Not 100% sure why it is doing it. Or if adding this note will fix it. If it does, then just ignore it. But I noticed that, in desktop mode of this site, for some reason the chapter is appearing with all the additional symbols the website uses to note paragraphs and such. As I said, I don't know why it is doing it. But if you can, read this chapter in the mobile version of the site as that is unaffected. But, hopefully it is fixed.
Shi paced her office, back and forth as she recalled what she had seen. Upon her arrival this morning, the sketch of the suspect had been released. It matched the boy that had been shouting the previous night. She looked up as the door opened, revealing Adachi. He slinked into the room, sinking onto the couch in her office. She walked over and knelt in front of him.
"That bad?" She asked softly, taking his hands.
"They chewed me out because that kid has disappeared." He murmured.
"That wasn't your fault. We couldn't have known. Besides, we all thought he was just after attention." She said. She raised her hands, holding his face. "What was it you said to me? That we will solve this. And we will. This criminal doesn't stand a chance against us." She said, smiling as that grin of his crept onto his face. She stood up, bending at the waist to give him a kiss before standing up straight.
"So, what's the plan doc?" He asked her, leaning back.
"First, we find this kid. He cannot have gotten far. Then, we do everything we can to provide the evidence for a guilty verdict." She said. She placed her chin on her hand, supporting the elbow with her other hand whilst she thought. She leant to one side, her left hip cocked at an angle, making him stare.
"You join the other searches." She said eventually. "I will head towards Junes and work my way through that section." She said.
"Want me to join you?" He asked her, getting to his feet.
"No. It would be better to search separately. We can cover more ground." She explained. She turned to face him, smiling. "Besides, some of those gossips will say we only went together to fool around instead of searching." She added.
"Can you blame me if you distract me from my police work?" Adachi teased, making her shove him gently.
"And that is why we are searching separately. We will find him. So let's go." She said. He nodded, leaving her with a parting kiss before going to join one of the searches. Shi watched him leave before heading over to Junes. She sat at a table, pinching the bridge of her nose. Hiding this was proving difficult. She wasn't sure how long she could keep this up. She sighed, lifting her drink to take a sip when a shadow fell over her. She glanced to see a shadow, the details of it blocked by the sunlight.
"Can I help you?" She asked. "Look, whatever you are selling, I am not interested. I have business to be on with. So, if you don't mind…."
"Wow, you look even more beautiful outside of the TV world." She froze as she heard a familiar voice. The figure stepped into the shade to reveal.
"Teddy?" Shi choked out, staring at him in surprise. "What? But….how…..you….what?!" She gasped.
"Yeah. We were surprised to, Tawakemono-Sensei." Chie said as the group approached.
"But, that isn't the only thing that is different. Watch this." Teddy said. He placed his hands on either side of his head, unzipping it before removing it. Shi leapt back with a garbled cry, knocking her drink over as a blonde haired boy appeared out of the suit.
"W….wh….what the hell?! That's impossible!" She exclaimed in surprise. She paused as she realised people were staring before clearing her throat and sitting back down, a blush dancing on her pale skin.
"Anyway…..let's discuss what we all undoubtedly saw on the midnight channel." She said, watching as Teddie and Rise disappeared. "Where are they going?" She asked.
"To search the other side, see if they can find him." Yosuke explained. "So, we all saw that kid on the Midnight Channel last night. He was so clear on it. I have never seen it like that before. And what he said."
"It's almost like the bastard was taunting us." Kanji growled viciously. "'Try and Catch me.' Man, even just repeating it now pisses me off." He thumped as fist down on the table.
"But, does that mean he is the one behind the murders?" Yukiko asked. Immediately, all of them turned to face Shi.
"Without revealing too much information." She began. "There is someone we are looking for who is a suspect in the murder of Mr Morooka." Shi explained. As they all frowned, Rise came running back to the table.
"Anything?" Chie asked her. Rise shook her head.
"There is definitely someone there, but without a name we can't locate him." She explained. Shi paused as they all turned to focus on her.
"What?" She asked them. She realised why they were staring at her and sighed. "I don't know his name. I wasn't given that information."
"Wait, so they sent you out to look for him with only a description?" Chie asked.
"Searches are as much about gathering information as they are about locating an individual. The more we learn, the easier someone is to find." Shi explained, unable to shake the feeling that she was being judged.
"So the police don't have any info? What use are they then?" Kanji snapped.
"Need I remind you that I am technically police?" Shi countered before standing. "I may not have a name at the moment. But it won't take long to find one. Just a second." She said, pulling out her phone. She dialled a number, moving away from the table slightly.
"Dojima."
"Dojima-san, it's Shi. Have you found out anything new about the suspect?" She asked him.
"I was about to phone you and give you an update. Have you heard anything?" Dojima asked in response. Shi froze, wondering what she was going to say when her phone buzzed with a text message from Adachi. She quickly read it before replying to Dojima.
"Just that the kid works over in the shopping district part time. No name yet." She replied.
"Well, I can one up you on that. The kid's name is Mitsuo Kubo." Dojima told her.
"Mitsuo Kubo? Got it. If I find anything new, I will contact you." Shi replied before hanging up. She turned back to the group and grinned. "I've got his name." She told them.
"That's amazing Tawakemono-Sensei." Rise said in awe. Shi chuckled softly.
"I'm not just a pretty face. His name is Mitsuo Kubo." She explained. The group nodded in determination as Yu stood.
"That should help us find him in the other world. Let's go." He said before they all headed to the electronics department.
Once inside the TV world, Shi watched as Rise located Mitsuo. Her persona stood tall, head turning as it scanned the area.
"He's that way." Rise said, pointing to the east. They nodded and quickly headed in the direction, walking for what seemed like miles until they came across it. A castle from an old video game.
"Seriously? This asshole really does think of this as some game." Kanji growled as they looked up at the building.
"No matter what he thinks, he is still the suspect of this case. We need to get him out of here." Shi countered, placing a hand on Kanji's shoulder to calm him. They all nodded before starting to walk into the castle. As they walked along the corridors, Shi felt them looking at her.
"Tawakemono-Sensei, what happens if this guy is the killer?" Chie asked, making her turn to face them.
"Well, the police investigate. And, if there is enough evidence in the eyes of the prosecution service to get a guilty verdict, it will go to trial." She explained. "Then, depending on the plea, there would either be a case with a jury or it would go before a judge to decide sentencing."
"What's the usual punishment for murder?" Yosuke asked.
"Depends on a number of variables. Including if the accused submits a guilty plea." Shi replied as they walked. They paused as shadows surrounded them.
"Don't worry. Teddie's got this." Teddie said happily, summoning his persona. Whilst the others spoke, Shi watched Teddie's persona get bounced around the corridor by the shadows, like some strange beach ball. He yelped and cried out as the cube like shadows attacked his persona. Shi sighed, summoning her persona to help him beat the shadows before heading down the corridor.
"Wow. Thanks pretty lady." Teddie said as he plodded along beside her.
"You know you can call me by my name right Teddie?" Shi asked him. Before he could answer, they stopped before a large, wooden door.
"He's through there." Rise commented softly. They all glanced at each other before nodding and heading through the door. Which opened to reveal a strange sight. Mitsuo was stood with his back to them, looking at his Shadow.
"You Mitsuo? You better be ready to pay you bastard!" Kanji snapped. He went to step forward, only for Shi to put her arm in front of him.
"Something's not right." Yosuke noted.
"Everyone gets on my nerves! That's why I did it!" Mitsuo suddenly yelled. "What do you think of that!? Say something, dammit!" But the figure opposite remained silent.
"Nobody even thought of me after the first two people. That's why I went for the third one! I killed them!" That was all Shi needed to hear. She moved to step forward before pausing as she focused on the other Mitsuo, the one that hadn't spoken.
"Wh-What're you all quiet for?" Mitsuo demanded.
"Because….I feel nothing…." The entire room seemed to take on an eerie chill as the shadow spoke.
"What're you talking about!? Make sense, dammit!" Mitsuo snapped.
"Which one is the shadow?" Chie asked nervously.
"I….have nothing. I am nothing." The doppelganger spoke slowly, each word chilling them to their very core. "And you are….. me."
"What? What's that supposed to mean!? I'm…..I'm not nothing…." Mitsuo snapped.
"No! If this keeps up…." Yukiko trailed off as Mitsuo turned to face them.
"Wh-who are you guys!? How'd you get in here!? Dammit, who the hell are you!? What're you doing here!?" He snapped.
"Shut the hell up! We came after you!" Kanji yelled.
"You're Mitsuo Kubo, correct? The suspect in the murder of Mr Morooka?" Shi asked, wanting to confirm it. She managed to hold her surprise as he started to laugh.
"Of course I am! I'm the one behind everything!" He laughed. He turned back to the doppelganger. "I don't give a damn what this impostor's saying! You hear that!? You have nothing to do with me! Get outta my sight!" He roared. The other simply looked at him as Mitsuo turned back to them.
"That goes for the rest of you, too…. Why'd you chase me all the way here!? I'll kill you. I'll kill all of you! I can do it, you know….. I can do anything!" He rambled on, sounding more insane with each passing moment.
"So you don't accept me?" The doppelganger suddenly spoke. Mitsuo collapsed before them as energy built around the shadow, flooding the room with darkness and blinding them temporarily. When it cleared, what appeared to be a baby floated before them, a blue ring like halo floating around it.
"Here we go again." Yosuke sighed.
"Get ready everyone. Once we beat him, this case is as good as closed." Rise said.
"For you maybe." Shi said, letting the card for her persona appear before her. "But for me, the games are just starting. Let's do this."