Persona: Beyond the Fog

by Dragoon Swordsman

After bouncing from one place to another for most of his life, Souji Seta finds himself in the sleepy town of Inaba. Over the next year, he will find himself drawn into a mystery beyond his imagination, and finally make some friends. Novelization of Persona 4, with emphasis on Souji's relationship with Naoto.

14. 14 The Detective Princess

Friday, 16 September, Early Morning

---

The rain hadn't stopped when Souji left for school the next morning. He barely noticed, his mind on more urgent things. Rescuing a kidnap victim was one thing. Going after someone who had deliberately put herself in such a situation added a whole new layer of complications.

One thing was clear: Naoto was expecting Souji and his friends to come after her. There was no other explanation for the way she had made a point of discussing the case with them before she left.

"Man, I'm amazed the Samegawa hasn't flooded, what with all this rain." That from a male classmate a few paces ahead. "Ah, well, at least it's supposed to clear up by this afternoon."

"Really?" his companion said. "That's great. There's a holiday next weekend; I promised my girlfriend I'd take her to Okina."

"What?" the first groaned. "In that case, I hope it doesn't stop. Rain like a waterfall so his date gets canceled!"

Souji shook his head. That kind of attitude was a bit more selfish than he could stand. If, say, Yosuke and Chie ever started dating (Chie would of course vehemently deny it, but Souji knew the signs), he would never make such a wish. He couldn't deny, though, just a trace of envy.

Keep your mind on the case, Souji, he told himself firmly.

---

After School

---

The team gathered in the Junes food court, as usual. Luckily, the unnamed student had been right; the rain had stopped by the time the bell rang, leaving barely any cloud cover. Also fortunately, there weren't many customers around, minimizing the chance they would be overheard.

"All right," Souji said, setting his drink aside. "I think we all saw the Midnight Channel last night. No mistaking who it was."

Yukiko nodded grimly. "It was definitely Naoto-kun," she agreed.

"So what's the verdict, Teddie?" Chie asked the bear. "Is he inside the TV?"

Teddie gave a small, uncertain nod. "I do smell someone," he acknowledged. "Can't tell who."

"After last night, I think we can take it for granted that it's Naoto," Souji said. "I'm not surprised, after her out-of-the-blue TV interview."

Yosuke let out a soft groan. "Which means it's all the same as before. Nothing's changed."

"Before," Yukiko repeated, half to herself. She looked up sharply. "That's it! That's why Naoto-kun appeared on TV so suddenly!" She twitched slightly at the surprised looks she got. "Remember what he told us before he disappeared. He said something didn't seem right, and he wasn't convinced. He also brought up how victims are shown on TV before they disappear."

Souji nodded. "He's using himself as bait; I realized that when he last spoke to us. It's crazy, but I think he must just be desperate enough to try it."

"I'll say it's crazy!" Yosuke said. "What the hell is he thinking!? Is he trying to prove the theory by using himself?"

Chie shook her head in disbelief. "Hold on a sec. Are you guys saying he got himself kidnapped on purpose? It could get him killed!"

Not if we can help it, Souji vowed silently. I can understand her frustration, but I am so going to have words with that girl when we get her out.

"It's all my fault," Rise said, eyes downcast. "I'm the one who said it wasn't a game to us."

Souji opened his mouth to offer commiseration, but Kanji exploded. "That damned idiot!" he snapped, half-rising and slamming his hands on the table. "Why the hell didn't he just tell us!?"

"Calm down, Kanji," Souji said, locking eyes with him. After a brief moment, the delinquent reluctantly nodded and sat down. "I realized almost right away what he had in mind, and I did try to stop him. No such luck."

Chie half-raised a hand. "What about the killer the police already have? That Kubo creep?"

"A copycat," Souji said flatly. "He did kill Sloth-face, but no one else."

"I remember Naoto-kun saying something about that," Yukiko agreed. "He said it was strange that the police were able to identify the cause of Mister Morooka's death."

Yosuke wore a look of gradually dawning horror and realization. "So that's why there were no signs of King Moron being thrown into the TV. The killer didn't change his methods at all; it just looked like it."

"We can figure out the rest later," Souji said, finishing his drink and standing. "For now, into the TV. We need to find Naoto, and quickly."

A few minutes later, they stood in the same ersatz TV studio they had grown to know so well. Rise's Persona was already active, her eyes closed in concentration as she searched. The odd radar dish-like effect of Himiko was a bit unsettling, but they were used to it.

"There's definitely someone in here," Rise said at length. "And the world has definitely gotten larger."

"You're amazing, Rise-chan!" Teddie gushed. "My nose can't pick up anywhere near that much!"

Souji shushed him with a look. "Is it Naoto?"

Rise's lips compressed in a grim line. "I don't know. I think so, but. . . ." Himiko vanished, and Rise sighed dejectedly. "I can't tell where. There's too little to go on."

Unfortunate, but on further reflection not even slightly surprising. Souji himself knew more than the others did, but even that wasn't much, despite the number of times he'd crossed her path. Being the latest in a long line of detectives clearly wasn't enough information.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Rise," he said, laying a hand on her shoulder. "We go out and look for clues like always. It's not likely to be foggy for at least a few days, so we have some lead time."

She managed a smile. "Got it. Thanks, Senpai."

---

The problem with looking for information on a non-local, Souji reflected half an hour later, was that locals tended to have little if any information to give. He tried Kanji's mother first, since that was where he'd first encountered Naoto, but the elder Tatsumi hadn't had any contact with the Detective "Prince" in some time. He got the same result from Rise's grandmother at Marukyu.

Grumbling under his breath, he headed back to school, hoping perhaps to find a couple of her classmates before they left. Acting on a hunch, he made his way to the practice building, exchanging harried nods with Daisuke along the way. There, he finally found something.

"You want to hear about Shirogane-kun?" It was a first-year girl who spent a lot of time watching the sports teams practice. "Oh, you'll like this. I saw him get really angry a few days ago."

Strange. Visible anger didn't sound like the Naoto he (barely) knew. "What about?"

The girl shrugged. "I couldn't make out anything specific, but it was a shouting match with some policeman. In the shopping district, I think."

"Thanks." Souji took off at a light jog, leaving a very puzzle girl behind.

Of course, there was still a small but troublesome detail. He had no way of knowing which policeman Naoto had been arguing with, or for that matter if the man would be willing to talk. Also not helping was the relative lack of police presence in Inaba.

Luck, for once, was with him. Souji spotted a uniformed officer near Konishi Liquors. "Excuse me, Officer!" he called, waving a hand. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

The policeman shot him an annoyed look. "Is this important? I'm rather busy at the moment."

"I'll be quick," Souji promised. "I'm a friend of Naoto Shirogane. He hasn't been in school for the last few days, so I'm a bit worried."

To his immense relief, the officer's frown wasn't directed at him. "Shirogane . . . wait, you're Detective Dojima's nephew, right?" Souji nodded. "I didn't work with Shirogane much, but he's caused quite a stir at the office. He was arguing with another officer about the case not long ago. You should be able to find him around here tomorrow, if I remember the schedule right."

Still nothing conclusive, but a step in the right direction. "Thank you, Officer. I won't take up any more of your time."

Hopefully his uncle wasn't home just yet. This wasn't the sort of thing he could really explain, even with Dojima knowing he'd had contact with Naoto before. There had been a few too many coincidences of that sort already.

---

Saturday, 17 September, Morning

---

Normally Souji found Kimiko Sofue's class fascinating, her general weirdness aside. Today, however, he was having difficulty paying attention. His mind was elsewhere to a degree that would have shocked his parents. The idea was grimly amusing.

"I hope you all had a memorable vacation," Sofue was saying. "I had a wonderful time in Egypt. The people there were all very kind to me; they probably sensed my deep appreciation and love for their history."

More likely they sensed you had money, Souji couldn't help thinking.

"I was even able to find some things with my dowsing—excuse me, I'm supposed to be lecturing," Sofue interrupted herself. "Our next chapter is on the age of exploration. Let's start with a question to make sure you're all awake and paying attention." Her eyes flickered over the class. "Destiny wills me to choose . . . Miss Chie . . . no, Souji."

It's always me. He could sense Chie's relief as he pushed his chair back and stood. The martial artist hated pop quizzes.

"Ferdinand Magellan is known for making the first voyage around the world," Sofue said. "What was his motive for doing so?"

Right up Souji's alley. "To profit from the spice trade," he said without hesitation.

Sofue nodded approvingly. "It was all about greed," she said. "Still, even with such a base motive, he changed the course of history. Such things often happen. Let's look at a few examples from Egypt. . . ."

---

After School

---

The police officer in question was, thankfully, easy to find. Souji almost tripped over him at the bus stop, stammering an apology before he realized just who he had run into. Swiftly gathering his wits, he repeated the same question he'd posed to the man's colleague the day before.

"Shirogane?" the officer said. "Haven't seen him in days. Probably digging through old files again. We just want to wrap this case up, but he keeps picking at little things here and there. No wonder the brass just treat him like a kid."

Nodding his thanks, Souji hurriedly departed, already feeling a wave of realization. He'd long wondered at Naoto's continued presence despite her being officially off the case with Kubo's arrest. Now he understood; it wasn't merely dedication, it was an obsession. One for which the police had little sympathy.

It was the key. He was sure of it.

So was Rise when they gathered at the entrance a few minutes later. "Hmm, so he's really fixated on the case, but the police just treat him like a kid," she said thoughtfully. "That explains a lot. . . . Okay, I think I can find him now. Just give me a minute."

Souji didn't know what to expect from whatever reality Naoto had unknowingly created. Probably something laboratory-esque, judging by what they'd seen on the Midnight Channel the previous night. Science fiction, that kind of thing. Which made the entrance both surprising and not.

"An underground bunker?" he said, slightly taken aback.

Yosuke chuckled. "Looks like something out of an old spy thriller. Guess our detective isn't as grown-up as he'd like us to think." He eyed the entrance appreciatively. "Gotta say, he's got good taste. This is probably the least twisted thing we've seen since this whole mess started."

"Probably dangerous as hell, though," Chie said, though she didn't appear to really disagree. "If this is anything like those movies, there's probably an automatic security system, or something like that." She shrugged. "Souji and Kanji can zap any mechanical types, so we should be okay."

"Right," Souji confirmed, hand on his sword. "Let's go."

The interior was more or less the same as the entrance, something out of a 1960s spy movie. Walls and floor were metallic gray in color, with an odd greenish tinge. The only decorations Souji could see were occasional red banners, each with a gold eagle embroidered in the center.

As per usual, they heard a voice shortly after entering. It was not, however, the Shadow's. "UNKNOWN INTRUDER DETECTED INSIDE FACILITY." The voice was masculine, harsh, and vaguely electronic. "THREAT LEVEL: YELLOW."

Cliche, Souji thought, gray eyes alert for any threats. No Shadows were actually in sight, but that meant little. The blasted things had a nasty habit of popping out of nowhere, which he supposed was to be expected if they were originally part of humans.

Which didn't stop him from briefly thinking he'd just met his ancestors when the first Shadows appeared. Eerily masked as always, clad in dull but recognizable samurai armor, carrying blades disturbingly similar to Souji's own. Even their fighting stances nearly mirrored his.

Regardless, they were enemies to defeat. He parried a slash aimed at his head, then pivoted on one foot, trying to cut the Shadow's leg. It was faster, batting the high schooler's blade aside. Two further exchanges proved equally fruitless, but that wasn't the end.

For Souji was not, of course, alone. While Kanji, Teddie, and Chie dealt with the other Shadow, Yosuke and Yukiko came to Souji's aid. Yosuke drive both knives deep into its "neck," then jumped back to make room for the fireball Yukiko had launched.

A quick spinning slash was all it took to finish the job.

"Whew!" Yosuke gasped, wiping his forehead. Probably from the fire, Souji suspected, rather than exertion. "Hell of a welcoming committee. Who'd have thought a high-tech bunker would have samurai guards."

"Don't tell me you're surprised," Souji said mildly, already back in motion. "Nothing about this world is rational. Come on."

Shadows on that first floor were relatively sparse. Between encounters, Souji gave the area a closer examination. Looking at the metal walls, he was increasingly reminded of some movie or other he'd seen a while back, though he couldn't remember which one. Apparently he had more in common with the Detective "Prince" than he had realized.

They came to what looked like a monitoring room, judging by the viewscreens scattered about. On a vague whim, Souji took a closer look at the nearest viewer. He was disappointed but unsurprised to see it showed him absolutely nothing of value. Just an empty corridor.

"Yo, what's that all about?" Yosuke asked, coming up behind him.

Souji shrugged and gestured for the team to follow. "I thought one of those monitors might be useful. No such luck."

It did, however, occur to him that Shadows might not be the only threat. A reproduction of some kind of high tech underground bunker could well have traps, automated defenses, that kind of thing. He glanced at a camera uneasily, wondering if they were going to be encountering gun mounts.

The second floor greeted them with another electronic PA announcement. Even that, Souji noticed, was unusual; in previous encounters they had heard the Shadow's voice numerous times. Here, it was just a masculine computer voice. Nor was there any sign of the Shadow itself, something that had only happened once before.

More robotic enemies greeted them beyond the next door. As Rise had noted at the entrance, Souji and Kanji took the forefront, their electrical abilities wreaking havoc on the mechanized Shadows. To his amusement, Chie got so impatient during one such encounter that she punted a disabled Shadow clear through the ceiling.

"Damn, Chie-senpai, remind me to never make you mad," Kanji said, shaking his head in mixed admiration and apprehension. Chie just responded with a sunny smile.

That aside, Souji had a very strong feeling that it was all too easy. With the exception of the samurai lookalikes, which had given his swordsmanship its first real test in quite some time, the Shadows weren't all that dangerous, not to fighters as experienced as he and his friends were at least. So what was missing?

His answer came on the next floor, in the form of a door that would not open. "ENTRY IS FORBIDDEN TO ORDINARY COMBATANTS," the electronic voice said. "PLEASE PRESENT YOUR ID CARD."

"What!?" Yosuke burst out. "We've never needed an ID card in one of these before!"

"Maybe not, but most of them have had keys," Souji reminded him. "All we have to do is find that card." He looked back at his friends, saw that most of them were visibly exhausted. "But not today." A quick glance was all it took to quell Kanji's incipient protest. "I think we've all hit our limit."

As they wearily trudged back to the entrance, Souji glanced one last time at the unyielding door, wondering distantly just what Naoto was thinking.

---

Tuesday, 20 September, Afternoon

---

There were times Souji thought he was cursed. For two days in a row they had been unable to make any progress due to commitments they dared not break. Only long practice at self-control kept him from lashing out in sheer frustration (and thus drawing his uncle's suspicion).

Kondo's overly-cheerful attitude wasn't helping. "Good afternooooooon!" he said with a grin, drawing out the second word. "I'm sure you remember yesterday was Respect for the Aged Day."

Souji did, of course; he'd made a point of emailing his grandfather first thing in the morning. My parents did that much right.

"Did you take care of your elders?" Kondo went on. "I know I did!" His grin widened. "My grandmother is over ninety years old, but she still gets out and plays gateball! Keeps her healthy, so I'll just bet she reaches a hundred. Heck, she's almost there." He got a look on his face that Souji had come to associate with pop quizzes. "Souji, you're a city boy, so you might know this."

The odds were good, true. Souji's track record with sudden questions was nigh-spotless.

"What do you call people between the ages of one hundred and 110?"

Dead easy, as usual. "Centenarians," Souji said without hesitation.

Kondo nodded. "Right on, Souji! I'm guessing you're close to your grandparents. Yep, the prefix 'centi' means '100,' so calling people at that age just makes sense. I learned that from Mister Hosoi."

Right, we'll go with that, Souji mentally snarked. Gateball, it appeared, was the P.E. activity of the day. He'd had worse.

---

Monday, 3 October, After School

---

Finally. After more roaming than he cared to think about, after tracking down two card keys and fighting a highly dangerous giant robot, they were about to reach the goal. It would not end peacefully, Souji was sure; Naoto was too stubborn to accept her other self so easily.

Naoto was facing her Shadow by the "operating table." Her head turned when Souji and his friends entered. "Ah, it's about time you arrived," she said, unsurprised. "Dealing with this child has been very tiresome."

She turned her back, but the Shadow immediately protested. "No! Don't go!"

Naoto sighed in evident exasperation. "This whole affair has been useless. I need to go back now."

It's not going to be that easy. Souji left the thought unvoiced, though; he knew Naoto well enough to know how little effect it would have.

"Why? Why am I always left alone!?" the Shadow sobbed. "It's o lonely! Please, don't leave me alone!"

Naoto shook her head, evidently baffled. "You wear the same face as me, as if you're somehow implying we're one and the same. However, there is a significant difference between us."

The Shadow stopped crying abruptly, and fixed Naoto with a cold stare. "Why delude yourself? I am you," it said. "These childish gestures are no mere affectation, they're the truth. All those fools say the same thing. 'You're only a child.' 'Keep out of our business, kid,' and other such nonsense. No matter how many cases you spend hour after hour poring over, no matter how many you solve, in their eyes you're nothing but a child. They're only interested in your brain, the gray matter locked up in that skull of yours. You're an ace detective when you're needed, but it's always back to the playpen afterward. You don't have the means to deal with society's two-faced nature. You're nothing but a lonely child."

Naoto offered no reply, but her stance visibly stiffened. Souji's hand went to his sword; this was playing out just the same as before.

"I wanna be a big boy right now!" the Shadow went on. "Then they'll see who I am!" It swallowed. "I . . . I want a reason to stay!"

At that, Naoto actually hissed. "Enough! I can find my own reason to live."

The Shadow laughed scornfully. "Impossible. You're just a child. How do you expect to change that essential truth?"

"S-Stop it. . . ." Naoto said through clenched teeth.

"Deep inside, you admire the kind of 'cool' and 'strong' men so common in detective fiction," the Shadow said, ignoring her. "But in attempting to emulate them, you know in your heart that you remain a mere child." A parody of a smile. "You cannot avoid first principles. Admit it, you are a child, and there is nothing you can do about it." It gestured to the operating table. "Now, the analysis is complete. Let us begin the body alteration procedure."

Souji drew his sword, though the Shadow seemed to take no notice. His breath quickening, he brought the heirloom weapon up in a low guard, eyes on his target. Though it looked like Naoto in an outsized lab coat, there was no telling what it would become if—when—Naoto rejected it.

"You have no objections, do you, 'Naoto' Shirogane?" the Shadow asked sardonically.

"Stop it!" Naoto's voice was rising, suddenly sounding much more natural.

Again, her Shadow was unmoved. "'Naoto,' such a cool, manly name. But that is all that it is. It doesn't let you cross the barrier between the sexes. How could you become an ideal man when you were never male in the first place?"

Souji was darkly amused at the consternation that erupted behind him. At least one of the girls—Yukiko, from the pitch—inhaled sharply, Yosuke made an odd choking noise, and he could practically hear Kanji's jaw hitting the floor.

"Wait, what!? Did I hear that right!?" Yosuke said.

"He's . . . not a guy?" Kanji sounded like he'd taken a blow to the head.

With her secret out, Naoto abandoned any pretense. "I won't throw a tantrum," she said, breathing heavily. "It would accomplish nothing."

More harsh, scornful laughter. "How often I have heard that from adults. 'Throwing a tantrum won't help, Naoto-kun,' and other such bilge! They made you cry, didn't they? Yet here you are, mimicking those same men. What exactly are you trying to justify?"

Naoto froze. "What?"

"Don't worry, you don't have to suffer anymore. After all, this is why you're undergoing the procedure in the first place, isn't it? You throw a tantrum, but it changes nothing, I quite understand. After all . . . I am you."

And with that, Naoto's control finally snapped. "That's not true!"

"Wait!" Chie cried. "Don't say it!"

Souji shook his head minutely. "No point. We'll just have to take this one down, like always." He lifted his blade, glaring at the Shadow. "Get ready."

It threw its head back and laughed. "Take me down? Ha! Go ahead and try, fools!"

The familiar wave of darkness obscured their target. When they could see again, Naoto's Shadow still looked largely human, but was now a bizarre cybernetic hybrid. Half its face was metal, and it had wings that looked like they belonged on an anime robot.

"Do you hate yourselves, too?" it asked mockingly. "Very well. Let the operation commence."

I don't think so. "Izanagi!" Souji cried, crushing a card in his fist. The creator god obligingly struck with a blast of electricity, but the Shadow was hardly fazed.

"You think it will be that easy?" it sneered. "You have no idea of my power!"

"Senpai, watch out!" Rise called frantically. "It's going to—!"

Her warning came too late. The Shadow lifted the cartoonish pistols it held and fired at Souji at point-blank range. He felt a surge of nausea, right before he was knocked flying. Whatever those were, they sure as heck weren't the basic ray guns they looked like.

The dizziness suddenly cleared, chased away by a familiar cool wave. "Souji, are you all right?" Yukiko asked anxiously.

"I am now. Thanks," Souji said, retrieving his sword. "Yosuke, give us a boost!"

"Got it, partner!" the Junes Boy said. "Let's do this, Jiraiya!"

Bolstered by the wind, Souji took a few running steps, Kanji and Chie flanking him. The Shadow took aim with its peculiar guns, but this time he was ready. A quick faint to one side, a shot of electricity from Kanji, and Souji pushed off in a leap, slashing through the Shadow's left sleeve and drawing a think line of black smoke.

It responded by backhanding him across the face, but even as Yukiko sent another healing spell his way, Chie was launching a flying kick, visibly stunning it if only for a brief moment.

"No more playing around," Souji ground out, switching Personas. "King Frost, put it on ice!"

There was a vaguely metallic sounding screech as the Shadow found itself frozen in place. Cracks immediately started forming, but for a brief moment it was vulnerable.

And Yosuke was there to take advantage of it. Displaying surprising agility, he let out a wild yell and jumped, managing to drive both knives into the Shadow's throat before he was knocked away. The wounds quickly healed, but the Shadow's rage was plain.

"No, that will never do," it said. "Subjects must remain still so that I can drill proper holes into them."

Okay, that can't be good. Souji, of course, he no intention of remaining still. Another ripple blast came out, but he only caught the fringe, suffering no more than momentary dizziness. Teddie deflected a burst of ice meant for him, and then he was in close again, hacking down with Persona-borne strength.

"Why keep up this foolish resistance?" the Shadow demanded. "You are merely denying reality."

"No," Souji said tightly, again switching Personas. "We're just clearing the fog." He crushed a card in his fist. "Time to end this. Come, Beelzebub!"

The rush of power was far stronger than anything he'd used previously. Megidolaeon was not an elemental attack, and thus would not strike any particular weakness. On the flip side, by it's very nature nothing would be strong against it, either, and this particular Shadow had plucked his nerves.

"Everyone, get back!" Rise yelled, voice high with incipient panic.

He saw Yosuke and Teddie shielding the prone Naoto just as his spell hit. For a moment there was nothing but a blinding light, obscuring everything around them. Blinking rapidly against the glare, Souji gradually forced the environment back into focus. Naoto's Shadow had reverted to normal, and now stood silent.

They had won.

---

Souji knelt beside Naoto, carefully checking her over. No injuries beyond a slight bump on the head, oddly no signs of malnutrition. Either she'd thought to have some food with her, or something about the TV world reduced the need for sustenance. He'd have to ask Teddie about it later.

"So Naoto-kun was a girl," Chie said, looking like she still didn't quite believe it.

Souji nodded and pushed himself upright. "That's right," he said. "I've known for a while now."

"Wait, what!?" Yosuke stared at him. "How'd you know that? When did you find out?"

Souji couldn't help chuckling at his friend's expression. "Back when she told us about the police having a suspect. I just happened to notice she hadn't covered her throat. Went on from there."

A soft groan forestalled further conversation. Naoto was slowly coming to her feet. She looked exhausted and a bit dazed, but otherwise seemed okay. A couple shakes of the head, and she appeared alert enough.

"Where . . . am I?" Naoto slowly turned, glancing about before her eyes came to rest on Souji. "That's right . . . you saw everything."

"Not for the first time," Souji said gently. "Are you all right?"

She didn't answer at first, moving to face her Shadow. "My parents died in an accident when I was very young," she said quietly. "My grandfather took me in and raised me as his own."

A stray memory clicked, Naoto saying she'd promised her "grandpa" that she would be home promptly after school when second term started. There was one mystery cleared up.

"I was inept at making friends, so I spent most of my time reading detective novels in my grandfather's study," Naoto went on. "My parents were detectives, so in a way it made me feel closer to them. An inherited occupation can feel stifling," here she glanced at Souji and Yukiko, "but I reveled in it. I yearned for the day I could become a detective myself."

Souji offered a crooked smile. "I envy you, Naoto. I still haven't decided what I want to do with my life."

Naoto actually chuckled at that, just a bit. "I was always alone, so my grandfather must have thought it important to aid me in achieving my dream. I began secretly aiding him in his cases; after a few of them, people started calling me 'Junior Detective.' However," her expression darkened, "not everything went so smoothly."

Judging by some of what his uncle had let slip, that was probably an understatement. One that dovetailed a little too well with his brief conversation with the officer who had given them their lead in the first place.

Yukiko tilted her head. "That bit about 'you're only a child'?"

With a sigh, Naoto nodded. "Not everyone is so happy about my collaboration, as I believe Souji-senpai has cause to know."

"She once literally drove my uncle to drink," Souji explained.

"My status as a 'child' was enough to offend many of them, objecting on that basis alone," Naoto continued. "Were that the only issue, it would have resolved itself in time. However, though I will one day become an adult, I will never change from a woman to a man."

"You don't like being a girl?" Yukiko said. "Is that why you always dress like a boy?"

Naoto nodded. "My sex does not fit my ideal image of a detective, and the police department is a male-oriented society in any case. If they had even the slightest 'legitimate' reason, I would no longer be needed."

Souji shook his head. "I think you're being a bit too pessimistic," he said quietly. "Yeah, you drove my uncle nuts, but I think it was more because of how you presented things. He respects your abilities, and I don't think finding out you're a girl would change that."

Naoto looked at him in evident surprise and, if he wasn't mistaken, gratitude. "Senpai. . . ."

"Hey," Yukiko said. "You must've realized by now that becoming an adult or a man isn't what you wanted at all."

The Detective "Prince" looked down, seeming to digest that. "Yes, you're absolutely right," she said, and turned to face her Shadow. "I'm sorry," she said. "I kept running, pretending you didn't exist. No more. What I should yearn for, no, strive for, is not becoming a man, but accepting myself for who I really am."

As had happened so many times before, the Shadow gave a slow nod, and faded into the ether, replaced by a small card. Barely an instant later, Naoto fell to her knees.

Souji was at her side in an instant. "You okay?"

"I will be," she said, chuckling softly. "You're such a devious bunch. To think you've kept this secret for so long, even right under the nose of a police detective." She sobered. "But it's clear now. This case is far from over."

"And you proved it, even if your method was completely insane," Souji said, helping her up.

Naoto glanced at him sidelong. "I was confident you would come. You have a certain determination about you that I have seldom seen. Much like my grandfather, actually."

O-kay. "Should I take that as a compliment?"

"Indeed you should," Naoto told him.

Souji shrugged, tabling the matter for the time being. "All right. Let's get you out of here."

---

One of these days, someone is going to be right on the other side when we come out. I really hope they dismiss it as a crazy hallucination.

The thought was whimsical, but distant. His eyes were on Naoto, who was half-crouched and breathing heavily. Her time in the TV world had taken a greater toll on her than any of them had realized.

Chie shook her head. "She really put her life on the line for this."

"But without it, we would never have realized the real killer is still at large," Yukiko pointed out.

"It was still crazy," Souji said.

Naoto took a few deep breaths before replying. "As I said, I knew you would come. Although the reality was nothing like what I had imagined." She met Souji's eyes. "You were right, Senpai."

Souji waved a hand. "What's important is you're safe, and we know it isn't over." He frowned slightly, noting the young detective's increasingly labored breathing. "There's a lot to talk about, but it'll have to wait. You need some rest, Detective Princess." He couldn't help chuckling at the look she gave him.

"I'll take her home," Yukiko offered. "The place she's staying isn't all that far from our inn, and I don't think she can make it on her own right now."

Naoto clearly wanted to demur, but her difficulty in standing unassisted made it an exercise in futility. "It's . . . it's all right. I can still . . . make it."

"No way, missy!" Rise snapped, her tone almost comically annoyed. "Don't think that doing everything on your own is the 'adult' thing to do! Everyone needs help once in a while." Recognizing her defeat, Naoto simply nodded in assent.

There was one more thing. Casting a wary glance at Kanji, Souji stepped forward. "I'll give you my cell number, just in case." He ignored the look Yosuke shot him. "Part of being a responsible leader." A weak excuse even to his own ears, but there was a grain of truth in it.

A few minutes later, he was leisurely strolling home, enjoying the warm, sunny afternoon. There was nothing, he thought, like a successful operation to buoy the spirit. He was even finished in time to make dinner, which would certainly make Nanako happy.

Whistling to himself, he picked up the pace just a bit.

---

Evening

---

Souji's dinner plans came to an abrupt halt when he saw an extra pair of shoes by the door. It was true that Adachi was a frequent guest in the evenings, but he wasn't usually off quite so early, especially when there was an ongoing investigation. Then again, it wasn't very ongoing when they already had a suspect and a confession, however wrongheaded it may have been.

Sure enough, Tohru Adachi was sitting at the low table in the living room, looking just a bit tipsy. "Hey, there, welcome back," he said, his words slurred only slightly. "Have a seat."

"I'm surprised to see you this early," Souji said, sitting cross-legged opposite Adachi.

"We got off early, now that things have finally quieted down a little," Dojima explained from the couch.

Pretty much what Souji had thought. Taking a bite of steak (Dojima had apparently ordered takeout), he wondered how the police were taking Naoto's little stunt. He knew better than to ask, of course.

"By the way, they found Naoto-kun," Adachi said, as though he'd read Souji's mind. "Um, you know who that is, right?"

Reasonably safe ground. "I've actually talked with her quite a bit over the last few months," Souji said, taking a brief sip of soda. "Turns out we have a lot of interests in common."

Dojima looked at him sharply. "Her?" he repeated sharply. "How did you know that? We only just found out ourselves."

Deep breath, no need to panic. Souji looked his uncle in the eye and kept his voice even. "Near the end of first term, I just happened to spot a flaw in her disguise," he said, tapping his throat. "She almost panicked, but I promised I would keep her secret."

Dojima held his gaze a moment longer, then nodded. "I should have realized; you're sharp and reliable. Sorry for snapping like that."

"Don't worry about it," Souji said, waving a hand. "You've been under a lot of strain lately. Being a bit touchy is only natural."

That's one crisis averted. He went back to his meal, his muscles relaxing from a tension he hadn't noticed before. Having Adachi as a dinner guest always made things livelier than usual, frequently because the younger detective tended to run his mouth.

Which he then proceeded to do. "But man, what made her disappear like that in the first place?" Adachi wondered. "Did she get all sulky and run away when he was booted off the case? Shocked me when she up and vanished like that, let me tell ya." He shook his head. "If there was a fourth kidnapping and murder, we'd be back to square one."

"Adachi. . . ." Dojima said warningly.

The color immediately drained from Adachi's face. "Whoops! Sorry about that."

Dojima sighed, shaking his head. "Whatever. I'm going to bed."

Watching him go, Adachi scratched the back of his neck. "Sorry," he said again. "Kinda killed the mood there. Guess I'd better head home myself." Passing by Nanako, he added, "Don't worry, Nanako-chan. I've got the most brains on the force."

Marveling at the absurdity of it all, Souji busied himself with the supper dishes. Sometimes, he wondered just how Adachi got to be a detective in the first place.

"Um, Big Bro?" Nanako ventured. "What does it mean that he's 'got brains'?"

"It means he's smart," Souji said over his shoulder.

"Oh."

---

Tuesday, 4 October, Morning

---

P.E. with the ever-exuberant Kondo. Souji enjoyed physical activity as much as the next guy (especially when it involved bladework), but he really didn't understand Kondo's near-obsession. It was like running around and playing sports was the only thing that mattered.

"Allllriiiight!" Kondo said. "Doesn't it feel great to sweat!? I sure do!" He took a swig from a water bottle. "Just remember to drink plenty of fluids. Two and a half liters is best. Why that much, you ask?"

Pretty sure nobody did, actually.

"'Cause that's how much you lose in a day," Kondo said. He pursed his lips. "Hmmm, I choose you, Souji."

Here we go again.

"How much of that 2.5 liters do you lose by sweating? On average, of course."

Teachers often seemed to think they were handing him difficult questions. This was an easy one for an athlete. "Half a liter."

Kondo grinned. "Yup, that's right! On average it's 1.5 liters through waste, and half a liter each from sweating and breathing. That's right, you lose water just by being alive!"

It's amazing you don't lose twice as much from your sheer exuberance, Souji thought with wry amusement. It beat Kashiwagi's lectures, at least; his replacement homeroom teacher had somehow managed to get even creepier since the Tatsumi Port Island trip.

He really hoped she would never meet Teddie.

---

Wednesday, 5 October, Evening

---

Just this once, Souji decided he would spend the evening (at least until he had to check the Midnight Channel) watching ordinary TV. A bit more mindless than his usual preference, but hey, everyone needed a break once in a while, and he was in no mood for studying.

Though he might as well have been. By sheer coincidence, he found himself watching a documentary on the samurai, from their beginnings many centuries before up through the Meiji Restoration. Given his family history, it was in some ways highly amusing.

For that matter, he was pretty sure he heard his family mentioned around a quarter of the way through. The Seta weren't exactly at the top of the heap, but nor were they unknown, so he supposed it made a certain amount of sense. Still felt weird, though.

All in all, an interesting hour, much less sensational than was the norm. By the end Souji actually felt like he'd learned something, which was unusual indeed from a TV show.

Midnight came, and he shut the TV off. Within seconds, the screen again lit, but unlike the last time he had checked, it was blank. Naoto was safe, and the killer was again thwarted. A fact which brought with it more questions than answers, though perhaps Naoto would be able to shed some light on it.

Souji pulled back his curtains and gazed out at the foggy street. Was the killer walking through the eerie mist at that very moment?

---

Thursday, 6 October, Early Morning.

---

The morning was overcast and relatively cool, but the rain had stopped. Walking up to the Yasogami gate with Yosuke and Chie in tow, Souji took a moment to savor the crisp early autumn air. It made him feel more alive than just about anything else.

A familiar petite figure was waiting for them just inside. "Well, look who's up," Chie said. "Feeling better now?"

Naoto offered a brief nod in greeting. "Yes, thanks to all of you. I want to thank you again for what happened. If you hadn't come when you did. . . ." There was no need to finish.

Souji waved a hand. "No need for thanks. It's what we do." He lifted an eyebrow. "Still wearing the boy's uniform?"

"Yes, well," Naoto coughed. "After contemplating the matter, I decided it would be simpler to continue as I have been in that regard. There is no need to concern yourself."

Two male students Souji knew by sight though not name paused a couple of meters away. "Hey, it's the Detective Prince," one said. He had a fondness for rumors, if Souji recalled correctly.

"No 'Prince' there," the other one said. "Turns out 'he's' a 'she'!"

The first student went pale. "What!? If he's a she, then. . . . Uh-oh!"

It was all Souji could do not to roll his eyes. I don't get the problem. You'd think those two would be relieved to hear it.

"It's a bit disappointing," one of two girls behind them said, "but it's pretty cool if you look at it the right way."

Souji couldn't help shaking his head as they left. Gossips like them had proved useful more than once during their investigations, granted, but he still disliked such people. Rumors, as they had found with Kanji if nothing else, seldom had more than a fragment of the truth.

"Just ignore them," he said.

Naoto smiled. "Yes, of course." She quickly sobered. "At any rate, I would like to discuss the case with you all. We're dealing with a kidnap-and-murder case perpetrated by someone right here in Inaba, and it isn't over yet."

"After school, then," Souji said. "You know where we meet."

Naoto chuckled. "Indeed I do, Senpai. As does everyone else in Inaba, I suspect."

Souji laughed. It was nice, he thought, to be able to be completely open with Naoto. Dissembling with her had been frustrating in more ways than one. Difficult, and it bugged him somehow, even more than when he'd been dancing around things with his uncle.

"I'll see you at Junes, then," he said, and braced himself for the morning Kashiwagi lecture.

---

After School

---

Though Naoto was perfectly capable of paying for her own food, and indeed at first insisted upon it, Souji made a point of treating her when they arrived at Junes. She had taken a huge chance just to secure the evidence they needed, so as far as Souji was concerned buying her something extra was the least he could do.

"I heard the doorbell ring," Naoto was saying. "But when I opened the front door, I saw no one. Just as I heard alarm bells in my mind, I was roughly grabbed from behind and my mouth was covered. Immediately afterward, I was placed in what I believe was a sack and likely carried on the culprit's shoulder."

Rise whistled in obvious admiration. "Wow, you remembered all that? I'm still a complete blank on it."

"From the smell, the culprit used some kind of chemical to incapacitate me," Naoto explained. "However, I was not rendered completely unconscious. I had been expecting something along those lines, so I was at least somewhat prepared. And, of course, I was determined to gather as much information as possible."

"And that's why you're an ace detective," Teddie said with a grin. "You're the only one who's been able to tell us even that much."

"Reckless, though," Souji observed. "But who am I to talk?"

Naoto offered a brief smile. "Judging by methods and body type," she said, quickly sobering, "I believe the culprit is definitely a man. I heard no voices, so it appears he is acting alone. It's after that where things get rather murky." Her eyes were clouded. "I felt a single impact, presumably when I was thrown into the TV. Yet the time from kidnapping to entry was too short, mere minutes."

"So you were thrown in right away," Chie said. "Could there have been a TV on the side of the road?"

"More likely he's carrying one with him," Souji said. "That would explain the wildly differing entry points." He gave Teddie a questioning look.

The bear nodded. "Makes sense to me."

"Unfortunately, my memory from then on is a blur," Naoto said. "It doesn't become clear until around when you all arrived, and you of course know what happened next."

Yosuke grimaced. "No kidding. But seriously, the killer just walked up to your place and rang the doorbell? Talk about crazy."

Naoto was already working past him. "At last I understand why you all testified that you couldn't remember what had happened," she said, looking in turn at Yukiko, Kanji, and Rise. "Such a bizarre experience, capped with mental and physical fatigue, confusion is only natural. And if circumstances are any indication, my kidnapping was nearly identical to yours. There is no question the culprit is the same in each case."

"So that Mitsuo kid, the one who killed King Moron," Chie ventured.

"A copycat," Souji said, picking up the thread. "He didn't have a clue how that world really worked. We saw that when we found him, remember?"

Naoto nodded. "Precisely. It only mimicked the true culprit's method."

"Yeah, we wondered why King Moron's death broke the pattern in so many ways," Yosuke said. "Drove us nuts, wondering if the TV really had anything to do with it."

Though they had swiftly learned otherwise when they saw Kubo on the Midnight Channel. Still, something about that was nagging at Souji's subconscious even yet, an important point just at the fringe of his awareness.

Naoto brought it into focus. "However, the question remains how Kubo learned of that world in the first place." She looked at Souji. "How did you learn of it, Senpai?"

He thought back. "It was in early April, a day or so after they found Mayumi Yamano's body," he said. "The first time I saw the Midnight Channel, I had a splitting headache, and heard a voice in my head that I think was my Persona starting to awaken. When it subsided, I tried touching the screen, and was almost pulled in. I told Yosuke and Chie the next day, but they thought I was dreaming."

"Not for very long," Yosuke said with a wry smile. "We kinda fell in while checking out the electronics section. That's how we met Teddie."

Chie's head came up. "That's it! That's what's been bothering me!" Heads turned in her direction. "If that Kubo creep could enter the TV, why didn't he kill King Moron that way?"

Again, Naoto voiced what Souji was thinking. It was getting a little strange. "I believe he didn't understand that world as well as the true culprit," she said. "Even though I now have access myself, it would never occur to me to use it for murder." She sipped her drink. "And don't forget, the previous corpses left no sign the cause of death had anything to do with the other world."

Souji leaned forward, resting his elbows on the round table. This was getting interesting. "What are you getting at?"

"When a warrant was issued for Kubo's arrest, leaving him nowhere to run, he probably thought for the first time, 'What if I put my whole body into the TV?'"

The perfect escape. Even with a limited understanding of the TV world, Kubo had to know the police were completely unaware of its existence, and would never believe if informed. It still left the problem of getting out, but it seemed unlikely he had thought that far ahead.

"The bizarre condition of the bodies is likely because they died on the other side," Naoto continued. "It's much simpler than wondering why the culprit would attempt to destroy the evidence in such a manner. Which in turn means their positioning wasn't the killer making a statement at all."

Which meant Mitsuo Kubo was going to take the fall for more than just his own crime. Souji would shed no tears for him when he faced punishment for Kinshiro Morooka's death, but charging him with Mayumi Yamano and Saki Konishi's murders wasn't only unjust, it meant allowing a far more dangerous man to walk free.

"Much of our speculation could be tested if would could question Kubo directly," Naoto said. "However, I have unfortunately been taken off the investigation, and I doubt the police will believe any of this."

"They wouldn't admit it wasn't Mitsuo to begin with," Rise agreed. "Once you've said something on TV, it's not easy to admit you were wrong."

You'd know, wouldn't you. Souji grimaced. "And if I asked my uncle about it, there's about a ninety-nine percent chance he'd rip my head off. He's touchy about that kind of thing, not that I blame him."

Naoto nodded grimly. "I believe that raising that possibility is what led to my dismissal," she said. "The police will be very reluctant to admit they made false charges, especially when the accused is a juvenile." She sighed. "Indeed, the overwhelming sentiment in the Inaba police force is to end this case with Kubo's arrest."

"Which means it's up to us," Souji said. "So what else is new?"

That one got a few chuckles. "Say, Naoto," Yosuke said. "If you were that calm about it, couldn't you have, ah, gotten a bit more info?"

Naoto blushed, just a little. "Um, to tell the truth, I was . . . really scared."

"No help for it," Yukiko said. "Don't forget, Naoto is a girl, and a year younger than we are."

"Good point," Yosuke said. "Easy to forget, seeing her talking like this."

With a soft sigh, Souji quelled them both with a brief look. For himself, while he still thought Naoto was more than a little crazy for taking such a risk, he was quite impressed with what she had managed to achieve. Granted they still didn't know who was throwing people into the TV, but they nonetheless had more of a lead than ever before.

"Regardless, I have no doubt the culprit will continue with these attacks," Naoto said. "We can only wait and watch for his next move." Her voice was level, but firm. "But this is no longer just a job for me, or someone else's problem. I want to know the truth, why we were targeted." She met Souji's gaze. "Please allow me to join your effort."

He smiled. "Absolutely. You'll be a big help to us, Detective Princess."

She blushed again, but managed a smile in return. "Thank you. I will do my best."

And with that, the Investigation Team numbered eight. They were an eclectic bunch, an out-of-towner with an inferiority complex, a martial artist, an innkeeper-in-training, a delinquent with a soft core, an inhabitant of the TV world, a teen idol, and now a detective, all led by (in Souji's mind) the unlikeliest person, a transfer student who just happened to be good with a blade.

"Since I'm the King of the Geniuses, I knew it would turn out this way, so I came prepared. "Grinning, Teddie produced a pair of blue wire-frame glasses. "Ta-da! Nao-chan's glasses!"

"Um, thank you," Naoto said, then smiled. "Your friends told me about you, Teddie. I can sympathize with your desire to find yourself. I will help, if I can."

It wasn't over yet, but they had just taken a big step closer to the goal. The truth was almost within their grasp, Souji was sure of it. They just needed a bit more information, so as Naoto had said, there was no choice but to wait and see what developed.

"Souji-senpai." He paused and half-turned. The others had dispersed, leaving Naoto standing there alone. "Thank you again." She averted her eyes slightly. "You are the first person . . . I could truly call a friend."

He felt something resonate deep within at her words. "I should thank you," he replied. "That means a lot." There was nothing more to say, except, "See you tomorrow."

---

Evening

---

Exams were coming up, but Souji was in no mood for studying. His mind was buzzing too much, possibilities whirling about in an almost kaleidoscopic fashion. Part of him suspected the internal madness was a combination of Naoto joining their little band and too much coffee.

Heh, Uncle Ryotaro would probably say there's no such thing as too much coffee, he thought whimsically, just as his cell phone beeped. "Seta."

"It's me," Yosuke said. "I know this is kinda out of the blue, but something Naoto said a couple days ago has got me thinking. Remember what she said after we beat her Shadow, about inherited occupations and all that?"

"Yeah," Souji said. "There's a reason I'm not following in my parents' footsteps; the corporate rat race just isn't for me."

Yosuke chuckled. "After the way you fell in love with Inaba, I can see that." He sobered. "Anyway, I've been turning that over in my head, and I think I'm going to stick with Junes. Go to school, get the kind of degree your parents have, then see how high I can go."

Souji nodded slowly. "That makes sense. I've seen you a couple of times I was at Junes while you were on the clock. You've got a knack for the business."

"Thanks, partner. That means a lot, coming from you." Yosuke paused. "So, you figure things out yet? Just one more year of high school, y'know."

Souji sat back on his sofa, lips pursed in thought. "I might," he said slowly. "Can't say for sure; there's a few things I need to work out first. But yeah, there's something I would like to try." And it was Naoto who gave him the idea, or at least helped it take form. Not that he was going to tell Yosuke; it would almost certainly get back to Teddie, and he knew what that meant.

"Why all the mystery? Never mind," Yosuke said before Souji could reply. "So, back to the old grind tomorrow, eh? I gotta stop at Junes soon, get that DVD Chie's been bugging me about for months. Later."

Setting his phone aside, Souji couldn't help chuckling at his friend's parting words. Chie had the Junes Boy wrapped around her little finger, and he didn't even realize it. Souji supposed he could tell Yosuke about it, but that would ruin the fun. And Chie would probably beat him to death.

Never cross someone who can punt a Shadow clear out of sight.

---

Friday, 7 October, Afternoon

---

Thus far, school had passed without any significant bombshells. Kashiwagi was creepy as usual (she seemed to have fixated on Souji himself, to his considerable discomfort), but overall the day was just boring. Boring, Souji had learned, had its good points.

And then Naoto walked in.

"Excuse me," she said, ignoring the looks she got from Souji's classmates.

Souji raised an eyebrow. "Didn't expect you this time of day. Something up?"

"In a manner of speaking," Naoto said. "Do you have time after school? I'd like to have a doctor examine Teddie."

Yukiko tilted her head. "A doctor? You mean a vet?"

The look on Naoto's face was priceless. From her expression, she was probably trying to decide if Yukiko was joking, and unsure which option was worse. "The normal kind," she said, apparently deciding to take Yukiko's odd question at face value for the time being. "If you're free, I've already scheduled a checkup for him later today. A thorough physical examination could help determine just what he is."

"That makes sense," Souji said, nodding slowly. "All we know is he's always lived in that world. Not much to go on."

"Quite," Naoto agreed. "I also think it wise for the rest of us to get checkups as well. We should at least try to determine if the fog over there or the power we have gained has any negative effects on our health. Especially given how long the rest of you have been active in that world."

That should have occurred to me a long time ago. Souji could have kicked himself. Anyone who wasn't wearing the special glasses suffered extreme fatigue and sometimes illness after more than a few minutes in the TV world. For that matter, even with the glasses it could get rather tiring over there.

"Negative effects!?" Yosuke repeated. "D-Don't just drop stuff on us like that out of the blue! . . .Yeah, I never really thought about it."

"Which is why I've arranged for Kanji-kun and Rise-san to be examined as well," Naoto said. "Best not to take needless risks."

Chie whistled. "You're really on the ball with this stuff. You sure you aren't an adult?"

"Her height's a dead giveaway," Yosuke said, chuckling.

Souji shook his head, faintly annoyed. She's already bared her soul over this, and not exactly willingly. Give it a rest. It was going to be difficult to pay attention for the rest of the day regardless; he was too busy thinking of ways to keep his uncle from getting too suspicious.

I'll just tell him a friend had some problems. Not the first time it's happened.

Naoto departed just as Mister Hosoi came in, and it was back to business as usual.

---

After School

---

As it turned out, the examination was decidedly anticlimactic. Everything about it was from all appearances routine, though Souji had to do some quick talking to avoid any blood work; that would have gotten back to his uncle (and worse still, his parents), likely resulting in questions he dared not answer.

"What was the point of all that, anyway?" Rise wondered. "The doctors looked pretty confused."

"Maybe we'll have an answer," Souji said as Naoto and Teddie approached. "How'd it go?"

Naoto shrugged. "What they learned was they can't tell a thing about him. I requested they take an X-ray, but even that was useless. Every time, it was too blurry to read."

Souji frowned. "That's . . . strange. Then again, Teddie did 'grow' that body, so I guess it wouldn't be real human flesh." He shook his head; this was starting to creep him out. "But that wouldn't explain the X-ray failing."

"They performed a visual examination and standard palpations," Naoto said. "From all appearances, he's perfectly normal." She sighed. "They suggested another hospital if we're still worried, but that seems unnecessary. I feel bad about putting them through this, to be honest."

Kanji grunted. "He's as much a mystery as the Shadows."

"That reminds me, I looked up Persona and Shadows on the 'net," Yosuke said. "'Persona' means something like another personality, and I think they had Shadows listed under related terms."

Souji leaned back against the wall. "Teddie told us early on that Shadows were born from humans, and we know that they can become Personas. We've seen it happen enough."

"Sensei's right," Teddie confirmed. "I still don't get how that world is connected to this one, but I know what Shadows are."

Naoto then dropped a bombshell. "This is not the first time Shadows have been a threat, nor are we the first to have the power of Persona."

A profound silence fell. It had never occurred to anyone, even Souji, that powers such as theirs could have manifested before. It should have, though. Shadows, as they were constantly reminded, were born from humans. That such a phenomenon was new in retrospect strained credulity well beyond the breaking point.

I should have thought of that before. Souji gave himself a firm mental kick.

"Really?" Rise said, eyes wide. "When? Where?"

"The when is two years ago," Naoto said. "As to where, we've all been there. Tatsumi Port Island, centered on Gekkoukan High School. Do you recall the Nyxist incident?"

Yosuke shuddered. "Yeah, it was on the news back in I think January or February 2010. Creepy as hell."

"An understatement," Naoto said. "After our . . . conversation at Club Escapade, I spoke with my cousin Minato Arisato over the phone. He confirmed his involvement in Shadow attacks there, and that his entire group had the power of Persona. Including a dog."

Souji closed his eyes for a moment. "A dog," he repeated. "Stranger things have happened, I guess. Do you have any details?"

"Minato sent me an email detailing the incident and the events which led to it, though there are more than a few gaps; I suspect not even he and his comrades truly grasp what happened. I'll forward it to you all," Naoto replied. "I warn you, however, it is very disturbing reading."

So what else was new? "Disturbing" was just another day at the office for the Investigation team of Inaba. It would be very hard indeed to be more disturbing than the bathhouse, Souji reflected with a faint shudder. Or the ersatz strip club where they'd found Rise.

"There's so much we just don't know even about ourselves," Rise said with a sigh.

Teddie hummed. "Is that so? Well, I've got some awesome data on me!" He grinned. "It's kinda embarrassing that I'm the only one who got shown to the world, so. . . ." He reached into a pocket.

Souji reflexively reached for the sword he wasn't wearing. Knowing Teddie, there was no way whatever he was up to was going to end well.

"Information wants to be free these days," Teddie said. "So I'll break the ice and announce the physical exam results!"

One more word, and you're a bearskin rug, Teddie.

"Don't you dare!" Chie all but snarled. "Hand it over, right now!"

Displaying surprising agility, Teddie neatly evaded the irate martial artist. "First in the 'Shortest Legs Division,' we have. . . ." Teddie frowned comically. "Who'd have thought?"

"Just what did they examine, anyway!?" Yosuke demanded incredulously. "If you're gonna blab all that, you might as well tell us the girls' measurements."

Souji glared at him. "Not helping there, partner," he said in as firm a voice as he could manage. I wish I was fighting Shadows. At least I can slice or zap them.

Rise, of course, was unperturbed. "Sure, go ahead," she said. "My profile has been public for a long time anyway. Oh, but my bust size is 2cm smaller than it says. Blame the agency."

This was swiftly spiraling out of control, and there was nothing Souji could do about it. He covered his face with one hand, dimly aware of Rise teasing Yukiko on the subject. From the tone, the inn heiress was highly unamused by the whole thing.

"Hey, Naoto-kun's in here, too," Rise said, peering over Teddie's shoulder. "Huh? Is this measured wrong?"

That was apparently too much for their resident detective. "R-Regardless, the important thing is the examinations confirm there is nothing wrong with our health. Therefore," red-faced, she snatched the papers out of Teddie's hand, "there is no further need for these. I'm going to go shred them." Looking on the verge of panic, she dashed away.

Souji wanted to pound his head against the wall. There were times he wondered deep inside why he put up with all the hijinks that went on around him. And here he'd thought a year in sleepy Inaba was going to be quiet and dull. He must, he reflected, be cursed.

"Don't get too down, Teddie," he said. "There'll be another time."

The bear grinned. "Thanks. You're the best, Sensei."

Am I? Sometimes I wonder.

---

Evening

---

Souji decided to take one more night off from studying. Instead, he curled up on the sofa with his laptop, reading the email Naoto had sent. "Disturbing" was the word, all right. Especially the group known as "Strega." If even half of what he was reading was true, the world was a better place without Takaya Sakaki and Jin Shirato.

His phone beeped. "Seta."

"It's Naoto," the other said. "Do you have time to go into the TV world tomorrow? I want to see the power of Persona with my own eyes."

Souji mentally checked his calendar. "I think so," he said. "What kind of abilities do you have?"

There was a brief pause. "I haven't had a chance to internalize all of it," Naoto said. "I can say my strengths are in more exotic areas than most. For more mundane combat, I carry a revolver."

"Long-range support, then," Souji said, half to himself. "I actually have multiple Personas, but I usually use electricity, and of course I specialize in close combat, descendant of samurai and all that. Yosuke's a knife fighter with an affinity for wind. Chie's a martial artist with ice power, Yukiko uses a paper fan and sets stuff on fire, also our main healer. Kanji has electrical abilities and bashes Shadows with whatever blunt object is handy, Teddie has claws and ice abilities like Chie."

"I'll bear those in mind, thank you," Naoto said.

"One more thing," Souji said before Naoto could hang up. "Sorry about Teddie's antics at the hospital. He gets like that sometimes."

There was a brief coughing sound. "You're hardly at fault, Senpai," Naoto said. "If I were to blame anyone besides Teddie, it would be Rise-san for encouraging him. Still," she allowed, "I must confess this is far better than constant solitude."

Souji smiled. "Don't I know it. 'Night, Naoto. See you tomorrow."

"Good night, Senpai."

Probably time for bed. Hopefully the history of the Nyxist incident wouldn't give him nightmares.

---

Friday, 10 October, Early Morning

---

Dull and rainy was the order of the day, it seemed. The downpour muted all other sound, making Inaba seem even sleepier than normal. All Souji could hear through the rain was a faint splashing as Yasogami students hurried to the dry refuge of the school.

"Good morning, Senpai," a female voice greeted, accompanied by swift, light footfalls.

He paused by the gate. "Morning, Naoto," he said. His mouth quirked. "You sound as glum as the weather."

Naoto sighed. "Exams start next Friday, but I just can't seem to focus on schoolwork. The true killer remains at large, and we are the only ones who know. If we don't act, the entire case comes to a halt."

"I know how you feel," Souji said. "Still, the tests are important, much as I hate to admit it. We still have the rest of our lives ahead after we catch the real killer."

"You're right, of course," Naoto said, sighing again. "I'm just anxious. This is a critical moment, yet we can only wait and watch. We must check the Midnight Channel whenever possible."

Nodding, Souji led the way into the school. "I agree. If we can figure out who the next Midnight Channel star is, maybe we can catch this lowlife in the act." He grimaced. "We almost managed with Kanji and Rise, but he slipped past us both times. Maybe we'll have a better shot now that we have a real detective on our team."

He had to hold back a laugh at her sudden blush. "Um, thank you, Senpai. I will do my best."

---

Morning

---

Mister Kondo, you are way too energetic for a day like this. Especially when teaching English.

"Good morning, everyone!" the English/P.E. teacher said with his usual toothy grin. "Hey, guess what? We're having exams starting next Friday! Make sure you study hard, especially if you spent the summer playing around!"

You don't have to sound so excited about it. Exams are important, sure, but they're not exactly fun.

"Heck, some people might not even want to talk to you if you aren't smart!" Kondo said. "Friendship is important to a student, isn't it?"

Souji instantly thought of Naoto. One thing he had noticed almost from when they'd first met was her quick, intense mind. Combined with her line of work, he doubted she could be more than casual acquaintances with someone who lacked her studious nature. She would grow extremely bored very quickly in all likelihood.

"Today we're going over the predicate nominative," Kondo said. "I know, it sounds complicated, but it really isn't. It's just a word that completes a linking verb and renames the subject of a sentence." His eyes flickered over the class. "Let's see, you're looking handsome today, Souji."

I don't want to know why you think so. Souji obediently stood, waiting.

"Which word is the predicate nominative in this sentence: 'Mister Kondo is a super awesome teacher'?"

Nothing wrong with his ego. "Teacher."

Kondo grinned. "Bingo!" he said. "Y'know, I think I'll put that one on the test next week. I've got plenty more sentences like that!"

Why am I not surprised? Reclaiming his seat, Souji traded sardonic looks with Chie. Oh, well, at least he isn't Morooka. Or Kashiwagi.

---

After School

---

As promised, they went on a practice run through the TV world. Though a novice at the arcane arts, Naoto unsurprisingly was a quick learner. Her Persona, Sukuna-Hikona, was in some ways the most lethal of them all. The first time Naoto made use of it, the result was a wave of darkness that snuffed Shadows like blowing out a candle. More, she had quickly discovered how to use Persona to enhance her physical abilities, making her a quick and deadly shot with her revolver.

"I think that's enough for today," Souji said when they'd returned to the entrance. "Naoto, you did very well." He offered a lopsided smile. "In fact, you caught on faster than I did in some ways."

"Listen to the man, Naoto-kun," Yosuke agreed. "His knowledge of Persona has gotten us through a lot of jams."

"So I've heard," Naoto said, inclining her head toward Souji. To his mild amusement, she was blushing faintly. "Thank you, Senpai. I am glad to be of help."

Souji took a deep breath; their latest expedition had taken more out of him than he'd realized. "This should be our last run before exams." That got him glum looks from everyone save Teddie, who had no reason to care, and Naoto, who like Souji himself tended to ace exams. "This is tiring enough to make studying difficult."

Yosuke winced. "Can't say I like it, partner, but you're right. Not gonna do anyone any good if we're in cram school or something." He shuddered. "Especially if Kashiwagi's the teacher."

That notion was enough to turn Souji's stomach. As far as he was concerned, any contact with Noriko Kashiwagi was far, far too much. "I really didn't need that image, Yosuke. Really didn't." General laughter answered him.

Without another word (lest he provoke more hilarity), Souji climbed into the ersatz TV that led back into the human world. He would have a quick dinner, then, hit the books. Nanako, he knew, would understand.

---

Tuesday, 11 October, Early Morning

---

Though it was a bright, sunny day, the early October morning was decidedly brisk, necessitating a switch back to the cool-weather uniforms. Souji didn't mind; he found the relative chill invigorating, making him feel more alive. Which he probably needed to survive midterms.

Speaking of which. . . . "Mornin'," Chie said in a dejected voice.

"Let me guess," Souji said. "Worried about exams?"

"What was your first clue?" the martial artist countered glumly. "Midterms start later this week." Her expression brightened. "Hey, why don't we have a study session with everyone after school. We're all in the same boat here, so we should help each other out."

Souji lifted an eyebrow. "Some of us don't need that kind of help, you know," he said mildly.

"Come on!" Chie protested. "Have a little pity on those of us who are academically challenged!" She was actually giving him puppy-dog eyes. "Please? I'll invite everyone!"

Probably won't get much studying done, then. Between you and Yosuke, Rise's antics, and Kanji's weird fixation on Naoto. "All right," he said aloud.

Chie's face brightened. "Really? Thanks!"

---

Morning

---

History class, still a favorite for all Sofue's oddities. Souji was paying especially close attention; with exams coming up in mere days, he couldn't afford to miss a single word. To his amusement, Chie actually seemed to be listening for once; maybe having a detective join their little group had given her a bit of a push.

"Now look at the second page of the handout," Sofue was saying. "Today I will be focusing on the king who served in the golden age of the Bourbon dynasty, Louis XIV. Known for being one of the most prolific rulers in Europe at the time, he is also remembered for the famous—or infamous—line, 'I am the State.' Nevertheless, his achievements were enough to make France one of the greatest European powers of the time, earning him the title of Sun King."

In other words, undeniably capable, but otherwise a typical monarch, arrogant, licentious, and in general unpleasant, filthy rich while the people endured a hardscrabble existence.

"He was a highly skilled politician, and also oversaw the construction of the Palace of Versailles," the teacher went on. "More than enough to make his mark on history, but he also had an interesting quirk. Let's see. . . ." She pursed her lips. "Souji, please stand."

He obeyed, ignoring Yosuke's faint snicker. Hey, I'm not always the one called.

"What part of his physical appearance was Louis XIV most concerned about?"

Yosuke complains I get the easy ones. That's only because I actually pay attention. "His height."

Sofue offered an approving smile. "Exactly right. The Sun King was a short man, and it bothered him greatly. According to one record, he wore eight-centimeter heels, and he even ordered a wig that was twenty centimeters tall! With a feathered hat on top, so he would be seen as worthy of the kingship. Doesn't that make you identify with him, just a little? He was a king, but still just a man."

Not really. Souji sat back down. Then again, I'm not exactly normal.

---

After School

---

Though it was a bright, sunny day, they chose one of the long covered tables. It was simple practicality; they needed the extra space for study materials. Even if bringing anything school-related to Junes seemed to taint the place, or so Chie claimed.

The table they chose was already occupied, but it was hardly a problem. "Hi, Nanako-chan, Teddie," Chie said with a smile.

"Greetings to you," Teddie said, nodding respectfully.

Huh? That's odd, even for you.

"Greetings to you," Nanako chimed in, which was even weirder coming from a girl barely seven years of age.

Souji half-slumped on the bench next to Teddie and began sorting his papers out. Quite honestly, he wished he was either somewhere else, or hadn't brought all the academic paraphernalia. Even for him, exam time was a chore at best.

Staccato thumps announced the team's first-years. "Wow, everybody's here," Rise said, sliding onto the far end.

"Why so many people?" Teddie wondered. "It's not like we're having a meeting or anything."

Yosuke had a very glum look on his face. "Exam study group," he said, and sighed. "Gotta say, times like this make me envy you, Ted."

"It's not that bad," Yukiko disagreed. "Come on, let's start with proving the trigonometric identities."

Souji suppressed a groan. It wasn't that he was bad at math, but he didn't exactly enjoy it. Especially the parts that, as far as he could tell, had little practical value. If he wasn't so determined to have as broad a knowledge base as possible, he wasn't sure he would have cared if he passed. Well. There was also his parents' likely reaction.

Chie was less restrained. "Urgh, jumping straight into math," she said, putting her head in her hands. "I hate math."

"We're doing the section on trig functions, right?" Rise said. "Find the area of a triangle given two sides. . . ." She trailed off.

My brain hurts already.

Kanji appeared uncertain. "Area of a triangle? Isn't that, uh, base by height by two? Something like that."

"I could teach you, if you like," Naoto said. She, of course, was a math whiz.

Yosuke perked up. "You're as smart as I thought. Could you, um, lend me a hand, too?"

I'm staying out of this one, Souji decided, opening his own math textbook. That way lies a minefield, if I'm reading this right.

"Um." Naoto hesitated. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't know where to begin with second-year subjects."

Deflated, Yosuke sat back. "Ah, what's the point? Useless after all."

Instantly incensed, Naoto half-rose. "D-Don't call me useless!" she snapped.

So much for studying. I should've known this would happen. Still faintly hoping for some progress, Souji turned the page, trying valiantly to ignore the commotion.

Yosuke chuckled. "Oho, I think I've found the right buttons yo get Naoto-kun all riled up. You're cute when you're mad, y'know."

Naoto promptly when from angry to bright red. "W-What are you talking about!?"

"Give it a rest, Yosuke," Souji said before the Junes Boy could respond. He closed his book with a sigh of defeat. "To blazes with this; I can't concentrate anyway."

He wasn't the only one, and for a while they descended into idle chatter. Naoto contributed as much as anyone, though Souji privately thought he was the only one who understood more than around half of what she said. Still, it was a good sign, showing how far she'd come.

"Teddie told me he doesn't know who he is," Nanako said an hour later. "That's really weird."

And something that probably shouldn't have come up. Souji gave the bear an inquiring look, got a shrug in return. "My life here is really fun," Teddie said. "But the more fun I have, the more I want to know who I really am. I've surfed the net, read manga, watched TV, nothing, not even at the libeary."

Ignoring the cringe-worthy pun, it was hardly a surprise. "I didn't think you would," Souji said quietly. "You're too . . . different."

"I'm starting to get an idea, though," Teddie said. "That other world was my reality, but now I'm starting to think it was born from the minds of people on this side. And in that place full of Shadows, I think I must have been some kind of special being."

Nanako, fortunately, seemed to think it some kind of fairy tale. "Maybe," Souji said slowly. "It's true you didn't attack us. . . ."

Teddie looked down, sighing. "I don't really remember. Maybe it's that 'amnesia' thing I read about."

"It's true much of that world seems rooted in human thoughts," Naoto said, looking thoughtful. "Still, in that other realm the principles of logic and deduction are at best difficult to apply. Your existence does suggest some truth to it, however." She looked at Teddie. "What is your earliest memory?"

Teddie shrugged. "From quite a while ago. I'd lived there for a while when it started getting really noisy. So when I bumped into Sensei and Yosuke, I asked them to do something about it."

"More like coerced," Souji murmured, getting a chuckle from Yukiko.

Naoto frowned. "If you've always lived on that side, you would have no sense of time as we understand it."

Too many questions, too few answers. Almost no answers, really; Teddie's theory about the other world's nature made sense, but they were still decidedly lacking in facts. Hard to solve a mystery without any facts.

"Hey, I think Teddie must be a king."

If it had been anyone but seven-year-old Nanako, Souji would have facepalmed. "What makes you say that, Nanako-chan?"

"I read a story about a king who was alone in a forest because of a bad guy's curse," Nanako explained. "Isn't that what happened to you, Teddie?"

The bear tilted his head. "Well, when you put it that way, it kinda makes sense."

Yukiko giggled. "I can see you wearing a cape," she said, and promptly doubled over.

She wasn't even trying to hide herself anymore. The shy, demure Yukiko Amagi Souji had met all those months ago was gone. In her place was a veritable hyena, who would descend into helpless laughter at seemingly any prompting. To be sure, it seemed a lot healthier, psychologically speaking.

Talk then turned to the King's Game business, something Souji would as soon have forgotten and really wished had not been brought up in Nanako's presence. Wanting nothing to do with the inevitable chaos, he tuned it out for a bit, hoping no one combusted in the process.

"Was I really a king?" Teddie wondered when the others had gone to buy drinks.

Souji shrugged. "With that freaky place, anything is possible." He stood. "Don't know about you, but all that made me really thirsty."

He would never admit, of course, that he had an ulterior motive.

---

Souji had developed a tendency to enter a kind of fugue state during exams. One the rare occasions he thought about it, he saw it as a kind of survival mechanism, keeping his mind from breaking at the monotony. Yosuke had described it as zombie-like, but it worked.

Of course, with a day off right in the middle of midterms, his friends decided to complicate things.

---

Sunday, 16 October, Daytime

---

"It's getting to be a custom for us to meet up like this," Yosuke observed. "That aside, can I borrow your notes?"

The team (minus Kanji and Teddie) had met up at Junes for a little remedial study. After the last such session Souji had his doubts as to whether it was worth the bother, but he also thought a little break was in order under the circumstances. He'd barely seen the sun since Friday morning.

"Borrowing notes is getting to be a custom, too," Chie said. "But I want a melon soda first."

Yosuke eyed her suspiciously. "Are you saying you'll lend me your notes if I buy you a drink?"

"Maybe."

Naoto chuckled softly. "Yosuke-san and Chie-san seem to get along rather well."

"They do, when they aren't bickering," Souji told her, earning dirty looks from both.

Rise, of course, was the one who escalated things. "You two really should go on a date," she said. "I think you'd go well together."

Chie shook her head at that. "No way!" she said, though the accompanying smile belied her words.

"Wasn't that a little too quick?" Yosuke said, visibly aggrieved.

Try looking more closely, partner, Souji carefully did not say aloud. She just won't admit it in public. Smart girl.

"You, too, Naoto-kun," Rise said. "You could go out with Kanji."

Naoto instantly turned red. "What!? Please, stop."

Undeterred, Rise turned to Souji. "Don't you think they'd make a good couple, Senpai?"

He didn't reply right away, just looked back at her. She had, in his opinion, crossed a line, and he did not appreciate being put in such a position. Having to choose between teammates like that was not something a leader was supposed to do. So he held her gaze just long enough for her smile to falter ever so slightly.

"Rise," he said at last, "please don't do something like this again. It's not fair to me, and certainly not fair to Kanji, since he isn't here to defend himself." He sighed. "If you're that insistent on an answer, no. They have nothing in common."

Though still red, Naoto's expression turned to one of relief. "Thank you. Kanji-kun is an . . . interesting sort. However. . . ." From her tone, she was trying very hard not to be too unkind to their absent teammate.

Studying, as expected, proved an exercise in futility. Souji bought the others drinks in a mostly successful attempt to smooth things over, and they made a point of talking about virtually everything except school or the case. Just tried to be normal teenagers for a little while.

Yosuke caught up with him on his way out. "Hey, partner," he said. "What did you mean about Kanji and Naoto-kun having nothing in common?"

Souji sighed. "If it was anyone but you. . . . Look, Yosuke, Naoto is basically a super-genius. Accomplished detective at sixteen, probably aced every test since she was in elementary school, workaholic, you get the idea. Kanji," he shook his head. "I'm not saying Kanji's stupid or anything, but Naoto is way out of his league. Remember the time he slept through a meeting?" Yosuke winced and nodded. "Point is, he doesn't have any way to relate to her."

"Guess you're right," Yosuke conceded. "Well, we've still got four more days of pain. I'm at least gonna try and study at home. See ya later."

---

Thursday, 20 October, After School

---

Finally, midterms complete. Souji was reasonably confident in his performance, but it was still a relief to be able to put it behind him. After a brief stop at Junes, he made for the shopping district, thinking to visit Tatsuhime Shrine for some well-earned peace and quiet.

He was almost there when a man's voice stopped him. "Excuse me, do you have a moment?"

Souji paused. The man looked to be in early middle age, with slightly graying hair and a face that was mostly unlined. He wore a dark suit and sunglasses, which partially hid his expression. Clearly not a local, and not someone Souji could recall meeting before.

The man's next words were inexplicable. He began questioning Souji out of the blue on things as varied as footprints, DNA, basic physics, and botany, among other subjects. Perplexed, but willing to play along, Souji answered each question with little trouble; his lengthy study sessions had served him well.

"Okay, is there a point to this?" he finally asked.

Apparently satisfied, the older man nodded. "Do you know Naoto Shirogane?"

Souji frowned. "I do," he said slowly.

"Yes, of course," the man said. "Please give this to him. He should understand." He handed Souji a small card and walked away.

Souji turned it over in his hand. It was a more or less normal index card from the look of it, and completely blank. A prank, perhaps? Whatever it was, asking Naoto would have to wait; she'd left by the time Souji had reached the shoe lockers.

He looked back again, but the mystery man had vanished. What was that all about?

---

Author's note: Well, it's getting there. I realize Naoto's Shadow fight may seem a bit truncated, but I was kinda running out of ways to really extend it. The underlying issues in her character are more important anyway.

That should be everything for now. Until next time. ~D.S.