Persona: A Novelization 4

by RionAgrias

If Persona 4 was a novella, loosely based. There is one OC, out of request. The battle style is also written differently from the actual game style, so please bear with me. I am editing every chapter. Bear with me as I slowly fix grammar and formatting.

19. Chapter 19

Chapter 19

I own nothing, Atlus owns Persona, SMT, my money, my soul, and so on.

Let's see… what to say about this chapter? Culture Festival, Hot Springs, and moving on toward Nana-chan into Heaven are the purpose of this chapter. This is where the story starts getting even screwier… for just a little while longer. I introduce a side character for a small part for the 1st of 2 chapters. Naoto goes way OOC for 1 of 2 chapters. Rise goes somewhat OOC. Give it 3 chapters and it'll be fixed up… sorta, okay 4. One more thing, I use Rion's POV a bit more for the next 3-4 chapters.

Why am I still posting this when I beyond swamped? My loyal fans who keep visiting and 2 faithful reviewers are the reasons. If others want to review any of the 19 chapters, you're welcome to do so.

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Souji headed to school on the 26th of October. What he didn't know was the disaster that would follow him in a few days. He didn't really mind dealing with the café, since he'd be with Yukiko.

Yukiko greeted Souji at the gates. They talked about the upcoming festival.

"Let's just do our best to survive the festival," Yukiko told him, her arms behind her back.

Souji sighed, "You too. Do you look forward to it?"

"Yeah," Yukiko responded, "We've only had bad news all year. We need something to look forward to."

They walked to class together and walked into 2-2 before the bell rang.

The headdress-wearing psycho teacher was lecturing today, Souji had seemed to forgotten her name, Sofue, was it? They were talking about Latin, October, and the Roman Empire. It was boring Souji to death. Souji looked over. Chie was whispering at Yosuke to wake up during the middle of the lecture. Souji felt like taking a nap himself.

Yosuke did seem excited during the morning and at lunchtime for some reason. The next day, everyone was crowded around the bulletin board near the entrance of the school door that Yukiko was responsible for putting up important infomation.

Souji went over for a look. He was intrigued to see what all the commotion was for. The Headline on the bulletin read "The Miss Yasogami High Pageant!"

"What the hell is this?" Souji thought, "Is this what Kashiwagi was setting up?"

It's some beauty pageant that was taking place during the Culture Festival, he guessed.
One female seemed rather annoyed, "On top of planning it, Kashiwagi is going to be in it?"

"What the hell?" Souji thought, "Our old hag of a teacher is going to be in the pageant?"

"So, that's why she agreed to plan it," another appalled student who rolled her eyes said.

Noriko Kashiwagi was on the list. The others were… "Holy Shit!" he thought as he saw… Yukiko Amagi, Chie Satonaka, Rise Kujikawa, Naoto Shirogane, and Hanako Ohtani.

"Oh, I'm going to kill Yosuke!" Souji thought, "How dare he put Yukiko through this! Rion will probably think it's really funny that Yosuke put Rise and Naoto on the list. Chie is going to punt Yosuke. Kanji will probably be begging Naoto to go through with this. You know Naoto will be pining to get out of it."

The same student who commented on Kashiwagi's entry said, "One, two… Wow, there's a lot of signups here. I'm surprised so many people took an interest."

A second girl student freaked, however, "Whoa! Rise Kujikawa!? Seriously? Trust a celebrity to kill the fun of it all."

The first student replied, "I'll bet she'll draw a huge crowd."

A fan of Yukiko said, "Wow, Yukiko-san is finally entering. If this was any other year, she'd win for sure… Now she's up against Risette. It's gonna be a Culture Festival to remember."

"Just don't get too close, and I won't have to kill you," Souji thought, "Are you kidding me about this?"

One of Rise's fans woke up from his daydreams about Rise obviously and said, "Huh? Risette's entering? She's gonna take part in something like this. Maybe I better think more seriously in saving a seat."

"Only about two-thousand fans to fight with buddy," Souji thought, "Then again… She spends all her time with Rion… probably got to detach her death grip on the poor boy. I feel sorry for you, really, I do. She'll be holding onto him like no tomorrow."

A more manly man said, "Look, Chie's entering too. She's actually pretty close to my type."

"You sound creepy," Souji thought.

The Yukiko fan said, "Actually, I hear she has a lot of secret admirers."

"Like Kou…," Souji thought, "Just don't tell Yosuke. If he survives this next beating, Chie might just fall for him."

The Yukiko fan said next, "Naoto is that boyish… girlish… whatever, right? You know she's pretty cute, hehehe."

A student who was wearing glasses told him, "You sound like a perv when you talk like that. But, to be honest… I think she's cute too."

Souji rolled his eyes, "Poor Rion, you'd have to tear Naoto off of him too. She drags him around like a rag doll. I felt sorry for him when he was at my house, doing something about burning an index card over a stove. That guy in black I talked to caused Naoto to spend all her time with him too. She's dragging him everywhere. There is also the fact that Kanji will be drooling over Naoto like no tomorrow."

"Damn! Everyone likes somebody here…," Souji pondered as he walked away.

But as he was about to walk away, Yosuke walked up to him from the area around the practice building. He was the son of a bitch who had signed everyone up, and Souji knew it.

"Yo," Yosuke greeted him.

"Hi," Souji responded.

"Are you free for lunch? I dunno why, but Chie asked us to come up to the roof," Yosuke asked him.

"I guess," Souji responded. He thought to himself, "It's because you signed up everyone to be in the freakin' pageant you dumbass!"

"She looked pretty serious. I wonder if something happened," Yosuke wondered, "Oh, and Kanji and Rion is coming too," Yosuke added. Souji knew Yosuke was going to die in a few minutes.

On the roof, all the girls were staring down Yosuke, while Kanji and Souji were standing behind the girls to the left. Rion was lying on the edge to the left of them, almost asleep.

Chie started off the angry attack on Yosuke, "You better have a damn good explanation for this!"

"For what?" Yosuke tried to sound innocent.

Chie yelled at him, "The Beauty Pageant! You wrote our names down without telling us, didn't you!?"

"N..No! It wasn't me! Why do you automatically blame me?" Yosuke tried to defend himself.

Yukiko and Chie walked towards the offending boy.

"He's in trouble now," Rion said to no in particular, and Souji chuckled.

"I mean, if you don't want to do it, you just say no, right? Like it was just a joke," Yosuke kept saying.

"We wouldn't be so pissed if we could do that!" Chie yelled, "With Kashiwagi planning this year's event, even those who got entered by other people can't back out!"

Yosuke muttered, "Seriously? Must've been something in the fine print I overlooked."

Chie yelled at him, "So it was you!"

Souji chuckled, "Somebody got caught…" he thought, "Yosuke is so screwed."

"Oh crap!" As Yosuke realized his Freudian slip.

Both Yukiko and Chie started yelling at him.

Rise looked at the other guys, "Hey, do you want us to take part in the beauty pageant?"

"Well yeah," Yosuke responded to Rise, "I mean you guys know how popular Yukiko is here. And on top of that, we have an idol and a Detective Prince. What's the point of having a beauty pageant if all these incredible heroines aren't going to take part?"

Chie wasn't amused, "So where do I fit in?" She sighed, "Well… Excuse me for not fitting in!"

Well everyone tried not to look ashamed, Yosuke asked, "Hey, you want them to be in it too, don'tcha Kanji?"

Kanji tried to look nonchalant, "Huh? I ain't interested in that kinda stuff." Yet, he looked at Naoto and got goose bumps. Rion chuckled at Kanji's nervousness.

Yosuke told her straight out, "Naoto-kun… Kanji-kun says that he really wants you to be in it."

Kanji seemed annoyed that Yosuke put words into his mouth, "Wha! I didn't say nothin'!"

Rion started laughing again.

Naoto looked taken aback at Yosuke and Naoto's comments.

Yosuke looked at Souji, "What about you? You want Yukiko to be in it, right?"

"Sure, why not?" Souji said. Souji did like some aspects of the possibility of Yukiko being in a beauty pageant. However, the rest of the male population being able to see her as well, was a necessary evil.

"Souji!" Yukiko exclaimed, "What are you saying!? I don't want to do this!"

Yosuke turned to Rion, "What about you Rion?" Rion looked like he really was asleep now, "You awake there? Do you want Naoto or Rise to be in the pageant?"

Rion shrugged, "Whatever. You girls do what you want. It's Yosuke who made you do this."

"Aww…," Rise said, "I thought you might not want me to show myself off to other guys, Senpai. I guess you really don't mind."

"I wonder if Rion wants to see Rise up on the stage." Souji thought, "I know he'd make Naoto do it just to see her squirm."

Chie didn't seem happy with their responses, "Hey, you guys are inching onto the bandwagon with Yosuke, aren't you?" Rion rolled his eyes. Souji shrugged his shoulders.

"It's not like we said anything that crossed the line," Souji thought, "But its best not to say too much."

Rise said cheerfully, "So long as there are people looking forward to seeing me, I might as well put on a show for 'em." She glanced at Rion, who wasn't paying attention, "Of course, there's no reason to get my agency involved."

"That's right!" Yosuke tried to save himself, "That's the way to go! Teddie's looking forward to it!" He added, "Actually, I think he was more excited than anyone. It was him who was pushing me to sign you all up."

Chie shook her head, "Ugh… So Teddie's behind this too."

Naoto sighed, "We're in an awkward position… If we can't refuse, I suppose there's no sense in arguing the point. But it seems ill-fitting for someone like me to get on the stage. I wonder if there's any way I could take it up with the school authorities."

I don't think Kanji liked that idea of her getting out of it. He told her, "I… I don't think it's a problem at all." He got all flustered, "I mean, just do it! Ya know… Seriously!"

While Naoto cocked an eyebrow, Yosuke interjected, "Dude, it looks like your blood is boiling even more than usual."

Rise giggled, "Silly Kanji. Just tell her you wanna see her on the stage."

Rion rolled his eyes, "This is hilarious,"

Rise asked, "So, is it a deal? The four of us will be in the beauty pageant?"

"What are you saying?" Naoto looked at Rise. She was really flustered now and blushing.

Kanji pleaded, "Um… I beg you, please be in it. If you do, my, uh, doubts will finally be cleared." His pleading reached new heights, "C'mon! Make me a man!"

"Doubts? What are you talking about?" Naoto was confused.

Kanji got even louder if possible, while Rion chuckled again, "L… Look, just do it, dammit! I m…mean, you're an ace detective, aren't you?"

Naoto was even more taken aback, "Wha…!? What does that have to do with a beauty pageant?"

Kanji was breathing heavily. He seemed to be hyperventilating.

"Do I really have to be in this?" Naoto shook her head, "This is ridiculous." She looked at Rion.

He smiled and gave her a look. She could read his look, "There's no way in hell you're getting out of this. You have to prove to Kanji that you're a girl who isn't afraid to get on the stage."

"I'll make sure you pay then, Rion," was the look Naoto gave back.

Naoto sighed in defeat, while the rest shook their heads. Looking at Rion, she gave a small blush.

The group hurried downstairs as fast as possible. Souji and Rion stayed up on the roof.

"You know Yosuke is dead meat, right?" Souji asked for confirmation as Rion passed him a sandwich.

"Of course," Rion responded, "But I think we'll be caught in the cross-fire. We are going to suffer their wrath only because we our Yosuke's friends."

"I have that feeling too," Souji nodded.

"Hell hath no fury like four women scorned," Rion chuckled.

"I didn't know Rion could be this amusing. I wonder what he's hiding. He's hiding something about both Rise and Naoto. What the hell has he been doing with both of them?" Souji thought, "Do you think…? No, don't tell me…? And I thought I've been…"

"Hey, did you make this?" Souji asked, as he bit into the sandwich.

"I did," Rion answered.

"Okay… the girls never get to cook again, you're now the head chef," Souji responded.

Rion just chuckled.

He left those thoughts on the back-burner as they finished their lunches and headed back to class.

After school, Chie and Yukiko went to Junes to get their supplies while the rest of the group started setting up for the group date café. They came back with huge bags of supplies and dropped them on Yosuke's feet.

"We're back. Ugh, I'm so tired," Chie muttered as she dropped them on his feet.

"Ouch, dammit!" Yosuke yelled, "Where'd you guys go, anyways?"

"Over to Junes. We had to get some paint and cloth," Chie explained.

"You mean for the decorations," Souji explained as he moved Chie's bag off Yosuke's foot.

The female class rep turned to Chie, "Thank you. Did you have them write an invoice?"

Rion looked at them, "Or did you just charge them to Yosuke again?"

Chie chuckled, but said seriously while Yosuke glared at Rion, "Yeah, I think they understood what it was for, so they wrote for it without us having to ask."

The male rep turned as well, "There's some things I want to go over about the day of the event."

Chie asked, "Is this about the group date café?"

The male rep nodded, "Yes, since Yosuke is leading the executive committee."

Yosuke stepped back, "Wait, what!?"

The rep said, "It was your proposal, right?"

Yosuke shook his head, "Are you serious?" Souji chuckled at Yosuke's dilemma.

"He keeps screwing himself over," Souji thought.

"Well, all you have to do is the reception," the rep told the despondent Yosuke, "After people sign in, have a few guys and girls sit facing each other at a table. Conduct a short session first where they ask each other questions. After about a half hour of that, it'll be confession time. Get them to select the number of the person they like. If the other person accepts, then they are a couple." Yosuke was turned away, so the rep asked, "Hey Yosuke, are you listening?"

Yosuke sighed, "Yeah, I hear ya."

In the back of the room to the left, a group of boys were making a commotion. It seems they were going to play a game.

One student said, "Hey, if we roll up this bit of cloth, won't it be kinda like be a ball?"

Another said, "Yeah, then I'll be a catcher!"

"Why the catcher?" a third student asked.

A fourth asked, "Hey Yosuke! Wanna be the batter?"

Yosuke sighed. Souji thought, "Here it comes."

Yosuke exclaimed, "Ahh, I don't give a damn anymore! I'm in! Watch me slam that ball right in your face!"

Yosuke and the group ran to the front of the classroom to play makeshift ragball.

The female rep yelled, "Hey! You guys better get serious about this."

The other students in the back ran to the front only leaving the rest of the group: Souji, Chie, Yukiko, and Rion remaining.

Rion muttered, "I'll help set up, but don't expect me to be here when it starts."

"At least you have an excuse," Souji told him. Rion rolled his eyes.

"It gives me a reason to do something other than this waste of time," Rion said.

"Lucky you," Souji shook his head. Rion just pushed up his glasses.

At school the next day, Yosuke, Rion, and Souji were walking down the stairs at lunchtime were people seemed to be crowded at the bulletin board.

"What the hell is it this time?" Souji asked as the three of them walked into the crowd.

"I don't have a good feeling about this…," Rion muttered.

The headline read "The 'Miss' Yasogami High Pageant"

"It's a cross-dressing pageant, Souji," Rion muttered.

"Oh, okay…," Souji said.

One of the students looked at Yosuke and said, "Hey, it's Yosuke! We're expecting great things from you!"

Yosuke chuckled, "Haha, they're doing the cross-dressing pageant again this year? Man, they never learn, do they?" He noticed that some names were up, "Oh, some people have already signed up already. Hahah, man, what idiots would want to be in this thing?"

Rion looked at the list and pointed at it, and Yosuke read down the list, "Let's see… Yosuke Hanamura…" He freaked, "Me….!?" He looked down the list, "Wait… and Kanji Tatsumi!" He looked at the others, "Both of you are on here too."

Rion and Souji looked at each other and said simultaneously, "Unrighteous revenge."

Rion said to Souji jokingly, "This is what you get for saying Yukiko should be in it."

"Like I barely said anything," Souji muttered, "And this is what you get for being mortal enemies with Naoto, and best friends with Rise."

Even though this was a dire situation, Rion cracked a small smile at Souji's words. Souji confirmed it. Rion was a lunatic; it was like he knew it was going to happen.

Another student said, "Wow, there are a lot of contestants this year. Didn't we only get, like, two contestants last year?"

A student that really didn't care said, "I heard this year, even if someone else signs you up, you can't back out."

Well, the student that was happy with the facts that were so many involved said, "Well, that's disappointing, but what if they did sign themselves up?"

The other student said, "Eww, what a disturbing thought. Seriously, that's really wrong."

Yosuke turned to the others, "Someone else signs you up?"

"Duh, who do you think signed us up?" Souji told him.

"It's them," Yosuke said, "They must have done it."

"Brilliant deduction," Rion rolled his eyes at the pair, "Of course they signed us up."

Chie and Yukiko were talking with the female rep about the group date café when all of the boys entered the classroom. Kanji had come running as fast as he could into Class 2-2.

Yosuke copied Chie's yelling yesterday, "You better have a damn good explanation for this!"

Chie was playing the innocent card, "For what?"

"For what, my ass! For signing us all up in the cross-dressing pageant! It was you, wasn't it?!" Yosuke yelled.

The rep left as Chie and Yukiko looked at each other. Chie acted like she just remembered as she said, "Oh, yeah, that thing. Rise-chan started saying, "Let's all have some fun with this!" So I didn't really have a choice. And Kashiwagi seemed happy, too, now that there are more people involved in it."

"You little… This is cross-dressing. Cross-Dressing!" Yosuke yelled.

"It's not exactly amusing," Souji said. Souji was going to do his best to get out of it.

Chie got out of her seat and stood up to Yosuke, "Well, you're the one who started it! It's because of you that we can't back out of the beauty pageant, so it serves you right!"

"That's beside the point," Yosuke pleaded.

"Don't worry…," Yukiko said, "We'll make you absolutely enchanting. Okay?"

"That's not what's important here!" Yosuke yelled.

Kanji yelled, "It's about a man's pride, dammit!"

"I don't think I want to do this," Souji told them, "This isn't a good idea."

"I know, right? You heard him! This is completely out of the question!" Yosuke agreed.

Chie brushed it off, "Yeah, yeah. This has nothing to do with pride or any of that. You know already, right? Once someone signs you up, you can't back out. If you got a problem with that, go talk to Ms. Kashiwagi."

"And I wonder why she's never married," Rion rolled her eyes as he thought.

Yosuke shook his head, "There's no way she's going to listen."

Kanji looked at the frustrated Yosuke and Souji, "Wha…! Why're you giving up already? I ain't doing this! Period!"

Yukiko turned to him, "Kanji-kun, are you still okay as far as the mandatory attendance policy? I don't think it would be wise to disappoint a teacher too much."

Kanji lowered his head, "You're a scary gal, you know that, Senpai?"

"Just leave it to us to dress you guys up," Chie said.

"With you girls, we'd probably turn out like your cooking…," Rion thought.

"Rise-chan is with us too!" Chie continued, "There's no way you won't turn out pretty."

Rion continued thinking, "Just like her cooking… She had people to dress her when she was an idol, you know."

Kanji was stuttering, "You're positive we'll be pretty?"

Yukiko said, "I guarantee it!"

Yosuke turned to Kanji, "Hey, why are you suddenly fine with this?"

Kanji flexed, "Well, if we gotta do this, might as well go all the way with it!"

Yosuke shook his head, "There's nothing manly about being a woman. I seriously refuse…"

"Kashiwagi's sure gonna get angry if you don't show up. Maybe you and Kanji-kun can be classmates next year," Yukiko told Yosuke.

Yosuke shook his head in dismay, "Why is this happening?"

"Life sure sucks," Souji said.

"We all end up in the same boat, without our consent," Yosuke muttered, "What kinda joke is this?"

"The exact same joke you pulled on us!" Chie told him. She was still seething.

Yosuke finally relented, "If we gotta to do this, we might as well go all the way with it! Ahaha!" He hung his head in despair.

Souji shook his head, "I am going to kill Yosuke," he was thinking to himself.

When Souji got home, he barely had time to eat dinner before he crashed in his room. He was quite pissy, and wanted to take it out on something. His futon became the target. Eventually, he got tired of throwing stuff at it, and fell asleep on his now messy futon. For the next day, the terror would begin known as the Culture Festival.

When Souji woke up, he trudged off to school begrudgingly. He didn't really feel like going. He wasn't really optimistic about the café, nor was he excited about the pageant.

When he got there, he saw the classroom looking all pink and red. It was decked out like some of those cupid Shadows had puked all over the place. Tables were lined up in rows for guys and girls to sit across from each other to fall in love. "Yeah, right," Souji muttered.

Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, and the male rep were already there as well. They were the only people there. Yukiko and Souji were trying to bring in the customers, but to no avail it seemed. The group date café was turning out to be an epic failure as Yosuke would put it ever so eloquently.

Yukiko and Souji still tried to bring in the customers.

"C…Come in for a first-hand experience with group dating," Yukiko sighed.

"You know this is stupid, right?" Souji asked her.

"I know… This is so embarrassing," Yukiko responded, "I mean if there were people to solicit that might be one thing, but there aren't that many people passing by."

"Lack of potential customers is just making it worse," Souji said.

The male rep turned to Yosuke and Chie, "I think we need some shills to drum up interest."

"Shills?" Yosuke obviously had no idea what the hell he was talking about, "Uh… Who?"

"Who else is here besides us?" the rep told him.

"Isn't that kinda sad?" Yosuke shook his head.

The rep sighed, "Do we have a choice? We need customers to get the ball rolling. If there aren't that many people passing by, we have to get the attention of the ones who are by any means necessary."

"There are only five of us…," Souji pointed out. "Stupid Rion, ditching us," Souji thought, "He's off with Rise. I bet the paparazzi are having a field day and the other students are in awe."

Just then, Kanji came into the room. Kanji was curious to see what was going on in his senpais' classroom.

"Yo, how's it going?" Kanji inquired as he entered, "I came to check up on you… guys." He remarked as he noticed the nearly empty classroom.

Chie noticed they now had an even number of people so she said, "Perfect timing!"

Unfortunately Yosuke pointed out, "But now we've got four guys and two girls."

The rep shrugged, "You guys are cross-dressing tomorrow anyways. One of you can sit on the girls' side."

"Wha! I'm not gonna…," Yosuke was adamantly against one of the guys sitting on the girls side, especially Kanji, Souji, or himself.

Souji went over and grabbed a guy's seat. He wasn't having any of this feminine crap. Kanji also sat down on the guys' side.

After the two sat down, the rep said, "There you go, Yosuke. You'll be our girl."

"Are you serious?" He pinched his fingers between his nose.

Yosuke sat across from the rep, while Yukiko sat across from Souji, of course. Chie sat across from Kanji.

"Well, let's get started," The rep said. He looked confused, "Uhh… You guys can start now." He looked nervous, "Will someone please start!"

Kanji looked confused, "Actually, what the hell is this?"

"A mock group date," Yosuke muttered. Then, Yosuke raised his voice or attempted to and giggled, "I mean… we're on a group date!"

Chie looked at him, well, everyone was looking at him, but she said, "You don't have to talk like a girl."

Kanji looked at Chie and eventually asked, "S…So, what are your hobbies?"

Yosuke looked at him and said, "Man, you're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Chie stuttered and said, "I like, uh, martial arts in general. Mainly watching them… Ahaha." She sighed, "Yikes, this is really embarrassing."

Yukiko answered, "My hobby is, um… defeating Shadows?"

Everyone else gave her a look, while the rep just looked rather confused by her answer.

"That's not a hobby!" Yosuke exclaimed.

Yukiko apologized, "O… Oh yeah, sorry."

"Okay, then we'll ask you a question next," Chie said. Chie seemed to be grasping at straws to find something to ask, "Umm… umm…"

So, Yukiko chimed instead to try and move the conversation along, "What type of girls do you like?"

Yosuke pointed out, "Whoa, getting right to the point."

The rep said, "I guess… cute girls?" He shook his head, "Man, this is lame."

"Well, what did you expect?" Souji asked him.

Yosuke looked at him, "Oh, now it dawns on you?"

"You did choose this, Yosuke," Souji said.

Yosuke looked at Souji, "Your turn… What type of girls do you like?"

"Someone like Yukiko, of course," like Souji could answer any other way.

"Thanks…," Yukiko smiled, but she was blushing regardless.

Chie looked at Kanji, "Your turn, Kanji-kun."

"We all know what this answer is going to be like…," Souji thought.

"Uh, well, I," Kanji was stuttering, "I… I guess someone who's kinda mysterious, and looks strong but's actually kinda…"

While everyone in the "group" shook their heads, Yosuke rubbed his forehead, "Yeah, I really wonder who you're talking about."

Souji decided to have some fun. He asked Chie, "Is there anyone you like here?"

She was flustered, "Huh? Why are you asking me that all of a sudden? I can't answer that here."

This did pique Souji's interest and cut his options to about two people.

"Wasn't that the point of this café?" Souji asked, "To pair people together?"

Chie sighed in frustration.

Everyone's heads were down in disappointment as Rion and Rise walked to the doorway to see how things were going. Seeing the empty room and Yosuke with the girls; Rion knew it was time to bail, and as fast as he could with Rise.

"How you doing, Senpai… ohh… well…," Rise was saying before Rion whispered in her ear.

"It's probably best if we run away now," Rion said.

"Well… seeya," Rise said, as she grabbed a hold of Rion's arm and ran out the door.

Souji saw the scene, "Lucky bastard!" he muttered at seeing him completely getting out of this.

Yosuke muttered, "Mark it. The group date café is officially a failure!"

Souji did decide to walk around with Yukiko and talk with his other friends as he toured the school.

He met up with Kou and Daisuke, and the four of them checked out a group of local artifacts a class set out.

"This is way cooler than what our class did," Kou said, "We did a freakin' play. What's up with that?"

"Even that's better than what we did," Yukiko rolled her eyes.

"It's too late to complain though, Piglet," Daisuke told Kou.

"It's not Piglet! It's Hamlet! How'd I get stuck with that role anyways?" Kou complained. He continued, "And who the hell came up with this play!? "Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet"… Dude, they all die anyways."

"Well, you got the role, cause Hamlet is nobility…," Souji snickered.

"Oh, shut up!" Kou complained.

Daisuke tried to defuse Kou's situation, "Chill out, dude. Tomorrow's going to be way more exciting, right Souji?"

Yukiko started laughing, "Snrk… Ahahaha!"

Souji whispered that she had to be in one too, and Yukiko rapped him on the head.

Kou started laughing too, "For sure! I'm going to be rooting for you in that beauty contest."

Daisuke chimed in, "Remember, first place or bust!"

That depressed drama girl, Yukiko, and Souji all entered a haunted classroom, but they left the depressed girl in the haunted classroom.

"Srnk…," Yukiko laughed, "Is she always like that?"

"Pretty much," Souji said.

They went to a fortune telling booth. They met up with the girl that Souji always used to skip class with, Ai.

"The long-nosed fortune teller?" Ai said skeptically, "Oh come on. Who'd believe crap like that?"

"You never know, Ebihara," Yukiko said, staring her down.

A female chuckled from the inside, and reminded Souji of someone he knew, "You're a confident one."

Ai reconsidered, "Hm, maybe you are pretty good. You wanna challenge me? I bet you can't win."

"Overestimating your competence will only work against you, miss," the voice said again.

Ai pulled her hair back, "I'll take that as your acceptance! I'll challenge you to read one fortune, no time limit! If I win, which I will, I'm going to destroy this stand. The subject of this fortune is… Souji's relationship with girls." She looked at Yukiko and Souji.

The voice chuckled, "If that's the case, I most certainly have the advantage."

"What does that mean?" Ai asked.

"Yes, what does that mean?" Yukiko asked Souji with a penetrating look.

"Uhh… Actually, I don't know," Souji answered. Yukiko rolled her eyes.

Ai lost, and Souji looked inside the stand. It was Margaret and Igor inside the stand.

"What the hell are you two doing in here?" Souji asked, "Shouldn't you be in the train?"

"We're taking a break," Igor told him, "My nose needs a vacation."

Margaret chuckled, "I just came to see you in your pageant."

Souji shook his head, "How the hell does everyone know about that?"

After a tiring day, he was glad to sleep, but he had nightmares about the next day. It would be cross-dressing time. Dojima said that Nanako was looking forward to tomorrow, but that only gave Souji nightmares.

With even more trepidation, Souji headed to school on Sunday for the dreaded pageant. The only upside was that there was a real pageant coming afterwards. The bad part about that was the fact there would an obese pig filling the whole freakin' stage and an over the hill teacher who doesn't deserve to be there.

Everyone except Rion walked into classroom 2-2, and oddly enough, Teddie joined them. Souji had a bad feeling about this.

The guys were just standing around, so Chie gestured over, "Why are you guys just standing there? Come on, hurry up and sit down!"

Rise took up the job of dressing Kanji, "C'mon Kanji-kun. Over here!"

Souji looked relieved that Rise wasn't dressing him, "She'll over do it. Too much makeup and she'll forget we're guys."

The guys started walking over to their places.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," Yukiko said soothingly as Souji walked over to her.

"Oh, by the way, where's Rion?" Chie asked.

"He'll be here in a minute," Souji explained, "He had to get off work. It is a Sunday, after all."

"Ohh…," Chie said as Teddie asked, "What about me?"

As everyone looked at Teddie, he said, "It turns out I'm entering this too. I must win this contest to see my dream realized."

To get their explanation, Yosuke said, "He seemed bored, so we signed him up as a last-minute contestant."

Chie looked at Yosuke with piercing eyes, "So, you're making him suffer too, huh? Well, if he's been signed up, there's nothing we can do about it." She turned to the detective, "Naoto-kun, can you lend us a hand? We'll leave Teddie to you."

At that point, Rion had entered the classroom, the door sliding shut.

"M…Me?" Naoto looked confused.

"The Naoto-Teddie team's unstoppable," Teddie exclaimed.

"Oh shit, we're screwed…," Rion shook his head, "A girl who dresses like a guy, dressing a guy like a girl. We are going to lose."

Everyone looked at him like he was crazy. Souji realized that Rion was probably right though. They had lost before they had begun.

Naoto answered Teddie, "Well then, um…"

While Naoto looked around for what to do, Teddie explained, "First, I need some dazzling makeup!"

"Y… You're right. Then I'll go borrow a make-up kit from someone," Naoto said. She ran off to find someone to mooch off of.

Teddie yelled as Naoto ran off, "Wait! The battle begins by choosing the right equipment!"

"That sounds so wrong, Teddie!" Souji told him as Teddie ran off after the detective.

Rion sighed, "I guess I have to work for myself, as usual," figuring he doesn't have a partner. He thought to himself, "Actually, I was figuring of stealing Naoto as a partner. Who else but someone who dresses like a boy to make me a girl?"

Chie ignored Rion and said, "Ooh, we got to use fake eyelashes, right?"

"Y… Yeah, bring it on!" Yosuke said nervously.

---

The time came for the pageant to start and the suspense was palpable. All the girls and the rest of the school had seemed to come out and wait for the guy/girls to show off. A weird MC with a pink Afro would be announcing everything. That pink-haired dude scared Souji.

Kashiwagi said as she chuckled, "So it begins."

The MC announced, "Ladies and gentlemen! We now begin the second day of the Culture Festival with the ever-popular "Miss" Yasogami High Pageant!" He took a breath and said from the center of the stage, "Let's get right down to it and introduce our first contestant!" The MC walked over to the far right side of the stage to prepare for the contestants to walk in and take center-stage.

The MC started off, "She's a runaway express train who's Inaba born and bred, and can kill with both her fists and her looks! Presenting Kanji-chan of the first-year Class 3!"
Kanji came walking out in a very un-lady like manner wearing high heels, a light purple dress with a deep v-cut dress, and copious amounts of blush and lipstick. His blond hair was done with curls. It looked like a disaster. The laughter from the crowd was enormous.

"'Sup!" He greeted the crowd.

One the girls screamed out, "Gyah!"

Another girl screeched, "Eww… That's so creepy!"

A guy told some others, "This is wrong on every level."

"I don't think you did a very good job, Rise-chan," Chie said.

"I guess not," Rise dipped her head down.

The MC sounded a little scared, but he asked, "Now, don't rip me apart for asking, but… What do you think is your best feature?"

"My eyes?" Kanji responded.

The crowd burst out laughing as the MC said, "Whoa! A conventional answer from this all-too-unconventional beauty."

The MC moved on, "After such a strong start, I don't know how much of a chance the others have, but here's our second contestant!" You could tell he was joking.

"An eloquent heiress from the noble Junes, she's pure disappointment from the moment she opens her mouth!" the MC continued, "Presenting Yosuke-chan of the second-year Class 2!" The words "pure disappointment" made Chie shake her head.

As Yosuke walked up, you could tell he was dressed by Chie. He was wearing short brown shoes, with long black socks, but with a short red skirt. He had a red ribbon on the failure of the sort of white blouse-looking thing that Yosuke was wearing. The hair… well not much could be done with the hair. It looked like Chie stuck a scrunchy in the back to give some semblance of a girly look for Yosuke.

"H…Hi!" Yosuke said in an attempt to act girly with his fake girly voice.

"Holy Crap!" one girl yelled.

Another girl said, "And here I thought Yosuke-senpai would be able to pull it off!"

A boy laughed, "It's terrifying… I can just imagine someone like him sitting across from me on a train!"

The MC chuckled, "Now, you look ready to win in that outfit… Do you often dress like this?"

"Hell no!" Yosuke had lost his composure. He tried to regain it, "Like, no way!"

As the crowd burst out laughing again, even louder, Kanji spoke to Yosuke, "What is with this? We're laughingstocks up here!"

"What did you think this was about?" Yosuke responded scathingly.

"Another failure," Chie shook her head.

The MC went on, "I've already had about enough of this, but there's still plenty more to come! Up next, our third contestant!"

"She has the mildly bitter tang of the city, and she has made more girls cry than there are stars in the sky! Presenting our transfer student who's been breaking hearts in the second-year Class 2, Souji-chan!"

Souji was not amused by all the laughter as he walked out. His silver hair was extended and reached past his shoulders. He was wearing a long version of the winter school uniform. He had a kendo sword for some reason… Probably because he used a sword in the TV, but he thought it would suit Rion better. "What the hell is up with that?" he wondered, "And why the hell do I have braids?"

"No more!" one girl squealed.

One admirer shuddered, "Senpai, why are you doing this?"

Souji muttered, "I'm being forced to…"

A boy said, "Whoa! I thought he was cooler than that"

The MC was surprised, "Sounds like your entrance is causing quite a stir! Did you sign yourself up?"

"I did not sign myself up," Souji told him, "I was forced."

"Tell them Chie Satonaka did it!" Yosuke yelled, "Damn that Kashiwagi! How dare she tear away our innocence like this! Now I'm scarred for life, dammit!"

The MC was annoyed by the chatter, but moved on, "Anyways, our fourth contestant is coming up right now!"

"She's a lady who can burn you with fire and ice. She's got the smarts and she's got the skill. She'll blow you away. Presenting from the second-year Class 2 with third-year studies, Rion-chan."

Rion walked across to the middle of the stage as people chuckled at him. Rion really didn't do anything to his hair. Styling it was quite enough. He used a little foundation and rouge. His long black skirt was almost like pants, and his blouse could almost be considered a shirt.

"Is he trying to kind of look like you?" Chie asked Naoto.

Naoto stared at him. He was making fun of her again. "His hair even kind of looks like mine," Naoto thought.

A girl looked at Rion, "Man, even the smartest kid in the school is in this? He even made himself actually kind of presentable."

A guy said, "Man, what the hell is with this? Even Rion is in this? I didn't expect that."

Another guy looked at him, "He can actually make himself look like a girl, well sort of."

"Dude, don't say that…," the first guy said, "It's freaky."

Souji heard the guy who was talking about liking Naoto, "Is it me, or does he look kind of like Naoto-chan?"

Naoto swore a blood oath to kill Rion. But she wouldn't be able to carry that out.

The MC asked, "So… What kind of guy do you like?"

Rion smiled, "I like girls," Rion said. He thought, "Not like I had a chance in hell of winning anyways. I saw Teddie beforehand."

The crowd burst out laughing at his response of liking girls.

"No way!" a girl said, "That's hilarious!"

"Well, never mind then. Let's move on," The MC said, "Our last contestant is a random "unaffiliated" entrant! She's a friend of our other "beauties"! Calling herself "King of the TV World," she's a cute, sexy little number! Give a warm welcome to Teddie-chan!

Teddie came skipping onto stage will all his charm on full blast.

"We are so screwed," Souji muttered at seeing Teddie on stage.

"Tell me about it," Rion responded, "Naoto dressed Teddie. What did you expect?"

He was wearing an "Alice in Wonderland" costume with hair extensions that reached down to his waist. His short black shoes made him the perfect girl. After what seemed about six hours of prancing back and forth, Teddie said with all his charm, "Gimme your hearts!"

A girl seemed confused, "Huh? That's a boy?"

Another girl said unbelievingly, "He's so cute!"

A boy said, "I'd hit it!"

Souji shook his head, "That's so wrong."

After the MC passed out the ballots, everyone checked who they thought was the winner, and they were collected the ballots. Rion and Souji both thought it was extremely pointless to even hand out ballots.

It was time for the champion to be announced, "And the winner of this year's "Miss Yasogami Pageant is… The random contestant who stole everyone's heart, Ms. Teddie!"
Teddie started prancing a little, and the spotlights shined on Teddie.

"As our champion, Ms. Teddie will receive a very special prize," the MC spoke, "Later this afternoon, we will be hosting the Miss Yasogami Pageant, with actual beauties this time! Your reward is a position as an honorary judge in that pageant!"

"Woohoo!" Teddie sounded excited.

Yosuke shook his head, "An honorary judge? That's one lame prize for what you gotta go through."

Chie said at the happy Teddie, "Not everyone can get that happy about an honorary judge position."

Yukiko replied, "Seeing him so happy makes me kinda happy too."

Rise said happily, "Yeah, he's like over the top innocent."

The MC asked, "Well then Ms. Teddie, how does it feel to win the pageant and become an honorary judge?"

Teddie was contemplating and said, "Hmhmhm… The long-awaited day has finally come! I decree that one of the judging critera later this afternoon will be…" Teddie spun around, "Tadaa! A swimsuit competition!"

The whole crowd was in shock, and a huge roar erupted from the male population.

"Wh… Wh… What the hell!? Over my dead body!" Chie yelled.

Rise seemed genuinely disappointed, "Aww… I didn't bring a swimsuit."

Yukiko was in Chie's corner, "That bear needs to be disappeared…"

Naoto was unimpressed, "Well, I doubt he has the authority to declare that unilaterally."

Kashiwagi seemed to like it and was chuckling, "This is great! I love the direction this is going!"

The girls were in the dressing room. The girls that fought together were standing together in the back while Kashiwagi was off by the front of the classroom. Hanako was off to another side of the classroom, making a huge indentation in the whole classroom.

"Dress yourselves up as well as best as you can, you little brats!" Kashiwagi sneered.

Chie rolled her eyes, "What is she, the rival lover on a soap opera? Wait, is Kashiwagi serious about winning this?"

At that point, a female rep entered with a bag full of swimsuits from Junes. "Mr. Teddie dropped this off," the girl said, "He said that they're swimsuits."

Chie stepped back, "Hey! We don't need them!"

Kashiwagi started laughing, loudly at that, "Hahahaha! My mature charms will win the day! I brought my own swimsuit, of course."

"I brought my own too," Hanako said.

"Oh my god… I did not want that picture in my head!" Rise thought to herself.

"When I see that, it will scar me for life!" Yukiko imagined.

"What's with these people?" Chie asked.

Yukiko tried to get out of it, "Hey… let's not do this."

Kashiwagi saw this as a chance to eliminate the competition, "What's that? Getting cold feet? Wise of you to back out of a competition you can't win." She looked at Rise, "You call yourself an idol… But you're just jailbait with no brains, no guts, and especially no figure."

Rise was astounded, "What!?" Rise thought, "I should win this hands down. I have multiple reasons to."

Hanako continued the bashing, "There's no way their type would be crowned Miss Inaba. Why not just let them back out?"

Yukiko and Chie turned around with Chie exclaiming, "And I suppose you think you're going to take the crown!? You little… snoring pig!"

Hanako snorted, "Snoring? What are you talking about? Your face is as foul as your mouth, and your brain is rotten to boot!"

Chie yelled, "We went through hell because of you! Th… That's it! Now I'm pissed!"

"Oh? You're going to challenge me? It's useless. Don't waste your energy," Hanako responded, "Let this be a warning to the others too. You're going to lose. Now's your last chance to run away."

"R… Run away? Why the hell would we run away from someone like you?" Chie yelled.

Yukiko muttered, "Well… We did kinda run away the last time."

Chie responded, "That's what I'm saying! We gotta stand our ground and get our revenge for that! How can we cower and hide when they're picking a fight?"

"Y…Yeah!" Yukiko got some confidence

"Right, Rise-chan? Naoto-kun!? We won't run from this, right!?" Chie asked.

Rise nodded in agreement, but when they looked at Naoto, she was taken aback. Her voice was raised when she answered, "Huh? Me too? Why are you letting yourselves be so easily provoked? Th…Th…There's no way! Absolutely. No. Way. That I'm wearing a swimsuit!"

Chie advanced towards the dimunitive first-year, "You're not goin' anywhere!" They were not letting Naoto back out.

"No…," Naoto thought, "Why is this happening… I feel like Rion is haunting me from far away."

So, the beauty pageant began.

They had introduced Kashiwagi and Hanako first. Much puking and boos had followed after those introductions. Souji wondered why an old hag and Hanako bothered to enter. If Yosuke hadn't signed those girls else up, he wondered who would have won. They probably would have canceled the competition, in retrospect. "No one would have come," Souji thought.

"They are disgusting," Yosuke said.

Rion said, "If you think this is bad, wait until the swimsuit competition."

Rion handed one of the paper bags the crowd were given before the "Miss" pageant to throw up in for Yosuke to use.

"Did not need that image in my brain…," Yosuke shuddered.

The MC had interrupted the pair's conversation, "But that's not all for the Culture Festival's Main Event! There's still more to come in the Miss Yasogami Pageant! The judging continues! Can you hear the crowd going wild!?"

Now the real cheers began as they knew the real competitors were coming.

"Now for our next contestant, Ms. Chie Satonaka of the second-year Class 2! Come on out, Chie!"

Chie walked out in her holiday clothing, "H…Hi, I'm Chie Satonaka."

There were quite a few cheers.

The MC asked, "Tell us a little bit about yourself!"

"Um, I'm kind of shy and reserved… And my favorite food is… pudding."

There were more cheers from the raucous crowd.

Yosuke accused her from afar, "That liar… It's steak! She's a loudmouth."

"I think we know, Yosuke," Souji replied to him.

"Thank you very much!" The MC said.

"Up next, another contestant from Class 2, Miss Yukiko Amagi!" The MC announced.

"H…Hello, my name is Yukiko Amagi," Yukiko said shyly as she walked out, "Um, my family runs the Amagi Inn. If you ever find yourself in the area, please give us a visit. Our hot-springs our open to the public year-round, so whenever you're in the mood to enjoy them, please drop by."

The cheers for her were very loud indeed.

"Nice," Souji said.

"You would say that," Yosuke responded.

"Alright, that'll do nicely!" The MC said.

"Next up, a very-familiar face from the first-year Class 2, Ms. Rise Kujikawa!"

The boys seemed to be quite happy to see her walk across the stage in her blouse and capri pants.

"Hi…hi! My name is Rise Kujikawa! I haven't been in town very long, but it's a great place and I'm 100% thrilled to be here! So sorry that I'm not working as an idol right now! Risette's gonna do her best, so I hope you'll all cheer for me," Rise presented with her hands waving, staring at her friends.

The roar was extremely loud as the MC said, "The real Risette, ladies and gentlemen, in the flesh! Thank you very much!" He seemed to be a fan himself.

"What do you think Rion?" Souji asked him.

"Huh?" Rion opened his eyes, "Are you talking to me?"

"Yes!" Souji was annoyed, "What do you think of Rise out there!?"

"She's nice, but she's too flamboyant sometimes," Rion muttered.

"He can read her like a book…," Souji thought, "He's been working with her on something."

"Next is the mysterious transfer student of the first-year's Class 1, Ms. Naoto Shirogane!"

Kanji was poked by Yosuke as Yosuke said, "Hey, Kanji… Here she comes…"

"Hey, shhh! Pipe down!" Kanji seemed to be paying very close attention to the arrival of Naoto.

Rion chuckled at all of their shenanigans.

Naoto walked across the stage. She was wearing her normal outfit, sans one important thing! Her hat! That was what Kanji was focusing on.

"I…I'm Naoto Shirogane," The epitome of shyness captured in a person. She was trying to look above everyone, and to not look at anyone directly. Unfortunately, her eyes kept drifting downwards, "It's hard to believe I'm up on a stage at a pageant like this. This is beyond my wildest imaginings… I…I really don't know what to say." She looked at the MC, "Can I step back now?" She asked shyly. The MC nodded, and she stepped back quickly.

There were quite a few cheers for her too.

"Wh…Whoa!" Kanji said. He was in awe of Naoto.

"Hehehe…," Rion chuckled at Naoto, "Is that all?" he questioned, "I'm disappointed in her presentation."

Souji rolled his eyes, "Were you expecting something better, Rion?"

Kanji hit Rion on the shoulder, "Leave Naoto alone." Souji rolled his eyes.

"And with that, all six uniquely beautiful contestants are on stage! Now, let's have our special judge, Mr. Teddie, ask them some questions."

Teddie came walking onto the stage with a microphone that was provided to him by the MC.

"I told Teddie beforehand to ignore Hanako and Kashiwagi," Rion said, "They have no chance in hell, anyways."

"Good idea," Souji said.

Teddie cleared his throat, "I am Teddie, your honorary judge for this pageant. Please keep in mind that if you anger me, you will be at a disadvantage.

Teddie directed his first question towards the bowl-cut martial artist in green, "Well, Ms. Chie. Do you have a boyfriend?"

This question obviously had nothing to do with the pageant and Chie was obviously flustered by it, "Wha..!? T… Teddie, you!"

"What kind of question was that?" Yosuke asked to no one in particular.

Teddie directed his next question to Yukiko, "Ms. Yukiko, have you ever smooched someone before?"

"Huh!? S… Stop it!" Yukiko exclaimed in hush tones. She knew the answer to that question. Everyone else in the group did too. It was a pointless question. Those lips had touched Souji's.

"Idiot bear…," Souji said.

The bear asked Naoto the next question, "Ms. Naoto, where are you ticklish?"

"I… I beg your pardon?" Naoto was confused and flustered.

"Rion, do you know where?" Souji asked in jest.

"Nope," Rion answered, "I can figure out a lot, but I'm not stupid enough to try and figure that out."

"I bet Kanji would love to hear where if you found out," Souji chuckled.

Rion just rolled his eyes, but looked at Kanji to see if he wanted to know.

The final question was directed to the idol, "Can I stay at your house next time, Rise-chan?"

"What kind of a question is that?" Rise asked back.

Souji looked at Rion, "I bet she'd let you stay at her house, Rion."

"Actually, I don't doubt that," Rion responded.

The silence was heavy until the announcer intervened. He even seemed perturbed by Teddie's questioning. "A… Anyways, I have a surprise announcement for you all! Wait 'til you hear this! For this first time ever, this year's pageant will feature a swimsuit competition. And it's all thanks to Mr. Teddie here!"

The crowd looked quite happy (males) and cheered as the MC said, "We'll take a brief break as our contestants put on their swimsuits and be back in a few moments."

When Hanako and Kashiwagi came out in their swimsuits, much more puking and vomiting occurred. Many were rushed to the hospital in pain. Their condition was labeled as serious, and they were taken to the ICU. It was quite a relief to see a pretty girl in the area as Chie walked on stage in a similar suit than what she wore in the camping trip. The yellow, white, and green ensemble with green shorts.

"Ahaha… H… Hi," Chie said as she faced the crowd.

The crowd was cheering her on.

"Ooooh," Yosuke said.

"You sound like a dirty old man," Kanji told him, "Chie-senpai is cute, though."

"I think she looks really cute," Yosuke said.

"What's this?" Souji asked, "Does Yosuke…?" he was cut off as Yosuke hit him on the head.

"Shut up!" Yosuke exclaimed.

"Well… Chie does think she likes somebody…," Souji thought rubbing his head.

The next girl to come on stage was Yukiko. Souji was transfixed on her, of course.

When she stopped, she was apologizing for her shyness it seemed, "I… I'm sorry."

She was still receiving rave reviews from the crowd though.

"Sorry for what?" Yosuke asked. He seemed to still enjoy the show, "This is great!"

"Wow, Yukiko-senpai… She's exactly how I'd imagine she'd be," Kanji said.

Souji knocked Kanji on the head this time.

"Well, I guess Souji knows even more about Yukiko than we do, don't you?" Yosuke joked.

"You really don't know when to shut up, do you?" Souji asked as he hit him again.

Rise was the next to walk up on stage in an orange swimsuit with small yellow flowers on it. She was flashy as usual with arms waving.

"Yoohoo, heere's Risette!" she exclaimed as she turned and waved with both arms.

The cheer she got from the boys was even louder than the last two.

Yosuke seemed to pretty much agree on the looks department, "Whoa, this isn't fair! An idol has that glow to her that other girls don't have!"

"Really?" Kanji didn't seem convinced.

Souji asked Rion, "Did you see that look from Rise when you worked with her? I mean she looks at you all the time, and you were helping her all the time."

"Ehh…, whatever," Rion shrugged his shoulders.

It seems the group, everyone on the stage, and the rest of the crowd were all waiting for Naoto to arrive. Naoto didn't seem to be showing.

"Huh…?" The MC was confused by Naoto's whereabouts, "Ms. Naoto," he called out, "She's not coming out."

The MC went to check on the detective.

"I wonder if he went to see if she got stuck or something," Souji thought, "She probably can't fit into the bathing suit anyways. The way Rion was chuckling at the hospital pretty much confirms that."

The MC had come back, "Well, sad news, everyone, but Ms. Naoto won't be coming out for this portion."

There were murmurs and rumblings of disappointment going through the crowd.

Kashiwagi had her own take, "Fine by me! The fewer rivals I have to crush, the better!"

Yosuke shrugged his shoulders, "Oh well, I had a feeling this would happen." He looked at the black-clad blond, "Too bad, Kanji."

"Huh? No, um… well, yeah…," Kanji was muttering. He answered, "But don't you think it was brave of her to at least show up in the first round?"

"Yeah, you're right," Yosuke admitted.

Rion seemed to have a different take, "She'll get a hell of a lot of sympathy votes. But I expected a hell of a lot better."

Yosuke looked at everyone, "Well, I know who Kanji is voting for, and I know Souji is voting for Yukiko." He looked at Rion, "Who are you voting for?"

"Does it matter?" Rion asked, "Maybe I shouldn't vote for anyone, and not upset the system. Since you will be voting for Chie, maybe I shall just give a vote for Rise to split votes between all four boys."

"Wow, he's thought this out," Souji said.

"Anyways, we all know who's going to win regardless," Rion said as they turned in their votes, "It won't be us who decides it."

"What do you mean?" Souji asked.

"It'll be the girls who decide the winner, not the guys," Rion said.

The votes were now being tabulated by the judges.

"Thanks for waiting, everyone!" The MC announced, "The results are in!"

The cheering got loud as the drums started rolling, "Looking at the way the vote went. You guys out in the audience had a hard time picking a favorite! Lots of different opinions, with every one of our contestants having their own enthusiastic supporters! On the other hand, it looks like you girls were all thinking the same thing! And so there's a clear winner!"

Drum rolls begin in earnest.

"Grand prize goes to… Ms. Naoto Shirogane!" Shock and awe filled the contestants and crowd as cheers rang out, "Her androgynous charms seemed to have won most of the girls' hearts. We'd like to present Ms. Naoto with her award now, but it looks like she stepped outside."

Chie put her head down, "She won even though she dropped out of the last part." She chuckled, "Ahaha, that's pretty funny."

Rise shrugged, "Man, losing to Naoto… Well, I guess I didn't appeal to the girls that much. Oh well!" She told Chie, "I think it's enough that we beat those two hands down, Senpai!"

Kashiwagi seemed to be losing it, "Grr… I… How could I lose a beauty pageant!?"

Hanako seemed no better as she turned to Kashiwagi through her snorting, "Ms. Kashiwagi… I… I can't believe this!"

Kashiwagi turned to Hanako, "Neither can I! Oh, Hanako!"

The tears started flowing, "M... Ms. Kashiwagi!"

"What the hell…?" Souji muttered, "What's with those two?"

After the pageant, they found Naoto, dragged her to the stage, and gave her the prize. They were all wearing normal clothes again; Naoto was wearing her hat, and were now gathered around a booth on the 1st floor.

Nanako had found Souji and ran up towards him, "Oh, big bro!" Dojima came up behind Nanako.

"Hey, little sis," Souji responded.

"Ah, good thing we found you," Dojima said.

"What's up, Dojima-san?" he asked.

"I've got to make a business trip to the prefectural office, and I won't be back until tomorrow. Shame it had to fall during your school's Cultural Festival. Nanako and I were both looking forward to it. Sorry to dump this on you, but could you show Nanako around?"

"That's fine with me," Souji said.

"Would you like to walk around with us, Nanako-chan?" Yukiko asked.

"Can I?" Nanako seemed a little taken aback by their kindness.

"Of course you can," Souji said.

"Thanks. Then I'm gonna get going," Dojima told Souji.

As he turned to leave, Nanako wished him, "Have a safe trip!"

"Yeah, you have fun too, Nanako," Dojima wished his daughter.

"Okay, Dad!" She said gleefully.

Yukiko gestured to Nanako and asked, "Hey Nanako-chan, why don't you come over and stay at my place tonight?"

It seemed to be a surprising topic of conversation.

"Huh? Huh? Huh? What did you say, Yuki-chan!?" Teddie asked.

Yukiko gave Teddie a look. I think she didn't want to extend the invitation to Teddie.

But Rise took Nanako's invitation for them as well, "Ooh, a celebration at your inn!?" she exclaimed.

"Is that okay with you?" Kanji asked.

Yukiko thought it over and said, "Uh huh, I promised you guys a while ago, so yeah."

"Hell yeah! I'm down!" Yosuke sounded excited.

"It sounds great," Souji said, "I can definitely come."

Teddie asked, "Can I boil eggs in the hot springs!?"

Even Naoto sounded optimistic, "Oh, I should call my Grampa and let him know! It's just one night, right?"

"I can be there. I don't have to work tonight," Rion said.

Yukiko coerced Nanako, "C'mon, it'll be fun. Everyone will be there."

"Can I…?" Nanako asked Souji, looking up at her big bro.

"Of course you can. It's time for Hot Springs!" Souji told her.

"Let's go! I wanna spend the night!" Nanako sounded exuberant.

Teddie was excited, "Whee! Hot Springs! Yukata! Flushed Skins!"

Rion rolled his eyes and he said, "That's Teddie for you."

Chie looked skeptical, "Are you sure it's okay? I mean, isn't it still the busy season?"

Yukiko responded, "We've had fewer visitors this year. There are still some open rooms, too."

Chie answered, "Oh, okay… Might as well, then! Man, when was the last time I stayed at Yukiko's place?"

The group seemed generally excited about the trip to the Amagi Inn.

"So are we getting food from the wait staff, or from Yukiko? I want to survive, you know." Souji asked.

"That's a good point, now that you think about it," Yosuke added.

"The wait staff, you jerks," Yukiko said, hitting Souji and Yosuke on the heads.

The group headed off to the Amagi Inn, still in high spirits.

---

When they arrived and finished eating fine dining, and edible fine dining at that; the boys headed to their room. They were now decked out in their yukata. Teddie seemed disappointed.

"Aww… we're in different rooms," he showed his apparent dissatisfaction with the room situation. Souji felt that he and Yukiko should have had a private room.

"Well… Duh!" Yosuke said, stating the obvious.

"It's one thing if they were next door, but they're so far away!" Teddie lamented.

"Well, Yukiko did say there weren't that many open rooms available," Souji explained, "So, they're up on another floor. I guess they're taking little sis to the hot springs first."

Teddie asked excitedly, "Is it one of those "girls and guys together" springs!?"

"No, it isn't," Rion said, "You'd probably have to go to someplace like Shirakawa Boulevard to do that."

"Oh, don't remind me of Shirakawa Boulevard," Souji said, "It reminds me of the nightclub."

"Ooh!" Teddie remembered, "That was you!" he pointed at Rion, "Do you have anymore of your special drink?"

"Afraid I don't, well not with me," Rion winked.

"You mean you have more of that at home?" Kanji asked, "You're underage."

Rion shrugged, "It's not like I drink it".

Souji smirked, "So, are you lying again?"

Rion rolled his eyes

Kanji shook his head, "I don't wanna take more'n one bath if I don't have to. Why don't we take a dip before we hit the sack?"

"Yeah," Yosuke agreed.

Souji nodded, "Sounds like a good idea to me."

Kanji looked around, "By the way… 'sup with this room? It looks pretty expensive."

Everyone else looked around the room, gazing at the amenities.

"Oh, you thought so too? Normally a room like this wouldn't be open during the busy season…," Yosuke agreed, "I was trying not to think about it, but… You don't think something happened here, do you?"

Kanji looked at Yosuke, "Senpai? What are you all quiet about?"

Yosuke looked around, "Now that you mention it…" The group was surprised by the phone ringing in the hotel room.

"Geez… That freaked me out. You answer it, Kanji," Yosuke said.

"What are you freaking out for?" Kanji asked. He was obviously unnerved as well by the ringing.

"Just answer the damn phone!" Souji yelled.

Kanji got up and went to pick up the phone that was ringing off the hook. His hands were shaking.

"Hello!?" Kanji asked loudly.

"The hot springs are now available for the men to use," the receptionist told Kanji.

"Oh, I see! Cool, thanks!"

"Goodbye," the receptionist ended the conversation, "Your welcome."

Kanji put down the phone and gestured to the group, "That was the front desk." The group collectively rolled their eyes, "Said the hot springs should be pretty empty right now."

Yosuke shook his head and sighed, "Wow, Amagi Inn, great service… I broke out in a cold sweat."

"Let's go wash off your sweat, then," Souji said.

As Kanji and Yosuke walked off, Rion left to take care of something.

Teddie and Souji began to speak, "I can't wait to take a bath with everyone," Teddie told Souji, "We'll all face the same way and wash each other's back, and we're going to sing songs while looking at Mt. Fuji, right?"

"That's a bath house, right?" Souji responded.

Teddie reflected, "Man, everything on this side is so fun. It's all thanks to you for bringing people over to my side. Thank you, Sensei."

"You're welcome…"

"C'mooon! The elevator's here!" Yosuke yelled.

As the group walked to the elevator, the group noticed that Rion still had his walking stick/staff with him.

"Dude, do you carry that with you everywhere?" Yosuke asked, "I mean… Do you expect to be killing Shadows at the Inn?"

"No, it's for a different reason," Rion told them.

"Oh, yeah… it looks like you broke something," Souji said.

"I've permanently damaged my left knee and leg. So, unless I use the stick, it hurts like hell," Rion explained, "I've broken it a few times."

"So, how do you fight without it, I mean running and swinging it, and stuff?" Kanji asked.

"Adrenaline, I guess," Rion said.

"How about in school?" Yosuke asked.

"You just deal with the pain," Rion shrugged.

"I'm so bear-y sorry for you," Teddie lamented.

"Thanks," Rion said as got on the elevator with them, "I'll catch up with you guys once we get in the bath. I have to remove the bandages I wrapped around them."

"Cry me a river," Souji thought.

---

Meanwhile, at the hot springs all the girls were in the water.

The girls were in a circle, but Naoto was shying away from the others. Yukiko tried to coax the shy girl, "Come on over, there's plenty of room."

"Huh, Oh, o… okay," Naoto was reluctant, but giving into the others' requests. She still, however, didn't turn around.

Rise came forward and was surprised, "Wow, Naoto, your skin looks so soft. Can I touch? Can I touch?"

Chie and Yukiko joined Rise as Naoto got more nervous, "Huh? U… Um…"

Yukiko replied to the feel of Naoto's skin, "Wow, it really is smooth."

"You're so lucky. You have such fair skin and silky hair…," Chie was jealous.

"No unneeded body fat either," Rise chimed in.

Naoto freaked out, "Eek! H… Hey! Where are you touching?" She tried to divert the attention from her, "Ahem, N… Nanako-chan!" Naoto went over to Nanako and asked, "Are you okay with staying over at someone else's place like this? Aren't you scared?"

Nanako replied cheerfully, "No, it's lots of fun! At home, I'm always alone until big bro comes back!"

"Oh… I… see," Naoto said a little worriedly.

Nanako told Naoto, "But I'm good at staying home alone! I always do what my dad tells me, like not opening the door for strangers."

"Wow! I bet he's so proud of you!" Chie exclaimed.

Yukiko asked, "Hey, Nanako-chan. Do you want to swim around?"

"Can I?" Nanako asked expectantly.

"I've been swimming here since I was young," Yukiko answered her.

"Do you still do it?" Nanako asked.

"Huh? Umm…," Yukiko looked around. She looked like she hadn't done it a long time.

"Why are you hesitating?" Chie asked Yukiko.

Rise looked excited, "C'mon! Let's race to the other side! Whoever loses owes everyone a fruit milk!"

"I want lemon soda!" Yukiko exclaimed.

"Uh, wh… what? Me too!" Chie seconded her.

They all swam to the other side together. They purposely lost to Nanako-chan. They were all circled together again. Rise was alone on the far side of the springs, away from the wall.

"Check out my dead man's float!" she exclaimed as she lay out on the water.

"Wow, you're good!" Nanako told her.

The group was interrupted by someone else's loud cry.

"Ooh, what a giant spring! I'll show you all my Teddie-paddle!" It seemed that the bear had entered the hot springs area, and while the girls were still in there at that. Teddie jumped into the springs, right between Naoto and Yukiko.

"Ow… What the…!? HUH!?" Yukiko yelled.

Teddie stood as Souji, Yosuke, and Kanji walked up to the front of the springs.

Surprise on the girls faces to see the four walking up to the springs would be an understatement.

"Y… Y… You guys!?" Chie was shocked.

Yosuke seemed shocked as well, "Wh… Wh… Wh… Why are you guys here!?"

"Th… That's my line!" Chie returned as the eight and Nanako confronted each other.

The girls went backwards grabbed a seemingly endless amount of water buckets and threw them at the boys.

"Damn! This hurts!" Yosuke yelled, "What do we do, Souji!?"

"Hold the line, men!" Souji yelled.

"I don't know how much more I can take of this!" Kanji yelled.

"This is unbearable!" Teddie said.

"We have to retreat!" as Souji's said as his head seemed to cave in from the bucket barrage.

"Retreat!" Teddie yelled.

"It's an honest mistake!" Kanji yelled as he was pelted again.

"We're not gonna forget this!" Yosuke yelled with a dent in his forehead.

As the group ran back, they ran past Rion who was walking slowly on his staff. Rion asked Souji, who was badly bruised, "What's going on?"

"Don't go in there!" he exclaimed as he ran past him.

"Huh, what do you mean by not going in there?" Rion shrugged and walked in.

"What!?" Rise looked at Rion who had just walked in, "Naoto! Hand me another bucket!"

Naoto was blushing at the appearance of Rion and was turned away, "R… Right..."

"W… What the hell is this!?" Rion shook his head at the girls and then noticed the bucket flying at his head, "Oh, hell no!"

The curved end of walking stick flew off; he pressed the buttons to extend the staff slightly, and turned in a 360-degree motion over his head to hit the oncoming bucket. The bucket shattered on impact, and the shards hit the opposing wall.

Rion turned around and walked away before anymore buckets could be thrown. He said to them without turning around, "You shouldn't still be here."

"We'll have to punish them later!" Chie affirmed to the others after all the offenders had left.

"Wow, you got 'em good!" Nanako exclaimed happily.

"My aim's pretty deadly, huh?" Rise nodded.

"Too deadly," Yukiko said, "Rion knocked that one into the sky."

Naoto was blushing, "I wonder if they caught a glimpse."

"I hope not," Rise said.

Yukiko just realized something, "Oh… It's actually the guys' turn to use the hot springs now."

The group looked nervous, "So that's why he said…," Chie said.

"I got the times mixed up… Ahahaha…!" Yukiko chuckled nervously.

"Are you serious?" Chie asked, "Crap, I think we went too far with them."

"Er… What should we do?" Naoto asked.

"Oh, it'll be fine as long as we keep quiet about it! It'll be just between us girls!" Rise kept cheerful.

"Umm… Rion knows," Naoto said.

"Oh, he won't say anything," Rise told her, "He doesn't say anything."

The group shied away from that conversation.

"Do you want to race again, Nanako-chan?" Yukiko asked.

---

Back at the guys' room.

All the guys except Rion were in obvious pain. Rion was sitting in a lotus position, trying to concentrate. Teddie was lying out on the floor while Souji, Kanji, and Yosuke were all curled up with their knees up to their heads. "Dammit!" Yosuke yelled, "I checked again, and sure enough, the hot springs are supposed to be for men at that hour."

"They were," Rion said, "They obviously got the times confused and in the confusion attacked you."

"I'll have to get my revenge then," Souji replied.

"They're so evil! Evil, I tell you!" Yosuke started to cry.

"I dunno why, but my head's all bumpy." Teddie said.

"You were hit in the head with a bunch of water pail buckets. What did you expect?" Souji held his head in pain.

"You got lumps, man," Kanji laughed. He sighed in resignation. "I didn't even get a look," he thought.

Yosuke noticed something, "Hey… guys? Did you, uh… see anything?"

"No…," Kanji answered, "I wanted to though," he thought.

"None whatsoever," Teddie looked down.

"I was too busy getting hit over the head," Souji said, "What about you?" looking at Rion, "You weren't hit over the head."

"Meh… I'm not telling," Rion shrugged, "However, I was more focused on making sure a bucket didn't plant itself in my face."

"Are you sure he isn't interested in guys?" Souji thought, "'Cause two girls are interested in him."

"Dammit! I lead a cursed life!" Yosuke shook his head, "Let's just go to bed."

"Hold it, Senpai!" Kanji interrupted, "Do you… hear something?"

A small wailing noise was heard around the walls and in the room.

"Wh… What was that!?" Yosuke wondered.

"I heard it too!" Teddie said, obviously shaken.

"Don't tell me… Is there one here?" Kanji asked.

"What are you talking about? What do you mean?" Souji asked worriedly.

Kanji realized, "This room… It's the one that announcer was staying in before she died! I heard my mom talking about it!"

"Oh god, you said it!" Yosuke exclaimed, "I was trying to block it out, and you had to go and say it!" Souji knew there was something wrong with this place.

The group looked up and saw sutras all above them on the ceiling.

"Well, that explains the talismans on the ceiling," Souji said.

"Yukiko… That witch tempted us here knowing full well!" Yosuke yelled, "Dammit! First the hot springs, now this! We've been completely suckered!"

The wailing continued, even louder this time as Kanji said, "Oh crap! There is no way I am sleeping through this!"

Teddie shot up into the air, and Souji looked up at him. "I've made up my mind!" Rion cracked open his eye, "I'm going to Yuki-chan's room! I can't sleep soundly unless I'm watching everyone's sleeping faces as I drift off."

Yosuke looked shocked. He had bad ideas about this, "Wha… sleeping faces? Are you going to sneak into their room? You can't be…"

The wailing noise continued, frightening everyone but Rion.

"Hey, what should we do?" Yosuke asked Souji.

"Let's go, then. I don't really want to, but I can't sleep here," Souji said, "At least I can sneak up to Yukiko," he thought.

"Damn, that was a fast response!" Kanji replied, "I want to see Naoto," he thought.

"Dude, seriously, I can't stay here," Yosuke told them.

Teddie exclaimed to the group in an excited voice, "Alrighty! It'll be a surprise awakening for them!"

"Are you coming?" Souji asked Rion, who was still meditating, "You can sneak up on Rise."

"I'll be fine here," Rion responded, "Nothing will interfere with my meditation at this time." Rion was busy watching the blossoms sway in the wind.

Souji shook his head as they left, "What's with him?"

The boys snuck into the girls' room and were ready to pounce on the girls in the futons.

"Good morning, everyone…," Teddie whispered, in his bear costume, "It's a surprise awakening, no, a surprise break-in… This is Teddie, reporting in!"

Teddie was at the forefront, with Kanji, Souji, and Yosuke standing behind him.

"When did you put that on?" Yosuke asked incredulously. He was wondering why Teddie had his bear suit on.

"I feel awkward without it… so I always bring it," Teddie told him.

"Is that really necessary?" Souji asked about his tone of voice.

"Stop talking like that!" Yosuke warned Teddie.

Kanji pointed out to the group, "Oh, check it out, a hairbrush. And it's got long strands of hair on it."

"You're really into this, aren't you?" Yosuke asked quietly.

"Damn straight! It's time I get revenge for the campout!" Kanji responded in hushed tones. He was thinking, "No one is kicking me in the balls this time!"

Yosuke smiled, "Hey, good point! Alright, I'll get my revenge too!"

Teddie saw something, "A… A toothbrush!"

"Holy crap, my heart's pounding!" Yosuke exclaimed as soft as he could.

"Calm down people," Souji said.

"But what about Nanako-chan?" Yosuke pointed out.

Teddie looked at his superior, "Don't worry! Nanako-chan is a magnanimous girl!"

"You have a point there," Souji said, "But leave her out of this."

"Don't wake her up," Yosuke said, "She's not part of our revenge scheme here."

Teddie walked over to the futons. He seemed excited, "Ooh, I've finally reached the futons! They're fast asleep! 'Scuse me!" Teddie yelled suddenly, "Yuki-chan, I'm scared of the ghosts!"

"What are you doing to Yukiko!?" Souji asked softly, "But the shadows of the futon don't like Yukiko."

Kanji looked at the others, "Alright… I can do this too. T… Time to prove that I'm a man! Ch… Chie-senpai, be gentle!"

"I wanted Chie…, but that doesn't look like Chie's body shape" Yosuke thought, before he realized something, "Huh? One, two… Wh… Where are the rest of the futons?"

The lights suddenly came on, and surprise was hitting the group. There were only two futons. One of the futons opened up, and out came a terrifying sight, Ms. Kashiwagi! Kashiwagi was in the futon, and they were next to her.

"Hm…? What's going on here?" she asked in confusion.

The other futon opened and out came an even more terrifying sight, Hanako!

"Sheesh…" she said, as she was awoken at night.

The pair both suddenly looked to their left and saw Teddie and Kanji at their side. Kanji and Teddie were terrified, while Hanako and Kashiwagi seemed incredibly happy.

"Oh my! So that's how you guys are?" Hanako exclaimed, "Aww! You should've said so!"

"Mmmm… Such naughty boys!" Kashiwagi said seductively.

Teddie was much more terrified by this than by any ghost, "Aaaaagh! Begone!"

"Holy crap! D… Don't touch me!" Kanji yelled.

Both Teddie and Kanji ran away from the terrifying girls to the other guys.

Kashiwagi told the boys, "We were crying our poor eyes out until now, you know? We thought that there were no men who appreciated our beauty," Kashiwagi cried out, "Alright, boys. I'm all yours. And not a word about this to anyone!"

Hanako gestured to the guys, "C'mere, tiger!"

All the boys ran out of the room as fast as they could run and back to the wailing ghost room where Rion was waiting for them.

"So, how was the ride?" Rion smiled.

---

Back at the hot springs, the girls were still relaxing in the radium-rich waters.

"Ahh… This feels great!" Chie tipped her head back in the waters, "I love love Love being able to take a bath whenever I want!"

"How's Nanako-chan?" Yukiko asked.

"Fast asleep," Rise replied.

Chie pointed out, "Hey, did you know that Ms. Kashiwagi and Hanako were staying in the room right next to ours? Those two seem to get along really well. I'm surprised."

"They come and stay here now and again," Yukiko said, "Usually they come to cry when something breaks their hearts."

The girls collectively looked at Naoto. Chie said, "Huh. I guess they really were devastated by losing to Naoto-kun."

"Please don't bring that up again," Naoto said shyly, "I don't want to hear about it."

"Well, they do make a good team," Rise said cheerfully.

The conversation continued onto various topics from boys, to fashion, to the murder case. Naoto did not like it when the topic turned to boys. Rise started talking about Rion, and then she moved onto Kanji to talk about Naoto. It was making Naoto blush, and sad at the same time.

---

The day after the night at the Amagi Inn, was a day off from school. Yukiko said she'd come over to Souji's house. He had a few questions for her.

Yukiko walked up to Souji's room and sat down on his couch. Souji joined her.

"Did you have fun yesterday?" Yukiko asked.

"Not as much fun as you did, apparently," Souji answered, "I'm bruised head-to-toe."

"Well, you did show up while we were in the springs…," Yukiko shot back.

"It was our turn to use them and you apparently "forgot" to leave," Souji returned.

"Well…," she looked nervous, "So… he told you."

"We all knew anyways," Souji shook his head, "He just confirmed it."

"But… I just got it mixed up," Yukiko muttered, "I'll make it up to you."

He smiled, "I'm sure you will. I'm not like Yosuke or Kanji. I don't hold grudges as long as him."

She snuggled up to Souji, who placed his arm around Yukiko's shoulders. It would be a good day until he had to take her back to the inn.

Nanako and Souji were having dinner and watching TV while waiting for Dojima to come home when Nanako shuddered from across the table.

"It's cold today," she sounded chilled.

The announcer said, "Now for our next story." The news anchor was going on about an important story, "Mr. Kozai of the Environmental Concern Society visited a local elementary school to investigate the effects of the fog. Thick fog has appeared recently in Inaba in the past few years, and the cause of it has yet to be determined," the anchor reported. He continued, "There's been much conjecture on the origin of this fog, and some are concerned about its effects on the human body. Town officials believe it's highly unlikely that the fog is harmful. One official suggested that the concern is largely related to the public anxiety in response to the recent murders." The reporter got to the main portion of the story, "On hearing about the phenomenon, Mr. Kozai visited the local elementary school to investigate its effects. He interviewed the children playing happily in the fog about their health and any anxieties they were facing."

Nanako interjected and told Souji, "Oh that man came to my school."

"Really?" Souji asked her.

"Yeah, he did."

The announcer continued talking about Mr. Kozai, "Upon completing the investigation, Mr. Kozai issued a statement. "In this day and age, one must stay aware of even slight changes in the environment and react politically. Today, I talked with a young student who spoke her own mind, free from the influence of those around her. It's an attitude and an example that we as adults we can all learn from. Our primary concern should always be to protect these children's futures." On that note, Mr. Kozai ended his statement. The assembled parents applauded, but some raised concerns that it was a show to attract voters for the next election." The story ended, and the news continued onto more boring crap.

Nanako stopped looking at the TV and turned to Souji. She covered her mouth and sneezed loudly, "Achoo!"

She looked at Souji. Souji thought she didn't look too good. She told him, "My head hurts."

"You don't look so good," Souji said as he stood up. He put his hand on his little sis's forehead. Sure enough, she had a fever. Souji told Nanako, "You need to get some rest, Nanako."

"O… Okay…," Nanako said, "Achoo!"

Souji had Nanako lie down on the couch after giving her some medicine.

"Hey, big bro…" Nanako said from the couch, propped up by two pillows, "Are you going back in the spring?"

Souji didn't know what to say. He had grown attached to Nanako over time. "Well…"

"It's going to be winter soon," Nanako said, "If it snows, can we make a snowman?"

"Of course we can," Souji answered.

"We can play a lot," Nanako said.

"Yeah," Souji said.

"Let's play all the time until spring," Nanako said softly. She had fallen asleep after saying that. After an hour, Souji took her to bed. Souji finished his homework after taking her to bed. He would meet with Yukiko after school again tomorrow, so he at least had something to look forward to.

The Culture Festival was over, so back to boring ass school. Kondo was teaching P.E. today. And he was as boring as hell. It wasn't really as much P.E. as it was "let's try and kill all of you by running you into the ground." He was spouting crap about the fact that winter was coming. He was quizzing people about muscle use. He asked Souji which muscles are weakened when you rest your chin in your hands. Souji answered, "Shoulder to the back?"

"That's right," Kondo answered, "Your back is the muscles weakened by resting your chin on your hands."

Kondo gave special exercises out of the class to do after their questioning.

"Son of a bitch!" he muttered after being forced to do hard labor.

---

What would happen after school would start a chain reaction that would change the group forever.

Souji was home, and Yukiko had come home with him. They were relaxing on the couch, just watching the small TV together.

Yukiko asked, "So… is this where you fell in the TV? Chie said you told them you fell into a TV when you first watched the Midnight Channel."

"Yeah, I touched the screen, my hand went in, and my whole head went with it," Souji replied.

Yukiko chuckled, "That's hilarious. Your head got stuck in the screen."

"I don't think it's that funny," Souji pouted.

"Aww…," Yukiko responded, "I'll make you feel better."

She pulled Souji closer from their snuggling position and pulled him close. Souji was dreaming happy thoughts as he took hold of her shoulders. At the last second, before their lips could touch, Yukiko pulled away.

"What!?" Souji asked.

"I just had this weird feeling that two people we know just got really close," Yukiko said, "I don't know why, but I just have this feeling."

"You think so?" Souji wondered, "Why don't we find out, then?"

"Let's wait a minute to find out," Yukiko said, moving back to Souji with a smile on her face. Souji was smiling too.

---

At Junes,

Chie and Yosuke were at Junes, at the "secret headquarters". They were, of course, fighting over something.

"It was the guys' turn!" Yosuke yelled.

"It wasn't our fault!" Chie yelled back.

"Of course it was!" Yosuke responded, "And you threw buckets at us!"

"That's because you wouldn't look away!" Chie explained.

"Rion didn't have bruises all over his face!" Yosuke retorted.

"Only because he knocked the bucket all the way to Mt. Fuji!" Chie answered.

Yosuke took her steak away from across the table and put it on another table, "Favorite food pudding, my ass!"

"How dare you steal my steak!" Chie was steaming. She replied by grabbed his steak and threw it to the side.

"What!" Yosuke yelled, "I paid for yours! Unlike you! I actually pay for the things I buy!"

"What about my Trial of the Dragon!? I still haven't got my money for that yet!" Chie sneered, "You signed us up for the beauty pageant, you sneak up on us at the hot springs, you force us to wear bathing suits at camp, should I go on?"

"You think that's bad?" Yosuke asked, "How about signing us up for a cross-dressing pageant? Inedible omelets, Mystery Food X, Throwing us into the river, the hot springs, making us stay at a haunted inn room, and making me pay for everything!"

"Well, it's all your fault!" Chie yelled. She calmed down slightly, "I don't believe that you are the reason there is no business in the shopping district, but you do a lot of stupid stuff Yosuke." She sighed, "Why can't you think before you do stuff?" If there wasn't anybody in Junes who wasn't staring at the pair of them, they were now.

"Well…," he looked around, "I'm too busy thinking about other things…"

"What could be so more important that you end up doing stuff that bites you in the ass?" Chie asked. She looked like she almost cared now.

"Well… actually, I've… I… I mean… I've been thinking about you," Yosuke said sheepishly.

"Wha… What!?" Chie was completely taken by surprise, "How could… Why would you be thinking about me?"

"I know I've been saying anything and everything about Saki-senpai when it comes to the murders, and it still does hurt that she was killed," Yosuke lamented, "I did like her, but I had to move on. I didn't want a girlfriend when I was trying to find this murderer, but I couldn't stop thinking about someone. The person I was thinking about… was you, Chie." Yosuke was looking at his feet now, and shuffling them nervously.

"Oh Yosuke…," Chie sighed, "You're such an idiot."

"I know I'm clumsy, and I do a lot of stupid stuff, but I just couldn't stop thinking about you," Yosuke confessed.

"You're clumsy?" Chie asked, "What about me?" She looked at herself, "Why would anyone like me? I'm plain old Chie. There's nothing special about me. I'm not pretty or popular like Yukiko. I'm not shy and cute like Naoto. Don't even try to compare myself to Rise. You said it yourself; you wouldn't want me in the pageant. No one would want me up there. I'm about as popular as Hanako. She said I wasn't smart, and she was probably right. I just say whatever comes to mind."

"Don't say stupid stuff like that. You're right a lot of the time, ya know? You have a lot of admirers you don't know about, Chie. Kou, for one," Yosuke said, "I didn't know what I was thinking, but I wanted to see you in there… I didn't want others to see you up onstage."

Chie was blushing bright red, "You mean… you wanted to see me up there?" She looked at him, "Then why didn't you just ask directly?"

Yosuke shook his head, "I'm supposed to think things through now?"

She chuckled, "That's true. But, I have to admit, it was hilarious seeing you up there at the cross-dressing pageant."

"Don't bring that up again… By the way, you suck at dressing me up as a girl." Yosuke tried to retort as he shook his head in dismay, but it wasn't an angry comment. He lightened his voice when he spoke to her, "I know we always fight, but I don't really mean it. I know I don't really like you siphoning my funds to buy Teddie's clothes, but you meant well."

Chie smiled, "I knew you'd come around eventually."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yosuke asked with a smirk.

"Anyways… if you really do like me, the real me… umm, uh," Chie was struggling to find what she wanted to say. She was blushing quite profusely, "Um… do you remember when Kanji asked if there were boys that we liked at the group date cafe?"

"Yeah, I remember that. You didn't want to say anything. I didn't say anything, obviously," Yosuke answered.

"I didn't want to say anything, because… I… I… I liked you," Chie finally answered through her red face, "Then again; you were a girl that day."

"Wow, Chie," Yosuke seemed astonished himself, "I didn't know. I guess Rise was right."

Yosuke went over to the other side of the table where Chie was standing. The thrown steak platters were long since forgotten. Yosuke placed his hand and interlocked his fingers within Chie's own fingers.

"I'm not very good at this," Yosuke muttered, "I can't really say anything."

"Oh, so I'm supposed to know what to do?" Chie looked up at him, obviously nervous as well, "I… I love you."

Chie goes up on her tiptoes and pecks Yosuke on the cheek. All the while, she's blushing madly, and this action makes her blush even worse while Yosuke goes red as well. It doesn't help that a collective "Aww…" comes out throughout the crowd that was watching the fight and the ensuing confessions.

A single voice was heard in the crowd, "That was so bear-y romantic!"

Chie and Yosuke's hands released and they picked out the costumed bear immediately.

"Teddie!" Yosuke exclaimed, "Tell me you didn't see that?"

"I saw the whole thing. It was so romantic!" Teddie cheered, "Two hearts joined as one in the fall air…"

"Shut up with that cheesy crap!" Yosuke yelled.

"You won't say a word!" Chie commanded.

"Too late," Teddie told them, "I already called Kanji, Souji, and Rion. They'll be telling everyone else to show up to talk about what happened."

"We're doomed," Yosuke put his hand on his forehead.

"I don't want to talk about this all over again," Chie shook her head.

---

Souji had gotten a call from Teddie about Chie and Yosuke getting together. Yukiko got all excited and started laughing her head off. She said something like, "About time!" and started "srnking" endlessly. Souji had to wait what seemed like forever to stop laughing.

The pair headed towards Junes through the floodplains to talk to Chie and Yosuke. As Souji was halfway through, he spotted a camera crew and a bunch of people crowded around a few people.

"Who's that?" Souji asked.

"Oh, that's a movie they are filming in town," Yukiko answered, "They're only going to be here for about two to three days. I don't think we have to worry about the Midnight Channel for them."

"There are a lot of them… Are they important?" Souji inquired.

"It's another idol," Yukiko responded, "And the whole group is staying at our Inn."

"Your Inn? Were they there while we were staying there? If they are all staying there, why aren't you there?" Souji asked.

Yukiko smiled, "I probably should, but my mom told me that I'm only in high school once." She blushed, "I'm going to take full advantage of it."

Souji smiled back as they head past the floodplains towards Junes.

---

Rion was waiting for Rise by the riverbank. He was going to meet up with both her and Naoto and go to Junes to talk about Chie and Yosuke. Apparently, the two of them hooked up.

"That seems beneficial. Maybe they will seem more lively," Rion said to himself, "But they will still fight. They act like they were already married to begin with."

As Rion started to tap his foot impatiently, he extended his staff long enough to be a walking stick, and attached the head to it. Rion was about to head off towards Rise's house to see why she was taking so long, but he noticed Rise talking to some other girl. The girl was wearing heavy make-up, and dressed in lavish clothes. She looked young, but it seemed someone was trying to make her look older. Rise and this girl seemed to be in a heated conversation. Rion heard without even trying to listen.

The two were standing just in front of the riverbank, face to face, in a heated argument. Rise was wearing her school uniform, while the other girl was in a flashy white dress with heavy make-up.

"Ah, it's the washed-up idol, Risette. How much attention did you get when you came here? Did they crawl on their knees when you came, or did they spit on the ground at the sight of your ugly face?" the other sneered.

"What do you want, Kanami? I have to be somewhere," Rise sounded worn out, just like she did when she first came to Inaba.

"I'm sure you don't have anywhere important to go. You came here because you supposedly lost your fire for being popular," This other idol said.

Rion had heard the name Kanami before. She was the popular new idol, her stage name, Kanamin.

"I needed a break, but I've found something important to do," Rise told the girl.

"You mean something like school? Face it, you have nothing worth doing," Kanami taunted.

"That's not true!" Rise started losing her cool as she yelled at Kanami.

Kanami smirked, "I know about you. Inoue told me. He told me all about this guy you said you liked. The guy with the silver hair you said you would marry once you got out of high school. He said you told him that to get him out of your hair."

Rise looked shocked, "Souji-senpai?"

"Oh, did I hit a nerve?" Kanami chuckled at Rise's confusion, "I saw him walking with that pretty innkeeper, Yukiko, was it? You know, that long-haired girl. She works at the inn. You can't hold a candle to someone who's got a future like that. You know at least those kids will be pretty."

"A future!? What the hell do you mean!?" Rise yelled. The tears were starting to form in her eyes.

"Listen…," Kanami scolded her, "You were washed up, and so you came here. You don't have a chance of doing anything in this dingy old place except inheriting a crappy old tofu shop that you'll run once your granny kicks the bucket."

A tear from Rise's cheek hit the ground, "Leave me alone and don't talk about my Grandmother's shop, you little bitch!" She was ready to beat up the younger girl.

Kanami laughed, "I even heard someone say you were on a striptease. Don't tell me you were that desperate for attention that you had to go and strip for everyone?" Kanami asked the frazzled ex-idol.

"Shut up!" Rise looked like she was going to hit the girl, and she advanced and cocked her fist. But before she could hit her, another hand enveloped her wrist, "Wha…!?"

"That's enough…," a calm voice said. It was Rion who had stopped her from knocking Kanami senseless.

"But…," Rise said.

"Let's go… Now!" Rion commanded.

"Kanami, we need you for the next scene!" Inoue had called Kanami over.

"Coming!" Kanami turned away and left. Before she had run out of sight she said, "I'm twice as good as you'll ever be, Risette."

After the girl left, Risette practically broke down where she stood. She nearly collapsed into Rion's arms.

"I… I… c… couldn't do anything," Rise cried, "She just… Senpai!"

"I told you this would might happen, Rise-chan…," Rion said slowly, "I told you that you weren't ready."

"But… how can I deal with what she said?" Rise stuttered, "I… I thought I got over that."

"Maybe you weren't ready for that just yet," Rion said, "You lost your cool."

"But how… how can I be ready for it next time?" Rise asked.

"I can't tell you what to do," Rion told her.

Rise looked at him expectantly through her tears, "You must know something. You have to have some idea on how I can become better at this."

Rion sighed, "I can't teach you. You think I know anything more than you do?" Rion looked straight into her teary eyes and said, "Sure, I dealt with a little of that when I was younger, but not like what you're going through. I didn't have competition like that, I didn't have agents, and I sure as hell didn't have such media attention."

"But… you know how to…," Rise was nearly begging.

"I don't!" Rion was getting annoyed, "I don't know shit about how to deal with idols, or media agents."

"Rion…," Rise was in tears again that he would actually raise his voice at her.

"There is no magic potion I can give you that can solve your problems," Rion explained as he calmed down, "Listen I'm sorry… but, I can't wave a magic wand and expect you to magically be able to deal with Kanami, or the paparazzi."

"But… I need you, Rion," Rise looked at him with those expectant eyes.

"I can't fight your battles for you, Rise-chan. You need to learn to do things on your own," Rion told her, "I can't always be there to hold you, or stop you from losing your cool."

"But…," Rise tried to explain, "I need you here… with me"

"I know how you feel… about me, and that isn't what I'm thinking," Rion told her, "You are just going to have to learn the hard way because I taught you everything I know."

"Senpai…," Rise muttered as Rion started to turn around.

"This is not the only place I am needed today. When you feel like you can come, Chie and Yosuke are waiting. Otherwise, I'll tell everyone that you are not feeling well," Rion explained.

Rion made his exit away from the shrine towards another venue. As he left, Rise dropped to her knees. She emitted a few words through her tears, "I don't want you fighting for me or telling girls off. I just want you to see him once so I have the confidence to fight. If you're there for me, just listening, I feel like I can win anytime."

She didn't notice that someone was listening to her words. The person who was listening to the conversation sighed at hearing this, "I already heard you, and I believe in you."

Rion's cell went off only about two minutes after he left Rise. It was the pint-sized detective. Naoto wanted him to meet her near Daidara's. It seemed that she had something else to do before meeting up with Chie and Yosuke.

"Great… now we're playing the game without me setting the time and date; Yakushiji-san didn't tell me he was playing today," Rion shook his head. The game was getting out of hand. Rion sighed as he said, "At least I know what the hell he's going to try and pull on her. I don't think it's going to work."

He met Naoto at the shopping district like she asked him to.

"Good afternoon, Naoto," Rion sounded strained.

"You sound on edge, Senpai," Naoto said, looking concerned at his tone of voice.

"Don't ask," he responded with a little flair in his eyes. She edged away at this.

Naoto didn't, "Anyways… I have learned that in recent days, a suspicious man has been spotted around the shopping district."

"Suspicious, my ass," Rion thought, "He's your secretary."

"He isn't a local, and his appearance doesn't mark him as a tourist or a shopper. I talked to the owner of the Shiroku Store and she said she saw the man only a few hours ago. She confirmed it was the same man who bought the cards."

"Then we have our suspect in reach," Rion said, trying to act like he didn't know who it was.

"It that's true, then he's likely looking for his next hiding place for one of his stolen items," Naoto said, "We may be able to catch him in the act."

"A good plan," Rion admitted, "But, don't you seem sad that it's over? It was amusing." He did think it was amusing, amusing to watch her squirm. Though Rion didn't really enjoy being dragged around that much.

"You… too?" Naoto wondered, "The detective I dreamed of becoming as a child. I feel like that's what I am now."

"That's a good thing," Rion responded. He was thinking, "Now, you just need to admit you're a girl and a detective, and being okay with it."

"If my deductions are correct, there are two things remaining that the Phantom Thief has stolen. And if so, I'm quite certain he's going to hide that one. Perhaps he is…" Naoto was thinking, "Anyway, where in this area could he hide something unnoticed?"

"This should be obvious…," Rion thought as he rolled his eyes.

"I have an idea. Let's go, Rion-senpai!" Naoto exclaimed, almost pulling him away as she went running from the weapons store.

"Here we go, I'm being dragged again," Rion was thinking to himself.

The two of them headed towards Tatsuhime Shrine. Thankfully, Rion knew where the next item would be placed, and what crazy stunt would be pulled when they got there.

Naoto rushed ahead when they reached the Tatsuhime Shrine. A silver-haired man in black was placing an object near the shrine.

"Oh crap, don't do that," Rion shook his head in thought.

"You're…," Naoto started to accuse the man.

He was wearing sunglasses as he turned around, and when he did, the man brandished a knife. At least, it looked like a knife.

Rion rolled his eyes and moved in front of Naoto. That would be the best course of action for playing this game.

"Let it go, Yakushiji-san. She's not going to be scared off by plastic," Rion muttered.

"Rion-senpai?" Naoto looked at him, "What are you doing? It's a toy! There's no need for alarm!" She watched Yakushiji-san run off, "And how did you… know?"

After Yakushiji dropped the "knife" and ran away, Naoto explained all of its purposes, "This knife… I knew it. It's another of the seven tools I made. This is a knife-shaped radio. As I said, it's just a toy."

"I know it was," Rion said, "I'm not stupid, Naoto."

Naoto didn't seem too happy with that as she nearly threw her hat on the ground and yelled, "But… Even so, what you did… What if the knife had been real!? You would have been in grave danger!"

"Your point being what?" Rion shrugged, "Why does that make a difference?"

"Rrrgh… You're always like that, Rion!" Naoto was frustrated, "I can't imagine becoming a woman only to have a man to protect me!"

"Oh grow up will you!" Rion yelled back.

"Wha…!?" Naoto was confused at his rage, "Why are you saying that?"

"You know what kind of danger we face everyday while we're in the TV, don't you? Do you know what we went through to save you? We can just as easily die in the TV world." Rion told her, "Every one of us would fight for every other person to their last breath. It doesn't matter, boy or girl. We protect each other."

"What purpose does this serve?" Naoto asked.

Rion lengthened his staff, "If you're so worried about becoming a woman, deal with the fact that you have to be protected sometimes!"

"What!?" Naoto was in shock, "But… I can't…"

"What's the matter?" Rion taunted her, "What if I was the criminal?"

"Why… do you torment me every time you see me?" Naoto trembled, "You always act like this… Push me in directions I don't want to go."

Rion harrumphed and rolled my eyes, "I give up on whatever this game was supposed to implant in your head. I'm calling Yakushiji-san. I'm going to get the last clue for you to solve."

"He's giving up," Naoto looked at her feet in shame as she muttered, "The final clue?"

"Yes," Rion said, pulling out his cell phone, "The game will be finished in no time at all."

Yakushiji came and apologized for putting both of them through this charade, "It's because of Naoto-sama's grampa that I had to do this. He was saddened by Naoto-sama's state of affairs lately. That's why we asked, you," pointing at Rion, "to do this." He looked at Naoto, "She doesn't have any acquaintances to work with, so she spends all of her time devoted to her work. So we asked Rion to work and help you regain the joy you felt in your earlier days. He wanted you to feel the way you did when you wanted to be a detective, no matter of her heritage, or gender."

Naoto had no response to that, though Rion's staring straight into her eyes may have had something to do with that. Yakushiji continued, "I thought Rion was trustworthy, and I asked him to do this because he knew you well, enough to change and improvise plans at my discretion." Yakushiji bowed in apology.

"I'm sorry to say, but I failed miserably…," Rion muttered, "So don't thank me." Naoto saw that he was actually looking depressed. It did not help her self-esteem at all.

After receiving the last clue from Yakushij and watching him leave, Naoto and Rion went to their usual meeting space, above the floodplains. Thankfully, the film crew had left by then. Rion had a feeling that he'd have to deal with Kanami again, anyways.

Rion placed the final card on the table. He wasn't amused as he spoke, "This is our final challenge."

Naoto looked ashamed. She knew even by the undertone of his voice that he was disappointed.

The card read,

"I did what you can't stand to at a place you'd be fond of.

But underneath, rather than the inside."

Rion thought for only a second like he was remembering something. He put his hand on the side of his head and sighed.

Rion muttered, "This is simple."

"You already know where it is?" Naoto asked incredulously. She figured that he would figure it out quickly.

"Of course… He's just using clues you've given to me already," Rion shook his head, "Why don't you just remember what you've told me? I'll head there and wait for you to come meet me, okay?"

"But…!?" Naoto exclaimed, trying to ask for his help, "A place I'd be fond of?" Naoto really needed his help.

Rion was already up and was starting to walk away when he turned, "You like high places, don't you?" he had shrugged and given her the answer without a second thought.

"You remembered?" Naoto said thoughtfully. She had told him that when they were talking about their pasts. She thought to herself, "I can't believe he knew… that he remembered that." She looked, "The highest place around here is… The hill."

Rion nodded, "That's where I'm headed."

Naoto looked at him pleadingly, wanting him to stay for help on the next part, so Rion sat back down. She looked thankful and said, "Next, what I "can't stand" to do. There are several possibilities, but…"

"At first, I'd say be around me," Rion said, and Naoto chuckled at his bluntness, "But… If you are actually able to throw something away, I'll eat your hat," Rion looked at her and chuckled.

Naoto blushed at his continued frankness, "That's right! Did I mention that before?"

"I'm pretty sure you did… About six times," Rion said.

"Considering what's at the hill, the most likely answer is the trash can," Naoto assumed.

"I was already headed there before you asked me for help," Rion told her.

"I have an idea of what's going to be there," Naoto responded.

Rion told her plainly, "I already know what's there. I did help set this up, remember?"

Naoto shook her head, "Let's go, Senpai."

The pair headed to the hill above town. Naoto wondered how she could cheer up Rion.

"Was a camera crew here?" Naoto asked as she reached underneath the trash can.

"They were filming a movie. Another idol was in it, and all hell broke loose when she met Rise," Rion answered.

"I see…," Naoto answered when she picked up the item, "I knew this was here. I forgot I even had this." She pulled out an old pocketbook, "It's the last of the seven tools. "The Detective's Pocketbook." All things I had forgotten about are packed in here."

"Well, that was the whole idea when we planned this," Rion told her.

"Grampa wanted to remind me of them. This childish game you three played on me… It's selfish. Forcing me to recall all of this now. I was trying so hard. Not to be underestimated, not to be condescended to…"

"You were trying too hard, Naoto," Rion said sadly, "This game needed to be played. I thought your Shadow told you that." He thought to himself, "Maybe I can at least salvage the first part."

Naoto sat on the bench, "I just thought if I solved this town's murder case that everyone would accept me; that they would acknowledge me as the 5th in the Shirogane lineage of detectives. That's what I told myself. I just wanted to be accepted. I just wanted to be needed. That's why I fretted and stood on my tiptoes and focused only on solving this case."

"You are needed, Naoto," Rion shook his head, "But not by the police. The town needs you for a different reason now.

She sighed, "I guess the original reason I wanted to become a detective was because mysteries intrigued me and I could help people by solving them."

Rion looked into her eyes, "That's a perfectly good reason to become a detective."

"I remember that now," Naoto told him.

"Rion-san? Do you remember when I faced myself in the TV world?" Naoto asked while looking at him.

"Pretty well," Rion answered, "I had a front-row seat if you remember correctly."

"I had to accept the fact that I needed a reason for myself to stay," Naoto told him,

"Everyone gave me a reason to stay. I'm still seeking the truth with you and the others, and I know I'm not the detective I want to be yet. I'm willing to admit I'm not yet an adult."

Before she could answer anymore, Rion came to her conclusion, "It's not just solving the crimes anymore and Personas, is it?"

She blushed and looked at him, "How… Wha…!?"

"Do I have to spell it out?" Rion rolled his eyes.

"Umm… Rion…?" Naoto was blushing scarlet red, but was rather confused.

"I need to let this out, or it will spill out and cause more trouble. I… I need to say this," Naoto had stood up and moved in front of Rion, all the while blushing madly. She started well…, "You see… You always tease me, but you mean well. To tell the truth, your life goal is to probably make my life hell, but I just can't think straight around you. I reveal more around you than I would around anyone else. You make me more uncomfortable than anyone else ever could. Ever since I met you, no matter how prying you were, how annoying you got, I couldn't stop… couldn't stop thinking about you. I… I… just… I… just have to say it. I… I…" She couldn't finish her sentence.

"You mean to tell me that you love me?" Rion asked.

Naoto could only nod.

"I can't say yes to someone who can barely admit to being a girl," Rion answered, "There's a reason why Teddie won the cross-dressing pageant so easily."

"Not admitting to being a girl…," Naoto could only at her feet.

"Your Shadow did a rather poor job of convincing you sometimes," Rion sighed, "You barely changed your voice and we're supposed to believe you're a girl? You don't talk like a girl at all." He stared straight into her eyes and said, "You don't act the least bit like a girl… When's the last time you had a normal girl-like conversation with someone? You sure as hell don't dress like a girl. I help you because I felt like it, because I'm your friend, just like I helped Rise to the best of my ability. I see that my second goal was a failure."

Naoto was in tears now. She knew Rion didn't like him, "The… second goal…?"

"I just wanted you to realize its okay to be a girl," Rion shook his head. He didn't want to lose his temper again, "I just wanted you to at least once in your life to talk like a girl. Talk to a guy and make his day, you have enough admirers. Make Kanji's day or something by just talking to him, but not for the case. I'm sure he'd die of happiness or something. I know it'd make you uncomfortable beyond belief, but try dressing like a girl. There's nothing wrong with it."

"I just can't… I understand that I'm not an adult, but I can't see myself as a girl detective," Naoto cried.

Rion put his head down, "Then I can't help you. Either you learn now, or you'll be alone later in life. Not everyone is so accepting like Kanji. I wouldn't be."

"Senpai…," she wiped her eyes.

"I need to talk to Chie and Yosuke," Rion told her as left her behind, "We are all meeting at Junes. They're together now, you know." She turned around as he walked away, "Life isn't always about solving problems by making deductions. Sometimes you just have to act."

Rion was sick of making people cry as he headed towards the meglo-mart.

When the group, sans Rise and Naoto, met at Junes there was lots of lively talk about Chie and Yosuke getting together. Needless to say, the new couple were sick of talking about it.

"A… Anyways…," Chie said, "Where is Rise and Naoto?"

"Yeah, why isn't Naoto here?" Kanji looked at Rion, "Weren't you going to bring her here?"

Rion shrugged, "Well… Rise was verbally abused by that other idol that's staying at the Amagi Inn. That's why she isn't here, most likely. And Naoto… well, she had a case to solve, and not everything is quite finished."

"Oh…," Souji said, "Well, that sucks." He thought, "What the hell happened? Rion was dealing with both of them, and now something happened."

"That idol abused Rise?" Yukiko asked, "What happened?"

"I didn't hear everything, but she's the one who replaced Rise. So, she was badmouthing her," Rion explained.

"Well… I wish I could complain to her about it," Yukiko said, "But she is staying at our Inn."

"I can always do something about it!" Chie had a gleam in her eyes.

"Violence is not the answer Chie…," Souji muttered.

Yosuke smiled, "It usually was in my case…" Chie looked at him and rolled her eyes. It was better than hitting him in Souji's eyes.

Teddie looked at Rion, "So… you said you had something important to tell us?"

Rion nodded, "Right… well I had nothing to do when I wasn't working, or after we saved Mitsuo… so I qualified for the Olympics in London for fencing."

"Wow… Congrats!" Yosuke said.

"Therefore, to deter any broadcasts that may have occurred recently, tomorrow night, it's supposed to rain. I am going to be on TV tomorrow night."

"You're going to do what!?" Kanji exclaimed.

"I think he's putting himself at risk… But he's probably the best prepared to fight the kidnapper," Souji replied.

"I don't want him to get captured though," Teddie said.

"It'd be like Naoto all over again," Kanji told them.

"Better him, than say Yukiko risking herself," Yosuke replied, "Plus, he already has a Persona, and he's fought his Shadow." Yosuke looked at Kanji, "What could he possibly worry about? He'd probably be just waiting for us to find him, or kill all the Shadows and come back himself."

Rion chuckled, "I'm glad you share my sentiment, but I hope if our kidnapper comes I can stop him in the act."

"That would be best," Souji said. "If someone did come after him, I feel sorry for the kidnapper."

"Not having to go to the TV World to find someone else would be a relief," Yukiko agreed.

"Regardless… so Chie… did you say you were sorry for…," Rion was trying to bring the subject back onto the pair of lovebirds.

"No Rion, stop!" Yosuke yelled.

"Snrk…!" Yukiko started laughing.

"Great… see what you started," Chie muttered.

The subject went back to Chie and Yosuke and moved to much lighter topics as the day went on.

Chie stopped Souji as he began to walk away from Junes. It seemed she had something to say.

"You've been a good friend to Yosuke," she told him, "It seems you helped him out a lot."

"Not really," Souji shrugged.

"No…," Chie shook her head, "Now… if you could only stop him from doing stupid things."

They chuckled and light shone over Chie's head.

The Persona that she had been using, "Tomoe" had transformed into "Suzuka Gongen"

"I guess this is what I get for training all the time with you," Chie told Souji as she noticed the change in her, "Thanks for helping me realize all of my potential."

She handed a pair of wristbands to Souji.

"Hmm?" Souji asked, confused, "Are these hers? But they seem clean?" He thought.

"Don't worry, they're new," She explained, "This is for all times you trained with me and helped me realize I can fight together with everyone, instead of fighting by myself."

"Thanks…," Souji expressed his thanks towards her, "All those times we've trained together made me a lot more resistant to Galactic Punts." He reminisced about all the kicks he had received in the nads from his training.

"Your welcome," as Chie walked off towards to Yosuke, who was going to walk her home.

"This is only slightly weird…," Souji muttered to himself.

Souji went home and read after the whole ordeal. He went to bed early, feeling that tomorrow was going to be even crazier than the last.

"Souji-kun!" Yukiko exclaimed as she ran up to him, "Rion was right, it's going to rain this weekend."

"Really?" Souji responded, "That sucks. I guess we will have to watch the Midnight Channel. Are you still coming over or do you have to babysit the idol and the film crew?"

"I'm coming over. My mother told me they're annoying," Yukiko chuckled, "Really pushy. She doesn't want me to have to deal with them."

Souji chuckled with her as they went to class.

The day went rather quickly, but as he left with Yukiko, Souji saw her stop suddenly.

"What's wrong?" he asked as she had stopped near the gate.

"Oh, it's nothing too important," Yukiko responded, "Just that something really insane is going to be happening to our group again."

"Why do I feel this is not going to be good," Souji muttered.

---

Way over OOC coming

Rion returned home after another boring day of school. Well, at least got some sleep out of it. He'd need it for later. He had felt awful today, and he guessed it had started since he woke up this morning.

"I treated both of them terribly," he had said to himself, thinking of Naoto and Rise, "I shouldn't have put them through all of that. I should have been more helpful. There were things I could have explained and done that I couldn't do for them, no didn't do for them."

Most of all, it had seemed to hurt his heart. It was terrible.

He didn't have a nice adobe like Souji. He lived in a small condo on the 2nd floor that was actually owned by a landlord who lived downstairs. Though the old man was nice, the actually living quarters were rather cramped. Souji's temporary lodgings far outclassed his own. His small kitchen was to the left, next to the sitting area when one entered from the stairs and through the door. A small TV that Rion watched the Midnight Channel from and one large window were to the right, along with an entrance to his room. A single cherry cabinet that held many things was placed next to his room. A single table, next to his TV, held his memories of the family he once had. At least the landlord was almost always there. If someone were to come to kidnap him, he'd know about it.

Rion sighed and pulled off his school uniform. He put on an outfit to relax in. Khakis and a green polo, which he'd refuse to, pop the collar. He knew he'd have work after the interview, so he'd have to change again. He pulled out scrubs as well. He rolled his eyes. He knew high school students who cleaned at the hospital, but not ones who helped nurses. He knew more than some of the nurses. He hated when the ones who were lazy.

Rion was about to go over some of the possible questions for the interview when he got a buzz from the landlord.

Rion went to the buzzer and asked after greeting the man, "What's the matter?"

"You have a visitor. Are you expecting one?"

"No… Who does this person look like?"

"She's a girl. A pretty one at that. Short blue hair, pale complexion… she's wearing your school uniform."

"You sure about that?" Rion asked. Rion was thinking to himself, "She wouldn't come here. She doesn't have the guts…"

"I'm sure… I'll send her up you lucky guy."

"Oh great…," Rion thought to himself, "Wait a second!" Before he opened the door, he ran and grabbed his phone.

For a second he could only stare. Kanji would be so jealous at this sight of Naoto Shirogane. She never seemed more uncomfortable at the sight of Rion, either. She was blushing like a cherry. She was wearing your typical school girl outfit. He thought, "She fits the school dress code!"

"Umm… can I come inside…? It's cold," Naoto asked and in a high voice as well.

"Of course you can," Rion backed out of the way and let her in. His thoughts echoed, "Her real voice too!"

"Umm… so this is where you live… I had to look it up," Naoto told him, "I really wasn't sure."

Rion rolled his eyes, "I know. It's so small, even in Inaba you can't find it."

Naoto wasn't sure if she should laugh, but Rion told her to stand still, "What? What do you want me to do?"

"It'll only take me a second," Rion said as he pulled out his phone and took a quick photo with it, "One day in a school uniform, a lifetime of memories."

"What!?" Naoto was shocked. She lost all control of her blush, which was already in high gear and yelled, "Erase it now!"

"Nope…," Rion chuckled, "Gotta send it to everyone first. I need to see if Kanji bleeds to death."

"Please… please don't…," Naoto pleaded. She was going to die of embarrassment.

"Come on…," Rion said, "It won't hurt." He sent it, "It's done." He laughed at her sweet innocence.

Naoto pouted as the heat rose to her cheeks, "That is completely illogical. What's the purpose of that?"

"People should see you as you. Not as who you hide yourself as," Rion explained, "Anyways, you came here obviously because you wanted to cut out the middle man and even beyond the threat of death by blushing, you wanted to get it done with."

"That was the main idea," Naoto confessed as her blush seemed to never disappear, "Do you mind?" as she glanced around his place.

"I guess," Rion shrugged, "There isn't much to see though." Naoto thanked god his eyes never left her face.

Naoto went around and looked at the various things Rion had in his "condo" while Rion stood off to the side.

"What's in the cabinet?" she asked as she opened it, "Weapons?"

It was indeed weapons. A few of them were the ones he used every day they went into the TV, one of the walking sticks/staff and a ninjato. Accompanying them was a matching ninjato and two weighted knuckles.

"What are all these?" she asked, "Why don't you use all of these in the TV?"

"I don't use all of those… unless I have to," Rion said, "I'd have trouble hiding those under my uniform."

Naoto nodded, "That's understandable." She walked over to the small TV in the living room, "Is this where you watch the Midnight Channel?"

Rion just replied with a quick, "Yes" before Naoto moved to his calendar which Rion had circled the date and had 7pm written in for "interview"

"You're having an interview!?" she asked, temporarily gaining her composure.

"I told everyone except you and Rise that I'm doing so to try and draw out our kidnapper," Rion explained.

"Why are you being so stupid?" Naoto questioned, a serious look on her face now, looking at him straight in the eye.

"It's just that I have the best possible defense against our kidnapper. A second-floor building, with a landlord to head me off of a possible suspect; I have faster reaction times than you or Souji, and I'm stronger than Kanji."

"That's not a good explanation," Naoto fumed, "You could get hurt!" She was genuinely worried for Rion.

"Even if it fails, I already have faced my Shadow, and I have a Persona. I'll be okay," Rion tried to explain and calm her down.

"I still think you're being reckless and foolhardy," Naoto muttered.

"Well, that's obvious," Rion responded, "But rather me, than anyone else. Last time someone did that, it was you."

Naoto blushed at his last statement. "I don't need to be reminded about that," she said.

As Naoto turned to the little table to look at Rion's pictures, a rumbling sound came from her stomach.

"What was that?" Rion asked.

"I haven't really eaten… all day," Naoto was embarrassed, "Yakushiji-san prepared my outfit in the morning, so I was too rushed to eat breakfast. And I was too nervous to eat lunch."

"Well… we can remedy that," Rion chuckled, "Let us make some breakfast food!"

Rion dragged Naoto over to the kitchen while she blushed, "Us!? Why us!?"

"You're not getting a handout unless you help," Rion smiled, "What do you like to eat?"

"I like eggs…," Naoto said nervously, "Omelets, I guess…"

"Perfect…," Rion said as he started pulling things out of his fridge.

Naoto looked in, "Are we really going to do this?"

"It's not hard, and I'll help. No worries!" Rion chuckled. "Let's hope that this doesn't turn out like the last time we made omelets…"

And now the disaster called Naoto Cooking began!

Rion found that it was a bad idea to make Naoto try and cook.

"No, don't crack the eggshells so the shells go into the bowl with the rest of the egg," Rion told her.

"I don't want to cut the peppers…," Naoto complained.

"You use a gun, but you don't want to use a veggie knife?"

"You're the one who uses a sword, Rion…"

"Fine then, you make sure the meat doesn't burn," Rion ordered.

As Naoto went to check on the meat and rice, her elbow brushed the egg batter, and while Rion moved sharply out of the way… the batter landed all over the kitchen and on Naoto's socks.

"Oh…," Naoto looked devastated, "I'm sorry."

"I'll clean it up…," Rion said, "Don't worry about it."

"But… I made a terrible mess," Naoto complained, "I wasted your food."

Rion shrugged, "It is okay…" Rion pointed at her socks, "Just take them off and I'll throw them in the wash. I'll give them back to you once they're clean. I won't tell anyone that you left your socks here."

Naoto was blushing scarlet again as she seemed reluctant to follow that order, "O… Okay."

After the kitchen was clean again, the cooking continued and finally the omelets were done. They looked edible as they were taken to the sitting area.

"I hope this is better than eating Spicy Hell," Rion muttered.

"Huh?" Naoto asked.

"Just a previous experience with the Persona team, and their cooking," Rion explained.

"Okay…," Naoto said slowly.

Rion tasted it, and it wasn't bad. It seems that Naoto did a pretty good job after all.

"Good job, Miss Detective," Rion complimented her.

"T… Thanks…," Naoto replied sheepishly. She thought it tasted good too. She hadn't made food for herself before. She noticed he had not called him Princess today.

"Hey... Rion? Did you see me, at the springs?" Naoto asked.

"Does it really matter?" Rion responded.

"It matters!" Naoto exclaimed.

Rion shook his head that he did not.

"Can I ask you something?" Naoto put forth.

"Umm… okay?" Rion agreed.

"I saw the pictures on the table. Those were your parents, right?" Rion nodded and Naoto continued, "Can you tell me about them?"

Rion sighed and said, "Well… I never planned on giving you guys that alcohol. It was meant for me. My parents died at Port Tatsumi Island. They didn't classify it, well technically as a death, but I knew they died. We stopped there in-between competitions in 2009. It was in November. I was relaxing, while my parents were taking a stroll. They said they were going to the Moonlight Bridge. They never returned," Rion actually shed a tear and was choking up a bit, "The police didn't know what happened to them. Said they went missing, but could never find anything… any traces of my parents. I knew that they had died." Rion suddenly raised his voice in anger, "The worst part is… I suddenly forgot they died. It wasn't until they didn't come home again, that I figured out that they were dead. I forgot that my own parents were dead! What kind of a person does that make me!? A terrible one!"

Rion shook his head as he took off his glasses and brushed the tears in his eyes, "I disliked my parents. They were terrible people at times. They forced me to train and study almost non-stop. We had to move almost constantly, and I was exploited. The last thing I wanted, however, was for them to die." Rion had to brush his tears away again.

Naoto finally saw a side of Rion she had never seen; a sensitive side to him that he was hiding from others.

"Rion… I'm sorry," Naoto told him, "I don't know what to say…"

"I had to move on. Even if I didn't always like them, they were still my parents," Rion shook his head, "I can't push this onto you. You lost your parents as well. It isn't fair to do that."

Naoto realized his caring words and his compassion. She also realized the pain he was in when they had this conversation.

"You must be so uncomfortable here… You can leave if you want…," Rion muttered, "The courage you had in even coming here was far beyond I ever expected. You have fulfilled anything I had ever wanted from you to be."

"Umm…," Naoto was unsure and about ready to turn when Rion said, "Naoto…"

Naoto turned back at this and felt larger arms envelop her smaller body.

Naoto was in shock. This was the most uncomfortable she had even been, but at the same time, she was in disbelief. Rion was hugging her.

"If you pity me, please stop…," Naoto told him.

Rion only held her tighter in his arms, grasping her closer to his body.

"I understand that you are in pain, but if you need someone to comfort you, I'm sure you can find solace with someone better than me."

Rion had finally let go of her after that, "Naoto…," was all he said after that.

"Please… don't play with my heart anymore. I understand you don't like me. I'm glad you see me as a friend, but don't do this to me. I've never been hugged like this, especially not by a person my age…," when Rion cut her off.

"You need to learn when to just shut up… Naoto-chan," Rion muttered.

"I…!" Naoto tried to rebuke him when lips enveloped her own. The softness of the kiss never changed, and Naoto who felt like pulling away at first, decided to just enjoy the moment. She finally understood what it meant to be a girl.

When Rion finally broke the kiss, Naoto seemed out of breath. She said, "I've never been kissed."

Rion looked at her, "I guess you just need practice." He proceeded to laugh at her.

"You make me so uncomfortable, you non-lizard brained imbecile!" Naoto exclaimed, but regardless nestled her head into his shoulder.