Friday, 12 August, Daytime
Souji had spent the day after Kubo's capture simply resting, lacking the energy for much else. Yosuke, Yukiko, and Rise all had work to do, even Kanji was helping his mother. Chie seemed to go back and forth between Junes and the Amagi Inn, which said more than she probably realized.
The second day after their fight was pouring rain. Souji, lacking anything else to do, wandered into the shopping district. With Kubo in custody, Inaba was feeling peaceful again. For all his regret at the adventure's end, there was no denying the feeling of accomplishment that brought. Besides, it meant he could enjoy his walks again.
Suddenly craving a good book, he made his way to Yomenaido. Setting his umbrella aside, he nodded politely to the cashier, turned to one of the shelves, and almost tripped over Naoto Shirogane.
"My apologies, Souji-san," she said. "I was more engrossed than I should have been."
He waved it away. "It's just as much my fault for not looking where I was going."
Truthfully, he was surprised to see her still in Inaba. With the killer apprehended, he would have expected the young detective to leave for her next case. If her name meant what he suspected it did, her services were undoubtedly in high demand. Not, to be sure, that he was complaining about her continued presence. She was just about the only person he could talk to about some things.
"I trust things have been peaceful," Naoto said after a moment, thumbing through a particularly thick volume. "With Kubo apprehended, your uncle should be under much less strain."
Souji's mouth quirked. "You literally drove him to drink not too long ago," he said, fighting an urge to laugh at Naoto's faint blush. "Yeah, it's been a lot calmer. Haven't seen Uncle Ryotaro much; he said they've still got a bunch of loose ends to tie up." He grimaced slightly. "It turned out I had met Kubo before."
Naoto's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Had you? Granted Inaba is a small town, but he doesn't strike me as the sort of person you would encounter by chance."
Souji felt his lip twist. "He was waiting outside the Yasogami gate my first full day here. Made a pass at my friend Yukiko, ran away when she turned him down."
"I see." Naoto nodded slowly. "That does establish a motive regarding Amagi-san. I trust you shared this with your uncle?"
"Yeah." Souji had been sweating bullets during the brief interview, but there hadn't been much choice. "Luckily, there were something like a dozen witnesses, so Uncle Ryotaro didn't think I was doing something I shouldn't." Which was completely true, as it had happened before that fateful tumble into the TV.
Naoto smiled a little at that. She had a nice smile, Souji thought distantly. "Yes, that must have been nerve-wracking. If I may ask, what was your impression of Kubo?"
There were any number of reasons she could have been asking that. Souji didn't particularly care which; none of it could get him in trouble. "He gave me the creeps, quite frankly," he said, grimacing at the memory. "That fishy stare, and a creepy monotone voice. Chie looked like she was going to kick him in his weak spot, and I honestly wouldn't have blamed her."
"Nor would I," Naoto admitted, setting the book aside.
Souji shrugged. "Anyway, what brings you out on a day like this?"
Naoto picked up another book and inspected its cover. "To be honest, cabin fever," she said. "There are some matters I still need to resolve here, but there isn't really anything I can do today. This leaves me rather at loose ends."
"I know how you feel," Souji said. "I was taking a walk, and suddenly decided I needed something to read, so here I am."
"Perhaps this will suit your needs," Naoto said, passing over the book she was examining.
Souji looked at it with interest. It was the latest in a mystery series he'd been following since middle school; he hadn't known it was out yet. The volume must have arrived at Yomenaido just that morning.
"Aren't you going to buy it?"
Naoto looked just faintly smug. "I preordered it some time ago," she said, clearly pleased to be one step ahead of him for a change.
Souji inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Thanks for pointing it out," he said, stepping over to the counter. "If you'd like to learn more about Inaba, there's going to be a festival in the shopping district a little over a week from now," he added over his shoulder.
He caught a brief glimpse of a thoughtful look on Naoto's face as he left.
Evening
Souji wasn't sure what to think, gazing out at the fog-shrouded street. Was it really over with Mitsuo Kubo's arrest, or was there something deeper that they were still missing. He hoped it was the former, and everything they'd been able to dig up suggested it was, but it still nagged at him just a little. And why, if the case was solved, was Naoto still in town? Her reply had been more than a little vague, but he suspected the issues she'd mentioned were tied to the murder case.
A burst of static drew his attention back to the TV. As expected, the Midnight Channel was blank. With Mitsuo Kubo in custody, the case was for all practical purposes over. Were his misgivings mere paranoia, nothing more than jumping at shadows?
Probably. Still, he couldn't sake the faintest trace of unease.
Saturday, 13 August, Evening
Souji came home from his day care job to find probably the most sumptuous dinner he'd seen since arriving in Inaba. He couldn't recall that much sushi at once since the one time he'd had dinner at Reika's home, and that was over a year before. His own parents seldom went all-out on meals.
Adachi had joined them for the evening. "Wow," he said, whistling. "I've never seen this much fatty tuna at once."
"Well, if you're gonna celebrate, no sense doing it halfway," Dojima said with a grin.
Nanako looked from one to the other. "What are we celebrating?"
Her father nodded at the TV. "Watch."
The news anchor was looking rather less impassive than usual, quoting the accused murderer. "'I didn't care who I attacked.' 'They're all the same.' 'I wanted to be famous.' The suspect was often heard saying such things, and worse. The young culprit has confessed to the recent murders, but has thus far shown no sign of remorse. Because of a number of inconsistencies in the boy's deposition, some have called for him to undergo a mental evaluation."
"Probably smart," Souji said, suppressing a shudder. "Creepiest guy I've ever met."
"Still, at least we got him," Adachi said. "Tougher than you might think, even with the kid's confession. But then the lab found his prints on the victim's clothes, so we made it stick after all." He grinned. "Ain't crime scene investigation something? Who'd have thought you could get viable prints from cloth?"
It was impressive, Souji had to admit. Ten, twenty years before, and Kubo would likely have walked. Modern forensics had changed all that, and quite honestly he found the concept fascinating. Tracking down the smallest clue, in the most unlikely place, he was beginning to understand why Naoto was already pursuing a career as a detective at the tender age of sixteen.
"There's nothing more to be afraid of," Dojima said, looking at his daughter. "You're safe now."
Nanako smiled brightly. "Uh-huh!"
Adachi allowed himself a grimace. "Man, but that kid was twisted. A high schooler committing multiple murders and leaving the bodies like that, talk about over the edge. If we hadn't caught him when he did. . . ." He trailed off at a glare from Dojima. "Oops! Sorry, sir."
Seeming more exasperated than anything else, Dojima merely sighed and shook his head. "Go on, everyone, eat up."
Souji needed no encouragement. While his skills as a chef were steadily growing (and not just according to his uncle and cousin; Yukiko, for one, spoke highly of him), sushi was something he'd not yet had much chance to practice on. Chewing thoughtfully on a piece of fatty tuna, he made a mental note to look up recipes online.
Nanako, oddly, seemed hesitant, something her father picked up on at once. "Something wrong, Nanako?"
"There's wasabi on it."
Dojima looked mildly chagrined. "Oh, I forgot to have them hold the wasabi. Sorry about that; I'll get it off for you. What kind do you want?"
A sunny smile lit Nanako's face. "Halibut!"
"Excellent choice, Nanako-chan," Adachi said. "Me, I'll have the sea urchin."
Souji had to fight back a laugh at Dojima's comical look of outrage. "Hey, there's just one of those!"
"Sorry, sir. First come, first served."
This is going to be an interesting evening. Deciding to stay clear of the hijinks Dojima and Adachi were getting up to, Souji focused on his meal. Nanako was for once too concerned with eating to engage in much conversation; apparently she seldom got to have sushi.
"Don't eat all the tuna, Big Bro!" Nanako was grinning. "Save some for Dad and Adachi-san."
Yep. Really interesting.
Sunday, 14 August, Daytime
He woke up feeling more rested than he had in some time. The killer was caught, Dojima was in a much better mood, and Inaba was back to its nice, sleepy self. And to think Souji and his friends were the ones who made it happen. It gave him an undeniable feeling of accomplishment.
So of course, his cell phone rang.
"Sorry to bug you," Chie said. "I ran into Yosuke at Junes. He said he's in a bind 'cause they're short on staff this week, so don't be surprised if he comes begging you for help. He'll be all, 'You've gotta save me, Souji!'" Despite the seeming mockery, Chie sounded honestly concerned. "I feel sorry for him, so I'm gonna help out this week. See ya later!"
Souji pocketed his phone with a sense of impending doom. He would help out if asked, no question. That didn't mean he was looking forward to it; Junes could be insane at the best of times. Which, ironically, was why he would do it; he wasn't about to leave a friend to suffer that kind of chaos alone.
The shopping district was noticeably calmer. Souji had noticed a lot of tension over the last couple of months, especially in the wake of Kinshiro Morooka's murder. One of the parents he'd met at his daycare job had told him she was afraid to let her son out even during the day.
Now, with Kubo behind bars, he saw plenty of kids running about. Among them was Nanako, who waved cheerfully when she caught sight of him. Souji waved back, then continued on his way with a vague intention of visiting his vulpine friend at Tatsuhime Shrine.
He'd just nixed the idea, on the grounds that they were likely preparing for the festival less than a week away, when a familiar melodious voice called his name. "Oh, Souji-kun. I don't see you here very often."
"I come here a lot; we're just not usually around at the same time," he said with a smile. "What brings you out here today, Yukiko?"
The inn heiress smiled back. "I'm actually going to Kanji-kun's place to pick up an order," she said, falling in step with him. "Mother placed an order for new tablecloths, and it just came in."
"Your inn is just about the only place in Inaba that's usually busy, aside from Junes," Souji observed wryly. "Speaking of Junes, I'll probably be there for most of the week. Had a call from Chie this morning; she told me they're swamped, so Yosuke will probably come begging for help. I'll do it, of course."
"Of course," Yukiko agreed. "That's what friends are for. Is Teddie doing all right?"
Souji waved at Rise as they passed Marukyu. "Last I heard, yeah. The kind of job he has would drive me insane, but I think he's just glad to be around people."
Yukiko nodded thoughtfully. "He would be. I know he said he just wanted to live in peace, but even without the danger of Shadows, that world is a very lonely place."
"Yeah." Souji covered a grimace. "And even with the killer—we hope—caught, there's just so much we don't know about the TV world. I don't think we can afford to just leave it." Despite the bright summer sun, he felt a brief chill. "If Teddie can leave it, I wouldn't be surprised if Shadows can, too."
It was a grim prospect, as Yukiko clearly knew. "I wouldn't worry too much," she said. "Aside from the ones that came directly from specific people, Shadows have always seemed more like animals. I don't think it would occur to them to leave that world."
She had a point, Souji realized. They still needed to study the TV world further, but the unlikelihood of Shadows crossing over made it much less urgent. He was just as glad, given that he was probably going to be more or less stuck at Junes for a few days.
"But enough about that," Yukiko said. "Are you looking forward to the festival, Souji-kun?"
"Actually, I am," Souji told her. "Last year's was on the dull side, but I think it was because I only had one real friend at the time. I was something of an outsider at my last school." And the one before that, and the one before that, too, he added silently.
His companion smiled. "So it should be more exciting with all of us there," she said.
"As long as it doesn't get too exciting," Souji said. "Yosuke told me a couple of horror stories about his last couple of Summer Festivals. I'd rather not see something like that here, not when things are finally settling down."
Yukiko waved a hand. "It'll be fine. Just a fun night out for once, nothing to worry about."
Souji took a deep breath, let it out slowly. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'm just being paranoid." He chuckled suddenly. "I wonder what the fox will make of the whole thing?"
"It'll probably watch from a cozy hiding place," Yukiko said. "That's one clever animal."
True, Souji had to concede. Seeing Tatsumi Textiles ahead, he parted ways with Yukiko, thinking of perhaps getting some lunch. Aiya's was always a good choice, even if he wondered how on Earth anyone could manage to finish the Rainy Day Beef Bowl. Even Chie had been defeated by that mass of meat.
Stepping inside, he spotted Kou and Daisuke. "Yo, Souji," the former said, waving him over. "Hungry?"
"You might say that," Souji allowed, perching on a stool. "Whatever the day's special is," he said to the waiter, then looked at Kou. "You're looking tired."
Kou grimaced. "Just got out of another high-society type gathering. You know how it is."
"Better than I'd like to," Souji agreed. "One reason I'm glad to be in Inaba; only family connection I have here is my detective uncle and his daughter, so no formal events for me." He paused briefly as his lunch arrived. "Plenty of chaos, but no formal events," he amended.
Daisuke laughed. "Yeah, you've got that guy from the biker special and a celebrity hanging around with you now. What's she like, anyway?"
Souji glanced at him sidelong. "First off, Kanji wasn't actually in a biker gang; say that around him, and he'll probably deck you. Rise, she's really a normal girl. A bit bubbly, sure, but not some larger-than-life figure."
"Told ya," Kou said, lightly punching Daisuke's shoulder. "Don't believe everything you see on TV."
Especially not if it's on the Midnight Channel, Souji thought, suppressing a shudder at the thought. "So, either of you going to the festival Saturday?"
Kou snorted. "You kidding? My grandma would have a fit if I went there. Too low-class, or something like that. Maybe she'd think different if it wasn't so run-down."
Souji made a mental note to not let it be generally known that he was acquainted with the shrine's resident fox. If Kou's grandmother got wind of it, he suspected she would go on the warpath. That was the last thing Inaba needed now that things were finally settling down.
"So, Souji, got any plans for the rest of the week?" Kou asked.
"Probably be at Junes," Souji replied, recalling his chat with Yukiko not an hour before. "Yosuke's getting swamped, so I'll try and help out."
Daisuke winced. "Ouch. That's the breaks, I guess."
"Could be worse," Souji said, finishing his meal. "See you guys later."
Monday, 15 August, Daytime
He awoke with an odd sense of oncoming disaster. It wasn't rational, of course; Mitsuo Kubo was in custody, Nanako was happy, Dojima was in a better mood than he'd been in months, and the rest of the sleepy little town seemed at peace. So there was no reason to feel like the world was about to end.
BEEPBEEPBEEP.
Glancing reluctantly out the window, Souji picked up his cell phone, wincing when he saw the caller ID. Here we go. "That you, Yosuke?"
"Yeah," his friend said. "Sorry to drop this on you out of nowhere, but could you work at Junes through Friday?" Yosuke's voice was almost even, but there was a definite ragged edge to it. "We're short on staff! I'll pay you more than our workers normally get; heck, I'll even buy you lunch every day!" From the sound of it, the "Junes Boy" was beginning to hyperventilate. "Please, partner, I'm begging you!"
Souji had known this was coming, of course. Part of him wanted very much to refuse, but while he disliked chaos, he liked the thought of a friend being caught in it alone even less. "Sure," he said, wondering just what he was getting into. "I'll pay for my own lunch, though; no need to go quite that far."
He could almost see Yosuke's shoulders slumping in relief. "Really? Thanks, man, you're a lifesaver. See you in a bit."
Souji pocketed the phone. Look on the bright side, he told himself. Earning a bit more money outside the family business is good, and it'll help pass the time till the festival.
Assuming he didn't keel over from exhaustion.
It was obvious from the moment Souji walked in the door why Yosuke had begged him for help. Since his arrival in Inaba, he'd never seen Junes quite so crowded. Especially the food court; the noise was such that he could barely hear himself think.
"Yeah, it's crazy," Yosuke said. "All this over the hero show. It's damned hot out today, too."
"Well, it is summer," Souji pointed out. "Hot comes with the territory."
Yosuke just snorted at that. Over by the counter, Chie was giving some kind of sales pitch to a few kids; even in her tank top and shorts, she looked like she was boiling. Even more amazing, Teddie was behind the counter in his bear suit, diligently plugging away.
"Guess we'd better get to it," Souji said, mentally bracing himself.
He soon found that "crazy" was an understatement. A seemingly endless stream of customers flowed through from midmorning to a bit past sunset. At the end of the first hour, it was like nothing existed save for Junes and its customers, who apparently comprised most of the population of Inaba.
By the end of the first day, he knew he never, ever wanted to work in retail. Not even to pay for college if he could help it.
Friday, 19 August, Daytime
Almost done. Yosuke, you owe me big time for this.
There was no real anger in the thought, though, at least not directed at Yosuke. However unpleasant the experience, it was worthwhile, and hardly Yosuke's fault Junes was understaffed for a big event. He still planned on taking a long shower when he got home.
"Man, how does he do it?" Yosuke wondered, referring to Teddie. "I'm melting in a short-sleeved shirt, and he's wearing his bear suit right in front of the griddle. Talk about dedication."
"He is slowing down, though," Souji said. "Still, dedicated is right. Probably wants to make something of himself in our world."
Yosuke shrugged. "Whatever it is, I never thought I'd say this, but we're lucky to have him." He glanced at Souji. "Festival's tomorrow, remember. We'll finally have something fun after this mad house."
"I'll be there," Souji promised.
Saturday, 20 August, Evening
It was surprisingly quiet at the Tatsuhime Shrine that night. Not that Souji was complaining; after five days of Junes madness, he welcomed the peace and quiet. And relative cool; it was amazing that he hadn't dehydrated himself over the last week or so.
He had arrived with Yosuke, Kanji, and Teddie; the girls (including Nanako) had said they would be a bit longer. "Weird," Yosuke commented, looking around. "The festival's usually livelier than this. Because of the murders, maybe?"
"Can't blame 'em," Kanji said. "Even with that bastard Kubo in jail, people are still scared. Haven't seen any reporters, though; creeps are good at kicking things up and disappearing." He shrugged. "Who cares about them? Time for some ikayaki."
"Sounds great!" Teddie said with a broad grin. ". . .Kanji, what's ikayaki?"
Souji had to suppress a chuckle at the pseudo-bear's comedic ignorance. It wasn't fair, after all, it was hardly Teddie's fault that he knew so little of the human world. Yosuke rolled his eyes, while Kanji took pity and gave Teddie a brief explanation. The bear offered no objection to grilled squid.
"Man, what's taking so long?" Yosuke wondered, glancing at his watch. "Why'd they have to meet at Yukiko's place first, anyway?"
"They'll be along—" Kanji broke off, eyes widening slightly.
As did Teddie's, in a way that boded ill. "Here they come!"
It was indeed their female friends, all clad in floral-pattern yukata. Nanako wore a light pink, Chie white, Yukiko (unusually for her) blue, and Rise a darker pink. Though he kept the reaction to himself (wary of being kicked or set alight if nothing else), Souji had to admit it suited them all very well.
"Sorry we're late," Chie said, sounding rather breathless.
"It took longer to get dressed than we expected," Yukiko explained. "Yukata are more complicated than they look."
Rise rolled her eyes slightly. "You have to wrap towels around inside, so it's not really as breezy as people say."
At "breezy," Souji had to fight very hard indeed not to shoot Teddie a warning look. It would have been to obvious, and in all likelihood would have had no effect on the target. When it came to the female of the species, Teddie was already proving disturbingly persistent.
Nanako shifted awkwardly. "It's a little hard to walk." She was smiling as she spoke, though.
"It suits you," Souji assured her, drawing a giggle.
Rise tilted her head, looking oddly expectant. "So how do we look, Senpai? Does it make your heart skip a beat?"
This was dangerous territory indeed. Nanako, fortunately, wasn't an issue, but that left the other three. If he said Chie, Yosuke would probably hit him, given his poorly-hidden interest in the martial artist. If he said Yukiko looked the best, it might put him at risk with Chie, and choosing Rise had all kinds of implications he didn't really want to consider. And that was leaving aside the fact that none of them were really his type, however attractive.
"I hope you're not expecting me to make a choice here," he said after a moment. "'Cause I'm not really sure I could."
Chie, to his relief, seemed more amused than anything else. Yukiko was unperturbed, while Rise affected a very obvious mock-pout. "Aw, are you sure, Senpai? None of us strike your fancy?"
"Can we please leave it at that?" Souji replied. "I'd like to relax after a crazy week." Fortunately, Rise immediately relented.
That's one disaster averted, he thought. Maybe we can enjoy the festival after all. Kanji, he noted with some amusement, wasn't looking at the girls at all. For all his tough-guy persona, Kanji Tatsumi was one of the most insecure people Souji had ever met, though he was steadily improving.
Beyond the girls, Souji spotted his uncle approaching. "Uncle Ryotaro," he greeted. "I wasn't sure you'd be able to attend."
"The office has finally quieted down for now. They can spare me for tonight." Dojima nodded a greeting at Souji's friends (including Kanji, amazingly), then smiled at his daughter. "Having fun, Nanako?"
"Yeah!" The young girl smiled brightly. "Big Bro and his friends bought me some cotton candy."
Dojima grinned. "That so? Thanks for looking out for her." He looked back at Nanako. "Want to go try the target—sorry, game with me?"
"Sure!" Nanako turned and waved.
"I'll take her from here," Dojima said. "Events like this don't come very often in Inaba. You kids should relax and have a little fun."
"You, too, Uncle Ryotaro," Souji said. "You've earned it."
Dojima laughed. "You really are one of a kind. See you later."
Souji watched them go, glad to see his uncle back to normal. The stress of the investigation had taken its toll on Dojima, and Souji was proud to have had a hand in ending it, even if he couldn't tell anyone. Besides, it made Nanako happy, a major victory all by itself.
"Hmm." Something in Teddie's voice had alarm bells ringing in Souji's mind. "A couple walking together at a festival. . . . Unused to wearing it, the girl's yukata comes loose. . . ." He grinned rather disturbingly. "Summer had begun."
No. Please, no. There is no way that can end well.
Chie frowned. "Okay, what kind of tagline is that, anyway?"
Don't ask, Souji pleaded silently. It's Teddie; you know he has something insane in mind.
"We gotta go two-by-two!" Teddie said with a low, comedic roar.
We're doomed.
Yukiko, all too predictably, appeared more confused than anything else. "Two-by-two?" she repeated.
"I've been thinking," Teddie said, confirming Souji's suspicions. "It's the summer, you're all wearing yukata, and we're at a festival." Despite Souji's silent pleas for him to shut up, the bear continued relentlessly. "It's just wrong for guys and girls to walk around in a group like this. It's only natural that we couple up here."
"What the hell are you babblin' about?" Kanji demanded, visibly nervous.
Don't ask. Please, don't ask.
"I'm with Teddie," Rise said, to the astonishment of everyone else present. Souji had a sinking feeling in his stomach; for Rise to agree with Teddie on anything unrelated to the case was a very bad sign indeed. "C'mon, Senpai, why wear yukata in the first place? For the fond memories, of course."
Chie appeared to be suppressing a wince. "Man, she can be scary. Got a point though; I'd like some good memories of this."
I don't think Rise's idea of good memories is the same as yours, Chie, Souji thought, eying the teen idol uneasily. Rise, you're a good friend, but I don't see you that way.
"I'm fine with it," Yukiko said. "I mean, count me in."
Chie took a nervous breath. "Okay, y-you guys decide how we pair up."
Yosuke's eyes widened. "Seriously? It's up to us?" he said, echoing Souji's thoughts. "Fine." He waved the other males over. "Three guys, three girls How do we do this?"
"Three guys?" Teddie repeated. "Aren't we missing one?"
This was just getting better and better. Souji felt a sudden urge to turn tail and run. Unfortunately, running wasn't an option, at least not yet. A leader couldn't behave like that, even off the battlefield.
"Huh?" Yosuke said. "Souji, Kanji, and me, that's three."
Teddie roared in outrage. "Y-You did that on purpose!"
If I'd known this was going to happen, I'd have let Kubo's Shadow chop me in half, Souji thought darkly. I almost wish Reika was here. Only almost, though. Knowing Reika Sakamoto, things would have gotten a little too exciting.
"Should I even be doing this?" Kanji said.
"Maybe not; you can barely even look at 'em," Yosuke conceded.
That, of course, sent Kanji right into stubborn mode. "Sure I can! Just you watch, it'll be a cinch!"
"Well, I've made my decision," Teddie interrupted. "I want Rise-san, Yukiko-san, and Chie-san for my partner."
And with that, Souji decided his presence was no longer required. He felt bad leaving Yosuke and Kanji to the bear's antics, but in truth there was nothing more he could do. In light of that, for the sake of his sanity he thought it best to strike out on his own.
He heard sounds of outrage from Chie and Yukiko, and despairing moans from Yosuke, but he no longer even wanted to know what was happening. At that moment, all he wanted was a little solitude to clear his head.
"Ah, Souji-san. I trust you're enjoying the festival?"
Souji almost jumped out of his skin. Clad not in yukata (unsurprisingly), but her light blue shirt, dark blue pants and ever-present cap, Naoto regarded him curiously from a couple of meters away. "I was," he said when he had his heart rate back under control. "Until one of my friends came up with a zany plot. Now I just need some air."
"I see," Naoto said. "I'll leave you be, if you would prefer."
Souji shook his head. "No, that's all right. You aren't likely to do anything insane, so it isn't a bother. A breath of fresh air, actually."
Slightly bemused, Naoto nonetheless offered a faint smile. "I'll . . . take that as a compliment. To be honest, I came more out of curiosity than anything else. Inaba, while small, is a fascinating place."
"It has a few hidden gems," Souji agreed. "Speaking of which. . . ." He glanced about, seeking a telltale glimmer in the night. "Follow me."
Curious almost despite herself, Naoto obeyed. He led her away from what crowds there were, to a small thicket near the offertory. Offering a small smile, Souji crouched down, one hand extended toward the underbrush.
There was a moment's hesitation, and then a familiar sharp-muzzled face emerged. Smile widening, Souji ran a hand over the fox's back, gently stroking the soft fur. The fox appeared to appreciate the attention, yipping in a friendly manner.
"I got to know him—or her, I'm not quite sure—a couple months ago," he explained. "Even for a fox, it's a clever one." Souji chuckled softly, recalling how his vulpine friend had adapted to the TV world. "This is Naoto Shirogane," he said to the animal. "Why don't you say hello?"
The fox seemed to consider that. Apparently deciding to take Souji's word, it calmly approached the "Detective Prince," head cocked slightly to one side.
Naoto lowered herself, carefully extending one hand. "Hello there," she said softly. The fox sniffed at her hand, then nuzzled at it, apparently satisfied. "Souji-san is right, you are a clever one," she said. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you were able to befriend a fox, given the interesting assortment of people with whom you tend to associate."
Souji laughed. "Interesting is one way of putting it," he conceded. "But really, I wouldn't have it any other way. Especially now that the killer is in custody, so we can relax a little. My uncle was constantly on edge for a while."
"Yes, I noticed." Naoto scratched the fox's ears. "Not that I blamed him, all things considered."
There was a slight touch of bitterness in her voice, Souji noted. Dojima's sometimes irascible personality might have had something to do with it, he supposed, recalling the time his uncle had come home drunk. Not to mention all the scoldings Adachi had received, though from what Souji had seen the younger detective probably deserved it.
"In any case, I probably should be getting home soon," Naoto said, pushing herself upright. "It was a pleasure speaking with you, Souji-kun. And you," she added to the fox, who yipped in reply.
"Likewise," Souji said, waving as the detective walked off. Come to think of it, he needed to be leaving before long himself. First, however, he needed to check on the girls, however unpleasant the prospect. He gave it even odds that Chie had turned Teddie into a bearskin rug.
Still, he had to admit, it could have been worse.
Tuesday, 23 August, Daytime
A bright, sunny day, quiet save for insects and the occasional car. Souji found himself eating with Rise, who had finished her shift at Marukyu. Long accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the city, especially where business was concerned, he was finally beginning to understand what a "lazy summer" meant.
"Good stuff, but a bit strong for me," Rise was saying, referring to the food at Aiya's. "My grandmother's food is good, but a little bland. Eh, that's tofu for ya; it's good for you, too."
Souji shrugged. "Never been much for tofu myself," he admitted. "Ramen's always been more my thing." He didn't add that he hadn't been all that fond of curry even before the Mystery Food X debacle.
From the look of it, Rise didn't entirely believe him. "Ramen? This from Mister Gourmet?"
"Where did you come up with that one?" Souji wondered, one silver eyebrow raised.
"Teddie," Rise said, giggling. "When we all made omelets after that bastard Kubo was arrested." She looked past, and suddenly her good cheer was gone as if someone had flipped a switch.
The reason was readily apparent. Standing outside Marukyu Tofu was a bespectacled man in a dark blue-gray suit. His short brown hair was neatly groomed, and he had a mild air about him, but Souji wasn't taking anything for granted. At the same time, his combat instincts were silent.
"Should we call the police?" he suggested, reaching for his cell.
"Maybe," Rise said. "Is he a reporter, or maybe a stalker? No." She shook her head. "He looks familiar." They took a few more steps, ready to flee on an instant's notice, and she inhaled sharply. "No way! Inoue-san!?"
The man—Inoue—raised his head. "Rise-chan!" he greeted.
Rise didn't look happy to see him. "What are you doing here, anyway?" she bit out. "I've already settled everything with the agency."
"I'm here because. . . ." Inoue took a deep breath. "Personally, I just can't accept that. I've watched over you as your manager this whole time."
That rang alarm bells in Souji's mind. He smelled pressure tactics, possibly a guilt trip. It wouldn't be the first time, and it always infuriated him. Celebrities were so often treated like mere objects instead of people, a little-known dark side to the entertainment industry. He suddenly understood very well indeed why Rise had come to Inaba.
Rise was almost spitting with rage. "I'm not a 'personality' anymore!" she all but snarled. "My private time doesn't belong to you or anyone else! Now go away before I call the police!"
Inoue almost recoiled at that. "P-Please, wait just a moment! Couldn't you at least think it over?" He struggled to regain his composure. "I'm certain no one could play this role better than Rise Kujikawa. Your fans were so looking forward to it, too."
Guilt trip, no mistake. Souji clenched a fist; Inoue, so focused on Rise, didn't notice the danger sign.
Rise was unmoved. "You still want me to act!?" she said incredulously. "I told, you I'm through with it! I'm done with showbiz! In fact. . . ." She looked at Souji, desperation in her eyes. "I've decided to marry this man when we graduate high school!" She moved to stand next to him. "I said I was on hiatus, but I've changed my mind. I just can't take it anymore! Souji, he sees the real me. He's gentle and kind."
Flattering, but it put him in a very delicate position. Still, he was angry enough to play along for the time being. Fixing Inoue with a cold stare, he pulled out his phone.
The manager got the message. Gulping visibly, Inoue beat a hasty retreat.
Breathing heavily, Rise sat on the Marukyu front step. "Sorry about that, Senpai," she said. "I know lying's wrong and all, but. . . ."
"You were desperate, and Inoue-san was pushing things more than he had any right to," Souji assured her. "What was all that about, if you don't mind me asking?"
Rise sighed. "Well, like you heard, Inoue-san was my manager. I'm the same age as his daughter, so he's always treated me like one of the family." She shook her head. "He's a stranger now." Her face brightened. "Not all of it was a lie, though. You really are a gentle guy, you see the real me."
Souji smiled wryly. "More than almost anyone else has," he said, referring to the incident with her Shadow.
"Yeah, that's true," Rise said with a relieved laugh. "See you later, Senpai. And thanks."
"Anytime."
Wednesday, 24 August, Evening
Homework and summer break, Souji thought grumpily, really ought to be mutually exclusive. What kind of "break" has you working, anyway?
It wasn't even his own homework. Nanako had been assigned a huge load to finish over the summer, far too much for her to finish on her own. The objective, according to her, was to tighten family bonds by doing homework together. Souji had to force himself not to roll his eyes at that.
He had in fact been doing practically nothing but homework since parting from Rise the day before. Mostly review stuff, fortunately, but it still took up more time than he liked. About the only saving grace was that he was able to do it all by himself.
"For this one, I have to write three proverbs," Nanako said. "Hmm. . . . Oh, there's 'A rolling stone gathers no moss.' My dad taught me that one." They both looked up at the doorbell. "Who could that be?"
"That" turned out to be Yosuke and Teddie. If Souji recalled the schedule correctly, they would just have gotten off work at Junes. He himself had been forced to beg off his day care assignment to have any chance at all of getting his homework done. Make him want to strangle Noriko Kashiwagi.
"We had an event at Junes today," Yosuke said, setting what looked like a stuffed platypus on the table. "Oh, doing summer homework? I feel sorry for you."
Souji arched one eyebrow. "And have you done your homework yet, partner? I've been swamped since late yesterday."
He suppressed a laugh at Yosuke's wince. "Yeah, well, I'll get it taken care of sooner or later."
"Better make it sooner," Souji said, smiling at Nanako's giggle.
Teddie looked at Nanako's paper with interest. "Hmm, proverbs. Okay, I'll help you, Nana-chan!" He grinned. "How about 'cogito ergo sum'!"
Yosuke looked at him as though he'd grown an extra head. "Where'd you pick that up? 'Don't cast pearls before swine' is more your style."
Nanako was unable to control her laughter.
Tuesday, 30 August, Daytime
Tatsuhime Shrine was for the most part quiet when there wasn't a festival going on. Which suited Souji just fine; after finally wrapping up his homework, he wanted to just relax for a bit. Yukiko's request that he join her there was just what the doctor ordered.
The fox had come out briefly to greet them, then disappeared into the underbrush. "I come here once and a while for the peace and quiet," Yukiko said, watching the animal leave. "Sometimes with the inn waitresses, like right before an important guest arrives." She smiled a bit wistfully. "We make our annual hatsumode visit here, and the exam charm, too." She sighed. "Once I leave town, I won't be able to see this place again."
Souji tilted his head slightly. "You're not coming back?"
Yukiko shook her head minutely. "I don't think . . . I could face my parents like that."
Souji had a strong suspicion his friend was having second thoughts, but couldn't yet admit it even to herself. Leaving town entirely wasn't as easy as Yukiko believed, or wanted to believe. Having spent most of his life in the big city, Souji feared Yukiko might find it overwhelming.
Movement caught his eye, a middle-aged woman in a pale kimono. "Ah, Yuki-chan, there you are."
Yukiko inclined her head. "Kasai-san. What are you doing here?"
Kasai smiled a bit mischievously. "Oh, just taking a little break after placing an order at Konishi Liquors." She sighed dramatically. "Now you know."
What.
Yukiko flushed slightly. "S-Sorry, I won't tell."
"Just kidding!" Kasai said with a laugh. "The look on your face. . . ." Her eyes lit on Souji. "Oh, my, is this the rumored boyfriend? All that hard work in the kitchen finally paid off."
Yukiko shook her head rapidly, her face a deeper red. "i-It's not like that, really!"
Kasai smiled, clearly not believing her. "Oh? Perhaps you don't yet realize it. I'll leave you two alone."
Is there any girl I'm not rumored to be dating? Souji wondered incredulously. Yukiko, Rise, Yumi, even Ai Ebihara. There were definite drawbacks, he reflected, to being the transfer student.
"Sorry about that," Yukiko said. "That was one of our waitresses. They all have the wrong idea about us, have been since I started really trying to cook."
Souji waved a hand. "Don't worry about it. It's not your fault. If anything it's mine for not thinking about the kind of position I might be in."
Yukiko managed a smile. "Kasai-san and the others at the inn have been teaching me. Even though I'm still not very good, even though I once almost set the kitchen on fire, they're very patient with me." She was looking just a bit wistful. "And I have friends at school, too."
"I envy you," Souji said, too softly for her to really hear.
Her mood darkened a little anyway. "But I'm trying to leave town . . . it's like I'm betraying them. No help for that, I guess."
Unsure what to say to that, Souji gently changed the subject. They spend another half hour talking about unrelated matters, then went their separate ways.
Wednesday, 31 August, Daytime
Normally a morning person, Souji decided to for once sleep in just a little. It was the last day of summer break, and if his homework was any indication, he was going to need all the sleep he could get for second term. He couldn't even take comfort from the loss of Morooka, given that Kashiwagi was even worse in her own way.
"Good morning," Nanako said cheerily. "Dad just called; he said someone at work gave him a watermelon. It's too big for us to eat alone, so he said you should call your friends over. Do think Teddie and the others can come?"
Souji was already reaching for his cell. "Probably, but I'm kinda surprised he'd be happy to have Kanji over."
Nanako smiled. "Dad says you must be a good influence, because Kanji-kun is doing lots better."
"I guess I should take that as a compliment," Souji said with a laugh, thumbing his phone on. "Yosuke? Souji. My uncle got a big watermelon, so he said to invite you and the others over."
"Watermelon?" Yosuke said. "Hell, yeah. Haven't had any yet this year. Sure, I'll be right over; I'm off Junes today, since school's back on tomorrow." His tone was so dust-dry that Souji had to suppress a laugh. "You'd better not smack it open before we get there."
Guess we'll be ending summer break on an exciting note, Souji thought whimsically. Hopefully without a repeat of the festival.
The living room was packed within fifteen minutes. It wasn't, Souji knew, simply because they all liked watermelon (he doubted Teddie had ever had any). Everyone in his circle of friends just adored Nanako, and would never pass up a chance to hang out with her.
"Watermelon, huh?" Kanji said. "Stuff's been so crazy this summer, I missed out. It in the fridge?"
"Kanji!" Rise snapped. "They invited us over; at least show some manners!"
Souji wasn't overly concerned. Kanji had come a long way from the rather frightening delinquent he'd been when they first crossed paths. If he still had issues with tact, so be it. He was learning.
"Gotta smack it open first," Yosuke said from his seat at the kitchen table.
Never been able to figure that one out, Souji thought. Apparently neither had Chie. "We can't exactly eat it if it's all smashed up," she pointed out.
Yukiko giggled softly. "It sounds like a lot of fun, though."
"Yeah, I wanna, too!" Nanako said.
Okay, this is starting to get a bit out of control, Souji thought, anxious to avoid further chaos. Yukiko and Nanako didn't worry him, but there were one or two who did.
The biggest worry promptly spoke up. "I'll swing with everything I've got!" Teddie said. "Ah, the splattering of fruit juice! Bursts of joy! One night of love, the bitter sweetness of those days is the essence of youth!"
Souji covered his face briefly with one hand. Bad poetry, nice. Come on, Teddie, can't you ease off just a little?
Yosuke was less restrained. "Come on, that makes no sense at all."
"It's typical Teddie, though," Souji said, looking at the bear sidelong. "I have to wonder how much of his cultural knowledge came from watching TV."
"Yeah, well, the commercial lines are getting old," Yosuke said. "It's like he just stepped out of some ad."
Nanako smiled. "That's the essence of youth!"
Teddie is corrupting her.
Souji glanced at his watch. Dojima wasn't more than a few minutes away; hopefully the crowd wouldn't bother him too much. It was unlikely, though; when not on a case, Ryotaro Dojima was a very easygoing sort. Probably why he and Souji got along so well.
Right on schedule, the front door slid open. "I'm home—whoa, that's a lot of shoes! Just how many people are there?" He sounded more amused than anything else.
"Counting Nanako-chan, eight," Souji said with a lopsided smile.
Sadly, they were unable to smack the watermelon open, much to Nanako's disappointment. It wasn't a total loss, though; sitting on the back porch, Souji decided it was the best watermelon he'd had in some years. Since he was about nine years old, if his memory was anything close to accurate.
"Sorry," Dojima said. "It never even occurred to me."
"Don't beat yourself up too much, Dojima-san," Chie said. "There's always next year, right, Nanako? At the beach."
Rise's face lit up. "Seconded!"
Next year. Souji felt a brief pang, knowing he would be leaving in the spring. But I'm sure I'll be able to come back for summer break at least. It's not like I'm involved in the family business.
"You'll play with me next year?" Nanako asked hesitantly.
"Count on it," Souji said. "I'm sure my parents will at least let me come to Inaba for summer break." He smiled wryly. "My mother's been worrying about the lack of stability."
Dojima laughed. "Maybe she and her husband should stop moving around so much." There was no bite in his voice, though; he understood the demands on his sister's time. "Besides, you're almost old enough to be out on your own anyway. Just a year and a half till graduation."
That, Souji wasn't sure he was prepared to think about. After that came college, and being uncertain what he wanted to be was something of a hindrance.
He shook the thought off. He still had a good seven months left in Inaba, and he planned to make the most of them.
"That reminds me," Dojima said. "It would be nice if they would pay a visit to Inaba; I haven't seen Aoi since you were less than a year old."
A sad reality of life in modern Japan. One of the biggest reasons, besides sheer boredom, that Souji had no particular desire to follow in his parents' footsteps. Also one of the reasons, he suddenly realized, that he'd so quickly fallen in love with sleepy Inaba.
Eventually, over the next hour or so, the others drifted off. It was, after all, the last day of summer break, so they couldn't afford to be out too late. An exhausted Nanako went to bed early, right around sunset, leaving Souji alone in the living room with his uncle.
"Thanks for all that," Dojima said with a tired smile, leaning back on the couch. "I haven't seen Nanako in such high spirits in a long time."
Souji shrugged. "I just did what came naturally," he said.
"Be that as it may, you've been a good influence," Dojima said. "You even got Kanji Tatsumi on the straight and narrow; I never would have thought that was possible." He shook his head. "Now that the case is over. . . . No. Save that for some other time." He looked back up, still with that tired smile. "You've really made some good friends."
Souji gazed off at nothing, feeling a wistful smile cross his face. "That I have, Uncle Ryotaro. That I have."
Thursday, 1 September, Early Morning
After the long (by Japanese standards) and somewhat chaotic summer break, the gates of Yasogami High School had an alien quality to them. The weather was different, and he was clad in his summer uniform, but Souji still felt much the same as when he'd arrive back in April.
"Mornin'," Chie greeted, walking up with Yukiko in tow (as usual). She let out an exaggerated sigh. "Man, summer vacation's over already."
"Tell me about it," Yosuke said, coming up behind them. "I managed to get lost on my way here."
Souji glanced at him in the corner of his eye, but made no comment. Come on, Yosuke, you've lived here longer than I have. Don't tell me your sense of direction is that bad.
Yukiko, unsurprisingly, took it at face value. "It was pretty long," she said.
"Not that long," Chie retorted, rolling her eyes. "Sheesh."
Chuckling softly at his friends' banter, Souji led the way through the gate, and was greeted by the last thing he expected to see. A new student, clad in the male version of the school's uniform, but still with the ever-present dark blue cap. He (or rather, she) had what appeared to be a normal school bag in one hand.
What.
"Good morning," Naoto Shirogane greeted.
Yosuke blinked. "Huh? Hey, you're that, uh, pint-sized detective."
It was clearly the wrong thing to say. Naoto's dark gray eyes narrowed, a surprisingly fierce expression on so young a face. "I beg your pardon? My name is Naoto. Please, don't give people silly nicknames you make up on the spot."
And Yosuke jams his foot in his mouth. Again. "Good morning, Naoto-kun," Souji said, inclining his head. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Naoto shrugged fractionally. "My cooperation with the police is at an end, but there are some aspects of the case of which I remain, shall we say, unconvinced. There are also some family-related issues as well, so I have decided to remain here for the time being."
Which could mean almost anything. For all that Souji had (he thought) befriended the Detective Prince, much about her remained a mystery. Including the reason she posed as a boy, though Souji certainly knew better than to pry. Seeing her show up in Yasogami uniform made it even more confusing.
"Starting today, I'll be a first-year student at your high school, so I thought I should at least introduce myself." Naoto smiled. "I trust our relations will be cordial, Senpai." She gave Souji a courteous nod and disappeared into the school.
Chie stared after her, stunned. "'Senpai'?" she repeated in tones of dazed incredulity. "He's . . . that detective's our underclassman?"
Souji just shook his head, wordless. He was just waiting to see what kind of anvil was about to fall on their heads.
Afternoon
The first half of the day passed without incident. Kashiwagi was nauseating as ever, but Souji had at least been able to keep himself from glaring at her, even when she made another snide remark about Rise. He'd seen Naoto once or twice in the hall between classes, but nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
P.E. was, as usual, different. "So they caught the killer over summer break," Kondo said, shaking his head. "Sad thing is, I taught the kid once upon a time. Gotta watch out for unjustified resentment; I'm sure you all know about it, watching the gossip shows."
Actually, I don't watch gossip shows. Not my thing.
"You never know who might be holding a grudge," Kondo said. "My advice, train your body hard so you can fight back!"
Souji (and, he suspected, Yosuke) had to try very hard indeed to suppress a grin at that. After all, he and his friends had been training hard for the express purpose of mortal combat for months, and it had paid off big time.
"Okay, then, today we'll play soccer!" Kondo went on, prompting Souji to wish Daisuke was in his class. "First, pop quiz! Souji, you're up!"
As usual. Souji looked at the P.E. teacher expectantly.
"When was soccer introduced in the Olympics?"
The quizzes he got hit with tended to vary between the dead easy and the truly bizarre. This was one of the former. "1900," Souji said promptly.
"Bingo!" Kondo said approvingly. "It's a nice round number, so it's easy to remember. Okay, guys, let's get kicking! Split into two teams, and don't hurt yourselves! Remember, the school trip is only a week away!"
Souji didn't know if he was looking forward to it. On the one hand, a school trip was a nice change of pace. On the other, there were far too many ways it could dissolve into chaos, and there was no way to tell beforehand which it would be. Talk about being at the mercy of fate.
After School
It had been a long time since Souji had been so incredibly bored. Which, perversely, was a relief; boring meant nothing insane was happening, which in turn meant all was right with the world. Still, in some ways it was a letdown after his months of adventure.
He and his fellow second years gathered near the shoe lockers. "Man, school's as dull as ever," Yosuke said. "With the case closed, everything feels empty, if that makes any sense."
"I know what you mean," Souji said, glancing around casually to make sure no one could overhear. "We accomplished something big enough that everything else just feels too mundane. Doesn't help that we can't tell anyone about it."
"Come on, you two," Chie said. "It's a good thing that it's all back to normal."
"We understand that, Chie," Souji said. "It's still not an easy transition. Up until last month we were doing things no one else could, and now we're back to being ordinary students again. Except for Rise," he added with a slight smile; he somehow doubted her departure from showbiz was truly permanent.
More students were starting to trickle through. Souji waved at Kou and Daisuke, who were presumably on their way to Aiya's, and exchanged greetings with fellow Drama Club member Yumi Ozawa. Ai Ebihara was also present, but as usual would not acknowledge anyone.
"We're stopping at Junes later, right?" Yukiko said. "Why not ask Naoto-kun to join us?" She seemed to deflate a little at her friends' puzzled looks. "Well, he doesn't really know anyone here, so he must be lonely."
Not quite that simple, Yukiko. Not that he dared say it aloud; Souji Seta was not one to betray a confidence. Yukiko did seem to have a point, though; Naoto did a good job of hiding it, but she'd have been more than human not to feel just a bit of loneliness under the circumstances.
"Didn't he say he was here to help out with the murder investigation?" Yosuke said. "With the case closed, he's just an ordinary guy now." He looked at Souji. "Which makes him a transfer student like us."
Souji nodded slowly. "I hadn't thought of it that way. Still have to wonder why he transferred here in the first place. If he's a professional detective at that age, he must have a tutor or something."
Yosuke shrugged. "Maybe it was plain stubbornness. He doesn't seem like he's doing it for fun. Okay, let's ask him."
"I'm curious," Chie admitted. "A celebrity is unusual enough," she said, nodding at Rise, who had just appeared, "but a detective is even rarer."
"Rare as hen's teeth," Souji agreed. "Our little adventure aside, teenage crime solvers aren't exactly normal." He turned his head slightly. "Speak of the devil. . . ."
Yosuke saw it, too; Naoto and a couple of girls. "There's the little guy."
The two girls, first years whose names Souji had never heard, both short-haired, had more or less cornered Naoto in the hall. She appeared, to say the least, displeased, and Souji couldn't blame her. The girls were clearly unfamiliar with the concept of personal space.
"You're not really familiar with the area yet, right?" the first said. She ran fingers through her black hair. "C'mon, we'll show you around."
Her friend, this one somewhere between brown and blonde, agreed. "There's probably a whole bunch of places to hang out that only we'd know about."
Somehow, I doubt that. Whether it be for the case or just a sense of wanderlust, Souji had explored practically every centimeter of Inaba. There weren't many spots in the sleepy little town that he didn't know at least in passing.
Regardless, Naoto clearly wasn't interested. "That won't be necessary," she said. "I'm not interested in 'hanging out,' nor in the two of you."
Souji covered a wince. He didn't exactly blame her, given the way the unnamed girls were pushing her, but Naoto was being just a little too blunt.
"Geez, way to make an impression," Yosuke said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yo, Naoto-kun, how's it going?"
Seeing an upperclassman approach, followed shortly by the infamous (and infamously misunderstood) Kanji Tatsumi, the girls went slightly pale, and beat a hasty retreat. There was a choking noise from behind, probably Yukiko trying to stifle one of her laughing fits.
Naoto, for her part, appeared slightly startled, though she covered it well enough. "We meet again," she said evenly. "May I help you?"
"We were heading to Junes, and wanted to know if you'd like to tag along," Souji said. Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone.
This time Naoto was more visibly startled, her eyes going just a bit wide. "Tag along?" she repeated. "You mean me?"
Interesting. Looks like Yukiko was right; Naoto really doesn't have any friends. Explains a lot.
Naoto looked at the floor for a moment, thinking, then shook her head. "Perhaps another time," she said. "I still have a few things to mull over. In any case, I promised my Grampa I would go straight home today."
"Too bad," Chie said. "Well, we can try some other time."
Naoto nodded, looked at Souji in a way that said she got his message, and departed. He watched her go, feeling gears turning in his head. Clearly, there was more to the Detective Prince(ss) than he'd realized. There had been a couple of brief glimpses, notably at the festival, but she kept herself closed off for the most part.
"Man, that was almost as weird as when we met at Tatsumi Textiles," Yosuke said. "Eh, let's go."
Though it was no longer their "special headquarters," Junes was still a convenient gathering place for them. Good location, decent food, unlikely to draw attention. Or at least not much attention; Souji the transfer student, Kanji the delinquent, Yukiko the most popular girl in school, and Rise the teen idol tended to stand out.
Yosuke shook his head. "Man, did you guys see Naoto's attitude? He sure blew his debut at school."
Souji took a sip of soda before replying. "To be fair, those girls were being a bit too pushy. Maybe Naoto was too blunt, but they really should've backed off a little."
"If you say so."
Yukiko pursed her lips thoughtfully. "He's different, true, but he has kind of a mysterious air about him, that kinda draws your attention."
Yosuke lifted an eyebrow. "You're into younger guys, Yukiko? I never knew that."
I seriously doubt that's it. Way too cliché.
"N-No, that's not it!" Yukiko protested, slightly flustered.
Chie came to her friend's rescue. "Naoto-kun said he's got some 'things to mull over,' but I bet you anything he's talking about the murder case."
It seemed like the Detective Prince caused as many mysteries as "he" solved. Souji had been wondering about her for some time, how someone that young could be an ace detective. She was obviously precocious in the extreme, but it took more than that to make it in such an environment, yet Naoto took to it like a fish to water.
"Some ace detective, isn't he?" Yosuke said. "He's probably not satisfied even with the case closed. He's just that stubborn."
"He probably wants to prove himself," Souji said. "And look at it this way: if we weren't at least as stubborn, Kubo would probably have died in the TV world. For that matter, so would Yukiko and Kanji."
There was no real counter to that.
Chie sighed, looking vaguely dejected. "This isn't our 'special headquarters anymore. . . . All right, enough moping!" She tossed back her drink almost comically.
"Class trip's coming up soon," Yosuke said. "Any idea where we're going?"
Yukiko did. "Tatsumi Port Island," she said. "I heard it's an artificial island facing the ocean, a big city."
"Means it's old hat for you, eh, Senpai?" Kanji said, looking at Souji.
Souji shrugged. "I've never actually been there myself. I've heard it's pretty much owned lock, stock, and barrel by the Kirijo Group, though."
"I've been there," Rise said. "Did tons of shoots on the island; there'll be plenty of neat places to hang out."
"If we have time," Chie said darkly.
Souji heard distant alarm bells in his mind. "You know something we don't, Chie?"
She groaned. "I've heard the school board is changing the schedule this year. We're going to be visiting some big private school, have local urban students interact. Or something like that. All about studying, you know how it goes."
All too well. Souji had a sudden urge to bang his head on the table. Normally he found school trips at least halfway interesting, but their itinerary this year was sounding like a complete waste of time. Which was particularly irritating, since he'd been interested in Port Island for some time.
Rise facepalmed. "Urgh, they're completely missing the point."
"What kind of place is this private school, anyway?" Yosuke asked.
Chie shrugged. "I hear it's really good, big buildings, all the latest tech, you get the idea. It's actually closed on the day we're going, so they're making an extra effort to make it work out. They want us to tour some factories on the second day, and then we come back on the third."
The urge was getting stronger. A private school was one thing, but factories? Why go that far out of their way to see factories?
"You're right, Rise, totally missing the point," Yosuke said. "Seriously, we might as well be on a social studies field trip."
Kanji shrugged. "That's what you get from a school-sponsored trip. Eh, we'll be in the same group, so we can ditch if it gets too bad."
Yosuke frowned. "But we're in different years."
"It sounds like the campout," Souji said. "Combining first and second years."
Yukiko nodded. "Souji-kun is right. It's because of budget cuts and declining enrollment."
Chie snorted. "The real kicker? It was King Moron's idea."
Sloth-Face? You have got to be kidding me. Sadly, it made sense. Kinshiro Morooka had been an obsessive disciplinarian; allowing students anything remotely resembling fun had been anathema to him. "Misery builds character" had practically been the man's motto.
Yosuke let out a loud groan. "Noooo, King Moron! Why must you torture us from beyond the grave!?"
Souji couldn't help laughing at that, despite his own annoyance with the situation. The whole thing was just comically absurd, something out of an old slapstick film. Even in death, Morooka was a pain.
"Nooo, King Moron!" Teddie's imitation of Yosuke's lament was surprisingly good. "You guys are going on a trip? What's that about?"
Yosuke rolled his eyes. "Just get back to work, will ya?"
"Calm down, both of you," Souji said by rote. "Look, it's still more than a week away. We can at least relax until than."
"Not like we've got anything better to do," Kanji said. "Man is just an animal trying to figure out how to kill time through his days."
Huh?
Chie goggled at the delinquent. "Huh, you made it sound like you were being philosophical. Yet it made absolutely no sense."
For once, Souji found himself joining in one of Yukiko's laughing fits, to the evident astonishment of their friends. Really, it felt good to just let loose once in a while, however silly it might be. With his upbringing, he seldom had the chance to.
And it would probably be the last chance for some time. Though he'd never been there, he knew Port Island to be a busy place, and private schools of that sort tended to be a bit on the stuffy side. Or so he'd heard, at least.
Evening
The phone rang almost as soon as Souji got upstairs. He groaned softly, half-expecting a call from Teddie asking about the class trip. On seeing the caller ID, however, his eyebrows tried to climb into his hairline; it was his father, who hadn't had time to call in months.
"Sorry if I'm calling at an awkward moment," Hironobu Seta said. "It can be difficult to judge the time difference."
"It's fine," Souji assured him. "I was just going to get in some studying before bed; helps that Uncle Ryotaro makes good coffee."
His father laughed softly. "So your mother has told me. At any rate, I wanted to make sure you were doing well. It's been rather busy, but we've still been able to keep up with the news. I understand the killer has finally been caught?"
Souji shuddered. "After he killed my homeroom teacher, yeah. I actually met him my first day at Yasogami. Gave me the creeps."
"Yes, I'm not surprised. From the pictures I've seen, Kubo is obviously a deeply disturbed young man." The elder Seta sounded disgusted. "Having said that, I've heard something interesting from two different sources. According to your uncle and Reika Sakamoto, you've managed to befriend Rise Kujikawa."
Hironobu Seta's voice was carefully neutral, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. He'd had a lifetime of practice at keeping his true feelings hidden, so there was no telling what he thought of the matter from tone alone. Souji had no idea what his father's opinion of Rise Kujikawa actually was; the subject had simply never come up.
"We're not dating," Souji said carefully. "She's a very nice girl, but I'm not interested in that way."
"I wasn't criticizing you, son," his father said. "Even if you were, I wouldn't interfere without a good reason." Which was unusual among Japanese parents, Souji knew. "I presume there's more to her than celebrity, or you would likely be bored stiff."
As always, Hironobu was far more perceptive than he usually let on. Probably a large part of how he got Aoi Dojima to marry him. "She . . . can be fun," Souji said. "Bright, cheerful, usually optimistic. More natural than she usually is on TV, but I guess that's a given."
"I see." He had a strong mental image of his father slowly nodding. "You've learned to look beyond the surface, good."
Souji frowned. "Dad?"
"Regardless of whether you choose to follow us into business, as one of the Seta family, you need to be able to see the smallest clue as to someone's true intentions," Hironobu said. "There will always be people who want to use you simply because of your parentage."
I'm not sure I like the sound of that. Scratch that; I definitely don't. "So this was a test?"
"Partly," his father admitted. "But only partly. I really did want to check on my only son. Think of it as killing two birds with one stone."
Reasonable enough, Souji had to concede. "I'm doing all right," he said. "Better than I have in years, really." He hesitated. "Father, I have friends here. Real friends, for possibly the first time in my life."
There was a long pause. "I'm glad to hear it. It sounds like Inaba was an even better choice than we'd thought." Hironobu sounded oddly relieved. "Well, having said that, I need to get to work, and I don't want to keep you from your studying too long. Take care, Souji. Your mother and I are thinking of you."
"Good night, Father," Souji said. "And thank you."
Friday, 2 September, Early Morning
Listening to school gossip had actually been of use during the investigation; you never knew when or where a useful bit of info might crop up. Now it was sheer force of habit, and it still provided some interesting trivia on occasion. Souji had developed a habit of filing away practically everything he heard for possible future use.
This morning he found himself walking behind a notoriously lazy student from Kou's class, and an upperclassman he knew the other boy had a thing for. "I am sooooooo sleepy," the boy said, dragging most of a yawn into "so." "I can't believe I was early for every single morning until around a month ago."
The girl seemed unimpressed. "Compared to me, you're lucky," she said. "I've been studying for my entrance exams all summer." She sighed. "I'm relieved they caught the guy who killed those people, though. To think he was a student."
"The news people have been interviewing police practically every day for months," the lazy boy said. "I am sooooo tired of it."
Not as tired as my uncle, I'll bet, Souji thought whimsically. He barely slept for weeks after Sloth-Face was murdered.
Monday, 5 September, Morning
Time for the cheerful, relaxing weirdness of Mr. Hosoi's class. Half the time it seemed almost like his hand-puppet was the one actually speaking; the man certainly had talent as a ventriloquist. Didn't seem quite as depressed as Kondo was, thankfully.
"What a year we've had!" the bespectacled teacher said. "First those murder cases, then an idol comes to our school, and now the Detective Prince himself!" He shook his head. "Inaba used to be such a carefree town. Little changed from one year to the next."
A year ago I would've said that was deathly dull. Not so much anymore.
"Anyway, I'm supposed to be covering haiku today. Take out your textbooks." Hosoi was all business again, or as close as he ever got at least. "Unlike senryu, haiku contain 'kigo,' words or phrases which can be associated with a particular season."
His next words were almost depressingly predictable. "Let's test the waters with a kigo-related question. Souji-chan!" Souji obediently stood. "Ume blossom, sardine, frog, which is not a kigo for spring?"
Coming from a family with such traditionalist roots, the question was dead easy. "Sardine," Souji said, not needing to even think about it.
"Correct," Hosoi said, beaming. "Sardine is a kigo for autumn. You're all familiar with it, I'm sure, a fish similar to anchovies. We use it for more than just food; fish oil, animal feed, and fertilizer, too." He came up short then, an almost comical look on his face. "Sorry, I've gotten off-topic. Let's continue with the lecture."
Souji couldn't help chuckling as he sat back down. It was almost impossible to be depressed in Hosoi's class. Not all that interesting, but the general strangeness more than made up for it.
Evening
After a brief dinner and chat with his uncle and cousin, Souji sat on the couch in his room, a mug of coffee on the table. With the school trip mere days away, he wanted to get in some studying while he could, so he didn't fall behind. Not that there was much chance of it.
First, however, there was a phone call he needed to make. "Sakamoto," the familiar voice said. "That you, Souji-kun?"
He smiled. "It's me," he acknowledged. "Just thought you'd like to know, I'll be out of touch over the weekend. School trip."
"That's already up? Ours isn't until November." Reika hummed thoughtfully. "Where are you going?"
"Tatsumi Port Island," Souji said. "My late homeroom teacher's idea, apparently; we're going to be visiting some fancy private school, and the Yasogami faculty want us to tour some factories or something like that. Luckily, Rise knows the area, so we'll be able to find something more interesting."
There was a brief pause. "A private school at Tatsumi Port Island, huh?" Reika's tone was a bit off, but Souji couldn't put his finger on how. "Sounds like fun. If it's the place I think it is, their faculty is just as weird as yours."
Souji grunted. "I'll believe that when I see it. We have a guy with a hand puppet teaching literature, the P.E. teacher doing double duty for English class of all things, and a history teacher who's obsessed with ancient Egypt."
"You'd be surprised." Reika laughed. "Okay, I'll talk to you later, Souji-kun. Take care."
Souji laid his phone on the table, wondering just how much Reika really knew about Port Island. And how insane the trip was going to be, with Rise Kujikawa showing them around. He'd seen her idea of a good time, and it could be just a bit scary.
Worry about that when the time comes, he told himself, and picked up his history textbook.
Author's note: Largely filler, I admit, but some important setup for future events. We're closing in on the main reason I started this story in the first place.
I should mention here I will not be incorporating anything from Q, Dancing All Night, or the Arena games. Please bear that in mind.
Nothing more to be said, I think. A slightly belated Happy New Year, and I hope you enjoy it. ~D.S.