[ Flexing his calloused fingers in the tiny, soft ones of his baby cousin, Souji feels once again like this is something he wants to always protect. He doesn't know what she'll face, in this place, but a little girl wise beyond her years but still holding onto the naivete of her youth...
Nanako shouldn't ever have to lose her sweet, soft nature. ]
I think she'd be able to find you no matter where you were, Nanako. She'll always be with you. And just like we found these other Heavens, without even looking - [ Not completely true of the false one, but still. ] - we'll find the one she's in when we need to.
[ She squeezes his arm tightly to her chest, wrapped around him and cuddling even closer. Nanako searches his face, as if wanting to make sure he's not just telling her that to make her feel better. But Souji's always been really smart and never treated like that, even when she asked him hard questions. ]
You think so?
[ She still sounds a little disappointed about it, but she also looks more accepting of that answer. ]
[ Maybe she's young. Maybe she should be protected. But Souji will never lie to her, or say something he doesn't mean just to make her feel better. He's softening his words a little, aiming to make her feel better and hoping to make sure that she never seeks out her mother's Heaven, but he means it. ]
I do think so. [ They faced gods. They've become gods. Something like Heaven where his aunt is watching over her daughter must exist. ]
You know, I'm glad you're here too. It might not be home, but we'll make it something close to it together, until we can go back to Inaba and tell your dad about all the adventures we had while we were away.
[ If anything can make her expression brighten again, it's that. Nanako gives a soft giggle as she loosens her hold on Souji's arm, but it's only long enough to allow her to fling herself at him in a hug, wrapping her arms around his neck. ]
Yeah! And there'll be so many adventures to tell! Do you think he'll believe us?
[ She nods, hoping he was right. She still worried about her dad a lot, even if she didn't voice it much. The fact that both she and Souji were here troubled her. Was her dad lonely? Who was making his food and doing the chores? Would he remember to water the plants? Did he miss them?
But she didn't voice them out loud, not right now, just settling down in the warmth of Souji's hold instead, hugging him tightly. As if that would be enough to remind her that she wasn't alone here either. ]
[ A part of him hopes that their friends are keeping an eye on Dojima, if things are still carrying on without them. Yosuke isn't here anymore, so if he remembers this place, surely he's told Dojima, has convinced him that Nanako is safe with Souji. After what happened to her, and to Dojima himself... he surely had to believe him, right?
He doesn't say anything about that, not yet. Instead, he shifts so that he can settle Nanako in his lap, wrapping both arms around her and holding her close to him. No, the days of being lonely for either of them are long since gone. ]
[ Nanako's quiet for a long moment before she shifts slightly, tipping her head back so she can peer up at him. There's a question she's hesitated asking before now, but since they're talking about serious matters anyway... ]
[ Blinking down at her with her question, Souji rubs his hand along her back, a soothing gesture and point of contact for both of them. Izanami picked newcomers at random, essentially, but these gods, he's not sure. He could've just as easily been the one she chose for emptiness, for as hollow as he'd felt when he first came to Inaba.
But not Nanako. ]
I think... because you have such a good heart. You want to help people, and you care a lot about others. Some of the people here, they haven't been the best choice to bring, but you're you, Nanako. You make up for that, without a doubt.
[ She thinks that over seriously for a moment, chewing on her lower lip as she rests against his chest, content and comfortable to remain snuggled up with him. ]
Maybe that's why they made me a god who is supposed to take care of people who are lost or hurt or lonely. [ She's been doing her homework. ] But do you think it's okay that I still don't know what my power is? Or how to fight the bad spirits?
[ He could spend days like this, he thinks. Just him and Nanako, sitting together, talking quietly in the peaceful sanctuary of his shrine. It's not unfamiliar, after Inaba. ]
Maybe. It suits you. [ Because she understands people like that. Souji sounds proud of her for her homework, though. ] Yeah. Sumio will be able to help you fight the bad spirits, when you have to, until you figure it out. His powers will protect you and the people you need to help. And we can try to practice, if you want - my powers would be able to handle that.
[ She'd be more than happy to do that as well. There's nothing she likes more than when her big brother has the time to spend with her, even if it's doing nothing at all.
Still, she perks up when he offers to help her practice, because that means more than any offer she's gotten so far. ] Really? Can you show me what I'm supposed to do? I don't want to do it wrong. I've been worried about hurting Sumio...
[ Doing nothing at all is wonderful, but this - this will set his mind more at ease, and better prepare her for her life here.
Souji tilts his head to look at her face, tickling his fingers against her ribs. ] Next time all four of us have time together, we can practice shinki boundaries and their magic. For now, we can see if we can't trigger your power, and if we can't...
[ He takes a breath. ] How about I teach you what Chie was teaching me? Her kung-fu.
[ Nanako burst out into giggles as she wriggled away from his tickling fingers, without much luck but not really minding either. Excited by his suggestion, she throws her arms around him once more in an enthusiastic hug. ]
Yay! Chie-oneechan was really strong! Can I really learn like she did? [ She never seemed afraid of fighting monsters or taking on bad guys! ] I want to practice with you and Homura and Sumio, too. I know Homura's been practicing really hard!
[ Cute... Nanako is cute. Souji loves her so much, and returns the hug tightly when she throws her arms around him. After that, it's easy to get his feet under him and bring her up along the way, because - well, she's excited now. He knows her. ]
I'll teach you everything she taught me, for monster fighting. And if that goes well, we can see about learning more together. [ Shadows and ayakashi aren't too different, in the end. It should be okay. ] She really has. We'll make practice fun for her. And all of us.
[ Nanako giggles when he picks her up, arms still holding securely to his neck as she wraps around him, content to be held, if it was him. While she might have protested the move with anyone else, because six was getting to be too big to be carried places, her big brother got to be the exception to most things. ]
You make everything fun, onii-chan. This will be the best practice!
[ And it's effectively completely distracted her from the disappointed mood she'd been in earlier. ]
[ It'll be a sad day when Nanako protests being carried places, Souji thinks. For now, he tucks one arm under her and goes to carry her off, heading towards one of the doors out to the back courtyard of his temple. He'll enjoy it while he still has the ability to. ]
I'm really glad to hear that. Hopefully we can find something out - I'll tell you how I use my power, and maybe we can call on yours that way.
[ His ability as a god is very, very different from his power as a Persona user, but. He'll do what he can with that. All he cares about is that Nanako is happy and safe. ]
[ She nods hopefully, although she chews on her lower lip, looking anxious for a moment. ]
I've tried lots of things to get it to work but I haven't found anything yet. Everyone told me I had to figure it out myself, or that theirs just happened, but when we were training, I focused really hard and nothing did.
[ Eying her thoughtfully, Souji just steps outside once he passes through the kitchen to one of the numerous doors.
And then he leans in, kissing her cheek with a very loud, wet, mwah! sound, before putting her down. ]
They didn't. I know it. We'll just have to figure out how to trigger it. Because no matter what, I'm not going to leave you to figure it out all alone. That's not even a little bit fair.
[ She shrieks with giggles, trying to evade his fingers. But, oh, she has been training, big bro, and she knows magic tricks of her own now. Which she suddenly thinks to surprise him by showing him what she learned at Training Day.
Which is why she suddenly vanishes from in front of him, only to reappear a few steps behind, aiming her sneak attack to reach up and attempt to tickle him back. ]
[ Considering the fact she's been studying, Souji can't say he's too shocked to have this surprise attack. But he is pretty proud, even if there's a beat of his eyes widening a little, just before he feels her fingers going for his sides.
Since he wasn't really tickled much as a kid, he hasn't built up much of a resistance or had all that much exposure to being tickled, so he can't help the way that his body gives a little jerk as he laughs, when she finds just the right spot in his sides that breaks his composure. ] Oh no!
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Nanako shouldn't ever have to lose her sweet, soft nature. ]
I think she'd be able to find you no matter where you were, Nanako. She'll always be with you. And just like we found these other Heavens, without even looking - [ Not completely true of the false one, but still. ] - we'll find the one she's in when we need to.
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You think so?
[ She still sounds a little disappointed about it, but she also looks more accepting of that answer. ]
Okay. I can wait. I'm glad you're here, though.
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I do think so. [ They faced gods. They've become gods. Something like Heaven where his aunt is watching over her daughter must exist. ]
You know, I'm glad you're here too. It might not be home, but we'll make it something close to it together, until we can go back to Inaba and tell your dad about all the adventures we had while we were away.
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Yeah! And there'll be so many adventures to tell! Do you think he'll believe us?
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I'm sure he will. A lot of stuff's happened, after all, so he's had plenty of things to prepare him for our great adventures.
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But she didn't voice them out loud, not right now, just settling down in the warmth of Souji's hold instead, hugging him tightly. As if that would be enough to remind her that she wasn't alone here either. ]
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He doesn't say anything about that, not yet. Instead, he shifts so that he can settle Nanako in his lap, wrapping both arms around her and holding her close to him. No, the days of being lonely for either of them are long since gone. ]
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Souji-niichan? Why do you think they picked me?
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But not Nanako. ]
I think... because you have such a good heart. You want to help people, and you care a lot about others. Some of the people here, they haven't been the best choice to bring, but you're you, Nanako. You make up for that, without a doubt.
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Maybe that's why they made me a god who is supposed to take care of people who are lost or hurt or lonely. [ She's been doing her homework. ] But do you think it's okay that I still don't know what my power is? Or how to fight the bad spirits?
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Maybe. It suits you. [ Because she understands people like that. Souji sounds proud of her for her homework, though. ] Yeah. Sumio will be able to help you fight the bad spirits, when you have to, until you figure it out. His powers will protect you and the people you need to help. And we can try to practice, if you want - my powers would be able to handle that.
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Still, she perks up when he offers to help her practice, because that means more than any offer she's gotten so far. ] Really? Can you show me what I'm supposed to do? I don't want to do it wrong. I've been worried about hurting Sumio...
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Souji tilts his head to look at her face, tickling his fingers against her ribs. ] Next time all four of us have time together, we can practice shinki boundaries and their magic. For now, we can see if we can't trigger your power, and if we can't...
[ He takes a breath. ] How about I teach you what Chie was teaching me? Her kung-fu.
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Yay! Chie-oneechan was really strong! Can I really learn like she did? [ She never seemed afraid of fighting monsters or taking on bad guys! ] I want to practice with you and Homura and Sumio, too. I know Homura's been practicing really hard!
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I'll teach you everything she taught me, for monster fighting. And if that goes well, we can see about learning more together. [ Shadows and ayakashi aren't too different, in the end. It should be okay. ] She really has. We'll make practice fun for her. And all of us.
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You make everything fun, onii-chan. This will be the best practice!
[ And it's effectively completely distracted her from the disappointed mood she'd been in earlier. ]
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I'm really glad to hear that. Hopefully we can find something out - I'll tell you how I use my power, and maybe we can call on yours that way.
[ His ability as a god is very, very different from his power as a Persona user, but. He'll do what he can with that. All he cares about is that Nanako is happy and safe. ]
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I've tried lots of things to get it to work but I haven't found anything yet. Everyone told me I had to figure it out myself, or that theirs just happened, but when we were training, I focused really hard and nothing did.
Maybe they forgot to give me one?
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And then he leans in, kissing her cheek with a very loud, wet, mwah! sound, before putting her down. ]
They didn't. I know it. We'll just have to figure out how to trigger it. Because no matter what, I'm not going to leave you to figure it out all alone. That's not even a little bit fair.
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Eww, onii-chan! [ Even though she's still laughing rather than upset, leaning against his leg.
At his promise, she stares up at him with a smile before decisively nodding her head. It was easy to believe it when he said it. ]
Okay.
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Sorry. [ Except he's not. Further evidenced by... ] But now you have my cooties.
[ Because he's a totally mature 17 year old boy. And it's further distraction from the original topic that had put a furrow between her tiny brow. ]
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Ewwww. Cooties are gross, onii-chan! Take them back!
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Souji moves in as she doubles over, hands moving right for her sides. It's one part to stabilize her, but another part to...
Tickle her! ]
I can't, it's much too late.
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Which is why she suddenly vanishes from in front of him, only to reappear a few steps behind, aiming her sneak attack to reach up and attempt to tickle him back. ]
I'll just have to give them back, then!
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Since he wasn't really tickled much as a kid, he hasn't built up much of a resistance or had all that much exposure to being tickled, so he can't help the way that his body gives a little jerk as he laughs, when she finds just the right spot in his sides that breaks his composure. ] Oh no!
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