Thursday, 20 October, Evening
For perhaps the first time since his arrival in Inaba, Souji got home before Nanako did. He puzzled over it for a moment, then shrugged. It was hardly something to be alarmed about; could have been as innocent as Nanako having more to do after school for a change. Putting it out of his mind, he wandered into the kitchen to get a head start on dinner.
"Oh, you're home!"
And there was Nanako, just walking in the front door. "Hi, Nanako-chan," Souji said. "I got home before anyone else, so I thought I'd get dinner going."
Nanako smiled. "Okay." She appeared to remember something. "Oh, a letter came for you." She held out a small envelope.
Souji took it, wondering who would be writing him of all people. His friends would either call his cell or send him an email. Reika Sakamoto might write him the old-fashioned way, but even that seemed unlikely.
Strange. Though addressed to him personally, there was no return address, nothing on the envelope to provide clues as to the sender. Frowning, he opened it, and felt his blood run cold.
"dont rescue anymore"
That was it. A simple, ominous message typed on an unremarkable sheet of paper. Ordinarily, he would have dismissed it as a prank, but given his activities over the last few months, such a coincidence was unlikely in the extreme. Which meant the killer probably knew who was on to him.
"Is something wrong?"
Brought back to the here and now, Souji shook his head. "Just someone's idea of a joke, Nanako-chan," he said, refolding the letter and stuffing it in a pocket.
Nanako immediately put it out of her mind. "Oh, my show is on!" She practically dashed for the remote.
Wishing he could be so carefree, Souji made a mental note to consult with the others at school the next day. Especially Naoto. He was more grateful than ever for the addition of a genuine professional detective to their little band. It made a lot of things more practical, if not precisely easy.
Who know, maybe this will finally set us on the right track.
Friday, 21 October, Lunchtime
Souji gathered the human members of his team on the roof at lunch. He showed them the letter, explaining the circumstances of its arrival. Looking at their faces, he saw what he was himself feeling, puzzlement mixed with vague unease.
"dont rescue anymore," Naoto murmured. "A warning?"
"With no punctuation or capitalization," Chie said with a snort. "Talk about a cliché warning."
Kanji made a brief scoffing noise. "C'mon, ain't it just some prank? That kind of thing only happens in the movies."
Souji shook his head. "It's too specific to be a prank. A warning letter, addressed directly to me? When I've been leading those little rescue missions? There's no way this is a coincidence." He grimaced. "And I can't show it to my uncle, either. Best case, I get a police watchdog, probably Adachi-san. Worst case, I'm kept at home when not in school or at work. We can't afford that."
Which, of course, was why he'd dismissed it as a joke when speaking to Nanako the previous night. She would have told her father, and that would have been the end of that. Or perhaps the beginning of the end, the real end coming when Souji's parents found out about it.
"Dojima-san is trustworthy, Senpai, but I must concur," Naoto said. "With that in mind, we should examine the letter itself. Addressed to you, delivered to the home of a police detective no less. This means the culprit knows exactly who has been interfering with his crimes."
Souji nodded. "That's what I was thinking," he said. "Takes a lot of nerve."
"Indeed," Naoto agreed. "If it were possible, I would have it checked at a crime lab, but it's unlikely they would find anything. The text, crude though it is, is a warning, while the subtext expresses the sender's confidence that we can't use it to pinpoint him."
"If he had enough brains to pull this whole thing off in the first place, he'd have worn gloves while he wrote the damn letter," Yosuke said sourly. "Not leaving fingerprints is pretty basic stuff."
Yukiko frowned. "But how could he know so much about us? It's not like we have a police watchdog," here she nodded at Souji.
An excellent question. In all their adventures in that crazy place, the only actual people they had encountered were the people they were there to rescue (or capture, in Mitsuo Kubo's case). And it wasn't like they were easy to sneak up on, indeed doing so would have been highly dangerous for other reasons. Unless the killer also had the power of Persona.
Souji devoutly hoped that wasn't the case.
"Teddie's been saying for a while he sensed someone watching us while we're in there," Yosuke mused. His eyes went suddenly wide. "Hold on. Do we end up on the Midnight Channel every time we go over there?"
"I doubt it," Souji said, shaking his head again. "We'd have heard about it by now." He smiled a bit ruefully. "However it happened, I've got enough popularity—or notoriety—here that it would have been the talk of the school. Same for Rise, teen idol and all that."
Yosuke grunted. "Yeah. Come to think of it, we don't even know how the Midnight Channel works. We've got a little, thanks to Teddie, but I'll bet that doesn't even scratch the surface."
General silence for a few heartbeats. "Let's put aside the nature of that world for now," Naoto said. "Even with Teddie's help, we have too little data to go on. For the moment, we should keep in mind that the culprit knows who we are. That should suffice for now."
"Naoto's right," Souji said, pocketing the letter. "We'll have to wait until the situation changes. For now, keep your eyes open." Everyone nodded at that.
"Okay," Chie said. "On a more cheerful note, the Culture Festival is right around the corner. What's our class doing?"
Souji firmly suppressed a groan. Culture Festival was generally considered the high point of the school year, but he'd never found it such. In his experience, it tended to be either mundane to the point of soporific, or madness on level with the TV world. In a school like Yasogami, what with the faculty's various and sundry personality disorders, his money was on madness.
"I don't think our class has decided yet," Yosuke said slowly.
"I heard the vote is soon, but they're still gathering ideas," Yukiko put in.
Souji didn't know whether or not to be reassured by that. Some of the students were as crazy as the faculty; he remembered in particular a fellow second-year who was a member of something called the Mysteries Association, alternatively the Occult Club. The guy had managed to look at once like some kind of goth and perfectly normal, a combination that had a decidedly unsettling effect.
It was Chie who noticed Yosuke's sudden change in demeanor. "Looks like Yosuke's been hit with a bolt of inspiration," she said, eyeing the Junes Boy warily. "Whatever it is, you can bet it's way out there."
Great. Just great.
Rise, of course, just had to add fuel to the fire. "Hey, Senpai, have you decided who you're going around the campus with during the festival?" she asked cheekily. "My schedule's still wide open, you lucky guy!"
Flattering, but you're really not my type, Rise. Honestly, I'd rather wander around with Naoto; we've got more in common.
And just where did that come from, anyway?
With lunchtime nearly over, the group dispersed. Recalling his encounter in the shopping district, Souji stopped Naoto with a touch on her shoulder. "Naoto, are you free after school?"
She looked at him curiously. "Is there something wrong?"
Souji's lip twisted. "Not exactly. There's just something I need to talk to you about. Not connected to the case, as far as I can tell, just really strange."
Naoto thought for a moment, then nodded. "I have no pressing engagements this afternoon. I'll meet you after school, then."
"Thanks."
After School
Standing idly near the shoe lockers, Naoto wondered what her senpai needed her, specifically, for. Not that she minded, necessarily; she'd always felt a certain satisfaction when she was genuinely needed. It was just a little strange, since Souji had indicated it was unconnected to the murder case.
Brisk footsteps approached from her right. "I hope you weren't waiting long," Souji said.
Naoto shook her head. "Far from it. You had something you wished to discuss?" She carefully controlled her tone, not wanting Souji to think she was being short with him.
He scratched the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. "It's, uh, it's very odd. I ran into someone in the shopping district yesterday who hit me with a barrage of trivia questions, then told me to give you this. He said you'd understand." He handed her a small card.
Naoto took it, frowning. It was completely blank, and from all appearances unremarkable. Still, something was nagging at her. "Senpai, do you have some time to spare? I would prefer to discuss this somewhere more private."
Souji smiled, waving a hand. "Lead on."
They chose a place they had both frequented since coming to Inaba, the gazebo near the Samegawa River bank. Though it was a major route to and from Yasogami, most of the students had already passed through, leaving the riverbank area quiet. And thus perfect for their needs.
Naoto leaned forward slightly, hands folded. "Who gave this to you?"
Her senpai shrugged. "A man, looked to be early middle age. Graying hair, black suit, sunglasses. Definitely not a local. He knew that I know you, for what it's worth."
"I see." Naoto looked at the card again. Souji's description of the man was frustratingly familiar, as though she should know who it was but couldn't quite call it to mind. "You spoke of trivia questions. What sort?"
Souji's lip twisted. "Footprints, DNA, some chemistry stuff. Seemed almost random at the time."
Naoto frowned at that, but before she could reply, her cell rang. "Excuse me." She pressed the "accept" key. "Yes, it's me. Yakushiji-san?" A short, to the point reply; she and her grandfather both valued conciseness in official business. "I see. I don't keep anything of real importance there, so it shouldn't be a problem. Yes, please, keep me informed." She pocketed her phone, grimacing slightly.
"Something wrong?"
She'd almost forgotten Souji was there. "Of course, you heard. That was Yakushiji-san, my grandfather's secretary. It seems our estate was broken into, and several items pertaining to me removed."
Souji's gray eyes sharpened. "Remember that card?"
"Exactly." She knew he had a sharp mind. "It's ridiculous, though. There is a multiple kidnap-and-murder case ongoing, and I'm concerned about petty theft."
"Running from a challenge?"
The unexpected response instantly had her back up. "What!?" She shook her head quickly. "How is it you so easily have this effect on me. . . . A challenge, to me personally, that's exactly what it is." She calmed herself. "I will take care of this, Souji-senpai. Thank you for bringing it to my attention."
Again, he surprised her. "I can't just back out now."
Naoto almost flinched, realizing she had misjudged him. "I. . . ." She took a deep breath. "I apologize. As Yosuke-senpai once put it, I seem to have a tin ear for other people's feelings. Of course, your help would be appreciated." And for more than just his sharp mind; Naoto was slowly coming to realize just how much she valued Souji as a friend, something all too rare in her life. "Of course, only when we aren't busy with the murder case, or," her lip twitched, "schoolwork."
Souji smiled. "Glad you'll have me along, Naoto-kun," he said. He glanced at his watch. "Right now, though, I really should get moving. I promised Nanako-chan I would make her favorite for dinner."
Standing, Naoto inclined her head. "Please, give her my regards. I'll see you again."
"Later, Naoto."
Saturday, 22 October, Early Morning
The clouds were a fitting backdrop for Souji's mood as he trudged to school. Ever since the Culture Festival had come up at lunch the previous day, he'd been plagued by a vague feeling of dread. Between Rise's antics and whatever Yosuke was plotting, it wasn't going to be fun.
Reaching the gate, he overheard a couple of girls chattering about that very issue. "The Culture Festival is this time next week!" one said. "Rumor has it there's a class that still hasn't decided what it's going to do!"
Her friend shrugged. "Eh, it's pretty common. They'll argue about it for a while, then end up doing something like a rest area. Lame."
I wish we could be so lucky, Souji thought, recalling the look on Yosuke's face.
"Just one more week; I need to get fired up!"
Souji sighed, mentally braced himself, and walked on, idly wondering if he could kill Yosuke before they voted and not get caught.
Morning
After a perfunctory talk from Noriko Kashiwagi, who rumor had it had plans of her own, the class reps took over. Souji was oddly gratified that both looked as long-suffering as he felt, though he strongly suspected having Kashiwagi as a homeroom teacher had something to do with it.
"Okay, as you all know, the Culture Festival is next week," the male rep said. "As you also know, we still haven't decided what we're doing."
"We'll hand out a list of choices," his female colleague said. "Please vote for one. We have 'break area,' 'video room,' and 'study room.'"
So mundane it was almost painful. Not that Souji was complaining; he had enough on his plate as it was. The less work he had to put into the Culture Festival, the happier he would be.
The female rep looked down at the paper she was holding. "Oh, one more . . . 'group date cafe'?"
It took all of Souji's self-control not to turn in his seat and glare accusingly at Yosuke. The instant he heard it, he knew from whose alleged brain it had to have sprung. No one else in his class was quite that twisted; hopefully the others would have the good sense to not vote for it.
"Well, I wonder who put that one in," Yosuke said lazily, confirming Souji's suspicions.
Yukiko actually looked curious. "What's a group date cafe?"
"Who knows," Chie said, shrugging irritably. "Probably won't get many votes, though. Our class is a pretty serious bunch."
"Yeah, it's just a joke idea," Yosuke said. "Gotta throw something like that in."
Souji took a deep breath and focused to the point of tunnel vision on the sheet of paper on his desk. He had to fight the urge to violently scratch out "group date cafe," and just circle his choice. A study room, he thought, would probably be safe enough.
It took no more than a few minutes; apparently it was an easy decision for his classmates. Souji handed his sheet in and sat back, replaying the discussion he'd had with Naoto after school the previous day. A lot more interesting, he thought, than some mundane school activity.
The vote count brought him back to the present with an unpleasant jolt.
"Whaaaat!?" Yosuke exclaimed. "How the hell. . . ."
Chie glared at him. "Don't look at me! This is your fault!" She shook her head in irritation. "I gotta wonder, though. Do the people who voted for it realize they're going to have to run it themselves?"
"I'm curious," Yukiko admitted. "I've never been on a group date before."
And Yukiko reminds us she doesn't think like normal people.
The matter-of-fact admission left Chie briefly shocked speechless. "What!? You voted for it!?"
"Uh-huh. I thought it would be sad if no one voted for it."
Very slowly, Souji's forehead made contact with his desk. He had little to no sympathy for the general consternation around him. They voted for it, so it was their problem. What he resented was being dragged along with them. Appealing to Kashiwagi would be no use, he knew; she would find a "group date cafe" all too exciting.
He knew he didn't want to know what one of his classmates meant by "notorious pageants."
"Well, since the majority rules, group date cafe it is," the male rep said. "Whatever that is. I'm not even sure we can pull it off; you'd all better pitch in."
Souji was beyond mere anger. "Yosuke," he said, very softly, very calmly, "I am going to kill you."
Lunchtime
Naoto had only been on the Yasogami rooftop a handful of times, and never at someone else's request. Though certainly not unwelcome, Souji's lunch invitation had caught her a bit flat-footed. She had accepted, on the grounds that she needed to get used to socializing with her new friends if nothing else.
His relieved expression when she appeared spoke volumes. "Naoto," he greeted. "Thanks for coming; I need some sane company."
"I'm happy to oblige, Senpai," Naoto said, sitting a polite distance to one side. "You sound exasperated."
Souji slid a lunch box between them. "Here, I made enough for two. And yeah, 'exasperated' is the word. I want to kill Yosuke."
Obvious hyperbole, given their close friendship. "Did something happen?" Naoto asked carefully, looking the open box. Sushi, perfect timing.
"You might say that." Souji grimaced. "His little joke idea for the Culture Festival won the day. 'Group date cafe,' whatever that is."
There was no mistaking the disgust in his voice. Not that Naoto disagreed; though obscure, it sounded rather too prurient for her liking. "I was under the impression your class was more studious than that. If only out of self-defense, given the late Mister Morooka's reputation."
"So was I, and trust me, Sloth-face's reputation was well-earned." Souji grimaced. "As near as I can tell, Chie and I were the only votes against. I am not looking forward to the Festival."
Naoto took a bite of sushi. "I don't blame you," she said, swallowing. Souji, she reflected, was as good a cook as he was an investigator. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
Souji's lip twisted. "If you're available for some intelligent conversation afterward, it would help a lot," he said. "If you don't mind a bit of ranting first."
"It would be my pleasure," Naoto said with a soft chuckle. "After all, you can hardly function effectively as team leader while your mind is burdened with such trivialities." She took another bite. "May I say, Senpai, you are an excellent cook."
He smiled. "Thanks. I make dinner at home a lot of the time, since Uncle Ryotaro can't cook and Nanako-chan isn't old enough."
Naoto nodded. Now that she thought about it, she recalled Detective Dojima saying something about that to a colleague at the end of one shift.
"So," Souji said. "What's your class doing for the Festival? Something less insane than mine, I hope."
The young detective felt her mouth quirk. "Less insane in general concept, perhaps, but it does have the potential for mayhem. One of my classmates has a knack for electronics, so we adopted his suggestion for a computer exhibition. However, he also has connections to a group known as the 'Mysteries Association,' which seems to have a reputation for the bizarre."
She almost laughed at the look on Souji's face. "Bizarre is right," he said. "A few months ago I actually wound up getting some artifact or other from the TV world for one of their members." He shook his head. "He didn't say why he wanted it, and I didn't ask."
"I . . . see." Naoto shook her head. "Yasogami certainly has more than its share of colorful personalities, student and faculty alike."
"At least it isn't boring," Souji replied. He glanced at his watch. "Guess we'd better get back to class."
"Indeed." Naoto stood, paused. "Senpai, do you have time after school? I have additional information regarding our previous discussion."
Souji thought for a moment, then nodded. "No club activities this close to the Culture Festival, so my schedule is open."
"Thank you." It was such a trivial thing, but there something about it was bothering her, like a mental splinter. Souji, she was sure, would be of considerable help unraveling it.
After School
Souji was slightly delayed after the bell rang; one of the class reps wanted to discuss the Culture Festival further. Annoyed at being held up for something that was guaranteed to be a disaster, Souji had kept his mouth shut while a couple of classmates hashed out some of the details.
His irritation had mostly faded when he reached the shoe lockers. "Sorry I'm late." When Naoto didn't respond, he slowed his pace. "Naoto?"
She was scowling at a small card. "Forgive me, Senpai. I had thought this was a new development, but it is in fact nothing of the sort." Her lip twisted in evident disgust. "Someone left a note in my shoe box."
"A note?" Souji frowned. Given the usual custom. . . . "Some kind of love letter?"
"That appears to be the gist of it," Naoto said sourly. "From a girl; the sender helpfully provided her name and class." Sighing, she crumpled the note in one hand.
Aware of his friend's delicate mood, Souji kept his voice even. "You aren't going to read it?"
Naoto shook her head. "There's no point. She does not know me, and I don't have time to indulge in casual affairs. I presume the same is true of you, Senpai?"
Souji took his time answering. "I'm not ruling out a relationship, but I'm definitely not interested in anything casual," he said slowly. "And not with someone who doesn't even know me," he added, nodding at the crumpled note.
"I see." Naoto appeared to rein herself in. "Regardless, I regret dragging you into something so utterly pointless, however inadvertently."
Souji waved it off. "It's minor, and not your fault anyway. I'd rather deal with that than Culture Festival preparations." That drew a soft chuckle.
"Touche," the other conceded. "If you have time, there are some details about the case I'd like to go over with you."
"I think I can squeeze it in," Souji said with a smile. "Lead on, Naoto-kun."
Sunday, 23 October, Daytime
I wonder what's up now.
Shortly after breakfast, Souji had received a brief text message from Yosuke, asking him to meet at the Samegawa riverbed. He was curious, and just a bit concerned; it wasn't like Yosuke to be so cryptic. Hopefully it wasn't bad news about the case.
He found Yosuke standing by the river's edge, staring at nothing. "You okay, partner?"
The other teen sighed. "There's something important I need to say." He took a long, slow breath. "The truth is, I didn't trust you at first." He shook his head. "No, that's not it. More like I was jealous of you. I thought you'd be like me, bored out of your mind coming from the city to the back end of nowhere. But I was wrong, way wrong. Called your Persona just days after arriving, took charge of the investigation, gathered people together. . . . You're a hero, man."
"You're giving me too much credit," Souji disagreed. "I just did what I had to do, and I couldn't have done it alone."
Yosuke didn't appear to hear. "I liked and admired you for that, but at the same time, I was jealous. I don't think I even realized it back then. I just . . . I wanted to be acknowledged, by you most of all."
Souji frowned. Something about Yosuke's tone. . . . "What are you getting at?"
Yosuke turned to face him. "Souji . . . I want you to hit me. Knock all this garbage right out of me, so we can be an even footing from now on."
"Are you out of your mind? Stupid question." Wondering if he was out of his mind, Souji set himself. "Fine, but only if you hit back. If we're going to be equal, we should act like it."
For a brief moment, Yosuke looked taken aback. Then his face set in a grim line, and he nodded. "Then let's do it."
Souji never did quite remember what happened over the next few minutes. All he could ever call to mind was a confused mess of swinging limbs, punctuated by moments of pain. In the back of his mind, he wondered how on Earth he was going to explain the resulting bruises to his uncle.
All he knew was that it ended with the both of them sprawled on the grass, with splitting headaches.
"Damn," Yosuke groaned. "Your punches are murder. I was seeing stars for a minute there."
Souji rubbed his jaw. "You gave as good as you got, Yosuke. I've been hit harder, but only by stronger Shadows." He turned his head slightly. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah." Yosuke looked peaceful for a change. "I'm not really over Saki-senpai yet, but I can keep moving. My head's clear now." He smiled. "Thanks, partner."
Souji's mouth quirked. "Anytime."
Thursday, 27 October, Lunchtime
The last few days had been uneventful, surprisingly so with the Culture Festival drawing near. Which, naturally, had Souji feeling very uneasy. After the insanity of the last few months, he couldn't help feeling like the other shoe was about to drop.
It dropped with a resounding thud during lunch. He casually wondered to the first floor, to find a group of students gathered around the bulletin board. With a strange mixture of curiosity and dread, he moved closer to see just what the fuss was about.
"The Miss Yasogami High Pageant!" was the latest notice, which at least half explained the bit about "notorious pageants" he'd heard a week ago. Forcing himself to breathe evenly, he edged in a bit more, and his heart sank when he saw some of the names.
Chie Satonaka.
Yukiko Amagi.
Rise Kujikawa.
Naoto Shirogane.
Okay, what the hell is going on here? Souji thought. Rise I can believe, but not the others. Yukiko's too shy, it really isn't Chie's style, and Naoto. He winced. Naoto wouldn't be caught dead in something like this.
The chatter of other students drew his eye to another name on the list, and he had to swallow his gorge. Kashiwagi? Seriously? That is beyond creepy, almost Shadow Rise creepy.
"Yo, Souji." Yosuke appeared from the opposite direction. "You free for lunch? Chie asked us to come to the roof, no idea why."
I've got a good idea. "Yeah," Souji said, mentally bracing himself. This was not going to be fun.
He was right.
All four of their female teammates awaited them on the rooftop, along with a bemused-looking Kanji. Rise alone appeared calm, but then beauty pageants and suchlike were doubtless old hat for her. Yukiko, by contrast, seemed to be shifting between anger and embarrassment. Naoto looked much the same, though she showed a hint of relief when she saw Souji. Chie, by contrast. . . .
Chie was almost apoplectic.
"You'd better have a damn good explanation," she snarled, glaring at Yosuke.
The Junes Boy took an uneasy step back. "Explanation for w-what?" he stammered.
Chie was having none of it. "The beauty pageant, you idiot! You wrote in our names without permission, didn't you!?"
"What!?" Yosuke protested. "Why do you automatically blame me for it? I mean, if you don't want to, you can just say it was a joke, right?"
Chie actually hissed at that. "You think we'd be mad as hell if we could just do that!?" she shot back. "With Kashiwagi in charge this year, even people who got signed up by others can't back out!"
Yosuke swallowed. "Um. Guess I missed something in the fine print."
Which, naturally, was an admission of guilt. "I knew it! It was you!" Chie growled.
"Ulp!" was all Yosuke could manage at first.
Souji covered his face with one hand. This went far toward explaining the feeling of dread he'd had. It was, quite possibly, the most insane thing that had happened since his arrival in Inaba six months before, and that was saying a great deal.
"Hey, do you want to see us in the pageant?" Rise asked with studied innocence.
Yosuke seemed to recover some of his equilibrium. "Well, yeah," he said, as if was the most obvious thing in the world. "I mean, we know how popular Yukiko is, and we have an idol and the Detective Prince. What's the point of having a pageant like this if all these incredible heroines aren't going to take part?"
You are seriously pushing it, partner.
"So where do I fit in!?" Chie snapped; Souji thought he heard a hint of jealousy in her voice. A pause. "Well, excuuuuuse me for not fitting in!"
Appearing desperate for support, Yosuke looked at Kanji. "Hey, Kanji, you want to see them, don't you?"
The delinquent simply glared. "I ain't interest in that kind of thing." He did, however, glance briefly at Naoto.
And Yosuke saw it. "H-hey, Naoto-kun, Kanji says he'd really like you to be in it."
Kanji turned an alarming shade of red, but before he could explode, Souji decided it was time to take charge. "All right, enough!" he barked, and shot an icy look at his partner. "Yosuke, what the hell were you thinking? Forget Kashiwagi's attitude, a stunt like this is way over the line."
The others were staring at him in disbelief. Maybe it was the cursing (something he almost never did), maybe it was just the uncharacteristic display of fury. Either way, it had Chie and Kanji both visibly nervous, and as for Yosuke, he was several shades paler than normal.
"Eh, it's not that bad," Rise said. "If there are people looking forward to seeing me, I might as well put on a show for 'em. 'Course, there's no reason to get my agency involved."
Souji shook his head. "That's all well and good for you, Rise, but you're used to that kind of thing. Chie, Yukiko, Naoto, they never asked for this. All because of a stupid prank."
"Hey, if she's willing to, why not?" Yosuke protested. "I mean, Teddie's looking forward to it, too; hell, he's more excited than I am. He kinda pushed me into it, really."
Teddie. That explained an awful lot. For all that the bear had many positive qualities, he was still a born pervert. Something like the beauty pageant was right up his alley.
Souji sighed, pushing away from the railing he'd been leaning on. "Being pushed into it doesn't get you off the hook, partner, and you tell Teddie," his gray eyes took on the appearance of chipped flint, "that if he pulls a stunt like this again I will turn him into a bearskin rug. Got that?"
Gulping visibly, Yosuke nodded. "Loud and clear."
Unfortunately, the die was cast. Chie, Souji was sure, was right, there was no way Noriko Kashiwagi would allow anyone to back out even if they'd been entered without their knowledge or consent. Heck, she'd likely enjoy a chance to put Rise "in her place."
"I have to wonder if it's appropriate for someone like me to get up on stage," Naoto murmured, her face half-hidden by her hat. "Perhaps I should take it up with the school authorities."
"I-I don't see the problem." That was Kanji, stammering more than usual. "I mean, just do it already!"
Souji closed his eyes. You still don't get it, Kanji. Naoto just isn't that kind of girl. She doesn't like to be put in the spotlight. Saying it aloud would be futile, he knew. Kanji was so dense on the subject he might as well have been opaque to neutrinos.
"Just say you'd like to see her on stage, silly Kanji," Rise said, grinning. "So, the four of us are in, right?"
Naoto inhaled sharply. "W-What? I didn't say I would."
"P-Please," Kanji said. "I'm begging—"
"Enough," Souji repeated, and Kanji's mouth closed with an audible click. "I don't see any way around it, unfortunately," he shot another glare at Yosuke, "but there's no need to add fuel to the fire. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to class."
From the way he was feeling, it was a wonder steam wasn't pouring out of his ears. He'd never lost his temper in front of the others, not even in combat, but Yosuke's (and Teddie's) little trick had struck a nerve. The Culture Festival, he reflected darkly, was getting worse all the time.
Friday, 28 October, After School
Work on setting up the classroom for the festival was relatively less stressful (only relatively because of the disgusting subject matter), and coffee with Dojima after school had worked wonders. Souji was actually whistling a tune when he reached the shoe lockers.
His mirth died abruptly when he saw another crowd by the bulletin board. The latest notice read, "The 'Miss' Yasogami High Pageant," again followed by a list of names.
Yosuke Hanamura.
Kanji Tatsumi.
Teddie.
A cross-dressing pageant. Nice. Simultaneously nauseated and relieved by the absence of his own name, Souji went to find Naoto, while Yosuke stormed off, doubtless to confront the team's other girls. They both had a very good idea as to how and why this came about.
"Ah, Senpai," the Detective Princess greeted. "I was going to ask if you were free this afternoon. This will be our last chance before the Festival."
His lip twisted. "Sure, I have time. First, though, I need to ask you something. Did certain names end up on that board the way I think they did?"
Naoto grimaced slightly. "Your supposition is correct. Chie-senpai's idea, actually. She seemed to want to add your name as well, but Rise-san and I reminded her of how . . . forceful you were in scolding Yosuke-senpai over it."
"I appreciate the vote of confidence," Souji said with a weak chuckle. "Either way, it's something I'll make sure to miss." He snorted at his companion's raised eyebrow. "Kanji Tatsumi in drag? Anyone who sees that will be scarred for life." He waved a hand. "So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Naoto inclined her head. "I received another challenge from the so-called 'Phantom Thief.'"
Who was almost certainly the man who had given Souji that card after midterms. The two of them had uncovered two of the items he had stolen, both "detective" tools Naoto had made when she was younger. It was actually a lot of fun, but it also made their mysterious adversary all the more baffling. Almost is if he was playing some kind of game with them.
They made their way to their favorite table by the Samegawa before continuing. "This was in my mailbox this morning," Naoto said, setting a card on the table. "Which means he knows where I live. Why approach you, then?"
Souji shrugged, admittedly at a loss. "Because I looked reliable, maybe."
Naoto laughed. "I somehow doubt that is the kind of metric he would use." Still smiling, she nodded at the card. "What do you make of it?"
The contents were, unsurprisingly, cryptic. "When the banks close, the fruit tree grows. By the large seven at the third is the spot I chose."
"If it wasn't the 'Phantom Thief' I'd just call it bad poetry," Souji said. He rubbed his chin. "I think there's something important about the numbers."
Naoto's eyes lit up, and he could practically see pieces snapping into place in her mind. "The numbers. . .? Seven, third. . . ." She nodded sharply. "Banks, tree! The large tree by the riverbank!"
As they were both quite familiar with the area, their search took only minutes. Buried next to the largest tree at the riverbank was a small box containing a child's wristwatch. One look at the elegant device was enough to tell who had crafted it.
"I knew it," Naoto murmured. "This watch brings back memories."
"Another of your detective's tools?" Souji asked, tilting his head slightly.
Naoto nodded, a wistful smile on her face. "It's not just a watch. The backlight has been strengthened, allowing the user to blind an opponent with it." There was a distant look in her eyes. "I always loved this kind of thing when I was younger. Robots and cars had more appeal for me than dolls. I liked high places, so I set up my own 'secret base' in a tree."
Souji chuckled. "I can easily see that."
Her brief moment of nostalgia past, Naoto shook her head. "Why couldn't I have been born male?" she half-whispered. "Things would have been so much easier for me. I could have pursued my interests with gusto. Ironic, isn't it?"
"I'm glad you're a girl," Souji said before he could stop himself.
Instantly, Naoto flushed a bright red. "W-What are you saying? There's nothing good about it."
I didn't mean to say it out loud. Still, no going back. "I mean it, Naoto," Souji said. "You're a strong girl, and we need more like you." He waved one arm. "I love Japan, but there's no denying it has problems. Sexism is still a big one, as you've seen. We need more women like you." He smiled faintly. "And it's not like you won't have allies. Uncle Ryotaro didn't care when he found out, remember?"
He could see in her face that his words had hit the mark. "Perhaps so," Naoto conceded with a slightly embarrassed chuckle. "But I've been doing all the talking. If I may ask, Senpai, I'd like to hear what you were like as a child." Again the wistful smile. "I wish I'd been there to see it."
Souji smiled back. "You know, so do I. I think we'd have gotten along pretty well." He sat at the base of the tree. "You know, of course, that my family have been in business pretty much since the Meiji Restoration." Naoto nodded. "Before that, we were a line of samurai."
Naoto nodded again in understanding. "Thus your gift for swordplay."
"And it's only thanks to Persona that I can match my father. Dad may be an executive, but he could cut your head off before you knew he'd drawn." Souji sighed. "To be honest, my childhood was pretty lonely up until I came here. Oh, I always knew my parents loved me, but they were busy so much of the time. And since we moved around a lot, I was never really able to connect with anyone. I'd try to make friends, only to be snatched away."
He shook his head. "Sorry, I shouldn't be so bitter. Anyway, it got a bit better last year, when I met Reika Sakamoto."
"I've met her," Naoto acknowledged. "My grandfather did some work for them a while back."
"That so?" Souji said. "Anyway, when I came here back in April, I thought I'd at least try to get alone with Nanako-chan, since I was going to be living in her home for a year. Then I met Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko, and, well, you know the rest. I was actually trying not to get too attached, but it looks like Fate had other ideas."
Naoto's eyes again had that distant look, as she mulled over what Souji had said. "I think, Senpai, we are more alike than either of us realized," she said. "And while I can understand your reluctance to get too attached, I must confess I'm grateful that you didn't succeed."
Souji laughed. "So am I, Naoto-kun. So am I."
Saturday, 29 October, Afternoon
I am so going to kill Yosuke.
As just about everyone had expected, their class project had thus far been a dud. Not a single person had visited the "group date cafe," though a few had passed by. Fewer still had given the redecorated classroom a second glance, mostly in the form of double-takes, followed by a quickened pace.
Souji didn't blame them. Between the insane premise and the garish decor (it reminded him of the hotel Kashiwagi had picked during the Tatsumi Port Island trip), it was a wonder the classroom hadn't been vandalized. Glancing to one side, it was clear from her expression that Yukiko deeply regretted her vote.
For that matter, there were only five of their own class present, Souji himself, Yukiko, Yosuke, Chie, and the male rep whose name he could never remember. In all likelihood a number of their classmates had called in sick, much like the campout.
"We're wasting our time," Souji said, turning away from the door and throwing a brief glare at Yosuke. "Three hours and not a single customer."
"What we need is some shills to drum up interest," the rep said.
Souji shook his head. "No amount of shilling is going to attract interest in this," he said, waving an arm. "It's a little too much like that hotel in Port Island."
"We've gotta at least try," the other insisted.
Yosuke snorted. "With who?"
The rep rolled his eyes. "Who do you think? It's just us here."
I wonder why.
After a bit more back-and-forth, helped by Kanji's arrival, they gathered around one of the tables. Yosuke, to his clear discomfort, was relegated to the girls' side, since the girls were outnumbered. Ordinarily, Souji would have sympathized, but sympathy was in short supply just then.
"So, uh, what kind of girls do you like?" Yosuke's voice broke into his thoughts.
It took a moment for Souji to realize the question was directed at him. Annoyed at being singled out, he kept his voice neutral. "Someone cool and collected, with a good head on her shoulders," he said.
Thankfully, the others knew to leave it at that. "Your turn, Kanji-kun," Chie said.
Souji winced in anticipation of an explosion, but Kanji seemed more confused than anything else. "Huh? I-I guess someone kinda mysterious, looks strong but is kinda. . . ." He seemed unable to continue.
Yosuke rolled his eyes. "I really wonder who you're talking about." His voice positively oozed sarcasm.
For his part, Souji had to fight not to follow suit. Luckily, a diversion appeared in the form of Rise Kujikawa. The idol got about three steps in and stopped in her tracks, her face going slightly pale. "Hi, Senpai, how are you. . . ." She trailed off. "Uh, seeya!"
Yosuke watched her go. "Mark it: the group date cafe is officially a failure."
"And how," Souji said, standing. "If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be."
Escaping the "cafe" was like stepping into another world. He took his time wandering about the second floor, though he had to hastily duck behind a corner when he spotted Noriko Kashiwagi. There was no one he wanted less to do with right then, with the possible exception of Hanako.
Souji exchanged nods with Kimiko Sofue before heading downstairs. If he recalled correctly, Naoto's class was right near the stairs.
It was as if he'd stepped into some kind of sci-fi movie. The classroom was almost wall-to-wall computers, keyboards and monitors everywhere. At the very front, where the teacher's lectern normally stood, was a flat-screen TV at least twice the size of the one Souji and his friends normally used to access the other world.
Wonder where they found that.
"Ah, Souji-senpai. I was hoping you could make it."
He smiled at the voice. "Our project was a dud, like everyone expected. Rise was the only one to actually walk in, and she stayed all of five seconds."
Naoto grimaced very slightly. "One of my classmates passed by a couple hours ago. She described it as almost painfully garish."
"Too true," Souji said. "Impressive setup here."
"It took a great deal of effort," Naoto said, an unmistakable note of pride in her voice. "Fortunately, Keita-san and I have sufficient knowledge to minimize the risk of electrical fires. Ensuring the mainframe didn't crash at a bad moment was probably the most difficult aspect."
Souji lifted an eyebrow. "Mainframe?" he repeated. "Just what did you guys have in mind, anyway?"
"A preview of the next step in consumer electronics . . . I think." Naoto appeared just a bit exasperated. "I suspect Keita-san forgot himself somewhere along the way."
Whatever Keita's motives, it was undeniably impressive. Souji wasn't sure he'd ever seen such a large mass of computer equipment, certainly not in such a relatively small space. All of it state-of-the-art, six months old at most. Probably cost a small fortune; Keita, it appeared, was very well-off.
Running his hand over a unit that looked like it was straight from the factory, Souji was reminded of his own need for an upgrade. His laptop was starting to look a bit the worse for wear. Perhaps Keita would have some suggestions.
"I don't envy you the job of taking it down," he remarked.
Naoto grimaced again. "It will be awkward," she admitted, "but probably less unpleasant than restoring your classroom."
"Tell me about it; my vote is to burn everything we used," Souji said sourly. He glanced at his watch. "I want to check out a couple of other places, then head home. Don't want to keep Nanako-chan waiting." His lip quirked in a humorless smile. "If there's any way I can help tomorrow, just let me know."
The Detective Princess shuddered. "If you would lend an ear for a minor rant, I would be very grateful. Tomorrow, then, Senpai."
Again wishing many ills on his ursine companion, Souji went back upstairs. Daisuke's class had put up what looked like, of all things, an archeological exhibit. Shelves were littered with pottery and other odds and ends, some dating back to early Ainu, if he wasn't mistaken.
"Boring stuff, isn't it?" Daisuke commented from a couple meters away.
Souji shook his head. "I actually think it's one of the better projects this year," he disagreed. "Deeper than I thought it would be, really."
A soft snort drew his attention to Kou Ichijo. "Beats what I've got," he said, looking disgusted. "My class is putting on a play."
"Eh, you'll do fine, Piglet," Daisuke said with a grin.
Kou shot him an irritated look. "It's Hamlet," he countered. "I don't get what the big deal is, anyway. 'Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet,' dude, they all die. What's the point?"
Souji glanced at him sidelong. "Might not want to let your grandmother hear that," he said.
"Yeah, whatever." Kou appeared to shake it off. "So, what's up with those pageants? I hear a couple of your friends are in it."
"Don't remind me," Souji said, his mood darkening again. "I barely avoided getting dragged into the cross-dressing one. Be skipping that, I guarantee you. Only going to the normal pageant to give the others some moral support."
Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Man, you're no fun."
The soccer star's idea of "fun" was far different from Souji's, in all likelihood. Certainly if he thought a cross-dressing "beauty" pageant was worth anything. Saying as much, sadly, would likely have no effect other than mocking laughter. With a respectful if curt nod, he headed for the school gate.
Tomorrow is not going to be fun.
Sunday, 30 October, Daytime
"Damn, this is ridiculous," Yosuke grumbled, trudging up the stairs. "Can't I get a little sympathy?"
Souji remained by the archeology exhibit. "You made your bed, partner, now you have to lie in it. Take your medicine so we can get back to focusing on the case."
Ignoring his partner's groan, he engrossed himself in the history in front of him. Looking more closely, he remembered a ritual knife from a book he'd read a couple years before. Idly, he wondered how much Daisuke had contributed; though not stupid by any means, the soccer star had never struck him as much of an intellectual.
"Figures you'd be here, Souji-kun."
Souji looked back over his shoulder. "Yumi? Thought you'd be at the pageant."
Yumi shuddered. "With Tatsumi participating? Thanks, I'll pass. Um, no offense," she added hastily. "I know he's a friend of yours."
"None taken," Souji said, waving a hand. "Why do you think I'm not there?"
"Good point," Yumi conceded. "You going to watch the other one?"
Souji's lip twitched. "Yeah, give the girls some moral support at least."
His friend offered a lopsided smile. "Careful where you look, then. There's going to be a swimsuit round this year . . . and Hanako's entering."
For the barest of instants, Souji's hand curled as if clutching at his throat. He wasn't one to criticize others over their appearance, but he had his limits, and the idea of Hanako in a swimsuit. . . . No. Just no. It was possibly the only thing more horrifying than a cross-dressing Kanji.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Yumi said, stifling a laugh. "Still, you get to see those girls you hang around with so much."
Souji grunted. "If they'd done it willingly, maybe. Yosuke's idea of a prank," he said at Yumi's questioning look. "He didn't read the fine print; it's what got him and the other guys into the other pageant."
"I thought it was weird that Naoto-kun and Chie-san signed up," Yumi said. "I could see Rise-san trying out, but the others? It just didn't make sense."
"Believe me, that's an understatement," Souji said, wincing at the memory. "Yosuke's lucky he can still have kids after that one." He shook his head. "You going to the normal one?"
Yumi shrugged. "I'm kinda curious," she admitted. "No way I'd enter myself, but I'd like to see who wins." She lifted an eyebrow. "Any bets?"
A fair enough question. "Either Rise or Yukiko," Souji replied. "Rise's the big-name celebrity, and you know how popular Yukiko is. Speaking of which," he glanced at his watch, "the 'Miss' pageant should be wrapping up. I'd better go see if Yosuke survived it."
"See ya."
His fellow males were standing near the gym, grumpy (save for Teddie, who was bizarrely all smiles) but apparently intact. Kanji wore the look of someone who'd just had a public colonoscopy, while Yosuke was eying a gym bag as if it was a dangerous snake.
"I am so going to burn that stuff," he muttered as Souji approached.
Souji offered a slight smile. "I see you guys survived. How'd it go?"
Kanji looked away. Yosuke actually hissed. "About like you'd expect," he grumbled, then jerked his head at Teddie. "Ted here won, believe it or not."
Which actually wasn't all that surprising. If nothing else, the Junes mascot was clearly enjoying himself, blissfully unaware of how humiliating the experience was for most real humans. He was probably the only contestant to show any genuine enthusiasm.
The bell rang, and they filed in with the rest of the audience. Hanako and Kashiwagi were already onstage, looking (in Souji's opinion) far more confident than they ought. Hanako was almost as big around as she was tall, and Kashiwagi had already drawn considerable derision.
And why the heck does the MC have a pink Afro?
"And here's our next contestant, Miss Chie Satonaka from second-year class two! Come on out, Chie!"
She did, though there was a noticeable hitch in her step. Instead of her uniform, she wore her usual casual outfit, with longer boots and a lighter green windbreaker. Her smile was more than a little nervous, making Souji wince in sympathy.
"H-Hi," she managed. "I'm Chie Satonaka."
"How about you tell us a little about yourself," the MC said.
Chie twitched, as though wanting to glare—or worse—at the other student, but she covered it well. "Um, I'm kinda shy and reserved, and I like pudding."
"Liar," Yosuke muttered. "It's steak."
"Cut her some slack," Souji muttered back. "She didn't ask for this, remember."
Chie was stepping back, and the MC spoke up again. "And here we have another one from class two, Ms Yukiko Amagi. Come on out!"
Yukiko at least was used to being seen in public, albeit not in quite such a venue. Souji had half expected her to appear in her favorite kimono, but instead she was clad in a red sweater with matching skirt and black boots that reached to just below her knees.
"H-Hello, my name is Yukiko Amagi," she said. "Um, my family runs the Amagi Inn. If you ever find yourself in the area, please give us a visit. Our hot springs are open year round, so please drop by if you're in the mood."
Squeezing in an ad, huh? Nice thinking on your feet, Yukiko.
"That'll do nicely," the MC said with a nod and a smile. "Next up is a face we all know, from first-year class two, please welcome Ms Rise Kujikawa."
Wearing an orange dress, black leggings, and brown knee-high boots, Rise was instantly recognizable. She was also the only one completely relaxed, which was only to be expected. After all the public performances she'd done, a half-hour or so of playing eye candy at high school was trivial.
"Hi-hi!" she said with a bright smile. "My name's Rise Kujikawa. I haven't been in town all that long, but Inaba is a great place and I'm 100% thrilled to be here!" It might have been Souji's imagination, but he thought her eyes flickered to his face very briefly.
The MC smiled broadly. "The real Risette, in the flesh, ladies and gentlemen! Last, but certainly not least, is our mysterious transfer student from first-year class one, Ms Naoto Shirogane!"
Yosuke grinned. "Hey, Kanji, here she comes."
"Stuff it," Souji bit out before Kanji could reply. "You're just digging yourself a deeper hole."
Of all the "contestants," Naoto appeared by far the most ill-at-ease. She was dressed as she had been when she and Souji first met, minus the hat, and was visibly struggling to maintain her composure. The interview aside, she was clearly uncomfortable in front of so many people.
"I-I'm Naoto Shirogane," she said, stammering only a little. "It's hard to believe I'm on stage in such a pageant." She stepped back next to Rise.
The MC smiled. "And with that, all six uniquely beautiful contestants are on stage. Now let's have our special judge, Mister Teddie, ask them some questions."
No. Seriously, just no. That can't possibly end well.
Walking out on the stage, the mascot cleared his throat. "I am Teddie, the honorary judge for this pageant," he said with painfully excessive solemnity. "Please keep in mind that if you anger me, you will be at a disadvantage."
Please keep in mind that if you anger me, you may get struck by lightning.
"Well, Miss Chie, do you have a boyfriend?"
For the briefest moment, Souji saw red. Okay, Teddie, you are really pushing it. What business is that of yours or anyone else's?
The martial artist looked at once embarrassed and furious. "What!? Teddie. . .!"
Unruffled, Teddie turned to Yukiko. "Miss Yukiko, have you ever smooched someone?"
You're about this close to a bearskin rug.
It appeared he was going to have to get in line; Yukiko looked ready to set Teddie on fire right then and there. "W-What!? Stop it!"
And then it was Naoto's turn. "Miss Naoto, where are you ticklish?"
Self-control was becoming increasingly difficult. Souji had been angry before, but never at one of his own teammates to such a degree. So help me, one more word. . . .
Naoto looked about ready to burst a blood vessel, but she only said, "I-I beg your pardon?"
"Rise-chan, can I stay at your house next time?"
Blood roaring in his ears, Souji only barely heard Rise's reply. "What kind of question is that?" Apparently even she had lost her ebullience, if only for a moment.
For that matter, the enthusiastic MC appeared taken aback. "A-Anyway, I have a special surprise announcement! This year, for the first time we will include a swimsuit competition! And it's all thanks to Mister Teddie here!"
So Yumi was right. That's my cue to leave. Shooting a glare at Teddie that by rights ought to have struck the bear dead on the spot, he filled out his sheet and turned on his heel. Mutters of surprise followed him, but he was too angry to really notice or care.
"Hey, where you going?" Yosuke called after him.
"Someplace where I don't have to see Hanako in a bikini," Souji retorted. "I've had about as much of this farce as I can stand. I left my vote sheet with Kanji."
Once out in the hallway, he took a series of deep, calming breaths. A leader, he knew, wasn't supposed to lose it so easily, but he had his limits. He'd known the pageant was going to be bad, but thanks to Teddie it was worse than even his worst-case scenario. He was going to have to work overtime to smooth things over so they could accomplish their mission.
It was about five minutes later that Naoto came dashing out, looking mortified. She retrieved her hat from her shoe locker, then appeared to realize she wasn't alone, tensing for a brief instant before seeing who it was. "Souji-senpai," she greeted.
"Naoto," Souji said. He tilted his head slightly. "Are you okay?"
She ground her teeth. "That . . . was the most humiliating experience of my life," she hissed. "Teddie's questions were bad enough, but a swimsuit competition?" She all but slammed her hat on her head. "He is fortunate I was unarmed."
Yep, she was mad. Angrier than Souji could recall seeing her, really. "For what it's worth, I talked to Yosuke and Teddie about the whole thing." He grimaced. "Though if I know Teddie, it worked about as well as using a squirt gun to try and put out a wildfire."
"Most likely," Naoto agreed, then visibly reined herself in. "But it's over, and we have more important things to worry about."
"We sure do," Souji agreed, smiling wryly. "For now, would you care to join me for a last walk-around?"
For some reason, Naoto blushed faintly, but her smile came readily enough. "That would be a relief, Senpai, thank you."
Feeling better than he had since the class vote, Souji allowed the young detective to take the lead. Unsurprisingly, Naoto gravitated toward the more intellectual exhibits, again demonstrating how much they had in common. "Queen Tut's" class in particular seemed to have captured her interest.
The others joined them about fifteen minutes in, Chie from all appearances completely recovered from her earlier simmering rage, though she still occasionally shot warning glances at Yosuke. Personally inclined to let bygones be bygones, so long as things weren't repeated, Souji said nothing.
"Big Bro!"
A smile crossing his face, Souji turned to greet the newcomers. "Nanako-chan, Uncle Ryotaro."
"Good thing we found you," Dojima said. "I have to make an overnight trip to the prefectural office, won't be back until late tomorrow." He sighed. "And of course it had to fall during your school's Culture Festival. Nanako and I were both looking forward to seeing it."
You should be glad you missed it. "It happens sometimes," Souji replied with a vague shrug.
"I'm glad you understand," Dojima said. "Sorry to dump this on you out of nowhere, but would you mind showing Nanako around? I really need to get going."
Souji smiled. "Sure thing."
His uncle looked relieved. "Thanks. That means a lot. See you later."
"Have a safe trip!" Nanako called.
Dojima smiled over his shoulder. "You have fun, too, Nanako."
Watching the older man go, it was easy to forget there was still a serial killer on the loose. Everything just felt normal, or at least as normal as was possible with the crowd Souji hung out with. It was something that had been missing from his life.
"Hey, Nanako-chan, why not come and stay at my place tonight?" Yukiko suggested.
That, naturally, got the others' attention. "Huh? W-What did you just say, Yuki-chan!?" Teddie gasped.
Please, stuff it.
"Ooh, a celebration at your in?" Rise sounded intrigued by the idea.
Kanji moistened his lips. "I-Is that really okay?"
"Sure," Yukiko said. "I promised you guys a while ago, remember?" She looked at Souji. "What do you think, Souji-kun?"
He stretched, wincing at popping joints. "After the last two days' worth of craziness? Sounds like a good way to relax. I haven't been to a hot spring in ages."
Not for at least a couple of years, if he recalled correctly. Inaba was the first place he'd been to in quite some time that had the right kind of ambiance. Most other places he'd visited had felt too artificial, for lack of a better word. He preferred a much more traditional feel for something like that.
It was, it appeared, unanimous. So why was he once again struck with a feeling of impending doom?
Evening
It was the first time most of them had been inside the Amagi Inn. The interior was very traditionalist in layout, something Souji had seen before, and always made him feel like he'd been transported a hundred years or more into the past. He could easily see why it was so popular.
Teddie, apparently, wasn't so sanguine. "We're in different rooms," he groaned.
"Did you really expect otherwise?" Souji replied, stifling his irritation.
"It'd be one thing if they were close by," Teddie said with an aggrieved sigh, "but they're really far away."
Yosuke shrugged. "Yukiko said there aren't very many open rooms, so they're up on another floor. First thing they're taking Nanako-chan to the hot spring."
Teddie instantly perked up. "I-Is it one of those 'girls and guys together' springs!?"
"Get your head out of the gutter, Teddie," Souji said. "We're here to relax after the Culture Festival debacle." He stifled a yawn. "Just what the doctor ordered."
"Sure is," Kanji agreed. "Say, what's up with this room? Looks pretty expensive."
Now that he mentioned it, it did look pretty high-class. A room like theirs would likely have gone for a high price indeed, which made the four of them staying for free rather strange.
"Yeah, you'd think this would be packed during the busy season," Yosuke remarked. "I didn't want to think about it, but . . . do you think something might've happened here?"
Kanji frowned. "What are you—"
A loud ringing interrupted, making all four practically jump out of their skin. Souji couldn't help glaring at the source; it was just a phone, but the timing could hardly have been worse. I'm not in the mood for ghost stories.
Kanji stood and picked up the handset. "Yeah? . . .Great, thanks." He looked back at them. "Front desk. Said it's the guys' turn at the spring."
"Wow, great service," Yosuke grumbled. "I broke out in a cold sweat there."
"Wash it off in the hot spring," Kanji advised.
Souji heaved himself upright. Finally, something was going right. He couldn't even argue with Teddie's excitement; the bear, he reflected, was in for a genuine treat. Few things were more relaxing than a traditional hot spring.
In mere moments, he would conclude his life was cursed.
The door opened, Teddie practically catapulted in, there was a high-pitched scream, and a bucket his Souji squarely in the nose. A bombardment of increasingly improbable items ensued, with Teddie unsurprisingly taking the brunt of it, though Yosuke and Kanji received their share of hard knocks.
"Just pull back," Souji groaned. "This isn't worth it."
A few minutes later they were back in their room nursing their wounds. Yosuke was on the phone, apparently arguing with the front desk. He appeared understandably irritated with the whole thing.
"Yep, it was supposed to be our turn," he said, setting the phone down. "Dammit, as if the festival wasn't enough."
"I've got lumps on my head," Teddie moaned. "Now what?"
Thoroughly fed up, Souji climbed into his futon. "Do whatever you want. I'm going to bed."
And that was that.
Monday, 31 October, Daytime
Since the Culture Festival had run through the weekend, Yasogami students had Monday off. Souji was just as glad; he needed the time to cool off after the festival and its aftermath. Which, to be sure, left him rather at loose ends for the time being.
Until his phone rang. "Seta."
"Good morning, Senpai," Naoto said. "I was wondering if you had some free time today."
He paused to think. "Nothing going on," he said. "All of our teammates are busy, and Nanako-chan is at a friend's house. Been wondering what to do with myself, actually."
Naoto's smile was almost visible over the phone. "In that case, would you care to meet by the river? There's been a new development in the 'Phantom Thief' case."
Souji grinned. "Be there in a few minutes."
Inaba was quiet on that brisk morning. He saw a few kids running about here and there, but for the most part everything was still. It was almost like walking through a dream world, where nothing was quite substantial. Apparently brisk mornings brought out the poet in him.
He found Naoto in the gazebo, where they often met, looking a bit pensive. "Something wrong?"
Her head came up. "Souji-senpai, thank you for coming. Not wrong, exactly, just strange." She sighed. "To tell the truth, I haven't been in contact with Grandpa lately. Before the Festival, I attempted to get in touch with him, wanting to confirm certain items I believe the 'Phantom Thief' stole, but it was Yakushiji-san who responded. Apparently, Grandpa is overseas, visiting an ailing friend in America."
"That doesn't sound all that strange," Souji said. "From what I've heard of your grandfather, he must know people all over the place."
"True enough," Naoto conceded. "However, since then I've not been able to reach even Yakushiji-san."
Souji frowned. "Now that is odd," he said. "Any idea what the problem could be?"
Naoto shook her head. "No, but I'm sure they're fine. We have more immediate business." She gestured to the card on the table between them. "I received this in the mail today."
Picking it up, Souji frowned more deeply at the neatly-written message. "Jury to not rest, or rout for fable. Minus 40, Minus 4."
At first glance, it was pure gibberish. However, if there was anything they'd learned in this little escapade, it was that gibberish from the Phantom Thief was nothing of the sort. There was always a meaning, however opaque it may have been. The trick, as their opponent no doubt intended, was finding it.
"It's written as gibberish," Naoto murmured. "Part of the riddle, perhaps? 'Minus 40, Minus 4.' Meaningless on its own; perhaps the 'minus' part is important. . . ."
It hit Souji like Kanji's fists. "Subtract '40' and '4'," he suggested.
Naoto's head snapped up, her eyes bright. "Subtract 40 from the sentence? Yes. . . . Minus 40, minus 4, note the unnatural comma in the phrase, corresponding to the two numbers. Subtract the letters in 'forty' from the first part, and 'four' from the second!" Souji could almost see her mind racing. "What remains is . . . ju n es, t able. . . ." Her eyes met Souji's. "Junes, table! Let's go!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious. Souji followed her rapid footsteps without complaint, almost bowling Teddie over as they hurried to the food court. They made a quick search of the tables, eventually finding the object of their quest when Naoto half-crouched beneath the last one.
"I knew it," she murmured. In her hand was an unremarkable ballpoint pen. She glanced back at Souji, a faintly wistful look on her face. "You can use it as an ordinary pen, but it also has a penlight and a miniature telescope. It's another of the seven tools I made."
Souji gave it a closer look. "Impressive," he said. "You're quite the tinker."
Naoto managed a brief smile. "I thought I'd lost this. To think Grandpa still had it. . . ." She chuckled softly. "Neither of us can stand to throw things away." Her gaze turned distant. "When this pen was still mine, I was just a child, with dreams of becoming a detective. Being a man or a woman, it never entered my head. The lack of peers with whom to compare myself may have been a factor. Even then, I was quite the outsider; I had no friends."
Concerned at the sudden shift, Souji almost touched her shoulder, then thought better of it. "Naoto?"
She was still gazing at the pen. "Why is it, compared to all the time I spent alone, I worry more now that I have real friends, when I'm with you and the others? I feel like I'm changing, how I do not know."
This time he did touch her shoulder, very lightly. "It's only natural to be afraid," Souji said.
"Afraid. . . ." For some reason, Naoto smiled at that. "The need to change, the desire to remain the same, all mixed together. And . . . it frightens me."
Souji kept himself very still. This, he suddenly knew, was an important moment. What he was seeing, no one else had seen, likely not even Naoto's grandfather. It was a gesture of deep trust and friendship, something he'd never experienced before, not to this extent.
"Souji-senpai, have you ever felt like this?" Naoto asked, seeming uncertain. "I'd like to hear it, if you don't mind of course."
He smiled. "Sometimes. You know how I was afraid of getting attached to anyone when I first came to Inaba. That kind of change isn't easy, but it's worth it." They walked to the elevator. "Really, I've been afraid of where my life is heading, since I hadn't figured out what I wanted to do with myself, besides avoiding the corporate rat race."
Naoto didn't miss the change in tense. "Hadn't?" she repeated. "Have you found a path?"
"This whole crazy murder case finally gave me one," Souji replied. "When I finish high school, I'm going to study criminal justice. Not to join the police force; bit too rigid for me. I think a job as a consulting detective would suit me." He offered a lopsided smile. "I don't want to seem like competition, but you and your grandfather can't be everywhere, can you?"
"Competition keeps one sharp," Naoto said with an answering smile, "and I for one would prefer to see you as a colleague than a competitor."
Souji laughed. "One thing at a time, Naoto-kun. First we wrap this case up, then I focus on finishing high school. I'll work out the details when the time comes."
"Indeed," Naoto agreed. "Senpai, I have no doubt you will achieve your goal." They stepped out the door and at last separated. "I'll see you again," she said, waving.
A soft whistle on his lips, Souji went home at a casual stroll.
Evening
There was a definite chill in the air when Souji and Nanako sat down for dinner. Dojima was again absent, having been delayed for unspecified reasons. As usual when they were alone, Souji did his best to make dinner something special, a small thing to cheer Nanako up.
"It's cold tonight," she said, shivering.
Souji nodded in absent agreement, eyes on the nightly news. "In our next story, Mister Kozai of of the Environmental Concern Society visited an elementary school in Inaba to investigate the effects of the unusual fog. It has become more common in the region in recent years, but the cause remains unknown. There is much debate over the origin of this fog, and some concern over its effects on the human body."
Recalling his first visit to the TV world back in April, Souji could well understand such worries. He and his friends had experienced an unusual level of fatigue from that place, though it had cleared up by morning. Since the special glasses Teddie provided seemed to mitigate the effect, he wondered if it had something to do with the optic nerve.
He brushed the thought away for the time being. Neurological issues were not his strong suit.
"Town officials believe it highly unlikely that the fog is truly harmful," the anchor went on. "One official suggested worries are due in part to the multiple murders that occurred recently. This prompted Mister Kozai to visit a local school to see for himself. He interviewed several children playing in the fog to ask about any effects it may have had on them."
Nanako's face lit up in recognition. "Oh, he came to my school," she said. "He was really nice."
"On completing his investigation, Mister Kozai issued the following statement. 'In this day and age,one must be aware of even slight changes in the environment and react politically. Today, I spoke with a young student who spoke her mind freely, without any sign of peer pressure. Hers is an attitude and example that we adults can learn from. Our primary concern should always be safeguarding the future of our children.' Mister Kozai ended on that note."
Mouthful of nothing, Souji thought, unimpressed. Typical politician.
A moment later he was distracted by a loud sneeze. "My head hurts," Nanako said.
Concerned, Souji put one hand to her forehead. "You've got a fever there, Nanako-chan," he said. "You'd better lie down; I'll get some medicine."
Fortunately, Dojima had made a point of showing him where the basic medical supplies were kept. Children's cold medicine was sensibly front and center. Souji poured the requisite dose, then made sure Nanako was comfortably before settling next to the couch.
"Big Bro, are you . . . going back in the spring?"
The question took him by surprise. "Yeah," he said, covering a wince. "Never thought I'd say this, but I wish I wasn't."
Nanako made a contemplative sound. "It's going to be winter soon. Can we make a snowman if it snows?"
"Of course," Souji said. "It'll be fun."
His cousin smiled. "Let's play all the time till spring." Her head turned away slightly, her eyes slipping closed.
Watching her sleep, Souji resolved that, somehow, spring wouldn't be the end. Somehow, he wouldn't lose everything he had gained these few months in rural Inaba. He couldn't lose it all, not after having fought so hard.
Hey, if I'm good enough at investigating to impress the Detective "Prince," this should be a snap.
Tuesday, 1 November, Morning
Kondo was perhaps the one person Souji had ever met who could from all appearances shrug off an early November chill. As always, even in the early morning, he was overflowing with energy, though if Yosuke's sleepy look was any indication it wasn't contagious.
"So the Culture Festival is done, and Old Man Winter is on his way," Kondo said. "Sure hope none of you are wimping out with hand warmers under your clothes. Today, we're going to focus on building immunity to colds, so you can move on to next year in good health." He stretched. "Anyone here rest your chin on your hands? It's a sure sign your muscles are weak!"
Souji didn't, of course. If nothing else, his sword training made him acutely aware of the importance of proper posture. Proper posture was vital with a blade in hand.
"Let's see. . . . I'll pick Souji, since you hang out with Yosuke, who does that all the time." Kondo fixed him with a stare. "Which muscles do you think you're weakening when you rest your chin in your hands?"
Annoyed though he was at the slight at his friend, Souji answered easily enough. "Back to shoulders."
Kondo nodded approvingly. "You got it. Bad posture usually comes from your back." He grinned. "Come on, don't hunch over just 'cause it's cold! Stand up straight! I've got some special exercises for you, came up with them myself!" He laughed.
Souji, for one, did not feel like laughing. Special exercises, goody.
Lunchtime
Feeling the need for some intelligent conversation, Souji had again invited Naoto to join him for lunch on the rooftop. It had taken little convincing; apparently she was apparently impressed by both his mind and his culinary talents. Flattering, he supposed.
Case in point, the Detective Princess was chewing with an almost comical expression of bliss, one which Souji highly doubted she was have allowed anyone else to see. Apparently California roll was a hit.
"This is delightful!" she exclaimed once capable of speech. "Senpai, if detective work doesn't suit you, you could likely obtain employment at a high-class restaurant."
He couldn't help chuckling. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Naoto-kun, but that would drive me crazy just as much as sitting in an office."
"Perhaps so." Naoto smiled. "Has anyone ever told you, Senpai, that you are a very unusual person?"
Souji took a bite of his roll before answering. "Yosuke and Chie, yeah," he said. "Guess they've got a point; I'm the only one of us who never had to face my Shadow."
"Perhaps that is why you do so well," Naoto said more quietly. "However lonely you may have been, you had already accepted yourself, and thus was in a position to help others do the same."
It felt like she was giving him too much credit. Still, he couldn't deny a grain of truth in her words. "Maybe," he allowed. "It wouldn't have worked if those others weren't receptive, though. It's a two-way street."
Naoto nodded. "True enough. On a perhaps related note, do you have time this afternoon? I believe I may have a lead on our mysterious opponent."
Souji smiled. "Time to catch a thief, eh? I'll be there."
After School
They met in the shopping district, just outside Souzai Daigaku. A familiar aroma of steak wafted through the door, making Souji's mouth water, but he restrained himself. It was, after all, a business meeting, however frivolous it may have appeared on the surface.
"I've learned that a suspicious man has been seen in the shopping district over the last several days," Naoto said. "He definitely isn't a local, and the description suggests he isn't a tourist or shopper. I spoke with the owner of Shiroku; she told me she saw the man just a few hours ago, and he was the same man who bought the card."
Souji nodded. "Sounds like we're getting close."
"Very close," Naoto agreed. "If my suspicion is correct, he is looking for a hiding place for the next item. We may well be able to catch him in the act."
There was an undeniable sense of satisfaction in the knowledge. At the same time, it was almost disappointing. "I feel kinda sad," Souji admitted.
Naoto's eyebrows lifted slightly. "You, too?" She chuckled. "The detective I dreamed of becoming when I was a child, the thrill of a case, of chasing a suspect, that's what I'm feeling right now." Then she was all business again. "If my deductions are correct, two stolen items remain. Where could he hide something unnoticed. . . ." She pursed her lips, then nodded sharply. "I have an idea. Let's go, Senpai!"
Their destination was a familiar one, Tatsuhime Shrine. For a brief moment Souji wondered if Naoto intended to somehow enlist their vulpine friend's aid in tracking down the Phantom Thief. He immediately discarded the notion, silently laughing at himself for coming up with something so silly.
The urge to laugh swiftly died. A man in a black suit was just ahead. To one side, Naoto let out a gasp of recognition. "You're. . . ."
Their quarry turned, and Souji stiffened. It was the same man who had given him a card after bombarding him with seemingly random questions. Of more pressing importance was the knife in the man's hand. Wishing fervently that he'd brought his sword along, Souji stepped in front of Naoto. Not while I'm around!
"Souji-senpai!?" Naoto exclaimed. "There is no cause for alarm; the knife is a toy!"
Toy or not, it sure looked real. Not that it mattered; apparently spooked, the man in black dropped the knife and ran.
Naoto stooped to retrieve it. "I knew it," she said quietly. "It's another of the seven tools I made, a knife-shaped radio. As I said, merely a toy." She glared at Souji with such abruptness and intensity that he reflexively took a step back. "But what you did . . . what if it was real!?" she all but shouted, tearing her hat off in evident anger and frustration. "You would have been in grave danger!" A low growl resounded in her throat. "You're always like that! To become a woman only for a man to protect me!" Trembling, she looked away, forcing her breathing under control. "Why. . . ."
A number of reasons suggested themselves at once, all equally valid. Strong though she was with Persona, Naoto was nonetheless at a physical disadvantage. Souji couldn't stand seeing anyone else get hurt. It was pure instinct. All of it was true.
"Because I love you."
He hadn't planned on saying it. Didn't even realize he'd spoken aloud, until Naoto froze in shock. For that matter, he it had never occurred to him to even think of her that way. A close friend, absolutely, but a serious relationship? Never even entered his head.
And yet Souji didn't take it back, because it would have been a lie. Without even realizing it until that very moment, he had somehow fallen in love with the Detective Princess. Where that would lead, if anywhere at all, he could not even guess.
"Wha . . . huh!?" Naoto had turned bright red, and appeared—understandably—to be having difficulty speaking. She looked away, swallowing a couple of times. "Um, I thought you just said something serious. But . . . after hearing you say such a thing, I can't even look you in the eye."
And I think I just said something very stupid. Souji mentally kicked himself. Long before she joined their little band, he had treasured the strange friendship he and Naoto had formed. Now he feared it was at risk, all because he couldn't keep his mouth shut about something she was ill-equipped to process.
"I-I need to get home," Naoto said. "And, um, you needn't worry about the Phantom Thief anymore. G-Goodbye!" Without waiting for a response, she turned and dashed away.
Souji stood there for some time, feeling like a colossal idiot. Not only was an important friendship apparently on the rocks, such a conflict could well have repercussions for how well the team functioned as a whole. Next time, he thought to himself, he should just let Chie kick him.
The fox came out, apparently sensing his distress. "Yeah, I slipped up," Souji said, crouching to stroke the animal's fur. "But maybe I didn't, huh? I guess we'll see soon enough."
It was time for him to go home, too. With a last glance in the direction Naoto had gone, he set off for his uncle's house.
Friday, 4 November, Evening
Dojima was again working late, leaving Souji and Nanako to have a quiet dinner on a chilly evening. Souji had done his best to make things nice and cozy, but Nanako was clearly preoccupied, with what, he had no idea. Probably her father, he decided.
She looked up when the doorbell rang. "Did he forget his keys?" she wondered, getting to her feet. A moment later she was back, looking dejected. "It was just the deliveryman. He was asking where Mister Takahashi's house is." Before she could say more, the phone rang.
It was Dojima. Souji couldn't hear much, but the gist was plain: his uncle wasn't going to be home anytime soon. Nanako's body language made that much clear.
"Dad says he won't be home till tomorrow," Nanako said. She immediately brightened. "But you're here with me, so it's okay," she added, then shivered.
Souji frowned. "Do you have a kotatsu?"
Nanako's face lit up. "Yeah! Dad said we could bring it out if it gets too cold."
It turned out to be an older one, but still serviceable. Or it seemed to be, until Nanako flipped the switch and nothing happened. Looking disappointed, she checked the connection, flipping the switch a couple more times to be sure. Broken, sure enough.
"We'll get a new one at Junes when your father gets back," Souji soothed her. He glanced out the window, still raining. Which meant there was something he needed to do. "Sorry, Nanako-chan, but I need to get a bit more studying in before I go to bed." The truth, even, just not all of it.
Oblivious, Nanako took it at face value. "Okay. 'Night, Big Bro."
Ten minutes later, Souji was standing in front of his TV, fighting a sense of deep unease. Though the true culprit remained at large, it was entirely possible no one would appear this time. As far as he knew, there wasn't anyone of particular note in the news, at least not locally. A fact which did nothing to ease his mind.
Midnight, and it happened. His TV lit up, revealing a vaguely human silhouette. He squinted; the image was harder than usual to make out. Very little detail was visible; about the only thing he was certain of was the image was smaller than any he'd seen previously.
His cellphone beeped, right on schedule. "Did you see that?" Yosuke asked without preamble. "It was really blurry, but you saw someone on the screen, right?"
"I did," Souji acknowledged, his voice grim. "Looks like there's another potential victim here. Keep your schedule open tomorrow."
"Gotcha," Yosuke said. "It was too blurry to jump to any conclusions, but we can't just ignore it. Maybe one of the others has an idea. 'Night."
Setting his phone aside, Souji gave his TV one last, dark look. This boded ill, very ill indeed.
Saturday, 5 November, After School
As it was still raining, they gathered around one of the covered tables. Naoto, Souji was relieved to see, was professional as ever; however she may have felt about his sudden confession four days earlier, it hadn't clouded her judgment. He sternly put the thought aside; it definitely wasn't the time.
"As you suggested, I watched the Midnight Channel last night," Naoto began, shaking her head. "To think a master of deduction and evidence would go so far as to strain her eyes over an urban legend. . . . But I can't deny it. I definitely saw someone."
Yosuke grimaced. "Could any of you tell who it was?"
A general shaking of heads. "From a fuzzy picture like that?" Kanji scoffed. "Gotta be kidding me."
"I agree with Kanji," Souji said. "All I can say for sure it was a human figure." He felt a muscle in his face twitch. "Too little detail for anything more."
Yukiko sat forward. "What about regular TV? Has anyone become newly famous lately?"
Naturally, all eyes turned to Naoto. "Not off the top of my head," she said slowly. "There was the politician who visited to quell rumors about the fog. His statement was read on the news. However, he left immediately thereafter."
"I think I know who you're talking about," Souji said. "He visited Nanako-chan's school." He looked at Teddie. "Anything on your end?"
Seeming oddly fatigued, the bear replied only with a soft, pensive hum.
"I know what's up," Yosuke said, sounding more exasperated than anything else. "They stuck with the midnight shift after you fell asleep on the beds in housewares. Did you remember to check the TV in the electronics department?"
Teddie made an irritated sound. "Of course I did! I made a promise with Nanako-chan, and I'm serious about living!" He calmed. "From what I saw, the person on the screen looked pretty small."
Chie shrugged. "Dunno. It was too blurry to make even that much out, at least that's how I saw it. Anyway, did you sense anyone in that world?"
"Nope." On this, Teddie's voice was firm. "Nobody so far.
"Then we check one more night," Souji said. "Pay close attention, guys. I have a very bad feeling about this."
It was very telling, he thought, that not even Rise disagreed. They all knew how close to the edge this could be.
Evening
As his luck would have it, good or ill, Souji had duty at the hospital that night. It was quiet, as was normal for the hour barring an emergency. His main concern was his break schedule; it was vital he be able to check the Midnight Channel when the time came. At least the hospital had no shortage of TVs.
"Working hard, Souji-kun?" Nurse Sayoko said from behind him.
He jumped, but only a little. Getting used to it, he supposed. "Yeah," he said. "Just being responsible."
"You're probably the most responsible person your age I've seen in a long time," Sayoko said. "Your parents must be proud."
"I like to think so," Souji allowed.
The nurse smiled. "Well, I think you've earned a break. I can handle things for a little while."
Five minutes to midnight. Perfect timing. "Thanks," Souji said, setting his gear aside. The break room, he recalled, had a TV, and he could make it in less than thirty seconds.
Just in time. The rain seemed louder than usual, though it was probably his imagination, spurred on by the tension of the moment. He stopped by a vending machine, then sat at the closest table, just as the TV lit up. The image was the same as the previous night, except a little clearer. Clear enough for a few identifying features.
Souji inhaled sharply, feeling his blood turn to ice in his veins. It couldn't be. It just couldn't. No. No, that's . . . that's Nanako!
Author's note: Whew! Can't believe I've made it this far. Only thing to really note is the change to the circumstances at the end was very deliberate; I've long hated how Dojima grabs the Idiot Ball at that point in the story.
Until next time. ~D.S.