( SEMI-CLOSED ) put the gun down

[maskreant]

WHO: Akira and anyone that has CR with him!!
WHERE: Bosuma initially, then Recolle during the 3-day quest period
WHEN: Mid April
WHAT: Akira encounters the swamp witch and has to live with his regained memories. Of course he's going to get his name back. That stuff is super important!! If you want to plan anything specific, go ahead and contact me aftertaste or on discord (hei#2323).
WARNINGS: standard Akira warning and spoilers for P5 probably.

prelude

[ Akira thought it would be fun to visit Bosuma with his boyfriend after the hard work they've done in the other areas. He didn't have the chance to check out the luscious forest before—seemed more like a jungle, to be honest. Either way, he was enjoying the sights for the most part until an unfortunate happening. They were exploring a bit, marking the trees when they need to, but they somehow got separated...

No matter how hard he tried to find his way back, he found himself going in circles. Frustrating, really, but he eventually he reached his destination. There was something missing. When he pulled up memories of what he was doing earlier, he couldn't seem to remember a single thing. Not who he came with, where this was, where he lived—his name. What was his name?

What was there to comfort him was a stone house, a woman that coaxed him forward, giving him a new name, and a proposal he couldn't refuse. Though distrusting, he knew he had little to lose aside from his life. She gave him a simple task, but mentioned the stakes are high. His new name? He heard it before.

JOKER
It was a code name from what memories retained, even if his actual name became a blur. The task itself is to trust and rely on someone. Vague. Annoying. Whatever. Well, time to head back. ]

forest

[ Akira can be found in the forest, trying to find his way back. Whether he walks normally, carving some trees or mushrooms to keep him from being lost, or even rolls straight in front of you and falls flat on his face. He still needs some assistance... While he has memories of Tokyo, he can't for the life of him maneuver through Bosuma or Recolle if he wanted to. Someone is technically waiting for him, whether he knows it or not. Anyone that even utters his name will find it impossible. He can't hear it, anyway.

Please lead him the right way before he somehow ends up deeper into the forest again. ]

recolle

[ Once escorted safely thanks to someone very shady, he's back in the city and on his mission to get this quest done. Finding someone to trust and rely is rather difficult when there are holes in his memories, but his phone should be the best place to start. He can also be found around places that he frequents, at least based on what he learns from his phone:

1. Catmosphere Cafe
2. Mochi House
3. Recolle University
4. Unstoppable

But it's likely to find him anywhere. If he has ever texted you, then you can expect him there at your workplace. Or he might even send you a text:

hey, you're my friend, right?

Strange... Question. ]

wildcard

[ UP FOR ANYTHING!! ]

Comments

[thesettingsun]

I don't have an obstacle course handy either. Maybe Freshens would do?

[Grocery stores are perilous even with your eyes open.]

[maskreant]

... Suddenly, I'm nervous.

[ SECOND THOUGHTS, but he leads them to Freshens, anyway. ]

Do you think I'll have to pay for any damages?

[thesettingsun]

I'll cover it. It's probably my fault because of negligence or something, I don't know, I didn't take law.

[Shuji holds open the door for Ren.]

Whenever you're ready, close your eyes and take about ten steps forward.

[maskreant]

... That's really nice of you.

[ He has only remembered his peers, adults, almost everyone avoiding him. They would sneer or avoid him, so it's surprising to be at the receiving end of such kindness.

It's almost suspicious, but he knows that there are good people in this world. He walks through the doors, then proceeds to close his eyes. ]

Ready.

[thesettingsun]

Walk five steps forward, then turn to the left and walk about... thirty paces? I'll stop you if you're going to bump into someone.

[They're going to the bakery department, because even if Ren can't see where they are, he should be able to smell it.]

[maskreant]

... What's the difference between steps and paces?

[ He asks that, but he's already in the process of taking those five steps forward, then turns left. ]

[thesettingsun]

About the same, but paces sounds better when I'm estimating larger numbers.

[He can't tell how how many steps that is just by looks.]

[maskreant]

So they're the same.

[ It seems the paces have pushed him farther past the bakery...

Shuji, help. ]

[thesettingsun]

Stop, about face!

[At least he hasn't walked into a wall yet? Shuji will count that as good.]

[maskreant]

What?

[ Heeee stops immediately, but he's not sure what he should do. He can tell people are not only passing by, but also staring at them.

His does catch a whiff of the nice pastry aroma, though. ]

[thesettingsun]

[Who cares if people are staring?

...Well, Shuji does, but he can endure the embarrassment for Ren's sake.]

I mis-estimated. Turn around, take five steps forward, then turn to your left and take another ten steps. Towards the smell of pastries.

[That, at least, is hard to miss.]

[maskreant]

Pastries...

[ He does as Shuji says and it seems like he's going the right direction and pace now. Here! The bakery. ]

Are you hungry?

[ IS THIS WHY THEY'RE HERE ]

[thesettingsun]

They have cakes on sale.

[No point in denying that part of his motivation.]

But I figured having a strong smell might help you feel a little more grounded when you can't see where you are.

[maskreant]

It kind of does if I remembered what Freshen was like.

[ But he does like pastries... Who doesn't? ]

Does this mean I can open my eyes now?

[thesettingsun]

Yes. You have passed your trust walk, your reward is cake and hopefully getting your name back.

[The cake is pretty important too.]

[maskreant]

[ He finally opens his eyes, smiling a bit to see the bakery right in front of him. There is a good sale going on. ]

It is time to treat myself, you're right. [ Let him take out his wallet. ] What flavor do you want?

[thesettingsun]

[Instantaneously:] Chocolate.

...But you don't have to pay for mine, I didn't mean that.

[maskreant]

[ He looks at Shuji for a second, then back to the bakery.

Picking up a chocolate cake and a strawberry cake, he takes out his wallet. Watch him buy both cakes. ]

[thesettingsun]

[Shuji slams down his wallet.]

Excuse me, I'm paying for those.

[This poor Freshens employee does not deserve to be caught in the crossfire.]

[maskreant]

[ Oh, no. We cannot have that. Akira keeps his smile on as he turns to Shuji.

You have to fight him for this. ]

I'm younger. [ He has no idea if he is, but he's going to play this card. ] So let me pay for us.

[thesettingsun]

I'm older, so having a younger person pay for me would be shameful and embarrassing. It's not like I can't afford it.

[maskreant]

But I already paid.

[ In his hands are the two cakes. The lesson here is you snooze, you lose. ]

[thesettingsun]

I'll reimburse you.

[Shuji is far too stubborn to just let it go at that. At least the employees don't have to be in the middle of this incredibly stupid argument.]

[maskreant]

With trust and a shoulder to lean on?

[ That's the only way he'll accept it Shuji. Watch him eat his strawberry cake with a smile. It's innocent!

Really! ]

[thesettingsun]

That and twenty bucks.

[Drops a twenty right in front of him on the table before taking the chocolate cake box.]