Part 2: April 11: 0. The Fool

It starts with a dream.



A car, traveling through impenetrable fog...



...with uncommon passengers.

Welcome to the Velvet Room.

-Aria of the Soul-


My name is Igor...I am delighted to make your acquaintance. This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter...It is a room that only those who are bound by a "contract" may enter...It may be that such a fate awaits you in the near future. Now then...Why don't you introduce yourself...?

I am pretty bad at naming characters. Usually I just trawl Wikipedia or Google Translate for something that vaguely fits their abilities, role, or setting.



This'll do. Even if it's sort of backwards.


Now, let's take a look into your future, shall we? Do you believe in fortune telling? Each reading is done with the same cards, yet the result is always different...*chuckle* Life itself follows the same principles, does it not?


Hm...The Tower in the upright position represents the immediate future. It seems a terrible catastrophe is imminent. The card indicating the future beyond that is...


The Moon, in the upright position. This card represents "hesitation" and "mystery"...Very interesting indeed. It seems you will encounter a misfortune at your destination, and a great mystery will be imposed upon you. In the coming days, you will enter into a contract of some sort, after which you will return here. The coming year is a turning point in your destiny...If the mystery goes unsolved, your future may be forever lost. My duty is to provide assistance to our guests to ensure that does not happen. Ah! I have neglected to introduce my assistant to you. This is Margaret. She is a resident of this place, like myself.



Oh okay.
We shall attend to the details another time. Until then, farewell...

The next day, Sanzo heads for Inaba.





It's a long trip, crossing several rail lines.





Elsewhere, a struggle...



A woman cries out.



A burst of...static?





And two strangely familiar faces.





The last train pulls into Yasoinaba Station.



And The Fool goes forth.




Welcome to Inaba. I'm Ryotaro Dojima. I'll be looking after you. Let's see...I'm your mother's younger brother...and that about sums it up.


I'll say. You've really grown. I still remember when you were in diapers...This here's my daughter. Come on, Nanako, introduce yourself to your cousin.











-New Days-

Well then...Let's get going. My car's over there.












Can you go to the bathroom by yourself?
Uh-huh.
Attendant: It's in the back, to your left. You know which way's left? The side you don't hold your chopsticks in.
I know...Geez...
Attendant: Are you taking a trip?
No, we just went to pick him up. He just moved here from the big city.
Attendant: The city, huh?
Fill up my car while you're at it. Regular's fine.
Attendant: Right away, sir!
Good a time as any for a smoke...


Attendant: Does it surprise a city boy to see how little there is out here? There's so little to do, I'm sure you'll get bored fast. You'll either be hanging out with your friends or doing part-time jobs. Speaking of which, we're actually looking for part-time help right now. Give it some though, why don't you? We don't mind if you're a student. Oh, I should get back to work.


...Are you okay? Did you get carsick? You don't look too good...




That's understandable. It must have been a long trip for you. Why not take a little walk, get some fresh air? Just let me know when you're ready to go.


The shopping district is near the house, so you should get to know where all the stores are.

-Heartbeat, Heartbreak-

At this point, you're free to walk down the street and throw up do a little window shopping.



This section of the shopping district features Yomenaido Books...



Daidara's Metalworks...



Marukyu Tofu...



...and Shiroku Store. More on them later.

That weirdo from the train station is hanging around too for some reason.


What were you doing at the station?
The station...? Oh, that one time...Nothing. I just went...I don't have anywhere to go.

> The girl falls silent...





> You arrived at the Dojima residence. For the next year, this place will be your home...

-New Days-


So...Your mom and dad are busy as always...They're working overseas, was it? I know it's only for a year, but getting stuck in a place like this because of your parents...It's rough being a kid. Well, it's just me and Nanako here, so it'll be nice having someone like you around. So long as you're here, you're part of the family, so make yourself at home.
Thank you for your kindness.
C'mon, there's no need to be so formal. Look, you're making Nanako all tense. Well, anyway...Let's eat.
Cell phone: *RING RING*


...Dojima speaking.


All right, I'm on my way.
Looks like I made the right choice to skip the booze...
Sorry, but I gotta go take care of some business. Go ahead and eat without me. I don't know how late I'll be. Nanako, you help him out, okay?
...Okay.


I already brought it in!
All right...Well, I'm off.


...Let's eat.

> You find yourself alone with Nanako...You might want to strike up a conversation...

What does your dad do?
He...investigates stuff. Like crime scenes. My dad's a detective.
TV Announcer: And now for the local news.




Announcer: In response, Eye Television has decided to cancel all of announcer Mayumi Yamano's televised appearances.


...This is boring.
Commercial: At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!


...Aren't you going to eat?

After dinner, it's off to bed.



And then...





> This is...? The area is covered in a thick fog...All you can do right now is proceed forward.


??? Do you seek the truth?

> You heard someone's voice...

??? If it's truth you desire, come and find me...



-Border of Insanity-


??? Hmhmhm...Try all you like...

"Hmhmhm" is above even the singular "Heh" on the sinister anime laughter scale. Better cut that thing down.


??? Hmmm...It seems that you can see a little, despite the fog...I see...Indeed...That is very interesting information...But...You will not catch me so easily...If what you seek is "truth," then your search will be even harder...






??? Everyone sees what they want to...And the fog only deepens...Will we meet again...? At a place other than here...Hmhm...I look forward to it...

Goddamn scripted battles.



On that faintly unsettling note, the day ends.