Real & the Ideal: A Persona 5R Dark Sun Sequel (Goro Akechi x Amamiya Ren)

27: Our Light (Freedom Pt.4)

"When the ripples become waves that pull you under the current,

I'll be there.

You won't have to fear any longer, because I'll be by your side....

......to pull you out of the water."

(Ren's P.O.V)

I had always been an outcast.

As a child, I lived in the country. I went to a small school where everyone knew eachother, because the rural town I lived in only had a few thousand people residing there.

I recognized my neighbours, and the kids that lived down the street from me in my classes. I identified their faces because my father worked with their dads at the news firm. So many of the children looked so much like their parents.

I could see it in their eyes; the countless times our dads asked us to help shovel stacks of newspapers into the trunks of our cars to bring to the distributor for circulation.

Or the many sleepless nights where our fathers asked us to re-read their articles, and help proofread their grammar.

We were a small town, with only rice fields and a single, one lane highway just off the coast. Humbled by our quiet town, we were shut off from the rest of the world, making due with our small plot of farmers who circulated food, our newspaper firm that distributed the news of world events, and the few schools that educated the children while the adults worked remotely for their city jobs in Tokyo.

It was quiet, and peaceful.

But many who grew up to live there, wasted their potential.

"Look dad!! There's a new toy store in Shibuya!!"

Being the lead writers son, I was always reading the papers. They offered me a window into the world outside of my hometown, and showed me what living in the city was truly like. Everything was new and exciting there, with whole streets dedicated to shopping, and cafes that were lined with animal-themed treats.

"Mmmhmm. That shop is opening up in Akihabara, Ren."

That was the first time I realised that there was somewhere I wanted to be outside of my hometown. Seeing the pictures of that toy shop, with its glittering figures and brightly coloured boxes lining the shelves, it convinced me.

Though I was only 10, I'd made up my mind.

"I want to go to Akihabara!"

I dropped the newspaper and set my sparkling gaze on my father. With a warm smile, he lowered his hand and ruffled my hair affectionately.

"Maybe one day, son.."

"But why not now!? I want to go noowww!"

My mother laughed lightly from her spot on the couch as she read her novel.

"Ren, it'll take hours to get there. Maybe when you're a little older."

Father laughed too as he watched me pout.

"We'll have to be careful though. Knowing you, you won't want to leave."

The thought of travelling to such a dream-like place and living there was so far out of my line of sight, it practically stopped my heart with excitement. My mouth opened wide.

"I....I can live there!? In Tokyo!?"

My father tilted his head at me.

"When you're older, you can do whatever you like. You can decide to move there if you want to get out of the rural countryside."