orphne | expiation inbox

I got a quest on my parchment.

One of them was to do something new so I figured I should try up sewing.

A quest? Can I see?

[This is the first she's heard of something like this!]

But I'd be happy to teach you how to sew! It's a really useful skill.

Yeah, hold on.

[As he turned the feed to video, he showed her what was written on the parchment. There it reads the following:

— "You, who faced death, also brought death to others. Yet the vengeance you sought was not brought to fruition by your hands. Instead, you were given a mission by Shinjiro: “You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, so don’t waste it.” For this reason, we offer you the following mission:" —

Learn how to do something new.]

[There's a beat where she pulls out her own parchment and looks to see if anything's changed, but-- nothing. How strange. Her brow furrows as she tucks it away, humming quietly to herself. The wording kind of makes her angry, in a how dare someone talk to Ken like that way, but she doesn't voice it or show it on her face.]

Huh... I'm glad it's something easy! [she says instead of commenting on any other part of his given quest.] I've never heard anybody get their parchment changed like that, though. I wonder why now...

[For a moment, he wondered if he should let her see the rest of the parchment. There was something else he had to do too but he'll just focus on one thing at a time. Not when he knew Kotone was probably angry at what she read.]

I'm not sure but if I do it, it means that they'll show me something about this world.

[Pause]

And if I don't, I'll be punished somehow.

Oh?

[There's still a smile on her face, but there's a steely set to her eyes. Let them try to come after Ken to punish him. Even without their Personas, she's certain she, Shinjiro, and Ken can provide a reckoning.]

Well, we'd better make sure that doesn't happen, then! I've never tried teaching anybody to sew, but I bet you'll be able to learn it pretty easily. Maybe the best question is, "What do you want to do with it?" Like, just repair stuff, or make stuff?

I guess both? I haven't thought that far ahead, I just thought I should try to do something.

[All he could do was shrug. Sewing was venturing into new territory for him so he might as well do it!!]

It's a good idea!

[Forgive her if she looks a little distracted, though; why is it now that things are changing? This hasn't ever happened before. Why Ken? She'll have to ask Dazai what he thinks.]

I don't remember if I told you already, but I have a building on the edge of town that I've been turning into a club building. I have a bunch of sewing supplies in one of the rooms there, so we can play around with it and decide what you want to learn to do.

[For a moment, Ken wondered if he should say something. Tilting his head, he knew something was off with her.]

...Is this your way of saying that you want me to join one of your clubs?

You don't have to, but it'll be fun. Hopefully a bunch of other people come, too, so you can learn together.

[Her gaze looks somewhere past the charm for a moment before focusing back on him.]

Hey, have you talked to anyone else about this? Or like, has anyone else said anything about the parchments?

I might as well, I have all the time in the world now that I'm here.

[That and he should at least try to be a normal kid for once. That said? There was a moment of silence on his end.]

But no, I haven't. But I wouldn't be surprised if others had this too and they haven't said anything about it yet.

["All the time in the world." Now there's a thought she doesn't know how to respond to or process, so she just shuffles it into the corner of her brain where she puts a lot of the thoughts she doesn't want to think and doesn't answer it at all.]

Hmm... I can ask around and see if anybody else I know has gotten it.

[Does Shinji have it? If both Ken and Shinji do, and she doesn't, what does that mean...? Are they in danger? No, she can't think like that. There's no point worrying about something she doesn't even know for sure yet.

So she just gives Ken a smile and a nod.]

Well, we can try a bunch of new things, so even if you don't like sewing, we could do something else. Have you ever played tennis?

If you do, let me know. Maybe I can help them too since I worry that whatever this 'punishment' is if they do not complete it in time.

[Because in the back of his mind, Ken didn't care what they did to him. He just worried about what happened to the others as he didn't know if they have the powers to withstand a potential God. Of course, he just hoped that Shinjiro or the others might have gotten one too....]

But I don't think so? I don't mind tennis but I'm willing to try anything I haven't done before.

[Although, just how 'new' was trying something new was it supposed to be??]

It doesn't say when it has to be done by, right?

[The next full moon, maybe? Still, she hopes the smile she gives him is bright and encouraging, even if she doesn't really feel it.]

So we can try a bunch of different things and you can decide what you like best to really learn how to do properly.

I'm not sure but I have a feeling I might need to get it done within a month...

[That seems like a normal amount of time, right? He really didn't know as he shrugged.]

Any other suggestions though? [And there, he didn't seem to meet Kotone in the eyes. Instead, his eyes seem to look at something else.] To be honest, I never really tried a lot of different things before.

Hmm...

[So about the length of time between full moons. At least it's a familiar-feeling time limit, even if it's not precisely synced up like that. Considering the moon is constantly full anyway...]

Well, you already know Aragaki-senpai is the master of cooking, but I can help you with baking some sweets if you want! When I was in school, I did Tennis, Library Committee, Cooking Club, Sewing Club, and some work on the Student Council... oh, and sometimes I'd talk about stories and books with the old couple at the bookstore or with a friend at the shrine.

[But she saw the way he looked off.]

You didn't try anything new for yourself after SEES disbanded...?

[See that look on his face? All he could do was stare in awe!!]

Just how many clubs were you in? I knew you were always busy but I didn't realize that you were that occupied with everything!

[No seriously, do you sleep?? But regardless, he gave a mumble or two. He really couldn't say no to her, could he?]

...It's not that I didn't do anything new, it's more that I didn't know what to do. [As he was too busy trying to do what he thought he was supposed to do.]

[She counts on her fingers.] Five! Oh, six if you count SEES.

[Everyone always gives her that look! Back then, it had been as much about meeting interesting people as it had been about the activity itself; maybe it had been Theo and Igor guiding her toward them, but there had always been someone there she could turn into a dear friend -- or, at the very least, someone she could learn from.

But her smile softens a bit as she nods in understanding. Yeah, that can be tough. Again, the activities were fun, but it was the people who were important. Without people like that... it would be way harder to decide something to do, huh?]

So let's start... Operation Find Ken-kun Something He Likes! [She pumps a fist. Junpei would probably approve of the name... wasted without him here. :( ]

[How does she even do it? Ken really had no clue! All he could do was just keep on staring at her as he wondered where she got her energy from. He certainly needs it!

Either way, he shook his head.]

You don't have to do that! I don't want you to fret over something I would like! All I need to do is find something new to do anyway!

[Nevermind that he would probably need to find it soon.]

[Use the constant motion to distract yourself from being sad, Ken! Collapse at the end of the day too tired to think too much about anything!]

I'm not fretting! [Said very simply, as if it's obvious.] And yeah, we'll make sure you learn something new. But that doesn't mean we have to stop there. It's always nice to find something you enjoy doing, isn't it? I'd like to help you find it!

Thank you, Kotone-san, I appreciate it. Who knows, maybe if I find something I really enjoy, I might have to start running my own club too.

[Not that he really would since he's joking but...!]

You could!

[Brightly. He might be joking, but it's more likely than he might think!]

Wanna go try some stuff out now, or are you busy today?

I don't see why not, I'm not busy.

[If anything, he was trying to figure out what to do here now that he has a lot of extra time.]

Where are you right now?

Fabric shopping!

[Surprise... she was actually working on stuff for Sewing Club before he'd even messaged her. She moves her charm to show off the background more clearly, revealing she's in one of the general stores near some big bolts of fabric.]

If you come meet me here, you can help me carry this stuff back to the club building.

[Free labor... yes.]

[Somehow, he wasn't surprised at her response. If anything, he really should have known better. With a sigh, he just places his hand on his face and shook his head.]

...Please don't tell me you bought a whole bunch of them.

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