The months fly by once again. Yu's spent the past few months at a new school back in Kyoto, and it's certainly a lot quieter than when school started back in Inaba. No murders, for starters. But now, during summer break, she's back on a train headed for Yasoinaba, back to see the Team and her friends. It's been a while since she left after Izanami's defeat. The goddess's defeat, not her Persona's - having identical entities sure gets confusing. The Velvet Room is closed to her, but she still has the Wild Card. Izanami and Kaguya float in the recesses of her subconscious, there for a word of warning or advice.
"Yasoinaba. We have arrived in Yasoinaba. Please leave the train." The announcer calls, and Yu shakes herself from her reverie. She takes off her headphones - technically Minako's, but she wanted Yu to have them. She stretches and lets out a small sound, reaching up to grab her bag and swing it over her shoulder. When she arrived in Kyoto she got a haircut, her long braids gone. Her grey locks are short now, reaching her chin. She scratches the back of her head and follows the few other passengers off and onto the station.
Inaba is...even better than before. Again. Life echoes through the small town, reverberating across the vibrant storefronts. Yu watches Namatame campaign for mayor, beseeching those around him to spread the truth. She smiles, certain that he doesn't recognize her, and keeps walking.
"Hey, Dojima-san." She calls on her cell, walking through the shopping center.
"Oh, hey! Sorry, but I'm out and Nanako is too, so, the door's locked. Sorry. I'll get back to you when we're home, alright? Bye." Her uncle hangs up and Yu is suspicious almost immediately. She checks her watch, Nanako should be back from school by now, but she shrugs and keeps walking. She first goes to the shrine, golden and shining in the light and sees the fox and her kits, chasing each other. She prays and offers money, getting a fortune for "moderate luck". Yu bends down and the fox dashes over to her, eager to be pet.
Yu sets her bag on the ground and sits, the fox curling up next to her under her hand. She strokes mindlessly, and the kits run over to her, yipping.
"So this is your family, huh?" Yu tilts her head and looks at the fox, who yawns and settles.
"Heh. Cute kids." She gives one last pet and stands up, grabbing her bag. She waves to the foxes as she walks back down the path towards the shopping district.
This time, the Velvet Room is there and open, and the only resident is Igor. Yu looks around briefly before stepping inside.
"Welcome, to the Velvet Room. Congratulations on your success in solving the mystery of this town."
"Thank you. Where are Margaret-san and Marie?"
"My attendants are elsewhere, as of now. I believe you will run into one sooner rather than later. But, that is not the purpose of this visit. I have...one last gift, my dear guest."
"A gift?" Yu shifts in her seat, idly kicking her bag.
"Yes. One last Persona before you depart, and the last time we shall meet. More than one Fool's Journey would be too much, no?"
"Hmm. Seems about right. So who is this Persona?"
"How much do you know of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice?"
Yu leans to the side and thinks, "Well, Orpheus was a great instrumentalist. One day, his wife, Eurydice, died. He went down to the underworld to try and find her, but as they were leaving, he looked back and she was stuck down in Hades forever. It's reminiscent of the myth of Izanagi and Izanami. Same, almost exactly. Why?"
Igor spreads a deck of cards over the table and begins flipping them over - Mada, Scathach, Odin, Ishtar, Futsunushi, Norn, Helel, Sraosha, and Magatsu-Izanami. "This will be one of my greatest fusions. You will note that your elder, Arisato, uses Orpheus. Make no mistake, for nothing in this Room happens for no reason."
The cards fuse together, and it now depicts a silhouetted figure, draped in a multi-colored cloak, only showing her arms and hands. Yu can sense the power within.
"This is Eurydice, of the World Arcana, fused from your Social Link with the Completed Couple - Minako Arisato and Aigis. May you be blessed in your travels."
The card drifts down into Yu's hand and she absorbs it into her heart, Eurydice fitting in with Izanami and Kaguya. As opposed to Izanami's rough tongue and Kaguya's archaic and flowery speech, Eurydice is calm and succinct. Complete. There's a lilt at the end of her sentences, similar to how senpai would end her sentences, and intonations that are eerily similar to Aigis's.
I am thou...and thou art I. I am Eurydice, Lost to the Underworld, I will guide thee on thine travels in peace.
Yu gets up to shake Igor's hand, and his smile grows.
"You have been a most exceptional guest, my dear. I wish you...good fortune."
"Thank you, Igor-san. For everything."
As usual, Yu ends up at the bakery. Manning the counter is a high-schooler she's never seen before. As Yu looks around she notices that the implements seems newer, shinier. The pastries look even more delicious as she walks up to the counter.
"Welcome to Wiping All Out. What can I get for you?" The boy running the register asks, chipper.
"I'll just have whatever's fresh, thank you."
"Let's see, the bosses made some brownies this morning. You want one?"
"Sounds good. Say, where are your bosses?"
"I don't know." The amount rings up on the screen and Yu drops the change into the boy's hands, and tells him to keep the rest. She takes her brownie and sits at her table, amidst the hustle and bustle. But she hears something.
"Hey, stop it, Teddie! She's gonna see us and ruin the surprise!"
"You're just jealous that she'll see my princely majesty first, Yosuke!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Yosuke's brown hair and Teddie's blonde sticking up over a display shelf, painfully loud and obvious.
"You know I can see you, right, partner?" She doesn't look away as she digs into her brownie, and Yosuke yelps.
"See, Teddie! This is all your fault!" The two keep arguing as they make their way towards their table, and that seems to be the cue for the rest of the Team sans Minako and Aigis to join her at the table.
"Nice job, morons!" Chie scolds, Yukiko's hand in hers. "You gave it away!"
"Hey Yu-chan!" Yukiko nods, "Were you surprised?"
"A little bit, yeah. You all look so different. Anyway, where're Minako-senpai and Aigis-san?" At this, the door to the back bangs open, and Minako and Aigis are there, posing dramatically.
"SURPRISE!" Minako shouts, and all the customers almost fall out of their seats. She's also doing a JoJo pose? Yu's not sure.
"Surprise," Aigis smiles and pulls a party popper, confetti flying to the floor. They sit down at the table and conversation flows naturally.
Yu's phone pings, signaling Dojima calling.
"Hey, uncle."
"Did the surprise happen?"
"Yep. You're in on it?"
"Haha, you got me. I'm the toughest interrogator around, yet I can't keep a secret too well. Why don't you and all your friends come on over? Nanako would love to see you."
"Sure. I'm in."
"Got it. See you soon." Dojima hangs up as Yu looks up to see Rise poking angrily at Kanji's chest for some reason or another, and she can't help but smile.
Somehow, they get the whole Team crowded around the Dojimas' table, thighs and legs scrunched together. Everything's changed so much, visually and emotionally. They seem resolute compared to earlier, determined. Well, the younger members do. Minako and Aigis remain almost the same, still two pieces of one whole. Yu's heart aches as she remembers Marie. She hadn't had a lot of contact, given that Marie stayed in Inaba to be Izanami-no-Mikoto. Hard to date a land goddess in a different part of Japan.
But she makes do.
"How are your injuries, uncle? Are you and Nanako doing better?"
"We're doing right as rain. We're both doing great. I've...found a lead on Chisato's killer. Asides from that, I've been visiting Adachi lately. A model prisoner. Hard to get him when all of his crimes and evidence are in that other world, but we make do." Dojima rambles on, but is interrupted when the door opens.
"Hey, daddy! Oh! You're all here? And big sis, too?!" Nanako rushes over and crushes Yu in a tight hug, her arm going around Nanako instantly.
"Hey, Nana-chan. You've been a good girl while I've been gone?"
"Yep! Taking care of daddy as usual. And I've been playing piano now! Maybe I can be a part of your band later?"
"Haha, we'll see."
"Yay! Oh! The weather report's on!" Nanako runs over and turns the volume up on the TV, and everyone stops talking to watch.
"Now, for the weather with Mariko Kusumi. Mariko, what's the forecast?" The newscaster asks and it shifts to an image of a familiar girl.
"Hello! Mariko here." She says, and a map appears behind her. "We've been having a lot of rain recently, but I think I'm going to make it sunnier. With all the rainfall we've had earlier there shouldn't be any water shortages. And besides, an important guest is visiting, and I can't have it rain while she's here! So...I think I'm going to make it sunny for a while longer." She throws up some pictures of miniature suns with smiling faces on the map of Inaba.
"Mariko? Please calm yourself!" The newscaster tries to interrupt, but she just keeps going.
"Hmm, but if it's too hot then some rain should be fine. But it's up to her, if she wants something else she should just tell me."
Yep. Like that could be anyone else but Marie.
"She's been very popular lately," Naoto comments, rolling her shoulders. "Don't know why."
"Well, maybe because she controls the weather!" Nanako nods, "Whenever she says it's going to be sunny, it is! Just like that!"
"You...might have a point there..." Minako mutters.
"Al...right!" The newscaster finally gets a word in, "It's time to say goodbye!"
"Fine, fine. But before that I have a...personal message." Marie looks straight into the camera and smiles.
"I'm doing just fine! Yu, if you're watching, I love you!"
Yu turns tomato-red as confusion courses over the table.
"Did...did she just confess on live TV?" Chie stammers.
"Ah, kids these days," Dojima nudges Minako's arm, who nudges back with a smile.
"And talk about a name coincidence! If only that were you, huh?" Dojima teases at Yu, face turning even redder.
"I hope you all have a gooooooood day tomorrow! And remember, the more you put in, the more you get out!" Marie finishes and Nanako echoes the last few words along with her.
"All the children have been saying that when they visit us," Aigis rests an elbow on the table, "Motivating, I guess."
"Yep!" Minako responds and squeezes Aigis's fingers tighter. "The whole town's become reenergized." The table rambles on about how the fog has lifted and the like before Nanako whispers to Yu's friends about something.
"Welcome back!"
"Good to see you, senpai!"
"Argh, Kanji! You messed it up again! How many times did we practice?"
"I panicked!"
"Seems like Moronji is still Moronji..."
"Guh - not you too, Naoto?"
And as her friends continue to argue again, Yu can't help but smile and laugh.
"Hey, shorty."
"Hey, Marie. Or is it Mariko now?"
"Just Marie for you. It's good to see you again."
"Yeah."
Yu can feel Kaguya pushing her towards Marie, who sits at the gazebo overlooking Inaba. She sits next to the forecaster and leans until her head is on her shoulder.
"How've you been?"
"Oh, the usual. Not much for a deity to do besides control the weather around here." Kaguya seems to let out a pleased sound at this, and Izanami rumbles with laughter.
"Have you...had other lovers in the past?"
"Of course. Male, female, other, many have felt the embrace of a goddess. You jealous?"
Yu laughs, "of course not. Just curious."
"Hmph."
"Did...did you mean what you said on air?"
"About what? Controlling the weather? Because if you want to, I'll do whatever - "
"No, not that. Though it's nice to know. About, well, us."
"Oh! That. Yeah. I do love you, you know. With all my heart, Yu Narukami, and I'll spend an eternity if it takes that long to convince you...dumbass." Marie smiles that smile Yu loves so much and she lifts herself up to push their lips together.
Night falls and the crickets emerge, chirping their songs to the open night sky and stars.
In a small apartment, we focus on Minako and Aigis, curled together.
"Hey, Aigis."
"Yes?"
"Have I ever told you I'm happy I came back to you?"
"All the time. I am happy you are back. You make me feel like I matter."
"I don't know what happened so I could deserve you, Aigis."
"I love you. Ever since I saw you all those years ago, ever since we reunited at Yakushima, ever since you engraved yourself on my heart, ever since I woke up that one day and you were there, I have always loved you. I - " Aigis swallows and holds up Minako's chin so their eyes lock. "I will never leave you. Just as I promised."
"Oh, Aigis," Minako's eyes fill with tears and she presses herself into Aigis's chest.
"I love you too."
The two drift asleep, Aigis running a gentle hand along Minako's spine.
"You know I'm going back tomorrow."
"Yes."
"I...I want to make this work. Us. Whatever we are. Wherever we end up. Because I don't know when I'll be able to come back - "
A kiss.
"We'll make it work. After all that we've been through, we deserve a happy ending. And I think...as a goddess...we can make it work."
Kaguya giggles in Yu's head, pleased.
"Marie - "
"Yes?"
"I will always remember you. No matter what."
The two are curled tightly together beneath the futon's sheets as Izanami-no-Mikoto lays her blessings on her beloved.
Yu looks at the picture in her hands. It's a replacement for the one on her phone, but there everyone stands, resolute, new. And, well, Marie's in it this time, which is a plus. She pulls on her headphones and listens to the World around her, as the train rumbles away from the station.
And she smiles, because that's what she does now.
If one could look closely, they'd see a figure in white on the high hill, looking over the train threading away from Inaba, and how that figure would lift a hand, and disappear in a wave of fog as the sun breaks over the town.
