Fortuna

Favet Fatuis
by FortunesRevolver
Formally known as Fortune no Hikari. Life is full of second chances, but not all
mistakes can be corrected. If you were given the opportunity to go back in time and
save the one you loved most from dying, would you take it? [SoujixNaoto - Full
summary inside.]
Rated: Fiction T - English - Mystery/Romance - Souji S./Yuu N., Naoto S. - Chapters:
17 - Words: 134,926 - Reviews: 426 - Favs: 423 - Follows: 452 - Updated: 7/13/2015
- Published: 7/6/2009 - id: 5196521
URL: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5196521

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1. Prologue: The Journey Begins
2. Dj vu?
3. Kindred Spirits
4. Zero Hour
5. Fog in Which Memories
6. Light of Fortune
7. The Magician's Chariot
8. Song of the Captured Bird
9. Positive Reinforcement
10. Golden Week
11. Return to Where We First Met
12. Longing of the Heart
13. Fear of Rejection
14. To Strengthen One's Bonds
15. Camping with Friends
16. Fleeting Feelings
17. Where Do We Go From Here?

Prologue: The Journey Begins

Summary: Life is full of second chances, but not all mistakes can be corrected. If
you were given the opportunity to go back in time and save the one you loved most
from dying, would you take it? Even if it meant that person lost their memories of
who you are and couldn't return the love that only your heart remembers?
Warning: Long but fairly important Author's Note ahead.
The idea for this project came to me one Saturday after having spent the entire day
(well, close to 24 hours) playing Persona 4 . Originally, I had considered not
following through with this, as I felt I was copying the idea of another writer on that
had written an AkiMina-New Game Plus version of Persona 3.
However, after looking back over the Persona 4 storyline and taking Souji's
personality into account, I felt that I would be able to do this without copying what
she did. After all, the Persona 3 and 4 storylines were quite different and Souji and
Minato were hardly personality twins, so I was left with enough to play around with.
The story itself is somewhat slow at the start, but by chapter four is where things
really start to pick up quickly and I start adding in more of my own events and extra
scenes (though the 'zero chapter' and the other three before that have small twists to
them) will begin to start and the fun begins (at least for me).
Saki Konishi was one of the biggest debates I had about changing around. Souji
wouldn't needlessly let someone die, but I doubt he could get to the police station
without Dojima being told. I also had to take into account that if Souji suddenly
claimed he knew someone was going to die, a lot of questions he wouldn't be able to
answer would be asked. So, to any and all Saki fans; I do apologize for not saving
her. Yosuke would have lost a lot of his story and starting motivation for the entire
case and I'd end up with a mess.
The debate to keep King MorahemMr. Mooroka alive shifted both ways, and I
wasn't sure what to do with him. I considered simply allowing him to die, but then I
thought that would make Souji look bad. However, given that if Mooroka didn't die an
entire arc and crucial part of the storyline would disappear, I had to come up with
some form of a compromise. I can't say I'm perfectly happy with what I have, but it
was better than Souji standing still and saying, "Screw it. Let the man die."
As for Nanako THAT debate took me the longest. In the end, I figured something
out that would work for the favor of this story, without making it look as if Souji didn't

care about his cousin, which we all know he does.

This story is written assuming the BAD ENDING. The VERY bad ending, which ends
with Nanako dying (and staying dead) and Naoto calling Souji in a panic about the
Shadows and the last thing he hears well If no one knows what I am talking
about, then PM me and I'll provide the YouTube link so that this story makes more
sense to you. In fact, I'd recommend watching it despite the eeriness of it.
Well, now that that is out of the way Let us move on to what is more important.
Obviously, I don't own Persona 4. If I did, I doubt it would have been a story as
amazing as the one we all know and love. However, had I come across the means of
having some influence of the story, I can assure you, I would have attempted to
make SoujixNaoto cannon (like Minato and Aigis are... sort of.) I only own the
storyline for this, which I pray doesn't come out poorly (although the first few
chapters will follow the game fairly closely until I have more characters to work with.)
Once I reach the start of Kanji's arc, I'll REALLY be able to get into the storyline that I
had planned for this.
Standard warnings: language, violence, sexual themes, etc. Nothing you wouldn't
expect in a Persona game. This WILL be a SoujixNaoto story, so... yes. If you came
here for that, you go Glen Coco. If not, ah, well, that's what you eventually find?
I apologize to anyone who wanted otherwise, but I do hope you are all kind enough
to grace me with reading this story anyway as it took up a good portion of my
summer to write. I also neglected studying for a few finals because of this story but
I passed them regardless, in case you wish to know.
I believe I've said everything that needs said. Let's begin, shall we?
Prologue: The Journey Begins
The soft sounds of a car motor running filled the ears of a young silver-haired
teenager. A black veil of darkness obscured his vision as he looked around,
unnerved at the lack of sight. He was moving, that much he was sure of, but he was
equally sure that he'd just been standing on the platform of a train station,
surrounded by the smiling faces of friends.
He frowned as he pressed a hand to his eyes and tried to remember the faces
clearly, but only blurred masses of color surfaced to his mind. He shook his head, as
if willing the images to clarify and form correctly in his mind's eye, but the effect was
like throwing water on a chalk drawing. He sighed in frustration and closed his eyes,

startling as he leaned back and felt his back hit something soft.
What on? Opening his eyes, the silverette blinked rapidly, looking around his new
settings, clearly startled. He was in a car, a limo from the looks of it. The cushions of
the seats were a deep royal blue, glowing faintly in the overhead lighting. Glasses
sparkled next to half empty bottles of what appeared to be sake and wine on a table
a few feet in front of him on the right side of the vehicle. More bottles sat sealed on
two shelves that ran up the length of the left side of the car with a small counter
above the shelves.
Looking out the window, the silverette's eyes widened faintly. Where he had
expected scenery of some form, he only saw a swirling mist of silver and purple. The
mist appeared to be moving past the window, as if the limo, which was obviously in
motion, was moving through it.
He shifted his gaze as something moved from the corner of his eyes, finally noticing
the presence of the other two in the car. A woman with shoulder length pale blonde
hair, held back with a black headband, sat with her head bowed and eyes closed.
Next to her, an elderly gentleman with snow white hair that fell down to his shoulders
around his head, leaving the top bald, sat with his white-gloved hands clasped tightly
together in front of his mouth, nearly completely hidden by a nose that was of an
inhuman size. Like the female, his eyes were shut and his head bowed downward.
The car jumped as it hit a bump, and as if the jolt worked as a spark of life, the two
moved. First the female; her head straightened and her eyes opened, revealing pale
golden orbs. The elderly gentleman moved shortly after she did, lifting his head
slowly, closed eyes opening to allow beady-black bloodshot irises to meet the
silverette's pale ones. The man grinned, sending an unpleasant shiver down the
teen's spine as he stared, unable to pull his gaze away.
"Welcome" the snow-haired man said in silky voice that was both eerie and
familiar at the same time. "to the Velvet Room."
The silverette blinked, his mouth hanging slightly open as he took in the appearance
of the bizarre-looking man. His eyes darted momentarily toward the blonde again
before returning his gaze to the male. Have I meet them before? What is? This
room I know it, I'm sure of it. I've been here before but When?
"Ah" the old man chuckled. "It seems we have a guest with a very interesting
destiny. My name is Igor. I am delighted to see you again, young contractor."
The teen frowned, tilting his head in confusion. How did the man know who he was?
Another blurred image flickered before his eyes, the colors matching those of the

sharp sight before him. Again? Then... I do know him? But when did I?
"This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter It is a room that
only those bound by a 'contract' may enter It is very possible that such a fate will
once again meet you in the near future." The man chuckled again, leaning forward in
his seat with interest. "Now then Why don't you introduce yourself?"
"You seem to know who I am already. Wouldn't that mean you already know my
name, ah Igor-san?"
Igor chuckled heartily, nodding slowly.
"My, my It seems you haven't lost any of your wit or charm in the days that have
passed, young Souji Seta. Rather, I should say the days that have gone back."
"Master? Do you know why this boy was sent here again? Can time really repeat
itself like this?"
The old man was silent as he clasped his hands together again, looking at Souji
intently. His black eyes moved up and down the silverette, as if carefully taking in the
boy's appearance. He smiled faintly and shrugged, looking both amused and excited
at the same time.
"Well now, be the answer yes or no, it seems our guest has returned to us and not a
day older then the first time he arrived here. Ehehehe Who knows what sort of
wonders this will bring Although it seems our young contractor has lost his
memories of what has happened Or shall I say, they've been lost in the fog."
Souji blinked, something in the back of his mind sparking at the word 'fog', but
nothing would form fully in his head. Pushing the thought back for later, he leaned
back in his seat quietly and waited for Igor to continue.
"Well now, let's take a look into your future, shall we?" Igor's smile grew as he waved
his hand over the small circular table in front of him once, a deck of glowing blue
tarot cards appearing in the center. Several flew off the top of the deck and landed
face down in a half-circle around the deck with a second wave. "Do you believe in
fortune telling? Each reading is done with the same cards, yet the result is always
different. Life itself follows the same principles, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, strange that." Souji muttered, staring at the facedown cards. Why can't I
remember where I've seen all this before? Those cards The first one was
Tower, upright.

Reaching for the first card, Igor turned it over, giving the card a look of interest
before grinning up at Souji and speaking. "Hm The Tower, in the upright position
represents the near future; it seems a terrible catastrophe is imminent."
Yet he doesn't look upset or worried about this at all Souji thought dully, fighting
the urge to shake his head. Is everything a game to this guy? Anyway the next
should be the Moon?
"The card indicating the future beyond that is" The snow-haired man reached for
the second card and flipped it over, smiling. "The Moon, in the upright position."
Souji blinked, looking startled as he stared at the cards. I was right? But how? I've
never been in this room, let alone seen those cards before. So why does this all look
so!?
"This card represents 'hesitation' and 'mystery' Very interesting indeed. It seems
you will encounter a misfortune at your destination and a mystery will be imposed
upon you once more."
Once more Again He keeps speaking as if this is the past. He knows
something but he isn't going to tell me what it is. Frustration danced in Souji's eyes
as he stared at the cards, trying to piece together the fogged memories in his mind,
but it was like trying to put together the pieces of two separate puzzles when blind.
"In the coming days, you will enter into a contract of some sort, after which you will
return here. I'm sure you've already figured this out, but the coming year will be
important yet again in your destiny. If the mystery remains unsolved your future
may be forever lost. My duty is to provide assistance for our guests to ensure that
this does not happen."
He's doing a fine job Souji thought bitterly. I don't even think I've boarded the train
yet and I'm already as lost as confused as a guy can get
Sighing softly, Souji returned his attention to Igor as the elder gentleman waved his
hands over the cards again, making them disappear. He gestured to the woman next
to him, smiling brightly.
"Ah! I have neglected to introduce my assistant to you. This is Margaret. She is a
resident of this place, like myself."
"My name is Margaret. I am here to accompany you through your journey." The
female spoke up, turning her attention to Souji with a blank look upon her delicate
features.

"Margaret" Souji repeated with a polite nod. Margaret Margaret I know the
name. But I didn't know anyone named Margaret at my previous schools. Then I
must know her as well.
"We shall attend to the details another time," Igor chuckled, sensing Souji's
confusion and frustration with the situation. He waved his hand through the air, and
Souji's vision suddenly began to blur, making the silverette panic slightly. "Until then,
farewell..."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"I'm tired of diets and going to the gym! Good thing there's something even I can
handle!" A giggle followed the peppy female voice, the commercial causing Souji to
jerk violently from his thoughts. He blinked slowly, his vision clearing and revealing
the floor of a train station.
"And we're back with some juicy news! The Mayumi Yamano scandal. When we
first" The voice of the announcer was drowned out as people standing around the
television-covered wall began speaking to one another about the current news
broadcast. Behind Souji, two males were speaking rather loudly about the case,
talking about the ones involved in a negative light.
Mayumi Yamano She's a reporter, right? That name where have I heard it? It
wasn't the TV, it was it was
"Hey, kid, are you alright?" Souji blinked and turned, giving the man next to him a
questioning glance.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Are you alright? You really zoned out for a minute there. I thought you were gonna
fall forward onto the tracks. If you're sick, I can go alert the first-aid station."
"Ah N-no. I'm alright. I just have a lot on my mind, that's all. Thanks for your
concern."
"If you're sure, kid. The subway will be here soon. Take it easy, okay?"
"Y-yeah. Thank you, goodbye." Souji shook his head nervously as the man walked
off, trying to push away the thoughts that were shoving at the corners of his mind.
Was it... all a dream?
A loud squeal of wheels announced the arrival of the subway car. The soft hiss of the

breaks followed by a loud beeping signaled that the doors had opened. Souji was
pushed forward as people began to board and he found himself unable to obtain a
seat as more people pushed inside. He grabbed onto one of the hanging handles as
the car began to move and stared dully out the window in front of him, trying to find
something to distract himself from reminders of the dark room.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Another year, another school At least the uniforms for this one are more
comfortable. I hated having to wear a tie everyday with the old suit uniforms. A silent,
dry laugh escaped the silverette's lips as he stared dully out the window of the fastmoving subway car. They all sounded so upset when the teacher announced I had to
leave but not a single one of them knew much of anything about me beyond my
name and that I'd come from Tokyo originally. Heh It isn't as if my parents know
much more than they do. I feel like a rag-doll, tossed into a new pair of arms every
year. He sighed softly, leaning back in his chair.
"I suppose it'll be nice to be in a small town this time, rather than a large city. That
means less people" And less people means fewer strings to cut when I leave
again. I suppose I'll have to be careful around my Uncle and cousin, but I guess if I
can nail myself a small job, that'll solve that problem. They'll just think I'm shy or
something.
Something vibrated in Souji's pocket, pulling him back down to the real world. His
hand moved silently into his jacket and produced a black, newly released model of
cell-phone. The mini-screen on the front held a picture of an envelope with the
number '1' shining brightly in black at the center. He flipped open the phone, briefly
reading over the name of the sender.
"Dojima? That's my Uncle..."
'Meet us outside Yasoinaba Station at 4pm.'
"Inaba, huh? The countryside I wonder what it'll be like."
"We will arrival at the Yasogami terminal in a few minutes," a pensive voice
announced over the train's PA system. "Passengers headed for Inaba City and
Yasoinaba station, please move to the other side of the platform."
That's me Souji thought as he stood up, reaching for his duffle-bag in the
overhead storage rack.
Following the rest of the passengers, Souji slipped off the train with ease and made

his way across the cement boarding station and boarded the next train, noting that
very few people followed him aboard the train. Guess the countryside isn't that
popular. Go figure.
Finding a seat in a car alone, Souji tossed his duffle into the overhead rack again
and sat down, draping his arm lazily over the armrest. He sighed heavily, leaning
forward faintly in his seat to get a better view of the world outside. Sometimes, I
wonder what would happen if I just didn't get off the train Would anyone notice?
Would anyone care? If I could just keep riding forever
Souji couldn't help but take note of how calming everything looked as the cities
began less and less complicated. The buildings were becoming more spread apart
and nature slowly filling the gaps between them. The scenery disappeared as the
train went into a tunnel, leaving Souji with only the light of the white florescent
headlamps above him.
The silver eyes never left the dark shadows outside the train and he suddenly felt
himself growing tired. His eyes flickered shut briefly, his shoulders relaxing as his
retinas were spared the harsh light of the lamps. The darkness behind his eyelid
quickly disappeared as staticky, yet sharp images flashed before his mind. A woman
dressed in blue with pale blonde hair and an old gentleman with white gloves, snowy
hair, and a large nose. The images looked as if they'd come from a TV channel with
poor signal and yet
His eyes snapped open again, widening as he stared at the empty seat in front of
him, the deep blue material of the seat giving him an eerie reminder of the 'room'
he'd been sitting in before even boarding the subway.
"W-what the hell?" he muttered, feeling a bead of sweat roll down his cheek.
"What on earth was-?"
The train-car was suddenly filled with natural light again and the few remaining
buildings that had been something of a small city were gone. Trees and dirt had
replaced the buildings and roads, surrounded by the lively green grass that almost
looked as if it were a brilliant orange under the glow of the setting sun.
The car began to shake slightly as it passed over a white marble bridge, and Souji
felt the pace he was traveling at slow. Guess I'm here
He stood up and grabbed his duffle, glancing briefly at his leather wristwatch. Right
on time He thought as the train came to a stop and the doors opened. Four-oclock exactly..

"Yasoinaba. Yasoinaba." A man announced over the PA as he stepped off the train,
glancing around slowly.
The station was clean and well kept, but empty. Its older look implied that not many
people left or entered the area, which didn't surprise the silverette at all.
Shouldering his duffle-bag, he took in a deep breath before exhaling slowly,
preparing himself for yet another year of disappointment.
Get ready, Souji. Just take the first step and get over. What's one more year? Live
and move on. You'll be leaving before you know it and be tossed into another box.
After all you're just a rag-doll, waiting to be thrown into someone else's toy box for
a year.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Beta's Note: Despite her misgivings, Naoto (FortunesRevolver) has graciously
allowed me (Chie, if you need a name to call me by) a Beta's Note. I'll keep it short.
All I really want to say is URO. Thank you, and good night.
Author's Note: Chie (ToastedWhiskers), after reading your obviously long-thought
out Beta's note, I have carefully pieced together a response for you.
The steak is a lie, and I ate yours. Please look forward to the next chapter, everyone.
Chie: Naoto, after reading your lies (the steak is never a lie), I have decided to grace
you with a response.
California rolls. I have them. I am eating them. They are yummy.
Please ignore my idiocy and enjoy the next chapter, all.
Naoto: Chie I wish many empty Yosuke-wallets upon you.
Chie: Nonsense, I use his money to buy you sushi.
Naoto: That is of no threat I have Senpai's wallet.
~Dojima Residence~
Souji: -sneezes-

Dj vu?
I really didn't think I'd end up updating this soon... I was surprised to wake up this
morning and find my inbox full of reviews and notices that people had set this story
for update alerts. I must admit, I'm not complaining... it really pleases me to know
that so many people are interested in seeing where this goes.
Before I go any further, I must address a subject that many people have touched
upon. While I agree with some of the ideas that people have given me regarding
Saki Konishi, unfortunately, Souji does not gain his memories back until after Saki's
death, therefore he doesn't remember her death until it's too late. Had he gotten his
memories back sooner, I would have come up with something to do with her, but as
the original plan came out differently and I was able to write a much better story from
there, I left her dead...
I'm still using the same investigation team, but I'll be tweaking certain events, as well
as removing some and adding more-hopefully in a way that you'll all enjoy.
I must say, however, I find it slightly amusing that people were protesting Saki's
unsaved death, but no one cared if Mr. Morooka died or not-though I can understand
why.
Chapter One: Dj vu?
Souji walked out of the main station, glancing around the main roads that lead
towards the town. He frowned slightly and glanced at his watch; it was just a few
minutes after four. Are they late?
"Hey! Over here!"
The silverette turned as a male's voice called out. He made his way down the stairs
quickly and approached a man who looked to be in is early thirties, dressed in a gray
shirt, dark red tie and dark brown slacks. Behind him, a young girl with brunette hair
tied up with pink ribbons in pigtails stood, her right hand gripping the man's shirt
tightly. Her long-sleeved dress was white from the chest up, brown around the waist
and pink at the skirt. Short white socks rose several inches from her ankles and pink
shoes, finishing off the adorable girlish look.
The man held out his hand as Souji approached, a friendly smile showing off white
teeth. His grip was firm, the silverette noted as they shook hands. The man's smile
grew as they broke apart and he began to speak again. "Well, you're much more

handsome in person than in your photo. Welcome to Inaba, I hope your trip out here
was alright. I'm Ryotaro Dojima, I'll be looking after you." The man paused, tilting his
head to the head slightly. "Well, let's see I'm your mother's younger brother and
that's all, really."
Dojima The name played over in Souji's mind several times. Dojima Where do I
know the name? I know my mother mentioned him on occasion, but the last time he
saw me I was a baby, right? How could I remember a face from so long ago?
"It's good to see you again." Souji spoke without thinking, "I hope you've been well."
Dojima laughed again, the grin reforming on his face. "So you remember me? The
last time I saw you, I was changing your diaper. Haha, I hope you don't mind me
saying, but I'm glad we're meeting now that you're older. You were a cute kid, very
sweet but no one has a fun time changing diapers."
Souji offered the older man a small smile and a nod, his face completely masking the
thoughts rushing through his mind. He's friendly, I'll give him that. Still, his smile I
know that smile. One that used to look at me from behind a newspaper Dojima
and that little girl her name was
Reaching behind him, Dojima pushed the small girl forward gently, urging her to
greet Souji. "This is my daughter... Come on now, Nanako. Introduce yourself to your
cousin."
Nanako stepped forward, looking up at Souji nervously. Her eyes wouldn't meet his
face, opting to look at his shoulder instead. She swayed back and forth on the balls
of her feel, a dark blush spreading across her cheeks as she muttered a quiet, ''lo,'
before darting behind her father again.
"Huh?" Dojima chuckled, "What're you so shy for? He isn't going to bite you."
Nanako growled softly in protest, the blush darkening as she raised a tiny fist,
striking Dojima in the small of the back.
"Ow! Ahaha" Ryotaro laughed lightly as he shook his head. "A-anyway Let's get
going. My car is just over here Follow me."
Souji followed his relatives to the car, dropping his belongings into the trunk when
Dojima opened it for him before slipping inside. The ride into town was quiet, few
words were exchanged between the three of them, yet the atmosphere hadn't gotten
awkward at any point.

"This is the Central Shopping District," Dojima explained as turned down a long
stretch of paved road, pulling into a gas station at the south end. "All sorts of shops
around here and good food too, it's usually around here or the local supermarket that
most kids your age hang out after school."
The ignition died as Dojima pulled the keys from the car and stepped out, stretching
his back and mumbling under his breath. An attendant from the station ran toward
the car, a wide grin spread across their pale face as she spoke up in a deep, faintly
feminine voice.
"Hi! Welcome to Moel!"
Dojima nodded to the attendant before turning to Nanako, offering the girl a
concerned glance. "Can you get to the bathroom by yourself?"
Nanako nodded and walked around the car slowly, glancing back and forth as she
attempted to locate the bathroom.
"It's in the back to your left." The attendant piped up helpfully, still grinning. "Do you
know which way is left? The side you don't hold your chopsticks in."
"I know!" Nanako pouted, looking hurt. "Geez" She looked at her father once
before turning and running toward the station.
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Souji opened his door and stepped out of the car,
pleased to be on his legs again. My entire body is sore
"Are you taking a trip?" The Moel worker asked, glancing at Souji in curiosity.
"No," Dojima shook his head. "We just went to pick him up. He'll be staying with us
for a while, he just moved in from the big city."
"The city, huh?" The attendant's grin faded as they stared at Souji, their head tilted
faintly in thought.
"Fill up my car while you're at it. Regular."
The attendant jumped and turned to Dojima, saluting him. "Right away, Sir!"
Dojima glanced off into the distance, a thoughtful look on his face.
"I guess now is a good as time as any for a smoke" he muttered as he wondered
off to the edge of the sidewalk.

He smokes? Souji frowned, watching as Dojima produced a small white box and a
lighter. Should he really have a habit like that when he's got a kid? At least he has
the sense not to light up over here or near Nanako
"So, you're a teenager?"
Souji turned to the attendant, nodding silently.
"Does it surprise a city-boy like you that there's so little to do around here?" The
attendant was grinning again. "It gets boring pretty fast since there's almost nothing
to do around here. You'll either be hanging out with friends or working part-time jobs.
It's all there is to keep people busy around here. We are looking for some part time
help around here, you know. Give it some thought if you get bored, okay? If you're a
student, I'm sure no one around here will mind."
The Moel worker held out their hand, the odd grin having lost none of its power. Souji
glanced down at the attendant's hand hesitantly. A chill ran up his spine, and
something about the friendly gesture suddenly seemed deadly. He extended his own
hand slowly, taking the offered handshake, repressing a shudder as what felt like an
electric shock ran up his arm.
"Oh" the attendant pulled away, looking worried. "I should get back to work."
Silver eyes followed the attendant's slender figure before approaching footsteps
pulled him back from his thoughts. Souji turned, blinking as he realized Nanako was
staring at him as she attempted to hide herself behind the car's hood. He opened his
mouth to speak, when a sudden wave of nausea slammed into him at full force.
He gagged, a hand flying to his forehead as he shut his eyes tightly. The electric
tingling feeling had spread to his entire body and it felt like a small fire had been lit in
his veins. He growled softly as a dull throbbing sensation started in his head,
causing his vision to blur. Bile rose in his throat and he gulped, images beginning to
flash across his mind once more, but they were too many of them too quickly for his
mind to process what it had seen.
"Are you okay?"
All at once, everything seemed to stop. The throbbing faded and the electric tingle
stopped. The dull burning feeling in his throat was quickly disappearing and he was
left with only the feeling of dizziness as he fought to keep upright.
"Did you get carsick? You don't look so good."

Souji looked down, blinking rapidly to clear his blurred vision. Nanako's voice
seemed far away, her words slowly registering themselves in his mind. He shook his
head slowly, smiling faintly as Nanako glanced up at him, looking worried.
"I'm alright, Nanako. Let's get back in the car, your dad will be back soon."
"Oh okay." Nanako nodded and ran around to the other side, climbing back into
her seat.
What the hell was that? Souji thought as he shut his door, pressing his head
against the glass as it began to throb again. Carsick? Is that all? I do feel dizzy but
Those other feelings That couldn't have been from car sickness, could it? No
That's definitely not it. It's something else, I'm sure of it. That attendant Why do I
feel as if I've met them before? It's just like with Igor. Familiar, yet I can't seem to
remember where it is that
"We're here."
Souji jumped and jerked upward, staring out his window in shock.
"Whhuh?"
"We're here?" Doijima repeated, looking confused. "Did you fall asleep? This is our
house You'll be staying here for the year."
"O-oh. Right, sorry, I ah Just got lost in thought." Souji climbed out of the car,
grabbing his duffle bag from the trunk and followed Dojima and Nanako around to
the front.
The house was traditionally styled, and a deep chocolate brown in color. Standing
two stories tall, it looked to be made of wood, but upon brushing his hand over one
of the outer walls, the smooth texture implied that it was made of something else.
The room was made of clay tiling, its color as dark as the house it sat on. It looked
normal enough, but Souji couldn't help but notice the somewhat distant feeling the
house held.
Does it matter what it feels like? Souji thought as he followed his relatives through
the front door. It's just a house, not a home. Nothing more than a roof over my
head Just another toy box I've been thrown in for the year.
Nanako began to set the table the moment they walked into the door. Dojima took
Souji's bag upstairs with a small grin and told him to have a seat. Souji hesitated
he'd been sitting down all day, but he didn't trust his legs to hold him much longer as

his head throbbed violently again.

The teen walked into the kitchen, taking the armful of drinks Nanako was attempting
to balance in her arms and took them to the table. He slowly lowered himself cross
legged onto one of the royal purple cushions and sighed, shutting his eyes as he felt
another sharp throb through his skull. What the hell is going on?
"Are you two ready to eat?"
Souji jumped, pulled from his thoughts as he glanced at Dojima watching as the
older gentleman sat down, awed at the sudden appearance of food at the table.
When did? He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away. They didn't matter
anyway.
"So Your mom and dad are busy as always They're working overseas now,
aren't they?"
Souji nodded silently, nibbling at the food on his plate as he waited for Dojima to
continue.
"Must be rough having to move around constantly because of your parents and to
be stuck here in a place like Inaba no less. It's just Nanako and me here, so it'll be
nice to have someone else around. There isn't much, but as long as you're here,
you're part of the family. Make yourself at home."
The silverette smiled faintly, nodding. "Thank you for your kindness"
Dojima laughed warmly, shaking his head. "Hey now, there's no need to be formal
here. I'm a cop, but I'm still your uncle. Be as casual as you like, no one is going to
get offended Well then, let's eat."
The meal had been fairly quiet. Dojima and Nanako asked Souji simple questions
about himself, and answered his about the town. As Souji finished the last bites of
his meal, a shrill beeping filled the room and his uncle cursed softly.
"Ugh Who the hell is calling at this hour?" Producing a phone, he pressed the
receiver to his ear, forcing a professional tone. "Dojima speaking." He stood up
and walked away from the table, keeping his back to Souji and Nanako.
"Is this normal?" Souji asked quietly, noting the depressed look in Nanako's eyes.
The young brunette nodded, sighing softly as she stood up, waiting for her father to
finish.

"I see So where is it? Fine. I'm on my way" Turning around, Dojima gave the
two an apologetic look, pocketing his phone. "I don't know how late I'll be, so don't
wait up. Nanako, you help him out, okay?"
Nanako nodded again, her shoulders slumping slightly as her father walked toward
the door. The sound of rain filled the house as the door was opened and Dojima's
face appeared in the entryway again.
"Nanako, it's raining out. What did you do with the laundry?"
"I already brought it in."
"Ah okay. Thanks. I'm off!"
Souji stared at Nanako, his eyes widening in shock. Laundry? Isn't isn't she six? I
didn't even do my own laundry at six. Although I did cook almost all my own meals
at her age.
"for this week. Now let's" The teen jumped, not realizing Nanako had turned the
TV on. He glanced at the screen, where a woman in her mid-twenties in a red suit
was giving a weather report.
"storm clouds moving in from the west, expect rain throughout the day tomorrow in
most areas."
Nanako's eyes lingered on the television for a moment before returning to her meal,
an awkward silence hanging over the room. Souji shifted uncomfortably in his seat,
not liking the thick atmosphere between them. She's only six Would it really hurt
that much to be friendly? Even if I'm only here for a year she is my cousin.
"It must be tough."
"Huh?" The brunette looked up, confused. She tilted her head in question, a small
frown tugging at her small lips.
"It must be tough." Souji repeated, "Not having your dad around a lot. It seems like
you do a lot of the housework around here."
Nanako nodded. "Yeah I can do laundry, and cook eggs and toast But dad isn't
always gone. He helps me clean the house sometimes when he's home."
"I see"
The TV screen flickered before changing from the weather woman to a man in a suit

behind a desk. He cleared his throat and shuffled his papers before speaking. "And
now for the local news. City council man Taro Namatame is under fire for an alleged
relationship with a female reporter. His wife, enka ballad sensation Misuzu Hiragi,
revealed to this station that she will likely pursue damages."
Souji raised an eyebrow, absently sipping at his drink as he watched the pictures
that flashed across the screen as the reporter spoke. That case again? That's the
one I saw on TV when I was at the station. I don't understand why the media has to
make such a big deal out of it. So the man cheated on his wife It happens all the
timeas sick as that is. They're following it like he committed murder. Is their love
life really any of our business?
"This is boring" Nanako muttered, reaching for the remote again.
"At Junes, everyday is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself and get in
touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!"
Souji froze, his cup tilted upward as liquid drained into his mouth, causing the
silverette to choke. Images flashed before his eyes again, quick and faint clips of a
place he'd never been to beforea food court with white tables. He was sitting at
one, surrounded by a group of faceless people who looked to be close to his age, all
laughing together with him. W-what the hell!?
"Every day's great at your Junes!" Nanako sang happily from the other side of the
table, causing Souji to look over at her. He smiled weakly, watching the young
brunette sway left and right in rhythm as she hummed the stores jingle over and over
again.
Standing up, Souji gathered his dishes and deposited them into the kitchen sink. He
sighed, rubbing his forehead as he tried to rid himself of the headache that had yet
to go away. Dubbing his efforts useless, he walked toward the stairs, pausing as he
touched the railing.
"Nanako? I'm going to head upstairs, alright? I'll probably head to bed soon as
well"
"Oh okay." Nanako nodded, waving at Souji. "Goodnight Your door is the first
one on the right, next to the bathroom."
"Right, thanks. Goodnight, Nanako."
Making his way up the stairs, Souji quickly located his room and slipped inside,
leaning against the door as he shut it behind himself. Maybe it's the change in

environment? I'm exhausted He glanced around, groaning faintly as he realized he

would have to unpack all the boxes sitting in stacks around the room.
"I'll worry about it tomorrow. I just want to go to sleep. Thank god the futon is
already set up." I guess Dojima knows what it's like to travel.
Fishing around in his duffle, Souji produced his pajamas and spare uniform. The
uniform was tossed onto the arm of the couch as the one he was currently wearing
was discarded to the back of the chair sitting at his desk. He pulled on his pajamas
and turned off the light, quickly climbing into the warm futon and sighing in content.
"I guess This is where I'll be living for the next year." School starts tomorrow as
well Normally I have at least a day to settle before I have to hit the books. "I
wonder" he yawned, "if everything will work out alright"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Souji groaned softly, trying to move his limbs. His entire body felt numb, leaving him
dazed and confused as he took in his surroundings. Everywhere he turned there was
a thick, white fog that obscured his vision, leaving his range of sight only a few
inches away from his face. He blinked, standing up slowly as the numbness faded
from his body and glanced around once more.
What on earth? This is fog? He extended a hand forward, as if to grab at the
white substance around him. The air was thick, but dry. It felt cool and he shivered
under the fabric of his uniform. When did I? Is this a dream? It must be. I changed
out of my uniform and I was in bed, right?
He lowered his hand, resting it casually on his hip as he looked at the ground,
tapping his foot against the strange brick-like road below his feet. A dull clapping
sound echoed around him, the sound fading slowly into the white mist. He raised an
eyebrow and glanced around again. From what he could tell, the road only led
forward and the fog was far too thick to try venturing in any other direction.
"I guess I'm stuck with going forward."
The silverette stepped forward, breaking into a slow run as he followed the dim
outline of the red path. His shoes clicked loudly against the ground, sounding like the
soft rhythm of a ticking clock. He quickened his pace, skidding across the red
surface as the road suddenly turned. He stumbled, but caught himself before he fell,
carefully turning down the curve and proceeding forward.
"...Back again? Didn't you learn the first time how futile your efforts are? Well... no

matter. It will end the same way as before."

Souji jerked violently, stopping abruptly and looking around. W-what the-? Is
someone here? And Wait, did they say "again"? The teen's breath was coming
out in low, sharp gasps. He turned around fully, slowly taking everything in, but the
fog rendered his observations useless.
A loud chuckle filled the air. "Do you seek the truth?"
"Damn I can't see anything with this fog." Straining his ears, Souji shut his eyes
and listened carefully for any signs of movement, but he could hear was the
pounding of blood in his ears and his own breath.
With a small growl of aggravation, he started forward again at a sprint, determined to
find where the voice was coming from.
"Where is"
"If it's the truth you desire, come and find me"
Souji froze, his eyes wide as he stared at the path in front of him. The voice was just
ahead, he could hear it clearly now. The speaker couldn't be more than a few yards
away. Souji gulped and stepped forward hesitantly, a chill running down his spine.
Is my body trying to warn me to turn back? No It doesn't matter. Warning or not I
want to find that voice.
Standing up straight, the teen sprinted down the road again, nearly colliding with a
crimson and black wall that suddenly appeared in front of him through the fog. He
stood stock-still, his face inches away from the walls surface. His eyebrows knit
together in frustration as he looked around, confused at the sudden end in road.
"How am I?" he trailed off, staring at the wall. "Could it be that this is a door?"
He reached out, pressing his palm against the cool surface in front of him. It vibrated
and he immediately moved back, watching as the wall merged and collapsed within
itself, folding out and forming a small pathway between the road Souji currently
stood on and the one ahead.
"Just a few more steps." He murmured, moving forward, almost as if in a trance.
"It's just ahead"
The silverette took another step forward and the fog shifted, swirling around him until
his vision was completely obscured by white. He gasped sharply and raised a hand

to block his eyes, but his hands were already wrapped around something cool. He
didn't remember having anything with him when he came in, and he looked down.
"A sword?" He gaped at the blade in his hands, shaking his head as if expected
the sword to suddenly fade out and leave him with only the fog.
The weapon was heavy, but light enough that he was confident he could move
around with it. It was a basic-style katana with a long silver blade that extended
almost three feet. The handle was dark, wrapped in a thin fabric designed for helping
the user keep a strong grip around the hilt. Movement in the corner of his eye alerted
the teen that someone else was there with him, and he looked up, gasping silently
as he stared at a faded figure standing several feet in front of him.
"So You are the one pursuing me, yet again" the voice was clearer now, easy to
hear. It didn't echo as it did before, but the tone of the voice was completely blank.
Not high, but not deep, leaving it impossible to determine a gender or even an age
from it. It was almost as if, whoever it was, was speaking inside his mind, rather than
out loud.
Souji opened his mouth to speak, to argue that he didn't even know who this person
was and demand to know why he would be pursing them, but his throat seemed to
tighten each time he tried and his voice failed to work.
"Hmhmhm Try all you like"
Souji tensed, his body sending him messages he didn't understand. It was as if it
knew what to do, while his mind didn't. He closed his eyes, relaxing his tense
muscles before opening them again, allowing his body to do as it pleased.
He darted forward, his legs carrying him toward the figure as his arms raised the
blade, bringing it down hard upon the figure. He jumped back, frowning as realized
his blade had done nothing.
"Hmmm It seems that you can see a little, despite the fog"
Obviously not enough Souji thought bitterly, glaring at the unknown being in front
of him.
Something stirred in the back of his mind and he relaxed again, a black glowing card
appearing in front of him. His eyes narrowed and he reached for the card, crushing it
in his hand. Something exploded in the back of his mind and a dark figure darted
forward from somewhere behind him, raising an arm in the air as a bolt of lightning
came down on the figure, but again, nothing happened.

"I see" the figure paused, appearing to tilt its head in curiosity. "Indeed, you truly
do possess an interesting quality"
Souji growled again in frustration and the card appeared a second time. This time
the dark figure flew forward, slamming into the figure head-on, but despite the sound
that indicated an obvious collision, it appeared as if the damage had been little to
none.
"But you will not catch me so easily" the figure continued to speak, as if being
attacked meant absolutely nothing, making the teen growl again. They didn't see him
as a threat at all. "If what you seek is the 'truth' then your search will be even
harder"
Souji opened his mouth to protest, to ask for some form of an explanation, but again,
his voice refused to work for him. His hands tightened around the blade's handle as
the figure glowed, a soft hissing filling the air as thick fog seemed to pour forth from
the being in front of him.
The teen took a step back, shutting his eyes reflexively and regretting it the moment
they opened again. The fog had more than doubled and now it was nearly
impossible to make out his hands. Great, just great.
"Everyone sees what they want to... And the fog only deepens."
What on earth is this thing talking about!? He tensed and stepped forward slowly,
spinning the swords grip in his hands slowly. I can't see anything It's gotten harder
to hear too. So where...?
He lunged sideways, swinging his sword sharply as he noticed a shadow moving
slowly to his left. The blade sliced through the fog, connecting only with air as a soft
chuckle filled the area. He turned and slashed again, blindly swinging his sword
before the voice spoke again, making the silverette freeze.
"Will we meet again? Hmhmhm I look forward to it." The voice seemed to fade
as it spoke, moving farther and farther away.
"W-wait! Hey! Don't run away from me" Souji swayed dangerously as his vision
swam before him. He stumbled forward, collapsing down to one knee as he clutched
his head. "Wh-what is going on?"
He felt himself falling sideways, his balance toppling as his consciousness began to
disperse, and everything about this situation seemed familiar somehow.

Except for the scream

The loud, penetrating scream of anguish and horror that filled his ears, suffocated
his lungs, and chilled his very soul.
A woman's scream.
A woman who was precious to himclose to his heart.
Souji awoke with a loud yell, drenched in cold sweat, his eyes wide and unfocused.
He felt himself shaking uncontrollably, and he looked down at his quivering hands
automatically, unable to stop himself from weeping. Pain surged through him to his
core, stemming from an intense personal loss that he couldn't seem to place.
That scream He grabbed his head, doubled over as he pulled his knees up to his
chest, his breathing sharp and uneven. Who was she? W-why did she? Why
can't I remember anything?
Souji gulped, fumbling next to the futon for his duffle bag. His hand hit the fabric and
he dug inside, producing an unopened water bottle. He sipped the warm water
shakily, nearly spilling the bottles entire contents down his front as he tried to control
his trembling hands.
Wh-What's happening to me...?
I feel the need to mention that "All the Way" (opening theme of "Kino no Tabi/Kino's
Journey") has just started playing on my Persona 3 themed WinAmp player... It's
such a good song and my mood has increased drastically.
Ah, and for those who know the anime... does anyone else think Naoto and Kino
would get along unnaturally well? Chie, Guy and I have a theory those two could
take over the world if they teamed up. One city, three nights at a time... and no one
could stop them.
And to Kamina, I'm pleased to know the sarcasm between Chie and myself was
amusing. I was hoping someone might comment on that.

Kindred Spirits
I'm not going to lie to all of you... this chapter is fairly dull. It's the lead-up chapter to
the first visit inside the TV and pretty much the top of the first small hill of this story.
Things start to actually get good starting with chapter three-I promise you that. So I
apologize in advance for the dull chapter that follows but it really will get better... I'll
actually have room to work with starting with the next chapter.
Chapter Two: Kindred Spirits
Souji woke up early the next morning, dressed himself, and slipped downstairs. He
opened the kitchen window above the sink, the cool air and soft hiss of pouring rain
soothing his nerves. Inhaling deeply, he slowly lowered himself into one of the chairs
around the kitchen table, burying his face in his hands, eyes screwed shut. His mind
wandered back to his dream from the night before, but his thoughts would only linger
on the fog for a few seconds before the scream would replace the mist and fill his
ears, making bile rise in his throat.
Shuddering, the silverette stood up and walked over to the sink, clumsily retrieving a
cup from one of the cupboards and filling it, leaning against the counter as he felt the
cold liquid go down his throat and chest. He shivered and set the glass down, raising
his gaze to look out at the rain once more. A thin layer of mist was beginning to form
near the ground, causing the dream to come rushing back to him once more.
Turning from the window abruptly, the silverette slipped, his socks sliding over the
smooth clean surface of the kitchen floor, sending him to the ground with a loud
crash and yelp of pain.
"Are you alright?"
Souji jumped and stumbled to his feet, turning around to see a bewildered Nanako
standing near the stairs, eyeing him uneasily. He smiled weakly and nodded,
stepping toward the fridge as he attempted to casually play off what had just
happened.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, quietly, using the handle of the fridge to support his
weight as his legs began to tremble again. "I just woke up a few minutes ago
myself, but"
Nanako shook her head, walking toward the fridge happily. "Thanks okay, I can do it.
I like making breakfast."

Souji watched in slight awe as Nanako scurried around the kitchen, gathering
together plates, a pan, toast, and napkins. She set the table, quickly serving drinks
before setting about the task of cooking eggs and toast, leaving the silverette in awe.
She's only six years old. Does she always do all the cooking around here? The
teen couldn't help but feel sympathetic toward the young brunette. She's mature for
her age, I'll give her that. Most kids my age can't cook their own meals without
following instructions or getting help.
"Breakfast is ready" Nanako mumbled, setting a plate in front of Souji before
scurrying around the table and climbing up into her chair.
She smiled faintly at Souji before grabbing a fork and digging into the small pile of
eggs she'd served herself. Souji, on the other hand, hesitated before reaching for his
toast, absently nibbling on the corner, not liking the silence that filled the air. He
shifted, clearing his throat to grain Nanako's attention and attempted to start a
conversation.
"So Did Dojiuh, your father already left, huh?"
"Uh-huh" Nanako sighed and picked up her cup, staring at the juice inside. "There
was some kind of trouble He won't be back."
Souji could only stare. Never before had he stopped to think that there was someone
else who saw their parents as littleif not lessthan he did, taking death out of the
equation. He regretted asking, looking down at his eggs in discomfort, not sure on
how he might be able to redeem the situation.
"You're starting school today, right?"
He nodded.
"My school's on the way So let's go together!" Nanako smiled, shifting around in
her seat restlessly, a somewhat hopeful glint in her eyes.
Something in the back of Souji's mind cooed softly at Nanako's childish smile. The
corners of his mouth twitched upward as he nodded, making Nanako's smile grow in
power. The 'something' cooed again, and Souji felt faintly awkward as he finished
breakfast with the young girl, chatting absently with her and answering her questions
about what it was like to ride a train alone.
I only met her yesterday And yet it feels like I've known her for so long. Is it
because we're related? No, blood or not, connections don't work like that do

they? He pushed the thoughts away as he grabbed his bag and umbrella, waiting by
the front door as Nanako gathered together a few last minute things to take to school
with her.
"Okay! I'm ready. Let's go."
The walk to the school zone was quiet, neither of them spoke as they walked
through the damp and puddle filled streets. Souji's eyes paused on a sign that read
'Samegawa Flood Plain' raising an eyebrow as he turned his gaze to glance down at
the river. Flood plain, huh? Looks like the type of place you'd see old men playing
checkers or fishing.
"You keep going straight from here," Nanako explained as she stopped walking,
pointing down the road ahead of them. "If you follow this road, your high school is at
the end. The other students can help you if you get lost." She turned, pointing down
another road, a small, apologetic smile on her face. "My school is this way If I don't
hurry, I'll be late. Bye!"
Waving, Souji watched Nanako's retreating back until she disappeared around a
corner. With a soft sigh, he turned and started down the road again. As he reached
the intersection in front of the school, a loud squealing noise from behind made him
move to the side of the road, turning to stare, shocked, at a student attempting to
hold an umbrella while riding a yellow, beat-up bike.
Is he serious!? The silverette could only watch as the boy with light brown hair
struggled to retrain control of the bike, but it just wasn't going to work.
Sensing what was coming before it happened; Souji turned and shut his eyes,
wincing as he heard the sound of metal crashing against metal, followed by a body
slamming into something hard and solid. He turned back around slowly, offering the
brunette boy's back a sympathetic look as the young man doubled over in pain,
whimpering.
That looks like it really hurt Souji paused, watching the boy silently for a moment
before shaking his head, quickly darting down the road again and hoping that he
hadn't been seen. I should probably just leave him alone
As he approached the gates of the school, Souji paused, looking up at the building in
front of him. The building was large, and fairly glamorous for a school. The courtyard was clean with well-kept bike racks off to the side and cherry blossom trees on
either side of the entrance. Yasogami High School, huh? This is there I'll be
spending a good chunk of my time for the rest of the year. For a high school out in
the country It's pretty nice.

Ignoring the curious glances he received from the students in the lobby, Souji made
his way down the hall, sighing in relief when he found the office quickly. At least I
won't have to wander around like an idiot It looks as if everyone here knows
everyone else, if only by face. Uniform or not I stick out like a sore thumb.
He slipped through the door quickly, happy to finally escape the burning looks of
other students. He'd never been fond of being the center of attention. He glanced
around, noting that the office was fairly empty. An oddly dressed female stood at the
far end of the office, talking to a man in what appeared a gym suit. He shrugged,
taking a step toward the two, intending on asking them if they had any idea where he
should be going. A sharp, stern voice made him freeze in his tracks, making him feel
as if he'd just been caught shop-lifting red-handed.
"HEY! What the hell are you doing in here!? This isn't a damn caf! Students should
be in the halls or waiting in their seats before class starts! What's a damn punk like
you need in the faculty office? "
Souji turned, staring at the man who'd just addressed him in shock. Look what the
dog dragged in. Is he really a teacher?
The man in front of him in no way held the appearance of anything he'd expect of a
teacher anywhereexcept perhaps a prison or Albuquerque. His teeth stuck out
at odd angles that would leave any dentist with nightmares until their dying days. His
hair was greasier then his tone, combed over horrendously, giving off the impression
that something had died on the man's head. His suit clashed horribly with a putrid
yellow tie, making him stick out like a sore-thumb among the students. A vein
throbbed in the teacher's temple, making it look as if the man might explode at any
given moment. All in all, the man's appearance had a clear 'don't-screw-with-me'
aura.
An elegant silver eyebrow arched upward as Souji glanced at the two staff members
behind him. They glanced at Morooka with disapproving expressions, but said
nothing, choosing to exit through the far door of the office rather than the one near
Souji and the foul-tempered teacher. I can't blame them for running
Inhaling slowly, Souji forced a polite smile on his features as he addressed the
teacher, feigning a tone of innocence. "My name is Souji Seta, Sir. I'm a transfer
student I was told to come here on my first day and report to a, ah Mr.
Morooka."
"That's just what I need, another uptown big-shot who thinks he's the coolest damn
thing in the world just 'cause he's from the city." The teacher growled, his dark,

beady eyes looking Souji up and down in disgust. "Tch It looks like I'm stuck with
you. As if that lazy-ass Hanamura wasn't enough. One of these days Whatever.
Follow me, and keep up! I ain't gonna stand around and wait for you to look at every
damn poster on the wall."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too." Souji muttered as he followed Morooka out into
the hall, a dry smile on his face. Of course. Of all the possible teachers in the
school I get the one who'd love nothing more than to see me expelled before I
even reach the classroom. This year is going to be so much fun
"What was that!?" Morooka snapped, pulling Souji from his thoughts. "Did you say
something, city-boy?"
"Nothing, Sir. Just admiring the school."
"I'm sure" Morooka replied, his tone darkening. "I bet this is all nothing more than
a damn joke to you."
No, you're the only joke around here, Sir. Souji thought dryly, not daring to say the
words out loud.
"Alright punk, listen up, I ain't repeating myself. Follow me into the classroom and
shut up until you're addressed. I don't wanna hear any of your shitty city-boy slang in
hope of wooing the girls 'cause unlike in your land of filth, out here, the girls ain't so
shallow. Keep your nose in your own damn business and do as you're told. It's bad
enough having to deal with Hanamura's cocky street-talk and attitude and I sure as
hell ain't gonna deal with it from you."
Souji could only nod his head, not trusting his tongue to stay in check as he stared
into Morooka's black eyes. He bit his tongue, waiting until the teacher had entered
the room before sighing heavily. Yeah This year is going to be full of fun
memories. Just full of them. Pushing his thoughts aside, the silverette hurried
inside, sliding the door shut behind him.
"Awright! Shut yer traps!" Morooka barked at the class, sending the students into an
uneasy silence.
"I'm Kinshiro Morooka, your homeroom teacher from today forward! First things first!
Just 'cause it's spring doesn't mean I'm going to stand for you swooning over each
other like a bunch of love-sick morons. It's bad enough the school doesn't have
harsher punishments for the stupid slimeballs who seems to think it's okay to eat
each other's faces in the hallway. 'Long as I'm around, you're all gonna be as pure
as the driven snow. So don't even try any of that cutesy funny stuff."

The students gaped at him, their mouths hanging open slightly as they tried to
comprehend everything he'd just said. Morooka had never had a good record or nice
rumors about him, but his current display of inexplicable hatred for the students was
much worse than they expected.
Several pairs of eyes dared to venture away from the teacher and look at Souji
curiously. The actions didn't go unnoticed by Morooka who rolled his eyes and
growled loudly, slapping his hand against the desk to gain their attention again.
"I hate wasting my time, but the rules demand I introduce this transfer student." The
word 'transfer' escaped his lips in such a way it made Souji feel criminal. "This sad
sack's been thrown out here in the middle of nowhere from the big city like a bit of
garbage."
Souji's eyebrow twitched violently, his eyes narrowing faintly as he glanced over at
Morooka, knowing the teacher wasn't finished.
"He's just as much of a loser out here as he was there. So save your breath, girls,
and don't bother hitting on this guy." Turning, Kinshiro faced Souji, gesturing to the
class. "Tell 'em your name kid and make it quick. We ain't got all day."
Souji's eyebrow twitched again and he turned his head to look at Morooka fully,
raising his eyebrows as he spoke in a clear, monotone voice, his eyes flickering
between annoyance and amusement.
"You calling me a loser, Sir?"
A collective gasp rose from the class as they stared at Souji in awe, completely
flabbergasted with the teen's bravery. A girl in the second row with raven hair eyed
the silverette as if she wasn't quite sure if he was real or not, while the girl behind
her, who appeared to be the raven's friend, gaped at Souji openly.
As the students began murmuring of Souji's 'brave confrontation' with Morooka, the
teacher's face contorted in disgust, and he glared at Souji, beady eyes seemingly
spinning around in their sockets in fury.
"Why you little-! That's it! You're on my shit-list, effective immediately!"
Oh, am I? I probably a set a new record for joining that. I bet there's not a single
student in this entire school who hasn't so much as looked at you funny and not
ended up on there. Aren't you a "scary" old-git. The words had been tempting to say
aloud, but Souji knew better and held his tongue. He really hated having the entire
class looking at him and he wanted nothing more than to sit down and blend into his

seat as if he'd been doing it for years.

"Now listen up! This town is miles away from your big city of perverts and assholes,
in more ways than one. You'd better not even think of getting involved with the girls
here, let alone abusing them."
Oh Is he still going at it? Souji rolled his eyes, knowing full well Morooka could see
the action and held back a smirk of satisfaction as he watched the vein in the
teacher's forehead throb dangerously.
"Um Excuse me! Is it alright if the transfer student sits here?"
Souji and Morooka turned, staring at the girl in a green sport-coat who'd been gaping
at Souji earlier. Kinshiro sneered, gesturing to the seat while giving Souji a look that
would have gotten any normal teacher fired.
"Ya hear that, punk? Your seat's over there. Hurry up and siddown before I throw you
in that damn seat myself."
Yeah? I'd like to see you try Smiling politely, Souji nodded and quickly walked
down the aisle of seats, slipping into the empty desk gratefully.
"He's the worst, huh?"
Souji blinked, turning to face the girl in surprise. Her short sandy-brown hair framed
a kind-looking face, pale-brown eyes meeting the silverette's unusual chrome-like
orbs with a friendly light.
"Rotten luck getting stuck in here with him We'll just have to hang in there for a
year, huh?"
He nodded slowly, not knowing what to say to the girl. He hadn't expected that
anyone would actually talk to him and he'd been counting on being left alone for at
least the first week. It never occurred to him that a transfer student in this area was
that rare.
Sighing, Souji tried to focus on the pointless lecture that Mr. Morooka was giving up
front, but the hushed voices of the students around him stole his attention.
"Sucks to be the transfer student, ending up in King Moron's class on the first
morning here"
"Yeah, he won't think twice about suspending you if you get on his bad-side. Then

again we're all in the same boat as he is, huh?"

"Five bucks says he tries to change classes before the week ends."
"Wha-? Dude, who WOULDN'T? Everyone tries to switch classes if they end up with
this guy."
"Shut your traps!"
The students jumped and the room fell silent once more, everyone eyeing Morooka
with an extreme fear, hatred, or a blend of the two.
"I'm taking roll, and I damn well expect you all to answer in an orderly manner!"
Am I really going to have to deal with this for a year? Souji thought as he rubbed
his forehead, feeling a headache forming already from all the shouting the teacher
had done. Maybe I'm better off just playing the delinquent this year and skipping It
wouldn't matter in the long run anyway. It isn't as if I'll be here long enough to be held
back from my third year.
How he had made it through the day, Souji couldn't figure it out. He had some
managed to keep from using snappy remarks when the teacher spoke to him, and
answered questions with ease. He leaned against his desk, lazily spinning his
mechanical pencil between his fingers, nearly missing it when 'King Moron' finally
said,
"That's all for today. Normal lectures will start tomorrow."
Normal? Souji thought dully. I can't even begin to imagine what "normal" might
mean coming from a guy like him.
Just as the silverette was reaching for his bag, a soft trill of notes filled the room as
the intercom burst into life. A shiver ran down Souji's spine as he stared at the
handle of his bag, a sudden wave of unease washing over him as a woman's voice
drifted out of the speaker on the wall.
"Attention, all teachers. Please report to the Faculty Office for a brief staff meeting.
All students are to return to their classrooms and may not leave the school until
further notice."
"Hrnh" Morooka snarled, turning to glare at the classroom as he spoke sharply.
"You heard the announcement. Sit down and shut up. You're not going anywhere
until you hear otherwise."

"He's seriously getting on my nerves" a female student with short brown hair
standing near Souji's desk muttered darkly as her friend nodded sympathetically.
Hear hear Souji thought, leaning back in his seat with a sigh. I can't imagine
there's anyone in this building who he doesn't manage to annoy.
Several students ran towards the window as the loud, unmistakable sound of sirens
could be heard. The silverette turned toward the window curiously, frowning as he
noticed the unusually thick fog that prevented anyone from seeing the commotion
outside. The sirens grew louder with each passing second, eventually reaching a
pitch that implied the police had just driven right past the school.
The male students who had gathered around the window were talking excitedly with
one another in hushed tones, discussing something that Souji could only make out
small snippets of. One of the males let out a cry of surprise as he stared at the teen
in the center, a look if disbelief on his face. The boy turned and hurried across the
classroom, pausing as he reached the raven haired girl who sat in the next row.
"H-hey, uh Yukiko-san? Would you mind if I asked you something? Is it true that
announcer is staying at your family's inn?"
The raven-haired girlYukikolooked down at her lap, shifting in her seat
uncomfortably.
"I can't talk about something like that"
The male student winced, looking faintly guilty as he took a step back, flashing
Yukiko an apologetic look. "Y-yeah. That makes sense, sorry." He turned, quickly
scurrying back to his friends beside the window, looking embarrassed.
The chair next to Souji squeaked loudly as the sandy-haired girl stood up, raking its
legs across the floor. She stretched, yawning loudly as she walked around her desk,
stopping next to Yukiko who glanced up, a look of relief immediately falling upon her
face as she realized who was standing next to her.
"Sheesh How much longer is this going to take?" The brunette sighed, looking
upset.
Yukiko shook her head sympathetically. "There's no telling. I wonder what happened
to put everyone in a panic like this"
"Who knows. I shoulda left before that announcement came on" The down-beat
expression on the short-haired girl's face suddenly brightened as she leaned closer

to Yukiko, her eyes sparkling faintly. "By the way, didja try what I told you the other
night?"
The raven didn't answer, looking quizzically at her friend.
"You know That thing about rainy nights!"
Souji turned to look at the two females, blinking slowly. Rainy nights..? He leaned
forward in his seat, curious as to what the pair might be talking about.
"Oh Ah, no, not yet. Sorry."
The light-brunette shrugged, offering Yukiko a small smile.
"Ahh, that's okay. It isn't a big deal. It's just, I heard some guy in the classroom next
door shout something like, 'My soulmate is Yamano, the announcer!' I mean really,
who"
"Attention, all students."
The classroom fell silent as everyone turned toward PA system, hopeful looks on
their faces.
"There has been an incident inside the school district. Police officers have been
dispatched around the area. Please remain calm and contact your parents or
guardian as soon as you can, and head for your homes. Do not disturb the officers
and head directly home. I repeat, there has" But the rest of the announcement
was drowned out as the students began talking in an uproar.
"An 'incident'!?" a boy near the door shouted, sounding far too excited about
something that sounded so serious. "No way!"
"I wonder what happened" a girl standing next to Souji's desk muttered to her
friend.
"Come on! Let's go check it out!" The second girl turned, offering the silverette a
sweet smile that he assumed was meant to butter him up. "Wanna come with us?"
He raised an eyebrow, frowning faintly as he shook his head, politely declining the
offer and ignoring the hurt look he received. Is it so dull around here that a single
incident can cause all this? They're like a group of spectators at a car crash
Sighing, Souji grabbed his bag and stood up, stepping backward as he nearly
crashed into the short haired girl and Yukiko. The girl with sandy-haired looked at

him quizzically, tilting her head to the side, looking around as if she expected
someone to suddenly approach him.
"Hey, are you walking home alone? Why don't you come with us?" The girl smiled,
the friendly light he'd seen earlier sparkling in her eyes once more. "Oh! I nearly
forgot! I'm Chie Satonaka. I sit next to you You know that, right?"
Souji nodded silently, carefully eyeing the two as he debated over their offer.
"Hehe, thought so." Chie smiled and turned to the raven haired girl next to her, "This
is Yukiko Amagi. She sits in front of mejust across from you."
She really doesn't have to explain it. The silverette thought, I'm not blind.
Yukiko smiled faintly at Souji, looking apologetic as she spoke in a quiet tone. "It's
nice to meet you I'm sorry that this is so sudden."
Chie pouted, waving her hand in protest. "Don't apologize like that It makes me
look bad. I just wanted to ask some stuff That's all, really. I'm curious. We haven't
gotten a transfer student since Yosuke."
Turning back to Souji, Chie flashed him another grin. "So, wanna walk with us?"
"I" he trailed off, pausing as he looked between the two females. It couldn't hurt to
be polite, could it? They seem friendly and there's something about them that's
familiar. "I'd like that, thank you."
"Woohoo! Awesome! Let's go then." Chie turned happily, pausing as a male student
approached her before they could reach the end of the row of desks.
"Uh, um A-ahem. Miss Satonaka?" The student looked bleak, his eyes focused
closer to the ground than Chie's face.
His uniform jacket was buttoned up three-quarters of the way, revealing a white shirt
underneath that wasn't like the dress-shirt Souji had been given to wear. The shirt's
collar had a deep orange stripe that matched the orange headphones that hung
around his neck and the messenger back hanging over his shoulder.
That's the boy who crashed this morning. Souji mused, watching as the other male
produced a DVD case, his eyes nervously darting up to Chie's face before falling to
the floor again. Did he do something? He looks ready to bolt.
"This was really awesome. Like, the way they moved was just amazing and really

inspirational."
"Huh?" Chie frowned, looking completely bewildered as the boy thrust the DVD
into her hands, bowing deeply.
"And I'm really sorry! It was a complete and total accident! I-I crashed and
Please have mercy until my next paycheck."
"Huhwha?" She blinked and looked down at the DVD box in confusion, obviously
not expecting the sudden bizarre display.
"S-seeya! Thanks!" The brunette smiled faintly before turning on his heel, running for
the door.
"What the-!? Stop right there! What did you do to my DVD!?" Chie cried, running
after the male and grabbing him by the back of the collar.
Souji winced and looked away as Chie's leg jerked upward, connecting with the male
and causing him to yelp loudly in pain. The brunette boy stumbled backward,
whimpering as he jumped from one foot to the other, clutching his groin.
Rushing over, Yukiko and Souji stopped just short of Chie who was staring at the
contents of the DVD box with a mix of shock and horror.
"Wh I can't believe this! It's completely cracked!" The silverette leaned forward to
look at the split CD sitting in the box as Chie wailed, "My 'Trial of the Dragon!' How
could you!?"
"I think mine's cracked too" the brunette groaned, "C-Critical hit to the nads"
Souji bit his lip, holding back the laughter that had bubbled up in his throat. Despite
the humor of the situation, he couldn't help but feel bad for the other boy and didn't
wish to humiliate him any more by laughing about it.
"A-are you alright?" Yukiko gasped, looking faintly horrified at Chie's actions.
"Oh Yukiko-san" the brunette looked up, a pained smile tugging at his lips. "Aare you worried about me?" The boy looked like he was in pain, but the obvious
glint of joy in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by Chie who growled.
"He's fine, Yukiko! Let's ditch him and go home."
Yukiko turned to Chie and nodded, glancing warily back at the headphone-clad boy
before hurrying after her friend. Souji made to follow them, but hesitated, worried

about the brunette's condition. Contrary to the sandy-haired female's words, the boy
looked far from 'fine', but the silverette knew there was nothing he could do and he
quietly followed after the other two.
As the three of them approached the gates of the school, a young boy with black hair
and unusually shaped eyes ran forward, stopping in front of Yukiko. The uniform he
wore was styled like a suit, more like the uniform of the last high school Souji had
attended in a city near Tokyo then the Yasogami one.
"You're Yuki, right?" The boy spoke, his voice deep and slightly raspy.
Something about the boy made Souji feel uneasy as he looked the other over. The
boy wasn't exactly appealing to the eye, but it wasn't the other's physical appearance
that made him uneasy. It was something about the way the strange boy spoke and
held himself. The way his black eyes darted around, before they'd return their eerie
gaze to Yukiko who looked completely bewildered at the teen's approach. Whatever
it was, it made Souji feel edgy and he didn't like the feeling at all.
"Y-You wanna hang out somewhere?"
"Wh-what?" Yukiko took a half-step back, eyeing the odd boy uneasily. "W-who are
you?"
Behind them, two students walked toward the gate, stopping just a few feet away as
they began to talk each other.
"What the? What's up with that uniform? Where's that guy from?"
The boy's friend laughed, shaking his head. "Who cares about that Look, he's
going for Yukiko-san. Man, you'd think he'd at least have the sense to wait until she's
alone to try and make a move."
"Haha, bet you a can of TaP he gets knocked flat."
"What? Pfft, no bet. Haven't you heard how hard the Amagi challenge is? Not a
chance in hell."
Chie scoffed loudly as she glared back at the two students who were completely
oblivious to her look. Souji rolled his eyes and turned away, shaking his head. No
matter where he went, at least half the students in the school he attended were
rumor-loving idiots who got a kick out of butting into other's personal lives. It
annoyed the silverette to no end and he made it a point to avoid such people.

"H-hey" the suited boy called nervously, trying to gain Yukiko's attention. "S-so are
you coming or not?"
Yukiko jumped and took another step back, shaking her head. "I-I'm not going" Her
gaze shifted to the ground as the eerie boy's face contorted in anger, and Souji
couldn't help but feel sorry for the raven-haired female.
"Fine!" The boy shouted, making Yukiko jump as he turned and bolted away,
disappearing around the corner.
What the hell was that? Souji frowned, He's creepy.
"Wh-what did he want from me?" Yukiko muttered, looking at Chie. "I mean he"
"What did he want?" Chie repeated, sounding surprised. "Obviously the guy was
trying to ask you out on a date. Don't tell me you couldn't tell"
Yukiko shook her head and Chie groaned.
"Sheesh, you're gonna get kidnapped if you stay oblivious like that. Still That was
creepy, wasn't it? How he started calling you 'Yuki' all of a sudden. He was acting
like he'd known you for years."
"Yo! Yukiko-san. Turned down another one, eh?" The brunette boy from the
classroom walked up to the three, pushing his yellow bike at his side. "Man, you're
cruel, aren't you? You got me the same way last year It was harsh."
"Did I?" Yukiko looked surprised. "I don't remember doing that."
"Whoa, really?" the brunette grinned, looking excited. "So then You wanna hang
out sometime?"
"I'd rather not."
"Ouch" the brunette sighed and shook his head, swinging a leg over his bike.
"That'll teach me to get my hopes up. Anyway, don't pick on the transfer student too
much Hey man, if those two bother you, feel free to just run for it." With a small
laugh, the brunette pushed off and speed down the road, turning his squealing bike
sharply at the curb.
"WhOh for the love of-!" Chie growled and stopped her foot. "We're just curious, is
all!"
Yukiko chuckled weakly, smiling apologetically. "I'm sorry for dragging you into all of

this"
Souji shrugged and shook his head. "It's not a big deal. I'm having fun, really."
"Uuugh." Chie groaned, "Come on Everyone is staring. Let's go."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"So you came here because of your parents' jobs?" Chie asked, laughing lightly.
"Well, that's good to hear at least. I thought it was something way more serious
like trouble or something."
Souji simply shook his head and smiled faintly, resisting the urge to ask, 'What sort
of trouble?' The two girlsmostly Chiehad been asking him various questions
about himself and his reasons for coming to Inaba. Despite his original resolution
that he wasn't going to allow himself to grow close to anyone, the silverette found
himself answering each of their questions fully with ease.
"Man, that's gotta suck though, being thrown out here after being in the city. There's
really nothing out here" Chie sighed. "I mean I guess that's what makes it nice
but when outsiders come; we have nothing to show them. I think like we've got
dyed clothes or pottery or something from Mt. Yasogami, but"
"It isn't that bad" Souji mused, "It's nice. Unlike the city, you can really relax here.
Everyone seems to know everyoneif only by faceand it has a warm feeling to
it."
Chie laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you could say that, but still I mean,
we've got some great restaurants and all but Oh! I know! The Amagi Inn! Yukiko's
family runs it and it's the pride of Inaba!"
"Huh?" Yukiko blushed faintly, shaking her head. "It's just an old inn. You don't
have to make it grander than it sounds."
"What? No way! It's amazing, Yukiko! It's been in magazines all over the country
as a hidden treasure." The short-haired girl tuned to Souji, grinning. "It's a great inn
and Yukiko's family has run it for generations. Someday she's going to take over and
run it herself. It attracts a lot of people to the area, so it really helps keep Inaba
going."
"I don't think that's entirely true." Yukiko murmured, looking embarrassed.
"Really."

Chie laughed and shook her head, the grin on her face turning mischievous as she
turned to face Souji fully, gesturing to Yukiko behind her. "So Yukiko's pretty cute,
huh?"
"Shewait, what?" Souji blinked, looking between the amused Chie and the
uncomfortable Yukiko. He raised an eyebrow slowly, carefully piecing together his
words. "I well, yes. She is but I can't really judge her character just on if she's
cute or not, can I?"
Chie blinked, staring at Souji in shockshe hadn't been expecting an answer like
that.
"Chie Come on, stop. Don't start this again"
"Man, that is like something you'd say, isn't it?" Chie chuckled. "You're good at
saying what people want to hear It's like you know us really well. You felt it too,
didn't you, Yukiko?"
"Huh?"
Chie rolled her eyes. "This guy. I mean, We only just met today, but it feels like I've
known you for a really long time"
"O-oh that." Yukiko nodded slowly in agreement, glancing over at Souji. "It is
strange"
"Maybe you're imagining things?" Souji frowned, not liking where the topic of
conversation was going. He'd made a vow with himself not to get involved but he
couldn't help but agree with them. He'd felt the same way they had started asking
him questions.
"Yeah, guess so You're probably right. I mean, come on! We've never even seen
each other before today, right?"
"Maybe we're kindred spirits?" Yukiko suggested, earning a questioning look from
Chie. "I read about it somewhere. It means our souls have this deep, profound
connection that surpasses time and space, or something like that."
"Kindred spirits, huh? Maybe Who knows. The point is, we're able to get along
well and that's all that matters in the long run, right?" Chie grinned, laughing lightly.
Kindred spirits Souji played the words over in his head. No That's not it. It's
something else a much deeper level than that. But what is it? Why do I feel as if

I know them from somewhere? I've never been to Inaba before.

"Huh? Hey, what's that? Something's going on over there."
Souji glanced up, pulled from his thoughts as Chie took off at a slow sprint toward a
four-way intersection at the start of the housing district. Yukiko followed quickly after,
while Souji followed behind them both at a slower pace, trying to pull his thoughts
together. This feeling is?
"So that high schooler left early, and she came down this street!" A woman with dark
brown hair was saying loudly to her housewife friend.
"Oh wow Who could imagine walking down a street to find that handing down from
an antenna."
"Oh That's too bad. I wanted to see it too."
The woman's friend frowned and shook her head. "You got here too late The
police and fire department took it down just a moment ago. It was pretty gruesome to
see."
"Well, I think it's terrifying! I can't believe a dead body showed up around here"
Beside Souji, Chie and Yukiko went unnaturally still. He glanced sideways at them,
noting the slowly paling looks on their faces. I guess I can't blame them After all, in
the city, the crime-rate is probably a lot higher then out here.
"Wait What did she just say?" Chie gulped, "A dead body? What?"
Yukiko shook her head, seemingly unable to speak as she stared up at the antenna
that the housewives had been looking at a few moments ago. Her face was
completely blank, but her eyes would dart from the antenna to the surrounding area
uneasily.
Souji opened his mouth to respond, but froze. Before he could get a single word out,
someone moved out of his peripheral vision and he turned, feeling his own blood run
cold as he spotted his uncle. Shoot. That's right, he's a cop. Of course he'd be
here.
"Hey, what're you doing here?" Dojima asked, his tone firm as he approached the
small group.
Souji hesitated, debating if not it was worth making up an excuse. The school had

told them to go straight home and not bother the police. Then again, it had been
Dojima who approached him and not the other way around.
"We were just passing through."
"Huh I should have figured that would happen." Dojima sighed, rubbing his
forehead in frustration. "Damnit. We told the principal not to let people through this
area. Is anyone watching at all? I'll have to send someone over there."
"You know this guy?" Chie finally spoke up, looking between Dojima and Souji.
Granted, it was a small down, but when the police knew you personally, usually it
wasn't good.
"I, uh, yeah. He-" Souji started.
"I'm Detective Dojima, his uncle and guardian. Uh" the detective hesitated, looking
between Yukiko and Chie as if he'd never spoken to a girl before and was left
clueless as to what to say. "Let's see How should I say this? I, ah hope you get
along with him."
The two girls nodded, smiling faintly at Dojima.
"Yeah, he's pretty cool. I'm sure we'll get along just fine." Chie laughed nervously, her
eyes darting toward the barrier that had been set up, blocking the street.
"Hm. Well, that's good at least. But you three really ought to stop wandering
around here. Hurry up and head straight home, don't tell anyone that you went this
way."
As he turned to walk away, a young detective in a deep gray suit ran past, looking
slightly green and covering his mouth. He ran over to the side of the road, doubling
over as he emptied the contents of his stomach onto the grass, earning a pitiful look
from Yukiko.
Dojima, on the other hand, wasn't the slightest bit sympathetic towards the sick
young man.
"Adachi!" he shouted, "How long are you going to act like a rookie!? You wanna be
sent back to central office? They're not gonna be too happy with you if you're sent
back in less than a year."
Adachi turned, wiping his mouth as he looked up at Dojima.

"Nngh I, uh, s-sorry"

Dojima opened his mouth to report sharply, but held it back, sighing as he shook his
head. "Go wash up. We're going to go look around and gather information."
"Was this what that announcement was about?" Chie asked as Dojima walked
away, back behind the barrier.
"What did they mean it was hanging from an antenna?" Yukiko muttered as
Adachi ran after Souji's uncle, looking embarrassed.
"Who knows." Souji muttered, "We shouldn't stick around here for too long. Not
unless we want to land our names on a list of suspects." That's all I'd need, living
with a cop for an uncle and being the suspect in a murder.
Chie nodded in agreement. "Hey, Yukiko? Why don't we go to Junes some other
time? I'm thinking of eating at home tonight."
"Good idea"
"Well then, we're off. If I remember from what you said you're down that way,
right? You're closer to Yosuke then we are. I bet you two would get along great."
Yosuke? Was he the boy with the DVD? Mr. Morooka called him "Hanamura," so
then that guy's full name is Yosuke Hanamura? Souji paused, staring down at the
ground. Yosuke That name I know it. I'm sure of it. Even more-so then with
these two. Yosuke was was
"Yeah, I'm closer to the residential district."
"We'll see you around then." Chie smiled, "Starting tomorrow, neighbor, let's do our
best, hm?"
Souji nodded, waving to them both as they hurried down the road.
"I guess I'd better head home too."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Souji arrived home, tired from the long walk and the first day of school. He waved
slightly to Nanako, who smiled as she greeted him and turned back to the television,
which seemed to explain more of the Yamano murder. Souji shrugged, already sick
of it. He felt like he had heard it all once before, and he was more concerned about
getting some sleep than anything else.

He paused momentarily by the stairs as the jingle he heard last night filled the living
room.
"Everyday's great at your Junes!"
Nanako giggled. "Everyday's great at your Junes!"
The young brunette turned, looking up at Souji expectantly with a bright smile on her
face. The silverette chuckled, smiling softly as he sang, "Everyday's great at your
Junes"
"Oh" Nanako looked up at Souji in awe. She grinned, clapping her hands together
as she stood up. "Wow! You're really good at singing! Where did you learn?"
The silverette shrugged. "I stayed with a musician for a year once She taught
band, but she'd always wanted to teach choir, so I asked her to teach me I'm going
to head to bed early tonight, long day. Your dad probably won't be home till late, so
don't wait up, okay?"
Nanako nodded. "Okay Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Nanako."

Zero Hour
I'd like to apologize once more for the last chapter... It was fairly dull and followed the
game far too closely for my liking. Happily, from this chapter out, things really start to
move along and the intended story plot I had starts to shine through. I've added
more scenes, changed a few and tinkered with what I could, so I hope you all enjoy
this one.
My favorite scene to write was the classroom scene with Mrs. Sofue and Junes...
Chapter Three: Zero Hour
"Thanks again for helping me out this morning, dude." Souji turned around in his
seat, smiling faintly at the brunette who was addressing him. "I must have gotten
myself stuck in that same trashcan at least ten times since I moved here, but no one
has ever bothered to help. I really owe you one"
Souji shook his head, stretching while he stood up, grateful that it was finally lunch
time. "Don't worry about it, Yosuke-san. I was just doing the right thing I'm hardly a
hero or life-saver because of it."
"Are you kidding me?" Yosuke laughed, "If you hadn't helped me, I would have been
late for class. Do you have any idea what King Moron would have done to me if I
was late? I would have been long dead and served as tomorrow's mystery meat in
the cafeteriaand drop the suffix. No need for stuff like that with me."
"I doubt he would have gone that far" Yet as he said that, Souji couldn't help but
wonder if his words held any truth to them. He wouldn't put it past Morooka to
attempt to maim, kill, or eat a studentand the man didn't exactly have a good
record to back himself up.
"You obviously don't know King Moron that well." The brunette shuddered, as if
recalling a bad memory. "He may be a teacher but that hasn't stopped him yet."
Souji held back a laugh as he shook his head, amused by Yosuke's theatrics. He
reached inside his bag and produced a large bento-box, raising an eyebrow as
Yosuke eyed it with a hint of jealousy.
"Didn't you bring your lunch today?"
Yosuke shook his head. "No I forgot it when I rushed out the door this morning. I

don't get paid until next week and I still have to get dinner tonight since dad has to
work late and mom is away on business for a few days."
"Why don't you join me on the roof? I made more than enough for myself last night
and it seems pointless to let it go to waste."
"Whoa! Are you serious!?" Yosuke jumped to his feet, beaming at Souji. "Dude I
am so in your debt."
Souji shook his head, assuring Yosuke that the brunette owed him nothing as they
made their way to the roof. The weather was beautiful, and a cool breeze blew over
the top of the building. It was quiet, the conversations of the students on the ground
unable to reach their altitude, giving a relaxing atmosphere for eating lunch.
It's a bit chilly and it smells like it's going to rain soon too, the silverette thought as
he and Yosuke seated themselves at the center of the roof, the atmosphere allowing
them to relax after a morning of lectures.
"Hey, did you hear about that incident yesterday?" Yosuke asked as he popped a
bite-size sandwich into his mouth. "They said she was hanging from antenna. Talk
about creepy, huh?"
"Yeah" Souji nibbled at the corner of a sandwich as he gazed into the distance,
lost in thought. "It was on when I came home, my cousin was watching the news. I
went to bed early, so I didn't hear the full story but ah, well, I heard enough to
understand what happened from my Uncle."
"Your Uncle? Oh That's right. I remember Chie mentioning it on the phone
Dojima, right? I've seen him around the town a few times." The brunette reached for
his fourth sandwich, popping it into his mouth. "Anyway, you think that body was a
warning? I mean, something like that can't be an accident."
"I don't know" Souji shook his head slowly, "You might be right"
"It's the only reason I can think of. I mean, dangling a dead body on a roof like that?
That's just messed up." He paused, "Well, then again It's pretty messed up to
commit murder in the first place."
"This place seems pretty quiet. Is there really anyone who would have the motive to
" The rest of Souji's words were cut off as the shrill ring of the bell signaling the
end of lunch went off.
The pair jumped to their feet, shoving the remaining sandwiches into their mouths as

they ran toward the staircase.

"Crap! We're gonna be late!" Yosuke moaned.
Sprinting down the stairs, they narrowly avoided a head-on collision with a group of
third-year students. Their shoes squeaked loudly on the polished wooden floors as
they weaved in and out of the other teens, running as fast as they could toward the
staircase. The stairs were taken three at a time as they leaped down, barely keeping
balance as they turned around the corner and diving into the classroom as the final
bell rang.
Panting, they both fell into their seats, earning questioning looks from Chie and
Yukiko. Souji shook his head as the raven opened her mouth to speak, unable to get
the words out. Yosuke, who was slumped over his desk, grunted as Chie poked his
shoulder, silently demanding an explanation.
Before either boy could speak, the front door opened and Mr. Morooka entered the
room, his eyes sweeping over the classroom as he looked for someone he could
punish for being late. The scowl that crossed his features as he stormed to his desk
told the students that everyone had made it back on time, which ultimately meant
bad news for themafternoon lectures would be hell.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Man, that lecture was crap! Why is he still a teacher, anyway?!" Yosuke groaned as
he slumped back in his seat, staring up at the ceiling with a pained expression. "I
can't remember half of what he said and I know he's going to end up testing us on
it"
"How did he become a teacher is the real question" Chie muttered darkly, glaring
at her desk in frustration.
Yukiko sighed. "If he hates students so much, why did he spend all that time earning
a teaching degree? Or why doesn't he get another job..?"
Yosuke grunted in agreement and stood up, stretching. "So, Souji, aside from King
Moron You seem to be adjusting to the country pretty well, huh?"
"Yeah," Souji nodded. "It's nice here Relaxing. There isn't as much to do here
compared to the city but it's nice."
"There is that something you can't find in other places, huh? After all, where else
is the local delicacy grilled streak?" Yosuke grinned. "Actually, I know a place where

we can get it pretty cheap. You helped me out this morning and shared your lunch.
So let's grab dinner together, it's on meno arguments."
"Are you sure?" Souji looked worried. "I thought you mentioned that you were
saving up for a-"
"Forget it," the brunette shook his head. "After all you've done, I think I can handle
waiting an extra week or so to add more to my funds. It's the least I can do."
"What about me, huh!? No apologies?" Chie demanded, standing up as she slung
her bag over her shoulder. "My 'Trial of the Dragon.' You know, the one you broke?"
Yosuke sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Urgh You always come around
when I'm talking about food. Never fails"
"Don't you think he should treat us, Yukiko?" Chie asked, smiling at her raven friend.
"I mean, that DVD was pretty expensive."
Yukiko stood up, running a hand down the fabric of her sweater to flatten it. She
glanced at Chie, offering her friend a sympathetic smile as she shook her head.
"I'll pass, I don't want to gain anymore weight. Besides, I need to help out at the inn
today."
"What the hell are you all looking at?!" Morooka shouted from the front of the room,
glaring at the small group of teens. "Go home, you shitheads! It's bad enough I have
to see you brats tomorrow! I don't want to look at your stupid, ugly faces after school,
too!"
Chie jumped and hurried around her desk, ushering the group out of the classroom
as she stayed close to Yosuke, eyeing Morooka as if he could attack at any moment.
"You know" Souji said thoughtfully as they walked down the hall, "Maybe he liked
teaching once upon a time. He might have had a wife too, and a kid."
"Who would wanna marry a guy like that!?" Yosuke shouted, earning a look of
disapproval from a teacher speaking with a student. "I mean, his mom wouldn't even
buy him some braces! Who in their right mind would marry the guy?"
"Vegas." Souji grinned, causing Yosuke to snort loudly as he held back a laugh.
"Vegas?" Chie asked, sounding confused. "What?"
"Vegas," the silverette repeated, "And probably beer."

"Only in America." Yosuke laughed. "Man, whoever that girl was, she must have had
a really weak alcohol tolerance. I wonder if he's always looked like that."
"No, not always" Souji said confidently.
"Oh? Did you know him before, Souji-kun?" Yukiko asked in curiosity.
"No." Souji shook his head. "He was born after all, right? He had to have been small,
shriveled, and bald at some point."
"Ugh" Chie shivered, shaking her head rapidly. "Oh man! Don't even talk about
that! I don't want to think about it. You're gonna make me lose my appetite for free
steak!"
"Please keep talking!" Yosuke begged from Souji's left, eyeing Chie hopefully.
"Oh, shut up, Yosuke!" Chie growled, aiming a kick that the brunette instinctively
dodged. "You're not getting out of it this time!"
Yosuke sighed, looking defeated. "Well, I had to try, right?"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Everyday's great at your Junes!"
Souji sighed, rubbing his temple as the overly familiar tune played for the umpteenth
time. He bit back a groan and tried to focus his mind elsewhere. Back at the Dojima
residence, listening to Nanako sing along happily with the short tune was cute, but to
hear the theme song over and over countless times through the super market's
loudspeaker was enough to test one's sanityno matter how catchy the song was.
The silverette glanced up as he heard footsteps, smiling at Yosuke as the brunette
approached the table, carefully balancing a tray in his arms. Chie, who was sitting
across from Souji, crossed her arms and fixed the headphone-clad teen with a glare
as he sat down.
"This is the cheap place you were talking about!? They don't have steak here!"
Yosuke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, once somebody decided to jump on the
freeloader train, I had to change my plans."
The brunette sighed and shot Souji an apologetic look. Shrugging, the silverette
leaned forward, picking up one of the drinks from the tray. He smiled in thanks,

tipping the cup toward Yosuke in a silent toast before taking a sip, enjoying the sweet
taste of the soda and the sensation of the cold drink going down his throat.
"That's no reason to take us to your place" Chie muttered, grabbing a drink of her
own.
"Dude, this isn't my place." Yosuke muttered, looking faintly offended. "Stop calling it
that already"
"Your place?" Souji repeated, looking between the other two teens. "What does she
mean?"
The brunette turned, looking surprised before a look of realization dawned on his
face. "Oh, that's right I haven't told you yet, huh?"
"Told me what?"
"King Moron was shouting at you about how you were another city-boy like me,
right? I moved here from a place a short distance from Tokyo about six months back.
This location just opened up and my dad was assigned to manage it. So our entire
family came out hereI mean, I don't have any siblings or anything, but"
Yosuke reached for his own drink, raising it in a toast of his own. "Still, this is still on
merefills and all. A small thank you and a welcome to town." The brunette paused
for a moment before smiling and turning to Chie. "Satonaka, yours is on me too."
"Yeah, I know." Chie said, taking another sip of her beverage.
"You know You could at least sound grateful" the brunette muttered, looking
wounded. "Honestly Sometimes I think you're only my friend for my wallet."
"That's just a bonus." Chie grinned, slapping Yosuke's shoulder in a friendly manner.
"Seriously Yosuke, do you really think I'd make friends with someone just for free
steak and soda?"
The brunette was silent, seemingly considering the idea.
"Yosuke!"
"Ahahaha, alright, alright. Calm down. You know I was kidding"
"I'm sure you were" Chie sighed and fell against the back of her seat, staring up at
one of the flags waving in the warm breeze. "You know Thinking about it, this
place only opened like six months ago, but I haven't been to the local shopping

district very much since then. A lot of stores there have been closing and Oh,
um I shoot"
"You can't blame it all on Junes, can you?" Yosuke asked, looking hurt.
The brunette sighed and bowed his head as Chie glanced over at Souji, a pleading
look on her face as she silently asked him to help.
"H-hey Yosuke, come on It isn't a big deal, I mean Junes has really picked
Inaba up, you know? There's a lot of stuff we've never had here before and"
"Forget it" the headphone boy muttered in a depressed tone. "Let's talk about
something else, okahuh?"
"What is it?" Chie frowned, following Yosuke's gaze to a female who couldn't have
been more than a year or two older then themselves.
Her light brown hair was wavy, falling around her shoulders. Her expression was
tired and somewhat distant as she stared at the ground in front of her. She wore a
white long-sleeve shirt and green pants under the signature Junes apron. A small
name-tag was on her chest, but unreadable from their table.
"It's Saki-senpai" Yosuke muttered as he stood up. "Sorry guys, I'll be right back."
"Is that Yosuke's girlfriend?" Souji asked curiously as he watched the brunette hurry
over to the female, an eager look in his eyes.
Chie laughed, snorting in distaste as she watched Yosuke go, a sad light flickering in
her pale-brown eyes. "Yeah, he wishes. That's Saki Konishi, her family runs a liquor
store in the shopping district. She's working here part-time though"
Souji glanced over at Saki and Yosuke, noting the faint tone of distaste in the palebrunette's tone. Maybe she likes him? He thought vaguely, It would make sense I
suppose Though it seems Yosuke's interests lie elsewhere.
Whatever Yosuke and Konishi were talking about, it seemed to make the brunette
happy. Yosuke was laughing as Saki sighed, a tired smile on her face. A chill ran
down Souji's spine and a sudden uneasy feeling filled him as he watched the wavyhaired girl stand up and walk his way. He shivered and shook his head slowly,
looking up as Saki spoke to him.
"Are you the student who transferred here?"

Souji nodded, smiling politely.

"Oh, did you hear about me already?" Saki giggled, "It must be nice to have
someone to talk to from the big-city, huh? I don't see Hana-chan hanging out with the
other guys much." Behind her, Yosuke started to protest, looking embarrassed, but
Saki continued, ignoring the brunette's sputtering. "He doesn't have too many
friends, so I hope you two get along alright. Hana-chan is a great guy, but he can be
really nosey sometimes. If he's annoying you, you've gotta tell him right to his face to
back off."
Yosuke gave Saki's back a wounded look as he crossed his arms, trying to act
nonchalant as he watched Souji from the corner of his eye, waiting for the silverette's
response.
"I'm not so sure about that." Souji smiled, "He's a great guy He's nice, funny, and
pretty generous too."
Behind Saki, Yosuke beamed, his eyes sparkling with gratitude.
"Haha I know, I know. I'm just kidding."
Another shiver ran down Souji's spine. Something about this girlthe way she
spoke, held herself, and even the way she looked at Yosukethere was something
about it Souji didn't like at all. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes moving
toward the ground as Saki pulled away. That girl something about how she
spoke I don't like it. It's almost as if she's forcing herself to smile for Yosuke. Is she
just tired? And this foreboding feeling. Why do I feel as if I'm never going to
see her again? It's a small town, the likelihood that I'd run into her is fairly high, so
why?
"My break is just about over, I'm gonna head back inside before I'm late. I'll see you
all again sometime. Play nice, Hana-chan."
Yosuke sighed and shook his head, his eyes rolling slightly. "Anyway Saki-senpai
says that I'm annoying, but in truth, she's even nosier then I am. She has a younger
brother at home, and she treats me pretty much the same way as she treats him."
"Oooo" Chie smirked, making Yosuke jump. "So you don't want her treating you
like a little brother, huh? I see So that's how it is. How dramatic! The daughter of
the local family-run liquor store and the scion of the invading chain that threatens
their business The flame of forbidden loves burns so brightly it almost hurts."
"Wha-!? Huh!?" Yosuke blushed, shaking his head. "Dude, it's not like that"

"Oh really?" The female sounded skeptical, "Because I think there's something much
deeper than just 'brotherly love' going on here."
"Yeah?" Yosuke rolled his eyes, "Then I suggest you invest in glasses. Floor four on
the eastern wingyou've obviously gone blind. Need me to help you there or can
you feel your way around?"
"Haha, very funny. You're a regular comedian, aren't you?"
"I try my best."
"I'm sure you do" Chie muttered, looking annoyed. "Anyway, I've got something
much more interesting then Yosuke's corrupted love life."
"It's not corrupted! Will you drop it already? I don't-!"
"Yeah, yeahwhatever. Just be quiet and listen, okay? I've got some juicy stuff here.
It might even cure that love-sick heart of yours."
"I'm notgaugh. Whatever Just tell us already."
"You ever hear of the Midnight Channel?" Chie leaned forward in her seat, a sly grin
tugging at her lips. "You're supposed to look into a TV, alone, at exactly midnight
when it's raining. As you stare at your own image, another person will appear on the
screen. As the stories go That person is your soul mate."
"What?" Yosuke frowned, looking disappointed. "Are you serious? Geez, talk
aboutfor a second, I actually thought you were going to say something useful. Not
a children's story Seriously, how can you get excited over some urban legend
started by a grade-schooler?"
"Whagrade schooler!? You don't believe it at all, do you!?"
"Of course I don't!" Yosuke snapped, "Why would I? I mean it'sSouji, help me out
here."
"It does seem unrealistic." Souji said, carefully choosing over his words. He didn't
want to take sides in a war, especially not one between these two. "But the idea is
interesting, you must admit. Aren't you curious at all, Yosuke?"
"No," the brunette replied bluntly. "Not really, no."
"Fine then! If you're so sure that it won't work, then we'll all try it outthat means you
too, Souji-kun. It's raining tonight, so stay up and waitthen you'll see."

"Try it out? Are you telling me that you haven't even bothered trying it out
yourself!? That thedon't drag me into this stuff if you don't even know all the details
yourself! Ugh I'm trying to remember the last time I heard something this stupid."
"It's not stupid!" Chie growled, "You're just scared to try it out!"
"Oh yeah, terrified. Because looking at a TV at midnight is what really gets my bones
shaking."
"Then say you'll try it!"
"I'm not going to try it because it's stupid!"
"You're scared! Admit it!"
"I'm not scared!"
"Then do it!"
"No!"
"Yosuke-!"
"I'll do it."
Both heads turned toward Souji, bewildered looks on their faces.
"I'll do it," Souji repeated. "If it means that much to you, Satonaka-san, then I'll try it
out. I need to unpack tonight, so I'll be up late anyway."
"Souji-kun!" Chie's eyes sparkled as she turned to the silver-haired teen. "Thank
you! See, Yosuke? Why can't you be more like him? Live a little! Oh and it's just
Chie. Really, drop the formalities. I feel old."
"Fine, fine!" Yosuke groaned, "I'll try out your stupid legend. Geez If I knew you
were going to get this upset over it, I would have just agreed from the start to keep
you quiet. Honestly"
"I wasn't-!"
"All that aside" Yosuke sighed, "You guys know about that 'incident' yesterday,
right? Think it could have been murderSouji and I talked about it a little at lunch
but Oh man! What if the culprit was still lurking around? Ooooehehehehe."

"Sheesh You shouldn't joke about stuff like that, Yosuke. And knock it off with that
laugh, it's creepy. Who's acting childish now, huh?" Chie leaned forward in her seat
again, fixing Yosuke with a glare. "You guys better try it out tonight"
"Whwhy are you only glaring at me!? We already said we would, geez. Drop it
already We'll try it, okay? You have our word. We'll try it. You want a picture or
something as proof?"
"No, I'll just send you a text message." The brunette female smiled, "The noise is
less likely to wake you up if you bail-out."
The "Midnight Channel"? Huh Souji gazed at the slowly darkening clouds, sipping
at his drink absently as he zoned out the bickering of the two teens at the table with
him. The name sounds familiar It's the same feeling I got with Yosuke and the
others. I wonder what it is Nostalgia? No That wouldn't make sense. Perhaps
someone mentioned it in the city? No, the rumors would have been huge,
something like that Maybe Yukiko was right about "kindred spirits." Maybe it was
fate or destiny Heh. What am I talking about? Things like that don't exist.
The silverette sat up in his seat, shaking his head slowly. I mean honestly, what He
froze, eyes wide as an image of a woman with pale-blonde hair and an old man with
snowy-white locks flashed before his eyes. He shuddered and shook his head, not
wanting to remember that dream or the one that followed. He still felt a chill every
time he thought about the fog-filled dream and he could hear the scream every time
he closed his eyes. Just what the hell is going on?
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Nanako? Did your father call tonight?" Souji asked quietly over his sushi bento, "I
saw his partner today when I was walking home. He seemed tired but"
Nanako sighed softly and looked down at her food, poking a small pile of ginger with
her chopsticks.
"H-hey" The silverette winced, a small force tugging at his chest at the depressed
look at Nanako's face. "Don't worry; I'm sure it'll be just fine."
"Yeah," Nanako nodded. "He's usually home late, so"
The front door opened and Nanako leapt to her feet, a wide smile spreading across
her face. "Oh! He's home! Da Dad?"
Souji turned, not surprised by the exhausted look on Dojima's face. The older man

sighed, rubbing his forehead as he slowly ambled toward the couch, looking more
like a grandfather in the late years of his life then a detective in his early forties.
"Uncle Dojima? Are you alright?"
The detective sighed, falling backward on the couch with a soft mutter of 'what a
day.' He winced and readjusted himself into a more comfortable sitting position,
offering Souji and Nanako a tired smile.
"I'm back Did anything happen while I was out?"
"No" Nanako shook her head, looking upset. "You're late again!"
"I know, I know I'm sorry. There was awell, work was busy today. Would you
mind turning on the news for me?"
Nanako opened her mouth to protest, but seemed to think better and shut it, nodding
silently as she fell back down on her cushion. She changed the channel without a
word and started eating again, her movements just a little faster than before.
He's home now Though she doesn't show it, she's a little happier at least. Souji
thought, turning to look at the news report. It isn't fun when your parents have a job
that keeps them away all the time. I can understand how you feel, Nanako.
"announcer Mayumi Yamano's dead body was found hanging above a house in
this rural town. It was confirmed that Ms. Yamano was having an affair with enka
singer Misuzu Hiiragi's husband, Taro Namatame. We"
Souji turned away from the TV to focus on his food once more. The sushi suddenly
seemed to have no taste in his mouth as another chill ran up his spine. Am I really
that unnerved by a murder? I wasn't even involved Why would it affect me? Is it
just because I had a shaky start here? No that can't be it. Then whathuh?
"you an interview with the student who found Ms. Yamano's body."
The silverette stared at the screen in shock, his eyes widening faintly. What the?
That girl That's Yosuke's senpai! That's the Konishi girl.
"An interview with the kid?" Dojima groaned from the couch. "How the hell did they
find her? I thought I told Adachi to escort her straight home"
Intercepted? Or perhaps this happened just after work? Souji thought absently,
staring at the blurred face on the screen. His mind wasn't processing anything that

was being said, his pale orbs too focused on the girl. Despite the poor attempt at
covering her face, it was obvious who it was, and the silverette questioned why they
went through the trouble of blurring her face in the first place. Pointless She
seems confused thought. Upset too
"Pretty insane, huh?" a new reporter appeared on the screen with two more on either
side of him. "I mean, hanging a body upside down from an antenna. Talk about
capital-W weird."
"Yes," the second reporter nodded. "But so far, no one has come forward to take
credit for the crime."
Who would? Souji frowned. It was murder. Not the type of crime someone would
want to be punished for.
"Loads of prank calls, though" Dojima sighed. "Honestly, you'd think it was all a big
game to them"
"It isn't as easy as you would think" Souji muttered darkly as the reporter began to
bad-mouth the police, "If the job isn't yours, you can criticize it all you want and not
feel bad about it at all"
"We'll be right back after these messages"
"At Junes, everyday is"
Souji bit back a groan and turned back to his food, focusing very hard on closing his
ears. That jingle is going to drive me mad before the month is over.
"Ever day's great at your Junes!" Nanako chimed in happily with the commercial.
"Hey, dad Can we go to Junes together sometime?"
Silence.
"No?" Nanako asked, wounded. She turned to look at Dojima, frowning as a soft
snore filled the room. "He's asleep"
Souji opened his mouth, almost saying, 'I'll take you sometime' but caught himself
before he could finish. He shook his head, sighing. I promised myself when I came
here I wouldn't get close to anyone. It's so much easier that way Besides, I don't
want to seem like I'm trying to one-up her dad. I don't want to get close to them, but I
don't want to start a war either.

Standing up, the silverette gathered his dishes and entered the kitchen, emptying the
food he hadn't eaten into the trash before tossing the reusable dishes into the sink.
Pausing at the foot of the stairs, he turned, watching as Nanako draped a pink
blanket over her father. Heh Daddy's little girl all the way, huh? She really is
something
"Nanako?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm gonna head upstairs and start unpacking my things. Do you need anything
before I head up?"
"No I can finish cleaning. I'll go to bed after I watch TV. I can take care of dad too."
"Alright, don't stay up too late. Goodnight."
"Goodnight"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0That took longer than I thought it would Souji thought as he fell back on the black
couch in his room, groaning softly. I didn't bring that much, but I'm still tired I guess
it's just from moving all the books. That's the bulk of what I brought, anyway.
Glancing at the clock, the silverette blinked in surprise. Exactly two minutes before
midnight. He stood up and walked over to his window, drawing back the curtain.
Sure enough, as his ears had told him before glancing out, it was raining.
He dropped the curtain and turned away, walking over to where the TV sat on the
dresser. Staring at the blank screen, Souji couldn't help but feel slightly foolish as he
gazed at his own faded reflection. I guess I shouldn't have encouraged Chie like
that Yosuke was right, the idea was ridiculous. "Soul mate"? That sort of stuff
it doesn't happen.
The silverette chuckled softly as he turned away from the TV, intent on climbing into
his futon and getting as much asleep as he could. He closed his eyes and stretching,
yawning. As he opened his eyes once more, his body tensed, freezing up completely
as he stared at the reflection of the lit TV screen on his window.
Turning slowly, he stared in shock at the static that danced across the screen. A
blurred image flickered into focus before dying, the process repeating itself several

times. A bright flashed filled his room and a loud crack followed shortly after, but the
raging storm outside wasn't enough to tear the silverette's memorized gaze from the
TV.
"Wh-what the hell?" he muttered, taking half a step back. "I-is this some kind of
joke? This can't beaurgh!"
Souji doubled over, grabbing his head as he stumbled backward.
"I am thou" a voice echoed in his mind. "and thou art I"
"W-who are you?" Souji hissed in pain, swaying dangerously, eyes shut as he tried
to push the voice away. It felt like his leg was being split in half, the searing agony
spreading throughout his entire body.
"Thou art the one who opens the door"
"D-door? Wh-what door? What are you talking about? Who are you!?"
Another loud bang sounded outside and Souji gasped as a final wave of pain
washed over him and he fell to his knees. He didn't move, choosing to remained
doubled over, eyes shut, as he tried to regain his senses. The pain had faded almost
instantly, leaving him slightly disoriented and confused.
Slowly, almost cautiously, he raised his head, eyeing the TV uneasily. The screen
was blank, giving off the faint glow that a blank television screen often did when it
was powered on.
Gulping, the silverette glanced toward his futon, quite sure that this wasn't a dream,
but dearly wishing that it was. He'd take the old man and strange girl again every
night if he had to, but whatever had just happened it was creepy, but what
disturbed the silverette wasn't the frantic beating of his heart of his ragged breathing.
It wasn't that his TV had turned on as Chie said it would or that someone appeared,
it wasn't even the voice. It was that, despite the impossibility that any of that had just
happened he didn't have a single doubt in his mind that it was all realand he had
a feeling that he'd been through all of it before.
Standing up, Souji walked over to the TV, hesitating as he gazed at the screen. He
looked around the empty room, as if expecting someone might suddenly pop out
from nowhere and see how foolish he was acting. The thought was pushed aside as
he raised a hand slowly, pausing for a moment, before taping the screen with his
finger.

The screen burst into life again, waving as if he'd just tapped the surface of a bowl of
water. The TV was now emitting a dull blue glow that filled the once dark room,
almost inviting. Glancing around once more, Souji turned back to the screen, his
eyebrows knitting together as he pushed against what should have been glass with
his entire palm. He gasped as his hand moved forward, moving through the screen
as if it were nothing more than air.
"What thegaugh!" Something seemed to tug at his arm, and before he could blink,
his head and most of his shoulders had been pulled inside.
Movement suddenly stopped and the silverette felt a wave of gratitude toward
whoever had invented the smaller room-size TVs. He was stucknot that this was
good newsbut it was better news than knowing he'd be trapped in a TV for the rest
of his life.
His free armnot inside the TVflailed as he tried to find a sturdy leverage to push
himself out. Finding the top of the TV, he grabbed the edge and shoved, feeling his
body being thrown backward as his head and other arm flew out with a small 'pop' as
he fell backward.
Stars danced across the teen's vision as he groaned, holding his head. He cursed
silently, rubbing the back of his skull where it had connected with the coffee table in
the middle of his floor. His eyes burned and watered as his head throbbed and he
shook it, blinking the stars away as he heard a knock.
"Are you okay?" Nanako's tired and muffled voice called through the door.
"Y-yeah" Souji replied. "Kind of"
"I heard a crash" the young brunette said, sounding worried. "Did you hurt
yourself?"
"N-no" the silverette forced a small laugh. "I just tripped over something I dropped.
Sorry, Nanako I didn't mean to wake you up."
"Oh okay." A pause then, "Well, goodnight"
"Goodnight"
Waiting until Nanako's footsteps faded away completely, Souji stood up and rubbed
his head once more. He gazed at the TV in bewilderment. The screen was now
completely off, the only light source in the room coming from the streetlamps
outside.

He shook his head and quickly moved over to his futon, climbing under the covers
and burying his face in the pillow.
What the heck just happened? He closed his eyes tightly, shaking his head.
Those two are going to think I'm insane tomorrow when I tell them about this.
"Heh. No better way to say hello to a new town than becoming the village idiot."
Shutting his eyes, Souji fell into, at least what he hoped would be, a dreamless
sleep.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0As Souji walked into the classroom the next morning, he blinked, staring at the
woman in front of the room. He vaguely remembered seeing her before on his first
day in the office, but he hadn't committed her to memory, thinking it unlikely that he'd
see her again.
Slipping into his seat, the silverette leaned over, muttering in a low voice so that only
Chie and Yosuke would hear him, "We need to talk after school."
The other two nodded, the look in their eyes telling Souji that they'd seen everything
he had last night. He felt calmer knowing this, but he couldn't help but wonder if
either of them had heard the voice or nearly been sucked into their TVs. He vaguely
remembered being told once long ago thatno matter what the situationhearing
bodies without a voice wasn't good and he decided to leave that out of his story until
he could better understand what he had heard.
"Hello everyone!" a cheerful voice rang through the room, pulling Souji from his
thoughts. "My name is Kimiko Sofue! It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I'm not sure
how familiar you all are with history, but I am an expert!"
The students were in awe. After having to deal with Mr. Morooka for two days, they
had all completely forgotten that their regular subjects would be starting today. The
atmosphere of the classroom was calm and rather pleasant compared to that of
which it was with 'King Moron' in the room. This woman wasmost definitely
strange, but at not at all crude.
"Let's see Why don't I start with telling you a little about myself? I love to use my
dowser to look for lost items and there is nothing quite like a good romance." Ms.
Soufe beamed, "In fact, world history is like a beautiful and magnificent romance in
and of itself. History is quite like a river; it was born so long ago, but it continues to
push forward, sometimes small parts of its path often getting lost. I hope that we are

all able to enjoy the beauty that is history together. Ohohohoho!

"Since this is my first lecture of the year, I'll start with something simple. Let's see
Oh! I know! Our transferee, young Mr. Seta! My dowsing rod tells me you are the boy
to pick!"
Souji winced, feeling all eyes immediately fall on him as he stood up slowly. The idea
of giving the wrong answer flickered across his mind temporarily, but he pushed the
thought away. His grades had always been the only thing he had complete control
over. No matter where he went, he was able to keep them near or at the top of his
class, and, even though he had no friends despite his popularity, he held them with
pride.
"When did A.D.in other words, Anno Dominibegin?"
The silverette smirked, answering with full confidence. "Anno Domini began after the
birth of Christthat is to say, Jesus. It is a term in Medieval Latin meaning 'In the
year of Our Lord.' The full name is 'Anno Domini Nostri Jesu' meaning 'In the year of
Our Lord Jesus Christ.' A.D. and B.C. are designations used to number years in the
Julian and Gregorian calendars."
Ms. Sofue blinked, her mouth hanging open slightly as she stared at Souji in awe.
The students were flabbergasted as they gazed at the teen in admiration, making the
silverette's cheeks heat up very faintly. Too much? He wondered vaguely, slowly
slipping back into his seat.
"Holy shit, dude." Yosuke finally muttered, breaking the spell of silence that had
fallen over the class.
"I... y-yes that's correct, Mr. Seta." Ms. Soufe said, finally finding her voice. "You
have quite the impressive knowledge of history. I'm in shock Um, now, as Mr. Seta
said, A.D"
When the last bell finally rang, Souji couldn't have been more grateful. Impressed by
his vast knowledge of everything she spoke about; Ms. Soufe had taken to directing
every question she had for the class at the silverette. It was apparent that she had
spoken with his afternoon teachers as well when he became a sudden target of their
attention, whenaccording to Yosukethey normally allowed transfer students to
settle in before giving them the spotlight. He could only hope that by tomorrow
everyone would be less impressed and see him as a smart-ass rather than a genius.
Sighing, the silverette gathered his notebooks and slipped them into his bag, his
mind drifting back to the events of the previous night. I wonder what those two saw

I couldn't recognize the girl I saw, but she was definitely in one of our uniforms. Does
that mean my soul mate is here? No That wouldn't make any
"Y-yo. Um" Yosuke approached Souji, jerking the silverette back down to earth as
he struggled to say what it was he wanted to say. "Um Last night, I, um On the
TV I" he trailed off again, shifting his weight around on the balls of his feet. "Well,
you know it Ah, it's nothing. Nevermind, I'll tell you later, okay?"
From the other side of the room, Chie slipped back into the classroom, returning
from her bathroom run. Spotting Souji and Yosuke, she quickly made her way
around the desks and approached the pair, looking uneasy.
"H-hey, Yosuke. Have you heard the rumors? People are saying that it was Saki-san
who found the body"
Yosuke nodded gravely. "Yeah, I've heard them... I wonder if that's why she looked
so down yesterday. I haven't seen her at school today either."
In the row ahead of where Souji was sitting, Yukiko stood up, brushing her skirt down
before starting toward the door.
"Hey, Yukiko Are you helping out at the inn today too?" Chie called as her raven
friend turned to address her.
"Yeah. Things are out of hand right now" Yukiko sighed, "It's much busier then it
normally is, so I have to help out. I'm sorry"
Chie shook her head, smiling in understanding. "No, no. That's alright Sorry to
hear things are so nuts over there. If you ever need any help, you know where to find
me."
Yukiko smiled weakly and nodded, muttering a quick, "Thanks," before hurrying out
the door.
"Huh" Yosuke frowned, "Is it just me, or does Yukiko-san seem really stressed out
lately? It must be touch having to work for a family business like that. Working at
Junes is annoying and all, but it isn't particularly stressful."
"I guess they're running her ragged" Chie sighed, "I called her last night and she
sounded really tired then too, like she hadn't had a chance to rest all daybut
enough about that. Don't butt into Yukiko's business."
"Hey! I'm just worried about a fellow classmate, that's all."

"I'm sure" Chie rolled her eyes. "Anyway Did you two see it last night? You
know on the Midnight Channel?"
"Uh," the brunette hesitated, "Wh-what about you? Did you see anything?"
"I did!" Chie nodded, "I saw a Well, I saw a girl. Does that mean a girl is my soul
mate? What the heck is that supposed to mean? I couldn't even tell who it was but
it was definitely a girl. She was wearing the Yasogami girl's uniform and everything!
She had brown hair, about shoulder length, and I think it was wavy The image
wasn't clear enough to tell though."
"What!?" Yosuke gasped, looking shocked. "That's the same thing I sawbut you're
image sounds like it was clearer. Mine was so blurry, I couldn't make out the finer
details at all."
"So you saw it too!? And the same girl as me?" Chie tilted her head, frowning. "So
then does that mean we have the same soul mate?"
"How the heck should I know?" Yosuke shrugged, "I didn't even think this stupid
voodoo would work. You can't expect me to be able to explain it
"What about you?" the brunette asked, turning to Souji. "Did you see anything?"
Souji nodded. "I did and it sounds like I saw the same girl as you two."
The silverette proceeded to explain everything he'd seen, the girl who looked as if
she were running from something, the bizarre glow when the image had finally
disappeared, and then finally, a rather awkward explanation of how his hand had
been sucked into the TV. As expected, the looks he received as he told the end of
his story were somewhat skeptical and confused, obviously not believing a word he
said.
"It sounds like we all saw the same person butthat aside" Yosuke frowned,
"What was that about getting sucked into your TV? Were you that tired last night?
You must have just fallen asleep in front of it."
"That'd be some dream though, wouldn't it?" Chie asked, grinning. "I like where you
got stuck because your TV was too small. Talk about realistic. But there's no way
that could happen, right?"
Souji shrugged. "I'm just telling you what I saw I don't know if it was a dream or
not." He ran a hand over the back of his head, wincing as his fingers brushed over
the swollen lump that had formed by morning. Still, I woke up in my bed this

morning, so I couldn't have fallen asleep in front of the TV and the bump is there
too. Could it be because I bumped my head that I seem to remember all this?
No either way, it doesn't make sense.
"You know, if it had been bigger, then" Chie trailed off, her eyes widening as she
remembered something. "Oh! Speaking of larger TVs My family is thinking about
getting a new one."
"Yeah?" Yosuke asked curiously. "Flatscreens seem to be really popular these days.
Want me to show you on the way back? We're beefing up our electronics
department this month. New shipments and everything. There's some pretty cool
stuff that's come in lately."
"Whoa Really? Definitely!" Chie nodded, "My parents don't know anything about
TVs, and I really want to see all my kung-fu movies on a big screen!"
Yosuke rolled his eyes and turned to Souji, ignoring Chie as she demonstrated
several of the moves she'd learned from the movies.
"Why don't you come with us? There are some pretty big ones that just came in I
bet you'd even be able to fit inside. Hahaha."
"Wh" Souji glared as Yosuke continued to laugh.
It was obvious to the silverette that neither of the two were going to take him
seriously about this, no matter how sure about it he was. He sighed and grabbed his
bag, standing up.
"Yeah, sure I'll tag along."
"Great!" Chie smiled. "Then let's get going!"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0The three teens reached Junes and made their way to the electronics department
without difficulty. Yosuke lead the other two to the center of the western wing of the
floor, stopping near a wall covered in large, rather glamorous flatscreen TVs.
Each one had a differing size then the one beside it, all giving off a faint gleam under
the ceiling lights. A cityscape screensaver played across several of the screens,
zooming close to and away from a group of red flowers in front of a skyscraper.
Approaching the largest TV in the area, Chie gasped loudly as she marveled at its

large size.
"Wow this is huge! And Holy crap, it's expensive! Who the heck spends that
much money on a TV? Who could even afford something like this?"
"I dunno" Yosuke shrugged nonchalantly, "Rich people?"
"What 'rich people'? I didn't know Inaba even had rich people."
"Honestly, not many people shop for TVs around here. That's why there's no sales
clerks around here, nothing for them to watch or do."
"That sucks" Chie sighed, "Well, at least looking is free, right?"
Glancing at Yosuke, the brunette female smiled slyly and nodded toward the TV. The
headphone-clad boy laughed and stepped forward with her as they both pressed
their hands to the screen of the TV. Souji watched them silently, eyebrow raised as
they tapped it several times.
"Nope, can't get in. Go figure."
"Maybe there's a switch." Chie grinned, "You know, like a menu setting or
something."
"Ooo. You might be right. Want me to go in back and get the remote? We can try it
out."
"You can both go to hell" Souji muttered darkly as the pair laughed in amusement.
"Aw Come on, we're just playing with you," giggled Chie brightly. "Besides, this
proves it was just a dream."
Souji only grunted in response.
"Besides, this flatscreen is so thin, you'd just end up on the other side if yougaugh!
What am I saying!? Now you've got me talking about it." Yosuke groaned and shook
his head, sighing. "Anyway What kind of TV are you guys looking for, Chie?
Anything special?"
"Well" the martial-artist shrugged, "They said they wanted one that's cheap. You
know? A good one, but not something like this too expensive." She knocked on
the screen of the TV once more with her knuckle. "You got any suggestions?"
"Well, Miss," Yosuke began in his best business tone, leading Chie down the row of

TVs. "Might I suggest this model here? It has a large screen with simply stunning
resolution. It's the newest model released just this spring and is all the rage with the
kids."
"Huh" Chie leaned forward, tapping the screen once. "Doesn't look like you can
crawl in this one either."
"I said go to hell!" Souji snapped, earning another burst of giggles from the two.
Honestly, those two Souji sighed as he approached the large TV screen in front of
him, staring at his reflection. I guess it really was a dream, huh? If those two can't
do it, why would I be able to?
"Anyway, this one looksWha!? This isn't cheap at all! There's way to many zeros
on that price tag!"
"I should have asked what you meant by 'cheap' right off the bat."
"Aw Come on!" Chie tugged Yosuke's sleeve. "Don't you have like, connections or
something? Come on! Hook me up with the good stuff!"
"Wha? You know I can't do that!" Yosuke sighed, "Just because I'm the manager's
son Anyway, what about this one down here? The display unit is old but it's pretty
nice and it's bigger than the one you have at home."
Yosuke lead Chie further down the aisle, leaving Souji alone with the large TV. The
silverette continued to stare at his reflection, slowly weighing his options in his mind.
If it was a dream then I'd just touch the screen, right? No harm, no foul. If it
wasn't then I'd be able to prove it to them, right here and now. He stepped forward,
slowly raising a hand. What could go wrong?
His palm pressed against the smooth surface of the TV screen, a small sigh of
disappointment escaping his lips.
"I guess it was aguagh!"
The surface of the TV seemed to turn into nothing and his hand slipped in easily, just
as it had the night before. As if made by water, the screen around Souji's hand
rippled, fanning outward to the rest of the screen as the silverette stared at his own
vanished hand in shock.
"Geez, Chie! Make up your mind... I meanoh! Right. Hey, Souji, what kind of
TVs do you" the brunette's voice trailed off, his eyes bulging as he stared at

Souji in shock.
"Huh? Yosuke? Is something wrong? What?" Chie turned, gasping sharply.
"I-is his arm inside the TV!? H-holy"
"Whoa" Chie took a step back, bumping into Yosuke's chest. "I-is that like a new
model maybe? Like with a new function or something?"
"What the-!? New model!? Hell no!"
The pair of them ran over, standing on either side of Souji as they looked around the
surrounding area in a panic.
"Y-you gotta be kidding me! Did you really just stick your hand through the screen!?"
Souji shook his head slowly, smiling faintly. "No, I didn't I stuck my hand in it."
"T-that's not funny!" the martial-artist shrieked, smacking Souji's shoulder. "W-what
the heck is going on!?"
"Oh man G-geez. This is for real That's some magic trick, man. Really cool.
Awesome N-now how do you stop? What's the trick, huh? What's the magician's
secret?"
The silverette glanced at Yosuke, an amused smile tugging at his lips as he stared at
the astonished look on Yosuke's face. He shrugged and shook his head, indicating
that he wasn't performing any tricks.
As he turned back to the TV screen, a voice at the back of his mind encouraged him
to push forward, and stick more than just his hand inside. Curiosity got the better of
him as he pulled his hand out and leaned forward, pushing his head and shoulders
into the liquid-like screen.
"H-hey!" Yosuke cried behind him. "Don't do that! What the hell do you think you're
doing!?"
"Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God" Chie began chanting over and over
again, pacing frantically behind Souji as her mind raced to process what it was
seeing.
Inside the TV, Souji looked around, blinking as he realized how much empty space
there was around him. The entire area was wide open, and covered in a thick,
yellowish fog. He glanced downward, frowning as he realized he couldn't see the

ground below him. Well, that's comforting. It's good to know that if I'd climbed in all
the way I would have fallen into the unknown land of bizarre yellow fog. Although
The silverette looked thoughtful; Maybe I might just fall out a TV somewhere else.
Like Vegas.
"It's really empty in here." Souji called loudly, "It's spacious too It looks as if it
could be as big as Inaba. Although, it's a little hard to see..."
"Wh-what the hell!?" Yosuke cried in disbelief. "What do you mean inside!? And
spacious!? Have you lost your mind!? You just stuck your head inside a TV and
you're telling me it's SPACIOUS? Aren't you freaked out at ALL by this!? Dude!
Seriously, cut the crap and get out of there! You might have nerves of steel but I sure
as hell don't!"
"How can it be empty!?" Chie all but shouted. "It's a TV! There's no room for
anything to BE empty! C-come on already, just get out of there."
"H-holy crap" Yosuke whimpered, wincing as he began jumping from foot to foot.
"T-this is insane I think this is too much for my bladder to handle."
"What the-!?" Chie jumped backward. "Are you gonna pee your pants!? Gross!"
"No I'm not gonna piss myself!" Yosuke snapped, "I've been holding it in all day! I
haven't had a chance to go! I can't hold it in anymore!"
"Go inside the TV then! Obviously there's room for it."
"NO!" Souji and Yosuke cried at the same time.
"My head's in here!"
"Pull it out!"
Souji decided to give the pair a slightly vengeful response, smirking as he spoke. "I
don't want to I kinda like it in here."
"Oh, for the love ofGET OUT OF THERE, RIGHT NOW!"
Souji was silent for a moment before grinning widely, knowing that Chie couldn't see
his face. "No."
"Get. Out. NOW. Before I DRAG you out!"
"Dude," Yosuke said in a warning tone, "you'd better do it. Chie's scary when she's

angry."
"What was that!?"
"It, uh O-oh crap! Customers! They're coming!"
Unaware of the approaching danger, Souji leaned forward, slipping his shoulders
several inches deeper into the TV. "Oh wow Is that a steak-house?"
"Wha-!?" Chie's attention was immediately diverted from Yosuke as she stepped
toward the TV. "Steak!? Let me see!"
"No you idiot!" Yosuke groaned, "Don't encourage her! Ihey! Don't push!"
"Then stop pulling, Yosuke!"
"But there are customersSHIT!"
"Whaeeek!"
"What the hell are you two doing outhey! Don't push me! We're gonnaaugh!"
With a small 'pop' the three of them disappeared from sight and tumbled forward,
screaming as they fell into the deaths of the abyss inside the TV.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
With a sickening thud, the three teens finally came in contact with the ground.
Yosuke groaned and rubbed his side, swearing under his breath.
"Ow Man What the hell did I land on?"
"Yosuke Hanamura I. Suggest. You. Move. Your. Hands."
"C-Chie!?"
"NOW!"
"Chie... I really think you need to move yours. Didn't Mr. Morooka tell the females not
to make a move on me?" Souji muttered from the bottom of the pile. "Besides, I
already have a girlfriend"
"Really?" Yosuke asked, sounding hopeful.

"Don't get any ideas, Yosuke!"

"Chie" Souji muttered, sounding almost as if he were in pain. "Your hands
please."
"I-I can't move until Yosuke gets off me!"
"Yosuke move, or... I'll tell Chie about what's under your futon." Souji growled in
frustration, feeling his lungs struggling to work against the pressure on them.
"WHAT?! Dude, how could you possiblyUhhh..."
"...Your futon, huh?" Chie asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What is under
your futon, Yosuke?"
"Okay, okay! I'm getting off! Damn, you're cruel, dude!"
Souji sighed in relief as he felt both the weights on his chest shift and move away,
allowing his airway access to air again. The silverette had no idea what it was that
possessed him to say that to Yosuke in the first place, but he was grateful it worked.
Standing up, the silverette offered a hand to Yosuke, tugging the brunette to his feet
who, in turn, bent down and gently pulled Chie to her feet, muttering an apology
under his breath. The martial-artist fixed Yosuke with a heated glare, but said nothing
about the matter.
She turned, glancing around the stage-like platform they'd landed on.
"Whoa. What on earth? We're uh We're still alive, right?"
Souji shook his head slowly, shrugging. "I don't know. Is this a dream, maybe?"
"N-no" Yosuke muttered, rubbing his backside. "I-I'd say the pain I'm feeling right
now is very real."
"Oh don't be such a baby" Chie sighed, "Honestly, you'd think someone kicked
you."
I'm almost surprised you didn't Souji thought, not daring to speak the words aloud,
in fear of getting kicked himself.
"R-real?" Chie muttered, "But how can that?"
Yosuke shook his head and looked up, gasping. "W-whoa!"

"Wh-what!?" the brunette female jumped. "What now!? Did you wet your pants
already?"
"Did Iwhat!? No, I didn't wet my pants! Look around!"
"I did! And I'm just as confused as you are!" Chie's face fell, a pout forming on her
lips. "And I don't see that steak house either."
"What the-!? There is no steak house!" Yosuke cried, "What are you, stupid!?"
"What was that!?" Chie snarled, rounding on Yosuke. "You wanna repeat"The steak is a lie."
Chie and Yosuke stopped, staring at Souji in bewilderment.
"What?"
"Nothing, nevermind. It isn't important right now." Souji sighed, glancing around
the surrounding area. "Hey, guys Is it just me, or does this place look like a?"
"A studio?" Chie asked quietly, following Souji's gaze. "And what about all this
fog? Or smoke maybe?"
"I don't know" Souji muttered, feeling an odd, unexplainable sense of nostalgia.
"There isn't anywhere like this in Inaba, is there?" whispered Chie, looking
uncertain.
"Like hell there is!" Yosuke groaned, "When was the last time you took a walk around
Inaba and ended up in Creepy Mcfogsville?"
"Wha I was just asking! It isn't as if I know-"
"Both of you stop!" Souji shouted, stepping between the two bickering teens and
pushing them apart. "Yosuke, stop alright? And Chie, don't pick a fight with him.
We're all lost and we're all confused. We're never going to get out of here if we don't
keep our heads in place and I really don't think any of us want to get lost right now.
So just calm down, okay?"
Yosuke and Chie were silent as they stared at Yosuke, their mouths hanging open
slightly.
"I errgh I'm sorry" the martial-artist sighed. "Yosuke, I didn't mean to shout at

you either, I'm-"

"Forget it," Yosuke shook his head. "It doesn't matter, I was wrong too. But moving
on. Have you two noticed how big this place is? I mean, it looks as if you could fit all
of Inaba in here and then some."
"I don't know What're we gonna do? What can we do?"
"Why don't we have a look around?" Souji suggested.
"H-huh!? B-but-!"
"Well, I highly doubt anyone is going to suddenly stick their head into the TV and find
us. We're already lost, and wandering around isn't going to get us more lost or
anything. We're not even sure where it is we need to go in the first place, so" the
silverette shrugged. "Why don't we just look around for something helpful?"
"W-wait! I mean, we got in right? Then we just need to go that way to get out. Which
way did we come from?"
"Up." Souji and Yosuke said at the same time, pointing skywards.
"Wh-what!?" Chie cried, narrowing her eyes as she looked up, trying to see through
the fog. "B-but How are we supposed to-!? T-that can't be the only entrance!
Auuugh! I can't take this anymore! I wanna go home!"
"Chie" Yosuke sighed, "We all do, but we don't know how! We-"
"We're doomed."
Yosuke jumped and turned to Souji, eyes wide. "D-don't say stuff like that! W-we're
not doomed! W-we we Geez, let's just calm down and think about this."
The silverette groaned, resisting the urge to smack his forehead. Now he suggests
we calm down Honestly, are those two that panicked over this? I know the
situation is bad, but I can't help but think I've been here beforeand with these
two. Am I the only one who feels it? I don't understand There's something about
this place that's so familiar.
"Still, how are we supposed to find a way out if we don't know where to look?"
reiterated Chie.
"Well, if there's no exit, we're trapped anyway, right?" Yosuke shrugged. "We might
as well look around then, better than just standing here."

"Ugh! Yosuke! You're not comforting at all!"

"Can we look around now?" Souji called from his position several yards away,
"There's a bridge over here If we follow this path, we should find something, and if
not, we can come back and try one of the other paths."
"B-but what if we can't find out way back?" Chie asked, sounding hesitant.
"Well, better lost then standing around doing nothing and waiting for something else
to come find us, right?" Yosuke shrugged and started after Souji. "We might as well."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0How much time had passed since they had entered the strange world beyond the
TV, none of the teens could be sure. It felt as if they'd been walking for hours, and
their search was showing no results for their efforts. They'd been walking down the
same path since they stepped off the metallic flooring of the bridge, dustor what
they believed was dustclouded around their feet as they walked.
It was silent as they walked, both Chie and Yosuke having given up their bickering
antics a while agowhich Souji was very grateful for. The silverette hadn't spoken a
word since they started following the unknown path, and the silence from the other
two allowed him to finally gather together his thoughts and try to figure out what it
was about the area that was so familiaras he was quite sure he'd never climbed
into a television set before.
He scanned the area and paused, his eyes falling upon what appeared to be a huge
apartment building. He stopped walking, nearly causing Yosuke to collide with him
head on. The brunette grunted in surprise, avoiding the collision by stepping to the
side and jabbing the silverette's arm in question.
Souji nodded toward the apartment building and quickened his pace, stepping off the
path to approach the complex. Yosuke seemed to hesitate, glancing over his
shoulder to ensure that Chie was still behind them. The martial-artist looked dazed,
but seemed to have little trouble keeping up. The brunette waved his hand to get her
attention and jerked his head in the direction that Souji was walking. A nod was his
only reply and he shrugged before following after the silverette at a slow sprint.
As the small group reached the top of the stairs, the atmosphere around them
seemed to change. The fog thinned faintly, but it did nothing to help their sight. Souji
approached a metal railing that ran along the side of the hallway-like path that they'd
found and he gasped softly. The scenery around had changed as well.

Where there had once been nothing but fog, Souji could make out silhouettes of
buildings in various shapes. Street lamps that didn't appear to work could be seen
throughout the area and odd crimson and jet-black swirls filled what Souji assumed
was supposed to by the sky.
"Whoa Where are we?" Chie muttered, joining Souji at the railing. "It's like we're in
a completely different place than before, even the air has changed. It's somehow"
"Creepier? Foreboding? Like something out of a slasher-flick?" The silverette
suggested, grinning weakly.
"T-that's one way of putting it" Chie shuddered. "I wouldn't have picked those
words, but sure. Let's go with that."
"The fog's still so freakin' thick though." Yosuke sighed, "I can't see much of anything
at all"
Squinting, the brunette took several steps forward, his gaze fixed on something at
the end of the hall. "Hey Souji, Chie I think there's a door down there."
"Wha? A door? Is it safe? I mean, what if there's something bad behind it?"
"Who knows," the headphone-clad boy shrugged. "But we have to trust our gut at
least a little in here, right?"
"Well, yeah, but" Chie hesitated, staring at the ground. "I'm not sure we shouldhhey! Wait up!"
The martial-artist sprinted after the two males as they disappeared through the
bizarre vortex-like doorway at the end of the hallway. "Guys! Wait! I've got a bad
feeling about this! GUYS!"
As they entered the room, Souji and Yosuke both noticed the immediate change in
visibility. The fog was much thinner, allowing them to see the entire room they had
entered with ease.
The room was small, no more than a large bedroom. Furniture was minimal and held
nothing significant to its appearance. A bed sat in the far corner of the room, in front
of a wall covered in floor-to-ceiling windows. The windows curtains were pulled back,
allowing the soft yellow glow from the world outside to fade in. Above the bed were
two large bookshelves, hanging from the wall filled with various trinkets and books.
Next to the bed was a plant too dead for Souji to recognize, and sitting several feet
away from the bed was a chair.

"Whoa. Talk about weird." Yosuke muttered, looking around. "Is it just me, or did
the fog suddenly get thinner? Maybe I could..." The brunette reached into his pocket
and produced a cell-phone, glancing at the screen. "Heh, no service. What a
surprise"
"Are you two hard of hearing!?" Chie snapped as she finally entered the room. "I
asked you two to wait! It's hard enough walking around here when I can barely see
two inches in front of my own face! Iwh-what the?"
The brunette female turned around slowly, her eyes widening as she stared at the
walls of the room. "Wh-what's going on here?"
Souji and Yosuke turned, following Chie's gaze, gasping sharply as they realized the
condition of the rest of the room. Posters lined the wooden walls, all of them missing
their faces with crimson blood staining everything.
"This place just gets creepier and creepier, doesn't it?" Souji muttered, turning
away from the walls as an icy chill ran up and down his spine. Have I seen this
room before? But no, surely I would have remembered something like this
"Auuuugh!" Yosuke groaned, making Souji and Chie jump. "I can't hold it anymore!
My bladder is gonna burst!"
The brunette turned and ran over to the fall wall, making Chie shriek in horror as the
sound of his zipper being pulled down seemed to echo throughout the bizarre room.
"Yosuke! What the hell are you doing!?"
"I have to go! I'm gonna piss my pants soon if I don't!"
"So what!? Your solution is to go in here!? Oh, you have got to be kidding!"
"J-just turn around! I can't go if you're both watching!"
"Then don't go at all!"
"Don't watch!"
"Will you both just"
"Argh I can't go with you two here. If my bladder explodes, I blame you two."
"As if we care" Chie muttered darkly. "Anyway, what's up with this room, huh? All
the posters are missing their faces and is that blood? Someone must really hate

whoever this person is."

Souji eyed the posters as Yosuke shuddered and shook his head, approaching the
chair that sat rather awkwardly in the center of the room.
"Who knows There's all sorts of weird-ass voodoo in the H-hey g-guys?"
The silverette and martial-artist turned, eyeing the quickly paling Yosuke oddly.
"What's up?" Souji asked, "You look ready to be sick."
"I-I think I might be" The brunette gulped and pointed to a scarf hanging above the
chair in the shape of a noose. "This chair and that rope This type of
arrangement is never good. I don't care what world it's in."
Chie laughed nervously and began edging toward the door, looking as pale as
Yosuke. "C-c'mon. Let's go back to where we came from, okay? We'll find another
path"
The brunette nodded and followed after the female without any arguments. Hazel
eyes racked over the walls once more as the headphone-clad male paused by the
door, frowning.
"You know I think I've seen this poster before somewhere. I can't remember where
though"
"W-who cares!" Chie groaned, "Let's just get out of here! I'm sick of this place, it's
creepy! And I'm not feeling so good"
"Now that you mention it" Yosuke shivered, "Me too Come on, let's head back."
The silverette followed after the other two silently, noticing just how heavy his body
felt. His head felt like it was spinning, and the feeling he felt back when he first
arrived at Inaba was coming back to him. Shaking his head, he sprinted past Yosuke
and Chie, who broke into a run in turn, not questioning his sudden burst of speed.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Whew Thank god, we finally made it back" Chie whimpered as the group of
teens stepped back onto the stage-like platform they'd arrived on. "That felt like it
took forever So what's thewhat on earth is that!?"
"What's wh" Yosuke turned to see where Chie had started pointing, stepping back
in shock, crashing into a surprised Souji. "S-something's coming!"

Sure enough, a dark shape could be seen moving through the fog, headed right for
them. Souji gulped and felt his muscles tense as the figure got closer. He
unconsciously stepped sideways, moving closer to Chie as Yosuke did the same.
Closer and closer the figure got, before a red and blue something came out of the
fog and stopped in front of them.
Souji blinked slowly, staring at the bizarre thing in front of them. It looked as if it
belonged in the room of a child. It was shortreaching his mid-chestand mostly
red with a blue head and white face. Large black eyes stared back at him. The odd
creature moved closer, looking the three of them up and downthough it didn't
seem dangerous at all.
He looks familiar too The silverette mused, But, I wouldn't have forgotten meeting
something THIS strange, would I? I mean It's a bear plush thing. How could I
forget meeting something like this? And yet
"Wh-what is this thing?" Chie sputtered, "A monkey? A dog, maybe? A bear?"
"What in the? Who?" Yosuke sputtered, "What the hell is that!?"
"That's what I wanna know!" The bizarre living-plush doll cried in alarm. "Who are
you guys? How did you get in here?"
"W-whoa" Chie gasped, "It talked! Wh-what the heck are you!? Y-you wanna
fight? Huh!?"
The martial-artist took a fighting stance, looking ready to pounce on the bear at a
moment's notice.
"Wh-what?" The bear stepped back, cowering. "D-don't yell at me like that!"
Souji stepped forward, raising a hand to stop Chie from advancing forward. He
stopped just a few feet short of the bear and knelt down, offering the terrified
creature a soft smile.
"Unfortunately We're somewhat lost, and we have no idea how it was we got in
here in the first place. Could you tell is where we are? And what it is you are?"
"D-dude" Yosuke muttered, "I wouldn't get too close. It could seriously go postal at
any second and take us all out."
"Go... wha?" The odd bear stared at Yosuke inquisitively. "I don't deliver mail. I'm

Teddie. And this is my home. But... you didn't throw those people in here?"
"No. We're just lost, and need a way to get back out," said Souji calmly in spite of
Yosuke's continuously uttered commentary.
"Well then, why didn't you say so in the first place?!" Teddie rolled his eyes as
though it had all been a simple matter, and with a flourish, he summoned a column
of three television sets into the middle of the atrium.
"Whoa!" gasped Chie, her eyes wide with wonder. "How did you- OW! Hey!"
"Hey, quit pushing, you stupid bear!" yelled Yosuke.
"You can't stay here any longer!" insisted Teddie, ignoring their protests. "It's
dangerous when the fog lifts! And don't come back, either! It's for your own good!"
Souji tried to say something, anything, to get Teddie to wait, but in a strange whirl of
black and white, he found himself sprawled out on the floor of Junes next to Yosuke
and Chie, who appeared thoroughly irritated.
"What the heck was all that about?!" said Yosuke as he got up, rubbing his back-end.
"I don't know," murmured Chie, wincing as she too, rose to her feet, "but I'm really
glad that's over."
"Me too," Yosuke sighed. Just as he turned to talk more about the strange adventure
they had experienced, he leapt in place, twisting his legs together. "And now that
we're out of there I'm going to go to the bathroom! Now!" He sprinted down the
aisles as fast as he could, knowing exactly where the nearest restroom was.
Souji couldn't help but laugh in spite of the strangeness of the situation. He couldn't
stop wondering why a bear, and one so strange, inhabited a world that shouldn't
even exist. His stomach suddenly lurched and he felt weary, the idea of telling Chie
he would simply go home for the day seemingly like a very good idea.
"Hey, Souji-kun? Do you mind if we just... go home?" whispered Chie, rubbing her
eyes sleepily. "That... really wore me out. I think we should just sleep this off and talk
about it tomorrow. What do you think?"
"I think that's a great idea," said Souji in relief, glad he didn't have to mention it first.
"Should I go tell Yosuke, or..."
"No, I can tell him. It's alright. I'll just pick up a few things while I'm here. I need to get

some more Meat Gum..."

"Meat... Gum?" Souji blinked, unsure what to think.
"Yeah, it's really good! It's like... beef jerky, but it keeps its flavor a lot longer!" Chie
grinned brightly at the thought. "I can give you a piece to try later, if you'd like."
"I'm... looking forward to it" Souji said politely, making a note in the back of his
mind to avoid reminding Chie about this odd promise.
"Great! Well, I'll go do that now! Have a safe trip home, Souji-kun!"
"Yeah, you too, Chie."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Souji arrived home late, but he was thankful when Nanako asked if he wanted some
eggs for dinner. He had completely forgotten to eat anything after his visit to the TV
world, and the hot over-easy fried eggs settled his hunger quite well. After thanking
his cousin by helping her clean the dishes, Souji excused himself and made his way
to his bedroom, shutting the door behind him. He swiftly moved to his futon and fell
unceremoniously onto the soft mattress, not bothering to change into his nightclothes.
The Midnight Channel was the least of his worries, his exhausted mind not caring
about anything other than falling asleep as soon as possible.

Fog in Which Memories

I apologize, I know I'm late in updating and I am truly sorry. Chapter four is (so far)
one of the longest, so I hope it's length makes up for my inability to remember to
post.
Thanks to Fiyerna and ToastedWhiskers for both beta-ing this when I didn't have
the time to do so (so if there are any typos, take it up with those two.)
Chapter Four: Fog in Which Memories are Lost
To say Souji's day had been long would be an understatement. The silverette was
completely and utterly exhausted. He would have loved nothing more than to crawl
into his futon and lay there for a week without having to move or get up for any
reason. His muscles ached, and his head was just starting to throb with yet another
one of the ever-popular headaches that he seemed to be getting from most
everything as of late. His whole body just seemed to be ready to throw in the towel.
Yosuke had been kind enough to lend Souji his bathroom after he'd walked the
equally, if not more-so, exhausted brunette home, to wash his face and clean his
uniform the best he could. When he'd finished, the headphone-clad teen was already
passed out on the couch, and the silverette had taken it upon himself to wake
Yosuke enough that the teen could climb onto his back and carry him to his room.
This had done nothing to help Souji's current fatigue, but it left him feeling much
more relaxed about leaving Yosuke home alone after that afternoon's events.
On his way home, he ran into Yukiko on the flood plain. The raven-haired girl was
dressed in a glamorous pink kimono and had taken refuge under a tree, seeming
uneasy about going into the rain with only her parasol. He had stopped briefly and
walked her to the gazebo under the cover of his own umbrella, where the two sat
together and talked briefly about school and how well Souji had adjusted to the town.
Yukiko had seemed rather nervous and flustered as she spoke, but the silverette
simply assumed that she was much shyer then he'd realized and she had no idea
what to say to him. The conversation had drifted toward Chie briefly, and the raven
seemed to calm down once Souji spoke of his approval and easy friendship with the
martial artist. Listening to Yukiko speak of her fondness for the brunette girl made
Souji faintly jealous. He couldn't remember having had a friend like that before, and
it was faintly depressing to be reminded that he was in a town wheremore or less
everyone grew up together and they'd had the same friends since childhood.

He now stood outside the door to the Dojima household, rubbing his forehead as he
tried to compose himself enough to walk inside and not cause his cousin to worry.
The last thing he needed right now was Nanako in a panic because he looked like
he'd gotten mugged or thrown into a street fight. Fortunately, his appearance wasn't
as bad as it had been earlier, and he could simply blame his fatigue on a club at
school or claim he'd gone for a run.
Taking a deep breath, the silverette opened the door and stepped inside, smiling as
best he could when Nanako's voice welcomed him back home. He sighed as he was
finally able to settle himself down in a comfortable seat, silently thanking whoever
had invented seat cushions. He leaned against the table, whimpering softly as he felt
his back pop several times.
"Are you okay?" Nanako asked quietly as she set a bento down in front of Souji,
cradling a smaller one in her arms while she looked down at him curiously.
"I'm fine, Nanako." Souji smiled and nodded, picking up his chopsticks. "Don't worry
about me. Would you mind if we watched the news for a bit? You can have the TV
when I'm finished eating. I want to check something."
The young girl nodded and reached for the remote, flipping the news on without
complaint. A reporter popped up onto the screen in midsentence, talking about the
latest murder, not at all to Souji's surprise.
"local high school student Saki Konishi was found dead in the residential area.
Since the body was positioned similarly to the last victim, and it was Ms. Konishi who
found the body, the police believe this is a serial murder related to the first case. The
coroner's report believes that Konishi's death was at one a.m. this morning. Because
of the fog, the body was not discovered until"
As the reporter droned on, Souji felt his thoughts drifting back toward Yosuke. It was
very likely that the brunette teen was passed out in his bed, not likely to wake until
morning, but he couldn't help but wonder if would have been better for him to stay
behindif only for a few hours. The headphone-clad boy had been through a lot
today, and he was faintly surprised the teen had been able to fall asleep as quickly
as he had.
"Another incident" Nanako sighed softly. "Dad won't be coming home again
tonight."
"Nanako" Souji glanced over at the young brunette, a sympathetic look on his
face. "Hey, Nanako, don't worry It'll be alright. I'm here with you too, so"

"I'll be okay." Nanako smiled despite her depressed tone, and her gratitude from
Souji's gesture could be seen in the faint curve of lips. "Could you help me with a few
chores around the house?"
The silverette nodded, smiling softly. "I'd be hap-"
"Amagi inn, located upstream of Samegawa River, is the town's oldest landmark."
Souji's attention was pulled to the TV as he watched an over-zealous interviewer
dancing on the balls of his feet as he interviewed a perplexed Yukiko. It didn't take a
genius to tell that the raven-haired girl was uncomfortable and utterly confused. The
report continued to drag on as the reporter went further and further off-subject, losing
Souji's interest quickly.
"Turn it off, Nanako" Souji muttered as he stood up slowly, taking care to hide the
screaming protest of his muscles by making his movements as slow as possible.
"What did you need help with?"
"Well."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Helping Nanako around the house had been easier then Souji expected, but he still
felt a rush of unnecessary gratitude when the young girl told him that they were
finished. He bid Nanako goodnight and pulled the girl into a quick hug, reassuring
her once more that everything would be alright before he slipped upstairs and into
the second floor bathroom.
Steam filled the room as hot water poured from the faucet and filled the tub. Leaning
over the back of the toilet, Souji opened the small window on the far wall to allow the
excess steam to escape. The mirror had already started to fog, leaving Souji to stare
at his blurred, shirtless reflection as he waited for the tub to finish filling.
When he was finally able to lower himself into the water, he sighed loudly in content.
His eyes flickered shut as he leaned back against the marble wall of the tub, allowing
his muscles to relax under the heat of the water. He opened his eyes when he heard
a soft dripping sound, and he glanced toward the faucet which was still slowly
trickling out water.
He sat up and reached out, quickly turning the hot water knob until the trickle finally
stopped. Pausing, the silverette stared at his hand, the long, pale, slender fingers
wrapped around the metal handle. He blinked slowly and pulled his hand away,
gazing at his open palm as he leaned backward in the tub once more. Extending his

hand forward, he turned his palm up so that it was facing the ceilingalmost as if he
were holding somethingbefore closing the hand quickly, crushing the invisible item.
Something stirred in the back of his mindalmost as if the something were
chuckling in faint amusement. A far-away look filled Souji's eyes as a dazed smile
graced his lips. He repeated the movement, opening his hand and then closing it into
a fist quickly, muttering a name under his breath.
"Izanagi"
The name had come so naturally to him earlier, almost as if he were recalling the
name of an old friend. He shut his eyes as remembered the feeling that had filled
him as he stood facing the two strange creatures that had burst from what wasor
had at least looked likethe Konishi liquor store.
The store, of course, had merely been a replica. Something created inside the world
of the TV that he and Yosuke had dared to venture inside again. Teddie, the strange
stuffed animal-like creature they'd met on their first trip inside, had helped them
navigate around the strange fog-shrouded world after they'd convinced him that they
were not the ones throwing people inside his world. In return for his help they had
promised to help look for the person who was throwing people inside.
At first, Souji had thought the trip would have been an easy, simple walk around the
inside until they found something that might have been helpful to them or provided
some sort of clue as to what was going on. Of course, they had found what they
were looking for, but the clues that they had stumbled upon had only left them with
more questions. They had become stuck in a mess much larger than they had
anticipated and neither of them had even begun to imagine that they might
actually end up fighting monsterseven though it had been Souji who did the
fighting.
The creatures, Shadows, which had appeared shortly after their arrival at the liquor
store, were not at all pleased with Souji and Yosuke's meanderings about their world.
Teddie had panicked when he sensed their approach and backed away, not
bothering to help Yosuke, who had tripped as he too tried to back away. The bear
had rushed past Souji, who stood frozen, staring at the creatures as the voice he'd
heard on the night he first saw the Midnight Channel echoed in his mind.
The silverette blinked and looked down at his open palm again, opening and closing
it several more times, as if testing how the motion felt. The smile on his face grew as
he shut his eyes, imagining the glowing blue card levitating just over his palm as he
quickly shut his fist once more.

"Izanagi"
The presence in the back of his mind stirred again, and a feeling of contentment
washed over Souji as he relaxed in the tub again, shutting his eyes. The moment the
name had escaped his lips in the TV world and he had crushed in his hand the
mysterious card that seemed to appear out of nowhere, it was as if one of the many
holes he felt since he arrived in Inaba had been filled instantly. Something about the
presence of that creaturePersona as he remembered the voice had called itself
was calming, almost comforting. It was familiar, something he knew but didn't know
at the same time but he did know that whatever Izanagi was he was safe, and
Souji felt much better knowing he was there.
Feeling himself begin to nod off in the tub, he decided that he would rather not
awaken in cold water before leaving for school. Rising swiftly and retrieving a nearby
towel, he pulled the drain-plug and began to dry himself off, thankful for the brief
chance to relax and collect his thoughts. Wrapping the damp towel around his waist,
he climbed out of the tub and made his way back to his room, where he hung the
towel on his doorknob and changed into his pajamas.
As he laid down on his futon, his eyes flickered over to his cellphone. He briefly
considered getting up to send Yosuke a text message to check on his brunette
friend, but he highly doubted the other teen was conscious enough to register that
his phone had even rang. The headphone wearing teen was likely passed out to the
point where he could have been tossed into the middle of the busy Tokyo traffic and
he would have been none-the-wiser.
I suppose I can't blame him Souji thought as he stared up at his ceiling. After
going through all that I can't blame him for being so tired. The silverette shut his
eyes, briefly playing over the dramatic events that had happened inside the liquor
store.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Yosuke stood quite still, the only visible movement was the trembling hand that held
the picture he'd picked up off the counter in front of him earlier. Souji winced, the
pained look on the brunette's face sending a sharp jolt of displeasure down his
spine. It had been bad enough for Yosuke to go though the traumatic news from this
morning and knowing that the girl he'd so affectionately looked up to was dead, but
to hear that the kind treatment she'd given him had all been a lie and that he was
nothing more than a 'pain in the ass' was cruel.
Souji stepped forward, raising his hand to give the brunette's shoulder a gentle

squeeze of comfort, but before he could make contact, a low laugh filled the room,
making them both freeze.
"It's so sad I feel so sorry for myself Boo hoo" The voice was eerily familiar,
sending a chill down both spines as the two teens turned, eyeing the figure several
yards away in shock.
The figure wasor at least looked exactly likeYosuke. The Yosuke replica was
leaning against a large pillar of beer kegs, a sadistic smirk gracing its features. The
copy wore the Yasogami High uniform with the same orange headphones draped
around its neck as Yosuke. The only visible different Souji would spot were the bright
yellow eyes that seemed to glow in the shadows of the shop.
"Actually" the replica stepped forward, eyes sparkling with malice. "I'm the one
who thinks everything's a pain in the ass. Hahaha!"
"H-huh?" Teddie gasped from Souji's right as the bear ran into the store. "Wh-what?
Why are there two Yosukes?"
"W-who are you!?" the real Yosuke demanded, stepping forward. "What are you!? I-I
wouldn't think any of that!"
The replica began to laugh again, throwing its head back as if the brunette had just
told a hilarious joke. "Yeah, right How long are you going to keep deluding
yourself, huh? You don't care about anything, do you? Screw the shopping district,
and Junes! You're sick of everything especially being stuck being out here living in
the sticks!"
"W-what are you saying?" Yosuke took a half-step backward, staring at his copy in
horror. "I that's not"
"Saying? I'm saying the truth, aren't I? You always act so carefree so happy-golucky 'cause you're too so damn scared of being alone. You gotta be in a crowd if
you wanna block out the pain of isolation, isn't that right? And what was all that crap
you spewed earlier about wanting to check this place out for Saki-senpai? What a
load! I know the real reason you came" The other Yosuke's smirk grew as it
stepped forward, making the real Yosuke take another step back.
The brunette shook his head rapidly, a slight tremble shaking his figure. "S-stop it!"
he shouted, fighting to keep his voice strong.
The replica began to shake, doubled over holding its head as it tried to control the
manic laughter that echoed in the shop. "Why are you so panicked, hm? I thought

I was spouting bullshit. No need to get so jumpy if I'm lying, right? Or could it be
just maybe I do know everything you're thinking! Wanna know why that is?"
Yosuke shook his head again, crashing into a stack of barrels as he took another
step backward.
"No? I'll tell you anyway. I know everything you're thinking because I am you!
You only came here because you thought it sounded coollike it'd be fun, a good
time. What else is there to do in this shithole, hm? The girls at school won't pay
attention to you at all, and Chie won't so much as give you a second glance with
Yukiko-san around. Talk about pathetic, jealous of a girl! As long as those two are
together, you're just 'some guy' that happens to sit near them. Chie doesn't need a
guy like you as long as she's buddy-buddy with Yukiko-san. She doesn't need a
friend like youlet alone a boyfriend! She's probably just hands around with you for
the merits anyway She wants someone cool, right? Someone strong and
intelligent who can relate to all the strange martial-arts stuff she likes. You're just
passing entertainment for her She could never go for a guy like you! You're too
boring.
"Now a world inside the TVthat's exciting! And you've finally got a pal to share this
newfound fun with, right? You were more than excited when Souji here showed up,
because you finally thought you could find someone who wouldn't hate you the
moment they realized who you were. He's someone from the city, and probably just
as bored as you. Boredom that's the only reason you came here, isn't it!?"
"That's not true" Yosuke muttered, the look on his face contorted with pain as his
voice growing quiet and tone weakening. "Stop I said stop it!"
"Tch why should I!? You're just trying to act like a big-shot! You're scared stiff and
you won't even admit it! You came in here because if all went well, hey, you might be
a hero! Find clues to the mysterious murder case and play Superman as you brought
them to the police. You were so sweet on Saki-senpai, but you took advantage of her
deaththe perfect excuse!"
"That's not true!" the brunette shouted, stomping his foot against the concrete floor.
"What are you!? Who are you!?"
The replica chuckled. "I already told ya I'm you. Your Shadow There's nothing
about you that I don't know."
Souji's watched as Yosuke tried to back further into the barrels of liquor he was
currently pressed against. His muscles tensed as his fingers flexed around the silver
golf-club he had gripped tightly in his hands. He stepped forward, slowly

approaching Yosuke's side as the two 'twins' stared one-another down.

"Screw that! I don't know you!" Yosuke shouted, making Souji's muscles grew tenser.
Someone was going to happen soon, the silverette could feel it. Something bad, and
all he knew was that he needed to be near the brunette to keep it from happening.
"Yosuke-" Souji started, but was cut off as the headphone-clad teen growled and
slashed a hand through the air.
"You can't be me, you son of a bitch!"
The replica beamed at Yosuke, stepping forward as a dark aura began to surround
its frame. "That's right say it again!"
"Y-you're not me" Yosuke was whimpering now, completely oblivious to Souji
and Teddie's presence. "You're nothing like me! You don't know anything about me!"
The Yosuke copy burst into another fit of spine-chilling laughter as the real Yosuke
went deathly pale. The brunette looked ready to bolt, but his legs didn't want to
listen. He stood in place, trembling as the mirror-image of himself vanished,
surrounded by a vast black aura. Yosuke shuddered violently and collapsed
sideways just as Souji bolted forward, closing the last few inches of space between
them and caught the teen before he could hit the hard floor.
The silverette threw his arm up to block his eyes as a white light burst from the aura,
completely obscuring his vision. When the aura finally died down, Souji gasped
sharply as he looked up. The creature in front of him was most definitely not the
'Shadow' he'd seem earlier. Whatever it was, it wasn't happy, and it's eyesor what
Souji assumed were its eyeswere locked on the brunette.
"Pain in the ass" The voice was still the same as Yosuke's but the tone had gotten
much darker than before. "I'll destroy anything that gets in my way And once
you're gone, I'll destroy that weakling!"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Souji blinked and rolled over in his futon, glancing at his TV, sighing softly. The battle
that had followed the Shadow's bizarre transformation was to blame for most of his
current fatigue. Whatever Yosuke's 'Shadow' had turned into was strong, and the
attacks had hit Souji harder than that of the two previous creatures that attacked
outside the shop. Between the shock from the situation and trying to handle his
newfound power, the silverette had no idea how he'd managed to defeat and calm
the monster that had been attacking him.

Rubbing his arm, the silverette winced. The wound he'd gotten from the battle had
stopped bleeding after Yosuke had managed to sneak a first-aid kit from the
employee station at Junes, but it still throbbed violently in pain whenever he thought
about it.
He rolled over again, returning his gaze to the ceiling as his mind wandered to the
events that followed the battle.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Only a few seconds after its defeat, the monster disappeared, replaced by the
replica as it stood motionless in the middle of the liquor shop, staring at Yosuke's still
form. Souji darted forward, returning to the brunette's side as he eyed the copy
uneasily, but it didn't seem to be moving.
Yosuke shifted under the hand the silverette had placed on his shoulder and sat up,
making Souji jump from the sudden, unexpected movement.
"I" The brunette winced as he stood up, stumbling as he tried to regain his
balance.
"Yosuke" Souji muttered, stepping forward to steady the other teen. "Hey Are
you alright?"
"Y-yeah fine. What what happened?"
Silver eyes focused on something past Yosuke's shoulder and the brunette turned,
eyes widening slightly as he stared at the golden-eyed doppelganger.
"Y-you!" Yosuke shouted, taking a step forward. "You you're not me"
The Shadow, which had been completely still since its defeat, twitched but didn't
move from its spot, gazing sadly at the brunette.
"That thing came from you, Yosuke" Teddie muttered softly, "It'll go berserk again if
you keep rejecting it."
"B-but" Yosuke struggled to speak, his head bowed. "II it that"
"Hey" Souji stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on the brunette's shoulder.
"It's alright, Yosuke You're still you, no matter what that thing did or didn't say.
Nothing changes; you're still Yosuke."
"Still me, huh?" Yosuke chuckled sadly, staring at his shoes. "Dammit, it it

hurts to admit this sort of crap about yourself, you know?" He turned and began to
walk toward the replica slowly, stopping a few feet away.
"I knew it wasn't lying, but I was ashamed to admit it. I I don't really think
Senpai's death was an excuse to have some fun but" he trailed off, shaking his
head. "No There's no way to excuse itor any easy way to say it. You're me
and I'm you. There's no other way to put it."
The copy nodded and stepped forward, a blue aura surrounding its feet as it faded
away in a burst of blue light, a new figure taking its place as it levitated in the air.
Souji blinked, raising an eyebrow as he stared at the creature that was gazing down
at Yosuke. The only way the silverette could describe it was a bizarre combination of
Mickey Mouse, a Ninja and Elvis. It almost looked like the protagonist of a
children's hero cartoon. The thought made Souji chuckle. I guess every boy wants to
be a hero at one point in his life
"This is my Persona huh?" Yosuke's voice pulled Souji from his thoughts. The
brunette turned around, smiling awkwardly. "I guess we have the same power
now, huh? Iungh"
"Yosuke!" Souji hurried forward as the brunette fell down to one knee, panting
heavily.
"When I heard Senpai's voice" Yosuke's voice trembled as he spoke, something
sparkling in the corner of his eyes. "I wondered if that was something she was
holding deep down inside. Hehe It's so pathetic 'He was a real pain in the ass,'
huh? What a way to find out It's so embarrassing."
Souji stepped forward again as Yosuke looked up at him, smiling softly. "Man if
you weren't here, who knows what woulda happened to me. Thanks, Souji But
man! That was something! You defeated that thing all by yourself!?"
Souji blushed, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I, ah well"
"Dude, you must be ridiculously strong. I didn't know you worked out!" Yosuke
grinned, amused as Souji's blush grew darker.
"I, well I like to fish." What had made him say it, Souji had no clue, but the words
slipped from his lips before he could stop them.
"You like to... fish?" The brunette stared at Souji blankly. "Huh?"

The silverette could only nod. "Big fish." He held his hands several feet apart, as it to
emphasize his words.
"So what, do you like bench press Samegawa's Guardian everyday or
something weird like that?"
Souji snorted, matching Yosuke's amused grin with one of his own. "Heh, yeah.
Maybe something like that."
The brunette laughed and shook his head, sighing softly. "Man, you're a complete
weirdo, dude Maybe that's why I can talk to you so easily. You're even weirder
than I am But still I feel as if we used to talk like this all the time, but we only met
each other a few days ago"
"I don't know Yukiko said the same thing. She said we might be 'kindred spirits' or
something like that."
"Dunno You might be right." Yosuke shrugged as he tried to standing again, failing
miserably. "I just feel how should I say this comfortable around you. Safe, ya
know? Like we've been best friends for years and we're suddenly able to see each
other again It's like I dunno something about you I know I can trust you."
Something tugged at the back of Souji's mind as a rush of gratitude and affection
built up in the silverette's chest toward Yosuke. He smiled and stepped forward,
holding out his hand.
"I trust you too, partner."
"Partner?" Yosuke tilted his head, taking the hand offered to him as Souji pulled the
brunette to his feet. "Huh. Hahaha. I kinda like the sound of that!"
Souji's grin grew. "Yeah, me too"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Kindred spirits, huh" Souji yawned, snuggling deeper into the fabric of his
sheets as he felt his mind begin to drift away. "It'd make sense at least. I never
believed in stuff like that, but after this afternoon I'd be hard pressed to not
believe in something as simple as that"
It'd be nice though to know that I had a best friend all this time just waiting for
me to come around. Souji smiled at the thought and shut his eyes, allowing the sleep
that had been tugging at the back of his mind for the past hour to finally take him into

the world of dreams.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Good evening, and welcome back."
Go figure. Souji thought as he opened his eyes, only faintly surprised to see that
he was once more in the strange car-like room of a deep royal blue.
"Good evening." The silverette replied politely with a nod.
"Oh?" Igor grinned, "Are you not pleased to see us? You needn't worry. You're still
fast asleep in your world. I've summoned you in your dreams. Isn't that better than
the last time? You haven't the danger of falling onto tracks this time."
Souji felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment as Margaret looked at Igor curiously,
amusement dancing in her eyes. He was grateful that the blonde female had
refrained from saying anything.
"I did promise that you would return here once you formed your contract a second
time, and this condition seems to have been met. Now that there are no longer any
complications, I can explain why you feel nostalgia regarding the town in which you
currently reside."
Souji tensed, leaning forward in his seat, not daring to speak as he held his breath.
Igor chuckled softly and waved a hand lazily in the air. "There is no need to be so
stiff, young man. You're going to give yourself a kink in the neck. Relax lean back.
I won't leave anything outit is my job as your host to make certain that my guest
sees his visit here to the very end Unfortunately, I failed in doing this the last time
you came hereor rather, you yourself failed in keeping the terms of your contract.
Of course, this was unintentional."
The silverette frowned, tilting his head to the side. Contract? Is he talking about
my promise with Teddie? But I only promised to help him find out who was
throwing people in the TV. Was I unable to do that before I left?
"Pondering your situation in your current state is meaningless, simply because you
lack the key to the door you wish to unlock. While you were here as our guest one
year ago, you followed the terms of your contract to the best of your ability. The
bonds you created through your social links provided you with great power, and you
would have maintained those social links by any means necessary. Such devotion is
quite admirable, and because of that dedication, a power with greater authority than I

has ordained that you deserve a second chance at fulfilling your conMy, that's
quite a face you're making."
Souji felt his jaw drop slightly at Igor's words, slowly leaning back against the padded
back of his seat. Wait powers higher than him? Have I missed something? Is
there someone else here I haven't noticed?
As if reading his mind, Igor waved a hand through the air again and smiled. "There
are no other inhabitants of this Velvet Room other than myself and Margaret. Yet
while we are guests within your mind, where this room exists, it is you who are a
guest of this room. Do you understand?"
Souji didn't understand it at all, but he didn't feel it was safe to question whatever it
was that the bizarre older gentleman did mean. He simply nodded; deciding that
going along with whatever the other was saying would save him another migraine
when he woke up.
"Splendid!" Igor clasped his hands together, smiling. "Shall we move on?"
Souji nodded again.
"As previously stated, powers higher than I believed you deserved a second chance.
Even I cannot fully understand the events taking placeHowever the choice to
take the chance or not is completely your own."
"So If I felt like it, I could live this year exactly how I did before?"
Igor nodded. "If you wished although you may not get a third chance. Keep that in
mind."
Souji fell silent as he stared at the floor in front of him. He didn't understand anything
that was going on at all, and he didn't have a clue how he was supposed to go about
fixing whatever it was that he had done wrong the first time around, especially when
he was clueless as to what he'd done poorly in the first place. He sighed and slowly
ran a hand through his hair in frustration. What am I supposed to do? It's like I'm
expected to solve a puzzle blind-folded. I can't fix a problem if I don't know what
went wrong the first
"Now then, since you'll be pursuing the truth once more, it only seems fitting that you
should remember what happened during your first attempt."
Souji looked up, blinking slowly, dazed. Can this man read minds?

Igor raised a slender hand into the air and waved it once. Souji was forced to cover
his eyes as a bright flash filled the room. He heard Margaret gasp softly in shock
somewhere in front of him, and when he uncovered his eyes; two vials were floating
in the air in front of him. The first was filled with a silvery mist, and the second was
filled with a deep navy-blue substance similar to that of the first vial.
Souji stared at them in question, glancing up at Igor as he slowly reached toward
them. The old man nodded and waited until the silverette was holding them both
before speaking again.
"Now then, open the dark vial, and drink its contents."
Souji frowned, looking from Igor to the contents several times before raising a
slender eyebrow. He expects me to just drink this stuff? I don't even know what it
is
"The contents intrigue you, I see. But there is no need for concern. I will explain
things to you as best I can. Within these vials are, to put it simply, memories. Each
bottle contains the memories of an individual that may be transferred, or contained,
through consumption. Should the original bearer of these memories consume them
by varying means, they shall recollect the past as though nothing has changed.
However, should the memories become exposed to the open air; they will dissipate
and vanish, for memories are very fragile and delicate things."
"Then why are there two?" Souji asked, eyeing the two different colored mists in his
hand. "Are they all mine?"
"No, not all of them." Igor smiled, his gaze fixed on the thumb of his glove. "The
second vial is special. I do not know to whom these memories belong, but I am to
make certain you consume both these memories as well as your own. You will be a
carrier for these extra memories until the time comes for them to return to their
rightful owner. They will not affect you in a negative manner, however, because they
do not belong to you. You may think of them as a key that will not fit inside your own
particular lock."
"And it won't do anything to me?"
"You may feel an odd sensation in your throat as you drink them, but there will be no
side-effects beyond the knowledge that they exist within you."
"And the other ones are"
"Your own." Igor finished, "However, I must insist that you consume your own

memories last. The reason for this will become clear after all is said and done."
It was a ridiculous idea. To drink something that could have beenfor all he knew
meant to kill him. He stared at the vials, hesitating. I suppose I've nothing to lose.
By the way he talks, it sounds as if I did something wrong and I ended up dying
anyway. I've nothing to lose if that's the case.
Popping the top of the darker vial, Souji drained the contents in one gulp, his nose
scrunching as he did, in fact, feel an odd tingling sensation in his throat. Igor smiled
idly as he watched Souji shift in his seat in discomfort, not liking the feeling of having
whatever it wasmoving down his throat.
The feeling faded in seconds and Souji was left staring at the second vialhis own
memories. Without waiting for further explanation or orders from either Igor or
Margaret, he opened the glass tube and drained the silvery substance into his
mouth.
At first, nothing happened, and for a moment, Souji believed Igor had played him for
a fool, until his head split openor that's what it felt like. White-hot pain shot through
his body as images flashed in rapid succession before his mind. His mind barely had
time to register one image before another one would appear, each overlapping with
the next, looking like a slideshow gone haywire.
Voices filled his mind as he grabbed his head, fighting back the urge to scream in
pain as he slide from his seat, landing with a soft 'thump' on the floor of the velvet
room. Margaret gasped and stood up, freezing as Igor held up a gloved hand, a
serious look on his normally joyous face. The blonde hesitated before slowly
lowering herself back into her seat, watching with a pained expression as the boy
considered a precious friendand who had answered every request she had ever
givenwrithed on the floor in front of her.
"Master, can't we"
"Do not be alarmed, Margaret. Please return to your seat... Regrettably, there is
nothing we can do for him at this time. If you attempt to stop the pain, the memories
may become fractured and incomplete."
The pain seemed to go on for days before it finally faded. Souji lay on the floor,
panting heavily as the occasional muscle-spasm would shoot through his body
before he would go still again. A thin layer of sweat coated his entire body, making
him shiver as the images and voices stopped.
All was silent as the silverette slowly sat up, bend forward on his hands and knees

as he tried to catch his breath. Everythingeverything had come back to him. Every
memory, every event The time he'd spent with his friends and working on the
case the tender moments with Dojima and Nanako everything.
His brow furrowed in frustration as he realized the memories stopped just short of
what he believed to be November. He gulped and started to stand, before one, final
memory hit him with such force he collapsed back down to his knees.
~Flashback Start~
He stood in his room, silently looking out over a fog-covered down. A shrill ring
sounded from the pocket of his pajamas and he produced his phone, gazing at the
screen.
'Shirogane Naoto'
Souji smiled softly, flipping open the phone and pressing it to his ear, a warm feeling
rising in his chest.
"Naoto! I'm so glad you called, Merry Chri" The silverette was cut off as Naoto's
panicked voice shouted through the phone.
"S-Senpai! Th-the entire town" Naoto was panting heavily, her breath ragged, as if
she were running from something. Her voice trembled with a fear Souji had never
heard in it before. He paled, his hand instinctively tightening around the phone as he
gulped, forcing his voice to work. The smile that had been on his face vanished
immediately as his eyes widened, terror coursing through his body.
"N-Naoto!? What"
"I-it's filled with Shadows! T-there's t-too many I-I can't!" The sleuth's words
were cut off as a muffled scream filled the receiver.
"No! NAOTO!" his own voice cried, "Naoto! Answer me! Naoto!"
The sound of a gun being fired rapidly could be heard followed by another scream. A
loud 'bang'which Souji could only assume was Naoto's Persona casting a spell
went off before another, final, agonized scream filled his ears. There was a soft
'thump' as a body hit the ground and he the distinct clatter of the phone hitting
cement before the line died.
The phone in Souji's hands slipped from his fingers and landed on the floor, the hard
surface causing the battery to pop out and skid across the floor. He collapsed to his

knees, his eyes burning as he slammed a first into the ground. A chocked scream
escaped his throat as the tears overflowed and streamed down his cheeks.
Loud bangs drifted up the stairs as he heard the Shadows begin pounding on the
front door. His eyes flickered briefly toward the various swords sitting in the corner of
his room, but he didn't bother moving to claim one. His life had ended the moment
the phone-line had died, and now that Naoto was gone, he saw no point in fighting
for the life he'd wanted to share with her.
The door to his room burst open and Souji shut his eyes, waiting. He could hear the
Shadows swarming inside, hissing and snarling loudly as the spotted the silverette
sitting in the corner. I messed up Souji thought, dully. I really messed everything
up. Naoto I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you I couldn't save you I Heh I
guess there's no such thing as a second chance, is there?
Something sharp connected with the silverette's side and he cried out in pain. He felt
his shirt stick against his skin as it was soaked by something warm, wet, and sticky.
A broken smile graced his lips as he coughed, the taste of iron filling his mouth. He
chuckled weakly as he tumbled forward, wincing as his body connected with the floor
below him.
Opening his eyes one last time, his eyes strayed to the fog-shrouded window. To his
astonishment, he noticed a butterfly sitting on the window sill, opening and closing
bright blue wings as it seemed to look directly at him.
Souji instantly felt lightheaded, almost detached from his reality. He thought he felt
himself continue to fall, as though the floor had vanished beneath him. He was falling
endlessly, his vision blurred by a rush of images, of people and places and events,
and then...
~Flashback End~
Souji felt bile rise in his throat, his mind returning to the present.
Igor waved his hand once more, the serious look never leaving his features as
Margaret darted forward. The female helped the silverette move toward the basin
that the snowy-haired man had materialized, rubbing his back gently as the teen
heaved whatever had been in his stomach into the bin, his face ghostly pale.
N-Naoto my Naoto I couldn't save her. I didn't do anything!
I let her die

Light of Fortune
First off, thank you to everyone who reviewed. I got some rather interesting ones this
last chapter and I very much enjoyed seeing people trying to predict what is going to
happen later in the story. (Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong, and
sometimes you're very, very off.)
I would, however, like to take the time to clarify a few things I think may have been a
little confusing...
- I was aiming for Philemon with the butterfly (as he IS the butterfly) not Minato.
Minato is off... well, wherever it is he was sent at the end of Persona 3 and Elizabeth
is off attempting to find him (If he shows up in Persona 5 and speaks, I'm going to
laugh myself into a fit.)
- Naoto isn't dead. She was dead, but she isn't anymore. Remember, Souji was sent
back in time to "redo" all that he did in attempts to save Naoto from dead. The
chapter ended like that because his last memory was of Naoto dying, therefore you
can imagine he was very distressed. What would you do if you remembered getting
a phone call from the one you loved most and the last thing you hear was their
scream?
- This goes get explained (kinda...) in later chapters, but Souji doesn't have all his
memories. He doesn't remember Adachi being the true villain, or anything about
Namatame. His memories end sometime around the end of October, thus he doesn't
remember Nanako either [there is a reason for this, but it's a spoiler.] I suppose the
reason I can tell you is because, depending on Souji's choices, they could change
the final outcome of what happens in the end of the story, and thus, his memories of
what happened surrounding Naoto's death are a bit foggy. (Also, I don't want to copy
what happened in the "New Game Plus" story I mentioned in the first chapter.)
- The vile of memories... almost everyone who left a review tried to guess who these
belonged to, but... I'm not going to tell you. I'm sorry to say, I'm leaving that up to
your own minds to play with and mull over. After all, it wouldn't be fun if I told you
whose they were, would it?
Now, the last issue I would like to address...
Someone told me a few days ago that asking for reviews was out of line and
something that shouldn't be done on this site, and proved that I was childish and
greedy among other things. I'm not going to point fingers or defend myself in an
attempt to "look good", and before now, I had a paragraph below explaining my

reasons for having done so in the first place. Yet looking back on this, and after
something pointed out by a friend, I realise that likely made it sound as if I were just
attempting to make excuses for myself, intentional or not. Thus, I've ultimately
decided to go back and edit out the review issue, as well as omitting the reasoning. I
truly had never intended to upset, nor offend anyone in doing so. If I did or upset
anyone, then I offer my sincerest apologies from the bottom of my heart. It is my only
wish that I am able to continue writing something worthy enough to bring a smile
upon people's faces and leave them satisfied at the end. If I am able to do that
much, then I will consider my role as an author fulfilled and have all the confidence I
need.
Chapter Five: The light of Fortune
"Are you alright?" Margaret's soft voice broke Souji out of the dazed trance he'd
fallen into when his stomach had been emptied.
The silverette nodded, not trusting his voice as the blonde gently helped him back
into his seat before hesitantly returning to her own. Souji shuddered and rubbed his
arms, trying to calm the trembling that had overpowered his slender form. Naoto
she but he said I was getting another chance, right? T-then Naoto she
isn't
"She isn't dead." Souji jumped, jerking his gaze upward to meet Margaret's. "The
female, Naoto Shirogane, she isn't dead No, that isn't right. She isn't dead
anymore. When my Master said that you'd been given a second chance, he meant a
second chance for everything."
"Then I've gone back in time?"
"That is a reasonable conclusion." Igor nodded, "Simply put, it is as if you've turned
back the clock an entire year and you're starting at the beginning once more. Now
shall we find out why you've been given another chance?"
The silverette opened his mouth to ask what Igor meant, but before he could speak,
the snowy-haired man had waved his hand over the table in front of him, and the
familiar deck of cards appeared in a small flash of light. He flipped the first card,
laying it face down upon the table before turning it over, a small smile tugging at his
lips.
"Ahhh... I see." Igor chuckled, "It seems that your second chance has been brought
about by your profound connection to the Fortune Arcana. Very interesting... As to
why this might be the case, I cannot say. However, the Fortune Arcana will be of

primary importance should you wish to avoid previous mistakes."

"Fortune?" Souji repeated softly, his gaze falling to the floor. "If I'm to fix my
mistakes, then"
"You will require the assistance of Fortune." Igor nodded as he smiled. "Do you have
any idea as to what this means?"
Heh, even in what would have been your death You never once let me go, Naoto.
You once told me that you'd follow me anywhere Somehow I feel as if this isn't
what you meant. Souji couldn't help but smile weakly as he nodded his head slowly,
ignoring the feeling of nausea dancing in his stomach. "I think I understand at
least, I've got an idea of what it is I need to do." I might not remember everything
from that time things are hazy around the end of October, but I distinctly remember
times with my friends in November... However... I can't remember anything from
December
"Wonderful! Now"
A shrill ring filled the Velvet Room and Igor looked up, his smile widening.
"It seems that the time has come for you to return to your own world. 'Til we meet
again"
"Huh? W-wait! I still have more ques" Souji was unable to finish as the room
around him seemed to swirl and fade away into an abyss of white mist. The ringing
was steadily growing louder and Souji felt himself slipping away from the dream-like
world of the Velvet Room.
When he next opened his eyes, the dream had gone and he was staring at his
ceiling. Off to the side, he could hear the shrill beep of his cell-phone going off.
Blinking slowly, Souji rolled over in bed, carefully piecing together everything that
had just happened. That dream. With Igor and Margaret I didn't lose any of the
memories from it then it really happened? But
His phone rang again and Souji pushed the thoughts aside for later, scrambled out of
his futon and over to the dresser. Grabbing the small flip-phone, the silverette
opened it and pressed the receiver to his ear without looking at the screen.
"Hello?"
"Souji?" The silverette blinked and glanced at his clock. It was just barely five-thirty
in the morning.

"Yosuke? Why are you calling so"

"Can we talk before school today?"
"Talk?" Souji had been inclined to ask 'why,' but the words died in his throat before
they could form. "Yeah, sure. How about we meet up at the flood plain on our way to
school?"
Yosuke paused before muttering. "Yeah. That'll be fine. I'll see you then."
The line died and Souji was left staring at his phone, perplexed. I don't remember
him calling the last time around Thinking about it Yosuke's Shadow was different
too. It didn't mention Chie the first time we encountered it either. Could it be that
I've already started to change things?
"I wonder whatgaugh!" Stumbling, Souji just barely managed to catch himself from
tumbling forward. He winced and lifted his foot, rubbing the first two toes slowly as
he looked down to see what he had tripped over.
"A box?"
Frowning, the silverette turned his light on before kneeling down beside the strange
cardboard box that seemed to have materialized in his room. It hadn't been there
before he'd fallen asleep and he was certain that no one had entered the room. The
flaps were loose and it was easy to see that the box had not been sealed by any
means. Hesitating slightly, the teen slowly reached for the first flap and lifted it,
blinking as a small sheet of white paper drifted to the floor.
'I was able to retrieve these before you were sent back to start over again. I wasn't
sure what function each of them held, but the condition in which they were kept
indicated to me that the items themselves were of precious value to you. Now that
your memories have returned, I feel that these should be given back to you as well.
-Margaret'
"Items?" Souji reached for the second flap and opened the box the rest of the way,
a soft smile gracing his lips as he stared at its contents. "The gifts everyone gave
me."
He picked up the first item on the top, slowly turning the white bandage-like material
in his hand. From Yosuke He reached into the box again, pulling out a pair of
wristbands. Chie and that charm Yukiko gave it to me.
Memories surfaced and played themselves in his mind as Souji removed each item

from the box. A family picture from Nanako, the coffee mug given to him by Dojima
"But where is?" As he moved one of the larger items out of the box, a smaller,
darker box caught his attention. He grabbed it and pulled it out, turning the small
navy-blue box over in his hands.
A silver ribbon held the box shut, the color and shade of the fabric matching his hair
perfectly, and the deep navy blue of the box was just like
"I knew it," the silverette muttered, pulling away the ribbon to remove the lid. "
Naoto."
Sitting inside the box, safely snug against gray-velvet fabric was a single item. A
small badge; a finally crafted silver crest adorned the front that read, 'Detective Seta'
in elegant script. His smile grew as he flipped it open and looked at the inside. His
own picture smiled back at him, the small words 'Crafted by N.S' written in minuscule
text in the lower right corner of the ID.
"I suppose this is all the proof I need to know that wasn't a dream."
Placing the item back in the box gently, Souji rubbed his eyes, his brain too active for
him to fall back asleep successfully. Standing up, he stretched and quietly moved
around his room, dressing himself and gathering what he needed for the day. He
pulled his uniform jacket on as he slipped into the bathroom, quickly washing his
face before sneaking down the stairs. If he couldn't sleep, he would make good use
of the time he had.
Within minutes the entire first floor of the Dojima residence was filled with the warm,
mouth-watering scent of breakfast. At each place sat a plate generously filled with
eggs and toast. Next to each plate was a bowl of rice with a pair of chopsticks
balanced on the rim. Fish sizzled in a pan on the stove as Souji moved quickly
throughout the kitchen, throwing together a rather large bento for lunch as he
scurried around and tried to finish breakfast before his uncle or cousin woke up.
"Now I just need to make some coffee and" The silverette pull three mugs from the
cabinet, pausing as he stared at the coffee beans on the counter. That's right,
Dojima always insisted on making the coffee He said it was the one job that He
set the mugs down near the tin of coffee mix, returning to the stove as the fish began
to pop loudly. Looks like his is finished
"Souji?"
"Good morning, Uncle Dojima." Souji said with a wide smile, carefully sliding one of

the small fish he'd just finished cooking onto everyone's plate. "I hope you're hungry.
I wasn't sure if Nanako would be awake before you left or not, but I thought I'd make
some for her as well."
"It, ah smells great. I remembered sis saying that you could cook enough to fend
for yourself but I didn't expect to be served breakfast anytime soon." The detective
walked over to the counter, noticing the three mugs sitting next to the coffee maker.
"You didn't make any coffee."
Souji shook his head. "I know that you" he trailed off, wincing. It wasn't as if he
could tell Dojima that he'd already learned from the man himself that it was his 'job'
to make coffee. It was going to be difficult enough trying to hide his 'secret' while
living in a house with a detective who seemed to pick up on every white-lie he told.
"Well, mom told me that you always make the coffee. I didn't get a reason she
just said that I was to make sure I never tried to take the job from you."
"Did she?" Dojima asked, looking faintly surprised as he started up the coffee maker.
"I'll have to remember to thank her for that As silly as it is, this job is small, but
important to me."
I know Souji thought, offering Dojima a small smile of understanding.
"Whaz that smell?" A tired voice called from the hallway as Nanako stumbled into
the room, dazed from having just woken up. "Dad? Did you make breakfast?"
"Hahaha, nope." Dojima slapped Souji on the back, a grin forming across his
features. "I just got up. Looks like this guy's got some skill in the kitchen. We don't
have to live off bento for the yearuh, at least, on the days he doesn't mind"
"I wouldn't mind cooking meals." Souji cut in quickly, "I might not be able to make
dinner every night, but I could handle breakfast and lunch once in a while." I didn't
cook enough for you two last time I want to make up for that.
"This is great" Dojima muttered, taking a large bite of eggs. "Man, if this is what
you can do for breakfast I can't wait to see your lunch. At this rate, I'm not gonna
want to hand you back over to my sister."
I'd rather you didn't Souji thought sadly. I'd be happier if I could stay here with you
and everyone else when the year ends
Shoving the thought aside, the silverette forced a small smile. "Kidnapping,
detective? I expected better from an officer of the law."

Dojima chuckled. "Well then, maybe I'll just 'borrow' you longer than planned."
Quickly downing the rest of his breakfast, Ryotaro stood up and placed his dishes in
the sink, grabbing his jacket off the chair. "I'm off. Don't stay up and wait for me
tonight, I'm not sure when I'll be home."
"Bye dad" Nanako's called as loud as her muffled mouthful of eggs would allow.
"Have a good day, Uncle."
The front door rattled as it was opened and then shut again, leaving Souji and
Nanako in near silence.
"This is really good! Your eggs are a lot better than mine" Nanako smiled, quickly
forking the last of the food into her mouth. "Will you make me breakfast again
tomorrow?"
Souji chuckled as he stood up and disposed of his dishes, ruffling the brunette's hair.
"Sure, and the day after that too. I don't mind."
"Yay!" Nanako smiled happily, giving Souji's chest a warm, light-hearted feeling as
he watched his cousin slip off her chair to take care of her own dishes.
"I'm meeting up with a friend before school today, so I'm leaving early. Will you be
alright on your own?"
Nanako nodded, her mouth full of juice. She set the cup down and bent down,
picking Souji's school bag up off the floor and holding it out to him.
"I'll be alright Thank you for breakfast."
The silverette shook his head. "Don't thank me, we're family. I'll see you later."
"Bye!"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Yo!" Yosuke greeted with a grin as his bike came to a stop in front of the tree Souji
was waiting under at the flood plain. "I'm glad you made it Did you watch your TV
last night?"
"TV? You mean the Midnight Channel again?" The silver-haired teen shook his
head, "No, I was exhausted I feel asleep almost as soon as I got in bed. Why? Did
you see something?" After Yosuke the last time this happened, I wasn't as tired as

I was yesterday. I'd seen the Midnight Channel and in the end it was Yukiko who
appeared. Given that, I could easily prevent Yukiko from being kidnapped in the first
place, but would that really be for the best? When everyone had to face their
Shadows it almost seemed like a well-needed release.
"I got up to go to the bathroom by chance," Yosuke's voice pulled Souji from his
thoughts. "It was about eleven-fifty, and I figured I should stay up, you know? Just to
be safe and it's a good thing I did. I saw someone."
"Could you tell who it was?" Souji asked, taking care to make his tone sound
curious. I can't let him know that I already know who it is. If I told him I'd already lived
through this year once No, that would make things way more complicated then
they needed to be. I didn't get my memories back in time to save Saki Konishi or the
announcer... and I don't want him to think that I cast their lives aside.
"No, I couldn't" Yosuke sighed, shaking his head. "The image was way to fuzzy
but if someone has shown up on TV, then we can't ignore it. I'm pretty sure it was a
girl but the picture wasn't clear enough to be sure."
"I see" Souji sighed, running a hand through his hair. I know who it is, but if I
give him, Chie, or Yukiko and sort of warning would they turn on me and accuse
me of being the culprit? Even if I prove to them that I know things that they only told
me they could easily say that I stalked them.
"Why don't we check it out after school? Maybe Teddie can tell us something."
Souji nodded. "Yeah, good idea." He won't be able to
"If someone is using that weird world as a weapon to murder people that's
unforgivable! We have to find the culprit, no matter what it takes! We're the only ones
who can!"
Souji smiled softly, nodding. His resolve for the case is just as strong as it was the
first time. Yosuke you're just like I remember.
"I mean, there's no way the police can do this. Who'd believe us if we said that the
murderer was killing people by tossing them into the TV?"
The silverette chuckled softly. "Not many I'm sure we could prove it to them by
sticking our own hands into one they might have at the station, but"
"No way, dude." Yosuke muttered, "If we can't find the real murderer before we go
around doing stuff like that, there's no way they're gonna believe us if we say we're

not the culprit. But, speaking of sticking things into the TV I tried sticking my
head in last night, you know, the way you did? And it worked! I guess I really do
have the same power you do now, huh?"
"That's good" Souji grinned, "I won't be able to do all the fighting on my own"
The brunette smiled and nodded. "You can count on me! I mean, my power isn't as
strong as yours, you got it first after all but I really feel like, as long as you're with
me, I can find the culprit and solve the case! Well we can, anyway."
Yosuke held out his hand, taking Souji's firmly when the silverette returned the
gesture. "Let's do our best, partner!"
Warmth spread from the tip of Souji's fingers, up his arm and throughout the
remainder of his body. He smiled, nodded, silently agreeing with Yosuke's words as
he shut his eyes briefly, barely listening to the soft voice whispering in the back of his
mind. The Magician I didn't realize until now just how empty I felt without the
bonds of my friends. Memories can only fill so much I'll have to do my best to
make up for all the time I didn't spend with everyone this time around. School will be
even easier than it was before and I'll have more time to be with others.
"Oh, man! We'd better hurry Shit, King Moron will have our heads if we're late."
Souji nodded and released Yosuke's hand quickly, realizing that he hadn't let go. The
brunette didn't seem to mind as he adjusted his bike and started down the road
quickly, the silverette following close behind the yellow bike at a sprint.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"We really should apologize to Chie" Yosuke muttered as he leaned against Souji's
desk, glancing around the near-empty classroom. "We really worried her
yesterday"
"We did" Souji muttered, feeling a guilty tug in his chest as his mind wandered to
the previous day and the real first time this had happened. "But something tells me
that she was more worried about one of us than the other."
"Wha?" Yosuke laughed, slapping Souji's shoulder. "Dude, I know you're the
transfer student from the city and all, but seriously, dude, don't get too full of yourself.
Chie isn't the type of girl who hands out her heart to just any-"
"I meant you" The silverette raised an eyebrow, putting extra emphasis on the
word you. "I think it was you whom Chie was worried most about and after your

Shadow, well I can't help but think that"

"D-dude! Shut up!" Yosuke sputtered, his face turning a bright shade of red as he
looked around the room frantically, praying that no one had heard the silverette. "I-I
don't know what you're talking about. That copy was just trying to get a rise out of
me by saying stuff that was"
"completely true?" Souji provided, a devious smirk crossing his features. "Isn't that
what you said after you accepted 'him'? That all heyousaid was true, and that
you just didn't want to admit it?"
"I t-that it but" the brunette struggled to piece together an excuse that would
release him from Souji's knowing gaze. "It well, I mean y-you didn't believe
everything that heI it said right?"
Souji chuckled softly. "Oh? Is that the case? Well, then I suppose you wouldn't mind
if I asked her out?"
Yosuke went rigid, giving the silver-eyed teen a look torn between desperation and a
glare. "Dude, you're an ass" The brunette finally muttered, crossing his arms
stubbornly as he looked away. "Fine, maybe what my Shadow said about her was
right, okay? But all of it was right Chie would be so much more interested in a guy
like you then some loser like me."
"Can you prove that?" Souji asked, his mind wandering back to several discussions
he'd had with Chie about the brunette himself. For a while I was worried that she'd
end up falling for me, but she really never had anything bad to say about Yosuke.
She always looked happy when she talked about himeven more-so than Yukiko. I
wonder if, without knowing it, I've already started to change the future. Yosuke's
Shadow was a lot different than before and if his was different, then
"Hey, dude You keep spacing out on me. You sick or somethin'? I wasn't feeling
too hot either, but I'm alright today. A little groggy, I guess but If you want to wait
until tomorrow to go see Teddie, then"
"No, I'm fine." Souji forced a small smile as he shook his head. "I've just had a lot on
my mind lately, and Ihuh? Oh It's Chie."
Yosuke turned so quickly that he fell off the silverette's desk, barely managing to stay
on his feet as Chie's head poked into the room, looking around frantically until she
spotted the two males. She seemed to sigh softly in a brief moment of relief before
darting into the room and making her way over to them quickly, panic dancing across
her face.

"Oh, Chie!" Yosuke started, turning to face the martial-artist. "Look, um About
yesterday Iwe're, that issorry we worried you Iwe, sorrydidn't mean to
make you panic or anything, and I"
"Nevermind that" Chie muttered, shaking her head in dismissal. "It's fine, fine.
But Is Yukiko still not here?"
"Yukiko-san?" Yosuke repeated, frowning. "Uh no? I don't think so, at least, I
haven't seen her yet. There's still a little time before class starts, so"
"Oh man What should I do?" Chie whimpered, looking upset. "Hey, was that stuff
you two were talking about for real? You know, the stuff about the Midnight
Channel and the stuff on it being related to that other world?"
"Huh? We were just talking about that. We're thinking of checking it out later
Why?"
"The person on TV yesterday" the brunette female began, looking upset. "I-I think
it was Yukiko. That kimono the girl was wearing looks like the one Yukiko wears at
the inn, and and she wore the same one on the day of the interview that was
shown on TV too. I-I got worried, so I e-mailed her last night but she hasn't
responded to me yet. I called her earlier in the evening and she said she'd be at
school today but I-I"
"Chie" Yosuke muttered, glancing toward Souji, his eyes silently asking for help.
Souji shrugged and tried to look nonchalant as he nudged Yosuke forward with his
foot, tapping the back of the brunette's legs with his toe. 'Comfort her,' he mouthed,
giving the headphone-clad teen a stern look.
"Hey Chie, calm down, okay?" Yosuke muttered, taking a step forward. "We get
the picture You still haven't heard anything from her then?"
"No." Chie muttered, defeated as she bowed her head.
"Well" Souji began, quickly summarizing what he and Yosuke had learned of the
other world to the brunette female, taking care to leave Yosuke's Shadow out of it,
earning a grateful nod from the other male.
"W-wait so y-you're saying Yukiko was thrown inside!?"
"We don't know that yet We should check if she's safe first. Give her a call,
alright?"

Chie nodded and stepped aside, pulling out her cellphone, falling silent as she
pressed the receiver to her ear. Several seconds passed by and the worried look on
the female's face grew deeper as she slowly lowered the phone and turned to face
the other two again.
"S-she's not answering Her voicemail picked up."
"Are you serious?" Yosuke sounded surprised, sighing in frustration as he ran a
hand through his hair. "Then she's really in that place?"
"S-shut up!" Chie choked, shaking her head. "Stop it! She hasn't been she isn't
I-I bet she's busy or it's an errand or something! I-I'm calling the inn! She might be
helping out and she wouldn't be able to answer her cellphone if she was!"
She scanned through her contacts and pressed the phone to her ear again,
muttering 'pick up, pick up' again and again under her breath, sighing in relief as a
small 'click' could be heard.
"Is this Yukiko!? Oh Thank god." Chie smiled as her grip on the phone loosened
slightly, nodding and muttering into the speaker as she listened to Yukiko speak on
the other end of the line. "That's alright, don't worry about it. I'll e-mail you again
later."
"So? She's alright?" Yosuke asked, looking relieved himself.
Chie nodded, smiling. "Yeah, there was a huge reservation at the inn and she needs
to help out today. She won't be here tomorrow either but this has been known to
happen at least once and year andgeez! Yosuke! You got me worried over nothing
you big big jerk!"
"S-sorry!" Yosuke sputtered, looking shocked at the sudden attack. "I mean, we
thought that for a reason. I wasn't trying to scare you or anything."
"Yeah? What's the reason?"
"Well, we thought that the people who appeared on the TV were already inside the
TV, and that would make sense. If you're in it, you'd appear on it but since Yukiko
is still in out world"
Souji bit his lip to refrain from speaking; pretending to take a sudden interest in
pulling his morning books out of his bag and making sure his pencil was filled with
lead. I can't say much of anything. If I say too much, I'll give myself away, but if I say
too little

"We'll meet up at Junes after school," Yosuke nodded to himself. "We can discuss
things there."
Souji and Chie nodded in agreement, just as the bell rang for morning classes.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Alright, alright That's enough of my sorry escapades" Yosuke cut Souji off as
the silverette explained in the best detail he could of all that had happened last night.
He had taken to keeping the finer details of Yosuke's Shadow vague and he was
rewarded with another grateful nod. "Anyway, we really need to find out what's going
on inside but there's too many people around here."
"How would we find out, anyway? Asking that Teddie guy?" Chie asked, looking
curious.
"Yeah Man, I forgot about the sale in the electronics department today." The
brunette sighed. "I don't know how we're gonna Oh! I got it Hey, Souji, come 'ere
a sec."
Yosuke walked over to the TV they had used to enter the strange world of fog and
beckoned Souji over, standing close to the silverette's left. "Chie, take his other side
and make a wall with me We're gonna try and call Teddie over."
"Call him over?" Souji repeated, feigning innocence.
"Yeah, I bet that bear is wandering around the entrance anyway. I bet you could get
his attention."
"Ah I see." Souji nodded and leaned forward, pressing his hand against the
screen, smiling as it slipped through up to his wrist. He wiggled his fingers, trying to
gain the attention of thehopefullyclose Teddie. I need to be careful the last
time I did this It only took several seconds before he felt something brush against
his fingers, but before he could pull back, something sharp clamped onto his hand
and he yelped in shock.
"Ouch!" The silverette jerked his hand back, cradling it in his other hand as he stared
at the TV in shock. H-he did it again! He bit me!
"Wh-what's wrong!?" Yosuke asked, sounding panicked as he leaned forward to look
at Souji's hand. "Whathuh!? What the heck happened!?"
"Not so loud you idiot!" Chie hissed, giving the brunette a reproachful look. "You're

gonna make people suspiD-dude! Is that a bite mark!? Hey Are you okay?"
The silver-eyed teen looked slowly between his hand and Chie, a light frown tugging
at his lips. For a stuffed bear Teddie sure has sharp teeth. "Y-yeah I'm fine." He
looked down at the deep tooth-marks on his hand, wincing as several drops of blood
fell to the floor. Ow, that that hurt.
"Oh man, that really looks like it smarts" Chie muttered, "That stupid bear must
have done it."
"How?" Yosuke asked, looking just as shocked as Souji. "He's just a stuffed animal! I
didn't even know he had teeth."
"Hey, you!" Chie hissed at the TV screen. "We know you're in there!" She offered
Souji an apologetic look as she gave the screen a sharp tap, frowning when her own
hand didn't go through.
"Oooh! Is this a game!?" Teddie's voice could be heard softly though the TV's built-in
speakers.
"No it's not a game!" Yosuke growled, "Stop trying to turn everything into one! Look,
is there anyone in there with you?"
"Who's 'anyone'?" Teddie asked, sounding faintly annoyed. "I'm a lonely little bear,
just like always The land is so bear-ren"
Souji bit back a groan. He loved the bear as much as he loved any of his newly
remembered friends, but somewhere in the back of his mind he had hoped thatjust
maybeTeddie might not had had the same poor jokes he bad before. Well, at least
that's one thing I know that won't change this year
"Are you sure there's no one else in there?" Chie asked, sounding worried. "No
one?"
"I'm not lying!" Teddie whined, offended. "My nose is working as good as ever."
"I'm going to warn Yukiko anyway." Chie sighed, "Since she's helping out at the inn I
don't think she'll be able to go anywhere alone, but I want to be safe, just in case."
"Good idea," Yosuke nodded. "You'll walk with her to school on Monday too, right?"
"Yeah, sure. I'll pick her up on my way"
"Hopefully we're learn more on tonight's Midnight Channel. Let's just hope it's all a

misunderstanding"
Souji nodded in an attempt to look comforting, knowing the efforts were futile. I
wonder if I were to go to the Amagi Inn tonight and wait Would I catch the
culprit? Did I know who it was before and the things that happened did because I
couldn't catch them in time?
"Hey, Chie, give Souji your number..." Yosuke said, "We'll be able to call each other
after the Midnight Channel."
"Huh...?" Chie blinked, raising an eyebrow. "Um, sure... What's your number, Souji?"
"Oh, it's" The silverette pulled out his phone, blinking in surprise as he realized
that all his previous contacts had been restored to his phone. He read his number
allowed and nodded quietly as he pretended to punch Chie's in, a soft smile gracing
his lips as he looked at the first number he had on speed dial.
'Shirogane Naoto.'
Something purred in the silverette's chest as his finger brushed over the call button,
the purr twisting into a painful tug as he realized he wouldn't be able to use the
number for at least another few months. Naoto You don't have any clue I even
exist yet but I can't help but miss you.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0It's almost time Souji thought to himself as he gazed out his window, watching the
heavy rainfall beyond the glass. Yukiko will be on the TV soon Then Yosuke will
call and he'll tell us to meet up at Junes tomorrow. Then Souji paled and rubbed
the bridge of his nose, groaning.
"Oh no the weapons" The silverette winced, remembering the furious look on his
Uncle's face when he'd been dragged in with Yosuke for carrying the bladesfake or
not. "Damn How can I convince him not to bring them?"
The room suddenly lit up as the TV burst into life, jerking Souji from his troubled
thoughts. He blinked, staring at the screen with a stupefied look, his brain quickly
trying to process why he was looking at Yukiko in a large and abnormally fluffy pink
dress.
"Good evening!"
Souji blinked, listening to the raven-haired continue in a cheerful tone, smiling

brightly at what he could only assume was meant to be the viewers. It doesn't look
as if her Shadow has been changed at all yet that's good. At least I'll be able to get
over the first hill without much trouble.
"come prepared! I've got my lacy unmentionables on stacked from top to bottom!
I'm out to catch a whole harem and the best of the lot is going to be all mine!"
The silverette winced, sighing as he watched the girl whoat least looked like
Yukiko turn away from the screen and run inside the large castle-like building behind
her. He shook his head and turned off the TV manually, pulling out his phone as he
reached for the light-switch. I can't help but think I should have done something to
change at least that I'm not sure if how I'm going to handle having to watch
everyone's Shadows a second time.
He turned and walked over to his futon, sitting down slowly and stared at the screen
of his phone. No less than a minute later the screen lit up and a shrill beeping filled
the room. Flipping it open, he placed the receiver against his ear and waited for
Yosuke to speak.
"H-hey! Did you see that!?" Yosuke gasped into the phone. Souji could almost see
the wide-eyed look on the brunette's face. "That was Yukiko-san for sure! It looked
like her, sounded like herI mean, it even said her name."
I know Souji thought dully, glancing up at the blank screen of his TV. I know it
looked like her, but That was her Shadow, Yosuke. That's what we're going to
have to fight in a few days.
"Although Wasn't all that stuff she was saying kinda weird? The whole thing
looked like a crappy TV show. Wasn't it like this the last time too? What could all this
mean? What are we supposed to-!"
"Calm down, Yosuke." Souji said firmly, cutting the brunette off. "Listen to me,
contact Chie and have her call Yukiko. We're better safe than sorry and we don't
want to run into that world without being sure that we have to."
"Yeah Good idea." Yosuke sighed, "I don't have Yukiko's number so Anyway,
tomorrow is Sunday, so let's meet up at Junes tomorrow, okay? I'll see you th"
"W-wait! Yosuke!"
"Huh? What's up, partner?"
"Look, um Whatever you're planning to bring to Junes tomorrow Don't."

"Huh? Iwhoa Dude, can you like, read minds or something? I found some old
swords in the closet and I thought that they"
"Don't trust me, don't bring them. The city has officers everywhere right now. Do
you really think it's a good idea to go dragging weapons around where people can
see us? We'll be pulled in for sure. There's a place at the shopping district we can
stop by if we really need anythingI saw it when I was out shopping a few nights
agoso"
"Alright, alright I don't bring them. Damn, dude You always seem on top of
everything. You sure you can't read minds?"
"Lucky guess." Souji muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. This is a part of the
past I can safely say we're better off without.
"Wow, you're one lucky guy then. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Right, tomorrow. Sleep well."
There was a small 'click' and the line died. Souji dropped his phone to the floor
before falling back on his mattress, sighing in relief. Thank God. He didn't suspect
anything and I won't be arrested tomorrow.
Rolling over, the silver-eyed teen slipped under his covers, snuggling his head
against the pillow. Tomorrow we'll see Chie's Shadow and the day after that;
hopefully we'll make it to Yukiko's. We'll all need all the rest we can get if we want to
get though this fast and solve the case. Besides Souji chuckled, silently scolding
himself for being so pathetic. After Yukiko we'll have to save Kanji, and in turn
"I'll be able to see her again."

The Magician's Chariot

I know, I know... It's been FOREVER since I last updated, but I promise everyone
that I don't plan to abandon this story. As you all know, my SoujiNaoto stories take
up over half of my currently uploaded stories (or close to it) and I just wanted to work
on something else. Right now, if I'm on your Author Alert, I'm sure you're all aware
that I'm working on a few Hetalia stories right now. I really would like to finish them
before continuing this, and I realize it may take a while, but please bare with me. I
feel as if I'll do a lot better on this story if I take a break from the Persona fandom for
a bit.
For all the Hetalia fans out there, I'd be most grateful if you all went to go check on
them. This chapter ended up being 13-pages long in size 10 calibiri text, so hopefully
it'll keep you all entertained for a while.
Again, I'm really sorry for the long delay, and I hope you're all willing to wait just a
little longer. And not to worry-I still thing Persona 4 is the best videogame ever
created, and SoujiNaoto is still my OTP. That likely won't ever change~
But I sure love AmericaxEngland and PrussiaxAustria. Pfffft.
Big thanks to all my wonderful reviewers!
OH GOD! ERROR FIXED! I UPLOADED CHAPTER SEVEN INSTEAD OF SIX!
ALL BETTER
Chapter Six: The Magician's Chariot
Souji yawned quietly as he stretched and made his way down the stairs. After a long
week of wearing the same uniform everyday (and of course washing it every night)
he was more than pleased that he was able to wear casual clothing again. It's been
a while since I last wore this He glanced at himself in the mirror of the first floor
bathroom, a sad smile gracing his lips as he closed his eyes, remembering one of
his older memories of Inaba.
~End Flashback~
"Senpai! Good afternoon, shall weoh" Naoto trailed off as she stared at Souji, a
light dusting of pink gracing her cheeks.
"Hm? Is something wrong, Naoto?" Souji asked, brushing the back of his hand

against Naoto's forehead, taking care to not knock her cap off. "Your face is red"
"I, ah, no It isn't a matter of my health. I, um It is unusual that I see you outside
of school on our days off like this. I'm accustomed to seeing you in your Yasogami
uniform both in and out of school, seeing as even on Sunday and holidays it is the
clothing we wear inside the TV. I haven't ever gotten a good look at you in your
casual clothing during the colder season."
The silverette chuckled at Naoto's longer than necessary explanation, stepping
forward as the sleuth attempted to explain herself further.
"Naoto, are you trying to tell me I'm 'good looking'?" He asked, a grin spreading
across his delicate features.
Naoto fell silent as she suddenly became very interested in her shoes, a soft 'eek'
escaping her throat as Souji cupped her chin, forcing the young detective to look up.
"Don't be embarrassed, Naoto I'm flattered."
His eyes softened as his hand moved to cup the sleuth's cheek, fighting back the
blush that threatened to cover his own face as he felt her press closer to his hand.
"I believe Teddie would be more than proud to hear me claim that I 'scored myself a
hot stud." She had said it so quietly, Souji had thought he was hearing things at first,
but the quickly darkening blush on her cheeks told him he had heard correctly.
His smile grew wider as he slipped his free arm around her waist, pulling the
detective closer. "And I" Leaning forward, he used the hand that was touching her
cheek to remove the sleuth's hat. "I found myself a beautiful young angel."
Before Naoto could open her mouth and protest Souji's 'feminine' comment, he
closed the remaining distance between them and claimed her lips, silently thankful
that it was early in the afternoon and the streets were empty.
Souji chuckled as he left the bathroom, shaking his head slowly. She was always
quite jumpy about public displays of affection. It took almost two weeks before she
could hold my hand in the street and another before I could hug her in public.
Heh In its own way, her embarrassment was adorable.
~End Flashback~
As he entered the living room, he spotted Nanako sitting at table watching TV
quietly. He sighed softly and walked over, kneeling down and taking a seat across
from the brunette female, briefly looking toward the screen as he tried to figure out

what she was watching. Oh This is that show that the boy from Child Care liked. It
was called
"Oh, good morning." Nanako said, turning her head as she finally noticed the
silverette's presence. "Did you sleep alright?"
"Yeah, just fine." Souji smiled softly. "How did you sleep, Nanako?"
"I slept alright" The young girl turned her attention back to the TV before glancing
back at Souji, tilting her head to the side. "Are you going somewhere?"
The silverette hesitated before nodding slowly. I know I've done it before but I
really don't like leaving Nanako home alone like this. It isn't fair to her
As if sensing Souji's hesitation, Nanako spoke up again. "It's alright if you want to
leave I'll be fine by myself."
"I know you're a big girl." The silver-eyed teen smiled softly and stood up, reaching
over the table to ruffle Nanako's hair affectionately. "I'll see you this evening, okay? I
might be out late, but I'll be back before you're in bed."
"Um," Nanako began as Souji turned toward the door, causing the platinum teen to
pause. "Um W-when you get home Dad said he wouldn't be back until really late
tonight, so um"
"Hm? What is it, Nanako? You can ask me anything"
"Would you read me a story before bed?"
The teen blinked, obviously not expecting the question at all. Nanako looked up at
him, her gaze reaching his chin rather than his eyes, afraid of rejection.
"Heh," Souji chuckled softly, a gentle look in his silver eyes. "Of course, I'd be happy
to."
"H-huh? Really!?"
Souji nodded. "I'd enjoy that Just be sure to pick out a book before bedtime and I'll
read as much as you want me to."
Nanako beamed at him, her eyes sparkling in delight. "Yay! I'll pick a really good
one! Have a good day!"
"You too, Nanako"

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Yo! Souji!"
Souji looked up, his lips wrapped around the thin straw of the soda he'd ordered
several minutes ago. Yosuke ran toward him, waving an arm in the air as he
balanced a drink holder with two sodas in the other. The brunette teen stopped near
the table and frowned, looking around the Junes food court as if expecting someone
to suddenly appear.
"Huh? Is Chie not here yet...? She said she'd come as soon as she could this
morning I even bought her a soda."
"She might be running a little late." Souji shrugged, pushing a chair out with his foot
which Yosuke took gratefully. "It is Sunday, maybe she slept in." She's probably
running here from Yukiko's house right now
"I dunno," the brunette sighed. "Chie has always been the 'early to rise' type. I mean,
she gets up every morning and trains for an hour before doing anything."
The silverette blinked, raising an eyebrow slowly in question. "And you know this
how, exactly? You're not spying on her, are you?"
"U-uh, well I"
This is new Souji thought, smirking. "I never pegged you as the 'creeper' type,
Yosuke Don't worry, I won't tell Chie."
"Wh-what!? N-no! That's not it!" Yosuke shook his head frantically, waving his hands
in front of his face. "I wasn't spying on her! I-it was about a week after I'd moved here
and I knew she lived close by so I rode by her house to ask if she wanted to walk to
school together and"
"You got up, left an hour earlier than most students would even wake up To see if
she wanted to walk to school? Sounds mighty suspicious"
"That's not it either!" Yosuke groaned and hid his face in his hands, a dark blush
spreading up to his ears. "L-look I I really liked her, even back then, okay!?"
"Love at first sight?"
"Something like that" Yosuke muttered, the blush darkening. "A-anyway I
knew that when I showed up at her door I was gonna chicken out and try to bail, so I

went over there early so I'd have time to fight myself over it and hopefully be able
to ask her."
"But you ended up creeping on her."
"D-do you really have to word it like that!? I only watched like, three times After
that I just"
"Gave up?"
"Pretty much. It's like my Shadow said She'd never go for a guy like me."
"I wouldn't be so sure, Yosuke I think"
"There you two are!"
The pair turned, blinking in surprise as Chie ran toward them, her face faintly flushed
from running and a panicked look in her eyes.
"I was looking all over Junes for you two!"
"I said come to the food court, didn't I?" Yosuke muttered, looking confused. "We
always meet up here"
"Ugh Whatever! Just listen to me This morning I called Yukiko and she didn't
answer so I went to her house to see if she was alright and"
"She's missing." Souji finished, setting his drink down. "It seems that, she really
has been taken to that world."
"I h-how did you know?" Chie asked in awe. "I didn't tell anyone that I was"
Crap, Souji winced, mentally smacking himself for the slip. He stood up, quickly
piecing together an excuse in his mind before speaking slowly, almost casually.
"Well, this morning my Uncle left earlier than normal Nanakomy cousinsaid
that something came up and he was called in. So I assumed that either Yukiko
really had been kidnapped or there was another murder. When I left, the news was
talking about the weather. Therefore, I knew it had to be anyway, we should to and
check with Teddie."
"Right," Yosuke nodded. "Chie, we'll go and talk to Teddie, so you"
"I'm going too!" The brunette female cut Yosuke off.

"Wh-what!? But"
"I'm going and that's final! I have to save Yukiko! How would you feel if your best
friend had been kidnapped by a serial killer!?"
"Wha? Are you gonna be alright in there? I mean, we don't even have any
weapons right now to protect ourselves. It'll be dangerous enough with just us going
in, so"
"Weapons?" Chie repeated, sounding surprise. "If it's weapons you want I know
just the place! Follow me!"
Without waiting for a response, the martial artist turned and sprinted down the road,
leaving Souji and Yosuke left with the only option of following her.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Daidara's just as I thought. Souji chuckled as Chie lead Yosuke and himself into
the antique looking weapons shop. Yosuke's face had gone slightly pale as he
looked around, obviously not fond of the idea that Chie knew about a place such as
this. Heh, I guess I can't blame him. A martial artist knowing about a shop like this
would be a red-flag to almost anyone.
"Here we are!" Chie declared proudly, looking around the shop. "I heard some guys
at school talking about this place before. I figured it was just an antique metalworks
shop, but they sell stuff like katanas and what not so"
"Doesn't that seem weird to you!?" Yosuke asked, aghast. "Man, you must have
watched one too many kung-fu movies, heard about this place and"
"Oh shut up!" Chie growled. "In the end it works out for us, doesn't it?"
Turning away from the brunette, Chie walked toward a large platted armor sitting on
a wooden mannequin, carefully looking the suit up and down. Her head tilted to the
side in question as she ran a slender finger along the tough metal scales, muttering
softly under her breath. "This one looks good but I bet its way too heavy to move
around in easily"
"Chie" Yosuke muttered, sounding uneasy. "I still think it's too dangerous, I know
how you feel and all, but"
"No you don't!" The martial artist suddenly cried, turning around to glower at the
brunette. "You don't know shit about how I feel! Yukiko might die from this, for crying

out loud! I don't care what you say! I'm going and that's"
"And what about you!?" Yosuke snapped, making both Chie and Souji jump in
surprise, neither expecting the sudden raise in voice from the brunette. He stepped
forward, advancing toward the martial artist who looked torn between shock and
fear. "What if you end up being the one who gets killed!? What are we supposed to
tell Yukiko-san when we rescue her if you're dead!? Damn it, Chie! Just stop to think
for a minute! The only reason we made it was because of the Persona we told you
about! You can barely last in that world for an hour and you expect to be able to save
someone that we don't even know where she is!? Stop acting like you're the only
one who's worried! We want to save Yukiko-san as much as you do!"
"Y-Yosuke" Chie muttered, staring at the headphone-clad teen as if seeing him in
a new light. "I-I"
Pale-brown eyes shifted downward as Chie absently kicked at a chunk of dirt on the
floor. The brunette female winced, her fingers gripping the edges of her sport-coat
tightly as she tried to fight back the faint stinging sensation in her eyes. Sensing the
martial artist's pain, Souji stepped forward, grasping Yosuke's shoulder.
"Calm down Shouting isn't going to help anything, Yosuke" the silverette
muttered softly. "She can come with us Nothing is going to happen to her because
we won't let anything happen to her. Are we clear?"
"But-!"
"Would you rather she follow us in afterward and get lost without our knowing until it
was too late?"
Yosuke froze, his eyes wide as he glanced toward Chie who was still staring dully at
the ground. Sighing, the headphone-clad teen stepped forward, hesitantly placing his
hand on the female's shoulder.
"I Chie, I'm sorry I yelled at you. I was out of line and"
"Forget it," Chie muttered. "Just forget it, okay? My reflexes are second to none and
you know that. I'll be fine!"
"Chie, we're not kidding around, alright? Reflexes or not, it's dangerous in there, and
if you're not going to listen to our warnings We're leaving you behind and I'll make
sure the Junes security holds you in storage until we get back."
"Wha-!? You wouldn't!"

The brunette frowned. "I would Don't test me. If you insist on coming, just make
sure you have something to protect yourself and make sure you stay behind us,
alright?"
"Alright." Chie sighed, turning her attention back to the various weapons and
armor. "I'll be careful"
As Chie approached the counter to pay, Yosuke glanced around the shop, looking
faintly frustrated. "Man, I don't know what to get at all You're our main man in
battle, so would you mind picking something out for me too? Just choose whatever
makes it easier for you."
"No problem," Souji smiled. "Leave it to me."
"You know" Yosuke muttered as Chie walked over to them, slipping on a pair of
tough looking shoes. "If we walk around town carrying this stuff, we really are going
to get picked up We can't exactly walk into Junes with a sack of gear and blend in
either."
"Why not hide them under our uniforms?" The brunette female suggested. "People
wouldn't think to inspect under our clothes."
"Oh?" Yosuke looked thoughtful. "Yeah, that could work Why not? We'll split up
and get ready then. Junes'll be pretty crowded until the afternoon sale ends, so"
"We'll meet up at the food court again." Chie declared with a small smile. "Nothing
suspicious about that."
"Sounds like a plan," Yosuke glanced at Souji. "Is that alright with you?"
"I have no problem with it I'll see you two soon then."
"Yeah, later." Waving, Yosuke left the shop with Chie, leaving Souji alone with
Daidara.
"Alright then" he approached the counter, already knowing what he needed to get.
"I'd like"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0Shifting the strap of the tube-like container Daidara gave him to hold his katana,
Souji left the shop, sighing softly. I guess I'd better run home and grab my uniform.
I've got a lot of time to kill He turned and started down the road, jumping as a loud

crack filled the air.

"Wh-what the hell?" The silverette turned, staring wide-eyed at the glowing blue
door that had appeared to his right. He groaned softly and glanced around, sighing
softly. Just as it had been the previous year, no one else seemed to be able to see
the entrance to the Velvet Room.
"So it finally begins" An amused voice chuckled in his head. "Now, if you'll give me
a moment of your time"
As he approached the door, Souji couldn't help but wish that someone else could
see what he could. Entering it didn't really matter much to him butif only for the
reassurance that he was, in fact, sanehe would have truly appreciated someone
else knowing of the room's existence. He grabbed the handle of the Velvet Room's
door and a white flash obscured his vision. His body felt lighter than a feather and
the next time he opened his eyes, he was staring once more into the painfully
familiar dark room.
"We've been expecting you." Igor grinned, leaning forward to look at Souji properly in
the dull light. "The catastrophe that is headed your way it has already taken
human lives in its path to approach you."
"So I've noticed" Souji muttered bitterly. "Why couldn't you have given me my
memories earlier!? I could have saved Saki Konishi and maybe even the announcer!
Why did you wait until it was too late?"
"I was ordered to provide you with your memories once you had re-established your
contract. I do not know exactly why this was insisted upon, but I can hazard a
guess." Igor stared unblinkingly at Souji with his wide eyes, almost as though his
gaze could pierce into his soul. "I believe that some events were meant to remain
unaltered. If this was not so with certain key occurrences, even worse catastrophe
could result."
"You mean like paradoxes? Or a change in the space-time continuum?" Souji
asked. A rip in the fabric of space maybe? Or I maybe I should just stop reading
all those sci-fi books.
"Among other things," answered Igor. "But it would be best not to question or
second-guess the gift you have been given. Some might consider it an insult, if you
take my meaning."
Souji nodded silently. He wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to make any higher
powers angry with him at this point. If Igor could do anything he wished to my mind

I don't want to being thinking about what someone with a stronger power than his
could do to me.
"In any case," continued Igor, "you do remember what I told you last time about your
Personas, and your abilities as a Wild Card?"
"Yes," said Souji, thankful that he didn't need to hear the explanation a second time.
"Very good. Margaret and I shall provide you once again with our services. In fact,
you might find her Compendium to be quite full, which should give you some peace
of mind."
"Many of your Personas from before have been recorded," explained Margaret with
a soft smile, "so you should be able to call upon them as long as you have a
sufficient offering."
"Thanks," said Souji gratefully. "I'll do my best not to fail again this time... for
everyone's sake."
Igor couldn't help but chuckle. "I look forward to seeing how you change the path
that has been set before you. Until we meet again... farewell."
Souji's vision was filled with a blinding white light once more and he soon found
himself standing in the center of the road at the shopping district. He sighed and
shook his head, silently cursing the bizarre old man. I already know all that he has to
say He just keeps calling me into the room to mock me but I guess, in the end,
that's what's best. After all he's only playing his part and working as my personal
reminder not to get off track.
"Now I guess I could head to Junes early then I never did get to finish my soda
and I could use some lunch."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0"Man, we really stick out, huh?" Yosuke muttered as he poked at the takoyaki plate
in front of him. "I guess it really doesn't help that we're wearing our uniforms on a
Sunday. The sale ends soon though, so that should get rid of some of the people
wandering around here."
"That'll make it easier for us going in and out." Souji noted as he finished the last of
the small salad he'd picked up in the grocery department. "Better safe than sorry in
the end, I suppose."

"Still I bet it would have attracted less attention than hiding them under out normal
clothes."
"There's no point in going back to change into casual-wear now." Souji shrugged as
he stood up, grabbing his empty bowl. "That would really attract attention. Besides,
in the city, a lot of girls wear their uniforms on Sunday."
"Do they?" Chie asked curiously. "Why is that?"
Souji opened his mouth, unsure of how to explain before Yosuke cut in. "They think
they look cute. A lot of guys in the city love to see a girl in uniform, so they'll wear
spare ones or designer uniforms they bought in some shop. I guess it's because
they just want some attention or something I never really understood the
reasoning behind it myself."
"Huh. The city sure is a bizarre place."
Souji snorted. As much as he enjoyed the city, he couldn't deny Chie's claim.
"Anyway" Yosuke sighed, "We'd better get going. Chie, you know, it's not too late
to"
"I'm going!" Chie snapped, "You're not going to leave me here!"
Groaning, the brunette shook his head in defeat, it wasn't worth arguing over.
"Fine Just don't push yourself, got it!?"
"I won't, sheesh Let's go already."
As he followed the other two to the electronics department, he couldn't help but
smile. They approached their chosen TV of entrance and Souji waited as Yosuke
took Chie's hand and slipped inside with her, leaving Souji to enter behind them.
Those two he mused. They're just like a newlywed couple. I wonder if Chie's
Shadow will be any different than it was before
The silverette paused as he reached toward the TV, chewing absently at his bottom
lip. "If I stop her from running ahead She won't have the chance to meet her
Shadow and, in turn, she won't get her Persona. She's always been a strong asset in
battle and we can't afford to risk losing her as a fighter."
I'm sorry, Yosuke Souji thought as he slipped through the screen, feeling the odd
sensation in his stomach of being dropped from an extreme height. I know you're
going to worry about her but we're going to need all the help we can get to catch

the culprit. So you'll have to worry about her one more time, but nothing will
happen, I promise.
Ground suddenly appeared below his feet and Souji stumbled forward, nearly
crashing into Yosuke, who leapt aside and grabbed Souji by the shoulders before the
silverette could hit the ground.
"Rough landing?" The brunette grinned, sounding amused. "Chie did the same
thing."
"I did not!" The female protested, glaring at Yosuke. "You're the one who fell on your
stupid wallet!"
"A-anyway" The headphone-teen cut Chie off, blushing slightly. "Let's go find
Teddie. I'm sure he's around here somewhere. He's never far from the entrance."
"I think" Souji muttered, pulling his glasses from the pocket in his uniform and
putting them on. "That's him over there. Yosuke, in the far corner That black
shape, isn't that?"
Pulling out his own glasses, Yosuke slipped them onto the bridge of his nose and
nodded, starting toward the shadow in the fog. "Yeah, that's Ted alright, let's go.
Chie remember, stay close."
"Yeah yeah I know, sheesh. Calm down already"
As they approached Teddie from behind, Chie gasped softly, staring at the strange
creature in awe. "Oh, wow It really is that same bear from the other day, huh?"
"Did you expect someone else?" Souji asked, walking up to Teddie beside Yosuke.
"As far as we know, he's the only thing in this world that won't attack us."
"No kidding"
"What're you doing?" Yosuke asked as he stepped closer to Teddie, frowning as
the bear swayed back and forth, holding his head.
"Can't you tell? I'm thinking about stuff." Teddie muttered, not stopping his odd
movements.
"Thinking?" Yosuke repeated, sounding confused. "What on earth are you thinking
about?"
"I think it's about what you said the last time we were here. Remember? You

asked him what he was and where he came from He said he couldn't remember
anything and"
Teddie nodded, confirming Souji's words. "I've been deli-bear-ating it for a long time
now. Hey That wasn't a bad joke. Heehee" The bear laughed to himself, earning
a small groan from Yosuke."
"So" The brunette spoke up, hoping to avoid any more of the bear's humor. "Did
you figure anything out? I really don't think you should think about it too much. I
mean, I've seen the inside of your skull and it's empty, dude. Don't hurt yourself over
this."
"I'm not empty!" Teddie turned around, running toward Yosuke, stopping just short of
the brunette. "How rude! But You're right though. I try and try but nothing ever
comes out of my head."
"Are you two finished!?" Chie snapped. "Now isn't the time to be playing around!
Hey, you, bear Someone came in here yesterday, right?"
Teddie turned, his large black eyes widening in shock. "Huh? You knew? Wow!
There's a girl with a better nose than me!? What's your name, Miss?"
"Miss?" Chie repeated, sounding taken-aback. "Uh It's Chie. Nevermind that
though, it isn't important right now. About that someone..."
"I don't know that much about it" Teddie shrugged. "I think it happened a little after
you guys left. It was empty in here for a while but then it felt like someone
appeared."
"Is it Yukiko-san!?" Yosuke asked, stepping forward. "Did you see her?"
"I don't know who it was" Teddie frowned. "I haven't gone to look yet. The
presence is over that way, though. I bet that's where they are."
"Over there, huh?" Chie turned, staring off into the fogged distance. "Is everyone
ready then?"
"Y-yeah, but we shouldhey! CHIE! I said stay close to us! Don't run off by yourself!
Youdamn! Come on, let's go."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0When the three males finally caught up with Chie, their concern for the brunette

female was immediately diverted as they gazed up at the large stone building before
them. Only Souji seemed to be able to hold his mouth closed as his silver eyes
carefully moved over the familiar structure he'd been in many times before. Yukiko is
at the top If I remember correctly, it was about eight floors up.
"What on earth is this?" Chie muttered, unable to look away from the building. "Is
this a castle? You guys think it was the same place we saw on the TV last night?"
"It seems like it" Souji muttered, watching Chie carefully from the corner of his eye.
As long as we move quickly We'll be able to find Chie before anything bad
happens. Her Shadow appeared after we found her last time, but I don't want to
take any risks.
"You're positive that no one's behind that bizarre midnight program?" Yosuke
asked turning to Teddie. "There's no cameras or anything?"
"Program?" Teddie repeated, sounding confused. "I dunno I've never heard of a
'program' or this 'camera' thing you keep talking about. It's just been Teddie here for
a long time. Maybe through that 'channel' you keep mentioning, people in your world
can see the things in this world."
"So then we're really looking into this world when we watch the Midnight
Channel?" Chie asked, tilting her head. "Is that why we're able to see whoever's
been thrown inside?"
"It would make sense, wouldn't it?" Souji asked. "It's just like Yosuke said earlier, if
you're in the TV, you can be seen on the TV."
"But the first time we saw Yukiko on the channel was before she was kidnapped.
Doesn't that seem off?"
"Well Remember, the picture wasn't that clear before it happened, and she never
spoke either. It wasn't until she was kidnapped that anything really happened."
"Well, yeah, but" Chie shook her head, frowning at Souji. "That stuff that she was
saying? You know, 'Score myself a hot stud'? That's not like Yukiko at all."
"'Score'? 'Stud'?" Teddie repeated, looking at Chie curiously.
"Yeah," Yosuke shook his head. "Yukiko-san would never say stuff like that I
wonder" The brunette glanced at Souji, a serious look crossing his features. "Do
you think that it was kinda like what happened to me last time?"

The silverette nodded slowly, looking toward the castle again. "That would make a
lot of sense. I imagine that the Yukiko we saw on the TV would be inside, along with
the real Yukiko as well then."
"So then there's two Yukiko's right now? Ugh I don't get this at all." Chie
groaned. "Anyway do you feel Yukiko's presence inside that castle, Teddie?"
"I think so I don't know who it is, but someone is in there." Teddie nodded before
turning to Chie. "So then what's this 'scoring with a hot stud' thing, huh?"
"Yukiko's here then" Chie sighed softly in relief, a look of determination falling
across her features. "I'm going on ahead."
Before anyone could protest, the martial artist sipped past Souji and Youske, darting
toward the castle and slipping inside.
"W-what!? Hey! Don't go alone! Chie! Wait! Iargh! What is she thinking?"
"She's thinking she wants to save her friend. I was lucky with you The liquor
store only had one room but"
"Urk" Teddie whimpered, causing Souji and Yosuke to turn around.
"What's up?" The brunette asked, frowning. "You okay?"
"T-there's a lot of Shadows in that castle" Teddie groaned. "It's dangerous for her
to be by herself. She doesn't have the same power as you two She's in a lot of
trouble!"
"W-what!?" Yosuke shouted, turning toward the castle. "Why didn't you tell us about
the shadows before!? Stupid bear! Come on, partner. We have to follow her!"
"Yosuke, calm down, weH-hey!" Souji jumped, rushing after Yosuke as the
brunette ran forward. "Yosuke, slow down! You're doing the same thing she did! We
can't afford to get split up right now!" For the love of Those two are going to be the
end of me at this point.
Groaning, the silverette darted after the other teen, praying that Yosuke had the
sense to wait for him just inside the door. Much to his relief, Yosuke was waiting for
him just a few feet ahead of the entrance and the two regrouped quickly. Souji
remembered the Shadows of the area quite clearly, and managed to direct his and
Yosuke's attacks to greatest effect.

They reached the third floor without much difficulty, but because of Souji's oddly
perfect orders and knowledge of the area (as they ran into no dead-ends) the
silverette was forced to beat back a barrage of questions from both the brunette and
the bear before the three of them reached Chie.
"You really are amazing, Sensei!" Teddie said happily. "It's almost like you know
exactly what's going on! You could learn a thing or two from him, Yosuke!"
"S-shut up!" Growling, the brunette turned to face the large oak double-doors in front
of them, concern covering his face. "Then Chie is just past through these doors,
right?"
Teddie nodded. "Yeah! Definitely I can sense her! My nose never lies!"
Nodding, Yosuke stepped forward and grabbed the golden handle of the door,
glancing back at Souji. "You ready, partner?"
"Ready Open the doors."
Not waiting for further instruction, Yosuke threw the wooden doors open with
surprising strength and ran inside with Souji and Teddie following closely at his
heels. In front of them, Chie stood stock still, her gaze raised toward the ceiling,
completely oblivious to the three males who had just entered the room.
"C-Chie! Are you alright!?" The brunette cried in concern, frowning when he didn't
receive an answer. "Chie?" Yosuke frowned, stepping around Souji as he made
his way closer to the martial artist, jumping as a voice filled the room.
"She said that red looks good on me"
Yosuke jumped, turning as he scanned the room they were standing in. The room
was wide open, but empty. Crimson drapes lined the floor to ceiling windows and a
large red carpet sat in the center of the floor atop the checkered tile. A set of stone
steps could be seen at the far end of the room leading up to another set of double
doors, but there was no sign of Yukiko, or where the voice was coming from.
"Yukiko-san!?" The brunette shouted, sounding confused. "H-hey! Yukiko-san? Are
you here!?"
The voice continued speaking, oblivious to Yosuke's call.
"I hated my name Yukiko 'Snow' Snow is cold and it melts quickly. It's
transient it's worthless. Still, it's perfect for me apart from inheriting my family's

inn I'm worthless. But still Chie said that red looks good on me."
"What the?"
"Yukiko's inner thoughts" Souji muttered, answering Yosuke's unasked question.
"These are Yukiko's thoughts Just like with Saki Konoshi."
"This castle is probably here because of this Yukiko person." Teddie cut in, nodding
his head quickly. "Just like with that other girl. This world changed because of her
being here."
"Yukiko" Chie muttered, finally speaking for the first time. Her tone was soft,
trembling faintly.
"Chie was the only one who gave my life meaning She's bright and strong She
can do anything. She's amazing and has everything that I don't. Compared to
Chie, I'm I'm" Yukiko's voice trailed off, wavering slightly, unable to finish the
thought. "Chie protects me She looks after my worthless life. She does so much
for me, and I don't deserve any of her kindness But Chie is such a kind person,
and"
"Y-Yukiko!" Chie whimpered softly. "Th-that I I"
"Chie is soooo kind, huh? Hahaha. What a joke."
The brunette female jumped violently, eyes wide as she looked around the room.
"Wh-what?"
And here she comes Souji thought, tightening the grip on his katana as he took a
step towards Yosuke, noticing how tense the other male had suddenly gotten.
Yosuke don't do anything stupid. Stay still don't run to her yet.
"O-oh man Is that?" The brunette's attention was drawn to the mirror image of
Chie standing just feet in front of the original.
The replica had the same sadistic smirk as Yosuke's Shadow had had, its eyes
glowing the same eerie yellow as it laughed, doubled over in with its own sadistic
giggles. The Shadow gasped as it tried to regain its breath, golden eyes dancing
with malice as she leaned in closer to Chie.
"Are we talking about that Yukiko!? She says I'm protecting her!? Oh man, that's
rich She says she's worthless!"The copy laughed, shaking its head. "That's how it
should be, right?"

"Wh-what?" Chie gasped softly, taking a half-step back. "What are you saying?
That's not D-don't talk about Yukiko like that!"
"Why not? It's what you really think, isn't it? Yukiko is sooo good looking she's
sooo fair-skinned She's feminine, beautiful, smart And she's the one all the boys
drool over! When Yukiko looked at me with such jealousy Man did I get a charge
outta that."
"Whwhat? N-no! Stop it! That's not"
"What?" The Shadow frowned, taking a step forward. "What? It's not true? That's
what you're going to say, right? Why kid yourself? You know it is. Yukiko looks at you
with jealousy, but it's you who's jealous of her! All the guys want her; all the guys
look at her. It makes you so frustrated, doesn't it? Because, hey Maybe if you were
half as pretty as she was Yosuke might take the time to turn around and look at
you, huh?"
"H-huh?" Beside Souji, Yosuke jumped, not expecting his name to suddenly be
thrown into the conversation. "M-me? But"
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Souji couldn't help but smile faintly as he
saw a light blush dust his friend's cheeks. He grabbed Yosuke's shoulder and shook
his head slowly, signaling the brunette to be quiet. Just watch She needs this as
much as you did. Just wait She won't get hurt, I promise.
"Why do you keep denying it!?" Chie's Shadow snarled, once more becoming the
center of attention in the room. "You'd do anything to get Yosuke's attention, from
teasing him to kicking him down to the ground. As long as he's finally looking at you,
you don't care, do you? You want just want his attention, but he's too busy fawning
over the beautiful Yukiko to notice a plain girl like you!
"But Yukiko Heh, she knows the score. She can't do anything if I'm not around
Isn't that right, Chie? As long as her attention is always focused on you, she won't
see Yosuke and you can keep him for yourself, even if it's from a distance. After all...
You're better than her Much, much,better! You're stronger right? You can do the
things that boys like But no, the one you want is too busy looking at the feminine
and pretty girls to notice a tom-boy like you But even if you tried to be girly like
Yukiko, it doesn't matter, right? You don't have the right body to be like her."
"N-no!" Chie shook her head, stopping a foot against the ground. "I have never
thought like that! J-just shut up!"
"C-Chie" Yosuke winced, pain etched across his face as he tried to step forward,

only to be held back by Souji once more. "S-stop! Let me go! Chie needs our help
and and"
"Just wait, Yosuke. If she doesn't get it all out now That Shadow is going to
come back the next time we come in here and we might not be so lucky the second
time around." You don't always get a second chance. I still don't know how I got
mine.
"We need to protect her!" The brunette protested, pulling himself from Souji's grip.
"Shadow or not, I don't care! I'll protect her every time I come into this world if that's
what it takes, but I can't stand to see her in pain like this!"
"Wh Yosuke! Wa-!" Sighing, Souji ran forward as Yosuke ran toward Chie. I
have to give him merits for loyalty, but then again Loyalty has always been one of
Yosuke's strongest points.
"S-stay back!" Chie whimpered, backing away from the others as the three
approached her. "Stay away! Go away! D-don't look at me I I"
"Chie! Stop You have to calm down." Yosuke said softly, taking another slow step
forward. "You have to"
"No! This isn't me! I"
"What's the matter, Chie?" The Shadow spoke up again, its sadistic smirk growing as
he walked up beside the martial artist. "Isn't this what you want? Yosuke is looking at
you! He's actually worried about you! Ahahaha. As if He probably couldn't care
less that it was you in trouble He probably just wants the story to tell Yukiko, huh?
If he saves her best friend then Yukiko might finally notice him and turn away from
you!"
"N-no! Yukiko wouldn't Yosuke wouldn't d-do"
"They wouldn't what? Turn away from you? How can you be so sure? Yosuke's a
dork, but he's such a good person He's strong and loyal And he's good looking
too! Not many girls notice it because they're too busy looking at the popular sporty
boys and the 'brilliant' new transfer student"
At this, Souji winced, a faint feeling of guilt tugging at his chest.
"That they don't notice Yosuke as much as they should, huh? He isn't the smartest
guy around, but you don't care at all. You fell for him and fell hard the moment he
walked into that classroom and said his name But he didn't notice you. It was

Yukiko he tried asking out and Yukiko that he was impressed with. If Yukiko finally
notices him then she won't need you anymore and it'll be you who's left alone,
huh?"
"Stop it!" Chie cried, her voice reaching a near hysterical pitch. "Stop! Shut up! Shut
up, shut up, shut up!"
"Hehehe You can scream and yell all you want but you know that in truth It's
you who can't do anything alone." The Shadow's voice grew timid and broken,
sniffling as it spoke in a mocking pathetic voice. "I can't win as a girl, let alone a
person It's so sad No wonder Yosukeor any guywould never look at a girl
like me They couldn't ever want someone this pathetic!
"Heh But Yukiko" The Shadow tilted its head to the side, the fake look of sorrow
turning back into the sadistic smirk. "She depends on me That's why she's my
friend. I'll never loosen my grip on her She's too important to me. She's the only
reason Yosuke bothers with me because he wants to get close to her. As long as I
have Yukiko I'll never be alone and Yosuke won't forget me."
"No" Chie whimpered again, shaking her head slowly. "Th-that isn't how I think of
her! Y-Yukiko isn't a tool! I don't I don't"
"Hehehe So?" The replica Chie chuckled. "You're going to turn your back?
You're going to deny my truth again? You're gonna run away? Give up? That's
perfect because in the end I'll be the one left standing. You won't mind, right?
After all I'm still you!"
"I said shut up!" The martial artist screamed. "You're not"
"Chie! W-wait! Do" The rest of Yosuke's words were muffled as Souji placed a
hand over the brunette's mouth.
"Don't make her hold it in any longer, Yosuke" The silverette muttered, watching
Chie sadly. How did all this happen so quickly? I've barely done anything different
than the last time. Is it possible they really did like other all this time? But
When I appeared I destroyed that? 'Kindred spirits' Could what Yukiko said be the
reason why I didn't mess that up this time?
"You're not me!" Chie shouted, jerking the silverette back to the real world. "You're
not me at all!"
The same black aura that had surrounded Yosuke's Shadow slowly began to form
around the Chie look-a-like. It doubled over, lost in its own sadistic laughter once

more as a sudden, sharp, burst of energy shot forward, knocking the real Chie to the
ground with a grunt.
"No! Chie!" Yosuke shouted, running forward as Souji finally released him. "Chie!"
"Oh no" Teddie whimpered beside Souji, stepping behind the silverette. "You guys
have to protect Chie-chan! This is just like with Yosuke. You two will have to use
your power to defeat that thing."
Nodding silently, Souji stepped up beside Yosuke who had taken a defense stance in
front of Chie, who looked bewildered at the brunette's action.
"Y-Yosuke?" The marital artist muttered, her face getting paler by the second. "I
I"
Glancing over his shoulder, Yosuke smiled softly, a gentle look in his hazel eyes. "
Don't worry, I'll protect you It it's gonna be just fine."
"Yosuke" Chie muttered as her eyes fluttered shut, the rest of her sentence falling
silent. She slipped forward, her body going limp as she leaned against the back of
the brunette's legs.
"C-Chie!? H-hey! Wake"
"Yosuke" Souji began, sounding uneasy. "I know you're worried about her, but we
really have bigger problems right now"
"H-huh? What problholy" Yosuke gaped at the large creature in front of them.
Where Chie's Shadow had once stood there was nowwhat looked likea bizarre
warrior with long raven hair clad in yellow armor sitting atop a pile of sickly pale
students. "What the hell is?"
"That's the Shadow's true form" Souji explained. "Something similar happened
when you passed out back in the shopping district. I don't really know how to explain
it, but that thing really isn't Chie right now and if we don't do something it's gonna
look out!"
A bolt of lightning shot forward toward Yosuke, who's eyes widened in fear as he
tried to step back, remembering that Chie was behind him.
"D-damn it I can't-!" He crouched down, trying to cover Chie as much as he could,
shutting his eyes as he waited to the impact of lightning that never came. "H-huh?"

"Leave the lightning to me, Yosuke" Souji smiled, watching as Izanagi faded from
view after neutralizing the onslaught with an attack of his own. "If that attack hits you,
it'll hurt a lot more than a normal one. Focus on using your wind magic If I'm right
" And something tells me this is one thing that hasn't changed "your magic,
wind, is going to be that things weakness."
"H-how to you figure that?"
The silverette chuckled and started simply. "Because you are her weakness."
Yosuke blushed but nodded, not trusting his voice to protest as he raised himself
back up to his feet. "You're playing decoy then?"
Souji nodded. "Just keep using whatever wind attacks you can. I'll keep it away from
you."
"Right Good luck, partner!"
The battle went by quicker then Souji expected, his carefully executed plan working
beautifully. He kept in close range to the Shadow, who wasn't willing to divert its
attention away from Souji for more than a few seconds. Each time it looked toward
Yosuke, the silverette would shout a warning before slashing at the Shadow with his
sword, successfully focusing its attention back to him, leaving an opening for Yosuke
to attack. The pattern had to be repeated several times, but it ended with their victory
as the Shadow collapsed to its knees after a final burst of cutting wind from Yosuke,
who was starting to look fatigued himself.
"Finally" Yosuke muttered, wiping his forehead as the larger Shadow was
enveloped in black smoke before turning back into the smaller, Chie-like form.
The Shadow slowly pulled itself to its feet, staring at the group in front of it silently. It
blinked, slowly shifting its golden gaze from Souji to Yosuke, lingering on the
brunette for a few moments before finally looking down at the real Chie, who was
slowly pulling herself to her feet with the assistance of Teddie.
"Wh-what's the matter?" She asked, glaring weakly at the Shadow. "Got nothing to
say anymore!? Not so to"
"Chie" Yosuke muttered, clasping the female's elbow. "Stop It's alright. You don't
have to fight it anymore."
"B-but"

"We understand, Chie" Souji muttered, offering the martial artist a small smile.
"You're not the only one who hides their darker thoughts. You're human Can you
really blame yourself for that?"
"You're still you," Yosuke cut in gently. "Nothing can change that No matter what
was said just now You're still Chie. I I went through the same thing as you did.
So I can understand how you must be feeling right now but if you keep denying
it Then that thing is going to go berserk again and I'm not sure Souji and I have
the strength to fight it a second time right now."
Bowing her head, Chie turned slowly and walked toward her Shadow, raising her
gaze only as she stopped several inches away from the other. "I guess I really
can't run away from this, huh? You you're me. But a side of me that I couldn't
forgive, that I didn't want to listen to So I tried to ignore you and shoved you
away. But here you are you still exist and you're still a part of me and I can't
run from that."
The Shadow's blank look melted into a small smile as it nodded, stepping forward as
it took Chie's hand, shaking it once before looking over the brunette's shoulder
toward Yosuke. The smile grew faintly and its golden eyes sparkled, earning a blush
from the brunette male. It giggled silently and stepped back, tilting its head to the
side as it disappeared in a flash of blue light.
A woman dressed in what appeared to be yellow spandex with a white and black
flower petal-like armored skirt with long white boots and a helmet appeared in front
of Chie. In its gloved hands was a doubled ended spear with orange-hued blades. It
stared down at Chie, nodding once as its long raven hair billowed around its slender
shoulders before disappearing in a second flash of blue light, leaving a card floating
in its place that disappeared as Chie clasped it in her hand.
"Are you alright?" Souji asked as he approached Chie's right, glancing toward
Yosuke as the brunette approached her left.
"I y-yeah, I'm fine." She gave the silverette a reassuring smile before glancing
toward Yosuke, quickly looking down as a crimson blue spread across her face. "I-I
mean it's true that part of me feels all that b-but I really wasn't lying about being
friends with Yukiko. I"
"Haha, like we didn't know that already." Yosuke grinned, reaching for Chie's arm.
"WeH-hey! Chie!"
His widened in panic as Chie's legs gave out beneath her, sending the martial artist
to her knees with a soft whimper of pain.

"I'm okay. Just I'm just a little tired."

"You sure as hell don't look okay" Sighing, the brunette knelt down, peering at
Chie's pale face carefully. "You know I bet that thing we saw just a few seconds
ago is just like ours. You probably have the same power as us now."
"I'm willing to bet you're right, but" Souji frowned. "We don't need to test that now.
Let's head back, okay?"
Yosuke nodded. "Yeah It's dangerous around here and Chie's in no condition to
keep going."
"H-hey!" Chie growled in protest. "I never said I needed a break! I can keep going!"
"Don't overdo it!" Teddie advised as he ran around Souji to face Chie, offering the girl
a sympathetic look. "This world can be really hard on humans."
"Look We know you can do this, but we have to save Yukiko-san, right?" Yosuke
said, grasping Chie's elbow, "But right now you can barely stand up on your own
and we'll need all the help we can get to save her. That's why we need to head back
for now."
"But Yukiko is still in here and I have to tell her something! I"
"Well, you need to get your strength back!" Teddie said, nodding to himself. "If you
don't You're not gonna be able to tell her anything."
"Teddie's right" Yosuke sighed. "If you collapse, we won't be able to save Yukikosan and then we could end up losing you both."
"Yuki-chan will be safe in here for a while, anyway." Teddie said brightly. "The
Shadows don't attack normal people unless the fog lifts around here and the fog only
lifts when it's foggy in your world."
"Exactly," The brunette cut in. "So as long as the weather is clear on our side,
Yukoko-san won't be in danger. That gives us a while until we have to get her out.
Right now, just focus on getting your own strength back up so we can come back. It
was foggy in town on the days Saki-senpai and the announcer died, remember? So
Yukiko-san will be alright.""So then they were killed by" Chie began, sounding
unsure.
"By their Shadows." Souji confirmed. "That's our best bet right now But we should

really be heading back."

"But Yukiko's in here all alone! She must be so scared and"
"Then you tell me how much further we have to go!" Yosuke shouted, making Chie
jump. "You tell me how much stronger the enemies will be further on and how many
we'll run into! If we get wiped out, who's gonna save Yukiko-san then, huh!?"
"I" Chie trailed off, sighing heavily. "Alright."
Teddie stepped forward and bent down, letting Chie use his head for support as she
pulled herself back to her feet. Once they were sure she was able to stand on her
own, Souji and Yosuke turned, headed for the doors behind them.
"Hey You guys?" Chie called softly, causing the other two to stop. "I-I'm sorry
about before when I can in by myself. I shouldn't have done that"
"No, you shouldn't have." Yosuke said in a disapproving tone, earning surprised
looks from everyone in the room. "But we made it to you in time, so no worries.
Just don't do it again, okay?"
"Right." Chie nodded, looking relieved that Yosuke hadn't started shouting again. "I
promise"
"That's good" Souji chuckled as he walked over to Chie, allowing the martial artist
to wrap an arm around his shoulders for support. "because I definitely don't want
to chase his sorry ass back in here after you again. I was ready to knock him out and
find you by myself."
"Wh-what!? I waited for you at the entrance! Don't make things up!"
"You only waited because you hadn't used your Persona before and you didn't want
to get creamed in case you ran into Chie."
"Th-that's-! Oh, shut up!"
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0The three teens shared a sigh of relief as they collapsed to the floor of Junes'
electronics department. Yosuke groaned softly and muttered under his breath about
'magic being exhausting to use' as Souji pulled himself to his feet and Chie pocketed
the pair of yellow glasses Teddie had given her before she left.
"I had wondered how you guys were able to see things so clearly I didn't notice

them in the fog."

"They work wonders." Souji nodded. "We're really grateful forChie? What's
wrong?"
The brunette female was silent as she gazed sadly at the floor, her lips pressed
together in a thin frown.
"That stuff my Shadow said It wasn't all about Yukiko, and" A dark blush spread
across her cheeks as she glanced toward Yosuke, unable to look him in the eye and
quickly becoming interested with a bug crawling across the floor.
Souji chuckled and knelt down, patting Chie's back in a comforting manner. "You
know" he began, glancing back at Yosuke with a grin.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Yosuke asked, sounding uneasy. "
Wait! D-dude! Don't get any funny ideas! You'd better not be-!"
"You're not the only one whose Shadow spouted out a truth they tried to hide about
another."
The martial artist laughed dryly, dabbing at her tearing eyes with her sleeve. "S-shut
up! Don't even joke about that N-next you'll be telling me Yosuke's Shadow said
the s-same thing about me!"
The tears were coming quicker and the brunette female was unable to stop them as
Yosuke sputtered above her.
"Dude, I swear-!" Yosuke growled. "Don't. If you value your life, do not tell her about
"
Souji's eyebrow quirked upward as Chie looked up at Yosuke's crimson face in
anger, her eyes flashing. "Don't tell me what, Yosuke!?"
"N-nothing!" The brunette protested, the blush darkening as he tried to look at
anything in the surrounding area but Chie. "N-nothing at all I-I it that"
The female's eyes widened faintly, a light blush gracing her own cheeks as she
looked up at Yosuke, not bothering to try and stop her silent tears. "It did, didn't it?"
Yosuke gulped and looked down at his shoes, the laces suddenly seemingly
fascinating to him.
"M-maybe" he muttered, gulping a second time. "It m-might have uh, m-

mentioned you. Once or twice."

"Too many times to count." Souji grinned, earning an embarrassed glare from
Yosuke.
"Dude! You-!"
"I'll leave you two to talk, alright?" The silverette stood up and started away from the
pair, his eyes dancing in amusment.
"W-what!? Where are you going! Don't leave me alone with her!" Yosuke protested,
looking panicked. "Wh-what am I supposed to do!?"
"I think" Souji said, pausing briefly as he smiled back at Yosuke. "You already
know. I'll see you two at school tomorrow. Get well soon, Chie."
Not waiting for either of them to start another protest, Souji quickly turned the corner
and paused once he was sure he was no longer in sight, straining his ears as he
waited for the other two to start speaking again. Come on, Yosuke Don't screw this
up. This is your chance Take it and don't turn back.
"H-hey Yosuke?" Chie finally spoke up after several minutes of silence had passed
between the two. "You saw mine, and I-I really don't have anything left to hide,
so I can't get mad at you for anything you might have tried to hide away."
"That's the problem" Yosuke sighed as he sat down at the bottom of the TV shelf
next to Chie, giving the floor a dull look. "You will get mad."
"I-I won't! I"
The brunette held up his hand, silencing Chie's protests as he sighed. "Just wait a
moment, okay? I need a few seconds to think."
The martial artist opened her mouth again, but seemed to think better as she shut it
again, nodding silently. Several more minutes passed before Yosuke finally started
speaking again.
"I've for a really long time now thought of you a lot more fondly then I should
have. I mean it was probably around two weeks after I came to Inaba that I started
to notice it and" he sighed again, twitching slightly in his makeshift seat. "I I
would have tried to get closer to you but I mean, you were always"
The brunette groaned and hid his face in his hands, obviously not wanting to

continue as he spoke through his hands. "Geez, this is annoying It shouldn't be

this hard. ILook, I was jealous of Yukiko-san myself, alright?" He looked up,
suddenly pulling his hands away from his hands as words came pouring from his
mouth. "You two were always together and I felt insanely jealous. I was
intimidated, I guess. Yukiko-san always seemed to have your attention and I felt
lamelike I wasn't good enough."
Chie's face was frozen in shock as Yosuke stood up and began pacing, making wild
hand gestures as he continue to drop the bombs of truth. "I thought you'd find a loser
like me boring and after I smashed your DVD on accident; I sort of lost all hope.
All I ever seemed to do lately is piss you off and I wanted to give up. I just wanted
to walk away and part of me even wanted to forget that I'd ever met you but
another partthe larger partdidn't want to give up. It was clinging to the dull hope
that I might pull off some sort of miracle and you'd finally look at me, and I mean
really look at me."
The headphone-clad teen sighed in defeat as he collapsed back to the floor,
crossing his legs as be began absently picking at the sole of his shoe. "I just I wish
I wasn't such a loser, that's all. I wish I was someone you could be proud of, for a
chance and" he hesitated before finishing softly. "And not just the 'Junes boy'
who could get you discounts with a wallet to dive into"
"Y-Yosuke! I I never thought of you as a wallet to" Chie trailed off, sighing softly
as she lowered her gaze. "I guess, I really did act like that, huh? Is it useless to
say sorry now? I never meant to make you feel like I don't know why I did it I just
Maybe, or at least, it seemed like, when I pulled stunts like thateven if you were
annoyedyour attention was always focused on meif only for a few minutes.
You'd be looking at me, and only me So I I"
Gulping, the martial artist choked on the tears that had increased once more and
began to rub furiously at her eyes, fighting back the heavy sobs that threatened to
take her over. A hand pushed hers away and a white handkerchief was pressed
against her palm as Yosuke ran a thumb under Chie's eyes as he crouched in front
of her, a gentle smile on his lips.
"Hey if you're not doing anything in a few nights I-I mean after we rescue
Yukiko-san Would you like to maybe go out for steak with me? And not just
the Junes food court Someplace nice. Just the two of us."
Chie hiccupped lightly as she stared at Yosuke, the look of shock slowly melting into
a brilliant smile as she dabbed her eyes with the white cloth he'd given her. "Oh
Yosuke." She sniffled, nodding quickly. "I-I I'd really like that. But on one

condition, alright?"
The gentle smile fell of Yosuke's face as he winced, looking slightly hurt. "
Condition?"
"Let me treat you, okay? No arguments." She placed a finger on Yosuke's lips
before he could protest, shaking her head. "Just humor me, okay? Let me pay this
time."
"But-!" The brunette began, pulling away from Chie's hand. "I"
"Hot chocolate."
"Huh?" Yosuke blinked and raised an eyebrow slowly, not expecting the bizarre
interruption. "How chocolate?"
"If you really feel like you have to pay for something then hot chocolate after
dinner." Blushing heavily as she looked away, she continued, almost hesitantly. "I-I
mean, it's still pretty cold out at night a-and y-you you'd walk me home, rright?"
Yosuke blinked again, a bright grin slowly spreading across his face yet again as he
laughed, nodding his head. "Y-yeah. Alright Fine, it's a dealbut only as long as I
can do this."
"Huh? Do wheek!" Chie squeaked as she was suddenly pulled against Yosuke's
warm chest, the blush that had cover her cheeks spreading across her entire face
and as far as the tips of her ears. Unable to come up with an intelligent protest, she
simply muttered, 'oh' before pressing her face into the crook of the brunette's neck,
sighing softly in content.
"You must be tired." Yosuke finally muttered, glancing toward the clock. "It's getting
late, too. Come on I'll take you home."
Too tired to say anything more, the brunette female nodded slowly in agreement,
taking Yosuke's hand gratefully as he pulled her to her feet. She tugged on his hand
lightly as he tried to pull her down the aisle, making him pause and look backward.
"Chie? Are you alright, do you need me to carry" He stopped, his jaw dropping
in silent awe as a pair of lips brushed over his cheek briefly before they pulled away
again. The brunette struggled to regain use of his voice, but ultimately failed in the
end, settling for a brilliant grin as he intertwined his fingers with Chie's and turned
away again, walking down the aisle with the martial artist at his heels.

Silver eyes watched as the pair left, a faint smile on Souji's face as they disappeared
from view.
"Well done, Yosuke" he chuckled, stepping out of his hiding spot behind a large
DVD player display. "I'm happy for you both of you." Things really are changing
for the better this time, huh?
The silverette chuckled to himself again, slipping out of the aisle and hurrying down
the main walkway of the electronics department. "I'd better hurry home then I
wonder what Nanako-chan wants for dinner tonight." I really am happy for them
but I can't help but feel a little jealous. Yosuke Chie You two are able to love
each other happily don't throw that away. The person I love doesn't even
remember I exist so hold onto happiness, both of you
"Heh Or you'll both have to pay the price by eating 'Mystery Food X' for a week."
The silverette's stomach turned at the mere thought of the so-called food. "Ugh I'll
have to remember to bring snacks on that trip. I don't think anyone could survive a
second helping of whatever that was."

Song of the Captured Bird

Someone really needs to correct my Japanese... I have a twisted feeling that it is
very, very wrong.
Um, in other news... I'm back! I did promise I would return to this story and I was
quite serious. I know I've been ridiculously busy as of late, and college starts at the
end of the month, so I'll end up being busy again, but hopefully I'll manage enough
time to sit down and write once in a while. I uploaded a Persona 3 oneshot earlier
today, and I seem to be on a roll because I'll be uploading The Long Road Home
soon, as well. Again, I'm really, really sorry that it took so long for me to upload. It's a
bit foolish to take on two huge multi-chapter stories at the same time, but hopefully
I'll somehow manage to do it.
Er... not much else to say, except special appearance at the end of the chapter.
Merits to anyone who actually picks up on the (obvious) references in the last bit. ...I
guess apologizing again will just get annoying, so I present to you the next chapter.
Gosh, my writing style is so different here... it kinda annoys me. So if things really
start to change within the next few chapters, I apologize. Typos to be expected, but I
really hope there aren't many.
In other news~ My persona forum has been revamped and seems to be doing well!
There is a link in my profile if anyone is interested. It seems to be turning into a really
nice place. -shuffles off to write moreChapter Seven: Song of the Captured Bird
"So You two didn't do anything bad after I left, did you?" Souji asked casually,
smiling as Yosuke's face turned an amusing shade of crimson.
"No, we didn't do anything 'bad'!" Yosuke glared, punching Souji's arm. "G-geez
You make me sound like a creeper or something."
"Well, you did spy on Chie outside her house for an entire wee"
"Will you drop that already! And it wasn't spying! It was just just casual
observing."
"Uh-huh. They already have a word for that sort of thing." Souji smirked. "Wanna
know what it is? Spying."

"Dude shut up."

Souji raised an eyebrow, amusement easily visible in his eyes. "Oh? You don't deny
it then?"
"A-anyway" Yosuke moved around Souji's desk and sat down at his own, resting
his chin in his palm as he leaned forward and fixed the silverette with an annoyed
look. "If you're finished Are we going back to the TV world today or not?"
The silver eyed teen shook his head slowly with a shrug. "I don't know. It all depends
on if Chie is feeling good enough to join. I doubt she'd forgive us if we went in
without her for a second time; I think she worried enough last time to last her a
while."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Yosuke nodded with a sigh. "I still don't like the idea of
letting her join us, though. Don't get me wrong, she's a great fighter and all. It's just
that"
"It's just?" Souji smirked. "Are you afraid she'll be the one saving your ass instead
of the other way around? After all, you like looking strong in front of her, right?"
"Didn't I tell you to shut up!" The brunette growled, punching the silverette's shoulder.
"Geez, you're such an ass"
"Ah, but Yosuke, I'm your ass and you appointed me as leader. Thus you're stuck
with me." "Whose ass is what now? I didn't walk into one of those really awkward
conversations, did I?" Both males jumped, looking up to meet Chie's questioning
expression. The martial artist's honey-brown eyes slowly moved from one boy to the
other before she shook her head, deciding it was smarter to remain ignorant on the
matter. Slipping between Souji's chair and Yosuke's desk, Chie sat down with a soft
sigh. "Nevermind, I think I'm better off not knowing, anyway. Seriously though, if you
two want to talk about other people's backsides, do it after class, okay?"
Coughing lightly, Souji took the brief moment of silence to change the subject. "You
look much better today. Did you sleep well?"
"Hm?" Chie blinked, "Oh, yeah. I was completely out cold until morningnearly
missed my alarm too, but I'm feeling great now."
"That's good" Yosuke muttered, leaning back in his chair. "Your parents weren't
home when I dropped you off and I really didn't want to leave you alone in your
condition."

"Oh?" Chie raised a questioning eyebrow. "And just what was going to happen to
me alone in my house? Were you expecting a break in?"
"Wha? N-no! You were exhausted! I don't know what could have happened! You
could have whited-out for a moment and fallen down the stairs or something I
don't know!"
"Fallen down the stairs?" The brunette female repeated, sounding faintly offended.
"Oh come on, Yosuke. I wasn't that tired."
"I was just"
"If you don't mind me cutting in" Souji said loudly over Yosuke's upset tone. "Do
you think you're feeling well enough to go back to the TV world today, Chie?"
"Oh yeah, definitely." Chie nodded with enthusiasm. "I'm totally ready! Besides, I
don't want Yukiko in there any longer then she has to be. She has to be terrified at
this point I can't even begin to think what her Shadow might be saying to her. After
yesterday I've really begun to wonder if I know Yukiko as well as I thought I did."
"Don't stress yourself out over it, Chie." Yosuke advised, taking the female's hand
that had been resting on his desk gently in his own. "Yukiko-san is perfectly safe. It
hasn't been foggy in our world, and we're not going to get rain for a while. She's
probably just really tired right now So don't worry."
Souji nodded in agreement. "Since none of us have any plans today, we can head
over to Junes as soon as school is over."
"Yeah." Chie smiled softly, giving Yosuke's hand a light squeeze before pulling
away looking at the surface of her desk rather than the others faces. "Um before I
forget. Thanks"
"Huh?" Yosuke frowned, looking confused. "What are you thanking us for?"
"For yesterday, I mean" the martial artist shifted in her seat, embarrassed. "You
two really saved me back there and you saw my hidden feelings and everything,
so"
"Don't sweat it." The brunette male spoke up, grinning. "I really hope you don't mind
me saying so but I'm glad it happened."
"I'm sure you are" Souji chuckled. "You never would have worked up the courage
to confess to her, otherwise."

"Wh-what! That's not true!" Yosuke protested with a heavy blush. "I-it just would
have taken a little while, that's all."
"Meaning a few years?"
"Souji!"
"Awright you brats! Shut up and get in your seats! It's time for class to start!"
The three jumped and quickly straightened themselves in their desks, looking toward
the front of the room with the same look of distaste in their eyes.
"Open yer books to page twenty-three and make it quick! I ain't got all day to wait for
you losers to find your junk. Everyone ready? Good. Now"
"Are you going to bed early tonight?" Nanako asked quietly as Souji walked into
the living room and immediately turned towards the stairs.
"Huh?" Glancing over his shoulder, the silverette smiled apologetically, nodding his
head. "Yeah I've been practicing to try out for the basketball team and Yosuke and
I spent a lot of time after school in the gym today. We worked each other to the bone
so" Souji sighed as he paused near the bottom of the steps, looking guilty. He had
promised Nanako that he'd read to her before bed whenever she requestedjust as
the young brunette had this morning. He looked up the stairway, nibbling his lower lip
as he tried to convince himself he wasn't as exhausted as he felt.
"You must be working really hard, you look really tired." Nanako smiled as she stood
up, rushing into the kitchen and opening the fridge.
When she shut the door, she scurried over to Souji, holding a can out to the
silverette. "Dad drinks these a lot when he's had a long day. He says they help him
relax and make his muscles hurt less. He told me it was for grown-ups but You'd
count as a grown-up too, right? If you drink this before bed, you should feel better
tomorrow."
Taking the can gratefully, Souji bent down and pulled Nanako into a lose hug before
turning toward the stairs again, stopping on the third step. "Thanks, Nanako I
promise to read to you tomorrow night, okay? As long as you want me to." I don't
think I'd make a good story-teller tonight So I'll make it up to you.
"Oh Really!" The brunette beamed, pigtails bouncing around as she nodded her
head enthusiastically. "Okay! It's a promise! Sleep well."

"You too Don't stay up too late. There are two bento boxes in the fridge for you
and your father. I made them this morning, just in case. You can eat them hot or
cold." With that, Souji continued up the stairs as Nanako thanked him happily before
turning to rush back toward the fridge. When he reached the landing, the silverette
looked down at the can in his hands, resisting the urge to laugh as he read the label.
Beer, huh? It sure doesn't look like it. I guess Uncle buys the ones that look like
juice so Nanako doesn't pick up the habit.
Opening his door, Souji set the can on the coffee table in the center of his room,
planning to return it to the fridge in the morning. I guess what she said makes sense
then Haha, relaxes the body and mind, huh? Yeah, that would do it.
Quickly discarding his uniform, Souji sighed happily as he flopped down onto his
futon, the feather pillow and soft mattress seeming even more comfortable than it
had been the night previous. Despite his recently returned memories, simply
knowing what was going to happen hadn't made the battle against Yukiko's Shadow
any less exhausting. His limbs ached from the stress of suddenly being used much
more often than they had before and he couldn't help but wish he'd been granted
back his physical strength along with his memories.
I forgot to brush my teeth Souji groaned as he buried his face in his pillow,
wondering if it was really worth getting up over. I don't want to move at all Yukiko's
Shadow hadn't changed very much from what I remember, but dammit, I'm still
exhausted.
"Well, at least my diligence is as strong as I ever remember it being." The silverette
chuckled softly, "I guess I have that going for me Maybe that'll help me get back to
where I was before faster." The thought was comforting, but it only lingered in his
mind for a moment as he thought back to what had happened earlier that day.
- Begin Flashback "Chie!" Yosuke growled in concern as he examined a small bleeding wound on the
martial artist's arm. "Don't be so reckless! Are you trying to get yourself killed!"
"Reckless!" Chie shouted, brushing in annoyance and embarrassment as Yosuke
summoned his persona to heal her. "You're the one jumping in front of everything
that moves!"
"That's because you're dancing around like a child on a sugar-high! You're gonna get
seriously hurt if you keep this up! Why not think about what the hell you're doing
when you're doing it!"

"Wha? What about you! You're obviously not thinking when you decide to throw
yourself in front of a Shadow swinging around a giant frickin' SWORD! Besides
Don't you ever listen to me? 'Don't think; FEEL!' I say it ALL the time!"
"Feel? You're gonna end up feeling a fireball in your face if you keep this up!"
"Fine, FINE. Calm down already, MOM. I'll be a good little girl for you."
"That's mature, Chie. Real mature!"
Souji sighed, resisting the urge to beat his head on the nearest wall as he listened to
the newly-found couple bickering with one another as if they'd been married for
years.
"Hey" he muttered, stepping forward and pushing the two teens apart. His
eyebrow twitched in annoyance as he gave them each a scorning look, the
beginning amusement he had found in their little fights no longer there as they made
their way through the sixth floor of the castleit had died somewhere around the
third. "Would you two just shut up for a minute?"
Silence fell of the pair as they stared at Souji, clearly shocked at the silverette's
sudden less-than-gentle reaction. Shutting his eyes, the teen exhaled slowly,
releasing the two brunette's arms and stepped back.
"Thank you." He opened his eyes again, shoving the tip of his katana into a crack in
the ground. He crossed his now free arms and frowned, looking between the pair in
exasperation. "Now that I finally have your full attention Yosuke, I understand
you're worried about Chie, and that worry is doubled because you no longer have to
hide your feelings, but there isn't a need to panic every time she gets a small cut. We
both know very well that Chie is strong enough to deal with a few small wounds until
they reach a point when healing would be the better choice. Until the time when she
needs healing comes, either control yourself or wait with Teddie and help us from the
edge of the battle field."
Yosuke open his mouth to protest, but shut it immediately as Souji raised an
eyebrow, daring the brunette to argue. When he was confident that the headphoneclad teen wasn't going to say anything, he turned to the second of the pair. "Chie, I
know you're eager to help out and you want to get to Yukiko as fast as possible, but
Yosuke has a point. I'm not saying he's completely right, but he does have a point.
Please be a little more careful and focus more on the battle at hand, rather than the
ones that lie ahead. If Yosuke exhausts himself healing you because he feels the
need to spazz over every little paper-cut you get,saving Yukiko is going to be a lot
harder than it should be. We all want to rescue her, but if any of us allow ourselves

to get over-excited, someone is going to end up hurt."

- End Flashback The teen groaned again as he rolled over, running a hand through his hair slowly.
His head throbbed with an oncoming headache as the memory played itself over in
his mind. He rubbed his temple in a futile attempt to keep the headache from
coming. "I knew I was going to be tired, but I didn't think I would be this exhausted."
As he
rolled over in bed and tried to find a comfortable spot to settle in for the night, he
yawned and mumbled under his breath, "The next time Yosuke decides to play
heroic boyfriend I'm pushing him down the next set of stairs I see."
"So, did you and Yukiko-san make it home alright last night?" Yosuke asked as Chie
plopped down into her seat.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Everyone was pretty busy when we got there, but they were
overjoyed to have Yukiko back. They were pretty clingy for a bit, but I helped her up
to her room and made sure she was comfortable before I left. I doubt she'll have any
trouble at all Everyone was so willing to help."
"It must be nice" Souji mused quietly. "Having a large family, I mean. To know that
there's always someone there willing to help you."
"Yeah, I bet it is. Shehuh? Hey, partner? Are you alright? You look really down
all of a sudden." Yosuke frowned as he leaned over his desk, trying to read into the
distant look in the silverette's eyes. "Are you having troubles at home with Dojimasan or something?"
Snapping out of his daze, Souji shook his head and gave the brunette a smile to
reassure that he was alright. "It's nothing. My family has always been small, so I
was wondering if it's overwhelming to have a family like hers."
"Oh, that's right It's just you and your parents, huh?" Chie asked, "Do you get to
see them often? You said they traveled a lot, so..."
Souji shrugged and turned around in his chair as the classroom door opened, trying
to look as normal as possible. "I see them enough, not as much as other kids, but
we see each other enough."
In the seat behind him, Yosuke stared at the silverette's back silently, not believing

his words at all. Reaching into his desk, the brunette produced a notebook and
ripped out a small sheet of paper and quickly scribbled down a note. His gaze
followed Morooka warily, waiting until the teacher turned around to copy something
down on the board before quickly folding the paper into a small square and tossing it
onto Souji's desk. Bewildered, the silver-haired teen opened it and held the note
under his desk as he read it. A moment later, he glanced back at Yosuke and
grinned with a nod then turned back around.
Hey, partner
I'm not sure if I'm just seeing things or what, but that talk about families really
seemed to put you down. How about we head to the shopping district after school,
okay? Chie said she's off to visit Yukikosurprise, surpriseand I don't have any
plans. My shift at the Junes isn't till this evening, so we have the whole afternoon to
have some fun. We'll get some food, my treat.
"You know you're in the country when sticking chunks of streak in a croquette is
considered a specialty, huh?" Yosuke laughed as he popped another slice of his
croquette into his mouth. "This stuff is great, even if it is hard to chew It makes me
wonder what Chie eats everyday to be able to call this stuff 'tender and juicy.' I
swear, that girl's teeth must be something else"
"We're better off not asking" Souji chuckled softly, nibbling quietly at his own food.
Yosuke's trying really hard to cheer me up, isn't he? Heh, I really don't know why I
got depressed Is it really because I missed my own parents? Not really, I'm used
to that I just think it's because "Did you plan a night for your date yet?" I think it's
because, even though I have all my memories with everyone they still look at me
as if we've just met and I miss the bonds we all used to have.
Yosuke choked, fumbling frantically for his drink and downing half of its contents in
one gulp. A dark blush spread across the brunette's face as he pointed accusingly at
Souji. "I-I knew it!" he coughed, still trying to swallow the chunk of steak lodged in his
throat. "I knew it! You were spying! You didn't leave at all! I thought I saw you as we
were leaving!"
Unable to hold it in, the silverette laughed. A wide grin spread across his faced as he
nodded, trying to look guilty about what he'd done. "Alright, alright you caught me.
I'll make it up to you, okay? Where are you going? Casual or fancy?"
"H-huh?" Yosuke frowned, looking confused. "Where are we? Well I'm not sure.
There isn't really anything fancy in Inaba, so I was going to wait until Saturday and

take her to the city for a bit, but Why does that matter?"
"Well You've never been on a date before, have you?"
Yosuke shook his head.
"And you have no idea what to do, how to act, or what to wear."
Yosuke nodded.
"And you believe I'm 'good with the ladies,' or so you say."
Yosuke nodded, looking slightly envious.
"You weremost likelygoing to beg me for advice anyway, so to make up for
spying, I might as well offer it."
Yosuke opened his mouth, seemed to think better, and shut it again, nodding for a
third time grimly. "I really don't want to screw this up, you know?" he sighed. "The
last thing I need is what my Shadow said turning out to be true. I really want to
give her a first date to remember and be able to continue to give her the same
feeling of joy after that, even if we're only in Inaba."
The silverette smiled softly and nodded slowly. "Yosuke you already have the most
important thing you need." He's just like me; I wanted to do the same for Naoto. He's
lucky to be able to be with the one he cares most about. Since I can't be with her
right now, then I want to do all I can to help them. He didn't get the chance before
as, unfortunately, I somehow managed to pull Chie's attention from him.
"I do?" the brunette blinked. "You're gonna have to help me out here, partner.
What's this 'important thing'?"
"It can't really be explained, Yosuke. But, judging by what you just said, you already
have it."
"You're not making any sense."
"The point being" Souji quickly continued. "You love her, yes? The fact that you'd
go so far, just for a date, at least implies it. In any case, it's this Saturday, right? I can
help you get ready after school whenever I'm not busy."
"You'd really do that?"
"Of course, we're friends." The silverette smiled. "Besides I'd much rather give you

pointers where to go on a date until you think you can do it on your own than be
comforting you if you mess up."
"H-hey!" Yosuke cried, offended. "I wouldn't 'mess up'! I'm perfectly"
"I was kidding, Youske And thanks for the food, by the way. Hurry up and eat
before it gets cold. We can go to the city tomorrow and look for someplace nice, but
inexpensive. After all if Chie insists on paying, you don't want to go somewhere
ridiculous."
"I'm not sure if I should be thanking you, or feeling insulted about all this."
"Both, I'm sure."
Yosuke snorted. "You're a cocky one, aren't y" The brunette trailed off as a pair of
woman walked by their table and stopped a few feet away. Every few moments
they'd glance back as Yosuke with looks of distaste as they murmured to one
another. Despite their quite tones, Souji was sure he heard the words "Junes,"
"Yasogami," "friend," "out of business," and something that sounded suspiciously
like, "How could he even dare coming here?"
"I'm kinda infamous around here, can you tell?" Yosuke forced a laugh as the
woman walked away, the sad look on his eyes giving away the fake smile.
"It must be tough," Souji muttered. I guess things haven't changed that much
Yosuke still gets a lot of heat for his parents work.
"Nah, it isn't that bad." The brunette shrugged, "It's mostly my parents they don't like;
I'm not personally involved with this at all. They just throw their frustrations at me
since I can't do anything back. I'm used to it by now, and I can't do anything about it,
so"
"That doesn't excuse their actions." The silverette's tone was bitter as he glared at
another pair of housewives that had stopped to stare at Yosuke from across the
street. "They're acting like children."
"Can't win every battle," Yosuke said, popping a croquette slice in his mouth.
"Besides, I don't think there's anyone in this city who doesn't know who I am. No use
in fighting it, they'd just end up disliking me even moreand it isn't as if they all hate
me. It just sucks that I always have to mind my manners wherever I go."
"...Yosuke, you're amazing." The words slipped from Souji's lips before he could stop
them. "You really are strong. Never cut yourself short of that."

"Wha?" Yosuke's cheeks reddened in embarrassment. Rubbing his nose, he stood

up, avoiding Souji's eyes as he laughed lightly. "A-anyway, these croquettes are
pretty damn good, huh? I'm getting another. You want one too, right?"
"I, uh"
"Come on! Eating contest, you and me, right now. We'll eat till our stomachs burst!"
"Yo! Souji-kun, wait up!"
Souji paused, one foot out the door of the classroom and glanced over his shoulder.
Chie was motioning for him to wait as she quickly gathered together the rest of her
things and shoved them haphazardly into her school bag, throwing it over her
shoulders.
Making her way around the desks, the martial artist approached Souji, greeting him
with a nervous grin. "H-hey I know you and Yosuke have been hanging out a lot
this past month, but, um Do you think maybe I could ask you to join me today for
a small favor?"
The silverette tilted his head silently in question, urging Chie to continue.
"W-well Um, I want to go visit Yukiko, but I really don't know if I can face her by
myself right now. We've been exchanging e-mails and talking on the phone when
she was feeling well-enough for it, but"
"I don't mind," Souji said. "Yosuke and I don't have any plans today, and I don't have
any club meetings either, so I can"
"Great!" Chie cried, looking relieved. "Thanks a million, really. I owe you for this."
"We're friends, Chie I'm always happy to help, so there's no need for repayment."
"Man, you really need to be a little more demanding once in a while, you know?"
Souji fell silent as the pair of them walked down the hallway, silently considering
Chie's words.
"Alright then," he finally spoke, looking amused. "I demand to know what it is you
want my help with. That's payment enough for me."
"You're as bad as Yosuke, you know that?" the brunette sighed, shaking her head.
"Anyway I wanted to talk to you about something, but, um I think we should wait

until we're outside so there aren't so many people to listen in."

"Listen in?" What does she mean? Souji frowned, but nodded, silently agreeing with
Chie's request. Did something happen? When they finally reached the far end of the
flood plain close to the residential district, Chie glanced around once. She nodded
silently to herself as if answering her own unspoken question and glanced at Souji
before looking toward the ground.
"Are you going to tell me why you brought me now?" The silverette asked quietly,
watching Chie intently. She never asked me to join like this before. Could the simple
act of pushing Yosuke and Chie together really have changed so much so quickly?
I suppose that we're closer than we were the first time around as well. I'm
beginning to understand that phrase, "A single grain of rice can tip the scale."
"I was wondering, um Souji-kun What did you think of Yukiko's Shadow? I know
it isn't right to talk about something like this when she isn't here with us but I really
don't think I'll be able to talk to her face-to-face about this and I really need to let it
out. I've been holding it in all month. I tried talking to Yosuke about it, but he was too
worried about me to let me get everything I needed to say out."
"He's just trying to show you how much he cares, Chie. He'll learn to back off in
time but right now he's as new to dating as you are and he's trying to find a way he
can worry about you without suffocating you at the same timebut we'll worry about
Yosuke later. Why do you want to talk about Yukiko's Shadow?" Hers was the only
one so far that wasn't drastically different. Sure it was a little harsher on some
subjects, but it wasn't half as drastic as Yosuke or Chie's.
"Well Let's see, how can I put this?" Scratching her forehead, Chie sighed
heavily, obviously at a loss for words. "It's like this, Souji-kun. Her Shadow, it really
freaked me out."
Souji blinked, stopping as he turned to stare at Chie who had taken a sudden
interest in her shoes. The brunette's hands were absently knotting themselves in the
extra sleeve fabric of her jacket as her weight was shifted from foot to foot. "It
'Freaked you out'?" he repeated slowly, trying to properly read the meaning of the
brunette's words. "Well, I suppose I can understand that."
"You can?" Chie asked, sounding shocked. "I-I mean, you don't think I sound like a
bad person for thinking that?"
"Not at all It makes sense after all. You saw something that could have very well
been you, with Yukiko in your place." Souji explained, gently pushing Chie's shoulder
to urge the brunette to walk again. "Haven't you ever felt like that? What her Shadow

was saying, that is."

"Well" the martial artist hesitated, carefully debating over her words before
speaking. "Yeah, I guess I have I mean, obviously, I'm nowhere near as feminine
as Yukiko. I've always been the tomboyish one who was told to 'be more feminine'
and 'act like the other girls.' So when people like Yosuke would look at Yukiko and
ignore me, I guess I felt isolated, but"
Souji nodded quietly, watching a cat slink across a nearby roof as they waited for a
car to pass so that they might cross the street. "Do you remember the things your
own Shadow said, Chie? Even if it's hard to admit to yourself you seem to enjoy
having control quite a bit. Don't misunderstand; I'm not calling you a control-freak or
anything of the sort. You're not the only one who likes to be able to control the
situations they're in or unconsciously using others to make themselves feel"
"I-I wasn't using Yukiko!" Chie cried, upset. "I was I was"
"Chie" Souji sighed, shaking his head. "Calm down I wasn't saying you were. I
have no doubt in my mind that your friendship with Yukiko is genuine, and you mean
much more to the other then either of you seem to notice, but you admitted yourself
that part of you had been clinging to Yukiko for that feeling of control. Contrary to
that Yukiko feels trapped by those who are in control. Why do you think her
Shadow took the form it did?"
"The form it did?" Chie blinked, tilting her head. "What do you mean?"
"After her Shadow transformed, the creature we fought."
"You mean that bird-thing in the cage? I don't understand what you mean" she
trailed off, eyes widening faintly as she stopped walking, staring into the distance.
"Understand now?"
"A caged bird" the brunette repeated softly, her face contorting with guilt. "Then
Yukiko's Shadow, those chains and that cage They're my fault?"
"No, not exactly" Souji muttered, running a hand through his hair slowly.
They neared another street and stopped, watching as the various shapes and colors
of cars passed by them. Chie had fallen completely silently as she waited for Souji to
explain what he meant, while the silverette tried to work together what he was trying
to say without hurting the female's feelings. He grunted, silently wishing he had
some sort of memory from the first time around that would help him right nowbut if

he only relied on memories, Souji knew that would be no better than living in a world
of fog.
"Yukiko, like you, also has a choice. You both have so many different paths in front
of you that can be taken, but unlike you, Yukiko doesn't see that she has the ability
to make that choice."
"So she's lost?" Chie asked, trying to understand what Souji was telling her.
"Well yeah, I suppose you could put it that way."
"So then whose fault is it? Where is all this trouble coming from and what can
we do?"
"I'm not sure there is a 'source' per se," Souji mused. "Or rather, if you think about it,
there are too many factors and sources that helped contribute to the problem to pinpoint the origin of the problem. But whatever the case, where it started doesn't
matter. What's important right now is that you're both aware of what the problem is.
Now you just have to keep it from getting worse and work on fixing it."
"Wow," Chie muttered, her body walking alongside Souji on auto-pilot as she
gazed off to the side in a daze. "I never really thought about it like that before.
You're right."
"I'm not really right," Souji sighed. "I'm just choosing the best choice I can think of
and hoping it will help."
"No, no Really, you've helped a lot more then you know. Ioh, we're here" the
martial artist said, sounding surprised as she stared up at the house-side entrance of
the Amagi Inn. "I didn't even notice."
"That's good," the silverette grinned. "It means you were really listening and thinking
about this. I guess we're on the right track after all."
"Hahaha, yeah" Chie sighed, shaking her head slowly. "Man, I'm still kinda
creeped out about that whole 'prince' thing, you know? I know that she thought pretty
highly of me and all, but something like that, it's just"
"Symbolism."
"Huh?"
"Symbolism," Souji repeated. "I don't think she meant the literal meaning of the word

'prince,' not exactly. I think it was just a way for us to help understand what it was
Yukiko was really feeling. It just means Well, she thinks very highly of you. You're
her best friend; a best friend can be a savior as much as a lover or real princecharming."
"I really hope so. I really don't like horses all that much, so" Chie grinned. "I
wouldn't be able to ride in and save her from anything like a brave prince is
supposed to."
Souji laughed. "I doubt you'll need to look into it that literally. Although, I'm willing to
bet you wouldn't mind if Yosuke"
"Wh-what! Th-that's completely off topic! Not to mention mean!" the martial artist
blushed heavily, looking embarrassed under Souji's knowing look. "I-I mean it's true,
but still mean!"
The silverette snorted and shook his head, forcing down the laughter that bubbled
into his throat. "In any case Don't worry about horses or castlesworry about the
main picture."
"Yeah" the brunette smiled softly as she nodding, pausing as she reached to
knock on the door. "Just one more thing."
"Hm?"
"How do we fix things? How to we keep them from getting worse? What can we
do?"
"I can't tell you that" Souji said, shaking his head. "That is something only you and
Yukiko can figure out. You don't have to do it alone of course, you have each other to
rely on, but the only advice I can really give to you is to always remember what you
saw, both your Shadow, and hers, and don't allow yourselves to fall back to that."
"I see" Rapping her knuckles against the door of Yukiko's home several times Chie
stepped back and stared at the sky as she carefully thought over Souji's words. "I'll
remember all that. Thanks for coming with and talking to me today. ThisI really
think it'll help."
"Anytime," the silver-eyed teen said as the door opened and a woman who looked
like a much older version of Yukiko with beautiful features opened the door. Her eyes
brightened as she recognized Chie, and she opened the door further. As she noticed
the silverette, she offered Souji a welcoming smile before ushering them inside and
toward the stairs that lead to Yukiko's room.

A cool evening breeze drifted through the open window a vast and elegant study,
ruffling the pages of the open books and files scattered across the table a slender
youth was bent over. The end of April had come and the evenings had lost their icy
winter chill, slowly in the process of changing into a more favorable spring-like
fashion. The only light in the room was from that of a desk lamp at the corner of the
table, its shaft carefully bent so that the light shone brightly upon the pages, but left
the surrounding area of the room in almost complete darkness.
The figure sitting at the table mumbled something under their breath, sighing in
frustration as they grabbed a notebook and began jotting down notes quickly in an
elegant script-like writing. The notebook was dropped to the table with another sigh
as the figure shook their head slowly. "No that doesn't add up. Yukiko Amagi can't
possibly be the killer. I can't imagine why such an angle was even explored. While
she had the motive to protect her mother, there was no other evidence proving any
aggression toward Mayumi Yamano. Still with Yukiko Amagi removed as a
suspect, that leaves the police with little to nothing. I suppose they'll cling to any
theory that they"
A knock cut off the mumbled tangent as the sitting figure blinked and looked toward
the door. "...I thought that I was the only one awake." Raising their voice the figure
called out, "Come in!"
The door to the study opened and a man with short, bleach-blond hair stepped
inside. A pair of sunglasses was removed and pocketed as the blond man looked
around, frowning slightly. "It's midnight... While I know you want to learn as much
about this case as possible before joining it, I really think you should go to bed for
tonight."
"I'll head to bed shortly I just wish to finish reading through this file and"
"Then it will be one more file. You're just like the master. You can't fool me"
"You didn't come in here just to convince me to go to bed, Yakushiji-san. To what do I
owe the pleasure of this late-night visit?"
"Early morning is more like it, Naoto-sama. They haven't yet officially decided if they
are going to send you to Inaba. Please, at the very least, save the late night casework until then. Master Shirogane would never forgive me if I allowed you to neglect
your health in his absence."
"You've neglected to answer my question."

"Ah" Yakushiji smiled sheepishly and stepped forward, holding out a small box
wrapped in deep, navy-blue wrapping paper. A silver ribbon was wrapped around the
box, tied in a near perfect bow at the top with a single white card attached to it. "This
was delivered anonymously today for you, Naoto-sama. There was a second card
addressed to myself, much to my surprise, that instructed me to give this to you the
moment the clock struck April the twenty-seventh. Whoever sent it seemed to be
quite convinced you'd still be awake. Did you tell someone within the police force of
your birthday, Naoto-sama?"
"I didn't." Naoto frowned, taking the box slowly, eyeing it with suspicion. "Did you
look into this at all?"
The secretary nodded. "I did. Before bringing it into the house I took a short walk to
the police station and had it screened. Your grandfather was alerted as well and he
claims he had nothing to do with it. However the package is quite safe and you
needn't worry about opening it."
"From your biggest fan I missed your birthday the last time I was here, so I hope
this makes up for my foolish mistake. Happy Birthday, Naoto." Naoto read aloud with
a small frown as she turned the card over several times, raising it briefly to her nose
before examining it in the light of the lamp. "The card is typed and I can't smell nor
visually detect any invisible inks. Whoever sent this knew what they were doing.
Except the word 'fool' is in italics. Just fool, not the remaining 'i-s-h.'" Is it
supposed to be a clue? A hint as to who sent this?
"They must admire you very much, Naoto-sama The package has been treated
well."
"There is no possible way to return to sender?"
"None at all, Naoto-sama. They left no means of returning it They did, however,
mention in the note addressed to me that Well, there was a request that I kept you
from burning, shredding or otherwise destroying it. They wished that you would, if
nothing else, open it. After that it is completely your own choice."
"I see. I suppose there is no harm in that." Picking up the present, Naoto carefully
untied the ribbon and peeled back the paper. Under the wrapping was a plain white
box with a removable lid that was quickly lifted away. A soft gasp escaped the lips of
the young sleuth as she, very gently, pulled a thick hardbound book from the box,
cradling it in her arms.
The cover was heavily faded, but obviously well cared for. The spine whined in soft
protest as it was opened, revealing pages deeply yellowed with old age. Naoto ran

her fingers along the paper slowly, almost hesitantly, as if it might shatter at the
wrong movement.
"Naoto-sama?"
"This I've never seen a copy this old before. This is one of the original first
edition printings of Sherlock Holmes. It books like this they're quite rare. To think
that anyone would be able to get their hands on such a booklet alone in such good
condition" Leaning forward, the sleuth eagerly looking into the box, retrieving the
second and final item. "This is"
"A DVD box set? Ah, they're in the slim boxes. That explains how they fit in the
smaller packaging."
"Famous detective movies. Some of these films date back as far as the late thirties. I
wasn't aware that such a collection was for sale. These gifts must have cost a
fortune"
"What will you do with them, Naoto-sama? Shall I discard them as per normal with
anonymous gifts?"
"N-no!" Naoto hugged the book protectively against her chest and pulled the box-set
away from Yakushiji toward herself. "I, ah I mean It would be a shame to waste
such a unique gift. I'd return it to the sender if I could, but"
Yakushiji chuckled softly, nodding. "As you wish, Naoto-sama. Shall I take them to
your room while you prepare yourself for bed?"
"I yes. That would be most appreciated. Please take care of themespecially the
book. The DVDs can go on the shelf, but leave the book on my nightstand."
"As you wish. Goodnight, Naoto-sama."
"Goodnight, Yakushiji-san."
"Once more thing, Naoto-sama" Yakushiji paused in the doorway, fixing the young
detective with a desperate look. "Please, go to bed when you finish. I'll take care of
the packaging and ensure that it does not get damaged for your later inspection, but
remember the meeting tomorrow. I'll leave them in your room for you to investigate
to your heart's desire once you're done speaking with the police department.
However, I must insist that"
"You needn't worry, Yakushiji-san. I'll retire as soon as I've prepared myself for sleep.

You should go to bed shortly as well, as I assume it is you who is driving me there."
Yakushiji nodded. "The Master has a meeting as well and I will be driving him earlier
in the morning."
"I thought as such If you'll excuse me."
"Of course, Naoto-sama. Sleep well."

Positive Reinforcement
Two chapters in a week... I'm feeling rather proud of myself right now. I want to thank
everyone for their kind reviews and and warm welcome back to the Persona 4
fiction-fandom. Although, I will admit, the close updates here are my attempt to make
up for several weeks of absence and I hope you're all willing to forgive me. I really
am loving all the reviews I'm getting, and it thrills me to know people are still
interested and trying to predict what is going to happen.
However, updates for this story are going to go on a mini-hiatus until I update two
more chapters of "The Long Road Home" (one of which is already written and just
needs BETA-ing, so don't worry.) I don't want to abandon either story, as PruAus
(Prussia and Austria) and SouNao (this one) are my favourite couples and I'd feel
terrible completely ignoring one in favour of the other. Besides, this way, I don't get
bored with one story and I'll be able to push myself when switching between
fandoms (because going from Souji to Prussia is a fairly drastic change...)
Um, other than that, please enjoy the chapter. Let me know if you enjoy what is
going on or if I'm going about this completely wrong. -bows- Thank you all for the
continued support.
Chapter Eight: Positive Reinforcement
Souji watched the news report on the television with a blank expression, absently
stirring the contents of his drink. Since the station had finally run out of different ways
to say that Yukiko had been found and the story had lost its original spark, they had
returned to reporting events going on outside of Inaba. The story of Namatame had
grown boring to the silverette's ears and he often found his mind wandering
whenever the man's name was mentioned.
- Begin Flashback "Yo! Souji!" Yosuke called as the silverette walked into the room. "Come over here
for a sec, Chie says she wants to tell us something."
Chie sat next on Yosuke's desk, her eyes much brighter then Souji remembered
them being a week ago when he'd walked with the brunette to Yukiko's house. She
waited until the silver-haired youth sat down before speaking, looking ready to burst
with the news she waited to share.
"Well?" Yosuke asked when Souji had situated himself. "What's the big news? Did

you get a new kung-fu movie or something?"

"Wha? A new No, you idiot!" Chie growled, smacking the back of Yosuke's head.
"Don't even talk about those! I still haven't replaced the one you broke."
"OW! Hey, I paid you back!"
"Yeah, welloh, nevermind! I'm getting distracted! Anyway I was talking to Yukiko
last night on the phone and she said she'd be at school tomorrow! Her mom wants
her to wait until Saturday so she can get everything she needs, and then she'll use
Sunday to catch up."
"That's good to hear" Souji smiled as Yosuke let out a small whoop of delight. "I'm
glad to hear she's feeling better."
"Yeah she can't wait to get back either. She hates lying around and not being able
to do anything. I've been trying to visit her at least once every other day and"
- End Flashback It'll be nice to have her around again, Souji mused and sipped his drink, wincing as
he felt the hot liquid burn as it traveled down his throat. Yosuke can heal, but his
skills were basic at most. Yukiko worked as our main healer, so I'll have to remember
to organize some time for us to go training later.
A sudden burst of sound jerked Souji from his thoughts as Nanako changed the
channel and the ending notes from the credits of a children's hero cartoon filling the
room.
"Nanako" Dojima sighed from the couch, giving the young brunette a faint look of
disapproval. "What did I say about changing the channel without asking?"
"But" Nanako began, bowing her head in guilt.
The detective winced and Souji had to bite back a laugh. Even if Dojima was strict
sometimes, Nanako had her father completely wrapped around her little finger. The
silverette was no better, but he had learned how to avoid Nanako's unintentional
means of looking utterly adorable to the point where it was nearly impossible to say
"no". I look forward to the day when she realizes just how strong her hold is over her
father
"H-hey" Dojima sighed, looking uneasy. "Nanako, I"

"Have a great day, even during Golden Week at your local Junes! Come and see for
yourself, and get in touch with our products"
"Everyday's great at your Junes!"
Dojima choked on his drink and stared at Souji in shock as both nephew and
daughter sang the jingle together. Nanako beamed and gave the silverette a bright
smile of gratitude for singing along with her.
"Dad! Dad! They're going to be open during Golden Week!"
"AhahaI know, I heard." Dojima nodded slowly, eyeing Souji as if he wasn't
completely convinced it was coffee in the silverette's cup. "Do you want to go
somewhere during the long holiday?"
"Huh?" the young girl jumped to her feet, eyes wide. "W-we can go somewhere?
Really!"
"I don't see why not." The detective grinned as he nodded again. "How about it? Do
you have any plans, Souji?"
"Me?" Souji shook his head. "Nope, none at all." Golden Week That's right,
someone else in the department ended up getting ill, and Dammit. I should have
asked him who it was back then She did seem really happy when we ended up
going to Junes, though. I wonder if I could do anything special for her
"Then let's all go somewhere together!" Nanako exclaimed, clapping her hands
together as she swayed from side to side happily. "Junes! Junes, Junes, Junes!"
"Junes?" Dojima repeated, an odd look on his face. "Nanako, we can go there
anytime."
"But" the brunette's shoulders slumped. "Junes is"
"Why don't we think about it later, Nanako?" Souji interjected, earning a curious look
from the brunette. "After all, if we take the time to organize something, we might be
able to have more fun."
"He's right," Dojima nodded, standing up. "We'll think about something big we can all
do together, but right now, it's time for bed. You have school tomorrow."
"Alright." Nanako sighed, walking around the table, stopping to give Souji a hug
before hurrying off to the bathroom.

Dojima's eyes followed his daughter until she disappeared into the hallway before
turning to Souji, looking the silverette up and down carefully. "She's really warmed
up to you, hasn't she?"
Souji paused, his hand lingering a few inches away from his drink as he slowly
raised his gaze to meet his Uncle's. He nodded, not wanting to bring suspicion to
himself by letting something better off kept a secret slip out. It's not like I can tell him
I already know about as much about her as he does. It's bad enough he's already
started giving me odd looks when it comes to the case.
"I'm glad."
The silverette blinked. He hadn't expected that.
"Normally she's so shy around strangers, and since I can't be home as much as I'd
like, I'm always worried she feels lonely. I know it's only for a year but thanks for
helping me out with her. I'm really glad she has someone she can always rely on."
Souji stood up and grabbed his cup, shaking his head slowly as he reached for
Dojima's empty one. "I'm not really doing that much Besides, we're family, right?"
He walked into the kitchen and emptied the rest of his cup in the sink before rinsing
both cups out. "She can rely on you just as much as meif not more-so. You don't
have to physically be somewhere for someone to be able to rely on you. I may be
home more, but in the end, you're still her father. I can't ever replace thatand I
doubt she'd want anyone to even try."
The older man stared at Souji in awe, his mouth hanging open slightly as he
struggled to piece together a retort. Smiling, the silverette turned and started for the
stairs, glancing over his shoulder as he said.
"She really loves you, you know. Whenever you aren't home, she talks about you a
lot and she always has such a warm smile when she does. She'll always be 'daddy's
little girl', I'm sure of it... So don't count yourself out so easily."
"Wha I" Dojima's cheeks flushed slightly in embarrassment as he looked down
at the empty table in front of him, considering his nephew's words.
"Heh Goodnight, Uncle Dojima."
"Y-yeah, goodnight."
It's sunny today That's nice. Souji thought as he made his way through the school

district. He turned, starting up the hill that lead to the school gate, pausing as he
heard someone call out to him.
"Oh! Souji-kun, g-good morning!"
"Hm? Ah, Yukiko good morning." The silverette smiled as he approached the
raven, nodding once in greeting. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, thanks for asking." Yukiko nodded happily, a soft smile forming on her lips.
"It's nice to be back in school again I never thought I'd actually end up missing it
this much."
"I'm sure everyone is glad to see you againChie especially. It's all she would talk
about yesterday; Yosuke was almost green with envy."
"Yosuke-kun? Envious? Of me?"
Souji laughed, nodding. "Of course. All of Chie's attention was focused on your
return, so he was jealous."
"O-oh, um S-should I apologize to him?"
Snorting, Souji turned away from Yukiko and glanced toward the school, biting back
his laughter. "Apologize? You have nothing to be sorry about. Don't feel bad because
Yosuke was ignored for a day. Personally, I'm just glad Chie's back to her old self."
"Her 'old self'? What do you?"
"She was pretty down after we rescued you She" The silver-haired teen paused,
hesitating. "Well It's really not my business to say anything behind her back.
Hasn't she talked to you about all this?"
"You mean my Shadow?" Yukiko looked down, guilt crossing her features. "Yes,
she talked to me about it. We talked a lot this past week. I never realized that we
were both hiding so much from each other, but I'm glad we're able to talk about it
now."
"That's good." Souji said, "I'm glad things are working out. She seemed to perk up
for a while after she and Yosuke had a successful first date but the enthusiasm
seemed to die off while you were gone, so hopefully, things will start to get back to
normal around here."
"Yeah, I"

"Yukiko! There you are!"

The raven turned, her expression brightening as she waved to the brunette who had
just called her name.
"It's Chie!" Yukiko started down the hill, pausing as she peered over her shoulder
and smiled. "I'll talk to you later, okay? Chie said that we all needed to talk about
something on the roof after school. I'll see you then."
"Yeah See you later."
Souji watched quietly as Yukiko scurried down the hill, stopping in front of an
enthusiastic Chie who wasted no time in throwing her arms around the raven's
shoulders. The two began chatting happily with one another with the brunette
making dramatic hand gestures as she spoke. As he turned away, the silverette
couldn't help but feel a faint pang of jealousy toward the two friends as they happily
clung to one another, happy to be reunited once again.
I'm glad we were able to save Yukiko. She's just as energetic as I remember her
being after she returned, but He sighed, kicking a rock absently as he made his
way toward the front doors of the school. I wish I was able to greet 'her' like that,
but she isn't even in Inaba yet
"I'm back!" Yukiko announced cheerily, jogging across the rooftop to where Souji and
the others were waiting for her. "Sorry that took so long I had to ask a teacher to
get me some hot water from the office since the students' coffee maker is getting
some work done todayChie, the soba was yours, right?"
"Yeah, Iwow, it smells great! How much longer until we can eat?"
"It still needs a few minutes." Yukiko said, smiling apologetically as she held a plastic
bowl in instant noodles out to the female brunette. "But while we're waiting Can
someone explain why we're up here in the first place?"
"We wanted to ask you what happened." Souji explained, leisurely lowering himself
to sit next to the standing Yosuke. "I know it probably isn't something you want to talk
about on your first day back, but"
"Do you remember anything that happened when you were kidnapped?" Yosuke
asked, stepping forward to take the seat on Chie's left. "Anything at all?"
The raven sighed softly, nibbling her bottom lip as she stared at the ground,

eyebrows knitting together in deep thought. "No, I can't remember anything." She
raised her gaze to give Yosuke and apologetic look, shaking her head. "I'd thought
mulling over it for a while might help but that's only made things worse. All I can
remember is the doorbell ringing and then someone calling my name. When I
woke up after that, I was already in the Castle and you all came a while after I'm
sorry."
"You don't have to apologize" Chie said sympathetically, cupping Yukiko's
shoulder. "It isn't your fault You were the one who was kidnapped. I'm surprised
you remember as much as you do, but Does that mean the person who rang the
doorbell was"
"The culprit?" Souji finished with a small frown, "But how could that be?"
"You gotta admit, killer or not, the man has guts." Yosuke muttered with a sigh.
"Walking right up to the door and ringing the bell? We're not messing with an
ordinary guy here I'm willing to bet the witness reports from the police are useless
too, if any exist. If no one saw her being kidnapped, I doubt they'd know the killer if
they saw him anyway."
"But who would do something like this? I mean, I can kinda understand if someone
got upset at that TV anchor for the affair and all, but" Chie shook her head, looking
upset. "Saki-senpai and Yukiko? They're just teenagers. Who could have a grudge
against them strong enough that they'd want to kill them?"
"Who knows," the brunette said with a shrug. "All we know is that someone from our
side is kidnapping people and throwing them into the TVand I somehow doubt
they're using a local one like we are. Otherwise we could just check the security
cameras."
"Do you think they're taking people to their house and throwing them in?" Souji
mused, glancing at Yosuke. "But wouldn't people notice an unconscious body being
toted around the city?"
"Dunno We don't have enough information to make anything of how the murderer
is doing it right now. We just know the basis of what he's doingbut, anyway, Souji
and I are going to catch the culprit ourselves, even if it kills us. The police had no
idea what they're really dealing with here, but we have Personas now, so we've got
the upper hand."
Nodding, the silverette smiled faintly at Yosuke's enthusiasm to find an answer. You
know if he put this much effort into school, he'd probably be able to trump me
easily. "Now that we all have the same power Would you be willing to help us out,

Yukiko?"
"Um, well" the raven hesitated, looking down at the paper cover of her instant fried
tofu.
"I'm helping out too!" Chie said loudly, fixing Yosuke with a firm look as she spoke.
"You promised me I could"
"I only said you could help with Yukiko!" Yosuke cried, standing up. "It's dangerous in
there! I don't want"
"Yosuke," Souji cut in, looking amused. "You sound like you're her mother I know
you're worried, but if you keep fussing over her like this, either I'm going to cut you
off the team, or you're going to end up dumped, and I'm not going to stay up till odd
hours of the morning comforting you."
"Wh-what! You-! Souji! We're supposed to be partners in this!"
"And as your partner, I'm trying to calm you down." Souji said seriously, nodding
towards Chie. "We both know we need all the help we can get. Chie isn't weak,
Yosuke. She can defend herself or do you not think so?"
"O-of course I think she can defend herself!" retorted Yosuke, pride evident in his
voice. "She could easily take on any guy in this school and probably most of Inaba
and win, hands down!"
Behind Yosuke, Chie fixed the back of the brunette's head with a bright expression of
gratitude. Grabbing his jacket, the martial artist tugged Yosuke back into his seat
with a sharp jerk of her wrist.
"Yosuke" she leaned over, pressing her lips briefly against the brunette's cheek
with a bright flush. "Then there's no argument then, right? I can help! You think I'm
strong enough to do ityou just said it yourself."
"I that but" Yosuke sighed, groaning as he hid his face in his hands. "Alright
fine. You win"
"Woohoo!" The martial artist cried in delight, giving the headphone-clad teen a much
more enthusiastic kiss on the same cheek. "Thank you, Yosuke!"
"Wow." Yukiko muttered, watching as Yosuke slowly lowered his hands, revealing
a bright crimson face. "She really"

"She has him completely tied around her little finger." Souji laughed, "And it's too
tight to escapebut he's probably too happy to be there to bother trying."
"Yeah" Yukiko giggled softly, watching as the Chie continued to smother Yosuke
with teasing affection, having gone completely oblivious to the presence of the other
two. "Let me help too, then."
"Hm?" Souji turned, blinking. "You want to"
"I want to help." The raven nodded, "I don't want to keep running away from myself,
and I want to know what is going on. I want to know why I was kidnapped, and
what it was I did to make someone hate me enough to try and kill me."
"That's great," the silverette smiled. "We need as much help as we can getand I'm
sure you'll be a great asset." That's good we've finally got our healer back. I won't
have to worry about switching between multiple Personas to watch everyone myself
now At least that's a small weight off my shoulders.
"So I won't be the only girl?" Chie cut in, as she leaned forward, holding Yosuke's
head tightly in a headlock as the brunette flailed about. "That's good to know Uh,
not that I don't trust you two, but you know."
"We understand completely," Souji muttered, eyeing Yosuke warily. "You, uh might
want to let him go, Chie. I'm not entirely sure he can breathe."
"Huh? Whatoh! Oops! Sorry, Yosuke! I didn't realize I had you so tight."
"I-I'm f-fine" Yosuke said, his voice muffled, "B-breathing isn't the issue here. I-I
u-um y-you're squishing my face against y-your chest."
Yosuke You're a lot braver than I give you credit for, the silver-haired teen thought
as he watched Chie turn a shade of red that matched Yukiko's sweater perfectly. She
quickly released her grip on Yosuke and moved closer to the raven, trying to hide her
embarrassment.
"A-anyway How are we going to catch this guy? I mean, we have no leads on him
and we don't have any idea where we should start looking."
"Well, I was the third victim, but I don't think it's going to stop with just me Not now
that I've survived. If there was a way for us to tell who was going to be targeted
next"
"So you mean outsmart the killer?" Yosuke asked, looking at Yukiko curiously.

"Yeah, that's not a bad idea. If we could find out what all the victims had in common,
we might be able to figure out a strategy. So what's something they all had in
common?"
"They all live in Inaba?" Chie said, her statement coming out closer to question.
"Well We were all female." Yukiko muttered, frowning. "Do you think he's targeting
only females?"
"Ugh What sort of sick bastard does something like that!"
"I don't think that's the case" Souji sighed, shaking his head. If I put forth a
suggestion it wouldn't look suspicious. They couldn't accuse me of knowing too
much for what they think is an idea. "It's been females so far but we can't assume
they will be the only targets, however Haven't you noticed? Everyone appeared on
the Midnight Channel before being kidnapped."
"That's true" Yosuke nodded in agreement, looking surprised. "I was just thinking
the same thingChie, you said that some guy in the class next to ours saw that
announcer on the Midnight Channel, right?"
"Yeah That was when I was asking Yukiko if she'd tried it yet."
"And what about this," the brunette continued enthusiastically. "The second and third
cases are connected to the first. That can't be a coincidence."
"But what would the motive be?" Souji cut in, "If you look at it that way, Yukiko's
mother would have made the better target Remember when Yukiko said her
mother collapsed after the announcer gave her a hard time?"
"Maybe they were trying to get at Yukiko's mom through her? I mean, she is her
daughter." Chie suggested, looking between Souji and Yosuke. "I mean, that'd make
sense, right?"
"Oh Yeah! You're right." Yosuke slapped his first into the palm of his hand. "I hadn't
even thought about that anglenice work, Chie."
Souji bit back a groan as he pinched the bridge of his nose. That's right. I don't
remember who the real culprit was but I definitely remember the first case didn't
cause the rest of them. Dammit, it sucks not being able to say anything without
arousing suspicion. I really wish Naoto were here. Heh, not that it'd be any easier.
I'll have to be even more careful around her than I would with these guys.

"So the next time it rains" Yukiko trailed off, staring into the distance.
"Yeah, we'll be sure to watch and see if we can figure out who appears." Yosuke
grinned before continuing in a mock-professional voice. "I officially announce this
meeting adjourned, good work team, I'mOh, hey aren't those done?" He nodded
toward the instant bowls on the girls laps.
"Ooo" Chie grinned, quickly removing the top from her own. "You're right! It's
chow-time!"
The mouth-watering scent drifted from both bowls and carried on the wind toward
Souji and Yosuke, their mouths instantly beginning to water. The silverette winced,
the clear memory of the last time he'd had this same meeting flashing before his
mind as he hastily moved to the side and tried to breathe as little as possible. I'd
really rather not relive that particular memory I felt bad enough the first time.
"Oh man, that smells great" Yosuke muttered, voicing the thoughts of the two
males. "H-hey Chie, can I have a bite of that? Please! Just one!"
"Wha? No way! Hands off the soba! Go and fish out your own if you want it so
bad."
"Aw come on! Just one bite!" Yosuke pressed his hands together in a begging
motion, bowing his head slightly. "Pleaaase, Chie?"
"But"
"You should give him some" Souji said suddenly, grinning at Chie. "On the
condition that you get to feed it to him."
"H-huh!" The two brunette's blushed furiously, avoiding each other's eyes as Yukiko
turned to look at them curiously.
"Th-that's" Chie started, looking at Yosuke, who had turned an amusing shade of
red yet again. "Um, I mean isn't that what lovers do?" The moment she said the
words, she instantly regretted them. The red color drained from Yosuke's face as he
turned slightly pale, turning away from Chie as he gave the ground a dejected look.
"Ouch." Souji muttered, patting the brunette's shoulder sympathetically. "H-hey
she didn't mean it like that, Yosuke. Don't take it so hahuh?" The silverette blinked
as Chie stood up. He stepped to the side, not wanting to get in the martial artists way
as she approached Yosuke and pushed himboth gently and forcefully at the same
timeback onto the stone bench of the roof.

"Huh? Chie, what're you-?" Yosuke's words were abruptly cut off as the female
brunette held a generous helping of noodles up to his mouth with her chopsticks. He
blinked, carefully looking from the noodles to the, now very red, martial artist who
was looking down at him expectantly. "Huh?" was the only intelligent response
Yosuke could think of.
"I think she's feeding you, partner." Souji chuckled softly, "That's your cue to shut up
and eat what she gives you."
Yosuke opened his mouth to reply, thought better, and shut it again, glancing up
hesitantly at Chie who nodded in confirmation. A dark blush spread across his
cheeks as he opened his mouth slowly, accepting the noodles happily as Chie
pushed them past his lips. Behind her, Yukiko smiled softly as she watched her
brunette friend carefully use her chopsticks to offer Yosuke another mouthful of
noodles.
"Those two really get along well, huh?" she muttered as Souji took a seat next to her,
not wanting to disturb the happy couple. "She's completely zoned out"
"I suppose that's love for you" he felt a smile spread across his own face, but the
sadness in it startled the raven next to him. "When you're in love, there are points in
time where the other person is the only one in the world, and you completely forget
about anything else. It can cause a lot of pain if you're not careful, but" he turned
to Yukiko, forcing his smile to appear more joyful. "but it can also bring you some
of the happiest memories of your life."
Yukiko blushed heavily, quickly returning her gaze to the fried tofu on her lap. "You,
um sound like you speak from experience, Souji-kun."
The silverette chuckled softly, nodding his head as the sorrowful smile returned. "I
do."
"Did something happen?" Yukiko asked, the sudden drop in the male's tone
concerning her. "I-I mean, is she alright? Was she hurt, or?"
"Ahaha, it's alright. You needn't worry about that She isn't dead. She's just far
away right now." He hesitated before finishing quietly. "Something happened a
while ago, and she doesn't remember who I am at all. Nothing about me or the
time we spent together. If we saw each other on the street I'd just be a stranger to
her."
"Oh Souji-kun, I I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something painful."

"It's fine, Yukiko, really She's healthy and strong right now. That's all that matters
to me. She's safe and healthy."
"That's amazing. I mean, you're amazing."
"Huh?" Souji blinked, looking bewildered. "I am?"
Yukiko nodded. "That you can talk about her so fondly, and still smile happily when
you think of the memories, even if it causes you pain It's amazing. Most people
wouldn't be able to handle something like that so easily You you must really love
this person, huh?"
The smile on Souji's face brightened as he nodded happily, his eyes sparkling softly.
"More than anything she's the world to me. So, even if we can't be together like we
used to as long as I'm able to see her from time to time, and know that she's
okay that's enough."
"Well, I really hope she's able to remember you then." The raven placed a
comforting hand on Souji's shoulder, giving him an encouraging look. "I'm sure she
will! You're the type who's impossible to forget, no matter what the situation. People
recover from amnesia all the time, so I'm sure she will to."
"Y-yeah" he nodded, unable to cut the raven down with the truth he knew would
never happen. "Maybe Thanks, Yukiko."
"Thank you for trusting me like this This seems like the type of thing you'd talk to
Yosuke-kun aboutyou two are really close, after all. It's kind of surprising. He
never really talked to anyone besides Chie or me before. At least not outside of
school."
The silverette sighed, shaking his head. "I want to, but" he looked toward Chie and
Yosuke, who were both chatting idly between bites. "I don't want to ruin anything
that might happen between them. They're happy and in love I don't want them to
fear what happened to me happening to them. They're protective of each other
enough as it isand besides it's nice talking to you like this."
"It is, isn't it?" Yukiko chuckled, "It really does feel like we've done this before,
huh? I wonder if what I said about 'kindred spirits' is really true."
"I wouldn't doubt it." You have no idea just how close you are to being right, Yukiko.
"But I won't take the feeling for granted because I'm really glad it's there."
"Boy, you two are getting along well." An amused tone cut in, making Yukiko and

Souji jump. "You'd think you two were the ones dating."
"Wh-what? They'd better not be!" said Chie threateningly, though her teasing smile
was light and happy. "I know we're friends and all, Souji-kun but no one gets that
close to Yukiko without going through me first!"
"We were just talking." Souji said, raising an eyebrow slowly. "You two were the
ones who zoned out, what else were we supposed to do?"
"W-we did not!" Chie protested, blushing. "We were just"
"Completely zoned out." Yukiko agreed, "It was like you two were off on your own
little planet."
"A-anyway" Yosuke said hastily as he stood up, wiping his mouth on the sleeve of
his uniform. "Why don't we head down to Junes and see Teddie? I'm sure he has a
pair of glasses for Yukiko-san as well."
"Oh Good idea." Chie nodded, happy for the distraction. "Hurry up and finish your
tofu, Yukiko. You're gonna love this."
"Were you able to find anything out?"
"Ah, yes A young man in Inaba, sir."
"Inaba? That's where they want to send Nao-chan to help assist the police
department with the current murder investigations... Who is it?"
"His name is Souji Seta, seventeen-years-old. He is currently living at the same
residence of Detective Ryotaro Dojima and his daughter. He is attending Yasogami
High School as a second year student. His homeroom teacher, I believe, is one
Kinshiro Morooka."
"Dojima? I wasn't aware he had a son, he's never mentioned him before."
"He doesn't, sir. Seta is his nephew. I believe his partner said that the young man in
question would be staying with Dojima until the spring."
"His partner? Ah Tohru Adachi, yes?"
"That's who I was able to speak to on the phone. Unlike the package delivered to
Naoto-sama, the card given to me wasn't as carefully made. It was almost as if he
wanted to be known."

"Interesting very interesting indeed. Why would a young man in another city go
through all the trouble of getting Nao-chan such considerate gifts? It's quite obvious
he knew what he was doing, as he carefully avoided leaving behind any evidence
she might find on her own. Has he ever contacted her before?"
"Never. Not that I know of at the very least, sir But Naoto-sama has always
returned gifts and disposed of cards before now, so"
"I'm quite sure she'd recognize something by this particular sender, otherwise."
"Indeed It's abnormal, sir. I wonder ifPerhaps he's a fan, like he claimed in his
card?"
"No That can't be the case. As we've already agreed, Nao-chan has never
accepted gifts before, no matter what the price or value. There is something else
at work here. Something special about this particular 'fan'and she can feel it
herself."
"Special, sir?"
"Special. But we should let this be for now. I think this will be good for her in the
long run. Something marvelous is going to happen."
"How can you be so sure, sir?"
"Ahaha, Yakushiji, my dear friend, it's nothing more than detective's intuition."
"Intuition sir? Is that really wise? She is your granddaughter, after all."
"If I felt she were in danger, I would have never allowed her to keep the gifts, even if
she were to become upset with me for disposing them. Now, let us depart for our
meeting. We mustn't be late."
"Of course, sir."
"And, Yakushiji"
"Sir?"
"What did I tell you about calling me 'sir'?"
"Ah"

"Ashley. For one week."

"B-but, sir-!"
"Ah-ah-ah We don't want to make it two now, do we? It's such a lovely middle
name. I don't know why you don't use it."
"Misanori-san?"
"Yes, Ashley?"
"You're quite cruel."
"Cruel? Oh no, I just enjoy a good joke now and againsometimes at the expense
of others. If you prefer, I could use your first name. Wasn't it"
"A-Ashley it is, then! Shall we be leaving now? I'll go prepare the car."
"Heheh That has never once failed to work. I torment him far too much, but it is
always in good fun. Although I feel Nao-chan is starting to inherit my teasing
streak. I do believe I should offer that poor man a raise"
"The fourth and the fifth" Dojima muttered from behind his newspaper, making
Souji and Nanako turn to look at him curiously. "I should be able to get the fourth and
the fifth off."
"R-really!" Nanako asked, looking excited.
Souji winced from across the table, watching as Nanako's excitement died almost
immediately as she repeated in a sadder tone. "Really?"
"Wh-what? You don't believe me?"
Can you blame her? Souji thought sadly, knowing full well what was going to happen
when Golden Week came around.
"It's always cancelled" the young brunette sighed, looking at her juice box.
"N-Not every year" Dojima protested, looking ashamed of himself. "I know you
wanted to go to Junes, but I wouldn't mind going somewhere a little further."
"Really!" Nanako leapt to her feet and hurried over to Dojima, resting her hands on
her father's knees as she leaned in close. "We can go on a trip! Really?"

"I-I don't see why not" Dojima gulped, looking unsure of how to react. "I mean,
everywhere will probably pretty crowded but a trip isn't so bad once in a while."
"Yay!" Nanako turned around, rushing over to Souji and grabbing his hands as she
continue to bounce up and down. "We're going on a trip!"
"Alright, alright calm down." The detective laughed, a soft look in his eyes as he
watched his daughter's happiness. "We'll need to think of where we want to go. Of
course, you're coming with us, right Souji?"
"Oh! Please come!" Nanako pleaded, hugging Souji's arm tightly. "I want all of us to
go together!"
"Y-yeah" Souji smiled hesitantly, nodding. "I'll make boxed lunches for us to eat
during the trip."
"Yaaay! Boxed lunches!" the young girl cried in delight, clapping her hands together.
"I can't wait!"
"Hahaha, good thing we have a cook in the house these days huh, Nannko?" Dojima
grinned, clapping Souji on the back as he stood up. "Anyway, time to calm down and
get ready for bed Come on, simmer down now."
"Okay, okay" Nanako smiled happily and almost pranced around the room,
hugging both the older males tightly before running toward the hall.
"I really hope this works out." Dojima sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'd
hate to let her down after seeing that."
"What happens happens, Uncle." Souji muttered, "We can only hope for the best,
right?"
"Ever the optimistic one, aren't you?"
The silverette laughed and stood up, nodding. "Got that right. Just call me 'Mr.
Sunshine.'"
"Hahaha, right, right. Well, Mr. Sunshine, you should get to bed soon too."
"Yeah I know. Will I see you in the morning?"
"You kiddin' me? I wouldn't miss that early-bird breakfast special of yours for
anything. Nanako's been waking up for it too lately It's really nice to be sharing a
meal besides a Junes-sides dinner together."

"Yeah, it is. See you in the morning." Souji said as he turned and walked up the
stairs.
So, Golden Week is just a few days away... Souji thought to himself as he entered
the upstairs bathroom, grabbing a washcloth to clean his face. Then it's back to
school and exams shortly after that
The silverette's grip on the washcloth suddenly went rigid as he pulled it away from
his face, gazing into the mirror. "Next month" he trailed off, a warm feeling
bubbling in his chest as he smiled; glancing toward the watch on his wrist he'd kept
hidden under the sleeve of his uniform jacket. That's right in just over two weeks;
Naoto will be in Inaba again.
"And this time I won't let any chances go to waste."

Golden Week
So... yeah. This is actually a chapter. I'm sure you're all thrilled that I'm finally
updating after disappearing and falling into... a coma. Yeah. That's why I didn't
update. I was in a coma. A very busy college, con-filled, and anime-related coma.
With pickles-EVIL PICKLES.
But in all seriousness, this really is the next chapter, and my BETA has chapter ten in
the works as well (again, if that one is super late, you should all go and troll him via
private messages.) The writing is really old because the chapters have been done
for a while and they just... didn't get BETA'd. The next two chapters are going to be
pretty crappy, seeing as they are pretty much my work of almost a year ago, but after
that things will get new and fresh and... yeah.
Enjoy and be sure to praise me. Or something. Honestly, I don't deserve much of
anything after I made you all wait for so long, so please know I'm very sorry for the
wait.
Chapter Nine: Golden Week
"Have you gathered everything you need, Naoto-sama?"
"Ah, yes. I've taken all my bags downstairs and set them in the hallway. My
backpack come in the car with me; I'll be down as soon as I finish putting together a
few last minute items I wish to keep on my person."
Yakushiji nodded as he turned to leave the room, pausing by Naoto's bedroom door
as he glanced over his shoulder, "Have you completed your examination on the
package you received, Naoto-sama? Or shall I retrieve it from your grandfather?"
"No, there is no need to bring that along. If if I haven't found anything by now, I
doubt I'll suddenly come across in Inaba. Please have Grampa discard the box."
"Right away, Naoto-sama. I'll take everything to the car now. See you downstairs."
Waiting until the blond secretary shut the door behind him, Naoto quickly walked the
length of her room to her bed where an open backpack sat with various objects
mostly small puzzles and booksplaced inside. Opening the drawer of her bedside
table, the sleuth produced the DVD box set which was put inside the bag without a
second thought. The next item was pulled out much slower, delicately, almost as if
made of glass.

"I wonder Grampa said that it's possible I might find my secret admirer during my
next collaboration. Could he have meant Inaba? I can't say for sure, but" Raising
the item to eye-level, Naoto carefully looked it over, searching for any obvious hints
she might have missed before sighing in defeat. I shouldn't waste my time with this.
There is a much more important case at hand. No matter what curiosity tugs at me, I
cannot allow a personal dilemma to get in the way of the job I'm about to take on.
"I've already allowed myself to go to Inaba early to start my own personal
investigation. I don't have time for this." Naoto turned back to the table and moved to
put the book back into its drawer, pausing as she started blankly at the cover. With a
frustrated sigh, it was carefully zipped into the large front pocket of the bag and it
was snapped shut and slung over her shoulder. I'm being foolish about this entire
ordeal. I'm simply bringing the book for reading. Nothing more.
"Nanako!" Souji called as he walked into the living room, "I'm home."
"Oh Welcome home." Nanako peered up at Souji from the table in the living room,
tilting her head curiously at the bag he was carrying, "Huh? What's that? Did you
go shopI-is that a Junes bag?"
"Oh, this?" The silverette held up the bag and nodded. "Yeah, I stopped by on the
way home." Today's the second. In a few hours Dojima will call... The least I can do
right now is cheer her up while I can. "Do you want to see what I got?"
"Yeah!" The brunette scrambled to her feet and quickly followed Souji into the
kitchen, watching as the silverette began unpacking various foods and ingredients,
putting them away in their various locations as he did.
"Is the bag empty now?" she asked as Souji sat at the larger table in the kitchen,
frowning as she realized it was still heavy. "You forgot something"
"Oh?" The teen peered into the bag, smiling slightly as he shook his head. "No, it
doesn't look like I did. I took out everything I bought to make boxed lunches for the
week. Whatever is left must be yours."
"Wh-what? Really? Y-you got me something!"
"Of course," Souji smiled softly, ruffling Nanako's hair gently. "We're family, right? I
wanted to get you something nice for Golden Week."
"Oh wow Thank you, Souji!"

The faint sting the silverette felt when he heard his name rather than 'big bro' was
short lived as Nanako threw her arms around his waist and hugged him as tightly her
small body would allow. "I love Junes! Thank you!"
"N-no problem." Souji blushed, watching as Nanako ran into the living room to look
inside the bag. No matter how many times I have to live through this year, she never
loses her adorable charm He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Nanako? I'm
going to start dinner now, okay? I bought some ingredients for tonight, so you can
watch TV."
"Really! Thank you!" Nanako cried happily, clutching the soft pumpkin-like plush doll
she'd found in the bag to her chest. "What're you making?"
"Ah just something small today, it's already pretty late. Riceballs, small side
salads, and yakisoba. If there's time, I'll try and make strawberry shortcake for
dessert." If I can't make it today, I'll definitely make it tomorrow I want to keep her
happy right now.
By the time dinner was finished, the entire house had been filled with a pleasant
aroma. Everywhere from the upstairs bathroom to the far corners of Dojima's room
in back smelled like the fresh, sizzling yakisoba Souji was carefully moving onto
plates to be served. The teen's bangs were damp from the thin layer of sweat that
had formed from standing over the stove, and the relief that came with stepping
away was not unwelcome.
"Nanako, could you please grab the riceballs and take them into the living room? I'll
bring in the salad and drinks after I bring the soba in."
"I can get them," the brunette replied cheerfully, scooping the plate of rice up with
ease and running it to the table before returning to open the fridge. "Do you want
tea? I think dad keeps the leaves up in the cabinet, but"
"Juice is just fine, Nanako." Souji smiled, "I'll have whatever you're having."
"Okay! I can take the salads in too." Slipping behind Souji, Nanako balanced the
cans of juice in the crook of her elbow and grabbed the small bowls off the counter. "I
already took the chopsticks in when I grabbed the riceballs, so it's all ready for you."
"Thank you, Nanako. Go sit down now I'm bringing in the soba." The silver-haired
teen smiled softly as he watched Nanako rush toward the table, nearly tripping over
the pillow Dojima normally sat on in her excitement. Is my cooking that good? He
wondered absently as he set a plate in front of an ecstatic Nanako. I guess I'm so
used to eating my own meals that I wouldn't really know.

"Thank you for dinner." Nanako mumbled through a mouthful of noodles, her entire
face shinning with happiness. "It's really good."
"Heh, I'm glad. I'll be making dinner all this week too, so I hope I can keep up to your
expectations."
"Y-you are?" the brunette looked at Souji in awe.
"Haha, I am. Since I can't do very much for Golden Week for you and your dad, I'll
try and do as many of the small things I can do."
"Yaaay! A whole week of Souji's cooking! I can't wait!"
Yeah, me neither. The silverette sighed softly, glancing toward the TV where one of
Nanako's favorite nighttime cartoons flashed across the screen. He reached for the
remote, pausing as his finger lingered over the channel buttons.
"Nanako? Would you mind if I checked the news really quick?"
"The news? Go ahead, I don't mind."
"Union ATM to the north of town today was destroyed today and all the cash inside
was stolen. The vehicle found at the scene, abandoned, had been reported stolen
earlier today by a local contractor. Since the culprit was able to act quickly before
security guards could arrive on the scene, the police have..."
"Souji? Why is dad late?" Nanako asked, looking at the small clock in the corner of
the news screen. "Didn't he say he'd be home early today?"
"He" Souji trailed off as the phone began ringing behind him. Jumping to his feet,
the teen rushed over to the phone, narrowly avoiding a collision with Nanako who'd
risen at the same time he had. "S-sorry, Nanako. I wasn't lookingHello, Dojima
residence."
"Souji? Is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me. Nanako and I are just finishing up dinner." Just as I thought, he's
calling to let us know he can't come. "Did you want to talk to Nanako?"
"Ah no, that's alright. It's probably better you got to the phone first anyway. I, well,
about the fourth and the fifth"
Souji sighed softly, glancing toward Nanako who was watching him curiously. "
Something came up?"

"Y-yeah" Dojima's voice was soft, an almost dead feeling to his tone. "One of the
younger guys got sick and the case he was working on Well, the higher-ups said
we couldn't let it sit, so"
"You won't be here?"
"No. I'll be home late as well; I want to get as much of the case done as I can
tonight so I'll be able to come home early next week."
"I see." Just like before. "I'll let Nanako know then"
"Yeah, thanks." Souji heard Dojima sigh heavily followed by the sound of papers
being shuffled in the background. "Could you comfort Nanako for me? I'll try and
apologize myself the next time I see her, but Idammit Adachi! Be careful! Set the
coffee down before you spill all over the documents and we have to start over. No
I don't give a damn if you haven't gotten the cream yet! Set it down and then get the
cream! Inevermind. Just sit. I said SIT!"
"Um, Uncle Dojima? I-I'm, uh going to let you go now, okay? Don't worry, I'll talk
to Nanako. There's some yakisoba and riceballs for you in the fridge when you get
home. I wrapped up the leftovers from dinner."
"Thanks, Souji I'll talk to you later."
"Bye." Hanging up with a soft groan if disappointment, Souji turned, blinking in
surprise as he noticed Nanako standing just a few inches from his face, a
downtrodden look on her face.
"Dad can't get those days off, can he?"
Souji bit his lip, not wanting to say yes. He felt awful, like there was something he
could have done to save Dojima from having to take the sick lower officers place
but in the end he knew he couldn't do anything. He didn't know which of the lower
officers got sick, and even if he'd asked about the cases currently being investigated,
he wouldn't have gotten an answer.
"No." the teen finally muttered, stepping forward to rest a hand on Nanako's head
gently. "Something came up at work, and they're making him replace someone who
got sick. He's really upset about it. He sounded ready to cry on the phone." It was a
lie, and a stupid one at that, but the silverette felt he needed to do something to
redeem his uncle. He knew perfectly well that the man was trying his hardest to raise
his daughterhe just needed a nice push over the line he was too scared to cross.

"That's okay." Nanako muttered, bowing her head. "It's alright Dad's just doing
his job, right? He's stopping the bad people so it's okay if he can't come."
Despite her words, Souji could hear the tears that threatened to overflow. Quickly
kneeling down, he cupped Nanako's face in his hands, raising his gaze to his own.
"Hey don't be sad. I promised, the next weekend he's home with us, we can all go
to Junes together, okay? We'll get all sorts of ingredients and we'll make whatever
you want for dinner together, alright?"
"R-really?" The brunette hiccupped softly, rubbing her watering eyes.
"Really." Souji nodded, smiling softly. "I promise, okay? I haven't ever let you down
before." And I don't plan to start. If I'm going to relive this year, I'm going to make
sure I do everything I can for everyone before I leave in the spring no matter what.
I'm not leaving with any regrets. "So don't be sad... Come on, show me a smile."
Through her tears, a small smile crossed Nanako's lips as she nodded, rubbing her
eyes. "Okay"
"Good girl" the silver-eyed teen muttered, pulling the young brunette into a warm
hug. "It's getting late, so you should head to bed for the night. I'll lock up, okay? We'll
do something fun tomorrow."
"Okay, G'night"
"Sweet dreams, Nanako." Souji murmured as he watched his cousin slip into the
hallway. Tomorrow is the first day of Golden Week, and if things haven't changed too
much that means Chie will be here tomorrow morning. I should head to bed after
myself after I lock up
Souji awoke early the next morning in a cold sweat, panting heavily as he look
frantically around his dark room. Gulping, the silver-haired teen quickly slipped from
his covers and crawled to the small couch in his room, not trusting his legs to hold
his weight. His arms shook as he pulled himself into a sitting position on the soft
cushions and a violent shiver ran down his spine.
"Th-that dream" he muttered, wrapping his arms around himself tightly in an
attempt to calm down. "Almost every night since I've gotten my memories back
that dream haunts me." Souji gulped, closing his eyes as he searched his mind for
something to distract him from the scream that continued to ring in his ears as
clearly as it had in the dream. N-Naoto I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect
you even after I promised that I

He shuddered again and shook his head as he stood up slowly. N-no I shouldn't
think like that. This time this time it will be different. I won't let her die. I'll do
everything in my power to save as many lives as I can I won't make the same
mistakes. I can't.
Nodding to himself in silent resolve, Souji stepped shakily around the coffee table in
his room and made his way toward the dresser. It took him longer than normal to
dress and prepare himself for the day, his trembling hands making it difficult to pull
on clothes and brush his teeth. When he finally finished the teen glanced at the clock
to see it had taken him over an hour to do so. And it's still barely six in the morning
he sighed and walked toward his door. This can't be healthy I haven't gotten a full
night's sleep in over a week now. At this rate I'll end up exhausting myself before I
can change anything.
Souji slipped silently down the stairs and started toward the kitchen, glancing into the
entrance way to see Dojima's shoes and coat were already gone. A sad look
flickered across his features as he opened the fridge, looking for something to make
for breakfast. Looks like that case was a lot more important than I thought I didn't
even hear him wake up or move around. Does that mean he was gone even
before I was up?
"I wonder what Nanako would" he trailed off, staring at something in the corner of
the fridge.
A small circular container sat behind a carton of milk. The contents were white,
although there was something about the colouring that unnerved the silverette as he
picked it up, turning the container over to look through the transparent plastic. He
blinked slowly and turned it back around, reading the label on the lid.
'Organic Red Miso'
Souji turned the container over again and stared at the white paste, his mouth
hanging open slightly. His hand moved on its own accord and a bizarre aroma
obscured his senses as the lid was suddenly removed and the container placed on
the counter. In the back of his mind, a soft voice was muttering instructions to him
that he wasn't convinced were particularly wise to listen to.
A spoon that he didn't remember picking up scooped a small portion of the "red"
miso and was moving toward his mouth. Another voice suddenly filled his mind as it
screamed for him to put the spoon down, but the other, more daring voice seemed to
be winning and before Souji knew it the spoon had landed to the floor with a
clattered and he was gulping greedily straight from the faucet.

I really need to stop doing that. The teen thought as he dried his mouth and
quickly disposed of the heavily expired miso. Why on earth did I think it was going to
taste any different than last time?
Pushing the act of braveryor was it stupidity?to the side, he opened the fridge
once more and began removing the items he'd need for a simple western style
breakfast. I remember Nanako liked omelets... normally she makes eggs and toast
for breakfast, so maybe she'll enjoy a full western breakfast.
When Nanako woke up just over an hour later, the young brunette entered the living
room to find eggs, bacon, toast, jam, butter, sliced fruit, milk, and juice waiting for her
along with Souji, who was watching a news cast with feigned interest.
"Good morning, Nanako." The teen smiled, gesturing for her to sit down. "I finished
everything a few minutes ago, but I think I was able to keep it warm enough to still
taste good. I hope you like western-style food."
Nanako stared at the table, eyes wide, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was
seeing. Walking to the table slowly, she sat down and carefully looked over each
dish in turnit was obvious she wasn't convinced she was awake yet.
"Would you like butter, or jam?"
"H-huh?"
"On your toast," Souji smiled. "Butter or jam? We only had strawberry and grape, but
I'm sure we can grab some when we go to Junes."
"Wha?" That appeared to wake the brunette up. "W-we're going to Junes!"
"Oh course." The teen nodded, reaching for the strawberry jam and hoping his
memory served as well as he thought it did. "It's Golden Week after all, so let's have
fun together. One of my friends should be here in a little bit to take us there Ah,
that is, if you wouldn't mind hanging out with us older kids." Nanako is a brilliant girl,
but she's still a child. I'm sure I can tell her that without her being able to figure out
the truth. I can always say it was just a magic trick.
"I-I can come? Really!"
"Why not? I can't just leave you home alone on a day like today."
"Oh" Leaping from her seat, Nanako ran around the table and wrapped her arms
around the sitting Souji's neck, smiling happily. "Thank you! You're the greatest

cousin ever!"
"N-not really" Souji muttered, stunned. "Now hurry back to your seat and eat up.
We don't want all this food to go to waste by getting cold, do we?"
"Uh-uh! I want to try everything!"
"Heh Don't eat too much now, you'll make yourself sick." It's really easy to cheer a
girl like Nanako up. I wouldn't say she's 'simple-minded', but she has that innocent
aura and you can't help but want to spoil her Dojima is going to kill me for all this
later in life.
Breakfast passed cheerfully between the two. Souji's predictions on how much
they'd eat were nearly perfect and very few leftovers remained. When they finished,
they tossed what was left of the toast to birds in the yard and left the extra eggs for
stray cats. The dishes had only taken a few minutes to wash, and just as Souji
predicted, the doorbell rang shortly after they finished.
Right on time Souji thought, walking to the door followed by an excited Nanako.
Unlocking the sliding wooden door, he opened his mouth to greet the martial artist he
knew to be beyond it.
"Hey. Good afterYukiko?"
"Good afternoon, Souji-kun." The raven smiled, peering around him to look down at
the bubbly brunette behind him. "Oh! Is this Nanako-chan? I've heard about her from
Chie and Yosuke-kun You never told us how adorable she was."
Nanako blushed and hid behind Souji's legs, peering out at Yukiko from beside
Souji's elbow.
"'lo."
The silverette had to bite back a laugh, amused with the similarities the situation had
with his arrival in Inaba. Stepping to the side, he knelt beside Nanako and urged her
forward; taking care to keep behind her to avoid the same fist Dojima had gotten to
the back. "Nanako, this is Yukiko Amagi. She's in the same class as me, and her
family runs the big inn."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Nanako-chan." Yukiko smiled pleasantly, glancing
between the two cousins. "Um I came here to ask Souji-kun if he wanted to join us
at Junes. Chie and Yosuke-kun are already there. They woke up early to get
breakfast together at the shopping district since Yosuke-kun will be on the clock

while we're there. Would you like to come with us?" The raven glanced toward
Souji, unsure if she had permission to invite the young girl out.
"Wow He was right!" Nanako nodded, her small pigtails bobbing around with each
dip of her head. "I want to come, I want to come!"
"Is that alright with you, Souji-kun?"
"Of course, just like I told you, right Nanako-chan?"
"Just like you huh?" Yukiko blinked in surprise. "Did Chie already call you?"
"Ah" The teen laughed nervously and shook his head, smiling awkwardly. "No I,
ah, told Nanako I'd take her to Junes with my friends today for Golden Week. It was
a lucky guess on my part, really. Yosuke said he didn't have any plans on Friday and
Chie said her family would be busy, so"
"That makes sense," the raven nodded and stepped back, slipping her shoes back
on. "Well, shall we be going then?"
"I can't believe you dragged Nanako-chan to a place like this on Golden Week"
Yosuke muttered as he collapsed into the chair next to Chie at the table everyone
hard gathered around in the Junes food court. "Isn't this completely boring for a kid
like her? You should have taken her someplace fun."
"Where else is there to go?" Chie asked, looking genuinely curious. "It isn't as if the
shopping district is all that entertaining for kids, and there aren't any real
playgrounds around here to play at. Junes is all we have besides the Amagi inn, and
Yukiko is here so going there would be pointless. Besides, if we went anywhere
else" the martial artist trailed off, blushing faintly as she mumbled something under
her breath that Souji was sure sounded like 'I couldn't see you', and quickly changed
the topic. "A-anyway You don't mind, do you, Nanako-chan?"
"Uh-uh" Nanako smiled happily, swinging her legs back and forth as she swayed
to the loudspeaker music in her chair. "I love Junes!"
"N-Nanako-chan!" Yosuke beamed at Nanako from across the table, looking
flattered. "Y-you do? That's great! I'm really glad. Feel free to stop by anytime you
want, okay?"
Nanako nodded, an eager look on her face. "Yeah! I love Junes! I wish I could come
everyday!"

"Wow" the older brunette muttered, looking at Nanako in awe. "You know, we've
been looking for a local spokesperson. I bet Nanako would be great for the job. How
could anyone get upset with a cute little girl like her?"
"I think we'd better wait on that one, partner." Souji muttered, holding back an
amused smile. "Nanako is young, and I doubt my Uncle would allow her to work
anywhere at her age. I'm sure someone will come along for the job."
"Someone better than Nanako? What are you suggesting? We throw someone out
here in a suit as like, a mascot, or something?"
"It could happen." Give it a month or so and it will happen.
"Haha, yeah right. Who'd want to wander around this place in a suit? The summers
in Inaba are killer and no one would be willing to stand around in a walking
heatsack."
"I wouldn't be so sure. Some people enjoy doing that kind of thing"
"Whatever you say, Souji."
"Anyway, Nanako-chan, are you having fun? I know we're a lot older than you, so"
Yosuke trailed off, looking uneasy. "We're not boring you, right?"
"No I'm having fun." Nanako smiled briefly before her shoulders slumped. "I love
Junes, but we were supposed to go on a real trip. We were gonna make boxed
lunches to take with us too"
"Boxed lunches?" Yukiko repeated, looking impressed. "You can make boxed
lunches, Nanako-chan?"
"No, Dad and I can't cook. Normally, we eat side dishes from Junes for dinner." She
looked toward Souji, who coughed, blushing faintly as everyone stared at him. I-is it
really that surprising to see a guy who can cook?
"Wow Family cook, huh?" Chie grinned, "I was wondering why you never bought
lunch at school. Pretty impressive, 'big bro'."
"I wouldn't call it impressive, I've been cooking my own meals since I was a kid."
"Big bro?" Nanako repeated softly, looking at Souji.
"Whoa you can cook? Damn, I knew you were good with your hands and all but"
Yosuke trailed off, his face scrunching up as he realized what he'd just said. "N-

nevermind. Forget I said anything."

"H-hey! I'm a pretty good cook too, you know!" Chie protested, "I mean, I could make
us lunch boxes easy as pie Good ones, too! With rice."
"Rice?" Yosuke repeated skeptically, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you the one who
panicked when I asked if we could make dinner together sometime?"
"I-I" Chie gulped, looking nervous. "I just work better alone, is all. I'm not good at
cooking with a group. Yeah, I'm a solo artist!"
"Uh-huh" the brunette male smirked, shaking his head slowly. "You know, you're
getting awfully defensive, Chie. I never said I was a top-grade chef. Still, I can't help
but feel like my cooking is better anyway."
"Hey!"
"I wouldn't be surprised if it was." Yukiko laughed, watching Chie with an amused
look. "I remember the last time she was in our kitchen"
"Yukiko! Shush!" Chie cried, looking horrified. "I already told you that was an
accident!"
"Well, if you're so confident Why don't we have a cook off?" Yosuke grinned.
"Nanako-chan can be our judge."
"H-hey Yosuke." Souji cut in, knowing what was coming next. "Wait a"
"Why wait?" the brunette asked, looking confused. "Come on, man. Obviously you
can't enter. You'd beat us all hands down. Besides, I bet your cooking is right up
there with her mom's. You'd be impossible to win against."
"I don't have a mom," Nanako said quietly, looking down at the table. "She died in an
accident"
Souji winced. This was what he'd been trying to avoid. The silverette could clearly
recall the memory of his mother picking up the phone one day after he'd come home
from school, and burst into tears as soon as she'd hung up. She had left for a week
after that, saying that she needed to go visit her brother in Inaba. His father had
explain to him what happened, but said that he'd be going with his mother and he
was to stay with the neighbors until they got back. To this day, the silver-haired teen
couldn't figure out why his parents hadn't just taken him with them, but he'd never
gotten the right chance to ask.

"O-oh" Yosuke's face fell as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing toward
Souji apologetically.
"Hey, Yosuke," Chie hissed, kicking the brunette under the table. "Say something"
"I'm... I'm sorry, Nanako-chan. I I didn't know."
"U-um" Nanako shook her head quickly, eyes wide as she tried to understand why
everyone had suddenly gotten so upset. "It's okay I don't have a mom anymore,
but I have dad with me, so I'm okay." The color in Nanako's cheeks rose as she
looked toward Souji, smiling brightly. "And now I have a big brother too!"
Despite knowing it was coming, the effect it had on Souji hadn't been lessened at all.
A gentle smile spread across his face as the small voice in the back of his mind
cooed in delight. As an only child, he'd grown used to being alone, but he was nonethe-less thrilled to hear Nanako call him her "big brother" again. It's the simple things
like this that you don't realize you'll miss until they're suddenly ripped away from you.
"Ahaha Y-yeah." Yosuke nodded quickly, relieved by Nanako's forgiving nature.
"This guy is pretty great, huh?"
"Uh-huh! He's the best! Be bought me a plushie yesterday for Golden Week! He said
it was called a 'Pyro Jack' and he made dinner, too! His cooking is really good!"
"That's great" Yukiko said softly. "I bet he plays with you a lot as well."
"Yeah, he does! He reads for me every night before I go to bed, and he watches TV
with me too!"
"That's really nice of him." Chie said, looking at Souji in admiration. "We'll play with
you anytime you want too, okay, Nanako-chan?"
"Yes" the raven nodded in agreement. "We should hang out more often. It'll be
fun."
"Would you really?" Nanako asked. "You'll all play with me?"
"Yeah! Anytime." Yosuke stood up, grinning. "Come on, let's go grab a soda, eh?"
"Okay!" The young brunette jumped down from her seat and started around the table
to join Yosuke, pausing as she looked back at Souji. "Oh Can I?"
The silver-haired teen nodded. "Sure, go right ahead. Make sure he gets you
something nice and expensive."

Yosuke laughed nervously as Nanako nodded before joining the headphone-clad

teen on his way to the concession stand.
"She's so strong, isn't she?" Yukiko sighed softly, watching Nanako's retreating back.
"To think that a girl her age has gone through so much and can still smile as if
nothing has happened"
"Yeah Talk about mature. She makes us look like the kiddies around here." Chie
agreed, standing up. "Hey, Yukiko. Let's go get something for Nanako-chan, too.
She'll need something to eat with that soda."
"Mmhmm." Yukiko nodded and stood up, quickly following after Chie as the martial
artist left to join Yosuke at the counter.
"Hey! Big bro! Do you want something too?" Nanako called as she ran back toward
the table, looking at Souji expectantly. "Let's share some tokoyaki together!"
"Ahaha, alright." Souji stood up and smiled, allowing Nanako to drag him back
towards the concessions. "Come on , big bro! Hurry, hurry! Chie-san and Yukiko-san
said they'd pay for it!"
The front door of the Dojima household rattled softly as it was carefully pushed open.
Souji slipped into the entranceway and kicked off his shoes, pausing as Yosuke
stepped in beside him.
"Here, turn around, I'll get her shoes." The brunette muttered, kneeling down to take
off the Nanako's shoes, taking care not to wake up the slumbering girl. "She's
completely out, huh? Good thing we were able to get her on your back before she
passed out."
"Yeah. Thanks for the help, Yosuke."
"No problem, partner. Always glad to lend you a hand. Need anything else?"
"No, I'll be alright." Souji shook his head, and nodded towards the hallway. "I'm going
to put her to bed and then get ready to sleep myself. I'm wiped"
"Yeah, me too." Yosuke muttered, biting back a yawn. "So, I guess I'll see you
Thursday then? Chie and I are going to Okina station for the daythough Yukikosan said she might invite you and Nanako-chan to relax in the hot springs together
for a day. Man, you really are a lucky bastard, aren't you? You're already winning the

heart of the girl almost every guy in school wants."

"Ahaha, not really. We're just friends, Yosuke. I've already given my heart to
someone precious to me I wouldn't betray her for anything."
"Whoa Don't get all serious on me, dude. I was just kidding. I doubt Yukiko-san
would fall for anyone that quickly, even a guy like youno offense."
"None taken, Yosuke. Just be careful. It's saying that sort of stuff that put that wall
between you and Chie in the first place. You two did well in knocking it down, so
don't build it back up, okay?"
"You're the serious romantic type, huh?"
Souji laughed and started for the hallway. "I don't know if I'm the 'serious romantic'.
I'm just the kind of guy who doesn't want to see something like what you two have go
to waste over something small."
"Dude, you really are something, you know that? Anyway, Sleep well."
"You too. Be careful on your way home."
"I always am. Later!"
A sleek black Acura pulled into the empty driveway of a two-story house in Inaba's
residential district. It was a generously sized traditional Japanese-style home with a
warm and humble appearance to it. The headlights shone brightly upon the small
concert of the arched driveway before being shut off. A faint 'click' was heard in the
quiet night as the driver's door was opened and the blond Shirogane secretary
stepped out, glancing around the area once more making his way to the passenger
side and opening the door to lean inside.
"Naoto-sama" Yakushiji called softly, shaking the young Shirogane's shoulder
lightly. "Naoto-sama, We've arrived in Inaba. If you'll go inside, I will bring your bags
up to your room for you. A futon and your requested furnishings have already been
moved inside."
"Mnngh?" Naoto opened a bleary eye, blinking slowly as she gazed up at
Yakushiji, dazed. "O-oh. We're here. I apologize, I didn't I didn't mean to fall asleep
in the car as I did. It seems I didn't get as much sleep last night as I thought."
"It's late, Naoto-sama. I can hardly blame you for falling asleep. I placed the book

you were reading back in your bag when I stopped for gas. Here is your copy of the
key, please head inside and head for your room. There should be a set of sleeping
clothes on the bed for you."
"Ah Thank you." The sleuth muttered, rubbing her eyes as she slipped from the
vehicle slowly, still in a daze from having been woken up. "Please don't stress
yourself over the larger bags. Just a single suitcase of clothes will do for the night.
You must be tired as well We'll worry about them in the morning."
"As you wish, Naoto-sama."
Nodding sleepily, the young Shirogane made her way around the car slowly,
fumbling with her keys as she reached the door, fighting back a yawn. She slide the
door open and left it as it was, hoping that it would be easier for Yakushiji to bring in
the bags.
"Bed" she mumbled, drifting toward the stairs on autopilot and down the hall.
Finding her room with ease, she slipped inside and shut the door behind her,
dropping her bag into a large plush chair near the bookcase full of books that she
was too tired to examine. Without bothering to turn the light on, she grabbed the
neatly folded clothes from the end of the futon, making a mental note to ask
Yakushiji who had prepared the house in the morning. Her clothes were left on the
floor in a small pile as she climbed under the covers and settled in, too tired to worry
about anything else.
"Inaba This is where I'll be residing for perhaps the next year or longer. I haven't
been put on the case officially yet, but I'll need to" she yawned, allowing her eyes
to slip shut. "I'll need to gather as much information as I can on my own."
Barely more than a minute later, the young detective was out like a night, allowing
herself to succumb to world of sleep, vaguely curious if she'd see the faceless boy
with light hair and wearing a dark uniform that had plagued her dreams for almost a
week now.

Return to Where We First Met

You know... part of me is starting to believe that no one really thinks I'm going to
continue this story. -pout- that hurts, readers. It really does. I have been lacking in
updates compared to when I started, though. So I guess I kinda deserve it. Fffft.
Ah, but really, I am gonna continue this. Don't worry. I want to finish this. I have a
document about 15 pages long of notes for all the chapters and another document
with one chapter already written, and a third with even MORE scenarios and notes.
Gosh, so much to work with. Ahaha. I'm really hoping that I'll have more time for this
now that I've finished all my Hetalia stories for now. I did come up with an idea for a
Durarara! story (Shizaya, yes, I did jump that band wagon, but dammit, it's such an
awesome bandwagon) and I really want to write that, but I'm going to try and focus
my attention here for a few chapters before I even consider taking on two projects at
once.
Problem is college. I leave for college around the twenty-seventh of this month. My
plan after that is to try and write ONE chapter of each story every week. So that
would mean each story would get updated every other week. Or possibly every
week. Depending on how muchw writing I got done. No promises.
Anyway, here is the next chapter. I would like to say now that this one is dedicated to
Flaros who sent me a wonderful letter that put a warm feeling in my heart and
brought a few tears to my eyes. It really made me feel special, and from the bottom
of my heart, I thank him/her for such a kind and wonderful note. I really hope this
chapter and all the rest bring you as much pleasure as your letter did me.
Chapter ten: Return to Where We First Met
"Good morning, big bro!" Nanako chirped happily as she skipped into the kitchen,
beaming up at Souji as he carefully scooped what appeared to be miniature fried
omelets into a small pink bento box. The young brunette eyed the bento curiously,
looking up at the silver-haired teen in question. "What are you doing, big bro?"
"Making lunch," Souji said nonchalantly, setting the pan he was holding down and
placing the lit on the bento. "Do you have a handkerchief you wrap this in, Nanako?
Or do you just put it in your bag?"
"Um" Nanako blushed slightly, looking embarrassed. "I don't know. I haven't had
bento lunch since I was really small. My mom used to make them for me all the time,
but"

The silverette winced, wondering if what he'd hoped would be a kind gesture had
been a bad idea after all. He turned away from the counter and looked over the piles
of various possessions on the kitchen table, spotting a small pink cloth sticking out
from a large stack of books. I didn't expect it to be far from the kitchen Dojima
doesn't seem the type to toss something like that without a good reason.
Nanako watched in silence as Souji carefully pulled the small handkerchief from the
mess and tie it around the lunchbox before holding it out to her, smiling
apologetically. "I'm sorry, Nanako. I'm not trying to take your mom's place, believe
me. I just noticed that you never seemed to take your lunch with you, and I thought
you might like something other than cafeteria food."
To his relief, the brunette smiled and took the lunch box with a nod, running to her
backpack to put it inside. "Thank you, big bro! I've never had a lunch made by you
before."
Well, as long as she's happy Souji thought, turning back to the counter to pack the
leftovers for his own lunch. "Let me know if you like everything, okay? I can make
you lunch anytime you wantbreakfast is ready, by the way. I've already eaten since
I'm leaving early. I left yours on the living room table. Will you be alright walking to
school alone today?"
"Uh-huh" Nanako replied, eagerly approaching the table to see what meal awaited
her. "I'll be okay. Have a good day, big bro."
"Yo! Souji!" Yosuke called, waving as he ran up the main road of the residential
district. "Sorry I'm late, man. My bike was giving me grief this morning" The
brunette sighed in frustration, looking bitter. "I just fixed the damn thing, and it barely
made it down the road before the chain snapped on me."
"You really should get a new one," Souji said, smiling sympathetically. "You're going
to end up seriously hurting yourself."
"Ahaha, I doubt that. I'm the indestructible type."
It wouldn't surprise me "Have you ever thought about asking for a new one?" the
silver-haired teen asked as the two started down the road toward Yasogami. "I
mean, as a Christmas or birthday presentyou could ask your whole family to pitch
in."
"Nah" Yosuke shook his head with a sigh, looking vaguely disappointed. "I try to
avoid asking for stuff like that. It always ends up with me owing someone a favor I

can't repay or spending more money than I can afford. Besides, I'll have enough
money for a motorcycle someday. I'll just have to worry about getting a license after
that."
A motorcycle Souji shuddered. No matter how long or hard he thought about it, the
idea of Yosuke on a bike of any form gave him an uneasy feeling. The last thing he
wanted was a call from a hospital telling him that the brunette had broken half his
bones in a way that shouldn't even be humanly possible from crashing into
something like a pole or trashcan. Maybe I should offer to look at it sometime. I'm
sure there's a book somewhere about fixing bikes.
"Hey Earth so Souji! You listening, dude?"
"Huh?" Souji blinked, turning his gaze to meet Yosuke. "Sorry, did you say
something?"
"I said I was sorry for saying those things to Nanako-chan yesterday" the brunette
said slowly, raising an eyebrow. "And then I asked if something happened between
Chie and Yukiko."
"Don't worry about it, Yosuke." Souji said, placing a reassuring hand on Yosuke's
shoulder. "She's a strong girl, and she wasn't upset in the slightest. Besides, how
could you have known?"
"But still, I"
"Forget it, Yosuke. What do you think happened between Chie and Yukiko?"
"Huh? Oh, that. Well" Yosuke trailed off, frowning as he stared off into the
distance. "I dunno They just seem different around each other. I mean, they
were close before and everything. It just seems like they've really gotten a lot closer
lately. I'm not saying that's bad, I just didn't think it was possible for two friends as
close as them to get any closer than they already were."
"A lot has happen lately, Yosuke." Souji said, pausing as they reached Yasogami's
front doors. "All the barriers those two put between each otherintentionally or not
have suddenly been knocked down. I think it's natural they'd get closer. Why?
Don't tell me you're jealous."
"Wh-what!" Yosuke growled, pushing past Souji as he entered the building. "Like hell
I'm jealous! I knew what the reason was! I just wanted to see if you noticed it to!
Come on, we're gonna be late!"

Oh yeah, Souji thought, mildly amused as he followed Yosuke up the stairs, he's
jealous.
"Uuungh" Chie groaned loudly, slumming over her desk as the final bell rang.
Students ran for the door, all looking worse for wear as the hurried to leave the
building. Needless to say, no one was ready to be back in school or to listen to the
lectures the day after holidays. "I really hate school"
"Hear hear." Yosuke muttered, stretching as he stood up. "I thought I was gonna fall
asleep."
"Yosuke, you did fall asleep," the martial artist frowned. "And I'm not giving you my
notes this time."
"I'd rather borrow Yukiko-san's or Souji's. They actually listen to the lectures."
"You know, Yosuke, you don't really have any ground to stand on when you say
that." Souji chuckled, earning a betrayed look from the brunette. "I mean no
offense but you could both use better listening skillsat least when it comes to
teachers."
"They could use lessons in being more interesting." Yosuke said simply, crossing his
arms as he stood near Souji's desk. "If they weren't so dull, I wouldn't fall asleep."
"You wouldn't fall asleep if you didn't put your head down."
"Whose side are you on, partner!"
"Switzerland."
"YouHuh?" Yosuke frowned, his eyebrows furrowing together in a questioning
gaze. "You're what now?"
"I'm Switzerland," Souji repeated with a small grin.
"I heard what you said. But you're not blond and you don't have a little sisterwell,
you have Nanako-chan, I guessbut, I wanted to know what you"
"It means he's neutral," Yukiko explained, "and that he doesn't take sides with
anyone. What does being blond or having a sister have to do with it?"
"Everything," Yosuke muttered as he turned back to Souji and feigned an injured
look. "Traitor. You're so cruel."

"How can I be a traitor if I don't take sides to begin with? I'm a mediator. The Geneva
Convention and all that."
Yosuke mouthed wordlessly as he stared at Souji, blinking owlishly as he tried to
think of a comeback.
"Wow..." Yukiko turned to Souji, looking impressed. "That's a great analogy, Soujikun.
"I don't get it." Chie mumbled, peering up at the others with one eye. "Anyway, we
all wish the holidays had gone on longer, but there's no use in complaining now,
right?"
"Well, yeah it doesn't exactly help me out if he isn't willing to share his notes."
"Well, hopefully, you've learned something from this, Yosuke. Don't sleep in class."
Yosuke gave Chie a half-hearted glare and dropped back into his seat, looking
offended. "Yeah? Well then, don't expect my help if you ever fall asleep in class.
Maybe you'll learn a lesson."
"Aww, you wouldn't do that to me, would you, Yosuke?" the martial artist pouted,
leaning over the back of Souji's chair as she moved closer to Yosuke. "You wouldn't
leave me hanging, right?"
"W-well, uh" Yosuke sputtered, blushing faintly as he quickly looked away, leaning
his chair back several inches. "O-okay, maybe I'd help Maybe."
"Heheh," Chie grinned, leaning back. "Good boy."
Raising a slender eyebrow, Souji shook his head, giving Yosuke an amused looked.
"Whipped."
"Wha-! Shut up!" the brunette growled, blushing furiously. "I am not."
"Sure you're not," the silverette muttered. "Not at all."
Jealousy bubbled in the pit of the silver-haired teen's stomach as he watched Chie
slip into the desk beside Yosuke, her eyes dancing in amusement. The female
brunette wrapped an arm around the male's shoulders, pulling him into a one-armed
hug as she proceeded to tease him about just how 'whipped' he was.
Noticing the faraway look in Souji's eyes, Yukiko moved from her own desk to sit at

Chie's fixing the silverette with a concerned look. "Are you okay, Souji-kun?"
"Huh?" Snapping out of his daze, Souji turned to the raven, looking somewhat
confused. "Oh, y-yeah. I was just thinking about someone."
"Do you mean that girl you were telling me about? The one who can't"
"Remember me, yeah." He nodded quietly, forcing his gaze away from the two
brunettes. "It isn't a big deal."
"I'm sure she's fine, wherever she is," Yukiko said reassuringly, "You just have to
have faith, that's all. I'm sure things will work out."
"One can hope so, at the very least." Souji sighed, staring dully at the random
pencil marks on his desk. I can hope all I want, but it won't change anything. She
won't remember me, and I can't be sure that she'll want anything to do with me this
time around.
"She loves you, doesn't she?"
"She loves me in the memories she doesn't have, but more-or-less, yes."
"Well then, I think she'll find you," Yukiko smiled, pressing her hands together.
"That's part of love in the first place, isn't it? Believing in the bond that the two of you
share."
"I never really thought about it that way." Souji muttered, surprised at just how
wise Yukiko sounded. She's right. For right now, all I can do is trust the bond we
once shared and hope it's strong enough to reform, even without past memories.
"Are you two finished?" Chie cut in, looking between Yukiko and Souji suspiciously.
"You know, you two get along awfully well for two kids who just met."
Souji shrugged as Yukiko flushed in embarrassment, the raven fixing Chie with a
weak glare. "We were just passing the time until you two were done. Anyway, even if
it isn't the most pleasant thing to be back in school, at least the holiday was relaxing,
right?"
"He does have a point." Yosuke said thoughtfully, resting his chin in the palm of his
hand. "There was no news about weird stuff happening and no sudden
disappearances. It didn't rain, so it wasn't like we could check the Midnight Channel
to be sure, but I doubt we'd have seen anything even if we did. Do you guys think
Yukiko-san was the last victim?"

"I dunno" Chie muttered, taking her bag as Yukiko handed it to her and stretched.
"It seems like it, though."
"I doubt she'll be the last," Souji sighed, knowing full well just how true his statement
was. "Until we can be sure, we can't afford to let out guard down. We have to
prepare for the worst and always assume there's one more until we can be sure
there isn't."
"Souji-kun is right," Yukiko nodded, looking serious. "I don't think we can afford to let
out guard down right now. I'd like to believe that I was the last one to be taken in,
but"
"There's just no telling until we give it more time." Yosuke finished with a sigh.
"Murderers just don't make it easy for the ones after them, do they?"
"No use fretting over it now," Chie shrugged, "I mean, if someone shows up on the
Midnight Channel again, we'll take care of it. I know it's supposed to start raining
again soon, but I hope the weather holds at least until the end of next week. That's
when midterms start."
"You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" The brunette male groaned, burying his
face in his hands. "I don't even want to think about midterms."
"Avoiding them won't make them disappear. I do wish I had Yukiko's gift for studying,
though. I might actually have a chance at passing all of them." Pausing, the martial
artist looked thoughtful as she glanced between the now depressed Yosuke and
Yukiko. "Hey, Yosuke, why not ask Yukiko to go over the study material with you? It
might help you out. Souji's probably busy with his own studying and taking care of
Nanako-chan, so"
Not really, Souji thought, raising an eyebrow in question as Yosuke's head jerked up,
suddenly looking much happier than he had before. Yosuke wouldn't really say
that again, would he? Not when he has a girlfriend, he'd be careful with his words,
right?
"Huh that's not a bad idea. Yukiko-san has always ranked at the top of every
exam. It might not be a bad idea to ask for some private lessons."
"P-private lessons?" Yukiko repeated incredulously, looking shocked.
Without thinking, Souji jumped from his seat, quickly moving out of the way as
Yukiko stepped forward and raised her hand.

"Huh? Y-Yukiko-san? What's wroouch!" The brunette held his cheek in shock,
gaping at the raven teen. "Wh-what was that for! Do you smack everyone who asks
you to help them study!"
"O-oh! You meant studying?" Yukiko repeated, looking surprised. "I-I'm sorry, I
thought it was an off-color joke and you were Sorry, the inn has had some very
strange visitors lately."
"If you thought it was a joke, why didn't you laugh!" Yosuke cried, rubbing his slowly
reddening cheek. "You didn't have to hit me..."
"My hand just moved without thinking. I'm sorry, Yosuke-kun"
"Moved without thinking Geez. Why do I feel like I've heard that one before?"
"You're the one who made it sound creepy." Chie frowned in disapproval, "Private
lessons,huh? No wonder she took it the wrong way."
"Wha! You're saying this is my fault! Why would I even make a joke like that? I
don't need private lessons like those! I already have a girl I love, and I'm sure as hell
not going to take advantage of" the brunette trailed off, looking embarrassed as his
words caught up with him. "U-um. A-anyway M-maybe I'll get help from my dad
or something"
"Yosuke" Chie's face flushed pink, leaning closer to place a gentle kiss upon
Yosuke's wounded cheek, causing both of them to blush even worse.
"I think," Souji muttered quietly, looking thoughtful, "I actually feel my teeth rotting
from all this sweet affection."
"Argh! I told you to shut up, dude!"
"Um" Yukiko raised a hand hesitantly, uneasy about stepped between, what
appeared to be, a fight. "W-why don't we all go to the library after school together for
the remainder of this week and study together? I'm sure we'd all get much more
done if we could all help each other, and if we're in the library, we won't be able to
get distracted."
"That's not a bad idea," Souji said thoughtfully, "I agree, the library would be easiest
for all of us and we'd get the most work done."
"Ugh Extra hours in school?" Yosuke groaned, "That's all I need."

"Oh, stop whining!" Chie said, giving the brunette a scolding look. "Those two are
offering to help us, and I say we take it. It's not like our study skills would do us any
good. Take the gifts you're given, right?"
"Since when is studying a gift?"
"Just get your butt to the library already! Stop complaining!"
Souji smiled as he handed his paper back to Morooka, who seemed to scowl much
more deeply than usual. The exam had been a piece of cake, he had taken it before,
but the review in the library with everyone else had made it even easier. Leaning
back in his chair to savor his feeling of accomplishment, the silverette listened in on
the others as they talked about their own exams. He laughed inwardly at Yosuke's
visible relief, Chie's obvious worry, and Yukiko's air of silent pride that matched his
own. Some things never change, thought Souji to himself as Yosuke began to
preach loudly about his intense relief.
"It's over! It's finally over!" Yosuke cried in delight, leaping from his desk as the final
bell rang signaling the end of the last day of exams. "I feel light and wonderful This
is sort of feeling every student needs when exams are done! I feel like I could"
"Shut up" Chie growled, fixing the brunette with a tired glare. "It's great that you're
off in happy-land, but I can't hear anything when you're shouting like that. Sheesh.
Anyway, what did you get for number seven, Yukiko? You know, the one that was
referring to 'that' in the sentence."
"Um I'm think it was 'her sorrowful expression', wasn't it, Souji-kun?"
"Hm?" Souji blinked, tearing his gaze from Yosuke's amusing offended sputters and
turned to the raven. "Oh, um Yeah I'm pretty sure I put the same thing. I didn't
commit any of the questions to memory, but it sounds about right."
"Oh man" Chie groaned, "I put 'the rice cakes on the table.'"
"Rice cakes?" Yukiko repeated, looking confused, "They mentioned rice cakes in
the story?"
"Towards the end," Souji muttered, grabbing Yosuke by the collar and forcing him
back into his chair, successfully stopping the brunette's distracting hopping
movements. "I think she ate a few of them."
"Oh Still, I don't think that was the answer."

"Ugh!" the martial artist let out a groan and slumped forward on her desk. "Alright
I've given up composition. Obviously, I failed. I'll bet it all on geography! So, like,
what's the tallest mountain in the solar system?"
"Olympus Mons," Yosuke answered before Souji or Yukiko could even open their
mouths. "It's a volcano on Mars."
"What the? Yosuke?"
"I put that one too," Yukiko smiled, "Wow, Yosuke-kun! That's amazing! How hard
have you been studying?"
"He's been with my every night," Souji said, a faint tone of pride in his voice as he
gestured to the brunette. "After we'd leave the library, he'd come home with me and
we'd have another study session up in my room."
"S-study session!" Chie repeated, turning to look at Yosuke, "You didn't tell me about
any study sessions! You told me you were working at Junes this week!"
"I that well" Yosuke hesitated, bowing his head slightly in shame. "I it was
the only excuse I could use! If I said I was at Souji's then you would have asked to
join us and I never would have gotten any studying done."
"What's that supposed to mean!"
"He means you're distracting." Souji said, reaching for his schoolbag.
"Wha Distracting! Yosuke Hanamura-!"
"W-wait!" the brunette cried, stumbling backward as he narrowly avoided a sharp
kick from Chie. "It's not what it sounds like! Geez, man Did you have to word it like
that!"
"I think that was a compliment, Chie," Yukiko murmured, "What Souji-kun meant was
that Yosuke-kun would have much rather been spending time with you than
studying, so he kept it quiet to discipline himself."
"Y-Yes! That's right! Yukiko-san's right! Stop trying to kill me already!" Yosuke
shouted, wincing as Chie's knee stopped just short of his stomach. "I-I just didn't
want to distract mysel! I figured if I disappeared you'd go to Yukiko-san and she'd
pull you into one of her study sessions."
"Yeah, well, she didn't! How was I supposed to Wait, what?" Chie blinked slowly, a

dark blush slowly spreading across her cheeks. "Y-you'd pay more attention to,
um"
"Well yeah," Yosuke nodded, and Souji could of sworn he heard the brunette
mutter, 'I mean, I'd take you over books any day.'
"Let's not ruin their private moment." Souji said, slipping around the front of his desk.
"Good idea." Yukiko nodded, following Souji out of the classroom. "They've been
having a lot of those lately."
"Well, better this than another violent spat, hm? Why don't we wait by the gate?"
"That sounds fine," the raven smiled. "There's something I've been meaning to ask
you about, anyway."
"Oh? What's that?"
"Well, I'm trying out a new recipe, and Yosuke-kun said you were a good chef, so I
thought you might know a good kind of cheese I could use with this dish, um, here."
Yukiko reached into her bag, producing an index card as she held it out to Souji. "I
didn't want to ask the cooks, or else they'd try to just cook it for me."
Souji took the card and read it over, carefully looking at each ingredient in turn
before finally speaking. "Well, gouda would work alright, but aged brie would give it a
very unique flavor, as well."
"Really?" Yukiko blinked in surprise, pulling a small cookbook from her bag. "I never
thought of that. What about"
"Nanako, I'm hooumgh!" The moment Souji opened the door, he was nearly
thrown back again as a pink and brown blur slammed into him, hugging his stomach
tightly.
"Welcome home, big bro!"
"Th-thanks" the silverette muttered, sounding winded as he bent over slightly,
returning Nanako's overzealous hug in a much gentler fashion. "That was some
welcome."
"I wanted to surprise you!" the brunette smiled, "Dad said when you're catching
criminals you need to have the 'element of surprise,' so I wanted to work on mine!"

"Is that so?" Souji asked, following Nanako into the living room once his waist had
finally been released. "Well, you're doing a really good job, Nanako. I didn't expect
that at all." He rubbed his stomach, hoping to emphasis his point, and sighed softly
in relief when his cousin smiled in delight.
"Oh! I forgot" Nanako's smile suddenly doubled as she ran back over to Souji,
grabbing his arm and swinging it back and forth with enthusiasm. "Dad is coming
home early today! He said he didn't have to work late tonight!"
"That's great!" Souji smiled, watching as Nanako scurried off toward the kitchen,
most likely intend on making dinner by herself that night.
Shaking his head, the silverette sat down quietly at the table, reaching for the remote
to turn on the news. In the upper right corner of the screen, the date and a small icon
indicating the weather were displayed for viewers just turning in, and he found
himself smiling once more. If I remember correctly, today's the day Kanji will appear
on the news
"Hey everyone, I'm home."
Souji jumped, his head jerking toward the couch where Dojima was fixing him with a
questioning look as he took a seat. He winced, glancing nervously toward Nanako
who was also looking at him, her head tilted to the side just slightly.
"Um, sorry. I was off in my own little world."
"recklessly riding their motorcycles, disturbing the peace of"
Souji turned sharply, his gaze focused intently on the TV as the reporter began
speaking. The picture on the screen was focused on a male reporter, but the scene
quickly changed to an outdoor setting of a group of laughing punk teens with their
bikes. They were quickly blocked from the screen as a boy with bleach blond hair
ran toward the camera, his face slightly blurred from the poor attempt at identity
protection.
"The hell are you punks doing here! This ain't a show! Get bent!"
"That voice" Dojima muttered from the couch, his eyes knitting together behind his
newspaper.
"Kanji"
"What?"

Souji winced again, that was twice now in less than five minutes that he'd slipped,
the relief from seeing his friend momentarily making him forget that he was in the
living room with his uncle and cousin.
"How do you know Kanji Tatsumi?"
"School." Souji said quickly, silently trying to assure himself that it wasn't completely
a lie.
"What?" Dojima looked surprised, setting his newspaper to the side, "He's been
going to class?"
"Uh, well" The silverette shagged and smiled weakly. "I'm not sure. I just know him
through the rumors, but he doesn't seem like that bad of a kid."
Ryotaro nodded, looking faintly grim. "He isn't a bad kid, but we've had a lot of
trouble with him. Apparently, he took out the entire gang of bikers today because the
noise they'd been causing was keeping his mother up at night. The gesture is nice,
but"
Souji chuckled softly, shaking his head. "There are better ways of going about doing
it, right? Although, it's nice to see how much he seems to care about his mother's
happiness."
"Yes, well" the detective sighed heavily, reaching for his paper, "At his rate, his
mother is going to have to apologize again. I thought he'd finally stopped when he
enrolled in a high school, but"
"You know him, dad?" Nanako piped up, looking between Souji and Dojima
curiously. "I've seen him outside one of the stores before when I was going to Junes.
He helped me when I tripped."
"Did he? I'll have to remember to thank him." Dojima leaned back, turning to the next
page of the paper. "Anyway, his family runs a historical textile shop in the shopping
district. It's a small place, but it's fairly popular for a place like this, so it holds a
steady business."
"The weather report is on the bottom of the screen" Nanako muttered, looking at
the TV. "It's going to rain tomorrow."
"Oh? I'll help you with the laundry when I get home then." Souji said as he stood up,
"I'm going to go to bed early tonight, I have some things I need to do tomorrow, so I'll
need the energy."

"Oh, okay. Goodnight, big bro."

"Sleep well." Dojima added quickly as Souji started toward the stairs.
Souji rubbed his eyes, moaning softly to himself as he crawled sluggishly from his
futon. He had been awoken by yet another nightmare, the same scream that had his
dreams since the night he arrived still echoing in his mind. Yet he was used to that
now, unlike other things.
Having all your memories has its advantages, but there are some things I'd much
rather forget, Souji thought dully as he began to get dressed. Since he had regained
his memories, the identity of the scream clawed at the back of his mind, not at all
helping his levels of stress, but the scream was the least of his current of his
problems for the time being.
The silhouette of Kanji Tatsumi's familiar appearance on the Midnight Channel was a
big wasn't something he could easily turn away from. He had been forced to feign
cluelessness when Yosuke had called on the second night of Kanji's appearance to
discuss what they should do. He was confident that he'd be able to save Kanji
without trouble; the knowledge that he could call back Persona from his first year
was comfort enough for that. He could remember the weakness of almost all the
large Shadows, and he could use that to his advantage. He was a lucky manor so
his teammates seemed to believeand that was enough for him, for now.
Thankfully, the phone call had ended rather quickly after a brief interrogation from
the brunette demanding to know if anything happened between himself and Yukiko.
When he answered, Souji had an uneasy feeling that Chie listened in on a third line,
muted, and awaiting whatever response he gave, but he honestly assured his friend
that he harbored no romantic feelings for Yukiko or Chie, and the conversation was
left at that.
The meeting at Junes yesterday before the phone call, however, had proven to be
quiet difficult. Feigning innocence in person was much harder than doing the same
on the phone.
~Being Flashback~
"Are you alright, partner?" Yosuke asked as he returned with a tray of drinks for the
small group sitting at the Junes Food Court. "You really look like complete shit."
"Huh?" Souji blinked, looking up at Yosuke as he was pulled out of his daze. "O-Oh.
Uh, yeah I'm fine. Don't worry It's just lag. I'm still adjusting from the city-life to

the country."
"Still? But it's been over a month," Chie said, concern easily recognizable in her
tone. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah. I've just been having a hard time sleeping lately, that's all. There's a lot on
my mind these days." Souji smiled weakly.
~End Flashback~
Of course, Souji couldn't help but feel bad. He knew what was coming, but he
couldn't help but feeling slightly amused at the idea of how they'd all react to Kanji's
dungeon. Yosuke's reaction to the sauna had been near hysterical the first time he'd
seen it, though he didn't openly admit it for fear of pissing the brunette off. He wasn't
willing to pass up his friend's reaction a second timecruel or not. There were many
things he planned to change, but some of the events, while it would be kinder on his
part to give some warning to, were simply too good to pass up.
Adjusting the collar of his deep green blazer, Souji smiled in satisfaction as he
looked at himself in the mirror. He was, as Dojima had pointed out with an amused
smirk last Sunday, a "stud"and a "good looking" one at that. At the very least, he
looked respectable, and that had been his goal. Today they would be meeting Kanji's
mother, for all intensive purposes, for the first time and as her question about Kanji.
It was simple enough, and after that they'd run into Kanji himself, and
Realization hit him like a ton of bricks and the smile quickly fell from his face.
Naoto will be there.
The feeling of confidence the silverette had managed to work up was gone, replaced
with a nervous, almost frightened feeling. What would he do when he saw Naoto?
Would he be able to speak with her? Even if he could, what could he say? He had
failed her, he'd let her die. He'd been careless; he should have tried harder to catch
the murderer. His eyes fluttered close and the scream filled his mind once more,
causing him open them immediately.
How on earth would he be able to apologize to her? He should apologize. He should
get down on his hands and knees, just to beg for her forgiveness and the grace of
her returned friendshipbut how could he? It was going to be near impossible for be
forgiven for something that, as far as anyone beside himself was concerned, never
happened.
Regret and self-revulsion swirled in Souji's stomach and quickly rose to his throat.

The silverette shut his eyes, inhaling sharply as he held back the tears that
threatened to overflow. He couldn't do anything about it now, and it was the only
comfort, if it could be called that, that kept Souji from collapsing on the spot. As far
as Naoto was concerned, Souji was just some teenager who happened to walk into
the same shop as she had. As it was, he would have to be careful enough around
her. It was easier to cover up slips around his friends who would easily trust anything
he said. The last thing he needed was the person he knew would be watching his
every move for anything suspicious and taking note of ithe really didn't want to end
up being taken in as a suspect for murder.
Shaking his head, Souji took a deep breath and slipped from his room, silently
assuring himself that everything would be alright. He left his room and hurried down
the stairs, turning sharply as he reached the bottom and headed toward the door.
"Big bro?"
Souji froze, his foot halfway into his right shoe as he reached for the left. He gulped
and inhaled slowly, speaking carefully as he made sure to speak in an even tone.
"...Yes, Nanako?"
He turned slowly, slipping his other shoe on and winced. Something tugged sharply
at the silverette's chest as he gazed at the obvious look of worry his cousin was
giving him.
"Are... you okay?"
"I'm... fine, Nanako." Souji smiled, but he was surprised to see her shaking her head.
"You're not fine, Big Bro," insisted Nanako, her eyes glistening softly.
Since Souji arrived, the young brunette always seemed to have a newfound ability to
know when he was feeling upset or distress. He had always taken this small token of
open affection from Nanako as a sign that their bond was once more growing as
strong as it used to be, but he'd allowed himself to forget just how intuitive the young
girl was for her age.
Sighing, Souji slowly made his way out of the entryway of the house and knelt down
in front of Nanako, pulling the young brunette into a tight hug that she returned
almost immediately.
"I'm really okay, Nanako. I have a lot on my mind right now, but this is something I
can't really talk about. I can't even really explain it to you clearly, because I'm not
sure I understand it completely myself. But I just know I have to take care of this on

my own."
"But"
"Thank you, Nanako" Souji smiled as he pulled away, offering his cousin a soft
smile. "Your concern is more than enough for me. Just knowing you're worried helps
a lot."
"Really?" Nanako asked, her eyes brightening slightly as the silverette nodded.
"Really. I have to go now, okay? I'm meeting my friends downtown."
"Okay." the brunette nodded slowly, taking a step back as Souji started toward the
door again.
"Hey, I'll bring something home from Junes, okay? We'll make dinner together"
"Really?" Almost immediately the worry on Nanako's face vanished as she nodded
enthuasiastically. "It's a promise! Have a good day, big bro."
"You too, Nanako."
"So this is the textile shop, huh?" Souji asked as he stared up at the building he
could only remember being in a few times before. It was a shame really, the shop
was lovely and welcoming. It had a homey feeling to it that most shops in the city
didn't have.
"Man, it's really nice, isn't it?" Yosuke said, standing beside Souji. "It almost feels
welcoming. Junes always feels so I dunno, but this it's almost as if they're letting
you right into your home."
"Most of the shops in the district are like this, it's really nice." Yukiko said, gesturing
to the store in front of them. "And, in a sense, you're right, Yosuke-kun. A lot of the
shops around here have homes built into them, and the owners live in back or on the
upper level."
"No kidding," the brunette looked faintly surprised. "I couldn't imagine living at Junes.
That'd suck"
"Well, you gotta admit, you'd have pretty much everything you'd need for living." Chie
grinned, "You'd never run out of food or clothes It'd be pretty interesting."
"Yeah, maybe for a week." Yosuke muttered, "After that, it'd just be weird."

"Who knows. Why don't you camp out there for a week and let us know; you guys
have an outdoors section, right? Everything is already set up for you."
"Shut up!"
"Ahaha! What? Running away from a challehuh?" The martial artist stopped,
looking toward the front of the shop as they entered. "Hey who's that boy in the
suit? He doesn't look like he's from around here at all."
"Heh, looks like Inaba's gotten another city boy." Yosuke grinned, speaking in a low
tone. "Gotta admit though, he's pretty short for a boy, eh Souhuh? D-dude?"
"It's alright; you've given me more than enough to think about for now." The young
teen in blue was saying to the owner of the shop, "Thank you for youraugh!"
His body had reacted before his mind could tell him it was a bad idea. Before Souji
could so much as blink, he pushed past Yosuke and the others and pulled the now
very confused, and very flustered, blue-clad teen into a tight, almost desperate hug.
His mind was completely blank, unable to comprehend any coherent thoughts. She
was here. She was in his arms once more, and that's all he was able to care about
for that brief moment. "Naoto"
Naoto froze completely, her eyes widening slightly as her gaze shifted from where it
had been rather unceremoniously forced toward the ceiling to glance at the side of
the silverette's head. The teen's voice, whoever he was, was filled with an unknown
and almost pitiful amount of pain and regret, yet at the same time, it held a tone of
affection and a gentleness tied to an emotion that she felt as if she should know, but
couldn't remember where she'd felt it before.
As if on autopilot, the arms that had been stiffly hanging at Naoto's sides rose and
wrapped themselves tightly around Souji's shoulders, her hands clutching at his
jacket, her face slowly descending to bury itself against his chest. A name, more title
than anything else, flashed across her mind, eliminating her fear, anxiety, and doubt
and replacing it with a foreign, yet familiar, warmth.
Senpai?
Then, just as suddenly as she'd hugged him, she removed her arms. Shocked at her
own careless and unexplainable actions, she tugged weakly against the silverette's
hold, wanting to break free, but at the same time, something in the back of her mind
shouted at her to stay still.

"U-um" Naoto finally spoke, sounding uneasy. "E-excuse me? W-while I'm sure it
is a pleasure to meet you, as well It is normal for one to offer a bow or nod of the
head. O-or perhaps a handshake if you enjoy contact with another, but P-Please
let go of me. Now."
The word "now" worked like an electric shock and he pulled away, feeling his face
heat up in embarrassment. "I, uh "
Shit, Souji cursed silently, panic rising in his throat as his mind went into a frenzy
trying to find an excuse for what he'd just done. He had slippedbadlyand in front
of the only person, aside from his uncle, who could probably piece together a
reasonable explanation to land him in a jail cell for some form of "assault".
"I'm sorry about that," he began slowly, his eyes moving around the shop
nervously, looking at everything but her. "I, um, well I'm a fan." It was lame, it
was bad, and it was an obvious lie, but it was all he had. For a moment, he had
thought Naoto might honestly draw her revolver on him, but her ever-vigilant nature
of taking almost everything slowly and rationally shone through, and Souji had never
been more grateful for her overly formal attitude.
"That's fine I, ah, assumed you were. But, if you would, please, refrain from
such overzealous greetings should we bump into each other again" Naoto was
blushing furiously, head bowed as she tried to pull her cap further other her eyes. "Nnow, if you'll excuse me, I"
Souji never heard the dark-haired female finish as she darted out of the store,
turning sharply and sprinted as fast as she could into the nearby alleyway. The rest
of the group had taken to staring at Souji in shock, their eyes wide and faces
curious. The silverette cleared his throat, shifting his weight uncomfortably from one
foot to the other. Lying to Naoto had been easier than he thought, not that he had
enjoyed it by any means, but he couldn't think of a single excuse to give his friends.
"Uh, that was" Souji began, but the explanation he tried to form died in his throat
with a disappointing wheeze.
"Dude" Yosuke muttered, finally snapping out of his daze. "ThatLook man, we're
friends, okay? Best buds. But don't come any closer to me."
"What?" Souji blinked, frowning as he looked at the brunette. "What are you"
"I didn't know you were, you know, like that."
"Like what?"

"Yosuke!" shouted Chie angrily, her fist contacting Yosuke's skull so hard that it threw
him forward a good two feet.
"O-Ow! Chie! You didn't have to hit me so hard!" The brunette whimpered softly,
running the back of his head gingerly as he gave the martial artist a wounded look.
"It's his choice, isn't it!" Chie snapped, glaring, "You're as low as they get if you
suddenly run away over something stupid like that. But still I didn't expect that
from someone like you, Souji. What was that?"
"Uh, w-well" Souji sighed. It had worked with Naoto, he might as well run with it.
"ShUh, he, Naoto, that is, Naoto Shirogane, is a famous teen detective and, I've
been follow hehim for a while now. So, I, uh didn't expect to see him here."
Now that he heard himself explain it, it sounded even lamer than when he had said it
to Naoto's face. I'm an idiot.
"Oooh" Chie nodded, "So you got really excited when you saw your favorite
celebrity. I guess I can understand that. I might do the same thing if I ran into
someone from one of my kung-fu movies."
"So Hey, dude, can I ask you something?"
"What?" Souji sighed heavily and turned to Yosuke, looking uneasy. Whatever
Yosuke was about to say, it was either going to embarrass him, or get himself
smacked again. "You mentioned that you had a girlfriend before. Are you sure it was
really a girOW! CHIE!"
"Yosuke Hanamura, I swear if you don't leave him alone, I'll give you a kick that'll
make the one I gave you for breaking my DVD feel like a pat on the shoulder!"
"It wasn't a pat, and it definitely wasn't on the damn shoulder!"
"Well then, we're at an agreement. Drop. It."
"Fine! Fine! I'll drop it!" Yosuke cried in alarm, narrowing avoiding Chie's knee as it
aimed for his chest. "I said I'll drop it, sheesh"
"Anyway," Chie said loudly, glaring at Yosuke, "we're here for a reason, right? We're
supposed to be talking to Mrs. Tatsumi and Yukiko Huh? Yukiko? Hello? Are you
okay?"
"H-huh?" Yukiko blinked and turned towards Chie, looking slightly disoriented as she
was pulled out of her own little world.. "O-oh! Um, yes we Um What were we

talking about?"
"Of for the love of You have got to be kidding me."
"Is she okay?" Yosuke asked, stepping forward to get a better look at Yukiko. "She's
been zoned out ever since Souji hugged that guy."
"She's fine," Chie sighed, looking torn between annoyance and amusement. "Can
we please just do what we came here for now?"
"Huh"
"What now, Yukiko?"
"The quiet transfer student and the out-of-town detective, caught in a spiral of
forbidden love..." The raven sighed heavily, a far-away look in her eyes as she
smiled to herself.
"Ugh Fine. FINE. I'll just ask her myself!"
As Chie stepped forward to talk to a very bewildered Mrs. Tatsumi, Yosuke
approached Souji from the side, a faint look of guilt on his face. "H-hey, dude, about
all that earlier, I'm sorry. Chie is right, I shouldn't have"
"It's fine," Souji muttered, waving his hand through the air. "Doesn't matter. I doubt
this is the last I'll hear of it anyway."
"Nope!" Yosuke grinned, and winked, clapping the silverette on the shoulder. "With
information like this, I gotta tease you. It's what friends do."
"Uh-huh" Souji rolled his eyes, giving the brunette an amused look. "Whatever you
say, partner."
The brunette winced; coughing nervously as he quickly looked away. "You know...
I'm kind of second-guessing that title of yours now."
"You're an ass."
"Yeah, well, you're friends with this 'ass'," Yosuke laughed, "And we both know you
could dig up something to hold over my head in a week's time."
"Perhaps," Souji couldn't help but smile as he turned away from Yosuke, a malicious
glint in his eyes. Just wait until the Culture Fest, Yosuke. I'll have my revenge yet.

Outside in the alleyway, Naoto leaned against the wall, panting heavily as she
clutched her chest. Her eyes were wide and alert, darting all over as if expecting the
silver-haired boy who hugged her to suddenly materialize and try to do it again. She
gulped and tried to force herself to calm down, but her mind was going haywire as it
tried to properly process the swirling mass of thoughts that had suddenly filled it,
forcing her to whisper harshly to herself just to make sense of everything.
"I I just hugged but, I've never seen that boy before in my life. We just met! That
was irrational, stupid, and childish! What on earth was I thinking? No I wasn't
thinking, I Wh-what could have possibly lead me to believe that"
"Naoto"
Souji's soft voice echoed in her head, and the blush she'd finally managed to fight
down returned in full. Inhaling sharply, the young detective shut her eyes and gave
herself a firm shake. Wh-whatever that was, I won't allow it to happen again. I can't
explain what happened in there at all! It's frustrating, but No. I'm not here to think
about fans. I need to focus on the case; on the murders. I need to
Naoto's thoughts trailed off as she glanced sideways and spotted the very person
she'd come to speak with in the first place across the street. She quickly shoved
whatever remained of her wild thoughts to the side and straightened herself,
brushing the dust from her clothing and assuring herself that the hug meant nothing.
But as she left the alleyway, a single thought bubbled back up at the back of her
mind, clawing violently at her concentration and nearly sending her right back into
the alleyway. Why did he do it and Why? Why did it feel so right?

Longing of the Heart

Another chapter completed! Woohoo! Stuff finally starts happening here and Souji
actually makes changes. Yay changes! Everyone loves changes. It's been a while
since I last updated, but I'm starting to get in the habit of writing again. College is
pretty time-consuming, especially German, but I'm figuring out good habits. Which is
awesome. Hopefully my updates won't be quite so far apart from now on. This
chapter was fifteen pages long though, so hopefully that'll make up for my lack of
updating recently.
But in other news...
HOW ABOUT THAT PERSONA ANIME?
Was it awesome, or was it AWESOME? I loved it. I even walked around in my
Yasogami uniform to celebrate. I kid you not. It's a pretty comfortable uniform too.
But damn. I seriously can't wait to see more of this. It was just... I can't even.
Thursdays will officially be my favourite day of the week for a while.
That aside, I've reopening my Persona forum and I also have an "Ask Naoto" tumblr
under "FortunesRevolver." Feel free to stop by and ask Naoto questions. I check that
daily and answer as many as I can-sometimes with pictures. I really love it. The
forum is realm-of-shadows[dot]proboards[dot]com. I'm the Naoto there as well.
Um... That's about it. Enjoy the next chapter, everyone! Half of this chapter was
written a long time ago and the other half more recently, so here's hoping you can
actually notice how my writing changed. I did a lot of editing, but I'm hoping this
chapter shows a lot of improvement compared to the others. Let me know if I've
improved since the first chapter, okay? Thank you to everyone for reading!
EDIT! Line added, also, breaks have been fixed.
Chapter Eleven: Longing of the Heart
"So, everyone is set with the plan, right?" Yosuke asked as the small investigation
squad gathered outside the school gates, "We'll split into two groups. One will follow
Kanji and the kid; the other two will watch the Textile shop. Are we good?"
"Affirmative!" Chie nodded, peering around the gate. "The target arrived at school
this morning, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am!" The brunette grinned, glancing toward the front of the school. "VisualID was confirmed this morning near the end of his mess break with mother-issued
rations in hand."
"Aren't they going a little overboard?" Yukiko muttered softly, glancing toward Souji
as she was forced to take a half-step back when Chie moved suddenly and shifted
closer to Yosuke to better see the front of the school.
"Shh." Souji snorted, shaking his head. "Just let them have their fun."
"Current status," Yosuke continued, leaning against the gate, "in the bathroom; fixing
his hair."
"His hair?" Yukiko asked, bewildered, "Did something happen to it?"
"Don't ask." Souji murmured, looking faintly amused. "He's just nervous."
"I wonder what sort of plans those two made, though" the inn-keeper muttered,
looking thoughtful. "It didn't appear as if Kanji-kun knew that boy very well when we
watched them talking outside the shop."
"Naoto wanted to know something; he was investigating."
"Know something?" Chie repeated, finally tearing her gaze from the school. "What
do you mean?"
"Well," Souji paused, unsure of what to say. Ever since he'd hugged the detective in
the Textile Shop, the subject of Naoto had been somewhat sensitive. The silverette
couldn't even mention her name without Yosuke immediately looking at him with an
all-too-knowing smile that made him nervous. As oblivious as the brunette seemed
to be, there were times when he seemed to notice a little too much. "Naoto is a
detective, right? Maybe Kanji knows something he wants to know." Rather,
something she wants to know.
"I guess it's possible, but what could Kanji-kun know thatOh!" The martial artist
turned, her attention focused on something moving toward them. "Here he comes!"
True to Chie's words, the bleach blond 'street punk' was making his way out of the
school and down the walkway toward the entrance gates. His hands twitched
nervously at his sides as he glanced around, almost as if expecting something to
suddenly jump out at him and attack. He stopped several yards ahead of the small
group and paused, looking up and down the road. Not more than a few minutes had
passed before a figure clad in a navy blue pea-coat and deep aqua-green pants

approached the nervous first-year and wasted no time in speaking. "I didn't keep you
waiting long, I hope?"
Jumping, Kanji's head snapped up, barely able to hold a gaze as his eyes shifted
around nervously, glancing at the road every few seconds as if he considered
making a run for it. "N-No, I, uh" he gulped, rubbing the back of his neck
nervously. "I just, uh, got here too, N-Naoto?"
The ending of the sleuth's name came out with an incline, a silent question if using
first names was alright. Had his group not been trying so hard to go unnoticed, Souji
would have laughed. Kanji was just as nervous around Naoto as he'd always
remembered. The only word he could think of to describe it was "cute." Just looking
at the two of them, visually, they would have made an adorable couple: the tough-asnails punk and a prim-and-proper detective. As adorable as the idea had started,
Souji's lips soon twisted into a faint scowl and something in his stomach writhed
violently. A voice in the back of his mind hissed "mine" and he had to fight the
sudden urge to step forward and throw his entire weight behind a well-aimed righthook. The sudden violent urge of jealousy surprised him, but it was quickly
suppressed. He knew better. Acting out now would risk more than just his chances of
ever regaining any semblance of what he had with Naoto before as well as possibly
change the investigation. Besides, he would never jeopardize his future friendship
with Kanji, either - he had a good heart under that tough exterior, after all.
"I see" Naoto finally muttered, completely oblivious to Kanji's question. "Well then,
shall we be going?"
Before Kanji could give her so much as a sputter in response, the detective had
already turned and started to walk away. Even though it was his second time seeing
it, Souji couldn't help but chuckle. After having seen Naoto change so much over the
course of the year that had (technically) not happened anymore and come to
understand why it was she did all the things she did, it was amusing. Yet at the same
time, the investigation squad leader was unable to stop the faint sense of sorrow that
plagued the back of his mind. The Naoto that had walked off was so different from
the one he'd grown so close to. However, in the end it didn't really matter; both
Naoto's were part of the same whole that made up his Naoto, and no matter what,
he was determined to see it through that they had a chance again - even if it was
simply as friends. As long as she was safe, as long as he didn't mess things up this
time, and as long as they caught the culprit, he would be happy.
It had taken Kanji nearly a full minute to realize that his companion had left him
behind. His mouth opened in flabbergasted shock, working wordlessly until he finally
managed a strangled cry of "Wh-wait up!" before darting down the street and after

the sleuth.
"What in the world was that?" Yosuke muttered with a frown as he watched the
couple away, a look of discomfort on his face. "You don't think those two are?"
"No, I don't." Souji cut Yosuke off sharply, fixing the brunette with a firm glare.
"Anyway, I think Yosuke and Chie should team up together."
"H-huh?" Yosuke sputtered, blushing furiously. "W-why would you-!"
"Oh, I agree!" Yukiko said with a smile, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "They'd be
able to use their relationship as the perfect cover!"
"Yukiko!" Chie cried, looking embarrassed. "Y-You can't just-!"
"I guess that settles it then." The silver-haired teen grinned as he turned away from
the school and started walking. Behind him, Yukiko giggled and hurried after, giving
the two 'lovers' a quiet wave and smile over the shoulder as he continued to speak.
"You two will follow Kanji and we'll keep an eye on the textile shop."
"Will you wait a minute!" Yosuke cried, his eyes wide as he looked from Chie to the
pair currently walking away from them. "You can't just assign us a task like that and
walk away!"
"We just did," Souji smirked, a triumphant tone to his voice as he watched the effects
of his minor revenge. "Yukiko, shall we?"
"Oh! Yes. I'd like to say hello to Kanji-kun's mother while we're there."
"Sure, why not?"
"Wh Souji! Yukiko!"
"See you two later. Good luck."
"Argh! Partner! You're such a traitor!"
A loud yawn escaped Souji's lips as he adjusted himself against the red pillar outside
of Naganaki Shrine, arching his back forward and extending his arms in a long
stretch. Nearly fifteen minutes had passed since Yukiko had gone inside the Textile
Shop to speak with Kanji's mother, and while the silverette didn't mind in the
slightest, it did leave him with very little to do. It was a dull experience, and he was
almost disappointed that the wait wasn't as suspenseful as it had been the last time

he'd lived through it, but he couldn't find a reason within himself to complain. The
calm moments he had to himself were something that he liked to take advantage of
when given. Within a few months, everything would be coming together and he'd
have to face the challenge of figuring out the killer once more. Still, the knowledge of
knowing his past actions was handy; it allowed him a slight amount of wiggle room
to, at the very least, have some fun.
He was a lot braver and more charming than the first time he'd come to Inaba, after
all.
"Sorry that took so long," a voice called, tugging Souji from his thoughts. "Kanji-kun's
mother and I ended up talking much longer than I thought we would." Yukiko smiled
apologetically as she extended her arm, offering the male a small can. "Here, I
bought us some juice to make up for ityou like the strawberry-kiwi fusion, right?"
"Ah, I do. Thank you." Souji smiled and took the offered drink, opening it before
taking a sip. "You didn't have to buy anything, though. I left my wallet at home
though. I can pay you back once we're finished, if that's alright."
"Pay me back?" Yukiko laughed and shook her head, "There's no need for that,
Souji-kun. It was only some juice. Keeping me company is more than enough. I just
hope that things stay as calm at the shop as they are right now."
"I'm sure the shop will be fine," Souji said, using the most reassuring tone he could
manage. "I don't believe his mother will be touched at all." It was an awkward way of
phrasing what he wanted to say, but for all the lies he knew he would have to tell, the
least he could do was offer a few truths. Even if he could only present them as
simple comforts.
"No?" The inn-keeper's tone was relieved as she glanced at the shop and sipped her
juice quietly, "Do you really think the culprit won't come?"
"Even if he does, I'll protect you," the silverette smiled. "Chie would never forgive me
if something happened to you. Besides, you're an important friend."
A faint blush powdered Yukiko's cheeks as the tenseness in her shoulders finally
faded away and she turned back to the textile shop. Souji's words were comforting;
had she heard them from anyone else, she was fairly sure that she would have held
onto lingering doubts. There was just something about him that put her at ease, it
was as if he radiated an aura of assurance that said 'I'm here now, and I'm going to
make everything better again, don't worry.'
"Ahaha, is that so?" she smiled, holding her can up in a toast. "Well then, I'll be

counting on you, Souji-kun. But if the culprit does show up, I'll do all I can to help you
catch them. Everyone risked their lives to save me; I don't want to be the only one
doing nothing I want to help you all as much as I can."
"Don't worry so much," Souji said kindly, placing a gentle hand on Yukiko's shoulder.
"You're more helpful than you give yourself credit for. We're all glad to have you
working with us in the investigation nowespecially Chie."
"I-is she?" the inn-keeper's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to face the other
fully. "But she can manage almost anything on her own. Why would she want me
so close to the battlefield? She's always protecting me. Wouldn't it be easier if I
were" she trailed off, watching as Souji shook his head.
"Chie worries about you, that much is true," he paused, taking a sip of his drink, "but
she's thrilled to have you on the team. It's normal to worry about the people we care
for, but she's much happier to be fighting by your side than knowing you're standing
alone on the sidelines. All she wants is the best for you and can't wait to see you
grow stronger. Isn't it the same for you?"
"Y-yes, I guess it is" the young woman nodded quietly, a thoughtful look on her
face. "I never thought about it that way, Souji-kun. Thank you."
"I'm just here to help," the male responded kindly as he returned his gaze to the
street. To help and make things right again, and make sure you're all happy before I
have to go home.
"Oh, dammit! He's coming!" Yosuke cried as he and Chie hid behind a tree,
concealing themselves from their mark. One of them had accidentally made a noise,
and as expected, the bleach-blond punk had heard it. Assuming that someone had
been spying on him, he'd started toward the noise. Meanwhile, Yosuke tried to form
a plan in his frantic mind, but Kanji was getting closer and closer to the pair, an angry
look on his face. In desperation, the brunette decided to do the one thing he was
absolutely certain the bleach-blond wouldn't deem suspicious.
"Yosuke, what are you dommmph?" Chie squeaked into Yosuke's lips as they met
hers, the kiss taking her completely off-guard. Luckily for him, instead of going for a
punch like the brunette expected, she returned the kiss with enthusiasm, wrapping
her arms around his shoulders and pulling him even closer.
"Damn, get a frickin' room, you two. Geez" Kanji's gruff voice jerked them out of
their thoughts as he watched the two with a faint blush of his own. Whatever anger
that had been building up was quickly lost and the blond walked away, sighing

loudly.
Hesitantly, Yosuke pulled himself away from Chie with a gasp, a hot blush creeping
into his cheeks. "Uh, I guess I should apologize, huh?" he said sheepishly, looking
away from her in embarrassment.
"...You didn't want to kiss me?" Chie asked, cupping Yosuke's cheek as she turned
the brunette's face back toward her own. The thought hurt, but she knew better. The
other had never been the most talented with words, but his intentions were good
not to mention it made him easy to tease.
"I... I-I didn't say-"
"Then shut up," interrupted the kung-fu artist as she pulled him into a nearby bush.
"Whoa!" Yosuke yelped as he disappeared after her into the foliage, only to have the
soft lips meet his once again.
"You're late," Souji said quietly, a small frown tugging at his lips. "What happ" he
paused, blinking owlishly as he leaned forward to get a better look at the male
brunette now standing in front of Yukiko and him. "Yosuke you have leaves in your
hair."
"Wha? Seriously?" Yosuke reached up quickly, running his fingers through the
brunette locks, cursing as he removed the offending leaves and twig that had gotten
stuck there. "Crap"
"Did something happen?" Yukiko asked, tilting her head as she glanced at Chie, only
to start giggling. "Chie! You're blushing. That's so cute."
"Wh-what? I'm not cute! I just" Chie's mouth moved silently as the words she tried
to say died in her throat.
"You both realize we're still on the job, right?" Souji asked with a smirk, looking from
Yosuke to Chie and back again. He didn't really mind that the two of them had
experienced an unexpected tender moment together. But as their friend, it was his
responsibility to tease them for it all the same.
"Geez, cut me some slack!" shouted Yosuke, glancing at Chie in desperation. "It's
not like we weren't tailing him! C'mon, Chie! Back me up here!"
"W-well, yeah, we were!" nodded Chie, who couldn't seem to look anyone in the eye.
"But He was almost onto us, and Yosuke had an idea" She kicked a pebble

lightly with her foot, holding her hands behind her back. "And then one thing lead to
another, and uh, well, s-sorry" she finished weakly, bowing meekly to Souji in
apology.
The silverette chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. "I swear, I don't know
what to expect from you two. One minute you're at each others' throats and the next
you're-"
"At each other's lips?" suggested Yukiko, holding in her laughter as Souji's grin
widened in response.
"That's mean!" squealed Chie, her cheeks flooding with a brilliant flush.
Yosuke only gaped at Yukiko, entirely lost for words - a rarity for someone who had
something to say about almost everything. It only took Souji and Yukiko losing their
composure and laughing out loud for him to find his voice again. "W-well, you're the
one who hugged a guy!"
Souji's laughter died, his gaze icy. "...We'll leave my personal choices out of this,
thank you very much."
"Ouch... Scary." Yosuke muttered, but still looked pleased with himself nonetheless.
"You haven't seen anything yet, partner."
The brunette took a step back, his face contorted with worry. "...Maybe we should
change 'partner' into something less suggestive?"
"Oh, stop being such a homophobe!" Chie exclaimed, smacking Yosuke on the back
of the head. "Geez, way to kill the mood"
Souji decided it was safest to return the conversation back to the business at hand
before even more violence began. "So does this mean... you didn't find out
anything?"
Guilt returned to Yosuke's face as he looked away from Souji, ashamed. "Not a
thing."
"Sorry" mumbled Chie sadly.
"Don't sweat it," said Souji, patting them both on the shoulder. "We can always try
again tomorrow; keep an eye on the Midnight Channel, just in case."
"Good idea," smiled Yosuke, relieved that his friend wasn't more upset with him.

"It isn't that bad," Yukiko said with a thoughtful smile, her eyes shining happily as she
gazed at Chie. "I don't think the day was really a total loss."
"I agree," Souji smirked as Yosuke's and Chie's faces flushed once more. "Now,
who's up for a snack? Personally, I'm hungry and that meat-stand over there smells
delicious."
Souji swore under his breath as he turned on his heel and walked briskly away from
the automatic lobby doors of Junes. The past hour had been spent with him walking
to and away from the door, trying to get inside and speak with the young sleuth he
knew would be waiting by the elevators. Alas, the only progress he'd managed to
make that morning was having left the house fully clothedthough even that had
taken three attempts. The first time he'd forgotten his pants, the second he'd
managed to not only forget his shoes, but his socks as well, and the third time he
managed to successfully trip over the threshold and fall face-first onto the hard
cement ground. Fortunately, Nanako had been kind enough to help him bandage his
chin, which was still quite sore. Needless to say, the day had not been going very
well for him, and it didn't appear as if it would be picking up any time soon.
The investigation squad had met briefly at Junes to speak with each other about
their "game plan" (as it had been dubbed by Yosuke), before branching out to gather
information on Kanji Tatsumi. His stealthy disappearance had still left Souji baffled at
the circumstances, but there was nothing else to do but pursue the leads he found
previously. Of course, for Souji, this meant that he had a decent amount of free time.
If information on Kanji was what Teddie needed, then the silverette could provide it
easily, even without sharing details that had been shared with him which were meant
to be kept secret. Still, he had to make it look like he'd spent time acquiring it, as
there were only so many lies he could tell before his friends were likely to get
suspicious. For now, he'd simply need to start with asking Naoto, just as he had
before.
As he approached the doors once more, he stopped and sighed as the familiar
'whoosh' of the motor activating filled his ears and a burst of warm air from inside
rushed out and over him. Groaning, Souji turned around, prepared to walk away yet
again, when the sound of someone clearing their throat loudly stopped him in his
tracks.
"...Might I inquire as to your reason for attempting to ruin the door's motor?" Naoto
asked as she stood in the doorway, a slender hand resting on her hip as she spoke.
"I'm quite certain the Junes staff won't be pleased if they are forced to replace the

mechanism because you couldn't make a choice between stepping in or out."

Laughing softly, Souji turned around and flashed the sleuth a faint smile. "It wasn't
intentional. Ah, actually, I was hoping I might speak with you, but I didn't want to
disturb you if you had other things to do."
Naoto raised a skeptical eyebrow, giving the other a calculating gaze from under the
rim of her cap. There was no questioning the fact that this man, whoever he was,
had known she would be here. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered to linger
outside the store for as long as he had. It didn't make sense, yet he didn't appear to
be threatening or dangerous by any means. Strange seemed a better word to
describe him, but the mystery that was his reasoning for doing all this had managed
to make the detective's curious enough to make her take a step forward.
"If you wish to speak with me, I suggest you step inside first. The lobby is empty, and
we're less likely to be overheard and I'm sure the doors aren't meant to stay open
this long."
Nodding, Souji followed her inside, preparing himself for the onslaught of questions
he was sure would follow. He'd already nearly compromised his entire situation with
the stunt he pulled in the textile shop. He couldn't afford to mess up this time. "Thank
you," he began, "I'll get right to the point, then. I wanted to speak to you about Kanji
Tatsumi."
"Kanji Tatsumi?" Naoto blinked, masking her surprise at the question. The action did
not go unnoticed by Souji, and he couldn't help but feel a faint rush of pride as he did
so. It had been so hard to surprise her before, but the faint, almost nonexistent,
hitching of her breathe gave her away. "And why would you come to me for
information such as that?"
"Well," he paused, thinking over the question carefully. "My friends and I are working
the murder case, you see A friend of ours lost someone very dear to him, and we
want to do what we can to see the killer brought to justice."
"I see, that's unfortunate." The raven-haired girl's slight discomfort was easy for
Souji to sense. He'd come to know her habits so well before. The slight shift of her
shoulders, the faint flutter of eyelashes, and attempt to stand a little taller. Offering
gentle sympathy on a social level had never been one of her strong points, not in the
beginning at the very least. "I'm sorry to hear that, but forgive me in saying this, I'm
finding it hard to believe that you're working on the murders. I've met the entire
investigation team myself, and I don't recall anyone mentioning that there were
others working on the case, let alone a group close to my own age." She frowned.

"Though I suppose even the police force can't keep track of all the 'free-lancers.' I
will ask again Why have you come to me? Why not ask your uncle, Souji Seta?"
Most of what Naoto had said was expected; distant and cold, calculating and
avoiding direct answers. Working her words in a way that would gather information
without offering too much of her own. Still, the last few sentences had thrown him off.
She'd hadn't known that information before, not this early, and the minor panic that
had come with her statement had managed to show itself on his face because she'd
spoken again before he could ask; "I don't often get hugged without warning by
complete strangers. It was easy to find information, you're a very distinctive
person."
"Ahaha, r-right," Souji forced a smile and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry
about that, I really am. I got a little over-excited."
"So it seems." Naoto replied, her tone dry, "If you'd please answer me"
"I know you do your homework, Naoto-kun," he began to explain. Beating around the
bush was never something the other liked. It frustrated her, and right now, it was only
best to give her what she wanted. It was his only chance of getting in. "Someone
with your skill and experience would naturally do the same. However, if I told you the
truth" he hesitated, biting his lip. "I'm fairly certain you wouldn't believe me." It
wasn't as if he believed that she would laugh at him, but he didn't want to be under
her infamous scorn.
"Is it not fair to offer new information in exchange for receiving it?"
"Heh, I guess so" Souji smiled nervously and slipped his hands into his pockets,
"Guess it's only fair I'll let you judge the information before agreeing to an
exchange."
"Oh?" The sceptical look melted off Naoto's face into one of curiosity. It wasn't often
that someone offered her something so easily; most people would attempt to 'butter
her up' beforehand. "I didn't expect you to be so willing. Why the sudden
generosity?"
"Why?" The silverette fell silent, looking outside as he wondered about the answer
himself. Without thinking, he answered with the first thing that came to his mind.
"I'm I've been given a chance to repeat the past."
"I'm sorry?" The detective's eyebrows knit together, unsure of what to think. This had
certainly been something she'd never been told before, but regardless of how it was
phrased; the irrationality of what Souji was claiming couldn't be missed. Gesturing to

one of the plush chairs in the lobby, she sat down in the one across from it. "I'm not
sure I understand."
"Ah, thank you," Souji murmured as he sat down, smiling in understanding. "It
sounds insane, I know. It's hard to explain, but I've been given a chance to change
my past. To fix to fix something that went horribly wrong. The reason I was so
compelled to hug you when we met then was well" he gulped, feeling a faint
heat rise in his cheeks. "We were, ah, close."
"Close," she repeated, trying to detect some sort of lie, hesitance, or anything that
might imply he was fooling her in his tone, but nothing was there. It made Naoto
uncomfortable. She had always had a talent for noticing lies, or at the very least
some sort of odd wording that would lead her to question further, but Souji's tone
was perfect. The only odd thing she could sense was how nervous he was. He was
just too honest and she couldn't figure out why she was starting to believe him.
"You've been given a chance to 'fix' something, Seta-san? You realise that you are
claiming time travel; something that goes against all modern science and falls into
the realms of fantastical impossibility."
"I know it sounds far-fetched," he began, desperate to cling onto the interest he'd
managed to gain from her. "If if you want proof, I can offer you information. More
information. Something that only you would know, something you'd only tell
someone that you have complete trust in."
"If you phrase it like that, it almost sounds as if you are stalking me."
"I well, yeah, I guess it does." Souji laughed, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off
as creepy."
"You're very calm for someone just accused of stalking," Naoto said, raising an
eyebrow. "Almost too calm."
"Why panic if I'm not guilty?" Souji asked, tilting his head. "Seems a bit silly to me."
The detective remained silent for a moment before she nodded. "Yes, I suppose so.
However, before you offer me this evidence, I do have a question that I expect to be
answered with complete honesty."
"Of course."
"Do you realise what it is you are getting into? Do you and your friends understand
the danger you are putting yourselves in by investigating this case? I understand
someone important to you was lost, but a murderer is not something that you may

simply chase after without risks."

"We're fully aware of the risks" Souji replied quietly, looking down at his hands
folded in his lap. Even a few that you won't know until later. "and we're prepared
for the consequences should something occur. Suffice to say that we're in a position
to be more effective than the police in certain circumstances."
Naoto's expression had turned sceptical once more as she listened to the silverette's
explanation. She couldn't decide if the other's words should be considered
impressive or cocky. On the surface, it sounded as if a group of teenagers had
gotten bored and started chasing after something much bigger than they could ever
understand, but the calm with which Souji held himself, the honesty he was offering
her without any hesitance it was strange. His eyes were as open and honest as
his words and he seemed to have no issue with answering every question she had.
There was nothing that came off as awkward or forced. There was no way that
someone would have been able to rehearse a story like this so well and not mess
up. Which only left truth, a nearly impossible to fathom truth. "I'm really not sure how
to take that statement, Seta-san. You don't appear to be the type who acts
irrationally, even with the impulsive stunt you pulled upon our first meeting."
"Ahaha, I admit, I did lose control then," Souji smiled and leaned back in his chair,
staring up at the ceiling. "I guess I was just so relieved to see you again, I didn't
think. You wouldn't believe how long my friends hounded me about it."
"Not many people would throw themselves at a stranger, even if they were their 'fan'
as you put it," Naoto said, allowing herself a faint smile of amusement that quickly
slipped away. "Regardless, I think we should get straight to the point. You said you
had evidence to back this rather unique story of yours."
"If you need more after that, I have something I could show you as well."
"Show me?" the sleuth raised an eyebrow, and then shook her head. "Not now,
perhaps later. I'd like to hear this other 'proof' you have first. Depending on that, I will
decide if something visual is required as well."
"Fair enough," Souji nodded and leaned forward in his chair, arms supporting himself
on his knees. "Some things that only someone close to you would know"
"If I may make a request? Just to ensure you have not gotten assistance."
"If you want."
"If you were close to me, you would know who I live with, correct?"

"Your grandfather and Yakushiji-san, yes."

Naoto blinked, stilling for a moment, but managed to fight down her surprise. Her
living arrangements had never been public knowledge, nor had anyone asked, but it
wasn't a fact that was impossible to figure out with a little investigation. The
Shirogane name was well-known, and her grandfather's name rather big. It would be
easy to find out about herself though that. "Yes, that's correct" her tone was quiet,
slightly put-off at how easily he'd answered her. "How close would you say you
were? Close enough that you could tell me something about myself that even they
wouldn't know?" It was the toughest challenge she could think of; she needed
something, anything to make this as hard as possible for this man.
"Well" the silverette began, trailing off as he tried to think of the best way to
answer. "Let's start with the simpler things first."
"As you wish."
"Alright," smiling faintly, he began to rattle off the small, seemingly meaningless, but
all around important facts that Naoto herself had once told him. "You like high
places, and used to play in trees and make bases in them. You also hate throwing
things away, especially if you have an emotional attachment to them." He paused,
allowing himself to enjoy the way Naoto's head turned to look at him as she shifted
her position in her chair. "When you were young, you preferred cars, robots, and
puzzles to the make-up and teddy bears that other girls liked to play withand
you're the same way now." He stopped again with a kind smile, waiting for the first
load to sink in.
"That's all very well, but also information easily obt" the rest of her sentence was
lost as the detective visibly tensed and sat up straighter. Her mouth moved
wordlessly, opening and closing as she tried to calm herself down, the 'other girls'
registering in her mind. That was a secret she'd made sure to keep particularly well
hidden. "How how do you know about that?" Anger welled up inside her chest, but
it was quickly pushed away by fear. What if he'd told someone? What if he would?
Would he use this as blackmail against her? "Who told you?"
"You told me," Souji sighed, "Before I was sent back to try all of this again. You
told me yourself." Granted, it was your Shadow and I wasn't supposed to find out
that way, but it's not a lie. Your Shadow is you after all. "And if it's not too out of line
to say, I'll tell you the same thing I said back then; I'm glad you're a girl. Even if you
were adamant in trying to prove there wasn't anything good about it the first time I
said so."

Eyes widening, Naoto wrapped her fingers tightly around the fabric of her pants in an
attempt to calm herself down. Her breath hitched slightly, her words catching in her
throat as something inside of her shifted. It was strange, but unmistakable; a warm,
gentle and comforting feeling that settled itself in her chest and made her cheeks
heat up, that disappeared almost as soon as it had come. "There is hardly anything
special about being female. If anything, it just holds me back from where I want to
go. Nothing is to be gained from it."
"That hasn't stopped you yet, has it?" the silver-haired male asked. "Even if you're
hiding your gender from the world right now, you're still carving out your own path in
spite of the barriers. You always have. Like with the 'Seven Tools of the Detective,'
and"
"A-again," the sleuth swallowed thickly and bite the inside of her cheek to keep from
panicking. Part of her wanted to run, she knew she should run, yet something,
something strange about the man sitting beside her was holding her down, keeping
her oddly calm in a way she never thought possible. "those items are obtainable
information."
"Not all of them are," Souji murmured quietly as he reached into his pocket and
pulled something out of his pocket. His hands gripped the item tightly for a moment,
before extending his hand and offering it. "Take a look at this; it's a replica of one of
those tools that you made me personally."
"Personally?" Naoto frowned and looked over the item. "I somehow doubt that, I
don't do custom work for" she trailed off, bringing the detective's badge closer to
her face. There was no mistaking her own handiwork, as she took great care to add
small details to ensure they couldn't be copied. She took pride in knowing that she
had a tool no one else had. Yet here this boy was, claiming the ridiculous, and
offering her proof that only she herself could have given him. Not even her
grandfather would have been able to make a copy this accurate. "But how?" she
flipped it open and looked at the back. "It's impossible. I haven't made a second
one. I"
Pausing, the detective noticed something odd about the back and reached into her
pocket, producing a pen which she turned over, pointing the non-writing end at the
badge. After pressing the switch, a black light turned on, shinning into the other
object and, much to her expectation, revealed a hidden message in a neat and
orderly hand-writing that she immediately recognized as her own. "Wh-what"
'Souji, I never used to believe in the meaning of the word 'love,' but I'm willing to start
trying againto find the true meaning of the wordsas long as it's you who shows

me how.'
Souji could only smile sadly as he felt his insides sink slightly while watching the
female across from him. Her entire demeanour had changed completely and he
couldn't tell if she was more terrified or shocked. Her hands were shaking, and for a
moment he was worried that she was going to drop both items in her hands until she
leaned back in her chair and shut her eyes. It wasn't surprising, really, it had been a
rather big blow to suddenly throw on someone, and part of him wondered if it had
been the right choice to make, but of all the people he knew, Naoto's logical mind-set
seemed the only one that could handle the shock. Still, he really wondered if he'd
made the best choice. "I know it's probably too much too soon, but you deserve
the whole truth. I won't hide anything from you, especially with what happened last
time." Not to mention you'd lose your respect for me. "I really don't want to mess
up again."
"It it is a little much, yes," Naoto said, exhaling slowly. Her mind was going spastic
in an attempt to keep up with everything she'd just learned. A faint throbbing had
started behind her eyes, making it difficult for her to concentrate, and speak. "And
now that you've told me all of this what exactly would you expect to come from it?
You claim you've been 'sent back,' however, you are a complete stranger to me now.
The words the words written on this badge" She hesitated, to call them false
seemed unfair, as it had been her at some point who had thought them, but the
concept of trying to make sense of that only made her head throb more.
"I'm not going to ask you to treat me like you did before," the silverette admitted with
a sigh. "That wouldn't be fair. It's true you don't know me now, and asking that we
resume something that you don't remember wouldn't be good for either of us, but I
would like to continue being your friend. Perhaps work more closely with you this
time. If we do that we may stand a better chance of finding the murderer this time."
For a while, Naoto didn't respond. Everything was still swirling violently in her mind
like a storm as it tried to properly place itself where it all needed to go. The badge in
her hand felt as it were pulsating warmth, a warmth she was both uncomfortable with
and calmed by. It didn't make sense. The emotions Souji was causing her were a
mess of contradictions and lacked any form of logic. Trying to figure it out had
proved impossible. So she stopped trying. "It seems I trusted you with my life in
the future, as it were, and I could only assume that the actions you took then would
be the same you would make regardless, even if you didn't know you'd be sent back.
Explaining it that way makes it sound even more confusing than it really is, but I'm
not sure there is a way to word it in a manner that would make sense regardless.
However, I think it is safe to assume that, having your past memories, you would try
even harder this time with efforts even more genuine, forgive my awkward

phrasing." There was a pause in which Souji held his breath as he waited for Naoto
to finish, and he nearly cheered when she did. "I can only believe that 'trusting
myself' is the correct choice."
If it was possible for Souji's smile to grow any wider, he was sure his face would
have split. His heart was fluttering happily in his chest as he took back the
detective's badge that was being offered to him and held it close to his chest,
nodding. "Thank you for giving me this chance. I promise I promise I won't let you
down."
Noticing the complete change in the male's attitude, Naoto couldn't help but wonder
just how close they had been in this "future" that Souji came from. The idea was still
seemed ridiculous, but even she could not deny what he had offered her. "I do have
a few conditions to this 'alliance' of ours," she murmured, fixing the other with a
serious look.
"Don't endanger ourselves and don't do anything that might get us in trouble with the
authorities, right?" Souji said with a weak chuckle.
"Well, yes" the detective allowed herself a small chuckled and nodded. "That goes
without saying, I would hope. But I would also like to be given full updates by you
during this case. I won't share anything said between us to the police, but that is
only as long as I am given your complete honestyor if there are crucial details that
could be used to find the culprit. Of course, your information will remain anonymous."
"Well, like I said," Souji said, rising to his feet, "there are certain things me friends
and I can do that the police can't. So in the interests of full disclosure, I think we had
better go to the electronics department."
"The electronics department?" Naoto repeated, standing up as well on reflex. "I don't
see how that would be of any importance."
"You will once we get there," the silverette assured. "As they say, 'seeing is
believing.' And you definitely have to see this to believe it."
When they reached the electronics department, Souji approached the TV used by
the investigation team almost daily and looked around. Thankfully, no one seemed to
be in need of televisions today, as the area was completely empty. Turning to Naoto,
the silverette offered a wide grin and pulled up the sleeves of his uniform, showing
the young female his arms. "Nothing up my sleeves, as you can see."
Raising her eyebrow, Naoto watched as Souji turned away from her and vaguely
wondered if she was supposed to be laughing. It didn't seem as if the other had just

made a joke, and asking seemed rude. Placing a hand on her hip she frowned and
adjusted her cap. "I'm still not sure why we are here. What could you need to show
me inwh-what!" Whatever she'd been planning to say was lost as, once again,
she was left speechless at the sight before her.
Souji Seta's head was inside the television.
"H-how what but" As Naoto struggled to regain proper use of speech, Souji
glanced about his surroundings. Sure enough, the soft pitter-patter of feet could
soon be heard and a bright-red bear approached him, grinning widely.
"Sensei!"
"Hello, Teddie," Souji greeted with a small nod. "Please don't bite me again. You
nearly made me bleed last time, you know."
The bear's smile melted away to be replaced by a small pout, followed by a huff.
"Aww, but you taste like chicken, sensei!" The glare he received in response was
enough to shut him up and he nodded, shuffling closer to where the silverette stood.
"So why are you here? Are the others with you? I can't smell them, but I smell
someone else. Who is it?"
"I want you to meet someone, come over here for a minuteand be careful. I might
have to shove you back if someone gets too close." Pulling himself out of the TV,
Souji bit back a laugh as he looked at Naoto who was staring at him as if he'd grown
an extra head. "Sorry, guess I should have given you a little warning."
"That would have been nice," she commented weakly, eyeing the large television
uneasily. "That is not a normal function. Nor does it seem like something that's
meant to be there."
"Not really, no" the silverette admitted. "It's hard to explain, really, but come
here. There's someone you need to meet."
"Meet? Someone lives in there? That's utterly"
"Whoa! Sensei brought a new friend! Do they taste like chicken, too? Or do they
taste more like takoyaki like Yosuke?"
"Yosukewait, what?" Souji's nose wrinkled in distaste as Naoto made a sound to
his left, leaning against one of the many shelves for support. Had the obvious
evidence not been there for her to see, the authorities would have been alerted
immediately and all her efforts would have been thrown into making sure this man

had gotten the doctors he needed. Part of her still wanted to, but at this point, it just
didn't seem worth it. She would have had to check herself in as well.
"This is insane" she murmured, pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her
eyes. "Utterly insane. This all must be some sort of elaborate trick. That's all that
makes sense, and yet" She opened her eyes and stared at the colourful bear-like
face staring back at her. "What is that, exactly? It doesn'thow can it speak? It's
clearly not a person nor animal, and yet Just how?"
"Well, he's a bear," Souji explained with a small smile. "He's sort of helping us out
with the investigations."
"A bear" Naoto repeated, shaking her head. "Of course, he's a bear. How... how
silly of me."
"Have you never seen a bear before?" Teddie asked, sounding confused, "Wow
What are they teaching cubs this days? Did he just wake up from hibernation,
Sensei?"
"Uh, well"
"I take back what I said before," Naoto muttered, removing her cap to run a hand
through her hair. "What you revealed to be before was much easier to comprehend
than this. I believe this goes above and beyond 'a little much.'"
"Is he okay?" the bear spoke up again, looking at Souji. "The look on his face is unbear-able."
"He'll be fine, Teddie. He's just taking in a lot of things at once right now. Anyway,
you needed to know about Kanji, right? I'll call the others later. What you need to
know is"
As she listened to Souji speak, Naoto couldn't help but feel as if she'd just been
tricked into agreeing to something she would have been much better off walking
away from. Time travel had been hard to comprehend, but suddenly she was dealing
with bears and televisions that were some form of bizarre portal to she didn't even
know what. When the silverette finally turned back to her, she replaced her cap and
crossed her arms, glaring softly. "You never needed that information on Kanji-kun,
did you?"
"Uh, well" Souji smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. "No, I
honestly, I didn't quite think this all the way through. I really did plan on asking you
and leaving it at that, but I dunno. I guess it all just slipped out? It's a really big

secret for me to keep and lying to everyone has been a challenge. When I saw you I
just I don't know. I've missed you."
Of all the excuses and explanations Naoto had expected, the one offered was not
one of them. Shaking her head, she stood up as straight as she could and crossed
her arms, fixing the other with what she could only hope was a firm look. "I can only
hope that you don't have plans for the next few hours. I've been extremely calm and
rational about all of this, which is quite the accomplishment considering. I don't plan
on reporting you to the authorities or the asylum but in exchange for that, I need
answers. I'm just I'm going to assume that, at some point, I learned of all of this
last time and, somehow, finding out this way is better for us both."
"Depends, really," Souji sighed. "I couldn't tell you. How you found out last time"
he paused and shook his head. "That's the one thing I won't really be able to explain.
Not fully. But you'll get that answer in due time."
Twisting her lips into a frown, Naoto merely nodded. One question remaining
unanswered was small when compared to the big picture. She had many more she
could have much preferred to have explained anyway. "Tea."
"Tea?" the silverette repeated, blinking in confusion before he smiled. "Oh, right
Junes has decent tea up in the food court. It isn't the best, but it'll work for our needs,
I think."
"Good to know," the detective replied curtly. "I'm thankful for how easy you seem to
be making this for me. However I've thought of one more condition to our
agreement."
"What is that?" Souji asked, not expecting the sudden request, though not at all
planning to deny it. He had dropped a rather large bomb today.
"Some warning before the next hug would be most appreciated."
Jaw dropping in shock, Souji could only follow after Naoto wordlessly as she started
back toward the elevators. A wide smile graced his lips as the call button was
pushed, and he couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright. I can agree to that."
"Heh," Naoto shook her head. "Well then, Seta-san" she gestured to the open
elevator. "I believe we have a lot to talk about."
"Dude, what's with you?" Yosuke asked, watching Souji as he ate his lunch on the
rooftop the following day at school.

"Huh?" Souji frowned and swallowed his mouthful of food. "What do you mean?"
"You're happy," Chie pipped up, leaning forward to peer at the silverette's face. "Like,
really, really happy. I don't think I've ever seen you this happy."
"Yeah, well I just had a good day yesterday, that's all."
"Good day?" Yukiko asked, titling her head. "Was the investigation that fun?"
"Who cares," Yosuke shrugged. "Have a few more of those good days, would ya?
We can definitely get used to you in this kind of mood, partner!"

Fear of Rejection
I owe you all yet another apology for being so late. The illness I mentioned in the last
chapter took a turn for the worse and it grew increasingly hard for me to preform
even basic functions. The only thing outside of schoolwork I was ever able to keep
up with was a tumblr account, but there are several readers who I was able to speak
with over Skype who would be able to confirm just how badly I sounded. It reached
the point where I was literally unable to speak without coughing and wheezing, and
two inhalers continue to assist my ability to breathe.
When this chapter was finished, it took me some time to get it BETA'd. I would like to
extent my thanks to MagnusRagnar for betaing this for me and sending it back so
quickly (as of uploading this, I got it back less than an hour ago.) Happily, my health
seems to be (finally) doing better. I pray that you all forgive me for taking so long in
uploading this and that it's length may help make up for it.
Chapter Twelve : Fear of Rejection
The smells from the grill wafting over to the table where Souji sat in the Junes food
court made his stomach growl desperately for attention, causing his face to twist into
a look of displeasure. If he hadn't received a call from Yosuke just shy of five minutes
ago alerting him that he and the others were on their way, he would have given and
bought one of tempting takoyaki lunch sets. It wasn't often that he actually required
snacks after school, but that morning he'd woken up late after a rather long
conversation with Naoto the night before, and he hadn't remembered to grab his
lunch. It was the third time that week he'd ended up staying awake until the early
hours of the morning speaking with the detective, but he'd be lying if he said he
didn't enjoy it. Regardless of the detective's current "business only" intentions, her
curious nature and endless supply of questions as she tried to understand as much
of the situation as he felt comfortable divulging about the murder case was very
entertaining. The late-night conversations had started to take their toll on his focus,
but it was nothing small naps during lectures couldn't solve. Studying was more than
enough to help him refresh his memory of the year's curriculum, and the satisfaction
he would hear in Naoto's tone when she was able to unearth an answer from him
was just too much to resist.
Leaning back in the white metallic chair, the silverette allowed his arms to dangle
over the rests as he closed his eyes, blocking out the amber glow of the afternoon
sun. A soft breeze had started to pick up, thankfully pushing the smell of the food
stalls away, and bringing a faint scent that smelled very much like the blooming

flowers of the trees down by the floodplain. As he allowed himself to relax, a soft
smile spread across his lips and he sank further back into his chair. It wasn't the
most comfortable of positions, but it was the short moments like this that he was able
to have completely to himself and, just for a moment, set aside all his current worries
that he valued the most. Somewhere to is left, he could hear a child pleading with his
mother for ice-cream while the mother tried to convince her son that it would spoil
supper. The conversation left him with a sorrowful sense of nostalgia; reminding him
of when he had just started to attend school and his parentsat least his mother
were around more and he hadn't yet started the game of human "hot potato" that
had become his life.
With a sigh, he and up and leaned against the flat surface of the table, trying to
make himself comfortable as he prepared for a short micro-nap. He estimated that
he still had a few minutes before the others arrived and something was better than
nothing. Just as he was starting to drift off, something soft and strangely moist poked
at his knee and he jumped violently, jerking back as he looked under the table.
"What the-!" A pair of black eyes met his and it took the silverette a few moments to
register the fuzzy face that came with them. "Oh Fox," he muttered softly, reaching
out to stroke the animal's head. It had been almost a week since he'd last gone to
visit the helpful animal, and he'd forgotten how soon after their meeting it had
decided to come and help them out. Smiling faintly, he pushed his chair back and
turned, patting his knee twice. For a moment, the fox merely stared at him blankly,
cocking his head as his ear twitched, before he seemed to understand what Souji
was offering. Crouching, the fox pushed off the ground with its back legs and landed
in the silverette's lap with ease.
"Yip!"
"Hello to you as well," Souji laughed, scratching behind the fox's ears. "It's been a
wh"
"What the hell is that!"
Both Souji and the fox's heads snapped in the direction of the noise, meeting the
surprised (and slightly horrified) face of Yosuke. The brunette was eyeing the fox as
if he weren't quite sure if it was real or not. Beside him, Chie watched with a look of
surprised awe, and Yukiko next to her had a faint gleam of excitement in her dark
eyes.
"This," the leader of the investigation squad began, pausing for dramatic flair, "is a
fox, Yosuke. They're a species of omnivorous mammals from the Canidae family.

You can tell from the long and narrow snout and his bushy tail."
In response to Souji's explanation, the fox raised its nose in the air and swished his
tail, showing both off as best he could.
"WhaI know that, smartass! I meant what the hell is it doing here?"
"He's sitting on my lap, obviously."
"Dude, I swear, you're such a"
"Aw, he's so cute He's the fox that hangs around near the shrine, isn't he? I know
that apron." Yukiko's soft coo cut the brunette off as she approached the chair Souji
sat on and offered her hand to the fox. The creature's moist nose poked at her open
palm, yipping softly before pressing its head under her hand in approval. "I think"
she continued, moving her hand down to the fox's back, "he wants to help us."
"Help?" Chie repeated, unsure if the raven was joking. "How can he?"
"Actually, that might be right," Souji said, looking down at the fox. "He did help that
old man, after all."
"Old man?" the martial artist repeated. "What old man?"
"Well" Leaning back in his chair, the silverette began explaining about his
encounter a week earlier with the fox at the shrine. When it reached the subject of
the leaves, he paused, unsure of how to continue. As someone who had seen and
felt their healing powers numerous times, they seemed very second hand
knowledge. It took a few minutes, but eventually he was able to come up with
something that made enough sense for the others to understand.
"That's great and all, but why do we have to pay him?" Yosuke groaned, "Talk about
a scam"
Next to Souji, the fox growled in response, flicking its tail in irritation. The silverhaired male laughed quietly and reached out, running his fingers over the fox's head
and scratching the base of its ears. "He's only charging to help fund the shrine," he
explained, earning a yip of confirmation from the animal in his lap. "Wouldn't you
want to take care of your home if it needed improvements, Yosuke?"
"I, well" the brunette hesitated, looking guilt-struck. His dark-caramel eyes lingered
on the mammal as he chewed the inside of his cheek, distraught. "Yeah, I guess
Fine, fine. Whatever. We'll pay him."

"Honestly, Yosuke It's better than going to that shop and carrying around all those
treats, isn't it? This way we have to carry less; we don't get as much attention."
"Oh" Yukiko blinked, turning to Chie. "I never thought about it that way, that's a
really good point."
"W-well, it just seemed to make sense," the martial artist said sheepishly,
scratching her cheek. "Anyway, shouldn't we go looking for Kanji-kun now? We have
enough information, right?"
Souji nodded in response, "Thanks to the information Naoto has given us."
"Wait, what?" Yosuke tore his gaze away from the fox he'd been holding a silent
staring with, "He's still talking to you?"
"I'm just as surprised as you are, honestly," the silverette kept his tone even as he
shrugged. The group still didn't know he'd told Naoto as much as he had. It was
better that way; it would become awkward otherwise and risk too much of a change
from the past he knew. Too much change would prove to be a problem; it might risk
more lives than they'd be able to save, or ultimately stop the remaining members of
the team that had yet to join from joining at all. "But without his willingness to forgive
and forget, we wouldn't be as far ahead as we are now."
"I guess," the brunette said with a small nod. "So he's not worried you might you
know again?"
Scowling, Souji glared half-heartedly at Yosuke, his tone growing cold, "It won't.
Happen. Again. Now drop it, partner."
"Ooooh, scary!" Yosuke grinned, leaning across the table. "Man, if looks could kill-"
"Oh, will you cut it out!" Chie scolded, smacking Yosuke upside the head lightly.
"Geez, you're like a little kid."
"Um, l-let's just go, okay?" Yukiko cut in, looking between the three of them uneasily.
"Please?"
Souji stood up in response and nodded, holding back a smirk. Yosuke wouldn't be
poking fun at him for much longer.
"Sensei!" Teddie cried joyfully, running forward to meet the investigation squad as
they entered the TV World, "Welcome back!"

"What, no welcome for us too?" Yosuke scoffed playfully. "Ouch, Ted. That hurts."
"Oh, don't worry, Yosuke. You'll get over it! Besides, Sensei's special! He has to
come first."
"Wha-!" the brunette pursed his lips and crossed his arms. "I still say that's a dumb-"
"Um, guys?" Yukiko cut in, "Shouldn't we look for Kanji-kun first?"
"Huh?" Teddie blinked and turned to Souji, curious. "Did you find out more clues
about Kanji-kun?"
The silverette nodded and relayed some of the more basic facts he'd come to learn
about Kanji over the 'previous' year. His words were chosen carefully, knowing too
much would appear strange, but knowing nothing at all would put Naoto's reliance
into question as well as his ownand perhaps earn a few jokes form Yosuke about
being "distracted."
"I see" the bear shifted his weight from foot to foot, carefully thinking over the
information he'd been provided. He turned around and lifted his face to the air,
sniffing every few seconds. His senses tingled as he began to move around, face
scrunched up in concentration. "I can smell something" he muttered, leaning to a
pathway on the far left. "Huh? But it smells kinda funny."
Not waiting for a response, Teddie took off down the path, the soft squeak of his
paws echoing through the fog. The investigation squad jumped, startled at the bear's
sudden movements before they took off after him, shouting for the other to slow
down and allow them a chance to catch up. The run itself was short, three different
turns and a quick passage through a small tunnel lead the team to a sight that
stopped them in their tracks, oblivious to the proud face of Teddie as he stood before
the wooden building.
"Tadaaa! Aren't I just bearific? My nose-"
"Wh-what the hell is this!" Yosuke yelped and took a step back, bumping into a very
amused Souji.
"It's so foggy in here," Chie gasped, moving toward the door to get a closer look.
"But it doesn't seem like the same fog as the rest of this world. It's way too
differentand why does it smell so musty?"
"My glasses are fogging up," Yukiko frowned as she took them off and rubbed the
lenses against the sleep of her sweater. "Even with the glasses it's difficult to see."

"It's hot in here too," Souji said casually, leaning over Yosuke's shoulder to peer at
the building's entrance. "Muggy too; it's almost like a-"
"Don't say it, dude," Yosuke groaned and buried his face in his hands. "Aw man, I
knew something was off when Chie said she smelled something. This is gonna suck.
Can I change my mind? I'll guard the entrance and"
"Hello there" The brunette was cut off as a disembodied voice suddenly boomed
from the inside the 'strange fog.' It was deep, rumbling, and smooth. "Why don't you
c'mere and join me, pussycat?"
"Oooh," another voice started in response; it was much higher than the other, but still
smooth, almost gentlemanly, "what well-defined pecs; you're a tough guy. You could
break me in half."
"Touch guy, huh? There's no need to be scared I won't hurt you."
Beside Souji, Yosuke had gone comically rigid, his face a ghastly shade of white.
"You've gotta be kidding me Why? Why? Why?"
"P-Pussycat?" Yukiko repeated, sounding shocked. "B-but I thought this was
supposed to be a sauna. Why would?"
"Don't ask," the martial artist beside her muttered, an odd look on her face. "I don't
think we wanna know."
"Is this because I made the jokes?" the headphone-clad male continued, oblivious to
his female friends. "Is it punishment? This world isn't making fun of me, is it? Look
dude, I'm sorry. I didn't think it'd come to this. Seriously. I'll be good. J-just don't
make me-"
"Now just relax"
Souji was forced to swallow his laughter as Yosuke took a step back, sliding on the
moist wooden floor. He hit the ground with a loud thump, making Chie and Yukiko
jump in shock.
"WhYosuke! What are you doing!"
"I don't want to go," he whimpered childishly, earning a glare from the martial
artists.
"Seriously? This again? UGH! You're acting like such a little kid! Get over it. We're

going."
"What? But I don'touch! Stop pulling me! Ow! Chie! That's skin, not jacket. OW!"
"W-well," Yukiko coughed and looked over her shoulder at Souji, surprised to see
the silverette grinning widely. "Um, Souji-kun? Is something wrong?"
"No, no," the male laughed, "Nothing at all. Come on, we'd better follow them. We'd
have a problem if those two got lost."
"Right!" the raven nodded a determined look on her face.
Behind the two teens, Teddie's facial expression remained baffled as he followed
them through the thick white steam into the sauna. "Sensei? What's wrong with
Yosuke? Why doesn't he like this 'saw-nuh' thing? And why does it smell so funny in
here? Was that voice Kanji-kun?"
Souji only snorted in response, his grin, if possible, growing wider. "Ask me again
after we rescue Kanji," he said, "and make sure Yosuke can hear us."
"So, you found Tatsumi-san in a bath-house?"
"Right."
"And you rescued him from that so-called 'world' inside the television?"
"Correct."
"Then, if I'm to summarise all you've explained to me thus-far; you're telling me that
someone is using this 'television-world' as the murder weapon?"
"Three for three."
"You realise this sounds utterly ridiculous. There's no possible way an argument
such as that would hold up in a courteven if you managed to convince someone to
believe you, surely you'd be either locked up or forced into some sort of
experimentation process. Few would be able to easily turn their gaze from the
possibilities of such a world; you'd never be left alone."
"There are a few reasons we haven't gone to the police about what we've found."
"...I would call you crazy, but it would seem pointless, the events of the past week
have done enough to silence my scepticism for the time being. Or perhaps I am

merely the one going crazy and this is all a bizarre dream."
"You're not going crazy, don't worry. You're probably the sanest out of everyone,
Naoto-kun."
"Is that so?" the sleuth chuckled and shook her head, taking a sip from the Junesbrand tea she'd ordered just shy of an hour ago. "I can only assume you'd be a close
second, then. Your focus and determination for this case are admirable, I must
admit."
"Oh?" Souji smirked, "Approval from the detective 'prince' directly? I'm flattered.
Maybe I should try solving mysteries in secret a little more often."
"Do be careful with your words, Seta-san," Naoto said, setting her drink down. "I do
still have enough authority to take you in for questioning. I'm only remaining silent
about your endeavours because they are producing results. Do not think I will stand
aside and let you run completely free."
Souji snorted in response and popped a small slice of steak into his mouth. "Damn,"
he sighed, his tone dejected," and I was just about to get somewhere with that
Moriarty guy, too. Guess I'll have to let him out of the basement..."
"You wh-what?" It appeared as if the young detective was at a complete loss for
words. Her eyes widened considerably and she nearly choked on the sip of tea she'd
just taken. Several seconds of complete silence passed between the two teens and,
for a moment, the silverette worried he had somehow offended her. However, much
to his own shock, and pleasure, Naoto's lips curved into a smile and soft, warm
laughter filled the empty air. It was perhaps one of the most genuine reactions he'd
ever seen from her, and it made his heart sore. "R-really now, Seta-san. You
shouldn't joke about such things. That'seven if it is amusingI" she trailed off
and shook her head, trying to calm the giggles that threatened to continue.
Souji couldn't help but smile back, the ache in his heart tempered by seeing the one
he loved so truly happy. "You should laugh more, you know. The change... it makes
you look all the more beautiful."
"U-um," Naoto coughed and averted her gaze, trying to ignore the heat rising in her
cheeks. "Seta-san, I thought we agreed we weren't going to place ourselves in
awkward situations pertaining to the, ah, 'past'?" She shifted in her seat, glancing at
the silver-haired male out of the corner of her eye. Despite her protests, she couldn't
help but feel pleased, but Souji didn't need to know that.
"Ahaha, right. I apologize." The silverette grinned, not looking apologetic in the

slightest.
"Mmhm," the sleuth tsk'd sceptically under his breath. "And why should I believe this
'apology' is heartfelt?"
"It isn't," he admitted, smile widening. "I don't regret saying it at all."
Naoto scoffed in response and hid a small smile behind her cup. "Then I suppose an
apology isn't truly necessary, is it?"
Souji blinked in response, looking surprised. He opened his mouth, pausing as he
tried to figure out how to respond. He hadn't expected that at all; the last time he'd
complimented her appearance he'd earned a small scoldingthough he had noticed
the faint sense of pride it had initiated in the detective.
"You're not like the others," she continued, "It's strange, but I don't sense the same
blind idolatry from you as I tend to receive from others who have attempted the
same form of stunt."
"'Attempted'?"
"Attempted, yes."
Souji laughed, "I'm glad I can stand out from the crowd positively, then."
"Oh?" Naoto inclined her head to the side, "You're not at all curious as to how I'm so
certain?"
"Well," the silverette rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish grin, "maybe just a
little."
"I thought so," the sleuth nodded in quiet triumph. "It was when we met in the textile
shop that confirms it."
"That that was"
"A genuine display of emotion" she cut him off, her cheeks mimicking the bright
red which had spread over Souji's. "It wasn't the instinctive reaction of a fan seeing
someone they idolise. It was... something much 'deeper' than that, if you'll excuse
the strange wording. At the time, I was much too shocked by the experience that I
wasn't able to see it immediately. However, in retrospect" she trailed off and
paused, looking down at the table.
Souji looked up in concern, surprised to see something else completely. Her

shoulders were just slightly hunched in an attempt to make herself look smaller,
while her left hand rose to the brim of her cap to pull it down, shielding her face, and
a faint divot in her cheek indicated that she was biting the inside half: she was
flustered. He hadn't seen it in so long, it took the silverette by such surprise, he
almost didn't notice her continue.
"In retrospect I can't help but wonder more and more if what you said before was
true. That is, if we knew each other much more intimately than I"
The silverette coughed awkwardly and licked his lips, suddenly aware of just how dry
his mouth was. "Maybe you shouldn't dwell so much on possibilities and just let
things go as they will?"
"Are you suggesting I should simply leave things in the hands of 'fate', Seta-san?
Surely you must realise that such a thing doesn't-"
"Or trust in your own fortune."
"Fortune?" Naoto repeated slowly. The word, while seemingly perfectly normal,
triggered something in the back of her mind. What it was she couldn't tell, but
something about it made her nod in agreement. "Mm I suppose you're correct.
Attempting to create a hypothesis out of nothing won't allow progress."
"I'm glad you agree," Souji said. "Now I think we should keep eating before our
steaks get too cold."
"Ah" Jumping slightly, the young detective reached out on reflex to touch the food
on her plate. "Not again"
With a small smile, the silverette chuckled and stood up, reaching for his plate,
"Should I get us some warmer steak?"
Shaking her head, the sleuth stood up and picked up both of the plates, slipping the
cold steaks onto one before stacking them. "No, you needn't do that," she said,
gesturing for the male to sit down again. "It's my treat this time, as thanks for the
thought-provoking conversation and a thoughtful birthday 'gift basket.'"
Souji blinked, lips parting in surprise before he chuckled and shook his head. "I was
wondering when you'd figure it out," he admitted. He hadn't expected the sleuth to
give the gifts much thought, let alone attempt to thank the sender; after all, the way
in which he'd sent them had been rather suspicious. A soft heat formed in his chest
and swirled around happily, filling his entire body with its warmth. "I'm surprised
you didn't throw them away," he admitted. "Or did you?"

"Throw them" the young detective frowned as she set her tea down firmly and met
the silverette's gaze with a small glare. "Antiques are not to be discarded rashly,
Seta-san."
"DVDs are hardly antiques, though. But I take it you didn't throw those away?"
"Yes, well" Naoto's cheeks darkened as she looked off to the side, avoiding the
male's gaze. "One is entitled to make their own choices, and Sherlock Holmes is not
to be tossed into the rubbish bin. It's an unwritten rule in the Shirogane house."
"Oh?" the silverette grinned, "Your Grampa's rule?"
"No. Mine."
"Point taken."
"I would hope so. I don't think this covers the debt I owe you. I'll be speaking to you
about that very thing quite soon... particularly how expensive it was Senpai."
"I" Souji trailed off as he felt his stomach plummet before leaping back up through
his chest and into his throat. If it hadn't been for the ending of the sleuth's sentence,
he would have made a joke about remembering her 'lectures' and how he'd always
try to follow them like a 'good boy.' His pulse suddenly raced as the young woman
before him seemed to choke on her tea once she'd realised what she had done.
"I-I apologise," she sputtered, trying to regain her breath. "I don't I don't know what
came over me. It slipped out."
"It's a nickname," Souji murmured, "I haven't heard it in a while; not directed at me
at least. The first-years in our group used to call me that."
"I see I suppose I will need to be more aware of my speech from now on," Naoto
said, biting the inside of her cheek. "You seem to bring out things in me that I
never knew existed up until now. I W-wait, no, rather That came out wrong, I-!"
"I understand, there's no need to explain."
"You" Naoto sighed, shaking her head. "You are infuriating, Sen Seta-san."
"Heh, I'm sorry."
"No, don't apologise. It it is the good kind of infuriating."
"Ah? I'll take that as a compliment then."

Picking up her tea, the sleuth allowed herself a small smile. "You should."
Yosuke sat atop the rooftop of the school, talking to Chie in a quiet tone while Souji
sat on the bench beside theirs, playing absently with his phone. Every few minutes,
one of the brunette's would smile or laugh and, unknown to them, earn a faint grin of
approval from the silverette. It never failed to impress him just how close the two had
managed to get so quickly. They still had their little argumentsas Souji would have
been more concerned had those disappeared completelybut for the most part,
they both seemed much happier; much more at ease than he remembered them
behind before.
"Ah," the silver-haired make stood up, looking toward the door of the roof which had
just opened. "She found him."
The three teens turned their gaze toward the entrance to the rooftop where Yukiko
had just stepped outside, closely followed be a nervous-looking Kanji who stilled at
the sight everyone, hesitating for just a moment before he continued after the raven.
No one spoke for several seconds and just as the silence was slowly becoming
awkward, the bleach-blond 'punk' raised a hand to rub the back of his neck
sheepishly, "Uh, h-hi there, it's, uh a pleasure t-to meet you, uh f-finally."
Beside Yosuke, Chie laughed, a grin forming on her face. "Ahaha, where'd the
manners come from?"
"W-well, I, uh" Kanji sputtered, panicking slightly. His eyes fell to the ground as he
chewed at his bottom lip, looking uncomfortable. For a moment, Souji thought he
was going to make a run for it, which seemed odd, Kanji hadn't been this nervous
before. He glanced at Yosuke and raised an eyebrow, wondering if the brunette's
sudden taste in 'strange jokes' was the reasoning. "I-I didn't know you guys were
my senpai. I guess I was pretty rude to you all before, huh?"
"Aw, come on, it's not a big deal, dude," Yosuke laughed, earning a look of surprise
from everyone else. "We were pretty much stalking you; Can't say I blame you much
for getting upset. I'd have been pretty peeved myself if a group of weirdoes was
following me around."
"Yeah" Chie added, looking embarrassed. "We were really bad about it, too. We
must have looked really creepy."
"I-I guess?" the blond blinked, looking surprised. "I mean, now that I know why it
doesn't seem so weird or whatever, but, uh A-anyway, I wanted to thank you guys.
For for savin' me; though I don't really remember what happened"

"As long as you're alright, that's what matters," Yukiko said with a small smile as she
took a seat next to Souji. "Would you mind if we asked you a few things though?"
"Uh, sure, go ahead." Kanji didn't move, unsure of where to take a seat or what
would happen if he tried. He kept glancing at Yosuke nervously out of the corner of
his eye, as if waiting for the headphone-clad teen to suddenly attack him.
"Great!" Chie smiled, "First off, who was that boy you met with?"
"Boy?" Kanji frowned, "What boy?"
"The short one with a blue hat," Yosuke provided, "Didn't you two go on a date or
something?"
Souji sighed as the first-year male jumped, a look of shock on his face. "W-what! A
date! Thatno! I-I really don't know much about him! I mean, I've only met him
twice"
"Well, yeah, we figured," the martial artist nodded, flashing Yosuke a disapproving
look. "But you two walked home from school together, right? What did you talk
about?"
"Uh, well" Kanji glanced around the group, unsure how what he had to say would
relate. "He just asked a bunch of weird questions like if anything had changed or if
something different happened recently. I don't really remember most of it My head
was somewhere else completely, when I came to my senses, I blurted out that I
wanted to see the guy again."
"Whoa, seriously?" Yosuke's jaw dropped as he stared at Kanji in shock, "To a guy?
Man, I was kidding about the date thing, I didn't think you two were seriously going to
start dat-"
"They're not!" Souji snapped at the same time Kanji said "We're not!"
"I I didn't really get it myself," the blond-male continued as Souji began flicking
small pebbles in Yosuke's direction. "I just I dunno. Girls are always so loud and
obnoxious, so y'know, I don't really like dealing with 'em. Guys are a lot more laidback."
"Hey!" Chie protested, pouting. "That's not fair"
"Wh-what? No! You two seem alright an' all, but Dammit. I don't know. I just I

started thinking What if I'm the type who never gets interested in girls?"
"Huh?" Yosuke's jaw dropped slightly, "You think you're g-" Before he could finish, a
particularly sharp pebble struck the brunette in the cheek, making his gasp in pain.
"Aw, come on! What the hell, dude? Stop hitting me with those!"
"Be quiet, Yosuke" the martial-artist beside him scolded. "Let Kanji-kun finish."
"Please, do" Souji muttered, picking up another rock just in case. "Kanji?"
"A-anyway," the ex-punk shifted his weight from foot to foot and shrugged. "I
couldn't really accept that, so I started getting all lost up in my head like I was
spinning around and around"
"That's understandable," the investigation leader said, nodding in understanding.
"Most would."
"At least I can understand the part about feeling more relaxed around dudes" the
brunette male murmured.
"No offense to you two, it's just a guy thing."
"I'm sure it is," Chie responded dryly. "I'll be sure to remember that the next time you
ask me to come over and help you 'relax.' I'm sure Yukiko would love a backrub."
"Iwhat? Backrub?" Yukiko repeated, looking confused. "What?"
"Don't worry, Yukiko," the brunette female snorted, enjoying the pout on Yosuke's
face. "I'm just making sure Yosuke behaves."
"Um?"
"In any case," Souji cleared his throat loudly. "How are you feeling now, Kanji?"
"Huh?" Kanji blinked, jumping as he was addressed unexpectedly before smiling
with a nod. "I'm fine now, thanks. When you get right down to it, I was the one
shutting all that stuff outit was all just a big mess in my head, ya know?"
The silverette nodded in response and flicked another pebble at Yosuke. The
brunette hadn't done anything yet, but the 'target practice' was just so much fun.
"Dude! Come on!"
"Shh," the squad leader grinned "Kanji is talking."

"Uh Well, our family's run a textile shop for generations Oh, but I guess you
already knew that. You've been around to visit before. My parents are kinda weird
They say stuff like, 'Dyes are one with the universe' and 'Cloth is alive!' I grew up
around that stuff, so I've been interested in sewing and stuff since I was a kid."
"Wow" Chie muttered, "You must be really good at handy-stuff then."
"I guess," Kanji shrugged. "Ma is better than I am, but still, the second I say stuff like
that, people start giving me funny looks. Girls make fun of me, the people in the
neighbourhood treat me like I'm some sort of crazed zoo animal I was so sick of
everything. I dunno, once I realised what I was doing, I saw I was running wild."
By now, the entire group was listening to Kanji with undivided attention. Yosuke's jaw
had gone unnaturally tight as he shifted in his seat, with a look somewhere between
discomfort and guilt; Chie was nodding slowly, a look of understanding on her face;
while Yukiko watched him with rapt attention and her hands folded neatly in her lap.
Souji's gaze, as it had been for most of their time on the roof, remained carefully
locked with Kanji's face. The blond blushed faintly and looked embarrassed as he
rubbed the back of his head, "Shit, what is with me today? I'm just blabbing about
myself. Uh, just forget everything I said, alright? Man I must look really lame right
now."
"Yeah," Souji nodded absently. "Just a little bit."
Jaws dropped collectively around the roof as everyone turned to their leader, the
answer completely unexpected. "I-I uh, w-well"
The silverette smiled as he stood up and walked over to the ex-punk and placed a
hand on his shoulder, "A joke," he explained quietly. "You're much cooler than you
give yourself credit for."
Kanji coughed in response and shrugged, a pale pink blush coating his cheeks. "Nnah, I doubt it." He shrugged again, earning a smile from Souji before the silverette
sat back down, gesturing for him to keep talking. "It's just I've never gotten a
chance to talk about this kinda stuff before, ya know? It's sort of refreshing to let
some of it out. I just never had anyone to tell it to before."
Souji nodded in understanding with Yosuke and Chie, while Yukiko looked up at the
other in guilt. She bit her lower lip and sighed softly as she tugged at the hem of her
sweater. "I'm sorry, Kanji-kun. We used to play so often as children I haven't been
there for you at all when you needed someone most. I hadn't realised how poor of a
friend I'd become."

The statement took the entire group by surprise. Beside her, Chie looked torn; the
urge to comfort her friend was strong, but she couldn't stop a faint sense of guilt
what if she was the one who pulled Yukiko's attention away from him? Yosuke was
oddly quiet, looking at the inn-keeper without knowing what to say. The silence was
awkward, making them all uncomfortable and tense. Just as Souji was about to open
his mouth, Kanji stepped forward and sat beside the dark-haired female with a smile.
"Don't worry about it, Yukiko-senpai," he said, patting the girl's shoulder lightly. "It's
fine; I pulled away myself; started getting' all rough and stuff. It wasn't your fault. I
should have been more level-headed about everything."
"But, Kanji-kun" Yukiko began, but she was cut off before she could finish.
"Forget it; we're talkin' now, ain't we? No need to get so upset over the past."
"Wow," Chie muttered, looking at the blond in awe. "Kanji-kun, I have no idea you
were so mature."
If possible, Kanji's face turned redder than the sweater of the girl beside him. He
opened his mouth, lips moving wordlessly as he tried to come up with a response,
but only managed an embarrassed cough. Yukiko's eyes sparkled softly in delight as
she laughed and patted Kanji's knee. "She's right you know, you're very mature,
Kanji-kun."
"I'm notdammit, why are we even talking about this?"
"It's fun watching you turn funny colours." Souji grinned beside Kanji, "You make it
too easy."
"Shut up," the blond grumbled, rubbing the bottom of his nose sheepishly. "Aanyway, like I was sayin', sorry for rambling earlier. I just I dunno. I never knew
how to talk to people. I thought I was terrified of girls, but I guess, most than
anything, I was scared of being rejected by everyone. But I guess that's all behind
me now, huh?"
"Aw, how cute," Chie grinned. "You're such a good kid."
"Wh-what? Don't say shit like that!"
"Aw, come on" Yosuke chuckled and leaned forward to get a better look at the
'punk.' "You're a big man, you can take it."
The laughter that followed after made Kanji's cheeks go red, but he appeared to be
adjusting to the group's jests quickly. Soon, the group was sitting in the food court of

Junes, explaining the situation of the murders and how things worked to Kanji. He
nodded quietly with each explanation and leaned forward, resting his arms in his lap
as he processed what was going on. A strange look crossed his features when the
subject of the television being used for murders came up, and Souji nearly choked
on his juice when the blond asked if it was being used to 'beat people to death,' but
aside from that, things went rather smoothly, and everyone was grateful for it.
By the time they finished, the hour was growing late and most of the popular of Inaba
was making their way home. Once they reached the entrance of Junes, the
investigation squad bid each other farewell and went off on their separate ways. Just
as Souji was about to head down his own road, Kanji's voice called out from behind
him, "H-hey! Wait up! Uh, Senpai!"
The silverette stopped and turned around, waiting for Kanji to catch up. The taller
male paused, taking a moment to catch his breath from his sudden sprint before he
straightened, looking awkward as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, sorry for
calling you out like that, Senpaican I call you that? Senpai?"
"It's fine," Souji nodded, "How can I help?"
"I was just wonderin' if we could talk for a bit while we're walking. I won't take up too
much of your time. There's just somethin' bothering me and I thought you'd be the
best guy to go to. You've got such a firm head on your shoulders."
The squad-leader raised his eyebrow at the comment but shrugged lightly and
nodded, gesturing for Kanji to walk with him. This was certainly something new; he
hadn't expected Kanji to ask to walk with him at all. His memories had always served
him well, and he couldn't remember a time when the other had approached himnot
until they'd started talking more frequently and grown closer to one another. Even
still, it had taken the silverette almost a full month before the blond had gained the
courage to approach him instead. "Well, uh Man, this is gonna sound so lame; I'm
just whinin' like a little kid"
"We won't know that until you tell me what the problem is," Souji teased lightly. "You
don't have to worry about things like that; I don't judge. Much."
It took Kanji a few moments to realise the older male was joking with him, but the
laugh that followed was much more relaxed than Souji had originally hoped for. The
blond shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets as started walking
together. When they reached the first fork in the road, the silverette was surprised to
see the ex-punk turn right instead of leftthat lead toward the Flood Plain. His
curiosity spiked, but he remained quiet, waiting for Kanji to speak first.

It wasn't until they reached the river that he finally did.

"Uh" Kanji began, kicking at the dirt with the toe of his shoe. "So I guess we're
on the same team now, huh?"
"We are," Souji nodded. "We're all happy to have you."
"I guess."
Souji's head inclined to the side in a questioning gesture, it was easy to see the
blond was troubled, but prying was just more likely to silence him. Instead, he
waited, observing the other carefully.
"A-are you sure it's like okay for me to be helpin' out? I mean I dunno. I don't
want anyone all freaked out. I really don't want face that again. Don't get me wrong!
You're all really cool and all, just"
The squad-leader blinked, "Just?"
"You know," Kanji shrugged lightly and looked toward the water. "What Yosukesenpai said and all. I dunno if he really wants me around."
"Yosuke?" Surprise flashed across Souji's face before a sudden understanding
settled in his eyes. It wasn't surprising to see how uncomfortable the other was; even
he'd been surprised by Yosuke's new choice of words at Junes, despite their likely
teasing intent. "Ah"
"As long as he doesn't try to kiss me or give random hugs to guys like SOMEONE
we knowOW! CHIE!"
"I was just wondering if if maybe that kind of thing was wrong or something. I don't
really care if it's guys or girls, but what if I do like dudes? I dunno if I do, never really
had a chance to like much of anyone, but I"
"There's nothing wrong with it," the silverette assured the younger male quickly.
"Nothing at all. It's just a very sensitive subject, I think."
"Sensitive?"
Souji nodded, "I don't think he's trying to attack you, he's just awkward about it,
and Yosuke seems to try and bring laughter into a situation where there is discomfort
or awkwardness to avoid making it even more-so. He's just sensitive."
"Tch," Kanji snorted, "Yeah, tell me about it. Guess I can understand that a bit, at

least. You get all these ideas in your head when you're young, and then shit happens
and it all makes you wonder, ya know?"
The silver-haired male nodded with a faint smile, "Don't let it get to you. I'll talk to
Yosuke and see if I can get him to calm down; he gives me the same jokes."
"He gives you the same huh? Senpai, are you"
This time it was Souji's turn to snort, "I'm not, but I don't see anything wrong with it
either way. We love who we love; you can't judge someone based on who their heart
desires."
"Whoa," Kanji stared up at the silverette in aw, "That's that's kinda deep."
"Aha, no, not really," Souji stood up and stretched, watching as two fish darted
around in the clear water after one another. "Are you feeling any better then?"
The blond looked thoughtful for a moment then stood up as well, nodding. "Yeah,
guess I am. Thanks for listening to me, Senpai."
"No problem, don't ever hesitate to come to me if you need help."
"I'll remember that."
With the mood lightened considerably, the two left the Flood Plain and started toward
the Central Shopping District. Their conversation was much lighter than before,
keeping on vague subjects that didn't require much thought to them. Overall, it was
comfortable than before, and Kanji seemed to have fallen into a much more eased
stance. They reached Tatsumi Textiles fairly quickly and bid each other farewell, but
just as Kanji was about to walk inside, Souji called out, stopping him.
"Somethin' up?"
"No, not really," the older male shrugged lightly. "Just wanted to know if I'd be seeing
you at school tomorrow."
The ex-punk stared at the silver-haired male in awe, his jaw dropping slightly. After a
few minutes, he managed to compose himself and grinned, giving the other the
thumbs up. "Yeah, you can count on it. See ya tomorrow, Senpai."
By the time Souji had made it back to the Dojima household, he was slowly adjusting
to the ever-growing confidence he had for the situation he was in. Thusfar, it seemed

as if this year was going even better than the last, and he was sure it would continue
to do so. He was still concerned with some of the rather unusual changes with
Yosuke, but he was confident that they'd pass in timeafter all, the brunette had
proved to be the most loyal friend he could have ever hoped for. He wasn't the type
to enjoy causing others pain; he'd more than likely listen to Souji if he asked.
"Welcome home, big bro," Nanako smiled faintly from her place in front of the
television. "You're home late today."
"I know, I'm sorry" he walked over to his usual cushion and sat down, glancing
briefly at the cartoon that was currently playing. "Is Uncle Dojima going to be late
again?"
The young brunette hesitated, a sad look filling her normally bright eyes before she
nodded slowly, "Yeah He said that he had to help out one of the newer officers
with something. He said he was really sorry."
"I see" Souji sighed and brought his chin to rest in the palm of his hand. No matter
how many times it happened, the depressed aura that surrounded Nanako whenever
her father wouldn't be home affected him just as badly as it had the first time. He
turned his neck, looking toward the kitchen with a calculating gaze. "Why don't we
make dinner together then? We'll make a lot and keep it warm until he gets home.
I'm sure your dad wouldn't mind you staying up late for just one night. I'll take the
blame if he gets upset."
"Huh?" Nanako's eyes widened as she pressed her hands against the surface of the
table and leaned forward, eager. "R-really?"
"Sure," the silver-haired male grinned. "Why not? It'll be fun."
The brunette girl beamed and leapt to her feet, running around the table to tug on
older boy's arm. "Let's do it! Let's do it! Oooh, can we make omelettes? O-oh! And
croquettes! And Yakisoba and"
Smiling, Souji followed his cousin into the kitchen, silently listening off all the
ingredients they would need to make the dishes she was naming. "Guess this
means we'll have to run out to Junes, huh?"
"Junes! W-we can go to Junes?"
The silverette chuckled lightly and nodded. "We're going to have to; we don't want to
miss anything for this banquette of ours, after all."

"Yay! Everyday's great at your Junes!"

To Strengthen One's Bonds

I am happy to report... I'm not dead! Unfortunately, the doctors still don't know what
on earth is wrong with me, but happily, it's slowly getting better. The current best
guess is that I was suffering from a fairly severe pulmonary infection that's slowly
starting to fade away. Happily, I can finally function again without suddenly feeling as
if I'm going to fall over at any given moment. So that's nice. School is still very
stressful since I have to struggle to make up for the semester in which I was
suffering from what I often call "the plague" in a feeble attempt to make myself feel
better about the entire issue.
Regardless, I'm finally starting to get better. That is the moral of this story. I offer my
sincerest apologies once again for all the delays in updates. I'm trying as hard as I
am able to balance this, schoolwork, and using tumblr. I'm still roleplaying Naoto
Shirogane on tumblr (still the same name as this account), which is why I've been so
distracted from this story-it's worked as a wonderful stress relief for me while being
sick and I'm more than thankful for all the people I've met there and been able to
roleplay with. I can almost always be contacted through there, and if anyone else
roleplays Persona 4, I'd be more than happy to try and roleplay with you. It helps me
keep the proper mindset.
Many thanks to Fiyerna and Chizuo for betaing this for me. It's helped a lot.
Chapter Thirteen: To Strengthen One's Bonds
As the final bell rang, Souji sighed and leaned back in his seat, staring up at the
ceiling. School days were, at best, slowly growing more tedious. He had always
been the studious type, and it had served him well the first time he'd lived in Inaba,
but now that he was living through the year a second time and he was able to easily
remember most of the topics covered. Learning them again, exactly as they had
been before, was boring. When it came to school, there was only so much the silverhaired teen could change without coming off as the class-clown or earning the
reputation of a cocky know-it-all. Granted, the knowledge provided him with the
chance to have a little 'fun' every few days as he had in the beginning of the year,
doing it too often would only backfire on him.
Maybe I should skip once in a while, he thought absently. I'm sure Ai would enjoy
hearing that if she still remembered when she used to drag me off. She told me I
was too stiff... It might be nice to get back to the city once in a while. As tempting as
the idea was, Souji was unsure if pulling through with it would be safe. If he did it too
often, he'd be caught. But there was also the risk of running into someone he knew

outside of Yasogami while he was out, the least appealing of them all being his
uncle, Adachi, or Naoto. While he prided himself for being good with words, Souji
was doubtful he would have been able to save himself from the situation easilyif at
all.
"Souji-kun?" The silverette craned his neck to look in the direction of the voice that
called him, regarding Yukiko with a questioning look. The raven stood a few feet
behind him, a hesitant look on her face as she shifted her weight from one foot to the
other, hands clasped behind her back.
"Yukiko?" he straightened himself and turned around in his char. "Do you need
something?"
Yukiko's expression changed, a shy smile crossing her lips as she nodded and
stepped forward, sitting down in Chie's seat. Her eyes briefly lingered on the top of
the desk, a distant look dancing in her dark irises before she turned to Souji again
and allowed her smile to become a little more natural. "I was wondering if you could
help me with something again. I found a recipe I wanted to try in one of the
cookbooks at the inn, but it had a few variations and I wasn't sure which ingredients
would be best for it."
"Ingredients?" Souji repeated, "Do you have the recipe with you?"
"I do, but..." the inn-keeper hesitated for a second time and looked at her lap,
wringing her fingers together. "I was... hoping we'd be able to go to Junes together. I
don't have to help out at the inn today, and it'd be nice to have somewhere to go
instead of straight home for onceunless you're busy, of course. Then..."
"I'm not busy," the silver-haired male cut Yukiko off. "I don't have anything to do until
later tonight."
"Are you sure?" Yukiko asked in a concerned tone. "I'd hate to cut into your
homework time."
"We don't have very much today," Souji said with a light shrug. "It's no trouble
besides, we might see Yosuke. I haven't tormented at him at work for a few days. I'm
low on my quota."
The raven inn-keeper laughed softly and smiled. "I'm almost jealous," she admitted.
"You and Yosuke seem to get along so well. He doesn't normally take to teasing very
well, but you two joke together so oftenit's like you've been friends for years."
"We're not that special," the male said with a small laugh. "I guess we just 'hit it off.'

Wasn't it the same for you? Yosuke and I can't be much different than you and Chie.
If anything, you two have to be closer because you've been friends for so long."
The effect of the words was almost immediate; Yukiko's shoulders slumped as her
eyes became distant and she forced a weak smile. Just as quickly as the look had
appeared, however, it disappeared as she began to speak, "Yeah... I suppose so."
Despite her efforts to hide it, the shift in demeanour didn't go unnoticed by Souji. Just
as the silverette opened his mouth to speak, a figure brushed past him and stopped
beside Yukiko, placing a hand on the young woman's shoulder. "Hey, Yukiko! There
you are. I'm glad I caught you."
"H-huh? Chie?" Yukiko stiffened as she looked up at her brunette friend, shock
melting onto her features. "What are you still doing here? I thought you had plans
with Yosuke today." To most, it likely sounded very normal, but there was something
off in the way she said Yosuke's name. It was subtle, very subtle, so much so that
the male of the small group barely caught it, yet the feeling of something almost
resentful was there. He didn't like it at all. As far as he'd noticed, the 'new year' had
been going so well, if conflict started now, he wouldn't know what to do.
"We were supposed to," Chie sighed in response, leaning against the desk Yukiko
sat at. "The idiot got himself in trouble; he's got detention."
"...detention?" Souji repeated, shaking his head in disapproval. "What did he do this
time?"
"King Moron caught him when he was sleeping earlier today. He sprinted down the
hallway to catch me and Yosuke before we could leave. It was kinda scary... I didn't
know he could move that quickly." There was a pregnant pause as a shiver ran down
the spines of all three teens. "Anyway, he's got dragged off to the teacher's offices to
serve his punishment or something... it bites."
Beside Chie, Yukiko shared Souji's displeased sigh. "Not again... He really should go
to sleep sooner so this doesn't keep happening."
"No kidding," the brunette martial-artist agreed. "So, um..."
"Um...?"
"Would you guys... mind if I tagged along? I heard you talking about Junes on my
way back up to grab something from my deskand I really need to pick a few things
up anywayso..."

"I think that's a good idea," Souji said with a soft smile. "I wouldn't mind. What do you
think, Yukiko?"
Yukiko's posture straightened as she looked up at her friend with a wide smile, "I
don't mind at all," her tone sounded happier as well. It calmed Souji's nerves greatly.
"Maybe we can cook something together? The camping trip is coming up soon! We
should start practising."
"Oh man... that's right!" Chie grinned, "I almost forgot about that. We have to make
our own food for that."
In the back of his mind, Souji was almost positive he heard several of his Personae
let out a pained whimper at the mere idea of facing 'Mystery Food X' again. Of all the
memories he'd gained back, that was one of the few he'd have been happier to face
the year without.
"Oooh... Chie, come over here. Look at these vegetables; they're so colourful and
fresh."
Souji watched quietly from behind as Yukiko beckoned her friend across the small
produce section. While he was glad that the raven's mood seem to have increased
dramatically since Chie had been welcomed to their small Junes trip, each time one
of the girls picked something up, he couldn't hold back a small wince. The less-thanhappy memories of the so-called 'lunch' the girls had made before was as fresh in
his mind as it had been the day it was placed in front of him. His bravery was
something that the silver-haired male had always taken pride in, but the valour was
quickly being diminished by the ghost-like taste memory that lingered on his tongue.
Every few minutes, he would attempt to cut into the females conversation by
suggesting the simplest meals he could think of in the vain hope that one of them
might not turn out as disastrous as before, but each one was turned down.
According to Yukiko's claim, the two of them wanted to make something 'special'
since Soujihe noted an odd lack of Yosuke in that statementhad been so kind
and helpful to them all this time. Unfortunately for him, his assurances that he didn't
require anything special or elegant were also ignored.
"What about curry?" Chie suggested, glancing at Yukiko as she reached for a
cucumber, oblivious to the horrified grimace Souji made behind her. "I know Yosuke
really likes that, and it wouldn't be too complicated to make, right?"
"Ihuh?" Yukiko jumped at the question and dropped the package of eggs that
she'd been holding, causing several of them to pop out of the foam container and

crack on the floor, just barely missing the inn-keeper's shoes.

"Whoa! Yukiko, are you okay?"
The dark-haired women gasped sharply as she stared at the newly created mess
and bit her lower lip, kneeling down to pick up the fallen egg-carrier. "Oh, I... Um,
yes. I'm sorry. I've been so klutzy lately, I don't know what's gotten into me."
"If... you say so." Chie frowned as she glanced over her shoulder at Souji, who was
watching the raven with a frown of his own. Even if what she had said was the truth,
there was just something... off. It didn't seem right. "So, uh... about the lunch?"
"Oh!" Yukiko laughed awkwardly and nodded, giving Chie a forced smile. "Right,
what were you suggesting before?"
"Curry," the brunette female repeated. "It shouldn't be too hard to make and Yosuke-"
"I don't want to make something for him!" Yukiko shouted as she threw the eggs
she'd just picked up back to the ground.
The sudden explosion from the young woman made both Souji and Chie jump
violently. Souji winced and took a half-step forward, worried what was going to follow
after. Yukiko, as kind and gentle as she was, had shown on several occasions that
her temper could become violent when it appeared as suddenly as it had moments
ago. Beside her, Chie had reeled backward in surprise.
"Y-Yukiko? Whath-hey! Wait a second!" Before the martial-artist could finish,
Yukiko had already turned on her heel and sprinted for the stairs. For several
seconds, Chie remained perfectly still, petrified with shock and fear. It wasn't until a
hand clasped her shoulder gently that she was violently pulled from her daze. "Hhuh!"
"Go on," Souji urged quietly, his tone unusually serious. "I'll take care of the mess,
you go after her. She likely needs you much more than she'd need me right now."
"...Right," Chie nodded, flashing the silverette a grateful look. "Thanks, Souji-kun."
As he watched the brunette female sprint after her friend, Souji couldn't help but feel
a small tug of guilt as he thought the situation over. Yosuke and Chie had gotten
together because of the his prodding he had given them; he'd only meant to help.
The previous year had been spent watching them dance around each other so often
it drove him near-mad, especially when nothing had seemed to come of it, but this...
this had been far from expected. Yukiko wasn't supposed to have suffered from this

no one was.
Sighing, Souji silently hoped for the best as he retrieved the cart Yukiko had been
pushing earlier and located an employee to tell them about the mess before he
made his way downstairs to the check-out.
"I'm sorry, Chie..." Souji heard Yukiko's voice floating through the lobby as he
stepped off the elevator, freshly paid-for bags in hand. "I've been acting so childish
lately... I really should be happy for you two." The silver-eyed male paused, stepping
to the side as he allowed the small crowd behind him to exit the lift before he
glanced to the western side of the lobby. It looked like Chie had been able to keep
Yukiko from leaving after all.
"No, Yukiko, that's..." Chie struggled to form the right words as she kicked the
linoleum floor with the toe of her showa habit Souji learned long ago the martialartist would compulsively repeat when nervous. "You don't have to apologise. I
mean, I'm the one who needs to get her act together. I... I didn't even notice that I'd
been blowing you off this while time. I justugh! I feel so... stupid! And after all
we've been through these past few weeks inside that other world... I haven't held up
my end of things at all. A-after everything I said after facing myself... and after you
faced yours... I'm... so sorry, Yukiko."
"Chie..." the raven-haired inn-keeper stepped forward and placed a hand on her
friend's shoulder, a soft, but genuine smile gracing her lips. "Please don't apologise. I
shouldn't have acted the way I did. I should have gone to you about it sooner. I was
just... worried that you'd think I was being overly jealous or end up pulling you away
from Yosuke completely and justo-oh! Souji-kun, I didn't see you there."
Gasping softly, Chie turned abruptly and stared at at Souji with wide eyes, a look of
shame crossing her features. "Souji-kun..." She winced with a sigh and looked off to
the side, "Ahaha... How long have you been listening to us?"
"Not very..." he admitted with a light shrug. "I just got off the elevator and found you
two. I'm glad you managed to catch each other."
"Yeah..." the brunette martial-artist sighed and turned to Yukiko again. She opened
her mouth to speak, but no words would form and she shut it again, looking to the
floor once more.
"Hey," Souji began softly, shifting his gaze between the two girls, "if there's anything I
could do to help..."

"Um, well, actually," Yukiko began tentatively, glancing at Chie who was pointedly
avoiding the raven's eyes. "As much as we appreciate the offer, Souji-kun, I think
this is something the two of us should talk over on our own." Beside her, the brownhaired female looked up in surprise, relief melting onto her features shortly after.
"Oh?" Souji felt himself smiling as he replied "I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure it'll all go
well then." Relief poured through the silverette as he offered Yukiko the plastic bags
of food. There had been a number of times in which he'd feared his presence was
bad for those around him. It wasn't that he was particularly confident with himself or
that he believed he was better than anyone by any means, but the levels to which
the others appeared to rely on him was alarming at times. It calmed him to know
their bonds with each other were growing just as deep.
Yukiko took the offered bags with a confused expression and peered inside, a look of
shock following shortly after. "Oh! Souji-kun, you didn't have to pay for thesehere,
let me get my wallet and..."
"There's no need for that," the silver-eyed male said with a wave of his hand. "As
long as you two promise to talk and work things out, consider that thanks enough. I
look forward to what the two of you put together for the camping trip."
"Souji-kun..." Chie looked up, guilt crossing her features. "Wait, that's not really not-"
"Forget it," Souji said with a firmer voice. "I already paid for it, after all. Besides, you
can always get more if you're that worried about it. Maybe you could practice with
that."
"Thank you," Yukiko smiled softly. "You really are a kind person, Souji-kun. That
girl... she's a lucky one."
"Huh?" the martial-artist blinked and turned to her raven friend, curious. "What girl?"
"Oh, um... just a friend of his he mentioned before. I'm sorry, Chie. It's nothing. Why
don't we go to the inn for now? We can talk in my room and I'll make us tea."
"...Whreally?" Immediately, the brunette's face brightened. "Oh! Can you make that
really good fruity-stuff you made the last time I came over?"
"Ahaha, of course. We still have the leaves. I saved them special just for your visits."
"Woohoo! Yukiko, you're the greatest...!"
Shaking his head as he watched the two females walk off, the silverette smiled and

made his way toward the doors himself. He needed to hurry if he wanted to make it
to work early today; he planned to go in early and depart a few hours before his
usual. He still had to prepare "emergency provisions" for the trip.
Dragging his sleeve across his forehead, Souji grabbed the bottle of cleaner fluid
sitting on the cleaning cart he left sitting in the middle of the floor and started toward
the windows. Just as he began to spray the second of the two glass panels, an eerie
creek sounded from somewhere behind him and he paused, worried for a moment
that someone had entered the ward. His gaze was only met with the empty room
and the male found himself shaking his head with a small smile. The first time he
came to work there, the various noises and creaks he heard in the hospital had been
enough to send chills down his spine and make the poker-face he prided himself on
fall long enough to earn a gasp, or even a strangled gulp. Yet, hearing them again, it
was almost nostalgic in a humorous way. Why he found them to be so frightening
before was a mystery, but when compared to the Shadows found in the TV World,
the noises seemed completely moot in comparison.
"Except for maybe Naoto," he mused to himself with a small laugh. There is nothing
in this world more terrifying than her when she's angry... Fortunately for him, the
silverette had only seem the sleuth's full-blown anger once when they were alone,
just once, and it hadn't been directed at him. This was a fact he was very grateful for,
as there was a point five minutes into the sleuth's rage that he'd started to fear for
the safety of himself and the room around them once Naoto had taken to pointing
her revolver at random objects in an attempt to calm herself down.
The silverette continued moving through the room diligently, switching off the
cleaners as required until he finished and tossed his rag back onto the cart with a
satisfied sigh, realizing he finished the last room for the day. A quick glance at the
clock told him it was just a few minutes after nine in the evening. As long as he didn't
take too much time getting home, he'd still be able to prepare the back-up lunch for
Friday and put in a pre-order for a meal from Aiya to be delivered Saturday morning.
"I picked up the supplies yesterday," the silver-haired male murmured to himself as
he grabbed his cart and pushed his way out into the hallway. "I should be able to get
enough sleep as long as I don't mess around. Dojima's and Nanako's bentos for
while I'm gone are finished..."
Moving on auto-pilot, the investigation squad leader dropped the cleaning supplies
off in the janitors closet and locked the doors before he dropped off his keys and
made his way toward the locker room. The trip would have been a simple one: get
in, change, and get out... he hadn't expected complications, but as soon as he

arrived, the silverette questioned why he bothered being surprised about it anymore.
"Hey there, handsome..." a smooth and feminine voice called from behind as a pair
of arms slipped around his shoulders. "You're leaving early today. You didn't think
you'd escape me so easily, did you?"
"...Hello, Sayoko." Souji responded, allowing his expression to melt into a well
practised poker-face. "I didn't think I'd see you this evening. My shift just ended."
"I noticed," Sayoko's smooth voice pouted as the night-nurse slipped in front of the
silverette, arms still wrapped around his neck. "Leaving without saying goodbye?
After all we've been through? I'm hurt."
The silver-haired teen's eyebrow quirked upward in question as he raised his hands
to gently grab her wrists, intending on removing the woman's arms from his neck. "It
wasn't my intention to hurt you," he said, "I just promised my cousin I'd be home
early tonight. Nanako, remember? I showed you her picture."
"Ouch," Sayoko gasped dramatically. "Not only am I being left without a goodbye,
but for another woman? How many other women are there?"
Souji allowed himself a small chuckle as he shook his head. As carefree as the
nurse forced herself to appear to be, he could remember well the much more
serious, work-oriented and determined nurse he met toward the later half of his
'previous' year. Playing along with her little games was easy enough, and by doing
so, it was his hope that he'd be able to see that side just a little more before she left
the country again. "More? You give me too much credit, I only have one that I'm af-"
"Ahem." The unexpected addition of a third voice to their conversation made Souji
jump as he whipped his head to the side and winced as the effects of whiplash
caught up with him. No one had ever walked in on them before, not like this. He
opened his mouth, prepared to offer a casual explanation for the position, but the
voice that followed made his blood run cold. It had not been an employee who
walked in on them. "...Seta-san? Am I interrupting something?"
"N-Naoto! I...!"
"Oh my..." Sayoko grinned as she leaned over Souji's shoulder to get a better look at
the young detective in front of them. "This is unexpected. You're that little detective
prince everyone is talking about recently. I've seen your picture in a few magazine
articles." The brunette's eyes shifted back to the male she currently had trapped in
her arms and the grin grew far too fox-like for Souji's tastes. "My, my... You're a sly
dog. Looks like you really can capture just about any heart you want. And here I was

worried that I was being out-done by another woman. Guess I joined the game just a
little too late, hm?"
Without waiting for a response, the night-nurse pulled away from Souji and walked
suavely over to Naoto and slipped an arm around the sleuth's shoulders, making her
jump. "Don't get too jealous, handsome. I've never seen that boy so much as flinch
before, and he's been our little doggy for a few weeks now. I'd say you've got him
right in your pocket. Just look at that sparkle in his eyes. How cute." Laughing, she
pulled away from a now very disgruntled Naoto and waved over her shoulder as she
walked to the door. "You two have fun now. Try not to mess up any of the cots too
badlyyou just cleaned them after all."
Much to Naoto's relief, Souji had the decency to turn a rather interesting shade of
red and attempted a failed, sputtered response. Though she was quite sure her face
matched the colour of his perfectly. "...The friends you have managed to acquire are
certainly unique," she commented dryly. "You truly do attract all types."
Shaking his head, the silvertte sighed softly and rubbed the back of his neck as he
tried to calm himself down enough to talk evenly. "Sayoko is a good person," he
assured. "She just... She flirts with others because it makes things easierit's her
way of coping with the stress of her job. Her heart is in the right place."
"Is that so?" Naoto asked, frowning. "She seemed to favour you quite a bit... I've
seen her around the hospital before."
Souji shrugged lightly with a grin and inclined his head to the side, "Good listeners
seem to be well-received, in my experience. She talks, I listen, then offer advice as
best I can. But she likes to tease, I can't deny that. Still, she doesn't mean anything
by..."
"By...?" Naoto repeated, frowning as the other suddenly began regarding her with a
quizzical expression.
"Strange..."
"I don't believe you're in any position to be accusing another of being 'strange', Setasan. Though I admit, I am curious. Please elaborate on this observation of yours."
The silver-haired male laughed lightly and shook his head, indicating he meant no
offence. "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way, but I think I'll point out the obvious question.
Are you here for a social call, or did something happen?" A worried look crossed his
features as he suddenly felt something in his chest constrict painfully. "You're not
hurt, are you? Youno, wait... your grandfather isn't..."

Naoto tensed at the question and suddenly averted her gaze to the floor. She bit her
lower lip, pulling it into her mouth slightly as a hand came to rest on her hip and she
shifted her weight from one foot to the other and adjusted her shoulders. She was
trying to straighten herself; appear stronger, in-control, calm. Souji knew the
gestures well. He also knew when they were being used to conceal fear or concern.
"To be honest," she began quietly, suddenly deflated as she raised her gaze and met
the male's briefly. There was just something about those eyes that made it too
difficult to lie properly. "I do not know at the current time. Grampa was experiencing
some troubles with breathing and chest pain earlier this evening. I cannot recall a
time this has happened before, nor had Yakushiji-san, thus we thought it best that he
meet with a doctor as soon as possible."
"I see..." Souji mumbled and tried to mask the worry growing in his chest; Naoto
didn't need that right now. The silverette had long-since grown accustomed to taking
on the position of "support" for others without even thinking about it. It taught him to
guard his emotions well, after all, a pillar couldn't have cracks, least it fall from baring
too much weight. "I hope he's alright."
The sleuth could only nod in response as she shrunk back slightly, trying to make
herself appear smaller under the careful gaze of the older male. She didn't like how
he seemed to see past her barriers so easily, she didn't like that at all. Each time he
looked at her, the dark-haired female had a mixed sensation of comfort and fear. It
was as if she were the criminal in the interrogation room and Souji represented both
the good cop and the bad one. Each lie she attempted to offer was immediately
tossed right back at her feet, but the moment she felt uncomfortable the caring,
comforting understanding was back and she was left feeling at ease again. "Yes... I
hope so as well. I'm sure it is nothing of note, but..."
"Should we go check on him? I admit, I won't be able to get much sleep tonight if I
don't find out for sure if he's okay or not. I never got the chance to meet him, but..."
Naoto's eyes snapped back up to Souji and she gulped, shaking her head slowly as
she attempted to calm herself down. There was that damned comforting aura he
emitted whenever she seemed to need it most. "No, there's no need for that. I
believe I heard you speaking with the nurse just a few moments ago that you needed
to return home in order to see your cousin. I'm sure he will be out soon, so-" the
sleuth paused, surprise suddenly melting into her expression. "I beg your pardon?
You... won't be able to sleep?"
"Well," Souji smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck, "not just from
worrying about him. Namely my concerns would fall around you, I know how much

he means to you."
Naoto opened her mouth to respond, but found no words would form. She covered
for the slip by clearing her throat and looking off to the side to hide the embarrassed
look forming on her features. "There is not need for you to worry about me, I'd much
rather your concerns were aimed at him."
The silver-eyed leader nodded once, but continued to look concerned. "If you're
certain." His response was a nod from Naoto and he allowed himself to relax slightly,
a smile suddenly gracing his features. "Before I forget... You have nothing to feel
jealous about. I swore I could only love one person, and that won't be changing.
Even if you... even if you don't remember it."
"Wh-wha..." The sleuth's cheeks coloured as she stared at Souji in a mix shock and
flustered embarrassment. Her eyes looked at everything in the room but him, and
she reached up with a slender hand, tugging her cap down by it's brim as she
straightened her shoulders. "I most certainly was not jealous of that woman. Such
emotions are both childish and unbecomingnor do I have reason to be, for that
matter."
"Ah," Souji winced, his eyes reflecting a hint of pain he struggled to conceal as he
forced an uneasy laugh. "Why would you feel jealous if I was only an acquaintance?"
"E-exactly," Naoto stammered, feeling more heat rush to her cheeks as she tried
desperately to force it away. "I've no need to be jealous of someone who is clearly
much too old for you and hasn't a chance. You don't strike me as the type who would
aim for a 'cougar.'"
The sudden change in tone and body language slipped by the silverette's radar only
briefly. The pain which had previously been in his eyes disappeared almost
immediately as it was replaced with pain and amusement. The hope that maybe, just
maybe, he might regain the old bond with the dark-haired female was renewed once
more. Maybe it wouldn't be as hard to befriend her without the assistance of her
Shadowhe did know her best, after all. "No, you're right." He grinned, "I prefer
someone close to my own age. Intelligent. Rather quiet, but not without the spirit to
stand up for herself if she deems it necessary. A problem solver... and I wouldn't say
no to an adorable blush."
"Is that so?" Naoto asked with a sceptical tone, the blush forgotten as her eyebrow
arched upward. "You are the master of subtlety, Seta-san. You should consider
taking it up as a profession."
Chuckling, the male shook his head, "I choose honesty over subtlety. Besides, how

can I be subtle around you? It's never worked for me before. You're impossible to
surprise."
"...You seem to have acquired the unfortunate talent for managing to pull that off,"
Naoto murmured, her lips prusing slightly in distaste. "It's concerning."
"Aha, hopefully it will eventually become more endearing and less frightening with
time. But, ah..." Souji sighed and glanced at the clock. "Damn, I'm running late. I
need to get home."
"Your cousin?" Naoto asked, following Souji out into the hallway. "Nanako-chan,
yes? I believe I mentioned hearing you speaking of her earlier."
Souji nodded. "Yeah, that's her. I've become more of a 'big brother' to her recently
though. I can't say I'm unhappy with the title." He smiled fondly at the thought.
The sleuth couldn't hold back a soft laugh as she regarded Souji with a small smile.
"You seem the type. It suits you Should that be the case, do not allow me to keep
you. If something comes up, I've your number. I will alert you of Grampa's condition
once it is known to me. Hurry home, and take care to be safe."
"Thank you," Souji said, "Give him my best wishes, if you could. Goodnight, Naoto."
Waving, the silverette turned away from the young detective and started down the
hallway at a slow sprint. If he caught the bus, he'd make it to the Dojima residence
only a few minutes after he promised Nanako that he'd be home. Walking would only
waste time.
Something's going on with Naoto, he thought as he slipped out the front doors. Was
she really jealous of Sayoko? We haven't known each other that long this time. Is
something else at work, perhaps...? What could it be? Maybe... I've managed to gain
her trust faster this time around? I did have proof we were close before, but... The
sound of the bus pulling up in front of the hospital cut off Souji's thoughts before they
could finish and he boarded. He could think about this later.
Back inside the hospital, Naoto had yet to move from her spot in the middle of the
hallway where she'd watched Souji's retreating back. Her eyes were glazed over
slightly, the detective lost in her own thoughts and completely oblivious to the
presence of an elderly gentleman who had approached her from behind.
The man blinked curiously and glanced over Naoto's shoulder, following the young
detective's glance to the silver-haired male who had just disappeared around the
corner. As he shifted his gaze away from the other male to look at Naoto, a
mischievous glint formed in his eyes. "Nao-chan," his tone was light and casual with

a hint of humour in its undertone.

When Naoto didn't respond, the elder raised an eyebrow and fought back the urge to
grin. "Nao-chan," he raised his voice slightly. "Is everything quite well?"
Gasping sharply, Naoto turned abruptly, nearly losing her footing as she stared at the
other in shock. "G-Grampa! Ah, forgive me, it appears I lost myself in thought." The
shock was quickly forgotten in favour of concern as she stepped forward and began
to look the other up and down. "What... did the doctor say?"
The elder Shirogane smiled kindly and waved a hand through the air, shaking his
head. "It appears I had some sort of minor allergic reaction. From what the test's
results gathered, the delicious jam rolls Yakushiji obtained for us has a paltry amount
of cherry extract in it."
"I see..." Naoto frowned, "We'll have to be more careful about that. I expect he's
likely beating himself up over this." The sleuth looked at the floor, kicking at what
appeared to me a small pebble that had fallen off the bottom of someone's shoe
lightly. "We'll have to refrain from teasing him for a few days. How unfortunate... I
was planning something rather entertaining for tomorrow evening."
It wasn't until the sleuth raised her gaze again that she noticed the all-too-happy
smile on her Grampa's face.
"...What?"
"Who is that young man who just left?"
"I... w-what?" Naoto swallowed and took a half-step backward, feeling heat begin to
prickle her cheeks. "I-I'm certain I've no idea what you're talking about."
"Not at all? Come now, don't think you can fool Grampa Misanori. I may be old, but
foolish I am not," his smile only seemed to grow, making Naoto all the more uneasy.
"I've not seen you so focused a male since your father told you he was going to
teach you how to build a radio. Don't tell me you're becoming more comfortable with
your gender after all this time...? That would be most wond-"
"I'm afraid I don't understand at all what you're implying, Grampa," the young
detective cut the other off quickly. "What does my father have to do with this?"
Misanori chuckled softly; it was easy to tell that his granddaughter was (very poorly)
avoiding the question. "Come now, I know that look. Tell me, what's on your mind?"

"I-I don't..." Naoto gulped as she took another step back. It didn't seem worth the
effort of attempting to hide the flush growing on her cheeks anymore. Not in front of
this man. He'd figure it out; he always did. "Nothing, really, I... You're imagining
things. That man was just..."
"You needn't be so defensive, Nao-chan," the elderly man said as he looked toward
the door again. "Strange, though. He looks vaguely familiar... I remember working
with a detective during my short time here in Inaba long ago. A dashing young man,
very enthusiastic about his work as well. I think he mentioned having a daughter the
last time we spoke as well... What was the name...? It's on the tip of my tongue...
Let's see now..."
Something in Naoto's stomach dropped as she regarded her grandfather with a
faintly horrified look. The likelihood that the name which appeared in her mind was
the same as the one Misanori was thinking of seemed unlikely, yet she couldn't stop
herself from speaking, "...Ryotaro Dojima?"
Misanori suddenly snapped his fingers and began to nod, "Yes! That's right. Dojima.
Clever man, he was, though a bit impulsive. I do hope he's managed to outgrow
that... It'd only cause him pain later on. But I am rambling, forgive me, Nao-chan. We
should probably take our leave before that pretty nurse Uehara-san thinks I'm
contracting alzheimer's..."
"That... that was his nephew, Souji Seta, but..." Naoto trailed off, her lips curling in
distaste at the name 'Uehara'; that was the name on the female nurse's badge from
before. "Tch... Then allow us to leave quickly. That nurse is a danger to males
around her." Without waiting for a response, the sleuth turned abruptly and began
walking toward the doors.
Behind her, Misanori chuckled and followed her at a much slower place, the smile of
amusement back on his face. "Hm... I'll need to call Ryotaro sooner than I planned, it
seems. How interesting..."
"You'll never stop me! The man shouted as he took a step back, a wicked smile on
his face. Give up, Loveline. There's no hope for you now. Your only choice is to
surrender to me; you can't prove anything!" Souji said, his pale eyes focused on the
book in his hands. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Nanako gripping the
edge of her covers tightly, eyes wide as she listened to the story. "Want me to fill you
with holes? Glass shouted as Loveline looked around for something that would help
her escape the grasp of the evil villain before her..."

As he continued to read, the silver-haired male couldn't help but smile as he

watched his cousin's reactions to the story; the slight widening of her eyes when the
scenes grew intense or the soft gasps as the plot-twists sent her young
mind reeling with possibilities. As mature as she was, the fact that she was able to
have such a strong childlike fascination with even the simplest of things was a
comfort to him; the last thing he wanted was for Nanako to grow up as quickly as he
had.
"Thank you for all your help, the chef of police smiled as he shook the hand of the
young detective. We couldn't have done it without you."
"It's not a problem!" Nanako suddenly piped up happily, knowing the end of the book
from memory. "Just leave the investigations to me! I'm the Magical Detective
Loveline!"
Souji laughed as he closed the novel and set down beside Nanako's futon with a
small nod. "Did you enjoy the story?"
"Yeah!" the young brunette beamed, eyes sparkling, "You did all the right voices too!
Thank you, big bro! I didn't know a new book came out today."
"Neither did I," the silverette admitted, tucking the young girl's covers in around her.
"Uncle called today and asked me to pick it up on the way home."
"Really?" Nanako gasped softly, "Dad bought it for me?"
Souji nodded, earning a squeal of delight from his young cousin that melted into a
tired yawn. "I have to... thank him..."
"He'll be here when you wake up in the morning," he assured her softly and leaned
down, placing a quick peck on her forehead. "For now, catch up on your rest."
"Thank you for reading to me, big bro..."
"It's no problem, Nanako. Sleep well... Goodnight."
The rattling of the front door broke the silence Dojima household, followed by a loud
yawn. In the kitchen, Souji paused in the middle of flipping an omelette and looked
toward the entryway, smiling faintly as his Ryotaro appeared a few moments later, a
case of beer dangling loosely in his left hand.

"Welcome home, Uncle."

"Ah?" Dojima glanced into the kitchen as he leaned back, letting out a soft hum of
approval at the soft 'pop' he heard. "You're still up, are you? I thought you had an
early morning tomorrow, didn't expect to see you awake." Briefly, the older male's
eyes danced over the various supplies littering the counter and he nodded toward
them in question, "Or is this some last minute stuff you're fixing up?"
Flipping the omelette he'd just finished out of the pan, Souji watched as it landed
nearly onto a waiting plate and shrugged lightly. "Last minute, but it's nor for the trip."
"You shouldn't spoil us so much, you know..." Dojima chuckled as he placed the
case of beer in the fridge before moving to sit at the kitchen table with one of the
bottles in hand. "I might decide on telling your mom that you're staying in Inaba
rather than going home in March."
As he reached for a plate piled with sliced chicken which he'd already prepared for
cooking, the silver-haired teen paused. His fingers hovered over the raw meat, the
look in his eyes shifting as something crawled into his throat and expanded itself. He
could only be grateful for the fact that it was his back to his uncle and not his face, as
he was certain his expression had fallen long enough for it to have been noticed. It
wasn't exactly a situation he'd try to escape from; the silverette would have been far
too willing as a hostage. "Oh? Threatening to keep me hostage?" he asked, glancing
over his shoulder with a carefully-placed grin. "Didn't think you were the type who
'doesn't play by the rules.' I'm shocked, detective."
With a light laugh, Dojima popped the top off of his beer and took a swig, "Depends
on how the game changes. Sometimes you have to remember to keep an open mind
and be a bit more... instinctive." The Detective shook his head with a small sigh and
leaned back in his chair before regarding Souji with a curious look. "By the way... you
haven't seen a kid going around town asking questions, have you?"
"Huh?" Souji blinked, a look of confusion crossing his features as he turned around
to face the older male. In the back of his mind, he had a feeling he knew who was
being spoken about, but regardless he forced a neutral expression on his face. The
last thing he needed was to give his uncle a reason to ask unneeded questions.
"Questions? What kind?"
"About the murders. It's nothing serious since you're not involved-" there was a brief
pause as Dojima gave Souji a pointed look before continuing, "-but the kid's been
going off on his own and opting not to work too closely with us." He shrugged and
took another gulp of beer, turning the bottle in his hands thoughtfully, "Honestly, I

think the superiors are intimidated by him... Anyway, the kid's got short hair and
dresses in a classic detective's outfit. Goes by Naoto Shirogane. Have you heard of
him?"
Clearing his throat, Souji turned back to the stove and suppressed the strong urge
he had to grin. Various answers to the question shot through his mind as he tried to
settle on what to say. The reactions from his uncle if he were honestadmitting that
he was in love with the person in questionwould have been comical, but given the
circumstances of his situation, it was always better to tread lightly. Lying was out of
the question, all Dojima would have to do in order to see if he was lying was ask
Naoto herself, and he knew better than to think Naoto would take well to her
existence being denied. He didn't think he had the heart to do it anyway.
"Naoto?" he repeated the name casually with a small nod and watched his uncle out
of the corner of his eye, "I know him."
Ryotaro's response wasn't immediate. His rubbed his chin with the palm of his hand
as he carefully looked over Souji's neutral demeanour. For several long minutes, the
silver-haired male could feel the others gaze following every movement as the
atmosphere slowly started to grow more tense, "How well?"
Better than anyone else, Souji thought immediately, the silence answer almost
escaping past his lips. He silently chided himself for the near careless slip and
shrugged lightly, keeping his voice as even as possible. "Well enough that he lets me
use his first name, I guess." He offered his uncle a thoughtful look of his own, "We've
had lunch together a few times, too."
Silence filled the kitchen once more as neither male spoke. For a moment, the
investigation squad leader feared he'd given an answer that would get him in trouble,
but much to his relief, Dojima nodded. The older male placed the glass bottle he'd
been handling on the table before he began to speak. "I figured you and your friends
were nosing around a bit..." he smiled wryly at the huff of protest Souji made and
continued with a small wave of his hand, "but I feel better with you looking after the
kid. There's not much I can do for him myself without getting on my superior's bad
sides, so..."
The teen's jaw tightened as his pale eyes watched the chicken in the pan in front of
him. Far too often he'd heard Naoto's bitter tone as she explained how the police
force felt they needed to treat her. His hand tightened around the pair of chopsticks
he'd been using to poke at the food and he silently urged himself to calm down. It
wasn't a big deal. At least Dojima understood that what the other detectives were
doing was wrong. That was nice to know. "Look after him, Uncle?"

"Yeah," Dojima mumbled as he reached up, loosening his tie, "He's... well, looked
down on by the more experienced detectives on the force. It's good he has someone
his own age he can talk to for a change. Besides," the dark-haired male paused and
sipped at his beer, suddenly attempting to appear much more casual than before. "I
promised a friend I'd look after him as best I can. If he's with you, I can rest easier."
"He's mentioned that a few times. His choice of words was... unique." Picking up the
pan, Souji began carefully emptying the pieces of chicken into a container before
reaching for a small cup with a mixed seasoning he'd made earlier for flavour. As he
began to sprinkle it on carefully, he spoke again, unable to hide the curiosity in his
voice, "A friend?"
"An... old friend," Ryotaro replied, eyeing Souji over his bottle.
Raising an eyebrow, Souji leaned against the counter and met his uncle's look with
ease. Was this meant to be a test of some sort? His pale eyes took in his uncle's
movements carefully, watching for any signs of suspicion. Answering the question
wouldn't hurt, as he'd already told his uncle that he knew Naoto; logically that meant
he'd know something about him as well. "Do you mean her Grampa, Misanori-san?"
Much to the teen's surprised, Dojima chuckled with a small nod. "He's told you about
him, huh? Yeah..." he nodded again, a nostalgic smile on his face, "we go way
back."
"He has a few times, yes..." Souji answered slowly, surprised with the new
information. That was certainly something he'd not learned in his previous year. He
turned back to the counter and began packing the food he'd made into bentos for
each meal he wouldn't be there to help cook, once again unable to stop his curiosity.
"How do you two know each other?"
"It's... a long story," the older male said, taking a final swig to empty his bottle of
beer. "Short version, Shirogane-senpai got me my start. I had a lot of other senpais
guiding me, but... Shirogane-san was the one who helped me the most."
"Is that so...?" The surprise he'd been attempting to conceal melted onto Souji's face
as he finished packing the food and began placing the bentos on the fridge. In the
back of his mind, he made a mental note to ask Naoto if she'd had any idea that their
relatives knew one another on what sounded like a fairly personal level. "Heh, if
Naoto is anything to go by, then he must be a good teacher." He paused, then added
with a small smile, "...Though if it helps, we don't talk about the case much."
This time, it was Dojima who looked shocked. He stood and walked over to the
rubbish bin, tossing it into the open lid before he turned to look at Souji. "That's...

unexpected. He seems like he's all business, even outside of the office. Good to
know the kid's able to relax once in a while. Anyway..." the rest of Dojima's sentence
was drowned out by a yawn. Grunting, he rubbed his face again and sighed,
glancing at his nephew with a tired smile. "Don't stay up too much later, or you'll pay
for it in the morning."
"I won't, I just need to clean up." The silver-eyed teen nodded to the dishes and
began gathering them in the sink, "Oh, and uncle?"
"Hm?"
"On the table there, see the black notebook?"
"Huh? Oh... yeah, I see it."
"There's instructions on how to heat all of this up right, and a few easy step-by-step
meals in case you two need something more to eat. As long as you follow them, it'll
be just fine. I'm sure Nanako would love to have a meal her father cooked for her."
For several minutes, Dojima didn't respond. His gave shifted between Souji and the
notebook, taking them both in slowly before he smiled softly and nodded. "Yeah,
alright. Thanks... I'll do my best," he laughed. "I'm sure you'll hear all about the
results. I'll try not to make you come home to a burned kitchen."
Snorting, the younger male shook his head. "I'm sure you'll do fine. I tried not to
involve the stove too much."
"Ahaha... That so? Good thinking. Probably for the best." Exiting the kitchen area,
Dojima walked toward the hallway, pausing only to glance over his shoulder in the
doorway, "'Night, Souji."
"Goodnight, Uncle. Sleep well."

Camping with Friends

It's been a while since my last update, and I cannot help but feel as if my apologies
are ever enough for the amount of waiting I put everyone through. Fortunately, I am
finally back home from Uni and I hope to be able to update more often. My health
and general stress levels have come down quite a bit from where they were before.
It's... nice to be home to say the least. I've missed my pets dearly and seeing my
parents and friends from the lower part of the state again is a refreshing feeling.
In any case, chapter fifteen is already in the works and planned out. As it is, one of
the bigger "arcs" of the story is about to begin, and depending on how long chapter
fifteen ends up being, I may cut it into two parts - though I suppose that just means
another chapter to come that much sooner for everyone.
There is a certain scene that happens between Yosuke and Souji when they are in
the tent in this chapter that I was somewhat hesitant to write at first, but when the
idea came to me, I couldn't see reason not to include it. It does still make nervous to
finally post it, however, I would be very much appreciative to all those who review if
they would give me their opinion on that scene.
Also, I'm curious if there is anyone out there reading this who has an idea for a
better title for this story. While originally I felt the title would have made a fair amount
of sense, as I continue to write more and more, I cannot help but wonder if the title is
only vaguely related. Does anyone have any suggestions they wish to put forth?
Thank you everyone for being so patient with me, and I hope that you enjoy the next
chapter.
Chapter Fourteen: Camping with Friends
Yosuke slumped over the picnic table and draped his arms dramatically over the
surface. A soft 'pop' was heard from the brunette's shoulder, followed by a mixed
groan of satisfaction and pain. "My body..." he hissed, leaning forward as he tried to
get the same effect from his back, "That sucked. Picking up all that trash was murder
on my back..."
Arching an eyebrow, Souji casually brought his chin up to rest in his palm, regarding
the other with a faintly amused look. While it hadn't been something he would have
labelled as "fun" and insisted upon being done again, he didn't think the activity of
picking up trash was that bad. If anything, the experience had been rather amusing;
the first time he'd done it his mood had dropped to a less-than-gracious level, as the

much anticipated school trip had been nothing like he'd expected, and because of
this he'd simply done the job he was told to do by the teachers and thought nothing
of it. This time, however, he'd actually taken a few moments to look at just what it
was he was picking upand in the back of his mind, he'd silently thanked himself for
having remembered enough about it to pack several pairs of disposable gloves for
his friends and himself.
"It was... taxing," the silver-haired male offered with a small shrug. "It seems more
like a small dump site than a park. I didn't think you'd end up finding an entire bike."
"Don't remind me," Yosuke muttered bitterly. "King Moron made me take it to five
different trash piles before finally telling me to just go ditch it at the dump site. That
asshole was just getting a kick out of watching me lug it around."
"Should have rode it," Souji said murmured thoughtfully. "I did find a hand-pump..."
"Haha, real funny, dude. The last the thing I needed was a broken bone to go with
this mess."
"Oh?" Souji's eyes lit-up with amusement, "Admitting to being accident-prone?"
"WhNo! I justthere's a lot of grass around here andargh! Just shut up!" Yosuke
huffed in annoyance as he watched the other male laugh and rolled his eyes,
"Anyway... It's finally dinner time. Thank God, I'm starving... And the girls are cooking
just for us!"
Immediately, Souji's laughter stopped and his stomach lurched. On reflex, a hand
rose to his mouth as the much-preferred-forgotten memories and taste of "Mystery
Food X" rose in his throat. His actions earned him a questioning glance from the
brunette male, who frowned and sat up. "What's with the face? Aren't you excited? I
mean, I'm not expecting too much from Chie, I'm not all that sure she can cook, but
we've got Yukiko! She's got the full tradition of the Amagi Inn behind herI bet it'll be
totally unique! No one else here will have anything like it!"
"Y-yeah," the pale-eyed teen replied as his stomach lurched a second time. He's got
that right, at least. I don't think anyone else had dinner as 'unique' as ours. "I'm sure
it'll be... something else." Part of Souji wondered if he should warn Yosuke of the
horrors that were soon to come, but the ecstatic look on his friend's face made it
difficult to speak. While it was true that he was likely endangering his best friend's
life, it seemed cruel to take the first reason he had to smile at the day away. Yet,
somewhere in the back of his mind, the silver-haired male couldn't help but wonder if
it was perhaps crueller to let things go as they were surely about to.

"Guys!" Chie suddenly called from behind, her voice faintly strained, "It's, uh... i-it's
ready!"
Beside her, Souji heard Yukiko's hushed whisper of, "Are you sure, Chie?" and felt
his stomach flip uncomfortably. His throat had already started to burn, and a rapid list
of excuses for why he couldn't eat at the moment were forming in his mind. Would
they believe me if I said I wasn't hungry?
"Of course I'm sure!" the martial artists replied, picking up the pot to carry it over to
the table. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Awesome," Yosuke beamed, extending his hand across the table. "This is gonna be
so awesome! Hey, partner, hand me a plate."
A violent twitch shot through Souji's body as he reluctantly picked up a plate and
held it out to the brunette. He felt bad for what he was doing, terribly so, as he'd just
handed his best friend a death sentence. Alas, there were some incidents that
needed to occur in order to ensure they never happened again, such as the girl's
cooking skills. The leader sighed; he'd much rather avoid the dangerous game of
'Russian Omelette' from being performed a second time.
"Thanks," the headphone-clad male beamed and extended the plate to Chie
expectantly. "Load 'er up."
"Oh!" Chie smiled weakly with a nod of the head that was much too forced with
enthusiasm for Souji's liking. "S-Sure, here!" The martial artist took the plate and
began to slowly fill it with curry, the colour in her face slowly draining with each
spoonful she added. Concern laced her eyes as she offered the food back to
Yosuke, who took it with a wide grin.
"Thanks, Chie!"
Beside Chie, Yukiko was looking at the curry in curiosity, her head inclined to the
side as she poked it lightly with a chopstick. "...I didn't know curry could make a
noise like this."
"This is gonna rock!" Yosuke murmured gleefully, "Thanks for the food."
Without further prompting, Yosuke took as large a bite as he could manage, making
Souji turn away with a violent shudder. He felt bad, horrible even, that he was
allowing this to happen. Unfortunately, his word alone that eating the girl's cooking
would likely come off as offensive. It was better to have proof to back a claim; in the
long run, he would be saving them all a good deal of trouble. Especially Nanako. He

didn't want to see the poor girl burn her mouth again on Rise's omelettes.
"O-oh my god, Yosuke!" Chie's sudden distressed cry jerked the silver-haired leader
out of his trance and made him turn. Across the table, Yosuke had turned a
dangerous shade of green and started convulsing violently. The brunette's eyes
rolled back into his head as he grabbed his throat and gargled, the sound coming out
thick and messy. His arm waved through the air frantically, as if he were trying to get
attention, and he suddenly shuddered again and doubled over it was only then
Souji realised that his friend wasn't breathing.
With a start, he jumped up and pushed himself over the table, nearly knocking over
the pot of curry and effectively startling both of the females beside him. Yosuke
choked, feeling his body pulled suddenly from the bench and what felt like a fist
being placed against the upper part of his abdomen. A sudden thrust made the
headphone-clad teen lurch as pressure began to build in the back of his throat. After
several more sharp pushes above his navel, a final shudder shook his body before a
large mass of something flew from his mouth. As it whizzed towards her, Yukiko
yelped in alarm and ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding getting whatever it was all
over her jacket.
"G-gulgh..." Yosuke gasped for air as he slowly slid his back down Souji's chest and
collapsed onto the ground. Students from the other tables who had been watching
them murmured under their breaths before reluctantly turning back to their own
meals. "W-whoa... I-I saw a light, dude... a light..."
"Yosuke..." Souji looked up as he heard a soft sob, jumping backward as Chie threw
herself at the other brunette. "I didn'tI really thought we couldI'm so sorry,
Yosuke...!"
"Wh-what?" Yosuke inhaled sharply as colour rushed to his cheek, the foodpoisoning daze forgotten. "I... h-huh?"
"A-are you okay?" Yukiko walked over to join the other two on the ground, a worried
look on her face. "I'm sorry, Yosuke-kun. I didn't think that it would turn out this
badly..."
Behind the three of them, Souji could only smile and resist the urge to laugh. This
time, especially for Yosuke, it seemed it was impossible to get angry with the girls for
their actions. Dinner-less they might have been at the moment, but he'd planned for
that. Besides, it seemed as if things had turned out better for his headphone-clad
friend this time around. Or at least, from Souji's perspective, he didn't seem to be
upset with his current situation at all.

"I'm so sorry," Chie muttered, wrapping her arms around Yosuke's shoulders. "I-I
can't cook at all. But I wanted to try! I really, really wanted to make you something
good, but I can't even boil water without burning it! I knew we should have followed
the recipe but-"
Most of what Chie was saying went unnoticed by the brunette male as he tried to pull
his focus away from the body currently pressed against his chest. He swallowed
thickly and glanced at Souji with wide eyes, only earning an amused grin and shrug
in response. He groaned silently and awkwardly patted the martial-artists shoulders,
offering her the best smile he could manage. "It's fine, really," he muttered, returning
Chie's hug awkwardly. "I mean, Souji and I didn't exactly offer to help, so..."
Scoffing, Souji stepped forward and knelt beside his two friends, looking them both
over. "You alright, partner?"
Yosuke's answer was cut off as Chie sniffed loudly and clung to him as if she
suddenly expected him to drop dead at any given moment. A smile tugged at the
corners of his lips as he hid his expression from Chie and feigned a moan. "Y-yeah,
I'll be fine... I just... need to lean against something for a bit and relax."
Souji snorted in response as the martial artist punched Yosuke in the shoulder and
gave him a half-hearted glare. "I'll pretend I didn't see that. But..." Chie sighed,
"What are we going to do? We used every ingredient we had. What will we do for
dinner now?"
"Well," the silver-haired teen began, a thoughtful look forming on his face. "We could
always..."
"Um," Yukiko suddenly spoke up, looking between the small group as she held up
three pills with a sheepish smile. "They gave me this third pill as well. They said it
would help counteract food poisoning."
A pout formed on Chie's face as she straightened herself, allowing Yosuke to take
the pills as she reached for Souji's bag where they were keeping the water. "D-don't
be over dramatic, geez. We didn't poison him, Yukiko!"
"Well, no," the raven-haired woman responded, glancing at the remaining curry. "But
I thought it was best to be safe. He did foam at the mouth a bit..."
"What the-? Souji-kun, what the heck are these?" Chie asked, pulling back the flaps
of Souji's bag to reveal several wrapped bento boxes. "Bento boxes? Why do
you...?"

"Food?" Yosuke's head popped over the brunette female's shoulder, his eyes wide.
"Y-you brought food? Food you cooked?"
"Wow," Yukiko murmured, approaching the small crowd around the bag. "You really
thought of everything, Souji-kun."
"Uh, those are..." Souji began, unsure what to say. It didn't seem fair for him to claim
he knew the girl's efforts were doomed from the start. Insulting them was the last
thing he wanted to do, and he knew full well just how frightening the two of them
could be when angered or insulted. Tentatively, he tried to smile and spoke in a tone
that ended as more question than statement, "...for emergencies?"
"Really?" Yukiko smiled as she picked one up and began to unwrap it. "I guess we're
in luck after all."
"S-seriously?" Yosuke's voice cracked as he bite back a sob of delight and grabbed
a second, unwrapping it quickly. "You... you made food? You? ...Dude, you're a god.
Seriously. If I was anything like Kanji, I'd kiss you right now."
"WhaYosuke!" Chie scowled as she took the third of the bentos and smacked the
back of Yosuke's head. "Would you stop that! Geez, you're such a homophobe!" She
pushed him off her back and stood up, walking back over to their table. "Way to ruin
the moment, idiot."
Souji could only chuckle as he picked up his dinner and joined Chie and Yukiko who
sat on his left. "Thank you, Souji-kun. This is too much, really... Is that why you've
got bags under your eyes?" She leaned over with a concerned look to peer at his
face. "You weren't up too late, were you?"
"What the hell was that for?" Yosuke whined as he stood up. "It was a joke!"
"Hmph," Chie scoffed and pulled the brunette into the seat beside her. "It wasn't very
funny. Just sit down and eat already..." She sighed and passed him a pair of
chopsticks. "But really, thanks, Souji-kun. You saved our stomachs."
"No problem," Souji smiled faintly in response. "It was worth it. I'm glad I could help
out. You never know, maybe the next batch of curry will turn out, ah... edible."
Beside Chie, Yosuke choked on a mouthful of rice and gagged. "Dude! Don't
encourage them! We'll end up being their test subjects!"
"Whhey!" the brunette female glared. "Keep it up and we will use you."

"Ugh... I'll behave..."

Shaking her head at the two's antics, Yukiko picked up a bottle of soda and passed it
to Souji. "Just be sure to try and get to sleep early tonight, okay? I feel bad that you
lost sleep doing this for us..."
"Don't worry," the silverette smiled, "I will. It's really alright."
"Whoa! Steak! Steak!" Chie cried in delight as she finally opened her bento. "Steak
and teriyaki! Souji-kun, you're the greatest!"
"And... fried tofu?" the inn-kepper smiled softly as she carefully split her chopsticks.
"You really pay attention to us, don't you? This is amazing..."
"Yeah, no kidding. I don't know how you do it, man. But we owe you big time.
Thanks, partner."
"Leave the rest of the cleaning and the tent set-up to us, alright?" Yukiko said,
placing a hand on Souji's shoulder. "Just relax for a bit when you finish. It's the least
we can do."
"You don't have to do that-" the investigation squad leader began, but was cut off
before he could finish.
"Bah, it's nothing." Chie grinned, "The labour is totally worth this steak. Your cooking
is great!"
"Setting up a tent beats hunger pains, Souji." Yosuke added, "Hell, I'll even set up
our sleeping bags."
"...Thanks," Souji nodded, secretly pleased with the offer. It would be nice to get a
chance to ease the sore muscles in his back.
Yosuke stared at the flap of the tent he and Souji were currently sitting in with a
slack-jawed expression. He struggled to form words, his mouth working silently as
he struggled to regain proper use of his voice. "What the hell wasI didn't think he'd
just... freak! What the hell is he doing running off like that? He's going to get in
trouble! He's gonna get us in trouble!"
"He can be very... surprising," Souji shrugged, offering Yosuke a small cardboard
box. "Animal cracker?"

"Uh... sure." The brunette sighed as he reached into the box and picked up several
of the crackers, popping them into his mouth. "Aren't these Kanji's...?"
"I have back-ups," the silverette shrugged again and bit the head off a monkey.
"What don't you think of? Damn, it's like you can predict the future or something."
Yosuke laughed as he grabbed another cracker, turning it over in his fingers.
"Don't be silly," Souji muttered. I've just... lived through it once before. "Iwait! Don't
eat that one."
"Huh?" Yosuke froze, cracker halfway to his mouth. "What? Why? Is it mouldy?"
"No," the pale-eyed teen grinned as he reached over and plucked it from Yosuke's
grasp. "It's a penguin."
"...So?" Yosuke frowned and gave the other a questioning look. "What's so special
about that?"
"Everything," Souji assured him, placing the animal cracker aside for safe-keeping.
"It's a gift for a friend. They really want one."
"What kind of giftguh, whatever. I won't ask." The brunette sighed and leaned
back, resting his weight on his hands. "Man, but wouldn't predicting the future be
cool? We'd have this case solve in no time."
Making a face, Souji shook his head. "I don't think it'd be that easy..."
"Maybe... Guess we'll never really know, huh?" the brunette sighed a second time
and let himself fall back against his pillow and stared at the ceiling of the tent.
"...Wonder if he's okay."
"I'm sure he's fine," the squad leader assured. "He's just trying to figure some things
out."
"Like what?" Yosuke frowned and rolled over onto his side to better meet Souji's
gaze. "How not to get caught by teachers while screaming? Man, he took off like a
bat outta hell. Seriously, he needs to chill..."
"You've never been impulsive like that before?" Souji raised a sceptical eyebrow.
"What, like him? Hell no, I don't have a death wish." He shrugged and rolled over, his
back now facing the other teen. "Whatever... I don't get why he freaks out like that."

"He just wants to be accepted, Yosuke. Isn't that what his Shadow said? Proving his
manhood to those who doubt it is part of that too."
"Proving his manhood for what, exactly?" Yosuke asked as he looked over his
shoulder.
"Mostly for himself."
"Iwhat? What are you talking about? I'm not following." The brunette sat up and
frowned, meeting Souji's equally confused gaze.
"What are you talking about?"
"Me?" Yosuke shrugged, "I'm talking about why he gets so worked up about denying
he likes dudes."
"We don't know he does for sure, Yosuke," Souji reminded the brunette lightly.
"Besides, he isn't even sure he likes dudes. Haven't you ever felt so torn up about
something in your life that it's painful to even think about it?"
For a few brief seconds, the headphone-clad teen tensed. His eyes widened a
fraction and his fists clenched, gripping the fabric of his track pants tightly a
gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Souji. The brunette swallowed thickly and
lowered his gaze to the floor, shrugging half-heartedly. "N-no. Why would I? I'm
totally confident in myself."
"That's not what I mean," Souji muttered, frowning when the other male avoided his
eyes. "Unless... you've already forgotten your Shadow."
Yosuke tried to shrink under Souji's gaze by pulling his legs up to his chest, but the
movement only made him feel more insecure under the silver-haired male's knowing
gaze. He bit the inside of his cheek and groaned, giving the other a desperate look.
"Don't look at me like that," he pleaded. "That's the 'I-know-you're-hiding-something'
look."
"I'm your friend," the squad leader said gently, turning away from the brunette. "I'm
not going to force you to talk about it." The silence that settled over them was
uncomfortable, and it was easy to tell that it was bothering his headphone-clad
friend. Normally, he would have said something to break the tension, but for the sake
of Yosuke and the ex-punk who had fled from their tent moments ago, he didn't.
"Ngh. Dammit, dude..." Yosuke cursed under his breath and wrapped his arms tightly
around his raised knees. "I dunno. It's just... he makes me remember some kinda

shitty stuff and..." he shrugged awkwardly, leaving the sentence open enough that
Souji took the opportunity for the final push.
"...was it that bad?"
Several seconds of silence passed before the brunette nodded slowly. "You could
say that, yeah." The hesitance could clearly be heard in his tone. He wanted to talk,
that much was for certain; whatever memories were bothering him had bubbled up
enough that Yosuke needed to get them off his chest, but nervousness was
preventing him from doing so.
"Hey..." Souji extended the animal crackers to his friend, hoping to provide a small
comfort. "You can tell me anything, Yosuke. Not even Chie would hear about this
unless you wished to tell her yourself. I can promise you that."
"...Yeah," the brunette nodded again and took one of the crackers, offering the
silverette a small smile. "I know. You're the most trustworthy guy I know." He paused,
chewing the giraffe he'd taken slowly as he carefully picked out the words he wanted
to say. "I'm a coward; guess that's a good place to start. Or maybe I'm just an ass.
Or both."
"Well, yes, even I knew that," the pale-eyed teen smiled, his tone light as he tried to
ease the mood. "But you're my friend anyway, so you're not all that bad."
Yosuke laughed weakly in response and shook his head. "Gee, thanks..." However,
the smile was quick to disappear as his gaze fell to his feet. "When... when I was a
kidabout eightthere was this really, really awesome kid in the next grade, right?"
Souji nodded slowly, "The kind you look up to just because for their own confidence
and daring, right?"
"Something like that," the brunette agreed. "You kinda reminded me of them after we
went into the TV World again to look for Saki-senpaithe cool part, anyway. I mean,
they could do anything. Everyone liked them..."
"Them?" Souji inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"...him." Yosuke admitted quietly. "Me included."
"Ah," the investigation leader nodded. "So you were friends."
"We were," the statement seemed to give the brunette a faint sense of pride as his
tone grew a little stronger and he straightened himself. "He stood up for me when the

others would gang up. I really looked up to him. He was just... so cool. And I, uh..."
he shrugged and tried to sound nonchalant as he spoke, "...guess I kinda had a
thing for him."
"Did you?" The answer hadn't been quite what Souji had expected. He knew
something must have caused his friend's odd quirks of avoiding 'the gay' at all costs,
but the subject had never come up before. Not during his 'first' year. "Isn't that
normal for kids? To idolise someone?"
"I guess so. Maybe. But most guys don't have a crush on their male best friends. You
can't tell me that's normal."
Souji opened his mouth, prepared to explain to Yosuke how that was perfectly
normal, but thought better of it and kept silent. Instead, he inclined his had forward in
a silent gesture for the other to continue; that could come later.
"I was just a kid at the time," the brown-haired male continued, resting his chin on his
knees. "I didn't really get how that stuff worked, or how people reacted to it. I knew
what the girls did when they had crushes, so... I worked up the balls to talk to him
and... I told him how I felt."
"I doubt he understood at that age either. Most wouldn't- most don't, really. ...Or he
heard something from his friends."
With a bitter laugh, Yosuke tightened his arms around his legs. "Guess he must have
heard some pretty awful stuff, then. He just laughed in my face and started telling all
of his friends. Pretty soon, the entire grade knew about it and I was just a big joke to
them. I didn't really know how to handle that, so... I just grinned and played along,
like I'd been joking about it the whole time just so things would go back to normal,
but..."
"But the idea has been fairly negative for you ever since, huh?"
"It messed me up pretty good, if that's what you mean." Yosuke's face fell as he
began poking at the fabric of his sleeping back, guilt in his tone. "But yeah, that's a
good way of summing it up."
"We're the sum of our experiences in life, Yosuke. Kanji is still dealing with things his
own way, trying to figure them out as they come to him, and you deal with things in
your own way as well."
"Yeah... but between the two of us, he's the better man. No matter how much I say to
him, he's never even raised a fist to me. Even though we both know he could take

me easily."
"He probably knows you don't mean it, deep down," Souji mused. "You're both alike
in that you just wanted to be accepted, and that's nothing to be ashamed of."
"Being shown-up by an underclassman in maturity, though... Aha, dammit..." Yosuke
buried a hand in his hair and grit his teeth. "Ouch... What should I do about all of
this?"
"Well," the silver-haired male began with a light shrug. "You might want to start with
keeping your mouth closed a bit longer and thinking before you speak."
"Aha... Sounds like a good place to start."
"As I said before, we're the sum of our experiences and Kanji has had a lot of
rejection in his lifetime. Getting that from someone who has seen his very core could
end up affecting him badly. You can understand how he feels to an extent, right? Use
that to help yourself and him."
With a sigh, Yosuke raised his hand hesitantly, letting it linger in the air before he
placed it on Souji's shoulder. "Thanks... For listening, I mean. Just deck me or
something the next time I start acting like an ass again."
Snorting, the silverette grinned, "I'll let Chie have that honour."
"Dude... not cool," Yosuke said, his face going pale. "I'm not sure how many more
hits I can take from her. I'm never going to have children at this rate."
Souji laughed and clapped his friend on the back. "She just cares about you."
"Cares, right... The harder she hits the more she loves, right? I must be pretty damn
lucky then."
"At least she doesn't kick you all the time. Remember that time she almost poisoned
you?"
"Haha," the brunette said dryly, glaring. "That's not funny, dude. I saw my life flash
before by eyes this afternoon! I thought I was doing to die."
"I'm sure," Souji nodded, trying to hide his grin. "It must have been traumatising.
Dreadful. I'm glad I never got to try Mystery Food X; it seems extremely lethal."
"Maybe we should try taking what's left inside the TV. Maybe it'll help us off some of
the Shadows."

"Oh?" the silver-eyed teen laughed. "If you want to do that, you get to be the one to
carry it back. We-"
Both boys froze as they heard a noise outside of the tent and felt their stomachs
plummet. "Shit, the lantern!" Yosuke hissed, diving into his sleeping bag. "Turn it off,
quick! Quick!"
Outside the tent, Souji could make out the sound of approaching footsteps. Quickly
and silently, he dimmed the lantern before turning it off completely and slipped
himself into his sleeping bag. He barely dared to breathe as he watched the
entrance of their tent closely, waiting for it to be unzipped violently and the face of
their homeroom teacher to peer inside, eyes bulging out of their sockets in anger.
Just as his pulse started to quicken, a familiar voice broke the tension that had been
building in his chest and he relaxed, silently scolding himself for having forgotten the
order of events from before.
"Souji-kun? Yosuke-kun?" Yukiko whispered as she fumbled blindly for the tent's
zipper in the dark. "Are you two still awake?"
That's right, Souji thought, sighing in relief. Those two came first, then Mooroka.
"Yukiko?" he responded, making sure to sound surprised. "Is that you? Is everything
alright?"
"Um," the inn-keeper hesitated, her tone unsure as her hands stilled in their quest to
find the zipper. "Well, yes, you could say that, but... could we come in, please? Chie
is with me and it'd be easier to talk inside. The teachers are patrolling and we don't
want to be seen."
"What the hell?" Yosuke's muffled voice could be heard through his sleeping bag as
the human-shaped lump angled itself toward Yukiko's voice. "What are you doing
here? This is the guy's side!"
"Is everything alright?" Souji asked, crawling toward the entrance, his brow furrowed.
He knew well the girl's reasoning for being there the event was a hard one to
forget but he had to at least pretend he was confused.
"Well, yes. Um, no. Sort of. Everything is fine, except, um..." Chie began uneasily,
her voice just barely above a whisper. "Would it be alright if we slept in your tent?
Please?"
Shrugging, the silverette turned to Yosuke to see what the brunette thought, but was
cut off before he could speak. "Are you insane! You're gonna get us in trouble! Go

back to your tent!"

"We can't..." Yukiko sighed, "It-" The rest of her sentence was drowned out by a
sharp gasp as an uncomfortably familiar voice could be heard in the distance.
"Please...!"
"Alright, alright... Get in here, quickly." Souji bent forward and unzipped their tent,
ushering the two females inside before he closed it again. "Yosuke, don't misbehave
with Chie or I'll have to kick you out."
"Whdude! Come on!"
"Shhh!" Chie hissed, eyes-wide as she stared intently at the shadow moving outside
the tent. Her stomach clenched tightly as she slowly crawled backward in order to
make room for Yukiko and bumped into Yosuke's middle. The male brunette huffed
loudly and opened his mouth to protest, but the words were lost when the martialartist suddenly clung to his middle. She could only be thankful that it was too dark for
him to notice the heat rising in her cheeks.
"What-"
"Quiet!" Souji growled under his breath, motioning for Yukiko to come closer to him
and away from the figure outside. "Don't talk."
"Lissssten up!" The voice of their homeroom teacher boomed across the silent night,
his words slurred and uneven as he spoke. "Bein' insholent... and bein' indeshent
are vurry... diffrunt fhingz!"
"It's him!" Yosuke's voice hitched as he spoke, a whimper growing in his throat. "Shit,
he's right outside the tent...!"
"Shush!" Chie whispered in response, her grip on Yosuke's waist tightening
unconsciously. The headphone-clad male swallowed a groan and tried futilely to
motion for her to loosen her grip. Colour was quickly rising in his cheeks and he let
his gaze wander, forcefully refusing to allow himself to focus on the female clinging
to him. His sudden proclaimed disinterest in Chie's actions made Souji grin, earning
him a glare in response and a sharp mouthing of 'Go to hell' from Yosuke.
"Chie..." he muttered, "You're hurting me. Geez, how can you climb into a TV and
beat the crap out of creatures more than twice your size but you can't face a
teacher? Justlet go, just for a second, okay?"
Earning an annoyed grunt of disapproval, the brunette female untangled herself from

the male she'd been clinging to and moved a few inches back. Pleased that he
finally had full use of his lungs returned to him, Yosuke unzipped his sleeping bag
and lifted one of the sides, gesturing for Chie to come closer again. "Quick. Maybe if
you hide in here and he peeks inside, he won't notice."
She didn't need to be told twice. The martial-artist crawled forward and settled
herself beside Yosuke, her arms finding their way back around his waist in mere
seconds. "Whseriously, Chie? Geez..."
Despite his protests, it didn't at all seem as if Yosuke were upset with the situation in
the slightest; at least, if the action of wrapping his arms around her shoulders was
anything to go by. "How cute," Souji mumbled, jumping violently when something
solid smacked against the side of the tent.
"Hey...! HEY!" A second smack. "Are... are you two in dere? Anzer meh!"
Inhaling sharply, Yukiko pressed a hand over her mouth as Souji straighten himself
and cleared his throat, keeping his tone even as he spoke. "We're in here, sir. Fast
asleep!"
"Oh god..." Chie mumbled, pressing her face against Yosuke's chest in an attempt to
stifle any noise she might have been making while breathing.
"H-hey... don't squeeze so hard..."
"Huuuh?" Mooroka paused and seemed to consider Souji's answer before he poked
at the tent with a grunt. "Zo yer in dere... Iz Hadamurna already asleep?"
"Y-yessir!" Yosuke laughed shakily, trying to ease the arms gripping him. "Sleeping
away, sir!"
"Dun get cude, Hadamurna! Shuddup and to back to sleep!"
Silence settled over the tent as the occupants waited with bated breath, watching the
figure outside sway precariously. Sometime during the encounter, Yukiko had
managed to get a rather violent vice-grip on Souji's arm, and was causing the lower
part of his arm to slowly go numb. Raising an eyebrow, he glanced over his shoulder
at the raven-haired woman and motioned to her hands. The inn-keeper smiled
sheepishly and loosened her fingers, mouthing a silent apology before she resumed
staring at the outline of Mooroka, sighing in relief as he finally began to walk away.
"That was close," she mumbled, letting her hands fall back into her lap. "If he'd
actually checked on you two..."

"I'd rather not think about it." Souji muttered, running a hand through his hair. "It's
best we don't."
"Right..." Turning her gaze to the other two occupants, Yukiko muttered a soft 'oh!'
under her breath and smiled. Besides her, Souji turned curiously and felt the corners
of his lips curve upward in amusement as Yosuke flashed him a scowl.
"You two look rather comfortable," the inn-keeper noted, sounding far too pleased for
her own good. "Chie, I didn't know you and Yosuke-kun were so used to visiting each
other at night. You got comfortable so quickly... Do you two actually do stuff like this
often?"
"Well," Souji began, "you never-"
"Souji, can it. Seriously. Don't talk. Or I swear, you're a dead man."
The silver-haired male fell silent respectfully and leaned back against his pillows,
only to have his silence broken by the unmistakable sound of a stifled snicker
coming from the raven-haired female next to him.
Sleeping had, fortunately, been much less awkward than expected. By the time he'd
managed to calm down Yukiko's hysterical giggles, Chie had already nodded off in
Yosuke's sleeping bag and didn't appear as if she'd been moving anytime soon. The
brunette male had, of course, protested and deemed it 'totally not right' if the two of
them shared a sleeping mat, but his tone of voice and words conflicted with one
another and eventually he'd given up on his protests completely. None of them were
fully convinced they would be able to unwrap Chie's arms from his waist without the
risk of earning a first to the face for their efforts according to Yukiko, the martialartist's reflexes usually woke up before her mind.
Because of this, the only open spot for Yukiko to sleep had been beside Souji on his
mat. It had taken him several minutes to convince the dark-haired female that it was
perfectly fine for her to do so and she was not at all invading his personal space, nor
would it upset the 'friend with amnesia', but once they'd settled, the two were able to
position themselves comfortably. Yosuke had been the second of the four to fall
asleep, which left Souji and Yukiko to talk quietly between themselves as they waited
for sleep to claim them. Overall, it had been vastly more enjoyable than the
awkwardness that had filled the tent the first time he'd been in it.
Yukiko was the first awake the next morning, and woke Souji shortly after with a
sputtered apology as she released the arm she'd taken prisoner sometime during
the night. A light dusting of red had covered the silverette's cheeks as he'd assured

her it was just fine and no damage had been done, somehow, the feeling of slender
arms around his own had helped push away the nightmares which had plagued his
dreams so often as of late. Unfortunately, the illusion that sleep had graced him with
the arms of another had shattered once he'd opened his eyes though it hardly
seemed appropriate to voice these thoughts.
Soon after, Yosuke and Chie woke in an embarrassing tangle of limbs. It had taken
nearly ten full minutes to stop the laughing fit which had followed shortly after, and
once Yukiko was able to properly breathe again, the two girls bid their male
companions a temporary farewell and slipped out of the tent in order to return to their
own before the teachers noticed. The morning was going quite smoothly and Souji
congratulated himself on avoiding the disaster that the camping trip had been once
before. It wasn't until Yosuke was gleefully leading him toward a stream near the
camping grounds after having demanded that they both change into swimming
trunks and claimed that he'd taken care of the girl's suits that he realised a very, very
important event he'd neglected to take into his calculations.
"Oh no..." he mumbled, approaching the cliff that overlooked the sparkling river
below. His chest tightened in distaste as he remembered the horrifically dirty feeling
that had stuck to him for weeks after the incident; a feeling he really didn't wish to go
through again.
"What's wrong?" Yosuke asked, approaching Souji with an all-too-gleeful grin.
"Cheer up, man. This is gonna be amazing. I can't wait for the girls to get here. Did
you see the suits I got them?"
"I did." The silverette nodded with a small sigh. He'd have to proceed carefully; he
really didn't want to be shoved into the icy water again. He could only hope that
things would end up better this time. After all, Yosuke and Chie were dating, and
maybe that would prove to be their safety-net. His eyes would be on Chie and Chie
alone. At least, he hoped that would be the case. Anything else would get the
brunette in trouble, and somehow, whenever Yosuke ended up in trouble, Souji was
quickly pulled down with him. I suppose that comes with being best friends... he
thought vaguely, looking up when he heard several sets of footsteps.
"I guess we're the only ones here," Chie announced as she approached the two
males and peered over the edge of the cliff. "Didn't a ton of people go swimming last
year?"
"It was warmer then." Yukiko mused, joining her friend's side. "Remember? It was
really warm last year and no one knew why."

"Oh yeah..." the brunette female nodded and stepped back, turning to face a rather
sullen Kanji who had stopped a few feet behind her. "What's wrong, Kanji-kun?
You're not looking too good."
"Uh..." Kanji hesitated, looking between the two pairs uneasily. "I, uh... got upset last
night, right? Like, I got pissed and ran out of the tent last night, didn't I? But...
Yosuke-senpai was the one who woke me up in his tent so he could put it away."
"I-it was a dream!" Chie sputtered, earning a snort in response from Yosuke. "It had
to have been a dream, I man... uh, how else could you have gotten back to the tent?
We're not strong enough to carry you. Ahaha... ha..."
"Uh... O...kay?" Kanji looked between the two brunettes slowly with a questioning
gaze before he finally glanced to Souji. The silver-eyed male shrugged in response
and waved his hand through the air in a gesture that urged the blonde to just let it
go. It was better than questioning it, and he'd rather not be forced to recall the event
either. Carrying Kanji through the tents while in a crouching position in order to avoid
the watchful eyes of their patrolling teacher's had not been an easy task.
"Well, if we're all done with that," Yosuke began in a pleased tone, "let's get
swimming!"
"Are you seriously gonna swim?" Kanji shook his head and walked over to the edge,
letting his legs dangle down as he sat. "Count me out; I'm still all stiff. No way am I
gettin' in that water."
A wise choice... Souji thought dully, taking a half-step away from the cliff. Though not
the best spot to sit. I hope they don't get angry with you this time too.
"What are you looking at us for?" Chie frowned, giving Yosuke a look of disapproval.
"If you guys want to swim, feel free. You're all prepared to jump in."
"You know..." the brunette male stepped forward, casually placing himself at Chie's
side, "you two still owe us."
"Huh?" The martial-artist jumped and stepped to the side, her eyes wide. "Whoa,
whoa, whoa... I mean, I know we do, but... we're not going in there! It's..."
"...wet?" Yukiko provided weakly, only earning a sceptical look from Yosuke. "And
cold. It's wet and cold, and besides, we can't. We, um..."
"We don't have any swimsuits!" Chie cut in, nodding vigorously. "I mean, we can't go
in without swimsuits. We don't have another change of clothes and putting on the

sweaty stuff from yesterday would just be gross andYosuke... where did you get
those?"
Souji bit back a groan as Yosuke held a pair of women's swimsuit's up, one in each
hand, the grin on his face growing wider with each passing second. "Junes, duh.
They just came in for the summer they're original designs. I talked to one of the
female clerks I know at the store and she helped me out. She's not much bigger than
the two of you, so the size should work out perfectly."
"What?" the brunette female glared and took a step forward. "You bought us
Yosuke! That's so... so..."
"So... generous?" Yosuke frowned and lowered his arms, fixing his expression into a
disappointed pout. "Is this how it's going to be? We put up with your dinner, we
saved you from King Moron, and you won't even have a little friendly fun with us?"
"Did you... have those this whole time?" Yukiko asked suddenly, crossing her arms
over her chest. "But that's..."
"That's not the point at all, Yukiko! He shouldn't have brought them at all, and..."
"We were really looking forward to dinner..."
"Yosuke! That... I-I already said I was sorry!"
"I wonder what would have happened if we hadn't helped you guys out last night..."
"W-well..." Yukiko's gaze fell to the ground as she shifted her weight from one foot to
the other and bit her lip. "We..."
"I mean, if you won't do it for me," he took a moment to pause and fix Chie with
another pout and received a wince in response. "Shouldn't you at least have fun with
Souji?"
"What?" Souji's attention snapped away from the flower he'd been examining off to
the side, hoping to avoid drawing attention to himself. "Why me?"
"I mean, he did pack those emergency meals and shared them with us. He even
took the time to make everyone's favourite."
"...he does have a point there," Yukiko mumbled with a soft sigh. "He stayed up late
making them, too."
"Yukiko! You can't really be thinking about agreeing withoh, stop it with the puppy-

eyes, Yosuke. Fine, fine! We'll do it Sheesh, can't you ever let things go?" Stepping
forward, Chie snatched the bathing suits from Yosuke's grasp and ushered Yukiko
back into a thick lining of brush. "We're changing over here, but if I catch any of you
peeking, I swear-"
"We're not going to peek! Have a little faith, geez... We'll even turn around so you
won't doubt us."
Eager to change the girl's bubbling irritation in his favour, Souji immediately turned
around and took a seat beside Kanji. His pulse was starting to race and nervousness
had begun to set in, the next few minutes deciding if they all suffered the same
grotesque fate from before. Yosuke moved to stand beside him, but didn't bother to
sit down, and the silverette could almost feel the excitement radiating off his friend.
Just don't mess up this time, he thought desperately. Please...
"Ugh... We're ready. C'mon, let's just get in already..." Chie's voice broke the silence
that had settled over the three males, followed shortly by Yukiko.
"They fit perfectly... How did he manage that?"
"Don't think about it, Yukiko. It's really not worth it."
Glancing over his shoulder, Souji smiled as the two approached and stood up slowly.
He tried to look encouraging as they drew closer and offered them both a slight nod.
"They look good, you two. I like the styles."
"O-oh, um... thank you, Souji-kun." Yukiko smiled sheepishly and laced her hands
behind her back. Beside her, Chie was currently fighting a losing battle against the
crimson flush that was quickly crawling up her neck and face. Her eyes were locked
on a small stone near her boot, and she didn't appear prepared to look up anytime
soon and only mumbled a soft 'thanks' in return.
"Hey, if-"
"Whoa..." Before Souji could so much as finish his train of thought and suggest that if
they were that uncomfortable, they didn't have to get in, Yosuke had already taken
several steps forward toward the brunette currently clad in green. "Chie, you, uh...
you..." he hesitated and looked back to Souji who shrugged and raised an eyebrow,
watching the other male with interest. Unable to gain the help he'd been hoping for,
he turned back and gulped audibly, tripping over his words.
It was difficult to tell who was more nervous between the two of them, but Yosuke
seemed to snap out of it first with a firm shake of his head. The male stepped

forward and gingerly placed a hand under Chie's chin, guiding her gaze upward until
it met his own. "Hey, come on. You shouldn't scrunch up like that and hide your face.
Y-you... you look really great. " He smiled hopefully and winked, "I knew this colour
would suit you best, so show off a little bit. You'd be making the other girls green with
envy."
"S-shut up," Chie huffed in response, giving Yosuke's shoulder a half-hearted punch.
"Just because we're dating doesn't mean flattery will get you out of trouble."
"Flattery?" The caramel-eyed male's confidence seemed to return as he took a step
back and placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "You wound me, madam. I only
speak the truth."
"Yeah, yeah, sure. Whatever. Let's just go already..." For all the effort she seemed to
be putting into her protests, the martial-artist didn't at all seem displeased with the
attention. Her blush had darkened considerably, but there was no hiding the faint
smile that currently tugged at the corners of her lips.
Closer to the cliff, Yukiko knelt beside a red-faced Kanji and reached out, touching
her friend's shoulder lightly. "Um, Kanji-kun? Are you alright? Your face is flushed.
Are you feeling sick from last night?"
"N-nah," The ex-punk shrugged and looked away quickly, making it a point to keep
both girls out of his field of vision. "It's nothin' to worry about. I'm just, uh... a little stiff
is all. It was cold last night too. Think I might have got a cold or somethin'. D-don't
worry about me."
"If you're sure..." Yukiko frowned, worry still evident in her tone. "Will you be okay up
here by yourself? Do you want to come down with us and sit by the water?"
"No thanks..." Kanji shrugged again, still not daring to look at the other female. "I'm
good up here."
"Hey!" Yosuke cut in, waving his arm through the air as he gestured toward the
pathway that led down to the water. "Are you guys coming or not? Let's go swimming
already!"
Making a face, Souji purposely moved forward slowly, straining his ears for the
sound he knew was supposed to be coming soon. "Are you sure the water is warm
enough?" he asked casually, trying to come up with any means he could to stall. "It
wouldn't be good if any of us got sick."
"It's fine," Yosuke rolled his eyes and grabbed Souji's arm, dragging the silver-haired

leader at a quicker pace. "Honestly, with how much you worry, you'd think..." he
trailed off and stopped, releasing the other male's wrist with a sudden frown. "What
the hell is that noise?"
"You can hear it too?" Chie asked, stepping closer to the stream as she leaned to the
side, listening carefully. "It sounds like..."
...Safe. Souji thought with a sigh, relief crossing over his face briefly before his
expression suddenly darkened in distaste. "Vomiting," he commented quietly. "It...
sounds like Mooroka."
"That's... ew!" Yukiko gasped, jerking the foot she'd just dipped in the water out. "...I
don't want to swim anymore."
"Ugh, me neither. I'm out." Chie groaned and glanced at Yosuke as she pointed at
the water. "If you still want to go in, feel free, but there's no way you're getting me in
there now."
"I think I'll pass," the brunette male replied, looking heartbroken. "Dammit! Does that
man have to take everything good from me? Seriously... Why can't he just go toss
his chunks in the bushes?"
Smiling, Souji stepped forward and gave Yosuke a half-hearted pat on the shoulder
and began to lead him away from the river. The retching upstream was only getting
louder and it was making his stomach start to churn. "Better luck next time," he
offered lightly. "Maybe we could go to a beach or something this summer instead."
"Yeah... I guess," Yosuke sighed heavily. "Whatever, let's just get changed and go
home. I want to start forgetting this ever happened."
"Oh, stop it," Chie scolded lightly as she came up on Yosuke's left. "He's got a point.
I haven't been to the beach in ages; it might be fine. Besides, it'd be a shame to let
these suits to go waste, right?"
It wasn't until she wrapped her arms around Yosuke's that it suddenly occurred to
Souji that she was trying to cheer him up. The silverette smiled and watched as the
other male's cheeks coloured slightly and his eyes moved off to the side. Beside him,
Yukiko chuckled and shook her head. Her smile was almost sorrowful, but the look in
her eyes was warmer than he remembered seeing it previously and that was enough
to keep Souji calm. "Those two are really cute, huh?"
"Yeah," Souji agreed absently, trying to fight down the sense of longing that had
started to rise in his chest. "They are..." Glancing at Yukiko, he placed a hand on her

shoulder and offered an encouraging smile. "I'm sure you'll find someone like that
soon enough, don't worry. 'Someday, your prince will come' as they say."
With a soft laugh, Yukiko nodded, returning the others smile. "Thank you, Souji-kun...
Ah, but we'd better hurry. Those two are already at the topChie! Wait up!"
Wiping his forehead, Souji set the broom he'd just been using against the wall and
went in search of the dustpan he'd misplaced earlier. Laundry sat folded neatly in
baskets in the living room, waiting to be taken into the rooms of their respective
owners, and the dishes had been washed and put back in the cabinets. The
bathrooms had taken the longest to clean, as a rather bizarre-looking stain had
appeared on the floor of the one on the lower level and it had taken nearly an hour to
get it off the tiling. Fortunately, sweeping was the last of the chores to be done and
he'd finally be able to relax once he'd finished. Normally, the chores would be split
between Nanako and himself, but he'd offered to take on her share as well when
she'd announced that she would be spending the day with a friend.
After several minutes of confused searching and finding the dustpan under Dojima's
bed he thought it best to just be grateful he'd found it, not question why it was
there he quickly swept up the pile of rubbish on the floor and disposed of it.
Pleased with himself, the silverette made his way into the living room and collapsed
onto the couch, humming in approval as the force of the impact caused his back to
pop. It was unfortunate that his built-up physique hadn't been passed onto him
during his bizarre travel through time, but given that he'd managed to keep
everything else he'd worked so hard to improve on, being a little out of shape wasn't
a major problem.
Rolling over onto his side, Souji reached for the remote on the floor nearby, only to
have the action interrupted by a knock at the door. He groaned in protest and
pushed himself up off the couch with a pout. As he approached the door, he
straightened his shirt and hair subconsciously before grabbing the handle and sliding
it open. "How can INaoto? What are you doing here?"
"Good afternoon, Seta-san. I hope I am not interrupting anything... but I wished to
request the chance tono, rather, I need to speak with you. Now, if possible, as this
matter is of the utmost importance."

Fleeting Feelings
First off, I would like to apologise in advance, as this chapter is much shorter than
what all of you are used to. It was only about eight pages in length (size ten text)
instead of the usual fifteen. Still, I feel as if I managed to add everything that needed
to be added here. Hopefully I will be able to get the next chapter out soon enough,
and I would very much like to know everyone's opinions on the end of this chapter,
was I was quite proud of it.
Many thanks to Jovius for betaing this chapter for me; I wouldn't have been able to
get it out this soon without his assistance.
That aside, a new title was finally decided on, as I'm sure all of you noticed: Fortuna
Favet Fatuis. It is a Latin phrase which translates to Fortune Favours [the] Fool[s]. I
felt it was suiting given most of the context of this fanfic, and it seems to flow much
better than the Japanese title - as I also plan to go back and put up BETA'd versions
of earlier chapters soon enough and bring them up to par with what I am able to
currently produce. The phrase itself is a fairly interesting one, and it does have a few
variations - Fortuna Favet Fortibus, Fortune Favours the Bold and Fortibus Fortuna
Favet, Fortune Favours the Brave - but I've always like this one.
I hope you all enjoy the new title and this chapter as well, and I continually thank all
of you for being so patient with me.
Ah, and before I forget, one more note: I finally moved all my Persona stories,
including this one, to the Persona section. I don't know why it took me so long to do
so, but I hope you all forgive me for it.
Chapter Fifteen: Fleeting Feelings
For several moments, Souji could only stare at Naoto in silence. The beginnings of
bags could be seen under her pale eyes, though he was hardly one to judge in that
regard. He knew full well that his own eyes were plagued by dark rings that had
slowly been making themselves more prominent with each passing day over the
course of the past month. If the sleuth appeared exhausted after his absence during
the school trip as she'd looked alright before hand he could only imagine how
hellish he must have looked in comparison. His silence apparently put the detective
on edge, and she awkwardly adjusted her posture and glanced at the entryway
behind him, "... Do you mind if we speak inside?"
"Huh? Ioh. Yes, please..." Stepping aside, Souji motioned for Naoto to enter and

shut the door behind her. This was the first time she'd ever come to the Dojima
Household without him having invited her there as an offering for a rendezvous point
for discussing the case or other such topics. As he watched her take off her shoes
near the door and place them on the mat, the silver-haired male couldn't help but
wonder if he should consider her sudden appearance to be some sort of red flag,
especially given how serious she seemed to be. Naoto was, of course, a fairly
serious individual by nature, but even the young detective didn't often carry herself in
a manner quite as tense as this. It was making Souji worry.
"Naoto?" he called softly, approaching the dark-haired female from behind. "What
happened? Just how... sensitive is this matter?"
Naoto paused, hesitance clear in her voice as she responded, "I suppose that would
depend on how you are using the word 'sensitive'..."
Frowning in response, Souji leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, looking
the detective up and down. She was still far too tense for his liking, and the hopes
that she might calm down once safely inside his uncle's house faded quickly.
Something about the look in her eyes was making the unease that she felt extend to
him, and he was forced to keep a careful grip on his composure. What if the issue
was related to the case? What if she was in danger? So many possible reasons for
what could go wrong shot through his mind at once that he almost forgot he needed
to speak. "If my uncle were to walk in right now... would you be comfortable talking
about this where he could hear?"
A moment of silence passed as Naoto processed the question before she shook her
head with a sigh. "No... this matter relates to only the two of us, and I'd much rather
we continued somewhere private where we won't be overheard or interrupted."
"I see..." The silver-eyed male nodded once and glanced toward the hallway,
gesturing to it with one hand. "Perhaps we should talk upstairs then? Uncle Dojima
and Nanako usually announce themselves when they get home. We'd have time to
react and come back down if they came home early."
"Upstairs?" The detective peered into the hallway and looked up the staircase, a
sudden blush spreading across her cheeks a few seconds later. "You mean your...
bedroom?"
"Well, yes," Souji nodded. "I'm not exactly comfortable with the idea of us using
Nanako's room for this meeting." A soft and strained chuckle followed his statement
that was not at all returned by the sleuth who shuffled awkwardly where she stood.
"I... that's fine. If that is what is required to have this talk, then I've no choice but to

comply. Please, lead the way."

"If it helps, I promise to remain a gentleman throughout your visit. No jokes or
television pranks this time." The silver-haired male offered another faint smile which,
much to his pleasure, was awkwardly returned by the young detective who followed
him to the second floor in silence.
Much to Naoto's surprise, Souji's room was ideally neat and tidy. Books were lined
up nearly upon his bookshelf and no extra rubbish sat upon the floor. The only
particular "mess" of note that she was able to see was a rather large pile of paper
cranes in varying sizes sitting upon the coffee table next to a half-built model robot.
Briefly, her gaze lingered on them as she tried to identify the model, but the
distraction was short-lived as she felt Souji move past her and the purpose of her
visit took over her train of thought.
"Your room is quite clean," the sleuth commented as she stepped further inside and
glanced around. "I admit, I'm impressed. Of course, I've never been inside a male's
room before aside from Grampa and Yakushiji-san... but I've heard they're quite
messy. However, I'm not here to rate the condition of which you keep your room. I've
questions to ask, and I would appreciate if the answers continue the honesty you
have been so kind to offer me up until this point."
With a nod, Souji motioned to the couch pressed up against the wall and took a step
back, waiting for Naoto to move first. "Let's sit down then, hm? We'll be more
comfortable."
Waiting for Naoto to take her seat first, the silver-haired teen walked over to the
couch and sat down beside the sleuth quietly. It wasn't until the other tensed faintly
and straightened herself on the sofa that he realised the position they were in. How
many times during his previous year in Inaba had the two of them sat in these very
seats? How many times had Naoto shyly looked toward the floor and uttered a soft 'I
love you' in response to his own warm voicing of his feelings? How many soft
kisses? Hugs? Hours spent simply sitting in close contact and enjoying one
another's company as they spoke about anything and everything from what had
happened in their classes to the murder cases and even to ideas for dates that,
someday when things were peaceful again, they might be able to take pleasure in.
The thoughts made his heart ache with silent longing for a brief moment before
Naoto's voice broke through his bittersweet thoughts.
"... There has been something that seems to have settled itself in my mind since our
previous unplanned encounter at the hospital," she paused for a moment, watching
Souji out of the corner of her eye as if to make sure he was paying attention. "I was

unable to ignore the matter and your absence during your school trip didn't help me
eliminate the issue from my mind by any means. If anything, I believe that it
somehow made it worse."
"The hospital?" Souji repeated in confusion, "Whatoh." He hesitated, his tone
slipping into one of guilt. "If this is about Sayoko..."
Naoto held up a hand, cutting Souji off before he could finish. "In a sense, she is
indirectly part of the problem."
"Indirectly?"
The young detective's expression changed, a look of deep thought crossing her
features as she tried to properly word what she wished to express in her mind. While
interrogations and confrontations were part of her job as a detective, talking with
others over personal matters like this had always been something she lacked the
talent for. Speaking with her grandfather or the estate's secretary was one thing, but
the bizarre relationship that connected herself and the male beside her was a
strange one, and she still wasn't quite sure how to fully handle it. "...First and
foremost, there is something I would like to know," she paused and raised her gaze
from the ground to meet Souji's directly. "What is your relationship with that nurse?"
Without batting an eye, the silverette met Naoto's eyes without any hesitation.
Something about the way she was asking, her tone and the way she was holding
herself, made him know that he couldn't afford to make any slips of the tongue. It
risked letting everything fall apart, and there was no way he would allow that to
happen. Not after he'd worked so hard to build up everything they had now. "We're
just friends. She flirts with me and I'm fairly sure a few of the other staff members
because it's her way of dealing with her problems and coping with the stress of her
job. She's a bit jaded, I suppose, and that's making her forget why she became a
nurse in the first place. Right now... I'm just trying to help her remember why that
was while earning some extra money as an evening janitor. But... it is harmless.
Awkward, sure, but harmless. I always decline her advances." He shook his head,
"Though that doesn't seem to stop her."
"I see..." Naoto offered a slow nod in response, seeming to accept the answer he'd
given to her. "Regardless of what her intentions are or were, I... I didn't like what I
saw that night. Not in the slightest. Not only was it completely rude and indecent on
her part and most certainly not something that should be done in a work
environment, let alone a hospital but..." She trailed off and looked down, giving the
floor a hard glare.

"It wasn't the poor conduct that affected you most, was it?" Souji asked softly,
reaching out to place his hand on Naoto's shoulder. "What is it? You can tell be as
bluntly as you need to. Don't worry about making it sound proper. We're friends,
right? There's no need to censor yourself for me. I know you're not trying to offend
me."
At first, the sleuth didn't make any effort to respond. Her fists clenched atop her
knees as her glare hardened and she bit the inside of her cheek, carefully shoving
down the sudden urge she had to start shouting. It just didn't make any sense. She
could barely even understand what she was doing here or why she was speaking
about any of this. It shouldn't have mattered. Whatever Souji might have implied
their relationship had been before, that wasn't what it was now, which only proved to
make her current emotions more confusing. Souji was hardly a child, and she was
certain he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself without the assistance of
others. So that lead to the question of why? Why did she care at all?
"You would be correct in that assumption. It it was merely the action itself, not just
her person. I didn't..." she paused, taking a moment to inhale slowly, "... I didn't like it
by any means; none of it. It was almost physically painful to consider what might
have become of the situation if you two had actually been... No, that shouldn't
matter. You've already confirmed that the actions meant nothing, and yet... The
thoughts just won't seem to leave my head. They haven't for several days now... and
they're causing pain-" she placed a hand over her chest "-in this region."
Souji could only stare in shock as he watched the movement of Naoto's hand. He
didn't want to allow himself to believe it; it would only prove to cause him more pain
later when his hopes were shattered, and yet now, looking at her, he couldn't stop
the feeling. "... you were jealous..."
A faint frown tugged at the sleuth's lips as she glanced at Souji out of the corner of
her eye. Somewhere in the pit of her stomach, something churned uncomfortably at
the mention of the word and she found herself gazing at the floor once more. "I
highly doubt it is that," she shook her head slowly. "I just... No, rather... Why would I
be? There is absolutely no reason for me to experience such a feeling."
"Well," the silver-haired male began hesitantly, leaning against the back of the sofa.
"We've been talking almost every day recently, haven't we? The school trip was the
first time we were separated from each other in over a month."
"That is to be expected, is it not? We do not live together, nor do we have any
extracurricular reasons outside of the case that require we see one another and
the case is only something I am participating with you by choice. It is not required

that I collaborate with you. In any case, the school trip was after the fact. I do not see
how it would have affected the event in question."
"I suppose," Souji nodded slowly, feeling his chest clench painfully at Naoto's
bluntness statement of their current relationship. "But we're friends, aren't we? Since
when do friends need a reason to spend time together?"
"W-well..." Naoto hesitated for a moment, then shifted one of her shoulders upward
in a light shrug. "Your point is valid enough; from what I understand, friendship is not
something which requires contract nor reasoning."
"Exactly, but that's not really the point."
"Might I inquire to exactly what it is, then?"
"... How long have you been feeling like that? The, ah, jealous-like feeling. Was it
something that started at the hospital, or was the feeling less prominent before
then?"
Shifting in her seat, Naoto sighed before leaning back. The question caused the
feeling in her stomach to return and she would have been much happier to avoid it
all together. "... Would my answer change the results of what the cause is?"
"It might shed some light on it," the male teen answered casually, "given we're still
trying to figure it out."
The sleuth considered Souji's response before she nodded reluctantly and slowly felt
her resolve start to fade away. "Yes... I suppose that makes sense enough. You've
been honest with me thus far with things that could have easily landed you in an
asylum should I have taken them elsewhere. I wouldn't have given your stories
thought if you'd not given me some sort of proof; though when one considers it, your
story is ridiculous to the point where believing it to be truth makes more sense. After
all, if you were to create a lie, why not a more believable one? The least I can do in
return for your continued honesty is offer the same in return."
Souji didn't respond vocally, but instead nodded once and waited, allowing Naoto the
time she needed. At first, the sleuth was completely silent and did little more than
adjust herself on the couch yet again before reaching for one of the paper cranes on
the table. Turning the folded bird over delicately in her fingers, the dark-haired teen
allowed her shoulders to slump in a moment of weakness as she pulled her arms in
closer to her sides. It was a means of defence, and Souji knew it well, yet at the
same time he recognised it as a gesture he hadn't seen in quite some time; it meant
she was lowering her guard. "It... was not as bad at first, the feeling, that is. Just

after I left the hospital, I thought little of it. However, starting that night, just before I
retired, the feeling returned to me and it continued to grow worse and worse from
there."
"Do..." the silverette hesitated for a moment, then decided to on a whim, "Do the
feelings seem... familiar at all? Like something that used to be there?"
"I don't... Seta-san, I realise what you are trying to imply, but I highly doubt that is the
case," Naoto muttered softly. "I don't... know what is causing it. It... it has somehow
implanted itself into my mind and I can't stop thinking about it. Granted, yes, it is
familiar, yet I know well that it is completely foreign. But what lacks logical sense is
just that; the two are complete opposites. How can one feel both at the same time? It
doesn't... make sense, and yet, with you, Senpai-" Both teens stiffened at the use of
the old nickname, the younger of the two inhaling sharply as she dropped the paper
crane.
"... It always felt like more than a title when you used that with me," Souji said in a
quiet tone. His eyes fluttered closed as he raised his gaze to the ceiling, causing the
bags under his eyes becoming more prominent. "It was a sign of respect, from what I
could tell. We were... equals, we all were, we always were... but I was always happy
to hear you say that. Though I'd be lying if I didn't say I enjoyed my name more."
"You said once that two others used the same nickname. Why would my usage of it
be any different?" Naoto frowned when she didn't receive an answer and leaned in
closer to Souji, peering at his face. "... Have you been sleeping?"
"It was just the way you said-" the pale-eyed pale trailed off and bit the inside of his
cheek. When he thought about it, he should have expected that the sleuth would
notice. Observation and deduction were trademark skills of her profession; he'd
expect nothing less of the 'detective prince'. With a soft groan, he opened his eyes,
their faintly bloodshot appearance seemingly worse as he did so and turned to face
the young female beside him. "... It's not worth lying to you. I've been... having issues
sleeping lately. Nightmares... But it's fine, hones-"
"Don't lie to me."
Souji winced and nodded slowly as he stared at the floor. "They're... recurring.
Always the same thing. It's... a traumatic event in my past."
"Traumatic?" Naoto repeated, watching the other carefully. "I see... From your
'previous' year? Am... I involved?"
Inhaling sharply, Souji leaned forward and brought his elbows to rest on his knees

and buried his face in his hands. The memory was flashing rapidly before his eyes,
and he didn't dare look at the sleuth beside him; he was too afraid she might
disappear and it would all become real. "You... you called me. You were... being
chased by something something I can't begin to describe I wouldn't... know how.
I didn't... ever get to see it. But you... I-I can't... your scream... it's in my head...
always... always in my head..." The silverette shivered and curled himself further
forward and dug his fingers in his hair, tugging the strands.
"Seta-" Naoto paused, cutting herself off as she slowly reached forward and placed
her hand on Souji's cheek, cupping it in a hesitant gesture. Her other hand worked
carefully to pull both his own hands away from his hair. "-Souji-san. I... I am quite
certain that, regardless of the past events which may have happened, they were not
any fault of your own. If I were to take the risk of calling you during such a time that
my life was threatened... Perhaps I have been underestimating the meaning behind
your words when you claimed we were close."
Feeling himself calm down, Souji turned and leaned into the sleuth's touch, allowing
his eyes to flutter closed. "I... never stopped blaming myself for that, Naoto. My fault
or not, the guilt... never left. This our second chance, our only chance, to make
things right again. I can't mess up; there's too much at stake." He sighed and opened
his eyes, gazing at Naoto's wrist blankly. "I'm only trying to do what I believe must be
done to make sure things are better than when I arrived. I couldn't care less what
happens to me during all of that."
"Sou-" Naoto froze, unable to complete her train of thought as the silverette's face
suddenly shifted up towards her own and she noticed the thin, watery trails falling
down his cheeks.
"So long as you and my friends are happy and alive when I leave... then that's all
that matters. I'll have no regrets."
Something inside of Naoto seemed to shift suddenly and, despite how distressed the
situation had been causing her, she could not help but feel oddly calm. Unable to
stop herself, Naoto leaned forward further and grabbed the others cheek between
her palms and forced him to meet her gaze. " I want to understand this all of this
these emotions, this situation, this room, the effects it all has on me... I want to
understand it. Do you realise how frustrating it is to know you're able to remember so
much, yet I can do little more than stand in the dark and trust you blindly on an
instinctual feeling I'd not had before now? Yet I can't stop. I can't seem to stop this
trust. When I think of questioning you of casting doubt I feel disgusted with
myself. Why?"

"... Heh," Souji chuckled weakly in an attempt to dispel some of the tension that was
rapidly growing in the room. "It'd be like questioning Sherlock Holmes, most likely."
"SherlockI beg your pardon? I'm... not following your analogy. How does a
detective of fiction relate to this?"
"It's nothing, don't worry about it. But, Naoto..." Souji's expression turned serious. "It
sounds to me like part of you remembers something. Maybe just a fragment... but
something does. The feelings, the sensations, the you that you used to be..." His
voice trailed off as his eyebrows furrowed and he frowned. I don't get this... Is it her
Persona? Could a Persona's memory be more solid than that of a human? More
stable? But that wouldn't make sense... Why would she have memories shared with
Yamato-Takeru? No... she started with Sukuna-Hikona. But even then... She's not
yet met her Shadow.
"I don't see how that's logically possible. From what you've told me, the others have
not been affected by the memories taken from them of the year you claim to have
passed, and neither do I. I still do not yet know if you are merely playing me for a
fool, but..." Naoto paused and looked down, her hands still on Souji's cheek. "... It is
impossible, but it is as if... No, that sounds ridiculous."
"Maybe, maybe not. It can't be any more-so than the things I've told you," Souji
shrugged lightly. "You're a detective. Instinct and gut are just as important as
evidence... according to my uncle, at least."
"Well, yes..." Naoto nodded and offered Souji a weak smile. "Perhaps your uncle is
wiser than I've given him credit for. He would be correct; a detective's instinct can
often be the vital requirement in a tough situation to save the life of themselves or, at
times, civilians."
"They also don't try to dodge the issues..."
Naoto winced and her gaze fluttered down to her lap. "... Sometimes the smart ones
do. Or perhaps they are the more foolish. It is difficult to tell between the two at
times."
"Speak your feelings then; talk it out."
"Talk it out? That's... much easier said than done, Seta-san. It makes even less
sense than your 'repeated year' theory," Naoto smiled wryly and straightened herself
on the couch.
Slowly, she lifted her body and moved a few inches closer to the silverette before

sitting back down and reaching out unconsciously to cup his cheek once more. Souji
remained perfectly still as he watched the sleuth shift around. Her movements barely
registered in his mind as his gaze remained focused on hers. Their position seemed
so natural to him, it was something he remembered so well and had missed so
dearly, having it linger in front of him teasingly was almost painful, but he knew better
than to act on instinct. Right now, for him at least, that would ruin everything. "Then
perhaps..." he spoke softly, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid his full tone
might frighten the detective away, "you should take action to express those feelings
instead."
"Actions, Set... Souji-san?" The title changed abruptly, but smoothly. The name his
name felt so much more natural on her lips that way. His surname didn't seem
right, not for her to use, anyway. After all that had happened, even if it was barely
over a month at most, it felt so stiff, so formal; so wrong. "I don't understand. What
sort of actions does one take to express confusion? Something foreign to them..."
Souji hesitated, thinking his words over carefully before he spoke, "Let's simplify
things a bit, since they're complicated right now," his tone had turned cautious by
now. Everything he said felt as if the wrong phrase would cause the ground beneath
them to crumble, sending them into an endless chasm that would be impossible to
climb back out of. "...What do you feel like doing right now? That voice, the one you
trust, what is it telling you to do?"
"I..." Naoto swallowed thickly as her lips parted. Sentences were becoming harder
and harder to form and her gaze was constantly moving from the top to the bottom of
Souji's face. It was as if she just couldn't help but look down. "I feel..." She leaned
forward a few inches more, listening to the soft cooing in the back of her mind. "... If I
were to ask you the same question, what would you say? What would you do?"
"Me?" The silver-haired male angled his head a fraction, eyes half-lidded. "I would
just... follow my instincts. Whatever they told me."
"I see... Do instincts often come to you as a 'voice'?"
Smiling faintly, hope shot through Souji as his earlier suspicions of the voice being
what he could only assume was Naoto's unformed Persona perhaps even her
forming Shadow was confirmed. It wasn't the most ethical means of approaching
the topic, but it did work, and it seemed to be what Naoto was able to make sense
of, so he ran with it. "Sometimes... Like when you can sense danger moments
before it happens, or when you have a bad feeling about a location and decide not to
go in. Or even when they tell you to go somewhere or do something. Things of that
nature..." He paused, sucking his cheeks in as he asked softly, "Do you... trust yours

to not lead you down the wrong path?"

Naoto chuckled and licked her lips, offering Souji another faint smile. "Given all that
has been happening as of late, trusting a voice in my own head seems the least
dangerous or worrisome. ... It's just so familiar, and yet... I'm certain I've never heard
this voice before now. Is that strange? Perhaps it makes me sound mad, though... I
suppose you wouldn't consider hearing a voice to be considered a sign of 'madness'
given your current position and after-school endeavours to Junes."
"I believe I said you're the least mad out of anyone I know. I still hold to that
unconditionally." With a soft sigh, Souji closed his eyes and remained still. Hearing
the sleuth say it now, perhaps he was the one going mad. What if this entire situation
was just little more than a dream? In minutes, maybe even seconds, his alarm clock
might go off and pull him from the quiet sanctuary the sofa was currently offering
them and it would all be little more than a blurred memory. How many times had he
sat there with Naoto before? The same distance from one another, the same room,
the same house... It was all the same. All save for the relationship just out of his
grasp he still treasured.
"I see... You must know some fairly unstable persons if a kid detective is to be
considered the normal and sane one. ... I truly don't understand this, any of it. The
voice is shouting, screaming for me to do something, and somehow, despite how
rash and illogical it is... I'm not scared."
"Not everything is as scary as it seems at first. When we finally face the things we're
worried about, it sometimes turns out there was never anything to fear."
"...That is true enough," Naoto murmured and inhaled slowly, feeling her pulse
suddenly quicken as she moved the hand cupping Souji's cheek to his shoulder.
"Souji-san? If Fortune-" she paused, wondering why she had said that of all words,
but quickly continued after, "-were to present herself to you and grant one wish...
What would you ask for?"
"If I could have anything?" Souji opened his eyes, feeling several tears escape the
solid grasp he thought he'd had on them. "... I'd wish that you had your memory
back."
"You're a fool," the sleuth inhaled sharply, feeling her own eyes begin to sting
painfully. "A fool. You could wish for anything at all, anything, to catch the culprit,
riches, anything, and yet you would..." Her voice hitched the octave jumping up to
that of its natural feminine tone, making Souji jump in surprise. He never thought
he'd hear that voice again, not this soon. "Souji-san, I..."

"Nao-" He wasn't able to finish; Naoto had closed the remaining distance between
them before she had lost her nerve. The silverette's pale eyes widened in shock as
his mind clumsily stumbled over the situation the two of them were suddenly in. His
heart had begun to flutter rapidly and sent his pulse racing through his veins in
unbelieving excitement. He hadn't realised he'd moved his arms until they were
already around the young detective's shoulders; strong enough to pull her against
his chest, but weak enough that she might pull away if she wished to do so.
In response, Naoto shifted herself just enough so that she was able to raise her
arms and wrap them around Souji's neck and lean forward against his chest.
Everything about what she was doing was wrong, ridiculously so, she knew she
shouldn't have been kissing anyone, let alone a boy she'd met just last month and
showed her as many things as he had. Yet every reason the sleuth managed to
come up with for not doing so was quickly erased from her mind in favour of pushing
just a little closer, oblivious to her cap falling to the floor between them.
A sudden beep caused Souji's eyes to flutter open as a pale blue glow formed at the
fingertips of their left hands and slowly moved down past their knuckles and palms
before settling on their wrists. He blinked in confusion, torn between curiosity and the
warmth spreading rapidly through his body from their lips. Cautiously, he inhaled
through his nose when he felt his lungs begin to strain, not daring to pull away for
concern of ruining the moment, when suddenly, Naoto went unnaturally rigid.
Fearing for the worst, Souji pulled back and opened his mouth to apologise, but the
words died in his throat when he saw the sleuth begin to shake violently. His eyes
widened in shock as he released his grip on her and placed his hands on her
shoulders, trying to keep the dark-haired female from collapsing forward, as she
suddenly seemed incapable of holding her own weight up. "N-Naoto? Naoto! What-"
Unable to respond, Naoto's body convulsed, strangled gasps escaping her throat as
her fingers and arms jerked and twitched, giving off the appearance like that of
someone suffering from a seizure. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and a
final noise of pain filled the room before she suddenly collapsed, falling limp in
Souji's tense grasp. Horrified, the pale-haired teen stood up, carefully lying the other
down across the length of his sofa and glanced fretfully between his friend's
unconscious body and the door. What could he do what should he do? Each and
every worst-case scenario was rushing through his mind, making him feel sick to his
stomach.
"Naoto..." Souji muttered, brushing her hair out of her eyes. He could feel the faint
brush of her breath over his palm, but it was doing little to comfort him. She was still
alive, admittedly, and that was the best thing he could have asked for, yet after what

had just happened... part of the silver-haired teen was terrified she might not be for
much longer. "... I'm so sorry, I don't know what's going on. I... I..."
The sleuth was cold to the touch, icily so, and that was what motivated his fear to
grow. It wasn't natural, if anything, Naoto currently felt like that of a corpse.
Swallowing his own growing unease, the silverette leaned forward and wrapped his
arms around the sleuth as best he could without shifting her. His head rest gently
upon her shoulder, and his torso lightly laid across hers, the bulk of his weight having
been shifted to his knees to avoid causing any harm. Then slowly, painfully slowly,
he felt the detective's body begin to warm up. "Naoto..."
A soft groan escaped Naoto's lips as she opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a rush
of nausea shoot through her. Her stomach turned uncomfortably as she tried to
regain her bearing, not liking the odd sensation of moving backwards that had
settled over her. The darkness wasn't helping either; why on earth would Souji have
turned off all the lights? Or maybe it was night-time? With a sigh, the sleuth moved
to stand up but was suddenly stopped as the sound of movement in front of her
made her jump.
"Welcome," an unfamiliar voice said, "to the Velvet Room."

Where Do We Go From Here?

It's been such a long time since I've uploaded a chapter here... I'm a little worried I've
lost my touch, but I really hope I've been able to hold my ability to write. I don't know
if anyone has been following my blog, but I'd intended to upload this chapter back in
January, however, I ended up running into a LOT of health problems. I was in the ER
at least four times and spent several nights in the hospital. On top of two surgeries...
it's been a wild rush. I'm so sorry for the delay, but I just... hope you all enjoy this. I'm
going to try hard to never take a break as long as I have previously again, but I can
only do so much with health.
Still, thank you. Thank you so much to everyone who has waited patiently and
supported me and encouraged me to take all the time I needed. Thank you, and I
dedicate this chapter to everyone who has sent me a message or followed my tumblr
and just... encouraged me.
My tumblr is now under fortunesrevolver, so if anyone wants to see what's going on
there, I'm always open to questions or just talking.
Enjoy the chapter!
EDIT: Now with (hopefully) less typos and LINES! Fanfiction is letting me add them
now. Celebrate. This is... a sloppy return. I'm so sorry. If there are more typos I
missed, please don't hesitate to point them out. I'll get them fixed as soon as
possible.
Chapter Sixteen: Where Do We Go From Here?
"Welcome," an unfamiliar voice said, "to the Velvet Room."
When her eyes finally came back into focus, Naoto found her gaze locked with that
of a small, elderly man with bloodshot eyes and what appeared to be a proboscis
protruding from the centre of his face. For several long moments, she found herself
unable to turn away, stunned by both the man's bizarre appearance and his
unusually happy grin. As she tried to comprehend everything that had happened to
her in the past few minutes, she almost missed the stranger beginning to speak. "It
seems that you've finally awoken to your previous life; splendid!"
"I" Naoto paused and gave her head a firm shake. Part of her was tempted to slip
a hand under the sleeve of her jacket and give the arm beneath it a firm pinch. The
difference between dreams and reality was easy enough to discern when one knew

how to test themselves, but it seemed rude to perform such acts in the company of
another. As unlikely as if was, if she were awake, she didn't need to give this man
any more advantage than she already had or at least seemed to have.
Glancing around, she felt something in her stomach plummet as she realised they
were moving. She was in a car, a limo at that, and it was moving down a road she
couldn't see. Most of the windows were far too dark, and the window behind the old
man himself was far too fog-covered to make out any shapes. It seemed extremely
unlikely that Souji would have handed her off to a complete stranger while
unconscious hadn't she lost consciousness? but the composure she so often
prided herself on was still left shattered on the floor for her to clumsily pick up in her
confusion. "I beg your pardon?"
"Ah," the elderly man chuckled and waved his hand through the air with a light,
carefree flick of his wrist, "forgive my lack of manners. My name is Igor, and this is
my assistant, Margaret. We have been charged with assisting the one who has the
power to alter the course of fate."
It wasn't until Igor had pointed her out that Naoto finally noticed the woman with pale
blonde hair sitting silently on the right side of the car. How she'd managed to miss
another presence in the car completely, she could only guess, but when brought
under consideration, a quiet onlooker was the least of her worries. Her mind had
finally begun to catch up with the situation and the memories of before and after her
recent endeavours with Souji flooded her mind alongside a vast many others she
didn't recognise a few moments ago.
The sudden rush made her stomach churn violently and a hand flew up to her mouth
just as her shoulders lurched and she stifled a gag. Margaret who she hadn't seen
or heard move was at her side in an instant and rubbing her back. On the other
end of the limo, Igor watched with an expression of understanding and underlying
concern. Each cough made Naoto's entire body lurch forward; dry heaving with the
effort to keep whatever was left in her stomach from the carpeted floor below.
Colours swirled in front her eyes, fitting together into shapes and images she barely
had time to register before more appeared in a rush before it stopped without
warning.
"The course of fate?" Naoto asked, swallowing a thick lump in her throat as she
tried to straighten herself. Beside her, Margaret's features were torn between
bewilderment and concern. Naoto's recovery had been almost as swift and
surprisingly more graceful than Souji's had been, though if the colour of her face
was anything to go by, she was pushing herself just as hard as he did to appear
alright. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you meanNo, that's hardly the proper

question to preface with. Where are we? Why am I here? Or rather, would it be more
suiting to ask how I got here?" The inquiries slipped out one after another, but they
were barely the tip of the iceberg currently building in the sleuth's mind. Somehow
she knew this wasn't a mystery she'd be able to solve from mere deduction and
observation.
"In a sense," Margaret began as she stood up and slowly moved back to her own
seat once she was certain Naoto could right herself, "this place is a realm within the
mind of the one you were just with."
"This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter It is a room only
those bound by a contract may enter just as our current young charge has." Igor
grinned, an odd gleam to his eyes as he spoke. "Which makes it all the more
extraordinary that you yourself are here. It is curious; very curious indeed."
Naoto frowned in response and looked between the two people sitting before her. If it
hadn't been for the complete certainty that she'd just been in Souji's room and the
fact that this car had absolutely no doors and from a quick glance over her
shoulder, no driver combined with the bizarre and foggy nothingness outside the
windows, she would have been skeptical. Though skepticism seemed a rather odd
concept to consider when the male whose mind she was supposedly in had shown
her more than once that he could stick his hand inside a television; having a
metaphorical room inside his mind didn't seem that strange in comparison.
"To put it simply," the female attendant continued as she brought her hands up to
rest upon a thickly-bound book in her lap, "we're here to help Souji. We were the
ones who gave him the chance to fix what happened in the past where his contract
was left incomplete and your opposing force achieved victory."
"Opposing force?" Naoto's shoulders fell as her eyebrows came together and she
stared at the floor. "I see Then our suspicions that we were unable to solve the
case were correct. That would explain the lack of a culprit in his memories and
mine."
"Do you" Margaret's frowned as she leaned forward to better look at Naoto's face.
"What is the last thing you remember?"
Naoto paused and closed her eyes as she carefully played the recently required
memories over in her mind. Flashes of faces and locations she'd come to know and
care for appeared in her mind, each clip growing fuzzier as time grew closer to the
end of the year. It was like watching an old reel-film that was missing several scenes
and partially covered in dust. "I'm not certain what should be considered the 'last'

thing," she repeated softly with a shake of her head. "There isn't a consistency in the
time between them, although the last events I am able to clearly recall occurred
shortly before Christmas. I had given Senprather, Souji-san, his Christmas gift
early, as I was concerned about the circumstances we were currently in, and then"
She trailed off, biting her lip as she tried to make sense of the memory lingering in
the back of her mind.
"And then?" the blonde attendant encouraged gently, motioning for Naoto to keep
going.
"I was running I was running away from something. A big, dark shape pursuing me
through the streets of Inaba, and I knew I wouldn't be able to escape. I remember
being cold and exhausted and I was frightened, but I wanted to warn him." Naoto
shook her head, "No I needed to warn him of what was coming. I called Souji-san
with the hope that, if forewarned, he might be able to take offensive action or
escape. I remember him answering his phone, and then nothing." Naoto sighed
and fell against the back of her seat with a frown. Irritation was beginning to build in
the back of her mind; for all the answers she'd gained, she was left with almost twice
as many questions. "There is a frustrating amount of 'nothing,' for lack of a better
explanation. It would seem my memories are somewhat fragmented. The ones
related to Souji-san, at least, the ones created with him are impressively clear, yet
those related to my other comrades they're much murkier."
"Fragmented?" Margaret repeated, casting a questioning glance at Igor, who merely
shrugged in response, his grin never faltering. "I see Souji's were not nearly as
broken, it seems. Is there anywhere it is particularly bad?"
Naoto's response was immediate. "Yes In September I'm not sure what
happens. I can remember small things, but they seem rather meaningless. It's as if I
can remember the things I did that day, but not what they mean. I can remember
walking down streets and going to buildings, but not what I did there or why." Like a
puzzle with missing pieces or the answer to a hard question in a language she didn't
understand. "As I said before, some are stronger and clearer than others, but"
Igor held up a hand, silently indicating that Naoto didn't need to continue. She fell
silent quickly, her calculating gaze alternating between Igor and Margaret critically.
The idea that this was another one of Souji's little 'stunts' like the one he'd pulled at
Junes upon their 'second' official meeting was quickly beginning to fade away. It
wouldn't be like him to keep a joke running this long, and while she had come to
understand he was capable of a great many things, somehow memory alteration and
transfer didn't seem like one of them. She'd always prided herself on the ability to
think rationally and take stressful situations in stride, but recent events, especially

this so-called 'Velvet Room' were pushing her control to its limit.
"That will do for now," Igor hummed, his ever-present grin softening into something
much gentler. Despite the amount of joy and entertainment he received from his job
especially when it offered such unusual surprises like this he knew well the
amount of stress the Velvet Room could cause on those without the protection of the
Wild Card. "You mustn't strain yourself here; it would be unfortunate if we were
unable to return you in the condition of which you came."
"I bet your pardon?" Naoto tensed, eyes narrowing in distrust as a trickle rushed
down her spine.
Beside Igor, Margaret gave a soft 'tut' of disapproval and shook her head. She knew
well her master had good intentions, but his sense of humour was not always
appreciated by others. "Don't mind him," she assured with a gentle smile, "he does
mean well. But if you'll allow me to take over, perhaps I might be able to better
explain what is going on"
Souji sat on the floor of his bedroom with his back pressed against the sofa. Every
few minutes, his eyes would flick over his shoulder at Naoto, carefully examining her
for any sign of movement before his gaze would return to his wrist. Slender fingers
brush gingerly over the face of a black wristwatch and obscured the bright green
digital text. His lips were drawn into a thin frown, his eyebrows knit closely together
as he continued to stare, as if expecting the watch to start speaking and explain
what was happening. It had all happened so quickly, and the unconscious state of
the detective currently slumbering on his sofa was doing nothing for his mind. With a
sigh, he shut his eyes and let his head fall back as his mind began to drift.
"Souji-san, I know it's early, but I'd like you to have this," Naoto explained in a
quiet tone as she offered Souji a small, white box wrapped in dark blue ribbon.
"Things have been questionable lately, and while I have full confidence we will pull
through and solve this case, I don't want to have any regrets if something should go
wrong."
"Nothing will," Souji replied, his tone laced with forced assurance as he offered
Naoto a gentle smile. "We've overcome all the trials up until now. We can't lose
hope."
"I realise that, but"
"Don' t worry about it," he shook his head and bent down, lifting Naoto ' s hat to
press a brief kiss to her forehead. "Thank you We ' ll have to return to my Uncle ' s

on the way back. Your gift is still in my room." He chuckled at the surprise on her
face as he brought the package up closer to his face to examine it as he tugged the
ribbon away. The lid lifted with ease, revealing what appeared to be a digital watch
nestled atop a small padding cushion. The shape of its face was larger than most
watches and slightly unusual in shape, but not to the point of inconvenience.
Curious, he pocketed the lid and took the watch in his hand, looking up as Naoto
raised her arm to reveal a similar device on her own wrist.
"Much like the tools we found together, I made these myself They're part of a set.
Y-you see Your watch can tell you where I am, and um" she trailed off, looking
down and away as colour began to blossom across her cheeks. "Mine can do the
same; it can tell me where you are. I meanit's a toy at best. They only have a
range of a few metres, but" Her cheeks darkened further still with something that
Souji suspected had nothing to do with the chilly air as he smiled.
"Oh? Is that so? You're not stalking me, are you, detective?"
"What?!" Naoto's eyes widened in alarm as she looked up. "W-well, that's I hadn't
"
"Heh," Souji chuckled and shook his head, taking Naoto's hand in his own to give it a
light squeeze. "I was just kidding."
"Senpai! You you ' re completely insufferable sometimes."
"Naoto" Souji sighed as his mind returned to the present and he opened his eyes,
his expression twisted. "Please wake up."
"I see" Naoto's brow furrowed as she attempted to sort through all the information
she'd just been given. "I trust Souji-kun is already aware of all these facts as well?"
Margaret nodded in response. "Yes, we explained all of this to him at the time he
received his own memories. However, there is one more thing you must be aware
of"
"Yes?"
"Just like Souji, you are missing key memories that heavily influenced the path which
lead you to the unfortunate end both of you found. While we didn't review them
ourselves, they're missing because you must once again consider and make a
choice based on your previous experiences and actions; it is your 'second chance.' It
is possible your original memories may return to you as the events come to pass, but

my master and I only know so much about your situation. Something like this has
never happened before, and the results are as much a mystery to us as it is to you."
"I will keep that in mind," Naoto frowned slightly, giving the car around her a slightly
weary glance. "Will I be returned here each time that happens, or?"
"I don't believe so, but" Margaret frowned, turning back to the man beside her.
"Master?"
Igor shook his head twice, then stilled. "This place is only meant for one who holds a
contract to enter. It seems that it was your bond with the Wild Card memories
which traversed to you through him which allowed you here. Think of it as a key
found in your dreams that could only be used once." He paused, his gaze briefly
falling on Naoto's wrist before returning to her face. "Perhaps in due time, you will
return once again, but your time here is limited. I cannot speak for what powers
allow you here, but they are quickly diminishing."
"It was a pleasure to finally meet one who holds a bond with him," Margaret spoke,
her gaze warm as she regarded Naoto curiously. "I am glad to see that his bonds
have held strongly to him, even after having lost them to time. I look forward to
seeing how you will assist him in changing fate, Naoto Shirogane."
"I" Naoto trailed off, straightening herself in the seat. She'd never told either of
them her name.
"Splendid!" Igor cried out suddenly, making Naoto jump as he spread his arms, "We
have told you everything that you need know, but it is time you returned home. I bid
you good luck, and farewell."
"Iwait, but what" Before she could finish, white obscured Naoto's vision as the
Velvet Room dissolved before her eyes.
As she opened her eyes, the dim lighting of the surrounding room took Naoto by
surprise. It had been brighter when she was talking to Souji, she was certain of it.
Unease settled in her stomach as she pushed herself into a sitting position and
looked around. The set-up of the room was all-too-familiar, but how she'd arrived,
she didn't know. Her gaze drifted from the comforter on the bed to the nearby desk,
then over to the bookshelves lining the far wall. Going off her dazed sense of fatigue,
she could assume she'd been asleep for some time, but if her memories were to be
trusted, the last place she'd been was Souji's room. It begged the question of how
she'd managed to arrive in her own.

With eyebrows knit together, she raised a hand to her lips, as if searching for the
lingering warmth of the last physical gesture she remembered. Warmth quickly
began to pool in her stomach, spreading up her chest and across her cheeks as
images of Souji's face danced across her mind; how close they'd been, the long,
curved eyelashes that framed his silver eyes with flecks of darker grey that
glimmered in just the right lighther thoughts came to an abrupt halt.
She'd kissed him.
She'd kissed someone she'd only known for a few months or at least, someone
she thought she'd known for a few months. That place, the car of dark plush seats
she'd been sitting in only moments earlier the 'Velvet Room,' if she remembered
correctly the man and woman she'd met there had said otherwise. If the situation
at hand was any different, she might have blamed all of this on an obscure dream
brought on by a lack of sleep and spending too much time with Souji. Yet, Souji had
managed to prove most of the stories he'd told her. Not to mention that he seemed
very capable of slipping his hand inside a television and all the victims of the current
kidnapping cases seem to flock to him. In comparison, the Velvet Room seemed a
much tamer idea. If that evidence weren't enough; the memories certainly were.
Even if she hadn't had them before going to Souji's house to speak with him, she
knew with a gut certainty that they were hers. While it was very plausible to give
someone fake memories, the time and mental manipulation that it would have taken
didn't add up to how quickly she acquired them. Nor would it make any logical sense
as to why it would be done to her and not an actual officer of the law or someone
with high influence in Inaba.
"I remember" she murmured, inhaling sharply as her eyes widened. "Souji-kun, he
" The sound of her door opening cut the train of thought short. With a jerk, Naoto
raised her head quickly and opened her mouth to speak, only to lose her thoughts a
second time as a very concerned Yakushiji rushed over to her bedside.
"Naoto-sama" Yakushiji sighed heavily as he brought a hand to his chest,
shoulders slumping. "You're finally awake Thank goodness."
"Finally?" Naoto repeated with a frown. The concern she'd felt upon waking rushed
back as she clutched the edge of her blanket under white knuckles. She must have
lost consciousness at the Dojima household; but if she'd managed to not only be
moved from Souji's room to her own, she had to have been out for almost an entire
day. The mere thought was enough to make her alarm double. "How long have I?"
"Two days." Yakushiji answered as he pulled a chair up to the bedside and sat down.
"We had a doctor come to the house at the request of the Master, but they were

unable to find any cause for your collapse; your vitals were completely normal. There
was an issue of slight malnourishment something your grandfather wishes to
speak to you about but aside from that, the only reason they could discern was
that you must have collapsed from exhaustion."
"I see" The information was concerning, but not all that surprising. Given the
circumstances, Naoto didn't see reason to argue nor try and correct the fretting
secretary. Attempting to explain that she'd been in some form of stasis in the mind of
another likely wouldn't have gone over well, and there was no reason for her to give
Yakushiji reasons to fret over her health. Her recent collapse had done enough. "Is
Grampa here, then?"
Nodding, Yakushiji straightened himself in his chair and motioned toward the door.
"Shirogane-sama has taken a few days off and travelled here from the estate. He felt
it would be best if he were to remain here in the apartment with you."
"There isn't a need for-" Naoto cut herself short with a heavy sigh. She'd been here
before; the last time she'd gotten a fever had nearly ended with a hospital visit and a
very paranoid grandfather. For as level-headed as the man always was, Naoto knew
better than to fight against her grandfather when he was worried. No amount of
assurances would ease his nerves until he saw for himself that she was alright. His
company wasn't unwelcome either way; it would be nice to see him again now that
she'd taken up residence away from the main house in Inaba.
"He's currently in your front room. Shall I tell him you're awake?"
"No" Naoto shook her head and moved to the side of the bed, sliding her legs out
from under the thick covers. "I'd rather speak with him in the study; I've been in this
bed far too long as it is."
"The master acquired a wheelchair to assist you with movement. I could easily bring
it here to-"
"That won't be necessary," Naoto cut him off with another shake of the head. "I'd
rather walk for the time being; the study is close enough to make on my own. I can
only assume he'll want to talk once he knows I'm coherent."
Yakushiji hesitated, then offered a nod in return. "The master has been very
worried."
"Then if you don't mind bringing me my robe, I'll make my way to the study presently.
I need to speak to him as well."

"Right away, Naoto-sama."

The fresh smell of tea had begun to fill the air as Misanori entered the study. "Oh,
my" he smiled gently as he settled down in one of the thick plush chairs near a
bookcase. "You're not making an attempt to butter me up, are you?" He inhaled
again, immediately recognising the aroma of his favourite blend. "There's no need to
win any favour, you know."
With a faint smile of her own, Naoto shook her head at the playful jab and leaned
forward, motioning to the small plat sitting beside the teapot. "Yakushiji-san thought
we might enjoy refreshments. I only made the request for teacakes."
"Oh? How very thoughtful of him." Misanori hummed thoughtfully as he bent forward
to prepare both cups. "However, before we begin Are you quite certain you feel up
for a talk? You've had a very eventful past few days. I would not be offended should
you wish to rest longer."
"I'm fine, grampa. I'm fatigued, yes, but little more. Talking is hardly a straining
endeavour, and the movement is likely good for me after being stationary for so
long."
Misanori nodded once and slide a steaming teacup across the table before settling
back in his chair. "Very well; but should you need to rest, don't hesitate to say so. I
would sooner wait than see you back in poor health. That aside, there is much I wish
to discuss with you. I've a particular interest regarding your friend. Seta-san, yes?"
"Souji Seta, yes," Naoto nodded slowly as the corners of her mouth tugged
downward. "If you believe he did something to cause my accident, I assure you,
you're mistaken. Souji-kun is odd, perhaps, but he's hardly violent."
"Ah you wound me, my dear," Misanori chuckled, "I had thought nothing of the
sort. His uncle assures me that the young man is of the utmost impeccable
character. I hear he even assists at the day-care care up on the hill. Did you know?"
"He" Naoto paused, uncertain how to table the knowing smile on her grandfather's
face. She had a sneaking suspicion that letting him know just how much she did
know about Souji was bound to backfire in some manner. Everything that she knew
about interrogations she'd learned from the very man she was speaking to; including
the more subtle methods of knowledge assessment. "He has mentioned having
taken on a few part-time jobs before. I never inquired as to the specifics."
"I see" Misanori took a slow sip at his drink as he regarded Naoto thoughtfully.

"You two are in the process of getting better acquainted then, I assume?"
"That is an accurate assumption. If memory serves, I believe you had encouraged
me more than once to pursue friendships over the duration of my stay in Inaba."
"I did, yes," he nodded in response, "Though I admit, I had not expected you to so
readily follow through with my advice; much less with the nephew of a local
detective. I was under the impression that most of the department had been a
source of more than a little frustration for you."
"I was not aware of his relationship with Dojima-san initially." Naoto paused, pursing
her lips together as she peered down at her tea. The cup was warm against her
chilled fingers, and gave them a slight tingling sensation. Uncomfortable, perhaps,
but a comfort; it reminded her that she was no longer trapped in a dream. Even with
the current subject was staying close to something that left a bitter taste in her
mouth. "However Compared to most of Inaba's police force, Dojima-san has been
much more tolerable. He is strict and gruff, but fair. A fact of which I am most grateful
for."
"Oh? I must agree. He is a good man at heart, and very much dedicated to all he
does Though he does have a rather unfortunate habit of bumbling about certain
things." There was an odd gleam in Misanori's eyes as he spoke, his focus slipping
from the room before he gave his head a soft shake. The distraction did not go
unnoticed by Naoto, but she remained silent; the small slip might be of use later. "He
and I spoke at length the night you were brought back here, in fact."
"I is that so?" Naoto's eyes widened a fraction, her attention pulled away from the
cup in her hand. "I would have assumed Yakushiji-san would have simply made use
of the car to bring me back here."
"Indeed he did, however, when I heard you'd collapsed, I felt it best that I join him. I
trust your judgment and independence without doubt, I assure you, but you are still
my granddaughter. I would hate for anything to happen to you while I was so far
away"
"Grampa, I I had not meant to worry you nor anyone else. The case in Inaba is
more tenacious and involved than I ever could have expected. I just It seems I've
simply been pushing myself too hard as of late without realising it."
Shaking his head, Misanori offered a weak smile in response as he picked up one of
the small teacakes from their platter. A glisten had replaced the playful gleam in his
eyes, but it disappeared almost as quickly as Naoto noticed it. "It happens to the
best of us. Sometimes the desperation for answers calls louder than most else. I am

just glad you are alright and you managed to have such a devoted friend with you
when this happened."
"Devoted?"
"He was quite worried about you. That is, I would imagine he is not naturally that
pallid. Though I was fairly impressed with the thoroughness in which he took care of
everything. He'd even gone as far as to give you his bed while he contacted
everyone."
"Wh-what?" Naoto struggled to keep her face impassive as a dusting of pink quickly
spread across her cheeks. "I was in hisI would have expected he'd simply leave
me on the sofa. I was certain I'd been sitting there before I passed out."
"I imagine he only wished for you to be comfortable. Though he asked me to offer his
sincerest apologies for having removed your hat and tie without your permission."
"Th-That's" Naoto coughed, quickly taking a deep gulp of tea to try and cover the
further darkening of her cheeks. She knew Souji had a habit of being overzealous
with his help, but she would have been just fine on the sofa. The thought of lying in
his bed, especially with the new rush of memories, was enough to leave her pulse
fluttering. "In any case, I would expect it's normal for one to feel a great deal of
concern should they see their friend collapse. I'd be somewhat offended had he felt
nothing."
"Indeed, indeed But I can't help but feel as if Seta-san's concern was slightly
stronger than that."
"Stronger, grampa?" Naoto's fingers tightened unconsciously around the handle of
her cup. Her chest tightened as the increased rhythm of her pulse continued to
dance in her chest. She knew the look on her grandfather's face all too well. It was
the same look he got when he picked up on a particularly helpful clue in a tough
case. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."
"I mean, he did not act like a young man simply concerned for an exhausted
comrade."
"I We have spent a great deal of time together. As I'm sure you know, working on a
case together can build fast relationships between working partners."
"Oh, yes, of course. I daresay that is most true, as you would well know. Still young,
perhaps, but I did find an acceptable man in our Yakushiji."

"Indeed my point. Yakushiji-san would be most concerned if you were to suddenly

collapse."
"Perhaps, but I am also much later on in my years than you."
"I don't think-"
"Naoto, you'll have to forgive me," Misanori set his teacup aside and brought his
hands together, steepling his fingers in front of his chin, "but I must insist on forgoing
any further discretion in our conversation. You both have known each other for I
believe two or three months at most. Is that correct?"
"close to that, yes."
"I am most curious as to your own perspective on your relationship with Seta-san."
"My perspective, grampa?"
"In particular, the level of commitment he clearly has for you. That is, assuming you
have noticed it as well"
"I don't think that-"
"Were you able to thank him for the gifts you received on your birthday?"
Naoto coughed, jerking as she nearly inhaled a mouthful of tea. Concerned, Misanori
immediately made to stand up, but was quickly waved off as she cleared her throat.
"I beg your pardon? The"
"Yaksuhiji-san made it a point to check them and informed me of his findings."
"His findings?" Naoto frowned, setting her tea aside. "You conducted an investigation
on gifts I received several months ago while I was unconscious?"
"Of course not," Misanori shook his head. "He conducted an investigation as soon as
the package arrived on our doorstep. He is not an amateur I realise in retrospect, I
likely should have warned you of our unrequested assistance, but I fear in our
business, packages from unknown sources often raise a red flag."
With a soft sigh, Naoto relaxed in her seat. Displeased though she was, the
frustration was quickly dying down. More than once dangerous packages from
displeased clients and convicted felons had appeared on the doorstep of the
Shirogane Estate. "I would appreciate a warning the next time you wish to
investigate anything addressed to me. I am perfectly capable of performing such

checks myself, however I still fail to understand why this is being brought up now."
"Because I am concerned that you do not view him as he views you. I do not wish
to see you hurt."
"I don't"
"Naoto" Misanori sighed softly, "Please understand I am not trying to belittle nor
treat you childishly, but I know very well what tends to happen. I've seen many faces
pushed away from you over the course of your career I do not want to see you
alone again."
"I won't be." Naoto frowned and shook her head. "Souji is a great number of things,
but he is neither an abuser of relationships nor someone out to gold-dig for
connections."
Taken aback, Misanori blinked slowly from behind his spectacles to watch Naoto.
The swiftness of her response had been more than unexpected; it was the first time
he'd ever seen it. Relationships were a fleeting and business-based prospect that
he'd always regretted he was not able to better assist her with. "I see" he nodded
once, reclaiming his tea with a small, amused smile. "It seems I've been worried for
nothing then. He appears quite important to you. I'm impressed; it is amazing to
think just how closer two can bond in so little time."
"I I had not implied we were close. I just meant he is one who has earned my trust
and loyalty, just as I have his." It was the beginning of a futile effort and Naoto was
more than aware of it. Misanori's eyebrows had risen at her response, and each
nervous twitch only acted as a catalyst for his amusement.
"I don't think I've ever heard you use that word in reference to anyone outside the
immediate household."
"I just meant-" Trailing off, Naoto cleared her throat and shifted her focus back to her
tea once more. Everything she said was only digging her already deep hole deeper.
All the tricks of deception she knew had been learned from the very man she was
attempting to use them on. It was only natural it wouldn't work.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," Misanori mused. "Given the amount of hard
work you must have put into those watches-"
"How did you-" Naoto trailed off. Her grandfather was no longer looking at her face,
but down near her lap. With a sinking feeling, she lowered her gaze to match his and
felt something in her stomach drop. Her watch was on her wrist, just as it was almost

constantly. The weather had been warmer lately, and without sleeves to hide it, it
was only natural that he'd likely seen the match to her watch on Souji's wrist. "If you
were already aware of the type of relationship we shared, why have you bothered
with this childish interrogation?"
"Perhaps it is just thatI am a childish old man who worries too much." Misanori's
hands came together, his gentle smile back in place. "Forgive me, I just wanted to
hear the words from you. As your guardian, and as your grandfather, your well-being
means a great deal to me. Though perhaps I suffer from the enigma of worrying too
much"
"Grampa" Naoto began, only to cut herself short as her eyes narrowed. "Grampa."
"Is something the matter?"
"You interrogated him."
"Interrogated? Of course not; I'd never resort to such tactics when he was already in
such a tense mood. I may be mischievous, but I'm hardly heartless."
"No but your sense of humour does not always line-up with those around you."
"I assure you, Naoto, he was smiling by the end of our conversation. Now that you're
awake, I will finally be able to make good on the proposal I made."
"Dare I ask?"
"You're most free to; I've no reason to hide the answer. I just asked Seta-san if he
would be willing to join us for dinner."
"You what? B-but" Naoto hesitated. She'd enjoyed meals with Souji before, but
they'd almost always been spent exclusively alone. Restaurants were one issue, but
having Souji over formally for dinner, with her grampa no less, sent a nervous wave
through her stomach. Granted, she met Souji's guardian already, but that had been
through work, and she hadn't initially been aware of it. This was something much
more intimate. "My apartment is hardly suited for elaborate entertainment and-"
"That is why I invited him to the estate. You are, of course, welcome to join us if you
so please. It had only been my hope to get to know this boy who has caught my
Naoto's attention."
"just how long have you been planning this?"

"Oh, never you mind," Misanori hummed pleasantly, "For now, just finish up your tea
and get back to your rest. Yakushiji-san said he'd start preparing dinner once we
were done talking."
"You truly are becoming more devious on your later years, grampa." Naoto sighed,
"I can't help but feel as if this entire 'dinner plan' were already set to go before I even
made it home."
"That's only your imagination. I would have respectfully backed off if Seta-san had
appeared uncomfortable. It isn't my place to interfere with your personal life Not
unless it was truly called for."
"Called for? What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing at all." Misanori chuckled, "Just keeping my options open."
"It feels as if you're keeping your chances for schemes open. Really, grampa"
"I promise you, I'd never scheme anything improper. Seta-san simply seems to be a
perfectly acceptable young man and I would like to understand him a little more."
"He seems to have earned much of your approval already," Naoto murmured with
a faint smile. "I suppose I should be grateful you've not yet decided to show him your
firearm collection."
"Oh? No, no, of course not." Misanori grinned, "I felt you would be disappointed if I
took that honour from you. Though do be kind and mention to the poor boy that most
of them are antiques. We needn't make him fear for his life."
Unable to stop herself, Naoto laughed quietly and her smile grew. "I hadn't intended
on doing so. I had thought to save that knowledge if I ever needed leverage."
"Oh?" Misanori smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Like grandfather, like granddaughter, I
see."
"We are influenced by those who raise us, are we not?"
"Indeed they are" Raising his cup, Misanori's smile only grew. "Indeed they are."
Author's note: In the Golden, if you join Naoto for New Year's, she mentions having
an apartment of her own when she invites Souji there for what is assumed to be the
rest of the afternoon. In her social link, she also mentions "returning to the estate"

which gave me the assumption that Misanori is likely not there with her, but close
enough (perhaps a train stop or two.) Going off that, I did a little research about
layouts of Japanese apartments and found some that had two or three bedrooms
outside a living space that was generally connected with a kitchen. I'm guessing that
Naoto would likely try to acquire one with two rooms, and one of the bedrooms
would be converted into a study of sorts (in order to keep her work away from where
she slept) and then the living space would likely only held the basics (likely also the
location of her television, though I'd guess she would later acquire a small one for
the bedroom or study after having acquired her Persona.)
I suppose I'm just pointing this out to explain why Yakushiji was not in the room with
Naoto and Misanori while they were talking and not just standing in her bedroom. He
was likely resting in the study or something.