumstances, and let out a breath as he realized the answer was pretty much a no. They weren't in danger from Nyarlathotep, at least not unless something changed drastically.

As he'd thought it over, Tatsuya had watched him, his branded arm still on the table between them. Jun smiled and patted his hand, stopping himself from lingering in the contact beyond friendly bounds. “He's safe, as much as anyone can be,” he said.

Tatsuya drew his arm back, rolling his sleeve back down. He met Jun's eyes for a long moment, weighing him, before he nodded. “Alright. That's the most important thing. The rest is history.”

Jun eased himself off the bench. “True enough,” he said. He didn't want to end the interaction on that, so he threw out an offer. “Would you like to walk with me to the shopping district, Suou-san?”

The small, genuine smile he got in return made his heart thump in his chest. “Sure. Let's go,” Tatsuya said.