Alright, so chapter 3 is here! A big thanks to everyone who reviewed and followed because it really caught me off guard. I'm glad that you're all enjoying the story. Yukiko's descent into darkness has begun. I and thelovelydissidiacharacters have a lot in store for you all. So, I hope you will stick around to the conclusion. Sorry this chapter took a bit long; I was trying to figure out what direction to go in. So why not start out with the conflicted Yukiko? Enjoy the chap and review, everyone counts.

The Amagi Obsession

Chapter 3: Confliction

All was quiet in the Amagi Inn; it seemed as if time had stopped for Yukiko. She stared at the television with wide eyes filled with shock. It was hard to comprehend what had just occurred. Chie, who had stood in front of her a few seconds prior, was now gone. Swallowed into the void that was the TV world.

The young girl's bearings were beginning to shake, her hands wrapped around the edge of the TV. Staring deep into the dark void, she wished she could rewind what had just occurred.

"Ch- Chie…?" Yukiko managed to sputter out. "C'mon Chie… this isn't funny!"

Her heart began to beat harder with each passing second. Sweat beads began to form on her forehead, as she soon realized the gravity of the situation. Yukiko pushed Chie into the TV world. She shoved her best friend into what could have possibly been her death.

The plastic frame around the television began to crack under Yukiko's vice grip. She willed Chie to emerge from its depths.

"CHIE!" She repeated louder, beginning to shake the TV. All those insults that had been said, she instantly regretted. It felt as though a stone had developed in her throat; she prayed for Chie to come out of the TV so she could hug her and apologize for every little thing that was said.

"Chie, please." She gasped, threw her sobs.

Yukiko contemplated entering the TV world after Chie, but quickly dismissed the idea.

It was too dangerous to go in there alone. She recalled back to a time where Teddie had told the Investigation Team that entering other televisions could be dangerous. He had no idea where they could end up, or what would happen. Should anything go wrong, no one would be there to help her.

The worst case scenario was death.

This thought struck Yukiko hard. All she wanted was for Chie to own up to her lies. She surely didn't want her friend to die because of it. Her knees grew weak. She felt like throwing up.

Yukiko's legs gave way and she stared wearily at the TV above her once more. What would she do? What could she do? What if Chie hadn't survived the tumble into the TV world? This all seemed too unreal to comprehend, but the mess in her room told her otherwise. Papers lay scattered around the floor and the table used for their study had collapsed under the weight of the scuffle.

"I can tell the others." she whispered, glancing at her cellphone that was plugged into the wall. Maybe if she was quick, the Investigation Team could get to Chie on time?

Yukiko stopped herself from reaching towards the device.

The thought of telling everyone sent shivers down her spine. How would she explain it? What would they think of her? What would Narukami think?

"He would reject me again." Yukiko gasped, pulling at the roots of her hair. The thought of everyone's reactions shook her.

Yosuke and Chie hadn't always been the best of friends, but they still had a pretty tight bond. He would be the first one to chastise Yukiko. She knew Kanji would follow right up in a fury of insults. Rise would be in disbelief. Naoto would surely try and think rationally, but would quickly lose trust in her. The look on Narukami's face was one Yukiko dared not think of. She shoved his girlfriend into the TV world. Surely, she had to come up with a good explanation for it.

"But Chie had it coming right?" The thought had appeared in Yukiko's mind like a lightning strike. Yukiko loosened the grip on her hair and shook her head. "SHE assaulted me. Not only that, but she lied…"

Yukiko crawled towards the scattered piles of homework and began to collect the materials into a neat pile.

She had to forget.

She needed to feign ignorance.

"It never happened." She muttered to herself repeatedly. "It never happened."

The young girl tried to busy herself with cleaning her room with the hope it would take her mind off of things, but the thought wouldn't leave her head. No matter how many times she repeated the line. "It never happened."

Yukiko was growing more desperate with each passing minute. Her fingers gripped the history book that they had been studying. She began to tear up. "Forgive me, Chie."

"Yukiko?" A knock sounded at her door. It was her mother.

The younger Amagi quickly wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. She put away the rest of the school supplies and fixed her table quickly. Trying to make her room more presentable to her mother, with the appearance that no fight had occurred. She was the head of the inn, so everything had to be perfect for her. Once she finished tidying up, she sat underneath the warmth of the kotatsu table and called. "Enter."

Her mother entered the room looking rather irritated that her daughter had taken so long to reply. Her expression quickly changed when she examined the room confused.

"Where's Chie?" Mrs. Amagi asked. "She couldn't have gone home already. I thought she was spending the night?"

"Oh." Yukiko replied. She hadn't thought of an excuse yet. Yukiko's mother had greeted them both when they entered the house earlier. The young heiress needed to come up with something fast.

"She had some business to attend, so she told me that we'll have it some other time." Yukiko lied, shocking herself. She never lied to her mother.

"Hmm?" Mrs. Amagi spotted Chie's lime green backpack on the floor. "Did she forget her things?"

Yukiko cringed; she must have lost hold of it when she fell into the TV world. She readily gathered Chie's belongings into her hands and placed it in her closet. "She was in such a hurry. I'm sure she didn't realize she forgot them. I will bring it to her tomorrow at school."

Mrs. Amagi bought the lie, there was no reason for her to press further. But she still cast her daughter a worried glance. "That girl went outside alone at this time of night, knowing all of the murders that have been taking place recently. I wish she would have let me know before she left. I could have given her a ride home, it's dangerous in Inaba these days. I'm going to have a talk with her the next time she's over."

Yukiko smiled weakly and tried to soothe her mother. "I- I'm sure Chie is fine. She's as tough as nails."

She wasn't sure if she believed that herself anymore, but her mother did.

"Well, I will be sure to call her mother later and see that she made it home safely." She replied frankly. "For now, I really need your help in the kitchen. Just make sure you follow all the steps the chef tells you. Nothing extra understand? We can't have another fiasco like last time."

"Of course, mother." Yukiko obliged obediently. With that, Mrs. Amagi closed the door leaving her daughter alone. The young girl fell onto her bed and covered her face. She had lied to her mother; she knew well where Chie was and that she wouldn't make it home tonight. "What am I going to do?"

Suddenly, a flicker of light caught the corner of Yukiko's eye. She turned her head to the side to see that Chie had left her cellphone on the end table near her bed. Yukiko stared at it curiously, wrapping her fingers around it slowly. She wondered just who would text Chie at this hour, but she had a feeling she already knew who it was. On the Caller ID Narukami's name was surrounded by the hearts she had seen at Junes.

"U still at Yukiko's? Call me when she falls asleep K?"

A surge of jealousy swirled in her heart. She gripped Chie's cellphone tightly and found herself typing out a message to Yu. "Not tonight, I'm busy."

Before she hit the send button, Yukiko stared at it blankly. Chie wouldn't be sending anything to Yu tonight, nor would she be calling him. Chie wouldn't be making it home, or going to school the next day. That was the reality of the situation. Everyone was going to be devastated when they found out she was missing.

They would want to find her.

"But they won't." Yukiko blurted out, surprising herself. Her heart raced at the thought. It saddened her to think these things, but she felt her guilt growing thinner with every second. Was that why she lied to her mother so easily? If Chie was gone, then Yukiko wouldn't have to worry about the implications. No one would be able to find her. "I need to worry about myself."

She stared at Chie's phone once more and thought about Yu. "Narukami-kun."

She tossed Chie to the shadows, but even so she didn't want to be caught. The thought of facing Narukami finding out the truth was too much for Yukiko. Chie was gone. It hadn't been Adachi or Namatame this time. Those would be the first people that the investigation Team would suspect. What would happen if they didn't have any leads? Wouuld Chie turn up dead eventually like the rest of the victims thrown into the TV world? How would Narukami feel?

"I have to be there for him." Yukiko whispered, the corners of her lips forming into a smile. The thought of being by his side was something that made her heart flutter. "He needs me to be there for him."

She began to undress from her pajamas and slip into her work attire. A picture of her and Chie was on the dresser in front of her. The sight was enough to pierce her soul. Yukiko slammed the frame down against the hard wooden surface. What was she thinking? Yukiko shook her head. Selfish thoughts kept filling her mind. She loved Yu without a doubt, but her morals were beginning to falter. She decided to get to work, distractions would help.

Yukiko tied her hair into a bun and set off towards the kitchen, desperate to take her mind off of Chie for a while.

…

The next day, Yukiko sat in her seat at the front of the class in silence. Today came faster than expected. The class was full of students bustling, ready to be released for the New Year. She glanced behind her wondering if she could catch a glimpse of Narukami. Yukiko nervously tapped her feet against the wood floor. This situation was unnerving.

Narukami sat two seats behind her texting on his phone. He kept glancing at the class entrance nervously. "Hey, Yosuke?"

"What's up man?" Yosuke responded.

Yu sounded a little worried. It wasn't often he made nervous facial expressions. "Did Chie text you last night?"

"Last time I talked to her was yesterday at school." Yosuke replied. "Besides I don't just go and text my partner's girl, it's against the bro code. Did something happen between you two?"

Yukiko scoffed in annoyance. "Even Hanamura knew?"

"Not that I can think of. Last time she texted me early last night. She said she was spending the night at Yukiko's." Yu said, turning his sight in Yukiko's direction. "Maybe I should ask her."

"I'm sure she is fine dude. You're just overthinking it."

"You think?" Yu asked, still looking worriedly at his phone. "She's always quick to reply."

Yosuke patted his friend's shoulder. "Sometimes chicks just need their space dude. Take it from me; I'm good with these types of things."

Yu looked doubtful. "I have a hard time believing that?"

Yukiko didn't eavesdrop any further when they noticed Ms. Kashiwagi enter the classroom.

"Quiet down!" She barked, slamming her folder on the table. Today their homeroom teacher didn't have the same smug look on her face that she usually had, but a rather disturbed expression. She scanned the classroom and began roll call. She passed Yukiko, Yu, and Yosuke, but skipped over Chie's name.

Yosuke cast a surprised glance at Yu.

"Uhm, did you notice that?" he asked.

Yu's fists tightened. "Why didn't she call her name?"

Ms. Kashiwagi placed down her clipboard on her desk. Picking up a piece of chalk she began to write on the board and read aloud the announcement. "Today there is going to be an assembly in the gym at 12:30. Don't be late!"

Yosuke raised his hand. "Uhm, Ms. Kashiwagi."

"WHAT?" She barked at Yosuke, looking annoyed.

Yosuke glanced at Chie's seat. "Don't mean to be a bother, but you sort of skipped Chie's name on the attendance. Did she happen to call in sick or something?"

Everyone in the class glanced at her seat and began murmuring amongst each other.

"Yeah, Chie isn't absent often."

"That's weird, Ms. Kashiwagi did skip her name, right?"

"I wonder if something happened."

Yukiko maintained her calm composure, watching Ms. Kashiwagi, eager to hear her response.

"PIPEDOWN!" She yelled at the class. The same troubled expression returned to Ms. Kashiwagi's face. She looked at Chie's seat once more and sighed. "I won't lie to you. What I'm about to tell you is serious. Last night it was reported that Chie Satonaka did not make it home. Her parents filed a missing person's report. Police were out last night looking for her, but nothing has been found so far."

Yosuke cast an even more worried glance at Yu whose eyes were clouded.

"I was going to wait for the principal to make a formal announcement at the assembly, but if you have any information regarding Chie Satonaka's whereabouts let me know after class." Ms. Kashiwagi continued. "Also, I need to see Amagi, Narukami, and Hanamura afterwards."

Yukiko felt something like this was coming. Their classmate's eyes fell on her, Yu, and Yosuke. The murmuring continued, but she ignored it. Yukiko opened up her textbook. There really was no going back.

…

After class had ended Ms. Kashiwagi brought in Yu's uncle, Dojima, who questioned all three of them about Chie's whereabouts. They had been the closest to her and the police had to cover all of their bases. Dojima took a seat at Ms. Kashiwagi's desk and got situated. He cast a concerned look at Yu, who remained quiet until questioned.

Yukiko caught on that his uncle must have known about his relationship with Chie. She felt like the only one who didn't know. Her thumbs wouldn't stop twiddling. She was eager for this to be over.

The questioning proceeded without delay. Yosuke told Dojima the same thing that he had told Yu earlier. He didn't text Chie much after class unless they were hanging out and he hadn't seen her since leaving school. His alibi checked out with Dojima.

Narukami told his uncle the last time he saw Chie was when they parted ways after school had ended.

Dojima checked out some boxes on his clipboard and shifted his eyes to the last person who hadn't given their statement.

Yukiko knew the spotlight was on her and that she had to word everything right. The last place Chie was reported at was her home.

Dojima stretched and sighed. "I'm sorry about all of this. I know you and Chie are close; you must be taking this hard. Even so, I'm going to have to ask you a few questions since you were the last one to see Chie Satonaka. Try your best to answer every question."

Yu looked at Yukiko with hope in his eyes.

"How long were you with Chie last night?" asked Dojima.

Yukiko pursed her lips and did her best to show distress. She proceeded and answered. "After we left school, we hung out until around 9 PM."

Dojima followed up with the next question. "What were the both of you doing before Chie left?"

"Fighting." Yukiko thought back to the fist fight they had with one another. Things had never escalated that far between them before, but her verbal abuse had been harsh. She looked Dojima in the eyes thinking. "Chie's fell into the TV world, but I can't tell him that. I can't tell anyone. They can never know the truth."

Yukiko's breathing increased and knuckles tightened.

Yu took notice of her body language and grabbed Yukiko's hands. In a comforting voice he spoke. "It's alright, I'm here. You don't have to worry, we'll support you."

Yukiko relished Yu's touch. It calmed her. She smiled gently at him and nodded. "He can never know."

"Chie came over after school. She was supposed to spend the night and promised to help me around the inn. We played a few games, did a couple of chores, and worked on some of our assignments. Around 9, when we were doing our homework, she told me she had some business to attend to." Yukiko lied through her teeth. "She didn't tell me anything really. She just received a text from someone. I thought it was you Narukami-kun. The both of you are dating, aren't you?"

Yu answered her with a brief nod, but looked more troubled. He turned to Dojima. "I did send her a few texts, but I never told her to come meet me. Who could have sent that to her?"

Dojima rubbed his stubble and asked, "You let her leave alone?"

Yukiko shook her head. She looked down, her hair hiding her eyes. She partially regretted the words she was about to say, but answered regardless. "I insisted she stay because it was late, or at least let me come with her, but she didn't want to hassle me. If I had gone with her none of this would have ever happened! She would be safe!"

Yosuke rubbed her back and cooed. "It's not your fault Yukiko-san."

Dojima agreed. "If you had been out there, both of you may have gone missing."

Yu remained silent, staring emphatically at Yukiko. He wiped the wetness that formed under her eyes and stood up to address Dojima. "Uncle, we have to find her. We need to find her. If we keep looking, I'm sure something will turn up. Let me speak to Namatame, or Adachi. They might know something."

Dojima sighed, standing up from his chair. He walked towards the classroom window. The snow gently fell from the sky. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a box of cigarettes. Along with it, was a red lighter. After fiddling with the switch, Dojima finally lit the cigarette. He blew out smoke and addressed his nephew. "Unfortunately, that's impossible. Namatame is still recovering in the hospital and Adachi's locked up tight right now. Hell, even I'm having a hard time visiting him. Besides there's no way they let a kid waltz right in and speak to a convicted murderer."

"But-" Yu protested. He looked desperately at Dojima.

The teen's uncle walked over and put his hands on his shoulders.

"We will find her. I promise you that." he said reassuringly. "Now then, I have to get going. You kids should go ahead to lunch. The assembly will be starting shortly after."

With that, Dojima departed leaving the three teens alone.

Yosuke looked at Yukiko and Yu. Neither of them speaking, both lost in thought. Yosuke scratched his head, he has to reassure his friends. "Don't worry guys we'll find Chie and rescue her just like we did with everyone else. We've overcome this sort of thing before!"

Yu remained silent, but stood up.

Yosuke put his hands on his shoulders.

"We will find Chie man." He spoke. "I'm going to find Kanji, Rise, and Naoto. After school we all have to meet in Junes and figure out what we're going to do."

Yosuke ran out to find the others.

Yukiko was surprised. Yosuke, wasn't known for taking charge like that. She guessed that seeing his friend in such a sorry state must have lit a fire under him. Yukiko returned her attention to Yu. She gradually looked up at him. He stood unbudging. Yukiko knew she had to do something.

She took his hand and was surprised to feel Yu tightened his grip around them.

"Narukami-kun?"

"Dammit!" He yelled, startling the girl. Yu released Yukiko's hand and punched the wall. The impact tore at his skin as he repeated it once more.

"Dammit!" His voice cracked. "Chie's gone… she's-"

Yukiko stared at Yu. The only time she had seen him lose his composure like this was when Namatame had kidnapped Nanako. Their leader was struggling; his actions let her know that. Yukiko walked around to him and touched his face. He was fighting back the water welling in his eyes.

"She-" Yu struggled to speak.

"It's okay." Yukiko soothed him. She caressed his cheek. Her eyes locked with his. Yukiko pulled Yu in her arms embrace and held him. "It's okay, we'll find her." She whispered in his ear relishing how close he was. It wasn't often that she saw him so vulnerable. Yukiko's body moved on its own. She knew what the root of his pain was, but at that moment she didn't care. This was what she had wanted all along, to be close to Yu.

Yu calmed himself before letting go. "Sorry about that. I just lost myself for a moment" he said, looking down embarrassed.

Yukiko smiled and simply nodded. She mentally cursed that their embrace couldn't last longer.

"We'll find her." he said, repeating her words. Yu wasted no time and headed towards the classroom door. He looked back and addressed Yukiko. "I'm going to find Yosuke and the others. You should get some lunch while you can, it'll be a long day. We're going into the TV world. I have to find out if she's there."

Yukiko grimaced, but nodded. With that, Yu ran off. The girl let out a sigh and wrapped her arms around herself wishing he were still pressed against her. "Yu, I'll be there for him." She whispered sitting down. His first name had a nice ring to it. She loved him more than anyone else, including Chie.

Yukiko cast a glance at Chie's desk and thought. "Chie's gone, and I'm the one with him now."

The young Amagi walked to her friend's desk and brushed her fingers across its surface. This is what she had wanted all along, to get closer to Yu. She had already lied to her mother, Dojima, and Yu. Who else was there to lie to? There was nothing left to hold back.

"If I go down this path there is no going back. Then again," Yukiko leaned against Chie's desk. "I've already chosen to walk it."

Then it hit her! Yukiko stood up suddenly realizing Yu's words before he left. The Investigation Team was going to enter the TV world today. What would happen if they found Chie? What would she tell the Investigation Team?

"I pushed her into the TV! "Yukiko blurted out. She looked at the entrance, thankfully no one had heard. Whatever the cost, she couldn't let them find out what had happened. That would be the worst case scenario, but at the same time she also didn't want Chie to die.

Yukiko didn't want to enter the TV world alone and yet this was her chance to find the girl.

She cast a glance at the direction Yu had ran off in. She didn't know what she wanted anymore. All she knew was she would have to find Chie before the Investigation Team did.

"I need to see Teddie."

A/N: 7/3/2023, revisions have been done to dialogue, sentence structuring, and pacing.