Chapter 23: Team Bonding

May 1, 2011

Disclaimer: The Persona series is owned by Atlus and its parent company which is currently Sega. JustCharles owns Reiko Setsuka, but I do own any OCs that I will be using including Dylan, Stephen and Roz. Anything else that I reference is the property of their respective authors.

Hanamura Residence

Yosuke got out of bed and reached for a pair of jeans and an orange t-shirt along with orange shoes and a hoodie.

After getting dressed, he ambled downstairs and cooked breakfast for himself seeing as his parents were out working. Yosuke had made a plate of eggs, toast with jam and bacon and sat down.

He took some time to reflect on what had happened over the last two or three weeks and he'd met some really interesting people; Yu, Dylan and Stephen and he'd even started going out with someone that he'd liked from the moment they'd met.

Yosuke looked down at his cell-phone and he saw that he had gotten a text from Chie.

Chie: Hey, how are you?

Yosuke: I'm good. Made myself breakfast, so I'm pretty good.

Chie: That's great! You ready to go to Okina?

Yosuke: Yep. I think taking it slow is a really good idea by the way.

Chie: Maybe we don't have to take it so slow.

Yosuke: Oh. What do you have in mind?

Chie: Maybe we could hook up in a few days? I don't know.

Yosuke: Good idea. Don't see why Dylan and Yukiko have to have all the fun.

Chie: I guess you're right. I'll see you at the train station then?

Yosuke: Yeah!

Yosuke finished eating and he cleared away his plate and washed it before he took his house-keys and stepped outside. He found his bike, unlocked it and set off for the train station.

Yasoinaba Train Station

Yosuke and Chie were the first two people to arrive at the train station, and they could hear an announcement over the PA.

"Attention please, the Express to Okina Station will arrive in ten minutes on Track Two."

Yosuke furrowed his brow worriedly as he waited. "Weird. I thought Yu was a lot more punctual. Of course, we've got no idea where everyone else is."

"I think they'll show up." Chie replied.

Yosuke whistled. "Yu might be bringing someone. Stephen and Roz have probably decided to let Dylan and Yukiko have some alone time. Again. I'm not surprised if they end up in a broom closet or something."

"YOSUKE!" Chie hissed.

Yosuke threw his hands up into the air sheepishly. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I'd assume that they want us to go on a double-date or something. Maybe it'd be a good idea to keep an eye on them? Just in case they get in trouble."

The couple looked as Yu had arrived with a black haired girl wearing a blue skirt and jacket along with a belt, stockings, shoes and a small hat. She also had mismatched eyes.

"Hey Yu. I don't think we've been properly introduced. To your new friend I mean." Yosuke looked at the girl with an expression of curiosity.

Yu sighed. "Her name's Marie, and she's a friend."

"Oh, so you've got a girlfriend?" Chie cooed.

The conversation was interrupted by Stephen and Roz making an appearance closely followed by Dylan and Yukiko.

Dylan just waved at the group. "Sorry we're late. Yukiko and I kind of lost track of time."

"So THAT's what you kids are calling it now." Stephen remarked, rolling his eyes heavenward.

Yukiko coughed loudly. "AHEM! It doesn't matter what you call it!"

"She's right. I think we've got a train to catch anyway." Roz stepped in.

Yosuke rolled his eyes. "So, we're going to get on that train when it comes?"

"Yes. So, what are the plans of everyone regarding studying for the midterms?" Chie wondered.

Yu thought about it. "Maybe we could have a group study session."

"Good idea." Chie agreed.

They looked over at Dylan who was giving Yukiko these glances.

Stephen sighed. "Guys, now is not the time and place for you to get busy. And I'd really rather you didn't because I could hear you both for most of last night."

"Attention please. The Express to Okina City is now arriving on Track Two. Repeat, The Express to Okina City is now arriving at Track Two."

Marie took the chance to interrupt them. "Maybe we should get on the train then?"

Elsewhere, Mitsuo had ducked down because he didn't want the group to see them, particularly Dylan as he'd probably get his ass kicked again. He knew that it wasn't worth the risk.

30 Frame, Okina City

The group exited the screen, only for Dylan to bump into someone familiar and for that person to spill soda on himself. Unfortunately that person took umbrage along with about four or five people who were there as well.

"Hey, gaijin! You're fucking paying for my shirt, and for those staples that had to be put in my head after what you did." Yamaichi blustered, feeling emboldened in the presence of people who were there to back him up.

Dylan just laughed in Yamaichi's face. "You're just pissed off because I'm fucking your girlfriend and I've got a bigger dick than you. And I don't need those jabronis to help me put to a girl either."

"You think you're fucking funny huh? Say that shit again" Yamaichi stepped forward before shoving Dylan.

Yukiko attempted to diffuse the situation. "Look, Takeru, I thought I already told you that I don't want to get back together with you after what you did."

"Stay out of this, whore." Yamaichi spat.

Dylan punched Yamaichi in the face and grabbed him by the throat. "I thought I told you not to call my girlfriend a whore. Or do I have to kick your ass again?"

A crowd had formed around the two groups of people and it widened out to allow space for the fight that was going to break out.

"I'm not making it easy for you!" Yamaichi hissed before head-butting Dylan in the face.

Yamaichi's friends had taken it upon themselves to get involved and started ganging up on Dylan. The blonde got up to his feet with a bruise forming on his face and a black eye.

Dylan spat something out that appeared to be blood and flipped off his assailants. "You're going to have to do better than that."

One of his assailants charged forward, only for Dylan to grab him by the waist and German Suplex him to the ground before standing up again.

He looked as someone else basically blindsided him with a hard left hook to the jaw that caused him to bite his tongue.

"Do you need any help?" Yu asked.

Dylan shook his head. "I think I've got this one."

He did, as he lifted up his second assailant and slammed him back to the ground before moving on.

Yamaichi's other three friends just decided to shove Yamaichi forward so he could deal with Dylan.

"You think that's going to impress people?" Yamaichi wondered.

Dylan was about to turn and walk away but Yamaichi had grabbed him by the hair and forced him to turn around.

"Don't touch the hair." Dylan snarled.

He brought his head forward so he could bite down into Yamaichi's wrist and smirked as Yamaichi had yelled out in pain.

Yamaichi was about to try and punch Dylan again but Dylan ducked down and lifted him up into a fireman's carry before setting him down on his feet and kicking him in the side of the head. "How do you like this? GO TO SLEEP!"

Dylan lifted his right hand into the air as Yamaichi slumped down to the ground. His friends got up and carried him away but not before giving him some seriously dirty looks.

"Thanks Blondie. I could've taken him but I wanted to let you do it." Yukiko smiled before kissing Dylan on the cheek.

Marie seemed surprised. "So, does this happen all the time?"

"Not as often as you might think." Yu demurred.

The group had left in order to avoid the people who had taken video footage of the brawl between Dylan and Yamaichi. Knowing them, they'd probably just upload it anyway.

Nanjo Group Head Office, Tokyo

Kei Nanjo had been called into an unscheduled meeting at his office regarding the ongoing investigation into the Hanged Man murders in Inaba and whether or not these murders had anything to do with Shadows.

It was becoming evident that something didn't add up regarding how the victims were being taken and disposed of. Not only that, but there had been similar murders in the United States that occurred under similar strange circumstances.

He walked into his office and he could see that Calloway had managed to make himself at home in a chair that was facing into his desk.

Kei sat down and gave Calloway a little smile. "I apologise for my lateness. I'm not normally accustomed to meetings that happen outside of a specific schedule. Of course, this is a different matter entirely."

"Yes it is, Mr Nanjo." Calloway remarked in agreement.

Kei cleared his throat before he spoke again. "I assume that you managed to talk the remaining members of SEES into reforming in light of recent events. If you didn't then I doubt that we would be having this conversation."

"We wouldn't. Although, your team and Suou's team would have been easier to convince even if members of both teams, yourself included, told me not to waste your time if I couldn't." Calloway would have laughed if the situation was less serious.

Kei raised his left eyebrow. "My team and Suou's team didn't suffer any casualties."

"I'm well aware of that. Just to change the subject, didn't you offer to help Takeharu Kirijo?" Calloway asked.

Kei sounded sorrowful. "I did make the offer but he didn't feel the need to accept it. And that was despite Ikutsuki's hidden agenda. His betrayal wouldn't have happened if my team or Suou's team were involved with SEES."

"You'd have rooted the bastard out. I'm nothing like Ikutsuki in case you were wondering. I love my country and I also enjoy living." Calloway's smile returned, except it was frozen onto his face.

Kei coughed. "I'm sure we would have. And yes, I have read up on you Agent Calloway and you are nothing like Ikutsuki. Although, I know about Project SHADOW too."

"So you should. It was easily the worst mistake that we could have made. Or rather it was the worst mistake that our military could have made. "Oh, let's weaponize entities that are created from negative emotions." We almost had to fucking nuke the California desert." Calloway groused.

Kei seemed amused. "Huh. Things were certainly different in the 1960s."

"Yes they were. But there is one thing that links Kandori, the Sudous and Ikutsuki." Calloway hinted.

Now it was time for Kei to feel surprised. "That Gregory Blake had put up funding for SEBEC, the New World Order and both Strega and SEES? I thought that he got rid of all records of contact with them."

"Apparently not. The US government has been trying to bring that son of a bitch down since the late 1970s and it hasn't gotten any of the charges to stick. I mean, Jordan "Wolf Of Wall Street" Belfort called him reprehensible." Calloway waved a hand.

Kei took the information in his stride. "I could have called him reprehensible myself. Watching him practically drape himself over a sixteen-year old was an incredibly uncomfortable sight,"

"We've been trying to get him on child endangerment, among other things." Calloway sighed.

Kei changed the subject again. "Okay. I'll get in touch with Naoya and Reiji who will ostensibly gather the rest of our team. And then I'll call Tatsuya Suou."

"Good." Calloway stood up.

Kei watched as Calloway walked away. "I suppose I'll be seeing you then."

Calloway merely ignored him.

Seventh Star Pizza, Okina City

Yosuke and Chie didn't know that there was a pizza place in Okina before now. Of course, there were a lot of things that they didn't know before including their true feelings for each other which they'd realised.

They were currently sitting in a booth with Stephen and Roz, who weren't together. Dylan and Yukiko were sitting in a booth with Yu and Marie, who were together for all intents and purposes.

"So, what do you think?" Yosuke asked.

Chie took a bite of pizza before answering. "It's pretty good."

"That's good. You know, I'm glad that we finally decided to get together. And that we'll hopefully be getting more days before someone disappears." Yosuke turned his attention to Chie.

Chie nodded. "It's been pretty tranquil but I wonder how long that will last."

"I wouldn't worry. Besides, I've got you so everything's going to be fine." Yosuke added, almost off the cuff.

Chie coloured a little and smiled back at him. "Thanks."

"I was expecting to hear something more than just "thanks." I don't mind though." Yosuke reassured her.

Chie laughed. "I kind of figured that out!"

They kept eating, their eyes firmly fixed on each other.

"Hey, why don't we stop by your place later?" Yosuke asked.

Chie was a little bit shocked. "I guess?"

They were going to have a very fun evening planned.

Dojima Residence

It had been a good day despite Dylan's scuffle with Yamaichi and the team had gotten to know each other better.

Marie and Yu had walked home and they had hugged and kissed briefly. He wanted to invite her into the house for more but he thought better of it.

"Wait, if you like her than what's the problem? Okay, if you ask Marie out then I'm asking Yukiko out!"

Yu shook his head as if to shake away the cobwebs that had been building up.

So far Dylan and Yukiko as well as Yosuke and Chie were couples, which was something that Yu had sort of suspected would happen this time.

He knew of his connection with Marie thanks to Izanagi but he just had to make sure of it. However, his thoughts were interrupted by his uncle and cousin.

"Well, I've got work during Golden Week so I've had to cancel some of our plans. However, there is a chance that we'll be having dinner at the inn. Seeing as I'm friends with the owners and I've been too busy to talk to them recently what with work and everything. You can invite the transfer students if you'd like." Dojima said casually.

Nanako seemed to approve. "Yeah! People have talking about them a lot!"

"Have they? I wonder what they've been saying." Yu seemed amused.

Nanako hummed before making a response. "Hmmm. Good things, I guess. I don't really pay attention to all that stuff."

Nanako walked away leaving Yu and Dojima in the room.

"I assume that there's no objection then." Dojima poured himself a glass of water.

"There isn't." Yu gave his uncle a wide smile.

Yu sighed, as he mentally down the days until the next person ended up in the Midnight Channel.