CHAPTER 6: Determination

Junes Food Court

"Well, Naoto-chan?"

"There's no such place recorded in the city data logs. And since we have no other idea but the description she gave us, we have zero chance of finding it via research. Have you gone into her room yet?"

"Yeah, and she's worse than before; she's staring right outside the window and it's like she forgot she let me in. But it's just like you said, she had already fixed her bag. It looks like we can't really go to that place after all."

"This must be a top-secret place!" Teddie said.

"We can't say for sure," said Naoto, "It is possible to think that it might really be a magical place since Yukiko-senpai told us an unknown force led her there. But I'm willing to do more research on it."

"Agh..." Yosuke whined, "How the heck are we suppose to help those two? We don't even have any idea how to get there!"

"Man, this is crazy..." Kanji slurped on his shake, "If we don't do somethin', who knows what'll happen to them?"

"Kanji-kun, we're worried as much as you do," Chie ate her snack, "Hmm... this is tougher than I thought..."

"I have a suggestion," Naoto stood up, "This is the only thing I could think of right now, and I hope it will work. We have no other choice but to ask Yukiko-senpai to take us there."

"Naoto-chan, are you serious? There's no way Yukiko will just lead us there. So that's one option; it's better than none."

xXx

"Oh, you guys are all here?" Yukiko suddenly arrives. "Why are you all having gloomy faces?" she sounded a bit better.

"We were just, uh...having a little talk," Chie tried to smile. "So how're you feeling? You sound a bit okay."

"A good night's sleep did the trick; I don't remember what and why I was so worried about," Yukiko laughed.

"What are you saying? You were totally spaced out after you came from Tokyo the other day. And you seem to forgot that I was in your room"

"Ah, I'm sorry. Why were you there again?"

"I was hoping to ask you if you could take us to the person you talked to in Tokyo. And you were totally, TOTALLY out of your mind!"

"Why would I be? Is there something wrong?"

"You're awfully calm for someone's who've just paid your own love relationship to save someone's life," said Yosuke.

"Huh?" she stared at him.

"What? Ah, you're just pretending," he tried to laugh.

"About what?"

"Yukiko!"

"What? What should I be worried about? All I know is that we're so worked up about on defeating Izanami. Say, where's Seta-kun by the way? Has he healed yet? We have to finish our mission, but we can't since he's absent as our leader."

"She's calling Senpai by his surname," Rise frowned.

"Y-Yeah..." Kanji reluctantly nodded. "And she's acting like she's just...it's like nothing serious has happened..."

"Why are you acting like this?" Chie sniveled, "I-I know, you're just doing that to keep yourself from being too emotional...! There's no way that you'd ever forget about Souji-kun's relationship with you!"

"Huh? Us? Since when did we become a couple? Chie, I think something's wrong with you-"

"NO! It's you who's got something wrong!" Then Chie ran off leaving Yukiko confused.

"Chie!" Yosuke tried to run after her. "Yukiko-san, what was that about?"

"You all are acting strange... I think I should just go home..." She turns around and then sees Souji. "Oh, you're here. Are you feeling better?"

"I saw Chie-san running, looking so frustrated. But anyways, Yukiko, I'm so happy to see you," he wanted to embrace her. But she motioned him to stop and said, "It's nice to see you well. Shouldn't we be devising a plan to defeat Izanami? We won't be able to defeat her without your leadership, Seta-kun."

"...?" Souji just stared at her blankly, "Huh...?"

"But I understand since you've just got out. But we have to defeat her in time before you leave." And then she smiled at him and left Junes.

xXx

"What... What just happened...?" he stared at them while his hands are still positioned to embrace.

"We don't know either..." Naoto replied. "I think we have to tell you now..."

"Tell me about what?"

And so, Souji was told how he was saved from his near-death and about Yukiko's sudden change after her trip to Tokyo. He shook his head in disbelief and that this may be just a living nightmare; a dream that he couldn't accept reality that she traded something valuable for something of equal weight. The rest could just frown and accept the fact. He insisted on making Yukiko say that she's joking, but the scenario earlier proved that she really has changed-changed unwillingly for his sake.

"No... This is just... I won't leave Inaba as long as I don't solve this problem! Yes, our main goal is to defeat Izanami because she's the true perpetrator, and that we should avenge ourselves for being defeated by her. But since this happened... I feel full responsibility..."

"Senpai, you don't need to... Yukiko-senpai was just so concerned that she did it. We couldn't help because we had no idea how, and we didn't stop her because we knew she might be able to succeed-on her own. C'mon, cheer up! You look less handsome when you look so upset," Rise tried to joke and cheer him up.

"But now that it comes to this, we regret on leaving Yukiko alone like that, even though we cheered her on to do it."

oOo

Without hesitation, Souji says goodbye and headed for the shopping district. He made his way to the Velvet Door which is still standing in the very same place. He used the Velvet Key and went inside. There, he sees Igor and his assistant Margaret in their usual places.

Velvet Room

"Welcome, how may I help you today?" Margaret greeted as usual.

"I'm here for one favor," said Souji, "Can you take me to the place Yukiko went when she had her wish granted?"

"Ah, that long-haired girl? I only told her the place, and she went there on her own. So she had already gone there. And you don't look too well; perhaps it is still from a previous injury or an emotional conflict."

"Then can you tell me? I'll do anything, please!"

"Do you think it would change anything?" Margaret inserted herself in the conversation.

"I know I can do it! After that, I'll have enough strength to confront Izanami again. If I can't do this, why else was I chosen to have this power?"

Igor smiled at him and so did Margaret, "You determination is greatly burning. I'm sure that woman will be able to help you because she might be able to see it like I am now."

"Who?"

"You will meet her as soon as you have decided. If you need to hurry, don't; because it will only lead you to more dilemmas."

"Thank you so much! I'll leave right away so that I can finish this soon." Souji left the Velvet Room with a hopeful face.

"He's such a reckless boy," Margaret laughed, "But that is why he was chosen, wasn't he?"

"Yes," Igor chuckled, "But who knows what could be the events if he wasn't."

CHAPTER 6 END