🌒 [Open]

[wipingallout]

... ... ... ... ?

What is...?

I shouldn't... be awake...


[In the Velvet Room...]

[It's courteous of whatever's going on with Igor's plan here that Hamuko is dressed. She probably shouldn't even have a body... whatever she has going on now... did her body fall comatose without her? Did it die? If it was alive, she surely should be much older. ... ... ... Maybe that all doesn't really matter, right now. She's here, gifted a chance to be around others again. The pinboard catches her attention first, of course. Signs of other people... so many little notes, talking about multiple versions of the same person running around. That's... that's charming... that's fun. ...Even if the notes about Ken Amadas make her sad...]

Hmm... I don't see any other 'me' off the bat...

[She'll take a few minutes once given a pen and some pink paper to doodle a little version of herself, signed with her name and phone number, and add it to the corner of the pinboard.]


[Inaba, Central Shopping District]

[What a fun little town! A charming place... hey, isn't this the town she went to for the volleyball camp? She loved the accommodations, but it's so nice to actually wander the streets and see the little shops. This place is SO rural, Hamuko had never really visited a place this remote, even when jumping between foster homes.] Let's see... what's the good spot for the locals? [No point being a complete tourist shmuck!!]


[Shibuya, Underground Mall]

[Well, since nothing costs anything here... might as well get some cute new clothes, right? Who knows how long she'll be around here, and 'dreaming up' new outfits didn't seem to be a thing. No lucid dreaming here - somehow, Hamuko felt a lot happier with that in mind. Still... the fashion is so different!!]

I just want one cute orange top...!! Is orange out of style? Dang it...


[Iwatodai Dorms]

[Of all of the places she's been having fun goofing off and exploring in, the dorms... she couldn't quite get the courage to open the front. Not just yet.]

Not even Koromaru is out front right now. ...I've gotta apologize...

Comments

[unit_8910_wolf]

Zenkichi picked up the paper, his ears peeled on the conversation taking place before him.

To see Akane hold someone's hand like that...

His eyes closed, concealed before they partially opened before he could only cast his glance away from it all. Unable to watch his once daughter struggle with processing- processing??? human touch.

Damn it, Kirijo Group. Damn you all.

He waited, awkwardly, all his sass dying in his tongue as he clutched his note carefully- not sure whether it was even right for him to speak up and interrupt Akane.

So he simply puts it back on the table and goes for the revolver on his left, checking the rounds again. As per protocol. He will give Akane and Hamuko a bit before they decide to part.

[wipingallout]

"One thing at a time, right?" Hamuko smiled, not discouraged in the slightest - she wasn't fully clear on how much or how little time Akane had spent in a body, but something so dramatically different from being intangible has to be intense, right?

"Also - I may not be from some far-future scary world, but I can handle a fight. You can always call me for backup - I'll make my way there."

[unit_8910_wolf]

One thing at a time, huh? Maybe. Maybe that would be for the best? Maybe she could learn to prioritize what was needed and come to learn more about her strengths and weaknesses. Having a patient teacher...it would help. Not like Wolf was bad company but for some reason he never exactly looked her in the eye when she asked him to open up a little more on how to salvage her human soul. Wonder why. But first- her primary directive. She is humanity's soldier and she will be damned if she doesn't go back to her world improved. "Mhm-! My processing power is a little down so I will probably reboot with Wolf but after that? We should fight monsters together! I want to master Cosette!" Despite the mask being there, the smile on her face permeated through her voice. "And I won't lie, it will probably help Wolf too," she followed along with Hamuko and started speaking aloud. "I am afraid he will actually start getting grey hair if keeps playing the lone alpha all the time!"

Zenkichi wryly laughs- silently grateful for being thrown back into the conversation. "The only grey hairs I get is from talking to any of you," he remarks with a sharp grin. His gun clicks once he's satisfied with checking all its rounds. "Now if you two are quite done having a moment, if you guys need to add anything else to add to the board go right ahead. I will wait at the Tokyo Door." He holds out the paper with his own note and Akane's QR code stapled at the bottom for Akane which she readily accepts.

[wipingallout]

"I'll let you guys go! I've heckled you enough... for now. Dun da-duuuun," she giggled, giving Zenkichi a wink before stretching her back a bit. "I still need to go check out Tokyo - I never actually got to before, it'll be nice to sightsee!"

She paused a bit - the first forming of two bonds clicking into place - a mild surprise, but a welcome one.

---

Thou art I...
and I am thou...
Thou hast acquired a new Bond.

The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed...

Thou shalt be blessed when summoning
Personas of the Tower Arcana...

An Arcana about massive upheaval... Hamuko wondered what Mutatsu might think, being divinely ordained the same Arcana as a teenage girl AI from the future. He'd probably find it cosmically funny.

---

Thou art I...
and I am thou...
Thou hast acquired a new Bond.

The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed...

Thou shalt be blessed when summoning
Personas of the Emperor Arcana...

Back to back was a little... fun. There was a strange little compulsion, words flowing from her heart to her mouth without going through her mind - she whispered "None and naught are immune to the impact of change," followed by "Only courage in the face of doubt can lead one to the answer..."

She shook her head. The Nyx Avatar had never spoken on the Arcana past Death, but there was a... strange connection she felt. Huh. She'd have to ask Igor what he thought about that once these two left.

1/2

[unit_8910_wolf]

Zenkichi let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes at Hamuko’s playful wink. “Yeah, yeah, real intimidating. I’m shaking in my boots,” he deadpanned. “Don’t get lost in Tokyo, though. I’d hate to see you on a missing persons poster right after making it official that you know us.”

Akane, on the other hand, was practically vibrating in place. Sightseeing? Visiting? Hanging out? It was rare that she had anything close to an invitation for this kind of thing. Trying to contain her excitement, she quickly sent over the coordinates to their place. "I have transmitted the precise coordinates of where we live in the digital space. Do visit us at any time-! I will make sure to have relevant data prepared to optimize, uh-" She stalls when she realizes the technological jargoan she just pulled out. There was a moment of silence before she hastily added, "We’ll have... snacks? And uh, other things."

Zenkichi snorted at that, shaking his head as he turned his attention to the board where he let Akane take charge, He watched as Akane took a moment to carefully compose her own message beside his, her movements deliberate, as if writing itself was something she was still getting used to.

Hello I am Akane – The CCAI that Wolf just mentioned-! Though my form is artificial, my directive is clear: to ensure the safety of humanity. I can be reached via the QR code below ●‿● Queries, requests for assistance, and general conversation are all permitted.

Please heed Wolf’s warning regarding EMMA. The risk factor of maintaining the application far outweighs any possible convenience. This is a matter of security, not preference.

Oh also I will be streaming games and other stuff too! Very soon! ≧◡≦

2/3

[unit_8910_wolf]

“Well, that’s one way to introduce yourself,” he muttered, watching as she affixed the QR code to the board with precise care. He gave her a nod of approval before turning back to Hamuko, tipping his hat at her with a dramatic flourish.

And then—

Something shifted in his system.

A static jolt ran through his body, not painful, but sudden. His visor flickered for half a second, his mechanical joints tensing involuntarily. He clenched his fist, feeling something click into place—not physically, but deep in his mind. In his core.

---

I am thou...
Thou art I,

Through the trials of duty and the weight of past burdens, thou hast found camaraderie. A fellow wanderer in a world forever changing.

Thou shalt be blessed by Faith

For wisdom is earned through hardship,
and redemption is sought through sacrifice.

---

Zenkichi let out a slow exhale, his fingers flexing as the strange sensation settled. He shook his head, trying to brush off the lingering feeling. “Huh. That was..."

"Akane?"

3/3

[unit_8910_wolf]

01010100 01101??00 01101111 01110101 00100000 01100001 01110010 01110100 00100000 01001001 ?? 00101110
0100??01 01101110 01100100 ??100000 01001001 00100000 01100001 01101101 00100000 01110100 01101000 01101111 01110101…



Binary connecti?ns trans??nd physical forms.
In the circuits of f???, a ne? pathway is constructed.

R̶e̶m̶e̶m̶b̶e̶r̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶H̶o̶p̶e̶.̶.̶.̶

For in adaptation, there is strength.
And in identity, there is power.

Systems require reboot.

Akane blinked rapidly, feeling something recalibrate within her core processes. She heard Wolf call to her, something flashing in his face. She posed him a smile, not wanting to worry him.

"I need that reboot stat," she shook her head as she made her way over to him.

Zenkichi stretched, rolling his shoulders as if trying to shake off the strange glitch. "Yeah, I bet." He turned toward the Tokyo door, his usual confident stride returning. “See you around then, Hamuko-chan."

"I will text you really soon-!" Akane giggles. With one last casting glance, she turned back and watched as Zenkichi took the lead and stepped across the threshold of the Tokyo Door.

Akane heaves a deep breath before following behind and the moment she stepped across the door-

Her form disappeared.

Replaced by a floating artificial projection from the lens mounted on Wolf's wrist, now phasing right through Zenkichi's hat as she hovered.

With one final polite bow from her end, the door slowly shut close before her.

[OOC credit.]