Chapter 4: A world inside the TV

4/14 Thursday

It was raining today, wich was aparently normal in this town. Azami and Yu go to school like nothing happen last night. Azami go straigh to her classroom and fall sleep for a while, today she didn't want to pay attention. The only thing she wanted to know was how a Yu almost fall inside a TV. It was the weidest thing she saw in her entire life, Azami want answers now but no one was able to give her what she wants. At least for now. School finish rather quickly, Azami grab her things and get out of the classroom and went to Yu's classroom. She open the door and went straigh to him.

"Hey, Yu... Did you talk to..?"

"Not yet" Then Yosuke walk toward them. His face tell them everything, he saw it too

"Y-Yo. Um..." He didn't know what to say "It's, uh, it's not really that important, but... Well, yesterday in TV, I... Never mind. Look, i'll tell you later. Ahaha..." He was really nervious. Then Chie appear

"Yosuke, did you hear the rumors? Saki-senpai's supposedly the one who discovered that body"

"So it was really her in the news yesterday" Said Azami "I had my doubts but looks like i was right"

"You too? I had that feeling too" Said Yu

"I wonder if that's why she looked se down... She doesn't seem to be at school today either"

"Give her time, Yosuke. Finding a dead body is not easy if you are not use to it" Said Azami

"You're right, Azami" Said Yosuke. Yukiko get up of the chair and prepare to go home

"Huh? Hey Yukiko, are you helping out at the inn today too?" Chie ask

"Things are really out of hand right now... i'm sorry" She said and leave

"Is it just me, or does Yukiko-san seem way stressed out today?" Yosuke ask

"I gues they're running her ragged..." Said Chie "By the way, did you see... it... last night?" Chie ask and everyone got nervious all of the sudden

"Huh...? Uh, well... what about you?" Yosuke ask

"I did! I seriously saw a girl!" Chie exclaim "But... my soulmate's a girl? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well chie... maybe you are... you know..." Azami try to stated the obvious... and messed with her a little

"Shut up, Azami!" Chie yell at her "I couldn't quite tell who it was, but it was a girl for sure. Her hair was brown, about shoulder length. She was wearing our school uniform and..." Yosuke stop her

"Wait, i think that's the same person i saw. I couldn't make out that much detail, though. The image i saw was much blurrier" Said Yosuke

"Wait, so you saw it too!?" Chie ask "And we saw the same girl? Does that mean... we have the same soulmate?"

"Oh, a love triangle... Yosuke won't make it out alive from this one" Azami joke around

"What? Is not like that!"

"Whatever you say, player"

"How 'bout you? Did you see it?" Yosuke ask and Yu explain what happen last night. Azami wanted to laugh, the way Yu explain it make it more dumb than it actually looks. The fact that the TV almost suck you up, was pretty stupid to begin with. "It sounds like we all saw the same person... But weird voices aside, what was that about getting sucked into your TV?" Yosuke ask "Were you that tired last night? You must've just fallen asleep in front of your TV"

"It's the truth. Azami you were there, tell them" Said Yu and Azami sigh

"Sadly, yes. Don't ask me how but the TV almost eat him last night and i had to pull him out of it" Azami explain "For a moment i thought that the TV already eat his head but he came out complete"

"Is that some kind of joke?" Chie ask

"I may joke around really often. BUT i'm not a liar" Azami gets really angry when someone call her liar.

"That'd be one interesting dream, though" Said Chie "I like the part where you got stuck 'cause your TV was too small. That's pretty realistic"

"He got stuck because of his head, mostly" Azami chuckled at him

"If it had been bigger-" Chie stop and change the topic "Ohhh, that reminds me. Our family's been talking about buying a bigger TV"

"Oh yeah? Well, flatscreen TVs are definitely in these days" Said Yosuke "Wanna go check 'em out on the way back? We're beefing up our electronics department this month"

"Oh, definitely! My parents don't know anything about electronics, and i've just gotta see my kung-fu movies on the big screen!" Chie try to imitate a Kung-fu move

"Horror movies are better, Chie" Said Azami but Chie ignore her

"We've got some pretty big ones in stock. I bet they'd be big enough for you to fit into, hehe" Yosuke joked

"Very funny, Yosuke. I'm dying" Said Azami sarcastically


They went to Junes short after that, Yu and Azami didn't liked that they didn't believe a single thing the said. Anyway, Azami come with an idea and whisper it to Yu. She told him to try and touch a TV screen and see if it works. He didn't want to try it for the fact that something could grab him like last night but if that means that they will believe them then it was worth trying. They arrive to the Electronics department, they have a lot of TVs, most or them are really huge.

"Wow, this is huge!" Said Chie "And... Holy crap, it's expensive! Who buys something like this?"

"I dunno... Rich folks?" Yosuke ask "Honestly, not many people shop for TVs here. That's why we don't have clerks around"

"Then... can we steal something" Said Azami "Do you have a Play Station 2? or an Atari 2600?"

"We don't sell those... and Atari, how old are you?" Said Yosuke

"I'm from simple times, Yosuke"

"Well, at least looking's free" Said Chie. She and Yosuke approach to the TV a touch it

"Yu, i'm going to kick their asses if they keep doing that" Said Azami

"Calm down"

"Nope, can't get in. Figures" Said Yosuke

"That can be fixed, i can grab you and throw you at the TV. You will go through it for sure" Said Azami with a smile "But the TV will broke"

"I don't know if you we serious or not. You are scaring me"

"That's the point, Yosuke-chan"

"Well, this proves it. It was all just a dream"

"Shut up... I'm looking around" Azami left for a moment and look around what they sell here. All the products were pretty expensive, no one would buy here if they life depends of it. Azami look at the group. Yosuke were showing others TVs to Chie while Yu just stare at the TV. Azami ignore them and keep looking around, in one of the corners she found a laptop and to her surprise... it was cheap... really cheap. Azami don't have a laptop, she have a computer in her home, her real home. She could buy this one to kill time like she use to do back home. Azami go to talk with Yosuke, infortunaly, he was staring at Yu. His arm was inside the TV and Azami couldn't help but to yell at them "I told you!"

"Shut up, Azami!" Yosuke was nervious "How's it work, huh!? What's the magician secret!?" Out of nowhere Yu stick his head inside "H-Hey, don't do that! What're you doing!?" Azami get closer to Yu

"Do you see anything?" She ask

"There's empty space inside..." He said

"Really!? Cool, Let me see!" Azami could stick her head inside too. She look around and it really was empty, all was surrounded by some kind of fog "Is that fog?"

"It looks like it. How did you enter too?"

"I think it's because you are still touching the screen. If you do then anyone could enter"

"Maybe... but who would enter here. Look, it's empty and.." He look down "I don't see a ground"

"You are right, let's go back" Before Azami could get out, she start to hear Yosuke screaming. The next thing she knew was that someone push her inside and she fall along side with Yu. While she was falling, she saw Yosuke and Chie falling too. The fall didn't last to long. Azami hit the ground, really hard. To make things worst, Yu landed on top of her. "Y-Yu..." She try to talk

"A-Azami, are you okay?" Yu ask

"Get off of me. You are heavy"

"Sorry"

"And keep your hands were i can see them"

"... I didn't touch you at all"

"Just in case..." Azami get up. Her back hurt "Dammit, that hurt a lot"

"Ow.. i landed right in my wallet" Said Yosuke

"Where the heck are we?" Chie ask "What is this place? Some place inside Junes?"

"Hell no" Said Yosuke "I mean go through a TV... In fact, what's going on here?"

"So... uh... we're still alive... Right?" Chie ask

"Of course we are" Azami take out her cellphone and look for signal "Dammit"

"Are you guys okay?" Yu ask

"Well, you landed on top of me... i'll survive" Said Azami

"I think my butt's cracked now" Said Yosuke

"Of course it is!" Said Chie

"Whoa!" Yosuke look surprised

"What happen? Did you see something?" Azami ask

"Did you wet your pants!?" Chie ask

"No, stupid! Look around!" Everyone look around and saw what appears to be a TV studio. The fog don't let them see it totally but they still could see what it was... at least

"A TV studio... mind blow" Said Azami. She take out her cell phone and take a picture "Hey, Yu. Give me a big smile" Yu ignore her "Oh come on!"

"Man, this place is huge" Said Yosuke

"What're we gonna do?" Chie ask

"I don't know you but..." Azami walk away a little "I want to explore this place"

"Are you crazy?" Chie ask

"Define Crazy, Chie. Besides, we are here now and i don't see an exit. If you want to get out, find a stair and climb" Azami point at the sky "We fall here..."

"She is right" Said Yosuke "We fall... and there wasn't a door, or a window or anything. It's strange"

"Anyway, let's go with Azami. There's have to be a way out" Said Yu. He feel guilty for bringing them here

"Yeah, an exit. We need to find one" Said Yosuke

"Is there really a way outta here?" Chie wasn't so sure about this

"We got in... so we must be able to get out somehow"

"Alright! Let the adventure begins!" Said Azami and walk away. Everyone follow her

"Hey Yu. She doesn't look nervious at all. You too"

"Well we have different ways to deal with situations. She always see the bright side and try to light the mood with jokes or anything at all. Me... well, i just go with the flow. If something happen, i don't panic and try to find a way to solve a problem"

"Are you sure she is your sister?" Chie ask

"She is my sister. It may don't look like it but she is"


They walk for at least a couple of minutes, eventually they arrive to what it appears to be a building. Azami look around, it look pretty normal at least if it wasn't by the fog and the fact that the sky was red with black fringe in zig-zag. Azami sigh a little and continue, she saw a door with creepy red vortex in it "That cool" She said. Azami without thinking it twice she enter and appear in a room. Yu and Yosuke follow her inside.

"It looks normal at least" She said

"Hey is it me or is the fog lighter here?" Yosuke ask

"You are right, it's weird" Said Yu with his ussual poker face. Yosuke take out his phone

"No service. What a surprise..."

"Tell me about it. Maybe something is blocking the signal. Like some kind of antenna" Said Azami

"Maybe"

"Can't you guys slow down a little? It's hard enough to see where you're going.." Chie finally reach them. They turn around to see Chie but what they saw behind her was really disturbing. There were a lot of posters, the face of the person on it was ripped off with fury and the wall were stained with what appear to be blood... or something else.

"Holy Shit!" Said Azami "What the fuck is this?"

"I knew it. It's a dead end! There's no exit!" Said Chie

"Shut up, Chie!. You are not helping at all" Azami yell at her

"It keep getting creepier and creepier the futher we go" Said Yosuke, he was tired

"No shit, sherlock" Out of nowhere Yosuke grab his croch

"Aargh! i can't hold it any longer!" Yosuke run to a corner of the room "My bladder's gonna explode!"

"Wait you can't do it here!" Chie exclaim "Narukami stop him!" Chie point at Yu

"Huh? Why i would do that?" He ask and she was like Are you serious?

"Let him do it, Chie. It doesn't matter, this place is fucked up anyway" Azami got a point. Yosuke walk away from the corner, looks like he was in pain

"Aaaaargh... I can't do it! It's all your fault if my bladder bursts!" Yosuke was blaming Chie

"Like i care... Anyways, What's with this room?" Chie ask "Check out these posters... their faces are all cut out... Someone must really hate this person"

"Maybe is where it lives a murderer or a Psycho... or maybe both" Said Azami

"Dude... this chair and rope... That kind of arrangement is never good" Said Yosuke. Azami didn't notices it before, she must have overlook it. Azami got nervious, she remember something she wanted to keep in the deeps of her mind. Yu touch her shoulder and calm her down "It's a tied in a noose... Is this a scarf?" Yosuke ask

"C'mon... Let's go back to where we came from and look somewhere else for an exit" Said Chie

"Y-Yeah. Let's go back. I'm getting hungry and Yu will pay for it" Said Azami

"What? Why?"

"You lost the bet last night when that girl show in the screen"

"Oh right. I almost forgot" They were about to leave when Yosuke stop to look at one of the poster more closely

"Hey... I think i've seen that poster before"

"Who CARES!? Let's go! I am sick of this place!" Chie yell at him


While they return to the place they came from Yu stay close to Azami. He was worried about Azami

"Do you want to talk about it?" He ask

"No" She said

"Are you sure? You got really nervious and-"

"Haven't we accord to never speak about it again? It never happen" Yu remain silence. When Azami gets angry is better to not push her to much. She could beat him senseless without effort and he knows it

"Whew... We finally made it back here" Said Chie "Wait... What's that?"

"What?" Azami look around and saw a weird shape. It was getting closer "Is it me or it's looks like a fat monkey?" Then it move toward them. It turns out to be a weird costume. It looked like a bear but it also look like some kind of monkey. It was like a weird mix "Wow... it's cute"

"That's the first thing you say?" Yosuke ask

"What is this thing? A monkey? A bear?" Chie try to figure it out what it was

"Th-That's what i wanna know! Who are you guys?"

"Wow it talks" Azami get closer to him and touch it "Yu, come in. It's so soft and cute" Azami keep petting it. It was like it didn't care at all, looks like he was enjoying it a little

"Azami are you for real!? It could be dangerous!" Said Chie

"... So?" Azami had a Poker face. It was almost the same neutral face that Yu show almost everyday

"Azami just... get back" Said Yu. Azami sigh and go back with the group "Anyway, can i ask you some questions...? If you are okay with that of course" He said

"What do you want to know?" The "bear" was more calmed now

"What is this place?" He ask

"This place is what it is. It doesn't have a name. It's where i live"

"You... live here?" Yosuke ask

"If i was you guys, i'd hurry back to the other side. Someone's been throwing people in here. It's a big headache"

"Huh? Throwing people in? What're you talking about?" Yosuke ask

"I dunno who's doing it! I just want them to think before they go doing thing like that!" He said will hitting the floor with his foot

"Hey, what's your problem? What gives YOU the right to yell at us like that!?" Chie snapped "What ARE you!? Where are we!? What the heck's going on here!?" The bear ran away and hide behind Azami. She just stay there and pet it again

"I already told you..." He said "A-Anyways, you should hurry back"

"What it comes down to is, you want us to het outta here, right? Well, so do we! We just don't know how, dammit!" Yosuke yell

"Urrrrgh! That's why i'm saying i'll let you out!" He yell

"Wait you didn't say that before" Said Azami

"I didn't?"

"You didn't"

"Oh..." The bear was thinking "Anyway" He tap the floor two times and three old TVs appear out of nowhere in front of them

"Wh-Where did those TVs come from!?" Chie ask

"Okay, now go, go, get outta here! I'm a busy bear!" He said and push them inside the TVs