"What did you call that thing? A Persona?" Yosuke asked Yui, still in awe at how Yui fought back against the shadows that had attacked them.
"Yeah, I'm not sure how I knew any of that though. But never mind that, we need to get out of here before they come after us again." Yui explained.
"Fine by me, but how?" Chie asked.
"Let's go find that bear. He seems to know his way around here. I'm sure he'd know how to leave." Yui stated.
After finding their way back to the "stage" area where they had started, Yui, Chie and Yosuke found the bear standing around, almost as if he was expecting them.
"What did you do with the shadows?" The bear asked them.
"I got rid of them. But what are those things?" Yui asked the bear.
"They attack people that come in here. That's why you need to leave! Someone's been throwing people in here, and I'm tired of it!" The bear said in an agitated state.
"Throwing people in? What are you talking about?" Yosuke asked.
"I don't know who's doing it, but I want them to stop! Here, I'll give you the way out. Just don't come back, alright?" The bear replied.
The bear tapped his foot on the floor, causing a set of stacked TVs to materialize before them.
"Now go, get outta here! I'm a very busy bear!" The bear shouted as he pushed the three towards the TVs.
"Hey, what are you doing? Don't push us!" Chie shouted.
"Wait! We didn't catch your name!" Yui called out as she and her friends phased into the TVs.
Yui felt her body rise from an endless void, her mind and energy racing back to reality.
Yui, Chie and Yosuke flew out of the TV and landed on top of each other. As they recovered, they found that they had returned to Junes, in front of the TV as if nothing had happened.
"We're back in Junes." Yui stated.
"We're alive!" Chie exclaimed.
"Oh man, it's this late already?" Yosuke said as he checked the time on his phone.
"We must've been in there for a while." Chie muttered.
"Chie, Yosuke, look at this poster." Yui said as she pointed at a poster on a nearby wall.
"That's a poster of Misuzu Hiiragi. Wait, those posters in that creepy room were just like this one, just all torn apart." Chie commented.
"What does it mean? Does that room have something to do with Yamano's death?" Yosuke asked.
"I mean, there was that whole noose thing…" Yui said all too calmly.
"Gah! Don't even go there, I don't want to think about it! My poor heart can't take it!" Yosuke cried out.
"I feel so drained...I just wanna go home and lie down." Chie said with a sigh.
"That's probably a good idea. Let's put everything that happened today aside for now." Yui stated.
Yui arrived home, exhausted and ragged from the events of today. She couldn't stop replaying what had happened in the TV, her and her friends getting attacked by shadows, and the goddess that appeared to save them. What did any of it mean?
"Hey, welcome home." Dojima greeted Yui as she walked through the door.
Dojima and Nanako were sitting at the table waiting for their ramen to cook. Yui felt like that would be nice to have, but somehow had no appetite.
"I'm not sure if you'd know, but have you heard anything about a student named Saki Konishi?" Dojima asked Yui.
"Saki wasn't at school today. Do you know something about that?" Yui responded.
"Oh, I see...to be honest with you, we got a call from her family. She's disappeared." Dojima stated with a concerned look upon his face.
"What? She's gone?" Yui replied, a hint of shock in her voice.
"We have people looking for her, but no luck yet. *sigh* Work just keeps piling up."
As Dojima reflected upon the situation, the news began reporting about Yamano's death.
"Up until now, her whereabouts prior to her death had been unknown. But the police investigation has found that she had been staying in the region's famous Amagi Inn. She had apparently been staying there alone. Perhaps she was taking a vacation to recover from her ordeal?"
"Is the ramen ready yet?" Nanako asked.
"Just a little longer." Dojima answered.
"I'm going to go to bed early. I'm not feeling great today." Yui told Dojima and Nanako.
"Are you sick? Nanako, go get some cold medicine for her."
4/15
It was yet another rainy day, and Yui was walking to school with Chie and Yukiko, striking up conversation.
"I'm telling you Yukiko, we went through hell yesterday." Chie told Yukiko.
"Really? What happened?" Yukiko asked, sounding quite concerned.
"Chie, I don't really feel like talking about it right now. I'm still bothered by what we experienced." Yui quietly said.
"Oh, that's alright. We'll talk about it some other time. Besides, you wouldn't really believe it." Chie said, suddenly becoming more sensitive about the subject.
"Hey, you're Yukiko, right?"
An unfamiliar and strange voice spoke to the girls suddenly, causing them to look ahead to see a boy standing at the entrance to the school. He didn't seem to attend Yasogami, as he wasn't wearing the school uniform, and he looked as though he had been standing in the rain for quite some time.
"Huh? Who are you?" Yukiko asked the boy.
"I've been waiting all morning. Come on, why don't you and I go hang out somewhere?" The boy asked, in a low and unwelcoming voice.
Yukiko became visibly uncomfortable, prompting Chie and Yui to intervene.
"Hey! Back off! You're being a creep!" Chie responded angrily.
"You don't even go to this school. Who do you think you are?" Yui added, clearly irritated, but still remaining calm.
Two male students walked by the commotion, muttering to each other about what they were seeing.
"He's really going for Yukiko?"
"What an idiot. He should know Yukiko's off limits."
The boy grew more agitated, eyes narrowing while still maintaining a creepy smile.
"So? Are you coming with me or not?!" The boy growled.
Yukiko, despite her fear and discomfort, stood tall and responded to the boy.
"Sorry. I'm not going." Yukiko said firmly.
The boy's smile quickly went away at this answer, trying and failing to maintain what little composure he had.
"You heard her. She wants nothing to do with you. Now get out of here before we call the police!" Yui threatened.
"Fine! Screw you!" The boy shouted as he ran off.
As the girls watched the boy leave the school entrance, they heard the boy mutter something along the lines of "stupid bitch". Yui shook her head and sighed.
"What was with that guy? I hope he doesn't come back here…"
"Hey! Ohayo!" A familiar and more friendly voice called out.
Yui and Chie looked over to see Yosuke approaching the entrance carrying an umbrella for himself. Yui waved to him with a smile.
"Ohayo, Yosuke!" Chie replied.
Chie looked over to Yukiko to see that she was still looking off in the distance where the creepy boy had run off to.
"What just happened? What did that boy want from me?" Yukiko muttered.
"You don't know? He was asking you on a date." Chie responded.
"Really? Are you sure?" Yukiko asked, appearing perplexed.
"You really couldn't tell?" Chie replied, looking shocked that Yukiko was that clueless.
"In her defense, he was doing a really terrible job at communicating that." Yui stepped in.
"Well, yeah, I guess you're right. Come on, we're going to be late." Chie admitted, ending the conversation.
"You can be pretty cold, you know Yukiko? Last year you rejected me as well." Yosuke joked, striking up a conversation with his friends after class.
"I can't imagine why…" Yui muttered.
"I don't recall ever doing that." Yukiko stated.
"Oh, does that mean you DO want to go out with me?" Yosuke asked with a cheeky grin.
"I didn't say that." Yukiko responded.
"That's what I get for getting my hopes up." Yosuke mumbled.
"Whatever happened to Saki?" Yui asked Yosuke, changing the subject, even though she already knew about her going missing.
"I don't know. I've been trying to text her since yesterday, and she's been ignoring all of them…" Yosuke answered begrudgingly.
A small part of Yui hoped that Saki was hiding away and Yosuke knew something about it, but she knew it was very unlikely.
Just then, police sirens were heard outside the school, which naturally caught the attention of all the students.
"Another incident? I really hope not…" Yui thought to herself, a sense of dread creeping on her.
Shortly after the sirens had been heard outside, the school had announced a sudden school assembly in the auditorium, where all the students and teachers had gathered. Yui and her classmates were all present, save for one.
"Where's Yukiko?" Yui asked Chie.
"She just sent me a text. She had to leave early to help her family at the inn." Chie answered, quickly sending a reply message on her phone.
"I wonder if it's any coincidence…" Yui muttered.
"Come on Saki, text back already…" Yosuke whispered.
"Um, Yosuke, I don't know if I should tell you, but Dojima told me that..."
Ms. Sofue briefly stood at the podium and spoke into the microphone.
"Attention students. Please settle down. The principal has something to say." Ms. Sofue stated plainly before stepping down and allowing the principal, an old man with round glasses and a long grey beard, to take over.
"I regret to say that I come to you all with a terrible announcement. One of our third year students, Ms. Saki Konishi...was found dead earlier this morning." The principal stated in a very saddened tone.
This announcement took all of the students by complete shock, some remained silent, while others murmured among each other.
"The police are currently investigating the cause of her death. I have been assured by the faculty that there is no evidence that bullying was involved in the incident. So please, if the police ask you to cooperate, provide only the facts." The principal continued.
Yui and Chie looked at each other with worry and dread, then turned to look at Yosuke. Though he wasn't saying a word, his pained expression spoke volumes.
"Yosuke...I'm so sorry. She seemed like a nice person…" Yui said to herself, feeling that now was not the time to say anything to Yosuke.
After the assembly, Yui and Chie were walking down the hallway of the bottom floor of the school, somber from the news of Saki's death. They overheard two female students gossiping about the incident.
"She died just the same way the announcer did, right? That's so creepy…"
"Last time it was an antenna, but this time it was a telephone pole. It has to be a serial murder."
"I heard the death was caused by some unknown poison."
"Unknown poison? This isn't a sci-fi drama…"
"Someone was saying they saw the announcer on that Midnight Channel, and going on about her being his soulmate. Someone else says they saw someone who looked like Saki on that same channel."
"Really now?"
Yui and Chie walked away from the two, not wishing to hear what they were saying.
"It's so easy to toss around rumors and theories when you're not personally involved. How insensitive can you be?" Chie grumbled.
"There's Yosuke…" Yui said, pointing to him standing near the door.
Yosuke had a forlorn look about him, not noticing them initially, before turning to look at them. At this point, he didn't try to hide his feelings.
"Hey...did you two watch the Midnight Channel last night?" Yosuke asked quietly.
"Yosuke! Why are you talking about that at a time like this?!" Chie shouted.
"Let me finish!" Yosuke yelled back, catching Chie by surprise.
"It's OK Chie, he has a reason for this, I can tell." Yui consoled the two.
"Thank you, Yui. There was something bothering me about it before, so I watched the Midnight Channel again last night. The girl on the screen...I think it was Saki-senpai!" Yosuke continued.
Yui and Chie showed concern on their faces, but continued to listen.
"Senpai's body was found in a similar situation as the announcer's right? Well, I remember someone going around talking about how he saw her on the Midnight Channel as well. I don't think it's a coincidence." Yosuke explained.
"You don't mean to say...whoever shows up on the Midnight Channel, ends up dead?" Yui asked.
"Also, remember what that bear said? That someone was throwing people inside that place? If there's a connection between this world and the world inside the TV, then somehow, Saki and that announcer had to have gone inside that world." Yosuke stated further.
"Yosuke, you're not thinking of…" Chie began before Yosuke interrupted her.
"I am. I'm going back in there. I have to find out for myself." Yosuke said firmly.
"Yosuke, you don't know what you're doing. Let the police handle it…" Yui pleaded.
"They haven't even made progress on the announcer's case! You really think we can rely on them? Even if we told them about the TV world, they won't believe us! I just...I just want to know why Saki had to die!" Yosuke retaliated, now visibly upset.
Yosuke looked at Yui, as if expecting a response. When none came, Yosuke ran off, leaving Yui and Chie behind.
"He's headed to Junes. We need to stop him." Yui told Chie.
"Right, let's go!" Chie concurred.
"Come on Yosuke, you really shouldn't do this!" Chie pleaded with Yosuke, who was tying a rope to his waist.
"I know it's dangerous, but we were able to come back once, right? If we go in from the same location, we'll probably meet up with that bear again." Yosuke responded.
"That's not good enough!" Chie spat in a frustrated tone.
"You can't even go in without my help, you know." Yui pointed out.
"I realize that. That's why I'm asking you to help me. Please, Yui?" Yosuke replied, in a suddenly genuine tone.
Yui thought about it for a few seconds before giving her response.
"Alright, I'm going with you. If only to keep you out of trouble. It's just…"
Yui glanced at Chie before continuing.
"I'm worried about Chie."
"Huh?" Chie responded.
"Chie, don't take this the wrong way, but I want you to stay behind." Yui told Chie.
"What? Why?" Chie asked, seemingly offended.
"Listen to me. Yosuke's already putting himself in danger by doing this. I don't have a choice if I want to help him. I don't want to put anyone at unnecessary risk. Please Chie, do it for us, or at least for me." Yui pleaded, a desperate look in her eyes.
Chie looked back at Yui, then down at the floor in guilt, and then finally back up.
"Alright. I still want to help though." Chie said.
"Perfect. You can hold onto this rope then. I'll have it tied to us, and if anything ever happens, you can pull us back out. Whatever you do, don't let go!" Yosuke said as he handed the rope to Chie.
Chie took the rope hesitantly while Yui put on the glasses she got from the TV world. After tying the rope to her waist, Yui stepped into the TV screen and held out her hand for Yosuke to take, allowing him to pass through as well. Moments later, Chie grasp remained firm on the rope, anxiously awaiting for something to occur. She felt some tension on the rope, causing her to pull on it in order to not slip through the TV as well. As she pulled, the rope suddenly broke, causing her to fall backwards and leaving her with only her end. Realizing that her friends had left her and were now in danger, she fell to her knees and began tearing up.
"Shit, I knew this wasn't going to work. What do I do now?" Chie sobbed to herself.
On the other side of the TV, Yosuke and Yui stood up after arriving and were now looking for the mysterious bear.
"Look Yui, it's the same place! They are connected." Yosuke exclaimed.
Yui instinctively checked the rope attached to her waist, only to find that it had been severed.
"Oh shit!" Yui shouted, catching Yosuke off guard.
"Huh? What happened?" Yosuke asked.
Yosuke checked the rope around his waist to find his answer.
"What? Oh come on!" Yosuke exclaimed.
Yui suddenly became angry, tearing off the rope and throwing it to the floor.
"Damn it! I can't believe this happened! Chie's probably worried sick about us now!" Yui groaned as she covered her face.
"OK, that's fair, but what about us? How are we gonna get out of here?" Yosuke asked.
"We just have to ask that bear, I guess. Where even is he?" Yui responded after collecting herself.
"Hey, you guys? Why'd you come back?" A familiar voice called out.
Yui and Yosuke looked over to see the bear creature approaching them.
"Oh, it's you again." Yui said to the bear.
"I see now! You're the ones responsible for this!" The bear said, suddenly becoming accusatory.
"What? What are you talking about?" Yosuke asked.
"Lately, someone's been throwing people in here. It's making this world more and more messed up. This is the second time you guys came here, and it looks like you came on your own too. It makes you the most suspicious!" The bear stated.
"I guess from his perspective, we're the only people he's ever seen. But it's still not enough to make an accusation. Does human logic even apply to this thing?" Yui deliberated.
"What makes you think we did it? If someone was thrown in here, they might die! That's not what we want!" Yosuke retorted.
"Actually, if we assume the bear's telling the truth, Saki and Yamano might have been thrown in here. Do you think maybe someone threw them in here with the intent to kill them?" Yui thought aloud.
"You two could have done that! I don't see anyone else who could have done it!" The bear accused further.
"That's stupid! You don't even know anyone else from outside! Listen, if anyone brought Saki here against her will, it was probably you!" Yosuke shouted, tired of the bear's remarks.
"Me?!" The bear cried out.
"Every time the fog appears in our world, someone shows up dead! It's related to this world, I just know it!" Yosuke stated.
"A dead body shows up when the fog appears? Well, I do know that when it's foggy on your side, the fog lifts over on this side. It's dangerous when that happens, because that's when the Shadows get violent." The bear explained.
"Those things that attacked us when we were here last time?" Yui asked.
"Yes! That's why I don't understand why you came back!" The bear stated.
"Because we want to investigate!" Yosuke shouted.
"I want to investigate! It's MY home!" The bear shouted back.
"You know what? I've just about had it with you! Now take off that stupid costume and show us who you really are!" Yosuke angrily shouted before jumping on the bear, undoing the zipper on its costume and tearing off the head.
However, upon doing this, Yosuke found that the costume was completely empty, and the bear was still thrashing around without a head, causing him to scream and fall backward.
"What the hell are you!" Yosuke cried out.
"Not human, clearly. This seems cruel, I think maybe we're losing track of what's important." Yui thought to herself.
Yui walked up to the bear, picking up the head and placing it back on the body.
"Thank you, kind lady!" The bear replied gratefully.
"Listen Yosuke, I think we're going about this wrong. I don't think this bear is the culprit." Yui calmly explained.
"I wouldn't do such a thing. I just want to live here peacefully. I'll accept that you guys aren't the culprits, but I want you to find the guy that did this. Promise me you'll stop them. I have no one else to turn to…" The bear pleaded.
"We'll do it." Yui said on their behalf.
"Huh?" Yosuke exclaimed.
"You will?" The bear asked.
"I feel bad for the little guy. If we help him, we'll achieve what we set out to do as well. It'll be a win for all of us." Yui stated.
"Thank you so much!" The bear cheered.
"You're an insanely nice girl, you know that?" Yosuke commented.
"It's how I was raised." Yui replied.
"Alright, I'm in. Might as well introduce ourselves. I'm Yosuke Hanamura, and this is my friend Yui Narukami." Yosuke told the bear.
"What's your name? Do you have one?" Yui asked.
"Kuma. But you can call me Teddie!" The bear answered.
"Teddie huh? What a name." Yui commented with a giggle.
"OK, but how do we find the culprit?" Yosuke asked.
"I don't know. But I know where the last person went." Teddie responded.
"The last person? Hang on…" Yosuke said, gesturing for Teddie to stay where he was.
Yosuke pulled out his phone and brought up an image of Saki, showing it to Teddie.
"Did she look like this?" Yosuke asked Teddie.
"Hmm...yeah, that's her." Teddie confirmed.
"Hey, while you're at it, can you contact Chie and let her know we're alright?" Yui asked Yosuke.
"Um, about that...I don't actually have her number." Yosuke admitted.
"You don't have her number? I thought you two were friends!" Yui said in disbelief.
"We're not THAT close. Though, yeah, in hindsight, I probably should have asked her anyway. Also, there's no reception, so I can't call her anyway." Yosuke quickly explained.
"Unbelievable…" Yui muttered.
"I'll take you to the place. Here Yosuke, you'll want these." Teddie said as he handed Yosuke a pair of orange glasses, similar to the black ones he gave Yui.
"Oh thanks. Wow! Is this what you were seeing, Yui?" Yosuke asked.
"Come on, Yosuke. Teddie's leaving without you." Yui said as she followed Teddie.
"Wait up!"
"This is the place. I saw her around here, but I got scared and didn't want to follow her here." Teddie explained as he brought Yui and Yosuke to the location he last saw Saki.
"Hey, this looks like the shopping district. It's all creepy though. I bet Saki-senpai went to her family's liquor store." Yosuke commented.
"Then let's go there right away." Yui said.
"I'll be right behind you...a good distance away…" Teddie whispered.
"Whatever. We didn't expect much help from you on that front anyway." Yosuke grumbled.
"Quick question. How do you speak our language?" Yui asked Teddie.
"I don't know. I just do." Teddie stated plainly.
"Look, there's the liquor store Saki's family works at. Let's go!" Yosuke called out as he ran over to the store.
"Yosuke, wait up!" Yui called back.
As Yui and Yosuke stood in front of the liquor store, they found it to be abandoned and cold, with liquor bottles collecting dust and filled with a gloomy blue light with no discernible source.
"What in the world could have happened here?" Yosuke thought aloud.
"Wait, do you hear that? I hear voices." Yui pointed out.
Indeed, from out of nowhere, Yui and Yosuke began to hear the voices of people they couldn't see. Though from what little context they could grasp, they sounded like people working in the shopping district.
"I wish Junes would just go under…"
"It's all because of that store…"
"I heard Konishi-san's daughter is working there."
"How could she, with the family business suffering like it is? What a troublesome child..."
"What's going on? Who's saying all this crap?" Yosuke said, becoming very agitated.
Yosuke went inside the store to hear a different voice speaking.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Saki? You're the eldest daughter of a family who's owned this store for generations! Is it the money? Did you meet some boy there? Tell me why you have to work at Junes of all places!"
"That sounds like Saki's dad!" Yosuke exclaimed as Yui and Teddie followed him inside the store.
"Why are we hearing all this? Is this what was happening to Saki all this time?" Yui asked Yosuke.
"I don't understand. She seemed like she was having fun at work. She never told me about any of this." Yosuke responded.
"If this is what she went through, I understand why she wouldn't tell anyone." Yui thought.
Yosuke ran over to the store counter to find a set of photos. He picked up a couple of them and saw that they were photos of Saki, himself, and other part-time workers from Junes. One of them in particular, the one that had him in it, was cut up into pieces.
"Why is this one cut up like this?" Yosuke muttered.
"I could never tell him…"
Yosuke's eyes widened as they darted around the room, searching for the voice he recognized.
"Senpai?! Is that you? Where are you? Answer me, please!" Yosuke called out.
"I never got the chance to say it, but I think Hana-chan…"
"Huh? What about me?"
"...Is a pain in the ass! I was only ever nice to him because he was the store manager's son. But he took it the wrong way and got his hopes up, believed we had something. What an idiot…"
"What?!"
"I hate Junes! All because of that store, my parents hate me, our business is ruined, the neighbors talk about me behind my back. I wish everything would die!"
Yosuke began to panic and breathe irregularly, in shock and disbelief at the words he was hearing, words that supposedly came from the mind of his friend.
"No, it can't be true! Saki wouldn't say those things! She's not like that!" Yosuke yelled, clutching his head in his hands.
"So sad...I feel so sorry for myself."
Yui, Yosuke and Teddie all spun around as they heard a voice that was too clear to be just a voice, and what they saw shook them all: a shadowy clone of Yosuke, with glowing yellow eyes and a twisted grin.
"The truth is, I'm the one who thinks everything's a pain in the ass!" The shadowy Yosuke stated, cackling as he reveled in his vicious remark.
"Teddie, what's happening? Why are there two Yosukes?" Yui asked Teddie.
"Who are you?" Yosuke asked the shadowed copy.
"Can't you tell? I'm you, and you're me! I know everything about you! I'm sick of everything, Junes, the shopping district, living in the sticks is a pain in the ass!" The shadow Yosuke spat.
"That's not true! I don't think that!" Yosuke denied.
"How long are you going to keep deluding yourself? You managed to convince everyone you wanted to come here for Saki's sake, but that's a load of crap! You came here because you were looking for some cheap thrills! There's nothing else to do in this backwoods shithole town!" Shadow Yosuke stated, each word spat with increasing venom.
"No, you're wrong! I don't think like that!" Yosuke cried out, his voice becoming more and more desperate.
"You wanted to become a hero, and Saki's death was the perfect excuse to do so. That's all there is to it!"
"Shut up! You're wrong! Just shut up!"
"You think I'm just spouting bullshit, but you and I both know the truth! And that's because I AM you! I am a shadow of your true inner self!"
"I SAID SHUT UP! You're not…" Yosuke shouted before being interrupted by his Shadow self.
"Ha ha ha ha! Go on! Say it! Say it again!" Shadow Yosuke cackled.
"You're not me, you son of a bitch!" Yosuke yelled.
Shadow Yosuke cackled even more maniacally, reveling in what was either madness or clarity.
"Yeah, that's right! I'm my own self now!"
Shadow Yosuke transformed before their eyes, turning into a giant camouflaged frog with a twisted yellow grin, with a humanoid figure attached to its body. Yui, Yosuke and Teddie trembled in fear as the creature shook the floor and caused the walls of the store to fall over, leaving only stage lights around them. Shadow Yosuke lifted up a giant hand and swung down to crush Yosuke.
"Watch out!" Yui cried out as she dived at Yosuke, pushing them out of the way just as the hand cam crashing down.
Yui instinctively summoned up her courage and power to call upon her Persona.
"Yumiko!"
The goddess appeared at a moment's notice, kicking away Shadow Yosuke and raising her bandages to attack.
"Yosuke, are you alright?" Yui asked.
"That jerk...he's not me! He can't be…" Yosuke said weakly.
"But Yosuke! That thing comes from within your heart." Teddie explained.
"NO! No it doesn't!" Yosuke yelled.
Shadow Yosuke laughed again, mocking Yosuke for his continued denial.
"You put on a good facade of being carefree and happy-go-lucky, didn't you? But you only do it because you're terrified of being alone!" Shadow Yosuke claimed.
"No I don't! You don't know me at all!" Yosuke yelled back, attempting to run away.
Shadow Yosuke swung his hand at Yosuke, slapping him across the room and causing him to crash into Yui, injuring the both of them. Yumiko swooped in to protect the two, forming a shield with her wrappings and shoving Shadow Yosuke away.
"You have to do something Yui! That thing's attracting the other Shadows, if we don't stop it, things are going to get ugly for us!" Teddie cried out.
Teddie was right, as Yui noticed that the floor and walls began to seep black slime and static. Yumiko continued to fight back against Shadow Yosuke, but found herself overcome by his strength. Shadow Yosuke launched her backwards into a pillar, causing her to cry out in pain and her bandages to fly.
"I know everything about you! I know just how pathetic you are!" Shadow Yosuke shouted, conjuring images of Yosuke's coworkers talking behind his back.
"Why don't we just ask Yosuke for help?"
"You mean the Prince of Junes?"
"That guy thinks everyone looks up to him just because he's the manager's son!"
"Right, he's such a loser!"
"Everyone just barely tolerates you, yet you still pretend as though everyone's your friend!" Shadow Yosuke spouted with a sadistic grin.
"SHUT UP ALREADY!" Yosuke screamed as Shadow Yosuke jumped up, aiming to come crashing down on everyone.
"He's coming for us!" Teddie cried out.
Yumiko quickly intervened, catching Shadow Yosuke just before he hit the floor. Letting out a battle cry, she summoned a bolt of lightning, shocking Shadow Yosuke and eliciting from him a cry of pain. Yumiko thrust Shadow Yosuke away and began flying towards him to follow up. Despite his injury, Shadow Yosuke continued to send a verbal barrage of venom Yosuke's way.
"There's nothing to do in the boonies, so you were thinking of asking Saki out! But you didn't have the courage to do so, and that's because deep down you knew you just wanted some cheap thrills!" Shadow Yosuke taunted.
"Enough already! None of it's true! Just stop!" Yosuke shouted.
"Yosuke!" Yui called out.
"Huh?"
Yui suddenly slapped Yosuke, sending him to the floor and causing him to rub the spot where her hand hit him.
"OW! What was that for?!" Yosuke cried out, in disbelief that Yui had just slapped him.
"Sorry, I wanted to snap you out of it...and get your attention." Yui admitted with a sly grin, holding out a hand to help Yosuke to his feet.
As Yosuke stood up, Yui put on a more serious tone.
"I need you to answer me honestly, because our survival may depend on it. About Saki...did you like her?" Yui asked.
"Yeah, I did. I actually liked her a great deal." Yosuke quietly admitted.
"Isn't that proof enough? If you didn't care about her at all, you wouldn't have come here knowing the danger. You didn't do this for selfish reasons, both me and Chie know that. You should realize that too." Yui consoled Yosuke, bringing him comfort in his decisions and motivations.
"Maybe you're right…" Yosuke replied, doubt still lingering in his mind.
"Yosuke! She totally dumped you, huh?" Teddie stated, laughing at Yosuke's expense.
"Watch it, bear!" Yosuke spat.
"I speak from experience when I say: boys can do pretty stupid things to impress girls. I just wish they didn't try so hard for a girl that's not interested." Yui quietly uttered.
"I probably knew deep down all along, but I just couldn't bring myself to believe it. I wanted so desperately to fit in, and pretend that everything was cool. Sometimes, even I think I'm a pain in the ass. But no matter what, despite everything, my feelings for Saki were real." Yosuke mused.
Yosuke watched the fight between Yumiko and his Shadow ensue, starting to come to grips with the truth.
"That thing's a part of me, huh? Damn it...it sucks to have to face yourself. But I'm going to be honest now, it's all a part of me." Yosuke stated firmly.
After Yosuke said this, Shadow Yosuke halted in his tracks and began to go crazy, losing his concentration and resolve.
"Agh! You are so fucking annoying!" Shadow Yosuke shrieked.
"Quick! Now's your chance!" Teddie called out.
Yui was quick to react, commanding Yumiko for a decisive blow.
"Yumiko!"
Yumiko tossed a bandage at Shadow Yosuke and wrapped it around his body, yanking it tight and slowly crushing him. She sent out a surge of electricity through the wrapping and subdued the Shadow, causing him to revert back to his former self. As Shadow Yosuke began to dissipate, the real Yosuke walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You're me, and I'm you. I get that now." Yosuke muttered, having finally accepted the truth.
Shadow Yosuke gave one final smile, one born of peace and sincerity instead of malice, and began to dissolve into a fountain of energy. From that energy, a new creature was born, a humanoid frog-like entity with a white and camouflaged suit and a wide yellow smile. The creature turned into a tarot card with the arcana of The Magician and floated gently into Yosuke's hand.
"Is this my Persona?" Yosuke whispered.
"It sure is." Yui said with a smile.
As the card disappeared, Yosuke suddenly felt very exhausted and fell to his knees, gasping at the sudden loss of energy.
"Yosuke!" Yui cried out.
"I'm alright...I just wasn't expecting that…" Yosuke reassured Yui.
As Yosuke stood up, he looked at Yui with a grateful but also solemn look.
"Thank you Yui. I don't know what would have happened if you weren't here for me." Yosuke stated.
"You're my friend. What else would I be here for?" Yui replied.
"You're so awesome Yui! I never knew you had such power, Sensei!" Teddie exclaimed with a smile.
"Sensei?" Yui asked in confusion.
"You're going to call her Sensei and not say anything to me?" Yosuke asked Teddie.
"Sorry." Teddie responded, almost sarcastically.
"Come on, let's go back." Yui stated, more than eager to return home.
Yui and Yosuke landed on the other side, back in the Junes electronics department, to find Chie on her knees and her head hung. She looked up at the two with tears in her eyes as she began to process the fact that her friends had made it back safely.
"You...you guys…" Chie whispered.
"Chie!" Yui exclaimed, kneeling down to hug Chie.
Chie gasped in surprise before wrapping her arms around Yui, after which she began sobbing even harder.
"You guys came back!" Chie cried out in relief.
"I'm really sorry Chie. We wanted to let you know we were alright, honest." Yui whispered, attempting to calm her down.
"Chie? Why are you crying?" Yosuke cluelessly asked.
"Excuse me for a second, Yui…" Chie mumbled.
"Uh, OK." Yui replied as she let go of Chie.
Chie picked up the bundle of rope at her feet and angrily tossed it at Yosuke, causing him to flinch.
"Don't pretend like you don't know! The rope snapped the moment you guys left! I was worried sick all this time!" Chie spouted through her tears.
"Oh, that's right. The rope did break." Yosuke muttered.
"You forgot?!" Yui said in disbelief.
"I'm so pissed at you right now! You jerk, I can't believe you put me through this! You guys suck!" Chie cried in a mess of anger, worry, sadness, and relief.
"I can't imagine how she must have felt. It's not like she could have called anyone for help either. Oh Chie…" Yui thought to herself.
"I'm really sorry Chie…" Yosuke told Chie.
"Here Chie…" Yui said as she knelt down again and held out her arms for Chie to give her another hug.
After a few seconds, Chie was able to calm down a slight bit.
"I know! I've been meaning to try the beefsteak Yosuke's been talking about. You want to go get some?" Yui asked Chie.
Chie dried her eyes and looked at Yui, a more joyful look forming on her face.
"You mean it?" Chie asked.
"I'd ask Yosuke to pay for it, but he's had a rough day. Haven't you Yosuke?" Yui said as she looked at Yosuke with a sly grin.
"I resent that! But yeah, I'm pretty wiped after what happened in there. I'm gonna go home, soak in the shower, and get some sleep." Yosuke responded.
"Take care of yourself Yosuke. We'll see you tomorrow." Yui said with a smile.
"Thanks again. See ya!" Yosuke said as he went home.
"So...where do you usually get beefsteaks?" Yui asked Chie.
"I know a place! It's called 'Souzai Daigaku'. Let's go get some meat!" Chie answered as she stood up, seemingly cheered up.
Yui and Chie were standing in front of the Souzai Daigaku shop in the Central Shopping District, deciding on what to buy.
"OK, I know I said I would pay for it, but that steak is more expensive than I would like." Yui told Chie.
"It is? That's too bad…" Chie said in a disappointed tone.
"Oh, but those skewers look pretty good. Let's get two." Yui said as she pointed out the food.
"Two steak skewers, please!" Chie told the lady working there.
"Here you are!" The lady cheerfully said as Yui paid for the food, giving both of the skewers to Chie.
"I usually get a lot more for myself, but I understand you probably don't have a lot of money." Chie said as she and Yui sat at a table.
"Thanks for understanding. I'm thinking of working a part time job at some point, so money should become less of an issue." Yui said as she took her skewer from Chie and took a bite.
Chie looked at Yui with anticipation, waiting for her response to the "local delicacy".
"It's not bad. The meat's a little tough for my liking." Yui stated honestly.
"What do you mean? I think they're nice and tender!" Chie said as she chomped away.
"What the heck are YOUR teeth made out of? Titanium?" Yui joked.
Chie and Yui both giggled at this comment. Despite everything that happened today, Yui was glad to spend part of it with some level of normalcy.
"I wanted to ask, whatever happened in the TV with you and Yosuke?" Chie asked.
"Hmm, I'm not really sure I'm allowed to talk about what happened. Yosuke went through a lot today." Yui replied.
"Like what?" Chie asked further.
"Let's just say, I learned some things about Yosuke that he's likely embarrassed about. Saying that is being vague, but if he's comfortable about it, I'm sure he'd tell you." Yui explained, being careful about how much she divulged.
"Wow. I really wonder." Chie responded.
"If you don't mind me asking, how come you two don't have each other's numbers? Aren't you two friends?"
"Oh. Well, whenever we meet up to hang out, it was pretty much always right after school. So I guess it never really occurred to us."
"Be honest, you just don't want him calling you every now and again to tell you about whatever asinine idea he has."
"*giggle* You have a point."
"Still, if anything were to happen to either of you, it would be better rather than worse to have each other's contacts, right?"
"Yeah, that's true. I'll think about it."
"Thanks for bringing me to this place, Chie. I feel better about today."
"No Yui, thank you. You really tried to cheer me up. That was nice of you."
"No problem. Well, I have to go home now. Stay safe, Chie."
"You too."
Yui was walking along the flood plain, holding her umbrella above her head as it had begun pouring rain. As she was passing by, she saw a familiar face seated at a picnic table, taking shelter.
"Yukiko?" Yui called out.
Yukiko looked over to see Yui walking over to the picnic table.
"Oh, hello Yui." Yukiko greeted.
Yukiko was wearing a pink yukata with a white floral pattern on it. Yui assumed it was the uniform for the Amagi Inn, as she couldn't think of any other reason Yukiko would be wearing such a thing.
"What are you doing here in the rain, Yukiko?" Yui asked.
"My parents sent me on an errand. I'm taking a little break, that's all. How are you getting used to living here?"
"I really like it here. It's very different from my life in the city, but that's not a bad thing at all."
"Really? It must be difficult though, moving to a foreign place."
"I saw it more as an opportunity to get away from some things. My life back in the city...wasn't the best."
"Oh...I see. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really. But thank you for offering."
"I wouldn't know what it's like to transfer to a new school. I've never been outside of Inaba."
"That can always change. I think you'd like visiting a city."
"How are you getting along with Chie? I'm sorry I'm always leaving early, so I don't get to spend time with both of you."
"I really like Chie! She reminds me of a couple of my old classmates. A bit of a temper, but I always seem to get on her good side. In fact, we had steak skewers earlier!"
"I'm really glad to hear that! Chie's very supportive; she always gives me the extra push I need to keep going."
"I could sense that in her, yeah."
Yukiko quickly stood up as she realized the time.
"I have to go! I need to make arrangements with our head chef."
"Sure thing. Don't overwork yourself, alright Yukiko? Thanks for taking the time to talk to me! I'll see you at school."
"You too."
"The Amagi Inn, located upstream of Samegawa River, is Inaba's oldest historical landmark. Vacationers are known to travel incredible distances in order to visit its open air, radium rich hot springs."
The news was airing a special interview that was related to the recent murder of Mayumi Yamano. The report before that gave some new details surrounding Saki Konishi's death, which bothered Nanako and forced Yui to attempt to comfort her. The interview continued:
"We've heard that you're the new manager for the inn. Is it true that you're still in high school?"
"Yes, but I'm just filling in for my mother temporarily."
The TV now had Yui's full attention now that Yukiko was being shown speaking to the reporters. Yukiko appeared to be rather nervous around the interviewers, but continued to put on a brave face.
"I must say, you look very stunning in that kimono! You must get a lot of male visitors."
"Hm? Um, no, not necessarily…"
Nanako stood up from the floor, decidedly bored from watching the news.
"I have to go do the dishes." Nanako explained to Yui.
"Let me help you, Nanako." Yui insisted.
"OK."
After Yui had helped Nanako wash the dishes, she immediately went to her room. After doing some studying, she went to sleep in her futon. In her dreams, or perhaps in a different realm entirely, she found herself in the Velvet Room once again.
"Welcome back to the Velvet Room." Igor greeted Yui.
"So we meet again." Yui and Igor said at the same time.
"*chuckle* Indeed, how astute of you." Igor said in an amused tone.
"This is a space that only those who have entered into a contract may enter, if you recall." Margaret spoke up.
"I remember. And I remember you too, Margaret. Nice to see you again." Yui said politely.
"I want to say: congratulations. In your daily life, you subconsciously heard the call to awaken, and awaken you did, to your inner voice and your newfound power." Margaret said with a smile.
"My Persona, right?"
Igor waved his hand and conjured an enchanted object before him, handing it over to Yui.
"We want you to have this." Igor stated.
Yui could see that it was a metal key bearing a tarot-like symbol on its handle. But before she could reach out to grab it, it disappeared and reappeared in the pocket of her skirt.
"This is the Velvet Room key. From this night forth, you shall be our guest in this room. This Persona you have acquired. It is a side of yourself that you show when you face the world around you, a facade of determination you wear to face various difficulties in life. Your Persona is that of the Wild Card, which makes it very special." Igor explained at length.
"The Wild Card? What does that mean?" Yui asked.
"It is like the number 0. Empty, yet it holds infinite potential." Igor cryptically answered.
"That wasn't very helpful."
"I look forward to traveling the road of your destiny together, to see where your awakened power of the Wild Card will take you. *chuckle*" Igor mused.
Yui felt a sensation of enervation overtake her as her eyes fluttered shut.
"Farewell now. 'Til we meet again." Igor said as Yui departed.
