Sunday, 10 July, Daytime
For an endless moment, Naoto could only stand motionless and stare at the silver-haired youth before her. He couldn't have deduced that. It was impossible. Her disguise was meticulous, the result of months of preparation. No one should have been able to see through it.
And yet Souji Seta had.
"How?" she said when she at last found her voice.
Seta tapped his collar. "You should have covered your throat."
Silently, Naoto cursed herself for the slip. It wasn't a fatal one, given that Seta was the only person to have spotted it, but it was a slip nonetheless. One that, as an aspiring detective with a number of cases already under her belt, she should have found trivially easy to avoid.
"It seems you have me at a disadvantage, Seta-san," she said. "I suppose you're going to report this to your uncle."
To her surprise, he shook his head. "Make it Souji; there's no need to be formal here. Anyway, I don't know why you're pretending to be a guy, but it's not my place to question it, not without a good reason. Telling Uncle Ryotaro would just make pointless trouble."
Naoto's eyes narrowed. "Blackmail material, then?"
Seta—Souji—actually looked hurt at the suggestion. "Of course not. It would be wrong. Besides," he smiled wryly, "my uncle would kill me if he found out, and my parents would incinerate the corpse. No, I just wanted you to know I wasn't just fumbling around, that I'm paying attention to my surroundings."
"Why do that?"
Souji frowned. "To be honest, I don't quite know myself. Maybe it's because we're both outsiders here." He shrugged. "Done is done. Anyway, I need to get home, help my cousin make dinner. Nice talking to you, Shirogane-san."
Naoto watched him leave, her mind a maelstrom of conflicting thoughts. He had had her dead to rights, figuratively speaking, but made a point of not following through. He'd spotted her as a girl, which made for excellent blackmail possibilities, then said it was really none of his business.
Souji Seta, she decided, was a very confusing (and yet very interesting) young man.
Evening
Given the discovery of Kinshiro Morooka's body just that morning, it was hardly unexpected that Dojima wasn't home that night. It was with very mixed emotions that Souji prepared dinner for himself and his cousin. Morooka's death disturbed him on a number of levels, not least of which was his own relative lack of sorrow. He didn't like what that might say about him.
With Nanako's permission, he changed the channel just in time for the evening news. "Good evening, this is Niteline News," the anchor said. "Our top story tonight concerns the latest developments in an ongoing story." With a low chime, a picture of Morooka appeared on the screen. "The serial murder case in rural Inaba has claimed a third victim. The news shocked local residents, who have not seen another murder in three months, and had believed the spree was at an end."
We knew better, but we still didn't expect Morooka, Souji thought grimly.
"The deceased taught at a local high school," the anchor went on, "and since the body was arranged in a similar manner as the last two victims, it is believed the events are connected."
Except Souji was sure Morooka wasn't killed in the same manner. It didn't make any sense; Teddie was sure no one had entered the TV world after they got Rise out, and no one had appeared on the Midnight Channel since. Unless, of course, there was something important about that world that they had yet to discover.
Nanako appeared to see something in his face. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Was it someone you knew?"
"He was my homeroom teacher," Souji said quietly. "Don't worry," he added. "I'm here with you."
His cousin nodded, a relieved smile on her face. "I'll be all right."
The story was still going. "This marks the second consecutive death, after Miss Saki Konishi, where the victim was involved with Yasogami High. Mr. Morooka was known for his strict teaching methods, and is said to have had constant friction with his students."
"That's an understatement," Souji murmured to Nanako. "He called me a loser on my first day. Pretty much everyone hated him, but I don't think any of the students would have killed him." Many had fantasized about it, though, himself included.
"The police will be pursuing this line of inquiry, and are planning to begin a large-scale investigation tomorrow. We now turn to our reporter at the scene for more details."
Souji made a mental note to be very careful with his words. He doubted his uncle would suspect him of murder, but if even a hint of Souji's activities got out there was going to be hell to pay. With that in mind, he sent a quick text to Kanji, by far the most volatile of his team, warning him to be careful.
Nanako sighed. "Dad won't be coming home again today."
Hoping to cheer her up, Souji showed her a magic trick he'd learned. With just a little slight of hand, he was able to make it appear as if a finger had jumped from one hand to the other. Nanako's eyes went wide; clearly, the unfortunate news was already forgotten.
Late Night
Well, it's been a while since I came here like this. The blue velvet, the card table, and the old man with the improbably large nose confirmed it: Souji was again visiting the Velvet Room in his dreams. He couldn't help wondering just what it was Igor wanted.
"Welcome," Igor said. "It's been quite some time." He smiled. "Do not be alarmed. You are fast asleep in the real world. I have summoned you within your dreams."
"I thought so," Souji said dryly. "My life has gotten fairly bizarre since I came to Inaba, but this would still be too crazy otherwise."
Igor chuckled. "Indeed. So, how are things progressing? Are you gradually drawing toward the answer to this mystery?"
There was only one honest answer. "I don't know," Souji said. "I thought we had a lead, but things took another turn this morning."
"Indeed," Igor said with a slow nod. "The fog covering your path is thick."
"The season has changed, but your path has not yet closed," Margaret put in. "In time, a path will open to you."
Igor nodded to her. "Our true reason for calling you here is to provide a new form of assistance for you to achieve just that." He clasped his hands. "I speak of the ability to fuse four or more Personas at once. I am quite certain this will enable you to command even stronger powers."
"That would be helpful," Souji said. "We've had a couple of especially tough encounters over the last few days."
"Then it is well timed," Igor said. "Now, your journey will soon reach its climax. And as a result, many challenges—which I cannot at present foresee—await you." He smiled. "Until we meet again, farewell."
Monday, 11 July, Early Morning
"Man, I still can't believe our homeroom teacher was killed." Yosuke had caught up with Souji about three quarters of the way to Yasogami. "I couldn't really sleep yesterday. What about you?"
Souji shrugged. "Been better, been worse. We can't let ourselves too down."
Yosuke didn't look happy, but he couldn't disagree. "Yeah, if we get too depressed, we'll never catch the killer." He switched mental gears. "Say, that means we'll be getting a new teacher. Wonder who it'll be; I doubt they can find anyone worse than King Moron."
"Don't say that," Souji told him darkly, memories flashing through his mind. "They can always find someone worse."
The classroom was abuzz with rumors by the time they arrived. Many of the students seemed in shock at Morooka's death. Souji didn't blame them; unpleasant though their teacher had been, his demise had come completely out of nowhere, even more than Saki Konishi's.
Conversation was cut off by the door sliding open, admitting a woman Souji presumed to be their new teacher. Her appearance instantly set off warning bells in his mind; her shirt was unbuttoned a little too far to be proper, and she walked with an exaggerated sway of her hips.
Trouble. Definitely trouble.
"Gooooood mornin'," she said, drawing out the first word. "I'm Noriko Kashiwagi, your new class teacher starting today." She bowed a little too deeply. "You probably know already, but now that Mister Morooka has passed away, I'll be taking good care of you from now on." She actually giggled.
Slut. Kashiwagi's mannerisms were making Souji sick to his stomach. I was right, they managed to find someone even worse than Sloth-Face. I'd almost rather let the Shadows kill me.
Kashiwagi smiled. "Let's start with a moment of silence for our dear departed Mister Morooka. Close your eyes, everyone."
He had to force himself not to clench his teeth. If someone had told him mere days before that he would come to miss Kinshiro Morooka's condescending lectures, he would have called them insane. Wishing briefly that his new teacher was a Shadow, he reluctantly closed his eyes.
"That should be enough."
Opening his eyes, Souji once again had to force his face to obey. Kashiwagi was sitting on her desk, legs crossed. The posture was far too sultry for his peace of mind, and from the looks on his classmates' faces, he was far from the only one who thought so.
"I'll do my best to fill Mister Morooka's shoes, at least as much as anyone can," Kashiwagi said. "So exams are still on track for next week. It's like the principal said to me just this morning, 'It's times like these that the school's schedule is most important, Nori-chan.' It must be tough for you all, isn't it." She giggled again.
Not as tough as putting up with you. I never thought I would actually miss Sloth-Face.
"But that's what it means to become an adult, little by little," Kashiwagi said with a sigh.
I probably know that better than you do, after what I've been through since April.
The other students weren't so restrained. "I already can't stand her," one girl said. A member of the music club, if Souji recalled correctly.
"First King Moron and now Kashiwagi?" a male student agreed. "How much worse can it get?"
Please, don't ask that.
Apparently oblivious to the stir, Kashiwagi spoke up again. "Oh, one more thing. That idol in the first year class, Rise Kujikawa, was it? In person, she's nothing like she seems on TV, so don't get your hopes up, 'kay?"
Souji clenched a fist under his desk. It was true that Rise's real personality wasn't just the bubbly idol singer people saw on TV, but Kashiwagi's tone practically dripped disdain. And if there was one thing that really provoked Souji Seta's ire, it was someone badmouthing his friends.
Kashiwagi snorted. "What's so great about an idol, anyway, right class? She's just a piece of inexperienced jailbait."
Okay, you're really pushing it. Souji didn't even attempt to hold back a glare; fortunately his new homeroom teacher wasn't even looking at him as she ranted on. About the only thing that could have been said in her favor was that she didn't descend into vulgarity the way Morooka would have.
Beside him, Chie was practically vibrating with fury. Never the calmest at the best of times, she was extremely protective of anyone she considered a friend, which meant Kashiwagi was very fortunate indeed not to be on the receiving end of one of Chie's flying kicks.
He couldn't see Yukiko's face, but from the stiffness of her back Souji strongly suspected the inn heiress wanted nothing more than to burn Kashiwagi alive. Slowly. He'd rarely seen her angry, but knew enough to stay out of the way when it did happen.
Yosuke was completely out of his sight, but he could still sense his partner's sudden desire to kill. Even if he wasn't a self-proclaimed Risette fan, Yosuke Hanamura had all too much experience at being slandered by allegedly objective teachers.
"What's up with her?" another student wondered, scratching his brown hair. "Does she seriously think she's Risette's rival or something?"
His friend rolled his eyes. "She's toast then. I've heard Kashiwagi is on the wrong side of forty."
"Bet King Moron would've been ecstatic at Risette enrolling here," the brown-haired student said. "I heard he bought her pinup book."
Okay, that is officially creepy.
"Kinda pervy," his friend replied, visibly unnerved. "Still, he annoyed the hell out of me, but I feel bad he got killed."
Especially since we have to put up with her, Souji agreed.
"Oh, you know what?" the other said. "Rise was on a striptease show."
Souji froze. Please tell me they didn't see.
"But it fritzed out before it got to the good part," the brown-haired boy said, dejected. "It was on that Midnight Channel everyone's been talking about."
His friend rolled his eyes again. "You actually believe that bull? Seriously, you were dreaming. Just admit it; we'll all be better off."
Chie leaned close. "The rumor about the Midnight Channel is spreading even faster."
"Yeah, we'd better wrap this case up quick," Yosuke agreed. "We'll meet at Junes like usual, right, partner?"
Souji nodded absently, noting Kashiwagi's rant finally winding down. He put his head down on his arms, resisting the urge to sob. We're doomed.
After School
It was a perfect storm. Homeroom teacher murdered, new teacher a slut, for lack of a better term, no new leads, and to top it off finals were still in a week. Souji knew better than to wonder if it could get any worse, though. It could, and likely would.
Chie let out a soft groan. "Finals are next week. It's been a while since I failed any subjects."
"Yeah, if by 'a while' you mean 'all the time'," Yosuke said in a dust-dry tone.
Which Chie naturally took offense at. "Shut up already!" she snapped. "Like you've ever seen my scores! Geez, you can be a real jerk sometimes."
Um, you might want to look at yourself, Chie.
Yukiko then unintentionally threw gasoline on the incipient flame. "But Chie always has above-average marks in subjects she doesn't fail1"
Souji felt a sudden, almost uncontrollable urge to laugh. Chie turned a bizarre shade of puce, and for a good thirty seconds seemed completely at a loss for words. Her mouth worked soundlessly, as though trying to jump-start her voice box.
"Wha—Yukiko!" she said at last. "Why'd you have to tell him that!?"
Rise burst into peals of laughter. It was in that moment, Souji thought, that she most resembled the "Risette" TV personality that had been so carefully cultivated over the last year or so. He could easily see why she was so famous, as natural-sounding as she was.
Chie, of course, was less amused. "You, too, Rise-chan!?"
"Don't worry, I'm not laughing at you," the idol said, though her continued giggling made it unconvincing. "I just thought it would take forever to make any friends at my new school. Real friends, I mean, not the kind who just want to get close to Risette."
Chie nodded, calming. "Yeah. It's a real shame how we met, though."
"That reminds me, what do you guys think about King Moron's case?" Yosuke said. "It's true he never showed up on the Midnight Channel."
"If he'd been inside the TV, I would've sensed it," Teddie put in. "My nose isn't working very well anymore, but I can still tell that much."
Chie scrubbed her face in evident frustration. "His body was found on a foggy day, though. They said on the news that it was the same as with the announcer and Saki-senpai."
The seeming contradiction had been bothering Souji ever since Morooka's body was found. They still didn't know how Mayumi Yamano and Saki Konishi had ended up on rooftops following their deaths in the TV world. For someone who was never in there in the first place to end up in a similar position added a most unwelcome level of complexity.
"I really wonder about the culprit's motives," Yukiko murmured. "Why target Mister Morooka of all people?"
Which was something else that had been praying on Souji's mind. Certainly, Kinshiro Morooka had been a thoroughly unpleasant bastard, but there was nothing to really connect him to outside events beyond his occasional rants on the subject. Souji himself had preferred to simply wipe the man from his mind when the bell rang at the end of the day.
"Sure hope it wasn't personal," Kanji said darkly. "Way too many people hated King Moron's guts."
"Start with his entire class," Souji agreed. "Not that I think any of us are murderers, even though we might have fantasized about it sometimes," he added wryly. Everyone chuckled at that.
Rise frowned. "Didn't you say he was targeting people who were shown on TV?" she asked. "I picture someone like that as not knowing the victims at all. Trying to find a motive is probably a waste of time. Way too many people just hold grudges for no reason."
"Maybe, maybe not," Souji said. "I'm guessing you're speaking from experience?"
She nodded, looking a bit rueful. "Yeah. Comes with showbiz."
"Still, the problem with King Moron is he didn't appear on the Midnight Channel or regular TV," Chie said, and hissed in frustration. "I just don't get it at all!"
"One thing's for sure," Kanji said. "Two victims in a row from our school, that's gonna set off alarm bells with the cops. Gonna be goin' over Yasogami with a fine-toothed comb."
"Which means I'll have to watch my step," Souji muttered.
There was no need to explain why. So far, he'd for the most part avoided any awkward questions, but if the school received any real focus, that was almost certain to change. If there was one thing he truly hated about this whole mess (besides the deaths, of course), it was that he'd been forced to perfect his lying skills.
Something about Yosuke's expression caught his eye. "Something on your mind, partner?"
Yosuke sighed. "I hate to admit it but . . . somewhere deep inside, I kinda thought King Moron was the killer. You know how it is; the news says he was the second victim from Yasogami, but we know that's not true." He looked pointedly at Yukiko and Kanji. "And I've heard him say more than once that so-and-so deserves to die."
"Pretty sure he said it about me at least once," Souji said, only half joking.
"Yeah," Yosuke agreed. "But now, I feel kinda bad that I doubted him. He was a right son of a bitch, but that doesn't justify killing him. And not just King Moron, but every one of the victims. None of them deserved what they got."
Chie nodded. "So we'll do what we can, for his sake, too! By now, we pretty much have to figure the killer has something to do with the school, right?"
"Not necessarily," Souji cautioned. "Remember the first case. Somehow, I don't think Mayumi Yamano was connected to Yasogami High at all."
"Yeah, but it's a starting point," Chie countered. "So we'll split up and—"
"That won't be necessary," a new voice interrupted.
Souji half-turned, knowing instantly who it had to be. Sure enough, petite figure, blue-green shirt, yellow tie, dark blue pants and cap, and of course the navy blue hair. It was unmistakably the Detective Prince (or, as Souji alone in Inaba knew, Princess), Naoto Shirogane.
"What brings you here, Shirogane-san?" he asked in a mild tone.
She shot him a brief, unreadable look. "There is no need to examine the case of Mister Morooka any further," she said.
The team (sans Souji) jumped in almost comical unison. "W-Why's that?" Chie stammered.
Naoto waved a hand, her shoulders lifting almost imperceptibly. "Apparently, the police already have a suspect. It would be best to let them handle the case from here on."
This time Souji did twitch; he hadn't heard a thing. Then again, perhaps it wasn't so surprising. His uncle was, after all, quite determined to keep family and police business separate. The last thing Ryotaro Dojima would have done was let something slip to his ward before the case was settled.
"How do you know that, anyway?" Yosuke asked, eyeing the young detective curiously.
Naoto shrugged. "I'm on the case as a special investigator at the request of the prefectural police."
"He's telling the truth," Souji said, seeing Yosuke's skeptical look. "Literally drove my uncle to drink not long ago." Something flickered in Naoto's eyes, but she didn't comment.
Chie just stared. "They found a suspect!? Who!?"
Naoto's eye's flickered again; a hint of bitterness, Souji though, though he couldn't be certain. "As to his name, I haven't been informed. I do know he is a high schooler, though not a Yasogami student. The police seem very confident that he is the killer, with direct testimony linking him to the incident. His arrest, I think, is only a matter of time."
It had to have been within the last few hours, Souji knew. News of that sort couldn't be kept secret much longer, not in a small town like Inaba. Especially not when the police were doubtless anxious to reassure the public about town safety.
"Soon, this case will be over, and your town will be back to its peaceful, rustic self."
Yosuke seemed to be having trouble processing it all. "The suspect . . . is a high schooler?"
On the surface, it seemed perfect. A high school student holding a grudge against Morooka was logical enough, given his infamously cantankerous nature. On the other hand, a student not from Yasogami would have no real reason for such an act. Something didn't fit, but Souji wasn't sure what it was.
"So why come and tell us?" Yosuke wanted to know. "Pretty sure that's confidential info, so why come spill it here?"
That's another good question.
Naoto seemed to consider that. "Your 'game' will soon reach its end," she said. "I thought you should know."
That was a bit much. "This isn't a game to us," Souji said, eyes narrowing just a little.
Naturally, the Detective Prince immediately pounced. "You don't deny, then, that you have involved yourselves in the matter?" She shrugged again, not waiting for a reply. "In any case, I've nothing further to say on it."
She turned to leave, but Rise's voice stopped her. "A game?" The idol was uncharacteristically glaring. "You think this is just a game to us?" Her voice was unusually cold. "Aren't you the one thinking of this as a game?"
Naoto froze. "What. . . ?"
"I don't care if you're some kind of special investigator or just an amateur sleuth," Rise said. "In the end, all you're doing is solving mysteries." Her glare intensified. "What makes you think you know anything about us? You're the one playing games here."
Yosuke's lip trembled. "One of the victims . . . meant a lot to me. How the hell could I treat this like a game?" He glanced at Teddie. "Besides, we made a promise."
"Yosuke. . . ." Teddie said quietly.
To Souji's surprise, Naoto actually smiled. "A game. . . . You may have a point at that."
Chie blinked. "Why so friendly all of sudden?"
Yosuke slowly smiled. "Oh, I get it. It seemed a little strange that you'd be wandering around here when the police have a suspect. What, they get rid of you now that they have their man? You were lonely?"
Naoto shook her head. "Detectives aren't normally involved in arrests, nor do we harbor any special feelings about specific cases. However," she sighed, "it is unfortunate that we are forgotten when our services are no longer needed." She seemed to shake it off. "In any event, much about this case was perplexing, but the solution was surprisingly simple." She turned again. "With that said, I'll be going."
Souji stood, murmuring, "Be right back," to his friends. He caught up with Naoto in a few steps. "Naoto." She looked back at him in surprise. "It's true that we're involved ourselves, but it's not something that can be easily explained. For now, let's just say there are some things the police can't do." He rubbed the back of his neck. "If you ever need to, you can talk to me."
Naoto frowned. "Why make such an offer?"
"Because I know how it feels to be left all alone," Souji said. With a nod of farewell, he returned to his table.
"What was all that about?" Chie wondered when Souji sat back down. "He just said his piece and left?"
Souji shook his head. "There's more to it than that, I think. Same for this case." He drummed his fingers on the table. "We can't take it for granted that the case is solved. Remember, the police can't know everything. Keep your eyes open, everyone."
It was telling that no one raised any kind of disagreement.
Tuesday, 12 July, Early Morning
With his uncle busy with the latest twist in the murder case, Souji made a point of walking with Nanako as far as he could. Not that he was truly worried about the culprit attacking a six-year-old in broad daylight, rain or no, but it eased both their minds in the wake of Morooka's death.
After splitting off, he kept a leisurely pace, casually looking out for anyone he knew. One of his classmates waved at him, but for the most part he was ignored, which suited him just fine right then.
A long sigh broke into his thoughts as he neared the gate. "Finals are next week," a female voice said. It was a senior whose named Souji had never learned.
"Senpai, you're looking pretty down." That was a boy from Kou's class, if Souji recalled correctly. "It's not good for you. Remember, once they're out of the way, summer vacation isn't far behind."
The senior was having none of it. "Shut it, puny underclassman!" she snapped. "I have to study for my college entrance exams! Just wait till you're a third-year student, then you'll see what I mean."
Finals and a lovestruck junior. Just the combination I don't need. Shaking his head, Souji walked on past. He had enough on his plate without dealing with the usual high school drama.
Morning
The first regular class with Noriko Kashiwagi went by without incident, to the surprise of just about everyone. Creepy though she was, she at least knew her subject, which was more than could be said for some teachers Souji had known over the years.
Naturally, she then had to ruin Souji's almost-good mood. "Now, remember, finals are next week," she said sweetly. "If you fail, you'll have to attend our lovely summer school."
I'm going to ace every test just to make sure I have a solid month away from you.
"No reason to worry about it right now, though," Kashiwagi said. "Hot and humid days just keep coming. Perfect time to have eel; I just love the slimy texture."
And creeping out your students, Sensei?
Inspiration sparked in the teacher's eyes. "By the way, do you know why eels are slimy? They have a protein called mucin that, due to agglutination, precipitates the small particles. I learned all that on TV; they even say it makes your skin softer!"
Don't believe everything you see on TV, Souji reflexively snarked.
Kashiwagi smiled. "I'd definitely recommend that channel. Someday I'm sure you'll all look back and thank me for such precious information."
Don't count on it.
After School
Feeling at loose ends, Souji wandered to the Samegawa flood plain, which had become one of his favorite haunts. He knew he should study for exams, but he just didn't have it in him just then. Besides, he studied best in his own room with a cup of coffee at his elbow.
To his surprise, there was someone else at the gazebo, idly watching the rain come down. "Didn't expect to see you here, Shirogane-san," he said mildly.
She lifted an eyebrow slightly. "Likewise, Seta-san. I'd have thought you would be studying."
He took a seat a discrete distance away. "Souji is fine," he said. "I do my best studying late at night; fewer distractions that way. Besides," his lip twitched in a brief grimace, "it's hard to study in class right now."
Naoto tilted her head curiously. "You have issues with your new homeroom teacher?"
"You're very perceptive; no wonder they call you the Detective Prince," Souji said, only the barest hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Kinshiro Morooka was an obnoxious bastard; Noriko Kashiwagi is a slut." He chuckled at the other's expression. "I'm not kidding. The way she dresses isn't exactly professional."
"I . . . see." Naoto shook her head. "Yasogami has a more interesting faculty than I had realized."
Souji smiled. He couldn't explain why, but he felt strangely relaxed around Naoto Shirogane. "You could say that. Our history teacher is obsessed with ancient Egypt, to the point of wearing an Egyptian headdress. Literature is taught by a guy with a hand puppet; phys ed instructor doubles as English teacher. I've seen some strange teachers, but Yasogami's are easily the strangest."
"Indeed." Naoto had a vague "you have got to be kidding me" look on her face, but didn't seem truly disbelieving. "You seem to be coping well enough."
Souji shrugged. "Morooka was the only one who was actively hostile, and while Kashiwagi is creepy, she's still only one person."
"I see," Naoto said. "Forgive me, Seta—excuse me, Souji." She seemed a bit unnerved at calling him by name. "I did not expect someone with your background to be so enthusiastic about the countryside."
Souji pursed his lips, pondering just how to respond. "Yosuke once said to me," he murmured, "that the countryside has a certain something you just can't get anywhere else."
"Poetic," Naoto observed.
"He has his moments," Souji said, and stood. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get home; Uncle Ryotaro is obviously busy, so my cousin is home alone. A pleasure talking with you, Shirogane-san."
"Likewise," Naoto said, and he was pretty sure she meant it. ". . .You may call me Naoto."
Souji smiled. "See you again, Naoto."
Evening
The rain had stopped by the time he returned, which at least alleviated his worries about the Midnight Channel for the time being. Nanako was absorbed in one of her shows, so Souji ambled over to the fridge, intent on making something more interesting for the next day's lunch.
Creme caramel sounds good. A bit sweeter than usual for me, but good stuff. He also made a mental note to make some coffee; finals were going to be hard on him as it was. Hopefully things would stay calm until he had more time to spare.
"Do you have a new teacher, Big Bro?"
He glanced back over his shoulder. "Yeah. Don't really like her any more than the last one, but it happens sometimes. I'll be fine." He set the dishes aside. "Did your father call?"
"No, but Adachi-san did," Nanako said. "He said they'd be working late for a while."
"With another murder case, I'm not surprised," Souji said, setting a plate down next to her. "I'll sit up with you for a while, Nanako-chan, but after that I need to study. I have final exams next week."
Nanako smiled. Six years old or not, she knew all about tests. "Okay."
Wednesday, 13 July, Lunchtime
In a highly unusual oversight, Souji didn't notice until noon the next day that he had made far too much to eat alone. Even with basketball team and periodic jaunts into the TV world, he couldn't handle that much in one sitting. The logical solution was, of course, to share with a friend.
This is an awful lot. Who do I know with a stomach like a bottomless pit? A rhetorical question, naturally.
And so it was that he found himself on the roof, sharing his lunch with Chie Satonaka. Not usually one for sweets, Chie devoured the creme caramel with almost unnerving eagerness. He recalled Yosuke comparing her appetite to a starving wolf.
"This is delicious!" Chie gushed. "Did you make this from scratch?"
"Not quite," Souji said, keeping the quaver out of his voice. "I'm glad you liked it. Need to stay fueled up for fighting Shadows, after all."
Chie nodded vigorously. "Oh, yeah. Sure, the police have a suspect, but I'm betting it's not gonna be that easy, so I need to stay in top form." She tilted her head. "By the way, you got time for training later?"
Souji grimaced. "I wish. Have to make a grocery run to Junes, and be ready to make dinner in case Uncle Ryotaro isn't home. Maybe even if he is," he amended, "he'll probably be tired. And then I need to study for exams next week."
"Ugh, don't remind me," Chie groaned. "And with that freak of a teacher; never thought they'd dig up someone worse than King Moron. You catch the way she was ragging on Rise-chan the other day?"
"Hard not to," Souji said sourly. "She doesn't have a clue what she's talking about." He took one last bite of creme caramel. "Anyway, we can do some training after finals. If we survive them, anyway."
Chie rolled her eyes. "You're a big help," she said mock-severely.
"I can be," Souji replied with a small smile. "If you'd like, I'll help you study after school."
Her face instantly lit up with almost wild hope. "Really? You're the best!"
Souji laughed. "I think you're giving me a little too much credit. For now, we'd better get back to class. Don't know about you, but I'd rather not find out what Kashiwagi's idea of punishment for tardiness is."
Chie grimaced. "And how!"
Afternoon
Phys ed. Always tiring, frequently bizarre, seldom boring. That, at least was Souji's usual view on the subject. Usual. Today promised to be different, and it wasn't hard to guess why. With Kinshiro Morooka's death less than a week in the past, it was sure to be on a lot of people's minds.
Case in point. "You all seem pretty sad," Kondo said with a sigh. "It's tough, I know."
Actually, not many students looked particularly sad. Regretful, perhaps, but not truly sad. Morooka had been far too unpopular with the students to be mourned all that deeply. For that matter, Souji privately doubted many of the teachers had been all that fond of the man.
"I still can't believe he was taken from us," Kondo said. "The faculty office is still in shock, too."
Now that I can believe. Morooka was a bastard, but I don't think it occurred to anyone that he would be murdered. A country high school teacher, however obnoxious, isn't really a likely target.
"But we can't sob all day long!" Kondo said determinedly. "Today, we're going to put the 'physical' back in education!"
That does not bode well at all.
Kondo grinned. "We're gonna play rugby!" he said. "And don't even think of slacking off just 'cause it's hot! I know some of you probably don't know how to play," here he looked directly at Souji, a rising star on the basketball team, "but don't worry! Rome wasn't built in a day!" He looked at Souji again. "C'mon, Souji, don't space out on me, I've got a question for you!"
What on Earth made him think I was spacing out? Nevertheless, Souji obediently waited.
"What does 'Rome wasn't built in a day' mean!?"
Does he have to quiz us at the top of his lungs? "It takes time," Souji said. Even if he hadn't heard that particular cliché before, it still would have been obvious.
Kondo's grin widened. "Bingo! 'Keep trying' would have been close, though. You can't give up until you've built your empire! By the way, that proverb was originally written in French, Mister Hosoi tells me." He laughed. "It's good one, good enough to be put on the test! Don't forget it!"
You're telegraphing again.
Evening
After a surprisingly productive study session with Chie, Souji ambled home. He smiled at Nanako's usual cheery greeting, then did a double take. His uncle was actually home, sitting at the kitchen table with his ever-present newspaper. He looked a bit worn, but otherwise in good shape.
"Hey," Dojima greeted. "Haven't had a chance to talk for the last couple of days. How are things at school?"
It was obvious what he meant. "A bit eerie," Souji said. "No one really liked Morooka, but as far as I know no one seriously wanted him dead, either. I don't think it's really sunk in yet for most of the class. Or the faculty for that matter."
"I'm not surprised," Dojima said, nodding somberly. "His death was out of the blue for the department, too. Do you have a new homeroom teacher yet?"
Souji grimaced. "Yeah, and she's even worse than Morooka. Dresses a little too unprofessionally," there was no need to explain what that meant, if Dojima's expression was any indication, "and on her first day she started badmouthing Rise Kujikawa. Called her 'inexperienced jailbait,' among other things."
His uncle winced. "I can see why you'd be uncomfortable. Speaking of Rise, how is she?" He held up a hand, forestalling protest. "I'm not accusing you of anything, but you do know her, right?" Souji nodded, seeing no reason to hide it. "We've been concerned about her in the wake of this latest incident, and Yasogami isn't exactly big. Is she doing all right?"
"Mostly, yeah." Souji relaxed just a bit. "She's actually latched on to me some, probably because I'm one of the few people who don't go into some kind of trance when I talk to her." He smiled wryly. "Take away the idol facade, and she's really just a regular girl."
Some of the tension left Dojima's face. "I'm glad to hear it. To tell the truth, I was a bit concerned when she said she'd be attending Yasogami; a celebrity at such a small school was bound to cause a stir. But if she's as comfortable as you say, it makes things easier for all of us."
"She'll be fine as long as Kashiwagi doesn't push her too far," Souji said. "Actually, I haven't seen many students following her around."
"Maybe the fact that she's different in person is having an impact," Dojima said, standing. "Want some coffee?"
Perfect. "Please," Souji said. "I've got some more studying tonight, so I'll need all the help I can get to stay awake."
"Coming right up."
It was good to see his uncle in a cheerful mood for once. Not that Souji expected it to last; he had a feeling that whoever their suspect was, he would prove more elusive than the police anticipated. Two murders had gone completely unsolved, and several more disappearances resolved but with the culprit still unknown and at large. Someone capable of such a feat would not be easily trapped.
"Here." Dojima set a cup of coffee next to Souji's arm. "This should keep you alert enough to ace all your tests," he said with a grin.
"I sure hope so," Souji said, sipping appreciatively. "Summer school with Noriko Kashiwagi isn't my idea of fun."
Dojima laughed. "It's all part of growing up. You'll get through it just fine."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Souji said dryly.
"I mean it." Dojima leaned forward. "I've seen your grades, Souji. Even with everything else on your plate," meaning of course basketball and drama club, since he didn't know Souji's role in the investigation, "you haven't slacked off at all. That makes me very proud, and I'm sure your parents would feel the same."
Which was true. Souji recalled his father making a half-joking remark about not letting the country air dull his mind about a week before he'd left for Inaba. How serious Hironobu Seta had been, Souji didn't know, but he'd taken it to heart even before meeting Kinshiro Morooka and thus keeping up out of sheer self-preservation.
Besides, it just wasn't in his nature to let anything important slide.
"Well," Dojima said about half an hour later, "you need to study, and I have to be at the office early tomorrow. You can probably guess why."
"Sure can," Souji acknowledged. "'Night, Uncle Ryotaro."
Thursday, 14 July, Morning
Time for another class with Hand Puppet Hosoi. Like Kondo, unsurprisingly, he looked more than a little depressed, with just a hint of unease. Souji didn't blame him.
"I'm sure you're all feeling anxious, knowing your homeroom teacher is deceased," Hosoi said, showing an amazing grasp of the obvious. "To be honest, us teachers are a bit afraid ourselves. The killer is still on the loose, you know." He shook his head. "No sense wasting time over it. We have the bright summer sun at our backs, so let's get to work. Now open your textbooks, and find the excerpts from The Pillow Book."
Souji obediently flipped through his book, finding the relevant passage quickly enough. Simple as usual, that's what I like about him.
"Hmm, I just remembered there are a number of passages about the sun there," Hosoi said, "including one called 'In Spring it is the Dawn.' Interestingly, the term 'dawn has many meanings. For example, you have civil dawn and nautical dawn. Souji-chan!"
Unsurprised, Souji pushed his chair back and stood.
"Which is brighter, civil or nautical dawn?"
That one he remembered from a book on sailing he'd read once. "Civil dawn."
Hosoi smiled. "You're exactly right; I'm surprised you knew. There isn't really much difference; nautical dawn is when you can just barely see the sunlight, while civil dawn is when it's bright enough to distinguish objects. Naturally, this will be on next week's test, so make sure you memorize it."
Of course.
Hosoi gestured with his puppet hand. "By the way, my wife made this doll for me. Don't you think she did a good job making it look like me?" That prompted some muted laughter, which Hosoi didn't seem to mind.
Friday, 15 July, Afternoon
Several days thus far with no word. As Souji suspected, the anonymous high school student was proving far more difficult to corner than the police had realized. Which stood to reason; anyone with enough cunning to use an alternate dimension in such a way doubtless knew a thing or two about staying hidden.
In the meantime, school dragged on. At least Yamada was one of the saner teachers. Souji didn't have much of a scientific bent, but Yamada made things understandable.
"So, it's both the ocean and aerial currents that dictate changes in the weather," he was saying. "But aerial currents change based on the shape of any nearby mountains, so geography must always be taken into account. It can get very complicated, but people who grow a region's signature produce must always remember in order to maintain their profits."
Souji recalled his father saying something about that. Among the Seta family's many and varied investments was a large interest in, of all things, a French winery. Hironobu Seta had waxed downright poetic about the potential return, much to Souji's befuddlement.
"Hm? Am I putting you to sleep with this lecture?" Yamada wondered.
Not really. My mind was wandering a bit is all.
Yamada laughed. "You're really that focused, are you? Let's close the textbook for a moment. I have an interesting story for you; all this talk of mountains brought it to mind. Let's see. . . . Souji-kun, you've blended into this class a little too well."
Is that possible with my hair? Souji irreverently wondered, standing in anticipation.
"What do you think? Is it possible to grow melons in the Andes Mountains?"
Souji had to think back for that one. He was sure it had come up in some conversation or other he'd had, probably with his grandfather.
Finally it came. "It isn't possible."
Yamada looked impressed. "I'm surprised you got it; I expected the reference to the Andes to throw you off. Anyway, melons need long, hot days with little to no rainfall to grow. They do much better in Europe than the cold Andes." He smiled. "Pretty interesting, right? Make sure you tell your parents I'm a funny teacher, okay; if I have a good reputation, I might get a raise." He paled slightly. "Just a joke, you know."
A pretty good one.
After School
Though he resisted for a while, eventually Souji had to give in to Chie's pleas for more training. He had to admit, albeit not where any teacher would hear it, that there was such a thing as too much studying. More to the point, the body had to be trained as well as the mind, especially with their extracurricular activities.
After a brief but intense session, they stopped at Aiya's to refuel, as Chie put it. Naturally, she ordered the largest meat dish they had on the regular menu.
"Mmm-mmm, this stuff really hits the spot!" she gushed. "Not quite as good as your cooking, but it's sure up there!"
Souji lifted an eyebrow. "Happy, are you?"
Chie sighed, seeming almost in a trance. "On the happiness scale, I'd put it up with watching action movies. Too bad it's not raining; I can never seem to make it on rainy days."
"Trust me, the Rainy Day Beef Bowl would challenge even your appetite," Souji said, chuckling. "It's like it's a portal to the Meat Dimension or something."
Chie laughed. "That's just like you." She quickly sobered. "I really need to work hard, pump myself up, or I can't pull us out of a jam. Especially Yukiko; I need to be able to protect her." She shook her head. "I worry sometimes, y'know? I hope she's not straining herself."
"It'll be fine," Souji said quietly. "She's strong. You would know better than I do, but I think she's improved a lot since joining our little band of misfits."
Chie seemed to digest that. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right. She's a lot better off since we pulled her out of that freaky castle." She nodded firmly. "So I've really gotta keep it up! For her sake, and for yours." She blushed slightly. "I mean, we're all counting on you, but we can't let you take everything on by yourself."
Souji smiled. "I know what you're saying, and I'm grateful. There's no way I could do it alone; you and Yosuke always have my back, and Yukiko's healing magic has saved my life more than once. That means a lot."
"Well, uh, thanks." Chie looked a bit embarrassed. "Y'know, I really don't know how you do it. You're a star on the basketball team, you get top grades, and you still have time to ride herd on the rest of us."
"Good time management," Souji said, deadpan, then ginned. "Honestly, I'm not really sure, either. It just kinda works out that way sometimes."
"Well, however you do it, I'm sure not complaining," Chie said with a laugh. "Sure, maybe you can't do it without us, but we can't do it without you, either. So you'd better pace yourself, Leader."
Souji grunted. "I'm not suicidal, Chie. I've seen that 'Galactic Punt' move you like to use on small fry Shadows."
"And don't you forget it!" Chie's wide grin belied the threat. "So, after exams, it's back to work?"
He nodded. "Assuming the police haven't caught their man by then, yeah. I'm not making any bets either way, not with how crazy the case has been so far."
"No argument here." Chie waved at the cook. "More beef rice, please!"
Where does all that food go?
Saturday, 16 July, Early Morning
Another day for the umbrella. Not expected to last the night, thankfully, so they were at least going to be spared a pre-exam Midnight Channel event. Souji didn't want to be staying up past midnight until finals were over, assuming he survived the experience.
"Yo." Chie trotted up just as he reached the gate. "Rainin' hard, isn't it."
"Not supposed to last into the night, at least," Souji said. "The last thing we need right before exams is a Midnight Channel scene."
Chie winced a little. "Yeah, that would mean even more hell. I kinda wonder what kind of person the culprit is; besides being a real creep, I mean. He's gotta be way out there even for a serial killer, shoving people through TV screens to kill them. Any word on how the investigation's going?"
"Not from my uncle," Souji said, shaking his head. "He wouldn't say anything, but I can tell by his mood. If they'd caught the killer, Uncle Ryotaro would be celebrating."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." The martial artist groaned. "And like you said, we've still got finals coming. I just can't study when I'm thinking about the investigation."
"Don't lose focus," Souji advised her. "You've still got your whole life ahead after this is wrapped up, remember."
She groaned again. "How am I supposed to argue with logic like that? You're way too smart for your own good, Souji. But, then again, that's kinda why you're the big cheese."
Souji smiled. Maybe, he thought, Chie would start improving after all. She was anything but stupid; stupid people would have died very early on in the kind of adventures they had. Long-term concentration was her weak point, from what Souji had seen.
Morning
Another lecture from Queen Tut. At least she's fun.
". . .Hence, the women of nobility in ancient times used makeup to enhance their beauty and elegance," Sofue said. "Many of these contained poisonous substances like lead or arsenic that harmed their bodies."
Could be useful for assassinations, thought.
"So it's fairly obvious how readily available poison was at the time," Sofue went on, "and how makeup and poison are closely linked. Such poisonous makeups were used practically all over the world back then. But! Some had a very different purpose. Mister Seta, please stand."
Here we go again. It was uncanny how often teachers called on him.
"I'd like you to take a close look at the makeup I'm wearing," Sofue said. If it had been anyone but Queen Tut (Kashiwagi especially) it would have sounded creepy. From Kimiko Sofue, it was business as usual. "Do you see the mystical blue eyeliner?"
It was actually hard to miss. The only part of Sofue's ensemble that was more obvious was her headdress.
"I see you do," she said approvingly. "Tell me, what was the purpose of this eyeliner, widely used by the ancient Egyptians?"
Once more, Souji blessed his memory for trivia. "Insect repellent," he said without hesitation.
Sofue smiled. "I knew you'd get it. Yes, epidemics were often, as today, spread by mosquitoes and other such insects that are found near rivers like the Nile. Naturally, powdered lapis lazuli eyeliner was reserved for women of the nobility. Such a useful substance was denied to commoners."
There was an almost subliminal murmuring around him as Souji sat back down. He honestly didn't think it was such a big deal, being able to consistently answer such questions. It wasn't like they were being quizzed on something more brain-bending, like quantum physics.
Oh, well. No real harm in it.
Sunday, 17 July, Daytime
Unable to stomach the thought of anymore studying just then, Souji went out to the shopping district in the hopes of a new book release. No such luck, which only made his feeling of growing stir-crazy more intense. If he didn't find some kind of distraction soon, he was going to go mad.
"Oh, Souji. I don't see you around here often."
Feeling like waves had suddenly calmed in his mind, he looked at the other with a sense of relief. "We're probably just not here at the same time much, Yukiko," he said. "I come to the bookstore fairly often."
"You would," Yukiko conceded. "I always thought you must read a lot, the way you get some of the teachers' questions right. A few of those are pretty obscure."
Souji shrugged. "I'd say trying to trip students up once in a while is a teacher's job. Can't have us too complacent, or something like that. Won't do us any favors in the long term." He smiled. "Not like we're going to grow complacent anytime soon."
Yukiko laughed lightly. "That's true. Anyway, since we're here, do you have some free time?"
"Plenty," Souji said with feeling. "I do my best studying late at night, and right now I don't even want to think about a textbook."
"You sound like Chie," Yukiko said with a giggle.
They wandered off to the Samegawa riverbank, chatting about plans for the future. Yukiko's plans, at least; Souji still wasn't entirely sure where he wanted to go, though he was beginning to have a vague idea deep in his mind. An idea that likely would never have occurred to him had he not come to Inaba.
"I've managed to get a part-time job, so now I have some money stashed away," Yukiko said. "It's not much, but I have to start somewhere, right?"
"I wouldn't trust getting a lot of money right away anyway," Souji said. "You know what they say, when something seems too good to be true, it probably is." He tilted his head slightly. "You're really preparing to leave?"
Yukiko nodded. "Yes." There was the slightest hitch in her voice. In all likelihood Yukiko didn't even notice; Souji filed it away for later consideration. "Taking over the Amagi Inn is really too confining. You remember what my Shadow looked like, right?"
Souji covered a wince, recalling the flames that Shadow had hit them with. "A caged bird."
"Right. I want to escape that cage." Yukiko sighed. "I don't want to desert my parents, or the Inn staff, but that life just doesn't feel like mine. I have to choose my own path."
Souji nodded. "Never deny your true self," he said, recalling what that invariably led to in the TV world. "It will eventually ruin your life."
"Exactly," Yukiko said. "And I want to do this right, or it will be just like nothing has changed at all. That's why I've been studying extra hard; I'm already looking at what college to apply to."
Impressive. "Even I'm not that far along yet," Souji said. "Just haven't found the right place."
Yukiko smiled. "I'm sure you will. After everything you've already managed to do, you'll know the right path when you find it."
"I didn't know you were a fortune-teller, Yukiko," Souji said, one eyebrow lifted.
She chuckled. "Nothing like that. Just an ordinary girl. Anyway, thanks for being a good listener."
"Anytime."
Monday, 18 July, Early Morning
Souji had never paid much attention to Ocean Day except inasmuch as it was a day off from school. In years past, he'd still often been busy, if not with homework, then any of a dozen projects that happened to be going on wherever the family was staying at the time.
In Inaba, by contrast, he actually had little of importance to do save study. Moved by some obscure impulse, he wandered over to the Samegawa before the sun had fully risen. Usually there was an old fisherman by the pier, and sometimes he met an elderly widow who seemed to find comfort in the river.
Today, however, he was alone. Despite his issues in that respect, it didn't really bother him. It wasn't true solitude, after all, just some time to himself before the rest of the town woke up (as much as it ever did, at least). Sitting at the edge of the pier, he reflected on the bizarre turn his life had taken.
It was hard to believe. A mere three months before, he'd been just a friendless transfer student, barely past his seventeenth birthday, Yasogami only the latest in a long line of new schools for him. And yet, somehow, he'd not only made real (if rather strange) friends, he was leading them in what was probably the craziest murder investigation in the history of Japan.
And, as if to top off the craziness, one of those new friends was an up-and-coming teen idol, a fact that had already gotten him jealous glares from a number of his male classmates. Here his general lack of connections had proved something of an asset; he'd long ago learned not to care what people he would soon leave behind thought of him. Aside from his uncle and cousin, only the opinions of his fellow Persona-users mattered to him.
Well. Perhaps he could add Naoto Shirogane to that list. Souji still didn't understand just why he'd been so open with the Detective "Prince," but he did know something about her had struck a chord deep within him. Perhaps it was as simple as the fact that they were both outsiders in Inaba.
The sun was growing steadily more visible over the eastern horizon, light glimmering on the gently-flowing river. Idly watching the effect, Souji began to think that perhaps Inaba was where he belonged. The generally sleepy atmosphere agreed with him, when there wasn't a serial murder case at least, and he had family and friends there.
He knew, deep down, those thoughts were largely a distraction, both from the exams that would start the following day and the more poignant fact that he would be leaving in spring. No matter. Exams he could handle, and his departure need not be permanent.
His watch chimed. Nanako would be just getting out of bed; if he hurried, he could be home in time for breakfast. With one last glance at the river, he hauled himself upright and departed.
Thoughts of belonging in Inaba vanished the next day, obliterated by the unrelenting pressure of first-term final exams. Knowing that summer break would soon follow brought no comfort; such light was but a distant dream. The reality was facts and figures, essays and equations, subsuming his mind in minutia.
Returning home each night was no better. Confident though he was, Souji refused to slack off with his studies, which would have caused him to lose sleep had his uncle not noticed how haggard he was after the first night. For once Dojima put his foot down, telling Souji to be in bed by midnight so he wouldn't burn out. Reluctantly, Souji complied.
Somehow, it finally came to an end.
Saturday, 23 July, After School
I never want to see another textbook as long as I live, Souji thought, stuffing the last one in his bag. Hyperbole, perhaps, but the fact remained that even he was exhausted from finals. And, he was painfully aware, it was only going to get worse as his school days went on.
"It's aaaaaall over," Yosuke said, stretching the last word into a yawn. "Damn, I'm sleepy."
Chie, naturally, found something to be irritated about. "Don't yawn in my face like that!" Dismissing him, she turned to Yukiko. "Hey, for the third question on the English test, which phrase did you choose?"
Yukiko cupped her chin in one hand. "I went with 'used to.'"
Chie's face fell, and she sighed. "Wrong again. . . ."
"So much for Chie studying abroad," Yosuke said with a faint smirk. "Why leave anyway? We've got everything right here in Inaba."
"Don't fan the flames, Yosuke," Souji said before Chie could snap. "Just be glad it's over."
Shuffling feet drew their attention. Kanji and Rise had appeared, neither as energetic as usual. Rise looked about like she had when Souji first met her, haggard, worn, looking like she wanted to find the nearest soft spot and collapse. Kanji, tough guy though he was, didn't appear much better off.
"No more encores," Rise said, giving the impression that she wasn't fully conscious. "I mean, hi everyone."
"Whoa, more losers?" Yosuke said.
Rise seemed to regain some of her energy. "What do I need to know English for!?" she demanded, gesticulating at nothing in particular. "I can always ask for a translator!"
Souji couldn't help chuckling. "Knowing the language yourself gives you an advantage, Rise-chan," he told her. "Remember, knowledge is power; I know it's a cliché, but it's still true."
"Figures you'd say that," Rise said with a tired smile. "So how'd you do on the exam, Senpai?"
"I think I passed," Souji allowed, unwilling to brag. "Right now I'm just glad it's over. I don't like the idea of summer school at the best of times, let alone when I've got someone like Kashiwagi for a homeroom teacher."
Kanji groaned in protest. "Enough about the exams already; that's over and done with. What's goin' on with the murder case?"
"How about we discuss it at our special headquarters," Yosuke said. "We haven't been there in a while."
"Exams tend to have that effect," Souji said, smiling a little at Rise's look of incomprehension. "Sure, sounds good. Be a nice way to unwind if nothing else."
When they reached the Junes food court, Souji immediately relaxed. It was a bright, sunny day, there weren't all that many people around, and he had enough money to get some decent food. He was already planning to treat Rise, as a proper way to welcome her to the team.
Chie sighed, seeming uninterested in her meal. "I'm kind bummed," she said. "Not just because exams are over, but the whole deal about the police finding a suspect. I mean, we always thought we were the only ones who could solve the case, and now. . . ."
"Don't jump to conclusions, Chie," Souji said. "Until they catch him, it doesn't mean anything."
Kanji grunted. "So we just sit and wait?"
As if summoned by the delinquent's grouchiness, a familiar suited figure wandered into view. Tohru Adachi looked harried, and while that could have been explained away as the natural result of being Ryotaro Dojima's rookie partner, there appeared to be more to it than that.
"Geez," Adachi muttered, apparently unaware that his voice was carrying. "It's nice to have a suspect and all, but what good does that do us if we don't know where he is? We're at the end of our rope here." He looked up, spotted Souji and friends, and immediately panicked. "D-Did you hear what I just said!?" he stammered, then forced himself back under control. "Don't worry, kids, this case is as good as solved! It's only a matter of time until we bring him in." He smiled a bit shakily. "I mean, the guy's kidnapping people at random and just slaughtering them. We can't rest until we bring him to justice!" Swallowing hard, he walked briskly to the elevator.
Not exactly reassuring. Souji was confident in his uncle's skill, but Adachi was something else. How does Uncle Ryotaro put up with him?
"Now, I'm really worried," Yosuke said, his shoulders slumping. "On the other hand, if the police have a warrant, we should probably stay out of it."
Souji pursed his lips. "For now," he agreed slowly. "We still need to keep an eye on things, though."
For a few minutes they ate in silence. Adachi's words had Souji more convinced than ever that the case wasn't yet over. In a small town like Inaba, if the police had identified a suspect, he should have been relatively easy to track down, yet there was no sign of him.
"Oh, I just remembered, there was a question on the exam I didn't get," Rise said, attempting to lighten the mood. "I think it was, 'The chemical formula HCHO, used for silver mirror reactions. Its 40% solution is known as formalin.' And the question was, 'What is HCHO?'"
"Formaldehyde," Souji said at once.
Rise grimaced. "I chose acerbic acid," she said, shaking her head. "Of course it couldn't have been vinegar." She looked to her left. "Hey, didn't you have that question, too, Kanji?"
He glared at her. "Shut up already, and don't call me by my first name."
It was like oil and water. "Kinda harsh," Rise observed. "Hey, I hear you got a nosebleed around our senpai."
This isn't going to end well. "Settle down," Souji admonished, suddenly feeling like he was talking to middle schoolers. "We all have things we'd rather not think about."
Chie jumped in, clearly desperate to change the subject. "A-Anyway, Rise-chan, why don't you ask Yukiko to help you study?"
The idol blinked. "I guess so, but wouldn't you rather ask a senpai of the opposite sex?"
Just a bit cliché. And why is she looking at me like that?
"I'm not a nuisance to you, am I, Senpai?"
Souji shook his head, making an effort to keep his unease off his face. "Not at all. You're already a valuable member of the team." There, that should be safe enough.
"Let's talk about something else," Chie said hastily. "Anyone know how Teddie's doing?"
Yosuke smiled. "Yeah, I forgot to tell you; exams kinda drove it out of my head. Take a look." He nodded in the direction of the covered tables.
Clad in his bear costume, balloons in hand, Teddie was chatting with a couple of kids. It was hard to tell at a distance, but he looked happy with his new role. Partly, Souji suspected, because it meant he didn't have to be all alone so much.
"I let him stay at my place," Yosuke said, smirking. "In return, he's now our official store mascot. He's doing a pretty good job at it so far."
"Hiding in plain sight," Kanji said, nodding. "Reverse psychology and all that, huh?"
Have to wonder how Yosuke sold the idea to his parents, though.
Yosuke chuckled. "He kept going on and on about not wanting to go back, so I made him a deal. And now, since I've got nothing better to do . . . I'm gonna go bug him." He glanced at Souji. "You in, partner?"
"I'll wait," Souji said. "Best not to go all at once, especially while he's on the clock."
"Suit yourself." Yosuke stood, followed by Chie and—inevitably—Kanji.
Rise lingered, to Souji's mixed curiosity and vague unease. He hadn't had much chance to talk with the idol since she joined their little band, since they were in different classes and little had happened with the case. That fact, he suddenly realized, left him at something of a disadvantage.
"Hey, Senpai?" At Souji's questioning look, Rise said, "Now that I'm getting a handle on school, I'd like to see the sights a bit more. Thing is, I tend to get recognized wherever I go, so I'm kinda nervous about being out on my own. You know the best spots in town, right? Kanji and Yosuke-senpai said you've been all over the place since you got here."
"I know a few places," Souji admitted. "I hope you're not after something exciting; not much of that in Inaba."
Rise actually jumped at that. "Really? Yahoo!" She quickly calmed . . . a little. "If you ever have some time to kill, think of me, okay? Now come on, let's go pester Teddie." She waved. "Teddie, hey!"
I have a bad feeling about this.
Monday, 25 July, Early Morning
Sunday having passed uneventfully, the drizzle of rain at the start of the school week didn't bother him particularly. His mind was actually on exam scores, which if he recalled correctly would be posted later that day. Souji had no concerns regarding his own grades, but he had to wonder if Yosuke or Chie had improved.
Roughly halfway there, Yukiko fell in line with him. "Good morning," she said.
"Morning, Yukiko," Souji said.
"How you seen the weather report?" the inn heiress asked. "It's not going to last today, but they're expecting rain all day tomorrow."
Souji nodded. "Which means we'd better watch for the Midnight Channel," he agreed. "It's true the police are on the hunt now, but I wasn't comfortable with it even before Adachi-san's little slip on Saturday. After everything we've seen, it just felt too mundane, if that makes any sense."
Yukiko nodded back. "That's what I was thinking. We should make sure to tell the others, too."
"Right."
Lunchtime
After a normal morning (or at least as normal as possible with Noriko Kashiwagi around), Souji was contemplating where to have lunch when the same excited student dashed in, yammering about exam scores. He had to stifle a laugh at the look on Yosuke's face.
"Here we go again," the Junes Boy grumbled. "Wanna take a look?"
They casually walked (or in Yosuke's case shuffled) down to the first floor. As usual, a crowd had already gathered, including Kou and Daisuke. Careful to not look at Yosuke's face, Souji scanned the bulletin board for any names he knew. Chie, it seemed, really had improved, albeit marginally. Kou and Daisuke appeared to have done well, Yukiko unsurprisingly was near the top.
His own name was, again, at the top.
"Number one twice in a row," Yosuke said, nudging him. "You've really been hitting the books there, Souji."
Souji shrugged. "I just don't like resting on my laurels, is all."
"Yeah, sure."
Tuesday, 26 July, Early Morning
The last day of first term. After today, it would be a whole month before they had to put up with Kashiwagi again. Just in case, Souji had been very careful to ensure his new homeroom teacher did not have his cell phone number. With the case still ongoing, he didn't want any added complications.
"Summer vacation starts TOMORROW!" a student ahead of him crowed. "Man, I can hardly wait!"
His companion took a more sober view of it. "Too bad it's going to rain all day. Ah, well, they said it'll let up by tomorrow morning. Let's hope it's a clear, sunny day then."
Souji agreed. Clear and sunny meant if anyone was in the TV world, he and his friends would have plenty of time to track them down. Not to mention he did want some time to actually enjoy his summer vacation. He had friends to share it with for a change.
"Ah, not like I had any real plans," the first student said. "Could watch Tanaka's Amazing Commodities and see if there's anything I want. Dunno what it is about that show, but it seems like I always have to buy something."
Souji had seen it a few times, but didn't really care. Nothing Tanaka offered really suited him, and besides, he knew better than to trust a slick salesman like that. Young he was, stupid or naive he was not.
Morning
The last Kashiwagi lecture for a whole month. Can I survive it?
Kashiwagi appeared amused at her class's lack of focus. "Now, I know you're all excited about summer vacation, but please head over to the gym first. I won't say anything mean like someone I know," probably referring to the late Morooka, "but please do as you're told."
If it keeps you off my back, gladly.
The teacher giggled. "Actually, I'm excited about the summer break myself. I've already bought a new swimsuit. Not," she amended, "that it has enough material to really be called a swimsuit."
Souji had to forcibly suppress his gag reflex at that, and if the muffled choking sounds he heard were any indication, he was far from alone. Way, way too much information.
"Well, enjoy your summer vacation," Kashiwagi said. "Just don't forget to do your homework, okay?"
No way I'll forget when you're the alternative.
Evening
To his carefully-hidden relief, Nanako was thoroughly absorbed in one of her favorite quiz shows, and Dojima wasn't even home. Much as he enjoyed spending time with his new family, Souji could not afford any distractions that night. Midnight, he knew, would be critical.
With five minutes to go, the rain was showing no sign of stopping. Soon he would know, one way or another.
The clock struck midnight, and his TV screen lit up. However, it was no mere blurred silhouette as had come before. This time, the image was already clear, though Souji had trouble interpreting it at first. The background looked like some kind of arena, along the lines of the Colosseum in Rome, but there was something off about it.
Which still wasn't as bizarre as the figure in the foreground. As expected, the boy appeared to be a high school student, within a year or so of Souji's age. Clad in dark pants and a yellow shirt, he stared emotionlessly into the camera. Something about him nagged at Souji's memory, as if they'd met before. Something about the eyes, a decidedly fish-like gaze.
"You all think you can see me? You think you know everything about me?" The voice was raspy, but like the eyes oddly familiar. With a harsh chuckle, the boy continued, "Then try and catch me." With that taunt, the image faded.
What on Earth? In some ways that was even more disturbing than Kanji or Rise's Shadows, bizarre thought though it was. At least those two had understandable psychoses. Whoever this fish-eyed guy was, he was a lot more out there than Kanji or Rise.
Right on cue, his cell phone beeped. "Seta."
"Hey, did you see that?" Yosuke asked without preamble.
"Sure did," Souji said. "I don't know who it was, but he seemed familiar somehow."
Yosuke let out a deep breath. "You sure? I don't remember seeing him on TV anywhere. And was it just me, or did he look even weirder than usual somehow? Like a zombie or something."
"I was thinking the same thing," Souji agreed. "Whoever this guy is, he has some serious problems. 'Course, that goes without saying if he's the killer."
Before Yosuke could reply, a distant, higher voice cut in. "Yosuke! Yoooooosukeeeeeee!"
Yosuke sighed. "All right, already! Sorry, I'm giving the phone to Ted."
Souji couldn't help a smile. "Sensei, it's me, Teddie! I finally got to see the Midnight Channel with my own eyes. Now I finally understand what's happening."
"I remember that drove you crazy even after we explained what a TV was," Souji commented.
He could almost hear Teddie nodding. "That guy's suppressed emotions are resonating with the other side, which then gets picked up by the TVs on this side. That means it's not being filmed by anyone. Mystery solved!"
Souji rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Makes about as much sense as anything in that world does. I wish I could figure out what that background was. Yukiko had a castle, Kanji had a bathhouse, Rise got a," he grimaced, "strip club."
"Yeah. He must already be in the other world," Teddie said. "What do we do now?"
"What we always do," Souji said. "We keep calm, plan things out, and track him down."
That cheered Teddie up instantly. "Got it! I knew I could count on you, Sensei!"
Yosuke reclaimed his phone. "Anyway, how could he already be inside? What happened to the blurry image we usually see first?"
"I was wondering," Souji admitted. "Only thing I can think of is he knew he was cornered, and decided the TV was his only chance to escape."
"You think he's. . . .?" Yosuke cut himself off. "Never mind, better not jump to conclusions. Let's talk about it at headquarters tomorrow. Later."
Souji clicked his phone off, still gazing at his darkened TV. Was it r3eally the killer they had just seen? The question would only be answered when they found him.
Author's note: Bit short, but I couldn't find a convenient break that wouldn't make the chapter at least twice as long. Doesn't help that not much happens over summer. Hopefully the next one will be up in less than two months; unfortunately, as I live in Florida, the weather may have something to say about it.
Until next time. ~D.S.