Persona X [LazyKitsune]

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

Name: Shoji Fumiko
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Appearance:

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Metaverse Outfit

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Arcana: Fool
Persona: Baba Yaga

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Perks:

Rebel at Heart: Fumiko's rebellious nature is engrained deeply within her. She has an easier time resisting brainwashing effects than most (unless Unpleasant Reminders has triggered).

Metalhead: Fumiko loves heavy rock and metal. She's a talented performer and knows how to make noise, making it a useful skill for both making money, impressing someone with her talents or causing a distraction.

Hot Bod: She's hot, knows she's hot, and knows how to use it. Seducing, teasing or just looking good, she's a natural.

Delinquent Behaviour: Fumiko's always been good at getting into trouble. What she's learned is how to get away with it. She excels at finding ways to break into places she shouldn't be or sneak out of places that she should.

Flaws:

Anti-Authority Attitude: Fumiko is a born rebel, and authority figures tend to pick up on that quickly from how she looks and acts. Everything from her dyed hair and dress sense tip people off. People in positions of authority are more likely to distrust or be hard on Fumiko.

Bad Reputation: Due to rumours being spread around about her expulsion from her last school, Fumiko has a reputation as being easy and sleeping with teachers, with more extreme rumours even suggesting she's a whore. Not only does this makes it harder for her to make friends with people that buy into those rumours and are judgemental of those attributes, but it also gets her a lot of unwanted attention from lecherous men, be they fellow students or faculty members, that think they can get an easy fuck out of her.

Unpleasant Reminders: Though she blocks his number, he seems to keep finding ways to get in touch with her. The scumbag teacher that got her expelled from her old school is abusing his right to press charges against her by using it as leverage to fuck her mother. Every so often, Fumiko receives a photo or video of her mother servicing or getting fucked by this jerk which leaves her mentally vulnerable that day. Sometimes these texts come with instructions that ensure Fumiko watches through to the end or else the teacher will upload the clips somewhere anyone can find them. This same leverage is used to stop Fumiko from telling her mother about this to try and prevent further abuse.

Background: Shoji Fumiko grew up in a struggling household. Her parents were so focused on trying to make ends meet that they were largely absent from her life. She grew noisy, rebellious, dying her hair and wearing flashy and revealing outfits, but found herself disappointed with the lack of a reaction that gained. At the very least, her lifestyle brought her a love for music, a talent that she could explore and enjoy even if her parents weren't overly keen on her favourite genre.

Her lifestyle did get her a lot of negative attention at school - not that that mattered to her, if her parents couldn't care enough to get involved then why should she care what some random adults thought? Her reputation as a troublemaker kept landing her in disciplinary after disciplinary meeting, however, putting her position at the school on thin ice. Things came to a head when Fumiko discovered that a teacher at the school had been sexually abusing several female students, creating situations where they felt like they needed to sleep with him in order to avoid expulsion. Not one to let something like that slide, she ended up confronting him in his office, even hitting him when he tried to pull the same shit on her.

This blew up in her face in more ways than she could imagine. Not only did none of her accusations stick against the teacher, but he even turned the story around on her. Now, as far as the school was concerned, Fumiko got into a fight with the teacher because she tried to sleep with him and was upset by his rejection of her. This with her already troubled reputation resulted in her expulsion. Mortified, her family apologised to the school profusely. Her mother even visited the school to apologise on Fumiko's behalf and try and reverse the expulsion. This only made matters worse, as Fumiko found her phone lighting up with texts from the teacher in question, sending her pictures of her mother sucking his cock and bent over and taking his dick. Despite her mother's efforts, the school wouldn't let Fumiko back. The most that seemed to come out of it was that criminal charges wouldn't be pressed, and Fumiko suspected only that was accepted so that this teacher could ring up her mother anytime he wanted to. Fumiko had learned enough of a lesson to know that trying to show the photos to anyone as evidence would just make the situation worse, both for her and her mother. Let alone whatever it might do to her mother and father's relationship.

Things only got worse in the Shoji household when Fumiko's mother got pregnant. A younger sibling that more than likely didn't belong to her father at all. Still struggling to make ends meet and recover from the drama, her parents realise they simply won't have time to help take care of Fumiko. Fortunately there was a school that was willing to take her not too far from where her aunt lived. She could transfer over and begin a new life while her parents tried to prepare for the new child.

Turn Ons: Hypnosis, cuckolding, cheating, drunk / drugged sex, blackmail, coercion, rape, bestiality, cheating, behind someone's back, exploitation, voyeurism, exhibitionism, forced into sexual situations / clothing, sex as bartering, multiple partners, gender swapping, humiliation, sub / dom play, musk, pregnancy, romance
Turn Offs: Gore, vore, pedo, scat, insects and arachnids

The steady staccato of train over tracks is your only companion as you hurdle toward your new home. Osaka isn’t anywhere close to home, but that much was the point; down south, you could get away from everything that haunted you back home. The school, your reputation, the situation at home… It was a clean break. A new start, where the only thing you needed to worry about was getting through the last year of school, getting into a university equally far away from home, and reacquainting yourself with your aunt and cousin. If only it felt like a new start and not an excuse to run away.

The clacking of the train gets quieter as it pulls into the station just ahead. It had taken you most of the day, catching different connections on your way to your new home. It was more a suburb of Osaka than the city proper, but you had been assured that it was only a quick trip by train to find something to do down in the city. A lot of assurances had been made in an attempt to convince you of the benefits of your exit. How many of them you believed were true certainly depended on your mood, although it was hard not to see the desperation in your mother's eyes whenever the topic came up.

As the brakes screech to a halt and the handful of passengers who accompanied you on the last leg of your journey begin to shuffle out of the train, your legs find you doing much the same. The sunset gleams over the horizon as your shoes make first contact with the concrete of Shimamoto station. And it isn't all that long after you step out of the way of the flow of passengers and reach into your pocket to collect your phone that you hear a familiar voice calling out to you.

"Ah! Fumi-chan! Over here!"

To your left, you catch sight of the very woman whose home you would be sharing. Your aunt, Adachi Makoto, had always been a warm, welcoming woman for as long as you had known her. Your mother's sister, when you were much younger, and her family lived closer to home, you often spent your summer breaks mingling with her, your uncle Akihiro, and your cousin Akiko. But a work transfer saw your aunt and uncle both heading to Osaka almost ten years ago, and it was two years ago that your uncle passed away very suddenly, leaving your aunt a widow. You hadn't seen her in person since the funeral; she looks much better now than she did then.

As the two of you approached, she seemed somewhat at odds with herself, looking you over with a mixture of concern and perhaps hesitation. Then, eventually, concern wins out, and once the platform has cleared some more, she steps towards you and throws her arms around your shoulders, pulling you into a close hug.

"I'm so sorry we have to meet like this, sweetheart... I wish it didn't have to be this way."

There's something innately comforting about the feeling of her embrace, the warm, gentle fragrance she seems to have, and the way she gently reaches to stroke your hair. It isn't totally unlike being hugged by your mother, given the close resemblance between herself and her younger sister. As she pulls away from the hug, she still reaches down to gently clasp your hands in her own.

"But it's better this way, hm? Aki-chan and I are happy to have you, and I'm sure you'll settle in just fine. The students here are very welcoming."

A small strain on her smile indicates a semblance of a lie, but a lie made from good intentions. Perhaps eager to conceal it, she gestures towards the exit to the train platform with her neck.

"Come, we can walk and talk. I'm sure you're looking forward to unpacking. I've cleaned the guest room up for you, so you should be able to move right in!"

__

Your Aunt, Adachi Makoto

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

[Lazy Kitsune]

Train journeys were never the most comfortable thing. But this far south west, a regular discomfort was a warm welcome. A groper is something I can deal with, and people would just look at me like some gyaru with attitude that's watched too much American TV. No one associating me with that mess at high school, thinking I'm some manipulative whore. It wasn't exactly on my to-do list to get sent half way across the country so I wouldn't be a nuisance to my family any more, but maybe there were some upsides to all of this. I always did what to travel, after all. What's that expression? Clouds and silver-linings. And as an added bonus, all the country and suburb trains were filled with fewer pervs than I'd typically see around Ikebukuro or Shibuya. Really, everything was looking up! Couldn't be better! … No... I didn't convince myself either.

It's been a while since I've seen Makoto or Akiko. Over this whole journey, I still wasn't sure how I was going to speak to them. With my own mother stopping just shy of disowning me, and my father so focused on work that I'm not even sure he's fully understood what's happening with me right now... how was I supposed to acknowledge them as family? I wouldn't hold it against them to see me like a burden, they probably only know as much about the situation as my mother would tell them. But Makoto-san was willing to take me in. That was... more than anyone else was offering right now. Which even I had to admit was a little touching.

As the train pulled up to this station, I felt all these mounting nerves swell into a twisted knot in my stomach. I stuck a lollipop into my mouth and wore my uncaring pout as a shield as I stepped out onto the platform. Holding my luggage close to me, I shuffle through the sea of disembarking passengers until Makoto's voice calls to me.

"Obasan!" I say, plucking out the lollipop with a sheepish grin. The conflict on her face isn't a surprise to see, but it feels no less disheartening anyway. Maybe I should just play nice anyway... a year getting by and then I'd be free to do us both a favour and go-

Oh.

I'm slow to reciprocate the hug. I mean... of course I am. I... don't think I can remember the last time I was hugged. My mind goes to my mother and I know she loves me enough to hug me like this... but she hasn't in a long time. I return the gesture. At least with one arm, the other still holding onto my lollipop.

"Its good to see you!" I say as the hug comes to an end. She tells some white lies. Nothing I'm not used to at this point, but at least these ones are for my benefit rather than someone else's.

"I'm grateful. Really. And I know my mother is too. Yeah, lets. What's Aki-chan been up to, lately? Oh, uh..." I shift the other bag I have with me, the one slung over my shoulder rather than wheeled by my side. "I brought my guitar with me... I can find some place else to play it if you'd rather keep the house quiet. Just wanted to keep up my practice."

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

The walk from the station isn't half as bad as you expected. Despite being a bit out of the way, it seems Shimamoto's government still cares enough to keep things nice and tidy. With the sun creeping down and out of the sky, the temperature is relatively comfortable, and you even catch a nice breeze walking down the stairs that lead from the platform to the station beyond. Of course, a little bit of welcome wind doesn't do much to clear the conflict that once again fills your aunt's face. Given your... contentious relationship with the adults in your life at present, it wouldn't be odd to find that particular trait of Makoto's endearing; she certainly has a hard time concealing her true feelings on a matter, even if she has the dignity to try and do so for the sake of politeness.

"Aki-chan has been... preoccupied for a while now. He doesn't do much of anything these days, beyond studying in his room," The older woman seems to chew her lip for a moment before continuing, "I really shouldn't say that. He's just... had a hard time adjusting since his father passed."

There's something to empathize with, insofar as losing a family. True, your parents hadn't exactly died, but it was hard to say that your family dynamic hadn't been lost the day you got the first of those pictures blowing up your phone. Going back to the way things were before was about as easy as trying to raise the dead.

"I'm sure he'll be happy to see you, though! He doesn't say much to me these days, but I'm sure he's terribly lonely, all couped up in that room of his. And I'm sure your guitar will be fine, dear! It'll be nice to have some music in the house again."

Perhaps things weren't as well as initially seemed. Still, it might explain why your aunt was so ready to take you in. If her nest was already full of broken birds, what was one more?

"I'm sorry, Fumi-chan. I must be making everything sound so dreary, but it's not so bad here. You've always been a very energetic girl, so I'm sure you'll make a place for yourself in no time. Maybe you could even try and join one of the music clubs at school. I'm led to believe the cultural clubs are usually a little understaffed..."

[Lazy Kitsune]

"Oh?" Makoto was worried about Akiko spending too much time studying. Quite frankly the opposite concern I feel like any parent back at my old high school had. Still, becoming a shut-in wasn't exactly all that much better than a delinquent. With the amount of pressure teachers and parents tend to lump on students during their final years however its surprising it doesn't happen more often. And that's just regular high school life. Akiko's father had died. That can't have been easy. Or have gotten easier since, really.

"Are you sure you want me hanging around him? I figured-" I cut my self off. I was about to accuse my aunt of thinking of me as a bad influence to keep away from her darling child. Its just what I was used to from adults at this point. I had parents lump the bad behaviour of students I was barely aware existed onto my influence. "I'd be happy to spend time with him. Its been a while, so I'm not sure what we'll have in common, but I'm sure we'll find something."

"Ha... er... I don't know if my music is the kind that schools usually like to have in their music clubs." I feel a little awkward about laughing at her suggestion. She only meant well. I've never been a model student or daughter, but even I felt bad about being an ass to the only person that showed me any amount of sympathy since this whole catastrophe started. "I'd... love to join a club. If they'd have me. It's definitely worth trying, thanks."

This was getting too awkward. I'm not good with awkward. Actually, I'm fine with awkward. I usually just ignore it and let it be someone else's problem. But now this was awkward about a situation I felt responsible for. Which was fucked for a whole load of reasons, but none of them were Makoto's fault.

"Um. Obasan. Is... is it alright if I ask... Why did you take me in? I know you probably want to help out my mother but... well... surely I must seem like more trouble for you? I know how to cook." Easy noodles but she doesn't need to know that. "If it makes it easier, I can just take care of myself. Food, clothes, the lot. You won't need to know I'm here."

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

Makoto was quick to raise her hand and wave off the notion when you brought up whether or not you and Akiko would ever still have things to talk about, much less be friendly about.

"It's okay, Fumi-chan. I don't expect you two to get along right away, or really at all, if it turns out like that. You're both your own people, and it'd be unfair to expect you to get along just because you're cousins," She offered a small, if sad little smile, "I just think it might be good to try. I'm sure there are some things you can't talk about with me, or your friends, or classmates. But confiding in each other, given what you've gone through... it could help."

A startlingly optimistic point of view, but not entirely out of character for the woman who invited you halfway across the country to live in her house for free. Of course, the line of questioning as to what caused such an extension of generosity does cause her brows to knit somewhat. If not frustration, then out of careful consideration.

"I don't suppose 'we're family' would suffice?" She asks rhetorically with another one of her sad smiles, before continuing, "Truth be told, it's equal parts for you and for me. As for my part... my daughter isn't the only one struggling. Your uncle was the light of my life, and I know even through his teenage woes, Akiko loved his father dearly. When he suddenly passed, he left a void that's been difficult to fill."

She stops for a moment, if only to look at you properly before continuing, a certain solemnness in her eyes as she continues.

"It's selfish to say, but I hoped in some small way that by bringing you down to live with us, it might add a little... levity, to things. It's unfair to saddle you with that kind of weight, I know: you're a woman in all but name, now, but you're still a young woman, and one with her own trials and tribulations to deal with."

There's a certain thoughtfulness to the statement that brings into question just how much your aunt actually knows about your mother's situation. About your situation. It didn't seem impossible that, put in the scenario she is in, your mom would confide in her sister. A possibility that's made more likely as she continues.

"But I meant it when I said it: I think it'll be good for all of us to have you here. So, please, sweetie, don't think of yourself as a burden."

[Lazy Kitsune]

"Levity, huh?" I ask, taking a few moments of my own to ponder. Fortunately thoughtful silences are made a little more excusable here thanks to the scenic environment. Well, it might not be scenic to my aunt, but Shimamoto was a little greener than what I was used to and these streets were all new. As the sky turned towards orange for the evening, it gave the perfect backlighting to find myself distracted by the way a bird would flit between trees, or a passer-by would detour down a path that was utterly a mystery to me but clearly an everyday corner for them. All the closing or closed coffee shops that maybe I'll come to develop preferences for.

"Alright, but you asked for it." I say, smirking. "Most people come to loathe my sense of humour though."

This was... better than I had expected. Which isn't saying much. As a rule, I've trained myself to not expect anything at all. But maybe its okay to just be happy with how this is going. Even if its not where I want to be. Maybe I could relax and be myself around them a bit more. Well, I didn't want to piss them off too much... the least I could do is try not to get into trouble at school on day one. The hair colour is staying though. Which reminds me...

"What's the uniform like, for this place?" I ask. "I mean, its a school uniform, so I've got a general idea, but does it at least not feel like an itchy straightjacket?"

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

The scene skies of Shimamoto are a far cry from Tokyo's. Osaka wasn't exactly a tiny bumpkin town, but it seemed, just out on the outskirts, a little more natural beauty managed to bleed through everything. Or, perhaps, you just lucked out and the city decided to welcome you with a particularly beautiful sunset and a fine evening breeze. You can't help but notice at least one strange sight among the otherwise mundane beauty of your new home. Out of your peripherals, you catch sight of what looks like a butterfly of all things. It flutters aimlessly on the breeze, at least initially, and yet all the same you get a strange sense of... familiarity with the little insect as it flaps its luminous azure wings in service of nothing and everything at once. Your aunt gives you a dazzling little smile as you zone back in, clearly pleased with your response.

"You wouldn't be yourself without it, Fumi-chan. As for uniforms? I wouldn't worry. I've always found the blazers quite sharp, although Aki-chan disagrees with me. Some of the girls are known to get somewhat... daring, with the skirts, I suppose, so certainly there's a level of leniency, especially with the seniors!"

Your aunt's words continue for some moments, yet it becomes increasingly hard to focus on them. The little butterfly, battling the breeze, seems to absorb more and more of your attention as it labors against fate. It almost seems to... beckon to you. Insofar as a bug could beckon to anybody, you supposed.

"But I'm sure I'm just boring you at this point, Fumi-chan. I parked just down the street. Why don't you wait here while I get the car? That way you won't need to carry your things too much farther."

Your aunt's thoughtful words and equally endearing smile help break you from your strange, trance-like state. Yet her offered absence would give you the excuse you needed to pursue the little insect that had become the object of your eye so abruptly.

Of course, the fact you felt the word pursue adequately described your feelings toward it might have been concerning all the same.

[Lazy Kitsune]

My lollipop rolls softly against my lips as I watch those bright blue fluttering wings. I don't loose complete track of where I am, but everything around me almost seems to fade into the background. All noises and sensations dimming except for the butterfly as it consumes more of my focus. Even the beating of its wings starts to reach my ears and make my own heart flutter.

"Hmm?" I missed the last thing she said, my mind taking a few moments to recall and catch myself up as I turn my attention back to Makoto. I felt bad for zoning out and ignoring her, yet even as I try to draw my attention back to her, plopping my lollipop more firmly in my mouth, I find my attention being pulled back towards the butterfly out of the corner of my vision.

I murmur a thankyou with the lollipop still in my mouth before I feel my focus slip away completely. What was it about this butterfly... It was certainly quite captivating to look at. Enchanting even. Its almost like a knew it from somewhere before but... that would be absurd. Or maybe its less that I know it and more that... its very nature is something I can relate to instinctually.

While I had every intention of waiting while Makoto returned, almost without thinking I found myself resting my bags where I stood and drifting towards the butterfly. Each step towards it, I find myself sinking deeper into the mesmerising fluttering of its wings. It feels like all my surroundings bleed away, leaving but the butterfly before me. My lollipop slips from my mouth, tumbling to the ground below as my lips hang open in dumbfounded awe as the insect draws me in.

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

Your journey towards the butterfly leads you further across the platform, away from the place where you left your bags. It's a strange experience, wandering in a fugue state towards a creature that, despite seeming to never quite win its battle against the wind, never seems to allow you any closer. If it were not such a hypnotic sight to behold, you might even consider it discomfiting, how it always remains just out of reach. Whether it's real or merely a hallucination, you can't quite tell... but it does feel right to follow in its trail. Almost comforting to do so, like it wants to lead you somewhere safe.

You nearly drown out all else around you in your pursuit of the beautiful little bug, and it's only when you hear a distinctly male voice from not too far away that its trance over you seems to break, and you finally draw your eyes away from its luminescent form, just enough to glance at the source.

"What strange ways, fate draws us... with nothing more than light at the end of the tunnel as its promise."

Who you see is... almost as concerning as what led you there, or the weird, cryptic words they mumble.

It's a boy, of course, and one that looks about as old as you, if a little younger due to his more slender build. He's quite pale, from his skin up to his snowy white hair, and even his eyes seem bright, glimmering almost gold. He's dressed in a uniform reminiscent of a high school, though whether it's the one for your school or not, you can't say. The blazer doesn't look all that sharp. He almost seems to not notice you in turn, although eventually, when he tilts his head to catch sight of you, his placid features slowly take on that of a small, genuine smile.

"I'm glad to have finally caught up to you, miss. I had hoped to return this to you sooner," The young man reaches into the pocket of his jacket and produces what looks to be a train ticket. A particularly ornate one at that, with gold foil decorating its parchment, which he promptly extends out to you, "Please, accept my humblest apologies."

[Lazy Kitsune]

It was like being an enveloped in a most comforting dream, following the butterfly without a thought or care for anything else in the world. No problems or worries, just the relaxing drive to follow it. It wasn't even frustrating that it always seemed to be just out of reach. If anything that drew me in all the more. Made me all the more eager to just follow it for however long it needed me to. My legs almost felt weightless as they took me towards it one step at a time.

What... was I just doing? My mind stirs again, slow and lethargic but able to pull away from the butterfly and follow the words that helped shake me from my stupor. I turn to find myself puzzled once again by who stands before me. A strange boy with an even stranger presence about him. My mind turns back to Makoto and my luggage and I start turning to look to see just how far I drifted from where I was supposed to wait, before finding the boy draw my attention back to him as he seems to take proper notice of me now.

"Huh?" I find myself even more puzzled than I was moments ago, looking down at the ticket the boy was offering to me. "You were looking for me? I think you might have the wrong person, I don't know anything about a ticket..." I murmur. Though as if on instinct alone, my hand reaches forward, pinching the edge of the ticket as I take a look at it.

"Don't think I've ever seen one like this before." I say. "Did someone drop it? Ah, its not going to be mine. Why did you think it was?"

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

As was perhaps the way of mysterious, pale boys you met on the train platform, the response you receive doesn't answer your question particularly well. If anything, it just spawns more questions.

"Why do I think it's yours? Because you will have need of it in the not-so-distant future, of course," The boy's smile, gentle and reassuring, seems quite genuine, and you're almost inclined to believe him with how sincere he sounds in that statement, "Please, hold on to it until that point. When the time is right, all will be revealed."

The sound of a braking train seems to interrupt your conversation, and the boy seems almost startled by it. But his composure is quick to return, and he offers you a deep bow one usually associates with gratitude, his fingers grasping around the strap of his messenger bag as he straightens. 

"It seems this is where we must part, dear passenger. Until next we meet, I hope the waking world treats you well."

And, with about as much explanation as he appeared, the young man turns away from you and marches off deeper into the platform. Your eyes dart to where the butterfly had once been, and it seems to have finally won its battle with fate, as it no longer flutters in the sky above you, nothing but the violet haze of evening where it once flew. The young man also seems to have shared such a fate, leaving you to wonder whether any of it was real at all... if not for the very real ticket held between your fingers.

"Fumi-chan? Where did you go? Fumi-chan!"

You can hear your aunt's voice off in the distance. With the benefit of your senses fully returned to you, it seems you had wandered almost right back to where you had started. Makoto was doubtlessly down by the street, with your bags, where you had left them lying in pursuit of your little insectile friend. Better to not keep her waiting. 

[Lazy Kitsune]

"Wait, what? Hold on, I need-" the braking train cuts me off, though the reaction the boy has to it is even more startling. "Wait, I..." I call out to him as he turns to leave, glancing back as I recall the butterfly. The cogs of my mind seem to have shaken off whatever malaise slowed them and the true bizarreness of all that had just happened was quickly catching up with me, drawing my attention to one key detail after another. And that seemed to be all it took to loose track of both the butterfly and the boy.

I'd be likely to figure I somehow dozed off, or worse finally cracked. But the ticket was still in my hand. Giving it one more look, I hear Makoto calling for me and realise just how far I seem to have drifted from where I was supposed to wait. "Shit, fuck." I mutter, quickly stuffing the ticket into my pocket and rushing back to my belongings. This was so fucking stupid of me. I can't just wander off and leave my stuff out in the open for anyone to snatch.

"Sorry!" I call over to her as I run back over. "I saw something that... well there was this boy who said he was looking for..." How do I even begin to describe what just happened? Even if I could put it all clearly into words, would it explain why I just walked off like that? Not really. "Ah... It doesn't matter. Sorry, I didn't realise I had walked off as far as I did."

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

You find your aunt at the bottom of the stairs, a quizzical expression on her face, if not a particularly suspicious one. Your explanation doesn't exactly do all that much to clear her confusion, but she seems content with your apology all the same, giving you a sweet little smile.

"It's alright, dear. There isn't all that much theft around here. Just be more careful next time."

It's amazing, Makoto's capability to both reassure and sow doubt in the same breath, and all without meaning to, yet she manages well enough. Idling not all that far behind her is a cute little silver kei car, just big enough to fit your belongings in the backseat with a little elbow grease. Once your suitcases and guitar are gingerly stacked up in your aunt's vehicle, she gestures for you to join her in the front, and before too long, you're zooming off through the treats of Shimamoto towards parts relatively unknown. There isn't much of note in the immediate area outside the train stop, mostly residential streets with the odd bit of commercial sprinkled in, including a Triple Seven not too far down the road from where you're headed. Makoto assures you it's a popular stop for the local high school students, given its location between the school and the neighborhood.

The journey itself isn't uncomfortably long, given the relative ease of navigation of a suburb like Shimamoto. Makoto pulls up alongside the house just as the street lights seem to kick on, and the sun begins to truly vanish beyond the horizon. The house itself is homey, if a little quaint: you imagine that a family of three didn't need all that much space, and more so now that they've been reduced to just two. It might explain why some of the upkeep seems to have been neglected since last you laid eyes on the house.

"Here we are. It's not much, but it's comfortable. I'm sure you're hungry, so why don't I help you get these bags in and start on dinner? Aki-chan can show you to your room and help you unpack."

Makoto seems optimistic as ever as she steps out of the car and begins the process of squeezing your things out of her vehicle. You didn't have all that much, so it doesn't take long to get everything up the curb and into the foyer. While the two of you go about stripping off your shoes, she calls out to your cousin.

"Aki-chan! Your cousin is here! Come say hello!"

A few moments without a response, and your aunt's eyebrows furrow somewhat at the silence.

"Aki-chan! Don't make this difficult..."

"... Hai."

The response eventually comes from the stairway across the living room. It takes a little while longer, but eventually, your cousin manifests himself from upstairs. Akiko had always been somewhat slight for his age, but he was almost unrecognizable from the last time you saw him: definitely skinnier, and paler besides, dressed in comfortable-looking shorts and a big, baggy hoodie that didn't do much to make him look any less thin. He's also grown out his hair quite a bit, such that it now reaches just a little beyond his shoulders, brushed well enough not to look sloppy, but at least a little unkempt. Not that you were one to talk about shrugging off norms. As he rounds the bottom of the stairs, his hands tuck into his pocket, and he seems to find the couch a lot more interesting to look at than you.

"Hello, Fumiko-san... Welcome to our home."

The comparative lack of enthusiasm is stark, and Makoto certainly picks up on it, her eyebrows furrowing a little more. It's hard to tell whether it's out of frustration, disappointment, or a genuine loss on what to do. She finds her words swiftly enough, though.

"Fumi-chan brought some things she could use help with. Why don't you help her carry them up to her room? I'm going to start dinner in the meantime. Is hamburger good with you two?"

She shoots a hopeful little look between the two of you, perhaps in the hopes of some kind of mutual understanding.

"... Hai."

Your cousin's response isn't any more enthusiastic than his greeting, but at least he begins the trek over to the foyer to help you with your belongings, and at least there's the promise of red meat for your trouble.

_

The Adachi Residence

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Your cousin, Adachi Akiko

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

[Lazy Kitsune]

I wasn't used to this feeling. Being scolded by adults or disappointing someone wasn't new, but this was the first time I felt like it was because I genuinely fucked up. It was almost worse that Makoto seemed to be understanding and forgiving about the whole thing. I couldn't for the life of me understand why I did what I did. Wander off just because I saw a butterfly? Leaving my stuff behind? My guitar behind? Maybe I was more tired after travelling for so long than I thought, because that seemed like some absolute bullshit I would never normally do. Still, it felt so natural at the time.

Still, its not like I had much of a reputation to protect at the moment. And a lapse like that is easier to make amends for than... all of the other shit I apparently need to worry about all because I tried to do the right thing. At least the trip to Makoto's place is mercifully short. Makoto's place... my place I guess, for the foreseeable future. For a whole year at least, now that I think through the logistics of what's happening. I mean, even if this all blows over tomorrow, leaving and enrolling in a new school would probably just result in setting me back further. At a year is the minimum. There's been no discussion about when I'd be going back.

…Am I a shit daughter for kind of being okay with that?

The Adachi residence made for an interesting change of pace to what I was typically used to. On the surface it was simpler... quainter... than my family home. But at the same time it had more space to itself than my family home did. Less crammed in between the neighbouring buildings.

"Yeah, now that you mention it, its been a while since I ate." I say, lugging my things from the car to the front door. I didn't bring overly much with me. I suppose I was never very materialistic, although the guitar alone was quite large and cumbersome so that made up for my otherwise modest amount of luggage. With Makoto's help, however, it wasn't any hassle getting my things inside.

It seemed Akiko wasn't keen on giving me an overly enthusiastic welcome. Though... to be fair... were the situation reversed, I'd probably be a bit put out on having to take time out of my day to welcome a cousin I didn't invite over. Not out of any negative feelings just... it can be a bit hard to care the same way adults do about this sort of thing. I get it.

With his hair and slender frame he had quite the cute look to him. I suppose some girls are into that sort of thing nowadays. I can see why Makoto has continued to call him Aki-chan, though maybe it'd be best I not refer to him like that to his face, just in case he didn't feel close enough to me to let comments like that slide. Aki-kun, while more appropriate, might still be too informal. It has been a while since we've spoken after all. Still... san... fuck no. I barely call anyone san if I can avoid it. And I'm not too keen on it being used for me either, especially by my cousin. At least he wasn't calling me Shoji-san, but it still had an off vibe about it.

"Just Fumiko is fine, Akiko." I say, waving at him. "And thankyou."

I sling the strap of my guitar case over my shoulder as Makoto mentions Akiko and I bringing my stuff to my room. "Hamburgers? There are girls my age who would freak at the risk of smelling a hamburger if it hurt how skinny they were... Fortunately I'm not them. Burger me up!"

I thank Akiko for helping with my shit as he starts to lead the way to my room. "So, is my room near yours? Let me know if my music gets too loud. Like, don't beat around the bush with me, kay? Just slam your fist on my door and tell me to shut the fuck up or whatever."

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

Your comment manages to wrangle a soft giggle from Makoto, who covers her mouth demurely as she laughs.

"I admire your confidence, Fumi-chan. You must have inherited your mother's metabolism..."

It isn't too much longer before she wanders off toward what you imagine must be the kitchen, leaving you alone with Akiko. For his part, he seems content enough to keep the silence between you enduring. He takes a bag with each hand and leads you back up the stairs that he descended only moments before. Much as he might prefer comfortable silence, however, your statement warrants at least enough of a response to get him talking a little bit.

"... you're across the hall, but I'll keep that in mind."

The house, humble as it is, doesn't have too much of an upstairs. There's a closet immediately to your left, and what looks to be a balcony of some kind to the right of the staircase. A little further in, a pair of doors opposite each other. Based on the way light seems to pour through the crack in one of them, you imagine the one on the left side of the hallway belongs to Akiko. Which would mean your room was on the right. There's also an open door at the very far end of the hall, through which you spy a small tub of some kind. Apparently, you had your very own bathroom. Or, well, you and Akiko had a bathroom to share on the second floor.

With all the gingerness you imagine he can muster, your cousin sets your bags down outside the unoccupied room and slides the door open. A quick flick of the switch sees the little overhead light come on, bringing much-needed illumination to... well, an otherwise pretty blank room. It makes sense that it doesn't have much in the way of character, given it was a guest room until your arrival, but it seems comfortable enough. A bed, a desk, a chair, even a little portable fan! How long it would take to truly call it your room remained to be seen, but it had some charming potential.

"Well... this is it. I imagine you don't need help unpacking your bags? You probably don't want me rummaging through your things."

Ever the little beam of sunlight, Akiko turns to face you with all the emotion of a veteran salaryman. It's a little harsh, honestly, but not unexpected. Makoto had told you he had been in something of a rut since his father passed, and now he had to deal with his delinquent cousin moving in. How much empathy you wanted to show was another matter of debate, of course.

_

Your room

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

[Lazy Kitsune]

Akiko wasn't much for conversation. Of course, I didn't expect him to be, nor would I force it. Still, with how welcoming Makoto was, it made it clear that figuring out how to talk to Akiko would be a whole other ordeal. I have no way of knowing my 'reputation' was having any impact at all on how he was talking to me, or if he was just that kind of guy.

There's something relieving about a blank slate room such as this. It helps put things into perspective. Simple, clean and ready to be filled with memories. The latter part of that could be good or bad, but the former was definitely good. Something uncomplicated was good in this case. A reminder that I don't have to let my baggage follow me. Well... apart from my actual baggage of course.

All things considered, nothing to complain about. I wasn't coming all the way over here expecting luxury treatment. I was here because the whole world decided I fucked up by making too much noise and decided to punish me in all the worst possible ways for it. Which... made me angry to no small amount, but there was no use in throwing that anger at Makoto or Akiko. The fact that I could have something as ordinary as this right now was at least some kind of lifeline. Maybe I don't need to be angry.

No... fuck angry. I'm livid. Furious. Enraged. Filled with hatred. White hot, boiling, overflowing, ready to explode. It may be an impotent rage as far as the world is concerned, but that doesn't make it any less overwhelming. Its not just how fucked everything is. Not just how unfair. Its how much everything and everyone lets it be that way. Encouraged it to be that way. Helps it be that way. All because its easier for them all to keep things the same than rock the boat. Makoto and Akiko had nothing to do with that... so I shouldn't be mad at them. But I had no reason to assume they would be any better if they were actually there. Maybe if they were, my phone would be lighting up with as many pictures of Makoto as it was my mother. Should I really be grateful for the common decency of accepting that I'm their family, just because my own mother and father struggle to do as much?

Shit... I... I really need to not think about all that right now. They're... not being shits to me. That's all I've ever expected of anyone before, so that can be good enough now too.

"You don't need to help me unpack if you don't want to, no." I say, bringing my stuff into my room. "Though I've not really got anything with me too personal. Other than my guitar. So I'm not too concerned about you going through my stuff."

I get why he brought it up. Well, the actual reason why he brought it up seemed to be to make it my choice for letting him off the hook of helping further. But the reason I was supposed to take away instead of that was obvious. The worry that he'd snoop through my underwear. If he's really so at a loss for entertainment that he'll stoop to sifting through his own cousin's panties to get a rise, well... its not even worth giving words to how low that is, let alone my slightest care. But the fact of it all is, my underwear right now are clean and at the end of the day fabrics of clothing he's going to be seeing in the wash many times while I'm staying here. If I do get anything I'll want to keep from him, I'll find a place to hide it. But cloth I throw over my pussy so it doesn't become illegal for me to wear a skirt? He's got access to the internet, I think he'll survive seeing that.

Heck, might as well make that clear. As if to prove a point, I start by opening up my suitcase and immediately unpacking my underwear first, making sure to take a moment to check it all over before putting it away. If that's too much for his precious eyes to see, then he can just say so.

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

Whether his passivity is born from a genuine lack of care, or simply not knowing what to do, Akiko continues to mill about the entrance to your room as you lose yourself to the simmering rage that seems to permeate so much of your thoughts. How much could he really say to make you feel better? Would it even make you feel better, to have your cousin dote on you to make up for your loss? How could you tell him the truth; that the very man who had tried to force himself on you had instead violated your mother in your place? That she had allowed him to have her every which way, and, more than likely, put a child in her belly. That you were nothing more than a familial exile as a result. How much could your depressed mope of a cousin actually help?

"I'll... stay."

Whether he senses the anger flowing off your body language or simply doesn't want more conflict with his mother over leaving you to your fate, Akiko settles himself against your door frame. He doesn't say much of anything, to the shock of absolutely nobody, but when the zipper to your bag opens and you begin to pull your things out to see them properly stored away, his eyes follow with only the vaguest of interest. Provocative as it is, when you pull your undergarments free and begin to very visibly slide them away, his interest seems to pique just a tad. It's hard to say there's anything particularly perverted about it though; shut-in he may be, but he doesn't exactly ogle your unmentionables, or pop a stiffy right there in your room at the sight of them. If anything he just seems to be... appraising it. And the idea that he might be judging your underwear is somehow almost as bad as him finding them titillating!

"... Did you want me to run you a bath or something? I assume you brought your own stuff. If not... I'm sure mom has something you can use."

Given his tendency towards silence, that might well be the only actual welcome you receive from him. A soak didn't exactly sound like a terrible thing, given how stressed you've been and the relative comfort of a low-fare, long-distance train seat. Of course, a cold shower might do you better, given the flames licking at your chest at the thought of what brought you here.

[Lazy Kitsune]

The way he looked at my underwear was a little... unexpected. If it turned out he was a perv that would be one thing. And he still might very well be, that's far from being ruled out. But that wasn't the vibe I was getting. Okay, sure, I made it clear it was fine if he saw. But he was actively taking a look in way that felt... evaluative? Maybe he was curious. Could be he's seen a catalogue or two in his time and wants to know what kinds of things from there women actually buy. Maybe he's more fashion conscious than you'd expect given his current attire. Apparently that's becoming more and more common for guys. At least that's what magazines say. Still, it was a reaction that was... something I genuinely wasn't sure how to deal with. But it didn't actually change anything... it didn't put an obstacle in my way or pose any threats to me. It'd be stupid of him to try and steal anything to sell or whatever so... I guess I should just carry on as normal. Its not like there was anything-

Ah fuck.

Okay, this one's on me, but my mind has been all over the place lately. Of course I was going to forget something. Revealed under the last bra I pulled from my suitcase, still half buried under some panties, was a... er... intimacy product... marital aid... personal massager... however you wanted to call it. I forgot I packed one. At the end of the day, underwear were just clothes, but this was something a little more personal. Its not like I was ashamed for having one. If I happened to find out Akiko had an onahole I'd probably just shrug and think 'good for him'. But I had just made a big deal about having nothing to hide. The difference would be between happening to discover he used an onahole and him going out of his way to show me one he used. After saying I was fine with him seeing everything I unpacked, him seeing this would make me the perv. Which is probably something I could do without.

Okay, maybe I'm overthinking this whole thing, but you try keeping a level head when you realise your cousin is one errant glance away from seeing the magic wand that turns your pussy into a splash zone.

"A bath?" I... was probably going to have one later... but that would get him out of the room quickly so I could the toy away somewhere before he noticed it. "Ah... yeah, I have been travelling quite a while. Sure, a bath would be super. I've got 'stuff', yeah. If you could do that while I finish unpacking that would be great."

[Ze Blitzkrieg]

Keeping your cool in hard situations is increasingly difficult, given all the bullshit you've been made to tolerate over the last few months. But you do a pretty passable job at directing attention away from your favorite, er, recreational aid. Certainly enough to keep Akiko from immediately slinking his eyes down to the suitcase to give that a once-over. The last thing you needed was for your cousin to judge both your underwear and choice of self-pleasure. How many girls could live knowing their cousin looked down on both their panties and their vibrator?!

The silent shadow that he tends to be, the slight frame of the only male in the house pushes up off the frame of your door and turns to leave back into the hall, and then presumably to the bathroom the two of you would have to share. But he stops about a half-step from rounding the corner and disappearing into the hall, pausing for what feels like an eternity. A brief expression of consternation crosses over his otherwise placid features, as if he's either struggling to phrase something or has been hit by a sudden wave of indigestion. It, unfortunately enough, turns out to be the former, as instead of a burp, he leaves you with a parting shot.

"Use the desk drawer. She doesn't open those."

And with that mortifying piece of advice, he vanishes to set up the tub for you to try and wash the woes of the day away in.

_

Unpacking without Akiko's wandering eye proves to be a fairly easy affair. Tucked away in one of the upper drawers of the little dresser you had been given, you find several uniforms carefully folded away. You imagine Makoto must have taken the liberty of unpacking and washing them for you, perhaps lending a certain wisdom to your cousin's insistence that certain other goods be left in your desk rather than with your clothing. To your aunt's credit, the blazer is pretty sharp, with faux-gold trim along its cuffs and lining. It's presumably worn over the white blouse provided and alongside the conservatively long skirt packed in an adjoining drawer. Some shortening might have been in order, but customizing a uniform to be just right was a process that took any good rebel time to dial in. There would be days for that to come.

Akiko knocks on your door when your bath is ready, and you're given as long as you need to soak in the tub after scrubbing yourself down with the shower wand. Your shampoo and body wash find themselves in good company on the shelves: despite his apparent lack of care in his appearance, Akiko does seem to put a fair amount of thought into his skincare and haircare routines. His skin might even be softer than yours if some of the bottles are to be believed. Something to strategize for, perhaps.

You're spared another potentially awkward run-in with your only cousin after coming out of the bath, thankfully, as the young master of the Adachi household sequestered himself away in his room for more than enough time for you to towel off and dress in something comfortable for the night. Just in time for Makoto to call up to the both of you that dinner was prepared.

With Akiko slow on your heels, you make your way down to the kitchen, where Makoto has prepared quite the spread for the three of you. Each plate is crowned with the promised hamburger: a thick loaf of meaty goodness drowned in a glossy gravy, and served atop a hearty pile of rice. There's also some pickled vegetables, a handsome-looking salad, and a cloudy bowl of fragrant miso soup before each seat. Not exactly a grand feast, but given it was put together in the span of an hour or so, a rather proud showing by your aunt.

"I hope you're both hungry!" She offers with one of her bright little smiles, "Itadakimasu!"

The clattering of chopsticks follows thereafter, as you begin your very first 'family dinner' with the Adachi. Perhaps expecting little in the way of chatter, Makoto fills the void by engaging you directly, while Akiko goes about slicing his hamburger steak into pieces with his sticks.

"You've got all your information already, right, Fumi-chan? I wish the timing was a little better: having to go to school the day after you arrive must be hard," She seems to hum thoughtfully for a moment, "But I'm sure Aki-chan can show you around. I don't think you'll be in the same class, but the school isn't so big that a tour is out of the question..."

[Lazy Kitsune]

That... is... uniquely mortifying. Maybe I'm not quite as sly as I thought. That, or Akiko as far sharper than he lets on. Still, its not the end of the world, or so I tell myself. And at the very least, if his advice is to be believed, I know have a suitable place to stash my 'tools' where I won't have to worry about Makoto discovering them. Akiko's conversation aversion at least helps avoid risk of awkward talks. Makoto, on the other hand, is basically a walking guarantee for them. Not that I expect her to be critical of me for having sex toys. If anything, its her being supportive that I fear the most. So, making using of Akiko's advice, I stash my toy away in the desk drawer. At least once the overwhelming embarrassment is no longer paralyzing me.

At least the rest of the unpacking goes without incident. Maybe I should hold my tongue in the future. I did say I had no issue with him seeing what was in my luggage. Although to be fair, if he reacted with embarrassment, indifference or even a degree of arousal to my underwear I feel like I knew how to handle all of those situations without the slightest issue. What I got instead was wholly different. So maybe my error was in my assumptions.

My first chance to study the new uniform. While I'm not the same brand of fashion conscience as a lot of girls I knew back in my old high school, I share the same need to understand the uniform in order to wear it without really wearing it. Which is something that makes immediate sense to them and me (albeit for different reasons) but I don't know if I'd ever be able to explain to anyone else.

It was actually flashier than my old uniform, which took me a bit by surprise. A hurdle for me, as the way I was used to handling my uniform was being as flashy as possible with whatever else I wore. As much as I love to treat school as blasé as possible, getting expelled is probably something I should put effort into avoiding this time. So, ditching the buttoned shirt for a crop top to wear under the blazer might be pushing it a bit too far. Shortening the skirt is a must though. The talk I get about that is always the funniest of the lot, I can't pass that up. Yes, tell me more about how you lack so much self control that a bit of thigh will get you salivating like a dog. I'll really respect you as my mentor now.

I can accessorize to make this work, but I'll probably need to shop a bit to finish up the look now that I know what I'm working with. I've brought some stuff with me, so I can probably pull something together for day one. And most importantly... I need to make sure no one ever finds out that I put any amount of effort into this sort of thing. I'm not trying to doll myself up or chase trends, but I know plenty of people won't be able to tell the difference between that and what I actually do. Its just too annoying to deal with and I can never be bothered to correct them.

The bath is more than welcome after the long journey here. A nice chance to relax and let some soapy suds roll across my body and clean away all the train smell that built up on me. Akiko mentioned that Makoto might have something for me to use, but from the looks of things his stuff was of a much higher quality. Surprising to say the least, but also quite impressive. Nothing wrong with someone wanting to take care of their skin and hair. While someone might describe him as 'drab' based off of a cursory look, his hair was quite simply luscious. I was a little jealous, to be honest. I've had mine short for a while, but even when I had it long it wasn't nearly as voluminous as his is now. Maybe I can ask him for some hair care tips sometime. If we get to a point where he'll say more than a sentence or two to me before closing up again.

With myself all squeaky clean and tried up, I quickly change just in time for dinner to be ready. It seems Makoto really put the effort into making this first meal as special as it could be. The presentation is definitely more than I had expected. Maybe I'm too used to having easy meals. As busy as they were, my parents rarely had time to put effort into meals - if they had time to put into making any food at all. I... fuck... I guess I hope they sort something out so the baby gets to have it easier, whenever it shows up. Little thing isn't responsible for why it exists. I want it to be raised a bit better than I was at least.

"I mean... I'm happy to get it out of the way sooner rather than later." I say on the matter of starting school so soon. "It'd be worse if it was just sitting in the back of my mind for weeks before I started."

I turn to look at Akiko. He would probably rather not have however much time it would take to show me around be taken out of his day. "That'd be great." I say... which is true. If Akiko wanted to show me around, I'd be fine with that. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if the school assigns someone from my class to manage that. If its anything like my old school, they'll probably want to stick an overachiever to me in hopes that their good habits will rub off on me. Though they'll probably only show my what the teachers tell them to. I'll probably still need someone to show me the best places to hang out and things like that."