A/N: Happy new year, guys. Hope you enjoy this belated installment.
Story so far: The Midnight Channel returned and the culprit was discovered - but all too late to save Nanako.
In this part: Tempers get frayed, Shadows get trashed, and Kanji gets Naoto wrong and right.
November 6th, 2011
"Still don't see what the big frickin' deal is," Kanji muttered.
A rescue mission involved getting tooled up, which involved new weaponry - which, in turn, involved Daidara. Or at least it would, if Hanamura would quit hovering outside the bookstore and haul his ass to the metal works shop next door. Kanji had spent the last five minutes watching him pretend to read a dog-eared copy of Witch Detective #13. It wasn't even a good issue.
Yosuke pulled a face. "Dude, the guy's creepy. Why d'you think I usually wait outside?" He frowned down at the manga in his hands. "Wish Souji had shown."
"What, y'want Senpai to hold your hand? Daidara's cool."
"He makes weapons out of shadow guts and hawks them to high-schoolers." Yosuke shivered. "Creepy."
Kanji's forehead creased with thought. Yosuke Hanamura, standing in the middle of the Inaba shopping district, willingly holding a Witch Detective manga. Something was up. "C'mon, man. What's your problem?"
"Nothing." Yosuke's reply was way too quick. "Hey, and here comes Naoto-kun to chew me out too."
Kanji glanced over his shoulder. Naoto, who must've finally gotten bored of waiting around outside Daidara's, was crossing the short distance between them with her hands clasped behind her back. She stopped next to him - or at least in the same general area as him, give or take a metre. Right now, he'd settle for that.
"Yosuke-senpai," she said, "I understand the fascination of the written word," - and here, she noticed the Witch Detective logo and blinked at it - "but we must conclude our business as quickly as possible."
Sighing, Yosuke put the manga back on the display table. "Yeah, I know. It's just - Souji ought to be here. He's always here when we do this."
"And he entrusted you with that role. We are wasting time."
Yosuke had apparently woken up to a series of texts from Souji, which he'd then forwarded to the rest of the team. Together, they formed a set of instructions. Go to Daidara's, buy this, go to Shiroku, buy that.
Problem was, nobody had heard from Senpai since.
Yosuke shifted from leg to leg, gaze fixed on the gap between Naoto and Kanji - then shrugged and began walking. "Fine. Let's go."
The shopping district had taken a hit after Junes arrived in town, but Kanji doubted Daidara had noticed. The team had probably brought him more business over the past six months than he'd seen in the last decade. Looking through the shop's dusty windows, Kanji couldn't see a single customer inside - only Daidara himself, lugging a large sheet of grey metal through a side door and over to his workshop. "Looks like he's in."
With another loud sigh, Yosuke pushed open the door and stepped through.
The shop itself wasn't exactly small; Daidara had just crammed it with so much crap, it felt as large as a Junes elevator. Full suits of samurai armour, ornate guns and swords, welded metal sculptures, weird stuff Kanji couldn't hope to identify...he stocked it all. Selling it was probably a different matter. Whole place smelled like cigarette smoke, too. Kanji glimpsed a small trail of it way in the back, behind the latticed wall of Daidara's workshop. Judging by the racket as they entered, the old man had been busy sawing something, but the creak of the door still caught his attention.
He peered through the gaps in the wall, frowning, then broke into a broad smile. "Ah, Tatsumi and the Junes boy!" he boomed as he walked out to the counter - lit cigarette in one hand, hacksaw in the other. "And the detective lad, too. What marvelous materials have you brought me today?"
"Junes boy," Yosuke muttered, and turned to glare at a rack of claymores.
"Nothin'," Kanji said. "We just need new stuff."
"Hmm. No matter. Still working through the last batch." Daidara took a drag on his cigarette, then exhaled, puffing smoke into the air. "Most inspiration I've had in years. What do you need?"
"Lemme see..." Kanji whipped out his phone and brought up Souji's texts. "…Stronger boots for Chie-senpai, a sharper set of claws for Teddie…and a thicker shield for me, provided it ain't too heavy." Flipping the phone shut, he tipped his head toward Yosuke. "Plus a new pair of knives for Junes boy here. An' we need it all quick."
Yosuke muttered again, this time something unrepeatable. Daidara, meanwhile, paused for a long moment, scratching his chin. "…Let me see what magic I can work," he eventually said. "True art requires the luxury of time - but I have a few pieces near-finished." Leaving the hacksaw on the counter, he walked back behind the lattice and started poking through the wobbling stacks of material piled on the floor: the horns, crosses, lumber, and general junk the team had hauled back from the TV world.
...Man, the place was a mess. Kanji rocked on his heels, dimly wondering if he could persuade Daidara to let him drop by and tidy up. He'd occasionally had the same thought about Naoto and that damn closet in her apartment - the only place in the world more cluttered than this shop - and reached a very negative conclusion. Right now, the same could be said for most everything involving her.
He'd tried to talk with her again last night, after Souji had emerged from Dojima's room. Stupid idea. And he shouldn't have expected anything good, with both of them anxious and scared and awake for eighteen hours straight - but he'd tried anyway, stumbling over half-formed sentences until Naoto pretty much just walked away. She'd still been acting off this morning, too. Not angry, and not the way she'd been right before Nanako's kidnapping; something different. Kanji couldn't put a finger on it, just as he couldn't shake the feeling that she was disappointed, like the team hadn't lived up to their promise. As if they'd failed some test.
Screw it, they'd been trying their best. Maybe they were all too amateurish, he thought, a little bitterly.
...Or maybe he was just being a dick. He glanced sideways at Naoto as she watched Daidara through the lattice. The old guy had moved to the anvil and started hammering at something Kanji couldn't see.
"You met him before?" he asked her, over the clang of metal on metal.
Naoto nodded. "I visited this shop during my initial investigation of the shopping district." She paused. "He attempted to sell me a two-headed war axe."
"Word of warning - if you ever buy one, don't wave it around in Junes," Yosuke said, with a roll of his eyes. "But hey, speaking of which...you think Rise and Teddie have found anything yet?"
Kanji shrugged. "Ain't like they'll need extra information. We know Nanako."
"Yeah. We do." Yosuke ran a hand through his hair, trying to tuck the longer strands behind the cups of his headphones. "Soon as Old Creepy's finished, we'll head out. Chie and Yukiko should be done at Shiroku by then, and it won't take us long to find Souji."
"We will go directly to Junes." Naoto made it sound like an order.
Yosuke hesitated, mouth partly open - then turned aside and pulled out his phone. "...Let me try calling him again first."
Without Souji, they couldn't do a damn thing; Kanji had proved that back at the Secret Base. But he'd already dialed Senpai's number three times today without an answer, and he had the feeling Yosuke had tried a whole lot more.
...Naoto was probably right. Wasn't like Souji would skip out. No point fussing.
Kanji glanced back. Naoto had half-turned away too, one hand on her hip, fingers splayed in rigid lines. "A complete waste of time," she muttered.
During his first willing trip inside the television, Kanji had outright refused to go back to the bathhouse. The rest of the team had readily agreed with him, so Souji had smiled, nodded, and taken them to Yukiko's section instead. Her Shadow was a Princess - which Kanji had mentally translated as 'has an awesome fairytale castle'. After seeing the dark stone towers stretching into the red and black sky and the twisted statues surrounding the courtyard, he'd decided the bathhouse had been the better deal. Scary damn place.
Nanako's castle? Completely different.
After Rise and Himiko led them through the fog, the light pouring through the castle's open drawbridge left him blinking. No red and black here, either; the sky was a solid pale blue, save for the faint rainbow arching between the stone walls. On the other side stood a massive tree. Kanji looked up at the gleaming tiled squares surrounding its trunk, stacking up as far as he could see.
He'd seen first-hand the kind of crap this world made, the junk it yanked out of people. He hadn't imagined any of it could be beautiful.
"This place..." Rise began, then trailed off. "...It's amazing. Like a storybook vision of heaven."
When he spoke, Yosuke's voice was unusually quiet. "Yeah...exactly. Deep down, Nanako-chan must really miss her."
"I'm sure she does," Yukiko said, with a sudden, questioning glance at Kanji. "She's only a child."
Him and Yukiko had still been sort-of-friends when his old man had died. After that, everything had changed, but Kanji had never forgotten how it'd felt in the months and years after his dad was gone. Never would. Like a heavy rock pressing down on your chest - except when you finally managed to get it lifted, there was nothing underneath but empty space.
What if it was the same for Nanako?
He took a deep breath and forced his voice steady. "Yeah, but she's got us. And we're gonna do everything we can to rescue her, right?"
"Right on." Yosuke's hand landed against his back. "Forget Namatame. We'll get that son-of-a-bitch later."
Souji gave a grim nod and began walking toward the castle's bright-white entrance. "We're not stopping till we find Nanako-chan."
The rest of the team fell in step behind him. Chie glanced around her as they went - first at the tree, then at the glowing gate, then at the pale pink flowers creeping over the castle walls. "It's so pretty...I wonder what it's like inside?"
Yukiko shook her head. "I'm not sure. Nanako-chan's young, but maybe there are still Shadows in- - Rise-chan? Is something wrong?"
Rise had stopped a few meters behind them. She was looking up at the tree again - and shrinking away. "Something feels...different. Wrong," she managed, eyes wide and jaw tensed. "Nanako-chan - she isn't alone. Himiko can hear someone else."
"Namatame." Naoto's gaze was fixed firmly on the castle entrance. "Remember, he did not run from the accident. He leapt."
"And into the same television - so they would've wound up in the same place," Rise said, shivering. "This part of the TV world...they both built it."
Souji let out a soft curse, pinching the bridge of his noise, then glanced at the fog behind them, almost like he wanted to head back. Kanji was ready to voice an objection, and loudly - but a moment later, Senpai was striding toward the gateway light. "Let's go. We have to hurry."
Shit, they were outmatched.
Should've practiced more, Kanji thought as he threw himself to the floor in a sideways half-roll, should've come in here instead of screwing around with hot springs and festivals and- -
The lance thrust down to his left, spearing through the floor and scattering fragments of tile. Good. Give him a couple of seconds while the Knight yanked it back out. As he sprang to his feet he saw Sukuna-Hikona rocket past him, saber outstretched, and slice through the Cyclops further down the pathway.
He glanced back at Naoto - now firing her pistol at the Knight, why the hell hadn't she learned yet - and tried to prioritize. Three shadows. All still standing. Which one needed beating down first?
...Cyclops was nothing special. He'd tackled them before. Kanji turned back to the Knight, Take-Mikazuchi's card already in his hand.
It was the wrong choice.
Rise's voice rang inside his head. "Guys! The Cyclops has Ziodyne, brace your-"
Didn't see the lightning bolt. Didn't feel it, beyond a slight tingle over his skin. But he did hear the raw crackle of electricity, a split-second before Yosuke's strangled yell.
Kanji blinked as the white glare faded, trying to readjust, but he'd already crushed his card on reflex. Blurred and washed-out, Take-Mikazuchi smashed one heavy fist into the Cyclops, shattering its outer ring and knocking it to the floor.
Souji was still on his feet, a red star-shaped Persona floating behind him. Naoto, shuddering, was down on one knee, and Yosuke was curled up on the floor. He'd need healing, which right now, meant he needed Souji - which meant Kanji would have to hold off the Shadows.
"Yosuke-senpai's down! And watch out for the Phantom- -"
He hurled himself forward, shield above his head, and slammed it down on the prone Cyclops. The impact shook his teeth, but the Shadow vanished in a sputtering cloud of black smoke.
One down. That left the Knight. Naoto was probably still bouncing fricking bullets off it. Mind racing through Take-Mikazuchi's attacks, Kanji pulled out his card again - then noticed the three purple lights swirling in front of him.
...Mudoon?
The lights had him frozen in place. No way to dodge. He stiffened, jaw clenched tight, telling himself it wouldn't hit, it never did -
- and then the lights vanished.
Free to move again, he swung around just in time to see the Phantom Lord behind him disintegrate in a column of bright golden light. The light almost immediately died away, leaving a cloud of tiny sparks, like fireflies - and Sukuna-Hikona whirling through them in what looked like a victory barrel roll. The Persona kept going, speeding down the pathway and slashing its saber in a wide arc through the Knight's torso.
Naoto glanced over her shoulder, catching Kanji's eye for barely a moment, then turned her attention back to the Shadow.
"Kanji-kun, what are you waiting for? That thing's weak to electricity, hurry up and take it down!"
The rebuke pissed him off - but ultimately, Rise needn't have bothered.
"Seiryu!"
The roaring, writhing dragon - why did Senpai have so many freaky Personas, couldn't he just stick with that little Jack Frost guy? - materialized on the other side of the Knight, its long tail twisting above Souji's head.
Kanji stood, card still in hand, too stunned to do anything but watch.
An instant later, it was over. The Knight caved under Seiryu's Ziodyne, and a swift Megidola from Sukuna-Hikona finished it off. At the back of his mind, Take-Mikazuchi rumbled with wordless approval (mixed with the grudging admission that even midget Personas with crappy magic weren't completely worthless).
Take-Mikazuchi, Kanji reflected, could be a real jerk. He wasn't in the habit of talking to his Persona, though. No point in chatting with something that didn't know any words. He sighed, mentally shoved the Persona aside, and walked over to the others.
Souji's healing had worked quickly; Yosuke was already back on his feet and dusting off his jacket, though still shivering with the movement. "Nice work, guys. Sorry I went down so easy."
"Not your fault," Souji said - flatly, like he hadn't really been listening.
Kanji had been about as much use as Yosuke. Might've gone down badly, if not for Naoto. Slipping his card back in his pocket, he turned to face her. "H-hey, Naoto. Thanks."
She nodded, but didn't look at him. Without a word, she pulled her gun from its holster and began rifling through her pockets for bullets.
What was with her today?
"Naoto bailed us out again?" Yosuke shook his head. "Man, when did light and dark become useful?" He turned to Naoto and dropped into an exaggerated bow. "Naoto-kun, I officially take back most of my comments about your totally useless Persona."
It should've gotten a rise. A flat stare, a snapped retort, whatever. Instead, Naoto kept her attention on her gun as she emptied and reloaded the chamber.
"I know, it's weird!" said Rise. "A ton of the Shadows here are weak to Hama and Mudo. Guess we're lucky to have you along, Naoto-kun."
Again, no response. Naoto still didn't look up, and Souji had gone quiet too.
Twirling one of his blades, Yosuke shot an awkward glance at Kanji, then coughed. "Uh, guys…maybe we should go back and recharge. Jiraya could...use a boost, maybe?"
Poor guy was floundering. Kanji forced a grin. "Let that damn fox rip us off, right?"
"Yeah! Exactly."
"A pointless endeavour." Naoto's voice cut the air like a knife. "It would not effectuate Nanako-chan's rescue."
Yosuke flinched. "Kinda harsh there, Naoto."
'Harsh' wasn't strong enough. Kanji hadn't thought it possible to cram so much condescension into two sentences. And maybe this was what she really thought of them - a group of idiots, stumbling around with their made-up investigation, trying to fill a role she'd spent her whole life learning. She'd told them more or less the same thing back in the summer, right after they'd captured Kubo.
But five months later, he'd expected better. Naoto could be difficult, could be blunt, could be an outright jerk, but he'd never before gotten the feeling it was on purpose. Jaw tight, he glanced at Souji on instinct, half expecting him to call her out. Instead, Senpai must've taken the look for a question. He shook his head and hefted his sword. "One more floor."
November 10th, 2011
Kanji ran a hand along his jaw, fingers trailing over a long, still-blue bruise. Gigas could hit damn hard. It'd hurt so bad, he'd swear the bone had actually broken; at least Teddie had been able to fix that.
The bruises had stayed, though. Both Yukiko and Ted had been too worn down, the first from running around the castle and the second from patching everyone up when they stumbled back. Maybe the shadows in Heaven were too strong, or maybe Personas just got tired. Either way, the healing wasn't working as well as it should. He was used to a few dull aches after a TV run - but real injuries were harder to brush off.
Harder to explain, too. At breakfast this morning, Ma had glanced him up and down then given him this look; same one she'd given him after he'd trashed that biker gang. Kanji couldn't blame her.
"Kanji-kun?"
He glanced up. "Hey, Yukiko-senpai."
He'd decided to wait outside the school gate after the day's final class, thinking he'd catch one of the others so they could head to Junes together. Yukiko fit the bill - but for some reason, Kanji found himself wanting to stay put.
"Are you alright?" Yukiko asked, eyebrows angled in concern. "Yesterday afternoon...the Shadows gave you a really hard time."
"Same for all of us." He shrugged then leaned back against the gate's right pillar. The rough brick scratched against the back of his head. "Should be askin' you the same question."
She managed a weak smile. "Oh, I'm fine. Just a little tired."
Bullshit, Kanji thought. Souji had kept Yukiko as their main healer in almost every run through the castle. It'd reached the point where Teddie - stuck sitting with Kanji and Yosuke - had started asking if Sensei didn't like him anymore. Kanji would never admit it, but he was starting to wonder the same thing. He hadn't been on the main squad since their initial attempt at Nanako's Heaven, and yesterday had been his only chance to prove himself. He'd blown it - then been dumped back at the castle entrance to be healed up by Teddie, while Souji went back to his damn dream team.
Efficiency, Senpai had called it. Chie for raw strength, Yukiko for healing, Naoto for light and dark, and him for everything else. The best way to reach Nanako quickly. Kanji had tried to take him at his word. Yosuke, meanwhile, had rolled his eyes and muttered something about a harem.
Grimacing, Kanji looked at Yukiko and shook his head. "Souji-senpai can't keep this up. It's wearing you and Ted out." He tilted his neck and pointed to the bruises on his jaw. "That's why I still got these."
Both hands tightly gripping the handle of her schoolbag, Yukiko turned away. It wasn't fast enough to hide her sudden flash of guilt. "I'm sorry, Kanji-kun. I really did try."
"Shit, I didn't- -" Great. Upset your friend then curse at her. He paused, and let out a breath. "I didn't mean it like that. Don't care 'bout a couple of bruises. Just no good if you get burned out, y'know?"
"It's difficult." Yukiko had started picking at loose red threads on the bottom hem of her blouse; Kanji resisted the urge to scold her. "Chie's careful, as much as she can be - but Souji, he's...being reckless. It isn't like him. And Naoto-kun's behaving the same way."
"Naoto?" Kanji cut in, frowning.
Souji taking risks was weird enough, but Naoto? Made no sense. She was into logic, reason, all the crap that both filled Kanji with admiration and drove him up the wall.
...Except, of course, for the tiny part where she'd baited the killer and gotten herself thrown in the TV - and her behavior over the past few days was far too similar to right before she'd done it.
Yukiko apparently hadn't heard him. She continued, voice shot through with frustration. "It's just- -I need to keep everyone safe but Amaterasu can only do so much, and when they're deliberately- -" She cut the sentence off with an apologetic shrug. "I-I'm sorry, Kanji-kun, you don't need to hear this."
"You got a right to vent." Just like he had the right to know what was going on. Souji was desperate to get to Nanako, that made sense. But if he exhausted them all trying to get there, mistakes would happen. Like yesterday. They hadn't been ready for the next floor, Rise had said so six times over. But where Souji went, the team went too - and, in Kanji's case, promptly got their ass handed to them on a Gigas-shaped platter.
"You do, too. I'm sorry he's been leaving you behind."
Truth was, Kanji and Yosuke just weren't as useful, not right now. If Souji wanted a heavy hitter, he had Chie. If he needed a healer, there was Yukiko - or, at a push, Teddie - and Naoto was the only other team member who knew light and dark. No room for anyone else. Kanji got it, kind of - no time for training, just a blitz to the top of the castle - but the understanding didn't help.
He shook his head, gaze fixed on the ground. Wasn't right, second-guessing Souji, especially not now. "Senpai's choice. He's the boss. And it ain't just me anyway."
"No, it isn't - and it's stupid," Yukiko said, and the force it in surprised him. "You, Teddie, Yosuke, you all need the opportunity to train too, or we won't be ready."
Wasn't much Kanji could say to that. He didn't know about Naoto, since she was still new to the team, but there was no question he was falling behind Chie and Yukiko. Yosuke - who'd been benched for over half the Secret Base - was even worse off.
"I was dreaming last night." Yukiko's voice was soft, with a slight shake Kanji almost didn't catch. "We were trying to fight Namatame, but it - it wasn't working, e-everyone was..."
She trailed off. He lifted his head, not sure what he was supposed to say - or if there was a right answer at all - then realized why she'd stopped.
Kou and Daisuke were standing a few meters away. Must've just walked out the gate. Between them was a blonde girl, the one who'd helped Teddie get dolled up for the pageant. Ai, Ted had called her, or Ayu, something like that. For some reason, the three of them kept glancing over at Kanji and Yukiko. He moved forward from the pillar, ready to ask what the hell they were staring at, when Kou suddenly turned and walked toward him, Daisuke and Ai quickly following.
Kou didn't say anything at first. Just stood there at an awkward angle, hands shoved in his trouser pockets. Kanji watched his thumbs worry the fabric inside.
"Afternoon, Amagi-san," he finally said, then nodded to Kanji. "Yo, Tatsumi."
Kanji returned the nod. "S'up."
"We, uh, heard about what happened with Souji's cousin. The little girl."
With years of practice under her belt, Yukiko instantly switched to manager mode. "Yes, the kidnapping. It's awful."
"Couldn't find him today. Might've stayed home," Daisuke said, with a shrug that tried too hard to be casual. His gaze, initially fixed on Kanji, shifted to Yukiko. "But you - you and him hang out. If you think he needs anything, whatever it is, let us know, alright?"
"I will. That's very kind of you."
Hands on her hips, Ai lifted her chin. "Souji's a good guy. The cops are gonna find his cousin soon."
Yukiko didn't hesitate. "Of course they will."
"Right, so make sure you tell him that." Ai paused, her expression softening. "And that we're thinking about him."
"He'll be glad to hear it."
"Yeah." Kou shuffled in place. "Guess we'll get going now. Thanks, Amagi-san. Later, Tatsumi."
As she watched the trio leave - Ai still in the middle, Kou and Daisuke either side - Yukiko raised an eyebrow. "Well, that was surprising."
Kanji frowned down at her. "Why? They're gonna care, they're Souji-senpai's friends." Three among many; Souji seemed to know everyone.
"Maybe I should rephrase that," she said, delicately. "Ebihara was surprising."
"The blonde? Y'don't like her?"
Yukiko winced. "Chie...doesn't have many good things to say about her. At all. Something about hair-pulling and basketball practice last spring. She spends a lot of time with Souji, too," she added, a little darkly - but quickly followed it with, "though she was very pleasant just now."
Kanji shrugged. Ebihara seemed like exactly the kind of girl that used to terrify him, and maybe still did - but who was he to judge? "First impressions ain't always right."
Yukiko glanced up at him, mouth curved in an odd sort of smile. "No, they aren't." She paused, looking thoughtful. "I've seen her and Teddie talking at Junes twice now, and he seems to think the world of her."
Kanji snorted. "'Course he does. She's a chick."
At that, Yukiko giggled. Wasn't even close to one of her laughing fits, but that was probably for the best - and with how anxious she'd seemed, he was happy to just make her smile. Shame it faded so quickly. She let out a quiet sigh, her expression solemn again. "You know, Ichijo and the others aren't the only ones who've asked me about Souji and Nanako-chan - and everyone keeps saying the same thing. 'The police will find her'." Yukiko shook her head. "I wish we could tell them the truth."
Like anyone would believe them. The cops hadn't listened to Naoto's warnings about Kubo. Try telling them about Shadows and Personas and jumping in televisions, and even Souji wouldn't be able to make it convincing.
Kanji pushed away from the pillar and tipped his head toward the footpath. "C'mon, Yukiko-senpai. We're gonna be late."
Sat cross-legged on the floor of the T.V. world's main lot, Kanji let out a deep sigh. Partly because watching Teddie brush his suit was really making him want to pet it (damn fox let him, why the hell was the bear so fussy), and partly because he had hated having nothing better to do in the first place.
Behind him stood Rise, Himiko at her back as she guided Souji and the team through the twisting middle levels of Heaven's castle. It left her too busy to talk. Yosuke was pacing around the lot - as usual - but in that case, Kanji had already exhausted his limited range of conversation topics.
Maybe Senpai would head back soon. Swap out Chie, let Kanji have another shot. Might even leave Yukiko behind, if he felt up to playing main healer. Definitely wouldn't bench Naoto, though. He'd tried yesterday, and been met with steadfast refusal. Naoto hadn't raised her voice, hadn't even changed her expression, but the rigid set of her shoulders had said enough. After the Phantom Lord incident - and the stuff he'd heard from Rise about entire groups of Shadows going down under Hama and Mudoon - Kanji wasn't worried about her anymore, or at least he was trying not to be. But all the fancy powers in the world didn't stop a person getting tired. Souji ought to know that - and he should've pulled rank.
Kanji didn't like thinking about the reasons he hadn't.
Something nudged him in the side. He looked up to see Yosuke standing beside him, one foot close to his ribs. "Keep frowning and your face'll stick like that."
"Go get bent. Y'sound like my mother."
"Don't blame you, though. This whole thing is pissing me off."
"Nothin' we can do."
"Maybe not. I dunno. I tried to get Souji to go to Souzai Daigaku last night, thought maybe I could talk him into swapping us back in." Yosuke sat down on the floor opposite and rested his elbows on his knees. "He stayed at the food court talking with Naoto instead."
"Figures. They're hanging out everywhere else," Kanji muttered - and it wasn't even true, they weren't together all the time, but it felt damn close. They'd been huddled together talking whenever the team left Junes.
"Huh?"
"Naoto an' Souji-senpai. Getting together after we leave."
"Talking tactics, I guess," Yosuke said with a shrug. "Anyway, he hangs out with all of us."
"This ain't the same thing. Senpai's not just- - not with her." Kanji leaned back on his hands and didn't bother to hide his scowl. "Not just tactics."
At that, Yosuke gave him a very strange look. A 'what the hell else would Naoto ever talk about' kind of look.
Moments later, his eyebrows arched so high they risked flying off his face. "Whoa, whoa! You mean - you think Naoto and Souji- -"
"Pipe down!" Kanji hissed, glancing at Teddie - who was currently polishing his gold buttons and probably paying no attention whatsoever, but why risk it?
"Kanji, you're insane." Yosuke raised a palm. "I know, I know - Souji's got so many girls clinging to his ankles, he wades through them just to get to school - but Naoto?" He grimaced, as if the concept itself was offensive. "Not one of them."
Kanji frowned. Wasn't that weird an idea. Naoto was awesome - except maybe when she was being an Olympic-level jackass, and even that was negotiable. Souji was totally clued-in on everything, so why wouldn't he think that too?
"You sure 'bout that?" he asked Yosuke, brow furrowed.
"Trust me, I know Souji," Yosuke said, firm and confident. "And our resident pint-size detective wouldn't know a crush if it whacked her in the head."
Damn right she didn't. Maybe Yosuke was right. Didn't bode well for Kanji, but at least it put Souji out the picture too. No way did Kanji ever want to fight with his Senpai, no matter what the reason - and not when he'd be losing right from the start.
By the time they walked through the doors of the Junes lobby and into the street, night had already fallen. According to Kanji's cellphone, it was almost half-nine; they'd barely made it out before closing. If Chie hadn't stood up to Souji, they'd have been stuck in the store past midnight.
Rise had sensed something bad on the seventh level up, a powerful Shadow that even Souji had thought twice about approaching. He'd brought the team back to the main lot first, asked Yosuke for money to pay the fox - and watched a lightning-fast Chie snatch the notes out of his hand. She'd been livid. Told him they needed to rest, no way could they keep up this pace., and basically said everything Kanji had been thinking save the whole forever-benched pity parade. Yukiko had quickly turned just as insistent, if a little quieter about it.
Kanji's silence had taken a superhuman level of effort, but the alternative, and the accompanying risk that he'd have said a lot more than he'd intended, would've been far worse. But standing outside the main doors of Junes, looking over at the team - taking in Chie's grazed shins, Yukiko's slumped shoulders, the jagged and slightly bloodied tear in Souji's school shirt - he wished he'd spoken up first.
Yosuke leaned against the lobby's glass wall, shivering and rubbing his shoulders. "Man, I swear it wasn't this cold last November."
"You're such a wimp, Hanamura," Chie said as she poked him in the arm - then noticed Yukiko shiver too. "...But maybe we should get home quick all the same."
"No problem with that. Ted and I'll go with you, Souji."
"...Sure."
"I'm going with Chie," Yukiko said, shrugging on her friend's green track jacket. Kanji felt like an ass for not offering his leather one.
"Yeah, you can stay at my place," Chie said. "My parents won't mind and Ichigo'll love to see you."
Yosuke scrunched up his nose. "Translation - that dumb dog can't wait to get slobber all over you."
"Ichigo is pretty dumb." Chie tilted her head with a mock-thoughtful expression. "Still smarter than you, though."
"Good night, everyone," Yukiko cut in before Yosuke could respond, and quickly slipped her arm through Chie's. "See you tomorrow."
Chie nodded casually, already turning to leave. "Yeah. Bye, guys." Kanji couldn't help noticing she didn't look at Souji.
He also noticed Souji didn't seem to care. Senpai had been looking at whoever spoke, following the conversation with his eyes, but his gaze had been too distant. Like he'd been pretending to listen and hoping it would stick. He hadn't even been talking to Naoto.
"Okay, I'm seriously about to freeze. Let's get - -" Yosuke stopped and leaned around Kanji's shoulder. "Hey, Naoto-kun!"
Kanji turned, wondering why Yosuke had bothered to raise his voice, then realized Naoto had already made it four streetlamps down the road. Exhausted as he felt, he was still surprised he hadn't seen her leave - hell, he usually caught everything she did, whether he wanted to or not - and even more so that she stopped to look back.
Yosuke shot him a pointed glance and started walking toward her. After a moment's hesitation, Kanji followed.
Naoto raised her head, the brim of her cap casting slight shadows across her face. "Is something wrong?"
"Dude, don't rush off. Kanji'll walk you and Rise home." Yosuke elbowed him in the ribs. It didn't hurt. "Right, big guy?"
"I do not require 'walking home'," she said, before Yosuke had even finished speaking.
"Walking with," Kanji corrected. "And none of us are going back alone. You're just being stubborn."
Naoto responded with a dull glare. He glared back.
"Wow, look at the time!" Yosuke said, without looking at his watch. "Better get going with Souji, later!" Busy glowering, Kanji didn't register his hasty exit.
Naoto could've just said no. Instead she was making a big deal out of nothing and frustrating him more in the process. She'd looked away by now, eyes fixed on the bright neon 'Junes' sign above the store doors, and as she folded her arms tightly across her chest he noticed a long tear in the right sleeve of her jacket. Must've happened inside the television, same as Souji's shirt. His first impulse was to ask if she wanted him to fix it.
"We should head out too," he said instead.
"That would be pointless. I am in possession of a firearm." She still refused to look at him. "However, Rise-chan will require an escort. I trust you will accompany her to the shopping district."
And that was fine, Kanji told himself, he'd let Naoto do whatever the hell she wanted - because in the end she always would, because this had been Hanamura's dumb idea anyway, and above all else, because he was too tired to care.
He'd always been good at telling himself stuff. Never did as well believing it.
"Stop talkin' like that," he muttered.
Naoto's gaze finally snapped back to meet his, her eyes instantly narrowing. "What?"
"You know. Why're you being like this?"
"I have no idea what you mean." Her voice was perfectly, irritatingly level.
"Don't act dumb, alright? You've been- -" Completely different, and I don't get why.
She'd only met Nanako a couple of weeks ago. Chie and the other senpai had known the kid for months, had been friends with Souji since his first day at Yasogami. Their tempers were clearly frazzled, but they weren't shoving each other away.
They also weren't Naoto. And Kanji had done the same thing for years; he knew better than anyone how hard it was to stop.
He grit his teeth. "Things are bad right now. Last thing everyone needs is you playing the tough guy."
Naoto's fingers tensed against the fabric of her sleeve, so briefly he almost didn't catch it. She unfolded her arms a moment later, one hand moving back to her hip. "I am not playing at anything," she said, cool and smooth. "This is no time for baseless accusations. Goodnight." She turned before he could respond and stalked away through the pools of lamplight.
It said something, Kanji would later realize, that he never considered following her.
Inaba's roads were virtually deserted at night. No cars, just the wind and the rustling of the trees. It would've been eerie, if Kanji hadn't recently been heading home this late every night - and if he hadn't been with Rise, who'd started jabbering the moment they left Junes. Mostly gossip from school, about people he either didn't know or didn't care about. He'd been too distracted to listen anyway, too caught up in what had happened to Nanako, what was happening with Naoto, and what might happen to the team if Souji kept on pushing.
Maybe Rise was too. Kanji usually got a scolding whenever she caught him not paying attention, but right now, she didn't seem to care. They'd made it as far as the train station when the Kujikawa verbal express finally ground to a halt. "...Anyway, that's why I think Higashi-chan keeps hanging around outside the library. Makes sense, doesn't it?"
"Uh. Yeah."
Rise hummed, satisfied. "Right. And you're sweet for walking me back, Kanji-kun." She latched both of her arms firmly around his left one. "My big, strong bodyguard!"
Kanji sighed and kept walking, though at a slightly slower pace. "Guess so. Was Naoto's idea."
"Ooh, a bodyguard and a detective looking out for me. I couldn't be safer. If Risette ever does another tour, you're both coming with, okay?"
"Don't forget Souji-senpai. He'll be your new agent or something."
Suddenly quiet, Rise loosened her grip and pulled slightly away. Kanji angled his head, trying to get a better look at her face. "Hey, whassup?"
"He's not doing well, Kanji-kun. I can't figure out how to help." She let out a long, slow breath, one hand fussing with the collar of her puffy winter coat. "And even if I could, he'd never take me seriously."
"C'mon. Senpai don't brush anyone off, you know that."
At that, Rise lifted her head - and Kanji shrank a little at the weary, doubting look in her eyes. "He's going through a lot right now," she said quietly.
The words were true enough. The problem was how she'd said them. For some reason, Kanji thought back to what Rise had done at the pageant - not just the pranks she'd pulled on him, Naoto and Yosuke, but earlier, when she'd been stuck trying to dress him up as that Mary chick. When he wasn't the one she should've been helping.
Remembering that, the pranks made a little more sense.
"Maybe you could just try talkin' with him," he tried. "Properly, I mean. During lunch or something."
"He hasn't been around then." She paused. "I did see him yesterday, by the shoe lockers, but Yukiko-senpai was with him."
Which wasn't surprising. Kanji wondered, briefly, whether he should keep well out of this.
...Screw it. Rise had tried to help him, hadn't she? Done her best to bring him and Naoto closer, even if it'd been more a full body shove than a gentle push. "Follow him when he leaves class. Then you'll know where he goes." Best solution Kanji had found, and it'd worked with Naoto. For a bit, anyway.
"True, but I'd prefer to stay out of crazy stalker territory," Rise said - which was totally her opinion, he decided, and no way did it apply to him. She shook her head with a humorless chuckle. "Like I said, Kanji-kun, you're sweet - but I can't believe you're trying to give me advice on my love-life!"
Frankly, neither could he. Even Teddie seemed to have a better handle on this stuff, or at least hadn't pulled the stoic admirer crap for half a year.
But Rise had been into Souji from the start too. Maybe even first sight. If she gave up now, then why was Kanji even- -
He frowned. "...Do you?"
The question surprised them both. Rise blinked up at him. "Do I what?"
"Y'know." Kanji hesitated. "Love him."
"I-I didn't say that." She swung away and burrowed deeper into her coat. "Why are you asking?"
Kanji didn't have an answer. It'd just seemed like something he needed to ask, something that'd maybe make Rise try a little harder - and that might make him feel less alone. He shrugged, staring at the road ahead. "Dunno. Sorry."
November 14th, 2011
"I don't get this," Yosuke said, voice low and tight, as he hung up his Junes apron with his fists clenched around the fabric. Kanji waited for him to ball it up and hurl it at the nearest customer. "He's been dragging us up through the castle every day for a week, and today he blows us off to go play basketball?"
Faced with Souji's astonishingly screwed-up priorities, there was no real answer. Kanji grimaced and told himself there was a reason Senpai hadn't shown, there always was - just like there was a reason he hadn't bothered to let the rest of the team know before they'd all rolled up at Junes.
One text message. Not much to ask. Would've saved them the trip to the food court. Yosuke had been here already, serving up overpriced drinks and overcooked steak to the few customers still willing to sit outside in November, and he'd been the one Souji had finally texted explaining his urgent need to dribble basketballs. After that, the others had quickly dispersed, some more happily than others. Chie had seemed relieved; she'd even been joking with Yukiko as they'd left. Yukiko had replied with a tight sort of smile that hadn't looked much like one at all. Naoto had looked blank.
Kanji, pissed-off and feeling guilty for it, hadn't yet bothered to leave. He'd stayed at the table instead, fiddled around with his phone, seen a suited-up Teddie entertain a small swarm of kids - and now, he was watching Yosuke close down the snack stand for the evening.
As he locked the door of the drinks cabinet, Yosuke kept ranting. "And you know what? He said it'd help. Like we'll all be slam dunking shadows on our next trip."
Kanji shrugged. "Souji-senpai's probably stressed."
"Souji-senpai's probably an asshole."
"You don't mean that."
"He's done crap like this before. Like when we went after Naoto, remember?" Yosuke shook his head. "But this is Nanako. We can't let her or her dad down, Souji knows that."
Kanji remembered the mess surrounding Naoto's rescue only too well. It'd stirred up the worst of his bad traits. Recklessness, impatience, and most of all white-hot fury - most of it directed at Naoto herself, but some of it aimed squarely at Souji. It'd been fine in the end, though, because they'd gotten her out - even if it had taken way longer than he'd wanted. Even if, two months on, he still felt angry at Senpai without understanding why.
"We got Naoto. We'll get Nanako too," he said, and tried to convince himself it was for Yosuke's benefit.
Yosuke walked out from the stand, arms folded, and leaned back against the counter. "Yeah." A long pause - and he looked Kanji straight in the eyes. "If we go in again. Like before."
Maybe he was just way too tired, not paying enough attention, whatever - but it took Kanji a few seconds to realize what 'before' meant.
He shot up from his seat. "No frigging way," he snapped, and walked back to the store entrance in a few long strides.
Somehow, Yosuke got there first. He slipped in front of Kanji and tried to block the store's sliding doors, apparently forgetting there were four of them. "No, hear me out. We'll go in there and get Nanako - you, me, the others. Screw Souji."
Going inside the television without Souji had been one of Kanji's stupidest ideas on record. Didn't matter how angry he'd been. Almost got them all killed - something Yosuke knew full well, so why was he even suggesting it? "No. Didn't work last time. Won't work now."
Yosuke lurched forward, shoulders squared. "Don't give me that! I went in there with you and Rise, got my ass kicked and got bitched out by Souji for a whole week, all because you had a crush on some guy crazy enough to deliberately get thrown in there - and the one time I want help, you chicken out?" His lips curled into a sneer. "Some friend you are."
Until recently, Kanji hadn't known it was possible to happily have a guy's back in any battle and simultaneously want to punch his lights out. Whatever him and Yosuke had going, friendship wasn't the word.
But hell, if it was good enough for Hanamura, he could roll with it. "Yeah. A friend, you asshat. That's why I'm tellin' you not to pull this shit."
"You did," Yosuke spat.
"And I'm an idiot." Kanji grabbed him by the shoulder and tugged him through the sliding doors. "C'mon, we're walking."
"He's probably not even home yet."
"So you'll wait for him."
"Should I have dinner ready too?" Yosuke snapped back, then winced. "Damn, Kanji, you're making me sound like his wife."
Kanji snickered. "Don't need my help with that."
"Oh, bite me."
They walked on in silence, past the empty lots and dilapidated warehouses that were too common in this part of town. When Junes had first rolled in two years back, they'd made a big noise about 'urban renewal' and 'economic encouragement'. Hadn't panned out yet. The residential area across the river was pretty nice, though - and in the end, the people living there were what Junes really cared about.
...Wasn't really fair. Junes had brought some good stuff too - and like Ma had said, if it wasn't them, it'd only have been another chain. Kanji suspected a lot of the people bitching about Junes' bad effect on Inaba also shopped there; at least, when they weren't busy treating Hanamura like he ran the damn place. Yosuke was an ass for a dozen different reasons. Junes wasn't one of them. Glancing sideways at him, Kanji wondered if the guy regretted moving here. He wouldn't have a Persona and wouldn't have met Souji - but he also wouldn't be heading over to his best friend's house right to have it out with him.
When it came to arguments, Kanji's philosophy could be distilled into a single principle: direct confrontation. Ask the person what they were thinking and why - and, in a recent addendum, try not to yell while doing it. Hadn't quite worked with Naoto yet - but Souji-senpai, he'd be different. And even if he wasn't, tackling him head-on was still the best option they had - because whatever Yosuke wound up saying, no matter how harsh, would beat jumping in the television alone.
They were halfway across the bridge when Yosuke spoke. "Hold up, Tatsumi."
Kanji glanced over his shoulder. Yosuke had stopped at the crest of the bridge and turned to face the water. "...If you jump in, I ain't hauling you out."
"I'm not miserable enough to fling myself in a river! I just wanna stop for a while."
"Why?"
Yosuke's shoulders shifted in a stiff half-shrug. "I'm feeling kinda lame as is." He rolled his eyes. "Waiting around on Souji's doorstep would destroy the few shreds of coolness I've got left."
He was dragging his feet, but who knew how long Souji wanted to screw around polishing balls or whatever the hell he did at club practice? Kanji ambled back to the centre of the bridge. "Wouldn't worry 'bout it. Y'never been cool in your life."
"Hey, I live in hope."
Though it'd been sunny during the walk to Junes, the wind had picked up after nightfall. The surface of the Samegawa was difficult to make out in the dark, but in the faint light from the sparse streetlamps, Kanji could see it churning and rippling. Good thing they were up here and not on the bank. His mind cast back to the time he'd tried to fish a rabbit doll out the river for that Takeshi kid, and spent fifteen minutes wading up to his knees in murky cold water. Souji, always a decent guy, had kindly refrained from laughing his ass off.
Takeshi wasn't much older than Nanako. Either they knew each other or Inaba had its own little kid grapevine, because a few weeks ago, she'd related the tale of the big boy who wore skulls and made cute dolls to her Big Bro and then asked why Kanji-san had never brought any of them to Junes. On hearing this from Souji, Kanji had scowled, muttered something about loudmouthed brats - then started wondering what type of animals Nanako liked best. A doll would've made a good present, if he'd ever gotten around to it.
"We could get her," Yosuke said, suddenly. "I know we screwed up last time, but we're tougher now. And we're almost at the top of the castle."
"Not worth the risk. Gotta trust Souji-senpai."
Yosuke's first response was a dismissive snort. "C'mon, Kanji," he muttered. "At least try to sound like you mean that. And since when were you the voice of reason?"
"Since I tried growing the hell up." Kanji leaned forward and rested his weight on his arms, palms pressed flat against the top of the bridge wall. "And I ain't always, not even close - but Souji-senpai is. He knows what he's doing."
"He's not making sense. Nanako-chan's stuck in there, and he doesn't- -" Yosuke stopped, tilted back his head and stared up at the night sky. "...I dunno what's up with him."
"He's in that house by himself, for starters."
"Dude, I can't tell if that even bothers him."
"What d'you mean?"
Yosuke started fiddling with his headphones, flipping the plastic band up and down against the back of his neck. "I've gone back there with him a couple of times lately, tried to - - I dunno, keep him company or something...but..."
Souji had spent months helping his friends work through their problems. It was pretty damning, Kanji thought, that none of them had managed to return the favour.
Yosuke's sigh was barely more than a breath. "Remember before, I told you I knew him? I don't. I don't think anyone does."
Reading people's feelings wasn't easy, but it seemed like Yosuke needed something here. A clap on the back, maybe - or hell, even a hug. Unfortunately, it wouldn't come from Kanji. Hanamura had seen the bathhouse, seen Kanji's Shadow, then lost it over the prospect of spending one night in the same tent - and four months on, probably still would.
Definitely no hugs.
"Uh," he began, racking his brains for a decent response. Helpfully, Yosuke had an epiphany.
"Holy crap, I sound like such a girl. Like, Rise-level girliness!" He let out a low noise of frustration, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. "I swear, Kanji - if you tell anyone you caught me on a bridge mooning around over Souji, I'll shove you straight in the river."
Kanji snorted. "Like to see you try."
"Mark my words. Couple of dozen people and a forklift truck, and in Tatsumi-kun goes."
"Yeah, yeah. We still headin' to Souji-senpai's or what?"
"I am. You can go home." Yosuke's smile was painfully ironic. "Not like I'll get kidnapped, y'know?"
He seemed sincere, and sleep sounded way more appealing to Kanji than a night spent watching his senpai arguing. "You, uh, gonna be -"
"Yeah. No problem." Yosuke paused - and for the first time since they'd met, Kanji got the impression he was carefully choosing his words. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you should go talk to Naoto again. Someone has to. She'd probably listen to you."
"Didn't last time."
"Maybe not. But it's either you or Souji, dude," he said, and though the same thought had hit Kanji multiple times, hearing it out loud was much worse. The next moment, Yosuke's expression shifted into a lopsided, slightly sarcastic grin. "I'd better head out. Gotta have husband's meal on the table when he gets home."
"Never figured you for the domestic sort."
"And I'm gonna take that as a compliment." He turned and started walking across the bridge, toward the low houses on the other side. "Later, Kanji."
"Later." Kanji huddled into his leather jacket and set out in the opposite direction, back to the shopping district.
Souji was harder to pin down than anyone he'd ever met. Naoto, complicated and aloof, still took a distant second place. If you saw somebody's Shadow, you at least got some idea of what made them tick, the stuff they were (or weren't) dealing with - and Kanji had been there for the Secret Base.
Trouble was, Senpai didn't have a Shadow. Yosuke had once joked that their fearless leader was just too boring to have any real problems. Souji had grinned in response and said that maybe he had bumped into his Shadow when they'd first entered the TV, and Hanamura had been too busy squealing at that poor little Hablerie Ball to notice.
They'd had each others' backs right from the start. If anyone could get through to Souji, it'd be Yosuke.
Kanji frowned. He'd met Naoto first, hadn't he?
Admittedly, he'd grabbed the wrong end of the stick and run with it - and she'd still lied to him same as everyone else - but that didn't change base facts. Yosuke was gonna confront Souji, and Naoto needed someone to do the same for her. Striding past Daidara's with a new resolve stirring in his mind, Kanji vowed to make this work. He'd make her realize she didn't need to push him away, convince her that the team were in this together, and deliver a whole bunch of other life-changing insights - all of which sounded incredibly stupid the moment he noticed a small, blue-capped figure walking briskly toward him.
Must've gone to see Rise. Lent her a textbook or something. No other reason Naoto'd be in the shopping district this time of night - which meant she definitely wasn't here to see anyone else or be bothered by them, and so Kanji and his many unprepared insights would have to sprint down the nearest alley and find another route home.
...No, screw that. He'd marched Yosuke halfway across town to have it out with Souji. Hypocrisy left a bad taste in his mouth.
Kanji kept on walking, shoulders angled forward - until he realized exactly why Naoto was moving so quickly.
"Hey, Miss Yasogami! Wait up!"
A small group was trailing behind her in the dark - four guys, maybe five - and unlike last time, Kanji recognized the voice. Sonoda and his gang of losers. They'd probably been hanging around outside Aiya again; Otsuka never had the guts to chase them off, even after (or maybe because) they'd kicked his shop door half off its hinges back in August.
Naoto kept her head down and quickened her pace, but the older boys were faster. Two of them jogged into her path, cutting her off - and by the time she turned right to dodge around them, Sonoda had flanked her. She instantly darted back, leaving her pinned against the toy store's shutters.
Kanji forced himself not to move.
"Saw your big win, Shirogane. Surprised you were even in the running," Sonoda sneered, one hand pressed against the shutters above her head. "Didn't they have trouble figuring out which contest t'stick you in?"
Stay put, Tatsumi. It was dark, nobody had noticed him, and Naoto could do this. She'd taken down dozens of Shadows single-handed; punks like Sonoda were nothing. No reason to over react, right?
Naoto didn't look up. "Sonoda-senpai, I am sure there are more productive activities you could pursue."
"Girl, guy...maybe they hadta check first?"
One of the cronies tried to grab her shoulder, but she instantly smacked his hand away. Lightning reflexes, just like she'd done with Kanji back in the summer. Right before she'd gotten herself kidnapped.
Naoto could handle herself. Naoto wanted to handle herself.
Kanji suspected there was a big difference between the two.
"My previous offer stands," she said. "The police station could undoubtedly accommodate you and your associates."
"My associates?" Sonoda taunted in a falsetto. "Wow, all those big words! You must really think you're something special."
Spineless as always, the rest of the gang laughed and jeered on cue. Naoto, cap still tipped down, stayed quiet.
Kanji knew guys like Sonoda. Always the center of attention and always playing to their audience. The real trouble started when somebody refused to stick to the script. Sonoda leaned back, shrugged his shoulders - then took a sudden swipe at Naoto's head, knocking her cap to the ground.
Hadn't hit her. She'd barely even flinched. But it was enough.
"Don't you frigging ignore me, Naoto-kun. Or we'll make damn sure you- -"
"Y'want something, idiot?"
Kanji had cleared the distance between them in seconds. Sonoda met his glare, mouth still curled in a snarl which quickly shifted to a snide grin. He glanced back at Naoto. "Man, Kan-chan follows you round everywhere!"
"I ain't following nobody," Kanji growled. "Just sick of you pushin' people around."
"At school, in town...what is he, your pet dog?"
At that, Naoto finally lifted her head. "Shut up."
"Got a nice doggie there, Naoto-kun. Even more of a fag than you."
"I said, shut up!"
Wasn't the first time Kanji had been called that. Should've been fine with it, after his Shadow. But he wasn't, not yet and maybe not ever - and definitely not from some scumbag who hid behind his loser friends, who hurt people who didn't deserve it, who just stood there laughing and sneering and- -
"Asshole!" Kanji lunged forward, snatched the collar of Sonoda's shirt, and shoved him back against the shutters. "I'm gonna smack you so damn hard, you'll be fishing your teeth outta the river!"
"Kanji!"
He'd known Naoto would stop him. Part of him wished he'd stopped himself. The larger, wilder part knew that the look on Sonoda's face - wide eyes, forehead beaded with sweat, no trace of that stupid fricking sneer - was worth more than anything.
...But it wasn't. Five against two were good odds, but he'd be proving the wrong people right and letting the right people down. With a sideways glance at Naoto, Kanji lowered his arm and stepped back.
"Talk it up, Kan-chan." The slight shake in Sonoda's voice was far too satisfying. "Should crawl back to your dumb cotton store, take the little twink with you."
Kanji grit his teeth. "Fuck you."
"You wish," Sonoda spat, still fumbling with his shirt. "Shit, this is boring."
A short, stocky boy stepped forward and gripped Sonoda's elbow. "S'right. C'mon, Jiro, we're wasting our time on these freaks."
"Yeah. We're done here." Sonoda grabbed the cap from the pavement and tossed it at Naoto. "Catch ya later, Shirogane."
Kanji kept his eyes on the gang until they finally walked out of view. When he turned to face Naoto, she was cleaning the last traces of dirt from her hat. "...You okay?"
"I'm fine." She quickly put the cap back on her head and tugged down the brim. "He had no right to speak as he did."
Sometimes, a lie was just easier. "Ain't like I care. Dumbass can think what he wants."
"No, he can't. It isn't right."
Though it'd been white-hot initially, Kanji's fury had already dulled. Sonoda was just a narrow-minded asshole. "C'mon. Don't let him get to you."
"It's not him, it's - I should've- -" Naoto stopped, ran her hand over her mouth - then rounded on Kanji. "Why must you always involve yourself?"
"'Cause I- -" He barely caught himself in time. Mouth suddenly dry, he swallowed and tried again. "'C-cause you keep getting your dumb ass into trouble! You seriously think I'm gonna walk away?"
It came out rougher than he'd meant, and a small, stupid part of him wished he'd stuck with his first answer.
Naoto stared at him. "You should," she said quietly.
His stomach had plunged to somewhere near his kneecaps, but he still held her gaze. "Well, I ain't. Deal with it."
None of this was working out. Naoto seemed more pissed off at him than at Sonoda. And she was still fricking staring - back stiff, chin tilted up, eyes locked onto his with a look he couldn't hope to place.
The silence was unbearable. The way she broke it was no better. "If you put half as much effort into the case…"
Of course. Only thing Naoto'd ever cared about. Everything still came back to the culprit and the obsession with catching him that had nearly gotten her killed, even though she'd been in Inaba for over six months now and still hadn't managed to - -
Kanji paused, eyes narrowed. "Why are you still blamin'-"
"None of you have any idea what you're doing," Naoto said, gaze darting to one side. "I was a fool to imagine otherwise."
"Dammit, get over yourself!" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. "We've been doing our best and this ain't our fault!"
If he'd stopped to think, had the chance to register her slight recoil, he would've added and it isn't yours either.
"You, you presume to- -" Naoto shook her head sharply, already turning away. "I can't do this. Not now."
Instinctively, Kanji grabbed her arm. "Naoto. Wait."
She flinched again, almost imperceptibly - staring first at the large fingers snapped around her forearm, then up at him.
He quickly released his grip and used the hand to rub the back of his neck instead. "You - you should get some sleep tonight. All'a us should."
Naoto opened her mouth, then hesitated. The tension tightening her face suddenly disappeared, but the hollow look that replaced it was worse. "Go home, Kanji-kun."
He swallowed hard, wishing he knew what to say. "We'll get her out," he blurted. "I promise."
Naoto didn't answer. She turned, not looking back, and began walking swiftly toward the gas station.