7/17
Kou had given Yui a call in the morning, asking if she wanted to form a study group with him and Daisuke. Yui agreed and met up with the both of them at the Junes food court.
"I'm glad you gave me your math notes, Daisuke! But…the way you spelled this word...'Aglebra?'" Kou spoke up.
Yui stifled a laugh at the misspelling.
"If you're gonna complain about notes, don't borrow them." Daisuke responded in annoyance.
"Fine, I'll know better next time." Kou said jokingly.
"I'm good enough at math. I just understand enough to be able to make complex art compositions." Yui stated.
"Pretty much just geometry, right Yui?" Kou replied.
"You'd be surprised how much you apply math to art without thinking about it."
"Forget math, I need help with Physics, World History, English…" Daisuke listed.
"So...you need help." Yui quipped.
"Hey guys!"
The three of them turned to see Chie and Yukiko, who were out and about on the partly cloudy Sunday.
"Hi Chie-chan!" Yui replied with a wave and a smile.
"Are you guys studying? Mind if we join you?" Chie asked.
"What, you mean you weren't already studying?" Yui joked.
"I studied yesterday! I know I spent the day before that at your place, but I'm trying."
"That's good to hear. Come on, sit down!"
"Yeah, the more the merrier!" Kou chimed in.
"Thank you!" Yukiko said politely.
"No problem!" Kou replied, seemingly a little nervous.
"What's the matter, Kou? Oh I get it, you're a Yukiko fan, aren't you?" Chie asked as she sat down next to Yui.
"What?! No, no, it's not like that!" Kou said in a panic.
"It's fine, I'm just teasing! You wouldn't be the only one, that's for sure." Chie clarified.
"Come on, you can all mooch off of Yui-chan here! She's pretty much the smartest one here. Yukiko-chan's pretty smart too, though." Daisuke stated.
"That's true. But I've been impressed by Yui's grades lately. Perfect scores, so far! At this rate, you might even become valedictorian!" Yukiko complimented.
"Well, I'm not aiming for it or anything. It'd be cool, though." Yui said humbly.
Chie held Yui's hand underneath the table, and while Yui naturally enjoyed small gestures of affection like this, she couldn't help but notice Kou seeming distant.
"Hey, Kou!" Yui said as she snapped her fingers.
"Huh?!" Kou exclaimed as he regained focus.
"You OK? I know studying is boring, but you have to stay with us!"
"Right, right, sorry…" Kou apologized as he glanced at the ground.
Yui knew Kou was going to struggle if he was going to continue to be this way, and quickly thought of something to get him to talk.
"Chie, Yukiko, could you go buy us some ramune? Here's some money." Yui asked Chie and Yukiko as she handed Chie some yen.
"Sure thing! Want anything specific?" Chie asked.
"Anything's fine."
Chie and Yukiko walked away to buy the drinks, allowing Yui to confront Kou without them hearing.
"Kou, does this have something to do with what Chie said earlier?" Yui asked.
"Said what?" Kou responded.
"That you were a 'Yukiko fan'?"
"I swear it's not like that!"
"It's fine if you are. It's just, you know, 'get in line', right? I can think of several classmates in my homeroom alone who're crushing on Yukiko."
"I said I'm not a Yukiko fan!"
"Oh, you're not?"
"Yukiko's pretty, don't get me wrong. But she's...how do I say this without sounding rude? Not my type? I don't know…"
Yui thought about Kou's statement for a few moments before pushing a little further.
"Is it Chie?" Yui asked plainly.
"Eh?!" Kou responded.
Yui breathed a heavy sigh as it all became clear.
"I thought so…"
Kou was entirely unable to look Yui in the eye after that.
"Kou...let me save you some trouble...and some heartbreak." Yui stated.
"What do you mean?" Kou asked.
"I'm not really sure Chie would want me telling just anyone, but Kou needs this…" Yui considered carefully.
"How do I put this...you're barking up the wrong tree."
"Barking up the wrong...oh...that's what you mean…"
"I'm not following." Daisuke said.
"I'm saying Chie's not into guys." Yui clarified.
"What?! Really?!" Daisuke exclaimed.
"She told me herself. But please, please don't say anything about it to her. There's been a lot on her mind lately."
"So...I guess I never had a chance with her, huh?" Kou said sadly.
"I'm sorry Kou. Better to hear it from me than her, right?" Yui suggested.
"It's fine. It's not like I'd have the courage to say anything."
"There are plenty of athletic tomboys out there just like Chie. Don't give up hope."
"Yeah, you're right! But we're getting off track here. We really need to study."
Yui was relieved to see Kou handle the news as well as he did. Chie and Yukiko came back with the drinks, and everyone spent the afternoon studying for finals.
7/18
Yukiko invited Yui to make a wish at the Tatsuhime Shrine. Though Yui was a bit reluctant at first, she took it as an excuse to talk with Yukiko about how things had been for them.
"What are you going to wish for, Yui-chan?" Yukiko asked.
"I guess I'll wish for everyone's health, happiness, and...good grades for the finals. Why not?" Yui replied.
"*giggle* I was thinking the same. I'll wish for that as well."
Yukiko put her hands together and prayed for a bit, placing some yen in the offertory box when she was done.
"I've decided not to leave Inaba." Yukiko declared.
"You're staying?" Yui asked.
"Yes. I realized I wasn't against being the manager of the inn. At least, not specifically. I just felt like it wasn't up to me. And I thought that running away and being on my own was the only choice I had. But no more. I want to protect the family inn. It's so important to me." Yukiko explained.
"I'm happy to hear that, Yukiko-chan. And be certain that it IS your choice to make. It's what we've been saying for some time." Yui replied.
"Thank you, Yui. It was because of you that I realized this."
"I can't take all the credit. You have such wonderful friends besides just me. Especially Chie. Both me and her would put our lives on the line for you."
"You already have when you rescued me from the TV world. And I would do the same if you were ever in trouble."
Yui simply smiled and nodded at this statement.
"Well, exams are tomorrow. Study well tonight." Yui told Yukiko.
"I will. Good luck, Yui-chan."
"You too."
7/23
Today was the last day of final exams, and everyone was relieved to be done with them, no matter how they may have actually performed.
"Finals are over! At last!" Yosuke groaned, placing his head on his desk.
"Why do we have to bother with English? I have a translator to do that for me!" Rise complained.
"Well, Rise-chan, not all of us do. And I want to visit America someday, so English is kind of important to me." Yui responded.
"How do you think you did, senpai?" Rise asked.
"Not to brag, but I don't think my pen ever stopped moving during the exams. Maybe I should take some advanced placement classes, otherwise I might get bored." Yui replied.
"Wow, you're amazing, senpai!" Rise said in admiration.
"Hey, by the way, where's Teddie? Isn't he staying at your place, Yosuke?" Chie asked.
"Oh yeah, he's working as a mascot at Junes." Yosuke answered.
"Seems appropriate." Yui commented.
"Since the police arrested a suspect for the murders, does that really mean it's over?" Yukiko asked.
"Maybe not. Keep an eye on the Midnight Channel." Yui instructed.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and although they secretly hoped to see nothing on the Midnight Channel, they could not afford to be complacent.
7/24
When Yui asked Kanji if he was available to hang out today, he agreed to very quickly, saying he actually had something to take care of.
"You know that little rabbit charm I made for that kid a while back?" Kanji told Yui as they walked to the Samegawa riverbank.
"Did he ask you to make more of them?" Yui guessed.
"Yeah...I made a bunch of knit dolls for him to give his friends. I mean, I wasn't gonna say no."
"That's good. You really do have a talent for this. Be proud of that."
"*sigh* I...appreciate that, senpai. But...never mind." Kanji muttered.
Yui shook her head in disappointment. While it was understandable that Kanji didn't necessarily want people to know about his personal hobbies, it was still a shame that he felt so conflicted about it.
"Kanji-kun, I think we need to…" Yui began to say.
"Hold on, senpai. He's waiting for me." Kanji interrupted as he saw the boy in the distance.
Yui and Kanji walked up to the boy and said hello. As Kanji laid out the dolls on the picnic table, Yui took the opportunity to admire Kanji's handiwork. The dolls were of various animals such as pandas, rabbits, bears, cats, and foxes.
"Wow! You're giving me all of these?" The boy exclaimed.
"If you don't want them, I'll get rid of them…" Kanji said sternly.
"I really appreciate it, mister!"
"Don't call me mister!" Kanji responded, embarrassed by the notion of appearing so mature.
"Kanji-kun, really. No need to be so modest." Yui reassured Kanji.
"Hi, onee-chan!"
Nanako had stopped by to see what was happening, and her attention was immediately drawn to the dolls on the table.
"Ooh! Dolls! They're so cute!" Nanako said cheerfully.
"This man made these!" The boy stated.
"Um, I…" Kanji mumbled.
"That's amazing! You're really good!" Nanako praised Kanji.
"Look at that. You even have Nanako-chan impressed!" Yui said with a smile.
"Hey, Nanako-chan? Don't go telling everyone, alright?" Kanji asked.
"Can you teach me how to make them?" Nanako asked in return.
"Huh? Teach you?"
"I want to make a pink alligator!" Nanako said excitedly.
"A pink alligator? Oh, like in the storybook!" Yui commented.
"I have to go to Emi-chan's house now! Bye-bye!" Nanako said as she left.
"Thank you again, mister! I'm gonna go show these to my mom!" The boy thanked Kanji as he gathered up the dolls and went home.
After the kids were out of sight, Kanji sat down on the bench and sighed, prompting Yui to sit beside him.
"You want to talk about this?" Yui asked.
"I guess I should…" Kanji replied.
"Why so ashamed? We've been over this before."
"I mean...it's just kind of embarrassing. Tough guy like me, making girly things like those."
"But you love making them. Doesn't it make you happy?"
"'Course it does. But some people don't seem to want that for me. They expect different things."
"I expect you to be comfortable with who you are. That's not easy, of course. But it's important. If other people aren't comfortable with who you are, they're not worth trying to convince."
"Don't you ever feel like you have to act a certain way around people, senpai?"
"Sometimes. But I definitely act true to myself around my friends. That includes you."
"Oh. Thank you, senpai!"
"Do you mind if I tell you something about myself, Kanji-kun? Ease your troubles a bit?"
Kanji looked up at Yui with a puzzled look.
"What for?" Kanji asked.
"I am your senpai, aren't I?" Yui replied.
"Yeah? I look up to you."
"Then I should really be a role model for once."
"OK then, what's it about?"
"You know how you're bi?"
Kanji was a bit taken aback by this statement, but understood that Yui was making a point, and so he remained quiet.
"Another thing to come to terms with, for sure. Anyway Kanji...I want you to know that I like girls." Yui stated.
"Eh?! Really?" Kanji said in surprise.
"Yes. And it's something I have to keep a secret or else everyone will see me as lesser. But you know what? I'm not ashamed. Why should I be?"
"But why would you hide it if you're not ashamed?"
"Well, another part of it is that, frankly, it's nobody's business. They might see it as some fetish, or something stupid like that, but I don't owe anyone justification for loving who I want to love."
"That's...definitely a bold stance to take, senpai."
"I'm an artist, Kanji-kun. Rebellion and nonconformity is my whole purpose."
Kanji stared off into the distance, contemplating their conversation.
"Gave you enough to think about, Kanji?"
"Yeah. Plenty…"
Kanji lifted his head as he spoke again.
"I think I get it a bit better. I always felt like it was a part of me I needed to change. But maybe that's not the thing I need to focus on. Maybe it's fine the way it is."
"Take your time. Positive changes start when we decide it."
Kanji and Yui stood up from the bench and began walking to Kanji's house.
"What's your persona's name, Kanji?" Yui asked.
"My persona? Take-Mikazuchi." Kanji replied.
"Ah, the Shinto god of thunder…" Yui said thoughtfully.
"So...you already seeing someone, or?" Kanji asked.
"Oh, yeah." Yui said with a smile.
"She cute?"
"To me, she is. Honestly, with how we act when we're alone together, I might be gayer than you, Kanji-kun. Not that it's a competition."
"Senpai, no disrespect but, you say the weirdest things sometimes." Kanji responded with a confused look.
"This is me being honest with you, Kanji. Someday, you'll be able to be honest with others too."
"Heh. Maybe you're right, senpai!" Kanji said with a grin.
After seeing Kanji make it home, Yui made her way home as well.
7/25
"Hey, we should go somewhere during summer vacation! My motorcycle came back from the shop." Yosuke told his friends after class.
"Already thinking about that, huh?" Yui commented.
"I'm thinking we should go to the beach! We should all go by motorcycle." Yosuke stated.
"That would mean we'd have to get licenses." Chie pointed out.
"You should go get one. It's really easy." Yui told Chie.
"I turned 16 last month, so I get to drive! I have to ask my manager for permission though." Rise said cheerfully.
"I can't. Not old enough yet. But I can always just use my bike." Kanji stated, a bit disappointed.
"We have a scooter at the inn I could borrow." Yukiko chimed in.
"One of my relatives absolutely loves motorcycles. Maybe he's got a scooter I could borrow." Chie said.
"Then it all works out! Let's all get our licenses so we can drive to the beach!" Yosuke said with a smile.
"You just want to see Rise in a swimsuit, don't you?" Yui asked.
"Hey! I never said-" Yosuke defended himself.
"You would have said it anyway. I just beat you to it." Yui stated, crossing her arms and looking at Yosuke judgmentally.
"Yeah, like at least wait until she's not within earshot?" Chie said in annoyance.
"Who do you want to see in a swimsuit, senpai? I bet you're gonna fawn over at least one of the boys!" Rise asked Yui playfully.
"Oh no, I'm not like that. I'm going to maintain an arm's length distance from them at all times." Yui joked.
"What? We're not gonna do anything weird! I know you're not into boys, so…" Yosuke said, a bit too quickly.
Yui facepalmed in response to this statement, causing everyone else to look at Yosuke awkwardly. Rise in particular had a look of bewilderment to her.
"You idiot…" Yui muttered.
"Huh? Oh shit, sorry! I guess I wasn't supposed to say that out loud." Yosuke apologized.
"You know, it's a good thing I already came out to everyone, except Rise-chan. But now she knows, so whatever." Yui said without a care.
"Way to go, Yosuke." Chie said disapprovingly.
"I said I'm sorry!" Yosuke retorted.
"So...that's your preference, senpai?" Rise asked quizzically.
"I mean...yeah?" Yui replied.
"Well then! Lucky you! You get to see us girls wear our swimsuits!" Rise giggled.
"Rise-chan, no need to make it weird. It's not a new thing for me."
Yukiko struggled to contain her laughter at the conversation, prompting Yui to excuse herself from the classroom. Chie stayed behind, debating what kind of swimsuit to wear to best impress Yui.
7/26
That night, Yui was watching the Midnight Channel and was shocked to see who was being shown: the boy who had been stalking Yukiko.
"You all think you can see me? You all think you know everything about me? Then try and catch me!" The boy threatened the audience, though the threat was clearly directed at Yui and her friends.
The Midnight Channel turned off immediately afterwards, prompting Yui to spring into action and call up Yosuke.
"Hey, you saw the same thing, right?" Yosuke asked over the phone.
"Sure did. First thing after class tomorrow. Let's get him!" Yui said with determination.
7/27
After class, Yui and her friends went straight to Junes and into the TV world. Once inside, Rise used her persona to scan her surroundings and search for the boy they saw on the Midnight Channel.
"What can you see, Rise-chan?" Yui asked.
"I see him! He's this way!" Rise stated, pointing into the fog.
"Wow! Very impressive, Rise-chan! You have a better nose than I do!" Teddie complimented.
"She's using her eyes, not her nose." Yosuke told Teddie.
"Come on, no time to waste!" Yui commanded, leading everyone towards their destination.
Yui and the others found themselves standing before the entrance of a very bizarre castle made of pixels, akin to those found in old video games.
"What's with this place?" Yui asked aloud.
"He did ask us to try and catch him. Maybe he really sees this as some sort of game." Kanji commented.
"Alright then, let's get him! I'm gonna kick his ass, then his face!" Chie shouted.
"Stay alert, everyone!" Yui stated as they entered the 8-bit domain.
As Yui and her friends braved the halls of the castle, fighting their way through metallic dice and giant knights, they discussed a running theory that the boy was the suspect the police were after.
"I bet he went into the TV world to hide from the police after he killed King Moron." Yui stated.
"Makes sense, but we still don't know his motive." Yukiko pointed out.
"Then why don't we ask him?" Yui declared.
"Alright, we're finally gonna stop this freak!" Yosuke cheered.
Everyone arrived at a giant door with the word "warning" printed in red.
"He must be behind this gate." Yui stated.
Suddenly, the team began to hear voices from behind the door.
"Who are you?!" A voice asked.
"Who am I? I am nothing." Another voice responded.
"What? Who's he talking to?" Yui asked aloud.
Yui opened the door to allow everyone to enter, and they found themselves in the middle of a gladiatorial arena.
"Shut up! Shut up already!" The boy yelled.
Yui saw who the boy was yelling at: a shadowy copy of himself, who was preoccupied playing a game on a small TV.
"I am you, and I am nothing. I feel nothing." The shadow stated in a monotone voice.
"They didn't think it was me! They thought I didn't do it! That's why I killed him! Then they finally noticed me!" The boy continued to shout.
The shadow continued to play the game, completely ignoring anything the boy had to say.
"I don't care what some poser like you has to say! Get out of my sight!" The boy yelled.
"You won't accept me, will you? Come then, I'll put an end to your emptiness." The shadow responded, never looking away from the screen.
"Hey, you!" Yui called out, getting the boy's attention.
"Huh? You?!" The boy cried out.
"You're the killer aren't you?" Chie asked outright.
"Ha ha ha ha! Yes! It was me! I'm the one behind it all!" The boy said maniacally.
"Not that we care, but what's your name?" Kanji asked.
"My name is Mitsuo. Remember that name! I'll have all the recognition I've wanted!" Mitsuo stated.
"Not a chance. We're going to stop you right now!" Yui said, pointing directly at Mitsuo.
"Shut up! You can't stop me! I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you!" Mitsuo shouted.
In this instant, Mitsuo's shadow took hold of him, taking on the form of a giant fetus. The fetus shrieked in anger, summoning pixel blocks around itself to form a knight-like body as a shield.
"You want to play a game, Mitsuo? Then we'll play…" Yui muttered.
Yui called upon Yumiko, prompting everyone else to call upon their own personas. All the personas charged towards the knight, attacking any area they could access. However, the knight stood resilient, barely flinching from any attack.
"The shell's too strong! You have to weaken it somehow!" Rise told everyone.
"I'll take care of this! Kintoki-Douji!" Teddie shouted.
Teddie's persona summoned a wave of ice towards the knight, freezing its body and making it brittle. Tomoe and Take-Mikazuchi took this opportunity to chip away at the shell, revealing the fetus beneath. Not taking kindly to this, Shadow Mitsuo let out a sharp cry, unleashing a wave of fire and lightning towards the team. They dodged out of the way and watched the shell begin to reassemble.
"He's trying to repair the shell!" Rise warned.
"Not on my watch!" Kanji shouted.
Take-Mikazuchi swiped away the blocks that made their way towards the body, and the other personas followed suit and did all they could to keep Shadow Mitsuo vulnerable.
"Alright sensei! Now's your chance!" Teddie called out.
"Here goes! Yumiko! Zionga!" Yui shouted.
With this incantation, Yumiko conjured a violent bolt of electricity and struck down Shadow Mitsuo. Shadow Mitsuo shrieked in agony as he began to dissipate and released the real Mitsuo.
"It's over now…" Yui muttered.
Yui told Yosuke and Kanji to carry Mitsuo out and ensure he made no attempts to escape.
After leaving the TV world, Yui and the others stayed around Mitsuo until he regained consciousness. When Mitsuo awoke, he appeared to be confused and agitated.
"Where am I?" Mitsuo asked.
"Back in the real world." Yui stated.
"We'll ask you one more time. Are you the killer?" Rise asked.
"Of course I am. It was me!" Mitsuo responded.
"How could you do such a thing?" Rise asked in disbelief.
"You just wanted the attention, didn't you?" Yosuke asked rhetorically.
"Why did you attack the others? Why did you go after me?" Yukiko asked desperately.
"Oh, now you want to talk to me, Yuki-chan? Ha ha ha ha ha!" Mitsuo cackled.
"You're telling me you killed Saki-senpai for nothing?! You fucker!" Yosuke furiously shouted.
"What are you going to do about it? Kill me?" Mitsuo asked in a dark tone.
"No, you're getting what's coming to you. You can never take back what you did. You're gonna pay for your crimes, keep on living until you understand exactly what you've done! Remember that!" Kanji stated as he grabbed Mitsuo by the collar.
Kanji let go of Mitsuo's collar, dropping him to the floor. Mitsuo had a look of despair and defeat on his face.
"Yosuke…" Yui said quietly, taking notice of how shaken he was.
"Huh?! What?" Yosuke asked, snapping out of it.
"Call the police." Yui told Yosuke.
"Y-Yeah…" Yosuke said with a nod, wasting no more time.
After the police came and arrested Mitsuo, Yui and her friends bought a round of drinks to celebrate their victory.
"I can't believe he did all that just for attention. Not that having a better reason would have justified it…" Chie thought aloud.
"Some people are just that depraved, Chie-chan. But he won't hurt anyone anymore." Yui replied.
"It's finally over. We can leave the rest to the police now." Rise stated.
"Yeah! And my world will be at peace again!" Teddie cheered.
"We should throw a party! We always do that after a shoot." Rise said enthusiastically.
"Let's go to Yuki-chan's inn! I want to try the hot springs!" Teddie suggested.
"I don't think we can do that. All the rooms are booked for summer vacation." Yukiko explained.
"Maybe we could have it at my place! Dojima won't be home tonight, so as long as no one makes a mess, we could do it." Yui suggested.
"Why don't we cook a meal? Everyone will like doing that!" Yukiko asked.
"Did you guys forget about the camping trip incident?" Yosuke pointed out.
"*chuckle* Yosuke, little do you know, I've been teaching these two how to cook. You've got nothing to worry about." Yui said proudly, referring to Chie and Yukiko.
"Wow, you can cook, senpai?" Rise asked.
"Well, kind of. I'm definitely better now with Yui's help." Chie stated.
"We're going to need ingredients. Let's go grocery shopping!" Yui said as she stood up.
With that everyone made their way to the produce section. Yui called Nanako and explained what was happening, asking what she wanted to eat. After telling Yui that she would like to eat omurice, Yui relayed it to everyone else, and they all got to work.
At Yui's house, the girls all got to cooking their omurice. Yui herself chose to make a fairly simple recipe: an American style omurice consisting of soy flavoring. Despite it going against the "rules" everybody agreed on, Yui checked in on Chie to make sure she was doing alright with her omurice...as well as to ensure nothing caught fire.
"How's yours coming along?" Yui whispered to Chie.
"Fine. Don't worry about me." Chie replied.
"I'll always worry about you to an extent. It's my responsibility now." Yui stated.
"Alright, alright. I'm almost done."
"Same here. Not that you'll beat me, but good luck."
"Hey! I WILL beat you!"
"I'm sure you will…"
Yui gave Chie a peck on the cheek and went back to her cooking. Teddie sat next to Nanako and watched the others enjoying themselves, beginning to think about his purpose.
"I guess it really is over now. That means I'll have to go back…" Teddie mumbled.
"Huh? You're leaving, Teddie?" Nanako asked.
"Yeah. I made a promise with them and...they kept it. It's only fair." Teddie said with sadness in his voice.
"What if you make a promise with me? Would you be able to stay then?" Nanako suggested.
"A promise with Nanako-chan?"
"Promise you'll spend time playing with me!"
"Hey Teddie. What's up?" Yui asked Teddie, having finished making her omurice.
"I was just telling Nanako about our promise. About how I have to go back." Teddie explained.
"Oh, Teddie. Never mind that. You're one of us now. Why don't you stay a while longer? You promised Nanako, it seems." Yui insisted.
"Sensei...arigato!" Teddie said happily.
"We're ready!" Rise chimed.
"That's my cue as well. Don't go anywhere!" Yui said as she went back to get her food.
Yui, Chie, Yukiko and Rise all set their plates of omurice on the table, awaiting judgment.
"Hang on a second. Asking Nanako-chan to sample these is a bit unethical." Yosuke stated.
"Don't look at us like that!" Chie said defensively.
"Try mine first! It's guaranteed delicious!" Rise said in a sweet voice.
"Alright. I've been looking forward to trying yours, Rise-chan!" Yosuke said enthusiastically.
"I'm sure…" Yui said quietly.
Yosuke took a bite of Rise's omurice, and was immediately overcome by a spicy taste.
"*cough*, *cough* Agh! What's in this?" Yosuke asked through tears.
"Huh? Let me see." Yui said, taking a sample for herself.
Yui could taste the overwhelming amount of spice in the dish, so much so that the main ingredients lost any taste they might have had.
"*laugh* That's got a kick! But...it's not very tasty. The spice just overtakes everything else. Sorry Rise-chan…" Yui stated.
"Hey! You're just saying that to be mean, senpai!" Rise said defensively.
"I mean, when I can barely taste the egg or rice, it's kind of a problem." Yui said honestly.
"Try mine next!" Yukiko asked.
"I'll give it a go." Kanji said, taking a bite of Yukiko's omurice.
Kanji kept chewing the bite of omurice, not saying a word as his face became expressionless.
"What is it? Say something!" Yukiko urged.
"Um...I don't know how to describe this…" Kanji said hesitantly.
Yui helped herself to Yukiko's dish and was shocked to find that it tasted like...nothing. Despite putting in so many ingredients, Yukiko somehow managed to make the omurice entirely tasteless.
"It doesn't taste like...anything. I've...never seen that happen before. I'm more impressed than disgusted." Yui stated with a puzzled look on her face.
"It's not good, that's for sure." Kanji said.
Yukiko had a look of irritation about her, but ultimately accepted her failure.
"Uh, try mine now! I'm sure it's good this time!" Chie told everyone.
Teddie took the opportunity to sample Chie's omurice. He had an eager smile on his face the entire time.
"Wow! This is awful!" Teddie said, his smile never disappearing.
Chie began blushing furiously at this declaration, more annoyed at Teddie enthusiastic disapproval than actually failing. Yukiko took a bite for herself and started giggling.
"He's right! It's terrible!" Yukiko said, barely able to contain her laughter.
"Not you too, Yukiko!" Chie said in exasperation.
Yui nervously took a bite of Chie's omurice, doing everything she could not to look back as Chie stared desperately at her.
"It's edible. That's more than can be said of some of her other attempts." Yui said with a smile and a shrug.
"Gee...thanks for your support." Chie said sarcastically, crossing her arms and pouting.
"Aw, you're welcome." Yui said teasingly, putting an arm over her shoulder.
Nanako helped herself to all of the girls' plates. For each of them, she was polite, saying that they were all good to a degree. To nobody's surprise, Yui's omurice was the best one, and Nanako was allowed to eat most of it.
"Hey, the festival is gonna be held in the shopping district. We should all go." Yosuke told everyone.
"Festival? Can I come?" Nanako asked.
"Of course you can!" Rise replied.
"Festival food is always the best!" Kanji stated.
With that, everyone agreed to attend the festival and put the murder case behind them.
7/27
"Onee-chan?"
"Yes, Nanako?"
Yui was sitting in the living room with Nanako, watching TV for some time, before Nanako spoke up.
"Why do people die?" Nanako asked, a note of seriousness in her voice.
Yui fell completely silent at this question, and had to turn the TV off in order to clear her mind and think properly.
"Do you...really want to talk about this, Nanako-chan?" Yui asked, secretly hoping Nanako would say no.
Nanako seemed to consider it for a few seconds before nodding her head. Yui sighed, preparing herself for anything.
"OK then...why do people die? They just do, Nanako-chan. It's just how it is…" Yui stated.
"But why do they have to die?" Nanako asked again.
"I...don't know. I don't think anyone knows. We get the gift of experiencing things, to love others, and to make others happy, but with the catch that we don't get to do it forever. It's all just...part of the deal I guess." Yui explained, even though she was uncertain of her own words.
"I see...it's pretty hard to understand."
"Maybe someday, you'll understand a little better."
"What happens when people die?"
"They go to the afterlife. For most people, they call it Heaven." Yui said as a white lie.
"So it's true. Mommy went to heaven."
"I'm sure she did."
"Um...why do bad people do bad things?"
"Oh thank god, she changed the subject!"
"I don't know why. I can't know their reasons."
"I guess that makes sense. You're not a bad person, so you wouldn't know."
"This girl is too kind!"
"Last year, there weren't that many crimes, so Dad was home more often. If there were no bad people, Dad would get to be home more."
"If there were no bad people, a lot of things would be better."
"Are bad people more important to Dad than me?"
"That's not true. It's Dad's job to keep bad people from doing bad things, so that good people can have better lives. He's doing it for everyone, including you."
"I don't really get it."
"It's OK not to get it right away."
"Thank you for talking to me, onee-chan!"
"Of course, Nanako-chan."
After talking about happier things, Yui sent Nanako off to bed.
7/30
Yui had been preparing for this evening for a long time. Though it was not her first date with Chie, it was going to be the most important one. She looked herself in the mirror to see how well the outfit she got from Croco Fur looked on her. She adjusted the decorative belt on her waist, pulled up her stockings and arm warmers, and headed for Aiya's.
When Yui made it to Aiya's, she was pleased to see Chie already seated and waiting for her. They waved to each other as Yui sat in the chair across from Chie.
"You look pretty, Chie-chan!" Yui chimed.
"You too!" Chie replied.
"Happy Birthday, by the way! 17 years, huh?"
"Yep! One more year, and I can move out, live on my own!"
"You should...probably get a job before you do that." Yui stated with a slightly judgmental look.
"Oh, yeah, that's a good idea." Chie said with a sheepish grin.
"Order the best thing you can get, but also I expect you to split the bill. I'm still recovering from that Teddie purchase." Yui said as she opened the menu.
"Aw, you're making me pay for my meal on my birthday?" Chie asked in an uncharacteristically cutesy voice.
"Chie…" Yui said sternly.
"I'm joking, I'm joking! I have my allowance!" Chie giggled.
"Are you planning on cake later? With your parents, I mean."
"Yeah. Why? Were you going to buy us dessert too?"
"I'd be willing to."
"It's alright. I have to save room for our cake."
Yui looked down at her shirt and noticed a white piece of string clinging to it. Wondering how long it had been there, Yui quickly plucked it off and threw it under the table.
"Hey, you know what we should do?" Chie asked.
"What?" Yui replied.
"We should order a Mega Beef Bowl! We can share it!" Chie said, her eyes shining in excitement.
"Chie, if we share it, we don't get it for free if we finish it." Yui pointed out.
"I don't care about the challenge! I just want to do something special. For us." Chie stated, taking hold of Yui's hands from underneath the table.
Yui smiled at this sentiment, and while a joyful thought flickered in her mind, she set it aside as the waitress came to the table.
"Aika-chan! Konbanwa!" Chie greeted.
"Konbanwa, Chie-chan! Yui-chan!" Aika greeted back.
"You're always out on deliveries. It's good to see you in person for once." Yui stated.
"Every day is busy, but that's a good thing! Nani wo tabemasu ka? (What will you eat?)" Aika asked.
"One Mega Beef Bowl, please! To share." Chie answered.
"Coming right up!" Aika said, quickly noting down the order and walking away.
Yui and Chie suddenly felt a bit uneasy as Aika went back behind the counter.
"Do you think she knows?" Yui asked Chie.
"I don't know. Part of me hopes she doesn't." Chie replied.
"Yeah. I don't need the whole school knowing."
"Yui-chan?"
"Yes, Chie-chan?"
"Are we...moving too fast?" Chie asked hesitantly.
Yui's heart jumped at this question, and her mind became clouded with negative thoughts. They weren't having second thoughts, surely? However, a lightbulb popped up in Yui's mind that lit up the dark clouds.
"Um...to be honest, a little. But to be fair, I'm only here for a year. If we're still gauging each other's feelings on this whole dating thing, we don't have all the time in the world." Yui stated jokingly.
"Oh, I guess you're right. It's just that I feel like as much as we know about each other, somehow I get the sense that we don't know as much as we think." Chie explained.
"What do you mean by that?"
"What I mean is...sensitive things. The stuff we don't talk about because it makes us vulnerable."
"What, me telling you I was basically depressed during my time in the city wasn't vulnerable enough?" Yui asked sarcastically.
"I mean besides that. Of course, only talk to me about it if you want to. It's your decision." Chie clarified.
"I understand. I HAVE witnessed your darkest traits, and watched you grow from it."
"My shadow?"
"Yeah."
"It still really bothers me, even though I accepted it." Chie said sadly.
"Yukiko said the same thing to me. I feel like shadows never truly go away, they only take new forms."
"If you have a shadow, I wonder what it's like? Or maybe you don't have one because you have a persona?"
"I...don't know if that's how it works. And...if I have a shadow...wouldn't that mean I'm not conscious of that fact?" Yui said slowly, becoming more discomforted at the line of thinking she was following.
Chie noticed Yui becoming uncomfortable and quickly apologized.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make you feel bad!" Chie said nervously.
"It's fine. We should be talking about more cheerful things on your birthday, right?" Yui responded.
"What do you want to talk about then?"
"Uh...are you still nervous about your parents finding out you're dating a girl?" Yui asked awkwardly.
"No."
"Really? You say that so confidently." Yui said in surprise.
"Well, that's because I already told them."
"Oh...wait, nani?!" Yui said with wide eyes.
Chie hid her face behind her hand to cover up the blush on her face.
"When was this?" Yui asked curiously.
"About a week ago, when finals were over. My parents were happy with my 'OK' grades, so I thought it would be a good time to let them know." Chie explained.
"Did it...go well?"
"They were shocked at first, naturally. I was kind of frozen in fear after I said it, too. But after I explained to them that the girl I was seeing was the smartest, funniest, and prettiest girl I'd ever met, and that I wasn't going to apologize for liking her, they gave me a hug and told me that as long as I was happy, so were they. I don't think I've ever cried as much as I did that day." Chie recalled.
"Oh Chie...that's incredible!" Yui said with tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, it was. They said they wanted to meet you!"
"Oh my god, they did not!" Yui said in disbelief.
"They sure did! I told them I wasn't mentally prepared to do that, but that was just a way of saying I didn't want them to embarrass me." Chie said with a chuckle.
"Parents do that, and they're good at it."
Just then, Aika came in with their order: the Mega Beef Bowl. The bowl was the largest Yui had ever seen, and it was stacked high with a mountain of beef slices.
"If you both finish it, we'll give you a 50% discount! Enjoy!" Aika said as she walked away to serve the other customers.
"Jesus, the legends were true." Yui said in awe.
"Come on! We can do this! Bring on the meat!" Chie said cheerfully.
Yui and Chie took their share of beef slices and put them in separate bowls to keep track of how much they ate. At first, they had a great time chatting about their personal lives over dinner, but they soon realized what kind of trouble they got into.
"Um...isn't there supposed to be rice in this dish? Or is it all just beef?" Yui asked Chie.
"I can't even see the rice! How long have we been at this?" Chie exclaimed.
"I'm starting to think this was a bad idea…"
"Kick it up a notch, Yui! We're getting that discount!"
Yui and Chie continued to persevere, eating slice after slice of meat. By the time they actually got to the rice, they were barely able to eat anymore. Despite their best efforts, Yui could only manage two bites of rice and Chie forced herself to eat two more slices of beef.
"Let's throw in the towel, Chie. I'd hate for you to go home sick." Yui told Chie.
"*sigh* OK, you're right. I surrender." Chie said in a defeated voice.
"Man, even with both of us going at it, it still won." Yui stated in exasperation.
"It wasn't about beating it. It was about getting to experience it with you!" Chie said with a smile.
"Awww...you really are sweet!" Yui replied.
Yui went around the table to give Chie a hug. When she did this however, Chie let out a burp.
"Sorry...that was really unromantic…" Chie said in embarrassment.
"That's the sign of a happy girlfriend. It's all good." Yui said with a chuckle.
Yui offered Chie a square of mint chocolate that she thankfully still had room to eat. After eating one herself, Yui called for the bill and split it with Chie.
Yui walked home with Chie and prepared to bid her goodnight. This proved to be more difficult than she thought it'd be.
"I really wish I could stay over." Yui told Chie.
"I know. I'd love that. Maybe some other time." Chie said with a nod.
"Well, I'd better get home now. I hope I didn't forget anything important, like…"
Yui made a show of slowly walking away before moving back and holding out a gift-wrapped box.
"Happy Birthday again, Chie-chan!" Yui chimed.
"*gasp* You got me a present!" Chie said happily.
"What did the others get you?" Yui asked.
"Yosuke got me a kung fu movie. Not like he'd get me a more creative gift, but it was a good movie he got. Yukiko got a box of moon cakes. I feel like that was a gift for my family rather than just me, but I really appreciated it. Kanji gave me a knit dragon doll. I thought that was awesome! And Rise got me a makeup kit. I don't wear makeup that much, but it's from Rise, so it's cool!"
"What about Teddie?"
"He didn't know what to get me, so he just sang 'Happy Birthday'. He wasn't very good, but how can I say no?"
"Well, I can only hope my two gifts will be enough. Why don't you open it now?"
Chie removed the lid from the gift box and looked inside, surprised by what was inside.
"Mittens?" Chie asked, pleasantly surprised to get such a gift in the summer.
"They were a clearance item at Junes. I saw the dragon print on them and thought of you. They're not very useful right now, but I hope you'll wear them this winter." Yui explained.
"Thank you, Yui." Chie said with a smile.
Yui wrapped up Chie in a warm hug, and the two spun around in a little dance. As Chie cradled her, Yui said quietly:
"By the way, here's my second gift."
Yui stood up and kissed Chie before saying goodbye and goodnight to her.
8/2
Chie asked Yui if she wanted to go see a movie in Okina. To Yui's surprise, it was not a martial arts movie or even an action movie of any kind, but instead a slice of life animated film called "Angel's Breath". The movie was about a high school senior named Manaka, and the film follows her troubles navigating school life, meeting new people such as Sadako, her best friend who has anemia, Aoi, her friend who works as a barista at a coffee shop, and Tsumugi, a girl obsessed with magic and the occult.
"You sure you don't want to see a kung fu movie, or something?" Yui asked Chie outside the theater.
"I've seen some reviews, and it looked interesting. As much as I'd love to watch any martial arts movie, I wanted to try something different." Chie replied.
"Alright, if you say so."
"Weird question: Do you think it's dark enough in the theater that people wouldn't notice us kissing?" Chie asked mischievously.
"Don't tempt me. I might just try and get away with it." Yui said teasingly.
After the movie ended, Yui and Chie walked out of the theater with a mix of emotions. They were laughing at the silly antics Aoi got Manaka into, deep in thought at the questions and mysteries posed by Tsumugi, and heartbroken by Sadako's tragic life due to her health problems. Sadako in particular got a very sad ending, becoming hospitalized and eventually dying. Yui and Chie were crying just as Manaka was crying on the screen. The movie ended on a bittersweet note, as Sadako's generosity and selflessness allowed Manaka to overcome a physical injury that prevented her from pursuing her goals, and Manaka and the rest of her friends paying respects at Sadako's shrine. The end credits even featured a message dedicating the movie to a late family member, who could be assumed to have been the person the character of Sadako was based on.
"What a film! I wasn't expecting to be so invested in it!" Chie stated.
"Tell me about it. The cinematography and writing was incredible! Good job to the filmmakers!" Yui concurred.
"Poor Sadako, though. I hope she was happy in the end…" Chie said quietly, tears forming in her eyes again.
"I think the movie wanted us to think so."
"I don't know if you noticed this but, I feel like Sadako was pining for Manaka."
"Oh, I noticed. I think they intended to have those two be together, but they toned it down. It happens a lot like that."
"That's lame!"
"There weren't too many people watching that movie. I wonder why."
"Maybe it's not a very popular film. I don't know why though, it was really good!"
"Thanks for bringing me out here, Chie-chan. I had a great time!"
"You're welcome! I had a good time, too!"
Chie put her arms around Yui's shoulders and gave her a hug, with Yui returning it in full. On the train ride home, they discussed other movies to watch in the future.
8/3
Yui paid both Marie and Margaret a visit in the Velvet Room. While Yui's intention was to take Marie out to see the outside world, she chose to spend a bit of time chatting with Margaret, which seemed to annoy Marie.
"Marie-chan has told me that you are in love with another girl." Margaret stated.
"She did? It's true, I suppose. Why are you bringing it up?" Yui asked.
"She doesn't get it. I mean, I don't either, but…" Marie spoke up, a bit rudely.
"It mystifies me a bit, I must confess. I was always under the impression that a woman is born to be with a man. But I've recently witnessed things that challenge that assumption." Margaret explained.
"What's that, Margaret?" Yui asked.
"I happen to have younger sister named Elizabeth. We had our disagreements, but I'd like to think we care about and understand each other to some extent." Margaret stated.
"Wait, 'had'?" Yui asked further.
"Oh, forgive me. She was once an attendant of the Velvet Room, like myself. I have not seen her since."
"You must miss her."
"Perhaps. Her action was rash and foolish if you ask me."
"I don't understand."
"Ah, I suppose you wouldn't. Perhaps some other time, I will tell you more."
"She doesn't seem to like talking about it. I won't pry."
"The reason I brought her up is because, as it so happens, she also prefers women."
"Does she now? You probably argued about that with her a lot, huh?" Yui asked with a chuckle.
"When I asked her why she would pass up the opportunity to be with a strong, handsome man, she told me that I had 'unrefined tastes'. That I didn't appreciate the beauty of the womanly figure. *sigh* The nerve…" Margaret reminisced.
"Well, you both simply have different tastes. There's no right or wrong choice there. We should have the freedom to find beauty in whatever we wish." Yui stated.
"How insightful of you. Perhaps she was onto something." Margaret complimented.
"Hey, are you two done yet? I'm bored here." Marie interrupted.
"Sorry Marie-chan. I haven't forgotten about you. If you want to talk about your sister later, let me know, OK Margaret?" Yui said.
"Hm...I will consider it." Margaret replied.
"OK Marie-chan, where do you want to go this time?" Yui asked Marie.
"I want to go back to that Joo-nes place." Marie answered.
"Alright then. Let's go!"
Yui brought Marie to the Junes food court after walking around town for a bit. Despite Marie's crabby mood in the Velvet Room earlier, she seemed more enthusiastic once she was outside.
"I'm thirsty. I want something to drink that isn't sweet. And also not water!" Marie stated.
"Tea?" Yui suggested.
"No." Marie replied flatly.
"Suit yourself." Yui said with a shrug.
Teddie suddenly approached the two of them, wearing his usual bear suit.
"Sensei! Welcome!" Teddie greeted.
"Konichiwa, Teddie. How's the mascot job working out for you?" Yui asked.
"It's fun! I bring much joy to the children!" Teddie said in a playful voice.
"What is that thing? It talks too." Marie asked.
"This is Teddie. He's another friend." Yui explained.
"Hey, Narukami and Marie-chan! What's up?" Yosuke called out as he walked by.
"Hey Yosuke. Just showing Marie-chan around more." Yui said.
"Would you like me to show you around? I know some places." Yosuke asked with a wink.
"I'm already on a tour." Marie stated.
"Woah! Yosuke got shot down!" Teddie exclaimed.
"Shut up, Teddie…" Yosuke groaned.
"Yo, Yosuke-senpai! You find that CD I was asking about?" Kanji called to Yosuke.
Kanji came up to the group, interested in the new girl.
"Who's this girl?" Kanji asked.
"Kanji-kun, this is Marie-chan! She's new around here." Yui told Kanji.
"Kanji, where are you going?" Rise called out.
"Rise-chan! Come say hello!" Yui called back.
"Hi, Yui-senpai! Um…"
Rise took a look at Marie and...did what Yui could only assume was "sizing her up".
"Who's this girl, senpai?" Rise asked, seemingly in annoyance.
"This is Marie-chan, she's new here. You don't like her?" Yui asked.
"You're that girl in those TV commercials. How did they go? 'Something even I can't handle'?" Marie stated.
"No! It's 'Something even I can handle'!" Rise responded.
"What's the difference?" Marie asked.
"There's a big difference!" Rise replied.
"Rise-chan, relax! Are you getting jealous of a friend?" Yui asked.
"I mean, Yui just met you two recently. It's not a competition." Yosuke stated.
"Hmm, you're right. I think I'm being silly." Rise admitted.
"Yui-chan!" Chie called out, walking along with Yukiko and waving to Yui.
"Chie-chan! Yukiko-chan! The whole team's here!" Yui exclaimed as she gave Chie a hug.
"You know her, senpais?" Kanji asked.
"We went to Okina that one time. We had a lot of fun then, didn't we Marie-chan?" Yukiko stated.
"What school are you from?" Kanji asked.
"I don't...remember." Marie stated.
"Hey, give Marie-chan a bit of space. You're overwhelming her." Yui told everyone.
"Was Yosuke hitting on her again?" Chie asked.
"I wasn't doing that!" Yosuke responded.
"Liar!" Teddie said jokingly.
"Hey!" Yosuke snapped back.
"You'd flirt with any girl with a pulse." Yui stated.
Yukiko burst into laughter at this statement, and everyone contagiously began laughing along with her. Even Marie managed a quiet chuckle. After hanging out with everyone for a while, Yui escorted Marie back to the Velvet Room.
8/4
Yosuke invited Yui to lunch at Junes, but as they were about to order, Yosuke's female coworkers came up to him again to complain.
"Hanamura! Why is Kazumi allowed to take the day off and not us?!" One of them asked in frustration.
"Huh?" Yosuke asked in confusion.
"They told us they were going to fire us if we didn't work on Saturdays!" The other girl stated.
"Have you two been taking absences without leave?" Yosuke asked.
"I have a date on Saturday, can't you do something about this?" One of the girls explained.
"Why are you favoring Kazumi? You were like that with Saki as well!"
Yosuke visibly shook at the mention of Saki, and Yui immediately became very concerned.
"Hey, Saki's got nothing to do with this conversation!" Yosuke stated.
"Yes it does! You always gave Saki special treatment 'cause you liked her! You think being the manager's son means you get to do whatever you want?" One of the girls said accusingly.
"Don't even bother with Kazumi. She already has a boyfriend. Don't you get it?! Saki didn't like you!"
"Shut the hell up!" Yui outburst, catching the attention of the two girls.
"Narukami?" Yosuke said in surprise.
"What? You shut up!" The girl shot back.
"How dare you talk about a dead coworker like that?! Don't you have any shame?!" Yui angrily asked.
"She's right! You don't know anything about Saki-senpai! She didn't half-ass anything like you! I know she didn't like me, so what?! She's gone now! I'm all alone…" Yosuke shouted at the girls.
Yosuke hung his head and breathed heavily, shaken with anger and grief.
"Just...leave me alone…" Yosuke said quietly.
"*sigh* Let's just go…" One of the girls said, prompting both of them to leave.
As Yosuke stood around, Yui put her hand on his shoulder to bring him back to reality.
"Yosuke?" Yui asked.
"I blurted out a bunch of shit, huh?" Yosuke responded.
"It's my fault. I didn't even know Saki, and I was still so mad that they would talk about her like that. I'm sure I only added fuel to the fire." Yui said apologetically.
"No...I was pretty upset too. Just another pathetic display from Yosuke Hanamura. But...thank you for speaking up." Yosuke said gratefully.
"You're welcome." Yui said with a smile.
"Those two are probably gonna quit at this rate. I'd better talk to my dad about this. Sorry Yui, but I have to go."
"It's alright. I'm glad you offered to get lunch. Take care."
"You too…"
8/5
To Yui's great surprise, Rise approached her at the shopping district and asked if she wanted to eat at Souzai Daigaku with her. Wanting to be polite to both a celebrity and younger classmate, Yui accepted.
"I can't eat another bite." Rise stated, having eaten more than her share of steak skewers.
"I was a bit surprised that you invited me here, Rise-chan. Was there any reason for it?" Yui asked.
"I've been wanting to come here for a while now. But...it's a bit embarrassing coming here by yourself." Rise explained.
"I don't see why. Chie-chan probably comes here by herself all the time." Yui stated.
"It's different with me, senpai!" Rise retorted.
"OK then, Ms. Diva." Yui said playfully.
"I didn't have many friends when I was a kid. It couldn't be helped, since I didn't show up for school back then." Rise told Yui.
"That's sad. Being an idol must be so lonely." Yui replied.
"Ah, let's not talk about depressing stuff! I want to have fun being here. Let's talk about...uh…" Rise said, changing the subject.
Rise put her hands behind her back, as if embarrassed to ask anything.
"So...you like girls, right senpai?" Rise asked.
"Well...yeah? I guess you never stopped thinking about it when you found out, huh?" Yui said with a blush.
"It's just, I've never met anyone who was so comfortable about it! I think that's amazing, senpai!" Rise praised.
"You clearly underestimate my insecurities, Rise-chan. I don't tell just anyone about it, but I'm also not going to apologize for it. Why are you so interested anyway? I'm sure every other idol you've worked with must have countless boys fawning over them." Yui asked.
Rise suddenly had a look of uncertainty on her face, causing Yui to adjust her tone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Am I assuming?" Yui asked gently.
"No, you're mostly right. But...senpai?" Rise told Yui.
"Yes, Rise-chan?"
"Promise not to tell anyone?"
"I promise."
"OK then. I mostly like boys. That's no surprise. But lately...I think I might like girls a little bit, too?" Rise stated, a blush creeping on her face.
"Ah, you remind me of myself when I was questioning my attraction. So you're slightly attracted to other girls. You're fine with that, aren't you?" Yui said with understanding.
"Well, yes. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Girls are inherently pretty, so it makes sense to be attracted to them. Still, I kind of don't want people to know that about me." Rise stated.
"I can only imagine the paparazzi having a field day with that. It's OK, you're not obligated to tell people. It's not their business. But, I'm honored that you were brave enough to tell me."
"Thank you, senpai! It's...nice to get that off my chest!"
"Happy to hear that."
"What kind of girls do you like?" Rise asked curiously.
"I think an easier question to answer would be: what kind of girls DON'T I like? I think I've had a crush on every feminine archetype at least one time each."
"*giggle* You sound like the naughty type, senpai!" Rise teased.
"Hey now, it's not what it sounds like!" Yui retorted.
Yui and Rise talked about this topic for a while before it was time for Rise to head home.
8/8
Yui invited Yukiko to her room, and Yukiko appeared to be fascinated by various things in it.
"These are nice sketches, Yui-chan! I assume they're in-progress artworks?" Yukiko asked.
"Yes. I'll be honest, a lot of them might never get finished. There's only a few of them that really speak to me." Yui admitted.
"That's alright. As the artist, it's up to you to decide which projects to pursue." Yukiko stated.
"That reminds me, how have you been lately?"
"I'm fine. I've been studying cooking and job licenses, like I always have. Even though I'm not leaving anymore, it's good to learn these things."
"That's true. So, does that mean you're happy with your decision?"
"I am. Even though I wanted to be self-sufficient, I think I would have regretted going out on my own. Because I had the inn, my family. It was because of them that I'm able to be who I am today. I realized my problems were not just my own, for me to solve myself. That's why I'm staying." Yukiko thought aloud.
"I'm happy to hear that. You've come a long way, Yukiko-chan. Keep at it."
"Yui-chan, I want you to have this."
Yukiko handed Yui a protective charm from the Tatsuhime Shrine, both for good luck and for warding evil spirits.
"May it protect you, even when I'm not around to do so." Yukiko stated.
"It's nice, thank you. I want to give you something in return, Yukiko-chan." Yui said gratefully.
Yui went to a corner of the room and retrieved a finished art piece for Yukiko.
"It's a finalized version of 'Dancing Geisha in the Winter Night'. I think it would look nice in your room, with all the other red things." Yui said as she handed the artwork to Yukiko.
"It's so well made! Thank you so much, Yui-chan!" Yukiko thanked Yui.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Is it alright if I stay for a while longer? Maybe you can teach me cooking some more?"
"I'd be more than happy to. Someday, you'll be able to make a great meal for that special boy or girl in your life!"
Yukiko laughed at this remark, and the two of them spent the rest of the day learning how to cook.
8/9
Rise invited Yui to visit Okina City, and the two of them spent the train ride there gossiping about celebrity nonsense.
"Well, we're here. What did you want to get from here?" Yui asked Rise.
"A one piece swimsuit! You'll help me pick one out, won't you?" Rise said flirtatiously.
"I was going to get one as well. Oh, not a one piece, I mean. Two piece is more my style."
"Hmm, maybe I should wear a two piece instead for the beach."
"Are you just saying that because you want to emulate me?" Yui asked with a raised brow.
"What?! No! I would never, senpai!" Rise said dramatically.
At that moment, a teenage boy came up to Rise and asked if she was Risette.
"No, I'm not. Please go away." Rise said bluntly before walking away.
Yui followed close behind Rise, leaving the confused boy behind. Unfortunately, several other people began approaching Rise, recognizing her as Risette, but not enough to be certain. Convincing all of them to leave her alone quickly became exhausting for both Yui and Rise. This eventually stopped, much to their relief.
"Ugh, that was annoying. How many times do I have to tell people? I'm not Risette anymore." Rise told Yui.
"So, you're really quitting, huh?" Yui asked.
"I just want to be a normal girl." Rise stated.
"You are a normal girl. You're just put on a pedestal by others because you're prettier than average. I...don't mean that as an insult, that's just how I see most idols."
"It's OK senpai, you're right. You think I'm 'prettier than average', huh?" Rise flirted.
"I know you're flirting with me, Rise-chan, but just know I'm not flirting with you. I already have a girlfriend." Yui stated.
"*gasp* Senpai?! You have a girlfriend?! Since when?" Rise said in shock.
"Since June, actually. I'd...rather not say who it is, if that's alright with you. Don't want you getting jealous. More than you already are." Yui replied.
"I'm more just surprised you even found another girl like that. Every girl I've ever met has been straight, as far as I can tell."
"Come to think of it, there's a surprising number of people in my circle of friends who are queer. More than I expected in a town like Inaba. Maybe it's instinctual?"
"It definitely seems like there's a lot of trust there, to be close enough to people to reveal something so personal. I envy that a lot, and I'm glad I get to be like that with you and the others."
"Believe me Rise-chan, we're not nice to you just because you're a famous idol. You're a genuinely kind and caring person, and it's a shame the public doesn't get to see that side of you." Yui stated sincerely.
"Aw, thank you so much, senpai! See, this is why I love Inaba. There's just something about the people who live there that makes me happy."
"Come on, let's go buy those swimsuits we were gonna get, before I gets late."
"OK!"
After buying their desired swimsuits from Croco Fur, Yui and Rise rode the train home to Inaba, agreeing to meet up again soon.
8/11
When Yui got home in the evening, she found Nanako kneeling in the living room and crying, much to her shock and dismay.
"Nanako-chan, what's wrong?" Yui asked.
"Onee-chan? Um...please don't tell Dad…" Nanako whimpered.
"I don't understand. What is it?"
Yui looked at the table and saw a paper that read, "Parent Survey Regarding Scheduling of Parent-Teacher Interviews". Things slowly began to make sense after that.
"They told us to have our parents write down whenever they can visit the school. But Dad's always working, so he won't be able to come…" Nanako explained.
"Just ask him politely. I'm sure he'll make time for something like this. I'll even ask him with you!" Yui assured Nanako.
"Really? Arigato, onee-chan!" Nanako said cheerfully.
At that moment, Dojima arrived home and entered the house.
"I'm home." Dojima greeted.
"Welcome back! Um, Dad?" Nanako replied.
"Not now, Nanako. I have to take care of something." Dojima quickly said.
"Dojima-san, please. This is important." Yui spoke up.
"What is it?" Dojima asked.
Yui had Nanako show Dojima the paper, allowing him to glance over it.
"Parent-Teacher Interview? They want me to fill it out, huh?" Dojima muttered.
Yui could detect Dojima's reluctance to write anything down, and unfortunately, so could Nanako.
"Fine…" Nanako mumbled.
"Huh?" Dojima asked.
"It's fine! Don't sign it! You don't have to come! Cases are more important than me, right? You're not...you're not my real Dad!" Nanako cried out, hurt by Dojima's silence.
In an instant, Nanako ran out the door, leaving both Dojima and Yui in shock.
"Nanako, wait!" Both Yui and Dojima called out.
Yui ran out the door shortly afterward, and to her horror, Nanako was nowhere to be seen. Even after calling her name, Yui knew Nanako was gone.
"Nanako ran off, Dojima-san!" Yui told Dojima.
"I'll go check Junes, you search the shopping district!" Dojima ordered Yui.
As Dojima sprinted out the door and toward Junes, Yui could feel her heart beating out of her chest. She took a few calming breaths before calling her friends for help.
"Hello?" Chie greeted over the phone.
"Chie-chan, I need your help! Nanako's run off!" Yui said urgently.
"What?!" Chie exclaimed.
"Get the others and meet me at the shopping district!"
"OK! We're on our way!"
Yui met up with Yosuke, Chie and Yukiko at the shopping district, and asked them to help her look for Nanako.
"We'll find her if we all search." Yukiko stated.
"Where do you think she could have gone?" Yosuke asked Yui.
"I'm trying to think. Ah, Samegawa! Her family used to visit there!" Yui stated.
"Alright, you go there. We'll split up and look for her elsewhere. If anyone finds her, let everyone know!" Chie said.
Yui went straight to the Samegawa Riverbank while the others went separate ways.
When she arrived at the Samegawa Riverbank, Yui saw Dojima looking around the area.
"Dojima-san!" Yui called.
"Narukami! Did you find Nanako?" Dojima asked.
"Not yet! This was the next place I was going to search!" Yui told him.
"Look! There she is!"
Dojima pointed towards the picnic table where Nanako was sitting, where she stared at the ground in lament.
"Nanako!" Dojima called out.
When she didn't respond to him, Dojima looked down sadly.
"I'm not her real father, huh?" Dojima said, parroting Nanako's words.
"Dojima-san, she didn't mean it." Yui stated.
"Go talk to her. She'll listen to you. You're her family, more than I am." Dojima told Yui.
"No, Dojima-san. That's not true!" Yui pleaded.
"No, it is. It's alright. As long as she's OK, it's fine. I'm fine."
Dojima took a deep breath before speaking again.
"I'll see you both at home. Take care of her." Dojima said with a heavy heart.
With that, Dojima walked back home, leaving Yui to console the forlorn Nanako.
"Nanako-chan?" Yui said as she walked up to Nanako.
"Onee-chan…" Nanako muttered.
"Come on, let's go home." Yui urged.
"OK…" Nanako replied, despite not moving from her seat.
Yui sat beside Nanako in order to comfort her.
"Your dad was very worried, you know. And me too." Yui told Nanako.
"Did he say anything about the river?" Nanako asked.
"Nanako-chan, that was the last thing on his mind. He was just concerned about finding you." Yui replied.
"He never talks about her."
"About who? Your mom?"
"He must've forgot about mom. He never talks about her. And there aren't any pictures of her at home. Maybe he threw them all away…" Nanako said miserably.
"Nanako...he would never do that!" Yui stated.
Nanako looked up at Yui with teary eyes, wordlessly asking the question: how do you know that?
"Your dad didn't forget about your mom. I'm sure he misses her just as much as you do. And...I'm sure it hurts him the same as well." Yui said quietly.
"I wanna see my mom again…" Nanako muttered.
"*sigh* I know."
Nanako grabbed onto Yui and started sobbing. Yui hugged Nanako back as tears rolled down her own face. After they both finished crying, they got up from the bench and walked home. Yui called everyone and informed them that Nanako was safe.
Author's Note(4-30-23): Cheery moments mixed in with heartfelt moments, ending with a harsh and heavy conversation about loss. That's this chapter, I suppose. Also, birthday girl Chie.