Chapter 13

The last three days were nothing but, rain and study for Ellen. Figured now that they can rest easy with Yukiko's recuse, she could go back to her routine since hardly anyone did anything in the rain. On the night of the last day, the weather report said that a heavy fog would thicken the area. Ellen made a mental note of it while Dojima said "More fog, huh...? There's been a lot of that lately. Hopefully it's not a sign of more trouble..."

Nanako changed the channel and Dojima said to her "Ah-ah-ah. What did I say about changing the channel without asking?"

Before she could say the Junes commercial came on and she still sang that same tone from it. She then said "Dad! They're going to be open during Golden Week!"

"Haha, I heard. Do you want to go somewhere during the long holiday?" Dojima asked.

"We can go somewhere?!" Nanako asked surprised.

"How about it? Got any plans yet?" Dojima asked Ellen.

"I got no plans to speak of." Ellen answered.

"Then let's all go somewhere together! Junes! Junes Junes Junes!" Nanako said with a cheerful smile.

"You're sure you want to go to Junes? We can go there anytime...Come on, girl, time for bed. It's late." Dojima said.

"Alright...Every day's great at your Junes!" Nanako said excited.

Ellen smiled at them all and then went back to her room herself to watch the Midnight Channel. She waited until midnight and soon it came on and no one was on it however Ellen knew that this was far from over for this killer or at least that seemed the most logical.

The next day at the school gate, Ellen saw that Yukiko had come back well. Yukiko said to Ellen "O-Oh...Good morning."

"Feeling better?" Ellen asked.

"Y-Yeah...I'll be coming to school again, so...That'll be nice. I caused everyone some real trouble. I'm sorry...No, "sorry" isn't quite right...What I mean to say is, thank you. My mother's back to work already. The maids are being really supportive, and I think things are going even smoother than before. I wonder if I was trying too hard...I may have been too caught up in the idea that I had to do everything myself."

"It happens. Don't beat yourself over it. We're just happy were all in good health." Ellen said.

Yukiko smiled and said "Yeah...ever since the incident...I feel like I can think about these things more calmly."

She then blushed and said "B-But...it's still kind of embarrassing...You guys saw everything...Even the things I didn't want to admit..."

"Join the embarrassment club with Yosuke and Chie. Don't worry about it."

"Yukiko!" Chie yelled from a father away.

"Oh, it's Chie!" Yukiko said with a smile.

She turned back to Ellen and said "Well, I'll talk to you later."

She left to see Chie and Ellen went inside happy to see Yukiko safe.

After school, all of them met on the roof "Sorry to keep you waiting. The soba is yours, right Chie?" Yukiko asked.

"Thanks! Oooh, that smells so gooood...These instant noodles are just the thing to help me through club...How much longer do I have to wait on this?" Chie said.

"It stills needs a few minutes." Yukiko said.

"So, why're we here...? Oh yeah, we were going to ask Yukiko what happened." Chie said.

"Yukiko-san, I hate to bring up stuff you'd rather not think about...But I need to ask you again. Did you recall anything about when you got kidnapped?" Yosuke asked.

"No...I thought I might remember something if I let it sit for a while, but as time passes, it only gets hazier...I think...the doorbell rang at the entrance...and someone called for me...But when I woke up after that, I was already in the castle...I'm sorry." Yukiko said.

"No need to apologized, but does the mean her vistor is the culprit!?" Chie asked.

"I don't know...If it's true, then that's one daring criminal. What kind of killer would ring the doorbell? The police are probably looking for witnesses...but I don't think we can expert much from them." Yosuke said.

"Yeah...the event most likely happen at night so there wouldn't be hardly any people around." Ellen said.

"Heh, as if the culprit wore bright yellow clothes at the scene of the crime." Yosuke said.

"I wonder why whoever it is would do stuff like this." Chie said.

"We won't know until we confront 'em ourselves...But we can be sure of one thing. It's no coincidence that people keep ending up in that place. Someone on our side id definitely kidnapping them and throwing them into the TV. It's murder, all right...Oh yeah, we never told you. This guy and me are gonna catch the culprit ourselves! The police are out of their league on this case, but we got Personas." Yosuke said.

"And so do you guys now. So you could also give us a hand." Ellen said.

"Huh? Um..." Yukiko said.

"I'm helping out too! I can't believe someone would throw people into place like that. I'm gonna sock whoever's doing this!" Chie yelled.

"Chie..." Yukiko said.

They all chatted a bit and then Yukiko said "...Let me help too. I want to know why this is happening...Especially if someone hates me so much they want to kill. I don't want to run away from myself anymore."

"Alright! Then let's all work together and catch this asshole!" Yosuke yelled.

"Agreed." Yukiko said.

"Yeah..." Ellen said.

They all nodded and soon Chie said "But how're we going to find them? We don't have a single lead yet. We don't have a single lead yet."

"I'm the third one to be targeted so far...But I have a feeling this isn't the end of it. If we had an idea of who might be targeted next, wouldn't we have an advantage over the killer?" Yukiko said.

"So we'll outsmart them, huh...? Yeah, that might work." Yosuke said.

"It's a first step anyway." Ellen said.

"Okay, so let's see if we can figure out what ties the victims together. First, there was the announcer, Mayumi Yamano. Second was Saki Konishi...Senpai. Third was Yukiko Amagi. What do they all have in common...?" Yosuke said.

"There all woman that have lived in Inaba at some point in there lives." Ellen said.

"Bingo." Yosuke said.

"How dare he target females! Now that's unforgivable! The culprit's gotta be some kind prevent..." Chie said

"Also, what about this? The second and third victims had some sort of connection to the first one." Yosuke said.

"Hey, that's right. Yukiko and Saki-Senpai both had connections to that announcer..." Chie said.

"That's true. Then...does that mean females connected in some way to Ms. Yamano's case are being targeted...?" Yukiko said.

"I think that's a safe assumption for now. There's another angle we can take, too. If another person disappears..." Yosuke said.

"You think they'd be on that Midnight Channel? That happened right before Yukiko was kidnapped, too." Chie said.

"Yeah, it's hard to tell who at first, but what's important is, it's happened before the victims disappeared. Kinda ransom note. We still don't know why that happens, but we'll have to rely on it for now." Yosuke said.

"The next time it rains..." Yukiko said.

They all nodded and Yosuke asked "You alright, Ellen? You've been quiet."

"*sigh* I'm not going to question the Midnight Channel or that world. That's just a waste of time but...what is about motives that people have that make no sense? If the guy is killing those woman just because they were connected to Ms. Yamano then were dealing with a sick basterd, but if not then...he's just dumb...Now I have a headache for all this thinking...maybe I should be thinking less on logical..." Ellen said half talking to them and half talking to herself.

"...You've been thinking a lot about this lately, haven't you?" Yukiko asked.

"...Kinda yeah, but not to this degree." Ellen said.

"By the way, aren't those done by now?" Yosuke asked.

"Whoa, that's right! Chow time!" Chie yelled.

The two ate their soba and Yosuke asked "Hey, could I try just a little bit of that!? Just one tiny bite!"

"Hands off the soba, pal! Go get your own if you want some. Rrrngh...Okay, just one bite, got it?" Chie said.

Chie handed her food to Yosuke while the aroma of Yukiko's hit Ellen. She was hungry but, their was something odd about the smell. Yukiko asked "Do you want to try some, Ellen?"

"Um, sure." Ellen answered.

She took a bite and remembered now what the odd smell was while Yosuke said in delight "It's soooo good...The aroma, the flavor, and the texture all combined...This is perfect!"

Meanwhile Ellen gave back the soba back to Yukiko and Yukiko asked worried "A-Are you ok? You look pale."

"Bye!" Ellen said running to the bathroom.

She was allergic to tofu and every time she ate it always came back up. She was able to make it to the bathroom and after she was done being sick by the tofu, she came back out and saw the others waiting for her. Ellen said to them "Ummm...sorry about that."

"What happened?" Chie asked.

"I'm allergic to tofu. It doesn't kill me though it never stays down, hehehe." Ellen said smiling.

"It's ok, where going to Junes, because SOMEONE ate all the soba!" Chie said giving a death glare to Yosuke.

"And just when I thought you were using your brain." Ellen said to Yosuke.

"Can you blame me for eating something so good?!" Yosuke asked clearly feel guilty.

"When it comes to tofu, yes." Ellen said bluntly.

"...Fair enough." Yosuke said.

"So anyway, were going over to Junes so he can buy us steak!" Chie said with a grin.

They all went to Junes and while walking Yosuke begged for Ellen to help him out with the bill in private and Ellen whispered "Why the hell should help? This is your fault."

"Pleeeeaaaaaasssseeeee!? I don't have enough for two steaks." Yosuke pleaded.

"Ugh...Fine! But, you owe me for this!" Ellen whispered.

"Thank you!" Yosuke whispered.

They made it to Junes and Chie and Yukiko got their steaks. They all sat the same round table and Yosuke said "Man, talk about great timing. We just started serving grilled steak today. We're doing our part to spread this town's specialty dish. Plus, we've already got an excellent grill."

"That's just a yakisoba griddle...Oh well, steak is steak. It's far from a filet steak though..." Chie said.

"But the money spent seemed like a filet steak though..." Ellen muttered.

"I'll make it up to you! I promise!" Yosuke said.

"Yukiko, are you okay with this? It's not too heavy for you?" Chie asked Yukiko.

"I'll eat it...I'm still mad." Yukiko muttered.

"Oh for the love everything-! Live with it!" Ellen thought to herself who really just wanted to go home after that sick moment with the tofu.

"So, back on topic. I wonder what kind of person the culprit is." Chie said.

"If you focus just on the announcer's case, it seems like a revenge thing. Maybe it was her lover's wife." Yosuke said.

"But Misuzu Hiiragi had a solid alibi, didn't she? And it seemed like she was already separated from her husband." Chie said.

"Really? You know an awful lot about this...Okay, what about the second case? Saki-Senpai...she found the announcer's body. Assuming the same person killed them both, then why target Senpai...?" Yosuke said.

"Hhmmmmm...shot in the dark but, do you think they knew each other?" Ellen said.

"Wait, you're saying Senpai and that Yamano lady knew each other? Senpai never told me anything like that..." Yosuke said.

"Ok, one I'm guessing and two...never mind. I didn't know her very well. Nothing, but assuming..." Ellen said.

"Ok, so maybe it was to keep her quiet? She could've noticed something that the culprit left at the at the scene." Yosuke said.

"But the killer just threw the announcer into a TV, right? I don't think he would've left evidence the police-much less a high school student-would catch." Yukiko said.

"Yeah, exactly..." Yosuke said

"I agree..." Ellen said.

They then all heard Adachi say as he walks close by "Man, I thought the countryside would be a snooze, but it's proving to be a lot more exciting than I thought...Ooh, they updated the menu!"

"Huh? Isn't he that detective?" Chie asked.

"Adachi-san..." Ellen muttered.

Adachi notice them all and walked over saying to Ellen "Hey, you were at Dojima-san's...Ahaha...I-I'm not...Oh wait! Hey, this is great timing after all. Dojima-san said that he'll be leaving work on schedule tonight. Could you pass that on to Nanako-chan?"

"Yeah...I'll do that. Thanks." Ellen said.

"Yo! I'm Adachi, Dojima-san's gofer...Err, I mean, his partner." Adachi said to everyone else.

"Are you this busy every day?" Yosuke asked.

"Huh? Oh, well, the public seems to be getting a charge out of these cases, but we can't leave it at that." Adachi said.

"Sorry to butt in, but could it be that the killer targeted Saki-Senpai in order to silence her?" Chie asked.

"U-Ummm, you sure get to the heart of the matter. Yikes...Haha. Of course, we're also thinking along those lines. She was killed right after the announcer's body was found. If the killer was trying to silence her, there might've been something at the scene only she would have understood. Which would mean that the culprit may be someone close to Ms. Konishi. Nothing like that points to Misuzu Hiiragi, so...Ooh, I might have stumbled across something here...W-Wait, were you listening at all that!? Crap! Me and my big mouth...D-Don't tell anyone I said any of that, or Dojima-san will flay me alive...Relax, kids, the police are on the job. See you!" Adachi said.

Then they all looked at each other for a moment and then Ellen smacked her head on the table saying "We're fucked..."

"*sigh* You were right, Yosuke. The police are totally useless...Augh! My steak's getting cold!" Chie yelled.

"Could you shut up about the steak for five seconds...?" Yosuke said.

Yosuke and Ellen waiting for the two to finish eating, then decided to go into the TV world. Once they entered Yukiko said "Wow...This really is inside the TV..."

"Yeah, we went through a TV. What did you expect, Mars?...Oh, man I'm way too tired for this..." Ellen thought to herself as she rubbed her eyes.

Teddie came to them and Yukiko said "It's Teddie...Then it wasn't a dream."

"Are you feeling better, Yuki-chan? I did what you said! I've been a good bear!" Teddie said.

"Oh, I see. Good boy!" Yukiko said.

"W-Well, this bear's part of the reason we want to find the culprit." Yosuke said.

"I'm one of the group now too. Let's work together, okay?" Yukiko said.

"Yep! I was thinking the same thing! That's why I got these ready for you, Yuki-chan!" Teddie said.

Then Teddie gave Yukiko red framed glasses. She put Yukiko them on and she said "Oh, so these are what everyone's wearing. Thank you, Teddie. You're right...It's just as if the fog doesn't exist..."

"Hey, tell me something. How come you have so many pairs of glasses?" Chie asked.

"Excellent question! Guess what? I'm the one who makes them. I've lived here for a long time. So I came up with some ways to be comfortable here." Teddie said.

"I see, but don't you need a pair?" Yukiko asked.

"Ooh, good point. Another great question! Listen to this! My eyes themselves are lenses! You didn't know?" Teddie said.

"Of course not..." Yosuke said.

"Wh-Why are you being so mean!? You act like you're not interested! I'm a really dexterous bear! See how smoothly my fingers move!" Teddie said.

Then he walked up to Yosuke and delicately moved his fingertips. "What am I even looking at!?" Yosuke yelled.

Then he pushes Teddie away as he drops another pair of glasses. "Hm? You dropped something..." Yukiko said.

"Oh, that's a pair I kinda screwed up on." Teddie said.

She puts them on. They had a black spiral on the lenses and also a giant nose with a black curled up mustang attached to it. "Y-Yukiko?" Chie asked.

"Ahaha, how do I look?" Yukiko asked smiling.

"*giggle* Looks natural on you..." Ellen said trying not to laugh.

"Ahahahaha! Awesome!" Yukiko said.

"Do you like that one, Yuki-chan?" Teddie asked.

She nodded and said "I want to wear this one. It's even got a nose guard!"

"Ohhhh no you don't!" Chie yelled.

"How bear-y unfortunate...That pair doesn't have the right lenses in. Guess I should've made an actual pair." Teddie said.

"Awww, too bad." Yukiko said.

Then she gave the glasses to Chie and said "Here, Chie. Your turn!"

"*sigh* Man...All right, fine..." Chie moaned.

She put them on and Yukiko started to brush out laughing as Chie said "How'd it come to this...?"

"Y-Yukiko-san? Hellooo...?" Yosuke said trying to get her attention.

"There's goes one of Yukiko's laughing fits...I never thought she'd do it when someone besides me was around. These stupid glasses are useless for investigating! I mean, what the hell's this nose guard for, anyway!?" Chie said.

"I don't know...*giggle* but, they are good for a laugh." Ellen said trying to keep it together.

"Ok, mighty leader, then you put them on!" Chie yelled give Ellen the glasses.

Ellen put the on and said to everyone "Well?"

Everyone started laughing. "You're right, Ellen! It is funny!" Chie said.

"...How this more funny on me?" Ellen asked confused.

She took them off as Teddie said "Nice work, huh? That's what happens when you guys leave me here alone and I get bored!"

"W-Well, I'm glad everyone's in high spirits again...I guess..." Yosuke said.

"Oh Chie, the look on your face...Snrk...hahaha, it was so funny! And Ellen...Snrk...hahahahahahahahaha...it doesn't suit you at all...hahahahaha! I can't stop...laugh-Heehee! Ohhhh, my stomach, ahahaha..." Yukiko said while laughing her head off.

After awhile of laughing, they all decided to go home.

Later that night, Dojima muttered to himself while reading the paper "The 4th and the 5th..."

The girls looked at him confused and he said "I think I might be able to get the 4th and the 5th off."

"Really!?" Nanako asked surprised.

Then she asked again looking down "...Really?"

"What, you don't believe me?" Dojima asked.

"...It's always canceled." Nanako said.

"N-Not every year! I know you wanted to go to Junes, but...I wouldn't mind going a little further out of the neighborhood." Dojima said.

"Really? Can we go on a trip?" Nanako asked.

"Uhhh...Well, it might be okay to go on a trip once in a while. I'm sure it'll be crowded everywhere though..." Dojima said.

"Yaay! We're going on a trip!" Nanako said excited.

"Hm...all right, all right. Then we need to think of someplace to go...How about you...? You wanna come along with us?" Dojima said.

Ellen nodded and said "Sure, I'll come if you'll have me."

"Yeah! Let's all go together!" Nanako said smiling.

"Looks like Nanako wants us all to go." Dojima said.

They all smiled agreeing on the trip.

"Let's bring boxed lunches!" Nanako said.

"Hm? Yeah, good idea. We're always eating side dishes for dinner. But I can't cook...and Nanako's not good enough yet to make them by herself..." Dojima said.

Then he gets up and pats Ellen's shoulder and says "Well, it'll work out. That's what we got this gal for, huh Nanako?"

"Yaaay, boxed lunches!" Nanako said excited.

"Making the lunches...that should be fun." Ellen thought to herself liking the challenge.