P4 Answer Chapter 2
I don't own Persona… wouldn't that be swell if I did? I don't own Atlus, or SMT either. Atlus owns both.
The will not be a straight Answer of P4, it's from "Persona: A Novelization 4" You should read that first if you want to understand my Souji's mannerisms, the pairings, or the OC that was inserted by request and abused by my machinations.
The second chapter is up and going. The plot will not really get moving quite yet in the chapter. A few tendrils will flow in this chapter, but these next couple of chapters is supposed to be Souji enjoying his time away from home. Then again…
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Souji had finished his midterm finals in his 3rd year and as promised… he was headed back to Inaba. Souji's heart was high when he had gotten on the train at the prospect of seeing his new friends.
Dreaming… Souji had dreams living as Izanagi, Adachi, and who knows what else while on the train to Inaba. He had awakened to someone trying to stop the train because some guy was dreaming that his family was eaten by a fallen angel.
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As the train arrived and the doors opened to the Yasoinaba Station, Souji walked out with his black duffle bag to see… a blinding blur of blond, blue, and white.
"Sensei!" the blur yelled as it nearly knocked Souji over. It dislodged his duffle bag from the impact
"Ahh!" Souji exclaimed as he tried to pry the blur off of him, "Get off of me!" His arms were failing him as the grip on the blur tightened.
This blur had wrapped his arms around Souji and did not seem like he was going to let go anytime soon.
Souji was annoyed. He did not want to be stuck on this small platform for two weeks. Luckily, this blur was interrupted by another voice, "Oi, Teddie! Get off of Souji!"
The thing that had latched on to him let go finally when he was provided with a crowbar. It was the person who they found in the TV world when they fell in the first time. He grew a body, and though a Shadow, showed himself to be very human in nature. Souji, though slightly annoyed that he had been "attacked", was more than happy to see his old friend Teddie.
Teddie looked a lot like he did before. He was still wearing those French-inspired clothes and his blond hair was styled the same way, but he had lost the rose over the past few months. But Teddie still had that look on his face like he could charm anyone.
"Sensei! We were so excited that you were coming!" Teddie exclaimed. He had a grin from one side of his face to the other.
"I'm sure," Souji responded, "I was excited too." Then again, he could not say if he had anything on the exuberance that Teddie was showing.
"He was jumping out of his suit," the boy who told Teddie to release his grip on Souji said, "How are you doing, partner?" He held out his hand with a smirk.
Yosuke Hanamura had a red t-shirt on with the khakis he always wore. His brown hair was unruly as always, but he grew it out anyways so it was "fluffy".
"I am doing alright," Souji responded as he shook his hand, "A little bored."
Yosuke laughed, "Bored? Yeah… It isn't the same without you around. It isn't as interesting."
"You're just saying that because we always had something important to take care of," a brunette girl with a bowl cut wearing a mini-skirt and a green track suit top, "But yeah… It isn't quite the same without Souji around."
That girl was Chie Satonaka and she was Yosuke's girlfriend.
"How are you Chie?" Souji asked.
"She failed math again," Yosuke said.
"Like you passed!" Chie yelled, hitting him. Yosuke shrunk back in shame as Chie yelled, "You failed too! And you failed science!"
"You two haven't changed," Souji shook his head, "Do you ever stop arguing?"
"It wasn't my fault," Yosuke, completely ignoring Souji, "You aren't much help as a study partner."
"Hey!" Chie exclaimed.
Souji just shook his head.
A girl wearing a red dress and long black hair who was standing next to Chie chuckled, "What did you expect out of them? They'll never change."
"Hi, Yukiko-chan," Souji said to her. He looked straight into her brown eyes, getting lost in them. It was easy to notice the beauty of her shimmering hair fixed by a yellow headband.
Yukiko smiled as she walked towards Souji and winked at him. Souji winked back. He really missed her and she missed him. Part of Yukiko did not expect him to return and keep his feelings for her, but Souji would not trade away his feelings for Yukiko for anything. They would have to talk some more later. Who said they would talk?
"Their actions have never been logical, but that seems to work for them," the girl wearing navy blue pants, a short and light blue button-up shirt, and even bluish hair. She looked like a boy, but anyone who knew Naoto Shirogane knew that she was a girl. Something about seeing a machine that would try to change her into a boy kind of changes your perception on that.
"Hello Naoto-kun," Souji nodded.
"Senpai," Naoto nodded back, "I trust you are doing well."
"I think y'all worry too much about relationships and things," a muscular, tall boy dressed in black pants, a black t-shirt and vest with bleach-blond hair. Kanji Tatsumi looked like a biker, but he was anything but one.
Souji knew that Kanji still had a big crush on Naoto, and could never do a very good job hiding that fact.
"Aww… like you can talk, Kanji-kun!" the girl with straight red hair pulled into two ponytails. She was wearing a red blouse and Capri pants. Rise did a good job at teasing Kanji… better than anyone else.
"Shut up, Rise-chan," Kanji exclaimed.
Yukiko started laughing again and Souji could not help but joining her. Chie just rolled her eyes. Souji saw that Yosuke was on the floor with a bruise on his forehead.
"So…," Yosuke interrupted Souji's laughing fit with a cough after he got up, "Are you staying at your uncle's?"
"Yeah," Souji stopped laughing and picked up his bag that was dropped when Teddie slammed into him, "I'll be at my uncle and Little sis's place."
Yukiko said with a smile, "I'm sure Nanako-chan will be delighted."
"Yeah…," Souji smiled.
"We haven't told him, have we?" Rise looked at the others, than at Souji.
"About what?" Souji looked perplexed.
"Where we're planning on going!" Rise looked absolutely delighted.
"Rise was able to find us a place through her agent that was absolutely beautiful, supposedly," Naoto said as she tipped her hat.
"You'll have to tell me about it," Souji said. He was interested, especially if he could spend some time with Yukiko during it. He yawned. Souji still was tired.
"You must be tired from the trip," Chie said, "We should let you go to Dojima-san's house and get some rest."
Souji nodded. Dojima was waiting for him to come home, and Nanako would be in high spirits when Souji arrived.
Souji walked from his spot on the station and passed the gas station. The only that had changed from "Moei" was the absence of the attendant that was Izanami. Souji did not mind that change. Who would?
Souji decided to go up and down the Shopping District before heading to the bus stop to go to Dojima's. Aiya's was having a special on some insane amount of meat. It wasn't as much meat as their rainy day special, but God help those whoever tried to eat it. There were a lot of jobs available on the bulletin board. It made Souji remember folding origami and envelopes. Thinking back, that was chump change he earned from doing all of that work. He looked at Daidara's and thought about all of the weapons he created for the team from that metalworker. He also remembered about all of the jackets he cut through just by trying to stick his sword underneath his grey jacket.
The jacket… He lost so many jackets in the TV world… Poor jackets
Shiroku was closed. He asked around and it seemed that the poor lady was hospitalized and had not been out since. Souji wondered if it had something to do with those dreams.
Tatsumi Textiles was flourishing. It seemed those sewing classes Kanji was giving really gave the store a boost. Kanji's mother said that the business was better than ever. Rise's grandmother said that tofu sales increased when Rise to show business, but she wished that her granddaughter was around more.
He went back to the gas station and took the bus to the residential district. He avoided the rich area of the residential district because he heard interesting things about Naoto's grandfather, and not everything good about him.
As he came to his residence for the 2nd year of high school, he thought of the good times and the bad times he had. "I'm back," he thought, "It's only been a few months, but it's felt like a year."
The painted-white home that was sure to have cost a fortune was just inviting him in, and Dojima was waiting for him. So, when Souji knocked on the door, a man in black slacks and a green-button up was waiting for him. Ryotaro Dojima was his uncle and he had a smile on his face when his cousin showed up.
"Souji, you've arrived. We were expecting you a little later," Dojima told him.
"My friends told me to come and get some rest," Souji said.
"They know what's good for you," his uncle responded, "Come in… I'll call Nanako. She's been waiting for you to come for days."
Souji followed his uncle into the same old living room and kitchen. It was exactly the same with the table and brown couch. Even the little TV that had the evil Junes commercials on 24/7 was still there. Souji sat down on the far side of the couch as Dojima picked up his duffle bag and went upstairs.
"I left everything in your room as is," Dojima explained, "Of course, we've been expecting you."
"Thanks…," Souji said. He thought, "So was I."
Dojima yelled something incoherent and down came someone Souji expected and was happy to see… His cousin, and Little sis.
"Big bro!" Nanako exclaimed happily.
"Little sis!" Souji responded.
Nanako ran up as Souji stood up to greet her and Nanako hugged her cousin around the waist. Her hair had grown longer over the past few months, and she was still wearing the pink and white ensemble that she wore the last time Souji was living in Inaba.
"How are you, Nanako?" Souji asked.
"I'm great! Daddy is spending a lot of time with me, and now Big bro is here!" she responded.
That was right. Ever since she was kidnapped and the case was solved, Dojima began spending as much time as possible with Nanako. He wanted to keep her safe, and felt that it was his duty. Souji had somehow felt a bond between him and Dojima that made him a better father for Nanako.
"Have you been doing well in school?" Souji asked.
Nanako nodded, "The teacher says I'm number one in the class."
Dojima told Souji, "We're thinking about trying to get her into the top junior school so she can go to Yasogami."
Souji responded, "That's good. As long as she does well, I suppose." He thought, "I did not know that Yasogami was even that prestigious of a High School. Well, there are other schools in the area; maybe Yasogami is just better than the others."
Dojima nodded, "She'll get in."
Nanako was cheerful, "Your friends didn't forget about me either!"
Souji looked at Nanako, "Really?"
"Yeah! They come by all the time and play with me! Yosuke, Chie, Teddie, and even Rise-chan sometimes," she exclaimed.
Souji was a little surprised that they still spent so much time with Nanako. He muttered to himself, "Pedobear." He said to Nanako, "I'm glad they have the time to play."
Nanako looked at Souji and asked him, "Did you know… we're going on a trip?"
Souji thought back to what Rise was talking about, "Yeah, but I don't know much about it."
Dojima chuckled, "Ha… They didn't tell you about it, did they? It seems they're taking a trip to smash watermelons, and they're taking Nanako along too."
Nanako emitted in glee, "We're gonna smack open a watermelon!"
"That sounds really fun," Souji said. It did sound like fun, considering they did not have the chance to use a sledgehammer last time they had a watermelon, "Do you know where we are going?"
Nanako responded, "I think the beach."
Dojima shook his head, "There are a lot of places with beaches. Anyways, Souji needs to put away his stuff. You should get a little bit of rest. You look tired."
Souji nodded, "I'll talk to you soon, Little sis."
Nanako smiled, "Bye, Big bro!"
Souji headed up the stairs and took a right and then a left to his old room. As Dojima said, it was unchanged. There was still the same table in the center of the room, and the small blue couch in the back. Across from the couch was a dresser and on top was the TV that Souji had fallen into that very first night Souji had stared upon the Midnight Channel. In the back of the room was the futon, and in the corner was the desk where Souji would cram before a test. Not that Souji ever did much studying anyways.
Regardless, there were only two important things of note. The first important item being the TV that Souji had used to view the Midnight Channel every rainy day. Souji had spent many nights watching people pour out what people wanted to see countless times. Souji was glad the Midnight Channel was gone… He could not stand to see anyone else on there. The only other important item was the futon. Souji had some good memories from that futon. He would not forget those anytime soon.
But… he needed to unpack. He started unpacking some of his clothes, but not all of them. If they were going on a trip, like everyone said; then Souji had to keep some of his clothes in his bag. It would be more efficient, Souji believed.
After placing up a black jacket that he swore would not be destroyed, he heard a call from downstairs, "Dinner!" It came from Nanako.
"Coming!" Souji responded. He thought, "I wonder if we're having something processed, something from Junes, or somebody learned how to cook?"
It ended up being something brought in from Junes, but Souji did not mind. He was back with his friends, back with his second family, and comfortable… more comfortable than anywhere else it seemed. Talk was lively over dinner. It was not tense like it sometimes was when Dojima thought Souji was interfering with the case, or Souji was uncomfortable being in Inaba. They were family now, and they shared coffee afterwards as they sat down for TV on the couch. Souji did have to endure Nanako's singing of the Junes commercials, but he survived. To his surprise, Rise was the one promoting it. He remembered her saying that she might be doing a commercial. At least it sounded better when Rise was doing it.
Soon enough, Souji went back upstairs to get some sleep. The short naps on the train would not sustain him, and if anything would probably make it harder for him to fall asleep. More so, the coffee Souji had consumed would make it even worse.
"I'm back… and that's all that matters," Souji said to himself as he grasped his leather keychain that he had received from Yukiko. He climbed into his futon and closed his eyes.
Souji's mind wandered.
---
"In my day all we were allowed to do was study our asses off!" the person through Souji's eyes yelled.
He was in a drab room with a grey table and small TV set placed on an even smaller table.
In Souji's mind, "Damn… I'm Adachi again."
Throughout the night, Souji's mind flipped back and forth between Adachi's memories of throwing Yamano, Saki, and even Kubo into the TV or being in the eyes of Izanagi.
Souji woke up in a cold sweat at the sound of a doorbell. "I'm tired of being a psycho killer," Souji thought.
He would not be the one to answer the doorbell, however, as someone called Souji from downstairs.
"Big bro!" Nanako yelled, "Your friends are here!"
"Oh shit…," Souji thought, "I'm not dressed yet."
As Souji quickly tried to throw on clothes, Yosuke entered the room.
"Man… Should I have had Yukiko come up instead?" Yosuke asked as he noticed Souji's state of dress.
"Shut up…," Souji responded trying to button up a shirt.
"I don't think you would have minded," Yosuke smirked.
"Again, shut up," Souji rolled his eyes.
Yosuke continued to smirk, "I'm not hearing no…"
"Let's put you in my position with Chie," Souji smirked back as he put on a shoe.
"Shut up…," Yosuke blushed as Souji started to laugh. Yosuke shook his head when he calmed down and said, "We're all meeting at Junes to discuss our vacation, and umm… I want to ask you something?"
"Are you coming out the closet, Yosuke?" Souji asked inquisitively, "I mean, you always ask Kanji these probing questions."
"Shut up!" Yosuke yelled, "Of course not!" Souji just laughed as he waited for Yosuke to calm down before Yosuke asked, "Have you been having weird dreams?"
"So… that means he's probably been having them too," Souji thought. Souji nodded.
Yosuke let out a deep breath, "Okay… then that's all of us. Everyone I've talked to knows someone who's been something about them, but we know people who have gone over the edge with it. We're going to try and talk about it a little."
"Our next mystery?" Souji asked.
"Maybe… But if we don't know anything, we may just put it on hold for a bit," Yosuke said, "We may just try and piece together what we know so far."
"Okay…," Souji said, "Let's all meet up at Junes."
"Okay," Yosuke nodded, "Partner." He smiled, "It's been a while since I've called you that."
Chie waved as Souji came downstairs, "Hey! What took you so long?"
"He had to get dressed," Yosuke said, resulting in a punch by Souji, "Oww…"
"Let's just get going…," Souji said.
Souji noticed Nanako was tagging along. Souji gave a look to Chie and Yosuke, and Yosuke answered, "She's been having them too, Souji." Souji nodded, as Yosuke smiled, "Besides, she's going on the trip with us anyways."
Nanako did look happy to be tagging along with them to Junes. She still loved Junes after all.
Everyone was there at the old stomping grounds, the "secret headquarters". Well, almost everyone, but that's beside the point for Souji. As it was the covered table, Souji took a seat next to Yukiko and across from Chie who sitting next to Yosuke and Rise. Teddie and Nanako were on the far end of the table.
Naoto started the discussion, "Well… I believe we should start with our discussing of a situation that has been occurring over the past month. Within this time span, certain people within Inaba, and most likely outside as well have been experiencing dreams of a nature that is outside of a normal realm of imaginings. For some, these dreams have had serious impacts on their livelihood. And now, we are experiencing dreams of the same nature, but we are currently immune, or not seeing the same patterns that have driven the others to harm themselves."
Kanji asked, "Huh?"
Chie rolled her eyes, "She's saying people have been having dreams and that people are being harmed. We're having dreams too, but for some reason… we have not been hurt."
Naoto nodded.
Naoto looked at Souji and asked, "We've all had dreams of varying nature. You had one, what was yours like?"
Souji took a deep breathe before he said, "I lived the myth of Izanagi and Izanami; the union between the two, the death of Izanami, and the sealing of Yomi by Izanagi."
Yukiko nodded, "I've had two. I was Konohana Sakuya…. The other… I was Amaterasu."
Teddie said, "I was Kintoki-Douji."
"I was Sukuna-Hikona in mine," Naoto explained.
Chie nodded, "I was Tomoe. But… I saw Souji when I was born, not Izanagi."
This did look a little surprising to the others.
"That does not make sense," Naoto said, "We need more information."
"Umm…," Nanako looked confused.
"Ohh… Nanako-chan," Yukiko said, "I'm sorry… We left you out."
"… I saw the guy who kidnapped me… I was him," she finally said, "I… It was kinda scary."
"You… You were Namatame!?" Yosuke looked amazed.
"How often have you been having this dream, Nanako-chan?" Naoto asked.
"Every day," Nanako responded.
Naoto shook her head, lost for words.
"You're so strong Nanako-chan," Rise said. She felt that if she was Namatame… she wasn't sure if she could be that resilient.
"Anyone else seeing through someone else's eyes?" Yosuke asked. Souji raised his hand.
"Let me guess," Kanji asked, "Adachi?" Souji nodded. Kanji looked a little shocked that he was right.
"I'm seeing him throw everybody in over and over."
"Undoubtedly, this is a problem," Naoto finally said, "We don't have a clue what is happening, or why. Without any leads…"
"Guys… I don't even know what is truly happening," Souji said, "I mean… There was a guy on the train who suddenly screamed "Abaddon!" and tried to stop the train. When he failed, he tried to jump off."
"He tried to stop the train?" Yosuke asked, "That's crazy."
"He said that the Abaddon ate his family or something," Souji said, "He wasn't coherent when I saw him." Souji started thinking, "I wonder if the dream I had was a flash of the future. I just have to piece it together. Damn it."
Naoto sighed, "That sounds like the cases we've been seeing. The most notable one you'd have noticed was the lady in the Shiroku Store."
"What happened?" Souji asked, genuinely worried.
"It wasn't anything too violent," Yukiko explained, "She had a heart attack. Except… Her husband died in his sleep when it was raining, right? But, while she was sleeping, she dreamt that he had a much more violent death by some sort of "Oni"."
"That's terrible," Souji said.
"I know," Chie agreed, "She was always so nice to us."
There was a long pause after that. No one in the group had any revelations. Nobody had any great ideas because… they knew so little.
"Well… if we don't have any clues to go on… We can think about it as we go along if it's not affecting us but…," Rise said, "We might as well talk about our plans."
"Rise hooked us up at a nice place," Yosuke explained, "Its way down south."
"Where are we going then?" Souji asked.
Rise smiled as she said happily, "We've rented a small villa in Yakushima!"
Yakushima… Souji wondered how Rise got room for everyone there, until he remembered she started being an idol again.
"Yakushima!" Yosuke exclaimed. It seemed that no one knew exactly where they were going until now.
"How can we afford that?" Chie asked.
"We can't…," Yukiko muttered.
"Don't worry about it," Rise explained, "We've got it all covered for a few days. We'll just enjoy ourselves. Senpai is back and if we need to worry about this whole dream problem, then we can worry about it when we get back."
"Okay… If you say so," Kanji said.
"Don't worry so much, Kanji-kun," Rise put on her smile. She seemed oblivious to whatever was going on.
"I listened to your songs, Rise-chan," Souji said, "That last one… umm…"
"Sounds a lot like you want to do it with someone?" Naoto responded as she tipped her hat.
"Umm… yeah," Souji answered. "I wonder who she's talking about," he thought.
"Well… as they say," Yukiko explained.
Rise shook her head before she inquired, "Does it really matter what they say?"
"Guess not," Souji said. He asked Nanako, "You liked Rise's song, "Heartbreaker" right?"
Nanako answered, "The one with the saxophone in it? Yeah!" That was not the song they were talking about before.
Yosuke shook his head, "All that matters is that we get a free trip to Yakushima." He did look eager about traveling.
"Girls in bathing suits!" Teddie exclaimed. Souji figured that Teddie would be excited.
"I forgot we're bringing Teddie along," Souji muttered.
"Can we leave him behind?" Yukiko asked.
"We'd be minus one Pedobear," Souji thought. "He'd find his way there without us, anyways." he answered.
"Probably," Yukiko responded.
"You know it!" Teddie exclaimed.
Rise butted in, "Oh… And there's a festival too. Bring your Yukata."
"Yukata!" Teddie exclaimed, "Can this get any better!? Are there hot springs at Yakushima!?"
Kanji shook his head, "Are you sure you want there to be hot springs?" He obviously remembered the last time they went to the hot springs.
Yosuke hit Teddie on the head, "That's enough out of you." Yosuke turned to Souji, "It'll be fun, even with this clown."
Nanako smiled, "We're going on a trip!"
"Yeah…," Souji said… He said to them, "Don't forget… We need to get watermelons once we get there."
Kanji smirked, "Ya! Gotta smack open some watermelons!"
"We're leaving tomorrow!" Rise exclaimed, "So… Get ready!"
"You heard Rise…," Souji said, "We'll meet up by the train station tomorrow."
As the group started to depart, Souji wanted to talk to Yukiko, but since he had to walk Nanako back, his chances of doing so were limited. Still, he decided to make the most of his opportunity.
"Hey…," He said calmly to Yukiko. The others had all but left and Nanako was talking to Teddie. Souji reminded himself to kill the pedobear.
"Hey…," She said back.
"Did I miss anything exciting while I was gone?" Souji asked.
"Most of it was just like you would expect it to be," Yukiko responded, "Normal people, same Yosuke and Chie fighting, and Naoto blowing everyone out of the water in the tests."
"No murders to solve make it relatively boring," Souji shrugged.
"Ohh… Naoto-kun went on a date with Kanji-kun, but I heard it ended in a disaster," Yukiko suddenly said.
"Figures… But that is interesting," Souji said. "That's really interesting," Souji thought. "I missed you," Souji suddenly said to her.
"Me too… I'm glad you came back," Yukiko told him.
Souji smiled, "You really thought I wouldn't?"
"Part of me… part of me thought you might forget," Yukiko frowned.
"I never would forget… I love you… Yukiko," Souji said slowly.
Yukiko smiled as she grasped his hand, "I love you too."
Anymore chance of conversation was interrupted by Nanako and Teddie coming to them. With Teddie there, Souji was wise to release any forms that might be seem like affection.
"He'll spread it like wildfire," Souji thought, "And Nanako shouldn't see this."
Teddie went back into the TV world after they said their goodbyes. Souji didn't get to say the goodbye he wanted to Yukiko, but he still got a proper greeting with her at least. He and Nanako walked home, and she began packing for the trip. Souji did not pack because… he did not need to. He had just unpacked a few things, and left the things he might have needed for traveling for somewhere else. Souji was worried, however. Sure, he was excited, but everything about these dreams was distressing.
Plus, the dreams he had while sleeping were worse.
He was Izanagi again. He was pulling out his eye to give birth to Tomoe in this dream. "That's Chie's Persona, isn't it?" Souji thought as he tried to gain control of himself in his dream.
His other dream was more like the last one in the first day, but different. Souji dreamt of a full yellow moon and a never-ending tower. Souji had no idea what that meant.
Regardless, the next day they boarded the train to head off to Yakushima.
"Are you all readdddy!!!?" Rise yelled as they were about to board.
"Yes…," Souji muttered. He had gone deaf from Rise's shrill.
"She's just excited about seeing her boyfriend," Yukiko said.
"Who isn't even her boyfriend anymore," Yosuke muttered, "And it isn't like he lives there."
"Shush…," Kanji put his finger to his mouth, "Don't tell her that. She might kill you."
Aboard the train, Chie fell asleep on Yosuke's right shoulder, while Yukiko fell asleep on Souji's right. Naoto refused to fall asleep for obvious reasoning, but Rise was more than happy to fall asleep alongside Nanako. The rest of them quickly fell asleep as they sped towards the dock.
The ferry that would take them to one of the islands was not a big one, but it was adequate in Souji's mind. Thankfully, he had no dreams while he rested on the train. And as Yakushima came into view, the only feelings that could describe Souji were awe.
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This was a chapter to try and bring the team back together and include Nanako. It was also to bring together the biggest filler of the story, or the next chapter. I used Yakushima instead of Okinawa because Okinawa is a little hard to find good beaches for.