Pyrrhic Victory
"Welcome to the Velvet Room."
"Ah, fuck." Yu opened his eyes to find himself once more within the strange limousine. Igor sat across from him, and beside the strange man was his ever present aide, Margaret. "I was really hoping for a dream about Naoto," he groaned.
"Hm. It is nice to see you living with truer colors," commented Margaret with a wryly smile. "Better the devil you know, than a devil wearing an angel's face."
"I..." Yu didn't say anything, shaking his head before looking at the owner of the room. "So, what's the point of summoning me here, Igor? Come to remind me about my 'tainted' bonds or something?"
The long-nosed man laughed, and Yu couldn't deny how unnerving the sound was. "I have summoned you within your dreams for a different reason. Now then, your journey has taken you quite a distance thus far. Do you believe you'll be able to successfully solve this mystery...?"
The question was a simple one, and once upon a time, Yu would have felt he could answer the question confidently. Now, he was not so sure. "Do I believe I'll be able to solve it...?" he muttered to himself. "I don't know," he replied, shrugging his shoulders. "You know, I keep wondering why the hell I'm here. Why I was picked to solve this mystery." Yu glared at Igor, who merely smiled back in response. "Why me? Why not Naoto, or Dojima, or Yosuke? Why did you pick me?"
"I do not pick my guests. Fate merely brings you here."
"Fate's a load of shit," argued Yu, scowling. "I've never believed in it. I make my own fate..."
"You dig your own grave," Maragret remarked, leaning back into her seat.
"Damn right," he agreed, nodding his head as bitterness burned in his eyes. "I'm at fault for my own crap..." Yu's eyes fell to the ground as his foot bounced. He rested his arms on his knees as he leaned forward. "Do I think I can solve this case? I'm not sure anymore, but I'm not the only one trying to solve it, now am I?" A small smile pulled at his lips as he stared at Igor. "Naoto, Rise, Kanji, Yosuke... My friends... They're a crazy bunch, but I think this case can be solved if I have their help."
The irony was almost palpable. He had once seen the group as stepping stones, but now he saw them his pillars. His bonds with them were once rotting and putrid, made of lies and deceit, and decaying with every passing day. Now he could feel the difference. He felt a new warmth, a strange, foreign feeling in his chest when he thought of his friends.
As embarrassing as it was to admit, he was happy to know the others. His friends had changed him as much as he had changed them, maybe even more so.
"People are like water flowing in a river. There is only one stream, but all who pass through it are affected differently. Some travel fast, some change their course. Experiencing countless events as they travel down the river of time," Margaret mused.
Yu nodded his head in acknowledgement. If they were all being carried down the same stream, they all faced their own obstacles and challenges, but the destination was the same. He and his friends were the same. Yu felt the limo come to a slow halt and his iron-colored eyes looked at Igor.
"I have a friend missing. Do you know where he is? His name is Teddie, short fellow, blond hair... Sometimes he's a bear?" Yu wasn't sure why he was bothering asking, but he doubted it would hurt.
"The Star Arcana," Igor nodded. "Yes, I know of him." The tall, lanky man glanced towards a window. Yu's eyes followed his gaze, and they stared out into the fog that surrounded the car. "Lost, but searching, seeking his own truth..."
"Is there any way I can help him?"
"In time. For now, he must walk his own path." Igor seemed to find Yu's concern amusing, but the silverette could hardly tell. Igor's rictus-likr smile never seemed to leave his face. "You are worried about him?"
"He's the only one on the team who doesn't know the real me. Not to mention he just vanished," sighed the young man. "Look, why did you even call me here?"
"Have you noticed we stopped?" inquired Igor. Yu nodded his head. "The state of this room reflects the scenery of your heart... Perhaps this may be a time for contemplation rather than action..."
"Contemplation?" Yu repeated, only to feel a dizzy spell overtake him. His eyes widened as he felt his head hang heavy on his neck. "Whoa..."
"It's time to wake up. Heed our words, remember the bonds that you have forged, and find your way out of the fog." Margaret's voice was the last thing he heard as everything went black...
When Yu opened his eyes, he found himself inside his home, sitting on the living room couch with something warm and small pressed against him. He blinked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with his free hand, before glancing to his side. What he saw made his heart skip a beat and his face turned a bright scarlet.
Naoto Shirogane was cuddling against his arm, a content smile gracefully painted on her lips as she clung to him. He felt his mouth turn dry as he struggled not to wake her. His jaw hung from his skull for a moment, before he sealed his mouth shut. He tried to lift his body up, only to feel Naoto's weight hold him down. Her arms had slipped around him somehow, and her grip felt like a bear trap.
Only softer. And warmer.
"N-Naoto?"
The girl moaned in response, pulling Yu's arm against her body. The silver-haired young man blushed a darker shade of red, feeling the slight curve of Naoto's hidden breasts gently rubbing against him. He took slow, methodical breaths as his mind raced.
Don't think about Naoto's tits, don't think about Naoto's tits, don't... Ah, damn it, he sighed. He glared at the girl, trying to look annoyed despite his discolored cheeks. "Naoto, wake up."
"Hm." The young woman groaned again, her fingers gently clinging to his arm.
Damn it, I wish I had my phone to take a picture of this. Yu lifted his hand to gently touch Naoto's cheek. Her skin felt warm, yet unbelievably soft. She smelled of vanilla, with a hint of mint. Don't be creepy, asshole, he scolded himself. But damn...
Yu had been with many people in his life. Young men and women, even a few older lovers, yet Naoto trumped them all. She was everything he wanted in a partner, and everything he needed. Beautiful, yet intelligent. Clever, yet socially inexperienced. Kind, yet firm. He was enamored with the young woman, and he could barely resist whispering his feelings to her sleeping form.
One day, he told himself. "Naoto, wake up." His free hand prodded her face, his lips grinning as he found her cheeks to be like putty against his hand. Naoto's eyes strained as she felt her face being toyed with. They finally fluttered open and cobalt, sapphire eyes stared into deep, silver pools. "Good morning, sleeping beauty. Did my kiss wake you up?"
Oh, how Yu savored the look of utter embarrassment on her face. She was redder than he had ever seen her. Anger, embarrassment, and fear all danced in her eyes as his teeth gleamed like that of a shark. "I'm joking. I haven't kissed you yet," he remarked with a giddiness in his voice.
"Narukami?! W-what are you doing so close?! P-please, step back!" she demanded. She lifted her hand up and pushed at his face, trying to force him away as he groaned in annoyance. Her hand was pressed against his cheek as he glared at her.
"I would, but you've got my arm in a vice! Let go before you rip my damn arm off!"
Naoto paused, before her eyes slowly traveled the length of her arms. One was pressing against Narukami's face, while the other was currently clinging to his arm, as if she was desperate for him not to go. Her eyes widened and her scarlet cheeks turned an even more vibrant shade of red as she released him. "I-I-I..."
"We fell asleep next to each other last night. I woke up just a moment ago to find something very small, and very cute holding onto me. Imagine my luck," he chuckled, grinning at her with a raised, grey brow.
"Small?" Naoto repeated, with a hint of indignation. She blinked in realization, before turning her scarlet cheeks away. "C-cute...? You're impossible," she sighed.
"And you're beautiful," he retorted with a wink of his eye. "I'm going to get breakfast started. You want anything in particular?"
"A-anything is fine," she muttered, lifting her hand to hide her blushing face with her hat. Her fingers found only hair, though. "Huh?"
"Your hat's on the couch. Behind you." Yu pointed behind the girl, just where the hat was. "It looks cute on you, but I actually kind of like you without it. You look... Wow." His eyes were on her, and he savored the sight of her face practically being painted red by his words. She quickly pressed her hat back onto her head as he turned to the kitchen. "You want any morning coffee? I can make it for you."
"I-I can make the coffee myself. I don't want to be any trouble..."
"No trouble at all."
"Even so, I-I insist. I'll handle it myself."
Yu nodded in understanding. There was a content smile on his lips as he began to assemble his needed ingredients and cooking tools. He could hear Naoto moving behind him, quietly creating her own cup of coffee when a thought occurred to him. The two had woken up side by side, and now they were making breakfast together. It was like they were living together. Like they were married.
The dark red blush traveled from his cheeks to his ears and neck as he rubbed a cool hand against his face. He was trying in vain to quell his beating heart as the thought left a strange tremble in his chest. The sensation was warm, and tingly. The thought of Naoto and himself married, living together, maybe even with a kid on the way...
What would Yu look like? What would Naoto...? He could see himself growing out his facial hair a bit. Nothing too bushy, just a hint of ruggedness. His hair would maybe grow out a little, but nothing too disorderly. He could easily see his body remaining as perfectly balanced as it was now, just enough muscle to impress, but never enough to appear bulky or slow. He'd be just right, making him the perfect stud for any lucky man or woman.
But Naoto... Naoto would probably look like some kind of goddess in a few years. Her hair could still be as short as it was now, or maybe it would grow out. His heart fluttered at the thought of a long-haired beauty searching for the truth, before coming home to a hot meal prepared by her dashing husband. She might even be more open about her feminine side. She wouldn't bandage her chest anymore and... and...
Yu shook his head as he began to wash his hands. Gah. Get your mind out of the gutter. Focus on something else! Anything else! His mind traveled along Naoto's body, moving away from her chest and down her slender arm. There was a simple, silver ring on her finger, with a sapphire gemstone gleaming in the sun's rays.
His heart stopped and he felt his face continue to burn. He'd never thought of marriage before Naoto came into his life. Now he found himself thinking about the act far more often than he'd like to admit... Oh, man. I really hope she didn't see that drawing in the sketchbook, he groaned.
"Narukami?"
"Huh...? Y-yeah?"
"You've been washing your hands for several minutes. Is something wrong?"
Yu glanced at his hands, before turning his head to the sleuth. Her face had long since returned to normal, but he couldn't help but feel like his own face was now flushed instead. The things you do to me, my dear detective...
After a quiet, but enjoyable breakfast, the two left to meet with their friends. Despite the time of day, they found the city of Inaba was blanketed under a large fog. It wasn't difficult to walk through, but the two remained close to each other's side just in case. They met the others at their usual table, but Yu and Naoto were both concerned to hear that Teddie had yet to be found. They sat down as Kanji and Rise reported their findings, or lack thereof.
"Kanji and I have been running all over town looking for him, and we haven't found a thing. We even entered the other world, but I didn't even get a trace of him," sighed Rise. "I'm sorry, guys. I wish I could be of more help..."
"Hey, come on, it ain't your fault." Kanji's hand rose from under the table and gently landed on Rise's, gently stroking her pinkie with his thumb as the girl nodded her head. Yu wanted to make a joke about the two, but decided against it.
"He's right. We'll find Teddie. Don't worry. He's not going to leave us, I'm sure of that. Unfortunately, that's not the only problem we have on our hands. We need to know what to do about Taro," Yu explained.
"You on a first name basis with him now?" growled Yosuke, glaring at the silverette. The other young man didn't reply, merely glancing away as the bluette defended him.
"Narukami is right," Naoto agreed. "Namatame will be transferred soon, so we must talk to him before that happens, or we'll lose any chance to understand his perspective."
"Right. We know there's a lot more to this case than we thought," Yu added. He flashed a brief smile to Naoto, before looking to the others. "So let's think on this. We know he believes in saving others, but his definition of 'saving' them is different than ours, or at least, it's off."
"We also know that Mayumi Yamano and Saki Konishi are the only actual victims to be... killed." Naoto saw the flinch in Yosuke's face, and she looked down at the table. "I'm sorry, Yosuke-senpai."
"It's okay... We know that Mitsuo guy only killed Mr. Morooka. No one else, right?"
"Correct."
"I saw the way he talked about Mayumi." Yu's voice was firm, kindly asking for the others' attention as he glanced from face to face. "I don't think he killed Mayumi. I don't think he had it in him."
"You know that just be looking at the guy?" Yosuke argued. He sounded unconvinced, but Yu just shrugged as he stared at the brunette.
"I saw it in his eyes. He loved this girl. He was head over heels for her, thinking about marrying her. It just doesn't make sense to me. It couldn't have been an act of passion, she died over a week after the scandal was found out." His silver eyes glanced at Naoto, before turning to Rise's. There was an understanding in her eyes that helped him along. "He loved her. He would never want to hurt her."
"Well, he did talk a lot about saving people," Chie commented, trying to get Yosuke's sharp eyes off of Yu. She scratched the back of her head in thought, staring at the foggy sky. "But, I mean... People still died. So I don't really get why he thought putting them in the other world would save anyone. It sounds like he didn't mean to actually kill anyone." Her eyes slowly drifted back down and she shivered as she found her friends staring at her. "W-what? Come on, don't get all quiet on me! You know I just say the first stupid thing that comes to mind."
"No, Chie, I think you have a point... You're on to something." Yu snapped his fingers and looked at Naoto. "What about the letter? The ones that were sent to me? The first one talked about not rescuing anyone anymore, and the second said, 'If you don't stop this time, someone close will be put in and killed.'"
"But that doesn't make any sense," Yukiko argued. "If all he cared about was saving people, why threaten to kill someone close to you?" Yu's lips curled into a smile as he watched the dawning realization flicker in his friend's ebony eyes.
"Wait, I don't get it," Kanji admitted. "Was he trying to warn you?" He scratched at his head as the silverette looked at him, motioning for him to keep talking. "I mean, the letters are kind of weird already. They don't sound right, like someone else wrote them for him."
"But only the killer would send a letter like that," Rise thought aloud. "But, doesn't that mean-"
"There's a second culprit..." Naoto's eyes widened as Yu banged his hand on the table.
"Son of a bitch, we're actually doing it!" he laughed. The others watched the silver-haired man with bewildered and confused stares, but he brushed them off. "Sorry. Just really proud of us. We're actually cracking this case." There was an elation in his voice, as if he was actually having fun with his friends. "I think we all know what we need to do. I think we need to talk to Taro."
He stood up, pushing his seat back as he looked at his friends. "If I can make a suggestion? I think we should split up and reconvene at Aiya's. Me, Yosuke, and Naoto will go talk to Taro, everyone else can ask around town for info on the murders and keep an eye out for Teddie."
"Sounds like a plan to me," agreed Rise. "We'll keep looking then."
"Hey, you sure this is a good idea?" wondered Yosuke.
"If you have a better idea, I'd be happy to hear it, but there's no real need for all of us to go," explained Yu. He tried not to sound too overbearing or arrogant as he smiled at Yosuke. "We should keep it small and simple. Go in, talk to Taro, and get out. A smaller group could do that easier than a large one."
"He has a point," agreed Naoto. "If there are no objections, then I am in agreement." No one raised their voice. Even Yosuke seemed hesitant to argue with the plan, even if he was still angry at Yu.
"Great. Naoto, Yosuke, go on without me for a bit. I need to pick something up from Junes," Yu smirked.
"What? What the hell do you need?" asked the brunette with an exasperated sigh.
"Just trust me. I'll meet you there." He bid the others a fond farewell, before quickly running off from the group. They stared at the departing silverette, clearly confused by his enigmatic goals.
Narukami was true to his word. He met Naoto and Yosuke outside the hospital, and the three made their way to Namatame's room. The detective's eyes were on her silver-haired friend, picking apart his smile with scrutinizing eyes. He's clearly at peace, relatively speaking. Whatever he's done, he isn't worried. He doesn't seem scared, or anxious. Hm... Perhaps some sort of gift? But what could he plan on giving to Namatame?
"Hey," Yosuke whispered, motioning around the corner as he looked back at the two. "You were right, Naoto. There's a guard outside the room. You sure your plan's gonna work, Naoto?"
The detective nodded her head, before glancing at Narukami. "Please, follow me. Yosuke-senpai, stay back until I give the all clear." The brunette nodded his head, though Naoto caught the way his hazel eyes seemed to glare at Narukami. If the other man noticed, he didn't show it. He simply followed behind Naoto as she stepped out from around the corner and approached the guard on duty. Yosuke quietly waited behind them with shifting, anxious eyes.
Naoto greeted the older officer, before asking for a chance to see Namatame. She caught Narukami's face shifting beside her, turning into an unnatural mask of meekness. She could see through it easily, but the officer seemed to find it unassuming enough to ignore the young man. Naoto made small talk with the officer, when his radio buzzed to life.
"Has something happened?" inquired the detective, after the man listened to the message. Her own deception skills were put to good use, allowing her to maintain a faux expression of curiosity as he the officer explained about a strange package found in the lobby downstairs.
"Ah. Well then, this works out nicely. You should back up your colleagues downstairs. We'll keep watch over Namatame-san," suggested Naoto. She could see the glimmer in Narukami's eyes, as if he had found something peculiar. She ignored him for the moment and kept up her facade, gently pushing the man to leave with her words. "A disturbance in a hospital lobby, after all... It sounds serious."
Naoto could see the older man's hesitation, before he sighed and nodded his head. "If anything happens, hit the nurse call button. I'll leave the rest to you."
"Understood. Please be careful." Naoto and Narukami nodded their heads, before watching the man dash down the hall. The two waited for a moment, before Narukami looked at the young woman with a toothy grin.
"Wow. So, you actually planted a suspicious package for this?" Naoto didn't have a chance to answer the rhetorical question before he spoke again. "Where did you even get that thing?"
"A detective should be ready for any kind of circumstance. A tool for every occasion," mumbled the girl. She glanced away, crossing her arms as she felt his silver pools examining her.
"Man, that's hot," he remarked. "The way you manipulated and tricked that guy? Whoo." Narukami shook his smiling head side to side as as Naoto felt her cheeks burn. "Hamina, hamina, hamina."
"Louse," she grumbled, tipping her hat down to avoid his mocking smirk. He's always saying things just to embarrass me! Damn him... He can be so... so perverse at times, groaned the sleuth in the privacy of her mind. Despite that, she stood up a little straighter, wondering if she really had impressed him with her plan.
"Aw, you know you love me," teased Narukami, only to pause. His own words seemed to weigh on his mind as he quickly became silent, staring at the wall. Naoto glanced at his face to find his own cheeks were turning a dark shade of red.
"Hey, are you two done flirting? Can we get moving?" Yosuke grumbled, stepping out from behind the corner.
"We weren't...!" Naoto sighed, before nodding her head. "Y-yes. Please, follow me," she ordered, pushing the door open.
The three found Namatame where they had last seen him, sitting on his bed, eyes on the window of his room. The sun's rays faintly illuminated his body. He did not seem to notice their entrance, and before Naoto could speak, Narukami walked forward.
"Hey, Taro. Remember me?" He spoke so casually. His words carried no fear or distrust. It was as though he and Namatame were old friends, and Naoto watched with surprised eyes as Narukami pulled a sandwich, wrapped in plastic, out from his pocket. "Got you something. Hospital food's crap, so I thought you'd appreciate some half-decent stuff from Junes." He handed the sandwich to Namatame, who took it after a moment of hesitation.
"I... T-thank you," mumbled the disgraced politician.
"No problem. I hope you like it." Narukami sat on Namatame's bed, smiling at the older man as Yosuke and Naoto watched from the side. "Taro, I need to ask you some questions. We just want to try and understand you after all that's happened. Don't spare a single detail. We know about that other world... We're people you can trust, I promise."
Namatame did not respond immediately. He unwrapped his food and took a tentative bite of the soft meal, tearing a portion of bread and meat out of the sandwich and chewing it. Naoto watched his eyes drift, noticing how he stared at Naoto and Yosuke like they were snakes waiting for their chance to strike. He was nervous, skittish as he shuffled slightly on his bed. He glanced at Narukami, and his eyes relaxed. His twitching began to slow as he nodded his head.
"O-okay."
"Can you tell me who the first person you put into the other world was? It's okay, whoever it is, I won't be mad..."
"I-it was the girl," whispered the man.
"We're going to need more than that," Yosuke sighed.
"S-she was here. D-dark black hair. Red shirt... Her family runs the inn. Her name was-"
"Yukiko Amagi. I understand." Narukami glanced at his fellow investigators, and Naoto nodded her head. She was cheering for him, and she felt a degree of pride for the young man. He was using his social skills to get what they needed from Namatame. It was an impressive sight to behold. "What about the letters?"
"T-the what? I never sent any letters..."
"Wait, what?" Yosuke's brow furrowed, while Naoto tilted her head in confused. "You don't remember?"
"N-no, I-I never wrote any letters," groaned the man, massaging the temples of his head. "I-I don't remember writing them..."
"That's okay. It's alright," Narukami promised. "Can you tell me how and why you started kidnapping people? Saving them, I mean?"
"Y-you'll listen to me?" Namatame questioned, lifting his head to look at the younger man. He was trembling, but the silverette firmly squeezed his shoulder, calming him. "All right..."
"After the scandal became public knowledge, I returned to my parents home to try and hide from it all... I-I started drinking heavily to help me deal with everything that had gone wrong," confessed the man.
Narukami nodded his head as Naoto's cobalt eyes glanced at her friend's face. He wasn't smiling. He looked guilty, if nothing else. Naoto could only imagine why, but she wondered if the young man saw Namatame as something like a cracked reflection of himself. Narukami... Did you see things like Namatame did? You both have a history of being foolish, but I don't think either of you are bad... At least, you aren't anymore. She released a mental sigh, rolling her neck slightly as Namatame continued.
"Mayumi's name was thrown down the gutter. She was slandered, and it was all my fault!" Namatame cried, gasping for air as tears began to pool in his eyes. "I loved her, but now she was suffering because of me! I-I thought I was stronger than that, but I just failed her, and... and... I remember seeing her face on the TV screen. I-it wasn't like before. It was at midnight, and-"
"The Midnight Channel," Yosuke realized. "You saw the Midnight Channel?"
"Y-yes! I remembered hearing stories about it, but I thought it was just a myth!" He nodded his head vigorously, further pushed to recall his story. "S-she looked like she was crying out for help, and I remember reaching for her and my hand went through the TV screen!"
"It's okay. We can do the same thing," confessed Narukami. Namatame's eyes widened, and he looked at the younger man with shocked eyes. "I don't know how or why, but we have the same gift as you."
"R-really? I thought I was going crazy... I-I remember blacking out and thinking it was just a nightmare." Narukami just nodded his head, before gently pushing the man to continue. "But Mayumi was dead the next morning. She was dead, and I realized that she had been calling for help." He wiped his arm against his eyes, brushing away the tears. "I failed her. She was dead because of me, and..."
"It's okay, Taro. It's okay... Please, keep going. We need to know what you know, so we can catch the real killer and avenge the people they've killed."
There was a compassion in Narukami's voice that almost pushed Naoto to smile. She caught her lips curving and she quickly controlled herself, but still... She was proud of her friend. She listened to him speak, and she heard no lie in his voice. Not an ounce of deceit. He was speaking honestly, straight from his heart. She couldn't deny the pride burning in her chest as she watched Narukami urge Namatame on.
"Avenge... Yes, I understand," agreed the disgraced politician. "The next rainy night, I remember seeing another girl at midnight. I-I recognized her from my new job... She worked at the liquor store in town."
"Saki-senpai," muttered Yosuke. Naoto glanced at the brunette, silently asking if he was okay. He caught her stare and simply nodded his head as he crossed his arms.
"I recognized her as the girl who found Mayumi's body too. She was so scared, and I thought the Midnight Channel was telling me she was next! I couldn't let her die like Mayumi, so I became obsessed with trying to rescue her, to protect her!" His fingers curled into a fist and he slammed it into his own leg, snarling in rage. "I tried to warn her! I tried to tell her, but it meant nothing! I saw her die, just like Mayumi!"
"I knew she was in danger, but I couldn't do anything to save her! I failed her, and I failed Mayumi again!" sobbed Namatame, lifting up his fist again. "I kept failing everyone!" Yosuke flinched away at the man's screaming, watching with pitiable eyes as he wept. Naoto was little better, her brow wrinkling as she watched the older man shatter like glass.
"I know what that feels like," admitted Narukami. "I know what it's like to feel like nothing you do is right, but hating yourself isn't going to change anything, Taro." He caught Namatame's arm this time, stopping the man from hurting himself. "Catching the killer will. I know it hurts to remember, but you need to. Please..."
His words had the proper effect, calming the hysterical man. He nodded his head, shivering slightly as he continued. "R-right. I-I remember seeing another girl appear on the Midnight Channel." His voice was trembling. "She was going to be next. T-the girl from the Amagi Inn. I knew I had to do something, but warning the victim failed, and I tried going to the police about it, but they just thought I was crazy! That's when it occurred to me..."
"If I could enter that other world, what if I could hide someone in it too? Give them shelter, where their killer couldn't get them? I knew I had to do something, I had to protect these people... That's why I made it my mission."
"And so you kidnapped Yukiko," Narukami finished. "And she never died, so you thought you really did save her."
"I screwed up again, didn't I? The people I put into the TVs weren't really safe, were they?" Namatame's voice sounded broken, but he wasn't crying any longer.
"I'm afraid so. In truth, those put inside were in mortal danger. It was only thanks to my friends that no one you kidnapped was killed," Naoto explained.
"I knew it... I failed again." Namatame's head hung from his neck, sighing as he stared at his bed with dejected eyes. "When I went into that world with that poor girl, I saw how grotesque it was. It was horrible... Like a nightmare made real. I-I knew the sanctuary I believed in was nothing more than a lie. I wasn't some hero, I wasn't a savior, I was just a stupid, damn fool! I'm just as bad as the one who killed Mayumi!"
"Hey!" Narukami's voice startled everyone in the larger room. He glared at Namatame as the man lifted his head to look at him. "Enough with the pity party! What's done is done. You can't change the past, but we can change the future. I know what it's like to think you're nothing more than a piece of shit. I've fucked up too, but I'm trying to make things right. Mayumi wouldn't want you to just give up, and she damn well wouldn't appreciate the man she loved comparing himself to her killer!"
Narukami took a deep breath, and released it slowly. "You had good intentions. From your perspective, people stopped dying. I get it. I don't think I can hate you for what you did, so try not to hate yourself. You fucked up, yeah, but you can still make things right."
"Maybe you're right," the older man mumbled. "But my crimes are too severe to just brush aside like that. I have every intention of being punished for my crimes. I kidnapped people, I put their lives in danger... I was so stupid. I'm sorry." He looked at Naoto, and he bowed his head. He then turned to face Yosuke and did the same thing. "I'm so, so sorry."
"The Midnight Channel and the other world... You can hardly be blamed for failing to understand them properly," Naoto assured. She tried her best to comfort the man, even if she was not as skilled in speaking as her close friend. "We must apologize to you as well. Had we let our emotions blind us to the truth, we would have piled all the responsibility on you. I'm deeply sorry." That night still played over in her mind. How close she had come to not only killing an innocent man, but disgracing her family's legacy.
Thank goodness Narukami stopped me. Her eyes glanced at the silver-eyed man. I don't know what I would do without him...
"Yeah," Yosuke agreed. "You were trying to save Saki-senpai... I guess we do owe you an apology, so..." Yosuke's fingers combed through his hair, glancing away from Namatame as shame burned in his eyes. "I'm sorry too..."
"You shouldn't have to apologize to me. I understand." Namatame groaned and he rested his body back, falling onto his bed and letting his head rest on his pillow. "I'm sorry, I just feel so tired..."
"I understand. Get some rest, Namatame." Narukami stood up from the bed and turned his body to properly face the man. Naoto watched with mild surprise as her friend offered his hand to Namatame. "Thank you for all your help... I'm Yu, by the way. Yu Narukami. If you ever need any help, try and find me. I'll do what I can." Namatame stared at the younger man's hand, before taking it firmly. The two shook hands, before Narukami gently pulled the man up. He wrapped his free arm around the politician, and patted his back in a one armed hug. "You've helped us a lot. Thank you. We'll make sure the guy who did this pays."
"T-thank you, Narukami-san."
The two parted away from one another and Narukami looked to his friends. "Let's get going." Naoto and Yosuke nodded their heads, before quickly making their exit. Naoto gave a passing glance to Namatame, her previous indignation and disgust replaced with pity. Still, the man looked at ease. Perhaps not happy, but at least more content with himself.
It wasn't much, but Naoto hoped that gave him some comfort.
The three were outside when one of them finally spoke again. They walked into the fog infested town and began to make their way to Aiya's when Yosuke looked at Narukami.
"Dude, what was that? You hugging him and stuff..."
"The dude needed a pick me up. He needed to be told he wasn't useless or a failure. I gave him that," shrugged Narukami. "He needed to be told he was important and played a role in stopping the killer." He looked at at Yosuke with sharp eyes for a moment. "You can call it lying if you want, but I know what it's like to be a failure, and to be desperate..." His eyes softened and he sighed in exasperating, breathing warm air into the mist. "Sorry, I guess, if I pissed you off again."
"I... Don't be." Yosuke released his own sigh, shrugging his shoulders as he pocketed his hands. "I get it. You probably said the right thing to the guy, especially after how we treated him last night. I guess you were right. He didn't do it," confessed the brunette. "I'm sorry for the shit I said to you last night, Yu. I guess I was out of line, and-"
"Stop. We're cool," Narukami remarked. "Thank you for understanding. You don't need to say anything else man. I'm just sorry for all the shit you've had to go through."
"It's okay. I just want to close this case for good," Yosuke admitted.
"That's something you and I can agree with." The two boys nodded at one another, and Naoto couldn't help but feel she was witnessing a hatchet being buried. She shrugged the feeling off, and the three continued to walk in silence until Narukami spoke up again. "The guy isn't running from his sins. I respect that," he muttered, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"It reminds me of someone I know," Naoto interjected. The corners of her mouth lifted into a small smile as Narukami glanced at her. "Someone who made mistakes, but is determined to redeem himself."
"Hm. Someone tall, handsome, and with an amazing sense of humor?" Narukami's infamous smirk formed on his face, and even in the dense fog, Naoto could see his eyes twinkle with his characteristic charm and confidence.
"Hm. More like a spectacular sense of arrogance," corrected Naoto with a sly smile. Narukami's smirk faltered for a moment, before he grinned even wider.
"So, you think I'm handsome?"
"I..N-no! I wasn't talking about you in the first place!"
"Right. Cause Namatame's so much like Rise."
"Ugh," groaned Yosuke, rolling his eyes at the two. "Can we hurry up? I can't take you two flirting much longer." There was a toothy grin on his face, smiling as the two blushed.
They returned to Aiya's and reconvened with the others, exchanging Namatame with what little information the others had gathered. To Yu's frustration, the others' search had proved fruitless. They had found little information on anyone who could be the killer, and even less on the whereabouts of Teddie. Yu sighed in annoyance, before glancing at Chie as she lifted her hand, waving a waitress to their table.
"One steak bowl, please!"
"Seriously?!" groaned Yosuke.
"What? I can't think on an empty stomach!"
"I'll cover for us," Yu offered, reaching into his pocket for his wallet. "Go ahead, everyone, order up." The others looked at their friend, before they began to make their orders. True to his word, Yu covered for everyone's meal as they all sat at the large table. Naoto was by his side as he ate away at his own bowl, listening to the others' repeat what little info they found.
"There's no new information. The end?" Chie offered.
"Half the people I tried talking to just ignored me and started talking about this stupid fog," added Kanji.
"And no signs of Teddie, either," sighed Rise.
"The police had a large number of officers in the area during the initial investigation, yet there wasn't a single report of any suspicious characters. Whoever did this must have been able to move without drawing any attention," noted Naoto.
"Maybe they're not even in town anymore?" Yukiko suggested.
"But they're probably the ones who also sent me the letters. I'd imagine they'd have to be close to watch over us," Yu commented.
"There was no way the letter was delivered by a mailman. It had to have been placed there," Naoto muttered. Yu stared at the girl, and at her untouched food. He could see the strain in her eyes as the gears in her mind turned. He could see the conflict in her, and he noticed the others were staring at her as well.
She's putting the weight of this case on her shoulders...
"I need some fresh air before I give it more thought. I'll be outside." Naoto stood up and exited the restaurant, and Yu followed behind her without hesitation. He found her staring at the sky, her body bathed in the fog as snow fell from the clouds.
"Hey. How you holding up?"
She looked at him, and for a moment he could see a lie hanging from her lips. It never came out. "I feel like a failure. I'm supposed to be a detective, yet I'm no use to any of you."
"Don't you start. You're the smartest person I know. You just need help, and thankfully, your beautiful assistant is here to do just that," he chuckled.
"Beautiful, now?" Her lips were turned into a bittersweet smile. He always could win a smile out of her.
"Right. Handsome. Sorry." The two smiled at one another, before looking at the snowing sky. "Okay. So this is someone who would have connections to both girls, while being practically invisible to the people and cops. Sounds simple enough." Naoto just nodded her head as Narukami took off his jacket and placed it on the girls' shoulders.
"What are you-?"
"Namatame wasn't seen as suspicious because of his job. Who else could move around like he could?"
"Oh, um..." Naoto began to recite various professions from her mind as Yu listened intently. "Repairmen, plumbers, police officers, parame-" She stopped as Yu looked at her with a smile. "A police officer..."
"Okay. A cop. Could our culprit be a cop?"
"It's an interesting approach," confessed the Detective Prince. "They could move about without suspicion, they'd be able to follow the case closely, and they could even destroy evidence that could implicate them, but there are dozens of cops in this town..."
"Well, what about my house? You'd think a cop dropping letters in my mailbox would be something our neighbors would catch or something." Yu, in all honesty, was talking out of his ass at this point, but it was clearly helping Naoto along some kind of path. He just hoped he was being useful to her. "Maybe it wasn't a co-"
"They'd have to be close to your family," her voice uttered.
"Huh?"
"They would have to be someone your uncle trusted. Someone who wouldn't raise suspicions being around your house specifically," Naoto realized. Her eyes widened as Yu stared at her. "Someone like Adachi..."
"Wait, Adachi? My uncle's assistant? He's the shittiest cop in this to-" He stopped. Namatame was a liar. Yu was a liar. Would it really be so shocking to find their killer hid behind a mask? "The guy would always blather some shit to us, before going 'Oops, I've said too much.' He always acted like he was stupid and inept, but do you think...?"
"It's a lead. It's something. In truth, there has been something off about the man, but... Damn it! I should have realized this sooner," she growled.
"If he's our guy. Don't go beating yourself up on what ifs, gorgeous. Look, you call and find the guy, I'll go get the others and tell them about your theory."
"Our theory," Naoto corrected, taking out her phone. He just smiled at her, before he quickly ran back into the restaurant.
Yu and the others ran into the hospital, and it did not take long to find their subject of interest. The rookie detective blinked in confusion when he saw the group, greeting them with a half-hearted wave.
"Hey guys. Any of you know where Dojima ran off to? Namatame's being relocated, but I can't really go home until Dojima's back in bed..."
"You seem awfully eager to leave," Yu commented, his silver eyes narrowing as he inspected the detective.
"Huh? What do you mean by that? I'm tired. I want to go home, and-"
Adachi...!" A voice called out to the group, before turning into a low groan. The teenagers turned their heads to find Dojima limping towards them, still dressed in his hospital gown. "There you are... I need your help. I need to find Namatame, but he's not in his room. Where is he?"
"Huh? H-he's been relocated, sir! W-what are you doing out of your room!? You should be resting, sir!" Adachi stepped forward to help his senior walk, only to be stopped by Yu's hand on his shoulder. "Huh? What are you doing?"
"What do you mean he's been relocated?! Who authorized that?!" snarled Dojima.
"G-give me a break, Dojima-san! Why are you getting mad at me for?!"
"The first two murders... Something hasn't been sitting right with me. That's why I need to talk to Namatame!"
"W-well, it isn't my fault he got moved! And you kids," Adachi growled, showing an uncharacteristic fire in his eyes as he pushed Yu's hand off his shoulder. "You guys are getting in the way of police business! You should all go home!" Yu noticed his eyes were different. There was something off about them, something sharp. He had never noticed before, but Adachi's eyes were a dull grey...
"Hey, what's gotten into you? You don't usually take work this seriously," Dojima commented, stepping forward. Kanji quickly moved to help the older man, helping him stand up straight and move.
"H-hey! What's that supposed to mean? I'm always giving it 110% percent!" Adachi's mouth spoke with a shocked tone, he spoke like a buffoon, and he sounded stung by the remark, yet there was something off about him.
"Adachi-san, were you the last person to talk to Mayumi Yamato?" questioned Yukiko. "I remember seeing you at my family's inn, talking to my mother. You were one of the officers at my house, right?"
"Huh? Well, yeah, I saw her, but-"
"What about Saki? Did you ever talk to her? Did you ask her about what she saw?" Yosuke asked, stepping a little closer to Yu's side.
"Why wouldn't I talk to her? She saw the victim's body and-"
"What happened to the letters?" Yu inquired. His voice was cheerful, and he plastered a fake smile onto his lips. It was so easy to fool people. Yu was an expert on that. It was so easy to trick others. "Remember? The letters that were sent to me?" His voice dripped with artificial mirth, making him come off as off-putting. The stark difference between his voice and the subject matter made Adachi flinch away from the young man.
"W-well, with everything that's been happening, I-I think I just misplaced them, but I mean, they were a joke, right? Why would-?"
"You lost them!?" Dojima roared. "I gave it to you for processing, damn it!"
"I-" Adachi was off balance. Too many questions, too many voices, too many people. Yu grabbed his shoulder again, pulling the officer close to him.
"Namatame didn't kill anyone. Do you know what I think, Adachi?" His smile slowly melted. He bared his teeth as he hissed in the cop's ear. "I think you did it."
"What the hell are you all talking about?!" The officer smacked Yu's hand away again and stepped back. "We all know Namatame the one who put them in!"
Silence. There was a deep, endless wave of silence that filled the halls as everyone stared at him. Adachi was just as quiet; his grey eyes slowly began to widen.
And then Yu pulled back his fist and slammed it into Adachi's face, throwing the older man to the ground. "You son of a bitch!" he screamed, releasing his anger like an inferno upon Adachi. He approached the fallen detective's body, savoring the sight of Adachi's bloody nose as Yu lifted his foot to kick Adachi in the ribs. His anger at Nanako's death, his fear for Naoto's life, his realization of his own inhumanity, he felt a twisting in his stomach when he saw into Adachi's eyes...
"Yu, stop!" Naoto grabbed his arm and quickly moved herself in between him and the groaning murderer. "It's over. We have him."
"Yeah." He was panting, trying to catch his breath as he looked at Naoto. This bastard killed two innocent women. Mayumi and Saki... Both dead because of him. But there was something else. Something more that made Yu's stomach twist and writhe. He couldn't understand it. There was just something wrong burning in him. Like guilt, but different...
"Are you okay?" Naoto whispered, the hand on his arm travelling up his body, resting at his shoulder. Yu nodded his head as his silver eyes stared into her own sapphire pools. They eased his anger, but something was wrong.
He could see Adachi reaching for something under his coat. His face contorted, blood staining his face as his teeth gleamed. Yu's silver eyes inspected him closer as time seemed to slow down. Adachi was taking hold of something. Yu's eyes caught something black in Adachi's hand, and his blood turned cold as realization set in.
Adachi had a gun in his hand. He was aiming it at Naoto's back. She was completely ignorant of the danger she was in as their friends stood behind them, too far back to see what Yu saw, too far away to react in time.
It fell on Yu's shoulders.
He saw Adachi's face right before he fired the gun. It was turning into something uncanny, something unsettling. There was pride in his dull, grey eyes. There was something that lit them on fire, made them almost glow as his mouth turned into a wide rictus. He was smiling, like how Yu would used to smirk at his prey.
Yu didn't hesitate. His hands pushed against Naoto's body as his legs thrust him forward. She fell to the side, eyes wide as she watched in confusion. He buried the thoughts of her as Adachi pulled down on the trigger. The bang was deafening. Yu, for just a moment, swore he saw the bullet travelling towards him. He didn't show fear, even as part of him trembled in terror.
He wasn't just waiting for the pain, he was running into it, and painful it was. It was like a hot, metal poker being skewered into his chest. It burned as it scathed against his ribs. He felt it hard to breathe. Yu wanted to stop, but his body kept moving on autopilot. The force of the bullet made it feel like something was tugging on his back, but still he ran forward.
Adachi clearly didn't think that Yu would still be moving after being shot. The adrenaline was probably the only thing keeping Yu moving. That and his friends. Adachi was ready to fire again, but Yu grabbed the barrel of the gun and forced it towards the ceiling. It went off. The bang stabbed at his ears, but he buried that pain. He tightened his free hand into a fist and swung it as hard as he could.
The punch collided with Adachi's cheek again, and he released the gun as he fell back to the ground. Yu held the gun in his hand, as Adachi moved back and kicked at him. The sole of his shoe hit Yu's chest, knocking the young man back and onto the ground. The others were screaming, but their voices sounded muffled. Maybe his hearing was giving out.
Footsteps. Adachi was running. Dojima was screaming. His friends... He had been hoping they'd chase after the bastard, but true to their form, they were stupid. They went to Yu's side instead, staring at him as his shirt stained with a deep crimson. His eyes widened as he stared at the lights on the ceiling. They stung at his eyes as he tried to take in a breath.
It hurt to breathe. His chest and face felt hot. It hurt.
He saw a shadow loom over him, blocking the lights. The shadow was Naoto looking down at him, crouched beside his head; he wanted to smile and tell her she looked like an angel.
It hurt to breathe.
He couldn't say anything as a voice finally reached him.
"Yu...?"
Damn. He thought to himself as the world began to melt. She looks beautiful.
END
In canon, the player character or Yu Narukami has to move between Naoto and a man wielding a knife to admit he loves her.
In Just a Delinquent, Yu pushes Naoto out of the way and takes a bullet to the chest. Because the universe likes beating up on Yu, and because that's the kind of story this is.
This was one of the earliest planned scene for Just a Delinquent, and it's meant to really show the change he's gone through. I really wanted to get that scene right... There was a lot of things this chapter focused on. Yosuke and Yu's friendship, Taro and Yu, Naoto and Yu being best friends, but it was meant to end there.
My, how our dear delinquent has grown, huh, guys?
I hope you guys like this chapter, and I hope you leave a review on your thoughts! Not much else to say, besides Teddie's character chapter is next, and with that, comes the fallout of Yu's actions, and his confrontation with the true killer, Adachi!
Take care, everyone, be safe, and have a good day!