Chapter 5
When Ellen came down she saw Dojima leave and Nanako soon said "...Dad has to go do something. He got a call, so he left."
She looked at the door worried but, Ellen couldn't do anything about it. She soon went to school. It was raining again. As she headed over there, she heard a couple of girls say "When I looked, I saw three cars zooming by."
"You live by the police station, don't you? Did you hear anything?"
"I heard some yelling, but nothing more. Total disappointment."
"Geez, you need to pay more attention to stuff like that. How else are we supposed to get the juicy stories."
Ellen soon heard sirens nearby and thought to herself "Those kind of stories aren't juicy. Those stories mean trouble."
She then went to school and during the afternoon an assembly was called. Ellen read her book to ignore the gossiping. She put it down when Ms. Sofue and the principal came. "Everyone, please settle down. The school assembly is about to begin. First, the principal has something to say." said Ms. Sofue.
The principal said "I...regret to say that I have a terrible announcement for all of you. One of our third-year students, Ms. Saki Konishi of Class 3...has passed away."
"Passed away...!?" Chie said.
Yosuke remained silent looking horrible and Ellen couldn't blame him. The principal continued said "Ms. Konishi was found decreased early this morning...The reasons behind her passing are currently under investigation by the police. If they ask you for your cooperation, I urge you, as students of this school, to provide only the facts. All right, please quiet down...I have been assured by the faculty that there's been no evidence that bullying was involved in the incident. So mind what you say, not only to the police, but to anyone who asks..."
"Found dead...? How could this happen...?" Chie asked.
Yosuke still stayed silent. After the assembly, Chie and Ellen were walking back to class together when they heard couple girls say "She dies the same way as that announcer, right? That's so creepy..."
"Well, last time, it was from an antenna, but this time she was hanging from a telephone pole. It's gotta be a serial murder case..."
"Someone said the cause of death was some unknown poison."
"Unknown...? C'mon, this isn't some sci-fi drama. Oh, by the way, did you hear? Someone saw a girl that looked like Saki on that Midnight Channel thingie. They said she totally looked like she was in pain. Isn't that scary?"
"Haha, sounds like someone had a nightmare. The media's been broadcasting their interviews with her nonstop, so maybe they just had Saki on the brain."
They girls left and Chie said "Sheesh, it's easy to toss around theories if you're not personally involved..."
"I agree. They need to learn to mind their words and show some respect." Ellen said.
Yosuke soon came and said to them "Hey...Did you guys check out the TV last night?"
"Yosuke! Not you too!" Chie yelled.
"Just listen for a sec! Something kept bothering me, so...I watched it again, and...I think the girl on the screen...was Saki-senpai. There's no mistaking it...Senpai looked like...she was writhing in pain...And then...she disappeared from the screen."
"What...?" Chie asked.
"Yosuke..." Ellen said.
"You heard Senpai's body was found in a similar situation as that announcer's, right...? Well, remember that guy you told us about, Chie? How he was all excited that his soulmate was the announcer? Maybe...just maybe, but...Ms. Yamano might've been on that Midnight Channel before she died, too." Yosuke said.
"What's that supposed to mean...? Hold on...Are you saying...? People who appear on that TV...die...?" Chie asked.
"I can't say for sure. But something tells me...I can't dismiss it as coincidence...Plus, remember what that bear thing said? How that place was dangerous, and we should leave before the fog clears...? It also said that someone's been throwing people in there. And that room with the posters on the wall...It has to have something to do with the announcer's death. I mean...don't you think there's some kind of connection there? Couldn't that world in the TV have something to do with Senpai and the announcer's death!?" Yosuke said.
Yosuke turned to Ellen said "Well...? What do you think...?"
Ellen thought for a moment and said "Well, you may be right or you may not. That world is unknown to us and to make any theory about it is a gamble, but I won't say that I don't see a connection."
"...So it's not just me, huh? If there is a connection, then it's a good bet that the two of them went inside that world. That would explain the posters in that room. Which means...if we look around, we might find place that has something to do with Senpai, too."
"Yosuke, don't tell me..." Chie said.
"Yeah...I'm thinking about going in again. I want to find out for myself." Yosuke said.
"Don't do this...You should just let the police handle this and-" Chie tried to say.
"You think we can rely on the police!? They haven't made any progress on the announcer's case. Besides, even if we told them about the world inside the TV, there's no way they're gonna believe us! If I'm completely off-base with this, that's fine...It's just...I need to know why Senpai had to die like this." Yosuke said.
"Yosuke..." Chie said.
"...Fine." Ellen said.
They both looked at her in surprise and Ellen continued saying "Just promise us, that you won't go alone."
"Believe me, I don't plan to. After what I've seen and put together, there's no way I can ignore it now...Sorry, but you're the only person who can help me. I'm gonna go get ready. I'll be waiting for you at Junes" Yosuke said.
Then he ran off and Chie soon said "I kinda understand how he feels...But we can't be sure we'll be sure we'll be able to get out safely again. What should we do...?"
"We should go with Yosuke." Ellen said.
"Y-You serious...?" Chie asked.
"Face it, if we don't he'll go by himself and who will save him then?" Ellen said.
"...Right, let's go to Junes. We can't leave Yosuke alone..." Chie said.
After school, they both went to Junes to see Yosuke with a gold club and rode tied around him. "You guys came...!"
"We came to stop you, idiot! C'mon...You really shouldn't do this. It's too dangerous." Chie said.
"I know...But we were able to come back once, right? If we go in from the same location, maybe we'll meet that bear again." Yosuke said.
"Maybe" isn't good enough!" Chie yelled.
"Look, I can't just act like everyone else and pretend this has nothing to do with me." Yosuke said.
"That's true, but..." Chie said.
"What about you? Could you just walk away?" Yosuke asked Ellen.
"...I don't really have a choice in the matter anymore, after everything that's happen." Ellen said.
"Yeah...I thought not. I'm glad to know you're that kinda girl." Yosuke said.
He turns to Chie and says "Don't worry, I'm not going in without a plan. Chie, I'm leaving you in charge of this."
Yosuke hands Chie the rope and Chie said "Huh? What's that? A rope...?"
"We'll go in with this tied to me, so I want you to hold on to this and wait here." Yosuke said.
"Wh-What? Then, this is a lifeline? C'mon, wait a sec..." Chie said.
"Here, Ellen...This is for you." Yosuke said.
He hands her to the golf club and some medicine. "I thought it might be better than going in empty-handed. Alright...Let's go. There's no used wasting any more time. Chie, whatever you do, don't let go of the rope!"
Ellen and Yosuke then entered the TV. They were met with the same rough landing. They soon got up and Yosuke said "Is this...? Look, this is the same place as last time! So they are connected from place to place!"
"Y-You guys...Why'd you come back...?"
They turned and saw the same bear again. The bear then said angrily "I get it! You're the ones behind this!"
"You're that thing from last time...! Wait, what the hell did you just say!?" Yosuke said.
"Lately, I can tell someone's been throwing people in here. It's making this world more and more messed up...This is the second time you guys came here. And I don't think anyone forced you in. That means you're the most suspicious! You guys must be the ones throwing the people in here, raaawr!" the bear said.
"Bear...listen to me." Ellen said to the bear.
The bear turned to her and Ellen continued "Think with me for a moment. If we were the ones throwing people in here, then why would come here ourselves? Also why would come here if we knew it was dangerous? If we were the ones who did it, we would not come here. It's that simple."
"I-It is...?" the bear said looking confused.
"Yes, it is. We're not here to throw people in. We are here to see what's been going on here. Can you help us?"
"You're asking the bear for help?" Yosuke asked.
Ellen nodded and said "He knows more about this world than we do."
"Yeah, I see you point...But all this talk of someone throwing people in here...Does he mean Senpai and the announcer? Did that "someone" throw those two in here. H-Hey...What do you think?" Yosuke said.
"That is a possibly." Ellen said.
"Yeah...I agree. Let's assume he's telling the truth...Could it be that someone's throwing people in here, intending to kill them...? If that's the case..." Yosuke said.
"What're you guys mumbling about? Why'd you come here, anyways!? It's a one-way door! You can't get out once you're in! Remember? How I had to let you guys out?" the bear yelled.
"I already told you and we understand that." Ellen said.
"Yeah, whatever. We don't need your help this time! See, this time we have a lifeli-" Yosuke said.
He then notice that the rope was cut. He yelled "Whaaaat!? H-Hey! You better let us out once we're done investigating here!"
"Grrrrr! I'm the one who wants to investigate! I've lived here for a long time. But it's never been noisy like this till now. Do you have proof!? Prove to me you're not throwing people in here!" the bear yelled.
"That's not how it works..." Ellen said.
"See! So it is you guys!" the bear yelled.
"...You're not very bright, are you?" Ellen asked.
"Bright?" the bear asked.
"For the last time, it's not us, so we've got nothing to prove to you! Hey, you better answer out questions. This isn't like last time, when we came by accident. We're dead serious! Listen up 'cause people have died in our world...Every time the fog appears, a dead body shows up with it. It has to be related to this place somehow! If you know something, tell us!" Yosuke yelled.
"A dead body? Whenever the fog appears...? I know that if it foggy on your side, the fog lifts here. It's really dangerous when the fog lifts. That's when the Shadows get violent." the bear said.
Then he thought to himself and had a look of realization and said "Aaah...I get it..."
"Huh...? If you get it, then explain it to us, dammit! If it's foggy on our side, it isn't in here...? Shadows get violent...?" Yosuke said.
"That's why I said to hurry back! It's dangerous when that happens! Okay, no more questions. I know you guys did it! You better stop right now!" the bear yelled.
"I've told you and told you, we're not the ones doing it! I've about had it with you...Why the hell won't you listen to what we're saying!?" Yosuke yelled.
"I-I'm just saying...you might be the culprits. I'm just making sure..." the bear said.
"What...? Man, this bear's driving me nuts..." Yosuke said.
Ellen walked up to the bear and petted his head saying "I think you're on the wrong track..."
The bear purrs again as Ellen thought to herself "We got to remember that he's just worried about his home..."
"Hey, what is this place, anyways? It looks like a TV studio...Is something being filmed here...? H-Hey, don't tell me...Is that weird show being filmed here!?" Yosuke asked.
"Weird show? Filmed? What does that mean?" the bear asked.
"Uh...I'm asked if someone's been filming the people that get thrown in here." Yosuke said.
"...? I don't get it...This world has always been like this. No one has ever done that filming thing here." the bear said.
"What do you mean exactly?" Ellen asked.
"Only me and Shadows are here! I told you before!" the bear yelled.
"Ugh...We don't know what these Shadow things are! Or what you are either, for that matter! You keep telling us to prove our innocence, but you're the most suspicious thing here! Maybe you're the real culprit!"
"Yosuke..." Ellen muttered.
Meanwhile she soon thought to herself "How can this bear be the culprit? He hardly knows anything about our world to prove that he has never been to our world."
"And what's with that stupid costume!? I'd say it's time you showed your face!" Yosuke yelled.
Then he removed the bear's head. To their shock, there was nothing inside. "Whoa!" Yosuke yelled.
"How can this..." Ellen said as the both backed off a bit.
"Wh-What the hell are you...? I-It's empty inside..." Yosuke said.
The bear put his head back on and said "Me...? The culprit...? I wouldn't do such a thing...I just live here...I just want to live here peacefully...Okay. I'll believe that you guys aren't the culprits. But I want you to find the real guy who did all this. You have to stop him. Promise me, or else...I'm not gonna let you guys outta here. "
"This little piece of sh-" Ellen thought to herself
Before Ellen could finish her thought Yosuke said "Y-You little...!"
"This can't keep going on! My home here will be a complete mess! And then...and then...I...Waaah..." the bear said about to cry.
"Wh-What're you crying for all of a sudden...? Geez, this thing's really weirding me out...*sigh* What should we do?" Yosuke said.
"You're the only ones I can ask. Will you promise me?" the bear asked.
"Geez, this thing ranges from annoying to cute...*sigh* if we want to get anywhere then will have to make this promise..." Ellen thought to herself.
Then she said "Ok I promise..."
"Th-Thank you!" the bear said with a happy smile.
"Damn bear...Practically holding a gun to our heads...But...it's true that we came here to figure things out. So far, we're completely in the dark. Look for the culprit, huh...? Bring it on! You got my word, too. Might as well introduce ourselves...I'm Yosuke Hanamura, and this is my buddy Ellen Narukami. You got a name?" Yosuke said.
"...Teddie." the bear said.
"*goans* Figures..." Yosuke said.
"That's really...cute." Ellen thought to herself as she was reminded of her own stuff bear at home.
"But how are we supposed to find the culprit in the first place?" Yosuke asked.
"I dunno...Oh, but I know where the last person came in." Teddie said.
"The last person...? You mean Saki-senpai!?" Yosuke asked.
"I mean the person who came in and disappeared last time. I dunno the name. I'll take you there. You might find clues. Oh, one thing first. You two should put these on." Teddie said.
Teddie then gave them some glasses. Once they put them on the fog was clear and for Ellen she could see just find with these new glasses. Her's were gray while Yosuke's was orange. "Whoa! The difference is like night and day. With these on, it's like the fog doesn't exist."
"Yeah...I can see normally too." Ellen said.
"They'll help you walk through the fog...Well, I've been here for a long time. So you can rely on me! Uh...But I can only show you where the place is. You guys will have to defend yourselves." Teddie said.
"What happened to relying on you!? Th-There better not be any monsters! You understand?! We brought weapons, but I mean..They're more for show. We just got here! So if it's so dangerous, why don't you do something instead of relying on us?!" Yosuke yelled.
"Uh Uh. No way. I've got no muscles. Oh! Oh! I'll give you guys moral support from a safe distance! How's that sound?" Teddie said.
"Can Teddie really not fight...? Maybe if I pushed him a little..." Ellen thought to herself.
She then pushed Teddie a little and he fell right to the ground moaning "N-Noooo..."
"I-Is this thing for real!?" Yosuke asked.
"Don't know...I'm trying to find any of this real..." Ellen said.
"Ugh, this is so lame...We swore to find the culprit and this is all the backup we get...?" Yosuke said.
"...Oh yeah. Can I ask you something? Who's this Saki-senpai person? Someone you know?" Teddie asked.
"...That doesn't matter right now...Anyways, at least now we know Senpai might have been thrown in here. Maybe we can find more information, too. Let's get moving, Ellen." Yosuke said.
"W-Waaaait!" Teddie yelled, still stuck.
They walked far to an area that looks like the shopping district. "What is this place...? It looks just like the shopping district...What's going on here!?" Yosuke said.
"I'm not sure, but I've got to give credit to whoever did this..." Ellen said looking around.
"Some weird places have appeared here recently. Things are getting so tangled, I dunno what to do..." Teddie said.
"Uh...by the way, why are you standing so far away from us?...You better not be planning to high-tail it if something does come up." Yosuke said.
"Of course not! I mean. Uh. I can't stand too close, you know. I'd get in your way..." Teddie said.
"Awwww but, Teddie I get lonely." Ellen lied.
"Awwwww I wish I could but, the Shadows-" Teddie tried to say.
Ellen turned to Yosuke and said "Theory is correct."
"Knew it, but man, they really went all out on this...But out of all the places in town, why'd they replicate this one?" Yosuke said.
"How should I know? This is reality for the one who's here." Teddie said.
"*sigh* As usual, nothing you say makes any sense...But if this is our shopping district, we're not far from Saki-senpai's..." Yosuke said.
He ran off and the others ran after him to the liquor store. "I knew it...! This is the liquor store that Senpai's parents run. Does this mean...Senpai disappeared here? What could've happened...?" Yosuke said.
"W-Wait a second. Th-They're here!" Teddie yelled.
"What?" Yosuke asked.
"Who's here?" Ellen asked.
"...Shadows. I had a feeling they were going to attack...!" Teddie said.
Suddenly weird creatures with long tongues came out from the store. Ellen thought to herself terrified "One...two...three...four...five! Five of them!?...A-Are we gonna...die...?"
As she prepared for the attacked, she heard that same mighty voice "I am thou...thou art I...open that eyes and unleash what is within."
She opened her eyes and saw a card in her hand. It then began to glow but, her head still hurt, like all the things that angered and annoyed her came back to her like a sword in the chest. She broke the card after saying "Per...so...na!"
Then a woman that look more like a mannequin with it's pure black skin, red eyes with no pupils, and wore steel armor and wield a mighty claymore appeared behind her. The Persona looked at her enemies and said in her mighty voice "I am Teresa, defender of lost...NOW BEGONE!"
She then attacked these unknown Shadows killing three with one strike. Ellen mean while couldn't help but, laugh. Something inside felt relieved, like she was released from chain but, then that same sharp pain came back and she clutched her head and screamed high at the top of lungs. Teresa then changed into a human size dragon. It roared and processed to rip the last two in half. Once the fight was done, the dragon change back to Teresa and then back to the card. Once Ellen had it in her hand it vanish in her. Yosuke came to Ellen's side not believing what he just saw and said "Woah! H-How did you do that?!"
"I...don't...know..." Ellen said feeling exhausted.
She then fell on her knees. "Hey! You alright!? Let's rest for a moment." Yosuke said.
He helped her lean on a wall and as she sat "So what was that? Did I hear you say "Persona"? What was it-I mean, what did you do! Hey, you think I can do it too..." Yosuke asked.
"How...the...hell...should I-" Ellen tried to say.
But Teddie came in and said "Calm down, Yosuke. You're troubling Sensei."
"S-Sensei...?" Yosuke asked.
"Me...?" Ellen asked.
"Gosh almighty! You're amazing, Sensei and terrify! I am one impressed bear! I can't believe you were hiding such an amazing and scary power! No wonder the shadows were scared of you! *gasp* Are you the one who's able to bring people into this world?" Teddie said.
Ellen nodded and then Teddie said "Hah! That's what I thought! This is really something. Don't you think so, Yosuke?"
Yosuke pushes him and he bounces back up while Yosuke says "Dude, you call her Sensei and then don't show me any respect!?"
"Sorry..." Teddie said.
"...It's ok but, still man that was something. First that knight lady came and then it turns into this huge dragon and beat all those things!" Yosuke said in excitement.
"...That dragon was a pain in the neck. When it came out, everything hurt." Ellen said.
"Hhhhmm...maybe, it's because you don't show yourself enough." Teddie said.
"W-What?" Ellen asked.
"Maybe that dragon is like a form of your suppressed thought. Maybe if you showed yourself a little, maybe you wouldn't use the dragon again." Teddie said.
"Show myself...people hate it when I do that..." Ellen said.
"C'mon! It can't be that bad." Teddie said.
"It is bad, you little twit..." Ellen thought to herself.
"Maybe, you should." Yosuke said.
Ellen looked at him in surprise as he said "The best partnerships come from honesty and plus you've been so calm and collective with all of us that I'm having some trust in yay. So if have something to say, give it a shot!" Yosuke said.
"...Promise you won't get mad?" Ellen asked.
"Promise." Yosuke said.
"I promise too, Sensei!" Teddie said looking happy.
Ellen thought to herself for a moment and said "Ok then...Yosuke?"
"Um, yes?" Yosuke said.
"What you said to me earlier...about the best partnerships come from honesty...well, ever since I've met you..." Ellen said.
"Y-Yes?" Yosuke asked wondering where this was going.
She looks up to him and says "...That was the first smart thing you've ever said."
Yosuke gasps and hangs his head down in shame saying "Damn...I was not expecting that..."
"Well, what did you expect?" Ellen asked.
"I...don't know really..." Yosuke said blushing.
Ellen then smiled and started laughing her head off. After a bit she calmed down and said "Sorry, sorry! I just...that feels good, but I'll dumb it down a bit in the future."
She got up and said "Thanks."
"Yeah, no...problem" Yosuke said.
"Now back to investigating." Ellen said.
