"So, are you guys looking forward to the trip?" Yosuke asked as the four persona users sat together eating their lunches. "It's going to be amazing, right?"
"I'm looking forward to it myself." Yu said in agreement. "It'll be a nice change of scenery."
"Oh yeah, you moved here after the trip last year right Yosuke?" Yukiko asked.
"Then you guys don't know about it, the thing is the school trip isn't quite what you're thinking." Chie said. "We go to help clean up trash and stuff."
"Huh, that's not a trip that's manual labor. I do enough of that at Junes as it is." Yosuke said in irritation. "Well at least we get some time to ourselves, right?"
"Well technically." Chie said. "The trip ends in the morning but the buses back to town don't arrive until later in the afternoon."
"So in other words we can do whatever we want before the buses get there then?" Yosuke asked. "I guess that's not entirely a bad thing."
"Well at least we're in a group and nothing bad has happened recently." Yukiko said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, that's a good point." Yosuke said. "Actually now that I think about it, do you guys think maybe we're wrong about this whole thing?"
"Huh, wrong in what way Yosuke?" Yu asked curiously.
"We assumed the killer is going after us in the real world because we're more vulnerable here and the only problem would be the evidence." Yosuke said. "Except, you guys feel it too right, we still have some of their power even out here."
"Now that you mention it, yeah." Chie said thoughtfully. "I've felt a lot more energetic recently."
"It's mostly just Tomoe, though right?" Yosuke asked before Chie nodded in confirmation. "What about you Yu? It's just Izanagi, isn't it?"
"Actually it's all of them, but I think that's because the power to use more than one was mine originally and Igor gave that power to you guys." Yu said calmly.
"That makes sense." Chie said. "Wait, then what you mean is the killer can't go after us because our personas are protecting us even if we can't use them?"
"Exactly." Yosuke said calmly.
"That would make sense." Yukiko said thoughtfully.
"So we may as well get some rest for this trip, King Moron is going to work us ragged while we're there." Yosuke said in annoyance.
"Yeah, you're right about that." Yu said calmly.
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"Oh you're back, so you're going on a trip tomorrow?" Dojima asked as Yu walked into the house.
"Yeah, it's a school thing and we'll be gone all day tomorrow and be back the day after sometime in the afternoon." Yu said before sitting at the table.
"Oh yeah, big bro I have to tell you something." Nanako said suddenly.
"You do, what is it Nanako?" Yu asked curiously.
"Well, somebody called while you were at school and asked if you could call them when you got home." Nanako said. "She said her name was Margaret."
"Margaret, did she leave a number?" Yu asked.
"No, she said you knew the number and to just tell you to call." Nanako said as Dojima raised an eyebrow at that.
"Well, I shouldn't keep her waiting." Yu said before walking over and picking up the phone before going to dial only for a voice to enter his ear.
"Hello, you must be rather surprised." Margaret said calmly.
"A little, I wasn't expecting a call from you." Yu said honestly. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything is fine, however there is something you need to be made aware of." Margaret said before pausing. "Two things actually."
"Ok, what are they?" Yu asked before catching Dojima's eye as he mouthed they would talk later.
"The first event concerns the fact that you have formed bonds with both myself and Marie, the very nature of the Velvet Room is altering even as we speak. How this change will affect you or your friends is yet to be seen but you need to be made aware of it." Margaret said calmly.
"I see, well I appreciate you telling me." Yu said. "Though, what's the other thing?"
Margaret just chuckled slightly. "I believe I've decided to take you up on your generous offer, that is if you're still willing."
"My… oh sure I'm not sure when would be the best time but of no problem I'll be sure to let you know." Yu said.
"I see, thank you very much. Good evening." Margaret said calmly before hanging up.
"A friend of yours?" Dojima asked calmly.
"Something like that." Yu said. "It's a bit complicated, but you could say she's definitely a friend of mine."
"I see, well we'll talk about that later. You should get some rest for the trip, right?" Dojima asked calmly.
"Yeah, you're right. Good night uncle, night Nanako." Yu said calmly.
"Good night big bro." Nanako said happily.
"Yeah, night." Dojima said quietly.
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"Oh man, you really weren't joking." Yosuke said miserably as the four persona users stared at the garbage in front of them. "This is going to be awful."
"No use complaining about it, King Moron will end up even worse if we don't clean up this junk and at least we aren't the only ones doing this." Chie said irritably. "Then again, you do have a point."
"Well standing around here won't do us any good so we might as well get started." Yosuke said before pausing. "I've been looking forward to this trip for so long and now I find out it's basically community service, people who break the law have to do this kind of work and we're forced to do it."
"It could be worse Yosuke." Yu said thoughtfully. "I'm not entirely sure how it could be but it could."
"Yeah, I know." Yosuke said as the four of them started walking about and picking up the scattered pieces of trash. "At least we'll have something good to eat when it's all over."
"Yeah, you're right." Yu said quietly, not having the heart to reveal the truth to Yosuke.
(The Investigation Team members have arrived at the location of the school trip and are beginning to try and clean up the area. Next chapter Yu and Yosuke will be introduced to Mystery Food X. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)