Chapter 14: School Trip
'italics' Thoughts
Minato stepped out of the train that arrived at Tatsumi Port Island. The school had chosen to come here for a field trip as temporary transfer students to experience a different environment.
"AHH! This sucks! We have to attend school here too?" Yosuke shouted on the platform of the station.
"Keep it down will ya? Kashiwagi is gonna get pissed." Chie motion her hand down word as she whispered.
"Yeah, I here ya it bums dude…" Kanji sighed.
"Hey you in the back keep it down!" Kashiwagi shouted to the back of the group of classmates.
"…There's really been no change….it's like King Moron is still here…" Minato sighed as he moved on with the group.
The students stood in front of Gekkoukan High school, immediately noticing how huge the school was the students stared in awe. Then approached an old man with glasses, and as the hefty man rambled on it was clear this was going to be a boring time.
'Shut the hell up!' Minato tapped his shoe as his patience was testing him annoyingly.
Finally, passing on the attention of the crowd to the student behind him the principal stepped away.
"Welcome to Gekkoukan High School!" The student announced in a perky tone. She had long dark brown hair, and wore glasses. The uniform for the school was drastically different from Yasogami, as her uniform was clad in black with the exception of the red bow around her neck and the schools symbol of a red circle with a checkered pattern of black and white squares.
"My name is Chihiro Fushimi. I'm a third year student here at Gekkoukan High, and the Student Council President. .It's an honor to me you all today" Chihiro placing her hand on her chest.
"Wow, she's hot and look at those glasses." Yosuke whispered to his Minato and Kanji, eyes widened and his face bright red.
"Yeah…you're right, she is cute." Kanji whispered his face
"Did going into the TV some many times give you guys some sort thing for glasses?" Chie sighed. After the speech ended, everyone was meant to divide into groups their own groups, naturally Minato and his friends stuck together.
"Sorry, I almost forgot." Chihiro approached Minato's group.
"This is everyone's schedule for today, could you please pass these out later, please?" Chihiro handed the stack of paper to Minato.
"Sorry to be so disorganized, and you guys came so far.." Chihiro lowered her head.
"It's cool. You're doing just fine, and your speech was great too." Minato smiled.
"Thank you, a former student council president helped me write it. She was the president when I was just a freshman here, I always looked up to her. She was amazing!" Chihiro smiled.
"Oh, I'm sorry, listen to me….blabbing on and on about myself, I really need to stop getting nervous when I talk to people. Oh, uh you guys have a special lecture soon, your classroom is on the second floor. I have other business to attend to with your student council, please excuse me." Chihiro took off as Yosuke face fell with disappointment
"Did I hear her just say a "special lecture"? We have to go through a lecture!" Yosuke shouted.
"Hmmm let's see.." Yukiko leaned over to Minato observing the paper.
"Our class is being taught by a , and the lecture is on Qabbalah…" Yukiko paused raising a brow.
"Kabawat?" Chie asked.
"You guys don't know? It's a casino." Kanji smiled.
"Uhh, I think it's referring to something about religion though." Minato stated.
"When the hell do we have free time?" Yosuke's eyes shifted to Minato.
"Uh, we don't have any, not until tomorrow and the day after when we leave." Chie stated reading the paper.
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Yosuke hung his head low.
"Yes, it seems we have classes all day today. So let's enjoy it, so we can enjoy our free time later." Yukiko smiled cheerfully in contrast to the groups' disappointed expressions.
"Hmm I had a lecture planned out about Qabbalah for you, but seeing as your from Yasogami: The school of eighty gods. I'll tell you about one of Japan's oldest stories." spoke in front of the class, he kind of looked like a mad scientist with his long white lab coat, bright yellow shirt, glasses and short black hair. But the way he talked felt as if he was a very easy going person.
Mr. Edogawa told the class about Izanagi's attempt to bring Izanami back to life after her death by giving birth to Kagutsuchi, the fire god. The story ended with a deal between the two gods, Izanami would kill one thousand people each day, and Izanagi would give birth to one thousand five hundred people each day. Minato paid interesting attentive to the lecture as he felt related to the story in some way because one of the first personas he had gotten was Izanagi.
"Here we are, the Seaside Clamshell Inn!" The busty brunette teacher Kashiwagi rose her hands motioning the odd looking hotel standing in front of the students. All the students sighed and began to be a bit agitated at the shady looking place.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get your butts inside!" Kashiwagi commanded as she motioned the students in.
"Don't you think there is something suspicious about this hotel?" Yosuke sighed glancing up at the hotel, as him and the rest of the investigation team stood outside hesitating to enter.
"I-I don't know, we don't have these modern hotels in Inaba, so I can't really tell." Chie answered.
"Um this area is called Shirakawa Boulevard, and it's,"
"It's ok, I don't think I wanna know.." Yosuke sighed cutting of Rise
"Hmm faster than I expected… this is quite the hotel. If they were to meet me, I wonder what the look on Yosuke's face would be?" A voice echoed above.
"Look up there!" Yosuke pointed to a shadowy figure standing on the roof of the building across the street.
"It can't be" Yukiko gasped as the figure cried jumping from the roof and landing...well not gracefully at all, but straight on his face.
"Hmmm shoo bee doo bee.." Teddie hummed regaining his composure towards the gang.
"….he's not the hero we needed nor the hero we deserve…" Minato sighed lowering his head.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Kanji shouted.
"The lonely bear in me got stir crazy!" Teddie frowned through his round blue and red costume.
"Ah, if only I could detect people in the real world!" Rise shouted.
"Hey, what the hell are you doing? Get inside!" Kashiwagi shouted at them stepping outside the hotel.
Stepping into the lobby, Minato spotted Naoto relaxing on a chair in towards the corner of the lobby.
"I nearly forgot you began attending our school. You're staying here as well?" Minato smiled walking up to the detective who was now wearing the typical summer outfit of a white buttoned up shirt tucked into black pants with black dress shoes. Naoto still wore his blue hat that matched with his short blue hair.
"No, I merely came by to check how things were. I managed to get checked in at another hotel." Naoto stated.
"heh, consider yourself fortunate.." Minato sighed letting out a slight chuckle.
"Is there something you wanted?" Naoto glanced up at Minato.
"Yeah about that… I have something I'd really like to discuss with you…" Minato rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"What is it?" Naoto raised a brow.
"It is now curfew for students! Please check into your rooms for the night!" an announcement broadcasted over the intercom of the hotel, cutting off Minato before he could answer.
"Could you meet me here tomorrow night? We should have more free time tomorrow in our schedule as well." Minato glanced around to the students hurrying to their room.
"Yes, that'll be fine." Naoto nodded lightly smiling.
"Ok cool see ya tomorrow!" Minato waved back at Naoto as he pressed towards his room
"What the shit…" Was all Minato could say as he gazed upon a room with one solitary round pink bed with a mirror behind it.
"Just what kinda place is this?" Kanji scanned the room shocked.
"I don't like this at all!" Yosuke shouted.
"WEEEEEE" Teddie dressed in his normal clothed attire shouted as he slammed into Kanji and Yosuke forcing them onto the bed.
"What do these do?" Teddie began pushing buttons along the side of the bed, forcing it to spin, the lights to flash on and off, and the bed began to vibrate.
"Get me off of this thing!" Yosuke struggled to climb off the bed before being pushed back by Teddie and Kanji.
"Well fuck this shit…I aint sharing a bed with three dudes… This is my place to sleep for the length of this trip." Minato quickly grabbed the only seat in the room that sat by the front door.
"Hey that's not fair!" Yosuke shouted, and immediately after Minato pulled his headphones out of his bag and cutoff the outside world.
"So what did you wish to discuss?" Naoto sat in a chair in the lobby with his legs crossed.
"Well this is a hard topic for me to talk about…" Minato leaned forward pressing his elbows onto his knees. He rubbed the back of his head in thought as he glanced around the room for any familiar faces.
"I have an issue, a case that somewhat requires your help…" Minato paused glaring at Naoto.
"Does this relate to the recent murder case at all?" Naoto raised a brow unfolding his legs.
"Not really, see I suffer a case of amnesia ever since I arrived in Inaba to stay with my uncle." Minato's brow furrowed.
"What kind of amnesia exactly?" Naoto asked.
"I have no recollection of any of my past before my arrival here, hell I couldn't even remember my name or family. Please I need your help.." Minato slightly bowed his head.
"Your uncle is Ryotaro Dojima, correct? Why can't you ask him for help? Surely the answers will come much easier then." Naoto folded his arms.
"Well you see, if that topic were to come up there is a great chance I'd be sent to the doctor or hospital to examine me. For specific reasons I can't let that happen to me, I can't until I finish what is needed of me. For those reasons I ask of you to please keep this between just you and me till the time is right." Tension grew through Minato's body at the thought his entire façade he placed over his friends and family my fall.
"hmm.." Naoto paused leaving a cold silence before finally smirking at Minato, he could feel the drive radiating off him. What he was striving for was certainly of interest to him.
"Ok, I'll see what I can do." Naoto nodded.
"Awesome, now if you don't mind would you like to come grab a drink with me? I have other things I'd like to discuss with you." Minato grinned before leading Naoto out of the hotel.
"So what I wanted to talk about next was something pertaining the case, and the culprit Mitsuo Kubo." Minato sipped from his drink, sitting at a bar next Naoto. It was inside of a club as decently loud music blasted in the background.
'Maybe this wasn't the best place to grab a drink…' Minato sighed as he reflected on how it took him to slight raise his voice to get the conversation across.
"What is it?" Naoto leaned closer to hear Minato.
"Well I don't think Mitsuo was the culprit at all, at least not the original…" Minato paused.
"…What do you mean?" Naoto's eye's widened.
"Well you see, me and my friends were the one who caught him in Junes. That day he spoke about nothing but wanting to receive attention for what he did. Now I retraced everything logically, and a person like him just wanting attention doesn't fit the crimes. The murders seemed methodical. Like they wanted to convey a message with the bodies hung upside down. Something as simple as attention doesn't fit it, and typically people craving attention fits for wannabe culprits or copycats." Minato sipped from his drink once again nonchalantly as he caught from the corner of his eye a wide-eyed open mouth Naoto.
"W-What?.." Minato paused holding his drink.
"I'm just surprised you were able to deduct all that by yourself, as I was dealing with that theory myself." Naoto smiled pointing his attention back to his drink.
"If Mitsuo really was a copycat then that would explain the inconsistency with 's case, and possibly clarifies the real murderer is still out there…" Naoto paused lifting his hand to pose a lit grip on his chin.
"Heh, awesome. Maybe we're really onto something here then." Minato smiled.
"It's unfortunate, because I've talked to the police about my concerns with the case and have requested to interview Mitsuo, but the police too stubborn and anxious to close the case." Naoto folded his arms.
"Those damn idiots." Minato forcefully formed a fist on the counter in irritation.
"Could you disclose me one thing though?" Naoto glanced back at Minato as Minato regained his composure.
"What is it?" Minato raised a brow, from underneath the spiky strands of hair that lightly hung over his eyes.
"What exactly is your involvement in this case?"
"Unfortunately, I can't let such information out as of right now. But I can honestly promise you this we are on the same side." Minato smiled.
"Hmph, I can't say I am content with that response." Naoto leaned back.
'He's been a hard read ever since meeting Minato. Am I seeing the person he truly is now?' Naoto folded his arms in thought.
"I assure you, you can trust me, and when the time comes I will cooperate give all details to you. So can we call ourselves allies at the very least?" Minato smiled holding out his hand.
"Yes, I will accept that for now." Naoto grasped Minato's hand.
"Whoa, we have nothing like this in Inaba." Yukiko's eyes widened as she and her friend enter the club. All of them gazing at the huge dance floor and the DJ propped up in the front of the dance floor.
"Hey guys, look it's Minato…" Yosuke pointed over to the bar.
"Huh, he's with the detective guy, I wonder why?" Chie slightly tilted her head.
"Let's go find out!" Rise marched forward.
"What brought you guys here?" Rise walked up to them at the bar.
"N-Nothing we were just having a conversation, that is all.." Naoto responded tipping his hat down to hide his flustered expression
"I-I should be taking my leave right now… It's been a pleasure talking to you." Naoto stood up nodded to Minato and was about to take a quick leave.
"You want to hang out with us?" Minato turned towards Naoto and smiled.
"Uh, You're inviting me? You can't be serious?" Naoto's eyes widened.
"Sure why not? If you're not busy that is." Chie smiled.
"I've been really looking forward to talking with you as well, I'm curious how someone my age could become such a renowned detective." Rise leaned in towards Naoto followed by the rest of the girls encouraging him on.
"F-Fine if you insist." Naoto held tipped his hat down to cover his red face one again.
"Wow, I've never seen you this red before Naoto." Yosuke smirked.
The waiter arrived with drinks, and that's when the following events would forever go down in the investigation groups history as the forbidden King's Game. Soon enough Yukiko and Rise were acting hysterically. Yukiko between the slurring of words and the non-stop laughing became clear that she had one too many. Rise was in a similar state and it seemed Chie was not far behind them.
"I have a great idea guys! We're gonna play the King's Game!" Rise stumbled up shouting as she waved chopsticks.
"The fuck is that?" Minato eyes widened in concern.
"It's simple! We each pick chopsticks and whoever gets the one with the red mark is King. He has to say a command and call out a number between one and seven. The person who has that number has to obey his command." Rise shouted.
"Now, Yosuke go get chop sticks!" Rise shouted.
"What the hell? NO!" Yosuke shouted.
"Ready!" Teddie shouted holding them up.
"P..Perfect!" Rise picked them up out of Teddie's hands.
'I've got a really shitty feeling about this….'
"Oh, I've gotta great twist too! Whoever becomes the next king needs to think of a rule that's even more intense than the last one." Yukiko shouted pumping her fists in the air.
"Oh fuck." Minato sighed as Rise passed around the chopsticks.
The first number Minato had was five and that's when Teddie shouted out he was king. An overwhelming feeling of uncertainty and irritation consumed him.
"Number 4, I demand that we cuddle!" Teddie shouted holding his chopstick in the air
"Thank god it isn't me!" Yosuke sighed.
"Wait, that's me! Fuck this bullshit!" Kanji shouted slamming his chopstick into the glass table.
"Kanji…I always knew you were after my soft fur!" Teddie said very shyly.
"Come on big boy, I wanna get lost in your dreamy embrace!" Teddie leaned in making Kanji staggering back his face reddened before Teddie tackled him to the floor.
"Get the hell away from me before I deck you! HEY! Stop that you stupid bear! Get off of me!" Kanji shouted as the two began to fade into the dark shadows of ecstasy. The last thing that will ever be ingrained on his friends' minds will be the expression of utter horrific fear on his face, as his friends casually waved goodbye to him right before Teddie's eyes glared through the darkness dragging him through.
"Uh, Teddie what happened to Kanji?" Chie asked nervously as she glanced at a very wide-eyed shaking Kanji.
"Nothiiiiiiiiiiinnngggg.." Teddie smiled clasping his hands together near his face in a very passionate look to Kanji, which made Kanji's jaw drop in fear forcing him to shake even more violently.
"Dude, what exactly happened when Teddie took you to "cuddle"?" Minato whispered over to Kanji. Kanji's face then drowned in darkness as he curled into a ball and muttered things no one could understand. Ever since this moment no one has spoken or asked what has happened to Kanji during the Kings game. Though one thing became clear to Minato, Teddie is an extremely dangerous person.
"Round Two!" Rise shouted passing the chopsticks around once again.
"Shit, I'm king…" Minato sighed holding his head low as it seemed everyone else besides Naoto sat anxiously in wait.
'I don't know whether to be disappointed or relieved.' Minato sighed.
"Umm number 7….." Minato paused thinking of something to say. That's when Yukiko interjected.
"Kiss the King." Yukiko shouted estatic.
"What the fuck? Teddie I'm gonna beat the living shit out of you!" Minato restrained every bone in his body from throwing Teddie off the second floor railing.
"Wait, that shouldn't count! It wasn't his rule!" Chie shouted glancing to her friends for help.
"Nope, I think it's a fitting rule!" Yukiko laughed uncontrollably.
"Ohhh, Naoto's number seven!" Rise shouted nudging Naoto. Before Minato realized, he was forced to his feet and being pushed by Teddie and strangely Yukiko towards Naoto.
'if this happen, I will never hear the end of this from yosuke..'
"Wait a second this is clearly unnecessary!" Naoto shouted as he slid towards Minato by a drunken Rise.
"This aint funny guys!" Minato shouted restraining his movement best he can while his heart began pumping faster. Both Minato and Naoto bore an awkward red face as they locked their legs trying to prevent further advancement.
"Whoaaa!" Naoto cried out stumbling over into Minato. Catching him Minato fell over, his back hitting the floor. Before they knew it, Naoto was straddled on top of Minato and their lips were locked, pausing Minato thought about how soft Naoto's lips were.
"Wooo Hoooo!" Rise cheered at the top of her lungs balancing her drink in one hand. Something was placed up the top of Naoto's head. Separating their lips, Naoto rose up causing the object on his head to fall on the ground; glancing he saw that it was a red marked chopstick now lying next to his hat.
"Looks like we have a neeewwwwwww King!" Rise cheered.
'God damn it, just make it stop already…' Minato's face filled with disappointment, and irritation. Naoto rose off Minato trying the best he can to regain his composure as he picked his blue hat off the ground, brushing it off.
"I…I…" Naoto struggled to speak and clear his flustered face. Giving up he proceeded to stomp off.
Glancing behind him Minato caught a glimpse of Naoto putting his fingers to his lips for a brief moment before he was about to decent down the stairs, until Yukiko interrupted his exit.
"The King, demands to know secrets! Something really embarrassing, that they'd never want to tell anyone!" Yukiko shouted. Naoto then calmly reclaimed his seat hiding his face from Minato, by tipping his hat slightly over his eyes.
"hmmm, let's see here…. Naoto I choose you!" Yukiko shouted pointing at Naoto. In response Naoto slightly smirked.
"Just ignore her Naoto, she's breaking all the rules." Yosuke sighed.
"No, that won't be necessary. Just one stipulation though, if I do this the rest of you need to reveal something as well." Naoto glanced around the room.
"Okayyyyyyy!" Rise shouted without a second though her face intoxicated with joy.
"Well no particular embarrassing stories come to mind, would speaking about my life be fair? It's rare for me to speak about such things." Naoto spoke in a serious tone to Yukiko
"Damn way to kill the mood." Yosuke shrugged feeling as if the mood just gotten serious.
"T-Trust me, we needed it that way…" Minato pointed with his thumb over to Kanji who still assumed the fetal position next to him.
"The Shirogane family has been detectives for generations. We lend our skills to the police from time to time." Naoto spoke firmly.
"Wow, it's like that guy from that movie. What was his name? Kuzunoha?" Chie paused in thought.
"Back then there was no crime scene investigators, and so consulting detectives were considered more valuable. My grandfather still has a strong connection with the police force though, and thus looks after me, despite my youth and inexperience. But investigator nowadays are well versed in science and medicine. So I must further my studies." Naoto folded his arms.
"Wow, that sounds tough.." Yosuke paused.
"Wait that's it? No punchline?" Yosuke's eyes widened realizing the story was over.
"Ehm, I'm afraid you're looking towards the wrong person for that." Naoto smiled lightly.
"Awe, that wasn't that bad….How about you tell us about your kiss with Minato? How was it?" Rise leaned into Naoto's shoulder smiling.
"Uh, t-that's- uhh.." Naoto stuttered as his face began to redden once again. Unsure of what to say, he glanced toward Minato in hope that he could quell the situation. In response all eyes fell upon Minato as well.
'Shit, I need to choose the most reasonable answer to get out of the situation..' Minato's eyes widened as his face reddened he glanced away to collect his thoughts quickly. Just then he heard a voice of trembling disappointment come from behind.
"No….way….say it's not true… say that it was wrong or deny it or something!" Yosuke cried out across the room to Minato.
"JUST DON'T BE A KANJI!" Yosuke shouted up his voice echoing to the ceiling. In response both Minato and Kanji's jaw dropped in shock.
"Wait a sec, what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kanji suddenly stood above Yosuke along with Minato both exerting a menacing aura about them.
"Uhhh, oh shit…" Yosuke glared up with fear in his brown eyes.
"Yeah, How the hell am I a Kanji? And hell no I didn't…" Minato paused as he caught a glimpse of Naoto's head slightly lowering in a disappointing way. Minato knew right then, and there he needed to silence his words as his irritation was simply getting the best of him.
"Hell no, I didn't act like a Kanji!" Minato shouted pointing at Kanji.
"Why in the hell are you guys using my name like a god damn adjective!?" Kanji clenched his fist at them furiously.
"A Kanji? That's so funny…" Yukiko began a laughing fit making the scene in front of Yosuke come to a halt.
"Ahem, O-ok S-so now back to the matter at hand." Naoto finally was able to regain his composure from the situation.
"Huh, hey guys…I think Rise passed out." Yosuke poked Rise in the shoulder, her body laid vertically up and her head tilted on the crease of the couch.
"It's now your turn to reveal something, as we agreed." Naoto stated.
"Now, a straight answer please. What is your true involvement with the murder case?" Naoto glanced around the room.
'Well I can't blame Naoto for trying I guess.' Minato kept silent as he felt the situations from today were worse enough for him.
"You know you're so good at killing the mood it's almost funny." Yosuke sighed.
"Weellllll…" Yukiko spoke, and the fear of god struck into all who was more sober than Yukiko in fear of what the dimwitted and now drunk Yukiko might say.
"We save people who were kidnapped by jumping into a TV!" Yukiko smiled as she spoke with her hands as well.
"What!" Yosuke nearly coughed up the drink he was enjoying.
"Aannd then we do "Persona!" stuff and then beat the crap out of shadows with our personas and stuff." Yukiko smiled wobbling back and forth where she sat.
"Y-You Idiot.." Yosuke glared at Yukiko seemingly oblivious to what was going on anymore.
"Are you making fun of me?" Naoto's head lowered as he sighed with a slight tone of disappointment.
"It's true! Persona!" Rise pumped her fist in the air then proceeded to fall back asleep.
"Would someone just put these drunks to bed already!" Chie shouted her words clearly became slightly more slurred.
"Please, disregard what their saying…..they're behavior is wild today and they have no idea what they are saying." Minato sighed as he tried to convey sincerity to Naoto in a situation that sounded anything but.
"I-I understand." Naoto glanced away from Minato seemingly unable to keep eye contact with him.
"Though, I fail to understand how did you become so inebriated? This isn't alcohol…" Naoto glanced at the two girls with a face strict of disappointment.
"Good, one Naoto!" Yukiko laughed.
"No, I confirmed it when I first entered here. No alcohol has been served here due to the clubs inability to manage the consumer's alcohol intake and letting the over binge. This resulted in many drunk driving cases last year, and thus this clubs license for selling alcohol has been revoked." Naoto stated holding a drink in his hand.
"Huh, does that mean we're all drunk off of the atmosphere?" Chie's asked.
"Whooo careesssss, Wheeee I feellll good, good niiiiighhhht!" Yukiko then proceeded to fall asleep.
"Minato, how the hell are we gonna get back to the hotel, with these two passed out drunks?" Kanji pointed to the two girls.
"This is all giving me a big headache, is this what a hangover feels like?" Yosuke sighed as he gripped his head.
"Teddie's still perfectly fine! Lesh drink all night!" Teddie cheered.
"Briiiiiiinnnggg it oooonn." Rise mumbled before closing her eyes once again.
"As I've said you haven't been drinking alcohol….are you all a pack of imbeciles?" Naoto sighed glancing around the room.
"I'm starting to think so" Minato chuckled a bit lowering his head.
"Kanji do you think you can carry Yukiko back to the hotel? I'll carry Rise and bring everyone else that can stand." Minato glanced around the group.
"Um….sure…" Kanji stood up after swallowing a lump in his throat and approached Yukiko, gently lifting her off the couch, onto his back, and slowly moved down the stair.
"I doubt we made a good impression on you today, huh? They're not always like this though." Minato sighed.
"I-Is t-that so?" Naoto still refused to make eye contact with Minato.
"Well if anything, I apologize for the foolishness of my friends and the embarrassing events of today." Minato rubbed the back of his neck reflecting back upon when he was king.
"I-It's o-okay.." Naoto stuttered leaving an awkward silence in its wake. Minato began to reflect on the extreme actions Teddie and Rise took today, and began to worry that the job he upheld for himself in kanji's stead might be a bit too much for him.
"Uh is it ok if you help me bring these guys back to the hotel? I'm kind of concerned that they'll become a handful, well at least Rise and Teddie." Minato laughed with a slight tone of nervousness.
"Oh, wow this is delicious!" Chie shouted pausing over her bowl of ramen. The gang decided to catch lunch at a nearby ramen shop, before they left Tatsumi Port Island. Naoto decided to join them as well.
"This place has the best box lunches in town, when I was filming I would always come down here instead of eating boxed lunches." Rise proclaimed.
"What's the matter Yukiko, not hungry?" Rise tilted her head at her friend who had yet to begin eating her bowl of ramen.
"hmmm, what happened last night…? Yukiko asked in thought.
'You caused pain and suffering upon many people…' Is what Minato wanted to say…but simply continued to enjoy his food.
"I think we passed out, but I heard things got pretty wild." Rise pondered.
"I…I don't remember at all." Yukiko lowered her head, and then began to eat.
"Another bowl, please! Leave the noodles hard." Teddie held up his bowl and shouted.
"Teddie, you stick out like a sore thumb! Well I guess if you wore it over here, you gotta wear it back." Chie sighed glancing at Teddie who was now in his bear costume.
"How the hell do you eat through that thing?" Minato leaned back raising a brow.
"Aren't you mad hot in their dude, from all the ramen?" Kanji glanced to the bear who simply kept downing his ramen.
"Wait…..where'd my bowl go?" Yukiko looked down to see that her bowl of ramen was now missing.
"You…aren't eating it….right?" Yukiko glared in fury at Teddie.
"You weren't finishing it, so it for you." Teddie spoke as he slurped down the ramen furiously.
"Hey wait, how much have you eaten?" Yosuke asked.
"I dunno, I can't count." Teddie spoke in a saddened tone.
"You freaking liar, let me see that check...Ten bowls!" Yosuke shouted glancing at the check in his hands.
"And Yuki's makes it eleven!" Teddie stated as he burped.
"I was going to finish mine…." Yukiko spoke disappointedly.
"There, there.." Chie patted the sad Yukiko on the back.
"I'd hate to interrupt, but it's almost meeting time." Naoto spoke checking the bright screen of his phone.
"Hey, let's get nanako a souvenir I'm sure she'd like that." Chie spun around to Minato.
"Yeah, let's go check out a nearby store real quick." Minato smiled as he rose from his seat.
"Let's go Teddie." Yosuke hit Teddie on the back as he passed him by on his exit.
"T-Tummy, full….C-Can't move…" Teddie rocked back and forth, it was clearly visible now that Teddie's bear suit had no enlarged in size.
"I shouldn't be late for our rendezvous, so please excuse me." Naoto left the ramen shop.
"I ate too much…can't move, someone carry me." Teddie gripped his stomach.
"Let's leave him…" Yukiko spoke coldly as she stormed out.
"H-Hey, I really can't move, and I don't have money for a return ticket." Teddie began to panic.
"You've gotta be shitting me!" Kanji sighed, just then Yosuke clapped his hands together,
"Farewell Teddie, we shall leave you here with our memories of youth." Yosuke slightly bowed, in response his friends that remained in the shop copied the motion, along with Minato who stood by the exit.
"Big bro, you're back!" Nanako shouted cheerfully.
"Did you have fun?" Nanako smiled approaching Minato in her small pink dress.
"Yeah I did, and I got you something too!" Minato knelt down with a smile, and opened up shopping bag he'd been carrying. Inside was a small stuffed animal from an Iwatodai souvenir shop.
"Wow, Thanks! It's really cute!" Nanako's face lit up.
"Hi, Dad!" Nanako smiled greeting Dojima who just entered the house.
"Oh hey, you're back. We just missed each other huh?" Dojima smiled walking into the kitchen.
"Look, Big Bro got me a souvenir!" Nanako smiled holding up the stuffed bear.
"That's great! Did you remember to thank him?" Dojima knelt down to Nanako patting her on the head.
"Of course!" Nanako smiled and then began to walk to her room.
"That must've come out of you own pocket. Thanks." Dojima smiled at Minato as he took a seat on the kitchen table.
"Tatsumi Port Island huh? How was it?" Dojima asked.
"It was nice, similar to the city where I'm from but had its differences." Minato shrugged as he remembered that he's supposed to be from the city before coming here to Inaba.
"Must not have been a big deal for you then." Dojima laughed.
"Say if the first years went with you as well, Naoto Shirogane must've been there too. Did you talk to him at all?" Dojima asked.
"Yeah a little bit." Minato nodded
"He's definitely mature for his age, but he's still a year younger than you. Try to make friends with him, alright? He's a cocky brat, but he's honest.." Dojima sighed.
"Will do." Minato smiled.
"The higher ups are losing their patience with him… it doesn't matter if his argument holds water or not. At the rate he's going, he won't earn himself anything, but getting booted off the team. Adults can be a selfish bunch." Dojima smiled lightly.
'If only they'd listen..' Minato sighed
"Sorry, you must be tired. I'll let you go now." Dojima smiled waving Minato off, letting him proceed up stairs.
Two days later, that night Minato, and Nanako sat in front of the television eating dinner. When the show Niteline switch over to a special Nitewatch report.
"The suspect in Inaba was safely brought to justice, but what few people know is that the mastermind that brought him to justice was a high school student. Tonight's report will focus on this Prince Detective, Naoto Shirogane, whose handsome looks are sweeping the nation." Just then camera showed appear on stage and take a seat next to the host's desk.
'Shit…what is Naoto doing?' Minato's hand slightly shook around his chopsticks as his eyes were glued to the T.V.
"Thanks for being on the show." The host turned towards Naoto.
"No, no the pleasure is all mine." Naoto smiled.
"His uniforms the same as yours, does he go to school with you?" Nanako asked in which Minato simply nodded.
"Well first congratulations to you and the police for capturing the culprit. It was well known there were a lot of mysteries around the case, and you did a great job clearing them up." The host stated.
"I'd hesitate in saying that the matter is cleared up as such. It's true that our suspect is behind our Mr. Morooka's unfortunate death, but when I cast my eyes over the case as a whole I see a few things that seem out of place." Naoto folded his arms and legs as he shifted position in the chair.
"Like what?" The host asked.
"Unfortunately, I cannot divulge such information as of right now. But this matter took the lives of three people hence I believe even the littlest of inconsistencies must be investigated." Naoto stated.
'If Naoto and I were right on our theories the other day…then is Naoto doing this to get captured by the true culprit?'
"hmmm, this is interesting in light of the police's official statement. Now for our next segment "The Detective Prince's True Identity". Where Naoto tells us a little about himself." The host then rambled on about the number of cases Naoto has solved, followed by Naoto giving a similar back story as to the one he gave on the school trip.
"Wow, you've got a detective at your school! When I'm older, I want to go to your school too!" Nanako smiled brightly.
"Hi, Minato!" Minato heard a familiar voice shout behind him on his way to school, turning he saw Rise coupled with the rest of his friends.
"Yo, what's up?" Minato waved as the group approached him.
"Hey, did you see the show TV last night? Naoto was on!" Chie declared to the rest of the group.
"That thing about the Detective Prince solving the case? I mean c'mon we were the ones who caught the murderer." Yosuke sighed.
"Y….Yeah about that…." Minato paused in thought, struggling how he would explain the theory he's kept from them.
"Is there something wrong Minato?" Yukiko looked at Minato with concern.
"Y-You see I've been juggling around with this theory for a while now." At that moment Minato was cut off by a familiar voice behind him saying "Good Morning."; it was Naoto Shirogane.
"I've been waiting for you all, there's something I've been meaning to discuss with you regarding the case." Naoto approached in his blue-buttoned shirt and yellow tie.
"Discuss? Dude we'll be late to school if we stay any longer." Yosuke declared as he gazed the students rush past the group.
"Could you indulge my theory on the matter?" Naoto spoke calmly.
"W-What is it?" Yosuke asked.
"Yukiko Amagi, Kanji Tatsumi, and Rise Kujikawa. All of your disappearances fit the specific criteria of the murder cases, as there was nothing intrinsically unique about the victims, other than the each had been the focus of recent media attention before their disappearance. Either you all escaped death somehow, or you faked your death in order to divert attention from yourselves. Since some of you had connections to the victims I began to suspect that one of you must be the culprit." Naoto stated folding his arms.
"You thought one of us was the murderer? T-That's ridiculous!" Chie shouted angrily.
"That was a theory since then discarded, putting the facts of everything up until this moment along with my discussion with Minato at Tatsumi Port Island I believe exactly the opposite. You aren't the culprits, you may be the only ones with means to pursue the true perpetrator. Seeing as a joined forces between the rescue everything falls into place." Naoto paused turning around.
"Now to our discussion at Tatsumi Port Island. Both Minato and I discussed the discrepancies between the cases how 's case completely deviates from all before. Mr. Morooka has never appeared on media nor has gone missing before his death. There's also the matter of the corpse, dies of easily identifiable blunt force trauma to the occipital cranium, while the other three victims are still listed as unknown. The police have yet to decipher this inconsistency, and are desperate to close the case….Further action will be necessary to obtain some sort of decisive evidence." Naoto fell silent, as Minato clenched his fist.
"So, tell me if I was right about this when I watch the television last night. You appeared on television, which something you have yet to do in your time here in Inaba because you wish to be captured by the murderer in order to prove that the case isn't solved?" Minato gritted his teeth in irritable as Naoto turned around his blue eyes were widened.
'I should've known he'd have deducted my plan so fast…after all he had the same theory as me..' Naoto smirked.
"Certain measures must be taken otherwise this case won't end properly at all." Naoto's smile faded away, as Minato silently approach him.
"Dammit! There are better way to do this than risking your own damn life! This could get you killed!" Minato firmly gripped Naoto's shoulders.
"Yeah you crazy bastard, this is taking it too far!" Kanji shouted alongside Yosuke.
"There was something you said to me not too long ago…" Naoto glared at Minato with a deadly seriousness.
"This is no game for me either…" Naoto stated, in response Minato released his grip of Naoto and let him walk past the group in the opposite direction. He knows those eyes, the eyes Naoto glared at him with are the same ones he has; the eyes of pure and strong determination.
"D-Do you really believe that the murderer is still out there?" Yukiko asked in shock.
"….Yeah…I do, I've been juggling with the theory for some time now. Just as Naoto said I spoke with him about it on the school trip, and finding out we have the same theory it further proves my theory." Minato stated glancing away from the group.
"You should've told us about this theory!" Yosuke shouted.
"Yeah, we could've helped!" Kanji replied.
"And what good would that have done?" Minato replied irritated.
"A theory was all it was, I put facts together and summed up the most logical theory I could have. But by the end of the day a theory was still a theory. Nothing good would have come from fretting over it when we can't do anything till the culprit makes another move. That and I thought it was better for you guy's to relax, and have fun so that way you wouldn't get worn out. I took it on myself to put things together. You can resent me, but I made a judgment call and I do not regret it." Minato began to walk away shoving his hands in his pocket.
"Dammit, does he not trust us?" Kanji clenched his fist.
"I-I don't think it's that, I think that he thought he was doing what he thought was right." Chie sighed.
"Well, I guess we need to keep an eye on the midnight channel for now to see if Naoto appears." Yosuke glanced at the group.
Two nights later after the investigation squad had been deciphering that the blurry image appearing on the midnight channel the previous night was in fact Naoto, it was decided that on tonight's rainy night they would watch the midnight channel.
"Good evening, everyone. I am the Detective Prince, Naoto Shirogane." Naoto appeared on the television in an oversized lab coat that made his hands almost non-existent. Behind the close up of his face, Minato could barely make out what looked like odd machinery over a table just beyond his blue hair.
"Welcome to the experiment of the century! "The Genome Project!" Naoto motioned to the table behind him.
"I will be the experimentor and the experimentee both, in a forbidden yet wonderful body alteration process!" Naoto grinned baring his white teeth when the camera changed angle.
"You shall bear to my departure into a new realm…. a rebirth! From the chosen day forth I shall walk a new path into the future, a completely new life! And I shall share this glorious occasion, this memorable day, with all of you! Do stay tuned." Naoto bowed just as the television cut off.
"Hey! Is that you Minato? N-Naoto he was…" Kanji shouted as Minato answered his cell.
"So does this mean he was kidnapped? You guys were right! God damn it, we need to find this bastard!" Kanji shouted angrily.
"Calm down, you know what we have to do." Minato spoke monotonously as he gripped his phone tighter.
"Right, I'll get the gang together after school tomorrow. And we're gonna pull that idiot outta there!" Kanji shouted hanging up the phone.
Chapter End