[Author's notes: This story takes place after Persona 4 Arena (P4AU and Dancing All Night haven't occurred because I wrote this before those games were out) and before Persona 4 Golden's Epilogue.
This contains P4 spoilers and some minor references to P4A's story mode. This is a clean story with no shipping intended.
A Yu Narukami version is available at Dreamwidth at the following address:
angevon dot dreamwidth dot org/2959 dot html
Every 'dot' should be a '.'
Please enjoy!]
Souji sat across the table from his little cousin, Nanako. They were both idly watching the television, spending some silent time together before her bed time. He would have liked to help her with homework, but since summer break had just started, she had plenty of time to finish her assignments. It could wait. They had already spent an exhausting afternoon playing silly games with the stuffed animals Kanji had made for them, so it was time to relax. And beyond all that, today was Souji's first day back in town since Golden Week. He was curious about what had happened in Inaba since then, so they were watching the local news. Golden Week had been only about a month and a half ago, but he always liked to be well-informed, and the events of Golden Week itself had been so distracting that he hadn't had much time to pay attention to things during it.
A news flash interrupted their peace with a sudden, shocking announcement.
Death in Inaba.
Souji tensed as he listened to the report. Was it murder, again? The last string of serial killings to plague the town had started over a year ago, and Souji and his friends had barely put an end to it this spring. Was the respite really going to be so short-lived?
In his musings he hadn't noticed Nanako's reaction, and she changed the channel before he could catch what few details the media had discovered. He was about to ask her to change it back, but his heart softened at her troubled expression. The news of death meant her father, Dojima, would likely not come home tonight. Although she always put on a brave face, she'd worry about him out there working on the case.
Right now would be the perfect time for a Junes commercial to come on, but luck wasn't with Souji tonight, so he had to try and cheer the girl up on his own. He was good at it by now. Nanako was his cousin, but over the time spent in the Dojima household, they were now as close as siblings. She even called him 'big bro,' a title that he longed to live up to.
"It'll be all right," he told her.
"I'm so glad you're here, big bro!" Nanako smiled at him, her eyes bright and warm, her worries put aside for now.
"Let's make the boxed lunches for tomorrow," he suggested. They spent the rest of the evening before bedtime in the kitchen. Souji watched over her like a mother hen as she peeled and cut carrots for the kinpira gobo he'd planned to make. Nanako was a budding young chef, cooking almost every day for her father. Souji felt a kinship with her in that regard; his own family had often been away when he was growing up, leaving him to fend for himself. At least Dojima allowed Nanako to do the shopping as well. In Souji's experience, there was nothing worse to a hungry child than an empty refrigerator.
As a result, Souji wasn't a bad cook himself. In fact, he prided himself on being the best in his group of friends, though he'd never boast about it. That was why he'd volunteered to make the lunches for tomorrow, although his friends had tried to refuse his offer. He pointed out that they had served him during Golden Week, and that Nanako had already stocked the fridge, and they finally relented. He was secretly relieved about that. Yukiko, and Chie, and even Rise... they all had a rather dynamic way of cooking...
Souji took over the cooking when it came to stir-frying, although Nanako protested that she could do it. She probably could, at that, but she was only seven. He smiled and directed her to prepare the boxes while he took care of it. They were making several boxes, after all. He thought of other meals he had made for his friends before. Maybe one day he'd learn to make the perfect daigako imo.
When they were finished, Nanako looked tired from the long day of play, so Souji sent her to bed, volunteering to take care of the dishes himself. It would give him some time to think. He worked silently, humming the Junes theme to himself, when suddenly the house was filled by a sound as soft as rice pouring into a jar, a sound that made him pause.
It was raining.
Why did it always rain when he visited Inaba...? He couldn't help but feel uneasy. Would the Midnight Channel air once again? He recalled the death announced on the news, and resolved to watch the turned-off TV in his room that night.
Midnight came and went, and the TV remained featureless. Souji sighed in relief; he'd been holding his breath as the clock ticked away towards that dark hour.
So there is nothing supernatural going on, he thought to himself. He could sleep soundly, although maybe he'd have a nightmare about Golden Week. Had that all happened just last month? It was hard to believe...
He stared at the TV for a few more minutes as a thought occurred to him. Did he still have the power? He touched the TV... and his fingers went into the screen, causing a ripple of lights to cascade around them. He quickly pulled his fingers back with a shudder.
Yes, he still had the power to enter the TV World.
The next day Souji took Nanako to Junes, where they walked around and looked at all of the displays. Even after a year, the superstore was still the girl's favorite place to visit. Souji didn't mind, although he steered her gently away from the electronics department. The last time Nanako had entered the TV World, she had almost died. He couldn't risk that happening again. Junes had so many large-screen TVs around that accidentally falling into one was not impossible.
When it was lunchtime, they went to the food court. Souji bought a Topsicle for Nanako while they waited for the rest of his friends to arrive.
First, of course, was Yosuke, sporting a Junes apron since he worked there. They'd run into him earlier in the produce department, but he had been too busy with customers to do more than wave to Nanako. "I finally get a break!" he said, plopping down into the seat across from Souji in obvious relief. "They're having a buy-one, get-one sale on daikon..." He made a face, and Nanako giggled. "It's not funny! They work me to the bone!"
"I'm glad to see you too, Yosuke," Souji said, his eyes dancing. "Where's Teddie?"
Yosuke looked around in surprise. "Huh? He was right behind me! Aww, geez, where'd that bear get off to?" Yosuke stood up, albeit reluctantly. "Sorry, man, I'll go find him." Teddie was probably in his costume, entertaining children somewhere. He had become Junes' unofficial mascot and, for the most part, he really enjoyed the role. It fit his happy-go-lucky nature perfectly.
As if on cue, a cheerful voice rang out, saying, "Topsicles for everyone!" and Teddie appeared in his red-and-white striped bear costume. He skated towards them quickly, carrying far more Topsicles than his stubby hands should be able to carry. He stopped suddenly at the table, his big oval eyes becoming disappointed. "Nana-chan already has one? No fair, Sensei!"
"It's all right, Teddie," Souji said. "I'm sure Nanako-chan can have another."
"Are you sure, Sensei? We don't want Nana-chan to get a bearly-ache!"
"I hate to say it, but the bear does have a point," said Yosuke, eyeing the Topsicles himself with a calculating look. "Too many is bad for you—" Without another moment's hesitation, he swiped one out of Teddie's hand and unwrapped it and put it in his mouth.
"Yo-su-keee!" Teddie whined. "You could have asked! I would've given you one!" Teddie's eyes brightened. "Sensei, have one!" He shoved one under Souji's nose.
"Uh, thanks Teddie," Souji said, gingerly taking one with a green wrapper.
"No, thank YOU, Sensei!" Teddie replied, folding his hands behind his back. He was always happy to be of service, especially when it came to Souji.
They ate the Topsicles while talking about their favorite flavors until Chie and Yukiko arrived together, as they tended to do. The girls were best friends, after all.
"Souji! It's good to see you again!" Chie said. She was wearing a light green blouse, jean shorts, and sneakers.
"I hope you had a pleasant trip," Yukiko chimed in. She almost always wore red; today it was a red jumper with matching shoes and headband.
Before they even sat down, Yosuke pulled out Souji's bag of boxed lunches from under the table. "Well, now that everyone's here, let's see what Souji cooked up for us! At least we know it's edible." He shot a glance at Yukiko, who didn't seem to notice.
Souji nodded. "Nanako helped me. Didn't you?" He patted his cousin on the head and she nodded and blushed at the attention.
"But everyone's not here," Chie protested, putting aside the box Yosuke handed her. "Kanji-kun isn't here yet. We gotta wait for him."
"Come on," said Yosuke. "I've only got 10 minutes before my break ends. I can't wait much longer!"
"Like you couldn't wait to use the toilet back in the TV World?"
"That was like a year ago! Give me a break, Chie!"
Souji smiled to himself. If Yosuke and Chie could bicker as usual, then everything was fine in the world.
Just a few minutes later, Kanji arrived. "Hey senpai," he said. He glanced over everyone there. "Hey... Naoto's not here yet?"
"Of course that's the first thing you'd notice," said Yosuke, rolling his eyes.
"W-what's wrong with that?" Kanji growled. "I just haven't seen her since that damned Grand Prix thing ended, is all."
"Dude, Nanako-chan's here, don't use language like that!"
"I'll use whatever language I want, you—"
Chie headed off the budding argument. "Naoto-kun couldn't make it. She's on another case. But, honestly, I wonder if she'll be called in. You all heard about it, right? The murder. They didn't say who the victim was..."
Unconsciously, Souji drew Nanako closer to himself. "I don't know much about it. It happened last night, right? Teddie, do you know anything?"
"Why would I know anything, Sensei? I'm just an innocent bear!"
"You're 'bearly' innocent," Yosuke muttered. "Wanting to 'score' with the girls all the time."
"Hehe! Yosuke made a joke!"
"He meant in the TV World, Teddie," said Chie.
"Oh! I'm paws-itive nothing's going on over there!" Teddie beamed at everyone, oblivious to the fact that someone from their very town had died.
"They're saying it might be a copy-cat killer," Yukiko said. She looked mournfully down at her boxed lunch and picked at its contents with her chopsticks.
Yosuke glanced at Souji and Nanako. "Well, let's not talk about that," he said. Souji nodded gratefully at him. The little girl didn't need to be exposed to this. She had enough of it at home, the few times Dojima talked about his police work. "So, Nanako, do you and Dojima-san have any plans for the summer? I mean, with this guy here," – Yosuke indicated Souji – "you ought to be doing something."
"Even if Dojima-san can't take any time off, we'll make sure you have a fun summer," Chie chimed in. "Isn't that right, guys?"
"We need to go to the beach at least!" Yosuke declared. "Maybe we can get Naoto to come, and finally see her in that swimsuit. Right, Kanji?"
"Rise's probably had enough of beaches by now," Chie mused. "She's on a photo-shoot right now. That's why she's not here."
"Why don't we go to the movies in Okina?" Souji suggested. "That is, if everyone's free?" He glanced at Yosuke, realizing his friend was probably not free, and was sad he didn't think of that before making the suggestion.
"Hey, Souji, it's all right. You have fun with everyone," Yosuke said, poorly hiding his disappointment. "I really can't take off today. We've hired some summer help and I've got to train them."
"If you ain't going, lend me your motorcycle, senpai!" Kanji said. "I don't wanna bike it, 'specially if Teddie's going!"
"No way, man! I'm not letting my bike anywhere near there. Hanako might destroy it again!"
After further debate, they decided to go to the Samegawa riverbank instead. The flowers were in full bloom, so it would be an enjoyable walk. They could always see a movie another day.
That evening, after Nanako had been put to bed, Souji watched the news. The recent murder victim—the death was now classified as a murder—had been a third-year student at Yasogami High School. The cause of death was not released, but the body had been strung up over a telephone pole, in a style reminiscent of the three murders that took place last year. But it couldn't be the same killer; he was in police custody.
The telephone phone rang. Souji answered, and Dojima's deep voice came over the line. "I know I haven't been home lately. You probably know why. So take care of Nanako for me." Souji told him he would and prepared to cradle the phone—his uncle was always to the point—when Dojima suddenly spoke. "...Hey, did you happen to know the girl? She went to Yasogami. Her name was Hamano Michiyo."
"Hamano... I think she was in the class next to mine. I can ask my friends," Souji offered.
The line went silent for several long moments. Dojima had suspected him of involvement in the murders last year, and although that was in the past, sometimes Souji felt like an outsider to his uncle. Dojima told him that he was part of the family, but...
"Yeah. Please do," Dojima finally answered. "I want this case solved so I can go back to being a father."
Souji then felt a wave of sympathy towards his uncle. The last year had been hard on the police detective. Admitting his nephew, who was almost a stranger, into his house, trusting said nephew to take care of Nanako, spending days and days away from home working overtime due to the murders, almost losing Nanako when she was kidnapped and fell ill, and, on top of all that, discovering that his bumbling partner in the force was the one responsible for it all... It was a wonder he could bear it all.
"I'm glad you're back," Dojima said gruffly before hanging up.
The next day Souji planned to go into town and visit Daidara Metalworks to admire the owner's latest weaponry, but his cell phone rang when he was only a few feet out of the Dojima residence. It was Yosuke with an urgent message. "Souji! Something's seriously wrong here! Junes is closed!"
Souji couldn't understand what his friend said next; he seemed to be in hysterics. Souji asked him to calm down. He heard Yosuke take several deep breaths before he continued. "All right. Thanks, partner. I'm all right now. But it's really bad. Seems like there was another murder, and the victim was found caught in the phone lines around Junes. The store's crawling with police. I think I even saw Dojima-san around. Anyway, we can't do any business like this, so we closed the store for the day."
Souji didn't take long to come to a decision. "We should gather everyone who's available. You're right. There's something wrong here again. We can't sit around."
"Well, we can't meet up at Junes..."
"Then let's go to Aiya. I'll see you there soon."
They met in front of Aiya, the town's popular Chinese eatery, before going in: Souji, Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko. Teddie was absent; Yosuke said he was on cleaning duty at the store until the police were done there. Kanji was busy helping his mother tend Tatsumi Textiles. After they all took a seat and ordered, Souji asked everyone for information.
"The first victim was one of our classmates," Yukiko said mournfully. "I didn't know her well, but it's still very sad."
"They've taken her boyfriend in for questioning," Chie added. "I heard he had a fight with her just the day before, so he might even be the prime suspect."
"But that doesn't explain this morning's victim," said Yosuke. "I'm so glad I slept in late... They say the body was right there in front of the store. Imagine going into work and remembering that every time I walked into Junes. Then every day wouldn't be great."
"Every day's HORRIBLE at your Junes!" said Yukiko, and she began laughing, a crazy, raucous laughter born more out of sadness than humor.
"Do you know who this victim was?" Souji asked the group once Yukiko had calmed down.
"No, but... I overheard it was another high school student." Yosuke looked miserable. "What if it's someone else from Yasogami? That would be two in just two days."
"I heard something," Chie said. When she didn't continue, everyone looked at her until she did. She made a defensive gesture. "It's just a rumor! It might not be anything." Souji asked her to continue anyway. "Well, there's this new revenge hotline that's been advertising recently. It just started since you've come back here. That's why I thought it was suspicious."
Now everyone turned to look at Souji, but he remained calm. He was almost used to being the source of these problems...
Well, I haven't been to the Velvet Room, he thought, so maybe it's not related to Shadows or Personas.
"What is this 'revenge hotline'?" he asked. "I haven't heard of it."
"There are fliers around town," Chie said. "There's one on the part-time job board. The one right outside here! Come on, I'll show you."
They left Aiya and went to the board. Among the part-time job listings that Souji was very familiar with was an incongruous white poster with big black lettering. It read:
"Do You Want Revenge? Call Us. We Make It Happen."
It was followed by a phone number.
"What a horrible thing," Yukiko murmured.
"Does... anyone want to call?" Chie asked. "Yosuke, you call!"
"Hell no!" Yosuke shouted, flinching. "I'm not going to volunteer for this! Do I look like Naoto?"
"I don't think we should risk it," Souji said. "I'll ask my uncle if he can trace the number."
"Speaking of Naoto-kun, maybe we should call her?" Chie suggested. "She might have access to more information than Dojima-san."
"We don't know if this is actually related to the murders," Yosuke pointed out.
"That's true, but I feel like she needs to be in the loop. Inaba is her home, too, even if she's away right now."
"I'll leave that to you," Souji said.
"Should we ask around town about the hotline?" Yukiko asked.
"And draw attention to it? I dunno..." said Yosuke. He looked at Souji. "It's your call, dude."
"Let's wait," he said. "Now, Yukiko."
"Yes, Souji-kun?" Yukiko adjusted her red hairband; she hadn't expected to be addressed directly.
"Listen at the inn for anything that sounds important. I'm counting on you. Yosuke. I'd like you to ask Teddie again if he's noticed anything odd about the TV World. And my job will be my uncle. He'll have to know something."
Dojima came home late that night, but Souji had stayed up, waiting for him in the living room. "Don't you have school tomorrow?" Dojima asked upon seeing him. "Oh, right. It's summer. The seasons change and I hardly notice."
"How's the case?" Souji asked, not wasting any time.
Dojima looked at him sharply. "Why do you want to know? Are you planning to get involved again?"
"One of the victims went to Yasogami."
Dojima splayed his fingers over his forehead. "It's like last year all over again." He sighed. "Look, I know I can't stop you from investigating, but be careful, all right?"
Souji promised he would. "My friends and I can handle it."
"You did good with Adachi, I'll give you that," Dojima admitted. "Don't know how you found him. Or Nanako, for that matter..."
Dojima's countenance became troubled as the worst memories from last year came back to him.
To change the subject, Souji asked what Dojima knew of the current case. "Nothing special, really," the detective answered. "You're right, the second victim—you've heard about that, right?—was also a student at Yasogami High. Naoki Konishi."
For several moments, Souji couldn't fathom what he'd just been told. Bile rose within him, and he began to sweat. He found his throat almost too dry to speak. "No..."
"I see you know what that means," Dojima continued. "There's going to be hell to pay. The Konishi family suffered enough last year."
Saki Konishi had been one of the victims last year... and now her little brother was slain by a new killer?
"And that makes two Yasogami students," Dojima went on. "If someone's out there targeting students, we've got to stop them, ASAP. In fact, I've only stopped in to pick up something. It'll be an all-nighter for me..." He looked at Souji directly. "You tell all your friends to stay home at night, all right?"
Souji asked him for more information before he left, and Dojima grudgingly obliged. "Well, Hamano Michiyo's boyfriend has an alibi, so he's already been released. I think he knows something, but he hasn't been much help." Dojima took out some pictures from a file folder and showed them to Souji. "The victims' bodies were both up on utility poles... Damn, it really is like last year. The coroner can't determine the C.O.D., just like Mayumi Yamano and Saki Konishi. But we know it can't be Adachi, however the hell he did it. He's locked up tight."
"Maybe we should talk to him anyway," Souji suggested.
"You want to? I sure as hell don't. I've nothing to say to that guy." Dojima's bitterness towards his ex-partner was apparent. "That damned fool thinks it's all a game."
Souji mentioned the revenge hotline, and Dojima seemed surprised to hear about it. "Probably just a prank. The things kids these days get up to..." Souji decided to stop his questioning there. He didn't want to worry his uncle too much, nor keep him from his work.
The ring of his cell phone awoke Souji bright and early. It was Yosuke, and he seemed to be in hysterics once again. "It's Chie! She's in the hospital!"
Souji rapidly blinked the sleep out of his eyes. "What happened?"
"I don't know—Look, let's get over there! We've got to know if she's okay!"