During lunchtime, Yukiko and Francis meet up by themselves at the roof, with the others waiting at the stairway.
"I…" Yukiko eyes Francis with a sad expression as she talks to him. She pauses and looks down, and he waits for her to find her words.
"I miss you. That's all." Yukiko speaks with bliss on her face and in her tone.
Hearing Yukiko, Francis' eyes widen. He swiftly looks away and scratches the back of his head. As he pauses, Yukiko waits for him. After a while he talks to her kindly.
"Yukiko, you know I-"
"You like Chie. I know."
Yukiko blurts out coldly. Seeing this, Francis goes on kindly. "I can't respond to your feelings. I am sorry."
Yukiko shows Francis a warm smile. "It's fine. Just give me some time to get over it."
As Francis is about to inquire further, Yukiko cuts him off. "Let's gather the others. I think we should talk more about the culprit."
With everybody present, the group decides to compile what they have on the incidents so far.
"The announcer, Konishi-san, and Yukiko. Does the culprit go for women?" Francis says calmly.
"Looks like so." Yosuke replies as Yukiko and Chie nod their heads.
"Right now. I don't think we have anything to go on. We know the victims will appear on the Midnight Channel beforehand, so let's keep an eye on that." Francis says calmly.
The others nod, showing their agreement with what Francis said. Seeing this, Francis keeps going.
"Also, there is very little we know about the other world, other than we can meet Shadows and use our Personas there. We also know Persona powers give us superhuman abilities in that world, including improved healing. We might also..."
Francis looks to Chie with concern. She smiles sadly and nods her head.
"We might also die if we overuse our Persona powers. The enemies though…"
Francis pauses to think. After a while, he questions Yukiko.
"Many of your Shadows are castle-themed. Knights, kings, tables and candlesticks, even goblins."
"Yes." Yukiko responds swiftly. She then says with red cheeks. "Well, I do kinda wanna be a princess, so that might be related."
Francis continues to ask. "So what you want defines what appears?"
Yosuke speaks up. "Saki was in the shopping district. Her Shadows were those mouth orbs things. We know she thinks people hate her, and they talk about her a lot."
Yukiko speaks up with energy. "The mouth orbs represent words that hurt. I know since they were in my castle."
Seeing this, Francis analyzes what they have. "So your thoughts affect what appears in the TV?"
He keeps going. "Even our Personas, the way their surface, movements, they resonate with our thoughts too."
Yosuke comments playfully. "Sounds like something out of an anime."
Hearing Francis speak, Chie complains.
"This is so annoying! Isn't there anything useful?"
The group looks down in contemplation, coming up with nothing in the end.
After a while, Yukiko asks Francis cheerfully, smiling widely as she does.
"Can we go train in the TV later?"
Seeing Yukiko's cheer, Francis replies in guilt. "Actually, I am planning to check up on one of the sports clubs later."
"I see." Yukiko says with disappointment, still retaining her grin.
"Tomorrow. Let's go in tomorrow. We need to keep our skills sharp as well." Francis says calmly.
After receiving confirmation from the others, Francis looks around, as if he's thinking about something. After some looking around, Francis raises a question.
"Say, why have we been meeting up on the roof so much?"
The others seem to ponder the question as much as Francis does.
"Well, nobody uses it for the most part." Yosuke answers him cheerfully.
Francis looks around, seeing no one else. He then says humorously. "That much is true."
Yukiko chuckles hearing Francis speak.
As the group goes back, Francis checks up on Yukiko.
Yukiko blushes seeing him get close. Seeing this, Francis smiles awkwardly. While smiling, Francis talks to her.
"Are you really okay?"
Yukiok continues to stare at Francis. She then says kindly while grinning. "I am fine. Do you want to talk to Chie?"
As Francis looks at Chie, she looks down sadly. He excuses himself before he walks next to Chie. "You okay?"
Chie eyes him with a weak smile. "Yeap."
"Maybe I should accompany you after school instead." Francis says gently.
Chie shakes her head. "You have been wanting to join the clubs for a while. I don't wanna get in the way of that."
"Chie, I can't go to club when you are sad like that."
Chie smiles happily. She then punches Francis lightly on the shoulder. She speaks to him calmly. "Just go. I am fine."
Seeing Francis still eying her sadly. Chie talks cheerfully. "We can hang out after club. I will be by myself so I am good after training."
Francis responds happily. "All right." He then sneakily tries to hold Chie's hand, to which she reacts by blushing.
"Really? At school?" Chie says embarrassingly. She sighs and then speaks happily. "It's been a while…"
While Chie and Francis smile happily, Yosuke sees Yukiko looking ahead with anger.
"Amagi?"
Yukiko responds coldly. "I will be fine."
Upon seeing other students in the distance, Francis and Chie let go.
As they get close to class, Chie mocks Francis. "You are pretty stupid, aren't you?"
Francis decides to join the soccer club. After being introduced by the club teacher, Francis is instructed to watch at the side. Francis sighs unsatisfyingly, but decides to comply.
He watches as the club members go through multiple drills. Seeing them do so reminds him of when the group had to dodge Yukiko's fireballs.
"Might make for good footwork practice." Francis talks to himself.
As the club disperses, a well built team member with short brown hair and a strong expression comes up to greet Francis.
"Nagase Daisuke."
"Yamada Francis."
"Hope you like what you see. Our club is pretty small, which is fitting considering our school. Can't say our members are very well motivated too." Nagase says calmly.
"Don't think I will be a good addition. I have like zero soccer experience." Francis says humorously.
"Just come to practice. I am sure you will get the hang of it." Nagase says kindly, slightly reminding Francis of what he thinks a big brother is like.
"Yo Daisuke! What ya waiting for? Let's go!" A cheerful male student with bangs down to his eyebrows calls as he walks towards Nagase.
"Oh, a new club member?" The student says while turning to Francis.
"Ichijo Kou."
"Yamada Francis."
"I am from the basketball club. Their ace too." Ichijo says cheerfully.
"Ichijo Kou?" Francis asks politely, remembering Chie mentioning him. "I heard about you from Chie."
"Chie? You two are close? Wait, Yamada, Yamada. Oh! You are the transfer student who sits next to her. The foreigner." Ichijo says with playful energy.
"Yes. I am." Francis says humorously in English.
Ichijo chuckles. "Chie did say you are funny."
"Really? She keeps saying my jokes are bad." Francis grumbles.
"How long are you two planning to go on about Satonaka?" Nagase complains. He then speaks as if coming to a realization. "Oh crap. I need to run a few more laps."
Nagase then looks to Francis and says kindly. "Wait for me, Yamada. We can walk home together."
"Actually, I got a...uh… date." Francis says. He then looks at his phone.
"I see. Too bad then. See ya next time!" Nagase says with energy before running off.
"Well, I am gonna go get changed then. See ya, Yamada!" Ichijo says before going off.
Seeing no texts from Chie, Francis contemplates whether to join Nagase.
"She probably won't mind the sweat. Nah, let's not keep the lady waiting…" Francis thinks to himself in Japanese, smiling blissfully as he does.
Francis goes to a relatively quiet spot and gives Chie a call.