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Exit Wounds XI

Yosuke Hanamura, Rise Kujikawa & Yumi Ozawa sat at the dining room table of Ryotaro Dojima, across from them was said individual considering them with a half-smoked cigarette hanging from his lips. Tapping the ash into a nearby ashtray Dojima exhaled frowning, "I think this is a bad idea."

"Dojima-san…" Rise replied quietly.

"We know things went badly the last time Rise and Souji talked but now that everyone's had some time to cool off…" Yumi offered.

Dojima leaned back in his chair watching Rise who sat looking down at the table with her hands folded in her lap, "Kujikawa, when you and Souji argued you said you hoped he would rot in hell. What's happened to change your mind?"

Rise ducked her head a little blushing, "I… i-it's sort of weird, I, I had a dream."

Dojima raised an eyebrow, "A dream?"

Rise nodded and proceeded to explain the narrative of her dream from the previous night. Rise detailed how the lives of her friends turned out and re-uniting with Souji. "In my dream it took twenty years for us to find each other again, I don't want that to happen. I know it was only a dream but it bothers me, I can't leave things the way they are with Senpai. I need to make things right."


At the same time, Yukiko Amagi exited Junes carrying a bag of items for the Inn. As she crossed the outdoor food court she caught sight of her friend and fellow Investigation Team member Naoto Shirogane sitting at their usual table with what looked like homework spread out in front of her. As Yukiko got closer she discovered it wasn't homework it was several editions of the tabloids that had set current events in motion. Naoto smiled as Yukiko approached trying to hide one of the tabloids under a folder in front of her.

Yukiko smiled back, "There's no point hiding them Naoto-kun, I know what it says."

Naoto blushed tossing the tabloid onto the table indicating Yukiko should join her, "Sorry Yukiko-san."

Yukiko shook her head, "Don't worry about it, what are you doing, Souji's gone…"

Naoto nodded, "I know, but this is about all of us. I want to know who did this."

Yukiko raised an eyebrow, "I thought it was the Kubo's."

"As did I, however as I study these stories I've begun to have my doubts."

"About what?"

Naoto handed Yukiko a tabloid containing the first article with several paragraphs underlined, "These were written by someone who had intimate knowledge of Senpai's life. Or by someone who had access to that information. These articles go into detail about Rise-chan and Senpai's relationship."

"Honda was Rise's manager…"

"Only since the LMB festival and Rise has stated that she was never comfortable around him. Would you share intimate details of your personal life with someone you're not comfortable around?"

Yukiko frowned, "I suppose not."

"Further, we've hypostasized that the author of these articles is the producer who harassed the Amagi Inn during the Serial Murder case. I have found no evidence that he and Kubo-san ever worked together or knew each other. I propose there are two separate entities working towards the same goal, the destruction of Souji Seta."

Yukiko's eyebrow arched, "They just happen to occur at the same time?"

"I believe that the collusion is coincidental. One has taken advantage of the other but they are not explicitly working together." Naoto surmised.

Yukiko threw the magazine down on the table, "So which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

Naoto smiled looking over the evidence before her, "We know from Senpai's own testimony to Yosuke-senpai that Uesugi-san came to Senpai's apartment to seduce him. We never answered the question why."

Yukiko nodded and then smiled, "I guess we should go find her and ask."

Naoto grinned gathering everything on the table before leaving with Yukiko.


Ryotaro Dojima sat silently tapping the ash from his cigarette into the ashtray on the table. He frowned taking along drag off his cigarette before exhaling, "I don't see how it would work unless you were able to get Souji away from his mother."

"Couldn't you…" Yosuke began before Dojima shook his head, "Shizuka won't let Souji speak to Nanako or I. She's determined to cut Souji off from anyone who'd want to help him."

Rise nodded, "His Mother only wants to use him, she wants him to sire an heir. We all heard her when she came to take Souji away."

"Then what, he's just put out to pasture? That's crazy… um, sorry Dojima-san." Yumi protested casting a sheepish look in Dojima's direction.

Dojima waved his hand, "It's ok, this entire situation is nuts."

"There has to be someone that can get close to Souji that would be willing to help." Yosuke exclaimed in frustration.

Dojima pursed his lips letting out a thin stream of smoke as the wheels turned in his head, he stood up and grabbed his phone from a nearby shelf. Sifting through his contacts for a few moments he found the number he was after and smiled, "We might have one last chance."


As Naoto and Yukiko walked together back to the Amagi Inn, Yukiko paused letting Naoto walk ahead a few metres before stopping, "What's wrong Yukiko-san?"

Yukiko exhaled, "I really want to go with you and confront the jerk who's been writing this crap about us but… I'm needed here at the Inn and well… there's something else."

Naoto turned around to face the raven-haired girl, "Oh?"

Yukiko blushed, "I… The situation with Rise and Souji has reminded me that things can change quickly, even around here. We need to value every moment we have together and not let opportunities slip through our fingers. I need to stay here and…"

"Confess to Chie-san?" Naoto guessed with a small smile on her face.

"Naoto-kun!" Yukiko exclaimed blushing looking around in case someone had heard her, luckily for Yukiko the street they were on was completely empty.

"I think it's a wonderful idea Yukiko-senpai. I shall ask Kanji-kun to go with me." Naoto replied.

Yukiko raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure he'll come?"

Naoto grinned, "I am very sure."

To Be Continued…


A/N: Pretty short, but its setting up the next couple of chapters, we're approaching the end but if you've been enjoying my Persona story so far, I have an idea for another set in P4G and one set after the events of P3. If you're interested in seeing those stories let me know.