“Inventory space is a weird one for me,” Akane admitted, her voice deadpan but serious. “You’d think it’d be easy for me as a digital entity, but no. I’ll keep your advice in mind, though."
Zenkichi watched her quietly from the sidelines. His gaze lingered a little longer on the hat perched on her head—still my hat, he thought wryly—but his expression sobered as he turned to Hamuko. The way she joined Igor’s space so lighthearted struck a chord in him.
When Akane’s voice piped in through his neural server again, he bristled slightly.
Akane: You doing okay? Wolf: I'm fine. Akane: ... Akane: It’s weird seeing someone so…bright around Igor. Most of the people I’ve seen here feel like prisoners.
Wolf: Maybe having your life revived after a...destined passing changes your outlook. Maybe she’s just grateful.
Was he...grateful?
He didn’t say who he was thinking of, but Akane knew.
Akane: I wonder who the spirit attached to my CCAI would’ve been. Maybe I’m living through her.
That quieted Zenkichi. He finally stepped away from the board he had been pretending to focus on, moving just a little closer to Igor’s table—but watching, not approaching.
Meanwhile, Akane lit up at Hamuko’s mention of Kartikeya. “Wait—Kartikeya?” Her AI systems raced as she searched for the Persona in her internal database. “I can’t even match that one. Maybe it predates our year, huh?"
"Huh.”
Curiosity thoroughly piqued, she reached out with her free hand, fingertips brushing the edge of one peacock feather before she froze and pulled back, flustered.
no subject
Zenkichi watched her quietly from the sidelines. His gaze lingered a little longer on the hat perched on her head—still my hat, he thought wryly—but his expression sobered as he turned to Hamuko. The way she joined Igor’s space so lighthearted struck a chord in him.
When Akane’s voice piped in through his neural server again, he bristled slightly.
Was he...grateful?
He didn’t say who he was thinking of, but Akane knew.
That quieted Zenkichi. He finally stepped away from the board he had been pretending to focus on, moving just a little closer to Igor’s table—but watching, not approaching.
Meanwhile, Akane lit up at Hamuko’s mention of Kartikeya. “Wait—Kartikeya?” Her AI systems raced as she searched for the Persona in her internal database. “I can’t even match that one. Maybe it predates our year, huh?"
"Huh.”
Curiosity thoroughly piqued, she reached out with her free hand, fingertips brushing the edge of one peacock feather before she froze and pulled back, flustered.
“Um—can I…hold it?”