Persona 4 Novelization Chapter 30

I own nothing of Persona and Atlus. I'm getting a little tired of writing this disclaimer, but if I don't, I'll be shot! Just kidding.

Wow… Chapter 30, who would have thought? It's amazing that I spent so much time writing this. Here we are, 320k in, and maybe 3 chapters to go? This is a short chapter, purposely. So, enjoy… Thanks.

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Souji had to fight a goddess… a goddess named Izanami. It blew his mind when he thought about it. Such a being could not be beaten, could she? She put Souji down just by opening his mind to his memories with a handshake. It would take everyone to maybe take her down, and even then Souji wasn't sure. This woman, no, she was no woman… This goddess could destroy Japan if left unchecked. But, Souji had to fight her regardless. Souji sighed. Most likely, his friends were already waiting for him at Junes. What would he say to him? That a goddess was waiting for them, and when they got there she was going to mutilate them.

"So much for leaving in peace," Souji thought as he walked down the Shopping District towards the bus stop. He was headed to the food court after grabbing a new sword from Daidara. He carefully placed the blade in his jacket, trying not to rip through the cloth. He'd probably need a new one in a few hours anyways.

The Persona-users met under the covered "secret headquarters" after Yosuke called everyone up. Souji was the last to arrive. He was the one contemplating everything, of course.

The fox was sitting next to Souji. That was a little unnerving, but Yukiko who was on his other side, was more reassuring to him. With the fox sitting in the benches, Rion was now standing at the other side of the table, while the typical groups were sitting together. Kanji and Naoto were close by. Rise and Teddie were close by as usual, as well as Chie and Yosuke.

Chie was the first to speak, "Alright! This is finally it!"

"How many times have we said that?" Rion asked. He sounded really tired. "Four times," Rion thought.

"Shut up…," Chie responded.

"He's right, you know," Souji rolled his eyes.

"There's no doubt this time! So many things have happened until now, but we'll beat this Izanami and put an end to this!" Chie continued her diatribe, "Right?"

"Yes," Naoto nodded, "but since we were so spread out all over town until a moment ago, let's go over what happened. This is the last measure that must be taken. We need to be sure that we end this properly."

"Izanami," Souji said, "She was the one behind all of this."

"Yes," Naoto nodded, "Who would have thought that someone such as her would be hiding here?"

"We thought Ameno-sagiri was behind everything, but we found out she created him," Chie said.

"We don't have a choice then, but to try and defeat her," Souji explained.

"We will need some luck," Rion said, "You are saying we need to defeat the matriarch of Japan. Well, thank god we are out of our minds." Rion pushed up his glasses, "Ameno-sagiri… Ruler of the fog and mist and Izanami… mother of Amaterasu, Kagatsuchi, and Susano-O. We sure can pick them."

Souji sighed, "Way to put things in perspective."

"It seems that maybe even Izanami knew that Souji and Dojima-san were coming to that gas station that day," Naoto suggested.

"Hiding in the middle of town in a gas station," Yosuke shook his head.

"You saying she's a god? Is that possible!?" Kanji exclaimed.

"With what you've already seen, isn't that feasible?" Souji asked.

"You've got a point," Rise said.

"It doesn't matter!" Kanji yelled, "We'll just deal with her!"

"That's Kanji for you," Souji smirked.

Rion just pushed up his glasses, "If only everything was that easy…"

"Let's go into the TV," Souji said, "We'll find Izanami and ask her what the deal with her game is."

They entered the TV world for what could be the last time. The plaza's fog had lessened, but it was still there. Souji and the others surrounded Rise so she could search out the goddess. Kanzeon was summoned after Rise adjusted to the level of the fog.

She was nearly knocked back as the satellite Persona moved back and forth. She told the group, "I sense a tremendous presence… It's unlike anything I ever sensed before or faced. And it seems like a new area has formed.

"I bet it's that lady. She's waiting for us there," Yosuke said.

"She told me that she wants us to come," Souji added

Yosuke continued, "That reminds me. That Ameno-something or other we beat said stuff like, "We'll meet again." If that thing's gonna show up again, let's crush him completely so he can't cause any more problems from here on out."

"Damn straight!" Kanji exclaimed, "Let's go snap that thing in two. We'll do it and give Senpai a big farewell tomorrow!"

Yukiko smiled, "Let's do our best like always… Leader," Yukiko smiled. "I'll protect you," she thought.

Chie shook her head, "It's kind of sad that this… is gonna be the last time we do something like this. You know, this might be a weird thing to say, but it was a lot of fun."

Rion pushed up his glasses as he thought, "I wish it was not under such dangerous conditions. I would rather face Adachi again than Izanami."

Naoto answered Chie, "It's because we all strove together towards a common goal. There were many things we believed in without questioning them."

"That led us astray many times," Souji muttered.

"The culprit's identity… Their motives… There were many times where we nearly gave up," Naoto said.

"It may have been easier if we looked the other way, but we didn't," Yukiko frowned.

"Then we'd be dead," Souji responded.

"Even if we had to fight every inch of our way," Yosuke spoke, "I wanna go on, feeling, touching, seeing, and thinking for myself."

"Yeah," Yukiko nodded, "Still, one person can only understand so much. That's why we're all here together."

Chie exclaimed, "Right! All for one and one for all!"

"So long as someone's got your back, you can kick against the pricks no matter how tough they are!" Kanji told them.

"This is for our future!" Rise spoke passionately.

"So we can see him off tomorrow with no regrets," Yosuke said.

"I just want you all to be happy," Souji smiled.

"Eww….," Teddie said suddenly, and they all looked at him, "Yosuke has to always try and make himself look all cool. But he's so pathetic, it makes my skin crawl."

Yosuke answered, "Probably just fleas on your ratty old suit. I spilled juice on you earlier."

Teddie's eyes widened, "No wonder I smell of orangey freshness!"

Yukiko started laughing and the others joined in.

Souji told the group, "Let's do this." He looked at the stoic member of the group, "Are you ready?"

Rion pushed up his glasses, "You look like you have something else you want to do first, am I right?"

"What do you mean, Rion?" Yosuke looked at the oldest member of the group.

"Do you think we aren't ready?" Chie asked Souji.

"I think…," Souji shook his head. "How does he know?" he thought, "Do I really want to fight Margaret? She could be really difficult, and we might all die before we even fight Izanami. But, it might give us the experience we need to beat her. I guess… in the end… We should fight Margaret." He told the group, "There's a person waiting for us in Heaven that I think we should fight."

"Heaven?" Yukiko asked, "Where Nanako was?"

"Yeah…," Souji nodded, "I was issued a challenge… An invitation, really. I think it will give us the experience we need to beat Izanami."

"If that's what Sensei wants… Then that's what we should do," Teddie agreed.

"Okay Senpai, let's get going to Heaven," Rise smiled.

Souji sighed. He hoped he would not get them all killed trying to fight his assistant.

Walking through Heaven now was a joke. The Shadows ran away from Souji because they were so scared of his new Personas. He'd be scared too if he was a Shadow.

"Amazing…," Yosuke said, "Nothing is trying to blow us up." They were walking safely and soundly up the floors.

"I'm not complaining," Souji responded.

The Persona-users had finally walked up to the platform on the top level where they had recently beaten up a plant Shadow that absorbed physical attacks. Souji pulled Rion over to the side.

Souji walked up alone to meet Margaret, the woman who had kissed him randomly. Most likely, the woman who was also going to blast Souji into oblivion shortly as well was facing him.

As they were surrounded by those statuesque angels, Margaret said to Souji, "So, you've come…"

"It was my decision," Souji responded.

"I spoke to my master after you left," Margaret said.

"What did he say?" Souji asked.

"It seems Elizabeth also requested a duel from our last guest," she responded, "Though, there's no way of knowing if he took her up on that offer."

"Well… I better not let her down," Souji thought.

Margaret chuckled, "I called my sister foolish, but it seems we are kin indeed."

"Is that a bad thing?" Souji inquired.

Margaret smirked, but she turned serious as she asked, "Are you sure you're ready?"

Souji sighed, "I hope I don't I get them killed, but I'm ready."

"As the one who rules over power… I will fight with the utmost deference to you," Margaret explained, "Show me what lies beyond a mere exchange of words."

"Here goes nothing," Souji said as the battle began.

The group ran up to face the assistant of the Velvet Room.

"Who the hell is… that?" Kanji asked.

"She is our opponent," Rion said, pushing up his glasses.

"I am charged with the heat and tension of battle," Margaret told them as the Persona-users circled her, "Now, we begin. Don't disappoint me!"

Rise remarked from her position far away from the battle, "Whoa! She's beautiful…" She seemed jealous of her beauty. Margaret was now floating in the air and the Persona cards were floating around her when Rise asked, "Hey, Souji-senpai? Who is she? How do you know…? What the!? She's floating!? H… Her power level is insane! What is she!? Don't tell me you're going to fight her!?"

"It seems we have no choice," Rion sighed, "Let's try not to die everyone."

"Understood," Souji nodded and crushed his card, "Trumpeter!" "Debilitate!"

Rion stabbed his card over his heart and said, "Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Power Charge!"

Chie struck her card with her kick and yelled, "Suzuka Gongen!" "Power Charge!"

"Kamui!" "Matarukaja!" Teddie increased their attack as he cut through his card.

Yosuke cut through his own card with his kunai, "Susano-O!" "Masukukaja!"

Yukiko attacked with her own Persona as the flames burst into the air, "Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!"

"Rokuten Maoh!" "Marakukaja!" Kanji had blown his card to the moon with his chair.

"Yamato Takeru!" "Megidoloan!" The air crackled with energy as Naoto's tiny Persona fired a spherical bomb into Margaret.

Then it was Margaret's turn. She attacked viciously with her compendium book as she slammed into Yukiko.

"Yukiko!" Souji yelled.

"Diarahan!" Teddie retaliated.

Margaret attacked again, hitting Teddie with the large book, filled with all of the Personas ever made.

"Damn it!" Yosuke exclaimed.

"That hurt a bear-y lot!" Teddie said as he bounced back up.

"Our turn!" Chie yelled, "Suzuka Gongen!" "God Hand!" Chie's Persona came from up high and slammed into Margaret.

"Here now! Rokuten Maoh!" Kanji exclaimed, "Primal Force!" The Persona's sword was thrown at Margaret and crashed into her at an amazing speed.

"Rise and resurrect! Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Hassou Tobi!" Rion ran at Margaret with his ninjato bared as the Persona encircled her with the arrows drawn.

As the arrows were about to hit, Souji crushed his own card and called his own Persona, "Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!" The heroic warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune sliced into Margaret eight times as the eight arrows cut into her.

"Damn…," Yosuke said, "Brave Blade!" He was still amazed as "Susano-O!" fired his cutting blade into Margaret.

Then, the fight got interesting.

"I'm even more intrigued," Margaret said as she opened her book. "Siegfried!" was summoned and did a variation of Surt's strongest burning fire called "Meltdown!"

Fires raged among the area and melted the angelic statues. It was burning the group, and the only ones that were completely immune were Yukiko and Rion. Souji took slight damage and the rest were suffering from everything from blisters to smoke inhalation.

"No way!? She can use Personas!? Who is she!?" Rise asked, amazed.

"Amaterasu!" "Mediarahan!" Yukiko quickly healed the burnt team, and then threw the fan into Margaret.

Teddie struck the assistant with the claw while Naoto attacked with her Persona as she shot her card, "Vorpal Blade!"

Rion charged his Persona again, while calling out, "I suggest you guard, Yukiko."

"You sure?" she asked.

"Yes," Rion responded, "Souji! Switch to something else!"

"Okay…," She responded as she raised her fan and Rion took a knee and crossed his arms.

"Hmm…," Souji thought on what to do, "Shiki-Ouji!" "Power Charge!"

Chie charged her Persona again as well as she placed a well-timed kick at Margaret.

"Susano-O!" "Garudyne!" Yosuke yelled out as Margaret felt the air rush by her.

Then, Margaret attacked. "Don't let me down!" Loki was summoned. "Cocytus Pain!" Massive icicles were coming and then flying down upon the group and Souji understood why Rion and Yukiko were guarding now. They'd be dead otherwise.

Souji and Teddie were fine, but everyone else was shivering and turning blue. Kanji had an icicle hanging off his nose. If it was not a life or death situation, Souji would have laughed.

"No more playing around!" Kanji knocked off the icicle on his nose, "Primal Force!"

It knocked over the Velvet Room lady.

"Let's go, Souji!" Yosuke exclaimed at his leader as he spun his kunai.

"Okay…," Souji responded, "Let's get her."

Souji shouldered his blade and charged Margaret. His slash diagonally struck Margaret in the stomach and was followed by two kunai blows from Yosuke, and a flip-kick by Chie. A fan flew in and struck her in the face, and Margaret's arm was sliced by a short blade. Margaret had to deal with being shot, being sliced by a claw, and hit by a chair.

Margaret slowly got up as she said to them, "You will honor me as by fighting as though you meant to kill. To hold back would be nothing short of insulting. I'll tell you now, discard any concern you have for me."

"Guard Teddie!" Souji yelled as Margaret flipped her book open. Souji switched back to "Yoshitsune".

Teddie tried to get down, when Margaret said, "I was careless." "Oukuninushi!" "Narukami!"

The charged lightning came out in a circle and struck everyone in the group. Everyone's hair was on end, and even more burns were apparent on their skin. Souji could smell burnt fur.

Rion and Kanji helped Teddie back to his feet while Yosuke yelled, "Susano-O!" "Brave Blade!"

Chie released her charged power upon the assistant, "Suzuka Gongen!" "God's Hand!"

Souji attacked as well, "Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!" They watched the general slice into her.

Kanji struck again with his chair of fury, "Rokuten Maoh!" "Primal Force!"

Yukiko healed the group, "Amaterasu!" "Mediarahan!"

Rion again was trying to shield himself from an oncoming attack. Seeing this, Naoto moved in front of him just in time for Margaret's next attack. Souji switched to "Norn" right at the last minute.

"Just watch!" Margaret exclaimed as she attacked, "Cu Chulainn!" "Divine Wind!"

Souji felt refreshed after being hit by barrages of air and gusts. The only other that was not hurt was Yosuke. The rest of them had cuts on their skin from the high speed wind that slid past them. Rion even had to open his arms from his guarding position and stop Naoto from blowing away.

"Man…," Souji said as he drew out "Surt!" "Primal Force!"

Teddie healed the group, "Mediarahan!"

Margaret attacked again, "Withstand this!" "Oberon!" "Mind Charge!"

"Everyone guard!" Souji exclaimed, "She's going to do something insane!"

Margaret attacked indeed, "Withstand this!" "Ardha!" "Megidoloan!"

The same sphere of power that Naoto attacked Margaret with hit the group with even more force. The effects were painful indeed.

"Mediarahan!" Yukiko healed the group.

"Bufudyne!" Teddie attacked with "Kamui!"

Rion weakened Margaret, "Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Debilitate!"

Souji used "Yoshitsune!" again, "Power Charge!"

Kanji helped the group out, "Marakukaja!"

So did Yosuke, "Masukukaja!"

And then it became a pattern of attacks by the group, and then uses by Margaret of her Personas. It was always a pattern of Siegfried, Loki, Oukuninushi, Cu Chulainn, Oberon, and Ardha. The group had constantly had "Debilitate!" "Masukukaja!" "Matarukaja!" and "Masukukaja!" casted.

Finally, after a few turns of the repeated casting of "Mediarahan!" and "Hassou Tobi!", Margaret said to the group, "Phew… How long has it been since I've felt this invigorated? My apologies, but I'm even more eager to defeat you now!"

"Bring it on!" Souji retorted. He was getting revitalized by fighting as well. He wanted to take her down.

The "Debilitate!" that Rion had cast wore off and Margaret attacked, "Just watch!" "Helel!" "Morning Star!"

It was even stronger than the attack from "Ardha" and the blast that came from heaven slammed into everyone.

Souji pulled a piece of skin from his arm. That disturbed him.

Yukiko cut through her card, "Amaterasu!" "Mediarahan!"

Sadly, Margaret followed with "Diarahan!"

"Dammit it all!" Kanji exclaimed, "We have to start all over!"

So, they started over against Margaret.

"Don't be so discouraged," Rion said, pushing up his glasses, "We just need to keep going." "Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Power Charge!"

Souji weakened Margaret, "Yoshitsune!" "Debilitate!"

"Go Suzuka Gongen!" "Power Charge!" Chie charged up as well.

Yosuke attacked as well, "Susano-O!" "Brave Blade!"

Kanji struck Margaret, "Here now!" "Primal Force!"

Naoto shot her card, "Yamato Takeru!" "Mind Charge!" She was getting ready to repay the favor that Margaret was giving them earlier.

"Bearsona!" "Marakukaja!" Teddie was defending his team.

"Keep it up guys!" Rise was cheering them on.

Margaret attacked again. This time, she attacked Rion, sending flying cards at him. He cut them down in mid-flight.

Naoto used "Megidoloan!" after the attack.

Chie used "God Hand!"

Rion and Souji both used "Hassou Tobi!"

After that, the pattern of Siegfried, Loki, Oukuninushi, Cu Chulainn began again. That meant that Rion, Yukiko, and Teddie had to guard at certain points and lots of healing needed to be administered.

When Kanji was able to get a lucky hit and knocked Margaret down, he said to Souji, "Just say the word and its go time!"

"Let's get her!" Souji responded and a barrage of chairs, various swords, fans, kicks and punches, claws, and gunshots fired upon her.

Of course, Margaret started the "Mind Charge!" and "Megidoloan!" tactics again.

Peeling skin was not pleasant, and being followed by "Meltdown!" "Cocytus Pain!" "Narukami!" and "Divine Wind!" were even more enjoyable in Souji's mind. Could anyone tell he was being sarcastic?

Yet, the Persona-users did not give up, and continued to fight on with "Power Charge!" followed by "God Hand!" and "Hassou Tobi!" along with "Debilitate!" The group retaliated with "Garudyne!" "Bufudyne!" and "Agidyne!" as well as "Primal Force!" As long as there was a healthy supply of "Mediarahan!" they were slowly making headway after Margaret had healed herself.

She changed her pattern again. Instead of "Mind Charge!" and "Megidoloan!" with "Oberon!" and "Ardha!" she now used "Power Charge!" with "Oberon!"

She yelled out, "Withstand this!" and as she called out, opening her book, "Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!" Rion yelled back, "Souji… Try and interfere!"

"Yoshitsune!" Souji yelled as well, crushing his card.

The pair of generals matched swords and Margaret's Persona could not get past Souji's.

"Good…," Rion breathed a sigh of relief, "Power Charge!" as Ameno-waka-hiko rose into the air.

Yukiko healed the battered team, "Mediarahan!"

It would all come to an end for them when Margaret pulled out her "Oberon" for a different reason. She exclaimed, "Megidoloan!"

No one was left standing for the team when the attack hit… Nobody…

"Senpai! Guys!" Rise yelled.

Souji slowly rose to his feet. His Persona, "Yoshitsune" had an ability that allowed it to take the blow so he could barely survive. Souji still felt extremely sore all over. Souji looked around, no one was moving.

"Yukiko!" he yelled, "Teddie! Chie! Rion! Yosuke! Naoto! Kanji!" "What happened?" Souji thought.

Margaret didn't relent, "Siegfried!" "Meltdown!"

Souji shrugged off the burns and changed his Persona. He crushed the card and called out, "Ishtar!" "Samarecarm!"

Souji slowly started bringing his teammates back from the brink while dodging Margaret's attacks including "Hassou Tobi!"

Souji sighed in relief as he was finally able to switch back to Personas to protect himself against the various elements that Margaret used against them.

He told the newly revived members that were previously knocked out, "We need to finish this!"

As "Debilitate!" was cast by Souji's Trumpeter to protect him from "Narukami!" there were two "Power Charge!" casts as well as three other buffs and "Mind Charge!" and "Agidyne!"

A few more turns later, Margaret tried to cut Souji and the others down with "Hassou Tobi!" again, but struggled damaging either Rion's "Ameno-waka-hiko" or Souji's own "Yoshitsune".

Margaret was met by a few "Hassou Tobi!" of their own, "God Hand!", "Primal Force!", "Brave Blade!", "Vorpal Blade!" and "Bufudyne!"

Margaret finally fell from her floating position and the cards dropped around her.

"Thank god…," Yosuke sighed, brushing off the dirt from broken tiles that were crushed around him.

"You guys won!" Rise exclaimed happily.

"I can't believe it," Souji thought, "I thought we were going to die. Note to self… Don't fight Margaret again."

The rest of the group had stood back to let Souji speak and to talk to Margaret, who obviously had something to say to him.

"I survived," Souji said to her, and she smiled slightly.

She said to him, "While we were fighting… I recalled that "fairy tale" that girl told me once."

"Fairy tale?" Souji looked confused.

"Before Elizabeth left… she told me this," Margaret told Souji, "A soul slumbers at the ends of the world… that of a young man who devoted himself to becoming a seal. That soul is risking itself to prevent mankind, who has lost the joy of living, from calling down ultimate destruction. She told me that she was going to save him from that fate. To tell the truth, I wondered what sort of nonsense she was speaking. But no… She was being serious."

"She seriously wanted to save him?" Souji asked. He thought, "How?"

"She said if she couldn't do it alone, she would combine her powers with those who had bonded with that soul to create a miracle," Margaret explained, "Maybe all that she said was the truth. And that was the reason that she left the Velvet Room. She must have come to realize what I now understand."

"I wish I understood," Souji thought.

Margaret said, "You, a human, won against me, one who rules over the power. You have shown me one's potential. Those who search for themselves… are "no one" as long as the search continues. It isn't emptiness, but limitless potential. It means the seeker can choose anything to be that he or she wishes. That's why Elizabeth made a choice. I had planned to bring her back by force. But I won't interfere with her anymore. Her wish is staggering to contemplate… But fortunately, the chains of time are loose for us residents."

"How old are you anyways?" Souji thought.

"Even if there isn't enough time in a single era, and it takes her eons… She will accomplish her mission," Margaret explained.

"This boy my sister took a fancy too." Margaret chuckled, "I'm somewhat curious to see what kind of human he's like."

Margaret took steps towards her and Souji had an urge to step back, since the last time she did so he was kissed. She said to him, "Your victory was truly amazing. And I must thank you Souji. Of all the humans I've encountered until now, you shook my soul the most. This is proof of my reverence… Please accept it."

Margaret handed a bookmark to Souji, which he took. He felt a little slighted that it was not something more important, but he would not wanted to be kissed again in front of Yukiko.

Margaret said to Souji, "With that much power and will, you can overcome any obstacle. Should you ever run up against your limits and feel like you can not overcome your boundaries, you'd be lying to yourself. Simply recall today's victory."

"I'll keep that in mind," Souji responded.

"There's no need to worry," Margaret said, as she walked closer, "Even if you should lose everything… your soul will not be isolated. And if that does happen… Just as Elizabeth did for that boy, I shall do for you."

"Umm… thanks," Souji responded. "At least I can sacrifice myself without worries now," Souji thought, "On second thought, I'd rather not." He thought about what he'd be missing.

Margaret walked back a little before turning her head and saying, "Well then… I will return to the Velvet Room and take up my original duties. Let us meet again." Margaret walked off and disappeared.

The group seemed really confused by the whole battle and talk, Souji included. Souji knew he was going to get a lot of crap for having them fight her.

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Okay, not much farther to go.

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Here's where I attempt to explain one of the mystery's of Persona

Today's mystery- Yosuke's Headphones.

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The group was walking in the 6th area of Heaven when a group of the wretched dice Shadows came upon them. Only, not everyone noticed their presence.

They easily disposed the crescent Shadows that accompanied them with Yukiko's "Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!"

Yet, Souji's "Deathbound!" with "Byakko!" was not doing enough damage even with Chie and Kanji's help.

So, Souji yelled, "Everyone, get out! We need to clear the area before they blow!"

Chie yelled at her boyfriend, who had never even noticed the Shadows, "Yosuke, you need to leave! There are Shadows here!"

The Shadows blew up with Yosuke nearby, knocking him into a door.

"Yosuke!" Chie yelled, "Why do you always wear those stupid headphones!?" She ran up to him.

"I wonder what he listens to, you know." Souji said as he walked up to him.

Naoto took off the headphones and said, "These are not headphones for music. These are noise canceling headphones."

"For someone who loves to talk, he can't stand to hear other people talk?" Souji inquired.

"Yosuke…," Chie shook her head.

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And that's the mystery of Yosuke's headphones.