*Chapter 20: Goodbye Forever and Hello Home *
"How's been partner?" Yosuke came up and gave Yu a huge hug. It was late August, summer coming to a close in the small and quiet town of Inaba. The two were outside of The Amagi Inn, the sun was still low in the sky as it was just around 10 o'clock.
"Pretty good," Yu said as Yosuke broke their hug.
"It's been very good," another voice said from behind the two men.
"Chie!" Yosuke ran up and hugged her two, "Good to see you again! How's it being Mrs. Narukami?"
"Probably about the same as it is being Mr. Amagi," Chie teased Yosuke.
"That's not getting old," Yosuke groaned, "Come on, Mrs. Amagi is inside waiting for all of us."
"I cannot wait for the beach," Chie was carrying a small bag with her, "It's just like our second year in high school again!" The gang had decided to spend a day together again at the beach, then checking one of the suites out for the night at The Amagi Inn to spend together.
Inside, the place hadn't changed at all, but then again Yu and Chie had their wedding their only a few months ago.
"Chie!" Yukiko ran over to Chie and gave her a big hug. Yukiko looked exactly the same, wearing her usual work kimono, except for one little thing.
"Yukiko!" Chie said, "Your hair… it's all… short!" Chie said as she looked at Yukiko's new hairstyle. It was cut short, about half way from her head to her shoulders. It was still a silky smooth black as usually, just less of it.
"We look like twins!" Chie laughed, "Right Yu?"
"Yeah… I can't tell you apart," Yu laughed, "I might take Yukiko back to Tokyo with me instead."
"You better not," Chie stared him down.
"You should grow your hair out Chie, you've been wearing the same style haircut since I met you," Yosuke said.
"She's actually had her hair like that her entire life, she's never changed it," Yukiko said.
"I have too, it was longer in middle school," Chie said.
"By like an inch," Yukiko rolled her eyes.
"Yu, you don't think my hair is old, right?" Chie looked over at him.
"No… I mean, I wouldn't complain if you grew it out, but… you know," Yu went over to her, "You know I love you no matter what."
"What if I shave my head?" Chie asked.
"Please don't," Yu complained as Chie and Yukiko giggled.
"Hey, Yukiko! Like the new hairstyle, very Chie-ish," another familiar voice came from the lobby. The four looked over to see their friends Kanji and Naoto. Naoto hadn't changed at all, her hair still very long and she was wearing her usual summer garb while Kanji was pretty much the same except for one small detail.
"No way!" Yosuke gasped.
"Kanji! You grew a beard!" Yukiko ran over with Chie to feel it. Kanji had grown a nice long thick luxurious black beard on his face, something that a celebrity or rich person would be caught showing off. It was perfectly groomed and looked so natural on Kanji.
"Yeah, took me a couple of weeks, but it was worth it," Kanji showed it off.
"You grew that in two weeks?" Yu stared at him.
"Lucky son of a bitch," Yosuke quietly said to himself.
"A week and a half to be exact," Naoto smiled, "He got up one day and told me he was going to grow one and he did."
"Nice bear-d Kanji!" Teddie ran into the room. The gang looked at Teddie in awe as he too was sporting a blonde beard. It was even longer and fuller than Kanji's, Teddie looked like a real grizzly man to say the least.
"Nice Ted, you better shave that or people might actually mistake you for a real bear," Kanji joked.
"I'm 100% bear!" Teddie said, "And the bear-d proves it!"
"Wow!" The three girls ran over to pet Teddie's beard, "This looks… amazing! It's like a dog's coat, so smooth and full!"
"Admiring Teddie's beard or bear-d as he calls it I see," Rise walked into The Amagi inn dressed for the beach. Her hair was still the same as always, long and in two pigtails.
"Rise!" Chie ran over and hugged her, "It's been so long! I missed you."
"I missed you too!" Rise hugged her back, "And Yukiko! You're hair looks so amazing short! And Kanji! That beard looks almost as good as Teddie's. Yu and Yosuke are still... the same as ever."
"Oh, just because we don't have beards doesn't make us less of men," Yosuke defended.
"I never said that," Rise looked at him.
"You implied it!" Yosuke rubbed his face, "I can grow a beard!"
"No you can't, remember the last attempt you two had at facial hair," Chie sighed.
"We were seventeen!" Yu said, "We could grow one now that we are in our twenties!"
"Yosuke already tried," Yukiko looked at Yosuke.
"Don't tell them that!" Yosuke said as everyone looked at him, "What? It came in all blotchy! I can still grow one! Give me time!"
"You'll get there someday boys," Kanji smiled, "Now let's get ready for the beach! I can't wait to get a tan!"
*The Beach*
The two cars they had taken to the beach pulled up to the designated parking area. Now that they had cars they had to visit a different part of the beach than they visited back in high school on their scooters. It was a gorgeous day, not a single cloud in the sky and the weather forecast predicted sunshine for the entire week. Yosuke hopped out of the car, running off to pick out a spot for everyone.
"I made boxed lunches!" Yukiko pulled out a small cooler from the car. Yukiko's cooking had only gotten better and better from when she started all those years ago, with Yosuke being her guinea pig for all the new recipes she wanted to try. Good and bad, but a lot of it bad on her first attempt, Yosuke had developed a stomach of steel, able to eat anything burnt or raw.
"Yummy," Rise said, "I can't wait! This place is packed!"
"It's pretty hot, and considering that school will be starting up again soon, kids want to get all the fun they can in before heading back," Chie said
"You can say that again…" Yu groaned.
"Just one more semester," Chie comforted Yu, "Then you are free like the rest of us!"
"I know," Yu looked around, "Let's go swimming!" The group walked over to Yosuke who found a nice wide area for the eight of them to hang out at. They set up shop, laying down towels and a small umbrella for some shade.
"I don't know about you guys," Rise laid down on a towel and undid her top, "But I'm going to use this sun to work on a nice tan. Teddie, dear, can you rub some suntan lotion on my back!"
"That sounds great!" Chie smiled as she did the same, "Teddie, when you're done with Rise can you do my back as well?"
"Oh, me too," Yukiko and Naoto followed in suit to Rise and Chie, "I need a nice tan."
"I can do that for you!" Yosuke looked at Yukiko, "Front, back, both, you name it!"
"But Teddie already has the lotion out," Yukiko looked over at Teddie who was rubbing lotion into Rise's back.
"What the hell, I could use a tan too!" Kanji dressed in a black Speedo plopped down next to the girls,
Ted can hand me the bottle after he's done." Yosuke and Yu watched sadly as Teddie was now rubbing his hands all over Chie's naked back.
"Do you two want a sunscreen massage afterwards?" Teddie looked up at them with big pleading blue eyes.
"Uh, no thanks," Yu said, "I'll be fine."
"You're going to get sunburn," Chie said, "Put some on after we have."
"Nah, we'll be fine, while you guys just sit there in the sun me and Yu are going to have fun in the ocean! Right Yu?" Yosuke pulled Yu along into the ocean, "I'll race you to that buoy out there!"
"You're on!" Yu smiled as the two took off.
"I'm glad to see those two are still the same as always," Naoto smiled as she looked over her shoulder while Ted applied cream to her back before handing the bottle to Kanji.
"Yeah, the more things change for us the more they stay the same," Chie laughed, "Oh shit, Teddie forgot to do my legs! Kanji, when you're done can you do our legs for us?"
"No problem," Kanji smiled, "It'd be my pleasure."
"I won!" Yu said.
"Just barely!" Yosuke slapped some water into Yu's face.
"Is Kanji rubbing cream on Chie's legs?" Yu looked over to see Kanji holding Chie's leg in one arm and Yukiko's in the other and applying cream.
"That's such bullshit!" Yosuke groaned, "I offered to do Yukiko and she said no! What a load."
"Maybe she's just bored of you, the life sucked out of your marriage," Yu teased him.
"As if, I'm more surprised Chie hasn't divorced your ass yet!" Yosuke teased Yu right back, "How goes married life by the way?"
"Great, the honeymoon was fantastic and things are pretty much the same except now we're Mr. and Mrs. Narukami," Yu said.
"Yeah, I don't envy Chie for all that paperwork she has to change regarding her last name now," Yosuke said.
"You would know Mr. Amagi," Yu laughed.
"I told you to stop calling me that!" Yosuke dunked you underwater. The continued horsing around in the water, eventually coming out to check on their friends back at the spot they had carved out. The four girls were all on their fronts now, a nice tan already burned into their skin.
"Come on! Let's go swimming Yukiko!" Yosuke said, "Aren't you tan enough already? The water isn't the same without you…"
"I don't know… Chie, what do you think," Yukiko looked over at Chie who looked dead on the ground, completely relaxed.
"I guess we should fulfill our husbands wishes every once and a while," Chie got up, "Let's go!" The eight all headed out back into the water as Chie quickly held onto Rise to hold her back.
"Rise… have an idea for a prank," Chie began to whisper to Rise.
"Chie! That's so lewd and mean!" she gasped, "…I love it! It's just like the good old times." Rise ran off to fill Yukiko and Naoto in on the plan as the guys were all goofing around in the ocean.
"Let's all go to the bouy out there!" Rise said.
"Rematch!" Yosuke said as he stared at Yu with fire in his eyes. The two began to swim towards the buoy as fast as they could, almost immediately passed by Kanji and Chie who were lightning fast in the water, while the other four took their sweat time swimming out into the deep blue.
"God! DAMN IT!" Yosuke yelled as Yu made it to the end just before Yosuke, "Every time I lose! It's not fair!"
"I can't help it if I am just more fit and faster than you," Yu laughed, "Besides, you're getting kinda fat."
"W-what?" Yosuke looked at himself, "I'm not fat!"
"I was being nice, I think we all were, but honestly Yosuke, you have put a couple of pounds on," Yu looked at him.
"No I haven't! I'm just as skinny as I was in high school! Kanji, Chie… Am I fat?" Yosuke looked at them.
"Hey, if Yukiko's okay with it, its okay," Kanji said, "Just don't get really fat."
"You've kinda gotten fat," Chie looked at him, "I can give you some tips on diet and working out."
"No! Guys, I'm not fat!" Yosuke looked over at the four who just arrived, "Yukiko, baby, I'm not fat," Yosuke whined.
"You've put on a few pounds," Naoto said bluntly and truthfully.
"People put on a little weight the older they get, its okay," Yukiko comforted him.
"You're like a little Buddha! It's cute," Rise poked his stomach.
"Like a chubby little bear," Teddie poked at Yosuke with Rise.
"You guys are messing with me! I know it! The second we get back to The Amagi Inn I'm weighing myself to show you I haven't put on any weight since high school," Yosuke was almost in tears over all the teasing.
"To be honest, I thought you were Hanako the other day at Junes," Kanji laughed.
"I hate you guys so much," Yosuke was red from embarrassment and was trying to hide his body under the water from everyone's sight.
"It's so peaceful out here," Rise was looking around, "Nobody else around… say, I have an idea," Rise looked at the guys with a familiar look, "How about we do something a little… daring, just like old times."
"W-what?" Kanji asked in anticipation. Rise let out a soft giggle and ducked under the water.
"She better not be looking at me!" Yosuke said, "Not that I'm fat!" Rise soon popped up from under that water with her swimsuit bottoms in her hand as she flicked them at Teddie.
"Skinny dipping in public in the ocean!" Yu yelled, "Rise! There's kids around!"
"Not out here, we'll just take our bottoms off so people don't think we're naked out here," Rise said, "Come on!"
"I'm in!" Yosuke said as he threw his swim trunks up in the air at Yukiko,"… Don't be looking at me making fat jokes about my stuff!"
"This is so wrong, yet sooo right," Yu said as his swim trunks floated to the top and were grabbed by Chie.
"Here you go," Chie flicked her bottoms at Yu. Pretty quick the eight all had each other's swim trunks in their hands as they floated naked, or half naked in the girl's case, in the ocean.
"This feels weird," Kanji said, "Like… it's so… wrong!"
"Wait, I got an idea, close your eyes, this will be really fun," Rise said to the guys as they stared at her, "Do it! Trust me, it will be really cool."
"Okay," Yu closed his eyes along with the rest of the guys as Rise let out a soft giggle and the sound of her with the rest of the girls going underwater filled the air.
"Are they… going to do what I think they are going to do?" Yosuke gasped.
"Uh… I think so… guys, this is really weird now…but whatever is going to happen do NOT ever talk about this!" Yu said, "Okay…" The four sat there for some time waiting for something, anything, to happen.
"Yukiko," Yosuke opened his eye slightly to see what had happened, but no one was in sight, "Yukiko?" Yosuke looked around, no one was near the four way out that deep as he looked towards the shore, "What?! NO! NO NO NO!"
"What?" Yu opened his eyes and looked at Yosuke, then what he was looking at, "Oh… no way."
All the way over on the beach, far away from the guys, stood the four girls waving at them. They were wearing their bikini tops they had kept on, but they were all wearing the boy's swim trunks.
"They stole our clothes!" Kanji blushed, "What the hell! Damn it!"
"It's okay, we have these!" Teddie held up the girls bikini bottoms to the guys.
"I can't wear that! I'm no wearing a speedo!" Yu was staring at the girls still, "Not that I couldn't pull it off, but I just don't want to… and Yosuke's too fat to wear a speedo!"
"Screw you dude!" Yosuke said.
"I can't fit into any of these," Kanji was looking at them, "They aren't as elastic as my swimsuit and they're all so tiny."
"They are coming back for us dude? Right?" Yosuke was staring at the girl still, "RIGHT?"
"They look so pissed," Chie laughed, "I can't say I blame them."
"Is anyone else loving these swimsuits?" Yukiko looked down, "They are so roomy!"
"I know," Chie said, "Girls should wear these instead of bikinis! And I wish they made boxers for women, they are so comfy to wear around the house like shorts!"
"Are we going back in to give these back," Naoto was messing with the elastic of Kanji's speedo.
"Sure… after we get some ice cream," Rise said.
"Oh! Ice cream sounds delicious right now!" Yukiko giggled as the four girls walked off.
"THEY'RE LEAVING US!" Yosuke panicked, "Damn it, I gotta try to get into this thing," he grabbed Yukiko's bottom from Teddie and began to try to force it on.
"Don't tear it!" Yu said, "If you do we're never getting out of here dressed and not in a police car. We just need to remain steady in the water and they'll come back, they have to!"
*Two hours later*
"I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother Rise," Naoto said, "She was a nice woman."
"Yeah, I miss her so much," Rise frowned, "She was so cool for letting me stay in Inaba whenever I wanted…. Now, we don't know what will happen to the tofu shop."
"Are you going to sell it?" Chie asked, It's a pretty popular place."
"I don't know, honestly, I think I want to run it, "Rise said as the three girls looked at her, "Me and Teddie are getting kind of tired of touring and writing songs, I guess we just want to do something different and be normal people back here with our friends."
"Maybe someday," Naoto frown, "Until then, we may just have to continue on our separate ways," causing the four girls to all frown.
"On to happier subjects, wasn't that the cutest little Shiba back there?" Chie was talking to the four girls as they slowly made their way back to the beach, each finishing off the ice cream they got.
"So cute!" Rise squealed, "I want a little dog like that someday." The four girls made their way back to their spot on the beach.
"Where's Kanji?" Naoto said as she looked around, "Oh! They're still out in the ocean!"
"I forgot about them!" Yukiko gasped as she ran out into the ocean. The four guys were barely holding it together after treading water for two waters, holding onto each other to ensure they didn't drown or get sucked away by the ocean currents.
"Oh thank you god!" Yosuke gasped as he saw the four girls swimming out into the ocean. Yu and Yosuke were completely sun burnt now and every muscle in their body was sore. The four girls made their way back to the guys as they dressed them back up and carried them out of the ocean. On the shore, they all laid out completely exhausted from the whole ordeal.
"Hey… we're sorry guys," Rise said, "We forgot about you. It wasn't a very good prank! Sorry!"
"It's okay…" Kanji said in a trance like state of exhaustion, "We're alive… I think."
"I wanna go home," Teddie burped up a little ocean water.
*Back at The Amagi Inn*
"Owwwww," Yu said as he lay on the floor of the room they had with nothing but a pair of loose boxer on. Chie was rubbing aloe into his back to soothe his pain.
"I told you to wear sun screen," Chie lectured him.
"Ow, ow, ow," Yosuke walked into the room wearing a loose shirt and sweat pants carrying in a electronic scale, "I'm going to prove to you guys I'm not fat… ow!" he bent down and plugged in the scale and stepped on, "See… I haven't… gained… EIGHTEEN POUNDS… I'M FAT!" Yosuke collapsed off the scale.
"If you're so upset about it just go on a diet," Yukiko told him, "You eat too many snacks anyways."
"Owwww, Yukiko, can you put aloe on me?" Yosuke asked.
"I would, but I'm afraid I'll get lost in your fat flaps," Yukiko walked by him as Everyone began to laugh.
"That hurt Yukiko," Yosuke cried out in pain.
"That looks so bad," Kanji walked out of the bathroom and looked Yu's sun brunt body, "I bet it hurts."
"You wouldn't know the half of it," Yu grunted out as Kanji and Naoto retired to their bed. Teddie and Rise were already passed out asleep together, holding each other tightly in bed.
"There we go," Chie helped Yu up and the two walked over to their bed, "You'll feel better in a couple of days, it's not bad of sunburn, luck for you two," Chie laid Yu down.
"Yeah, lucky us," Yu closed his eyes.
"Yukiko, help me up!" Yosuke groaned.
"Dude, she's not strong enough to lift your fat ass off the ground," Kanji retorted.
"Ahhh," Yosuke let out a slight cry as he laid on the ground defeated.
"Just get into bed Yosuke," Yukiko said.
"If he can fit in it," Chie laughed.
"Starting tomorrow I'm going on a diet," Yosuke got into the bed.
*The Next Morning*
"Mmmm," Kanji rolled over and hugged Naoto, "Morning you."
"Good morning Kanji!" Teddie hugged him back.
"WOAH!" Kanji shot up, "Ted?"
"Yup," Teddie smiled with his eyes barely open.
"Why are you in my bed?!" Kanji yelled.
"Relax Kanji, he isn't hurting anyone," Naoto said on the other side of Kanji.
"Why aren't you with Rise?" Kanji asked.
"Teddie got lonely," Rise said all alone in her bed, "He missed you. He's only been in your bed for about an hour now."
"Just let him sleep Kanji," Naoto said.
"Whatever, I'm going to the hot springs," Kanji got out of the bed. Slowly the eight got out of bed and got ready for the day ahead and to go their separate ways once again back to their own lives.
"Teddie, can you turn on the news," Naoto asked Teddie who was messing around by flipping through all the channels. He handed Naoto the remote and turned it to the morning news to catch up on the happenings of Japan and the rest of the world.
"Our top story this morning, a stunning ending to The Case of Tohru Adachi, the accused in The Inaba Serial Killer Case," the lady said on the news. Everyone in the room turned their head at the mention of the name, a name they hadn't heard or thought of for a long time.
"After years of being tied up in the legal system, Tohru Adachi will walk with an innocent verdict from his judge after a supposed lack of evidence behind his confession. Tohru Adachi, pictured here, confessed to the murders of television announcer Mayumi Yamano and second year high school student Saki Konishi back in the year of 2011. The judge was quoted in his decision stating 'Despite the confession of the accused, it appears he may simply be a fall man for the actual criminal, psychological tests determined no form of legitimate insanity and a lack of physical evidence on the bodies led to this verdict. It would be against proper moral standards to send an innocent man to jail while we let the actually murder run lose.' It is now being investigated that another convicted murder at the time, student Mitsuo Kubo who murdered his second year high school teacher Kinshiro Morooka…" the lady on the television droned on as the crew simply stared at the television in shock.
"Adachi… Innocent…" Yosuke said, "He got away with it. He murdered two people…Saki… and he GOT AWAY WITH IT!" Yosuke slammed his fist into the wall.
"I can't believe it," Chie said, "He's going to get out of jail… What if he starts murdering again?"
"The midnight channel hasn't appeared since we captured Adachi in 2011… but if we can still go inside the television then why couldn't Adachi?" Yukiko said, "And that means he could potentially push others in again.
"We have to prepare," Yu said, "If Adachi starts murdering again, it's up to us to bring him down. Chie, we're staying in Inaba for the next few days. As of this moment, The Investigation Team is officially back together"
"Seekers of Truth," Yosuke coughed.
"That's such a stupid name Yosuke," Chie said, "Nobody called it that but you."
"It just sounded cooler," Yosuke said, "Still though, I can't believe Adachi got away with it. He's a free man again. How could the legal system fail us?"
"Like they said, they had no evidence besides Adachi saying 'Hey, I pushed two people inside of a television!'" Kanji remarked.
"Indeed," Naoto said, "For now all we can do is wait and see if Adachi makes a move."
*Two days later*
"It's going to rain tonight," Kanji said, "And it's kinda foggy…" Everyone except for Yu was sitting at the old spot in The Junes food court.
"Inaba has always had fog, but the fact it's been so thick these past couple of weeks may be a bad sign of things," Chie said, "Maybe… Izanami came back?"
"Izanami said she would leave us alone," Yosuke said as he took a bite of his baby carrots with hummus, "It doesn't make sense that she would go back on her promise."
"She is a god," Kanji said, "Gods from what Naoto has explained are kinda weird like that."
"Gods tend to have a bad tract record of obey rules and being nice to mortals," Naoto said, "It's almost universal in every culture."
"So if Izanami comes back we can just defeat her again," Chie said as she looked at the group, "Right? We did it once."
"We all almost died!" Rise said, "Me and Teddie have spent the past couple of days in the television scanning to see if Adachi or Izanami, or anyone else was inside, but so far there has been nothing. It's completely peaceful as usual."
"My nose can't sniff out anything, and I'm not snuffed up anymore, it's bearfect," Teddie smiled, "Adachi won't get passed me!"
"What about the apartment?" Chie asked.
"Gone," Rise said, "It's gone like all the rest of our personal hells: the castle, the sauna, the strip club, the video game, the lab, heaven, and even that twisted version of Inaba. They are all gone from existence."
"At least our personas are still here," Yosuke said in between nibbles, "We should all go inside the television, practice to ensure if we have to fight Adachi our skills are up to snuff!"
"Yu!" Chie said as Yu was walking over slowly to the table, "We're going inside the television later today, are you in?"
"Yeah," he said as he pulled out a white envelope from out of his pocket, "Dojima got this today. It's to me… from Adachi."
"Adachi sent you another letter? Like the one from back in high school," Rise said, "Are you going to open it?"
"Yeah," Yu said, "It just… I'm worried about what it might say."
"Whatever it says we'll deal with it together, as we always have," Chie encouraged Yu with the rest of the group. Yu gave a reaffirming nod as he tore open the letter and pulled to read for the group.
"Dear… Dumbass," Yu said.
"At least he got the dumbass part out right away," Yosuke laughed.
"As you have probably already have heard I am officially a free man," Yu read, "I am out of the shithole of a prison you and you're dumbass friends put me in and never have to go back. And now, all I can think about is you. There has been one thing I've wanted to do ever since I first set foot in that cell, dreaming about it every night. I know you'll open this letter today, so meet me tomorrow at noon in that usual spot you all hang out at in Junes so I can finally do what needs to be done. Adachi."
"Well…" Kanji rubbed his neck.
"He's going to kill us!" Teddie cried out.
"He didn't say that," Yu said, "Just… heavily implied it."
"Adachi wouldn't just straight up murder us in cold blood in front of everyone here," Yosuke said.
"How do you know, he's super pissed after we made him go to jail for over four years!
Chie said, "I don't know about you guys, but I'd be super angry after having to spend that much time wasting away in a small little cell."
"Either way, we need to prepare," Yu said, "Chie. Naoto. Bring your guns tomorrow."
"Didn't Naoto's gun get stolen?" Rise asked.
"I got it back one day in the mail," Naoto explained, "The sender was unknown, but he claimed he had no further use for it and felt it should go back to its rightful owner who would serve justice with it."
"Whatever happened to The Phantom Thief guy?" Kanji asked.
"I don't know, just as soon as he arrived he… disappeared," Naoto said, "He could be dead or underground or just stopped robbing completely. Nobody knows."
"Good riddance," Chie said, "One less criminal to worry about. Now, onto the immediate matter, to the television!" The eight hurried off to the electronics department. The place was relatively empty, a sign of good luck for once.
"I got our weapons," Yosuke ran in with a burlap sack.
"You kept those?" Yu asked.
"Just in a small chubby in the back of the store," Yosuke said, "In case of an emergency or something, like right now." He threw the bag into the television as one by one they climbed inside. Inside, the place was the same as they had last left it, a peaceful paradise with no one else in sight.
"Alright, spooky fog and monsters are still gone," Chie looked around, "GO HARAEDO-NO-OKAMI!" she screamed as she raised her hand in the air, a burst of light coming forth from her hands as behind her a large figure in thick metal armor appeared.
"What are you going to destroy Chie? There's nothing in sight to practice on," Yosuke said.
"SUMEO-OKAMI!" Yukiko screamed as a large golden figure appeared behind her.
"We could fight each other," Yu picked up his sword.
"No!" Yosuke said, "I don't want you're Persona attacking me, that things terrifying."
"Relax man, any attacks would probably just be absorbed or bounce of those fat rolls of yours," Kanji said.
"Enough with the fat stuff, I just started a diet and exercise program!" Yosuke exclaimed.
"Oh I know, we'll all chase you with our Personas and attack you, it'll be a good cardio workout for the day," Yukiko smiled.
"If you think…" Yosuke began.
"IZANAGI-NO-OKAMI!" Yu yelled.
"TAKEJI ZAITEN!" followed Kanji.
"KAMUI-MOSHIRI!" Teddie squealed.
"YAMATO SUMERAGI!" Naoto yelled.
"That… I… am going to… run," Yosuke stared frightened at his friends with large fully summoned personas stared at him. He let out a huge gasp followed by a huge gulp.
"KOUZEON," Rise summoned her persona, "The race… is on!"
"Wait! I want a head start," Yosuke backed away slowly.
"60 seconds," Kanji smiled sadistically, "First one to hit him gets a free ice cream on me."
"Ahh!" Yosuke whipped right around and began to sprint as fast as he could across the field they were standing in.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to enjoy this," Yu said.
"Me too," Yukiko giggled as they watched Yosuke run as fast as his chubby little legs could carry him.
*The next day*
"And here's your ice cream Chie," Kanji came over with a large chocolate cone.
"Yes!" Chie grabbed in and began to lick the ice cream, "Sorry for the whole, ice chunk to the head thing Yosuke."
"Oh no," Yosuke sarcastically remarked, "I'm fine. I was only beaten within an inch of my life by my superpowered friends because they thought it would be a good weight loss exercise for me!"
"You ran like 5 miles," Yukiko said, "That's great!"
"I was scared," Yosuke said.
"We didn't do any real harm… except when Chie kinda kicked you into that lake."
"It's not the lake that bothers me; it's more so the fact that she kicked me in the nads again," Yosuke said, "I'm almost entirely sure I'm infertile now."
"Can we just stay focused," Rise said, "Adachi will be here any minute and we need to be ready."
"Right," Yosuke said, "Chie, Naoto, do you have your guns?"
"Yes," Naoto said.
"I do, and I also have the ability to arrest people because I'm a police officer!" Chie smiled, "I also have mace and this stun gun!"
"Give me the real gun Chie," Yosuke reached his hand out.
"No way," Chie said, "I'm not giving you real weapons; remember the last time you brought weapons into Junes?"
"He got arrested and pissed his pants," Teddie cried out.
"What? I did not! Chie, knock it off with the pissing my pants rumors, it's bullshit!" Yosuke yelled at Chie.
"Calm down," Chie yelled back, "You shouldn't be yelling, people of your size are at risk of heart attacks."
"Shut up!" Yosuke sat down and pouted.
"Guys… I see him," Yu got up and looked at a figure walking over from the escalator.
"Is it?" Kanji got up as Naoto grabbed hold of her gun in her coat pocket, ready for anything. They all began to stand as the figure drew closer and closer. The figure drew near, revealing that it was in fact, just Yosuke's dad.
"Oh it's just dad," Yosuke sat down.
"Hey son, can you work tomorrow 6 to 2 instead of 8 to 4?" he asked, "We need someone to help with repairs in the back room."
"Yeah," Yosuke sighed as his dad walked away from the group, "There's goes any chance of staying up late tonight."
"What a shame," a voice came from behind them that they were waiting for. The all shot back up and looked over to see Adachi. He was dressed rather, informally. They had always seen him in a suit with that loose tie of his, never seeming to change clothes. However, this time, he was dressed in tan khakis and a blue striped golf shirt with sun glasses hung on his collar. He had aged almost ten years it seemed, the prison life no treating him well along with abusive officers.
"Adachi," Yu stared at him, "What do you want?"
"Aren't you going to say hello?" Adachi quipped, "It's been years, and all of you have grown up so much! Some more than others it seems," he looked at Yosuke.
"… Was that a fat joke?!" Yosuke growled, "Damn it, I'm not fat! Plus I just started a diet!" Yosuke moved over to behind Chie.
"Just tell us why you came here," Yu stared at him, "Then just leave or we'll make you leave." He held his fist up at Adachi.
"Is that a wedding ring I spy, in fact, you all appear to be wearing them," Adachi observed, "Please tell me you all married each other, it'd be like a fairy tale. A picture perfect end to your picture perfect lives."
"Shove off," Kanji said, "It's none of your business. Now get the hell out of here!"
"Not before I do what needs to be done," Adachi scolded him. He began to slowly walk towards Yu, not moving a single muscle in his face or body other than his legs. Yu held his ground as Adachi was barely a couple of feet away from him. Just as the gang waited to see what would happen, Adachi simply raised his hand outward to Yu's, grabbing it and shaking it.
"What?" Yu gasped out.
"I wanted to say goodbye," Adachi smiled, "You told me to play by the rules, and I have. And it appears that life has rewarded me with freedom. Never too late for a former criminal I guess. So, in return I'm leaving Inaba and the police force and moving as far away as I can from this town and you and your little friends." Adachi turned around, "Farewell." Adachi slowly began to walk away from the group, whistling a tune with what appeared to be a new light in his life.
"You think I'm falling for that!" Yosuke yelled as he ran to the forefront of the group and then took out a can of mace he had pick pocketed off of Chie, "Take this!" Yosuke said as he pressed down on the can. Unfortunately, Yosuke in his fear was holding the can backwards and maced himself and the entire gang.
"OH MY GOD MY EYES!" Rise screamed as she collapsed to the ground. Everyone else fell to the ground, coughing and wheezing profusely.
"WHY DO YOU CARRY THIS CHIE?" Yu coughed out.
"YOSUKE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Chie began was trying to get back up, "Oh god it's like training all over again!" The entire food court was staring at the group as they all were crying out in pain.
"Huh… dumbasses," Adachi laughed and left his enemies to their own devices..
"W-WE! WE NEED TO GET TO THE DAIRY SECTION!" Naoto managed to prop herself up on the table, "The ENZYMES IN DAIRY COMBAT THE SPRAY!"
"TEDDIE IS BLIND!" Teddie began to run around, his eyes and sinuses running wild, scaring away all the children.
*March, 2017*
It was 2017, a little over half a year since their encounter with Adachi. The biggest thing that had happened in their lives was Yu had officially graduated college with a degree in Japanese History. He still wanted to be a teacher, but at the moment was unemployed with only the few tutoring gigs to make money and Chie's job footing all the bills.
Currently, Yu was dressed in his brand new suit, a graduating gift from his dad who told him, "Now you can finally get a real job." At the moment Yu was waiting outside the office of the principal of Shujin High School in Tokyo awaiting a job interview. There were several positions opened at the moment, Yu hoping to find some sort of position. Of course he wouldn't get one of the teaching jobs, he was far too young and inexperienced, but as said there were tons of jobs the place was offering.
"Mr. Narukami?" the man came out of the office. Yu stood up and walked inside to office. The office was decorated with various degrees and awards the man had received over the years. He took a seat opposite of the principal who was looking over his resume at the moment.
"I've been examining your resume and I must say it is very impressive," the principal told him, "Good GPA, great experience in the field of teaching with tutoring jobs."
"Thank you sir," Yu nodded.
"Your degree is in Japanese History?" he looked at him.
"Yes," Yu nodded again.
"Unfortunately our Japanese History teachers are not retiring anytime soon and all of the jobs with them are taken… However, I think we might have a position with you. Tell me, how are you with Chemistry?"
"Uh, decent," Yu said, "I mean, I took a couple of chemistry classes in college, got A's."
"We have a job for a lab assistant. Mostly you'll be a paid after school to help tutor our students and help to set up and clean the lab and its equipment," he told him, "Would that interest you?"
"Absolutely," Yu smiled.
"Well… thanks for coming in," he nodded at Yu, more than likely rejecting him for the job.
"Thank you sir," Yu got up and shook his hand and left. He left the school, walking a few blocks to take the train back to his apartment. He had been going to any school he could find within Tokyo, looking for some sort job. He eventually, arrived back home, collapsing on the couch and tossing his coat and clothes aside.
"I'm home," Chie walked into the door in her police uniform and a big smile on her face. She looked on at her husband who was lying in his boxers watching television on the couch, "Yu… can I talk to you?"
"Sure," he sat up, "What is it?"
"Well, I've been doing some research," Chie sat down next to him, "And I've been making a few calls, and I... found a job."
"For me?" Yu asked.
"No, for me," Chie said, "It's back in Inaba. It's just a simple police job, pays a little less then what I make right now, but living in the country is cheaper. Think about it, a chance to go back home!"
"Inaba?" Yu smiled, "I miss Inaba… where would we live?" Chie pulled out a small folded out piece of paper and handed it to Yu. Opening it, Yu saw a listing for a small two bedroom house similar to Dojima's in Inaba.
"We can afford it," Chie smiled, "We've saved enough money up for a down payment. Yu, imagine it, going back to Inaba." The thought was tempting to Yu, getting to hang out with his friends all the time and being able to see Nanako and Dojima other than holidays was a great idea, but Yu had a life here.
"What about my jobs and all the fun stuff out here?" Yu asked, "Inaba doesn't have a future for me… I don't just want to bum around with a useless degree for the rest of my life."
"I know," Chie sighed, "That's why I wanted to tell you this first before making a decision. If you don't want to move back to Inaba, I'm okay with it, I understand. I just want you to be happy with your life." Yu sat their confused over what to do, "Just think about it," Chie got up to cook some dinner. Yu sat silently around for the rest of the night, trying to weigh the pros and cons of moving out of the city.
"One the one hand, seeing everyone would be nice, but what am I going to do for a job in Inaba," Yu wondered, "Shu probably doesn't need tutoring anymore… I guess I could go back to any of those jobs I had in high school… or work at Junes… with Yosuke as my boss, oh god!"
"Okay Chie, let's go look at the house this weekend and I can go examine my options for jobs," Yu looked at Chie in bed.
"Seriously?" Chie smiled, "Thank you!" she scooted over and began to kiss Yu.
"I take it I get a reward for my decision," Yu smiled.
"Of course," Chie laughed.
*The next weekend*
"As you can see," the realtor lead Chie and Yu inside the house, "We have a standard living room with a kitchen setup. The owners installed new appliances just a few months ago."
"This is very nice," Chie said. The two continued to look around the house, it was much larger than their apartment, had room for a car and was close enough to visit everyone and everywhere they loved in Inaba.
"Yu, if you want to go look around where ever you want you can, I'll just hang around here for a little while longer," Chie told him, "Maybe we could get a beef bowl together later?"
"Thanks, love you," he kissed her and walked out of the house. Yu had a couple of leads on places where he could get a job. The first, a most obvious place was the old poster board in the shopping district. Yu made his way to the district, it still as busy and full as usual.
"Yu!" Rise gasped as she was outside the tofu shop watering some flowers, "What are you doing here?"
"Visiting," Yu hugged her, "How goes running the tofu shop with Teddie?"
"Great, he still does his thing at Junes, but he's very helpful and knowledgeable about tofu amazingly,
Rise said, "I miss showbiz sometimes, but it's nice to be able to go outside without getting swarmed with photographers and fans."
"I'm glad you're happy," Yu smiled at her, "I'll talk to you later."
"Bye," Rise waved as Yu walked off towards the board.
"Well well well," Kanji walked over to Yu as he was looking at the board, "Looking for a part time job?"
"Oh no, just, browsing," Yu said, "I remember looking at this thing back in high school."
"Yeah, seems like a lifetime ago," Kanji chuckled, "Hey, what are you doing here by the way? You should've told us you were coming out."
"It was a spur of the moment type of deal," Yu told him, "Chie's busy doing… whatever Chie does, but I'm just walking around, might go see Yosuke later at Junes. Is Naoto around?"
"No, she's off doing her own detective work right now," Kanji told him, "Leaving me to work on the wedding and her wedding dress."
"You're making her wedding dress?" Yu asked him ,"That's…impressive."
"It's coming along pretty well," Kanji said, "I read a couple of books, looked at some designs and took some measurements from Naoto to make sure everything fits."
"I can't wait to see it at the wedding later this summer," Yu said, "I'll talk to you later."
"See ya man," Kanji walked off as Yu continued to look at the board. There were no tutoring jobs or teaching-related jobs on the board. Most of it was the dumb little tasks that barely paid money, folding envelopes, making origami, and so on.
"Well, I guess it's on to Junes," Yu said to himself. He made his way across town again towards Junes, the large building still standing way out of place compared to the other buildings. Of course, it seemed familiar to everyone who lived there now. Inside, the place was pretty busy, people shopping and eating and hanging out.
"Yu?" Yosuke ran over to him, "Dude! What are you doing here?" Yosuke hugged him. Yosuke had over the past few months lost much weight and put on a little muscle, no longer the butt of the fat jokes that plagued him.
"Just visiting, how goes Junes?" Yu asked.
"The same as always, busy," Yosuke smiled.
"Are you hiring new people? Since it's so busy…" Yu asked.
"Of course, we're always looking for part-time help," Yosuke said, "You're not looking for a job, are you?"
"No!" Yu defended himself, "Not here… I couldn't work under you."
"Yeah… if you worked her I'd be in charge," Yosuke thought about it, "Come on Yu! Remember all the fun you had working here back in high school when I needed you?"
"No," Yu laughed, "I'll see you man."
"See you," Yosuke ran off to go help more customers.
"I really don't want to work here," Yu thought to himself, "I guess it's time to actually go to the school." Over the course of the afternoon Yu visited all the schools in Inaba. Elementary, Middle, and High School handing out his resume to everyone. He met back up at Aiya's with Chie later that day.
"How did the job hunt go?" Chie asked.
"Alright… I might have to work at Junes," Yu frowned.
"Well… I wouldn't make you do that," Chie laughed, "I'd rather you'd be unemployed then having to work for Yosuke."
"Thanks," Yu smiled, "I…I'd like to move back here if I can find a job, but until then we can always visit anytime you want."
"I know, but with Rise and Teddie living here along with Yosuke and Yukiko and Kanji and Naoto, it would just be nice to have everyone back together again," Chie said as their two beef bowls arrived.
"I know," Yu said, "Maybe someday."
*Two weeks later*
"Yu!" Chie yelled from the phone in their apartment kitchen, "Phone!"
"I know," Yu grabbed the phone, "Hello?"
"Hello, is this Mr. Yu Narukami?" a feminine voice said over the phone.
"Yes it is," Yu said.
"Hello Mr. Narukami, I'm calling from the Yasogami Middle School, you came in looking for a teaching position the other day?" she asked him.
"Yes," Yu said with a glimmer of hope in his voice.
"What is it?" Chie was looking at Yu as he started to smile.
"I wanted to let you know that we do have a position open as a teacher of Japanese History for Fifth Grade and we would like to offer you the job, would you be interested in the position?" she asked.
"Y-Yes!" Yu was smiling ear to ear.
"Great, would tomorrow at noon work for you to come in and meet with the principal about the job," she asked him.
"I'll be there noon sharp, thank you," he smiled.
"Have a good day," she hung up.
"Who was that," Chie asked.
"I got a job teaching in Inaba," Yu said, "Chie… we're going home!"
"YEAH!" Chie hopped up on Yu as the two began kissing and celebrating their new jobs, "I can't wait to tell Yukiko and Naoto and Rise! And Yosuke and Kanji and Teddie. The gang is back together!"
"That it is…" Yu softly said to her, "That it is."