Yu - A Remarkable Guest
Naoto blinked at the strange man, utterly confused about where she was and who these two people were.
"V-Velvet Room? I'm sorry, I don't understand…" She held her head, grinding her fingers against her temple. Her mind ached as she tried to recall where she had been. The last thing she remembered was something grabbing her. She was being pulled, before she woke up inside this car.
"Naoto Shirogane. Fortune. The Detective Prince. The Catalyst." The woman spoke as if she was reading off a list of names. "It is an honor to finally meet you."
"I'm… I'm sorry? How do you know me? Where are we?" Naoto stood up from her seat, only to fall back down. Her legs had wobbled under her weight, before crumbling all together. She blinked in confusion, staring at the odd man and woman. "Where are my friends?" She saw them in her memories, their terrified faces staring at her."Where's Narukami?
"Your friends are in a stasis of sorts. Soon dead if you do not act quickly," the man explained, making Naoto's eyes widen. "As for Narukami, he faces a similar fate if you do not save him."
"What? I have to go then, I have to-" Naoto tried standing up again, and she was able to step forward a few times, before falling onto her knee. "Ah..."
"Your body is weak. We were barely able to save you from the fate your friends now face," the woman explained, standing up to help Naoto stand. "My name is Margaret. This is my master, Igor. We have been helping Yu Narukami across his journey for almost a year now. Now, we wish to help you."
"Wait…" Naoto recognized those names. In fact, the title of the room felt familiar… "The Velvet Room. Yu mentioned it to me before."
"You were not ready to enter this room back then, but now, you are. You must be, because you are the only one who can save Yu Narukami," Margaret explained.
"What's happened…?"
"Remember," Igor urged.
Naoto blinked, before closing her eyes… She focused her mind to put together the puzzle of her mind, and he eyes widened with horror as she understood. She remembered Izanami, she remembered the battle, and she remembered her friends dying one by one…
"Where's Yu? What happened to him?!" Panic poisoned Naoto's voice as she forced herself to move, but Margaret kept the younger girl at her side.
"He is facing his Shadow, and he will die if you do not help him," the woman explained.
"You've said," the detective growled in frustration. "How do I help him? What can I do?"
"You must call on the greatest power he has. The power you gave him. The bonds he has made since meeting you."
"You are the Catalyst," Margaret explained, looking at Naoto. "You changed him. He would not be who he is today if not for you, and his bonds with others would not have been strong enough to protect him. You truly have no idea how important you were to his life…"
"Neither of you have any idea how important he is to mine," she replied, and there was a fire in Naoto's a voice. A need to save her best friend. "Please, tell me what I have to do."
"All those who enter this room are chosen by fate to complete a journey," Margaret smiled. "It is time for you and the Fool to finish yours." The older woman led Naoto to the side of the limousine, and Margaret placed her hand on a window. "You need to see this to help your friends."
Naoto wasn't sure what she was meant to see. She looked out the window and saw only fog. Fog blowing past the car, fog obscuring her vision, nothing but-
"What?" Her eyes widened as the fog that had clouded the window, almost like static on a television screen, began to clear. Naoto was shocked, but she leaned closer to the window as she saw her best friend on a stage with his Shadow…
Naoto swallowed spit down her throat. She had thought she would never see such an entity, but that was him. Undoubtedly a perfect replica of Yu Narukami, save for their golden, manic eyes… The copy was attacking Yu, brutally beating her boyfriend until Yu's blood was dripping onto the ground from a split open lip.
"I'm not strong enough to be good, to be honest around people," the Shadow roared. "A month alone, without Naoto, and I'll be back to pushing girls over the edge… Deep down inside, I know who I am. I'm nothing. Nothing without my friends…They make me strong. They make me kind. They made me who I am today..."
The detective's eyes widened. Is that how Narukami felt? What he really thought? That without their friends, he would return to his old state? She knew it to be impossible, but she also understood how inescapable a believed truth could be…
Once upon a time, she truly thought she couldn't be a great detective unless she was a boy. Yu taught her otherwise. It was time she returned the favor, but how…?
"I have to get there. I have to protect him! His Shadow will go berserk and it will-"
"This is not a battle you can win with violence," Igor warned. "Raw power is not the key."
Naoto turned to look at him, confused, before she looked back at Yu. Her eyes widened as she saw the Shadow holding a sword over the silverette. The Shadow was going to execute him!
"You know that this is the right thing to do. Spare your friends the heartbreak... That's what you told yourself night, after night… Spare them the pain of watching you fall."
"No!" Naoto's fist hit the glass, but the screen only trembled slightly at the blow. The detective's breath was short, and she looked at Margaret, begging for an answer. "I can't just stand here and watch him die! Please, you have to help him!"
"You are the only one who can save him. Focus," Margaret commanded. "He is not the only one who has bonded with others. He cannot reach your allies, but you can. You share so many connections with him. Reach out to your friends and tell them to give him strength."
None of what Margaret said made sense, but Naoto brushed all of her beliefs and disbeliefs aside. She didn't care if it didn't make sense, she lived a life of Personas, Shadows, and would-be gods. Maybe it didn't have to make sense.
Naoto placed a hand on the glass next to Margaret's and she closed her eyes. She saw only darkness as she concentrated her mind, trying to call out to her friends.
"This room exists between dream and reality," Igor's voice explained. "Mind and matter… Focus your thoughts and see the lines in between."
As crazy as it sounded, Naoto did see something. It was like a glowing, yellow thread connected to her hand. It stretched out into the void, a vast and terrible darkness, but it led her to a light. Rise Kujikawa was so close to Naoto, yet she felt miles away at the same time.
Naoto saw Rise sleeping, drifting in the darkness. She called out to the idol, shouting her name. "Rise! Rise! Please, wake up, Yu needs us!"
Rise blinked, her eyes slowly opening as Naoto noticed two golden threads, one from Rise, and one from herself. They both led to the same sleeping figure. A burly teenager with blonde hair, and a black jacket wrapped around his body.
Naoto didn't even need to call out ot Kanji Tatsumi. It was as if Rise was a chain reaction. She stirred awake, tethered by her bond with Naoto and Yu, and Kanji soon followed her.
"Reach out to Yu. We need to help him! We have to remind him of his own strength..." Naoto urged.
Yu closed his eyes, waiting for the sword to be brought down on his neck. He waited, but it never touched him. He opened his eyes and looked up, and what he saw shocked both himself and his Shadow.
Rise held the black sword back with one hand, a scowl on her soft features. "Get. Away. From. Him!" She pushed the Shadow back, making him stumble and causing him to drop the sword.
A hand grabbed Yu's shoulder and he rose up, held up by Kanji. The younger man glared at the Shadow, snaring out a threat. "You ain't touching Senpai, damn it! You want him, you got to go through us!"
"Kanji? Rise…?" Yu couldn't believe what he was seeing. They were supposed to be dead. They were gone… but here they were, both glowing with an odd radiance. The couple smiled at him, standing by his side.
"No… No, you're not real." The Shadow shook his head as he glared at the two. "Stop protecting me! I don't deserve you... I'm only going to hurt you!" He ran for his sword, reaching out to it.
He grabbed the hilt of the sword, and tried to lift it up, only for a foot to stomp on the blade, holding it down. He looked up, and he saw Yosuke looking down at him with a grin. The Shadow fell back, shocked as Yosuke picked up the sword and playfully swung it through the air.
"Do you really think that? Dude, come on. You're better than that, and you know it." Yosuke was speaking to both silver-haired men, a knowing smile on his face as he looked at one, then the other. He tossed the sword away, but before it even touched the ground, it was shattered.
One swift, powerful kick. It shattered the black blade, and the two halves dissolved into particles of nothingness as Chie beamed. "That was so cool!" she cheered, laughing as she lifted up her arms in victory. Yosuke and the others chuckled as Yu blinked in confusion.
Chie locked her hands together behind her head and grinned. "Don't forget, Yu. I was a coward too. Maybe I still am. Point is, nobody can be perfect all the time, but we can try our best as much as we can. You taught me that. Maybe you will be tempted to go back to your old self, but we know that'll never stick for long."
"Maybe we won't be able to be right next to each other, but we're always together." Yukiko walked up from behind Shadow Yu, scaring the copy. He turned around and dashed out of her way, as if terrified by the woman. "I know you're scared, but it's okay. We love you. We believe in you."
"It's important that you never forget who you were. Good or bad." Teddie appeared in front of the Shadow, and the small, blonde boy opened up his arms, like he was about to hug the copy. "But, don't you think it's time you forgave yourself, Yu?" The Shadow glared at the ground as the blonde boy sighed, stepping back.
The six walked to Yu, standing side by side with each other until he was in the middle of their line. The Shadow stood alone, shaking as he shook his head back and forth. "No, no, no… Stop it. You can't save me! I don't… I…" He was trembling as he glared at his other self. "You aren't strong enough."
Yu opened his mouth, before he looked at his friends. The six smiled back at him. They believed in him. He could see the trust and compassion in their eyes. His friends…
"You don't know that," Yu finally uttered. "Maybe I am. Maybe we are."
"Even if you could survive without your friends, even if you are the person they think you are, what about Izanami?!" Shadow Yu's voice was heavy with fear and desperation. "We aren't strong enough to beat her! She destroyed everything we loved! We can't win!"
Naoto could feel it. The bonds Yu had were pulling him out of the darkness, but they needed more. He needed more. She traversed the void with blind eyes and outstretched arms, trying to follow the bonds to the next heart.
She found it, and from there, many more followed.
The detective's eyes widened, and she pulled her hand off of the glass. She could still feel them. The hearts connected to her and Yu. They were… like an ocean. The darkness, no matter how vast and encompassing, was home to millions of connected hearts and minds.
"There's...there's so many," she whispered.
"No one is ever truly alone," Margaret smiled. "We are all connected, whether we know it or not…"
Yes… Naoto felt them. So many hearts bonded to her and Yu. So many people… She called out to them, feeling their light shining bright.
"Everyone…"
Dojima dropped his cup, spilling his drink onto the ground. He held his head, groaning in pain. Several party-goers looked at the older man with concern in their eyes, but Nanako was the first to speak up.
She approached her father and touched his arm as he massaged his head with the other hand. "Dad? Are you okay?" Nanako looked up at her father, bright, hazel eyes staring at him.
"Yeah, just a dizzy spell, Nanako…"
The girl was young, innocent, even naive, but she was far from stupid. She looked at her father, a slight pout to her lips. "Are you sure…?" She felt it too. Rather, she felt something stirring in the pit of her stomach.
"Just lost my footing, Nanako." Not even Dojima sounded like he believed the words. He turned his eyes away from his daughter as Nanako looked up. There was a clap of thunder that caught the party's attention. "Weird… Weather report didn't mention a storm," Dojima muttered as the small brunette felt a shiver crawl up her spine.
For some reason, her thoughts went to her big brother. She looked around the party, trying to find him, standing on the tips of her toes for any signs of his bright, silver hair, but she couldn't find him. Before she could open her mouth to call out to him, a voice cut through the crowd.
"H-has anyone seen Yu?" Ayane asked, looking amidst the crowd.
Nanako looked at the short girl, and despite having never met her before, she saw something familiar in Ayane's eyes. Fear? Worry? Whatever it was, Nanako realized they were both thinking of the same person…
"We better move everyone inside," Dojima announced. "Come on, everyone, before it starts raining on us."
The child followed her father, but she simply couldn't shake the feeling. She looked around the party. Despite what they may think, older kids and adults weren't as good at lying as they thought, or maybe Nanako was as good as a detective as her big sis... Either way, everyone could feel what the young girl felt.
Something was wrong, and her brother was at the center of it..
Yu took a deep, haggard breaths as he stared down his copy. The Shadow's features were wrinkled with his rage as he roared at Yu and the others.. "You know it just like I do. What's the point in living without them? What's the point of fighting?! Of looking for the truth?! We've already lost!"
"No! You're wrong!" Yu roared, stepping forward. His friends watched, none of them saying anything. Not because there was nothing to say, but because they didn't need to. "I love my friends."
"Loved," the Shadow corrected.
"No, I love my friends! They're my family! They're the best thing that's ever happened to me! They made me who I am today, but they aren't what make me Yu Narukami. I am."
There were tears in his Shadow's eyes. There might have been tears in his own, come to think of it. He marched forward regardless.
"I'm terrified of living a life without them. I'm so, so damn scared. You're right. I don't think I'm strong enough… But they do. They believe in me. So maybe we're the ones in the wrong, maybe I am strong enough!"
His Shadow lunged forward, roaring in an almost animal-like rage. He threw a punch, but Yu caught it and the two stopped one another, their arms locked in a grapple as Yu screamed into his copy's face.
"I know you're scared! It's okay to be scared! But if we give up now, if we die, the future is set in stone. Izanami wins, and everyone in the real world suffers for it… But if we fight, and we beat Izanami, and prove her wrong, then there's a chance, however small, that I am the person my friends think I am! If we just lay down and die, we'll never have the chance to try!"
"I can't do it!" The Shadow snarled through the tears.
"Yes, we can! You're me. You're Yu Narukami!" the silverette shouted. "We have no idea who we really are am, but I'm ready to find out!" Yu pushed forward and his Shadow stumbled from the sudden burst of strength. He fell to the ground as his other half stood over him.
The Shadow sat on the ground, his golden eyes glaring away from his counterpart. His fingers dug into the wooden planks below him. Thoughts of self-loathing weighing down his soul. "I'm not good enough. I'm...I'm not good enough."
"Enough of that crap!" Yu demanded, before he reached his hand down to his Shadow. "Listen to me." His Shadow lifted up his head, and for a moment, he almost resembled a child. Scared and alone, too terrified to reach for his copy's hand. "I can't forget what I've done, but I can forgive. It's time for us to move on."
His Shadow's eyes widened as Yu's face radiated with a warm, gentle smile. "You're me. I'm you, and… and I forgive you." The Shadow blinked, before he lifted up his arm and grabbed onto Yu's hand. The golden-eyed man stood up with the help of his silver-eyed brother as they stared at each other.
"It's time we found out just who we are," Yu whispered, as a blue fire consumed his Shadow. For a moment, he looked scared, but Yu's smile calmed his fears. The Shadow seemed to relax as his body changed, growing and stretching out as clothes formed on his body.
The last piece was a white, sharp mask that covered his face. The Shadow's eyes opened, and Izanagi's golden eyes slowly returned to their warm, sunny yellow.
"You look good," Yu chuckled at his Persona, who simply stared back at him. "Silent again, huh? Whatever you prefer. I'll do the talking for the both of us." The Persona lifted his head up, staring at the group behind Yu.
The young man turn his head, and he saw his friends smiling back at them. "Guys, I… I don't know what to say." Yu wiped tears from his eyes, before he took a long, deep breath. "Thank you."
"Ah, quit it with the waterworks, Senpai. We didn't do nothing," Kanji chuckled. "We just reminded you of what you already knew."
"We'll always be with you, Yu," Rise smiled. "Always."
"Yeah! Friends forever!" Teddie beamed.
"You ready for this?" Yosuke asked, glancing to the roof. "She's going to be pretty tough."
"I'll be okay," Yu replied, rolling his shoulders. "I have all of you watching my back."
"Not just us," Yukiko reminded. "You're strong too, Yu. Never forget that…"
"With our powers combined, we're gonna save the world!" Chie cheered. "Go get them, Yu! You got this!"
One by one, their forms faded from sight, but not from his heart. Yu waited, as if he was expecting someone else to appear. His soul ached for the one he held most dear, but he pushed the thought aside. He steeled himself as Izanagi flew away from him. The Persona returned, handing the young man his sword and glasses. Yu took the sword, before staring at the glasses. He blinked, before looking at a nearby wall.
It was distorted. Shifted slightly, and discolored. "What?" Yu's eyes widened as the room began to shift, changing around him and his Persona. The silverette grabbed his glasses and slipped them onto his face as the stage dissolved around them, and a familiar figure called out to them.
"How is this possible? Why have you returned?"
Yu looked at the giant figure of Izanami, and his face hardened. He and his Persona moved forward as long, black arms rose up from the ground.
"It does not matter. The will of mankind will drag you into the abyss over and over again."
The hands dug their fingers into Yu, pulling on him, only for him to break free with ease. The more the hands latched onto him, the easier he broke free, until he was merely walking through the black tendrils.
"What? How can the will of so few surpass all of mankind?" Izanami's eye glowed red, and lightning fell from the sky. It hit Yu, electrocuting him and his Persona. The young man trembled from the blow, before he continued walking, his clothes smoking from the attack.
"What?" He kept moving. "Why do you keep pushing forward?" Fire scorched Yu's body, leaving small burn marks on his jacket. "Embrace the fog, and fall into a world of your true desire." Wind slammed into his frame, but it barely slowed him down.
"What makes me happy is not for you to decide." A beam of energy shot forward, hitting the ground right in front of Yu and causing a massive explosion. He held up his arms as he was pushed back, his glasses cracking from the sheer force of the impact.
Yet he still stood, staring through cracked glass.
"Your friends no longer exist in this world! Do you truly wish to be alone forever?!" Izanami roared, raising her voice as lightning, fire, and ice ravaged the battlefield. Izanagi moved forward to protect his other half as the silverette shook.
"Big Bro!" Nanako's voice cried out in his ear. "Please, be okay. I know you will be, but… but I'm still scared. I want to see you again!" His eyes widened as he heard his little sister's voice.
"Yu… I know life can be painful. I know what it feels like to get beaten down, but sometimes you just need to keep getting up. I will always keep going for you and Nanako. You're my family, and we're a part of yours."
"Uncle?" Yu whispered through the storm. Izanagi's eyes glowed as he swung his spear, cutting his way through the elements. His body burned with a blue fire as Yu heard more voices calling out to him.
"Senpai, please, be okay," Ayane pleaded. "Please, you still need to see me perform…"
"You're not alone. You are strong enough." Margaret reminded him.
"Izanagi!" Yu roared, and his Persona shot forward, slamming his blade into Izanami's face, tearing more of her bandages off, revealing the dark, empty pit of her face. Crimson eyes glared down at him. "For a goddess, you sure aren't very bright!" Yu smirked. "I am far from alone!"
Izanami fired lightning down on the Persona, but he dodged it in a blue blur. The fire continued to consume him, strengthening Izanagi, before he slashed his weapon across her face again. She cried out in pain as Yu screamed into the elements.
"You keep acting like humans are beneath you. Like we're pawns in your little game! You think you understand us?! Nothing can be farther from the truth!" Izanagi slashed at the giant, earning another bellow of pain. "Maybe some humans want to embrace the fog. Maybe a lot of humans do. But you're not giving them the chance to learn from their mistakes!"
"People can change! People can learn! People can grow beyond the fog you've trapped them in! Sometimes people just need the chance, and..." He took his glasses in hand and he tossed them aside. "I won't let you take it away from them!"
He no longer needed it to see the truth. Already, he could see the bandages come undone around the great goddess. He saw her for what she truly was. Her skeletal frame and her bony arms like the trunk and branches of a massive tree...
Izanagi continued to strike at the giant beast. She screamed in rage, her many arms lashing out, forcing Izanagi to fight defensively.
All the Persona could do was dodge as Yu's hand glowed. He looked at the strange light as he found a ring around his finger, similar to the ring he gave Naoto, except there was a bright, almost radiant yellow orb on it. When he looked closer, it seemed to almost glow with a rainbow of colors within it…
"Whoa…"
"This is a crystal of the power you have nurtured and sustained throughout this long odyssey," Igor's voice explained. "This orb whisks away false pretenses and dispels lies as it illuminates the truth. I believe you know what to do next."
Yu watched as the orb glowed brightly, shining a light in the vast fog. As it did, two more familiar voices called out to Yu.
"You gonna let this bitch be the end of you?" Adachi scoffed. Yu could practically see the avatar of Emptiness scoff at him, laughing. "Come on. I thought you were better than me."
"You kept your promise, Narukami-san. Thank you for everything." Yu could hear Taro Namatame's voice now. He could see the older man bowing his head in respect and gratitude. "Thank you for giving me the chance to repent for my sins. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I only hope I can return the favor one day."
Izanagi could feel their strength through Yu. He swung his spear, shattering an arm of blood-stained bone like it was stone. Emptiness, Despair, and Hope… Izanagi swung his weapon faster, feeling the strength of everyone Yu was connected to…
Everyone, but one.
"He's doing it." Naoto was in awe. She had never seen Izanagi move that fast. It was almost too quick to watch. The Persona fought against what looked like a hundred arms. Yu stood behind his Persona, commanding and empowering it.
"I hope you aren't done yet," a voice chuckled. Naoto blinked and she looked at Margaret with confusion in her navy eyes. "Aren't you forgetting someone? You have called on the strength of all you two have bonded with, yet you still hide your true feelings?"
"My… my true feelings? I don't understand, I love him, I've made that clear, I-"
"Yes, but how much do you love him?" Margaret seemed amused by Naoto's blushing face. The older woman stared at the window, watching Yu and Izanagi facing off against the goddess of creation. "Your lives, interwoven together, tell a story."
"Your story isn't simply a tale of mystery and monsters," Elizabeth explained. "Your tale is one of love. A romance." Naoto blinked, her cheeks burning with a pink hue. "Perhaps he is strong enough without you uttering the words weighing your heart. Perhaps you don't need to give your answer just yet…. But we both know you want to. What you do next is up to you…"
Naoto felt her heart pounding in her throat as she tried to put together an answer. She didn't know what to say, and her navy eyes turned to the screen. She watched Yu fight for not only himself, but the world. For their friends. For everything they had come to love…
I love him. She did, but those words felt like she was trying to paint an ocean with a drop of water. They felt so… small.
She wanted to give her boyfriend an answer. She wanted to tell him how she felt about him. Naoto wanted… she wanted to spend her life with him.
Every day for the rest of her life. For years, and years. She dreamed of their lives together. They would forge a path together, side by side, perhaps even continue the Shirogane line together… The future was theirs to live.
"I… I don't…" The words tripped on her tongue. She trembled with fear. How foolish of me… Yu Narukami faces against a goddess in a battle for the sake of the world, and I can't even give him an answer…
A hand fell on her shoulder. Naoto blinked, staring through tearfilled eyes as Margaret smiled at her.
"Speak from the heart, Naoto Shirogane. Your future awaits."
"My future…?" Naoto closed her eyes, her fingers curling into a tight, shaky fist. It's time I stopped being afraid. Time I gave him my answer… In the pit of her heart, in the threads of friendship she had formed for herself, or simply within her own soul, Naoto found the strength to be honest with herself.
"Narukami," Naoto whispered. "Before I met you, I saw myself only as a detective. My future, my past, who I was, who I wanted to be… Everything was defined by my desire to be a detective. I was so foolish," she chuckled, feeling a tear trickle down her face. She brushed it away, only for more to follow after it.
Her words reached her silver-haired lover as Izanagi's skeletal hands lunged at him. The giant fingers clapped together, trapping Yu in a prison of crimson bones. Despite that, Naoto had faith in her soulmate.
Naoto knew Yu had the strength to overcome this foe. He didn't need to hear the words… But she wanted to say them regardless.
She uttered her heart's desires as a card consumed in sapphire flames formed before her. Naoto stared at the card, reaching out to it as she gave her answer.
Yu's eyes widened as he heard Naoto's voice in his mind. It was the one voice he longed to hear most. The voice most dear to him. She spoke to him as the skeletal fingers of the goddess imprisoned him, slowly crushing him.
"I believed I had to live by others' ideas of what a detective was, but you and the others taught me the truth. The simple truth that that I don't need to change myself for others. The only approval I need is mine, my friend's, and… yours."
The silverette kicked at the walls, and he could feel his foot stop one of the walls. He pressed both of his hands on the opposite hands and held them back as Naoto's voice echoed within him.
He listened with bated breath as his heart pounded, not from fear of Izanami, but from what Naoto was about to say. Excitement and anxiety danced in his chest as he listened.
"I've never been good speaking from my heart. You know that, but you still love me. Despite all my flaws. Maybe even because of them. You love me, and… and…" Her voice was shaking. It trembled as she struggled to utter the words.
"And I love you. N-no, that's not enough," she sighed. He could practically see her navy eyes staring into his. "I love you, so damn much. It's almost impossible to explain. I don't just love you I think, I need you,," she weakly laughed. She gasped as she began to cry. Her voice hiccuping and gasping through the waterfall of emotions. "I want to spend my life with you."
Yu saw her reach into her pocket, taking something small out and holding it between her fingers. It was a ring, with a silver band and a bright, sapphire shining on top of it. "Yu Narukami, I…" He saw her smiling face through her tears.
"I will. I will marry you." She slipped the ring onto her finger, and Yu suddenly felt something blow past him. The hands holding him shattered into tiny pieces as a blur flew by.
Yu watched with shocked eyes as the red blur flew to Izanagi's side, cleaving through several arms with ease, before stopping beside the burning Persona. Now that it stopped moving, Yu and Izanagi could see just who this strange figure was, and both were surprised to see it resembled Yamato Takeru, but different...
The Persona wore clothes that were a bright red, and they had golden, long, flowing hair coming out of their helmet. The Persona placed a gentle hand on Izanagi, stroking his white mask. Despite never seeing this Persona before, he felt like he knew their name, and who had made them.
Before Yu could utter a word, the Persona faded away in a blue light, and the flame consuming Izanagi grew even brighter, completing covering the being. Yu watched with amusement as the Persona transformed before him.
Black and white turned to white and gold as his spear turned into a long, double bladed sabre, with a large ring around the hilt. His white mask grew in size and shape, becoming sharper as his yellow eyes turned a bright red.
"Izanagi-No-Okami." Yu felt the words in his heart, as if he had known them all his life. The Persona hovered in the air, and as Izanami's remaining arms lunged at him, he turned and swiped his blade across the air.
The arms shattered, all of them, in one single moment. They broke apart and crumbled to the ground as Yu's eyes widened. He could feel his Persona's strength and resolve burning like a wildfire in his chest, and he grinned.
"Naoto… I love you," he whispered, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Human beings do not have the potential to defeat the fog. You cannot resist it. You will succumb to it!" Izanami roared, but her broken body could offer little defense. Lightning, fire, ice, and wind ravaged the land again, but both human and Persona were unimpeded. The attacks were nothing to their resolve.
"This is the path I choose to follow… This is the truth I embrace. People can change, people can overcome adversity. Allow me to show you what real potential is!" Yu held out his hand and Izanagi-No-Okami mimicked him.
The weapon floated out of the Persona's hand and spun before him, slowly picking up speed.
"Impossible," the goddess uttered, her voice heavy with disbelief.
"Open your eyes to the truth. Embrace it, and you'll see through the fog… Anyone can. They need only see the truths around them. That they're not alone, that they can change...!" Yu smiled at Izanagi, nodding his head, before he looked at Izanami.
He smirked, and shouted out one, last attack. "Myriad Truths!" A beam of white light shot out of Izanagi's weapon, and it consumed Izanami in a bright, all-encompassing force.
The the sheer force of the attack seemed to shake all of reality. Yu stared into the light, unharmed, a proud grin on his face. Sparks of purple, pink, red, and so many other colors danced in the light as Izanami's bones began to crack. He saw so many more colors, but it was the shimmer of blue that made him smile widest of all.
The lights finally faded, and the goddess began to crumble apart. The fog around him began to dissipate. Izanagi-No-Okami hovered beside him as Izanami's voice whispered in Yu's ear.
"Very well." She chuckled, even as her voice grew weaker. "If this is what you wish...You have managed to successfully clear the fog in both your world, and this one. I shall observe from on high for now, and whether your actions will lead to happiness or not rests upon your shoulders."
Was that pride he heard in her voice? A strange, sense of excitement? He wasn't sure, but he accepted her words regardless. "Then you'll see for yourself. People can do great things if you give them the chance," Yu smiled, watching as the goddess fell.
"You have done well, Yu Narukami. Child of the humans…"
The Goddess, Izanami, fell as Yu felt his body turn weightless…
When Yu opened his eyes again, he found himself in a very familiar location. He sat the same seat he always had within the Velvet Room. Igor was where he always was, but Margaret was standing by the window. Her eyes were away from Yu, staring at the empty space beside her.
Igor chuckled, clapping his hands together. "How marvelous. Truly, truly marvelous. You have driven back a godly being, and with her defeat, brought about a new tomorrow."
"Wait, is it over this time? Like, really over?" Yu blinked. "Because I thought it was over when we stopped Namatame, and when we stopped Adachi. I just… Are we sure?"
Igor merely smiled, a light laughter slipping between his teeth as Margaret nodded her head. She returned to her seat with a smile on her ruby lips.
"Soon the fog will lift, and humanity's future will be up to individuals like yourself. Humanity must forge a path for itself now."
"It's over," Yu whispered, as if trying to comprehend the words. "Huh…" He lifted his head up, glancing at the two. "I guess I should say thank you. For everything you've done for me..." He nodded his head, a smile forming on his face. "Thank you."
Margaret bowed her head as Igor gave a knowing, almost amused grin. "You have something left unsaid? A question?" The young man blinked, before nodding.
"Yeah, I guess I do… Taro was Despair, and Adachi was Emptiness, I get that, but Izanami called me Hope, and I don't understand why I was chosen for that of all things."
"That sounds similar to another question you asked me many months ago," Igor observed. "Do you remember? You once asked me why you were chosen?"
Yu remembered that day. It was the same day he tried bringing Naoto to the Velvet Room. He felt shame as he remembered his outburst. He yelled at Igor, demanding answers, even physically threatening him.
Igor laughed at Yu's embarrassment, before he continued. "I am happy to give you an answer to both your questions now. The answers are linked, you see. You were chosen to become Hope, and that destiny helped lead you here. The Velvet Room welcomed you into its chambers, and I was given the honor of helping you."
"But why am I Hope? I was a bad guy when I first entered this place. I don't-"
"That is exactly why you were chosen. You represent the Hope that so many from your world share. The hope that you can be better. Before, your heart was empty, sustained only by drowning others in despair, but through adversity and through the bonds you forged, you became something more. You represent a simple truth. That people can change for the better."
Yu wasn't sure what to say. He was shocked, but he felt pride burning within. He accepted the words with a small nod, and a proud smile. "Thank you, Igor."
Igor gave a subtle nod, before giving Yu a forlorn, almost saddened look. Even the old man's toothy grin seemed to flatten. "It saddens me to tell you this, but I'm afraid this is the last time you will be invited here. Your story is told, your destiny fulfilled. What happens next in your life is yours to decide."
"This will be the last time we meet?" Igor nodded, and Yu stood up. He walked forward to the other side of the car, and he held out his hand to Igor. "Then allow me to reiterate. Thank you for all your help."
Igor seemed surprised, or perhaps he was just amused. He lifted a hand up to grasp Yu's, and the two men shook, smiles on both their faces.
"I am most honored to have borne witness to such a wondrous journey." Igor released Yu, and the silverette approached Margaret to shake her hand and thank her as well. "Our contract has been fulfilled. My duties end here." The young man and grinning proprietor looked at one another. "You were a truly remarkable guest. Now go forth, and see with your own eyes, see the world you have won… Go, and share this bright, magnificent future with those you love."
Yu's eyes widened at Igor's last statement. Those he loved? Did that mean-?
Before Yu could even utter the question, he found himself sitting in a small river, water drenching his socks, shoes, and pants. "Seriously? Couldn't even drop me on dry land?" He groaned as he got out of the small river, before he wondered just where the hell he was.
This didn't look like Inaba. This didn't look like the TV world either. It looked like someone had recreated the garden of Eden. He walked out of the small river and onto a field of green grass and colorful flowers. Mountains soared to a bright, blue sky as Yu saw an ocean making up the distant horizon.
The air was fresh and smelled sweet. The rays of the sun warmed him as he saw something down the hill he was standing on. Figures rising up from the grass, specifically, a short girl with dark, blue hair… He couldn't believe his eyes at first, before he began to run down the hill.
Yu screamed out her name. He thought he'd never see her again, but...
"Naoto!"
The detective turned her head to face him, before she was suddenly embraced in a tight hug. He squeezed her, hoping he'd never have to let her go again. He kissed her, wanting to memorize the soft, pillowy feel of her lips forever. He could feel her stiffen in his arms, but any fears he had vanished as she wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss.
"I thought I lost you," he confessed between kisses. "Please be real, please…"
"I'm-mmph… I'm real," Naoto uttered, kissing back, pressing her body against his. Yu sucked on her bottom lip, before he moved down to kiss her neck, squeezing her body. Naoto rested her head on Yu's shoulder for a moment, before her eyes widened and she began to smack Yu's body, trying to pry him off of her.
"Yu. Yu! Yu, stop, the others-"
"What?" The silver-eyed man paused, before Rise's snickering was heard by the couple. Yu pulled away from his girlfriend, though he kept at least one hand on her arm, and he looked around. Rise, Kanji, and all the others stood in the grass beside the group, with expressions ranging from amused to embarrassed to...
"Ooh, do we all get kisses? I'm ready for mine!" Teddie puckered his lips and held his arms open, only to be lightly shoved by Yosuke. The blonde pouted as Rise placed a finger to her lip, and smiled knowingly at the couple.
"Don't mind us. Please, keep going. We can wait."
"You're alive?! You're all alive!" Yu beamed with joy as looked at the group. Behind him, his girlfriend tried to fix her hair and clothes, wiping her lips as she tried to reclaim her lost dignity.
"What happened?" Yukiko asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from Naoto and Yu's public display of affection, for the detective's benefit.
"The last thing I remember is being pulled down by those weird hands," Yosuke commented.
"Me too," Chie agreed.
"You did it, didn't you?" Kanji asked. He was beaming with joy. "You beat that crazy bitch, didn't you, Senpai?"
Yu returned the smile and nodded his head. "Yep. All by myself without anyone else's help." Kanji just laughed and walked closer to throw a light punch against Yu's shoulder.
"Friggin smartass."
"So, wait. It's over? Like really over this time? Cause last time-!" Chie was interrupted by Yu, who laughed a bit at the deja vu.
"It's over. This time for good."
"Really?" The brunette blinked, before pumping a fist to the air. "We did it!"
"Hey, dumb question?" Yosuke interjected. "Where are we?"
"I have an answer for that!" Teddie beamed. He looked around the area and his friends followed his eyes. "Once upon a time, everywhere in this world looked just like this… Then the fog came and everything was obscured, hidden away... " He looked at Yu, a sparkle in the bear's blue eyes. "But you fixed it."
"We fixed it," Yu corrected. "We did this together."
"Heck yeah! Heroes of justice!" Chie beamed. The group chuckled at the brunette's declaration, before taking in their surroundings. The wind blew gently as Yukiko voiced the group's thoughts.
"So this is the world inside everyone's hearts? It's… amazing." Yukiko was in awe. All of them were. They knew they had a home to return to, but they pushed it back just a little longer as they stared into the horizon, the sun slowly setting down beyond the shimmering ocean...
"So, how come you didn't kiss me when you saw me?" Rise pouted, latching onto Kanji's arm. "Didn't you miss me?"
"W-what?! Course I did! Q-quit it, Rise. Let go of my arm!" But the idol's grip was like iron as Kanji struggled to pry her off of him.
"Aww, Kanji, you're so mean! Where's my little cuddle bear? Come on, I want kisses!" She teased.
"Ah, jeez. Screw it." Rise blinked in confusion, before she suddenly felt Kanji's lips on hers. He pecked her lips, keeping them there for just a moment, before pulling away. The young woman continued to blink as her cheeks turned scarlet, before she squealed with joy and hugged her boyfriend's arm even tighter.
"I love you!"
"Yeah, well… I love you too, Rise."
Yosuke and Chie stood next to one another. They shared a glance, before looking away, both of their faces tinted red. The young man scooted closer, slowly nearing her side as Chie stared aimlessly at the sky. His finger brushed against her sleeve, before her fingers slipped out and grabbed onto his hand.
Neither said anything, staring into opposite directions.
Teddie and Yukiko sat together, talking about this and that. The short, blonde boy excitedly told the girl of his memories of his home, before the fog came. She listened with a smile on her face as Teddie recalled the memories so long forgotten.
Finally, Yu took Naoto's hand in his as the group enjoyed the calm, peacefulness of this strange world. The detective turned her head to him, and they smiled at one another. He pecked her lips, and she kissed his in return. They closed their eyes as they found something far more spectacular than the sunset.
The group returned to their world with tired bodies, but proud hearts. As they began to walk out of Junes and saw the clear skies over Inaba, Yosuke stopped the group.
"We should commemorate this moment. I'll be right back, wait here!" The others watched the brunnette run back into the store, and after a few minutes of waiting, he came back with a camera in hand. "Alright, I got a camera."
"Did… you just take that?" Chie wondered, raising a brow.
"I called in a favor with my dad, and gave up this month's allowance," he admitted with a slight cringe. "But it was worth it." He held the camera up proudly as Yu grinned.
"Why not? Let's take a picture. It's not every day we save the world from certain doom."
The others quickly agreed, and they soon stood together. Yosuke grabbed a tripod from inside and he set the camera to a timer. He ran to the others and stood by Chie's side as they posed together.
"Alright, everybody!" Yosuke grinned. "Say Persona!"
"Persona!" the eight shouted, letting the camera catch their proud faces. This was likely their finest hour, yet Yu could only feel like he could go up from here. The best was yet to come...
Eventually, Yu and the others went their separate ways. Night blanketed the town of Inaba as Yu found himself walking home with Naoto by his side.
She asked if she could accompany him for the night, and he was all too eager to have her. They walked home together, silently through the quiet town. The only real time they spoke was when Yu called his uncle to apologize for vanishing.
He explained that he simply wanted some 'privacy' with Naoto, and he laughed at his uncle and girlfriend's reaction to that. After calming both parties down, Yu ended the call and he and Naoto walked into the Dojima Residence.
They locked the door behind them and soon found themselves laying on Yu's bed together. Their arms were wrapped around one another as they just enjoyed one another's presence, their jackets laying on the ground by the bedside.
"I love you." Yu kissed Naoto's cheek, and she blushed at his touch. She placed a hand on his cheek, gently caressing his fair skin.
"I-I love you too. With all my heart." His eyes lit up, a bright shimmer in their silver orbs, before he noticed something.
Yu swallowed, taking Naoto's hand in his. He looked it over, carefully analyzing every detail, like he was looking for something.
"What is it?" Naoto asked, but Yu turned his eyes away from her.
"I-um, well, you see…" Naoto chuckled quietly as the usually confident man stuttered and blushed. "It's crazy…"
"Would that be any different than how our lives normally are?"
Yu nodded his head, acknowledging the truth of the statement. "I guess not. I just…" Why didn't I check when we were walking? Stupid… "W-when I was fighting Izanami by myself, I saw my friends cheering me on. I even-"
"Fought against your Shadow?" Yu's eyes widened as Naoto squeezed her fingers around his. "I saw everything. Margaret showed me."
"Wait, hold on, what?" His brow wrinkled as confusion weighed on his face. "You met Margaret?"
"And Igor." It took a few moments for Naoto to explain, and Yu listened intently. By the end of it, he was blinking, dumbfounded by the revelation. "After they introduced me to the Velvet Room, Margaret showed me your battle with your Shadow. Thankfully we were able to call on your bonds with the others to help you, and then…"
"Then…?" Yu gulped again. He was terrified. Naoto said nothing, turning her gaze away from him as her cheeks turned a dark scarlet. "When I was fighting Izanami, Yamato Sumeragi saved me. I had never seen that Persona before, but I could just tell it was yours. I could feel her heart in yours, and I saw you and you-"
Naoto muttered something.
"What?"
She mumbled the words again, slightly louder this time. Her eyes turned to his, and he saw the tears in the corner of her eyes. "I meant what I said. I will marry you." Her other hand rose between them, and Yu saw the ring around her finger. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes as he struggled to breathe.
"Y-you know, I never cried this much until I met you," Yu bitterly laughed.
"It's funny. I could say the same about you." Yu's other hand lifted up to touch Naoto's, their rings gently pressed together. "I love you, Yu Narukami."
"I love you too, Naoto Shirogane, and one day, I'll give you the wedding of your dreams. It'll be perfect! I should start planning! Ooh, I bet we can get Rise perform for us, and maybe Kanji can make our outfits! We can get fireworks from Dai-"
"Yu." Naoto wiped her tears away, and the silverette felt his cheeks burn.
"Heh. Sorry. Got a bit ahead of myself. The wedding's not for a long, long time…"
"This is merely a promise," Naoto smiled, and Yu's heart soared. "We are betrothed to one another..."
"We're going to spend our lives together!" he grinned, an eagerness in his voice.
"You know, you'll have to meet my grandfather. Get his approval."
"Looking forward to it! Once I have his approval, you and I can get to work 'continuing' the Shirogane line!" He winked at her, a lecherous grin on his face. The implication was clear, but Yu was surprised when he saw Naoto's cheeks barely turn red.
"Perhaps we should start early?" she reasoned.
"I-uh...w-what?" His voice cracked, and Yu felt his face burning hot once more. "I-uh-I mean, I wouldn't want-er…" Naoto's lips twitched, before she let out a soft, almost girlish giggle. Yu blinked, realizing he had fallen into her trap. He laughed at his defeat, nuzzling his head against hers. "I think I'm rubbing off on you, detective."
"Perhaps. It's not so bad, though."
"Oh?"
She kissed his lips, and he melted at her touch. "I love you."
"I love you too."
They uttered the last word together, their arms wrapped around one another as they slowly drifted to sleep.
"Forever."
Naoto and Yu woke up in each other's arms to the sound of Dojima knocking on the door. The young woman blushed and hid under the blanket as Yu opened the door, calmly lying to his uncle about everything being normal inside.
The two soon got dressed, putting on their coats and taking Yu's luggage to the stairs. As they wondered just how they'd explain why Naoto was at the house, Dojima's voice called out to them from downstairs.
"Yu, Naoto, breakfast is ready!"
"Well, he is a detective," Yu quietly chuckled as Naoto flushed red. "You want some breakfast?"
The minutes ticked by like the end of a movie. The couple ate breakfast with Dojima and Nanako, before all four got into a car and drove to the train station together. The ride was quiet, and all three of the younger passengers sat in the back. Neither girl was ready to let go of Yu, it seemed. Naoto sat on his right, her hand firmly squeezing his as Nanako sat on his left, clenching his arm.
The four saw the rest of Yu's closest friends waiting outside the train station, smiling and waving at him as the car was parked.
Naoto looked at her boyfriend, and asked, "Are you ready?"
"No, but when has that ever stopped me?" he replied, stepping out of the car with his family.
He was welcomed with open arms and tear-filled eyes. Rise was the first to reach him, and Yu wrapped his arms around her as the two held one another. The idol's tears fell on his shirt as she tried to calm herself down.
"I love you," she uttered, and he just smiled as he held her close.
"Love you too." Both Kanji and Naoto heard, but neither grew jealous. They knew how close the two were, after all. Practically siblings, really...
Yu loved Naoto, but Rise was probably the person he was closest to after her. Rise was his first real friend. Without her, Yu might never have become who he was now. Never ended up with his Detective Prince… The thought caused Yu to squeeze Rise a little tighter. He wondered if he would ever be able to repay her, before the two finally let each other go.
"I'm going to send tickets to you, and you have to promise you'll come see me on my comeback tour, okay?"
"I promise." He placed a hand on Rise's head, ruffling up her hair. She just laughed, smacking his hand away as she looked into his eyes.
"We'll see each other soon, right?"
"Right." She nodded her head and stepped back, soon replaced by her boyfriend.
"Take care out there, alright, man?" Kanji stepped forward, his arm raised to shake Yu's hand. Yu just smirked, and he opened up his arms to motion the blond closer. "You gotta be kidding me," the taller man scoffed. "Ah, what the hell?" A grin formed on Kanji's face as he and Yu hugged one another.
"I'm gonna keep on improving, alright? I'll be honest with myself, and I'll work on being smarter and tougher, till I'm on your level, Senpai."
Respect between two heroes. Heroes that were different, but with the same ideals clutched tightly to their hearts. That was Yu and Kanji.
Sometimes they butted heads. Sometimes they didn't agree. Once upon a time, they both fought for the same dream.
Now, they held onto each other, embracing the rivalry they had long since settled.
"I promise not to make it easy on you. You're gonna have to really try if you want to be the best." Yu had to stop himself from telling Kanji he already was as good as him. When the two broke apart, something in Kanji's eyes just told Yu that he knew what the silverette was thinking.
"Looking forward to it, ya smug bas-" Kanji blinked as noticed Nanako smiling at the two boys. "You know."
"I know."
The two laughed, bumping their fists together. Kanji took a deep breath as he stepped back, wiping a tear from his eye.
"This town isn't gonna be the same without you…"
Yu just gave him a sympathetic, understanding smile, before Yukiko stepped forward. She held a small box in her hand, wrapped with a red cloth. She handed it to him, and he undid the cloth and opened it to find two rows of cookies inside.
"I stopped by Junes to buy you some for your trip. I hope you like them."
"They look great, Yukiko." He reached into the box and took one of the cookies out. He bit into it, and out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed Yukiko stiffening. He chewed the cookie, before swallowing it down his throat. "You made these, didn't you?"
"Ah, are they that bad?" the raven-haired girl groaned.
"Nah, I just noticed your body language." Yu tossed the rest of the cookie into his mouth, and quickly swallowed it. "It's actually pretty good. Chunky, but good."
"Oh, what a relief!" Yukiko sighed. "I was so worried."
"Don't be. You're an amazing young lady." His hand caught Yukiko's chin, and he lifted her head up so she was staring into his eyes. "Beautiful, intelligent, and kind."
Once upon a time, Yukiko would have fallen for that charming smile. Those silver eyes. That sweet voice. Now she just stared into his silver eyes, and she saw Yu for who he really was. He wasn't her Prince, and she wasn't the one for him.
He was just Yu Narukami, and she was simply Yukiko Amagi.
"With a nice laugh?" Yukiko raised her brow, unafraid of the silver-tongued teen.
He just nervously looked away, releasing her. "Yukiko, please. I'm trying not to lie so often."
She snorted, and the two laughed as she lightly pushed him away. They laughed, because the storm was over. It was calm between them once again. Friends. That's all they'd ever need to be, and for both of them, that was enough.
"Until we meet again… I'll make sure to reserve a room for you when you return," Yukiko offered.
"Don't worry about it. Dojima said he's going to keep my room just the way it is, but maybe we can all hang out at the Inn again? Maybe actually enjoy the hot springs?" The two laughed again, the events of that night feeling like they were years ago.
"That sounds great. It's settled then. When you return…" Yukiko gave him one last hug, before letting him go. "Thank you for everything," she whispered. "Until we meet again."
"Until we meet again."
Yosuke walked forward, and he playfully threw a punch at the silver-haired man. He caught the punch, and pushed the brunette back.
"Man, this is it, huh? You're finally leaving…"
"Yep. Glad to be rid of me?"
When they first met, Yosuke thought Yu would have been just like him… Now he knew how wrong he was to believe that, yet Yosuke was happy for it.
This whole journey, even facing off against Yu, was the drive Yosuke needed to grow, to be who he was meant to be. Even if Yosuke and Yu weren't the partners the brunette thought they were, they were still like brothers.
"You know I am. Maybe people will finally start paying attention to me," Yosuke joked.
"I know someone who is certainly paying attention to you," Yu teased, glancing at Chie. The brunette boy blushed, before grinning proudly.
"Have a date with her tomorrow."
"Sounds like a new chapter of your life is just around the corner," Yu commented.
"Sounds like that's the case for both of us." Yu and Yosuke's hands clapped together, before the silverette pulled Yosuke in for a hug. The brunette struggled, before sighing with an amused smile.
"I never would have thought the real you would be such a huggy person."
"Never thought you would have knocked some sense into me, but here we saved my life, you know," he whispered, making sure Dojima couldn't hear.
"Yeah, well… You kept me from punishing the wrong guy. Far as I'm concerned, we're even." Yosuke patted Yu's back as they parted. "That's what friends do. They look out for each other, and no matter how apart we are-"
"You and I are friends." The two men nodded at one another, before Yosuke stepped back.
"Next chance you get, you come back home, alright?"
"You know I will."
Yosuke stepped back, and Chie stepped forward to say her goodbyes, only for Teddie to suddenly lunge forward and embrace Yu, nearly toppling the silverette over.
"Bear hug!"
"Ack! Teddie!"
The smaller boy laughed cheerfully as he hugged his friend, lifting his head up so his blue eyes stared into Yu's silver ones. Despite Yu's minor annoyance, the silver-eyed teen grinned.
"Yu, it was thanks to you that I've finally found a home!" The blond released the taller boy, and he stared at the ground with shimmering, blue eyes. "That's why… I've chosen to go back." He looked up with tears in his eyes, dramatically declaring his new mission. "To make sure it never goes wrong again, I'm going to protect that world from now on!" The young boy sniffled as he uttered his final words to Yu. "I can finally be proud and say, that world is where I belong."
"That's ridiculous."
"Huh?"
Yu held up his hand and flicked his finger against Teddie's forehead. The boy flinched as Yu crossed his arms. "Come on, Teddie. We both know you'll be back in no time. The moment you want some ice cream…"
"Er, well..."
"And what about all the fine honeys in town? Who will win their hearts with me, not only taken, but in another town?" Teddie blinked, nodding his head.
"I hadn't thought about that…"
"I won't allow it. Teddie, Inaba needs you here. Our friends need you! You have to stay!"
"I will, Yu! I promise!" The two men pumped their fists towards the sky, an oath being made between them. With Yu no longer able to, it was up to Teddie to woo the hearts of Inaba.
The others laughed, chuckling at the boys' silliness. Most took Teddie for a fool, and perhaps he wasn't the smartest bear in the woods, but he was far from dumb. In fact, Yu saw an unlikely intellect in the bear's bright, blue eyes.
"Take care of yourself, alright, Teddie?"
"I will!" Teddie's bright smile faded for a moment, and he took a deep breath. "Yu, I… I know you're not my Sensei anymore, but you still taught me a lot, you know."
The blue-eyed boy placed a hand over his heart, and smiled. "You taught me that it doesn't matter how far apart we are. The bonds we've made will always remain strong."
Yu smiled at that, and he nodded his head. "That's right… You, me, and everyone else. Nothing will keep us apart," he promised.
"Our hearts are one." Teddie and Yu hugged each other one more time, before the bear released his friend. He bowed his head, before stepping back, fighting back tears. "Thanks for everything..."
"Thank you, Ted. I'm proud of you." Those words lit up the bear's eyes as Chie stepped forward.
"Welp… This is it, huh?" the brunette muttered. "Time to say goodbye…?"
"Don't think about it as a goodbye. Think of it as a 'see you later," Yu replied.
Chie smiled at that, and she nodded her head. "Yeah… Well, I guess I'll see you later then."
For the young woman, standing next to Yu was like comparing a bronze medal to a gold trophy. The brunette couldn't imagine herself as an equal, but…
"Hey. I'm leaving this city in your hands, hero of justice."
"Huh?" she blinked, her eyes widening.
"Well, I'm leaving town, and it's only a matter of time before Naoto leaves for another case," Yu commented. "You're going to be an officer, right?"
"Well, I'm going to try to be, but-" Chie was silenced by Yu's proud declaration.
"Then the city will be yours to protect, Hero of Justice: Chie Satonaka." She blinked, and she looked at Yu, waiting for him to end the prank, but he didn't. "You'll have to do some intensive training. Start working on your problem solving skills, but I can see it happening. In no time, you'll be this town's greatest protector. I pass the torch to you, now. Guard the city as only you can."
Chie stared dumbly at the taller teen, before she beamed with joy. "I don't care how hard I have to train, I won't lose! I'm going to meet, no… I'm going to blow your expectations away!"
She punched the air, a fire burning inside her chest. Yu smiled in approval, before Chie stopped and blinked. "Hey, Yu?"
"Yeah?"
"Promise me, next time you come by, we'll train together. Just like old times."
"It's a promise." He nodded his head, before the two hugged one another. Yu held Chie tightly, and she returned the warm embrace.
Chie had always seen Yu as someone to look up. No matter how badly it strained her neck. She wanted to stand side by side with him. She saw him as the kind of hero she wanted to be, and even after finding out the real him, those feelings didn't vanish.
They merely shifted. They were both trying to be better. Maybe, Chie wondered, they already were equals. One look in Yu's silver eyes told her exactly what she needed to hear, and she grinned proudly.
"You know if anything happens to you, we'll all come running."
"I wouldn't expect anything less. Same to you, Chie." The two pulled apart as Yu looked at his uncle and cousin.
Nanako ran forward to hug her big brother, squeezing his chest. "I-I'm going to miss you, big bro." Her tears were falling onto his shirt.
"I'll miss you too, Nanako…"
"I promise I'll be good while you're gone!" His hand fell on her head, and he gently stroked her almond-colored locks. He bent down so he was on one knee as he smiled at the child.
"Well… There's nothing wrong with being a little naughty," Yu advised.
"Huh? Really?" Dojima's eyes widened as Naoto gently palmed her forehead in annoyance. "Okay! I'll do my best to be mostly good, big bro! I promise!"
"Atta girl. I know you'll make me proud."
Yu chuckled as Dojima crossed his arms and glared at the young man. "Starting to think you're a bad influence on her."
"Too late. Damage has been done," Yu replied with a chuckle.
Dojima walked up to the boy and he held his hand out to the young man. Yu took his uncle's hand, shaking it. "You were a lot of trouble, you know?" The silverette smiled sheepishly, before his uncle's other hand fell on his shoulder. "I'm proud of you. I might never understand the full scope of what happened, but I want you to know that you're like a son to me. I couldn't be prouder of the man you've grown up to be."
Yu's eyes widened, and he was rendered speechless for a moment. He stuttered a response, before looking down with shame.
"Um, thanks." Yu hid it from everyone else, but part of him almost wanted to call Dojima 'dad.' He simply wasn't used to genuine approval from an older, authority figure...
"You're as much a part of this family as Nanako. If you ever need anything…" The older man leaned forward, and Yu could hear Dojima mutter into his ear. "I know how my sister can be… If you need help, or someone to talk to, I'm always here for you."
"T-thank you, Uncle."
Dojima smiled at the young man, before all eyes fell to the only person who hadn't said goodbye. THe older man stepped aside as Naoto and Yu looked at one another, slowly approaching each other. Their hands met, and locked together as he whispered to her.
"I love you." She blushed under the eyes of their friends, before she opened her mouth to respond. A shrill gasp stopped her and everyone looked at Rise.
"R-rings! They're wearing rings!" The others blinked as Yu and Naoto blushed a bright shade of red.
"Whoa, wait, when did that happened?!"
"Big bro, are you and big sis married now?!"
"W-wait a second, you two can't get married, you're just kids!"
"Congratulations! Oh my gosh, that's so sweet!"
"E-everyone, please, calm down! It's not an official proposal!"
"It's just a promise," Yu explained, holding his free hand up. "We're going to marry each other, but that's not for a long time!"
"Oh, thank god," Dojima sighed, palming his forehead. "My sister would have killed me if she thought I let you get married while you were here."
"Awww! That's so cute!" Rise cheered.
"Guess you better hurry up with Rise," Yosuke chuckled, elbowing Kanji. The younger man gently shoved the brunette back.
"Yeah, whatever. Don't forget you're dating Chie-senpai." Yosuke blushed at that reminder, and Kanji grinned as the brunette was left quiet.
"Wow, I've never been to a wedding before! Can I be the first to know when it is?! Ooh! Can I be the best bear?!"
Yu and Naoto dealt with the barrage of reactions as best they could. Eventually, Yu's eyes were caught on his girlfriend's watch. It read 'Distance: 1m.' His own probably read the same. Naoto noticed him staring, and she looked at his hand, finding the ring he wore. It shimmered a bright blue, while her own was a radiant yellow.
Last night, they had traded rings. The silverette found the ring he was going to wear himself and slipped it onto his finger, before he gave her the yellow ring he had used to defeat Izanami. It was his idea for her to have it, and she found herself stroking it with her other hand.
They had said their goodbyes, and as painful as parting was, both of them were ready to let go. After all, they would find their way back to each other soon enough.
"I love you." He loved saying those words almost as much as she loved hearing them.
"And I you." They kissed one another, as a loud whistle was heard. Naoto wrapped her arms around Yu's neck, pulling him close as she pressed their lips together. Her tongue brushed against his lips, before his did the same for her.
Anything more true to their desires would have probably been… inappropriate, so the two pulled their lips apart and stared into one another's eyes.
Yu stared into the cobalt-blue eyes he loved so much. He remembered the first time he saw them, and even then, he fell in love with them. He loved her, and she loved him, and their futures, whatever they held, would be intertwined forever.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Yosuke announced, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out a small envelope, and he held it out to Yu. "The photo we took together yesterday." He stepped forward and handed the sealed paper to his friend, who took it with a thankful nod.
Rise turned her head, and she saw the train coming to take her big brother away. "There's the train…"
"Looks like it's time to say-"
Yu was interrupted by Chie, who grinned as she finished, "See you later, right?"
He chuckled, nodding his head. "Yeah. See you later." Yu held his hand up, waving goodbye as his eight friends rushed forward. The silver-haired teen blushed as he felt himself in the center of a group hug once more. He did his best to return the gesture, but there was only so much affection a young, ex-narcissist could accept before he was left an embarrassed mess.
"Alright, alright. I'm leaving, not getting shot again. Let go of me, you idiots," he laughed. He gently pried his friends off of him, before wiping tears from his eyes. "I'll be back before you know it, I promise."
"We're gonna hold you too that," Rise grinned.
The train came to a stop as Yu took a deep breath. He looked at his family, not just Dojima and Nanako, but all of his closest friends. He held up a hand, bidding them farewell, before Naoto dashed forward.
She grabbed her boyfriend's collar and kissed his lips one last time, memorizing their feel, clutching to the feeling of his arms around her, and engraving his aroma into her mind, before she surrendered him to the world.
The young woman parted their lips for a moment. "Come back soon, okay?" she whispered. Naoto freed him with her cheeks heavily tinted red. Even Yu, normally so quick to talk, found himself unable to find the proper words. Their family smiled at them, though Dojima was covering his innocent daughter's eyes with an amused sigh.
"See you guys soon. I promise!" Yu grinned, stepping onto the train. They waved their hands goodbye, their voices calling out to him, even as the doors closed and the train began to move.
"Take care, Senpai!" Kanji yelled.
"We'll be waiting for you!" Yukiko shouted.
"You're always welcome here, man!" Yosuke added.
"We'll keep an eye on the town while you're gone!" Chie promised.
"We'll be back together in no time!" Rise smiled through the tears.
"Just don't keep us waiting too long! That would be un-bear-able!" Teddie snickered.
"Goodbye, big bro!" Nanako waved. "Come back soon!"
"Take care, Yu! Stay out of trouble!" Dojima grinned.
Yu waved goodbye to his friends as the doors closed. He was about to leave to find a seat when he realized Naoto and the others were running after the train. The silverette couldn't hold back a laugh as he watched them follow the train, calling out to him with wide grins and radiant eyes.
He placed his hand on the glass and did his best to wave back at them, even trying to move to the back of the car so he could keep his eyes on them for just a little longer. Naoto led the group, waving goodbye to him as he sat by the last window of the train car.
Yu Narukami watched his friends move farther and farther from him, until even the town of Inaba was a speck in the distance. He laid back in his seat, eyes on the small envelope he was given. He slowly began to open it as he realized just how unafraid he was of tomorrow.
The photo brought a grin to Yu's face, even as wished he could go back home. It was the night they finally solved the case. Izanami was beaten, and the world was saved. Yukiko and Teddie stood on each side of the group. The boy held up a victory sign as Yukiko pumped a fist to the air. Rise was clinging to Kanji's arm, and the blond was almost picking her up as he flexed his arms for the photo. Chie and Yosuke both struck kung fu poses, as if preparing for the final battle.
Somewhere in all the silliness, Yu and Naoto came off as the most normal of the group. They stood in the center, their hands linked together. They were leaning into each other, grinning as they faced the camera. Their eyes stared at Yu, as if reminding him of what he had left behind…
Yu slipped the photo back into the envelope, and he stared out the window with a wistful grin. He still had no idea just who he was meant to be, but he was eager to find out.
END
Well… Here we are, folks. The end of Just a Delinquent. Technically, there's one more chapter, but that's an epilogue, and a short one at that.
This is the end of Yu's journey, and he's come a long way. From an empty, sociopathic manipulator, to a hero. The story of a man trying to change, and looking for who he is meant to be…
Next chapter is going to have a very long thank you, so I'll save that for later. For now, I just want to say 'thanks.' Just a Delinquent recently turned three years old this month, and I can't believe how much my life has changed since I started this story…
Thank you, for walking with Yu and Naoto on this journey. Thank you for believing a person can be more than just who they were yesterday. That a person can change.
I don't know what's next for me when this story ends. I had plans to do a P5 novelization, but that's on the back burner for now as I plan what's ahead. I have dreams I want to accomplish. Stories I want to tell. My own crazy goal I want to make true...
Is this the end for Yu? No, I don't think so. His story lives on in every single person trying to improve themselves. If you struggle, if you face adversity either at home, work, or in your personal life, know that there's a silver-eyed delinquent cheering you on.
Until next time, folks. Stay cool, be strong, and remember that you are loved. If you want to support me, leave a positive review, or donate to me on my Pat-reon.
See you later.
Next Update: December 23rd.