(I sort of tried to clarify a plot element and very minor spoiler, as I doubt anyone who hasn't played P4 knows wtf the Midnight Channel is.)

On Sunday, Emi took you to Rage's takoyaki stand. The savory flavors in the battered octopus reminded you of Japan. You complimented Rage on what deemed "soul food."

"Thanks a lot!" he said. "I'm no professional, but I'm glad people like it. And this first one's free, new guy. But next time, you better bring cash." He sighed. "This business is harsh without profit..."

Emi giggled, probably because of what she told you about Rage's forgetful habits. You smirked.

"Oh yeah, did you ever hear back from your friend, Emi?" Rage asked.

"Who...? Oh, her," she began, her voice having lost some of its joy, "I haven't seen her in a while. At first, I just wanted to study some homework with her, but now I'm kinda worried..."

Curious, you asked who her friend was.

"She's actually in our class," Emi told you, "but she usually sits with some other guys. There's one boy who tutors her sometimes and she talks to him, so I usually hang out with her after my later class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. But she wasn't in my class last Thursday... and then someone spread a rumor that she had gone missing."

Your heart beat rapidly in panic, but you tried to hide your fear. Fortunately, Emi took your fallen expression as sympathy.

"I had this weird dream," Rage started, "that I saw her. I think it was her, I couldn't see her all that well. The image was kinda fuzzy."

You asked when he had that dream.

"Huh? It had to have been about two days ago. I was so tired I fell asleep in front of my TV eating snacks. That Friday when we went to the arcade. I guess trying to work this stand and play DDR in one day was too much for me."

As Emi scolded Rage for pushing himself too much, you couldn't focus on her. If the Midnight Channel worked as it had before, you would be able to see a person on television at midnight when it was raining. Several questions ran through your head... is Emi's friend in the television? Should you ask more? Is it safe to get more people involved? Did the killer know your history in Inaba...? How would he know that...? Or perhaps... maybe Rage's dream was just a dream. Though it was odd that he was dreaming about a girl who had gone missing.

"Souji?" Emi waved a hand in front of your face. You had spaced out for about a minute.

No matter how crazy you were about to sound, you had to say something in case you could save her. You asked Rage for more details about this dream.

"It's uh... kind of guy dream stuff," he said, looking at you and hoping Emi didn't hear.

"You're dreaming weird dreams about my friend?" she asked, disturbed.

"Hey, I can't control what I'm dreaming! This stuff just happens. And you don't know what I mean by 'guy stuff,' don't make it sound like I'm some kind of pervert. Have a little faith in me," he finished.

"All right," Emi said, relieved. "I trust you, after all."

As important as this may have been to them, you wanted nothing more than to make Emi leave so you can hear the rest of what Rage had to say. You noticed there was no cotton candy in this vicinity and asked Emi to go find some. You told her you'd wait by the stand.

"You don't want to see the carnival?" she asked, disappointed.

You made up some excuse... you were tired of walking.

"All right, I'll be back," she said, "and I'll get some for Rage, too."

She walked away, and once she was out of hearing range, you pleaded Rage to tell you more about the dream.

He gave you a weird look. "Do I have to...? I mean, she was saying some weird stuff."

She was saying things? You were more concerned.

"Yeah, she said stuff like 'looking for that guy with hardcore rhythm.' She was in some sci-fi club vortex thing that I can't really describe. She was trying to be sexy and stuff, talking in a low voice and wearing like half an outfit, but I have no clue who she was talking about. Not... cause I was distracted; I was more creeped out, honest! I didn't wanna say anything to Emi cause I didn't want her thinking I was, y'know, 'dreaming' about her in that way. I don't like her, I mean, I barely even know her. We took her to the arcade once and she was always around Emi."

You asked if she had ever appeared on TV before.

"Uh... no, I've never seen her. Why...?"

You figured you couldn't ask any more questions without disclosing a part of your past... so you just told him you were curious.

He shrugged. "Well, just don't tell Emi any of that dream stuff. I don't want- hey! You're back!" he said, ending that conversation. The blue haired girl had one bag of cotton candy.

"Aw, what happened to mine?" Rage said playfully.

"I was short on cash," she said, smiling apologetically, "I was hoping we could all split this one."

"Oh, well thanks for the snack," he said, now grateful.

You enjoyed the sweet cotton candy with your friends, more uneasy than you'd been since you met them.

–

As you walked home, the clouds showed signs of rain. You picked up your pace, but you were unable to avoid the drops. The more you walked, the more the rain seemed to follow you and the harder it came down. You walked inside the building and folded your soaked jacket; luckily, your clothes were still relatively dry. You regretted not taking your umbrella, however, and your hair was uncomfortably wet.

After changing into dry clothes, you checked to make sure your television was plugged in. You clicked it on and off successfully. If any night, that would be the night you would see Emi's missing friend. You waited until midnight, and the rain was pouring heavily outside.

Still, nothing happened.

You curiously touched the TV to see if your power was still there, but you failed to get through it. You only tapped the screen and you were unable to get through. Had Rage's dream only been a dream after all...?

–

The next morning was foggy...