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[Kotone has never really been one to like... start things. Mostly people told her to join other things, or she followed her friends with their interests. But here, it seems like people are just kind of left to their own devices, so a few days after the return to the forest and the fruitless search for the missing, she's getting antsy. She needs something to do and doesn't really know where to start. So-]

Hello! Um, my name is Kotone Shiomi. I was wondering if anyone was starting up any clubs or anything in town! You know, a group of people with similar hobbies or interests, like a sports club, or a book club, or a gardening club...

One of my friends at school started a sewing club. I think I might do something like that, if anybody is interested! Or somebody, [Shinji,] could make a cooking club and give lessons, stuff like that.

[She holds up one finger as if struck by a sudden idea.]

Oh, maybe if we can get a list of everybody's hobbies, we can figure out what kinds of clubs to make? I just think it's important to have something fun to do with everyone, instead of just always worrying about the weird stuff that's going on. So... tell me about what you like to do!

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They were just examples. Back home, it was a big thing at school! When I was in school, I was part of the Tennis Club, the Sewing Club, the Cooking Club, the Student Council, and the Library Committee. They also had stuff like Track, Kendo, Volleyball, Photography, Art, Music...

[Kotone counts them off on her fingers as she lists them. She was Very Busy, which might explain why she's trying to once again fill her schedule here.]

I'd like to do some things like that here. Is there anything you're interested in doing with a group?

[He gives her a hard look. This little girl was doing all of that? He doesn't know what half of she said even is!]

Why do you need a group? If you know how to do all that, can't you just do it? Are you going to train people?

[In fairness to her, the only one she picked without really being told or asked to join it was Tennis. The others had been at someone else's request or order, and it would have been too much of a pain to say no.

She just smiles and shrugs, his hard look bouncing off her without making much of an impact.]

I could train people if they wanted! Mostly it's a way to get to know people with similar interests, or to try something new! It's not as fun to do things all alone if you don't have to.

[She's so positive, Wen Kexing can't help but think she's a little like Zhang Chengling. That's regular protagonist energy, and even though he tries, he can't keep the stern look. So instead he sighs.]

I don't know how to do that many things with other people. I'm not part of any formal sect.

[Well, that's not exactly true anymore. But that's what he assumes she's saying, since "school" seems close enough to him.]

You teach all of those things? When did you have time to learn them all?

Hmmm... after school, mostly. I had to keep careful track of my schedule, but I managed!

[She brandishes a small pocket notebook with a pleased grin. Really, it had been kind of exciting trying to balance all her social activities, the people she wanted to talk to, her sports events, her... extracurricular activities during the Dark Hour. It's left her at kind of a loss as to what she's supposed to do here with so much free time.]

I'm not an expert or anything. It's more of a hobby than anything serious, for me at least. And you don't have to do that many! Most people only do one or two at most, I think.

[He wants to criticize her, but... she really is living up to everything. She seems like a hard worker, and Wen Kexing can't say she's not sincere... He frowns, thinking very hard.]

Do they teach martial arts too? Strong ones?

I mean, I guess it depends on your definition of strong.

[She counts on her fingers again.]

My friend Sanada-senpai is the captain of the Boxing Team, and he's one of the strongest fighters I know. My friend Yukari does Archery, and I think our Kendo team was pretty good? I missed signups for that, though, so I don't know for sure.

Could you teach martial arts, mister?

Strong enough to defeat any enemy, even if they outnumber you. Strong enough to tear anyone to pieces with you bare hands!

[ Or something like that. ]

I know how to fight. I can teach you how to control your qi if you have some skill, but I don't belong to any school. You need a real master for that.

[ And he happens to know just the one. ]

Oh. Yeah, that's Sanada-senpai for sure. Aragaki-senpai could probably do that, too!

[Her desire not to put her friends in danger warring with her need to hype up her friends. It's a difficult life to live.]

I can fight with a naginata, but I'd love to learn whatever you can teach me! Martial arts are one of those things that I hope I'd never need to use, but it would be useful to know.

[Especially if her Personas can't be used.]

So they are martial arts masters?

[He definitely needs to find these people! ...If they are even there. He hasn't thought that deeply into it yet.]

Martial arts are necessary if you want to survive in this world. Or any world. I want to see your weapon.

[He isn't sure what it is, but he's happy to learn more.]

Since we're all here, we can learn more and all get stronger.

Hmmm... I think so!

[She is causing future problems for Shinjiro at the very least, but doesn't know it yet.

Kotone blinks with surprise, but shrugs.]

Okay! Hang on.

[She has to get up and cross out of range of where she'd set the charm. There's the sound of rustling and a few things being moved, then she returns with an Aldrip-forged replica naginata -- or the closest they could make based on her drawings and descriptions. It's practical, not ornate, but serviceable enough.]

I used to have a really nice one, but this is the one the locals could make for me. I haven't needed to use it yet, but it's good to have!

[Sure enough, it's a weapon. A simple one, but the design looks sound. He can tell even from the projection.]

So you are a trained fighter too? Your school is strong?

[If he had a tail he would be wagging it. This is excellent new knowledge!]

I doubt the locals have many masters in crafting great weapons, but maybe someone else can make you another one. Will you show me your skill if I watch your club?

[This is how it works, right? Like a show.]

Mmm... I didn't really learn it at school, not formally, anyway, but I have had a lot of practice using it.

[Technically SEES was a school club, but like, she still doesn't know how they were able to get it on the books. Admin wasn't her problem.]

If you can teach me the stuff you talked about, sure! We could do a martial arts club.

[This sounds like so much more work, but she guesses that without Tennis Club or Tartarus grinding, she should probably make sure she doesn't lose her combat skills. Just in case. Shinji might be disappointed in her if she isn't a capable leader, after all.]

[Oh, no. She didn't study under a real master either?

Wen Kexing is trying very hard not to like Kotone, but that is becoming increasingly difficult the more they talk. He was just trying to bitch at her, how did he get here?]

You mean you taught yourself?

[What a dedicated daughter. He's moved.]

I can teach you some things, but I should introduce you to someone else. He's a great master!

[That's a sentiment that a lot of people seem to feel about her...]

Yeah, kind of! None of my friends used a naginata, but it was the weapon that made the most sense to me.

[She'd started with things that weren't even as well-made as this one, after all, and gone on to use the same techniques with hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, and eventually legendary weapons that she'd read about in textbooks that it seriously made no sense for her to find in Tartarus. But she smiles and gives him a thumbs-up.]

Okay! I haven't met any great masters, yet, so I'd love it if you could introduce me.

If you taught yourself, you should try to learn from as many other people as possible too. It's fine to figure things out, but masters are masters for a reason.

[Such great advice from the wild man that grew up in the abandoned den of thieves and monsters. His formal training days could probably be counted on his hands, and all his practice was raw survival, haphazardly forcing his way into improvement by struggling against other equally unwanted criminals.]

My senior will give you good advice. He's experienced with disciples!

[Therefore he has to be a better qualified teacher. Of course, he should probably ask Zhou Zishu first, but it's probably fine!]

Sure! What's his name?

[Hopefully she doesn't need her naginata nearly as much as she did when they were ascending Tartarus, but it's still a useful skill to have if she's going to protect her friends. The sstronger she gets, the better off she'll be, and the more her friends will be able to rely on her.]

Oh, and do you use any weapons yourself? Can I see?

[It only seems fair, since she shows him hers!]

[He opens his mouth, then pauses. Would Zhou Zishu get mad if he was spreading his name in public?

Probably. Wen Kexing decides he does not what to die today.]

He's a recluse. We would have to find him in person to get him to talk to us.

[Old masters are supposed to be eccentric. Ye Baiyi was the most eccentric of them all, so it makes sense to him. Wen Kexing is proud of his answer. So proud that he holds up his little silk fan proudly as he shows it to Kotone.]

This is all I have with me. I haven't trained with anything special.

[Honestly, not giving someone's name is a lesson she probably should learn, but she won't. She just kind of pouts a little because c'mon, she told him Shinji's name!! Spill the deets!

But she claps at the sight of the fan.]

Wow, cool! That looks like it would be a really difficult weapon to use. [Considering it's... a fan... But she does believe it as a weapon; after all, one of their team members had literally been a dog who fought with a knife in his mouth. Why wouldn't a fan be a weapon?]

Could you show me sometime?

[ He will probably still get in trouble, but if he just shows up with Kotone and presents her to Zhou Zishu, then he might get away with a good cuff over the head. Which will be worth it, because clearly the two need to meet. Zhou Zishu loves students! ]

It's not as sophisticated as yours, but anything is fine if it does the job.

[ Makeshift weaponry might not be a gentleman's tool, but Wen Kexing thinks said gentleman should all be tossed off a cliff anyway. They're arrogant elitists! ...Not that he's jealous. ]

You would really want to see someone like me? I don't have a real master's training either.

[Oh... he thinks her weapon is sophisticated. That's kind of heartening to hear if some guy who seems to really likes fighting thinks it's serious. She just nods and smiles; she'd agree that if people were rude about anyone's choice of weapon, they should probably at least be given a talking to, if not thrown right off a cliff.]

Of course! You said yourself that we should try to learn from as many people as possible, right?

[Hm, this guy seems kind of formal when it comes to this kind of thing... she tries dipping her head into a bow.]

Please?

[He definitely likes fighting, so Kotone has gotten his interest already. It's nice that she apparently wants to see some nobody technique like his, even if he did pick up some good moves along the way, but the respectful address is completely absurd. Who is polite and kind to a demon? Does she leave out food for stray wolves too? He sputters a bit, waving his face in front of him to regain his composure.]

A-all right, okay! You don't need to do that.

[She's going to make him blush.]

If you really want to watch, I guess I can show you some things.

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