#4: A Mystery In Need of Solving
Persona series © ATLUS
Digimon Adventure © Toei Animation
4/15 Friday
After School
Everyone fell down onto the ground of the studio place in the TV world. Likewise, it was rough.
"Ugh, that was a long drop…" Mimi complained, getting up.
"Hey, this is the same place from last time." Tai said. "Ah, so this place and the same TV from Junes are connected."
"Wait, so you just assumed that?" Sora said.
"Whoa, you guys weren't kidding…" Mimi said, talking about the fog. "I really can't see through this fog."
"What's with this fog anyway?" Izzy asked.
"And how come you guys are able to see through this fog with those glasses?" Joe said. "I can't see through this fog in mine."
"I don't know." Tai said. They then hear footsteps approaching them, and only Tai and Kari can see the person coming. The others could only see a shadowy figure in the fog.
"Whoa! What's that?" T.K. said.
"Ahh! Is that one of those shadow monsters!?" Joe exclaimed.
"Actually." Tai started.
"Y-You guys? Why did you come back?" The figure said, walking up to them. It's the bear they saw from last time.
"Hey, it's you." Kari said.
"Oh…I get it…Then it must be you guys who's behind this!"
"You're that bear from yester- wait, what did you just say?" Tai said.
"Lately, I can tell someone has been throwing people in here. It's making this world more and more messed up. This is the second time you guys came in here, and I don't think anybody forced you in here. That means you're the most suspicious! You guys must be the ones throwing the people in here!"
"W-Wait, you think we're throwing people in here!?" Tai exclaimed. "What are you even talking about!?"
"Why would we do it anyway?" Kari said. "It's dangerous here. I mean, if those shadow things can attack people, then they could get really hurt. They can't get out of here too. We wouldn't–"
"…Wait…" Tai said, suddenly, stopping Kari. "Say that again Kari."
"Huh? What? I just said that those shadow things can attack people. Or did you want me to say 'that again'?"
"N-No. But what you said has gotten me thinking of something."
"About?" Mimi said.
*REASONING*
"Okay, this bear said that someone has been throwing people in here, right?"
"Uh, yeah?" The bear said.
"And those people…could they have been that announcer lady and the student that showed up on the news?"
"Oh…I see your point, Tai." Izzy said.
"Okay? Mind bring me up to speed here?" Matt said.
"Well, I think it's still a bit of a stretch, but say those two actually did get pushed into here by someone. That would mean that the shadows must have attacked those two, and, well…"
"So, the shadow monsters here really did kill those people?" Sora said.
"If our theory is right, then yeah."
"So, this 'someone' threw them in here, and the monsters here attacked them?" Matt said.
"There's something else to think about." Tai said. "What if this 'someone' knows about the monsters in here? What if they're doing it on purpose?"
"Wait, you think someone is doing this intentionally?" Sora said. "If that's the case, then…does that mean, they're throwing people in here, intending to kill them?"
"That's what I think."
"Logically, that does make sense…" Izzy said. "If someone wanted to get away with murder, pushing their targets into here, and letting the monsters finish them off seems like the perfect plan, since there would barely be any evidence to use against them."
"H-Hold on for a second." Joe said, nervously. "Does that mean we're getting ourselves into a serial killer case?"
"It does seem that way..."
"U-Uh, hold on, I may be having second thoughts about this..." Mimi said, nervously.
The group all seems to be apprehensive about this now. They did think they were getting themselves into a mystery that would be somewhat similar to the Digital World, however, if there really is a serial killer out in Inaba, what would happen to them if they start getting involved in this? Would they be in danger? Would their family and friends be in danger? This was starting to be unlike anything that they have ever faced before. They all are just kids. Outside of being Digidestined, they all are just average, normal kids, and to go up against a potential serial killer would definitely be dangerous for them and their loved ones.
"What're you all mumbling about?" The bear spoke up, annoyed. "Why did you come here, anyway? It's a one-way door. You can't get out once you're in!"
"W-Wha!? Tai, you didn't mention anything like that!" Mimi exclaimed.
"H-Hey!" Tai exclaimed. "I was counting on this guy to let us out once we were done looking around here!"
"I don't think he's going to be willing to do that." Joe said.
"Oh come on, he has to. I mean, what if someone else gets thrown into here?"
*ENDS*
Just then, two guys fell from the sky and landed onto him, roughly.
"Oww…"
Kari instantly recognizes the two guys. They were Yu and Yosuke. Though Yosuke has a rope tied to him for some reason.
"Oh, Yu, Yosuke!" She said.
"Ugh…Kari-chan?" Yosuke groaned as he and Yu sit up.
"What are you guys doing here?" Yu said, looking at the 7 kids.
"Ngh! Can you, get offa me?" Tai groaned, from under them.
"Oh, sorry." Yu and Yosuke got off of Tai, who was dazed from the impact.
"Uuurgh…I was just having my moment too…"
"So, what exactly are you guys doing here?" Yosuke said.
The Digidestined told the two what they figured out.
"Y-You think someone has been throwing people in here, intending to kill them?" Yosuke said.
"Yeah. That's what we were thinking." Tai nods. "Something like a serial killer."
"It makes sense though…" Yu said. "We thought the people who showed up on the Midnight Channel, end up dying somehow."
"You think? We thought of that too! I guess we're all in on the same page."
"Now, what are you two doing here?" The bear asked the teens.
"Oh, yeah, this stupid bear thinks we're the ones throwing people into this world."
"What? Hey, why do you think of that?" Yosuke said.
"Well, they have been able to come in here on their own, and they clearly haven't been forced in." The bear said. "You know, come to think of it, I think I can say the same about you two!"
"What!? Get real!"
"Um, Yosuke?" Kari said. "Why do you have a rope around you?"
"Oh, yeah. Considering you guys are here too, I guess this is going to be yours too. See, we don't need this bear's help this time. We got a life–" Yosuke said, trailing off once he saw the rope. It looked like it was severed, and the two teens were surprised from that. "Whaaaaat!?"
"Uh, is it supposed to be like that?" T.K. asked.
"…H-Hey, you'd better let us out once we're done investigating here!" Yosuke exclaimed while glaring at the bear.
"Grrrr! I'm the one who wants to investigate!" The bear exclaimed. "I've lived here for a long time. But it's never been this noisy until now! I'll say it again, you guys seem to be able to enter this world at will, that means you're the most suspicious!"
"You're still going up on that!?" Tai exclaimed. "If anyone's the most suspicious one around here, I'd say it's you! How do we know you're not the one who dragged those people in here!?" As he said that, the bear starts freaking out, as he and Yosuke were marching up towards him.
"What's with this costume you're wearing anyway?" Yosuke said. "Take it off, and show us who you really are!"
Yosuke then jumped onto the frightened bear and started unzipping the zipper on his body.
"AH! GET OFFA ME!" The bear yelled, as Yosuke unzipped the top piece, and took it off of him. What was inside of the bear made Yosuke, and most of the others frightened.
"AH! AH!" Yosuke yelled as he stumbled onto the ground. "What the hell!?"
The body was flailing his arms without the headpiece on, with nothing inside of the supposed costume. There's nothing in it, which suggests that the 'costume' in whole is a sentient being.
"Huh. There's nothing inside." Yu said, unfazed.
"How weird!" Mimi exclaimed. "How the heck does this thing work!?"
Yu walks on over to the headpiece, and attaches it back onto the body, allowing the bear to talk again.
"Gah…Thanks a lot, nice guy." The bear said.
"Yo, dude, does anything rattle you?" Yosuke said, sweatdropping, noting Yu's expressionless reaction to most stuff around here, to which Yu looked at Yosuke funny. The bear then stood up.
"Okay, look, I'm willing to take your word that you grizzlies aren't the ones dumping the bodies in here."
"Whoa, what's with the change of heart?" Tai said.
"B-But in return, you have to promise me that you'll find out who's doing this. Promise me, or else…I'm not going to let you all out of here!"
"Wha!?" Joe exclaimed.
"Jumped the gun on that one…" Tai groaned.
"This can't keep going on!" The bear exclaimed. "My home will be a complete mess! I want all of this to stop! I just want to live peacefully here! I…I…Waaah!" The bear then starts crying.
"H-Hey! Why are you crying?" Tai said, nervously.
"What the heck's up with this bear?" Yosuke said.
"Hey, wipe those cute eyes." Kari said, patting the bear. "Don't worry. We're gonna find the culprit, and we're gonna stop them. Right everyone?" She looked at them with determination. If they want everything to become normal again, they see no choice.
"Y-You are?" The bear said, calming down.
Tai all of a sudden remembers something. He remembers something from the train ride to Inaba a few days ago. He remembered the words of Igor in the Velvet Room.
"It seems you will encounter a misfortune at your destination, and a great mystery will be imposed upon you."
Tai had forgotten this dream for a while, mostly because he thought it was a load of bologna, and now that he had remembered it, he realized that the fortune-telling was all coming true. They're thrown into a new misfortune, and it seems that it will be all up to them to find out what's been causing this series of misfortune events and put a stop to it. It looks like once again the Digidestined are on a job to save their world.
"…Yeah. We're gonna find whoever's doing this, and stop him." Tai said.
"Huh?" Yosuke said, looking at him. "Wait a minute, I don't think–"
"Sounds good. We'll do it too." Yu suddenly said, throwing Yosuke off balance.
"W-Whoa, dude!"
"Why not? I feel bad for the little guy."
"T-Thank you so much!" The bear exclaimed.
"Are you sure it's alright, Tai?" Sora said.
"Don't worry. Inaba won't be seeing any more dead bodies hung up to dry with the Digidestined on the job!" Tai then looked at the two teens. "Oh, and then some."
Yosuke grumbled, and sweatdrops.
"*Sigh* You're all in on this huh?" Yosuke groaned. "Okay, I guess I'm in on it too. But I'm seriously against you guys joining along." Yosuke said, looking at the group of kids.
"Oh, don't worry." T.K. said.
"Yeah, we risk our lives lots of times in the Digital world." Tai said.
"The Digital World?" Yosuke said.
"Hey, that reminds me, you said something about Digimon yesterday." Yu said. "What was that all about?"
"Well, the Digimon are known as Digital Monsters." Izzy said. "To keep it simple, they come from a different world, parallel to ours. We've been summoned to the Digital World a couple of times to battle evil, and save the Digital World."
"Dude, I have no idea what this kid is saying, but already I can tell he's smarter than some of the second years in class." Yosuke mumbled to Yu.
"I agree." Yu said.
"Okay, so wait. You saved some other world from monsters, who are also, digital?"
"Yep." Izzy nods. Yu and Yosuke then sweatdrops, not believing that of course.
"Riiiight. Uh…"
"Okay, it is hard to believe, but it's true."
"And besides, we got some friends who'll fight with us." T.K. said.
"Oh yeah, that's right!" Kari said, remembering the two Digimon that they had with them. "I'd like you to meet someone! Here, this is Sa–" Kari turns to look at where she thought the Digimon was, but they're nowhere to be seen. She looks around more, but still, they're nowhere around them. "Uh…where'd they go?"
"H-Hey, you're right, where are they?" Tai said.
"They're gone!" T.K. said.
"Koromon! Salamon! Where are you?" Kari called out.
Nothing answered her.
"They went in with us, right?" Tai said. "Don't tell me they wandered off. Or one of those shadow monsters ate them!"
"Eh? I don't get who you're talking about." The bear said. "If any shadows were nearby, I would have picked them up by now. Nothing gets past my snout."
"O-Okay, so, I guess we're gonna be looking for those guys too…Great…I hope they didn't get themselves eaten."
"Well, with his help, I think we'll be fine." Kari said, motioning towards the bear. "Oh, wait, I'm sorry, we haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Hikari or Kari as I like to be called. What's your name?"
"Teddie." The bear answered.
"Heh. Figures…" Yosuke groaned, sweatdropping. The rest of everyone introduced themselves to the bear.
"Alright, so where should we look first?" Yu said.
"Well, I can lead you guys to where the last person was thrown into here." Teddie said.
"You mean that high school student?" Tai said.
"Saki-senpai, you mean?" Yosuke said.
"O-Oh…She was your senpai?"
"…Yeah…"
"Oh…Sorry…"
"…That doesn't matter right now…"
"Right."
"Well, all I know was the person that came in here and disappeared last time. I don't know the name." Teddie said.
"Say, did that person look like this?" Yosuke said, taking out his smartphone, and bringing up a picture of Saki. He showed it to Teddie, who nods.
"Yup, that's her! I can take you to where I last saw her."
"Okay." Yosuke nods. "Let's go then."
"Oh, hold on. I have something for you here." Teddie said, bringing out two more pairs of glasses. One was blue, the other was orange. Both of them were square-typed.
"Oh, right, you need them to see in this fog." Yu said, looking at Yosuke.
"But, there aren't enough of them." Sora said.
"W-Well I've been trying to work my beary butt off trying to make up for the ones you guys took." Teddie said. "I can only work on so many at a time."
"I guess perhaps I can take one." Yosuke said, taking the orange pair.
"Guess I can take the other." Matt said, grabbing the other blue pair.
"Hey, don't be so stingy!" Mimi exclaimed.
"You want this?"
"…Oh, no, never mind. I don't like that color." Mimi said, making them sweatdrop.
"W-Well, alright then…" Matt said, putting the glasses on, as Yosuke does the same. "Whoa, you guys weren't kidding. These are pretty cool."
"Yeah, I can see so much better with these on." Yosuke said.
"Of course! I did make them." Teddie said. "You can rely on me! Anyway, let's get going! I'll show you the way!"
Teddie then took off, with the others following him.
They eventually reached a different area. This was the same-mirrored Inaba area as the last time. This was the area they ran into when they were running away from the shadows.
"This is the same place as last time." Yu said.
"Around here was where the last person fell in." Teddie said.
"Huh, this looks a bit like Inaba." Yosuke said. "And Saki-senpai was around here?"
"I'm sure of it, but I lost her before I was able to get close."
"So, she was around here before she disappeared."
"Hey, by the way." Mimi started, looking at Teddie. "Why are you standing far away from us?"
"Oh, uh…I can't stand near you guys, I'll get in the way."
"What? Can't you fight?" Yosuke said.
"Uh uh, no way. I got no muscles. Oh! But I can give you guys moral support from a safe enough distance!"
"You can't fight?" Yu said.
Tai walked up to Teddie, curious, and then touched him lightly. Teddie then fell on over onto his round back and was wobbling back and forward as if he was a turtle on its shell.
"N-Nooo…" Teddie groaned.
"I-Is this thing for real?" Yosuke groaned. "We swore to find the culprit, and this is the backup we got? So lame…"
"So much for relying on him…" Tai groaned, sweatdropping. "Well, that doesn't matter if we got our Personas around here."
"So, what should we do?" Kari asked.
"We should split up. It'll cover some ground faster."
"Whoa, wait, that's not a good idea." Yosuke said.
"Don't worry, we'll stay close by. Besides, we got our Persona power. I think we'll be fine."
"Dude, come on, you remember how ruthless those shadow things were yesterday."
"And we took care of them just fine. Seriously, guys, we'll be okay."
"At the very least, some of you guys should stick close to us." Yu said.
"That's probably for the best." Joe said. "Some of us should stay with Narukami and Hanamura, while the rest should follow Tai."
"Okay." Tai nods, as they formed up their teams, with Yosuke reluctantly agreeing.
"Sheesh, it's like these kids have done something like this before." Yosuke said.
"They do seem to have experience with something like this." Yu said.
"Yeah, remember? They said something about being sucked into this 'Digital World' place."
"You think they're telling the truth?"
"I dunno. But, like you said, they look like they have experience with something like this."
They decided to split the group in half. Yu, Yosuke, Sora, Mimi, and Joe went down one street, while Tai, Kari, Matt, T.K., and Izzy went down the other.
"W-Waiit!" Teddie exclaimed as the groups were leaving. Kari sweatdropped, and rushed towards Teddie, and struggled to bring Teddie back onto his feet again.
They walk down an alleyway, searching the whole place. They got a bit lost the last time they were chased by shadows. Course, they were panicking and were trying to get away from the monsters.
"This place really reminds me of Inaba." T.K. said.
"Why does this place look like the shopping district in the town?" Tai mumbled as they walked.
"Well, this place appeared ever since this Saki-senpai person appeared in this world." Teddie said. "Y'know, before they disappeared."
"Yeah, that's something you mentioned earlier. Were those shadow monsters the reason why Saki disappeared?"
"Yeah. I would think. They're especially strong and violent whenever the fog disappears."
"They are?" Izzy said.
"Yeah."
"When does it do that?"
"Every so often. I know that when it's foggy on your world, the fog lifts here."
"The fog…" Tai mumbled as they walk.
"What is it, Tai?" Kari said.
"Something that's crossing my mind, but, it was foggy when the last two victims were found dead."
"Huh. If the shadow monsters here really do get violent and out of control when the fog disappears, then, I think it definitely proves that the previous two victims got taken out by these monsters. But only when it's foggy in the real world." Izzy said.
"But why do they end up hanging on a telephone pole, or antenna?" Matt said.
"Well…this world exists inside the TV. TV signals are sent through objects like antennae, and telephone poles. I suppose that's where the bodies end up after the shadows get them."
"Yikes…That's scary…" T.K. said.
"And kinda insulting if you think about it." Tai said. "They just dump your body on those things, and leave you hanging to dry? Rgh, I'd be more angry than anything if I end up like that."
"W-Wait a second!" Teddie exclaimed, sniffing.
"Teddie? What's wrong?" T.K. said.
"What are you smelling?" Kari asked.
"Ah! I-I smell a really big one!" Teddie exclaimed.
"A big what?" Matt said. "Was it Tai?"
"Hey!" Tai exclaimed.
"A really strong shadow!"
"Another shadow?"
"Where?" Kari said.
They all looked around them; however, they couldn't find what Teddie was talking about. This is just an alleyway. There are only two different directions to look in.
"Nothing's here." Tai said.
"You sure, something is here?" Kari said.
"Y-Yeah." Teddie said. "I'm sure of it."
"I'd say let's keep a move on." Izzy said. "Maybe it'll stop following us. Sooner or later."
"Not reassuring, but alright." Tai said.
They all nodded and kept moving on.
As they walked, they noticed that they walked into what seemed to be the residential district of Inaba; the mirrored version that is.
"So, now we're at the houses." Kari said.
"Ugh, I think we went too far. We should probably head back." Tai said.
"Yeah, that Saki girl shouldn't be around here." Teddie said. "Or, at least I think."
"Not reassuring also…"
"Hey, Matt?" T.K. said.
"Yeah? What is it?" Matt said.
"Isn't your house around here?"
"Huh? No, we just came out of the shopping district. Our houses…" Matt then took a look at the surrounding area. The shopping district isn't really next to his house; it was a few blocks away. However, Matt and T.K. see that Matt's house really wasn't far away at all. In fact, they could see it. "Whoa, what the…? It's right here. I could have sworn they weren't until a few minutes away."
"Maybe it's how this world works?" Izzy said.
"We're used to whacked out worlds like this by now, right?" Tai said.
"Yeah, from our trip to the Digital World." Matt said.
"Okay, this is really driving me nuts." Kari groaned. "Koromon! Salamon! Where are you!?"
She called out to the Digimon, but still, there weren't any answers. She hopes they didn't get into any sort of trouble.
"I really hope the shadows didn't eat them…"
"I'm sure they're fine." Tai said. "…I hope."
"Hey, wait Matt!" Teddie yelled suddenly. Tai, Kari, and Izzy suddenly noticed that Matt and T.K. went off into Matt's house.
"Hey! Matt! Couldn't you wait for us or something!?" They then ran after the two brothers, right into the house.
Matt sees that nothing really changed around here. It looks the same as ever. The only difference is the color, which as said, makes the surroundings look dated as if it's been abandoned.
"Sheesh, they nailed the place from top to bottom." Matt said. He then walks on over to the fireplace. On it was the exact family pictures that he and his father placed onto the fireplace. There were some with his dad, but there was also one family picture that was taken long ago before the family was divorced. He and T.K. were so young back then. They probably shouldn't remember the divorce, but it's something that's always stuck with them for their lives. They haven't seen each other since, until their class camping trip, where they reunited after so long. Even then, their brotherly relationship still seemed a bit shoddy, considering they haven't seen each other for so long, until that camping trip.
"Matt?" T.K. said. "Is everything okay?"
"No T.K." A voice said. That was Matt's voice, yet Matt himself didn't even open his mouth. He flinched when he heard that. "Boo Hoo! I haven't seen my little bro in such a long time!"
"Huh!? Who's there!?" The real Matt yelled, and they looked behind them.
"But really, I think it's better that we were away with each other, don't you think?" The voice that sounds like Matt said. Matt and T.K. were surprised at what they were seeing in front of them. Tai, Kari, Izzy, and Teddie just caught up to the two, and they saw the same thing.
"Whoa, what the…!?" Tai exclaimed.
"There's, two Matts!?" Kari exclaimed.
"That's, impossible!" Izzy exclaimed.
True enough, there are two Matts in the room. One was the real one, and the other was a fake. Though it seemed easy to distinguish who's the fake here. The other Matt has a dark aura around him, and he has eerie yellow pupils. Not to mention there was a shadow that surrounds his eyes.
"W-Who are you?" Matt said.
"I'm you, of course." The other Matt said.
"Y-You're me?"
"Which means I know everything about you."
"Wha? Get real. There's no way. Just because you look like me, doesn't mean you are me."
"Oh, but I am. You play the whole tough guy act, but really, you're such a mopey loser."
"W-What did you just say!?"
*AWAKENING*
"You think you're so tough with your friends. You are the bearer of the Crest of Friendship, but deep down, you think you're better than them. You don't need them. You're just as powerful, or hell, even more powerful by yourself! You don't need that idiot Tai or your stupid friends or brother!"
"W-What'd you just call me?" Tai said, offended.
"S-Stupid...?" T.K. repeated, shocked.
"...Hey, the last time someone said something like that to me, they were an evil Digimon." Matt said, shooting a scowl. "So how do I know that this isn't a trick?"
"It's the truth, isn't it?" The other Matt said.
"Huh?"
"You find friendship and family a nuance, and you're better off without it. Or maybe, it's more than that. It's jealousy. You're jealous of your friends being stronger than you. If they're stronger than you, then what does that make you? A lonely kid left in the dust."
"Is that...?" Tai said, starting to believe in the other Matt a bit.
"Wh– Tai! Of course not!" Matt shouted, getting angry. He then turned back to the other Matt. "Okay, you're starting to tick me off right now! Who the heck do you think you are!?"
"I told you." The other Matt said. "I'm you. Your shadow. There is nothing that I don't know about you."
"Shut up! You're nothing like–!"
Suddenly, the shadow begins laughing, with an ominous smoke behind him.
"Yeah! Come on! Say it again!" The shadow teased.
"Y-You're not me! You're not me!"
"Y-Yeah! That's right!" T.K. exclaimed, jumping in to defend his brother. "I know my big brother more than you do! And I can tell you that he doesn't act like that at all!"
"Ahahahaha! Yeah, that's right! I'm not him anymore! I'm me! My own self! And now, it's time for you to die!"
*I'LL FACE MYSELF (BATTLE)*
The Matt then glowed even more, and looked like he was transmogrifying. He was turning into a big monster, bigger than the house. He destroyed the roof, as the others were running away from the growing monster.
"Wh-What's going on!?" Tai exclaimed.
"He just turned into a humongous Shadow!" Teddie exclaimed, freaking out.
"D-Did you say something to make him angry?" T.K. said.
"All I said was that he wasn't me." Matt said.
"Well, he's sure taking that pretty well!" Tai said.
"I am a shadow!" The monstrous Shadow Matt said. "The true self!" The shadow has monstrous fur on him, with a head of a beast. He also has sharp claws, and sharp teeth, as well as sharp thorns across his arms and legs. He also has a blue cape, with an inverted version of the symbol of Friendship on it. "Friends and family only get in my way, so I'll get rid of all of you!"
The monstrous Shadow Matt then slams both of his hands onto the ground, and ice shot out of the ground. Matt covered T.K., from the impending attack. Everyone, except T.K. got hit from the sharp ice attack and was sent flying back.
"How long are you going to keep this up, friend?" The Shadow Matt said.
"Y-You're no friend of ours!" Kari yelled.
"Ow…how come we're not dead from that attack?" Tai groaned as he got up.
"Ugh, I think Teddie's body softened the blow onto us." Izzy groaned while sitting up.
"Rgh, T.K., are you okay?" Matt groaned, making sure his brother was okay.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." T.K. nods.
"Okay, we're taking this punk down now!" Tai exclaimed, standing up. Mustering up their power from before, their respective cards floated down to them, as they were getting ready to summon their new allies. "PERSONA!" Tai scrunched his hand onto the card, and like from before, it shattered into pieces. Out of blue flames rising from his body, Momotaro appears.
"PERSONA!" Kari then summoned hers, by pressing her card against her chest. Like with Tai, Tennyo appears from Kari's body in blue flames.
Never seeing a Persona summoning process from before, T.K., Izzy, and Teddie were amazed.
"Whoaaaa! That's so cool!" T.K. exclaimed.
"Amazing!" Teddie exclaimed. "I never knew you two harbored such incredible power!"
"Tai be careful!" Izzy yelled. "That last ice attack toppled you before."
"It must be because he's weak to that attack."
"Okay, thanks for the heads up, guys." Tai said.
Shadow Matt raises his monstrous hand, and attempts to slam it down on Tai, however, he dodges and Momotaro retaliated against the shadow.
"That looked like it did something!" T.K. exclaimed.
"Keep it up, you guys!" Teddie exclaimed.
"Come on, Tennyo!" Kari exclaimed. "Go!" Tennyo flies forward and shoots an arrow at the shadow. It pierced through him, and he collapses on the ground. Though it retaliated and tried to pounce on them. The two kids were fast enough, and they dodged just in time, while their Personas held back the shadow. The shadow then jumped away, gaining distance between him and the Personas.
"You're nothing but a worthless weakling, you know that!" The shadow exclaimed. "Can't do anything without friends, and can't do much with them!"
"Will you shut up already!?" Matt yelled. "I don't think of any of that!"
"Really now? Well, I know one big part of you that you would absolutely hate if it got out." The shadow said as it continued to fight the Personas.
"Huh?"
"You're not only jealous of Tai for having cool powers and being the leader. You're jealous of him and his stupid sister for being a whole family!"
"W...What...?" That seems to hit Matt good.
"Tai and Kari have a happy family. They're together all the time. They have a family who's not split up! But what about you? Your family is going through hell right now! You don't have a happy family like Tai and Kari! They have something that you've been longing for since all those years ago, and you absolutely hate them for it! That's why you push them all away and think only for yourself!"
"S-Shut up! Just shut up!"
The shadow then tried to leap up into the air, and attack the real Matt, however, in the nick of time, Momotaro blocked the attack and saved Matt.
"All right, buddy. You crossed the line when you called my sister stupid!" Tai angrily yelled as Momotaro pushed the shadow away. "So what if Matt thinks of those things!? Every family's different! I may not know what's going on with his family much, but I do know that he's never alone! Jealousy, anger; as long as he has friends like us, none of that shouldn't matter, right? And I won't hold it against him for thinking all those things." Tai said as he looked at Matt.
"...None of that...matters...?" Matt repeated. Suddenly, Matt remembered what happened to him back in the Digital World, and what his companion Gabumon had said.
"If you want me to go away, I will..."
"No! I won't ever go back to what I was before! None of these feelings matter as long as I have friends and family around me!"
Suddenly, as Matt said that, the shadow seemed to be glitching out. It also looked like it was getting weak.
"N-No! D-Damn you!" The shadow shouted.
"Something's happening to him." Teddie said.
"I think you guys are getting him!" Izzy shouted. "Tai! Kari! Hit him with all you got!"
"Right!" Tai nods. "Kari?"
"Got it! Tennyo!" Kari ordered Tennyo to attack first, and she shot Shadow Matt with a piercing arrow, which seemed to be his weakness.
"Momotaro!" Tai yelled, and Momotaro responded by blasting the shadow with fire, finishing it off.
*ENDS*
The shadow then collapses onto the ground, with its body turning a crimson red color, and looked like it was melting away.
"Hey, you okay?" Tai said, walking up to Matt, who seems mentally exhausted after the fight.
"Y-Yeah..." Matt nods, looking down.
"G-Guys! Look!" T.K. exclaimed, pointing towards something. Everyone looked up, and they see that the imposter Matt had reverted back to human form, looking at them, though his body was glitching out from before.
"He's back for more, huh?"
"Matt…" Teddie said, going up to him. "I think you should listen to what he said."
"Huh?"
"Well…he came from you. That right there is something born from your heart…You have to accept him…or he'll go berserk and attack us again…"
"From me...?" Matt said, staring off at his shadow. After a few seconds, he starts to understand a bit.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Tai said. "Go on..."
"U-Uh..."
*I'LL FACE MYSELF*
"Look, I know you're hiding something from us." Tai said. "Frankly, I think I knew that you were jealous of me. But, remember what I said. That shouldn't matter, right? You got friends like us. If these truly are your feelings, then why are you lying to yourself? If you don't like these feelings, then you should do something to change it. You know the old saying right? 'Face your fears head-on.' Or, something like that…"
"Tai…" Matt said, looking down, thinking over what he said. At first, he was going to explode at him, but after giving some thought, he starts to see what he feels. What he is feeling is the same as the shadow Matt was feeling. He sees it clearly now. "Face your fears head-on…Yeah…You're right…"
"Wait, I am? I didn't even know what I was–"
"Those feelings are mine…I try…and try…but these feelings never go away…I thought that if I continued to ignore them, I would come out as a better person…I guess I was wrong…No matter what, I can't ever run away from it, huh? I guess I gotta face them head-on, instead of hiding from them." He then looks up to his other-self. "I knew what you meant. I was just so mad at myself that I couldn't bring myself to admit it…You're the feelings that I keep hidden, and try to ignore, but I couldn't. When it comes down to it…you're me…and I'm you."
The strength required to face oneself has been made manifest. The Shadow Matt then closed his eyes, and smirked, before disappearing in a glowing blue light and transmogrifying into something that looked like the monstrous Shadow Matt, but calmer looking. It looks similar to his shadow, with sharp teeth, however, there was also a harmonica hanging from his neck. The creature has the head of a wolf, blue fur as sharp as blades of grass, along with leather sleeves. On those leather gloves is the symbol for the Crest of Friendship. There were also three big thorns on its chest.
"It transformed again!" Izzy exclaimed.
"It did…" Matt said, as the monster turned into a card, and floated down into his hands. It has a picture of a crescent moon, with a lobster and two towers in the background, with the roman numeral 18 (XVIII). The symbol for the Crest of Friendship was also on the card as well. "Is…Is this my…"
"I think, yeah…It's your Persona…" Tai smirked, as the card dissolves into Matt's body. He obtained a façade to help him through life's hardships. Obtaining his new Persona must have been draining for him, as he collapses onto the ground, and the others rush to him. "H-Hey, you okay!?"
"Matt!" T.K. exclaimed.
"He's not too hurt, right?" Kari said.
"He must be exhausted from having to face his own shadow." Teddie said.
"Joe probably would know what to do." T.K. said.
"Yeah. We should probably go find the others." Tai said.
"We'll stay here and watch Matt." Izzy said. "You go on ahead."
"Got it."
"I'll come with you." Kari said, standing up.
Tai nods, and they start taking off towards the shopping district to get to the others.
*ENDS*
The other group was exploring the other side of the mirrored Inaba.
"Man, this is one weird-ass place." Yosuke said.
"I can't see much, but it kinda looks like the shopping district, doesn't it?" Sora said.
"Yeah, but everywhere we go is one wrong turn after another. You'd really get lost in here."
"Hey, look!" Mimi pointed out.
"What's up?"
"I think I see a building with lights on over there."
They looked towards where she was looking, and they all see a small building with its lights on. At least, the two glasses-wearing teens do. The kids don't see the building much because of the fog, but they do indeed see the lights.
"Hey wait, that's Saki's house." Yosuke said. "Her family's business is in there."
"You think someone's in there?" Joe said.
"Maybe it could be the others." Sora said.
Suddenly, they start to hear voices come out of nowhere.
"Hey, you hear that?" Yu said.
"I wish Junes would go under." One voice said.
"I hear that Konishi Kurosaki; they said that she's working there." Another said.
"I can't believe she'd do that. Junes is destroying her family's business, and everyone else's." As they hear this, Yosuke starts getting angry.
"That girl is nothing but trouble."
"Hey! Who's spouting this crap!?" Yosuke yelled. "Shut up!" He then bolted off towards Saki's house.
"Yosuke!" Yu exclaimed as everyone runs after Yosuke.
Inside of the liquor store, it was pitch black in there, with the exception of a dark blue sky illuminating the place somewhat. They then hear another voice. It was gruff and angry.
"How many times must I say this, Saki!? Our family has poured our blood, sweat, and tears into Konishi Liquors! How dare you take a part-time job at Junes!"
"Is that guy talking, her dad?" Yosuke said.
"Are those voices here?" Mimi said.
"I don't see anyone else here." Sora said.
"Hey! Who's there!?" Yosuke shouted. He took a step forward, but he realized he stepped on something. They looked down, and Yosuke sees that there was a torn ticket on the ground. "That's the ticket I gave her. Why would she tear it up...?"
"I could never tell him..." They suddenly hear another voice, but it was familiar to Yosuke.
"Saki!? Is that you!? Saki! Answer me! Where are you!?"
"Is that really her?" Mimi said.
"But, she's dead..." Joe said.
"But I think Hana-chan..." Saki's voice said.
"H-Huh? What about me?" Yosuke said.
"I think he's a pain in the ass." Yosuke was surprised by that insult. "I was only nice to him because his dad was the manager at Junes. But he took it the wrong way, and now that idiot totally thinks I like him."
"Is that true...?"
"I don't care about Junes, my dad's store, the shopping district, and my parents! I wish everyone would just die!"
"T-That's a lie!" Yosuke then fell to his knees. "Shut up! Shut up! Saki would never say anything like that!"
They then hear an evil laugh echo throughout the place.
"It's so sad." They said. "Nobody can understand you. But the truth is, you're the one who finds everyone and everything to be a pain in the ass." When the person revealed himself to them, everyone gasped at what they saw. There was standing in front of them was another Yosuke, with yellow piercing eyes on him. "Because you're me."
"W-What the...!?" Mimi exclaimed.
"T-There's two of him!" Sora exclaimed.
"Hey, who're you?" Yosuke said. "I-I wouldn't think of that."
"Yeah right. How long are you going to keep deluding yourself?" The other Yosuke said.
"W-What?"
"You made everyone believe that you wanted to come in here looking for Saki. What a fat load of crap. Truth is, you came in here looking for some fun. What else is there for you to do in this backwood shithole town?"
"Y-You're wrong. That's not what I feel at all..."
"Hello? Is someone in here?" They heard another voice, and turned to the entrance. They then see Tai and Kari walking into the liquor store. The two of them then see that there was another Yosuke standing in front of everybody.
"H-Huh? Wait, what's going on?" Tai said.
"There's two Yosukes?" Kari said.
"Yeah. Though this guy is acting like a real creep." Mimi said.
"That's just the way I am." The other Yosuke said. "Always being a pain in the ass."
"Y-You..." Yosuke said.
"You were thinking there was the chance of something cool happening in here. And hey, if all goes well, you could come out of it a hero! The death of your beloved Saki was the excuse you needed to make this trip. Hahahahaha!"
"S-Stop it!"
"Hey, wait a sec..." Kari said.
"Yeah, it's almost like what happened to Matt..." Tai said. "Which means..."
"Oh? Why are you acting so nervous?" The other Yosuke said. "I thought I was just spouting bullshit. Or maybe I am telling the truth."
"Stop saying this crap! Who the hell do you think you are!?" Yosuke yelled.
"I'm you. Your shadow. I know everything about you."
"Shut up, you son of a bitch! I don't think that way at all! You can't be me!"
"H-Hey! Yosuke, wait!" Tai yelled. "Don't–"
"Hahahaha! That's right! Say it again!" The other Yosuke exclaimed, as just like what happened with Matt, the imposter was growing power.
"You're not me! You're nothing like me!" Yosuke exclaimed.
"Heh...Yeah that's right...I'm me! I ain't you at all!" The imposter was engulfed in crimson flames, and it was transmogrifying.
"W-What's going on!?" Sora exclaimed.
"This is exactly what happened to Matt!" Tai exclaimed.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Yu said.
"We had another Matt come out of nowhere while we were searching, and Teddie said he went berserk when Matt didn't accept everything that his other self said."
"And now Yosuke fell for it too!" Kari exclaimed.
*I'LL FACE MYSELF (BATTLE)*
Suddenly, all the tables, bottles of liquor, appliances, and all the walls too were brushed away, opening up a huge battlefield for them to fight on, as the shadow finishes transforming. There were also metal bars that seemed to belong in a TV set. The shadow had a camouflage body, with webbed hands, like a frog, and stubby legs. The creature was on his fours, and has a creepy smile, with piercing eyes. There was also some sort of rider literally attached to the top of the creature, who has a red scarf, as well as yellow gloves.
The shadow brought its hands back, and slammed down towards them, however they dodged, while Yu tackled Yosuke out of harm's way. Yu then summons a tarot card representing his Persona. It was grey colored, with the picture of a wandering boy and his dog, with the number 0 on it.
"Izanagi!" Yu exclaimed, crushing his card, and summoning his Persona. Izanagi slashes at the monstrous Shadow and blasted him away. He landed onto his fours and then tries to go after them.
"Persona!" Tai and Kari exclaimed, and they summoned Momotaro and Tennyo to the fight. The two of them held back the rampaging shadow. The other kids, who never seen a Persona summoning before, save for Sora, were all amazed. And even then, Sora was still impressed.
"T-Those monsters just came out of your bodies!" Mimi exclaimed.
"I-I don't think they look too different than Digimon though..." Joe said.
"No..." Yosuke mumbled as Yu helps him sit up. "That jerk, isn't me. We're nothing alike."
"Yosuke, that thing right there came from you." Tai said.
"Yeah. It comes from a place inside your heart." Kari said.
"No it doesn't!" Yosuke detested.
"Heh, you put on a good show, pretending to be all carefree, and happy-go-lucky!" Shadow Yosuke laughed. "But you're terrified of being alone!" Izanagi then tries kicking the shadow away, but the shadow dodges.
"No! That isn't me! You don't know me at all!" Yosuke yelled, as he tries running away. However, the shadow blocked the exit, and punches Yosuke as he collided with Yu and Tai. They were sent flying back and landed roughly on the ground.
"Ngh, this isn't good." Tai groaned, getting up. "We're getting nowhere with this thing." The two Persona siblings were still tired from fighting against Shadow Matt, which started affecting their battle performance. "Ngh! Where are those Digimon!? We really need their help right now!"
"Tennyo!" Kari exclaimed. Tennyo then drew back her bow and shot an arrow towards Shadow Yosuke, and it did impale him, however, it still didn't do much. "Oh no! Not even that did anything!"
"Heh, is that it? Boring!" Shadow Yosuke taunted. "Now die!" Shadow Yosuke leaped up into the air and was going to fall on top of the girl, in which she was frozen in terror. She couldn't bring herself to move at all, because she was too scared. Just as the monster was about to crush her to death, however, something rushed in and pounded Shadow Yosuke back.
"Huh? What was that?"
The figure seemed to be another monster, which just landed right in front of her. Tai instantly recognized this wolf-like monster.
"Wait…That monster…" Tai said.
"Sheesh, you're hopeless." A voice said. Four people then walked into the battlefield. "Need my help already?" The four people, who just walked in, were Matt, T.K., Izzy, and Teddie. "Shippeitaro!"
Matt's new Persona raises a sharp dagger and stabs right into Shadow Yosuke.
"You guys are becoming a fricking pain in the ass!" Shadow Yosuke yelled.
"Hey, we appreciate it if you don't swear like that at us!" Mimi scolded.
"I don't care!"
Shadow Yosuke then proceeds to attack again.
"Izanagi!" Yu exclaimed as he sends his Persona back out to fight. All the while, however, black spots start to form and move from the walls, slowly.
"Oh no! The shadows!" Teddie exclaimed.
"What? What's wrong Teddie?" Kari said.
"The shadows are all getting riled up! If you guys don't stop Yosuke's Shadow quick, we'll be surrounded by shadows, and things are gonna get grizzly real quick!"
"That's not gonna happen!" Tai yelled. He then faces Matt, confidently. "Hey, ready to do this?"
"As always." He nods. "Shippeitaro!"
"Momotaro!"
The two Personas flew forward and unleashed a barrage of Fire and Ice upon the shadow. Yosuke's Shadow did take quite a beating from that, however, he's still up and running.
"Ha! That's all you got?" He taunted. The shadow jumped up, and caught Izanagi, and threw the Persona against one of the metal bars. "I know everything! I know just how pathetic you really are!" Suddenly, several TV monitors appeared on the metal bars, and the monitors all showed the same image of two Junes employees conversing with one another.
"What do you say we go and ask Yosuke for some help?" The girl with a ponytail said.
"The prince of Junes?" The other girl said.
"Yeah, I know, that guy thinks everyone looks up to him because he's the manager's son."
"Right? He's such a loser."
"Where's he pulling this out of?" Tai said.
"Not even this happened to me." Matt said. "This is low."
"You see that everybody barely tolerates you." Shadow Yosuke said. "And then you still try to go out and pretend that everyone is your friend!"
"Shut up already!" Yosuke yelled, covering his ears. The shadow then got ready to pounce on them.
"Here he comes!" Teddie warned. Izanagi and Momotaro were commanded to counter, and they pushed the shadow back. All the while, the monitors then showed the image of an ecstatic Yosuke, celebrating something.
"But he took it the wrong way, and now that idiot totally thinks I like him." Saki's voice repeated.
"Living in the boonies bores you, so you decided to ask around. All you wanted was some cheap thrills!" Shadow Yosuke said as it continued to fight against the Personas.
"You're wrong!" Yosuke exclaimed, cowering. "Stop it, you're wrong, you're wrong!"
"You're better off dead!" It then got ready to attack them again.
"Izanagi!" Yu yelled as he ran forward. For some reason, he punched Yosuke, the same time as Izanagi punched Shadow Yosuke, and they both were sent flying back.
*ENDS*
"OW! What was that for!?" Yosuke yelled, rubbing his cheek.
"Oops. Wrong guy." Yu said, with Teddie resisting to laugh, and everyone else staring at him awkwardly.
"What!? What do you mean wrong guy!?"
"You liked her, right?" Matt said. "That Saki girl."
"Yeah…actually, I loved her…"
"Isn't that proof enough, then?"
"Huh?" Yosuke said. He then acknowledges something and then smiles. "Yeah…You're right." Matt helped Yosuke up to his feet.
"She dumped ya, huh?" Teddie said while giggling.
"Watch it, you!"
*I'LL FACE MYSELF*
"I had to face something like that." Matt said. "That's how I got Shippeitaro. I had to face my other-self. I yelled at him, saying he was lying, but, he was just opening my eyes and telling me who I really am. I said he was yelling nothing but lies, but deep down, I knew, those were my true feelings. I accepted him as my other self, and now we're going to change." He then faced Tai. "We can't just sit around, waiting for you guys to do all the work, you know?"
Tai smirked, and shook his friend's hand.
"And even when you faced the truth, you're still my teammate and my friend." Tai said.
"Even after all that?" Yosuke said.
"Don't you think you could say the same thing?" Yu said.
"...Yeah...I probably thought of all those things that thing said deep down, but I couldn't bring myself to believe it...I wanted to desperately try to fit in, and think things are cool, but I was being a pain to everyone. Even I think that I'm a pain in the ass…" Yosuke then brought out a ticket that matches the one that he saw torn up.
"What's that?" T.K. said.
"This is a ticket to a show I wanted me and Saki-Senpai to go to…No matter what, even if I am a pain in the ass, my feelings for Saki-Senpai are real." He then faced the fighting monsters. "So that's a part of me, huh? I guess if I want to be honest, all of this is me."
As he said that, Shadow Yosuke starts yelling as if he was struck with something hard. Something strong other than the Persona attacks.
"Gah! You little…! Die already!" Shadow Yosuke yelled.
"Just like last time." Izzy said. "Matt's shadow went through this when he went through some revelation. Hey guys! Now's your chance!"
"Kari! I need your help!" Yu exclaimed.
"Okay!" She answered.
"Izanagi!" Yu yelled.
"Tennyo!" Kari yelled.
Their Personas then summoned lightning, and it shot down Shadow Yosuke before he was able to do anything. The shadow erupted into black smoke, as its body disappears, and everyone stares, astonished. The shadow eventually degraded back to looking exactly like Yosuke again, with the exception of the static on his body, and the yellow eyes. They all stepped back, as Yosuke walks up to his shadow self, who was lying in pain on the ground.
"I knew you weren't lying…" Yosuke said, holding his other self's shoulder. "You're a part of me, and I'm a part of you…" His shadow looks up to him, and closed his eyes, and smiled, gladly being accepted by Yosuke.
The strength of heart required to face oneself has been made manifest. He then shone a blue aura and transformed into something similar to his monstrous form, only now he was a Persona; Yosuke's Persona. The Persona has a more humanoid form, with a white outfit, camo gloves, and a red vest. The creepy toothy smile and piercing eyes were also on this Persona, only they weren't as big as the Shadow form. He then turned into a card that floated down to Yosuke. His card had the picture of eyes looking at a flame that was in its hands, with the roman numeral 1 (I) on the bottom of the card.
"I-Is this my…" Yosuke said, holding the card.
"Your Persona." Yu said, as the card disappears inside of Yosuke.
"Narukami…Everyone…" Yosuke said, facing everyone. "Thanks a lot. You guys were a huge help."
"No mention it." Matt said. "That's what friends are for."
*ENDS*
Back outside the TV at Junes, Chie was sitting down on her knees, looking at a rope for some reason. She then heard thuds and saw the whole entire group, save for Teddie of course, come out of the TV.
"Ugh…my ass…" Yosuke groaned, as they got up.
"You…" Chie said, surprised, grabbing everyone's attention. "You Made It Baaack!" She then broke into tears.
"Wh…What's wrong with you?" Yosuke said as they went up. Chie then threw the rope at Yosuke. "O-Ow!"
"The nerve of you guys!" Chie yelled, furious. "You're such morons! I can't believe this! You guys suck!"
"Wait, are you talking to them or…" Tai started, pointing to him, and then the teens.
"The rope got cut off…I had no idea what to do…I was so worried…I mean scared stiff, dammit! I hate you both!"
"We're sorry..." Yosuke meekly said.
"Yeah..." Yu nods.
"...Y-You owe me, 10 beefsteaks..." Chie moaned under her sobs.
"H-Huh? Come again?" Yosuke said.
"I want 10 orders of beefsteaks." As she said that, Yosuke freaked out.
"Y-Yeah! Of course! That's cool! That's a great way to say we're sorry! Right, Narukami?"
"H-Huh? Me too?" Yu said.
"He's getting me Nikudon." Everyone sweatdropped when she said that.
"S-Sure, you got it..."
"*Sniff* T-Then I forgive you..." Chie said, wiping her tears away.
Everyone was walking outside, with umbrellas covering their heads from the rain.
"Ugh, I'm gonna soak into the shower once we get back home…" Yosuke said as they walked on the flood plains.
"WAAAH! I forgot something!" Kari yelled.
"Wha-What!?" Yosuke exclaimed, startled by her yelling. "What's wrong Kari-chan?"
"I Forgot Koromon and Salamon!"
"Oh Shoot! I forgot about them too!" Tai exclaimed. "We need to go back!"
"No worries, Tai." A voice said from Tai's backpack. Emerging from it, was an exhausted Koromon. "We're here."
"Oh, phew. Where the heck were you guys? And why are you all exhausted?"
"Wha…What the…" Yosuke stuttered as the two teens have never seen a Digimon before. "What the heck is that thing?"
"Huh?" Koromon said, looking at Yosuke and Yu.
"What is it? Some sort of talking basketball?"
"Hey! Who're you calling a basketball!?" Koromon yelled, offended.
"These were the Digimon we were talking to you about." Kari said, holding Salamon.
"So, you were telling the truth about the Digimon?" Yu said.
"Mm-hmm!"
"So, does that mean, you guys actually went to someplace called the Digital World?"
"Of course!"
"Look, I'd love to believe you guys," Yosuke started, touching Koromon out of curiosity, "but, I'm still not buying the whole Digidestined thing."
"Well, you saw what was going on in that other weird world." Mimi said. "I don't know why you would think this is unbelievable."
"Still, you guys are just kids. How could you guys fight without these Persona things?"
"Look, we'll tell you some other time." Tai said.
They then walked some more, making a bit of small talk with each other. Yosuke then spoke up.
"Man, I can't get my mind off of that place." He said, talking about the TV World. "Who would put Saki and Ms. Yamano in there? That place is crazy dangerous."
"Well, we thought someone was doing this intentionally, remember?" Tai said.
"Yeah."
"So, I guess we're really dealing with some sort of serial killer." Izzy said.
"Why you gotta say that?" Mimi said, a bit frightened. "It's scarier when you say that."
"It's true though." Tai said. "If this keeps up, then there's definitely a serial killer here in Inaba."
"B-But, why would they do something like this?" Kari said, scared.
"Maybe they think that this town stinks, or something?" Matt said.
"Well, again, we don't know exactly if this is a serial killer that we're dealing with." Izzy said. "But if it is, then, we need to figure out their pattern. Otherwise, more people are going to be killed when the fog comes, and they're still in that world."
"I think we got that figured out." Yu said. "Remember who appeared on the Midnight Channel? We thought that was Saki."
"Yeah. That did look like her." Yosuke said.
"You know, remember what we said about the Midnight Channel back at school?" Mimi said. "The kids said that they saw Ms. Yamano on the TV. And that was before the day she died."
"Hey, we thought whoever appears on the Midnight Channel will end up dying, right?" Kari said. "Well…what if that's supposed to be the killer's next target?"
"Yeah, that does make sense." Yu said. "It seems like it's no coincidence that when Saki appeared on the channel, she died the next day."
They also recall what Teddie said to them before they returned to the real world.
"You know what I think? I think when those people are thrown into this world, their own shadows attack and kills them, just like what happened to Yosuke and Matt here."
"And it looked like more shadows were gathering up around us." Tai said. "You said that, right?"
"Yep. The strong-willed shadow draws the other shadows to it, and the big mass of shadows overwhelm, and kills the host."
Yosuke then stops dead in his tracks and faced the others.
"We can't just ignore this." Yosuke said. "We have to find out who's killing these people."
"We promised that we would." Yu said.
"You guys did anyway…You know, for some reason, with you all around, I feel like we can catch this guy together."
"And with our Persona powers, we can make sure no one else gets killed." Kari said.
"Yep. I guess I'll be counting on you guys."
Everyone nodded, and they all agree to team up together and solve the mystery in the fog.
The rain then subsides, and they see the sunset, through the cracks of the clouds. They all folded their umbrellas, and all waved to each other, and they left to their homes. They definitely need the rest. They were all going to go after a potential serial killer, and they need the energy for their investigation, and for their power to summon their Persona.
"Hey Tai." Koromon spoke up, as they walked. "You keep on saying this thing about a Persona."
"Yeah. They're these things that we call by smashing this card that falls in our hand." Kari said.
"That, really sounds familiar…" Salamon said.
"Really? How so? Did you meet someone who can use a Persona?"
"I dunno."
"Hmm…" Tai was figuring out something about this. They claim they don't remember anything after they went into the TV, and they think they heard the term Persona, as well as the name Momotaro and Tennyo.
"What's wrong, Tai?" Koromon said.
"Nah, something that was on my mind. Don't worry about it. Let's get back home and rest."
The four then got back home, and Tai opens the door and shouts that they're back home.
NEXT SCENE