A/N: Sorry this is late, ya guys D8 My isomnia kept me from writing...

6/19

It's another quiet evening at the dinner table, as you exchange idle coversation with your younger cousin, and uncle. There's an entertainment show brightly glowing on the TV screen, but your mind is somewhere else as you pick at your food with your chopsticks.

2 months... It's been more than 2 months since you've been here, and still no lead in the murder case. After you rescued Yukiko, another person appeared on the TV shortly after, a young Kendo master by the name of Kazuto. He has spiked back ebony hair, and a peculiar shade of red eyes. He's definitely more aloof than some of the other friends you've made, and seems devoid of expression, merely nodded quietly if he agrees to something, and sighs when he doesn't.

After Kazuto came Kanji, and truth be told, you were ready for this one. You and your friends were determined to save him before he appeared on the Midnight Channel... But fate had other plans, your stakeout plan failed, and he ended up on there anyway (but you ended up getting closer to Yukiko, so it wasn't all bad). When the time came, united with your friends, you saved Kanji, and he eventually joined the Investigation Team in it's endeavors to solve the case.

There was a long period between Kanji and the next victim, and you hoped it was because the killer had given up, but you were proven wrong. A silver haired boy by the name of Seichi's parents died, and because of the grotesqueness of their death, he was broadcasted on TV, requested by the local news to speak on their behalf. Apparently, he's had amnesia since he was younger, so he couldn't reveal much.

Going by recent events, you had a feeling that he would be the new target of the killer. Sure enough, 2 days later Seichi appeared on the Midnight Channel, and you rushed in to save him.

But that killed your initial thought—that the killer was targeting people connected to the first case—so it was back to square one.

"You gonna finish that?" Dojima inquired, pointing at the food left untouched on your plate. You shook your head, and pushed it towards him. You decided to return your attention back to the TV; There was an Agency Spokesmen standing up at a podium, talking to the press conference. A young girl with auburn-colored hair, tied into pigtails stood beside him, a bleak, tired expression drawn on her face.

"That concludes Rise Kujikawa's statement regarding her temporary leave of absense from the entertainment industry. We're short on time, so if anyone has any remaining questions, we ask you to keep them brief."

Rise... Wasn't she a singer? ...Or an actress or something...? You remember Yosuke mentioning her once or twice, and for a split second you wished you had listened. You took a sip out of your soda can. A reporter on screen raised his hand, and the camera shifted over towards him.

"Hi, Ishioka from Lady's View magazine. It says here that you'll be recuperating—are you facing physical problems?"

The camera shifted back to Rise, who heaved a sigh, and smiled sadly, "No, my health isn't an issue—"

She was cut off by the same reporter, "Psychological problems, then?"

"What...?"

Dojima shook his head and muttered something you couldn't quite catch. Nanako turned up the volume. "Rumor has it you'll be staying with your relatives, but isn't that in Inaba? Where the murders have been taking place?" Man, were all magazine reporters this pushy?

Rise frowned. "Huh? Umm..."

Despite her obvious discomfort, the reporter continued to bombard her with questions, which caused the crowd to become a little rowdy. The spokesman from before tried to step in to return order, but the press conference had erupted into chaos, and Rise had been escourted out by a rather tall boy with crew cut black hair. Her bodyguard maybe? Nanako turned off the TV, and looked at Dojima.

"Is Rise-chan quitting her job on TV?" Her brown eyes were round with curiousity.

Dojima shrugged in defeat. "Who knows... But if this is her hometown, we'll have to deal with everyone trying to catch a glimpse..."

Concidently, a commercial came on afterwards that starred Rise. She was advertising for a soda that apparently helped you slim down. It wasn't bad, but you didn't think the bright gold bikini she was wearing was all that necessary

You heard your uncle sigh underneath his breath. "Rise Kujikawa, huh...? The one good thing about this town was that it had nothing of note, and now we get all the buzz... What's going on?"

6/22

Around evening time—long after you came home from school—Dojima and Adachi are at the Marukyu Tofu. Rise hands the younger one a brown paper bag; there's a small smile gracing her features.

"Thank you very much. Your receipt's in the bag."

Adachi resituates the bag under his arm. "Seems like the crowds are thinning out, so we'll be leaving now. If it gets rowdy again, just give us a call at the station." She nods simply in reply.

It seems they got there just in time, because it's beginning to rain outside. It starts off so soft you can hardly hear it at all, but it slowly picks up until you can hear thunder roaring, and streaks of lightning light up the sky. Rise's about to go back behind the counter, but Dojima pulls her away.

"Uh, hang on a second. Ah, sorry, but there's some things I'd like to ask you." Rise tilted her head. "You do know that there have been multiple, violent cases around here lately, yeah? ... Have you seen anyone suspicious around?"

The teen shook her head. "Not really~ It's been like always."

"Like always..." Dojima whispered, "Well, you're an idol, so I imagine you deal with folks like fans, paparazzi and stalkers quite often. What made you take a break from showbiz?"

Suddenly flustered, she countered with, "Does it really matter? ... I-I just needed a rest..." She finished quietly, staring down at her feet. Dojima nodded, and scratched the back of his neck nervously. He was never good at this... Communicating.

"And have you registered for school?" He felt like he was talking to his daughter.

"I'm planning on going to Yasogami High. It was the closest."

Dojima and his partner shared looks. "I don't mean to alarm you, but... You do have some things in common with the recent victims, and—"

"I might be kidnapped, right? Some boys came in earlier, and told me that. Don't worry, I'll be careful~"

They both looked shock. It was Adachi that spoke up this time though, "Huh? S-someone already told you? Who?"

"I didn't catch their names... But they were wearing uniforms, so I think they were high school students... Oh! One of them sorta looked like a gang member." She nodded.

"Wait! ... You think she's talking about your nephew and his friends?"

Dojima threw his jacket over his shoulder, and reached for the door. "I don't know... But I'm gonna find out."