A/N: Story so far: The team has rescued Rise and beaten Kubo, and decide the case is over. Naoto has other ideas.

In this part: Naoto starts school in stunningly poor fashion, Chie and Yosuke are masters of arguing over nothing, and Kanji doesn't read. Spoilers through September 5th.

September 3rd, 2011

Naoto showing up unannounced at the start of the new school term hadn't done wonders for Kanji's composure. He'd spent most of the day alternating between trying to avoid the kid and bullying himself into manning up, neither of which had worked.

But by the following day, he'd pulled himself back together - a little, at least. He'd even taken a couple of lessons with Naoto now, the ones the school ran with multiple first year classes, and he swore the kid was some sort of genius. Never answered questions unless the teacher asked him directly, but when they did, he got every single one right. He knew everything. Kanji hated being called on more than ever now, because Naoto probably thought he was a total moron for almost always answering wrong. Maybe he was. All he knew was that he didn't give a crap about school, and the stuff he was really good at, nobody was interested in. Who gave a crap about sewing and crafts?

For all his smarts, though, Naoto didn't seem much better off. He still wasn't making any friends and every time Kanji saw him - not that he'd been following him or anything, that'd be creepy - he was either standing alone in the corridor or giving girls the brush-off. Too different to fit in, maybe. Kanji could sympathize. But the girls just kept on chasing him, no matter how cold he was or how many times he blanked them completely. Didn't make sense - weren't chicks supposed to go for the masculine types? They kicked up enough of a fuss over guys they thought weren't, something Kanji knew from bitter experience.

Screw it, he was tired of trying to understand that stuff. Tired of school too, after only three days into the semester. He couldn't skip out after all his promises to Souji-senpai, so he settled for bolting out the classroom door the moment the the bell rang after the final class. Today he was already halfway out the door before the ringing had died away, striding down the corridor toward the man door. He shot a quick glance into Naoto's classroom on his way past - just to check things out, nothing special - then stopped dead.

Inside, Rise Kujikawa was perched on Naoto's desk, all short skirt and smiles and leaning in so close she was practically on top of him. Naoto didn't look happy. But he never did - and what guy wouldn't be interested in a girl like Rise?

Apart from you, Tatsumi.

Kanji pushed the thought aside. Wasn't like he was gonna start an argument with himself. Take-Mikazuchi handled that just fine, even if none of the things his Persona said had any actual words. Dammit, he just wished he knew what Rise and Naoto were saying. All he could make out were Rise's regular sing-song tones; Naoto's voice was too low to hear at all.

An idol and the boy who knew everything. Kanji wanted to kick himself for feeling so jealous.

A minute or so later, Rise sighed and stood up from the desk. She didn't seem surprised to see Kanji hovering near the door, and he had the sinking feeling she'd known he was there all along. This was Rise, after all.

"If you want to copy Naoto-kun's work, Kanji-kun, you're out of luck. I couldn't convince him," she said, and winked. "Guess there's two guys in Inaba immune to my charms. Funny, huh?"

The scowl Kanji shot at her did nothing to calm the churning in his stomach. As if his body was telling him he should just turn around, march out the main door and forget this whole stupid thing - because why was he even here, except to just gawk at Naoto?

...Maybe they could just talk to each other. Guy to guy. Whatever. That was all right, wasn't it?

With a deep breath, he walked into the classroom and over to Naoto, who was sitting at his desk with his arms folded, staring at the far wall. He didn't turn his head. "Kanji Tatsumi."

He remembered? "Y-yeah. Thass me."

When Naoto finally looked up, Kanji almost leapt two steps back on reflex. "Yes, it is. I've been meaning to thank you for your previous assistance with my inquiries."

"I-I- uh, I didn't really help much. D-Didn't have much to tell the cops much after I got brought back, either." Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned the police, because just for a moment Naoto looked a little pissed off. Kanji still wanted to what had happened last month, that argument with the cop outside the store - because, thinking about it afterward, he swore Naoto had been crying. The idea alone confused him beyond anything. This kid was untouchable.

But Naoto had this look in his eyes, almost like he was challenging Kanji to say something about what he'd seen - so to hell with it, he wouldn't say a word.

Naoto glanced him up and down. "You are friends with Rise Kujikawa. Did you also come to copy my schoolwork?"

"No way!" Kanji had a long, not-too-proud history of scraping through every exam he'd taken - but he also had his pride, and the knowledge that he'd never be smart enough to not get caught. He shook his head, wishing he could keep his eyes on Naoto for more than a few seconds at a time. "Ain't fair. 'Sides, if I get good grades it'll freak the teachers out."

Naoto raised an eyebrow, and even if it was almost too faint to tell, Kanji thought he might actually be smiling. Or smirking, maybe. Either way, it didn't seem to fit.

"Perhaps you're too hard on yourself," he said. "But if you don't want to see my work, why are you here?"

The kid definitely needed to smile more, really smile. At least then Kanji wouldn't feel so dumb and clumsy. Wasn't going to happen, though, not with a guy who did a damn good impression of a robot - and in any case, the smile would never be for Kanji. He grit his teeth. "No reason," he lied, then strode out of the classroom before Naoto could respond.

September 4th, 2011

By this point, the team went to Junes only out of habit. No need to go inside the television and train with Kubo locked up. Kanji couldn't remember how he'd spent his Saturday afternoons back before all this had started, or his time after school each night. Skulking round the shopping district, probably, or hiding in his room and sewing.

Souji had skipped out on the meeting today - something about going on a family outing, which made sense now his uncle wasn't working seven days a week - and Yukiko and Rise were gone too, busy at the inn and the tofu store. The absences left Kanji, Chie and Yosuke sitting at a picnic bench in the food court, with the latter two looking about as bored as Kanji felt.

As always, the place was packed, and every so often one of the weekend staff would call Yosuke over to the stands to help. "Man, I don't even get paid for this," he muttered, the third time he returned to the table.

Chie twirled the straw in her soda cup and shrugged. "We could go someplace else."

"Nah. Nothing to do. Although," - and here, he turned towards Kanji - "we could always go look for Naoto-kun, right?" He winked. "Seeing as he blew us off last time."

Kanji scowled. "Shut it."

"Aw, you feeling hurt, Kanji-kun? Sad that Naoto didn't want to hang out?"

For someone who'd bailed out his friends in battle on more than one occasion, Hanamura was still an asshole. Kanji smacked a fist hard against the table. "I said shut it!"

Palms raised, Yosuke jerked back on the bench. "Hey, hey! Just kidding!"

"Leave him alone, Hanamura," Chie muttered. "Ignore him Kanji-kun, he's just bored."

"Well, yeah. Gotta keep myself entertained somehow. But seriously, I heard Naoto's really blowing it at school. Maybe we should find him, give him some pointers, you know?"

"I dunno. He doesn't seem very sociable," Chie said with a shrug. "Kanji-kun, he's in your year. You ever talk to him?"

Kanji swallowed. His foot had started tapping against the ground. "N-nah. Not really, n-no reason to. Go ask Rise, she was buggin' him."

Yosuke grinned. "Figures. She must be getting tired of chasing Souji."

"She's dangerous." Chie shook her head, wincing. "Poor Naoto-kun."

There was no point telling them Naoto wasn't even a tiny bit interested - Rise would probably handle that later, and in a lot more detail. It wasn't right that they were gossiping about him, anyway, especially when he wasn't here. The kid deserved better than that, Kanji decided, and he pushed himself up from the bench. "Gotta go. Ma wants me at the store."

Yosuke raised an eyebrow. "Hey, didn't you say you were free all afternoon? I thought we could get something to eat."

"What, on your Junes discount again?" Chie rolled her eyes. "Classy, Hanamura!"

Leaving the two of them to their argument - the third today, if he'd counted right - Kanji walked quietly out of the food court.

September 5th, 2011

Kanji had hated reading since he was a kid, and for a good reason, but once he saw Naoto standing outside the bookstore he began to reconsider.

Wasn't like Kanji was deliberately watching him, of course. Just had nothing better to do. That was all. And Naoto had been there for the past fifteen minutes, so it was natural to glance over every so often - though admittedly, every ten seconds might've been pushing it.

Kanji should man up and go say hi, just to be friendly. Naoto had to be lonely, what with being such a grade-A asshole at school. Girls kept chasing him though - which Kanji couldn't fault them for, given he was doing the same damn thing.

He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and crossed the street to the store in what he hoped was a casual amble. Still couldn't bring himself to look at Naoto directly, so he settled for watching his reflection in the window instead.

"Uh...s'nice day out," he managed.

Naoto nodded and said nothing.

Man, this sucked.

Questions were good, right? "S-so...you, uh, like books?" Kanji tried.

At that, Naoto looked up - thankfully at Kanji's reflection rather than Kanji himself. Judging by his expression, he hadn't even noticed he had company. "I'm sorry?"

"Books." Kanji gestured to the window, willing his hand not to shake. "Y-you're looking at 'em."

Naoto raised an eyebrow. "Oh," he said, like he'd only just realized what he was staring at. "Well, yes. I'm fond of reading. Unfortunately, my work leaves little time for such pursuits." He turned to Kanji, who was finally forced to look at him directly. Or down at him. "Do you read?"

Honesty, Kanji decided, was probably the best policy. "Nah."

Naoto looked thoughtful for a moment, if not that surprised. "Well, should you wish to start, I can recommend several crime novels. There are-" Suddenly, he beeped - or his wrist did. Kanji noticed he was wearing a watch: dark grey metal, with one of those retro digital screens and a ton of little buttons. It looked seriously dorky. Kind of weird, too. Seemed like a detective would carry something old-fashioned, like a pocketwatch.

Naoto glanced at the watch, then at Kanji. He dipped his cap with his other hand. "I apologize, Tatsumi. Walking here aids my ruminations, but I must return home."

Kanji wanted to ask what the hell a rumination was, but he let Naoto leave in peace. Book stores sold dictionaries, right?