Saturday, 23 April, After School

Almost no one was at the food court when they emerged. Souji was relieved at that; the last thing he wanted to do was explain how he and his friends had produced Yukiko Amagi seemingly out of nowhere. Especially (he winced at the thought) since he would likely have a very uncomfortable conversation with his uncle.

They guided Yukiko to a covered table, mindful of her exhausted state. Yosuke immediately left to get her some food, while Souji and Chie stayed close beside her.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Chie asked anxiously.

Yukiko touched her arm. "I'll be fine, really. I'm just tired."

"We know how you feel," Yosuke said, returning with a tray. "Here, this should give you enough strength to get home. It's all on me."

Yukiko smiled at that. "Thanks."

She tore into the food with unusual gusto. Souji wasn't surprised; after the better part of a week in that crazy world, with no food and minimal water, it was a wonder she could even stand. Especially after all the stress she'd had before getting tossed in.

"Do you remember anything at all?" he asked gently.

Yukiko sighed. "I wish I did. I'm sorry."

Chie hurriedly waved that away. "Hey, don't worry about it! What's important is you're safe and sound now!"

Which was true, but the lack of any leads meant they hadn't made any real progress. They'd saved one victim, but the culprit remained at large, with no clue as to his (or possible her) identity or motive. As Souji let his gaze wander, double-checking to ensure no one saw Yukiko prematurely, he briefly considered probing his uncle, then discarded the idea. Such a move would likely just earn him a scolding, no matter how subtle he was.

"Still," Yosuke said, "Yukiko-san was definitely . . . attacked the same way as the last two." He scratched his head. "I think the one was saw on the Midnight Channel was actually her Shadow."

"Sounds about right," Souji said. "It would explain her strange behavior, at least." He pursed his lips. "It was obviously the same as you and Chie, her suppressed emotions taking form. Teddie said something about that." Why they were rehashing it, he didn't know; he supposed it helped Yosuke think. "Regardless, we should just call it a day. I don't think any of us are thinking straight right now."

Chie stretched, wincing as abused muscles complained. "Yeah, you're right. I'll take Yukiko home, say I happened to find her." Which, fortunately, was close to the truth. "What about you, Souji? Your uncle's a detective on the murder case; won't he be suspicious if you know too much?"

Souji waved a hand. "He knows I'm friendly with you; I can just tell him that you called me on my cell." He stood. "See you guys at school tomorrow, or," he amended, "whenever you've recovered. Take care, Yukiko-san."

"I will," Yukiko said. "Thank you, Souji-kun."

The walk from Junes to the Dojima residence was already a familiar one. He was in turn becoming a familiar sight, but that didn't worry him. His friendship with "Junes boy" Yosuke Hanamura made his frequent trips to the huge department store appear natural. Not to mention (he smiled at the thought) his young cousin's obsession with the place.

Evening

It was raining by the time Souji got home, and though he was instantly punished for forgetting his umbrella, it didn't bother him. Exhausted though he was, he was still in good spirits after getting Yukiko out safely.

Nanako gave him a cheery greeting when he arrived, and once Souji had changed the pair settled down in front of the TV. Her initial nervousness around him had from all appearances vanished, helped along by Souji's willingness to help with cooking and cleaning.

The sound of the front door sliding open brought her head up. "Dad's home!" she said in delight, standing. She stopped short. "Um, hello?"

Dojima wasn't alone. A younger man accompanied him, a plainclothes officer Souji remembered from when he, Chie, and Yukiko had blundered into the first crime scene. He searched his memory for the name; Adachi, that was it.

"We got off work at the same time," Dojima explained. "Since it's on the way, I figured we'd swing past here."

The younger man smiled. "Hi, there," he said. "Name's Tohru Adachi. I'm Detective Dojima's gopher– er, that is, his partner."

"Pleased to meet you, Adachi-san," Souji said.

Adachi's smile widened. "Heh, polite to a fault, just like your uncle said. He can be a bit of a slave driver sometimes."

The look Dojima gave him at that was stern on the surface, but there was the barest hint of a twinkle in his eye. "I can still work you even harder, you know."

"G-good one, sir!" Adachi said, laughing nervously. He looked at Souji. "Say, I've got some good news! That girl, Yukiko Amagi, they've found her, safe and sound! Be sure to tell all your friends at school."

The moment of truth. "I already heard." Souji forced himself to meet his uncle's suddenly suspicious gaze, and tapped his cell phone. "Chie called me about ten minutes after she got the news. She was practically crying with relief."

Dojima nodded, the suspicious look fading. "Of course, Amagi's closest friend. She would have been one of the first to know."

"Sad thing is, we still don't know jack about what happened," Adachi said. "We talked to her, but she says she doesn't know anything. Real pain in the– yeowch!"

Dojima had belted him. "Will you shut up already?" He sighed. "He's just spouting off random nonsense. Ignore him."

"Already forgotten," Souji said, inwardly both relieved at having dodged a bullet and more than a little amused. After all, he actually knew more about the case than his uncle did.

Nanako broke the spell. "Dad, I'm hungry," she said.

The tension vanished as though someone had flipped a switch. "Hey, so am I. Been a long day; I've been eating out of vending machines most of the time." Dojima lifted an eyebrow. "You feel up to helping, Souji? You're a good cook, but I hear the basketball team is running you ragged."

"More like I'm running myself ragged, trying to inject some enthusiasm," Souji said, standing. "I'll be fine." He covered a smile, seeing his uncle and Adachi bickering. Dinner looked to be more exciting than usual.

Monday, 25 April, Early Morning

The morning was gloomy and overcast, but not actually raining. Not that Souji minded; with Yukiko safe, it could have been pea-soup fog for all he cared. His step was light as he crossed into the school zone, and his mind for the moment at ease.

Up ahead, he saw a pair of girls in Yasogami uniform. He was pretty sure one was in his class, but he didn't know her name.

"Did you hear? The cultural clubs are accepting new members!" one said excitedly. "You can join one even if you're on a sports team." There was a definite spring in her step. "I wonder which one I should join."

"Seriously?" Her friend sounded more than a little skeptical. "You're already on a sports team, and now you want to join another club? Just because you wished for luck on your exams. . . ." She sighed. "I guess I'm curious, though. Which ones are open?"

"Music and Drama Club," the first girl said. "Anyway, colleges look at extracurricular activities more than grades, right? I should be doing more to show that I'm a team player."

As long as you don't wear yourself out in the process. Souji had seen that before. One guy at his previous school had taken on so many different club positions that he'd had to be hospitalized from sheer exhaustion. Souji had no desire to wind up in such a state.

Still, even leaving aside what Igor had said, it sounded like a good idea. He'd taken drama classes before, as part of the bargain that led to him being allowed to play basketball, and found that he enjoyed it. Besides, there was no such thing as having too many skills.

Even if it does mean I'll have to talk to sloth-face again. Lucky me.

"Yo!" Chie caught up with him at the school gate. "Mornin', Souji."

"Good morning, Chie," Souji said, smiling. "How is Yukiko-san doing?"

Chie's grin was fit to split her face. "She's fine, now. Still really tired, so it'll be a few days yet before she comes back to school, but she'll be okay. I left early today so I could check in on her before school." She fell in step with him. "We cut it pretty close, though. I hear the rain's supposed to pick up soon."

"With Yukiko-san safe, it could be a typhoon for all I care," Souji said.

Chie laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Morning

P.E. did not, in Souji's opinion, belong in the morning. He wasn't exactly a zombie in the morning, to be sure, but it was still far too early for anything truly energetic. Unfortunately for him, Mister Kondo had enough energy to start a dozen cars on a January morning.

"Good morning, everyone!" Kondo said, loudly enough to have Souji wishing for earplugs. "Some of you are looking pretty sleepy today!"

And you sound –and look– like you've had about a dozen cups of espresso.

"Sure, it's nice and warm, but that doesn't mean you have time to just doze off!"

Would you rather we screwed up our exams due to lack of sleep?

Kondo laughed. "You know, falling asleep can be dangerous. You might get mugged, or someone could break into your house. Hmm, hey, Souji! What time are thieves most likely to break into your house here in Japan?"

In this nation of workaholics? Unsurprised at being singled out, Souji didn't hesitate. "Eight in the morning," he said. That bit of trivia he'd picked up from Adachi two nights before.

Kondo grinned. "Souji's right. Here in Japan, mornings are the most dangerous time. Remember, you've got to be ready for anything when you get up, even in a place like Inaba." The grin became a frown at the class's generally apathetic reaction. "What, still sleepy? Well, I've got the perfect cure! Time for a little jog around the school."

Souji joined in the chorus of groans at that. He was already more physically fit than he'd ever been thanks to the combination of basketball and excursions in the TV world, but that didn't mean he relished a mindless run early in the morning.

After School

I am not joining another club as long as I'm in Inaba. No power-up is worth having to deal with sloth-face one on one.

If anything, Souji's irascible homeroom teacher had been even more annoyed than when he'd asked about joining the basketball team, probably tired of seeing the "obnoxious city boy" (not that Morooka was one to talk about obnoxious). Fortunately, the talk had been brief, and Souji had the needed directions to the room where the Drama Club met.

Standing just inside the door, he waited for practice to finish before introducing himself. The club members seemed skilled enough, and certainly more enthusiastic than his basketball teammates (sans Kou, at least). One in particular caught his eye, a slender, dark-haired girl in his year.

"All right, let's do tongue-twisters next," a bespectacled male student, presumably the club president, said. He then proceeded to mangle one so badly that Souji couldn't even make it out.

"The six sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick," the dark-haired girl said. "Come, on you're our club president! You should be doing better than that."

The president grimaced, then appeared to notice Souji. "A new guy? You'd be Seta, the transfer student, right?"

"Souji Seta, that's right," Souji acknowledged. "I heard there was an opening here, so I decided to see if I could join."

The president smiled at that. "That right? Welcome to the Drama Club. I'm the president, Akito Nagai, and this. . . ." He nodded at the dark-haired girl.

"Yumi Ozawa," she said, smiling. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Souji said.

Yumi gazed at him for a moment, seemed to approve of what she saw, and turned back to the club. "Okay, let's get back to practice."

Souji lifted an eyebrow slightly at that. Nagai may have been the club president, but Yumi appeared to be the one who kept things moving. Granted he wasn't certain, but first impressions could be revealing.

"It's not much of a club," Nagai admitted. "We don't even have a stage, and we haven't decided on a script yet, so we're mainly going over some basics right now. I'm sure you'll catch on."

Souji nodded. "I took some drama classes at my last school. Maybe I'm a bit rusty, but it shouldn't take all that long."

Nagai brightened. "Really? That's great."

The atmosphere seemed friendly and relaxed, which now that Souji thought about it may have been another reason for King Moron's obvious distaste. Maybe a little too friendly, judging by the way Nagai and his VP were looking at each other.

"Oh, just ignore them!" Yumi said. "C'mon, Souji-kun, let's practice! Voice lessons first. . . ."

Half an hour later, Souji and Yumi were the only ones in the room. She was, he found, very pleasant to work with, certainly more patient than the last drama student he'd worked with very much. It made getting his form back that much easier.

"That's right," Yumi was saying, "focus on your stomach." She smiled. "You weren't kidding about doing this before; I don't think I've ever seen anyone pick it up so fast." It was then that she realized they were alone. "Huh? School's over already?"

"I guess we lost track of time," Souji offered.

Yumi appeared annoyed with herself. "I didn't even notice. Oh, well." She was smiling again. "Make sure to come to practice next time, okay?"

Souji gave a brief nod. "I can't promise to make it every time; there are a lot of things on my plate right now. I'll try not to miss too often."

"That's fine," Yumi said. "I'm just glad you can take orders. See you next time."

Evening

Nanako and her father were already home by the time Souji returned. He exchanged greetings with them and ambled into the kitchen, intent on a quick snack. A chicken sandwich, he decided, would suffice.

"You sure that won't spoil dinner for you, Souji?" his uncle asked. "Or is the basketball team tiring you out?"

Souji smiled wryly. "I joined the Drama Club today; running around isn't the only way to work up an appetite. They're a lot more driven than most of the sports players at school."

Dojima laughed. "Yeah, I remember that from when I was in school. No matter how good or bad they were –and I saw a lot of both– they always threw themselves into it." He stood, opening a cupboard. "Do you drink coffee, Souji?"

"Off and on," Souji said. "Both of my parents drink a lot since they tend to work late, so I picked up the habit. Helps me concentrate when I'm studying at night."

"I know exactly what you mean," Dojima said. "There've been times I would've been out like a light if there wasn't coffee on hand. How do you take yours?"

"Milk and sugar," Souji said. "I only drink it black if I'm doing some last-minute studying for an exam."

That drew another laugh. "You're just like your mother," Dojima said, setting three cups on the kitchen table. "She said the same thing to me when she was in high school." He smiled as Nanako joined them. "Both of you, drink up."

Souji took a sip. Instant, he was pretty sure, but not bad for all that. His uncle probably didn't have the time to learn anything more elaborate. Certainly not since the murders.

"So," Dojima said conversationally, "how are things at school? You said you joined the Drama Club."

Souji nodded, taking another sip. "Their setup is bare-bones, but then so is just about everything else at Yasogami. I think they're doing well, all things considered."

"Good." Dojima's expression was approving. "Have you had any problems? Don't worry," he added, "I'm not accusing you of anything. It's my responsibility to ensure things go well, is all."

Souji grimaced slightly. "Just with my homeroom teacher, and from what Yosuke and Chie have said he's infamous for it."

"I've heard about that, too," Dojima admitted. "It's a mystery how he got to be a teacher." He stretched. "Anyway, I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I was afraid the murders would disrupt things too much."

If you only knew, Uncle. "Saki-senpai was popular, and Yosuke especially is taking her death hard, but everyone's getting by. It helps that Yukiko-san is safe; Chie told me she'll be back at school in a few days."

"Good. We thought there might be some issues." Dojima finished his coffee. "I'll try to be here when you get up, but I can't guarantee it. You know how things are right now. Good night, Souji."

"Good night, Uncle." Souji was getting a bit sleepy himself. Deciding he hadn't recovered sufficiently from the last battle to study, he went upstairs to bed.

Tuesday, 26 April, Early Morning

Another day, another sloth-face sermon. Souji was actually growing almost numb to Morooka's lectures. There were only so many insults one could be subjected to without either losing it or gaining at least partial immunity. Souji's . . . extracurricular activities were grueling enough that being insulted by one teacher was more an annoyance than anything else. And, he admitted grudgingly, Morooka did know his subject.

"Yo." Yosuke caught up with him. "How's it going, partner?"

Souji smiled. "Well enough, now that Yukiko-san is safe. I actually slept well last night." He tilted his head slightly. "Where's your bike?"

Yosuke sighed. "Thing finally gave up the ghost. It's not worth fixing now. I'll just have to save up and get my motorcycle license." He looked at Souji curiously. "Say, I hear you've joined another club. How can you manage that, get good grades, and head our investigation?"

"Corporate family," Souji reminded him. "Trust me, Yosuke, by the standards I'm used to, this is practically a vacation. I was at least three times as busy at my last school."

"If you say so." Yosuke shook his head. "Damn, and we have to deal with King Moron first thing. You know he'll be ripping us to shreds."

Souji glanced at him sidelong. "Would you rather be fighting Shadows?"

"In a heartbeat," Yosuke said. "At least we can kill Shadows. We have to just sit there and take King Moron's abuse."

"Point," Souji conceded, wincing.

Morning

They scraped through King Moron's class with only minor scrapes, though Souji wanted to bash his head in after a snide remark about Yukiko. Mrs. Nakayama was up next, and while she was as odd as the rest of the faculty (in Souji's opinion the strangest was a toss-up between Queen Tut and the hand puppet guy), she was generally easy to get along with.

"I've been hearing rumors that there's an animal in the shopping distract that can get into the change dispensers in the vending machines," she was saying. "It's supposed to be near the old shrine; whatever it is, it must be really smart."

Souji had in fact heard a few rumors himself. One of the Drama Club members (Maya, her name was, Nagai's girlfriend) had mentioned it during a break in practice the previous day. It wasn't as odd as jumping into TVs to fight manifestations of the human subconscious, but it was certainly intriguing.

"Smart enough to know the value of money," Nakayama went on. "It might not be obvious to students like you, but money is very important." She tapped the lectern for emphasis. "You can't do anything without it."

Not exactly news to Souji, having grown up in a corporate family. Then again, he'd known a fair number of people who were depressingly blase on the subject, people who by rights should have known better.

"And being smart doesn't guarantee financial security," Nakayama said. "There are a lot of variables, and a lot of smart people still wind up dirt poor." She sighed. "Speaking of which, I'd better do what I'm paid for and get to the lecture."

At least you're not griping about it the way sloth-face does.

"Hmm, we left off discussing the properties of whole numbers. . . . Ah, here's an interesting one." She turned a page in her book. "A natural number that's half the sum of its positive divisors is called. . . .? Come on now, it's on page three of your handout."

For all his usually good grades, math tended to make Souji's head hurt. It was one of the subjects that had him up studying late at night; he'd drunk half a pot of coffee studying for his finals the previous year. At least this time he was a bit more prepared.

Chie wasn't. "Huh?" she muttered, then looked at Souji. "Um, I can't find my handout. What is it. . .?"

Guess I can't blame her for being a bit scatterbrained right now. "A perfect number," he said.

"That's correct, a perfect number," Nakayama said before Chie could respond. "Satonaka-san, please come pick up an extra handout if you don't have one." Ignoring Chie's evident embarrassment, she said, "Now, about perfect numbers. The first is 6, then 28, and then it jumps all the way to 496, and from there to 8,128. You should also know that no perfect number that is also odd has been found to date."

Souji hoped she would wrap up soon; he could already feel pressure building in his skull. It was fortunate, he supposed, that he had little interest in a scientific career. He could handle basic arithmetic and percentages, as befit the scion of a corporate family, but he preferred to avoid the more esoteric aspects of math.

"Thanks, Souji," Chie said under her breath. "You're a lifesaver."

"I got lucky," Souji murmured back. "Even I have trouble with math; that one just happened to stick in my head for some reason."

Note to self, he added silently, do some remedial math work.

After School

Rain meant no basketball practice, so Souji took Yosuke up on his offer for a quick meal at Souzai Daigaku. They chatted idly for around half an hour, mostly ignoring the rain that spattered the small canopy. The steak skewers, Souji found, were quite tasty.

"Chie eats here three times a week, or at least that's what she told me," Yosuke said. "Can you believe it?"

"The way she bounces around? Easily," Souji said. "That kind of energy has to come from somewhere."

Yosuke laughed. "Okay, you got me there. Makes me wonder what kind of teeth she has– no, scratch that. I seriously don't want to know."

Souji covered his smile with a soda bottle. He was already starting to wonder if Yosuke might be interested in Chie. Not that he was going to bring it up without a very good reason, especially not where Chie might get wind of it. He wasn't at all sure how well his swordsmanship would stand up against her martial arts skills.

Movement in the corner of his eye drew his attention; a pair of thirtyish women, both carrying umbrellas. They glanced briefly at him and then Yosuke, their expressions tightening in an almost identical fashion. Souji clenched a fist under the table at the obvious disdain in their eyes.

They walked on a few paces, but didn't bother keeping their voices down. It was obvious they intended Yosuke to hear them.

"I'm amazed he dares to show his face here," one said. "After everything Junes has already done to the shopping district."

"I heard one of his classmates is having hard times," the other replied. "Sato-san, was it? And then there's the liquor store. . . . To think their daughter was actually working at Junes."

Yosuke winced, and Souji felt a surge of anger on his friend's behalf. That was a low blow, he thought, struggling to keep a straight face. It isn't Yosuke's fault.

"Just ignore them," Yosuke said. "I'm used to it by now."

Souji forced himself to calm down. He was the leader, after all, and leaders weren't supposed to show anger without a very good reason. "You shouldn't have had to get used to it," he said, keeping his voice low. "You're not in charge, you didn't hurt any of those people."

Yosuke shrugged. "Eh, it's not like they know. My dad always says, if they don't know you, what they think about you doesn't matter."

"I suppose so." Souji wasn't convinced, but he let the matter drop. No sense adding to Yosuke's troubles. "I really should eat here more often."

They talked about normal teenage things for another half hour, then said their goodbyes.

Thursday, 28 April, Early Morning

Another day for the umbrella. Souji had seen more rain in the past two weeks than in the previous year. Or that was what it felt like, at least, what with how important the weather had become in his crazy new life.

"Yo, Souji!" Chie came running up to him, umbrella clutched in one hand. "Yukiko says she'll be coming back to school Saturday! Isn't that great?"

Souji smiled. "It's all thanks to you, Chie."

"Oh, come on!" Chie protested. "It was the three of us together!" Her head tilted to one side. "Or the three of us plus one animal-thingy? Oh, whatever!"

Souji laughed. "In all seriousness, Chie, you were the one who finished her Shadow. You should be proud of that if nothing else."

Chie shook her head. "Okay, okay," she said, still smiling. "I'm just looking forward to seeing her here again. It's about time something went right for a change." She looked at him curiously. "You have any plans today?"

He paused, mentally running through his schedule, at the same time wondering how he could have gotten so thoroughly booked so quickly. Rain meant the gym wasn't available, and Yosuke had to go to work pretty much right after school.

"Just Drama Club," he said at last. "Not really much else to do on a day like this. Say hi to Yukiko-san for me, will you?"

She grinned. "You got it."

After School

It wasn't as sophisticated as the setup at his previous school, but it was nonetheless far more enjoyable. Maybe it was the smaller group, or perhaps the rustic setting that lent it a more relaxed atmosphere. Or maybe it was both. Regardless, practice went by almost before he'd realized it.

"Is anyone else bored with this?" Nagai asked when they'd finished. "All we ever do is go through the basics. Sure, it's important, but it would be nice to put on an actual performance for a change."

Souji agreed, but as a newcomer he wasn't sure if it was really his place to say so. Not that it mattered; there was a general murmur of assent from the rest of the club. Nagai smiled, obviously pleased by the outcome.

"Good," he said. "We'll hold a little audition. Remember the line I'm about to say; once the audition is over, we'll get our roles settled and do a five-minute skit. Got it?"

Sounds good to me. Fundamentals were important, but they would never get anywhere if that was all they did. There was such a thing as too much practice.

"Okay, here goes," Nagai said. "Pay attention. 'What crazes me is not the light of the moon, nor the golden sea, but merely the trickle of your tears.' You all got that?" He looked at Souji. "All right, Souji, you're up first. Let's see what you've got."

Souji twitched in mild surprise. It was one thing for the apathetic basketball team to put him forward, but the drama students actually enjoyed what they did. Maybe it was curiosity about the city boy; it certainly wouldn't have been the first time.

Yumi patted his shoulder. "Just believe in yourself. You'll be fine."

Thanks, I think. Contra his calm and self-possessed exterior, Souji Seta was not in fact immune to stage fright. Mentally bracing himself, he stepped to the center of the group and obediently repeated the line. To his relief, it went off without a hitch; he blessed his well-trained memory.

That went well, he thought as Yumi stepped up.

"What crazes me," she said, putting her hands to her chest, "is not the light of the moon," show bowed her head, "nor the golden sea, but merely the trickle of your tears."

Souji's eyes were wide. That was . . . something else. In that brief recitation Yumi seemed transformed, completely immersing herself in the role. He'd never seen anything like it outside of professional stage productions, and sometimes not even then.

"That was amazing."

"She's so good, it's downright scary."

Yumi looked around. "If anyone thinks they can do better, by all means step up."

No takers. At least one student actually paled a little. Souji knew it was beyond his capabilities; his strengths were more along the lines of research and battling manifestations of the human subconscious.

"Do you have to say it like that?" Nagai asked plaintively.

Yumi smiled. "If only standing around flirting made you a better actor."

Souji covered a wince. That line was more than a little cutting, and Nagai obviously felt it. Maya blushed a little, but managed to maintain her poise, as befit someone studying acting.

"W-well," the VP said, "we all know the line, so let's give it a try. You can learn a lot from watching someone else, too. Right, Yumi?"

Yumi nodded. "Go right ahead."

On it went, but the outcome had already been decided. The rest of the club weren't bad, but none of them even approached Yumi's level. She was a natural; acting seemed to come as easily as breathing to her.

And Nagai knew it. "Okay, it's unanimous. Yumi will be our protagonist for this one." He stroked his chin. "And she'll be opposite . . . Souji!"

This is new. For all his experience with drama clubs at previous schools, he'd never been picked to play the leading man. He'd always been a background character, which suited his usually quiet and reserved nature. Inaba was changing him more than he'd realized.

His surprise must have shown, because Nagai offered a wry smile. "Hey, it's either you or me, and to be honest I'd rather direct."

Souji shrugged. "Your call." He wasn't sure how well he'd play someone's husband, given that his only romantic experience had been the one time his parents tried to set him up with someone, but he could manage.

He and Yumi stayed behind as the rest of the club filtered out. For the first time in years, Souji found himself intimidated by someone else's ability. He didn't fear being overshadowed; rather, he was concerned that his support wouldn't be enough.

"You ready?" Yumi asked. "This is just a practice run, but you should still take it seriously." She smiled. "But don't get too tense about it, okay?"

"I'll give it my all," Souji promised.

Her smile broadened. "Okay! I'll lead you through it."

They spent another twenty minutes running through their parts, Yumi helping Souji through occasional rough spots. Her enthusiasm was infectious, enough that Souji started to forget his nervousness.

"This really is fun, isn't it?" she said when they'd finished. "When you're acting, it's like you're taking on the life of another person. You actually become someone else."

More or less what his last drama teacher had said. "I know it can be useful for business," he said. At her questioning look, he explained, "Corporate family. My father is an executive."

"I heard some rumors about that," Yumi acknowledged. She sighed wistfully. "I don't need lights, costumes, anything like that. All I need is a role to play. To not be Yumi Ozawa. . . ."

Something about the way she said it made Souji's mental antennae twitch. Ever since arriving in Inaba he'd been attracting people with issues, be it Yosuke's inferiority complex, Chie's controlling nature, or Yukiko's feeling of being trapped. He wondered in the back of his mind if something was up with Kou or Daisuke.

"Sorry about that!" Yumi said, smiling again. "I shouldn't be dumping all that on you."

"Don't worry about it," Souji said. He made a mental note to keep a closer eye on her, though. There had to be a reason she so liked the idea of being someone else entirely. Home troubles, perhaps? Well. He wouldn't pry, but he would be ready to support her.

That's what friends were for.

Friday, 29 April, Daytime

Showa Day, so there was no school. Most students were probably cursing the weather; a precious extra day off, and they had to remain indoors. Never much of an outdoors sort himself, Souji didn't mind overmuch. The rain didn't, after all, preclude a leisurely walk; that was what umbrellas were for.

Nanako was at a friend's house, so Souji found himself wandering the shopping district. After stopping at Souzai Daigaku for a brief snack (their steak skewers, he found, were to die for), and almost tripping over Taro Namatame of all people, he found a dry spot near the neglected Tatsuhime Shrine.

"Yukiko's doing fine," Chie said over the phone. "I was just talking to her; she's really looking forward to going back to school tomorrow."

Souji smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. She's been through a lot."

"Yeah," Chie agreed. "How are things at home?"

"My uncle is at work, and Nanako is at a friend's house, so I'm kind of at loose ends right now," Souji said. "Thought about calling Yosuke, but he told me yesterday that Junes is having a holiday sale, so he has to work. At least they're paying him extra for it."

Chie chuckled softly. "Good for him. He needs a break, what with being the 'Junes Boy' and what happened to Saki-senpai."

She really does like him. Whether it would go anywhere was not something Souji was prepared to guess, but it was nice to see his friends getting along anyway.

"Anyway, I'm heading back over to Yukiko's. See you at school tomorrow, Souji."

"Later."

Souji thumbed his phone off and sat back, watching the rain come down. It wasn't often he had effectively nothing to do, and he treasured those moments. They were, he suspected, going to be few and far between over the coming year.

Deciding he'd spent enough time woolgathering, he picked up his umbrella and started for home, bumping into someone in the process. "Excuse me, sorry."

"No, it was my fault. Please, don't trouble yourself."

The voice was deep, but young; Souji couldn't tell if it was male or female. He looked over his shoulder, but the speaker was already past. He had a glimpse of a short, blue-haired form in a dark blue coat and hat, and then the stranger was gone.

Evening

With the town having quieted down for the time being, Dojima was home when Souji arrived. After exchanging greetings, Souji parked himself by the small table across from Nanako, just as the weather report came on.

"Due to the weekend's rain fall, clear skies seem unlikely for the next day or two. A thick fog is expected to settle in tonight, with the heaviest concentration in the Inaba region. Anyone planning to go out tonight should take care."

Dojima sighed. "More fog? Been a lot of that lately; hope it's not a sign of more trouble."

I'd better check the Midnight Channel tonight, just in case. He didn't really expect anything, since they'd succeeded in rescuing Yukiko, but taking chances in matters of life and death was foolhardy, and it was his responsibility as leader of the team to cover all the bases.

Nanako, apparently bored, pressed a button on the TV remote. "Ah-ah-ah, Nanako, what did I say about changing the channel without permission?" Dojima said.

The rebuke was mild; Nanako looked briefly shamefaced, until a Junes ad came on, announcing some kind of Golden Week event. Souji felt a twinge of sympathy for Yosuke, knowing the huge department store was likely to be insanely busy.

Nanako happily sang the Junes jingle. "They're having a special during Golden Week!"

"I heard," Dojima said, laughing. "You want to go somewhere during the long holiday?"

She stood up at that. "Huh? We can go somewhere!?"

Dojima looked at Souji. "What about you? Make any plans yet?"

There was always the possibility that someone would appear on the Midnight Channel while they were gone. It was only for a couple of days, though, and Souji trusted his friends to be able to stay on top of things that long. A good leader didn't have to micromanage.

"No plans," Souji said.

"Yay!" Nanako said. "Junes, Junes, Junes!"

Her father stifled a yawn, looking suddenly weary. "You sure about that, Nanako? We can go there anytime." Another suppressed yawn. "Come on, time for bed."

And time for me to check the TV.

Late Night

Just shy of midnight. It was still raining a little, but he could tell only by sound; the thick fog obscured everything else beyond a couple of meters. He didn't envy anyone who had to be on the road that night; even in Inaba, the risk of crashing was high under such conditions.

The clock chimed. Souji looked at the TV, which obediently lit up. As he'd expected, nothing but static; with Yukiko safe, there was no one to appear on the Midnight Channel. For now, at least, he could sleep securely.

Saturday, 30 April, Early Morning

Contrary to the forecast, the next morning was sunny albeit still on the damp side. Sunlight glimmered off the scattered puddles as Souji made his way to school. If he'd been given to bad poetry, he'd have compared it to a rising phoenix after the weather they'd had of late.

Not to mention the murders, he thought. And isn't that Yukiko-san?

It was indeed Yukiko Amagi at the school gate. She was dressed in a red shirt and black skirt as normal, but something about her posture seemed different.

"Oh!" she said when she caught sight of him. "Um, good morning." She looked away, apparently embarrassed.

Souji smiled. "Morning. Are you feeling better?"

"Y-Yes, much better." Yukiko managed an answering smile. "I've recovered enough to come back to school, at least." The smile faded. "I caused so much trouble for everyone," she said, her eyes downcast.

"Don't say that." Yukiko's head came up. "Yukiko-san, what happened in there wasn't your fault," Souji said. "The person who kidnapped you is the only one to blame. I'm just glad you're safe."

She shook her head. "You're right. I should be thanking you." The smile was back on her face, more natural than before. She seemed more relaxed. "My mother is back to work already. Everyone's being so supportive, I think it's going more smoothly now. Maybe I was trying too hard."

Souji nodded slowly. "I've seen that before. It's a measure of how strong you are that you didn't burn out."

"Yeah." Yukiko sighed. "I think . . . I was consumed by the idea that I had to do everything myself, and started pushing people away."

That explained a great deal. Even allowing for the investigation, Yukiko had seemed to be experiencing an abnormally high degree of stress. It was a wonder she hadn't collapsed before she was kidnapped.

"Since the incident, I've been able to think about these things more calmly," Yukiko said. She blushed suddenly. "Still, it's embarrassing. You guys saw everything, saw things I really didn't want to admit."

Souji shook his head. "Everyone has something like that," he said. "We're not really that different."

"Thank you." Yukiko smiled. "I'd really like to believe that."

"Yukiko!"

The raven-haired girl's smile broadened. "It's Chie." She looked back at Souji. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Souji felt a deep sense of satisfaction as he watched Chie and Yukiko greet each other. They hadn't just saved Yukiko's life, he realized. They'd saved her from destroying herself, from being broken beyond repair. If she hadn't faced and accepted herself, she may well have spent the rest of her life in misery.

Seeing her free of such fears made it all worth it.

Morning

Yamada's class. The man could get a bit creepy on occasion, but he wasn't too bad. How creepy he got could be unpredictable, though.

"Hmm, Yukiko-san is back? Good. I'm glad the only cutie in the class is able to return. Wouldn't you agree?'

Case in point. Does he even know what he sounds like? Not the kind of attitude you want a teacher to have. Tends to make parents nervous.

Yamada paled slightly, apparently realizing what he'd just said. "Oops! I mean, you're all cute! Please don't get the wrong idea."

Digging yourself in deeper.

"Please, don't tell your parents that I said that. I don't want to get in trouble."

Souji wasn't certain, but he thought Yamada was looking his way when he said that. If so, it was understandable, considering Souji was living with a detective known for his seeming inability to quit.

Yamada cleared his throat. "Anyway. We have an interesting topic for today. Close your books and take a look at the handout." There was a faint rustling sound as the class complied. "I think this might be a good time to pick on the city boy, Souji-kun."

Why am I not surprised. Souji pushed his chair back and stood.

"Which of the following is the highest mountain in the solar system?" Yamada asked. "Mt. Fuji, Mt. Olympus, Mt. Everest."

Too easy. An average student would probably have picked Mt. Everest. Souji saw through it. "Mt. Olympus, or Olympus Mons," he said.

Yamada smiled. "You really are from the city! . . .Okay, that doesn't really mean anything. Anyway, you're correct. Mount Olympus, or Olympus Mons on Mars has an elevation triple that of Mount Everest. People tend to think of Mount Everest as the highest, but that's just thinking inside the worldwide box."

Souji resumed his seat. Most people, he suspected, simply didn't care enough. It was just a bit of trivia that didn't have any impact on their everyday lives. A matter for curiosity, nothing more, though Souji had known people who would have been delighted at a chance to climb Olympus Mons.

Personally, he thought they were crazy.

After School

They gathered on the roof after classes ended to discuss things. Souji, hungrier than usual, had absconded briefly to get some instant ramen; seeing that Chie and Yukiko had come prepared, he split his with Yosuke.

He returned mere minutes before Yukiko. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she said, handing Chie a steaming bowl. "This soba is yours, right, Chie?"

"Thanks," Chie said. "Oh, man, this smells good." She grinned. "Just the thing to help me through the day."

"I think Souji-kun agrees with you," Yukiko said with a giggle, seeing Souji attacking the ramen he'd brought. "Hungry?"

He gave her a mock-dirty look. "I have a lot going on right now, so I need plenty of energy." He swallowed. "Anyway. I'm sorry to bring up unpleasant memories, but I have to ask, do you remember anything more?"

Yukiko sighed. "I thought I might remember something if I just let it sit in the back of my mind for a while, but it's no good. The memories just get hazier as time goes on." She closed her eyes, thinking. "I think . . . someone called my name. I'm pretty sure I heard the doorbell ring."

Souji raised an eyebrow. "They actually rang the doorbell? That's pretty brazen."

"I don't know anything more," Yukiko said. "When I woke up, I was already in that weird castle place."

Still nothing solid. It was fairly certain that there wasn't a break-in, but that wasn't much to go on. He wasn't surprised that there wasn't anything to identify the kidnapper, else the police would already be on the hunt, but there still wasn't even any suggestion as to the method.

"Does that mean her visitor is the culprit?" Chie wondered.

"If so, Souji's right, ringing the doorbell is a gutsy move," Yosuke said. "The police are probably looking for witnesses, but I doubt they'll find anything, not for a case this weird." He looked at Souji. "Your uncle let anything slip?"

Souji shook his head. "About an ongoing investigation? Never. His partner Adachi might –the guy comes across as a lightweight– but I haven't heard anything."

Yosuke grunted softly. "Yeah, about what I figured, and it's not as if the culprit wore bright yellow at the scene of the crime. That would be way too easy."

It was true there were a lot of less than intelligent criminals out there, but such people would never have been able to pull off what was happening in Inaba. Finding the TV world may well have been luck, but making use of it wasn't so simple.

"Why would someone do this in the first place?" Chie said. "That's the real question."

Yosuke shrugged. "Got me. We won't know until we track him down. Somebody's definitely kidnaping people and tossing them in, though, no doubt about it." He looked at Yukiko. "Oh, yeah, we haven't told you yet. Souji and me, we're gonna catch this bastard. The police are out of their league on this one, but we've got our Personas."

Souji finished his ramen and stood. "It's not easy, but I'm sure we'll catch him," he said.

Chie raised a fist. "I'm helping out, too! I just can't believe someone would do something like this. I'm gonna beat him to a pulp."

Can't fault her enthusiasm. Souji was just a bit taken aback. Yukiko, by contrast, appeared deep in thought. She was staring at her feet, seemingly oblivious to what was going on around her.

She looked up, a resolute expression on her face. "Let me help, too." Her words startled even Souji, but she pressed on. "I want to know the truth. Why is this happening, who is it who hates me so much that they'd want to kill me."

"Yukiko-san, this will be dangerous," Souji warned her. "I'm not saying you can't, but you need to know what you're getting into. We almost died more than once before we even got to you."

Yukiko, to her credit, didn't flinch. "I realize that. It's something I have to do. I can't run from myself anymore."

Souji looked into her eyes for a moment longer, then nodded. "All right. Welcome to the Investigation Team, Yukiko-san."

"Hell, yeah," Yosuke said. "Let's work together and catch this bastard."

They went to the Junes food court then, which was swiftly becoming their regular meeting place. Chie, to the surprise of absolutely no one, was still hungry, so Souji splurged for a grilled steak to keep her from pestering Yosuke, and contented himself with a soda.

"So, what about the killer's motive?" Chie asked when she'd finished.

Yosuke took a sip of his drink. "Hmm, if you look at the announcer's case, it seems like a revenge killing. Maybe her lover's wife?"

Souji shook his head. "Not her. I heard my uncle complaining about prank calls; he says Misuzu Hiiragi was out of the country at the time, some kind of performance tour."

"Okay, what about the second case?" Yosuke said. "Saki-senpai was . . . the one who found the body. If the same person killed them both, why target her?"

The first possibility that came to mind was so obvious as to be downright cliche. "To silence her," Souji said. "She might have seen something she shouldn't have."

Yosuke nodded. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Maybe she found a clue or something that the police didn't notice, and the killer went after her so she couldn't tell anyone."

Yukiko disagreed. "I don't think the killer would have left evidence the police could find, much less a high-schooler."

"That's the main hole in the theory," Souji agreed. He was about to say more, but a man in a dark suit caught his eye.

It was his uncle's partner, Tohru Adachi. What he was doing in Junes Souji did not know, but it was a safe bet Dojima was not aware of it. With the investigation still ongoing, it was likely he would have torn a strip off Adachi's hide if he'd known.

"Man, I thought the countryside would be a real snooze, but this is actually turning out to be pretty interesting," the plainclothes man murmured. "Something that would give even Sherlock Holmes grief. . . . Hey, they've updated the menu. Grilled steak, not bad."

Chie raised her eyebrows. "Hey, isn't he that detective? The one we saw at the first crime scene?"

"That's Adachi," Souji confirmed with a nod. "Friendly enough, but a bit scatterbrained. Sometimes I wonder how Uncle Ryotaro puts up with him."

Adachi spotted Souji then, and wandered over to their table. "Hey, I remember you. Dojima-san's nephew, right? No, I'm not skipping out on work," he added hastily before Souji could ask. "I'm just taking a bit of a break; don't want to burn out, you know."

"I don't blame you," Souji said. "The investigation wearing you down?"

"S-something like that," Adachi said. He visibly cast about for a change of subject. "Oh, yeah, this is good timing. Dojima-san is going to be leaving work on schedule tonight. Would you mind passing that on to Nanako-chan?"

Souji nodded. "No problem."

"Right, thanks." Adachi looked at the rest of Souji's group. "Hi, there. I'm Adachi, Dojima-san's gofer, er, partner."

Yosuke leaned back in his seat, eyebrows lifted. "You always this busy?"

That seemed to fluster the young detective. "Ah, like I told your friend here, I'm just taking a bit of a break. There's still a lot left to do." With an almost visible effort, he pulled himself together. "These cases have gotten a lot of public attention, but we can't just leave it."

Chie raised a hand. "Um, sorry to interrupt, but isn't it possible that Saki-senpai was killed to shut her up?"

Adachi was visibly taken aback. "Wow, you know how to get right to the heart," he said, chuckling nervously. "Yeah, we're thinking along those lines ourselves, seeing as she was killed right after Ms Yamano's body was found. If there was something only she would have noticed, the killer might've gone after her. Yeah, that makes sense. . . ."

He suddenly went pale. "W-wait, were you guys listening!?" He swallowed. "Me and my big mouth. P-please, don't tell Dojima-san I said that, okay? He'd flay me alive if he found out." Another audible gulp. "S-see ya!" The detective scurried away.

"Nail on the head there, Yosuke," Chie said with a sigh. "Totally useless. No offense," she added to Souji, evidently remembering his family.

Souji waved that away. "None taken. Uncle Ryotaro would agree with you about Adachi anyway." He finished his drink. "When you're done, I think it's time we gave Yukiko-san a proper introduction."

To her credit, Yukiko barely twitched when they climbed into the TV. Souji supposed that after all the other bizarre things that had happened, that was downright mundane. She even managed to land on her feet.

"Wow," she breathed, staring around in wonder. "It really is inside the TV." Her gaze sharpened, seeing a familiar cartoon bear approaching. "Teddie, so it really wasn't a dream."

Teddie gave a disarming smile. "Are you feeling better, Yuki-chan?"

"Yuki-chan"? Why does that note bode well?

"Much better, thank you," Yukiko said with an answering smile.

"This bear is part of why we're doing this," Souji said. "We came in just after Saki-senpai was killed, and he made us promise to help find the killer or," he smiled at Teddie's expression, "he wouldn't let us out."

He was beginning to suspect the bear had an ulterior motive, though. Teddie had repeatedly claimed to be the only inhabitant of this crazy world besides the Shadows, and Shadows weren't exactly good company. Perhaps it was simple loneliness.

Loneliness was something Souji Seta knew all too well.

"Oh," Yukiko said. "Well, I'm part of the team now, so let's work together."

Teddie beamed. "I was thinking the same thing. So," he pushed a pair of glasses into her hand, "I had these ready for you."

Yukiko slipped them on. "So, these are what the others are wearing." She looked around, jaw falling open a few centimeters. "Wow," she breathed. "Everything looks completely different."

"Say, Teddie," Chie said, "how is it you've got so many pairs of glasses, anyway?"

"Good question," the bear said approvingly. "It just so happens I'm the one who makes them."

Well, that was obvious. It wasn't like there was any other likely source in that twisted world on the other side of the TV screen. Everything mobile they'd run into besides Teddie had tried to kill them.

"I've lived here for a long time," Teddie went on, "so I've come up with a few ways to be comfortable."

Yukiko nodded. "But don't you need a pair?"

"Another good question." Teddie smiled. "My eyes are actually lenses." He tilted his head. "What, you didn't know?"

Yosuke rolled his eyes. "Of course we didn't."

We should have, though. Souji had been so focused on the mission and simple survival that it hadn't even occurred to him to wonder how Teddie coped with the fog. Teddie had been a reliable ally, certainly, but overlooking such a detail was sloppy.

The bear himself appeared annoyed by Yosuke's lack of interest. "What's that for!? I'll have you know I'm a very dexterous bear! See how delicately my fingers move?" He brought both hands up, wiggling his fingers.

"What the hell am I even looking at?" Yosuke gave Teddie a brief shove, knocking him over. The bear bounced back up with a yelp.

Knew that was coming.

"Teddie, you dropped something." Yukiko stooped, picking up a small object.

"Oh, that." Teddie looked faintly chagrined. "That's a pair I messed up on."

Yukiko didn't seem to agree. "How do I look?" she asked, slipping them on.

That was a difficult question to answer. Teddie's "mistake" was, of all things, a classic pair of nose glasses, complete with fake mustache. For all the twisted phenomena they'd encountered so far, it still managed to be just about the weirdest thing he'd seen.

"You look . . . good," he managed.

Yukiko grinned. "I think I like this set better."

It might make the Shadows vulnerable from sheer disbelief, I guess.

"How bear-y unfortunate," Teddie said. "That pair doesn't have real lenses in. Guess I should've made some real ones."

"Ah, too bad." Yukiko's disappointment was fleeting, though. "Hey, Chie, your turn."

If it had been anyone but Yukiko Amagi asking, Chie would likely have reacted with violence. Since it was Yukiko, she merely sighed, removed her own glasses, and slipped the joke pair on. They didn't really suit her, in Souji's opinion.

Yukiko had a far different view. "Chie. . . ." she said, her face twisting oddly. "Those are. . . ." She made a choking sound. "They're . . . they're perfect for you!" Unable to contain herself any longer, she doubled over, laughing uproariously.

Um, what? Souji had known Yukiko had hidden depths, certainly, but this had never even entered his head.

"Y-Yukiko-san?" Yosuke said hesitantly. "Are you okay?"

If anything, the gales of laughter redoubled. Feeling as though he'd stepped into another dimension, Souji watched as Yukiko tried in vain to regain control of herself. Every time she got close, she would look at Chie and again be rendered helpless.

Chie sighed. "There goes one of Yukiko's laughing fits. I never thought she'd do it around someone besides me, though." She shook her head in exasperation. "These glasses are completely useless for investigating or anything else!"

Teddie let out a harumph. "See? That's what happens when you guys leave me all alone here and I get bored."

Souji felt a sudden urge to laugh himself. It looked like things were going to be all right.

Evening

For once he and his uncle arrived simultaneously. Dojima settled on the couch with the evening paper, while Souji, as had become habitual for him since his arrival, fixed himself a light meal before joining Nanako at the table.

"So, I understand Amagi is back at school," Dojima said. "How is she doing?"

"A lot better," Souji said. He smiled wryly. "Something about what she went through must have changed her, because she's a lot more open. And laughs like a hyena."

Dojima turned a page. "I'm glad to hear it; by all accounts she'd been having a very stressful time just before her disappearance."

"She was trying to do too much, at least that's what she told us," Souji said. His uncle murmured agreement, absorbed in his paper.

The news was running an update on the murder cases, but there was nothing on it Souji hadn't already heard. They don't know anything. For that matter, neither do the police, not really. No obvious cause of death, no known motive, no suspects. We're the only ones who really know anything, and even that isn't much.

"The Fourth and the Fifth," Dojima said, seemingly out of the blue. "I might be able to get those days off."

Distracted from his darker musings, Souji cocked his head. "Isn't that Golden Week?"

"That's right," Dojima said. "We're not really that busy right now, so I should be able to swing it."

"Really?" Nanako said, perking up. Her enthusiasm was short-lived, however, and she quickly subsided, sighing in evident dejection.

Her father picked up on it right off. "What, you don't believe me?"

"It's always canceled."

"Not every year!" Dojima protested, looking hurt. "Anyway, I know you wanted to go to Junes, but we can go there anytime. I wouldn't mind going a bit farther out."

Nanako shot to her feet. "Huh!? We can go on a trip!?"

Dojima smiled at her enthusiasm. "Sure. It'll probably be crowded everywhere, though. Hmm." He set the paper aside. "We'll have to think about where to go." He raised an eyebrow in Souji's direction. "How about it? Want to come along?"

"Sure," Souji replied, smiling. "Sounds like fun."

Nanako clapped her hands. "Great! Let's bring boxed lunches!"

"Sounds good, but," Dojima looked suddenly uncertain, "I can't really cook, and Nanako is too young to do it herself." His expression cleared, and he clapped Souji's shoulder. "I guess that's what you're for."

Normally, being "volunteered" without being consulted first annoyed him. This time, however, he was perfectly happy to go along with it. Cooking was one of his few hobbies, and if it made the rest of the family happy, so much the better.

Yeah, getting out of town for a couple of days sounds nice.

Monday, 2 May, Early Morning

After an uneventful Sunday spent giving Yukiko some practice against low-level Shadows in the TV world, Souji was almost looking forward to school. Almost; Kinshiro Morooka was the only real dark spot, but he was a big one. Fortunately, there were more than enough good points to compensate.

One of those good points greeted him at the Yasogami gate. "Good morning," Yukiko said, her red umbrella held against the light drizzle. "The rain isn't expected to last past nightfall, at least."

"There hasn't been anything on the Midnight Channel since the last incident," Souji agreed, gesturing for her to precede him. "I think we can probably relax for now. Good timing."

Yukiko looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I'm going on a trip with Uncle Ryotaro and Nanako for Golden Week, assuming things stay quiet," Souji explained. "I'm actually looking forward to it –my parents' jobs left little time for that sort of thing– but it means the rest of you will have to keep an eye on things here."

"We'll be fine," Yukiko assured him. "It's supposed to be clear for at least a few days, so we shouldn't have to worry about the Midnight Channel at all." She smiled, patting his arm. "You just enjoy being out with your family." She folded her umbrella as they reached the doors. "I wish things would stay peaceful, but this isn't over yet. We should probably go 'over there' once in a while to hone our skills."

"That's the plan."

Afternoon

Souji hadn't thought it possible, but Morooka seemed to be in an even worse mood than usual. The man was practically vibrating with suppressed fury while giving his usual philosophy lectures, a vein in his forehead visibly pulsing.

"I've been hearing a lot of chatter about Golden Week," King Moron grumbled, "but don't forget that first and foremost you're students! Your duty is to study! You don't have time to be fooling around, got it!?"

How could I forget? Sloth-face thinks it's somehow a terrible crime for high school students to have fun under any circumstances.

"Especially the girls! Those skirts are too damn short; are you that desperate for attention or something!?"

If you hate them that much, try getting the uniform changed, you idiot. I don't see anyone violating the dress code, and Chie has shorts on underneath to boot.

"You girls are giving the school a bad reputation! Try being modest for a change!"

Try not piling verbal abuse on your students, "Sensei."

King Moron's eyes flashed. "And for you guys, remember that the 'greatest virtue' is attained by those who suppress their worthless desires! I don't think Descartes was entirely right about that, but it doesn't really matter. Not like you jerks can appreciate 'virtue,' anyway!"

Pot, meet kettle.

"Next order of business." Morooka glared at everyone and no one. "Midterms are up next week, and remember, results will be posted to humiliate low-scoring losers! You don't want to be shamed, study hard! Who knows, you might get some decent grades, and good grades tend to make you more popular! You want popularity from something genuinely worthwhile, there it is!"

Souji didn't have to turn around to notice Yosuke's wince at the "low-scoring losers" crack. He himself had to suppress a groan; bookish though he was, he hated exams as much as any other student. They were both grueling and extremely tedious.

Maybe if I get top marks on this one he'll shut up about the "loser from the city." . . .Nah, not likely.

Evening

The fact that his uncle wasn't home did not bode well; though it was unlikely to be another disappearance, it also meant their planned Golden Week trip was in jeopardy. Nanako's words, he suspected, were about to prove prophetic.

TV news reports reinforced his suspicion. "An Inaba Credit Union ATM was destroyed today by an earth mover, and all the cash inside was stolen."

Uncle Ryotaro must be on that case, Souji thought, carefully not looking at Nanako. That must be why he isn't home.

"The vehicle, which was abandoned at the scene, had been reported stolen by a local contractor."

Yeah, that's it all right. Uncle Ryotaro probably won't be home tonight.

Nanako sighed. "Dad's late again." She was distracted then by the phone ringing; Souji started tp rose, but his cousin beat him to it. "Hello, Dojima residence. . . . Oh, hi, Dad." Souji couldn't hear what his uncle was saying, but the way Nanako's face fell told him all he needed to know. "Yeah. . . . I understand. It's your job." She came over to Souji and held out the phone. "Dad wants to talk to you." Tears brimmed in her eyes. "He can't take those days off."

Poor girl, Souji thought, holding the phone to his ear. "Uncle?"

"Yeah, it's me," Dojima confirmed. "One of the younger guys is out sick, and he was working on a case that we can't just let sit."

"The ATM robbery?" Souji asked. "It was on the news just a few minutes ago."

"That's the one," Dojima said, and though Souji couldn't see it, he knew his uncle was grimacing. "Rookies these days. . . . Anyway, I hate to drop this on you, but could you take care of Nanako for me?"

Souji looked at the stairs. Nanako had already run off, presumably to her room. "Of course," he said. "If nothing else I'll take her to Junes; she likes it there, and I promised I'd introduce her to my friends."

There was a definite sound of relief at the other end. "Thanks, Souji. You're a real lifesaver sometimes, you know that?"

"I try," Souji said, allowing himself a smile. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to lock up and everything."

"Good. Sorry, and thanks again."

Tuesday, 3 May, Early Morning

Tuesday was Constitution Day, the start of Golden Week, so Souji had the day off from school. He made a point of helping Nanako fix breakfast so she wouldn't feel lonely; it didn't appear to be a complete success, not that he'd really expected otherwise, but she did seem to appreciate the effort. Besides, given her limited repertoire (she was only six, after all), it made for a more interesting meal.

They'd been watching TV for around half an hour, chatting idly, when the doorbell rang. "Who could that be?" Nanako wondered.

It was Chie. "Cool, you're home," she said. "Yukiko told me about you plans, but after I saw that robbery story on TV last night, I figured you might want some company. So, you wanna come somewhere with us?" She looked past him. "How about you, Nanako-chan?"

Nanako's eyes widened; evidently she was surprised at being asked. "Um. . . ."

"Sure, come along with us," Souji said. "You can at least get out of the house for a while, and I did promise you could meet my friends."

"Um, are you sure?" Nanako said hesitantly.

Chie smiled. "Of course we're sure. C'mon, let's go. Maybe your dad's not home, but we'll make sure you have a good time."

Daytime

The Junes food court was pleasantly bright and warm, without even a hint of the previous rainfall. Nanako was of course delighted to be going to Junes; being included in Souji's group was a bonus for her. They met up with Yosuke, who was on break, and Yukiko, who had just finished her day's work at the inn, saying it was a relatively slow period.

"Seriously, why bring Nanako-chan to Junes of all places during Golden Week?" Yosuke wondered.

Souji chuckled. "Trust me, Yosuke, this is as good as it gets. Junes is Nanako's favorite place on Earth."

"I love Junes!" Nanako confirmed happily. She sighed. "But we were supposed to go on a real trip somewhere this time."

"My uncle is handling the ATM case," Souji explained. "One of the newer staff is out sick, so the case was dropped in Uncle Ryotaro's lap."

"We were going to make boxed lunches and everything, too," Nanako said.

Yukiko's eyebrows went up at that. "Wow, you can make those already?"

Nanako shook her head, and simply looked at Souji. He felt himself growing a bit warmer than the sunlight could account for, seeing all eyes focused on him. It's not that big a deal.

"So, you're the family cook, huh?" Chie said with a sly grin. "Pretty impressive, 'big bro'."

"Big bro," Nanako repeated, still looking at Souji.

The transfer student waved a hand, trying to brush it off. "I've always liked to cook, and since Uncle Ryotaro can't, I thought I'd do my part, help out a little." Inwardly he was pleased by his cousin's reaction, but that didn't make it any less embarrassing.

"You can cook?" Yosuke said. "Well, you do seem to be good with your– never mind. Forget I said anything."

Souji didn't know what his partner would have said, and quite frankly didn't want to know. As it was, Chie looked like she wanted to slap Yosuke, and he had a sneaking suspicion Yukiko was holding back a laughing fit.

"Well, I'm a pretty good cook . . . probably," Chie said. "If you'd asked, I could've whipped up some boxed lunches just like that. Yeah. . . ."

Somehow, Chie, I don't find that very encouraging. You don't sound as confident as you would probably like.

Yosuke looked at her like she'd grown an extra head. "Let me think– No."

I'll defer to Yosuke on this one. He knows Chie better than I do.

Chie sputtered. "What, you think I can't cook!? Let's have a cook-off and put that to the test!"

Souji closed his eyes, memories of his last year of middle school flashing through his mind. That won't end well. There is no way it can end well. Years later, the remembered smell of miso soup combined with takoyaki and something American –barbecued spareribs, his classmate had insisted– was enough to make him nauseous.

"My, doth the lady protest too much?" Yosuke said, oblivious to Souji's musings. "And I never said I cooked. But you know," he smiled slowly, "I have a feeling I'd win anyway."

Yukiko giggled softly. "I can certainly understand that."

"Yukiko!" Chie looked at her friend with an expression of betrayal. "How could you say that!?"

Probably because it's true.

"Nanako-chan can be our judge," Yosuke said. "I bet we can whip something up that ranks with your mom's cooking."

Souji winced. That subject was best left undisturbed, in his opinion. Bad enough that Nanako's father was so busy; brining up her mother would only underscore her loneliness.

"I don't have a mom," Nanako said quietly. "She died in an accident when I was little."

To his credit, Yosuke immediately recognized his mistake. "I didn't know," he murmured. "Sorry, Nanako-chan."

Nanako shook her head. "It's okay. I still have my dad, and now a big brother, too." She smiled at Souji. "And I'm having lots of fun here. I love Junes!"

And with that, the brief clouds dispelled. Nanako's cheer was infectious; even Souji, accustomed as he was to solitude, was far from immune.

"We'll play with you whenever you want," Chie said.

"Yeah, we should hang out more often," Yukiko agreed.

Looks like having her meet the team was the right thing to do, Souji thought. Unless he was much mistaken, his young cousin had just been made the Investigation Team's unofficial mascot. Even without knowing what they were really up to, she seemed to sense it, and relished the role.

Yosuke stood. "C'mon, Nanako-chan. Let's get a soda." She jumped up, scampering after him.

"She's strong," Yukiko murmured.

Souji leaned back in his chair. "She's had to be," he said quietly. "Mother dead, father not exactly good with kids, she's had to grow up faster than normal." He could relate; though the circumstances had been different, the outcomes had been largely the same, save that Nanako didn't appear to have any trouble connecting with people.

"Yeah," Chie said. "She makes me feel like I'm the kid." She jumped to her feet. "Okay, I'm gonna go get something for her, too." Yukiko in tow, she made her way through the crowd.

For a moment Souji just watched them. More and more, he was glad he'd come to Inaba. Though he'd been there for less than a month, he'd finally found something that was missing in his life. This time, he promised himself, he would make an effort to keep in touch when he left. He knew on an instinctive level that his new friends would do the same.

"Big bro!" Nanako appeared out of the crowd, waving. "Come on!"

Smiling softly to himself, Souji got up and followed her.

Wednesday, 4 May, Daytime

Nature Day, second of Golden Week. Another bright and sunny day, which at least meant things were likely to remain quiet for the time being. Still, Souji couldn't help wondering when they would have another rainy night.

His uncle was still busy, so he was planning to spend the day with Nanako. Before he'd formulated any concrete plans, his cell phone rang. "Seta," he said, clicking it on.

"It's just me," Yosuke said. "Hey, I know it's a bit weird after yesterday, but you feel like hanging out again?"

"Sure, as long as Nanako can come," Souji said. "My uncle is still busy, so I don't want to leave her all alone."

Yosuke laughed. "Hey, that's fine. I'll see if a couple of others want to come, too." He paused. "Chie was right; you really are Nanako-chan's 'big bro'."

Souji felt his face warm. "I know what it's like to be all alone," he said quietly. "I'm not going to leave her like that if I can help it."

"Hey, I gotcha," Yosuke said. "See you in a few."

Yosuke had rounded up Souji's teammate Kou and their friend Daisuke, and the lot of them went to Junes. Souji had to fight a twinge of unease as they wandered into the electronics department. He knew it was silly, of course; all he had to do was make sure not to touch any TV screens.

Note to self: don't pursue a career in TV repair, he thought ruefully.

The destination was Nanako's idea, of course. Junes, as Souji had noted, was just about her favorite place.

"Can't blame her," Kou remarked. "It's like a storehouse of magic; you can find almost anything here." He smiled at Nanako. "And besides, isn't she cute?"

Corny.

Nanako flushed, and she half-glared at the basketball player. "No, I'm not!" she snapped, visibly embarrassed. She quickly ducked behind Souji.

"Huh?" Kou appeared puzzled. "Did I hurt your feelings?"

Daisuke laughed. "Eh, don't worry, you're not cute."

Souji brought a hand up to his face. Wrong thing to say there, Daisuke.

"Hey, watch it!" Yosuke snapped, while Nanako ducked back further, practically steaming from the ears. Souji just rubbed his temples, already weary of Daisuke's antics.

"Daisuke can be a bit thickheaded," Souji said, which only made the other laugh.

It smoothed over soon enough, though Nanako stuck close to Souji throughout. Junes was more than enough to distract her, and Daisuke at least had the sense not to make any more wisecracks.

"Hey."

Souji twitched. To his considerable but well-hidden unease, Daisuke was staring at the same TV he and his friends used to enter Teddie's world. It probably meant nothing, but he couldn't help worrying. This was one cat he wanted kept firmly in the bag.

"This is one big TV," Daisuke said. "I feel like I'd get sucked in if I watched sports on something like that."

Exactly the subject they least wanted brought up, though it was undoubtedly ignorant coincidence. Souji hurriedly schooled his expression into one of indulgent skepticism. Better to just treat it as Daisuke being Daisuke, he decided.

"Y-Yeah, right," Yosuke said, the barest quaver in his voice. "Like that would ever happen."

"Listen to the man, Daisuke," Kou said. "Keep that up, and you'll get locked in a rubber room."

And just like that, the danger (such as it was) was passed. They spent the rest of the outing making small talk, chattering away about the usual teenage activities with an occasional interjection from Nanako. Souji was still careful to suggest a return to the food court, far away from any TVs.

When, he wondered, did my life turn into an anime?

Thursday, 5 May, Daytime

The final day of Golden Week found Souji wandering the shopping district. His friends were busy, and Nanako was at a classmate's house, leaving him at loose ends. Not that he really minded; a quiet walk gave him a chance to collect his thoughts.

His meanderings took him to the Tatsuhime Shrine. Stepping inside, he found that "neglected" summed it up all too well; nothing appeared to be actually falling apart, but there was a fair amount of dust, and the offertory was conspicuously empty. As near as he could tell, he was the only one there.

I guess it's not that surprising, the shopping district being what it is these days, he mused. Still, you'd think there would be someone. He turned to leave, but froze in mid step, the hair on the back of his neck standing on end.

Someone –or possibly something– was watching him.

He slowly pivoted, gray eyes scanning his surroundings. All appeared still save for leaves drifting in the light wind. A soft yip drew his attention around and upward, to the roof of the shrine.

Red and black fur. A small, slim body. Pointed ears and muzzle, long bushy tail.

A fox? Souji thought, the tension flowing out of his shoulders. What's a fox doing here of all places?

The fox yipped again, and leapt down to land at Souji's feet. Looking more closely, he saw it was wearing a red and white apron, odd for a fox, and was holding some kind of plaque in its mouth, which it gently nudged into Souji's hand when he crouched.

An ema? He frowned, turning it over in his hands. There was a leaf on the back, and while he'd paid attention in science class, he didn't recognize it. Why had the fox given it to him?

The fox dashed away as slow, plodding footsteps approached. An old man, balding and stooped, visibly pained as he walked. "Huh? There's a surprise; you don't see youngsters around here very often."

Souji shrugged. "I was bored," he admitted. "Last day of Golden Week, and I don't have much to do?"

"That so? It's still nice of you to drop by." The old man sighed. "I try to come here every week or so to tidy things up, but I haven't really been feeling well lately. My legs are starting to give out on me. Pretty soon I won't even be able to visit Keita; that's my grandson."

Souji looked down at the ema. "Please help grandpa's legs get better," it said. It was signed "Keita."

He suddenly realize the old man was staring at him. No, not at him, at the ema in his hand. More precisely, at the leaf attached. "Young man, that leaf!" He stepped closer, peering down at it. "That's it! Way back when I was young, my grandmother said this kind of leaf was the best remedy for aches." He took it and pressed it to his leg.

The result was immediate and dramatic. With a whoop, the old man was practically dancing around. "This is it, all right! The ache is gone, and I feel better than I have in years!" He slid past Souji, dropped a few large coins, and almost ran out the gate.

That was . . . different. Leaves with such dramatic healing properties. . . . Souji looked at the bushes, where the fox's head was peering out. "Is this what you were trying to do?"

A yip answered him. "You want to see the shrine restored," Souji said, the whole situation making him feel like he was back in the TV world. "You're trying to raise money to fix it up."

Another yip. "You want my help, do you?" Souji crouched down again and offered his hand. The fox nuzzled into his palm. "Sure, why not. It'll leave Inaba a brighter place next year."

The fox looked up at him with a satisfied air, and gestured with its muzzle to a pile of those same leaves. "You're offering to help, are you?" Souji said with smile. "I help restore the shrine, and you provide us with medicine. Sounds like a fair trade."

It yipped at him one more time, and disappeared into the underbrush.

Seeing the sun near the horizon, Souji decided it was time to head back. All in all, he thought, it was a fitting end to Golden Week.

Author's note: Still rather closer to the game script than I would like, but I did at least try to spice things up a little. Yes, the alteration to the rooftop scene where Yukiko joins is deliberate; it always annoys me when a game forces you to do something stupid. My depiction of Souji has better self-control than that.

Until next time. ~D.S.