A/N: Ooof. Goddamn. This took me awhile to finish. Chapter ended up clocking around 12k something words... which I think makes this the second longest one to date? I'll give it another proofread later to double check.
Originally, this was meant to be much shorter... but then I kept going at it and it got longer. Then New Years passed. And then things got busy at work. Got a raise, so that's great.
Anyways, hope you enjoy the chapter. And as a reminder: Persona 3 Portable is now available on all platforms. So like me, go play it!
EDIT: I run this story through three spelling/grammar checkers. Sheesh, typos are embarrassing.
Yukiko
August 3rd
Afternoon, TV World, Retro-Castle.
They're really going at it...
Yukiko held a pensive expression, waiting on the sidelines with Teddie and Rise as she watched the other go into a full on brawl with Shadow Kubo's avatar. Yosuke had joined in the fight after Chie charged in, citing that he'd be able to give the other two the extra boost they needed to evade attacks better. And him joining in made the fight into a whirlwind of clashing steel and persona-based magic being thrown everywhere. Lightning bolts thrown in tandem with tumultuous winds, along with bursts of frost followed by strikes that sent back shockwaves.
Teddie, who had been shielding his eyes while his fur (and likewise, both the girls' hair) been blown back by the sheer force, spoke up. "Woah. This guy's Shadow doesn't seem to want to go down. It's using every fang and claw it has."
"Chie! It's charging up an attack and aiming it your way!" Rise shouted, using her persona to transmit her voice directly to him before dropping it and sharing the same weary look her companion had. "Yeah. I think you two will have to join in the fight soon if we have any hope of defeating it any time soon."
"Surely we've beaten up enough, haven't we?" Yukiko looked to Rise with the question. "I know Yosuke's strategy is sound, but sitting here is making me feel..."
"Useless?" Rise finished the sentence for her. "I get it. Yosuke said we should use our support abilities sparingly so we can buy time to figure out a way to get Yu-senpai out of that box..." She then looked towards the offending tomb that stuck out like a sore thumb against the backdrop of the conflict unfolding. "But I can't really figure out what's going on in there. Himiko shows me that he's alright. He's alive. Yet that barrier is too strong to get any clear readings beyond that."
"Hooo... poor Sensei. I can't even smell him right now." Teddie's brows furrowed with worry. "These kind of fights shouldn't last this long. If this continues, I'm not sure all of us will be able to stand by the end of this."
"Do they normally take this long?" Rise asked, looking towards him for an answer. "You've been at this with the others since the beginning from what I know. And my own Shadow and the fight with yours were kind of a blur if I'm being honest..."
"No. They shouldn't." Yukiko spoke with firmness in her voice. Shifting her gaze towards the unconscious body of Kubo. But he isn't like us, is he? It was an odd thought she found herself with, and not one she'd spent much time on. But here? In the now? In these dire straits where their leader is trapped, and their foe so strong? Maybe she shouldn't be treating things the same way. Yosuke had a good plan going in, but now it's slowly detangling after the Shadow decided enough was enough, and redoubled it's efforts. On top of Chie charging in instead of sticking to turns like they had been. Maybe playing it safe and staying wasn't the right call.
Then it clicked.
They weren't here to help someone who had gotten trapped in this other world. They were here to stop a villain. Someone who didn't hesitate to stuff her through a TV for whatever god-forsaken reason! And knowing full well that it would end up with her being dead!
"Uh... Yuki-chan?" Teddie gulped from the side.
"What?" Yukiko seethed out before stopping herself from further hissing. Realizing that her fury was burning hotter than it needed right now.
It nonetheless startled Ted enough to cause him to lean back fearfully. "Y-You-You're gripping your fan awfully tight there! You m-mi-might break it!"
"Y-Yeah, Yukiko." Rise now spoke, sharing the same trepidation as the bear. "I get it's a bad situation, but you shouldn't get angry over it..."
Her gripped tightened on the wooden spine of the fan, as if the reminder forced her to do so. But we have to – I am getting worked up over nothing. How does Yu always keep a calm mind at times like this? Then a spark of a memory erupted. Oh right. He does breathing exercises a lot whenever Chie and Yosuke get into it with one another. Mimicking the memory best she could, she let in a deep breath; then a deep exhale. Repeating both motions twice more to cool the embers of her anger. She needed to keep a lid on her temper. Control it. And use it to fan the icy flames ignited from the fact she loathed the idea that she had to sit back and let things happen the way were going to.
She needed to mix things up. She needed to try it her way. To give her own two cents just like everyone else.
"I'm going in." Yukiko finally stated with frigid clarity.
"Hwat!?" Teddie was the first to make his exclamations known. Dazed from the sudden declaration from his friend. "Wh-whaddya-mean you're going in!?"
Though Rise managed to maintain a steelier tone. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I'm not doubting you, just..."
"It's fine. Everyone doing a fine enough job not getting hit." She then turned around, "I think we should go all out."
"All out?"
"Yeah. Like we normally do when we gang up on a downed shadow." Yukiko then looked over to the costumed bear. "Ted, are you coming too?"
"Huh!? Oh umm..." He looked between her and the fight that still raged on tens of meters away. Feeling nervous judging by the tapping of his paws against one another. "I'm not sure if I should join just yet. Go ahead! I'll still hang back as support with Rise-chan!"
Yukiko nodded, accepting her friend's reluctance. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to go fan the... flames..."
"That sounded cooler in your head, didn't it?" Rise sighed.
"Yeah... How can Chie do it so easily?" Yukiko gave out a sigh of her own, before unfurling her fan starting to rush towards the battle.
Yu
June 13th?
Afternoon, Yasogami High.
Another month.
Another goddamn month. And I can't see any way out of this.
Wake up.
Morning routine.
Then school.
Go home.
Make dinner.
Sleep.
That's been Yu's schedule for the past few weeks.
He wanted to. Good heavens, he did.
Yet something clicked awhile back… he couldn't place the exact time when… but things started to feel different.
Maybe after Kanji disappeared for almost a week and no one batted an eye? Strangest thing about that one was how similar it was to the real version of events. Classmates bad mouthed him every chance they got. Talking about how dangerous of a guy he was. His list of feats growing more absurd each day while he was away. Stuff all the way from saying he went to Tokyo to get initiated into the yakuza; or how he might have taken over that biker gang as their new boss and went on a countryside tour. Knocking down every mailbox along the way.
The Yasogami High rumor mill was minting a new ludicrous tale every day since he got back to school.
Why, the most absurd one Yu had heard yet was that Kanji lost a fight! A fight in a one-on-one brawl with some kid from a different school. Reality or not, something like that is hard to believe for anyone who really knew the guy.
But Yu did spot him with a black eye and a cut on the forehead the other day. He's not one to take stock in rumors… yet he doubts that could be something as innocent as a sewing accident. Maybe once things cool down a bit, he might get a chance to get an attempt at talking to him.
Still, that's a problem for the future – past? Thinking about time was beginning to send a needle's worth of pain in-between both sides of his brain.
Though onto more present worries, something different happened from what he had expected.
Yukiko asked to chat with him today.
Which made the school day positively nerve-wracking deal with.
Jitters. That's what he had. It started with an unsettling feeling in his gut after she had asked the day prior afterschool. It rained that day, the eleventh specifically. Yesterday was Sunday. A very uncomfortable Sunday. The day she asked had resulted in an afternoon rain, so that was a bad time to talk. Had it been an intentional tactic on her part? The way he knew Yukiko, he knew she could be surprisingly smart when it comes to reading people. Wouldn't be a stretch of an imagination she knew how to make someone feel the way Yu was feeling right now.
Was this for handling Chie the way he did?
Why did that panicked idea in the back of his head and prance around while holding onto that? Like it had been something truly offensive and worth seeking revenge on? It's a fixation that stuck around and refused to pay the bill and leave. Taking all the stress with it. Letting him get back on track and focus on the current goal.
Focusing on a way to resolve this mess and get on with stopping Kubo.
Which is why he had to endure fiddling thumb over thumb minute by minute on the school rooftop wearing a guilty expression underneath the dull lighting of the cloudy skies above, waiting for the appointed second that Yukiko decided to come to the agreed upon time. Because damn, she sure seemed to be taking her time given they were both in the same class which ended less than forty minutes ago.
That's when the rooftop door clicked, swinging open slowly as she stepped into view.
Is she pissed? She looks pissed. Yu gulped with the thought at seeing the resolved calculated stance the parallel copy of his friend had taken. He knew she was wearing a mask. That gentle smile she wore had a professional quality to it. The one she used to keep up around him and everyone else before everything that had happened in the original sequence of events.
There it is again. That crack.
Though it appeared his will was starting to whether, it hadn't faltered. He knew he hadn't lost yet. So he decided to be the first to break the silence, trying to conjure all the strength he had to fashion his own mask. Weakness here might be disastrous. "Hey." Simple. Short. Neutral. He swapped to sitting on the vent with one leg crossed on top and the other foot down. Leaning casually. "Fair warning. Seems like it might rain if those clouds are anything to go by."
"Hello Narukami-san." She greeted with a polite nod before walking on over with solid rhythmic steps before taking a seat flanking parallel to his own on the vent. Yukiko appeared to be studying him.
Is something on my face? That's the impression Yu was getting by the stare. Still, he did his best to hide his emotions.
"How's school been for you? I imagine adjusting to the countryside for awhile has been troublesome." She said. Initiating small talk. "You've been here for a few months now."
"Not really, no." Yu mentally slapped himself. He just made a mistake. A big one. Repeating the same words he did from months… half a year? No, months. Saying that same thing from months prior to today almost felt like a betrayal. "Well, kinda." He quickly corrected, and quickly wanted to skip this part of the conversation. "So any particular reason you asked me up here?"
"Oh that?" She giggled. Giggled! As if she were innocent to the torment she was sowing! "Nothing to be so overtly nervous about. I just wanted to apologize for Chie since she seemed pretty upset that she provoked you so harshly."
"Huh…" It felt like the entire engine that powered his brain stalled.
"So... Sorry! I know she can be kind of hard to get along with sometimes, but she means well. In fact, after that second day at school, we haven't had much of a chance to speak with you till now."
"Okay…" Pistons were starting to fire back into place in his head. Running with a new track of thinking on what conversation was going on right now. Feeling like there is another layer to it.
Yukiko seemed to pick up on this. Taking a few seconds to let him catch up before continuing again. "And apologies, I would have done this sooner, but well…" She turned her head away for a moment to stare off into the distance. Probably eying the horizon past the chain-linked fence that surrounded the rooftop. Then turned back while using her right hand to brush some of her back. "Helping out at… home can be difficult sometimes. The inn has been nonstop with visitors from all over."
"Right, right. Your family runs an inn." Yu finally caught up and said that to try and show he's at least paying attention. Out of all the things he could have expected from today, an apology was not one of them. "Yeah, I can imagine you're busy during the spring – especially with summer around the corner."
"Mhm." She murmured, almost tiredly. Letting a dip develop in the conversation again before speaking once more. "Say… Chie heard that you've traveled around a lot. Could you tell me some of the places you've been?"
"Umm…" Another stop, almost like an emergency break happened in his mind. Didn't Yukiko have problems with feeling trapped at home? But… If I stop the conversation here, I might not get a chance to talk straight with her again… He wanted to fight it. That idea of using the truth to twist it for his own gain here. Prey on his friend's insecurities in an attempt to subvert them and establish a connection in this non-reality. It's just a game, right? None of this truly mattered, did it? If he can just prove Kubo wrong, and show he can make a friend, then he'd have free reign to return to his real friends.
In theory. That is.
Maybe it'd be alright just this once? To test a hypothesis, to see if he can bridge that gap.
He had to give it another try. Sitting around and hoping things go in a way that would be favorable would be foolish in any reality. "Yeah, I can tell you about a few places. What'd you like to hear about?"
And so, that's how the conversation started.
The two of them sitting underneath the cloudy sky over Inaba. Yu explaining all the places he's been ever since his parents started traveling for work. From all sides to Japan: Tokyo, Sapporo, Okinawa, even as far as Tsushima when they had to make a quick jaunt over into Korea. From the places he visited and lived in the United States, along the western coast. Traveling from the City of Angels that is L.A. to Seattle all the way in Washington.
He talked about the people. The food. The atmosphere. The landmarks. The streets. Anything that he could pull from memory that caught his eye at the time, he said it then and there.
Then when he ran out of stuff to speak about. It turned out to be getting late.
And then Yukiko left. Without saying anything else during that whole time other than a "Goodbye and thank you for the conversation. Narukami-san."
Leaving Yu with a feeling like he had just been used.
Kanji
August 3rd
Afternoon, TV World, Retro-Castle.
Damnit. It feels like my body is ready to quit.
Kanji was breathing heavy. Having been putting in one hundred and twenty percent maximum effort into the fight from the get go. His heart pumping hard enough to hear the things happening around him. Senses were dull, and really the only thing he could do right now was lean on his folding chair as a makeshift crutch.
Bwoofm!
He knew what caused that. It was Yosuke and Chie-senpai working hard to make up for his slack. They came in at the nick of time when he felt ready to fall over; and provided cover to give him a chance to catch his breath. It was taking his everything for Kanji to remain standing. Legs wobbled, but stood defiant. Arms sagged, but still tensed. His face was coated in sweat and burning red at the sheer effort that he'd been putting in, but his expression remained steadfast and defiant.
Honestly, he was second guessing himself on that last part.
Shouldn't this Kubo-guy's Shadow be down for the count by now? Yosuke's 'turns'-thing worked for a while, yet even now they're abandoning that plan in favor of wailing on that damn monster. Throwing their everything at it. And yeah, that's exactly what Kanji did, and it still wasn't enough to make that stupid knight drop a knee.
Man, I'd rather take those bikers on again then this crap. He let out a short chuckle at that thought. Time stretching to let that feeling of nostalgia fill in the moment. It'd only been what? A month? Two months since he threw down with those wannabe punks and took down all their bikes for making his ma mad. What did they think was gona happen when they revved their shitty engines through the streets every night? Country folk would just take this shit lying down? They were a bunch of upper classmen from out of town who thought they could just use this place as their personal racetrack! Who did they think they were trying to pull what they did?
And who the heck does Kubo think he is with all this hero crap?
There was nothing heroic about it! Not manly in the slightest!
With a hefted sigh, he stood straight as his eardrums started to settle and his senses slowly came back to him. Kanji stopped leaning on his chair as a crutch, hefting it. Watching the battle unfold in front of him.
Wait is that? Holy crap...
Yosule was about to meet the business end of a longsword when a torrent of flame ripped through the air and into the knight. Catching it off guard and putting it at the backfoot as it reacted in time with its marred shield started to stain further black from the intensity of the fire, contrasting it's pearly white from before. Yukiko, with her persona Konohana Sakuya stood at the origin point looking defiant.
Chie suddenly made her appearance as the shadow tried to make a rebuttal strike, having no need to rely stamina and made an attempt at charging at Yukiko. "Back off, bub!" She yelled as a kick slammed into the side of its helmet. Whipping it off to the side into a tumble against the arena wall.
"Way to go Yukiko-senpai!" Kanji yelled from his spot on the sidelines. "You too Chie-senpai!"
"Hey Kanji!" She yelled back, maintaining her fighting posture with her fan in hand. "Can you heal yourself up? I'm going to focus on the fight!" Yukiko said before sending another heat wave at their foe.
"Hurry up and get back in here Kanji!" Chie turned to shout the order before ducking a lightning bolt sent her way, and now using that momentum to charge once again. "Oh! You're SO getting it now, buster!"
Another FWOOMFP blasted out from their reignited conflict, the two girls working together seamlessly.
"Huh? Where'd Yosuke go?" Kanji looked around, trying to figure out where his headset wearing friend went while reaching into his backpack to retrieve some first aid. Only to frown when he didn't find any. "I swear, if he ran off..."
"Relax dude, I used this a chance to get some more – WOAH! WATCH IT!" Yosuke yelled after narrowly dodging the edge of a steel chair aiming for his head.
"The hell you thinkin' sneaking up on me like that in the middle of a fight!?" Kanji shouted back. Simmering for a second before letting the anger go. And judging by his buddy's face, they both knew it wasn't the best time to bicker right now. "Sorry. You were sayin' Yosuke-senpai?"
"Looks like you're out. Here." He tossed a capsuled medicine towards Kanji, who caught it. "Took a note from Yu's book and thought on my feet – so I grabbed some meds from Rise and told her and Ted that we're changing the plan."
Kanji twisted the cap off, drinking it swiftly to avoid tasting that awful artificial grape flavor that for some reason Yu-senpai always seemed to get in bulk at Old Lady Shiroku's store. Maybe he gets a bundled deal or something for working the night shift? Still, he downed it and felt like that stony feeling lifted off his chest as the strange properties of the TV world translated it to actual vitality. Still weird. He shook it off and stood tall once more. "So what? Is the plan now to dogpile the thing?"
"I mean, yeah. I would have used more tactical words, but yeah... that." Yosuke deflated a little at not having the chance to have a quick bit of fun. "Okay real plan is this: we're going to work in tandem all together. Going all-out and not giving this a chance to rest."
"Now that's a plan I can get behind!" Kanji pounded his fists together, though his vision lingered momentarily on the blank-slate coffin that trapped their leader. "Hey, is Yu-senpai gonna be alright? We can get him out of there, can't we?"
"Dunno." Yosuke shrugged, flipping his knives into his hands once more. Getting into the rhythm of preparing to run into the fray once more. "Whatever it is, it's got him locked in there tight. Rise has been trying to reach him in there, but whatever it's doing, it's got him isolated. Freakin' annoying, but hey, what can you do?"
"How come we haven't tried breaking him out of it?"
"Yeah..." Yosuke nervously rubbed the back of his neck at the mention of that. "I sent some wind-boosted kunais' it's way with Jiraiya and... and they kinda just flew off and almost hit Chie earlier. Didn't even make a dent. That thing is made out of harder stuff than whatever that stupid sprite is made of."
Kanji then hefted his steel chair over his shoulder, and took a readied position. "Guess we'll just have to beat this guy first." Then charged in once more, smashing the summoning card for his persona. Bringing it forth with a furious battle cry. "Alright, come on Take-Mikazuchi! Let's kick some ass!"
Yu
July 2nd?
Afterschool, Sagewama Floodplains.
He had a plan. He really did. Up and until things went pear-shaped.
He had thought it up in the going weeks after that odd encounter with Yukiko. Who had been basically ghosted him ever since that conversation. Same with Chie. Beyond a few polite greetings as expected among acquaintances, they kept their distance and never engaged in anything beyond that.
Something about how the days kept counting by… April turning to May, then May to June – so on and so on. They kept getting swept into each other as Yu tried to maintain some semblance of mental clarity. Getting harder and harder as he failed to occupy his mind. Failing to escape that underlying stress that permeated the back of his mind. Festering as time went on. Nothing seemed to take the edge off.
Books failed to fill the time. Words stopped forming coherent sentences awhile back. Like the language center in Yu's brain got bored of the act of reading and simply stopped his ability to comprehend any of it. Didn't matter. It seemed every time he found something new to read, it would be a barebones piece of work that failed to grab his attention. A lot like that dime novel he picked up at the start of the year. Filled with incomplete sentences, spelling errors, and all kinds of formatting issues on top of bad writing.
School shared this same problem. He already knew everything that would be discussed; and Yu summarily tuned it out.
Kendo lost its luster. Yu couldn't find it in himself to maintain the discipline to get up every morning and the occasional afternoon to practice. Exercising really didn't do anything for him in this weird other world place. Hard to when Yu wasn't sure if his body was actually there or not. Things still felt weird. He thought at one point his mind might adapt to it, but it felt like it couldn't
As if he instinctually knew he didn't belong here.
Worst yet, Yu had trouble mustering the energy to cook. Not sure why; he loved doing it. Maybe it's because it never felt fulfilling? Pasta, sandwiches, stews, even roasts failed. It felt like an ingredient was missing from every recipe that prevented it from tasting 'good'. Even after his uncle and his… cousin noticed he stopped cooking, they just went on as if it was business as usual. As if they prepared for this eventuality.
Ah shit, that stings. Yu rubbed the bandage patch over his right eye as he felt a harsh passing gale cross his cheeks. Staring out at the distant clouds that once more hung above Inaba. Funny how whenever his mind focused like this, he'd see the skies above are obscured. Though he didn't linger on that long. Choosing to lean back against the picnic table beneath the awning of the gazebo with a tired posture. The warm summer breeze did not feel comfortable.
And why did he have a bandage over his eye? Yu wanted to call it a 'mistake made in earnest', though a better way to put it would be that it was the price he paid for approaching the Kanji the way he did. Given the fact he'd sporting that ugly shiner for the past few days that no doubt sent the Yasogami High rumor mill abuzz.
It'd been quick. Faster than he could have anticipate for how those events snapped by.
Recalling it, Yu remembered going up to Kanji one day after school. Having found enough bravery left in the pit of his soul to try and take the initiative. No chanced dropping of a cute animal keychain would give him the opportunity to open a discussion. And by the way things were looking, Kanji's attitude could only worsen as things went addressed.
He had a plan. He sincerely had a plan that he believed would satisfy his conscience.
Too bad none of it worked the way he wanted. Turns out, Kanji is faster on the uptake and even faster to jumping to conclusions than Chie is when she's truly scared of something. Maybe allusion had not been the best solution to hinting at Kanji's insecurities. Which caused him to ignite his temper and send a haymaker straight into his right eye. The situation only got worse when Yu's fight – no flight – kicked in and told him to retaliate. Embers of which never truly died down when he used to act out years prior in middle school. Sheesh. That sort of delinquency feels so immature to him now; and stepping right back into felt like he pulled the line back on the progress he had made.
That's been the whole trouble since this thing started. Yu can't find a way to start. Circumstances pushed him to calling each and every one of them friends. Pushed up to try and reach out and hold onto those bonds that tethered him down each day to get through the case. To solve the mystery. To figure out who the killer was and take them down. To put a stop of a haunting villain that seemed to exert its cruel influence over everyone with a blanket of fear.
And now Yu was stuck in this villain's trap… Wait… a phantom of a memory pushed through the deluge in his mind. A feeling. A sixth sense. Izanagi? That's the name Yu wanted to give it. It felt like part of him hadn't completely given up, but everything else felt like they were on the edge of a cliff. Still wondering if they were ready to jump and call it quits at some vain hope of escape.
Positive thoughts, Yu, positive thoughts.
Oddly enough, he might have inadvertently stopped everyone from talking about Rise vanishes for a few days from school. One moment, the exhausted idol was the focus of the town. Didn't matter if you're a highschooler, middle schooler, grade schooler, adult, or senior. Everyone wanted to weigh in their own words on the star falling back down to their 'humble' little town. His uncle did get called in again with his partner to help the beat cops manage the growing crowd as visitors from all over flooded to street to steal a glance at Rise trying to live some semblance of normal.
Though with the way things were looking… getting a word with her in private would prove a difficult challenge. Considering the spotlight would slowly be moving back to her.
Yu seethed a breath as he clutched his head. When the hell did I start thinking that? Inaba was starting to feel like a real home for once… Fear answered that question. Nothing as easy to understand as knowing a monster is swinging a claw at you. Nope. This is the sort of fear that he found himself loathing to know. The one where you know you're a stranger in a place you don't belong. Unwelcomed. No would say it outright, but their faces said enough.
But this isn't his Inaba, right? Perhaps this is an imperfect illusion that Kubo failed to recreate.
No. That did not matter. He could tell himself again and again that this is just an illusion. It meant nothing and it was nothing. But that ugly sense of pride kept reeling him back to face the problem. Face it head on. Prove this bastard wrong then kick his ass once he was out.
At least Yu had found one thing to offer himself sanctuary till he can find a way out.
He pulled out his journal. The one that had been empty since the start of this stupid test. The mirrored copy that lacked any of its original contents. The one that showed no reflection that he had been elsewhere.
Flipping it open, he got one somber smile.
Dotting page after page. Each one contained dozens of illustrations.
Portraits for one.
Flights of fanciful drawings for others.
And rough sketches of scenes he replayed from memory. Things like:
Hanging out with Daisuke and Kou doing kendo. Those two were still thick as thieves… but with Yu's absence, he could start to see the rift that will form. Kou would leave class and vanish from view. An overheard excuse to Daisuke being that he had a part-time job he had to get home immediately after. Leaving him no time for sports. Which left Daisuke to sort out his own issues.
Probably selfish to think Yu's own actions prevented that from happening. But he can be selfish here, right?
Then there was Ai.
She relapsed. Yu wasn't sure how it happened or why it happened. It just happened. Maybe some sucker gifted her sweets at a vain attempt at earning her love. Maybe she just didn't care anymore. But whatever did occur, it resulted in her potentially rivaling the infamous Hanako Ohtani in a eating competition in a year's time if she keeps up the steady steam of junk food. All that hard work down the drain and will only be a hard back towards progress. She might even be able to challenge Ohtani on that arrogant attitude of hers given time.
Thinking more of school friends, there was also Naoki and Yumi.
Sheesh, how could Naoki's problems get any stranger? Well for Yu, it was strange. For everyone else, it might seem like a textbook example of living the shadow of your sibling. Compared to his sister, poor Naoki had trouble presenting himself. He's at least got people he can talk to with the health club and the like… but he's dangerously close to how Yu's been treated this year.
Then Yumi… poor girl. Seeing her in the halls with a constant guilty expression written on her face made Yu's heart bleed. He wasn't close with her, but losing a parent the way she did? With no one to lean on? He hadn't anticipated the depressed mood she carried with her everywhere she went. Worse, Yu had heard in passing that the drama club had to ask her to leave due to her attitude.
Were things meant to be this bleak without his intervention?
He couldn't think like that. This isn't the Inaba he knows. He refused to believe things in any world could be this upsetting to live in.
He had to get back.
Another sweeping breeze echoed through the grassy floodplains. Thunder played off lightning in the distance. Signaling the approaching storm.
Yu had to tough it out. If he can't figure it out, he knows his friends can.
He might be under a false sky. Sitting on a false bench. In an even falser world.
But he's still there. He's still alive.
He isn't done yet.
Rise
August 3rd
Afternoon, TV World, Retro-Castle.
"Kanji! Watch out! On your left!" Rise hastily shouted the warning, sparking the message across the battlefield and directly into her friend's ears. A brief pang of relief washing over her as Kanji caught the warning in time and proceeded to block the horizontal sweep of the golden blade of the knight gunning straight for his neck. He dodged out the way into a roll. Then went back to standing as he let out a kick that would surely knock a door off his hinges judging by the sound created when he hit the shadow's shield.
"Thanks Rise!" He shouted. Starting to move out of the way so Yukiko could throw another funneled flame into it.
"No problem!" She answered quickly. Her eyes and heart racing as she looked through Himiko's visor to try and assess the situation.
Things were growing hectic. It hurt her mind to keep track of all the moving pieces and act as the conductor of it all. Oh, how she did not envy Mr. Inoue's job anymore. Managing this many people was proving to be taxing on her brain, and she was beginning to wonder if she was really up to task. The sense of self-doubt growing when she shouted another command to Chie to dodge an errant bomb thrown his way when that pixelated menu showed up again.
Could they really do this?
Kubo's Shadow showed no weaknesses: fire, ice, lightning, nor wind skills appeared to have any noticeable effect. Yosuke snuck in a few throws with some dark and light type items they had in the supply bag, but those didn't work either! It just ignored the both of them and kept soldiering on!
Speaking of Yosuke, he slipped past a vertical swing that threatened to take off the back of his clothes. Poor Jiraiya wasn't so fast, since the persona splintered into blue mist at having been broken. "Yosuke's Persona is down!" Rise announced, making sure everyone knew. And credit where its due, both Chie and Kanji acted as a vanguard while he retreated. Forcing the Shadow to trade blows with them with a distracting blast from a circling Yukiko trying to catch it off guard.
They were doing damage. That much she could tell. But was it enough?
Before, it had the chance to heal. A slip on their part as they did not think the stubborn bastard would do something like that. Shadows typically weren't in the habit of healing themselves. Except this one proved to be the exception to that as it had repeated the action three times now. Each one causing the entire group to groan out loud in frustration at seeing it.
Another few swift comms between everyone, and the plan had shifted from 'rush it', to 'rush it until it runs out of healing potions.'
Not a perfect solution, but it was the one they were working with as this stalemate continued on.
Then Rise shifted her gaze towards the one person who wasn't actively participating. "Hey Teddie…" She said in between flicks of her head to ensure no one was presently in avoidable danger.
"Hmm?" The bear hummed as he turned with a somewhat dour look in his eyes. "What's up, Rise-chan?"
"I think it's time you got in there and helped them."
"Oh really? Wouldn't I just get in the way?"
Teddie, the only one who should be doubting themselves right now is me. I mean, I can't even reach senpai right now. Rise shook her head and lifted her persona's visor slightly to put Ted into view. "No, the others need you right now. Things are getting desperate, and if things keep going the way they are, we won't make any ground."
"Yeah but…" Teddie still seemed apprehensive to the idea. "Five people is a lot for anyone to juggle. And we don't have sensei to shout orders right now…"
How did Yu do it? Sure, his cool stoic demeanor had its cracks. What person didn't? But he always seemed to keep them in check and stay aware of everything happening. Knowing where people where before they even knew! It was almost scary how well he commanded them like a proper squad leader from some action film or something.
But right now he isn't here, and they need to figure out either how to get him out or finish off this shadow for good.
And that mean it was all hands on deck.
"Don't worry about me, Teddie, right now we need to worry about everyone else." Rise was quick to redirect their focus. "We need to find out how to beat this guy and get this over with."
"Hrmmm…" Teddie started to assume a thinking posture.
Now's not the time for -
"Oh no! Kanji! Duck! It's coming right for you!" Rise almost screamed as the pixelated avatar swung a swift strike straight for Kanji. Who by a few hairs was able to catch the warning in time as he ducked. Only for it to swap to a vertical strike and almost cut him in twain as he laid prone for a moment, having avoided by Chie sending him rolling away with Tomoe's glaive knocking him in the side. Oh, thank God that was enough. It was an inelegant solution, but it worked.
"Hey Rise-chan." Ted spoke up. "Is it just me, or does Kubo's shadow keep doing the same swings over and over again?"
"Huh?"
That didn't make much sense. Why would anyone keep doing the same swings over and again? Rise couldn't begin to fathom how Teddie caught something like that. Though to confirm her suspicions, she decided to pull back her view of the fight enough to get the full picture. Offering a quick word of advice here and there to keep everyone on their toes as they expertly continued they siege on the digitized golem. Yet, the more she watched fight from a larger picture, the more she had begin to convince herself that Teddie was right. The damn thing really did have a pattern. It'd swing once vertically, with such force that it was enough to smash up a two dimensional dust cloud. Followed by a shield slam at whoever occupied its left flank. Next came two horizontal sweeps, one left to right then one right to left. After which, it repeated another vertically slash. Only to mix things up after three sets with either a lightning spell, a bomb, or another healing potion. Though that last one kept getting interrupting it as it couldn't swap through the menus fast enough to reach it before someone it hit hard enough to ruin its concentration.
"Uggghhhh…" She groaned. How did I not catch that sooner? Yosuke freaking said it was acting like a game. Rise mentally promised herself to get Ted all the Topsicles he wanted after this for catching such a critical weakness in the Shadow's attacks.
But what to do with that information?
Sure, they could keep on dodging the pattern slowly whittling it down until either it collapses or them first.
Or… they could try to direct it toward Yu-senpai's makeshift tomb. Those strike appeared awfully powerful considering how much air it displaced whenever it swung that golden sword. Maybe it might be strong enough to break him out?
"Alright Teddie, we're going to do something I like to do in showbiz!" Rise made sure to project her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. Prompting a few confused exclamations and a very confused bear. "We're going to improvise! Teddie! Get in there after it swings down and start clawing into its sword arm! Work with Yukiko to pin it between the two of you!"
"Uhh… Alright! Here I go then!" Teddie bounced on up, his brain catching up with the sudden shift in dynamic as he rushed forward. Steel claw raised high. "O-Okay you big jerk, come at me!"
"What the heck!?" Chie exclaimed as Teddie rushed in front of her as she was about to let loose a nasty kick, only to put all that force into stopping. "Watch it Ted, I almost sent you flying!"
"S-Sorry! Ahh!" He wailed as he dodged the anticipated vertical slice. Then somehow spun and place and rend his claw against the knight's gauntlet. "Ha! Got ya!"
"Uhh, Rise – not to sound rude or anything, but you got a plan right!?" Yosuke shouted from the other side of the field.
"There's really no need to shout," Rise furrowed a brow in irritation as she refocused on projecting her voice through her persona. "but yes, I've got a plan. Trust me. Yukiko, are you –"
"Already there!" Yukiko announced before Rise could finish her words. Followed by her taking Konohana Sakuya and flanking to its side. "Agilao!" With a flick of her fan, she summoned forth a buffet of flame twirling into a funneling blast that went straight towards the Shadow's shield. "Agilao!" She casted the spell again, ensuring the flames were sustained for the time being.
"Okay, good work! Teddie keep up the attack!"
"Rwaaar!" Was all she got as an answer. Watching him go bear-serk –
Now's not a time to be thinking of puns! Rise admonished herself with a shake of her before directing her voice two the other three. Thinking fast. "Yosuke, get in front of it and keep its attention on you!"
"Wait, seriously!? You're putting me in the front!?" He protested, though he still went ahead with following along with whatever plan was being put forth. "You better be right about this!" He yelled before tossing a few daggers at the knight's unguarded face.
"Just trust me!" She answered. "Now Chie and Kanji, get behind it and start pushing it towards where Yu is trapped! If it tries to swing, stop it from doing so!"
"Stop it from swinging? Are you crazy with how –" Chie started to contest the idea before being interrupted.
"On it, Rise! Leave it to me!" Kanji started to rush past Chie, who had been standing there flabbergasted as she almost pushed her out of the way. Running up next to Ted unfolding his makeshift weapon and hooking it over the top of the Shadow's blade. Using all his strength to pull at the force being used to try and swing it. His knuckles going white as he tried to hold on. "I got it! Just focus on followin' her plan! Not like we got anything better!"
"Woah! Way to go Kanji!" Ted praised after having his assault interrupted.
"Shut up and keep attackin', bear!"
"Ah!" Teddie yelped. "Right! Grawwwwh!"
"Okay, I'll do my best then! Tomoe!" Chie likewise summoned her persona, commanding it to strike into the backside of the knight while she slammed a straight kick into the back of its leg. Sending it stumbling forward. "Take this!"
"Good, just keep it up guys till you can get it closer!" Rise cheered on. Watching then put the plan into work.
And so, that's what they continued to do. Steadily pushing Shadow Kubo's pixelated avatar lumbering forward. Directing it towards the makeshift tomb it had trapped Yu in at the start of this fight. Rise made sure to keep everyone on task, and when they looked like they were about to give in, she offered a helping hand by using Himiko to provide whatever support it could. Increasing Yosuke's ability to dodge the strikes, since he had long since run out of stamina to use Jiraiya properly. He needed the boost, since Kanji's restricting hold on its blade kept its focus split between swinging it forward like it wanted to. Yukiko kept up the assault on its shield, spending all that reserved strength she had been saving for her healing on all the fire being funneled onto it. Forcing it on the straight and narrow between Teddies furious flurry of strikes. Rise spent what energy she had on maintaining a defensive buff on Kanji while strengthening Chie's kicks into the shadow's backside.
She wasn't sure how long it took for them to reach their objective, but Rise was starting to feel exhausted between all the shouting of her teammates and using her abilities. Though their goal was now in reach. "Alright Kanji! Let go!"
Kanji did not even bother to try and wrench the chair from where it had hooked on. With all the groaning the steel had been doing, it was a miracle it had stayed in one piece. And good thing he did let go.
BOOM!
The sheer strength behind the impact causes an echoing thunder to deafen the arena. Causing everyone to cover their ears as their minds were sent shaking. Though Rise caught it before losing focus. The white cubes trapping Yu were cracked. They made progress.
Yu
July 17th?
Afternoon, shopping district.
Walking along the sidewalk, umbrella overhead as the clouds let loose a torrent of rain. Yu had standing just outside the gas station. Offering a wave back to the attendant who always seemed to be there to greet him.
Weird. Have I ever seen that guy on a day it didn't rain?
Yu shook his head as he continued to walk further on. Briefly rubbing the eye that had recently injured. It still felt sore at times, but these days it felt a lot better. Aside from a small scar, just above the brow, no one could really tell it ever happened.
Though he had been thinking what he'd been wanting to handle the situation moving forward. Because he presumed his time would be running out. It'd almost been a full loop. August was just around the corner and he hadn't even made a single step of progress. He couldn't even call any of the people he had originally made a connection acquaintances. Barely anyone even acknowledge him outside of Morooka, who had somehow stayed alive.
That was a surprise.
Of course, nothing changed attitude wise for the tyrannical teachers. In fact, Yu thought he'd been even worse this time around. Almost like this facsimile had become an even more absurd parody of the original.
Still, he had a different plan today. This version is the only one he hadn't tried to speak with. So he decided to simply 'face the music' and get it over with. Sink or swim, he'd at least tried. That was enough in his book at this point.
What kind of lesson was Kubo even trying to teach me here? He'd been reflecting more and more on the idea since the incident earlier this month. It's not like Kubo knew him, but all the little details that carried over into this fake world were still so real. Admittedly, the loneliness had been soul crushing for a while. What soul wouldn't feel the weight of all this? And Yu wouldn't say he was anywhere close to a positive move, but even stopping from taking more steps towards negative thoughts was a form of progress in of itself.
He passed by Master Daidara's workshop. Without a light in the window. Another thing that Yu noticed had been growing in frequency.
Since Rise's grandma's tofu shop was next to the smithy, it wasn't long before he approached the front. Only to notice the front door had a "Closed for the Day" sign on, and with no lights on what could be seen on the first floor, it looked like no one was in today.
Which forced a frown to form on Yu's face. "Damnit." He mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck out of irritation. Shoulders somewhat sagging. Ugh what now? I guess I can give it another shot tomorrow at school. Maybe catch her as she's leaving assuming the other students aren't already swarming her. Rather than standing idle, he continued down the street as he continued to ponder a new approach.
Old Lady Shiroku's store had the door cracked. The owner minding her own business with a book behind the counter. Made sense she wasn't busy, given the rain and the fact no one else walked the streets.
A scent caught his nose. Ah, Aiya's. I guess some Chinese food wouldn't be so bad right now. Haven't tried to see if it tastes better or worse than the real one… Do I even remember what that tastes like? Things have been bland lately…
Pushing aside depressing thoughts, he folded his umbrella and popped open the door. Hearing the door chime and the owner greet him and to have a seat while he returned back to the all the cooking going on behind the counter.
What the… Why are they all here? Yu stared dumbfounded the scene before. Stunned at seeing the people who sat at the booths and the chairs all around Aiya's interior.
Kanji, who had started wearing a black headband lately as a way to emphasize his punkish attitude sat at the far end counter seat. Bowl full of food in front of him. He looked to be enjoying a conversation with Yosuke of all people with a game console in his hands. Which had been surprising considering he'd barely be seen anywhere else beyond school. Then there was Rise, looking happy as opposed to how Yu thought she'd be without any intervention. Like the weight of being an idol hadn't crushed her at all. Talking to Chie in an animated conversation in the booth opposite to where Kanji and Yosuke were sitting. Yu could see the back of Yukiko's head, red headband n' all. With another mop of black hair to its right. All of them in their Sunday causal.
Why are they all gathered like this? He thought to himself. Then as if his legs were possessed, he strode forward. Much to the scowling face of Kanji and the worrisome expression Chie wore. Yosuke looked indifferent, and Rise seemed… disinterested? Turning to look at Yukiko, who maintained her forever carefree neutral smile, was someone he never expected. "The Hell? Kubo?"
"Ah, what's up Narukami?" Kubo said with the most shit-eating smirk that Yu had ever seen. He was wearing an orange-sleeved long shirt with white on the torso with a controller decal on the front. "Take a seat! Just hanging out with Yuki-chan here and the rest of my buddies!"
Yu spared a weary stare towards Kanji before continuing to witness the bizarre scene of Kubo with an arm wrapped around Yukiko's shoulders. "[The fuck?]" Was all he could say.
"Hey, there's no need to swear like that." Rise said, glowering at him.
"Yeah… no need to be rude." Chie scoffed at as she returned to munch on the Mega Beef Bowl in front of her to distract herself.
"What do you think you're doing, Kubo?" Yu ignored the rest as he stared straight at Kubo. Eyes locked on him with steely glare.
"Hey-hey, there's no need to get upset!" Kubo said in a feathered way as he sat up in his seat wand placated with his other hand.
At this point the shifting of a chair could be heard as Kanji's shoes hit the floor.
Yosuke was starting to squeak back in his own seat to avoid being any closer to the budding conflict he'd been witnessing. "I'm just going… I'm just going to enjoy my food over here while you guys resolve this."
"Kubo…" The way Yu said his name was downright chilling as he gripped the handle on his umbrella. "I asked you what the heck do you think you're doing?"
"Ya know we're pals, right? You can just call me Mituso." He tried to play it off with a nervous chuckle. "Like I said before, just hangin wi-"
With a swift swish of air, Yu pointed the end of the umbrella straight at Kubo and leveled it towards him. "Enough. Cut the bullshit."
Everyone around them started to jump in their seats at the sudden development. Rise and Chie both flinched and leaned back into their seats to try and keep away as far as possible. Yukiko lifted herself up and likewise had gone to the corner. Yosuke kept his distance; but Kanji tried to do something first and sent a wild swing Yu's way. Only for it to miss when Yu leaned backed and kicked a foot into Kanji's own, sending him falling to the ground.
While the restaurant owner stared at them. "H-He-Hey! Take that outside!"
Yu ignored him. Maintaining his tight-laced ire focused on Kubo. "I'm sick of your crap, so out with it."
"Well, I'm not sure what you're on about but…"
"I said stop it." The way Yu said it made it sound like he had just ordered silence. "Look – A test, a game. Whatever you wanted to call this stupid show you've put on, I can handle. Go at it like it's some kind of challenge I can overcome. But this?" He made a sweep gesture to the room. "I won't take this sitting down."
"Coommmmmeeeee oooonnn, Narukami-san," Kubo drew it out and was talking slimier than a used car salesman. "there's no reason for things to get heat-"
Thwack!
The sound of the umbrella end smacking the side of the booth caused everyone to flinch again. Enough so that it chipped the wood. Yu, after that strike, pointed it back at Kubo. "Stop. Now. If you want to play fantasy, do it somewhere far from me."
Kubo started chuckled with a dark undertone to his voice. Almost like this was the funniest thing in the world to him. He threw his head back with laughter before staring back at Yu with that familiar alien sight.
Glowing yellowed eyes.
"Finally." Yu muttered. Though he was a bit weirded out how all the copies of his friends stiffened up to this shift. Not like a person reacting to this, but more like something had been checked off in their programing. Because all their eyes looked empty. Okay. Not creepy at all.
"Have you admitted it?" Shadow Kubo said in his otherworldly tone. "That you cannot form a connection with the people you once called friends?"
"I'll admit, it's been rough." Yu kept a firm grip on the umbrella. He knew he didn't really have any real power in this situation, but the act served enough to offer him some form of faux bravery in the face of his adversary. "And it's taking all my willpower right now to ignore the depressive episode I've been having. Though the wild thing is that you might have won."
"Might have won?" He questioned, starting to stand up as his face grew more and more neutral like it had done before. "By your own admission, it sounds as if I did."
"You didn't break me. Sure, it all sucked. But it's nothing I've already gone through it before." Yu felt the resolve in his voice becoming more pronounced. "The start of this schoolyear showed me that I can come back from it."
"And yet you haven't won."
"What's the point when I had no chance of winning in the first place?"
"Do you imply that the game had been rigged?"
"You don't get it, do you?" Yu, with his free hand, pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Shaking his head. "Maybe part of this game had been true at first. That I couldn't exactly make those connections the way I had done before. It all seemed real, but as it went on… pieces started sticking out more and more. If I had to put it as a simile: you're basically a lazy developer on a game. Taking shortcuts to get the results you wanted."
"That isn't –" It tried to protest but was silenced.
"Stop. If you're trying to prove that I am like you – don't." Yu ordered.
Thwbooom!
Shadow Kubo was the first to react to the shattering noise that echoed around them. Though it still felt off given the constant persistent face he maintained. "What? Nothing – No. That shouldn't be possible."
Yu thought about reacting in a similar manner, yet something sparked in the back of his head that this was an opportunity to seize. He watched a blue card float down from nowhere in front of him. Without even pausing to think, he slashed it with the umbrella in hand, shattering it. "Izanagi! Come forth and open the door!"
Teddie
August 3rd
Afternoon, TV World, Retro-Castle.
Teddie could feel his brain shaking around in his head(s?). Bouncing back and forth as he struggled to stand up to his feet. That loud ringing noise really did a number on his sensitive ursine ears.
"Bweh…" He mumbled a groan before weakly raising his claw and slashing the card that had appeared. "Uh… Kintoki-Douji!" His orb-like missile carrying persona came forth. Spreading a green light over the top of him as he used an energy shower to relieve some of the disorientation. Then packed a mediarama on top of that to try and help further. Since the first cast didn't really clear it up completely. Once he felt the nausea alleviate, he focused his eyes on everything he could.
Stepping up from his knees, he was relieved everyone else starting to stir. Good. Looks like I was able to heal them too. Only to snap back to alarm once he remembered he was supposed to be in a fight! Quickly, he scanned the arena around him, looking to where… "Huh?" He stared at the strange sight before him. "Is it stuck or something?"
Curiosity overcame any fear he had a second again. Approaching the eye sore white pillar, he spotted the Shadow's big dumb form stuck. Well, maybe not stuck, more so frozen with Kanji-kun's chair pinned between the wall and the sword. It just stood there. Doing nothing.
"Ugh… did we do it?"
Teddie turned to see Yosuke had started to get up. "I think so! It isn't moving."
"I guess that's a step in the right direction." He groused as he got to his feet. "Hey! Who's alive?"
"Me…" Chie mumbled as she held up a hand from the ground. "Sorry… going to be a second. Tomoe really drains me when I use her attacks in quick-succession like that."
"Me too." Yukiko straightened herself so that she was at least sitting. "I used all the energy I had left to keep up…" A yawn escaped her. "It took a lot out of me."
"Same here. Gona feel that in the morning…" Kanji said as he held a hand to his head. Struggling to walk straight as he came up alongside Yosuke. "Well if it worked, something should be happening, shouldn't it?"
"Rise-chan, are you alright?" Ted left Yosuke to deal with Kanji's question. Going back and offering a hand to their navigator. "You look tired."
"Thanks Ted," She said as she took his hand and was helped up. "I'm fine… just bouncing between everyone like that with Himiko was tough. Is everyone fine?"
"Yeah." He answered, "I didn't spend as much energy as you guys did. So I tossed what healing I could just now."
"That's good." Rise then looked over at the scene of the frozen knight. "Is it…?"
"I dunno. It stopped moving." Ted placed his hands behind him. "Should we hit again?"
Suddenly, the distinct sound of something being cut alerted everyone's attention to focus their attention back on it. Readying themselves in case they had to fight again.
A familiar spear blade jutted out from the mass, then darted cross it as it performed a secondary slice just as swift as the first. Tearing the voxel cubes apart and breaking open the tomb. Revealing Yu at the center standing tall.
"Yay! Yu-sensei made it out!" Teddie cheered, though it stopped after everyone started to move forward at seeing him, and he followed in tow.
He watched his sensei's persona vanish and he looked at them with a tired smile. Before holding up a hand for them to stop, he turned to the avatar the Shadow had been piloting.
"You can come out now." They heard Yu say as he stared up at it.
All of them exchanged looks of confusion between one another at what was happening. Then turned to surprise when the knightly figure burst into pixels. Revealing the weird-baby looking thing that was the real Shadow Kubow floating with its head down. Causing them to ready up again at wondering if they were going to continue the fight.
They watched the Shadow stare sorrowfully out at the unconscious form of its real self before staring down back at Yu. With a heavy desperate tone, it lifted its hands, causing the weird symbols surrounding it to spin. "I need… I need proof that I'm real. That's why…"
"Stop." Yu spoke with authority, and it actually worked, causing the Shadow to hesitate. "I get it. I can at least relate to you on some level there." He then looked down on his hand, seeing his sword and then lifted to pointed it out towards the real Kubo. "But that guy over there? He'll never accept that. He can't. He already thinks he's real, and that you're not."
"I…" It started to speak up again, but its voice fell silent as it floated down. Transforming to the mirrored copy of Kubo it had once been. Except for the dull yellow glow in the eyes. "He won't ever, will he? You won't let me replace him?"
"Nope." Yu shook his head, then rested the blunt end of his sword on his shoulder. "I don't think you really want to be that guy either. But hey, if things were different, you might have turned out to be an alright dude."
"Do you…" The Shadow started to speak again before shaking it's own head. "No. That would not have happened."
"Hey, your words, not mine." Yu shrugged. "I just believe people can change when they want to. I mean, look at these guys." He then tossed up a hand towards his friends. "They changed when they faced themselves… it's just that instead of him facing you, it's the other way around."
"Then I can…" It went quiet again. Staring down at its feet before meeting Yu's gaze once more. "I think I understand now."
Without so much as a whisper, the blue light emanating from the Shadow Kubo vanished. It's from soon faded from view.
And with that, Yu fell down to a knee.
"Sensei!" Ted shouted as he rushed forward and offered to help his friend up.
"Yu – dude! You alright?" Yosuke followed behind with a shout.
Kanji then went to his side and draped Yu's arm around his shoulder and helped him up. "Come on Yosuke, quit standin' around! Can't you see he's about ready to drop!?"
"I'm fine…" Yu muttered, as he tried to stand straight. Only to clutch the front of his nose as some blood began to leak out. "Just a little lightheaded is all."
"Lightheaded!?" Chie shouted. "You're bleeding for God's sake!"
Yukiko approached and took the place where Yosuke was supposed to be. "Here, lean forward and pinch your nose."
"Umm guys…" Rise said from the back of the group, "What did Yu-senpai just do anyways?"
A series of questioning looks meet one another before Yosuke spoke up. "Umm… Any ideas, Ted? You've got a nose for these things."
At that comment, Teddie felt his nose sniffle. But he didn't really know why they were looking for an answer from him. All this stuff was just as confusing to him! And he's from here! "I don't really know… but if I had to guess, I'd have to say that Yu-sensei somehow talked Kubo's Shadow into accepting the real Kubo!"
"Wait, we can do that?" Chie voiced her surprise first. "Damn Yu, how'd you pull that off!?"
"I'll tell you when I figured that out." Yu kept his nose pinched, which honestly made him sound funny to everyone. "Let's just get out of here."
They started to move forward towards the gate. Only to be stopped by the now awake real Kubo getting up off the flat textured ground of the arena.
"Ughh… The hell happened?" He said as he got up. Staring dumbly at the group.
"Finally awake, huh?" Yosuke adjusted his glasses then crossed his arms. Staring at Kubo with clear disgust in his voice. "You've been a major pain in our ass."
"What…" It looked like a dozen questions were written on Kubo's face as it tightened with frustration and worry. "Who the hell are you!?"
"Did you do it?" Yu's voice cut through like a cold gale past everyone. He had removed his hand from his face and was staring daggers straight at their culprit.
Kubo only continued to appear lame in the head at his delayed response. "Wha…"
"I said. Did you do it?"
"What? The cases!?" He stand aback, but since the silence answered the question, Kubo stepped forward with more false bravado. Laughing. "Yeah! Those were all me! That's right I did it! Not just that bastard Morooka, but that stupid announcer and the Konishi bi-"
WHAM!
Yu had launched off from the care of Kanji and Yukiko. Delivering a straight up into Kubo's face and sent him spiraling toward the ground in a single hit. He stared down at him with such a terrifying expression, that Ted thought he'd go in for another strike! But in the end, he held back and breathed a heavy sigh.
"Please grab him so we can get out of here." Yu asked, clutching his head again.
Kanji gave Yukiko an apologetic look, then looked to Yosuke as to what to do. He got a shrug as an answer, so he just walked over and bent down to grab Kubo by the collar of his shirt. "Hot damn, senpai, you laid him out cold."
Yu
August 3rd
Early evening, Junes, electronics department.
Yu felt like his skull wanted to vacate its contents through every part of his head in an attempt to flush all the pain it was feeling. Yeah, it sucked. And honestly, he couldn't believe that he salvaged a win like that.
He didn't like the fact he punched Kubo the way he did.
The way his friends looked shocked burnt in his memory brought a sense of pain he hadn't felt in a while. Like he had gotten their hopes so high from what he did before and ruined that image by aggressively punching him. Though he might just be overthinking things. He doubted anyone of them would say that the bastard didn't deserve it.
After exiting the TV world, all of them rendezvous in the backroom of the electronics department. A private space away from prying eyes for the time being while they rested a little. It was a small area, basically a break room with a folding table and a couch. Some television were in their boxes still, though Yu imagined they didn't need to keep very much in the way of backup stock given the fact that Inaba was still a small town. If they were that worried about inventory, they probably have a better place to store stuff than here.
Yosuke had retrieved a first aid kit they keep around for emergencies. Handing off to Yukiko and taking a seat at the table alongside Teddie and Chie. Rise flanked him on the side on the couch while Yukiko occupied the other spot and was helping Yu clean up the nosebleed.
Kanji had Mituso slumped against the far side wall. And he leaned against it in case he woke up. The tension in the air palpable.
"Why did your nose start to bleed anyways, Yu-kun?" She asked. Breaking the still silence.
"I don't want to say too many details right now, but I think my brain just got overloaded all at once." Yu said as he held a cloth to the front of his face. "The shadow didn't just trap me in a dark room." That earned a few curious looks. "I'll explain later. Right now, let's just get this guy to the cops."
Yosuke fished for his phone in his pocket then pulled it out and flipped it open.
"No. Don't use a cell." Yu stopped him.
"Why not?" Yosuke asked, not in a challenging manner but rather confused.
"We want plausible deniability. Remember, there's a detective on our heels."
"Damn, you remembered something like that after the day we've had?" Yosuke let out a whistle at that. "Alright, so what do we do?"
Yu scanned the room. Trying to push through the flood of thoughts swimming in his head. "We'll start with Kanji dumping Kubo off in the parking lot or on a sidewalk. Somewhere easily seen. After that, Rise, can you use a fake voice on a payphone?"
"Yes…" She answered. "Do you want me to say anything specific?"
"Nah, nothing fancy. Just feign distress and say you saw that killer on the news at Junes and hang up. Cops should take it from there." He then leaned back into the seat at seeing Yukiko close the medical kit. "Figured your acting skills might be useful there."
Rise merely nodded. "Are you going to be alright getting home, Yu?"
"I'll be fine. After this is taken care of, we can head home. Though I might give it a day or two before we reconvene on talking about any of this. I need to… digest some of the stuff I saw in there."
"Was it that bad?" Chie asked, a hint of concern in her voice. "Like, did he show you your worst nightmares or something?"
"Chie!" Yukiko chided her from across the room. "That's rude!"
"What? Yu-kun is fine with me being blunt!"
Oh, it's been awhile since I got a chance to hear this. He couldn't help laughing, but stopped when he felt his nose getting ready to sneeze and then doing so. "Ow. Got it, hold back on the laughter for now." He said to reassure them. "But yeah, something to that effect."
"Sure you're going to be alright, senpai" Kanji asked, looking skeptical. "I can help ya back. I'm not ready to pass out yet."
Yu waved a hand, then stood up carefully so as to not create another nosebleed he'd have to sit down for. "No, no. Just focus on the task at hand. I'm not crippled yet. But let's going. The sooner I get home and sleep, the better I'll feel."
Evening, Dojima residence.
Yu stepped into the house. The last vestiges of the setting sun at his back as he went about kicking off his shoes and stepping forward.
"Welcome back!" He heard Nanako shout from over the volume of the TV.
Ah man. That's a relief to hear. After not hearing such a pleasant greeting on his way in since well… four months. It's like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he stepped into the living area.
"Hmm? Is something wrong?" Nakako asked, catching him staring at her.
"Oh. Nothing." Yu dismissed her with a wave of his hand, turning to head up stairs only to stop when something stopped him. Feeling something wrapped around his side. "Uhh… Nanako, why are you hugging me?"
She stared up at him. "Big Bro looked like he needed a hug."
Admittedly, Yu wanted to break down and cry in that moment. Though hearing the phrase 'Big Bro' reminded he had a title to live up to. Sure, he knew Nanako would likely be understanding in that respect… though he couldn't bring himself to shatter that image. So, he resigned to wiping the water from his eyes and patted her head. Looking over to the kitchen. "Ya know, I think I have enough energy left in me to bake something. Do you want to make some cookies?"