Rise stood as they braced themselves for whatever was coming. Shi glanced at her, worried about her health.
"Woah! Don't think you're fighting with us! You can't take it!" Chie snapped. Rise shook her head.
"I'm okay... I should be able to take that bear's place! It's my turn to save you all!" Rise insisted. She summoned her persona before they could stop her. They each summoned their personas as well, ready for a fight. The shadow Teddie appeared as the darkness cleared. It's face was cracked revealing darkness around its eyes. The eyes were blue and purple. It roared at them, rising slightly out of the hole its lower half sat in.
"I am a shadow... The true self..." It said. "I shall give you the " truth" you claim to hold so dear... The inescapable fact of your death here!" It growled.
"I guess Teddie was a lot more troubled then he looked. We have to save him!" Yosuke said firmly.
"Foolish beings! Accept your end with dignity and grace!" Shadow Teddie snapped. They nodded at each other. Shi looked at her persona which paced in front of her. It was ready, determined to prove that the truth this shadow spoke of was not their deaths. It was the resolution of this case.
Her persona charged forward, its tails poised and ready. It followed Yu's persona, supporting him with elemental attacks. As they attacked, she kept glancing at Rise. She was worried about what this was doing to her. She had felt drained after her persona awakened, and that was without having to battle another shadow immediately afterwards. She turned as the shadow spoke to them again.
"Stop this futile struggling. Even if you resist, it will all come to naught..." It stated before disappearing into its hole. It came back out, one claw raised high above it. Energy began to charge in its raised claw.
"What!? I have a bad feeling about this..." Rise gasped. Shi turned to her persona.
"Deal as much damage as you can!" She cried. It nodded, the masks on its tails aiming at the shadow. It threw every elemental attack it possessed at the shadow. As it unleashed its final attack, Rise spoke to them.
"It's... It's going to attack! Get ready!" Shi glanced at the others before bracing herself. She tucked her scalpel against her arm and crossed her arms in front of herself. As the others did the same, shadow Teddie swung his arm around. The attack didn't hurt but she could feel the power. If they hadn't have been warned, they would be dead. She went back to attacking it, supporting the others.
"What...? How can you summon such strength for such a futile endeavour...!?" Shadow Teddie asked.
"It's not futile!" Shi yelled. "Ok, so we don't know the truth yet. But it's that determination to find it that gives us the strength to face the days even when we are at our lowest!"
"Why do you still resist...!? Even should you win, naught but suffering awaits!" Shadow Teddie countered.
"Suffering is inevitable in life. No matter how hard you try, you can't avoid it. But that's what helps us grow. We learn from our suffering and grow stronger. If you don't resist, you've given up on life. That's when you truly lose and everything is futile!" Shi yelled. As if supported by her words, her persona unleashed a barrage of attacks. It hopped back, letting Yu's persona charge forward. He unleashed the final blow that defeated the shadow. Darkness rushed past them as the shadow faded. Yu and the others ran to Teddie whilst Shi ran to Rise.
"Rise-chan, are you OK!?" She asked. Rise nodded slowly.
"I just feel a little tired Tawakemono-sensei." She croaked. They turned to look at Teddie who was facing his shadow.
"I... I don't know who I am..." He said softly. "I've thought a number of times... That maybe there is no answer... But I'm here... I live here..."
"I'm sure you'll find your answers Teddie." Yu said.
"Dude, we'll help you figure it out." Yosuke added. They all nodded in agreement.
"I'm... I'm one lucky bear! Waaaah!" Teddie sobbed. He turned to see his shadow fade and be replaced by a persona. "Is this my persona?" He asked them.
"I can sense strong power from it... It's awesome, Teddie." Rise said weakly. They looked at her before taking her out of the club. They walked her towards the exit where Shi stopped them.
"I'll go on ahead. It will be hard to explain why I am with you all when I should be at work." She said. They all nodded. "I will see about getting that brush for you Teddie." She added before leaving the TV world. She quickly snuck out of Junes and headed back to the station. She crept in through the morgue, looking around to see if any new patients had arrived. None were there so she headed to the main room. She sidled up to Adachi.
"Hey, where have you been?" He asked. She shrugged, grimacing as a pain ran through her shoulder.
"I went to check on my shoulder. It still aches. If it doesn't clear up, I will go get it checked out at the hospital." She said. He nodded slowly. "So, what's happening?" She asked.
"The prefectural police sent some detective to help us investigate the murders. You know, seeing as how we haven't made any progress since April." He explained. "Guess who it is." Shi frowned and looked at the centre of the room. Naoto was stood there.
"You don't need to worry about paying me. Solving this case is reward enough for me." Naoto said. Shi rolled her eyes.
"Oh they'll love him for that." She murmured, leaning against Adachi's desk. He nodded in agreement. As the higher-ups walked away with Naoto, Dojima sighed.
"That does it, I am going for a drink. You two coming, seeing as our shifts are over?" He asked. Shi and Adachi both nodded.
"I will just drop my car off at home." Shi said. She waved them off and headed to her home. After locking her keys in the key drawer she headed to the pub. When she arrived, Dojima was already half way through a bottle of sake. Adachi was looking worried at him.
"Dojima-san, maybe you should slow down." He suggested as Shi sat down. Dojima murmured something Shi was unable to hear, downing his next drink. She watched him silently, sharing a look with Adachi as Dojima ordered another bottle of sake. Eventually, when he was swaying side to side, Shi made her decision.
"Come on Dojima-san, let's get you home." She said. She wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders, grimacing as he gripped her sore shoulder. Adachi took his other arm and walked him home. Shi opened his front door then shut it after Adachi helped Dojima inside. There was a dull thud as Dojima hit the step.
"Ow! Dammit...! Who built a shtep here!?" He slurred.
"That'd be the carpenters, sir. C'mon, don't take your anger out on the house. That won't solve anything." Adachi said. Shi followed as he helped Dojima in.
"Whooo... I'm hooome. Nanako! I'm baaack!" Dojima cried drunkenly.
"Welcome... Back..." Nanako said softly.
"Come on Nanako-chan, let's go get his futon ready." Shi said, holding her hand out to Nanako. Nanako quickly took it and led her to his room. She took the futon down, helping Nanako set it up.
"Did daddy have too much sake?" Nanako asked her.
"Possibly Nanako-chan. But he'll learn from it in the morning. I better make sure I have painkillers for him." Shi replied. Nanako nodded. "Are you OK finishing up whilst I go check on him?" She asked.
"Yeah! I can finish this Shi-chan." Nanako smiled happily.
"Atta girl. Oh, that reminds me. I saw this the other day and got it for you." She said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small jack frost keyring. "I figured you could put it on your bag." Shi suggested. Nanako smiled brightly and hugged her.
"Thank you Shi-chan!" She exclaimed happily. Shi smiled and hugged her back before walking back towards Dojima. He was berating Yu as she walked in. He turned his attention to her.
"As for you! You're partially to blame as well! Getting yourself kidnapped because you've been too focused on this idiot... Ya got the prefectural police all bent out of shape and for what!? A fling!" He exclaimed drunkenly. Shi blushed, as did Adachi.
"I didn't ask to be kidnapped." She murmured.
"No, but you have been screwing around with *hic* Adachi. Man, you would have to be blind not to see there's something going on with you two." He scolded her. Shi blushed more, suddenly aware of Yu's eyes on her. Much to her relief, Nanako entered the room to let them know his futon was ready. Adachi nodded and helped Dojima up before walking him to his room. Shi sighed and walked over to the door to wait for Adachi.
"Let him sleep it off. Hopefully, he will wake up with a reminder of what happens when he drinks too much." Shi said as Adachi returned. "We'll see you later Nanako-chan. Bye Yu-kun." They waved goodbye and headed back towards her home. As they walked, she took his hand.
"Do you think anyone else at the station knows?" He asked her.
"I think everyone in the town suspects. But let them decide what they want. I have had a long day and all I wanna do now is relax and have a little fun." Shi said, smiling seductively at him. He grinned back, wrapping his arms around her as they stepped closer to her home. His lips met hers, claiming her attention once again for the night. But even after his attempts to distract her, she could still feel a cold sense of dread possess her. She curled up closer to him before drifting off to sleep. This case was still far from over, and she couldn't escape the feeling that things were only going to end in heartbreak.