The flickering screen was much clearer than he remembered from last time.
He was sure there was no way the image could've been so clear, so vivid and free of static last time. How could he mistaken the image on the TV as anyone but Saki Konishi on the screen, curled up into a pained ball, her light brown hair dirty and slick from... Blood? A head injury? He felt the pit of his stomach sink at the thought, and tried to ignore the thought of her having a bleeding head wound or worse.
Souji tapped the screen carefully, aware of what happened when he first touched the TV screen after seeing the Midnight Channel. The TV in his room was small, too small for him to slip and fall in without actually attempting to shimmy in, but the idea of having to pull his head and shoulders out of the TV forcefully and smashing the back of his head on the coffee table upon ejection left him with a bad taste with his mouth, even if he didn't wake Nanako up with all of the noise from that. The screen rippled under his hand, small waves pouring over his hand like thin syrup, yet the space beneath felt dry.
He waved his hand before pulling it back out, testing a wild guess. It might not have worked in the last timeline, but if he could get Saki to notice... He could shimmy in now, pulling Saki away from whatever danger would be lurking at the corrupted version of the liquor store and face down her Shadow well before the fog hit. Then, all they'd have to do is head back to the TV studio-esque landing that connected to the Junes electronics department, chase down Teddie, and explain what would happen so they could hop back out and be safe and sound, even if he didn't know Teddie yet, or remember how to get from the liquor store to the backlot off the top of his head with no guide, or even really know if he could just shimmy into the right place or end up careening off to some other place inside the TV world, far away from Saki or from anyplace familiar for that matter.
Souji pulled his hand out of the TV, if only just to facepalm at himself. Was he really that desperate? There was no doubt in his mind, as she writhed on the screen, that she must have been in pain. But jumping into the TV wildly like that would be the worst possible idea, especially alone and with no weapons or a medical kit or anything but a gnawing sense of guilt. The fog wasn't due until the 15th. He knew, at least intellectually, that he should had one more day.
He'd have to remember a spare medical kit when he went in. If he had enough time, he could stop by Shiroku before school, take advantage of the rainy day and get at least two and maybe a vial of painkillers. If he went that way, he'd be able to hit up Daidara's as well so he could go in with a proper sword and chain mail instead of a golf club and hope. Unfortunately, there would be no way he could skip school, even with Saki's life on the line; Junes was lousy with cops on weekday mornings, especially now with one murder hanging over Inaba. And the thought of trying to explain to Uncle Dojima... Souji could hear "So you're not going to be honest with me" echo in his mind, his jaw stiffening.
Uncle Dojima would never believe him. He didn't believe him back then, nearly in tears and begging the man back in that November to believe him, to turn back right away and to protect Nanako instead of waiting for an explanation that could never come. If he couldn't believe him then, when they were family... What chance would he believe him now that Souji was practically a stranger, a punk kid who decided to skip school to go to the local department store's electronics section and blathering about how a missing girl was going to die if he didn't jump into a specific TV right away?
The image on the screen began to fade away. At first, Souji felt his stomach wrench sickly- by god, he was too late, wasn't he? Did Saki even have a chance at all?- before he checked the time and calmed down. It was half-past midnight. Of course. The Midnight Channel always began to fade out at that point, that was the point the connection would weaken and eventually sever until the next rainy night. He still had time, even if it was only an afternoon.
He pushed his coffee table to the corner and pulled out the futon. It'd be good to get rest, even if his stomach kept twisting and his mind was on fire from ideas, both good and bad.
Chie might still be up at this point, she was the one who knew about the rumor and was most eager to check it out. If he showed her the TV world and explain what was happening, she'd be sure to join in on the rescue...
"I can't find her! The fog's just too thick and I can't find her Yukiko or my family and I just can't find anyone..." She was just hysterical at this point, almost sobbing as he could hear the loud clack of her greaves on the pavement. "I-I can't even summon Tomoe. God. I can't even summon Tomoe. I'm so useless. Please, Souji-kun, just... Please, say something, anything-"
Yosuke was definitely still up, there would be no way he'd be able to sleep at all after seeing the bloody, writhing Saki splayed on the screen. Even without having to ask, Souji knew Yosuke would be willing to walk through the flames of hell itself if he had the slightest chance to save Saki...
"... H-Hey Partner... It t'k some time, but y' lucked out finally... You g-got out of town just in time."A wet, gagging cough overtook the speaker, "It's... It's really hell out here."
Souji could feel his stomach clenching hard and his throat going dry, as he curled up into a ball in his futon. No. Not again. This time, he'd do it by himself. He'd go in after school and save Saki. And in three days, he'd stake out the Amagi inn and catch Namatame in act. No one else would be thrown in a TV, no one else would be murdered, and all of his friends would never face themselves. But they would be alive, and alive was better.
The miniscule amount of sleep he was able to get that night was ridden with the sound of thick, bloody coughs, teary sobs, and December.
"I think I saw someone." Souji said, biting his lip thoughtfully. His mouth felt like cotton, since he didn't drink much of anything, or even eat much of anything that morning after waking up so late. Damn. He'd be sure to cook and eat a big dinner with Nanako tonight to make up for it. "Looked like a girl with long hair. Couldn't tell the color though, it was too fuzzy."
"Really? That bad on your end?" Chie frowned, "I think her hair was brown-ish. It looked kind of light brown to me, at least. Maybe you saw a different girl?"
Souji shrugged. "It's hard to tell, my connection was so shoddy. She looked like she was wearing a school uniform, at least from what I could see."
Yosuke sat quietly, his brow furrowed as he stared at his phone. Of course he would be quiet now, Souji thought as he glanced at the boy. Last time he saw her clearest out of any of the group, and even without knowing the truth, the idea of seeing your 'soulmate' bloody and writhing in pain would leave most people shaken. Even without having a massive crush on said soulmate already.
"Hey," Chie nudged Yosuke's shoulder, hard enough to push him slightly and knock him out of his mind, "Heeey. Earth to Yosuke, you there?"
He jumped slightly, clasping the phone closed quickly, "Geez, Chie, I'm awake." Yosuke said, as he put the phone away. "Right, so Midnight Channel, that's actually a thing and it works. How the hell did you even hear about it anyway?"
"Like I told you, I heard about it from Sanada in class 2-3." She rolled her eyes, "What's with you today? You've been grouchy all morning and you've just been checking your phone all day. You're lucky King Moron didn't grab it from you and toss it out the window yet."
"It's... It's stupid. It's stupid and nothing." Yosuke said, before grinning impishly at Chie, "So, tell me about your girl soulmate. Never figured you were like that, Chie..."
She blushed deeply, "I-It doesn't mean anything, alright? I'm sure you can have not-romantic soulmates, okay? You better not be thinking anything dumb, alright?!" Yosuke's chosen response of snickering only achieved in her giving him a sharp punch to to the shoulder. "Ugh! See if I ask how you're feeling ever again." She glared at Souji suddenly, "And stop smiling, you're just encouraging him!"
He blinked for a moment, before realizing he really had been smiling, partly due to the exchange and partly because of how normal it had felt. For now, it felt okay. "O-Oh, sorry," Souji said, as he glanced away and mostly returned to his solemn expression. "So… Anyway, I'll try it again in the downstairs TV, but the bedroom TV is probably just too small and old."
"You'd expect an old TV to work better for this sort of thing though," Chie said, absentmindedly. When both boys glanced over to her, she continued, "Well, it's always what happens in these sort of urban mysteries, you know? You end up picking up an old Gameboy or go on an old website and get some sort of freaky death curse."
"Man, I hope you didn't think this would've been a 'freaky death curse' before you had me and Souji try it," Yosuke said. "Although, maybe being killed by a TV would've gotten me out of having to help out with setting up for the electronics sale tomorrow instead. I can't believe Kyouko and Mayu already called out."
"An electronics sale?" Chie perked up a bit at that, "I know my folks have been talking about getting a new TV for a while, and I've been dying to see my kung-fu films in hi-def. Think I can tag along to check out the new stuff? And hey, Souji, you can come too and replace that little TV."
"Sorry." Souji said, his mouth drying up again. He did have to go to Junes, but by himself. No one else needed to be there, not for the rescue attempt. He wasn't going to force his friends through all that stress again. "I need to head home as soon as I can. I'm making a stew, and if I want to serve it in time for my cousin to eat before bed, I've got to start it early."
"Hey man, no prob." Yosuke shrugged, "And honestly, it's going to be going on for a few days, so we can check it out on a better day."
"Playing the part of 'big bro' already" Chie teased, giving him a slight smile at that. "Well, you better make sure your little cousin gets dinner instead of messing around at Junes, or I'll punish you like I do Yosuke."
When it came down to it, Souji was surprised how well he reacted to the idea of handling a sword again. Ringing cell phones made his stomach clench. The sound of static on the TV was unbearably shrill and antagonizing. Snow made him tear up without realizing. But having a weapon again... Holding a sword again, to have the familiar weight of the steel and shagreen resting in his hands or hanging off his back while at standby... It felt comforting. Not as comforting as just being at home, helping Nanako set the table for dinner, or even as comforting as being in class and slipping answers about indefinite particles and perfect numbers to his friends, but it was a sense of comfort nevertheless, and one he eagerly held onto.
He eyed the small selection of blades in the glass display. Even after getting a few thousand extra yen before he arrived, he still only had the money for the charmingly crude imitation katana and a set of chainmail. Well no, he corrected himself mentally, as he looked towards the case beside the sword collection.
A pair of light, hand-sized nata sat under a display light. Beside it, two sparkling white platform sneakers, the soles of one pulled back to reveal a thick-looking plate built into the rubber platform. He looked at Old Man Daidara. "Metal?" he asked, pointing to the shoes under the glass.
Daidara nodded, "A custom order, actually. A girl asked for an extra boost to her sneakers, with something extra in case of trouble in the city. I practically ended up remaking the entire pair, since the original canvas would've torn to shreds under the strain of the plates and walking."
Souji looked them over through the case. He already remembered they were size seven and a half, Chie's size. The idea of forcing Chie and Yosuke along with him on this... He didn't have enough money, at least not for both weapons and two more sets of armor. At least one person would have to go without any armor at all, which would be bad enough.
"I know I want the imitation katana and one set of the chainmail." It would be easier and less dangerous with more people, but it was still dangerous. Way too dangerous with other people. It'd be fine with just him, even if it was more dangerous just by himself, alone.
"... A-Actually," Souji felt himself say, his mouth going dry as the words formed in his mouth. No, don't get them involved. They'll be safe if they stay out of it. It'll be better this way, with Saki alive and Yukiko never in danger, or Kanji, Rise, or Naoto for that matter. He knew that they'd be better off staying the hell away from this, the grimmest thoughts popped into his head of if they didn't, yet he knew... "Can you make that two sets of chainmail? And toss in the nata and the platform shoes as well."
The three bags of ice were easy enough to explain to the clerks, or at least lie about. Who didn't need ice on occasion, certainly not when you're preparing for a coming home party, and want to make sure the drinks stay cold. The ten pinwheels were a little odder, but who didn't like pinwheels, bright, colorful, and certainly good at catching wind. And the backpack? Well, he needed some way to carry around all of this junk on his person. His arms were getting tired.
There was no telling what element Saki's shadow would be, and even with coming in with Izanagi's lightning, it wouldn't mean anything if she had a resistance to that.
Souji looked up at the clock display over Junes' electronics department. It was getting to be pretty late in the afternoon already, fifteen minutes to five. He frowned, adjusting the backpack he just purchased. At least the cops had thinned out severely at this point; he hadn't even seen Adachi milling around in the entrance, a thought that worried him less on what Adachi would do and more about what Adachi would say to his uncle.
It was already awkward enough, bringing in two shopping bags filled with incredibly suspicious items and very obviously carrying a sword strapped to his back.
Comparatively, it wasn't as bad as it could be. With the wrapping and the hilt in place, he could make the argument that it was a training shinai, that he had been practicing kendo and had come in for a break before heading back home. As long as he didn't have to unwrap the sword or remove it from it's hilt, no one would know it was an actual steel blade, and one honed to be very sharp at that.
Still, that would make no argument for the two hunting nata that he had tucked into his jacket, nor did that explain why he was toting around multiple sets of chainmail, three medical kits, three bags of ice, ten pinwheels, enough firecrackers to destroy a moped and a pair of women's sneakers, size seven and a half.
God, he was so glad he missed Adachi. There was nothing on his person that wouldn't make Dojima think he wasn't completely out of his mind.
He looked around the corner in the Electronics department. Everything was incredibly expensive, much more so than anyone around Inaba was typically willing to spend, even with the sale. Not even clerks were milling around, most too busy in the much busier grocery or clothing departments instead of the most desolate and quiet section of the store. Souji caught himself smiling on the reflection of the TV as he approached.
He slipped his left leg and arm in, taking one last moment to glance around and double check for... It wasn't the best idea, was it? Looking for passerby now, trying to catch anyone who might be stumbling upon him in medias res, in the media. For a moment, he felt like he was waiting for someone, but he knew his stance on it. No. He was not going to ask them. Living, even living in ignorance was better. It had to be better. He was not going to let his friends get themselves killed agai-
"Oh. My. God."
Oh. Oh crap. That's Chie's voice. As well as, seconds after, the sound of a heavy box of something hard and plastic clattering all over the floor.
Souji turned his head slowly, his face going stark white. He looked dead on at Chie and Yosuke, the former covering her mouth with her hands to surpress any follow up screams she might make, while the latter just stood in stunned silence, his hands still open despite dropping the box of budget DVDs all over the floor.
Author's Notes:
I've been posting this on Archie of Our Own since the beginning of last month, however my fiancé has been encouraging to spread it to as well. Chapter titles can also double as a minor bonus soundtrack (either by being a lyric from a suitable song or the name of a song entirely), if you feel inclined to looking it up on Youtube or Spotify. Thank you very much for reading this.