Yu arrived back at the Dojima residence only to sigh. "Even if we can find him tomorrow there's no way to be sure it'll give us enough for Teddie to find her."
With that thought in mind he opened the door only to see Nanako watching a quiz show on the TV before noticing him.
"Oh, big bro." Nanako said with a smile. "Welcome back."
"Thanks Nanako, how are you doing on the quiz?" Yu asked with his own smile.
"I think I'm doing ok." Nanako answered before looking at the TV. "Big bro… do you think people on TV are good at quizzes on TV?"
"Well sometimes, people on TV aren't always the same as they are in real life." Yu said.
"Really?" Nanako asked in surprise before looking down in confusion. "How do they know how to act on TV?"
"Sometimes they're just told what to do." Yu answered. "I don't know exactly."
Nanako nodded thoughtfully before the door opened and Dojima walked in.
"Oh you're back." Dojima said thoughtfully.
"Yeah, is everything alright uncle?" Yu asked only for Dojima to sigh.
"No, but it's not anything you need to get involved with." Dojima said to him.
Yu flinched at that. "Right."
Nanako stared between them before frowning. "Are you fighting?"
"No, it's just… today's been a long day." Dojima said while Yu nodded.
"That makes sense." Yu said. "Everything will be ok Nanako."
She looked thoughtful before nodding.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Hey partner." Yosuke mentioned as he ran up to Yu to try an get out of the rain. "Think that photographer will show up today?"
"I don't know." Yu replied. "Though even if he does show up, we need to get some kind of information Teddie could use."
"Anything's worth trying." Yosuke pointed out. "She's counting on us partner."
"I know." Yu nodded. "We'll just have to see what happens."
Yosuke nodded back as the two of them walked into Yasogami.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"We'll head to Junes in case you learn anything Yu." Chie mentioned.
"Right, I'll send a message if he has any information." Yu replied. "Still I'm a little worried about Teddie."
"Yeah, I know what you mean but what can we do to help him?" Yosuke asked.
"We can be there to cheer him up at least." Yukiko suggested.
"That's true, well. I'll see you guys at Junes." Yu mentioned walking off and heading to the floodplains where he noticed a man with a camera holding an umbrella.
"Huh, can I help you?" the man asked.
"Maybe… do you know anything about Risette?" Yu asked only for the man to chuckle.
"I might, but if you want information it's only fair you give me some in exchange." the man mentioned.
"You mean like how she's in this town?" Yu asked only for the man to roll his eyes.
"Obviously she's here why would I be here if she wasn't?" the man questioned.
"Right, well… didn't she say she was taking a break due to stress? Could something be bothering her?" Yu asked.
"Maybe, there are rumors going around she's tired of 'Risette's' made up personality. I guess that could be stressful. Having to put on an act all the time, the "real" Rise Kujikawa and then the idol Risette." The man mentioned. "She couldn't handle the double life apparently."
"Sounds like she's different on TV." Yu admitted. "Then again you probably figured that much out didn't you?"
"I have, and yeah she's completely different to the point of being unrecognizable." the man mentioned. "Then again in hindsight when you think of an idol they all have manufactured personalities to appeal to people right?"
"Yeah." Yu nodded thoughtfully. "I. hadn't really thought of that, but you make a good point."
"Exactly." the man mentioned before walking off as Yu closed his eyes in thought before heading for Junes.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"There he is, did you get anything partner?" Yosuke asked as Yu walked up to the other members of the Investigation Team.
"I think so, I don't know if it'll be enough but if we're lucky it'll help Teddie find her in there." Yu admitted. "We have time if we need to get more information though."
"That's true, but we can see if what we have now is enough." Chie mentioned.
"Then what are we waiting around here for?" Kanji asked. "Come on, let's go see Ted already."
The others nodded as they walked to the electronic section of Junes before making sure nobody was looking as they passed through the TV.
"Oh, you guys are back." Teddie mentioned noticing them. "Does that mean you found out about her?"
"We might have." Yukiko nodded. "Right Yu?"
Yu nodded. "Well Teddie, Rise's a lot different than how she's portrayed on TV, she's probably tired of her fake personality and wants to try and let other people get to know her real self."
"Her real self… so she's like me, the delicate sentimental type." Teddie mentioned thoughtfully. "In that case… Huh, I can definitely smell someone out there."
"You can, is it Rise?" Yosuke asked him.
"I don't know for sure, but there's definitely someone. Come on, follow me!" Teddie smiled before running off with the other members of the Investigation Team following behind him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Why is it so dark?" Chie asked as they looked around. "Where are we?"
The moment Chie asked that lights turned on revealing several booths with a large stage and hearts on the walls.
"Wait… don't tell me this is…" Yosuke started.
"Huh? Oh, I think it might be." Yukiko agreed before pausing. "Oh, but our inn is nothing like this."
"It… kind of makes sense though, I mean with what her shadow was saying. Of course, she'd be at a strip joint." Kanji pointed out.
"You… have a good point." Yu admitted before sighing. "Do you two feel comfortable heading in?"
"That doesn't matter, the important thing is making sure we save her." Chie answered.
"Chie's right." Yukiko nodded.
Yu nodded back before the six of them walked inside to try and reach Rise.
(The Investigation Team has arrived at Marukyu Striptease and are planning to try and reach Rise. Next chapter they'll start progressing and encounter Rise's shadow. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)