Persona 4: Depths of the Mind
Prelude Archive Chapter 2
A loud electronic bell pulled me back to reality, and I jolted forward in my seat.
We will arrive at the Yasukami terminal in a few minutes. Passengers headed for Inaba and Yasoinaba Station, please go to the other side of the platform.
The train. Guess it was all a dream.
My shoulders slumped against the thin padding of the chair, and I pulled at the thick bags beneath my eyes in the window’s reflection. Black irises, silver shoulder length hair, and unremarkable, asiatic facial features. Yup. That’s me.
I must’ve drifted off…What a weird thing to dream about. I laughed aloud at the ridiculousness of it all, thankful there were enough passengers in the cab to muffle the sound within the crowd. A mysterious catastrophe that I had to stop? Pfft. I had to stop playing video games before bed; it was giving me delusions of grandeur. High school students don’t just become heroes. Not outside of fiction anyway. The amusement of it all warmed my chest and I rummaged around through my hoodie pocket for my phone.
Time to get back to the real world. I flicked open the folded electronic; the news open on the dimly lit screen.
Politician Namatame has been found of having an affair with Yamano, a popular news anchor. In light of these events, Yamano…
Yawning, I let the screen fall into my lap. This is what passes for news nowadays? Political scandals and infidelity? The real world sucks.
As I closed the app, an unread text message caught my attention. “Meet us outside Yasoinaba station at 4 PM” is all it read. Straight and to the point. Exactly what I expected of someone from my family.
Stifling another yawn, I stared out at the speeding scenery outside. Inaba of all places… talk about traveling to the middle of nowhere.
I was on my way to stay with my uncle, Ryotaro Dojima for a year. Moving wasn’t unfamiliar territory to me, but living outside of a densely populated city was. From what I had heard, you could walk from one end of Inaba to the other all within the same day. A town that small was practically a foreign concept to me, and I was unsure of how I’d take to my new home.
The electronic bell rang again, alerting me to its intended destination.
Ah well. Maybe the peace and quiet of the countryside will be good for me.
The bullet train slowed to a stop, the metallic screech of the brakes filling the air. I was one of the few to step off at the Yasoinaba station, reminding me of how secluded my new home was. With a deep breath, I gripped the handle of my suitcase and strode forward confidently.
There were few people waiting at the terminal, most of them glued to their cell phones in one way or another. Luckily for me, my ride was here and waiting. A man waved at me from the bottom of the steps, his face breaking out in a welcoming grin. “Hey! Over here!”
I met him at the bottom of the steps with a smile of my own. I couldn’t remember the last time I had met my Uncle, but I detected a trace of familial resemblance in his features. Black hair formed a rugged mop atop his head, stubble lining the chiseled features of his jawline. He dressed as if he had just gotten off of work and wore a grey dress shirt, red tie, and black slacks.
“Well, you’re more beautiful in person than in your photo,” he said whilst extending a hand. “Welcome to Inaba, Yuko. I’m Ryotaro Dojima, I’ll be looking after you for now.” Dojima rubbed his chin with his free hand. “Let’s see…I’m your mother’s younger brother…and that just about sums it up.”
I took his outstretched palm in a friendly handshake, amused at my uncle’s hasty introduction. “It’s been a long time, Dojima-san.”
“I’ll say, you’ve really grown. I still remember when you were in diapers.”
Dojima turned his attention to elsewhere, oblivious to my discomfort. “This here’s my daughter.”
I’d never met my cousin before, but she was adorable. The small girl had appeared from behind my uncle. Her brown hair pulled up in a set of pigtails, she wore a long-sleeved white turtleneck beneath a knee-high pink and brown patterned dress.
Resisting the urge to pick her like a doll, I offered what I hoped was a reassuring smile. She inched behind Dojima once more, shyly peering at me from behind her hiding place.
“Come on, Nanako,” he said gently. “Introduce yourself to your cousin.”
Nanako was silent for a moment, her large brown eyes looking me up and down. “…’lo…” she squeaked before ducking out of sight once more.
Dojima laughed. “What’re you so shy for?”
My little cousin frowned suddenly, slapping her father’s thigh with a pout.
Still smiling, he waved me towards a white SUV in the parking lot. “Well then…let’s get going. My car’s over there.”
I was about to pick up my bag to follow my new family when someone roughly tapped my shoulder. My brow shot up as I pivoted on my heels to face the person.
It was a girl. The newcomer was about my age with her black hair cut in an angular bob at her chin. She wore a red tartan miniskirt, white blouse paired with black tie, and thick, black combat boots. Blue and white striped fingerless gloves snaked their way up her arm to settle halfway up her bicep, and within one outstretched hand was a piece of paper.
“You dropped this.” Her tone was unfriendly. A pair of grey-green eyes bore into me like knives.
The thing turned out to be the restaurant business card I had written Dojima’s address on the back of. “Thank you. It would’ve been bad if I had lost this.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “Whatever. All I did was pick it up.” And with that, she turned and continued on her way without another glance back.
That was… interesting. It was nice of her to retrieve my card, but she looked at me as if I had purposely ruined her day somehow. Charming.
“Everything alright over there?”
“Yes sir! On my way,” I called back to Dojima. Stuffing the card in my pocket, I put the brooding teen out of my mind as I lugged my suitcase to the white SUV.
The drive back to Inaba turned out to be shorter than expected and I listened quietly to my uncle’s verbal tour and repeated reassurances that I would like the small town. As Dojima was discussing the high school, I peeked back at silent Nanako.
The small girl sat with her hands folded in her lap. Eyes glassy and distant. She seemed sad for some reason, but I didn’t have a clue how to approach her.
We eventually rolled into Inaba at what my Uncle told me was the central shopping district. Lines of drab, lifeless buildings flew past us; most of them boarded up. The occasional splash of color seemed out of place among the never ending theme of grey and brown. Every ad or faded poster stood out like a window to a colorful, foreign world. It was quaint to say in the least, but… was this really the shopping district? Why were half of the buildings closed down?
I didn’t get a chance to ask about it. Dojima pulled us into a gas station shortly after, apologizing for our abrupt stop. Nanako sounded grateful for the break and loudly announced her need to use the toilet.
A cheerful attendant intercepted us as I stepped out to stretch my legs. “Hi! Welcome to Moel!”
My uncle nodded in greeting before turning to Nanako. “Can you go to the bathroom by yourself?”
The attendant smiled broadly, bending over to stand at eye level with her. “It’s in the back, to your left. You know which way’s left? The side you don’t hold your chopsticks in.”
An indignant frown crossed my cousin’s face. “I know… Geez…” she mumbled.
The cheerful smile never left the attendant’s face as she turned to me and my uncle. “Are you taking a trip?”
“No, we just went to pick her up,” Dojima pat my shoulder. “She just moved here from the city.”
“Fill up my car while you’re at it. Regular’s fine.” His hand rummaged through his pocket as he turned away. “Good a time as any for a smoke…”
I was about to go for a brief stroll myself when the irrepressible lady pulled me back into conversation. “Are you in high school? Does it surprise a city girl to see how little there is out here? I’m sure you’ll get bored fast. You’ll either be hanging out with your friends or doing part-time jobs.” She snapped her fingers suddenly. “Oh, speaking of which, we’re actually looking for part-time help right now. Give it some thought, why don’t you? We don’t mind if you’re a student.”
Jeez this lady was pushy.
Nanako had appeared beside me, thankfully stopping the talkative attendant in her tracks. “Oh, I should get back to work…”
Once the attendant ran off, Nanako looked at me with obvious concern. “Did you get carsick? You don’t look too good.”
Now that she mentioned it… my stomach did feel a little queasy, but I shrugged it off as a byproduct of my long trip. Sitting on your butt all day was hard work, after all.
One tank of gas and a smoke break later, we finished the trip back home. The attendant’s observation of Inaba was right though. There was basically nothing here. No theaters, internet cafes, clothing stores, hobby shops, nada. I saw a lot of cornfields and more colorless houses, but little else. The dismal lighting of the overcast afternoon didn’t help its image either.
But despite the town’s bland exterior, it was definitely cute. Inaba had a rustic charm to it that reminded me of old-style villages in my text books. Despite myself, I was looking forward to the upcoming year.
Yuko roughing it in the country. Somehow I liked the sound of that.
The Dojima residence was just as ordinary as the rest of the town. The small two-story house was squished in a long line of uniquely shaped homes; all colored brown and grey. I looked it up and down with a nod of approval. I had always lived in an apartment, so the prospect of living in a house was exciting. I could turn up the volume on my games or music without worrying about neighbors… This was going to be great!
Dojima ushered me inside to the great room with little ceremony. It was tidier than I expected of a place that housed a bachelor and seven-year old. In fact, it was practically immaculate. The kitchen was small but cleanly. No crumbs, dust, or stray flecks could be seen on the woven living room mat or wooden flooring.
In comparison, I was a trainwreck.
Nanako and I sat around the living room table as Dojima retrieved some boxed meals and bottled drinks from the refrigerator. “Sorry it’s nothing fancy,” he apologized.
“Good enough for me,” I said. “My parents rarely have time to cook at home, so takeout is pretty standard.”
He passed me a box and a bottle of strawberry ramune with a chuckle. “Then you’ll get along here just fine.” Sitting beside me, Dojima held his drink aloft. “All right, let’s have a toast.”
Smiling, I clinked my glass bottle against his. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until food was before me. Though the box was cold, the rice, pork, and even the limp cabbage mix looked delicious. But my Uncle had yet to eat himself and years of rigid meal etiquette kept me from the food.
“So…” Dojima said; his chopsticks remaining on the table. “Your mom and dad are busy as always. They’re working overseas, was it? I know it’s only for a year, but getting stuck in a place like this because of your parents… It’s rough being a kid.”
I shook my head. “It’s not so bad. I get to see new places all the time, so there’s that.”
“That’s an awfully good-natured way to look at it. Well, it’s just me and Nanako here, so it’ll be nice having someone else around. So long as you’re here, you’re part of the family. Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
My uncle smiled once more. “Well anyway…let’s eat.”
I eagerly awaited Dojima to signify the beginning of the meal with that first bite. My uncle brought that blob of rice so tantalizingly close to his mouth…and then the mechanical beep of a cell phone began to sound.
Dojima’s eyebrows furrowed as he placed his chopsticks back in the boxed meal. “Ugh… Who’s calling at this hour?”
“Dojima speaking… Yeah? I see… So where is it?” My uncle suddenly adopted a very hard look, any semblance of his jovial demeanor disappearing. “All right. I’m on my way.” He shook his head as he slipped the phone back into his pocket. “Looks like I made the right choice to skip the booze…”
My eyes followed him as he stood up from the table. “Sorry, but I gotta go take care of some business. Go ahead and eat without me. I don’t know how late I’ll be. Nanako, you help her out, okay?”
Nanako had the craziest “kicked puppy” look I’ve ever seen on a kid her age as she watched her father’s departure. The shutter of the front door closing seemed to echo in the living room, an uneasy quiet falling over the two of us. Without a word, Nanako picked a remote off the table and aimed it at the TV.
…for this week. Next, let’s take a look at the hourly breakdown of tomorrow’s weather.
The News sprung to life on the small screen, and my cousin listlessly watched the reporter talk into the camera.
With storm clouds moving in from the west, expect rain throughout the day tomorrow in most areas.
“…Let’s eat,” she said, her voice flat with heavy resignation.
The weather report droned on in the background as I stared at the cold food in front of me. Despite my hunger, I felt uncomfortable eating. Storm clouds seemed to be brewing from the girl beside me, and I felt obligated to start conversation.
Nanako looked up at me, her large brown eyes full of sadness. “He… investigates stuff. Like crime scenes. He’s a detective,” she explained.
I had a hard time picturing such a cute little town being plagued with enough criminals to pull my uncle out on a regular basis. Maybe Nanako was just scared to be left alone with me? “Must be rough,” I said finally.
She said nothing, her gaze glued to the TV screen.
City council secretary Taro Namatame is under fire for an alleged relationship with a female reporter.
Oh you’ve got to be kidding me. Not this crap again.
His wife, enka ballad sensation Misuzu Hiragi, revealed to this station that she would likely pursue damages.
Blah, blah, blah… My appetite had somewhat returned and I began to eat as fast as etiquette allowed for. This place was so unnaturally clean. It felt like I’d be committing heresy if I spilt a single grain of rice on the shining living room table.
In response, Eye Television has decided to cancel all of announcer Mayumi Yamano’s televised appearances. Until allegations of an affair with Mr. Namatame are resolved, she’ll remain off the air and out of public eye.
“…This is boring.” Nanako said with a sigh.
Nanako pressed on the TV remote to change the channel and a familiar jingle rang out from the television as the screen reoriented itself.
At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation day! Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products!
There was a Junes all the way out here? How many did Japan need? The retail chain’s popularity had exploded in recent years, and stores had been popping up all over the place. When I lived in the city, there had been no less than three of the things within easy biking distance from my home.
Everyday’s great at your Junes! The woman in the TV sang in the commercial. Nanako’s eyes lit up at the jingle and I choked on a mouthful of rice at her violent mood change.
“Everyday’s great at your Junes!” My little cousin sang merrily, her performance conducted by the chopsticks in her hand.
My rice had fallen from my utensils back into the box below as I kept my girlish excitement buried beneath a mask of indifference. My little cousin was so cute! Were all kids this cute? I wanted to hug her and dress her up and brush her hair and… wait this is getting creepy.
Nanako’s cheeks blew up like a balloon. “…Aren’t you going to eat?”
I must’ve embarrassed her. With a nod I returned to my box, and the two of us watched TV in silence for the remainder of the meal. Afterward, we cleared the table and scrubbed the house for any of those blasphemous dust specks. It turns out, my cousin is a cleaning whiz. I’d seen few adults that could keep up with her seemingly effortless multitasking. Though the trait added to her endless charm, I couldn’t help but feel a prickle of discomfort as I realized who was responsible for this spotless home.
Once satisfied with our handiwork, Nanako lead me to my room upstairs. Luckily for me, the room was already furnished and awaiting my arrival. I hadn’t brought a lot of luggage with me (to Dojima’s surprise). Only one carry-on and a suitcase. The suitcase filled with clothes and other necessities, and the carry-on with manga and my handheld console game collection. A futon had already been prepared, and the room came complete with a desk, sofa, shelves, coffee table and even my own little TV.
I turned to thank Nanako for her hospitality, but she had already disappeared. The drone of the television downstairs stopped abruptly followed by a soft patter of padded feet.
What a strange little girl. She seemed unnaturally mature for her age, but I guess she’d have to grow up fast with no mother and a working father.
Deciding to turn in early for the evening, I threw open my suitcase in search of pajamas. Unpacking could wait until tomorrow or... sometime.
I wiggled my way under the covers of the futon in the dark, my thoughts returning to my hallucinogenic-burrito-train dream. A posh blue limousine, a creepy long-nosed man and an elegant woman. What a weird scenario.
I entertained the idea that the Margaret might be a future version of me. She was so beautiful and mature… I could only hope to be like that one day. And those golden eyes! It was an odd color coupling with the silver and blue, but for some reason it worked.
I froze beneath the covers as a thought crossed my mind. But if Margaret was me… what did that make Igor.
Suddenly I didn’t want to think about my burrito dream anymore.
Rolling onto my side, I turned my thoughts to planning my future school career. Being the transfer student would put me at the talk of the school for a while, so that would hook me up with meeting new people. I’d make some friends, learn new things. Maybe I’d even meet some wonderful guy.
But the most important part is that it’d be quiet. No more panicked rush of the city. No more “dinner parties” with my parents. No more unattainable expectations. Just the peaceful lull of the uneventful countryside.
I could get used to that idea.
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