[b][i]Tuesday 28th April 2015: Midday[/i][/b]

[b]Leiko Hamada: Warakuma Hospital[/b]


The police had visited Leiko that morning, as she had expected. Recalling the events of that strange world was too much to form into logical words, and when they pushed her for the answers they sought, she felt herself clamming up, despite the desperate need to express exactly [i]what[/i] had happened.

[color=yellow]"I...I don't remember...",[/color] she answered meekly, in a tone so subdued it made her feel sick.

The officers weren't [i]too[/i] pleased with Leiko's vagueness on her whereabouts the past few days, but the nurse quickly ushered them away before they could distress her too much with the 'traumatic memories.' And for that she was thankful. It was likely that the hospital were operating on the assumption that Leiko had been abducted and assaulted, given their careful behaviour around her, (and the various health checks they performed), but it was obvious that they were considering giving her the all-clear soon and discharging her. And Leiko could hardly wait.

[hr]

Not long after the police had left, Rui made a surprise visit to the hospital, and all at once, the thousands of questions that rattled through Leiko's mind threatened to tumble forth. [i]What was that place?[/i] [i]What's a Persona, and why do I have one?[/i] [i]How did you find me?[/i]

The questions would have to wait it seemed, as Rui dismissed the notion of a serious discussion on what happened on Sunday and promised her a time where they would finally be able to talk out of earshot of nosy nurses and doctors. She wanted to argue with his logic, but she knew had a good point, so instead she fell stormily silent and looked down at the strange anime keyring he had given her. It wasn't really her cup of tea, but it looked cute enough, and a gift was still a gift.

Rui gave her a scrap of paper as well, with his phone number scrawled into it. So she at least had the means to contact him so she could demand her answers. Not to mention figure out what exactly she was supposed to do with her newly found powers.

The boy began to retreat from the room, but not before offering her some kind words on her presidency. It had been unexpected, in the light of everything that had happened. But it was still nice to hear.

[color=yellow]"Thank you Rui-kun. For...everything."[/color] Her reply was warm and heartfelt, and no more was said once he left the room.

She would get the answers she needed...eventually. But right now, what was important was her friends and family.

[hr]

[b][i]Wednesday 28th April 2015: Evening[/i][/b]


[b]Saya Ueno: Warakuma Hospital[/b]


[color=yellow]"They're discharging me tomorrow. There's no real need to keep me here any longer."[/color]

Saya nearly choked on the piece of red velvet cake that she had sneaked into the room for herself and Leiko to share. "Wh-What? Are you sure? Don't you need more checkups?"

When she had been informed that Leiko had been admitted to hospital, it was the single most heart-rendering feeling that Saya had felt in her life so far. Her best friend had been found intact, and [b]alive.[/b] It was nothing short of a miracle to her. 

She couldn't remember the details of what happened when she saw Leiko awake and well for the first time. She had cried so much her eyes got tired and sore, and she was pretty sure she was close to breaking a few of Leiko's ribs when she embraced her. Hearing her friend joke about the fact drew out a watery chuckle from her, and from that point, they had carried on as if nothing had changed between them.

Except for the inexplicable feeling that Leiko was hiding more from her than she would like. The strawberry haired girl insisted that she couldn't remember anything beyond Saya getting struck and falling unconscious, but something clearly struck a wrong chord with her. Leiko was a good actress to be sure, and Saya [b]wanted[/b] to believe in what Leiko was saying, but she knew her a lot better than what she expected. Heck, she was a bona fide Hama-chan expert. So why would she hide something so important from her?

Saya reasoned that whatever the memory was, it was just too traumatic for her to recall, which forced her to hold back from pressing the issue further. She loved Hama-chan, and the last thing she wanted was to hurt her any further. Saya had gained some issues just from being [i]struck[/i] by the cult, let alone what Leiko had been through.

But considering her mental state, was it really okay for Leiko to be leaving the hospital so soon?

[color=yellow]"Honestly, I'm sick of these four walls. I want to get out and start living life again."[/color] Leiko replied with a carefree smile. [color=yellow]"I've missed so much of Golden Week already! I'm tired of living vicariously through other people's experiences..."[/color] She took a thoughtful bite of the cake that Saya had brought and studied her friend carefully. [color=yellow]"Have you been okay? I'm glad your bruise is healing up...I was worried about you."[/color]

"Worried about me? Hah." Saya shook her head dismissively, her eyes falling onto the get well shrine Leiko was accumulating. "You're getting quite a collection there. We were all out there looking for you, you know. Our friends."

[color=yellow]"I know,"[/color] Leiko agreed, her eyes following to where Saya's rested on. [color=yellow]"I feel so...blessed. I took you all for granted before. Treated you like pawns. I...wasn't a very good person."[/color]

"What? Hama-chan, no-"

[color=yellow]"It's okay, Saya."[/color] Leiko reassured her with a confident smile. [color=yellow]"I'm not making any more excuses for my behaviour. I want to change. I want to be a better friend."[/color]

The words coming out of Leiko's words were so strange to hear, that it made Saya merely gawp at her soundlessly. The strong, aloof, tough-as-nails Leiko Hamada never apologised for anything. But she seemed so...humble now. It was just too weird.

But...she had stayed at Leiko's side through thick and thin, and she wasn't going to stop now. "Well, then so will I." Saya vowed, reaching over and looping Leiko's pinkie finger through hers. "To being better friends!"

There was still an undercurrent of doubt that plagued Saya, but she wouldn't show it as the two girls continued to gossip and eat cake until the end of the visiting period ended. 


[hr]

[b][i]Friday 1st May 2015: Midday[/i][/b]


[b]Leiko Hamada and Saya Ueno: Warakuma Shopping Complex[/b]


"Are you sure you're okay to keep walking around like this, Hamada-san? I mean, you were only discharged from the hospital yesterday!"

The sun was bright in Warakuma and the crowds were loud and bustling as they headed away from the city centre, where the 'Azure 5' idols had just been performing. That was the main purpose of the day, with most of Leiko's friends being keen fans of the group. Leiko couldn't pretend that she shared their passion, although she admitted that a couple of their songs were catchy enough. So she had agreed-and [i]insisted[/i]- that she join them for the day. It was only fair, since she had such little of a Golden Week to begin with. [color=yellow]"Honestly, I am fine. They wouldn't have discharged me if I wasn't ready. Besides, I really don't want to be cooped up on a day like this,"[/color] she reassured them, gesturing to the clear blue skies that blessed them. [color=yellow]"And please, don't call me 'Hamada-san'. I want you to call me 'Leiko' now, ok?"[/color]

That was another change that had been inspired from the recent state of events. In the past, she had insisted that even her closest friends refrain from calling her Leiko. It was too personal, which made her feel far too uncomfortable. Now that she had faced the doubts in her heart, she wanted her friends to get to know the real her, rather than the image she had assumed before them. Dropping last name basis had been the start of that. 

"Okay..uhh, Leiko-chan," her friend stammered, looking uncomfortable and pleased at the same time as she looked over at the other girls. "What's holding them up?"

"Ugh, it's Saya. She's getting distracted again..." One of the other girls complained, and true enough there was Saya in the distance, eyeing something in one of the stores. 

"That girl..."

The girl in question was busy looking at the new, polished oak vanity table displayed in the furniture store, and Saya [b]wanted[/b] it more than life itself. She had far too many cosmetics scattered around in her room, and the piece would be such a nice addition to the aesthetics of her room. But the thing cost so damn much! If only she could be scouted by an idol agent or something...and then she would never have to work a day at her family's crappy restaurant again.

She heard her friends begin to call for her at that moment, snapping her out of her doldrums as she called back as loudly as she could. "I'm coming!"

She broke into a brisk sprint so she could catch up with her friends, but not before abruptly tripping over a short, sullen boy about her age. "Ahh! Ooops!" Quickly catching herself before she unceremoniously landed on her face, Saya quickly looked over at the boy with an apologetic look on her face. "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you. I really wasn't looking. Are you okay?"