Our Last Dance

When Yu Narukami woke up that Tuesday morning, he was surprised about how normal the day seemed. It felt just like yesterday, and the day before that, but Yu knew that today was his last day in Inaba. Tomorrow he would go back to his parents, leaving his friends behind…

Yu stood along in his room, just staring out the window. The sky was cloudy and grey, yet the small town still seemed so serene and beautiful. He chuckled as he placed a hand on the cold glass.

He had come to love this small town, as strange as it was to imagine. He didn't want to leave it, or his friends. If he had the chance, he'd sacrifice every cent he had to his name, just for another day with his family…

Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He sighed, before pulling away from the door. If today was his last day, he was going to make it worthwhile. He was going to spend it with those closest to him.

Yukiko suggested reserving a small portion of the Amagi Inn for a farewell party. It took a long discussion with her parents, and the group putting together quite a bit of cash, (of which Yu donated the most, but he didn't hold that over his friends) but they were able to reserve some rooms and even the garden for a farewell party.

It felt like half of the town was invited. Everyone Yu knew or helped over the last year was invited. Dozens of familiar faces, but for Yu, several would always stand out. His closest friends, and, of course, his Detective Prince were all invited, and that meant the world to Yu.

Yu opened one of his drawers, looking for clothes to wear for the party. As he did, his fingers brushed against something hard. He reached into the pile of clothes and pulled out a small box. He opened it, and inside was one of the rings he had bought.

Immediately his mind went to Naoto, and to their day together so many nights ago. When he had proposed to her…

Was it a mistake to propose to her…? He thought to himself.

There was a knock on the door and Yu quickly closed the box and pushed it back into the pile of clothes as his uncle's voice called out for him. "Yu, Nanako made breakfast. Care to join us?"

"Sure, one sec, Uncle!"

Yu smiled as he saw Nanako and Dojima sitting at the table, waiting for them. His uncle greeted with a small wave as his 'little sister' beamed.

"Big bro! I made you breakfast! Come eat, come eat!" Yu obeyed the adorable command, sitting at the table and marveling at the plate Nanako had prepared him.

It was some scrambled eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns, a classic kind of breakfast. Yu grinned as he remembered tutoring the young girl, helping perfect her breakfast-making skills, and it looked like she had remembered her lessons. To make it even better, the food was styled into a grinning, joyful face.

"What do you think?" Nanako asked, standing next to him. She clutched a spatula tightly in her hands, and Yu could practically see the fear and worry in her eyes.

Silently, Yu scooped up some of the food on his utensil. He then took a bite and closed his eyes. He chewed it a couple of times, and opened an eye to glance at Nanako. She was shaking with anticipation, and Yu could hear Dojima trying to hold back a laugh.

"I-is it okay?"

He swallowed, and answered her question with a grin. "I've been to five star restaurants that haven't had food half this good. It's spectacular!"

"Really?!" She beamed, and threw herself at her big bro, hugging him tightly. "Yay!" Yu returned the embrace, before Nanako skipped away to prepare her own plate.

"You two really get along," Dojima commented. "It's nice…"

"Yeah…" Yu quietly agreed, a content smile on his face as he ate his breakfast.

"So, excited for the party tonight?"

"Yeah. Did you want me to bring Nanako when I go? I was going to surprise Yukiko and Chie and be there early to help out with decorations."

"You're going to help decorate your own farewell party?" Yu shrugged at the question. Dojima chuckled. "Alright. Just try to relax. The party's in your name, after all. I'll probably be a little late to the party. We're still going over details of the case with Adachi."

Yu scowled at the name, before raising his brow. "Still?"

"Apparently he wanted to talk about something he's been mulling over for the last few months."

"Hm. Alright. Be careful around him Uncle." Dojima nodded his head, before the older man returned to drinking his coffee and reading the newspaper. Yu kept his silver eyes on his uncle, before speaking. "Uncle, can I ask you something?"

"Hm? Course you can."

"What was it like being married to Chisato? If you don't mind me asking…"

Dojima certainly seemed surprised by the question, but he nodded his head. "No, it's okay to ask. Chisato was an amazing woman... Being married to her was a dream come true. She had everything I needed, and no matter how badly I messed things up, she'd smile and cheer me on… You know, I couldn't even change a diaper until the third time she showed me," he chuckled, leaning forward. "Being with her… I think those were some of the happiest days of my life."

"You really loved her, didn't you…?"

"Course. I married her. I wanted to spend every waking moment with her. Grow old with her…" Dojima stared at the table, memories playing through his mind. "We talked about traveling the world together… When Nanako moved out and had a good job. Chisato and I would leave Japan and see what the rest of the world was like…"

A melancholy filled Dojima's eyes, and Yu felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry. I didn't meant to-"

"No, it's alright." The older man took a deep breath, and smiled as Nanako walked towards the table. "I don't talk about her enough. To you, or Nanako. I'll have to change that in the future."

"I'd love to hear stories about her."

"Dad, what are you talking about?" Nanako asked, taking her seat.

"Your big bro was just asking about what your mom was like, Nanako," Dojima answered. Yu worried the truth would sadden the girl, but the child beamed with a smile.

"Really? I want to listen!"

"Sure thing, hon," her father laughed. Yu joined him, and the silverette melted into the warm comfort of the place the small, yet perfect home.

He hoped his and Naoto's home would be like thi- Yu blushed as he realized just what he had been thinking. Yu's cheeks burned a bright red as Dojima told him and Nanako about some of his favorite memories with Chisato.

"Careful up there, Yukiko!" Chie warned.

Yukiko glanced down at her friend, smiling. She was on a somewhat tall ladder, trying to pin the other half of the banner against the wall. The white sheet had a colorful message on it, one that Chie had painted herself.

"It's okay, I've almost got-whoa!" The ladder shook, and Yukiko lost her footing. Her eyes widened as she fell back to the hard ground.

"Yukiko!"

The raven-haired woman squeezed her eyes, waiting for the painful blow, only for it to never hit her. She landed on something firm, but soft, and she heard a low grunt.

"Huh?"

"Another poor girl falling for me. Heh, sorry, couldn't resist."

She'd recognize that smug tone anywhere. Yukiko opened her eyes and she was met with pools of silver as Yu smirked down at her. He winked as Yukiko questioned him. "Yu? What are you doing here? The party's not ready yet!"

"I came to help," he replied. "Brought Nanako along." He motioned to his little sister as he placed Yukiko back on her feet. The two siblings smiled at her as Chie approached the three.

"You can't help! It's your party!" Chie argued.

"Eh. I'm a rule breaker."

Yukiko knew better than to argue with the silverette. He was incredibly stubborn. "Alright, alright. Can you hold the ladder for me?" Yu grinned and nodded his head as Chie came to the same conclusion her best friend did.

"Hey, Nanako, want to go to the kitchen with me and see the cake we made?"

"You made a cake! I wanna see!" The two brunette walked off together as Yu looked at Yukiko, incredulously.

"You made a cake?" Yukiko could practically see terror in those eyes, and she rolled her eyes as she picked up the fallen half of the banner.

"The inn's cooks kept an eye on us the whole time…"

"Oh, thank god." Yu laughed as Yukiko climbed the ladder. Yu held the bottom of it as she stood at the top. "So, everything been going o-oh!" He released the ladder, and Yukiko gasped as it shook below her.

"What? What is it?!"

"Um, sure you don't want me to do that, Yukiko?" She blinked, brow furrowing in confusion. She opened her mouth, when she noticed Yu looking away from her. "You're wearing a skirt, Yukiko."

The raven-haired woman's eyes widened, and her cheeks burned crimson as she quickly tried to close her legs. The sudden movement shook the ladder, and Yukiko fell from the top.

"Yukiko!" This time Yu wasn't so ready, and he hit the ground as Yukiko's cushion. "Ow…"

The girl was relatively unharmed from her fall, mostly thanks to the silver-haired landing pad. "Narukami! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

"I swear I didn't see anything," Yu groaned. "Please take your knee out of my stomach," he begged.

'Oh! Sorry!" Yukiko quickly stood up and she placed her hands on his arm to help him stand. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he replied. It took Yukiko a second to realize it, but he was laughing. He was actually laughing after being slammed into the ground. "That's gonna be a funny story to tell the others."

"I-it's not funny!" Yukiko argued, but her lips were already being pulled into a smile. His laughter was infectious as she began to giggle, snorting and shaking her head. "It's not!"

He gave a knowing look as he continued to chortle, and she admitted defeat. "It's a little funny." She smiled, and laughed with the silverette.

Yosuke, Kanji, and Teddie walked into the Amagi Inn with large boxes in each of their hands. The smallest of the three groaned, struggling to carry the cardboard box. Each box was filled with supplies they'd need for the party, ranging from cups, drinks, plates, and even decorations.

"Are we there yet?!" Teddie groaned.

"Almost there. Just a little farther," Yosuke replied.

"Here, let me help you that." The three turned to see Yu walking towards them. The silverette smiled as grabbed the other side of the box Teddie was holding, taking it from the blond. "Good timing, guys. We were wondering where you were."

"What…? Dude, what are you doing here?" Yosuke asked.

"Helping set up the party."

"Helping set up your own going-away party…?" Kanji slowly asked.

"Yep."

The three boys looked at Yu, confusion in all of their eyes. Yu chuckled, shrugging. "Where's Rise? She didn't want to help carry stuff?"

"Nah. She said Naoto needed her help," Kanji explained.

"With what?" The tall, blond teen shrugged. "Huh. Alright. Come on, I'll show you where to put this stuff."

The silverette led the group to the wide, open space in the middle of the inn. Yukiko and Chie were already there, working on setting up tables and chairs. The two girls greeted the boys with a wave, grinning at them.

"Hey, about time! We've doing all the work setting this party up," Chie commented, crossing her arms.

"Hey, get off my back. I had to pay for all of this stuff. This party stuff doesn't come cheap, you know."

"Yeesh, get a room you two," Yu chuckled. He leaned towards Teddie, but whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. "The air is full of their sexual tension."

Teddie laughed as Yosuke and Chie gawked at the comment. The blond boy then blinked, tilting his head. "What's sexual tension?" Yu groaned, rolling his eyes.

"What is wrong with you?" Chie huffed, glaring at the young man.

"Still working on that list," he replied with a chuckle. He winked at the two and allowed everyone to get back to work. He laughed and teased, but he couldn't felt but think about tomorrow.

Tomorrow would be the last time he'd see the faces of his best friends. His family. These people he had come to care about, something he never thought would happen. His silver eyes glanced around the room, and he felt like there was a giant hole in the ground.

He hoped Rise and Naoto got here soon…

His eyes stopped on Yosuke and Chie. The two were quietly working together on putting up decorations, and his thoughts soon focused on them. He joked and teased them, but he truly did want them to get together. He knew they had feelings for one another, like how he did for Naoto.

Getting with Naoto was the greatest thing to ever happen to him. He wanted those two to have the same happiness. If that required a little nudging from him, so be it...

Naoto let out a long and heavy sigh. She had been cooped up inside this changing room for what felt like hours. The room wasn't very big, and it was littered with clothes that Rise had given her. The latest of which Naoto held in her hands.

The dress was made of a dark blue fabric, but it was how little fabric there was that truly shocked Naoto. The skirt was far too high, and the less said about the long cut the dress had on the front, the better. Just imagining her in it brought an embarrassed shudder to the sleuth's mouth.

"So, what do you think of that outfit, Naoto?" Rise's voice came from the other side of the door. Naoto could practically see her smiling.

"There's practically no fabric! There's a hole on the front!"

"That's to show off your breasts," Rise explained.

"What?! I don't… Ugh!" Naoto sighed, and hooked the dress back onto the wall. "Maybe this was a mistake…"

"It's not a mistake, Naoto. I think it's really brave that you want to try something new. Plus I'm happy you trusted me to help you." The blue-haired woman nodded her head, her back against the door. "Are you scared?"

"No." That was a lie, and Naoto sighed again. "Yes, I suppose I am. I know I shouldn't be. It's just a change of clothing, but it's… it's more than that. I've only ever worn these types of clothes for Yu, and that was only once. This is around dozens of other people, and-"

"Wait, you wore outfits for Yu?"

Naoto's eyes widened and she smacked her forehead. "Yes," she confessed. "Once." She was turning crimson at the memories of that night. They were wonderful, but looking back made her turned beet red with embarrassment.

Thankfully Rise chose not to dig any deeper on the topic. "Here." Rise threw some clothes over the door, and they landed by Naoto's head. "These are the first clothes I picked out for you."

"What?" Naoto took the clothes and looked them over, and they were far less provocative. They were feminine, but still what somewhat masculine. "Why are you only showing me this now?"

"Two reasons," Rise replied. "One: Because if I showed you the more revealing outfits first, that'd make this outfit look tamer in comparison and make it easier for you to wear it." Naoto had to admit, that made sense. "And two: Because it was a little funny." Rise giggled and Naoto rolled her eyes.

Naoto tried on the outfit, pulling it onto her body, only to stop as she noticed how big it was on her. Then she realized why, and her cheeks burned. She touched her chest, feeling the bandage wraps that she used to bind herself.

There was a time she was ashamed of herself. Of her body. Her figure. She hated being a woman because it kept her from achieving her dream. Only now did she realize how foolish she had been, and with a reignited spirit, she began to unwrap her chest.

She was Naoto Shirogane. A woman. A detective. She refused to be held back by fear. She dropped the sarashi to the ground and finished putting on the outfit. Once she was ready, she opened the door and found Rise waiting for her.

The idol's mouth hung open as she stared at Naoto. The Detective Prince refused to cover herself. She was scared, but she refused to show it. She stood in her new outfit as proudly as she could.

"You look amazing," Rise cheered, placing her hands on Naoto's shoulders. "You look fantastic!"

"You think so?" Naoto quietly inquired, turning red at the praise.

"Yeah! Senpai is going to go nuts when he sees you!" She blinked, before lifting her hands up. "May I…?" She reached forward and placed her hands on the top button of Naoto's shirt. She undid it, exposing just the top part of her cleavage. "Is that okay with you?" Rise asked.

Naoto glanced down, staring at her own flesh. She remembered the countless times she had binded her breasts until they were near flat, and she resembled a boy. She hid her true self. No more. She embraced who she was, and she did it her way.

"I think I am," Naoto slowly replied. She turned her head to look at the mirror inside the changing room, and she smiled at the person who looked back at her.

The party was beginning to come to life, and Yu watched as friends and guests slowly made their way into the Amagi Inn. Looking at all the guests, it was shocking to see how many people had come to see him leave.

He saw so many different people that he had helped. So many people that had helped him. He saw people he had begged for forgiveness, and people who he owed so much to.

And it was then that he realized that this was Inaba. The people. Good, kind, simple people.

He saw Daisuke and Ayane talking to one another, both of them laughing as they drank juice together. He saw Ai and Kou holding hands, walking towards the dancefloor. He saw Nanako talking to Shu, and Yuuta, with Eri watching over the three children. He saw people being happy, and he was proud to know he played a part in making sure they were able to make it to today.

Yu saw all of this from a balcony on the second floor. It looked out into the garden where the party was being held. A perimeter of tables with food and drinks, plus a dancefloor where people could dance to the music the musicians were playing. It was a hell of a party, and Yu had a hard time believing it was for him.

"You okay, man?" Yu turned his head to look at Yosuke. The two young men stood side by side, looking out over the party. "Man, I feel like this is an end of an era. Know what I mean?"

"Yeah…" Yu nodded his head. "It feels like the whole town is here."

"Shouldn't you be down there mingling? Saying goodbye?" Yosuke asked. "This party is for you, after all."

"Yeah…" He inhaled the cool air, and muttered, "I hate goodbyes though."

"Guess we should have called it a 'See ya later party,' huh?" The two boys chuckled at the joke. "Man… I can't believe we saved the world. We were heroes…"

"Are heroes," the silverette corrected. "You're a hero, Yosuke. Never forget that, or that time you beat the shit out of me."

The two laughed, the memories feeling years away. They stared down at the party, watching their friends mingling with the other partygoers. They enjoyed the ambiance and the many sounds, before Yu spoke up.

"When are you gonna tell her?"

"Huh?"

"Chie. When are you and her going to start dating."

"W-what?!" Yosuke's eyes widened and Yu rolled his eyes.

"Seriously, it's like we've been waiting for over forty years for you two to get together. When are you going to ask her out?" Yosuke stared at Yu with disbelieving eyes. The silverette chuckled in reply. "She likes you, man. What are you scared of?"

Yosuke opened his mouth, only to close it and turn away. He sighed. "I don't want to ruin what we have."

"You two are friends. I'm willing to bet a lot of money on the chance that if you did break up, your friendship will be just fine."

Yosuke just nodded his head, before muttering, "I mean, what if we fight a lot?"

"How would that change anything?" he laughed. "Look, it's a simple series of questions. Do you like her?"

"I-"

"Yes or no, Yosuke."

"...Yes," the brunette sighed.

"Do you like the way she makes you feel? Do you feel like she brings out the best in you?" Yosuke sighed again. That was more than enough of an answer for Yu. "Do you want there to be more between you?"

The other teen didn't say anything. Yu patted the railing of the balcony, an amused smile on his face. "Think about it. I'm going to go join in the party. Just know that asking her to dance will be one hell of a first move."

Naoto and Rise stood outside of the Amagi Inn. The idol led the way as the detective's legs stuttered, slowing down before coming to a stop. She took in a deep breath, and sighed.

"I-I'm beginning to have seconds thoughts about this, Rise," Naoto muttered. "Perhaps I should go back and get a change of clothes and-"

"Oh, come on! We're already late as it is. I'm not letting you back out of this!" Rise argued, shaking her head as she grabbed Naoto's wrist. The idol pulled the detective along as she made her way to the front door of the inn.

"Rise-chan, Naoto, good to see you," a voice called out to the two. Naoto quietly thanked the speaker for the distraction, only to turn a bright red as she realized just who had stopped them.

Ryotaro Dojima. A fellow detective… Naoto felt her face turn hot as her mouth opened and closed. She tried to speak, but her tongue suddenly felt fat and clumsy in her mouth.

"Hi, Dojima-san!" Rise beamed, turning to face the man. She even grabbed Naoto's shoulder and turned her, forcing her to face the same direction.

Naoto could see the surprise in Dojima's eyes. After all, the man was used to seeing Naoto dressed in a very masculine. While he knew Naoto's true gender now, it must still have been a shock to see the usually boyish 'Detective Prince' now wearing such a feminine outfit.

Yet the man smiled at the two. "I'm happy to see I'm not the only one running late. Well, let's get inside, don't want to keep Yu and the others waiting, do we?"

"W-wait." Naoto pulled her hand out of Rise's grip and her navy eyes bounced between the two. Rise arched her brow as the sleuth asked, "Dojima-san, may I speak to you in private?" Naoto glanced at Rise, silently begging for her to understand.

Rise held up her hand, a sign that she did. She smiled at the two, waving goodbye to them with a wink. "I'll see you two inside then. See ya."

The auburn-haired girl walked through the doors, leaving the two detectives alone. Naoto swallowed saliva down her throat, her eyes locked on the ground. "You're probably wondering why I'm dressed like this, D-Dojima-san."

"It's for my nephew, isn't it?" Her already scarlet cheeks burned brighter, and she looked at the man with wide eyes. He chuckled, smirking. "I'm a detective too, you know. I may not be as good as you, but I've noticed how often you and my nephew are around each other. How you look at one another… Are you going to ask him out, or are you two already…?"

"W-we're dating," she quietly answered. "We have been since Christmas."

"That explains his good mood." Dojima nodded, before inquiring, "So what did you want to talk about?"

Naoto felt the ring in her pocket. Her foot scraped against the ground nervously. "It's rather personal."

"That's alright. As long as you're comfortable with talking to me, I'm happy to listen."

"I wanted to know about your relationship with your wife, Chisato." Dojima raised his brow at the question, and Naoto bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I don't want to offend, it's just that I wanted to ask for dating advice, a-and I didn't want to ask Rise-san, and I didn't want my grandfather to know about our relationship until I could talk to him in person and-"

"It's alright, Naoto." Dojima quickly comforted the young woman, and Naoto sighed. Her face felt like it was on fire. "I'm happy to answer any question you have. Is there anything specific you want to know?"

Naoto glanced at her pocket, but decided against mentioning that particular fact. "When did you know she was the one…?"

"Hm. I guess there was no single moment. There was just this realization. It's when I realized how better my life was with her. She brought out the best in me, and I felt like I could do anything. She actually pushed for me to follow my dream and become a detective, even when I didn't think I could do it," he remiscined. "I gave my all in learning how to be a good detective, because I knew I'd come how to see her. I'd fall asleep with her in my arms, and it just felt… right."

"Didn't it scare you? To fall for someone so… so deeply?" she questioned.

"Yeah. I think it did," he replied, nodding his head. "Especially if I was going to be a detective. I…" He hesitated, and Naoto could see the strain in his eyes. "I used to have nightmares about me dying on the job. Inaba is a pretty calm and quiet town, part of the reason I like it here, but you don't become a detective without understanding there's some risk to the job."

"There were even nights I wanted to break things off with Chisato. Spare her the pain of losing her husband to some punk with a gun."

"But you didn't?"

"Heh. She wouldn't have it…" Dojima closed his eyes, letting the memories flow over him. "I loved her so much. I doubt I could have gone through with it… I needed her." He opened his eyes, staring into Naoto's. "Yeah, it scared me to love and want someone so much, but living without her scared me even more."

Naoto flinched, and Dojima gave her a knowing look. They both understood the harsh reality as Dojima spoke. "I've come to terms with it as best I can. Don't worry about hurting me, Naoto. I'll be fine."

She nodded her head. Her heart pounded inside of her as she thought of the ring in her pocket. It weighed like a rock in her chest. She had spent months thinking of it, of Yu, of her future… Naoto felt so close to finding her answer, so close to saying the word to the love of her life…

"Did you have any other questions?" Dojima wondered.

"Huh?" Naoto blinked, before shaking her head. "N-no. It's quite alright. Thank you, Dojima-san."

The older man nodded his head, before looking at the door. "Ready?" Naoto nodded her head. She took a step forward, only stopping when Dojima called out to her. "Shirogane?" She turned her head to look at him. "I just want you to know you have my blessing."

Naoto's face turned red once again, before she nodded. The older detective walked past Naoto, opening the door for her. Naoto quickly walked inside, her eyes glued to the ground to avoid Dojima's knowing smile.

"Hey, Chie," Yu grinned, walking over to the brunette. The girl smiled back at him, waving as she leaned against a table of food. She had a skewer in one hand, picked clean of food.

"Hey," she greeted through the mouth full of food. "What's up?"

"Just came by to grab some food." Yu walked over the plate of food of skewers on the table. There was only one left, and he picked it up. "The decorations looks good. You did great planning this party."

"Thanks!" She grinned as her hazel eyes glanced at the food in his hand. With an amused laugh, Yu handed the skewer to her. "Oh, I wasn't-"

"Chie. It's okay. Have it." After a moment of hesitation, she took the offered meal and licked her lips. "So, while I have your attention, just wanted to ask you a question."

"Hm?"

"You gonna ask Yosuke out?" Her eyes widened, and Yu snickered at her 'deer-in-headlights' expression. "Is that what you're going to look like when he does?"

She swallowed her food and crossed her arms. "W-w-what do you mean? He wouldn't-"

"Then why don't you ask him out?"

Chie's mouth hung open, and she shook her head. "What does it matter so much to you anyways?"

"It's a part of caring about my friends. Besides, I want you guys to be happy."

Chie kicked at the ground, a small frown on her face. "I think I liked it better when you were a jerk…"

"Trust me, you didn't," he chuckled.

"What makes you so sure Yosuke even wants to ask me out?"

"I'm good at reading people. You know that," he replied with a smirk. "I'm also good at handing out advice." Chie arched her brow as she took another bite of meat off the skewer. "Okay, maybe not good, but I haven't had any complaints. Want some advice from me about Yosuke?"

"Something tells me you're going to give it to me no matter what I say," she replied.

"Smart guess. When Yosuke asks you out to dance, and he will," he emphasized. "Make sure you have your hands right if it's a slow song." Yu lifted his hands and held them in the air. "One arm on the shoulder, other on his hip. Feel free to bring him in close if you're ready for it. He'll probably step on your toes, so you'll need to be careful of that." Yu dropped his hands and winked at Chie. "Dancing is like martial arts. You need good reflexes, and good form. You have both, so I know you'll be fine. Don't be afraid to take charge, either. You might be better at it than Yosuke."

Chie blinked, and Yu shrugged his shoulders. "Also, he might step on your toes. Just my advice. I'll talk to you later, Chie." He turned to walk away, only to stop as her hand grabbed his. He turned to look at her, curious.

"Can I have some more advice?"

He nodded his head, gently pulling his hand from hers. "Of course." Yu dropped his smirk for a moment, and he smiled at Chie without a hint of his usual teasing nature. "What's up?"

Chie dropped the now naked skewer into a trash can and she sighed. "What if… What do I do if…?" She sighed, rubbing her sleeves between her fingers. "What do I do if I want to kiss him?"

"Then you try and kiss him, and if he's okay with it, he'll kiss back," Yu replied. Chie frowned at the answer, and he continued. "Kissing is easy. If it's your first one, keep it gentle. Being overly ambitious can ruin a good kiss. Don't try to stick your tongue in his mouth or anything, and if he does it to you, don't be afraid to back out. Try to keep your lips parted just a bit. And remember, if the first kiss is a disaster, there's always the second. It won't define your relationship."

Chie nodded her head slowly, her eyes widened slightly. She was surprised he was so open to the question, yet his advice was quickly taken to heart.

"One more question…?" Yu nodded his head. "It's not about Yosuke. It's about me, I guess." He nodded his head again, but he smiled this time, silently assuring her that she was with a good friend. "If I wanted to be a police officer, how do I start?"

Yu blinked at that question, and his confident smile was replaced with a shock. "Really?"

"Y-yeah. I've been thinking… Seeing you and Naoto solve the case… Investigating stuff to save people. I don't know, it felt right. I've always wanted to be a hero of justice, and this seemed like the best way to do it after saving the world, and stuff," Chie muttered, avoiding looking him in the eyes.

"Huh." Yu's smile quickly returned, and he nodded his head. "Well, I'll be honest. Don't know a lot about becoming a cop, but I do know three things. One: It's an incredibly difficult profession. You need to be athletic, smart, and quick-thinking."

Chie's shoulder fell and she sighed quietly, as if ready to accept defeat. Yu placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a comforting squeeze. "Two: If you tackle it with the same passion you tackled this case with, and keep working on improving yourself, I know you'll make it."

She blinked, and she lifted her head to look him in the eyes. There wasn't a trace of deception in them, and the corner of her lip rose. "And three?" she inquired.

"I may not know how to become a cop, but I bet my uncle and Naoto will. Talk to them, they'll get you on the right path." Chie nodded her head eagerly as Yu looked around the party. "Speaking of which, where are they? The party's been going for a while."

The sound of a small commotion caught the two's attention. Looking around, both teens noticed that people were looking towards the entrance to the garden, with voices muttering in the crowd just barely loud enough for them to hear over the music.

"Look, is that Risette?!"

"Whoa, who is that with her?"

"Check out that babe, man."

"She's so pretty!"

"What the hell?" Yu and Chie peered through the group, slowly pushing their way through. The taller of the two came to a sudden stop, surprising Chie.

"Yu? What is it?" She leaned to the side and her eyes widened as she saw a familiar face by Rise's side.

Naoto Shirogane, but in a way Chie had never seen her before. Two things stood out: The blue-haired detective was missing her hat, letting her hair out for everyone to see, and she was wearing clothes that accented her female figure.

The clothes were simple and practical, but unlike her usual outfits they didn't hide her gender. Naoto's legs were covered by blue jeans, and her torso was dressed in a white blouse. Her binds were gone, revealing her natural shape. The outfit was simple, yet everyone seemed taken back by Naoto's beauty. Even Chie had to admit she was looking good, though it was clear Yu was Naoto's biggest admirer.

"Yu? Hello?" Chie poked the silverette's face, blinking.

"Naoto, look!" Rise pointed at the two and the Detective Prince's froze. She looked at Yu, and he stared back with an open mouth and wide eyes. "Chie-senpai, Yu! What's up?" Rise pulled her friend behind her, coming to a stop in front of the two older teens.

"I… Naoto…"

"Y-Yu." The two nodded at one another, both of their cheeks a bright red.

"Right…" Chie looked at Rise with an amused smile. "I'm going to get some punch. You want to come with me, Rise-chan?"

"Sorry, can't. I need to go find Kanji-kun! He owes me a dance," the copper-haired woman replied with a smile. The two girls looked at Yu and Naoto, both of whom were still frozen where they stood. "Guess we'll see you guys later."

The two walked away, leaving the couple to stare at each other with scarlet cheeks. Yu finally spoke, his words clumsy and slow.

"Naoto, you look… amazing. I mean, your hair is… amazing, a-and your body-" His eyes glanced at her breasts, and he quickly looked away. "W-wow."

"T-thank you," she slowly replied. "You also good."

Yu grinned at that. "I…" He took a deep breath, and relaxed, loosening his body up with a shake. "Are you okay with this? I mean, the outfit?"

"Y-yes. It's certainly different, but I'm okay with trying it. Besides, it is for a special occasion," she smiled.

"Alright. Good. Because you really do look amazing in it." Yu reached down to take her hand in his, and he gently kissed her knuckles. "I love you."

She pulled her hand out of his grip and gently placed it on his cheek. She gestured him to lean down and their lips met. Suddenly all of their fear and panic vanished in a breeze, and they opened their eyes to find the other looking at them. They pulled apart, and Naoto spoke four words that made Yu's heart skip a beat.

"I love you too."

Yu wanted to squeeze her in his arms and spend the rest of his life kissing her, but he knew that was probably not the right move to play at the moment. Instead he looked at the dancing crowd, and listened to the fast paced, upbeat song that was playing.

"Want to dance?" he asked, motioning to the crowd. He held his hand out to her, and without hesitation, she took it and the two ran to the dancefloor together.

They fell into the motions with ease. They spun in each other's arms, their memories from Halloween guiding them along.

Yosuke saw Chie standing by the punch bowl, quietly drinking from her cup. The brunette readied himself for his leap of faith, swallowing down his nerves. He moved forward, each step heavy, but determined as he approached her.

"Hey, Chie." She looked at him, her hazel eyes staring at him. "Do you…? Do…? Do you…?" Aw, come on! "Do you…? Do…? Uh… With me?"

The two stared at one another, before Chie snorted and began to laugh at the groaning man.

"H-hey, it wasn't that funny!"

"It's pretty funny," she replied, snorting. Yosuke huffed, frowning as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Sure. I'll dance with you." The man blinked, clearly taken back, and Chie grinned, pressing the offensive. "Yu gave me some advice, and I guess, I'm just ready to try taking things the next step… If you are?"

Yosuke chuckled, shaking his head with a disbelieving grin on his face. "You too, huh?" His hand found Chie's, and he gently stroked her fingers with his. "Yeah. I think I'm ready."

"He also told me you might step on my toes."

"Probably good advice," Yosuke laughed. He held their hands up between them, and they grinned at one another. "Ready?"

Chie felt her heart pounding at the question. She felt a shiver crawling up her spine as she stared into Yosuke's gleaming, almond eyes. This was it. The moment that could change their lives.

They both knew it. They both knew that whatever came, come happiness or tragedy, their friendship would never be the same. Chie decided to answer only way she thought was right, pulling on Yosuke's arm so he stumbled closer towards her. She caught him in her arms, and her lips met his.

The kiss wasn't long, nor was it very heated. But there was a spark, and Chie was eager to see just where it would lead her and her first boyfriend.

The two pulled apart and blushes overtook both of their faces. The fire in her chest was like an inferno, yet at the same time, there was electricity in her veins. She grinned at Yosuke's blushing face, nodding her head.

"Ready."

Yu laughed as he danced with Naoto. She laughed with him. There was no plan to their moves. They were just trying to have fun. It was good. It was pure, and it was happy, and he loved how her blue eyes gleamed in the light as she smiled at him.

They weren't alone. Of course other people were dancing to the song, but his silver eyes picked out six others on the dancefloor, moving to the beat without a care of how good they were. Kanji struggled to match Rise's grace. Chie held Yosuke in her hands, spinning him around like he was a toy. Yosuke took it in stride. Finally Yukiko and Teddie joined the crowd. They were laughing, moving with the least amount of skill. Their dancing was clumsy and awkward, like two teens who just wanted to have fun.

Judging from their smiles, neither of them cared how cool they looked.

Even Nanako had walked onto the dancefloor with her father, laughing as he held her small hands in his.

Yu wanted this moment to last forever.

Naoto sighed in relief as she sat beside her boyfriend. The two were tired from dancing and were in need of a break. It felt like they had been moving for the better part of an hour, though she had no idea how much time had actually passed.

"I think I'll miss the stars the second most," Yu suddenly announced, catching her curiosity. She looked at the silverette, who was staring into the sky. "Or maybe Aiya's. The food is so good over there…Aiya is definitely in the top three."

"What's first?" she inquired.

Yu turned his head to look at her, a knowing grin on his face. "Isn't it obvious?"

"It is. I still want to hear it."

Yu opened his mouth, only to pause. He looked just past Naoto's head. "Uncle?" The woman followed his gaze, watching Dojima-san approaching them. "What's up?"

"Hey, Yu. Shirogane. I just needed to give you something before I forget."

"What is it? A going away present?" he grinned.

"Not exactly." The older man reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to Yu. "It's a letter from Adachi."

Naoto's eyes widened, and Yu's body stiffened as he took the paper. The sleuth's eyes examined it, as if waiting for a trap to be sprung.

"Adachi made it clear that he wanted you to get it before you left town. He told me not look at it, and I haven't." Dojima stared at the piece of paper, and Naoto's eyes bounced between it, Yu, and Dojima. "Whatever it is, I hope it helps you out. I can't say what's on that paper, but Adachi seemed desperate to get it to you…" With that, Dojima bowed his head and walked away, leaving the two to stare at the letter.

"What do you think is on it?"

"Death threats?" Yu suggested. "A promise of revenge?" Judging by his frown, Yu believed in neither theory. "Only one way to find out."

Yu unfolded the piece of paper, his fingers gently brushing the crisp sheet. He held it between himself and his girlfriend as she leaned closer to read it with him.

"I'm sure you're surprised to get this letter out of the blue," Naoto read to herself. I'm writing this because there's something I need to tell you. Ever since I made it out alive, there are some things I understand now. It's true that my game's over." Naoto hated to read too deeply into the wording, but she could almost hear an ounce of remorse in Adachi's tone. Regret, even.

"There's still this feeling I can't shake… It's about how it all started... about the Midnight Channel. Now I remember someone told me about it when I first came to town, before I heard the rumors at the station. And I was intrigued when I noticed that something similar was written on Namatame's reports as well."

Naoto's eyes widened. The origin of the Midnight Channel… The rumor had to have started somewhere, after all. It made sense, but Naoto had barely given it thought beforehand. She swallowed her nerves down, and continued reading.

"I can't remember who it was that told Namatame and I both gained our power after coming to Inaba... I have a feeling that has something to do with it. I don't know if any of this will be useful or not... But I hope it can help somehow."

Yu and Naoto finished reading around the same time, and Yu voiced her thoughts. "We need to get the others."

Kanji closed the doors to the room, giving the eight some privacy. It was an empty hotel room, bare with only the essentials, but perfect for the Investigation Team. They sat around a large table, the letter in the middle of the surface for any to see. Yosuke read it over again as he muttered to himself.

"Someone gave this power to Adachi and Namatame…"

"We all had to face our Shadows to gain the power to enter TVs, but something else gave it to Adachi and Namatame?" Chie questioned.

"No, not just them," Teddie reminded. He turned his blue eyes to look at Yu, who was glaring at the letter. "Yu entered the other world, and then found your Persona."

"Hey, that's right," Rise blinked. "So, what they're all exceptions?"

"There has to be a unifying theme. Some kind of shared factor," Naoto reasoned, looking at her boyfriend.

"We're all liars. All from out of town. All manipulative," Yu sighed. "What could have given us this power? And why?"

"Maybe it's all part of a game? Or someone's idea of a game." Yukiko wondered. "That creature that appeared after Naoto beat Adachi talked about giving us power, but what if it was just a small part of something bigger?"

"It's hard to imagine anything like that thing being small… Or imagining something bigger," Kanji grumbled.

"We could just ignore it." Yu's voice caught everyone's attention, stunning them. The silverette stared at the letter, rubbing his head with a sigh. "We beat Adachi. We stopped the murders. Isn't that enough…?"

"Yu…" Naoto's hand fell on his, and she squeezed it firmly. She wasn't sure what to say, only to tilt her head in surprise as Yu scoffed.

"It's okay. I know." He looked around the room, the smiling faces of his friends looking back at him. He reflected their expression, his frown fading under the fire of a smile. "We have a job to do. To find the truth, and to make sure whoever did this doesn't do it ever again. I was just thinking aloud."

He wore the smile well, squeezing his girlfriend's hand. He shivered, and he hoped it was merely excitement. "Let's put an end to this case."

"Maybe we should stop looking for a common thing between you, Namatame, and Adachi," Yosuke suggested. "Maybe we should just look at what you went through. How could someone have given you your powers?"

"It's not like I got it from a box," Yu replied. "I came to this town, met Nanako and Dojima, and we went home."

"The 'conductor' in question might have hidden the gift in something mundane," Naoto suggested.

"Maybe something was slipped in your drink, o-or reverse-pickpocketed you!" Chie gasped.

"No, that's… Wait." Yu blinked, his eyes widening.

"What? You think someone put a superpower in your drink?" Kanji asked, raising his brow.

"No, not exactly, but I just remembered something. We stopped for gas. The first day I arrived in Inaba, Dojima stopped on the way back to his place to get gas!"

"Ooh! That makes sense! Namatame was a delivery man! He drove a truck around all the time! He probably ended up at that gas station!" Rise clapped, beaming as she placed down a piece of the puzzle.

"Gas station are common parts of many people's lives," Naoto reasoned. "Adachi would have ended up at one for a multitude of reasons."

"I shook the attendant's hand." Yu's eyes continued to widen as his heart race. "I shook the gas station attendant's hand, and I remembered getting sick…" He looked at Naoto as the revelation plucked the voice from their throats. They felt the weight of the world hit them as Yukiko read their minds.

"That must have been it!" Yukiko gasped. "That must have been what gave you the power to enter the other world! They must have done the same thing to Adachi and Namatame!"

A crash of thunder shook the very building they sat in, and each of the eight teens looked out the window. It was raining, with lightning dancing along the dark clouds.

"Was… Was it meant to rain today?" Teddie wondered.

"Nope," Kanji muttered.

Each of the eight felt it. A higher power. A call to action. It made their very bones shake. Yu took a deep breath and rolled his neck once. He stood up, his friends joining him without a word. The silverette's hands turned into fists as no one said a word.

No one had to. It was obvious that the case wasn't over. The one who pulled the strings had watched the game from afar, but it was time for them to come into the light.

The truth was right in front of the Investigation Team. The answers they sought were within reach.

It was time to take it.

END

If I had regrets about this story, I think I would have liked to focus more on Yosuke and Chie, and Yukiko and Teddie as couples more. Then again, this story is already crammed full of story, so maybe not. Heh.

This chapter was going to be a bit longer, but I was worried about it being cluttered, so I cleaned it out a bit. Think it works better as an overall piece of the story like this.

It was scary writing this chapter. We're so close to done. It's terrifying. I just wanted to give the story some happy moments before next chapter brings on the angst. I hope I did it, and you, dear reader, justice.

Next chapter, Yu and the gang face off against their final enemy. Look forward to it, friend, as we get closer and closer to the ending of this tale.

Thank you for reading, stay safe, and remember, you are loved. Drop a review if you have the time. Love hearing what you think. Stay cool!

Next Update: November 16th.