Destiny's Restaurant [Awakening]

    Resting a hand on her forehead, the blonde let out a shaky breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts and her irregular heartbeat. Goodness…what in the world did she just see? There was nothing normal about any of this. No one should be able to do the things Naito just did, and no girl should be able to shift into a tree at will. It just…nothing made any sense.

    Destiny tried to focus back on the situation, shifting her gaze to the teen on the floor. It was such a startling change in demeanor; just a few minutes ago she’d been so callous, and now was practically shaking just from being in the same room as someone else. Seeing her like this, Destiny could see the similarities between them now. Earlier, it seemed impossible that this doppelganger of sorts really was her, but after what she’d just witnessed…it didn’t seem that outrageous anymore. And if this was really who she was on the inside, she shouldn’t be afraid of it…right?

    Stepping around the silverette and walking towards the girl on the floor, Destiny gazed down at her for a moment before stooping down and kneeling in front of her. For a moment, she considered reaching out a hand to touch her, but thought better of it and instead began to speak gently instead, her quiet voice sounding so much louder in the sudden stillness. “…You were right, you know. I did run. Not just in America, either. I kept running every time I moved. Running from other people.” Her eyes traveled to the floor for a moment as she smiled humorlessly and let out a soft, disbelieving laugh. “I ran thinking that I didn’t need them. Because they just hurt you in the end. Someone leaves, and all you’re left with is pain. But I didn’t run from just people. I ran from my own feelings, too. After all, if you act like nothing’s wrong, then what difference does it really make in the end? Isn’t pushing forwards no matter what…isn’t that what being strong is?” Destiny lifted her head to look at the girl in front of her, the smile slipping away to leave a sullen expression on her face. “I suppose that’s not true, is it? Pretending something doesn’t exist doesn’t make you strong. It’s just living in a fantasy.”      

    The blonde took a deep breath. Reaching out a hand, she rested it gently on the other’s shoulder, smiling softly. “You’re the hurt I thought I could ignore. You’re a part of me…and I’m sorry I didn’t realize it before.”

Naito was rather quiet as he watched Enduex take control of the situation and move forward to face her Shadow. Placing a hand on his side and letting the other hang freely, he closed his eyes and simply listened. With this acceptance, her Shadow transformed into a Persona, and the Tsurinai's eyes would look towards the supernatural entity with a thin smile. "Well done, Endeux. You've earned this power so use it well." The pale teen would walk by her side as the Persona vanished. "I know you're expecting me to explain everything to you, but at the moment there's somewhere I need to be. A few of my allies are in quite a bind, so I can explain things on the way if you don't mind. Just follow me, but take it easy. After someone awakes to their potential, they're usually exhausted." With those final words, the Tsurinai turned towards the exit of this strange restaurant and would return back to the Academy.

[exit]

    For a second, Destiny was afraid she’d said the wrong thing. After all, the first transformation her other had gone through had been with murderous intent. But this new side of her other half seemed much more benevolent, even going so far as to give something that seemed to resemble a grin. When it disappeared, the blonde exhaled slowly, gathering her thoughts before she made a move to stand.

    …Or maybe she should stay still for a moment longer. The excitement she’d gone through seemed to finally catch up to her and she felt sluggish despite the rest she’d apparently had not too long ago. With this in mind she remained kneeling on the floor even when Naito started speaking. Of course, she turned her head slightly in his direction so he’d know she was listening, but otherwise did nothing.

    “Power”? Oh…was what she just received the same thing Naito had used in his fight against the…what did he call it…Shadow? That seemed right, but she wasn’t sure. Tempting as it was to ask, he made it clear that this wasn’t the time for that. If she wanted her answers, it seemed she’d be accompanying Naito for the time being. Keeping his words of advice concerning her fatigue in mind, Destiny nodded before carefully picking herself up off the ground, testing her balance for a moment before she followed the boy out.