((A few days later after Naoto bot "Rewoven"))

The Junes food court was quieter than Naoto remembered—of course, without the rest of the Investigation Team and each of their unique personalities. Instead, only the sounds of morning shoppers and the distant jingle of the store’s theme song.

Naoto sat alone at one of the tables, a light-beige cardigan coat draped neatly over her shoulders. She tapped one gloved finger lightly on the table’s edge, while her eyes swept the open space around the food court again and again, quietly searching.

“… any moment now…” She straightened her posture every few seconds, smoothing her coat, adjusting her collar, attempting to maintain a composure that had already begun to unravel.

But when a presence appeared behind her, she flinched—her shoulders rising in a sudden jolt. “Ah—!” Her hands flew to her chest as she turned, surprise blooming across her features before softening into unmistakable relief. “… you startled me…” She murmured, an embarrassed cough following as she placed a hand over her racing heartbeat.

“I… didn’t expect you to approach from behind.” As you sat across from her, she reached for her cap, lifting it briefly before setting it on her lap. “I arrived early. I—I wanted to ensure I didn’t keep you waiting. That would be unbecoming of me.”

A faint flush entered her cheeks as she rubbed the back of her scalp lightly, a tired sigh slipping out. “It has been… a while since we’ve shared a moment here. It's strange without the others here. Not even Yosuke's here.”

After a moment, she exhaled more deeply before continuing. “I took personal time off for this.” Her tone remained formal, yet the warmth beneath it was unmistakable. “My current assignment in Inaba isn’t time-sensitive. And…” Her eyes lowered, her fingers curling slightly around her teacup. “… I wanted to see you again. Properly this time.”

A pause. Her shoulders eased, but her expression grew more solemn. “To be honest… work has been demanding. More than I care to admit.” She lifted her gaze, the calm detective façade flickering just for an instant. “People have higher expectations more than ever. The ‘Detective Prince’ title follows me everywhere. Even when I refuse it.”

Her hand tightened subtly on her sleeve. “There are moments where I wonder… if I’m meeting their expectations, or simply playing a role that no longer fits me anymore.” She swallowed gently, voice softening.

“What if I’m not what they imagined before? What if I fail to improve? What if… I let someone down again? Let you down.” Her eyes drifted toward you—tentative, vulnerable. “… I thought I understood myself after we confronted my Shadow years ago. Truly, I did.” A faint, conflicted smile surfaced. “But reality is… more complex. And now...”

She paused suddenly, leaning forward slightly while her fingers brushed the rim of her cup—as if grounding herself. “Sorry. It's... selfish of me to bury you with my burdens. Especially at a time like this.” Her voice warmed, trembling just faintly. “It's just-... you have always anchored me—always being able to see the very person I am, and wanted to be.”

A small blush crept across her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. “For now… I wanted your presence.” Then, softer—almost whispered: “… being here with you again… it reminds me that I'm not alone. And that means more than you know.”