Chapter 3: The Midnight Channel

"What do you mean he's gone?" Chie demanded Yosuke as he delivered the grim news to the group.

"Just what I'm trying to say," Yosuke replied. "When I got home, Haiyo was nowhere to be seen, and the only thing I found was this." He then promptly pulled out the small notepad he found.

"What is it?" Chie asked once more.

"I think it's some kind of journal," Yosuke suggested. "But that's not all. I think it may be Haiyo's as well."

"Prove it," Chie demanded. Yosuke responded by opening the notepad up, clearing his throat as he prepared to read from it.

"The first entry reads, 'May 6,'" Yosuke began, "'Today was okay. Met a very unlikable teacher and Yosuke's friends.'"

"Nothing unusual so far," Yu commented.

Yosuke continued. "'Shared childhood memories, got interviewed, and walked home in rain. Hope tomorrow is better.'"

"And then?" Chie asked.

"That's where the first entry ends," Yosuke replied.

"There's more?" Yukiko asked.

"Just one more," Yosuke confirmed. "But this one reads totally differently."

"How so?" Yu asked.

Yosuke looked back into the notepad. "It reads, 'May 7 – Angry with them all today. Why all the questions? Wondering if King Moron is worse than today.'"

"Angry with them all?" Yukiko mirrored.

"What could he mean?" Chie asked.

"I dunno," Yosuke replied. "Maybe it has something to do with the tantrum he threw earlier."

"A tantrum?" Yu asked. "What kind of tantrum?"

"Well," Yosuke continued, "I asked him about what he was going to do after school. And then he suddenly lashed out at me."

"Wow," Chie replied. "How did you get him that mad, Yosuke?"

"H-Hey!" Yosuke stuttered. "It wasn't all me, dingus! He also mentioned Narukami's name."

"Really?" Yu asked. "Why?"

"The same reason for lashing at me. I guess he felt we were being a little nosy."

"Well," Yukiko interrupted, "I guess that means he's the one that was on the midnight channel?"

"Probably," Yu replied, "but we still need to check tonight."

"That's right," Yosuke added. "There's no way in hell this killer is taking Haiyo away too."

"We know, Yosuke," Chie reassured. "That's why we're here. To make sure that killer doesn't get his way."

Yosuke finally managed a wry smile. "Thanks, guys."

"Anytime," Yu replied.

P4

"Ugh," Haiyo moaned as he regained consciousness. He staggered to his feet and immediately knew something wasn't right. Unlike the brightly house of the Hanamuras, this place was covered with a yellow fog, and the large room he occupied was covered with old photographs of he and Yosuke as kids. Additionally, he noticed the room was covered with cracks that shone a crimson red.

"W-What the hell?" He asked himself. He had no idea what to think. He had a conflicted feeling of rage at seeing Yosuke's face, but also confusion at the sight of the room's arrangement. What was this place? Where was this place? He didn't care; the only thing that mattered was getting back to the house.

"Hello?" Haiyo shouted. "Is anyone there?" There was no response, as expected.

"If this is some kind of sick prank," he continued, "then it's failed, Yosuke!"

"Always about Yosuke, huh?" a voice muttered. Haiyo knew he heard the voice from somewhere, but he didn't know from whom.

"W-who's there?" he stuttered. "Show yourself, coward!"

"Fine then," the voice responded. With his own eyes, he saw a mass of fog begin to collect itself into a solid mass in the shape of a human being; all the while, sweat beaded down his face in nervous anxiety. The figure in front of him finally began to take shape, and what he saw scared the lights out of him: it shared his height, wore the same uniform as him, sported a neat brown haircut, and perhaps the most startling thing was that he was staring at his own facial features, all the way down to the hints of stubble on his upper lip.

"What the-" Haiyo started. "W-Who the hell are you?"

The figure chuckled softly. "Doesn't it seem obvious?" he asked. "I'm you."

P4

That night, as the group planned, Yosuke was sitting in front of his TV, rain pouring outside, as he waited for the elusive Midnight channel to air. And considering what all had transpired, he was sure that Haiyo or his shadow would be appearing on the TV soon enough. He then looked to the clock to see that the time was nearing 12 o'clock; and when it did, the TV began to glow yellow, to which Yosuke faced. The background had the appearance of a mash up of the school and his house, and from the edge of the screen, a figure wearing a Yasogami uniform walked into frame.

The figure then looked up to the camera, who Yosuke finally matched as his silent cousin. "Oh, hello there," he spoke. "The name's Haiyo. Have you ever lied to yourself to feel better? Well, you're not alone."

What does he mean? Yosuke thought.

"Now you might be asking why?" Haiyo continued. "Why am I asking you all this? That answer is simple: because I'm that way. If you're still interested in my deception, stay tuned as I divulge the secrets of my youth." After uttering this, Haiyo began to walk towards the front door of the large, menacing building. As his hand reached for the door, the screen turned to black.

"Haiyo," Yosuke spoke to himself. He had no idea what to think, considering he always thought of his cousin as the strong, silent type that didn't get bothered by anything. A bit temperamental a times, sure, but nothing like this. After a moment, Yosuke picked up his cell and dialed Narukami.

"Hello?" the voice asked.

"Hey partner," Yosuke replied. "The person on TV was…"

"…Haiyo," Yu replied.

"Yeah. So our fears have been realized."

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Hell no! I just found out my cousin is in danger of dying!"

"That's understandable."

"We'll just have to deal with it like we did with Yukiko."

"Agreed. We'll meet up tomorrow at Junes."

"Alright. See you then." Yosuke promptly hung up the phone.

And, done! Well, this turned out to be the shortest chapter I've ever written. But at the same time, I felt that there was enough content to satisfy, and I want to save all the action for its own chapter. And whether or not you agree, I don't really care since it's my account and my story, but please don't think I'm not open for change. In fact, whether you like my stuff or not, leave those reviews and even PM me if you have suggestions for new stories or for future chapters of current stories, because I'm ultimately doing this for you all.

As usual, thanks for reading, and read on!

-rjm324