Disclaimer: The Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series belongs to Atlus Corporation.

Part One - Chapter Five

It rang for only a few seconds before a tired, agitated voice picked up the phone. This was clearly heard with an instant "Did you find him yet, Ryotaro?" Yu recoiled a bit from the volume and aggressiveness. Calmly he responded saying it was actually himself.

Dojima just stood and watched his nephew proceed to try and talk with his mother. In passing Yu, he had noticed the silence Yu had, and the crackling that could be heard from the speaker in the phone barely contain the emotions on the other end. This was Yu's fight and if he does want what he wants, he will have to fight an uphill battle. There was no real doubt in his mind that he couldn't win but there was still a common courtesy that couldn't be ignored. With that he turned his back and went to check on his daughter.

When he had approached Nanako's room he heard the two girls talking. Curiosity got the better of the Detective. He knew that being an adult meant younger individuals will pipe up if they know an adult is approaching. Leaning in close to the door he heard Chie and Nanako talking.

"So when is he going home?" asked Nanako. If he's got the will that won't be anytime soon; at least Dojima thought so.

"I don't know- like you- I wasn't expecting him to show up- today as well," Chie responded with a bit of a stammer in the middle of her sentence. Unsure of whether or not to reveal that Yu had come in the night before. Nanako didn't notice this fluctuation in normal speech, but Dojima did.

Though he also thought maybe it had been a accidental stammer. In a few chats with the Satonaka girl she had done it before. Dojima smiled thinking back to a specific time. Remembering back to when he had brought home watermelon. Yu had brought his friends and it was a great time. The house felt right again with all the good vibes. Chie and Yu were talking about something to do with a fear of swallowing watermelon seeds when she was younger. Yu mentioned how silly that was and laughed, and Chie had gotten flustered by this and proceeded to try and explain herself. The explanation if anything fueled the fire more. Soon she gave up explaining and started punching him the arm. That was also one of the final clues to piece together that the Satonaka girl and his nephew were more than good school pals.

The thought was concluded by the opening of the door to Nanako's room. Chie had opened it and was now face to face with Dojima. He had spaced out. Not hearing when the conversation between the two had ended or what it concluded with. "Uh," was the only thing he could say really. Eavesdropping was never a really a good thing, unless it's criminal activity that you can justify.

"Have a search warrant with you?" Chie said this while assuming a defensive stance blocking him from entering the room. Jokingly of course. To which Dojima took well and laughed. Nanako just laughed at the small dramatic performance.

"Nice to know you've been studying your law, but this is my house. Sorry to listen in but I'm curious and a bit tired with this situation we have here."

"Actually. Can I talk to you about that, sir?"

"Here. We can talk in Yu's old room," he said instructing Nanako to excuse them and try and not disturb her cousin downstairs right now. Once inside Chie and Dojima got comfortable, well specifically Dojima.

"Also you can relax. I'm not going to bite."

"Sorry. It's just- well earlier you were kinda snippy."

"Well I won't lie. Having to wake up to numerous phone calls about your nephew being AWOL, how that I should know everything apparently, and that this is probably my fault isn't that fun. I didn't mean to come off that way. I am a bit upset with Yu right now but it's getting better now that we've talked basically."

"So he talked about everything with you?"

"How he's a big boy and wants to make his own decisions? Yeah. Basically."

"So what do you think about it?"

Dojima let out a big sigh. "If he wants to make his own decisions I can't stop it. Do I support it? Not really- however he can try and prove me wrong. That's basically it. He needs to think about his choices. So far he's been "winging" it. People's feelings have been hurt. Yu knows that there was a better way but chose not to because he feels right now it's now or never. So now he has to address those issues and start again."

"So you will support him if Yu proves himself?"

"Listen, Chie, I want him to be happy. He is my nephew. But I don't want him doing anything that would harm himself. If he wants to do something he has to know to think about the consequences of his actions..."

"I think after his year here we are sure he can carry himself."

"Yes. However, while he might have had the right idea then, this is now. He could have lost his sense of the right choice or he could just be good at one thing but not another. Everyone is like that. He will learn in time I suppose. Like he taught me. Good at being a detective. Good at being a dad. Couldn't really balance the two. Yu showed me what I really need to be."

"Will you be there for him?"

"Probably just as much as you will be for him. Now let me ask you something, if you don't mind. Did Yu talk to you first when he arrived?"

"Honesty is the best policy. He did but that's because he was afraid to really approach you out of nowhere at night. So he got in contact with me."

"So he did come in last night. Take it you provided shelter for him?"

Chie was silent for a moment. Letting out an "uhh yeah".

"Sorry. I'm tired and that was a stupid question. With how close you two are I shouldn't even have to ask. But thank you for giving him a place to stay last night."

"It's no problem really. Well besides having to sneak him inside the house."

"Haven't told your parents about him?"

"Yes but they didn't know he was in town and didn't want to try and fight them on giving him a place to stay."

"Well I can understand that. Especially for how long you two have been together. No matter how old they get knowing your kids are involved probably with hanky panky will make any parent on edge. That's why Nanako won't be allowed to date till she's thirty," there was a laugh shared by the two of them that broke had eliminated all tension that was left. "Anything else you wanted to ask?"

Chie thought for a moment, "where do we go from here?"

"We let Yu figure that out and we see if there is anything we need to do to provide assistance but not be his planner."

Dojima and Chie got up from the sofa in the room and made their way out. They parted ways as Chie went to keep Nanako busy while things were sorted out downstairs. When Dojima had finally came back into the room. He saw Yu sitting there, his call finished.