You don't end up leaving the dorm early enough to stop somewhere else before school, because doing the calculations was enough to confirm for you that you'd have to skip breakfast. And you don't think you've willingly missed breakfast since you moved in.
School itself isn't that much different from any other day, of course, and the morning passes by quickly enough, until you go to Akira's classroom for lunch.
Maiko is also there today, which isn't really a surprise anymore. Sometimes she shows up, sometimes she doesn't. "I think someone's been looking around the library," She says, which wouldn't be concerning if you didn't realize how many halls there are to get lost in.
"Really?" You ask. Nobody ever seems to notice anything wrong with the library until you point it out to them. And Maiko and Akira are the only two people you've really told about it.
She nods. "It's a girl with black hair. I dunno what grade she's in- she's really small, but she was also looking at the big books." In other words, the ones that don't quite belong. And while you've seen people that weren't in your little group reading them, you don't think there's anyone that's really done so regularly. "Do you think she knows something?"
"Maybe." Akira looks down at his desk, barely focusing on the food in front of him. "I mean, we found that place, so why shouldn't anyone else?" Of course, you'd found it entirely on accident, and never got around to an in-depth exploration.
As long as no Shadows show up to attack people from it, it should be fine.
It's sort of strange to think about. You used to spend a lot of time in the library, and now you don't, and suddenly someone else has appeared to do the same things that you did.
"Maybe we should go talk to her!" Maiko suggests, her eyes betraying her worry. "If she gets stuck in there..."
Maybe you should. But it'll have to be some other day. "Maybe next week. I'll have to leave right away today."
"Really? Why?" And now they're both curious, which means that you can't get away with not mentioning it.
Not that you were planning to. "It's Mitsuru-san's birthday today. I already have a present for her, I just need some time to pick it up." You don't think it's going to be wrapped, but you never claimed to be good at wrapping gifts to begin with. Or to have anything to wrap it with.
I'm sure she'll be happy with it either way. It should even get past her complete lack of fashion sense.
A card would have been simpler. But then what would you have done with all that money?
"What are you getting her?" And of course you should have expected that question, because once Akira takes an interest in something, he's bound to try and find out all he can about it. A side-effect of all that time he spent in the library- you think he still goes there, sometimes, but you never felt the need to ask about it. After all, where else would he get his books?
Because, you know, it's totally a good idea to get him addicted to stories about his future Persona.
You also don't really know how to explain it, because the connection between a person and a Persona is something you aren't sure you can describe, especially given your own circumstances, and you aren't sure the two of them would really get it otherwise.
Also, you're led to believe that most kids their age don't really appreciate clothing as gifts, so they probably wouldn't fully understand either way. Unless... "It's... a costume. She liked the one I got for Akihiko-san that one time, so..." Just frame it as the fact that it'll look really cool, and you're sure they'll understand immediately.
You then go back to the meal, and all thoughts of the little black-haired girl in the library vanish from your mind completely.
When you go to pick up Mitsuru-san's gift, you get a number of odd looks. You're more-or-less used to them by now, but you guess these people haven't fully gotten used to you yet.
It's not that shocking. You don't imagine they see a lot of business from your age group. "This was for your sister, correct?" You're asked. You're almost surprised they remember, but again, you're probably the only ten-year-old they get business from.
You nod. "Thank you. I'm sure she'll love it." Or, at least, appreciate that an effort has been made. You don't think there's any real chance she'll hate it, but...
It'll be fine. Even if it didn't look as good as it does, she has no fashion sense.
You still can't help but be nervous. Mitsuru-san is an intimidating figure, and it always seems like she has everything... would this even be good enough?
At least her Student Council duties mean she won't be home right away. That's plenty of time for you to try and relax... or do something to make yourself feel better. Something like that.
[ ] Distract yourself with homework. Just because you're ahead of everyone else doesn't mean you can't still learn! (+Knowledge)
[ ] She... wouldn't actually be able to tell if something was wrapped just fifteen minutes before, would she? You could ask for help from anyone who's already home.
[ ] Figuring out all the things you can do with a ball of light isn't a simple task, but it's definitely a good enough distraction.
[ ] You guess you could always take Koromaru for a walk...
