He'd confessed – and now Taro Namatame was locked away behind bars.
That had been more than enough to satisfy the majority of the police force in Inaba; and finally draw the serial murder case to a close.
Although the Investigation Team led by Yu Narukami had seen their leader off with a smile, an air of gloom still lingered about the town in the following months…
The fact couldn't be ignored: that the world inside the TV still existed… it was clear enough from the fog, which was still creeping its way over their homes.
And for those who weren't afraid to consider it, the facts set out in clear front of them just didn't appear to match up.
…Something felt unfinished; and they all knew it, deep down.
And then there was the dreaded thought… that such a calamity could easily occur again…
The desolate silence of the shadow world seemed to be stretching on forever; and the squishy patter of paws wandered to and fro, as Teddie's heart grew heavy.
"S-Sensei…? Is that you?"
No.
The words were no sooner out, than he realised.
Narukami was no longer even in Inaba. He knew this, despite not having been there to see him off back to the city.
As yellow and black swirled the air above him, his loneliness became apparent once again – and it hurt.
Not wanting to continue being a burden on his friends – and to keep the promise he made – he'd returned to his own world, just before the Investigation Team apprehended Namatame… but that wasn't to say that the bear didn't feel more lost and empty than ever before.
"Someone's… here?"
If not his beloved Sensei… then who?
He couldn't recognise the faint, yet distinct, presence.
Maybe…
"…K-Kiti-chan?!"
He called louder that time, disturbing the already restless shadows nearby.
"Kiti-chaaan?!"
But unsurprisingly, he received no response.
One thing was certain: whoever they were, he knew this person.
The mere thought suddenly flooded him with nostalgia, and a flurry of emotions that he'd near forgotten.
…His senses really weren't what they used to be, though.
Was there really anyone here? Would they be… looking for him?
"Please… Can someone please answer?"
It was one place that she had hoped to forget entirely.
But when the "Detective Prince" opened her eyes, and found herself surrounded by the haunting memory of the secret base - strapped to that same operating table – she was thrown quickly into panic.
"W-What?"
A breathless gasp left her throat, as she tugged at her wrists. Bound fast by cold metal shackles, her struggling amounted to nothing, and only gave her a sinking feeling.
…
A voice.
Naoto jerked her head at the sound of the sickeningly familiar tone. A figure had appeared at the far end of the table; sitting quite comfortably with their legs draped over, and a smile on their face.
"You're here! I'm so happy to see you again~!"
"Y-You…?! Wha... What are you-?!"
Naoto felt her blood run cold; the mirror image of herself was decked out in an oversized lab coat, just like the last time. The only physical trait that differentiated Naoto's Shadow self from human was her pair of ghoulish yellow eyes that seemed to dance with delight, as the smile on her face slowly twisted into something much more sinister.
"Still denying yourself? I'm disappointed… me!"
The Shadow watched as the other's face turned pale.
"I... I don't understand... I faced you once before! I thought you were—"
"You see, you've changed… and now you're burying a new part of yourself!"
Naoto blinked, realising something quickly in alarm.
"If you're here, then… does that mean, my Persona-?"
Her Shadow self already knew what she was thinking. The fake taunted her with a smirk, urging her just to try and summon her Persona.
"S-Sukuna-Hikona!"
But after calling out the name several times, the pangs in her chest made her shake.
It really was useless.
Changing expression again, Shadow Naoto suddenly broke into a higher, more feminine pitch.
"I need to protect her! I need to make her like me as a girl~"
It was her own voice saying those words… words that she would have never dared to say; only thought. Her face flushed an involuntary shade of pink, and her ears burned as her head was suddenly filled with images of a certain person…
Erin Suzuki.
Erin was a second year student, and also a member of last year's Investigation Team.
It had taken a while for Naoto to even think about opening up to her; but now… unbeknownst to the others, something more had developed between the two of them.
Feelings of inadequacy, and yearning to be someone that you weren't… these were the pains that they both shared alike; and after Naoto had figured that out, she'd noticed the wretchedness inside of her slowly begin to fade away.
Spending time with Erin… had helped her to believe that it was safe to be herself.
But perhaps… she'd grown too comfortable?
"If I protect her, she'll want to rely on me! I need her approval and reliance… no one else matters!"
As if the deep innermost workings of her mind had suddenly started to pour out, Naoto began shaking her head vigorously, eyes wide, "That's… No! I mean... I..."
Her Shadow bit back, "You're just a child who wants Rin-senpai to baby you and spoil you! You just want her to indulge in your selfish desires, until someone new comes along!"
The Shadow sniggered afterwards, leaning close to her face.
"That's how you really feel…" she whispered, "Isn't it?"
"That's not true at all! Rin-senpai is..."
Still shaking her head, Naoto's voice caught in her throat. After failing again to free herself from her shackles, she began shaking as the Shadow's eyes locked fast with hers, sending a chill through to her core.
"You can't handle it... You know the three words that let me go. Just say them, you know you want to~"
With her heart wavering, and her thoughts running all over the place, Naoto didn't have the power to stop the words before they came tumbling out.
"You're… You're not me!"
Trapped, and reeled in within her living nightmare, Naoto had fallen prey to her own mind.
It was only when Erin dropped by her place the next morning (with an eager Yosuke, who just "happened" to be walking the same way as her) that the detective was pronounced missing…
The last thing anyone would have guessed was that the Detective Prince had been kidnapped… by her own shadow.