Souji winced as Dojima ranted drunkenly. Adachi had helped Dojima get home, as he'd been too drunk to walk, let alone drive. Adachi was explaining to the twins about the Central Office sending in special investigative support, and Dojima was launching into tirades about it. As Adachi began rambling again, Dojima yelling at him to shut up like always, Souji thought back to his interactions with the only person who the detectives could be talking about; Naoto Shirogane.

Suddenly, the twins were being yelled at by Dojima, stating that they should share the blame as they'd always managed to show up at the "crime scenes" whenever something happened. Nanako came out, and told Adachi that she'd gotten his futon ready. The hapless detective then picked Dojima up, and carried his partner to bed, taking his leave afterwards.

After cleaning up the downstairs, Yu making sure Nanako got to bed, the boys headed upstairs. "Sounds like Naoto's preliminary investigation has finished." mused Souji as he sat on the couch, opening a book he'd bought on his way back from the T.V world that day. Rescuing Rise had put a considerable amount of stress on him, and he desired nothing more now than to curl up with a good book to read.

This particular one was separated into two halves by a thick bit of leather, as if someone had taken two books and bound them together. The front half was a standard story while the back half was a book of riddles. Souji had finished the back previously, and began reading the front, settling into the couch as he did so. Yu looked at his brother, sitting at the desk as he began to build one of the models Souji had bought him; the twins like to build models, and had decided to start doing so in order to fill up the shelf next to the calendar.

"So, if that's the case…what does that mean for us?" Yu asked, looking down at the model in his hands as he waited for Souji to respond.

"Well…" he began, flipping the page he was on, "It likely means we'll need to be more careful from now on. Naoto's now official. He won't be able to gain as much information, but I doubt he needs more at this point."

Yu nodded, contemplating the possibilities and struggles they faced. "Let's hope he doesn't get suspicious…" he said, turning the model around in his hands. The assembly was done; now he needed to give it color. Souji nodded to himself and continued to read. The boys passed a couple of hours like this before deciding to call it a night.

"Are you here to ingratiate yourself with Rise Kujikawa now?" Naoto had just come from the Marukyu tofu shop as the twins and Yukiko walked up. Yu elected to ignore him and moved past, walking in to check on Rise, as had become his habit over the past week. Naoto raised his eyebrows as the youth walked by, but made no move to stop him. Instead, he turned to look at Souji, grey-blue eyes once again studying him. "Huh, his eyes are actually really pretty…" Souji mused, taking up his habitual stance as he waited for Naoto to finish his observation, left hand sliding to rest on his waist.

Souji was dressed different from normal; he'd recently started subconsciously mimicking Dojima, wearing a similar outfit as his uncle. In place of Dojima's red tie, Souji wore a dark blue tie, hanging somewhat loosely as Dojima's did. He wore collared white semi-formal shirt, long sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Dark jeans and a black belt adorned his lower half, with black loafers on his feet. His standard silver watch was still on his left wrist, and the silverette had taken to carrying a toothpick in his mouth, though he claimed he had no idea why he was doing so, just that it helped him think. Naoto quickly recognized the style as being similar to Dojima's and made the mental note in his head.

Yosuke and Chie came walking up behind them, finishing their argument. Teddie had come to the real world, and had a human body now. However, he'd been naked. "Like a newborn" as he'd said. Chie and Yukiko had taken him shopping, and the cost of the clothes had been put on Yosuke's tab. The brunette hadn't liked that, launching him and his girlfriend into a small spat.

"Geez…why did the clerk even let them charge it to someone else?" he thought aloud, earning him a kick in the shin from Chie. Hopping on his good foot, he looked up, noticing Naoto's presence. "W-Wait, you're that guy we saw with Kanji!" stammered the teen, not quite remembering the detective's name.

"To what do we owe the pleasure, Shirogane-sama?" Souji asked, already guessing as to what the purpose of Naoto's visit was; Dojima had termed the sixth sense Souji had as a "detective's intuition", and had been impressed when Souji had helped clear a small case that the department had previously let go cold.

Naoto looked at Souji, a skeptical look on his face. "I don't believe I've ever introduced myself, but I don't seem to need to in your case, Seta-san." The silver haired youth just smiled as Naoto addressed him by his last name.

"Oh? It seems you know me as well, despite the fact that I never introduced myself to you, either."

The young detective allowed a small smile to cross his face at Souji's response. "Well, a stranger approached me at Junes some weeks ago, addressing me by my last name as he left. I thought it prudent to gather information on him. You stand out here." Naoto shook his head. "Ah, but where are my manners. I've neglected to introduce myself to your compatriots. My name is Naoto Shirogane. I'm investigating the multiple murders that have occurred here." Naoto nodded greetings to the other three, who nodded back. "As for what I'm here for, I was hoping to ask you a few questions on that subject. I hope you don't mind."

Souji nodded. "Of course. What were you wondering, then?" replied the silverette, a look of business on his face.

"The latest victim, Kinshiro Morooka… He was a teacher at the school you all attend, correct?" Souji nodded, remembering how their homeroom teacher had appeared dead, hanging from a water tower in similar fashion to the others. While the others had expressed frustration, believing the killer to have changed his methods due to their actions in the T.V world, Souji had withheld his judgement. Morooka hadn't appeared on the T.V at all, and had never showed up on the Midnight Channel. There was also the fact that his death had identifiable causes, which was drastically different from the deaths of Mayumi Yamano and Saki Konishi, who had had no identifiable cause of death.

"Indeed he was, and we'll miss him." Souji said, willing himself to maintain a straight face as his stomach revolted at his words. No one would ever miss "King Moron", but his death still caused concern.

"S-So what?" Chie stammered, looking worried.

"The public is focused on the fact that he is associated with the second victims' school…" Naoto continued. "But in truth, that's irrelevant. What intrigues me is the inconsistency."

"Ah, he's noticed too." thought Souji; He'd seen Naoto at the office when he was there with Dojima.

As Naoto explained his thoughts on the case, asking several more questions, Souji took a moment to take in his appearance. Naoto was dressed in a collared light blue shirt, worn in a similar style to the one Souji himself was wearing. A yellow tie was hanging loosely around his neck, much looser than Souji's, although it was still tied all the same. He still wore the dark blue newspaper cap Souji had seen him in previously, determining it to be a trademark of the Detective Prince's. "Not unlike Sherlock Holmes…" Souji thought, and moved on. Naoto was wearing dark blue jeans, and shoes of a similar shade. Souji noticed a watch on the detective's left wrist, marking it as being the only part of Naoto's attire, other than his tie, that was not some shade of blue. Souji looked back up at the detective's face, but noticed a bit of white cloth poking out from under his shirt where the collar wasn't buttoned. "Odd…it looks almost like a bandage…"

Souji shook his head, dispelling the thought. It seemed Naoto was done with his interrogation. He stopped as he walked away, not looking at the teens. "For my part, I'd like to solve this case as quickly as possible. I'll be keeping an eye on you all. Oh, and Seta-san…" he turned his head to look at the young teen. "I'll see you and Dojima-san at the office later." With that, he walked away, leaving the Investigation team to stare after him.

"Oh…hi" they heard a distinctly feminine voice behind them. Yu and Rise walked out of the tofu shop together; Yu had apparently neglected to inform Rise that the team was there with him, his concern for Rise's well-being overshadowing other thoughts.

"Rise-chan!" Yukiko said, looking at the younger girl with a mixture of happiness and surprise. "Are you okay now?"

Rise nodded, Yu smiling gently behind her. "Are you all here to check up on me?" she asked, turning to eye Yu a bit; the silverette responded with a sheepish shrug. The group nodded, and Rise suggested they go to the shrine to talk more.

Yu stretched contentedly, laying on the couch in his room. Dojima and Souji were out late again, and Nanako was downstairs, washing up before bed. "I'll need to head down to read to her tonight" he thought briefly, but his thoughts turned back to earlier that day. Rise had joined the investigation team, providing her support skills in place of Teddie, who had become a front-line fighter.

They had discussed various things, once again asking if Rise could remember anything about being kidnapped, but to no avail. As they had left, Rise had stopped Yu by pulling on his arm, the others walking away without noticing.

She had thanked Yu for saving her; the teen replying that the others were mostly responsible for that act. She had waved that aside, stating that Yu had been the one to stand up for her to her Shadow when she couldn't, and had carried her out of that place when she couldn't do so herself. Yu had looked to the ground sheepishly, mumbling a weak response that it had been because he'd been worried for her, when Rise had leaned up, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.

Yu could barely remember parting with her, and he couldn't remember how he'd gotten home at all. Sighing, he stood up, hearing Nanako calling from below. He left his room and headed downstairs to put the only girl who meant more to him right now than Rise to bed.

A few days later

Yu ran down the street in the northern shopping district, fear making his heart beat fast and his breath come quick. He dimly heard Kanji and Rise behind him, calling out. Souji was running through Junes with Dojima and Yosuke, desperately searching. Chie, Yukiko, and even Teddie were running around the southern shopping district, concern in their faces.

Nanako had run away.

It had happened quickly. Dojima and Souji had returned home after a long night at the office; Souji had been balancing completing the paperwork he and Adachi had been given while at the same time trying to mediate between Dojima and Naoto, who'd begun fighting over the case again recently. The two were exhausted, but were greeted by Yu and Nanako, who dragged her father over to the small table. On it had been a survey for parental observation in the classroom, and Dojima had half-heartedly replied that he'd look at it later, mumbling about his over-stretched workload.

Souji, who'd been in the thick of it all, knew Dojima was actually underplaying the amount of time he had, not wanting to worry Nanako, but the twins' favorite cousin had taken her father's response the wrong way, and took it to the extreme. Not listening to her cousins or father, she'd claimed that Dojima didn't want her, and that he wasn't her "real dad', and had run out the door before anyone could stop her. They had followed only moments later, but Nanako had disappeared. Now, alongside the twins' friends, The Dojima Family was desperately trying to find little Nanako, hoping that she wasn't hurt.

Yu made his way to the Samegawa flood plains, remembering a conversation he'd had where she'd said she missed coming here. He heard footsteps behind him, and saw Souji and Dojima running up behind him. "Did you find her?" Dojima asked quickly. Yu shook his head, and Souji swore.

"I'll go check the house, see if she went back" Souji said, and took off the way he'd came. Dojima and Yu walked forward, looking around.

Suddenly, Dojima froze. "Nanako!" he said, looking in the direction of the floodplains pavilion. Yu looked too, feeling his heart start to beat a little easier. Dojima didn't move however, and turned to look at Yu.

"Will you go speak to her…You're the family member she trusts most right now…" Dojima trailed off, looking pained.

Yu's gaze hardened. "No." he said, and Dojima's head snapped up. "Before you get angry, you need to listen to me." Yu said, heading off what he knew was coming. "Nanako needs her father. She doesn't need me, she doesn't need Souji, or anyone else. She needs you!" Dojima looked taken aback. "I know what you've been going through; I'm not that inattentive, and Souji's filled me in on the gaps. But how long are you going to run away from her?!" Dojima opened his mouth, then closed it again, finding no words to say.

"You're her father. I know it's hard, with your time stretched thin right now, but you need to start acting like one, or else you'll lose your daughter! No more playacting as a dad; you need to be her dad. Read her a story occasionally, cook something, take her to Junes, play with her; literally any of those things will help! But you won't be able to do a damned thing if you don't go and fix this yourself. Right now." Yu stopped his tirade, breathing a bit from the adrenaline coursing through him. Dojima looked shocked, but then fixed his face into a pained smile.

"You're right…I need to stop running away." He looked at Yu, nodding. "Thanks, Yu. I needed that." Without waiting for a response, Dojima headed over to his daughter, intent on repairing his family. Yu smiled, and turned to head home, calling the Investigation team on a group call to let them know Nanako'd been found.

The next evening.

Dojima was acting a little strangely. He'd called Souji, Yu and Nanako downstairs, and then had subsequently sent them back up. Now, the trio heard him calling once more, and made their way downstairs for the second time that evening.

Nanako gasped as she reached the floor, running over to the table with a look of wonder on her face. "What's this?" she asked, turning to her father.

"Well, I decided it was time we celebrate something." Dojima said, turning to the twins. "Come sit down" he said, leading the boys to the table. On it was a small cake and two small boxes, ornately wrapped.

"What are we celebrating?" asked Souji and Yu, sitting down at their regular spots around the table.

"Well, I thought it was time we officially became a family here." Dojima said, smiling.

"But what about before?" Nanako asked, looking puzzled.

Dojima turned to her, searching for the right words. "Well….we were a family before…but this celebration is so that we remember that, and the lessons we've learned about being a family." This answer seemed to satisfy Nanako, and Dojima turned back to the twins. "Before we get started, I have something for you two." He grabbed the two boxes, handing them to the two boys. "Go ahead and open them." he said, eyeing the twins with a degree of apprehension.

The twins looked at each other, then tore open the wrapping and opened their boxes, pulling out the contents. They were mugs.

Yu's was silver on the inside, and black on the outside, with thin red accents running in diagonal lines down the side. Souji's was a royal blue, with gold accents crossing the mug in a vine pattern. The interior of his mug was also silver. The two boys turned the mugs in their hands, and noticed a symbol etched into the mugs on one side; it was the symbol of the Fool Arcana. "I found drawings of that in your room. I didn't know what it was, but you two seemed to like it, so I had it put on them." Dojima said, noticing where the twins were looking.

The silverettes also noticed their names were on the mugs, etched into the interior and exterior of the handle, and another small etching was seen along the bottom rim, a unique saying for each boy. Souji's etching read "Fortune comes to He who seeks Her", and Yu's read "Let your Heart rule your head, for Love is blind."

The twins looked up at their uncle, tears in their eyes as they beamed at him. "Thank you, Uncle Dojima…" Souji said, Yu nodding his thanks, unable to find the words; this little gesture meant more than most would realize.

"It's the same kind that Nanako and I use. Take good care of them." Dojima smiled, and continued speaking. "We're family. So, I'll fill yours and Nanako's mugs anytime…Don't forget that." The twins nodded, and Dojima leaned forward to cut the cake, serving it to each person at the table. Their celebration lasted until Nanako began to get tired. Dojima picked her up, carrying her to bed. Saying goodnight to their uncle, the twins picked up their mugs and headed for their room, ready to go to sleep.