Persona - Mask of Origins

Yuki laid a large amount of food out on the table.

"Dinner's ready, Zain." She said aloud.

 

Zain pulled himself from his memories and hurried to dinner. His eyes were wide with the food and he scrambled up into his chair, "Wow! C'mon, Yuki, let's eat! Eat, eat, eat!"

 

Yuki started eating, savoring the flavor of her cooking.

 

Zain, with little regard for anything, shoveled down the food like he was starving. Only when he reached for seconds did he take his time and scribbled down something on a piece of paper with a crayon at his side.

 

"What'cha writing down there, little bro?" Yuki asked before taking another bite.

 

Zain looked up and winked at her, "Nothing much. It's just...well I guess a few things I think could help in your cooking...?" he said carefully. If he could reach the counter, he probably would've made the meal himself.

 

"Are you saying my cooking is bad?"

 

He flipped his palms out, "N-no, that's not what I mean. I just mean, I have memories of cooking a lot and I thought...uh, n-never mind sis. Forget I said anything." he went back to eating, shaking his head.

 

Yuki finished eating and started washing the dishes.

 

Zain sleepily nodded off at the table. His little scribbles had filled the page. His memories proving more vivid than expected. His head struck the table and he barely reacted. "Hmm, I should go to bed." Standing, Zain wandered back to his room.

In Zain's room, he barely recognized an abnormal shadow in his room before a pair of hands reached out and snatched him. Covering his mouth, he whispered in his ear, "It's alright, Zain. Its me, Zero. You left so quickly, we couldn't give you your shot." Zain's eyes widened and a long needle slid into his stomach.

 

Yuki walked upstairs to check on Zain.

 

Zero placed Zain in bed and hopped out the window again, taking his needle with him.

 

Yuki tucked Zain in.

"You feeling ok, little bro?"

 

Zain stared, wide eyed at Yuki, "I knew there was a reason I didn't like Zero much. Despite what my memories say." He tossed back the covers and lifted his shirt, the puncture had closed and healed already but a small bruise was left behind, "Sis, what kind of shots would someone like me need?" He couldn't figure out why he'd need a shot every time Zero came to visit.

 

"I have no idea, but if you start hurting, let me know. I won't stand for anyone hurting my little brother."

 

Zain nodded and let himself be tucked in. His eyes already closing. "Hey, Yuki? What do you think really happened to my parents?" Zain didn't know since Callen had forced Nicholi to block that portion of his memories until he was older.

 

"I can't really say. I never really knew your parents."

 

"Didn't I ever tell you? Y'know, when I was...the other me? A grown up..." He seemed to get distracted and moved on, "How many are there of me? With the same memories, except theirs are real?"

 

"I remember now. You told me your parents were killed when you were young."

 

Zain stared at her and opened his mouth to speak before a yawn took his words and his eyes closed. His little snores filled the silence of his room.