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

Part Two - Chapter One

The Samegawa Flood Plain was always a nice place to visit for Yu. The quiet, shimmering water that passed by. The sound of birds and cicadas that would pop up around with the seasons. And plenty of bushes nearby to hide when needed. Not really, but today he did. "Are you sure you want to do it like this?" asked Chie, locking her phone. Her boyfriend was pushing the small branches around trying to make enough room for him.

"Well think about it, it's like a surprise party. Don't get many chances like this to surprise your friends." With one last look for bugs, Yu sat down inside the brush.

"You're a dork," was all Chie said as she took a broken piece of the bush and placed it over her smiling dork of a boyfriend. "There."

"Are you sure you don't want to join me? I checked there are no bugs in here."

"Yeah- unlikely Noah I'm not going to listen to this talking bush"

"It was Moses."

"Hush. They'll be here soon."

It took another eight minutes until the members of the disbanded investigation team arrived at the small gazebo next to the flood plain. Most of them out of breath, they all were questioning Chie as for why they received an emergency text to gather everyone there.

"Calm down. There is no emergency," she said trying to make her friends take a step back. Though it didn't. One by one they expressed their confusion and mild inconvenience. Kanji complaining that he had to leave Aiya mid-meal with Naoki Konishi. Yosuke and Teddie having to ditch Junes mid-shift. Rise- well- Rise was just concerned that something bad was happening. Actually still thinking that something was wrong and maybe Chie wasn't saying something.

"I can explain." The former investigators looked to side and saw their leader, former, standing in the bushes. In a second, all of their annoyance disappeared. Yu only took two steps out of the bushes before he was basically tackled by the group. All trying to get a piece of him, trying to say hi after all this time. Though it wasn't until Kanji asked a simple question. "Senpai, why didn't you tell us about you coming to visit?"

"Well I can explain the surprise," he pulling away from the group. Teddie however was still stuck to his leg tearing up like mad at finally seeing his Sensei again. After finally wiggling him off, they all sat at the table of the little gazebo. They all gave him their attention.

"So you probably know I've always said I'd come back, especially after my last visits. Well- I've decided that since I didn't really see myself going anywhere, to finally just come back- for good." Yu didn't feel like they needed to know anything involving his family.

"That's great, Dude. You staying with Dojima and Nanako again, right?" asked Yosuke. His excited hand slapping the table.

"Yeah, Dojima said that he was fine with it."

"What do you plan on doing for work then, Senpai?" asked Naoto. Yu should have suspected that Naoto would ask the serious questions.

"Well when I was staying here a couple years ago there was plenty of part-time work, so I'm expecting that there will be some work for me to find. Dishwashing, janitorial work, envelope folding even. In the meantime, I still have money I saved from our time in the TV world." Smiles turned into nervous smiles.

"Yeah about that. There hasn't really been that many job available," said Chie. She rubbed the back of her neck.

"Really?"

"After the last graduating class and the new one, a lot of people haven't really been moving out of Inaba. Many took those jobs that were out there."

"Huh. Even the Translator job?"

"Remember that weird guy that used to bug everyone with riddles in school?" asked Kanji

"Yeah"

"He's been doing that for around nearly a year. Made the local paper about getting a job translating for some Mangaka."

"I'm sure it'll be fine, Yu. There's always something out there for you to do. If we get an opening at Junes I'll be sure to recommend you"

"Or you can have Yosuke's job, Sensei! He's already on thin ice since the sake incident," said the now jumpy Teddie. The idea of Teddie working alongside his Sensei. With him he'd have a clean record and a good friend to help him.

"You caused it! Okay, let me explain what happened.." Yosuke started his story.

The team had a laugh at the nonsense the two Junes employees had gotten into. Soon they got caught in sharing what happened since the last time that Yu had came to visit them. Time passed by face, and one by one the group had to disband. First with Kanji realizing he had left his friend sitting in Aiya alone. Yukiko having to go help her mother at the inn. So on and so on. All that was left was Yu and Chie again.

"Don't you have to go soon?" Yu asked as he saw Chie on her phone sending a brief message.

"Nope, told my mom that you were "coming in for a visit". So I was going to be out all day. Which means she's totally unaware that you were not only here in town, but in the house last night"

"That's good. Do you wanna go for a walk?"

"I'm good just sitting here."

"How about maybe sitting down on the sofa in my room." Yu slipped his fingers around Chie's. "We haven't been back there since last year."

Chie blushed for a second. Thinking back to what had happened last year. Which to the unaware was a couple of nights similar to the one before. Then she thought about what Dojima had said earlier in the day when talking one on one. She quickly jumped, and said no.

"I think I'd like to just sit here for a bit- with you." She moved closer him, his arm went around pulling her close as they sat and just looked at the scenery. The gentle breeze from the mountains. The dimming orange sky.

"I'm happy you're here, for good."

"I am too."

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?"

"Try and find work.."

"After that?"

"Don't know. Whatever it takes to get my happy ending."

"Hopefully that happy ending includes me."

"I think any ending where you aren't there, those are the bad endings and I don't intend on getting those."

"You sound like an RPG otaku"

"Sorry."

"It's fine, it's cute."

"You're cute."

"Shut up."

"Cuter"

"I'll hit you"

"Yes, mistress"

Chie hit him.

"Ow."

"Oh hush, I've hit you harder"

"I've spanked you harder"

Chie hit him- again- harder.

"Not in public, got it. Sorry."

"It's okay."