Novelization of Persona 4 Chapter 25
I own nothing; I am nothing, and so on. Atlus owns it all. If you want to try to wrest it away, you can try, I guess. Good luck with that.
Okay, we're moving along eventually. You know who finally gets exposed and the great search and destroy mission will begin shortly. Oh one more thing, angst can continue more and more if I feel like it. It's the de facto 3rd category in this fic, after the 2nd category which has to show up somewhere. I think you're getting tired of it anyways, that and the ever-shifting romance. I know the 2nd category says romance, but I'll try to move the story along.
I'm sorry this took so long. Winter hiatus has slowed this down tremendously. It's still short too.
Yukiko did go with Souji back to temporary house for a little bit. Souji didn't mind. Why would he? Originally, the real reason she came with him was to try and maybe see if they could figure out who the killer might be on their own. Souji had some doubts about that.
They sat down on the couch on the 1st floor to talk after grabbing the only food that wasn't past its expiration date. Souji would need to go to Junes for a reason besides other than meeting at the headquarters. Souji shook his head. Souji felt he was courageous enough that he didn't need to eat anymore of that nasty crap like expired miso. He shuddered at that memory.
Souji's arm almost automatically went over and around Yukiko's shoulder as they started talking and Yukiko snuggled in close. Was it conducive for talking? Who knows? But it didn't matter to either of them.
"I'm not sure if anyone will be able to tell us something about the real killer," Yukiko said.
"Hopefully, somebody will have remembered something after all this time," Souji responded as Yukiko shifted in closer. Souji wasn't really sure about it as he thought, "Who would remember that much about those two cases that happened six months ago? Plus, the supposed killer has been caught."
"I just hope they haven't decided the case is over with," Yukiko said.
"My thoughts exactly," Souji replied. Her words had echoed his thoughts.
Souji and Yukiko discussed a few more things about the Namatame conversation as well before their conversation soon turned to the boy in blonde.
"Where do you think Teddie could have gotten to?" Souji asked.
"I don't know… I'm surprised he would even leave Nanako-chan's side, considering how he adores her," Yukiko said.
"He's such a pedo bear," Souji thought. "I know what you mean. He should be elated that Nanako is alive even if she's still fighting so hard," Souji sighed, "We need him here with us to solve this case."
"I agree with you," Yukiko nodded, "I hope we can find him soon."
"Me too," Souji said, "Soon."
Yukiko fell asleep under Souji's shoulder and he didn't dare move her. They stayed here like this for a while. Souji had an ominous feeling. Something like this could be the last time in a while that he could hold her like that without dread.
---
"Where is that stupid bear!?" Yosuke asked, looking around as he walked home, "This is getting ridiculous."
"I don't know…," Chie sounded exasperated, "What do you want me to do about it!?"
"Other than keep searching for him in the TV world, we may have to wait for him to just come back," Yosuke responded, "He can't stay away from us for too long. He misses too much."
They walked together until they had to part to reach their separate homes, which was rather disappointing for both of them. One short kiss later, they unlocked hands and left to contemplate how to find the killer.
---
Rion and Naoto were trying to figure how to hide Rion. Naoto's grandfather somehow figured out where Naoto was last night. And now Naoto's grandfather was sending Naoto's Russian cousin after him.
"This is bothersome," Rion muttered as he pushed his glasses up. "I don't feel like fighting off your family."
"You won't have to fight her," Naoto replied, "And don't you dare push up your glasses around me. I don't want to be considered an idiot by you. I know the police are dumb, I hope you don't believe all of us are."
"Of course not all of you are," Rion smiled, "You know, sometimes my glasses just slip."
"I'll believe it when they fall off," Naoto smiled back, "So, are you going to tell us the name of the killer?"
"I don't know who it is yet," Rion said truthfully.
"Wow… there's something you don't know," Naoto chuckled, as she took off her hat and placed it on his head. She pretended to push up invisible glasses.
"I should call you a jerk, but I don't mind," Rion smiled. He said to her, "I like you better without the hat." She smiled back for a moment before she steeled her face.
"I wish Rise wouldn't smile at you like that so much. She still loves you," Naoto said softly, "And you can't do anything about it."
"Thanks for that reminder," Rion said begrudgingly, "The worst part isn't when she smiles at me. It's when she starts crying."
"I didn't see that part of it," Naoto said. "This is a problem," she thought, "He can't let her go either."
Naoto shook her head. Her grampa had accepted Rion at first, but as soon as she started spending time with him… he became overly controlling. Maybe her grampa did not expect his granddaughter to fall in love when his grampa wanted her to become someone who loved being a detective again. What should she do?
---
They had December 5th off from school.
So, on that December 5th… Souji began his search of someone, someone who might know something about the true culprit. Unfortunately, as soon after his search into the Shopping District… he began using swears his parents never knew he used. Then again, he probably used them a million times since he started killing Shadows in the TV world. Regardless, these people were worthless when it came to finding the real culprit.
"Tch…," Souji thought, "What should I expect from people who either believe the case is over and done with or have completely forgotten there were murders in Inaba in the first place?"
When he asked "About those murders, do you remember anything about them?" he got responses like…
"The incident last spring? Did something happen? It was a big deal, wasn't it? I had almost forgotten about it, until you reminded me about it."
Souji just shook his head and thought, "Moron…" He had walked off.
"I can't expect to remember stuff about that long ago," another person said.
Souji muttered, "And that's what I was worried about."
"What'd you say?" the student asked a little menacingly, and Souji rushed off.
Another person was rambling about how the fog was Junes' fault in the Southern Shopping District and Yosuke knocked the guy out. Souji cheered him on. "Man, the fog makes me feel like we're in the TV," Yosuke said afterwards.
"I know what you mean, I can't find out anything about the killer," Souji said.
"We'll just have to step it up," Yosuke smirked. "We're so screwed," Yosuke was thinking.
Yukiko was wondering why the first murder had happened. She was worn out from asking people, and Souji could see why. People were completely useless.
Kanji was pissed off because when he tried to talk to people, they could not see him to talk to him.
Souji had walked to the North Shopping District
When he tried to ask Rise how she was faring some business guy came up to her and started asking her for an autograph and tried to ask her out. Of course, she had nothing good to report, and she had even tried asking about Teddie. She was surprised at his popularity. Was she… jealous?
"Why is this guy trying to ask Rise out? He's like 20-something. Pedophile…," Souji thought.
When Souji asked him about the case, "Didn't they find the killer and put a lid on the case?"
"Well…," Souji started saying.
"I'm busy talking to Risette, so scram!"
"Get lost pedophile!" Souji yelled. Rise was looking a bit uncomfortable.
"Shut up, little kid," the businessman responded.
Chie said to Souji when she finally squinted close enough to see him, "Even if somebody's been killed… everyone forgets so easily."
Souji responded. He had to put his grey glasses on, "Yeah… people are shallow."
"Rumors they hear are remembered for much longer. I wonder why?" She asked.
"I guess they're more interesting," Souji shrugged.
Souji had started asking if they had seen anyone else who was suspicious.
He mainly got answers that were, "Only Namatame, and he was captured, right?"
Also, ones such as, "No… not really, have you?"
There were old people Souji didn't expect to remember something from five minutes ago.
He even heard answers that he was the suspicious person. Souji had to hold back his urge to cut through another jacket of his. He hadn't done that since the beginning of November, a whole month.
At Junes, Naoto told him to retrace his steps. To find a commonality between the two victims… unfortunately, the answers he was getting didn't help his cause.
There was a person that said a person in the Shopping District could give him answers, but Souji checked the Floodplains first. He found his favorite brooder there. Rion was sitting on a bench, meditating.
"You're here, not asking questions, and contributing nothing to society," Souji told him jokingly.
"And here I was, about to achieve Enlightenment," Rion opened his eyes, smirking.
"Are you Buddhist or something?" Souji asked.
"Nope… by the way, these people are worthless. You're better off using common sense," Rion answered.
"You're probably right," Souji responded.
Souji just took what info he had gained from the student in Junes and went back to the Shopping District. So, he talked to her, "Oh that!"
She started spouting stuff about Saki Konishi and Namatame. "Great, more crap…," Souji muttered, "At least Namatame wasn't making advances on Saki."
Souji sighed. Rion was right, there was nothing of value. It was all worthless crap.
He called everyone, and they decided to meet at Aiya's to discuss what they found. Souji was not optimistic.
Chie, Rise, Kanji, and Yukiko were sitting at a table, while Naoto, Yosuke, and Souji were sitting along the front. Rion was just standing on the side at the wall.
Chie sighed, "I'm seriously pooped." She shook her head, "This stuff's a lot harder when you don't have a badge to flash." She stared at Naoto, who rolled her eyes, "I walked around all day and didn't hear anything good."
"It was the same for me," Yukiko put her head down.
"I have to agree with you there," Souji nodded, reminded of that pedophile.
"There was absolutely no talk about the case whatsoever, let alone the true culprit," Yukiko continued.
"Ditto for me," Rise said. She sighed, "Actually in my case, I kept getting bombarded with questions and couldn't get them on the main subject at all. The killer must have been pretty good to have pulled this off without being seen at all."
Souji thought, "I wonder why you couldn't get onto the main subject… You're Risette." "Did you even try, Rion?" he asked.
"Not really…," Rion replied from the corner, "As the others have already said, it would not have made a difference."
Yosuke shook his head as he asked the others, "What should we do?"
Chie thought for a second and then said, "Well… One steak bowl please!" she yelled at the chef.
Yosuke shook his head, "That's not what I meant…" He sighed, "But then again, I guess we might as well take a break. I'll have a crab and egg fried rice."
Kanji called out, "I'll have roast pork ramen with extra noodles."
The rest of them started ordering random dishes. Rion and Souji baited Aiya to create the Beef Bowl Challenge, and they went after it. They almost finished it. Souji was proud. He had beaten Rion in an eating contest. Yukiko and Naoto looked disgusted.
Chie started talking after they finished eating, "Now that our tummies are full… Let's share what we learned… Even if it wasn't much."
Souji started, "Well… most of the people I talked to didn't remember that there were murders or they think the case is long over. They think I'm suspicious or that Namatame is the suspicious one."
"So, to sum up," Chie said, "There really was no new information. The end?"
Rion closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. He was thinking, "Someone who wouldn't be considered suspicious and knows the Dojimas?… Is it that obvious?"
Naoto started speaking, "The police had an unusually large number of officers in their initial investigation of the first two incidents. To find facts that even they overlooked would be difficult indeed, now that half a year has passed. There wasn't a single report of a suspicious person being witnessed to begin with. Ms. Yamano had ardent fans whereas Saki-san didn't, but otherwise the conditions are the same."
"Y'know, every time I tried to ask about the case, everyone ignored me and kept ranting about the damn fog," Kanji cut in.
Rise spoke next, "Yeah. That or the Midnight Channel. I asked around about Teddie too, but no one's seen him. I wonder where he could have gone."
Yosuke looked at Naoto and asked her, "Do you have anything, Naoto? Any new, uh… deductions?"
Naoto shook her head in disappointment, "Without any new data to work with, there isn't much I can do. But there must be someone in town who meets all the criteria for this case. The killer must have a connection to both Saki-san and Ms. Yamano. As well as be in a position to observe our actions periodically, to some extent." She turned to Souji, "Finally, it must be someone who could approach Souji-senpai's house without arousing suspicion."
"This can't be this obvious… can it?" Rion was thinking. He walked outside. Naoto saw him go as she sighed. "I need some fresh air before I give it more thought. I'll be outside too." She followed Rion out the door. Souji wondered if Rion had discovered something and she wanted his opinion.
Souji wiped his brow and pushed his hair back. He decided to go outside as well. Souji was thinking about something. "What fits both…?" He walked outside Aiya's door.
Rion was standing next to Naoto, who was looking at the sky. Rion's eyes were closed, like usual. Souji shook his arms and tried not to freeze to death.
Naoto looked at Souji and said to him, "It's snowing… No wonder it's chilly."
"That's December for you," Souji responded.
"Of course," Rion said. He pushed his glasses up.
Yosuke was the next to come outside. Souji shook his head. Was everyone going to come and freeze with him?
Yosuke held his arms across his chest, "Brr, it's freezing out here. Maybe this'll help my deductive muscles flexing."
"You have deductive muscles?" Rion joked. He pushed up his glasses, and Naoto pushed him.
"Shut up…," Yosuke responded. He looked up, "Hey is it snowing?" he asked.
Rion pushed up his glasses again, and Souji chuckled.
"Too bad the fog's so thick… The snow just gets lost in it."
Souji was trying to think of what was missed. What connected the two murders and the killer?
"What's the matter?" Yosuke asked.
"Well…," Souji said. He was thinking, "He knows about the TV world, and what we do. He knows about Namatame's doings, and he watched him too. There were no witnesses either and the warning letters sent to my house instead of anyone else's. So who is it?"
"Do you know who is it Rion?" Souji asked.
"I believe I have figured it out…," Rion looked at him, "It's my speculation to be the true culprit."
Souji put his head down. He wanted to be able to tell them the answer. It came to him. "The man who could walk up straight to the house and deliver a letter," he said, "Tohru Adachi. He can keep an eye on our actions. Adachi knows the area very well, obviously. We ran into him how many times while trying to investigate the case?"
Rion nodded in agreement.
"Adachi?" Yosuke asked in surprise.
"Detective Adachi," Naoto said slowly. "A member of the police force… That is an interesting approach. That would certainly explain the lack of witness reports. It's the same reason why no one even reported seeing Namatame's truck."
Yosuke added, "This is a small town, so everyone must've known who he is."
"He's a detective," Souji said, "He certainly would not be considered suspicious."
"In fact, he could use his position to his advantage and hide critical information," Naoto included.
"Such as information about Mitsuo," Rion said from the other side of Naoto.
"Well… if you think about it that way, I guess it's possible," Yosuke said but he looked at them incredulously, "But we're talking about Adachi here, right? I mean really, Adachi? He's your textbook lousy detective. Are we really on the right track here?"
"Actually, regarding Detective Adachi…," Naoto said, "I'm not sure how to put it, but there's something that's been bothering me about him for some time now."
Rion continued for her, "He's smarter than he looks. Adachi has been in the same place as us at the all right times to keep us off track. I think I know what's bothering Naoto." They'd been discussing the case together.
"Yeah? Hmm…," Yosuke looked at the pair.
Naoto said to them, "Perhaps it's just my imagination, so I shouldn't speak too…" She suddenly sneezed, "Achoo!" Rion put his arm over her shoulder. She was grateful for the warmth he brought.
Yosuke shivered, "Whew, it's cold! I think we've cooled down enough here. Let's go back inside.
The four of them walked back inside Aiya's to tell the others their deductions.
The four took the same positions as before. Souji told Rise, Chie, Kanji, and Yukiko that they thought it was Adachi.
"Adachi-san!?" Yukiko said incredulously. She continued, "That can't be… I mean, he said he came to escort Ms. Yamano and..." Souji and Naoto's eyes widened. Rion pushed up his glasses.
Rion thought to himself, "A connection to Yamano, a perfect chance to kill her."
"What!? Was he at your inn when the announcer was staying there?" Naoto asked.
Yukiko answered, "When Ms. Yamano was staying at our inn, the media were swarming all over it. That's when Adachi-san arrived, saying he had been assigned to guard her. He told our waitress that fame could be rough."
"What the hell?" Souji thought.
"Guard her?" Naoto asked quizzically, "He didn't spend the night there?"
"I wonder if he knew Ms. Yamano…," Chie said.
Kanji said from caddy-corner, "I don't know about that, but I heard he did call out to a girl in my class. I found out this afternoon."
"Since Kanji had no idea we'd be thinking it was Adachi…," Souji thought.
Kanji had continued, "But I thought, y'know, that's just how cops are, so I didn't think it had anything to do with the case."
Naoto explained, "Detective Adachi also questioned Saki-san, the one who found the announcer's body, on numerous occasions. I heard it was because there was so little information about the case at the time, but…"
Rion interrupted, "Why bother questioning someone like her multiple times when she obviously isn't the murderer?"
"Then you think he had something else on his mind?" Chie asked.
"And that "something" is what connects those two victims to Adachi-san?" Yosuke inquired. He said, "Come to think of it… We've been running into that guy a lot, in all sorts of places. And every time, he'd tell us what the police were doing before saying, "Oops, I said too much." and then clamming up. Was that all to throw us off the trail?"
"Of course it was," Rion sighed, "Since the police were so off track, he could easily drag us towards their path. No offense Naoto." He tilted his head towards her.
Rise said, "It would be no problem for him to drop that warning letter in your mailbox, either. Not to mention the fact it would no problem for him to destroy any evidence that might point to him."
"I think there is no shadow of a doubt that all of the things we have put forward lead all of our suspicions towards our defective," Souji proclaimed.
"Then… is it really Adachi-san?" Yukiko asked.
"It's him," Souji answered.
"This is still only a tentative theory. We should work to confirm it as soon as possible," Naoto told Souji as she turned to him.
Souji wasn't so sure, and he wondered if Naoto really thought so too. Considering even Rion thought he was the killer.
Naoto took out her phone and made a call, "This is Naoto Shirogane. Something has occurred to me about the case and I'd like to get Detective Adachi's input about it." She suddenly looked very surprised, "Huh? The transport? It's right now!?" She regained her composure, "Right… I… I see. Thank you!" She closed her phone.
Chie asked Naoto, "What was that about a transport!?"
Naoto stood up and said, "Detective Adachi is headed to the hospital right now to prepare for Namatame's relocation and transfer." Rion sighed as Naoto continued, "We must head there at once!"
They headed quickly over towards the hospital. Souji wondered what to say to the defective when they reached Inaba Muncipal. He shook his head. Souji didn't know what to do. He'd just let Naoto take control of the situation and have Rion kick his ass. If worse came to worse, Kanji would help out.
In the hospital, Adachi was talking to a white and black clad nurse when the others arrived to talk to him. Souji was in the front, Naoto far left, and Yosuke was to the far right. Adachi turned to them and asked, confused, "Huh? What are you guys doing here? Hey, do you guys know where Dojima-san went? They told me he snuck out of his room again."
The nurse he was talking to earlier told Adachi, "I assure you we told him multiple times, we've made it clear to him that he needs to stay put, but he keeps going off on his own." The nurse walked away in frustration.
Adachi watched her go before turning back to the group. He said to them, "Geez… With Namatame finally relocated, I was looking forward to going home."
Rion nodded to Naoto, and she nodded back. She said to Adachi, "So… he's been relocated. I've been wondering… You seem to be in a terrible hurry to get him out of this hospital."
Souji thought, "Did she not trust what to say without Rion's approval?"
Adachi looked confused, "Huh? Oh, yeah. I mean, we can't leave him here with Dojima-san and Nanako-chan around. Didn't you guys think so too?" Adachi looked at them strangely, "Hey, what are you guys doing here anyways? Nanako-chan's room is in the other wing. Don't you think you should leave before Dojima-san finds you? If he catches you, he'll start pestering you again."
They looked at each other as at that very moment, Dojima walked up behind Adachi. "What were the chances of this?" Souji thought.
He asked the defective, "Adachi… Where's Namatame? There's been a lot of noise here today for some reason."
Adachi seemed surprised to see him here and asked, "Dojima-san! What are you doing here!? Namatame has already been relocated. I was looking for you so I could tell you that."
It was his uncle's turn to be surprised, "You did what!? Who authorized this!? There's still more I need to ask him about!"
Adachi looked flustered and said, "G… gimme a break, D… Dojima-san!"
"Those first two murders have been bothering me," Dojima told Adachi, "His motives are shaky, and his alibi is rock solid. We closed a lot of loopholes based on his testimony, but that part's still nagging at me."
"My uncle is brilliant," Souji thought. He should be a Persona-user.
Adachi looked tired, "Is this more of your "detective's intuition"? He's already been relocated. It's no use hassling me about it." As he turned around, his voice raised as he spoke to the group, "And you kids should really get home, too. You're gonna get in the way of police business."
"Police business my ass," Rion muttered as he pushed up his glasses, "We have a detective with us."
Dojima looked at him and asked, "What's gotten into you today? It's odd to take you work so seriously."
Adachi looked abashed, "C… C'mon, I'm always giving 110% when it comes to the job!" He said to Dojima, "You should back to work too, Dojima-san. Your current assignment: Get better as soon as soon as possible!"
Doijma sighed and looked grumpy. He looked at the Persona-users and finally asked as if only just noticing them, "What are you all doing here?"
"We want to validate something… with Adachi-san," Souji explained, "We have something to ask."
Adachi looked confused as Souji nodded with Naoto and Rion to start the questioning. It looked like Souji would be the one questioning the defective after all. "Here goes nothing…," he thought.
"Adachi-san, when did Yamano vanish?" Souji asked.
"The time the announcer went missing…?" Adachi looked confused, "I can't say for sure offhand. It's not like I saw her or anything. That was months and months ago, too. My memory's kinda hazy that far back."
"But you were there watching over her that night…," Rion thought.
Souji's next question… he thought about it for a second and then asked, "Did you question Saki Konishi, did you keep interrogating her?"
"Why wouldn't I question her? She found the announcer's body," Adachi responded, "But she didn't know much about it, so I only questioned her once or twice."
"Someone is trying to cover his ass," Rion thought.
Adachi asked, "Is that all you wanted to ask? I hope it helped."
"What about the warning letter that you took me in for?" Souji asked him.
"Warning letter?" Adachi looked confused.
Naoto continued, "The one that was delivered to his house. It's in police custody now, correct?"
He looked befuddled, "Uhh… I don't really remember."
This aggravated Doijma as he told him his voice became angry, "Hey, what do you mean you don't remember!? I gave it to you to take down to the crime lab for processing. Don't tell me you forgot!?"
"Haha… I'm sorry," Adachi looked embarrassed, "Your accident was right after that, and with one thing after another, it sorta slipped my mind. B… Besides, that thing was just a prank, right?" When no one was speaking to agree with him, he got worried. Rion just pushed up his glasses. "Geez, what are you asking me all of this for!? For crying out loud! What's this all about!?" He turned to Souji's uncle and told him, "Dojima-san, you really need to get back to your bed. That's why your wounds are not healing." He turned back to Souji and told him and the others angrily, "And you all need to go home right now! Do you have any idea what time it is!?" He told Dojima, "I'm going back… I need to get to the station and report in."
The guys in the group started to circle around him except for Rion, who slowly started to release the top off of his walking stick. Adachi looked worried as Naoto said calmly, "Just one more thing, please." Adachi turned to her as she said, "We know for certain now that the first two murders weren't Namatame's doing. Someone else killed them." She asked, "Adachi-san… Do you have any idea who that might be?"
Adachi looked around, shrugged and said, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Kanji told the defective, "'Cause we think it mighta been you!" This surprised and alarmed both Dojima and Adachi.
The flustered Adachi responded, "Wh… What!? Th… That's ridiculous! We already know Namatame is the one who put them all in!"
Rion could barely contain a chuckle as he pushed up his glasses, "Put them in…, tch…"
"What did you just say!?" Chie asked incredulously.
"In the end, he proved… he's just an idiot defective," Souji thought.
"Put them all in…?" Dojima asked slowly as his voice raised slowly, "What's this "putting them in" business? Do you know something about the method behind their murders? Don't tell all this business about TVs and whatnot from before…"
Naoto said to Adachi, "I see… Now I finally understand. To tell the truth, Adachi-san, I've been fixated on something you've once said. Before I didn't know why… Only that it sounded like a wrong note to me. Do you recall when I read Namatame's diary at the scene of Dojima-san's accident?" She continued, "At the time, I said, "Even the victims who survived and were never released to the public are written here." And in response, your words were, "Wow… Then that settles it." How, I wonder, would that "settle" anything? At the time, the police had no idea that there had been other attempted murders related to the case."
"Only kidnappings of the people standing in front of you…," Rion muttered. Souji guessed they had discussed it together.
"You had no reason to say such a thing," Naoto continued. She followed Rion's example, "After all, there are countless examples of people disappearing for a few days. Yet when I read the list of names, you raised no objections. Odd, that. What do you say to that, Detective Adachi?"
Detective Adachi was sweating profusely and said quickly, "I… I don't know! I said I'm busy!" As he tried to run away, Rion tripped him with his staff. Adachi got up quickly and kept running.
"Wait, you son of a bitch!" Kanji yelled.
They had all started running after him. They had found the killer. Dojima tried to follow, but fell, "Adachi… Ngh! Dammit!" He yelled, "Adachi!"
The group ran after the defective. They went up stairs towards the surgical ward, and into Namatame's old room. All of them looked around, but none of them could find Adachi.
"Don't tell me…," Souji muttered.
"I think so…," Rion pushed his glasses up as he shrugged.
"What the!? I swear he ran this way!" Yosuke exclaimed.
"Dammit! Where'd the hell did he go?" Kanji asked.
Dojima had finally made his way into the room, "Did you find him?" When they shook their heads, Dojima told them, "I contacted security. Nobody's seen Adachi, and there's no record on anyone leaving this area. So he must be still in this ward somewhere."
Chie looked around and said nervously, "He's still here? But we looked… We didn't find him anywhere."
"That bastard…," Dojima said slowly, "Ungh…" His body started giving way.
The nurse caught up with Dojima, "Dojima-san! For heaven's sake, what are we going to do with you!?"
He turned to the nurse and said, "Sorry, I got carried away."
The nurse asked him, annoyed, "Do you even want to get better!? If you keep this up, there could be lasting damages! Have you forgotten how much trouble it caused you last time!?"
"You're right… Sorry…," Dojima apologized.
The nurse slowly lead Dojima away from the surgical ward and back to the ICU. As they were leaving Dojima said to them, "You have got to find Adachi. I need to square this away with him… Please." Souji nodded.
The others had not heard the conversation that had taken place between Souji and Rion.
"He hasn't left this ward yet? I don't think he would, but could he have?" Yukiko asked.
"Yeah, I think so…," Chie said, "If he's the killer, he can go through, right?"
Rise asked, "You mean he went in through here?"
Yosuke said, "We searched every inch in the direction he ran off in… There's nowhere to hide. I don't think we coulda missed him."
Naoto told him, "He was cornered… It's highly probable that he escaped there. If he does indeed turn up on the other side; that should prove beyond a doubt that he is the culprit."
"We're right," Souji said, "So… What do you think we should do? Personally, I think we should go in tomorrow."
Rise nodded, "I think it's too dangerous to go in from here. We're not 100% positive he used this TV, and on top of that, we don't know where it might lead." She told them, "Let's go in from Junes, like always. It'll be fine. So long as we're ready for him, we'll crush that jerk in one strike."
"Of course we will," Souji responded.
They walked away from the hospital. Yukiko and Souji walked out together and took her to the bus stop.
"I can't believe we're getting this close," Yukiko told Souji.
"We'll catch him for sure," Souji assured him.
Returning home after a quick kiss with his love, Souji took a deep breath and let it out. They had finally found their man, and confronted him. The problem is… that he probably fled into the TV.
Souji was tired, so he quickly fell asleep after hitting the pillow on his futon.
---
He was in the Velvet Room… "Not here again…," Souji thought, "But where is everyone?" It was empty inside. Finally something had appeared. It was a Teddie!
"Where am I?" Teddie asked himself, not noticing you.
"Teddie?" Souji asked. "Is he really here?" he thought, "No wonder we couldn't find him."
He stood up and turned towards Souji, "Sensei? Why are you here?"
"This is where I spend a lot of time, I guess," Souji answered, "But I wonder why you are here too?"
"I see… How mysterious," Teddie answered, "There are so many things I don't know about. But I did realize something." The bear put his head down. "I've been thinking all this time… about who I really am. But I couldn't find the answer. I was "no one" from the start. Humans live in one world, and Shadows live in this world. From the beginning… that's all there was to it." His voice quivered, "I was just a Shadow in that world."
"That doesn't matter. Everyone's worried about you, Teddie," Souji told Teddie.
Teddie smiled, "You're always so kind, Sensei…" Teddie shook his head and told Souji, "I've figured something out. That day at the hospital, I realized that I can't really do anything. As soon as I thought that, I lost consciousness. Then when I woke up, I was inside the fog. Shadows can't stay in the human world. They aren't allowed. I walked and walked, but there was nothing all around me. Just when I started thinking that I couldn't go anywhere, I heard the noise of a car. And then I was here." Teddie put his head down again.
"He's so depressed," Souji thought.
Teddie continued, "I remember lots of things now. My world is a place shaped by human thoughts. One day, a Shadow living in that world awakened to human emotions. But humans and Shadows are completely different entities." Teddie started shaking, "So he made himself forget that he was a Shadow. He wanted to forget… He wanted people to like him. And that's how he came to look like this." Teddie stopped shaking as he said, "I really am stupid. What the other Teddie said before… In the end, it was all true. No matter how much I search for myself, I have no self. There was no me to begin with."
"Do you even listen to yourself?" Souji asked, "Of course you have a self."
Teddie couldn't be consoled, "I'm just a Shadow that took a different form so humans would like me. It would've been better if I had never remembered, but I did. I'll… probably turn back into a regular Shadow soon." He looked straight into Souji's eyes and said, "Oh yeah, Sensei. One day, when you meet Nana-chan in heaven… Apologize for me. Tell her… I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for her… Tell her I'm really sorry."
Souji smiled at Teddie, "Nanako's alive, Teddie. You saved her life by believing in her."
Teddie looked genuinely surprised as his head raised. He asked Souji, "Huh!? Really!?"
Souji told Teddie, "She came back only about an hour afterwards. She's still trying to get better. Nanako needs you to come back so you can get better."
"Nana-chan's…," Teddie was happy, "Wow… That's wonderful. I'm so glad. Glad that I could at least hear that. My heart feels so much lighter now. I'm starting to feel sleepy. What a strange place, it's so soothing. It's not like my world. Something just feels nostalgic about this place." He asked Souji, "Could this be your dream world, Sensei?"
Souji tired to resist a chuckle. "I guess it's something like that," he responded.
"I see…," Teddie said, "But I wonder why I met you here. What am I supposed to do now?"
"Let's move on together. We're looking for you, Teddie," Souji responded.
"But… I don't know what to look for or how to find it. No matter how hard I think, there are too many things my little brain can't understand. But I do understand one thing now… I'm glad I met you, Sensei."
He felt great the deep trust Teddie had for him. They worked together for so long. They fought together, and took care of each other. Even if Teddie was a Shadow, he was not only Souji's friend. He was also "little sis'" friend.
Teddie suddenly turned around and said to Souji, "I have to get going. This is your place… It doesn't seem like somewhere where I'd be allowed to be stay." Teddie said solemnly, "Goodbye… Sensei…"
Teddie disappeared from Souji's vision and Igor appeared. He told Souji, "Hmm… It seems the words in your memory weren't the only thing you summoned here. This is a room for guests who have an ego that can be nurtured. Shadows… mere fragments broken off from the ego… have no place here. The water's strength has moved a single stone that had stopped, returning it once again into the flow."
Souji told him, "Teddie is far more than a Shadow."
Igor chuckled, "Very interesting." He told Souji, "It's about time we departed again. This vehicle is still on its journey. There is no reason to stay here any longer." She looked at the pretty girl at his side that Souji had made many a summons and fusions with, "Margaret?"
She nodded and responded, "We're ready to go. Let us depart," as the Velvet Limo thingy started moving.
Igor chuckled, "You are every inch the guest I had anticipated. Now it's time for you to return." He chuckled again, "I'm even more intrigued now as to where this is all headed."
Margaret said, "We'll be waiting for your next visit."
"I guess so," Souji responded. "Meeting you guys is more stressful than meeting with Teddie, but with less angst."
Souji slowly woke up from his dream and would be getting ready for the next day. "Time to get ready to catch the jackass."