Chapter Text
"Keep an eye on him, will ya? He was a good student in high school, but the last few years might have changed that." Naoto contemplated the request from Detective Kurosawa and sighed.
Ryotaro Dojima was contacted by the Kirijo Group some months after the conclusion of the murder investigation that plagued Inaba, and through a series of cryptic inquiries, discovered that similar Shadow incidents had occurred in other areas around the world. The Kirijo Group had put him in contact with Officer Kurosawa from Iwatodai, as the Group believed that local officers and detectives could prove a vital way to detect these kinds of incidents in the future, and put them to a stop before they escalated. The detectives had grown into a strange friendship, a sense of camaraderie budding from dealing with children who took too many risks dealing with the paranormal.
Dojima had requested that Naoto join him at one of their monthly get-togethers, which surprised and delighted Naoto. She thought her expertise would finally be tapped to help in their investigations, but in actuality, they were making a request of a different nature.
"He took a few years off to focus on work for the Kirijo Group, but he's finally getting his act together and going to college. I believe you and him will be in the same degree program, so if you run into him, can you keep an eye out, Shirogane-san?" Kurosawa asked, a twinge of concern in his voice. "He's dedicated for sure. I just think it might take time for him to get back into the swing of schooling. Plus, he knows what it's like to face the Shadows, but in a different context, so you can compare what you've been through."
Naoto agreed, but not without a bit of regret. She was already not pleased that her career path required her to earn a degree - despite years of detective work, she was unlikely to be promoted until she received one. The idea that she would not only have to take classes in subjects she was already familiar with, but to babysit a legal adult who should be nearing completion of his degree wasn't an exciting task.
"Chie is also in the degree program, and a year in as well. Why not ask her?"
Dojima raised an eyebrow. "I am fairly certain Satonaka-san needs to focus on her studies more than you."
Naoto nodded, already assuming that response. I guess, for once, I can be the senpai.
Kurosawa had given Naoto Akihiko Sanada's contact information, so Naoto decided to write him an introduction email a few weeks before classes started. She kept it fairly brief and professional, merely introducing herself and asking him a few polite questions. She excluded discussion of the powers of Persona - Kurosawa had already told him about her as well, but Naoto was unclear if Sanada realized the introduction was more for his handling than for making a new friend. She was also interested in gauging how he responded to the email. While their method of introduction was unconventional, many cold emails like this were sent while working in law enforcement, and she would be able to gauge how much he had to overcome by his response.
She was pleasantly surprised by his response. He was cordial, if not a little friendlier than she would have anticipated. He expressed his excitement to be introduced to someone with real-life experience in the field, to which Naoto appreciated his wording indicating more than her detective work. Perhaps I've been concerned for nothing. I can reassess when our paths cross at orientation.
The freshman class of Criminal Justice students proved to be small that year, so when Naoto attended orientation, it only took Akihiko Sanada a moment to identify her. "Shirogane-san! I'm Akihiko Sanada, it's a pleasure to meet you." She was almost taken aback by his presence; for some reason, she almost didn't recognize the man that stood in front of her. The picture Kurosawa had dug up of the boy - a group picture of the S.E.E.S. team - wouldn't have readily indicated that Sanada would have had the capability of growing so much more muscular in a relatively short amount of years since the photo was taken. His stature was almost imposing and would have made her approach him with more caution if his posture hadn't been so casual, as well as his smile. He gave her a wave.
"Sanada-san, it's nice to meet you in person," Naoto replied, taking note of the scars in his hair and the wrap around his wrist. His role in the Shadow Operatives must have been fairly combat-oriented before his resignation.
He gestured to a table near the front, and they sat, waiting for their instructor to arrive. They compared their schedules to find that they shared two classes together. This was a relief for Naoto, realizing she would easily be able to keep her promise to Kurosawa. They made polite, small-talk about the perils of filling out the online registration from when a girl with long, silky black hair gestured to the other seat near Sanada and asked. "Mind if I sit here?"
She had seen the way this girl stood countless times from Rise - angled slightly with a small shift of her hips to accentuate her curves. A small pout in her lips spoke volumes.
"Seat's free," Sanada replied neutrally, and she sidled into it.
"Name's Mizuki Kago, but my friends call me Miwa-chan," she said, leaning slightly towards Sanada. "And yours?"
"Akihiko Sanada," he answered. "And this is Naoto Shirogane."
"Nice to meet you," Naoto added.
Undeterred, Kago continued, "I plan on becoming a lawyer, also I'm studying English so I can work in international law. What about you, Sanada-senpai? Did you change your major, or is this part of a dual degree?"
"Not your senpai," he replied, almost brusquely. "I'm a first year, same as you. Shirogane-san's more our senpai than anyone with her experience."
Naoto was almost unsettled by his tone when she realized he was fidgeting with his pen under his desk. This girl is clearly interested in him romantically, but it's making him uncomfortable.
"Yes, please rely on me if you need help with your studies, Kago-san," Naoto said.
Kago stifled an annoyed face and opened her mouth to speak until the instructor entered, slightly frazzled as he rifled through his notes. Sanada turned to the professor and opened his notebook. Kago reluctantly did the same.
Naoto smiled to herself.
After orientation, Naoto and Sanada left the classroom, chatting amiably and trying to skrit the path of Kago. Once they reached the courtyard, Naoto braved asking, "Are you...often approached like that?"
He chewed his lip. "It's...not uncommon. You'd think I'd figure out how to handle it by now, but nope. Still terrible." He sighed. "I should apologize to you. I shouldn't have been so...casual, earlier, but it was a relief that I was going to at least know someone. I mean, I don't know you but, we've been through similar experiences."
"Please, don't apologize," Naoto said. "I understand. And also...in high school, I had received similar unwanted attention when I transferred to Inaba. I'm only fortunate that the interest subsided shortly after the novelty of my arrival wore off."
"Small town life, huh?" he smiled. "You think you're gonna miss it?"
"I made a lot of good friend in Inaba," she said with a nod. "One attends this school as well but most have traveled elsewhere for college. Technology bridges the distance nowadays." She held her phone up.
"I guess that's fairly true," he said, holding up a phone so shiny and new Naoto could have sworn he went out and bought it right before classes. Her surprise must have shown on her face.
"Oh! It was a gift when I resigned. Mitsuru Kirijo is head of the Shadow Operatives, and she and I had been fighting Shadows together since middle school. I shattered my screen on one of my last missions, so I think she was mostly teasing me." He shrugged. "She deserved to get one last shot in before I left. Plus, I think she's going to try and pull me back in after some time passes. For bigger missions and such."
"Do you want to?" Naoto asked, berating herself for being so intrusive.
Sanada smirked. "Sounds manipulative, right? She does know my weakness for a good challenge. And I did get to travel around the world on the Group's dime, so I'd feel bad refusing the gift strictly from the possibility."
"Fair enough," Naoto admitted with a small smile. "However, as your senpai, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that a good education is worth exponentially more than a smartphone."
Akihiko chuckled.