After the camping trip, Kyoko managed to get a good enough sleep to recover. She had decided to go into town, only to run into Kanji. The younger teen had dragged her to Aiya, and they were currently sitting at the counter seats.

"Man, I'm starving for some chinese!" Kanji said, rubbing his hands. "You gonna order anything, Senpai?"

Kyoko shook her head. "I already ate earlier, and I plan on having dinner at home."

"Well, more for me then. But if I eat and then go home, I can't finish Mom's food… She serves so much, you'd think I have five brothers. She's tryin' to make my stomach burst."

"I'm surprised that you have a limit." Kyoko admitted.

"Mom's food is hella filling, Senpai." Kanji said. "You should try it sometime."

As they talked, a man walked into the restaurant, before noticing Kanji.

"Aren't you Kanji Tatsumi? What are you doing here?"

Kanji looked up with an irritated expression. "Can't you tell? …Hey, you're a cop. What do you mean, what am I doing?"

"Just what I said. There's been quite a commotion around here lately." The man said.

"Well maybe if you did your job, thing's get quieter, huh?" Kanji said, slowly raising his voice.

"Y-You need to fix that attitude…" The officer said.

"He's been with me the entire time." Kyoko said. "I can vouch for him."

"Oh, you're the one Dojima's looking after." The man said, recognizing her before turning back to Kanji. "Very well then. Just don't pull anything, got it?"

"I didn't…" Kanji grumbled.

The officer sighed. "I'm gonna eat somewhere else."

"Asshole." Kanji muttered as the man walked off.

"Kanji… does this happen to you often?" Kyoko asked him.

He nodded. "The cops're always like that. Soon as they spot me it's "Whaddaya doin'?" "You look suspicious" and alla that bullshit."

"Does it not bother you?" Kyoko asked.

"Meh, I'm used to it…" Kanji said. "Sorry for getting' you mixed up in this, Senpai."

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I really am just a troublemaker. For you… and for Mom." Kanji said. "She's always apologizing for me. She's been sprouting more and more white hairs…"

"If you feel that you're a troublemaker, then you simply need to change." Kyoko suggested.

"Y-Yeah, huh?" Kanji said, with some earnest nods. "Filial piety, right? I don't really know what to do… Or so I thought. I'm gonna use this power I got to make this town peaceful! I've been causing nothing but trouble, but now I can finally return the favor!"

He said this all with a determined look and a fist pump.

"So let's get to it, Senpai!" Kanji grinned.

Kyoko nodded, understanding her kouhai more as their bond grew. "I'll be counting on you."

Kanji gave her a thumbs-up, before turning back to the counter. "Hey Chief, the food ready yet?"

"Huh? You ordered something, Kan-chan?" The owner asked.

"I told you not to call me Kan-chan!" Kanji almost yelled. "And I did order: liver-leek stir fry and pot stickers! Tch! I'm gonna tear your store apart so fast you won't have time to file for insurance!"

"Kanji." Kyoko said in a stern tone.

"Oh, uh, well…" Kanji sweated at Kyoko's stare, before turning back to the owner. "I'm gonna tear it apart and rebuild it twice as good! I-I'm gonna RENOVATE your ass!"

"…Sounds good to me." The owner said, before getting to work on Kanji's order.

"Better." Kyoko said, as Kanji rubbed the back of his head.

It was dinner time at the Dojima residence again, as the TV was on, tuned into an entertainment channel.

"That concludes Rise Kujikawa's statement regarding her temporary leave of absence from the entertainment industry. We're short on time, so if anyone has any remaining questions, we ask that you please keep them brief."

Nanako's eyes were glued to the screen as a girl with copper-brown hair styled into two pigtails appeared. If one looked at her eyes, the girl seemed tired, yet showed a fantastic job at hiding it.

"I'm Ishioka from Lady's View. It says here that you'll be recuperating-are you facing health problems?"

"No, my health isn't an issue-" Rise said.

"Psychological problems, then?"

"Wha...?"

"Rumor has it you'll be staying with your relatives, but isn't that in Inaba where the murders have been taking place!?"

"Huh? Um…"

"Is it true that they run a traditional tofu shop? Will you be helping out with the family business!?"

Kyoko really wanted to roll her eyes with how unprofessional the reporter was being.

"Does moving in with your relatives have anything to do with Sayaka Maizono's own temporary hiatus?"

Kyoko raised her head at that, widening her eyes.

"No more questions! This press conference is over! Clear the way, please!"

Kyoko watched as the press conference devolved into chaos, as Rise's bodyguards tried to get her past them.

"Is Rise-chan quitting her job on TV?" Nanako asked her father.

"Who knows…" Dojima shrugged. "But if this is her hometown, we'll have to deal with everyone who's trying to get a glimpse…"

One of Rise's commercials appeared on the TV, showing a more perky side that seemed to contrast how exhausted she looked during the press conference.

"Rise Kujikawa, huh?" Dojima said. "The one good thing about this town was that it had nothing of note, and now we get all the buzz… What's going on?"

Kyoko stood up as she put her dishes in the sink, before walking up to her room and pulling out her phone. She dialed Sayaka's number, but all she got was her voicemail.

"She could be busy…" Kyoko said. "Though I suppose she didn't really have to tell me since I'm no longer at Hope's Peak."

"Yo, Senpai." Kanji ran up to Kyoko on the walk to school, stifling a yawn behind his hand.

"Kanji?" Kyoko raised a brow. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Yeah I did. I haven't completely woken up yet." Kanji admitted. "Oh yeah, the shopping district seemed different today when I was passing by… Like, everyone was really hustlin' more than usual… I wonder what's going on."

"I can sense something is suspicious, but I can't be too sure myself." Kyoko admitted.

"Sense, huh? So that's what it's like for a detective." Kanji said. "It didn't seem like the cops were involved in what was there, though. Guess I'll try asking around at school…"

There was still time before class, so Kyoko was talking with Yosuke, Chie and Yukiko. Kanji walked in to join them.

"Yo."

"Hey, there he is." Chie said. "You've been coming to school pretty often lately. What's up?"

"It's this annoying thing called the mandatory attendance policy." Kanji said, rolling his eyes. "So hey, you guys see the news?"

"News...?" Chie repeated. "Oh, that stuff about Rise Kujikawa taking a break from showbiz? I wonder why. She was just getting popular lately…"

"Just goes to prove that being an idol is tough work." Yosuke said.

"I'm aware it's quite a demanding task." Kyoko said. "Is Rise really that popular?"

"Huh...? You don't know her? So there's are things you don't know." Yosuke said. "She's all over the media! It hasn't been that long since her debut, but at this rate, she'll be a top-class idol in no time. To be honest, I'm a fan, too! She's such a cutie pie!"

For some reason, Kyoko felt an urge to punch Yosuke in the stomach. She wasn't sure why though.

"A cutie pie...? What are you, 80?" Chie snarked. "But I think she used to live here, so she must have a lot of local fans."

"The news said she's going to her grandmother's tofu shop, right?" Yukiko put a hand under her chin. "Do they mean Marukyu...?"

"Marukyu?" Yosuke said.

"Marukyu Tofu. Our inn was serving their tofu until recently." Yukiko explained.

"Oh, that place in the shopping district!" Yosuke snapped his fingers as he remembered. "I pass by it all the time. Wait, does that mean I can meet Rise if I go to her tofu shop!?"

"I think it would be better if we don't." Kyoko said. "It might cause issues for her, since it seems she came to take a break."

"Hey, aren't we getting a little sidetracked from the point here?" Chie said. "Did you forget about the murders!? You're the one who said the connection between the victims might be the TV! She could be the next target!"

"C'mon, it's not like Rise started showing up on TV just recently." Yosuke reasoned. "Also, how could Rise be connected to the incidents so far?"

"I wondered the same thing, so I did some research." Yukiko said. "It seems that she had no personal interaction with Ms. Yamano. They've just been on the same show once or twice."

"She's been an idol for a while now, but she's the talk of the town thanks to the news last night. And she is moving here, after all." Chie added.

"So, if our assumptions are correct, she fits the pattern… She'll probably be targeted next. And if she is, that narrows the killer's methods down even further." Yosuke concluded.

Kyoko smiled. "I'm impressed that you all took the initiative."

"Well, we got an Ultimate Detective helping us, so I guess some of it rubbed off." Chie laughed.

"So wait, what do you mean about it narrowing it down?" Kanji asked.

Yosuke sighed before he started explaining slowly and carefully. "Kanji-kun, listen real carefully… If Rise is next, then that lets us rule out our theory that the targets have to be connected with the first case. And that means the killer's targets are people who've been shown on TV recently. Get it now?"

"Huh. Ohhh…" Kanji nodded, understanding. "Yeah, okay."

"Alright, now we have to keep a close eye on everything Rise does! Let's do it!" Yosuke said, putting a fist upwards.

"Sheesh, he's all pumped up…" Chie said.

Kyoko really wanted to punch him now.

After school, Yukiko had asked if Kyoko could hang out with her. Of all places, she had taken them to Tatsuhime Shrine, saying she wanted to pay respects.

"I come here every so often." Yukiko said, as they sat on the steps in front of the shrine. "It's nice and quiet. Like before a big guest arrives. We make our annual hatsumode visits here. The exam charm was here, too..."

"It sounds like you have fond memories here." Kyoko said.

Yukiko thought about those words. "Once I leave this town… I won't be able to come here again, will I...?"

"You're not coming back?" Kyoko raised a brow.

"I mean… I couldn't face my parents again…" Yukiko said, looking down.

"Oh, Yuki-chan!"

A woman in a kimono walked over. Yukiko stood up to greet her. "Kasai-san… What are you doing here?"

"Taking a little break after ordering from the liquor store." The woman sighed. "So now you know."

"O-Oh, I won't tell…" Yukiko said.

"Hahaha, just kidding." The woman laughed before looking at Kyoko. "Is this your friend?"

Kyoko nodded. "My name is Kyoko Kirigiri."

"Hmm, I see Chie-chan has some competition." Kasai laughed.

"I-It's not like that!" Yukiko stammered, while Kyoko looked confused.

"Wow, your face is burning red." Kasai said. "Well, I'll leave you two alone!"

The woman turned and left with a wave. Yukiko was still blushing quite a bit.

"Sh-Sheesh, sorry about that." Yukiko apologized.

"Who was she?" Kyoko asked.

"Oh, that was one of our waitresses." Yukiko explained. "They all have the wrong idea… I'm really sorry…"

"It's fine." Kyoko reassured her.

"Thank goodness." Yukiko looked up. "Kasai-san is teaching me how to cook, along with the other waitresses and chefs. I said I'd learn on my own, but I kept messing up. I burnt myself a couple of times."

There was quite a lot of irony to that statement, but Kyoko chose not to comment on it.

""Please let us teach you," they said." Yukiko giggled. "It's usually the other way around, you know? They use up their break time for my lessons. They're so nice to me… When I was halfway successful one time, everyone gathered around and taste-tested it, saying how good it was. I didn't know what to say… I was just happy. Plus I have my friends at school… All things considered, I'm pretty lucky… I want to do my best. For everyone's sake."

Kyoko smiled at Yukiko's passion, feeling their bond grow stronger.

"But I'm trying to leave… Betraying those who've been kind to me…" Yukiko's face fell. "I… can't help that, I suppose…"

Kyoko wasn't sure what to say as they left the shrine, before parting ways.

I'm sure you'll find your answer soon enough, Yukiko.

Kyoko was walking on the way home as it started to rain, before she received a phone call from Nanako.

"Nanako? What's wrong?"

"Um, I just checked the fridge. We're out of eggs. Can you…?"

"I'll get some, don't worry." Kyoko said. "And I brought an umbrella."

"Really? Thank you, Big Sis!"

Kyoko ended the call with a small smile. "I suppose I can make a quick stop at Junes."

Arriving at the mall, she went straight for the grocery department. As she passed by the food court, she spotted something out of the corner of her eye. A girl with pigtails was walking towards the elevators, but her phone had fallen out of her bag. Kyoko walked over and picked it up. It was pink with a keychain on it. She had time, so she went to the elevators to deliver it back.

Just as she stepped into the elevator hall, she didn't see the girl anywhere, likely due to the lineup outside the elevator. She quickly ran over to the stairs leading down, since that was the only other exit.

Too fast. She could hear footsteps speed up downstairs, likely meaning that the girl heard her. The speed up must have been because she thinks she's being followed by a stalker.

Well, this isn't the first time she had to tail someone. She slowed her pace, instead letting her instinct guide her. Through the shelves of the stores, down another set of steps… there she was, running into an elevator. Kyoko quickened her pace, making it through the doors in time. Turning to the girl, she held out her phone.

"Excuse me, you dropped this earlier."

The girl looked stunned, before grabbing her phone. "Why didn't you say so a whole lot sooner?"

"I believe that wouldn't have been the optimal thing to do." Kyoko said. "You seemed to be in a hurry, so I didn't want to attract unnecessary attention."

"Well, you were right about that." The girl said. "And you did give it back to me instead of keeping it, so thank you."

Kyoko nodded, as the elevator dinged. "Try to keep a better eye on it. You wouldn't want to lose something like that… Rise Kujikawa."

Rise was left stunned again as Kyoko exited the elevator.

Now, where was I…? Right, getting eggs.

After dinner (Nanako was happy Kyoko got the eggs), Kyoko walked back up to her room to watch the Midnight Channel. The clock struck 12 again, as the TV lit up on its own.

The figure on the TV seemed to be of a girl in a swimsuit. Kyoko narrowed her eyes, recognizing that she had seen the figure not too long ago.

Wait… isn't that… Rise Kujikawa?

Annoyingly, the TV kept zooming in on her breasts and legs, making it difficult for her to analyze her face. Her thoughts were interrupted as her phone rang. It wasn't hard for her to guess who it was.

"Yosuke?"

"Hello?! Hey, did you see that?!"

"I did." Kyoko said.

"That was Rise for sure! Rise Kujikawa!"

"That it was."

"Thought so!" Yosuke said triumphantly. "Oh… I guess I shouldn't be so excited. There's a chance she might get kidnapped… C'mon, we should go there tomorrow! What was it called again...?"

"Marukyu."

"Oh yeah, Marukyu Tofu! Man, my heart's pounding already… Well, see you tomorrow!"

The call ended, and Kyoko laid down on the futon. She raised one hand up, barely able to make out the burn marks.

Why… whenever Yosuke talks about her… why do I feel this way…?

The Investigation Team had gotten together after class, hearing the other students talk about Rise.

"I've been hearing there's a big crowd at Marukyu." Yukiko said.

"I'm not surprised." Chie said. "But was it really her on yesterday's Midnight Channel? Didn't she seem a little… different?"

"It was her, no doubt about it!" Yosuke said. "Her curves… Her posture… Even her beautiful, slim legs!"

"...What's that look for?" Chie asked, noticing Yosuke look at her.

"Anyways, I'm positive! Right!?" Yosuke said, changing the subject.

"Uhh, are we going? I don't really care about celebrities, but it's not like I got anything better to do…" Kanji said. "Sure, I'll tag along."

"Sorry, but me and Yukiko have plans." Chie said. "Give us a call if anything turns up."

Kyoko nodded as they walked off.

"Well, shall we get going?" Yosuke said.

"Very well, but let's be clear on one thing." Kyoko stood up, before putting a finger in front of Yosuke's face. "We are not spectators. We are on an investigation, understood?"

"Y-Yes Ma'am…" Yosuke said.

"Dude, does she seem pissed to you?" Kanji asked as Kyoko left.

"Now that you mention it, yeah." Yosuke said. "Wonder what's eating at her."

The three of them made their way to Marukyu Tofu. As expected, there was a bit of a crowd. Adachi was already there, using a traffic wand and guiding cars away.

"Huh? Um, Mr. Detective, did something happen?" Yosuke asked Adachi.

"Oh, it's you guys." Adachi said, waving off some more cars. "Ai yi yi...These gawkers keep streaming in with their cars, trying to park in the middle of the shopping district."

"Why's that?" Kanji asked.

"Don't you know? Rise Kujikawa's here." Adachi said. "Hey, did you see her already? Is she there? Which is it?"

"Huh...? We're askin' why a plainclothes detective is here doing traffic control." Kanji said.

"Oh… Uh, well… The Inaba Police Department isn't that big, and we don't have enough staff…" Adachi sighed. "Well, I still have work to do, so I'll see you later."

He walked off in a bit of a hurry.

"Dude… you managed to scare off a police detective on active duty." Yosuke said, half-terrified, half-impressed.

"I wasn't trying to scare the guy, I just said what I was thinking." Kanji shrugged.

"But you're right, it's weird for the police to come out like this…" Yosuke said. "Hey… You think the police suspect that Rise might be the next target, too?"

"I think we're about to get our answer." Kyoko said, noticing who was coming out of the store.

"Alright, clear out!" Dojima said, waving off some of the crowd. "Coming through… Hey, Adachi! Dammit, I told him not to leave his post…"

He widened his eyes upon seeing Kyoko and the others and walked over to them.

"What are you guys doing-hm? Kanji Tatsumi!?" Dojima recognized. "Are you friends with them?"

"Like it's any of your business…" Kanji said.

"If you say so. So I'll ask again: What are you all doing here?" Dojima asked.

"Oh, well uh, we came to see Rise." Yosuke said. "Who wouldn't wanna come check it out if they found out an idol's family ran an ordinary tofu store? I'm, uh… a big fan!

"Kanji and I tagged along to make sure Yosuke doesn't do anything that would get him arrested again." Kyoko said.

"Hey!"

"Heh, good call." Dojima chuckled. "But remember. She might be a celebrity, but this is her home. Try not to bother them too much."

"I'll make sure of that. See you at home, Uncle."

Dojima nodded and walked off.

"So that cop's your uncle, eh?" Kanji said. "So, what the hell was that about? Are you guys under suspicion...?"

"Well, they did take us in once…" Yosuke said.

"They took you in once, for bringing weapons to a public location." Kyoko reminded him.

"Fake weapons!" Yosuke shot back. "But anyways, we can't just tell him everything, right? If we say anything about the other world, we only look more suspicious. They'll be watching us all the time."

"Got a point there…" Kanji said as the crowd started talking amongst themselves.

"Man, there's no one in there but the old lady. Risette isn't here after all…"

"I heard that she really is already here, but it might've just been a rumor… Well, it was fun while it lasted."

The crowd started to disperse, while Yosuke looked like he had just been punched. "A rumor!? What, she's not here?! Seriously?!"

"Pfft, you sound like the world's about to end." Kanji said.

"Shuddup! Anyways, now that all these people are gone, we might as well check inside. I'll go buy something. But I can't eat tofu though…"

"Hmm." Kanji looked at the poster. "Maybe you could grab the ganmodoki."

"Wait, what's ganmodoki again? Is it the kind with a rice cake in it?" Yosuke asked.

"There's no rice cakes in 'em… They're sorta like… fried tofu patties with veggies and stuff mixed in, and…" Kanji said, as he gave Yosuke a crash course on the food.

"Ohhh, okay, I know what you mean! I think I can eat that."

"Are you two coming in?" Kyoko asked, already in the doorway.

"O-Oh! Right!"

The two quickly followed her into the store, looking around. Someone wearing a kerchief was working behind the counter with their back turned..

"Let's see here…" Yosuke said. "Sure enough...The only one here is your typical old lady."

"Man, why don't you just ask if she's in back?" Kanji suggested. "'Scuse me!"

"Yes, may I help you?" An elderly woman asked, calling from the left of the store.

"What the-!?" Yosuke raised a brow, realizing there were two workers. "Then, who's that...?"

The kerchiefed girl behind the counter turned around to look at the three. "What?"

"Uh… are you Rise?" Kanji asked.

"Yeah. So?"

"No way… Are you really Risette?" Yosuke said in awe.

"What do you want?" Rise asked, before noticing Kyoko. "Oh hey, you're…"

"You haven't lost your phone, I hope?" Kyoko asked.

"Wait, you met her before?" Yosuke asked.

"By chance, I came upon her yesterday." Kyoko explained. "She dropped her phone and I gave it back to her."

"Thanks for that, again." Rise said. "So what can I get you?"

"Three ganmodoki." Kanji said.

"Oh, I see." Rise said. "I'll go get them."

Rise went over to one of the stands to get the food, while the other three talked in lowered voices.

"Wow… She's nothing like she seems on TV." Yosuke said. "I wonder if she's just tired…"

"Idol work is tough." Kyoko reminded him.

"Man, but it's really her...I'm so glad I came! Mission comple-"

Kyoko glared at him, silently reminding him of why they were here.

"Wait, we haven't done what we came here for yet!" Yosuke said, before calling to Rise. "Um...! H-Have you noticed anything weird lately?"

"Weird...? Like stalkers? Are you guys fans of mine?" Rise asked.

"I wouldn't say "we," but yeah, dude here's a big fan." Kanji said.

"You little...! Why'd you let that slip!?" Yosuke yelled.

""Her curves, her posture, even her beautiful, slim legs"...Ya finished checkin' em out yet, or what?" Kanji said.

"Waaaaaaah! Y-You're doing this on purpose, aren't you!? I didn't say that! I never said any of that!" Yosuke said, before recovering soon after. "Maybe you know already, but it's been dangerous in Inaba lately. That's why we've been investigating some stuff."

"Oh yeah?" Rise asked.

"Sorry, um… Let's see… Do you know about the TV show that comes on at midnight?" Yosuke asked her. "I mean, it's not like regularly scheduled programming...How do I explain this...?"

"...That thing that was on last night? The Midnight Channel, yeah?" Rise asked.

"Wait, you're aware of the Midnight Channel?" Kyoko asked. "Did you watch it last night then?"

"I heard the rumors from some friends of mine. But that girl last night wasn't me. I've never been filmed wearing that swimsuit before." Rise said. "And the bustline…"

"Huh?" Yosuke said.

"Mine aren't that big."

"Oh yeah, I see what you mean now…" Yosuke said, staring at them.

Kyoko gave him a sharp elbow to the ribs.

"Ow! I-I mean, what am I saying!? U-Um, I'm sorry...!"

"Don't apologize so much." Rise said with a smile. "You're funny."

"Hey, she smiled." Yosuke said.

"What is that show about, anyway?" Rise asked.

"Well, we're not too sure either… But you know there's been stuff happening here, right?" Yosuke said. "We think the people who appear there… are the ones who get kidnapped next."

"I know this is sudden, but we're not lying." Kanji said.

"We don't mean to alarm you, but it's a necessary precaution." Kyoko said.

"Huh, so that wasn't a dream." Rise said. "I was so tired yesterday, but I couldn't sleep. And it was raining, so I decided to try that rumor I'd heard about… Hmm. Alright, thanks. I'll be careful."

She walked back over with a bag, before handing it to Yosuke.

"Here you go, three ganmo. That'll be 600 yen." Rise said. "There's extra tofu in there for everyone. A little thank-you for worrying about me."

"Whoa, seriously? Thanks!" Yosuke said.

"Yosuke-senpai, you can't eat tofu, right? Want me to take yours?" Kanji offered.

"Hell no! I always eat what people give me." Yosuke said.

"But didn't you say you couldn't eat tofu…?" Kyoko asked.

Later that day, Dojima and Adachi came back to the store. They purchased some tofu for the trouble as well.

"Thank you very much, your receipt's in the bag." Rise said.

"Seems like the crowds are thinning out, so we'll be leaving now. If it gets rowdy again, just give us a call at the station." Adachi said.

"Okay." Rise nodded.

"Uh, hang on a second." Dojima said. "Sorry, but there's some things I'd like to ask you. You do know that there have been multiple violent cases around here lately, yeah? Have you seen anyone suspicious around?"

"Not really… It's been like always." Rise shrugged.

"Like always… Well, you're an idol, so I imagine you deal with folks like fans, paparazzi, and stalkers quite often. What made you take a break from showbiz?" Dojima asked.

"Does it really matter?" Rise asked, a little miffed at the pushing. "...I just needed a rest."

"And have you registered for school?" Dojima asked.

"I'm planning on going to Yasogami High. It was the closest.

I don't mean to alarm you, but… You do have some things in common with the recent victims." Dojima said. "That's why, well…"

"I might be kidnapped, right?" Rise finished. "I've been told that before. Don't worry, I'll be careful."

"Huh...? Someone told you already?" Adachi said, surprised.

"It was three other teens. They were wearing uniforms, so I think they were high school students." Rise said.

"Did one of them happen to look… How do I put it… Did he look something like a gang member?" Dojima asked.

"Wait… You think she's talking about your niece and her friends?" Adachi asked.

"Well, yes." Rise said. "The other boy had a pair of orange headphones around his neck, and the girl had lavender hair and gloves."

"Yep, it's them alright." Dojima said, as a voice called for Rise.

"I need to go now." Rise said. "They need some help in the back."

"It's fine. Stay safe." Dojima said.

The two detectives left the store, stopping in the street.

"Heh." Dojima chuckled.

"Sir?" Adachi said.

"It's nothing, Adachi." Dojima said. "I'm just impressed at how Kyoko's already as far, if not farther than us on the case. The old man really raised her to be one of us…"

"Then shouldn't we ask her for-?"

"Not at the moment, no." Dojima said. "We haven't hit a dead end yet, so she likely hasn't either. She's already wanted to help for a while, so I wouldn't be surprised if she'd share the info, but…"

"But what?"

"I'm also pretty sure she'd keep it to herself, to prevent it from spreading too much." Dojima said. "It's what I'd do."

"The way you're talking, it's almost like she's protecting you instead of the other way around." Adachi laughed. "But aren't we gonna be in trouble if this keeps up? The prefectural police will be coming soon to-"

"They're the least of your worries! Keep your head in the game." Dojima said, before looking at the bag. "She probably purchased something to avoid suspicion too. We're gonna have a lot of tofu for dinner tonight…"

After a rather filling dinner with quite a lot of tofu, Kyoko found herself in her room once more, right before midnight. The moment it changed, the TV lit up again.

"It's the same figure…" Kyoko said. "It's definitely her."

Kyoko took out her phone to call one of the others, but Yosuke called her first.

"Hey! We were right about it being Rise Kujikawa!" Yosuke said. "The one on tonight seemed a lot creepier than the real Rise, but you could see her face clearly. There's no mistake."

"We should get everyone together as fast as we can tomorrow." Kyoko said.

"You got it. Night!"

"Good night."

Ending the call, Kyoko looked back at the TV. She just had a bad feeling about this overall…

They had all gathered at Junes after class, as usual.

"So, about the Midnight Channel last night…" Yosuke started. "That had to be Rise Kujikawa. It even showed her face this time."

"So now we know one more thing." Yukiko said. "The ones that the culprit's targeting are…"

"All of them had been broadcast on TV." Kyoko said.

"Exactly! So we can rule out the assumption that all the victims are connected to the incident with Ms. Yamano." Yosuke said. "As for Rise, I took a peek this morning, and she was still at the shop. So I'm guessing that "TV show" thing doesn't appear on the Midnight Channel until after the person enters the TV."

"Teddie said before that it might be the victim's own creation upon entering that world." Yukiko remembered. "I didn't understand at all at first, but now I feel it may be true. The one that appears on TV is your other self… Maybe the victim's true feelings are shown unconsciously."

"But we see them on the Midnight Channel before they disappear." Chie said. "You know, when it's still really fuzzy and you can't tell who it is. How do you explain that part?"

"Yeah… It always happens before the person disappears, like an advance notice…" Yosuke remembered.

"Or like a ransom note." Chie said. "But who are they announcing it to? And for what?"

"I dunno, ask the killer." Yosuke shrugged. "There's a bunch of stuff I still don't understand."

"Is it possible that we see those images for the same reason?" Yukiko said.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Chie asked.

"If the Midnight Channel shows the victim's true feelings… maybe it does the same for the culprit. Maybe what we're seeing is the culprit's intentions." Yukiko concluded.

"That doesn't seem too far-fetched." Kyoko put a hand under her chin. "The killer can throw people into the TV, after all, which means they must have the same power that we do."

"So, when the killer thinks, "I'm gonna attack someone now," that's what we see on TV?" Chie said.

"I don't know about that…" Yukiko said.

"Well, if we're gonna go that far with it, we might as well say that's the basis for that entire world. Like, it's some kinda mix of the minds of the victims and the killer… Or maybe it's everyone's minds?" Yosuke trailed off a bit, unsure.

"Or perhaps it's like a mirror? A reflection of some sort?" Kyoko suggested.

"As always, nothing makes sense." Chie sighed. "Hey Kanji-kun, you still with us? You haven't said a word yet."

"Whaa...?" The younger teen snapped up. "Uhh… Well, um…"

"You weren't sleeping, were you?" Chie asked.

"O-Of course not! I was uh, lost in thought." Kanji defended himself.

"I wish I knew what that world's all about." Chie said. "Teddie's explanations have so many "maybes" in them that I don't understand the first thing about it."

"Why would the culprit throw people inside the TV in the first place?" Yukiko asked.

"It's a near perfect crime." Kyoko said. "It's impossible for forensics to determine what happened with the body."

"They must know by now that people die when they're in there long enough." Yosuke said. "There's no doubt it's attempted murder. So the TV's a good way to do that, because the police can never prove anything about the crime."

"Murder, huh...? So the killer's got a grudge against certain people?" Kanji said. "I mean, I know for a fact there's a shitload of people that hate my guts. So then how about you, Yukiko-senpai? Is there anyone you might have pissed off-"

"Never."

The abruptness of Yukiko's answer cut the tense mood in half.

"C-Come on, Yukiko!" Chie said. "Everyone's pissed somebody off at some point. Even if they didn't mean to do it-"

"Not me."

"...well then, she's the exception." Chie said. "But if we're trying to think of a common grudge someone would have against all the victims...I'm drawing a blank."

"Well, the good thing is, we have another shot at getting ahead of the killer. We can leave the motive aside for now." Yosuke said. "Once we catch 'em, we'll make 'em talk. The only thing we can be sure of now is that Rise is in danger."

"Wait… we get to do another stakeout!?" Chie asked.

"Hell yeah!" Yosuke pumped his fist. "This time we'll catch 'em in the act!"

Kyoko had gone on ahead to Marukyu. The others had stopped by the local shop to grab snacks. Arms crossed, she looked into the shop to see Rise working at the counter.

Alright, she's still here. That's good. Once the others arrive, we should be able to cover more ground. She looked down at the ground. Still, we can't afford to lower our guard now. If we manage to catch them in the act now, we'll avoid any future kidnappings.

She was so distracted by it all, that she didn't realize someone snuck up on her, putting their hands over her eyes.

"Ah! What-?!"

"Guess who~?"

"Wait…"

Kyoko broke away from the grip, before coming face-to-face with a girl her age. She had long, dark-blue hair that went past her waist. She was wearing a light brown duster that went past her knees, and had a bucket hat and sunglasses to hide her face. But even with all that, Kyoko recognized her instantly.

"Sayaka?" Kyoko widened her eyes.

"Hi, Kyoko!" Sakaya Maizono smiled. "Good to see you again!"

She pulled Kyoko into a hug, which the detective awkwardly returned.

"It's good to see you too, but what are you doing here?" Kyoko asked.

"Eh, I decided to take a break from show biz." Sayaka shrugged. "And while Hope's Peak is great, I wanted to try expanding my field of view, y'know?"

"So you came here? Why?" Kyoko asked.

"Well, I've never been here before." Sayaka said. "So why not visit my good friend too? I heard from Mondo that you've been doing well."

"I suppose I have." Kyoko said, a few hints of a smile at the corners of her mouth. "How long are you staying?"

"I'm not sure, really." Sayaka said. "Could be a week, could be the whole year. Just depends on."

"Where are you staying?" Kyoko asked.

"Currently at the Amagi Inn." Sayaka said. "But I'll probably find a more permanent place if I choose to stay."

"But I recall you were working with Mioda and Kaede to-"

"Oh that? It's done. Part of the reason I took the break. I was tired after that." Sayaka explained. "But anyways, enough about me. What are you up to? Detective work as always?"

"Do I make it that obvious?" Kyoko sighed.

"Nah, I can tell because I'm-!"

"No, you're not psychic, Sayaka."

"And you're no fun!" Sayaka stuck out her tongue.

"Yo! Kyoko-senpai! We're here!"

Hearing Kanji's voice, the two turned to see the others walking over. Adachi was nearby, walking into the shop.

"Sorry we took a while." Yukiko said. "The others just… bought a lot."

"Is that a box of donuts?" Kyoko asked. "And half a dozen boxes of milk?"

"There's no better meal than that for a man on a stakeout." Yosuke said.

"It seems a bit excessive." Kyoko said. "And why is Adachi-san here?"

"We ran into him on the way here." Chie said. "Said he had to watch the place too in case the crowds come back."

"Who's that, by the way?" Yukiko said, taking note of the girl with Kyoko.

"So are these your friends, Kyoko?" Sayaka asked.

Kyoko nodded. "You can trust them, if that's what you're wondering."

"Great! The hat was getting a bit stuffy anyways."

Sayaka took off her hat and glasses, causing Yosuke to gasp. "N-No way. Sayaka Maizono?!"

"Keep your voice down." Kyoko said.

"S-Sorry." Yosuke said. "But am I going crazy or what?!"

"Nope." Sayaka said. "Happy to see I've got fans all the way out here too."

"Uhhh, who's Sayaka Maizono?" Kanji asked. Yukiko also looked confused, as Chie was the one to speak up.

"Sayaka Maizono's another popular idol singer." Chie explained. "Around the same popularity as Rise, though she took off way earlier. Though why she's here and why Kyoko knows her, beats me."

"Allow me to properly introduce myself then!" Sayaka said. "I'm Sayaka Maizono, the Ultimate Pop Sensation!"

"You're an Ultimate too?!" Chie said.

"In the same class as Kyoko and Mondo." Sayaka said proudly.

"This is so awesome." Yosuke said, frantically trying to see if he had something for her to autograph on him. "First I get to meet Risette, and now I get to meet Sayaka Maizono, all in two days? Someone pinch me, I must be dream-OW! I didn't mean it literally, Kyoko!"

"I'm well aware." Kyoko said, crossing her arms.

Huh, that's new. Sayaka noted. "So, what are you guys doing?"

"Uh… top secret detective work." Yosuke quickly said. "So I don't think you should-"

"Actually, I was thinking of letting Sayaka join the stakeout." Kyoko said.

"Huh?!" The others all said.

"Stakeout?" Sayaka repeated. "What're you looking out for?"

"Kyoko, are you sure?" Yukiko asked.

The Ultimate Detective nodded. "Sayaka's got a sharp intuition, and has actually supported me a few times in other cases."

"I did narrow down a culprit once before she did." Sayaka said, rubbing the back of her head.

"No way, really?" Chie said in awe.

"That's because she went through my files without my permission." Kyoko said, as Sayaka laughed nervously. "I'll bring her up to date with the case. You four start keeping watch, then we'll join you."

"So that's what you've been doing."

While Chie and Yukiko were standing in front of the store and talking, and Yosuke and Kanji were walking up and down the street, Kyoko explained everything to Sayaka. She didn't seem too shocked that Kyoko was on the trail of a murderer. She had heard plenty of stories from the Ultimate Detective before.

"Let me get this straight. You're chasing after a killer, but their method of killing is unknown. But you think you've found a pattern on who they kill?"

"That would be the summary of it, yes." Kyoko said. "Yukiko and Kanji were both kidnapping victims of his. We managed to save them before it happened, thankfully."

Kyoko was glad Sayaka didn't press on. She kept all the supernatural elements hidden from her. Oddly enough, Sayaka laughed.

"What's so funny?" Kyoko asked.

"It's nothing." Sayaka said. "Just… I'm remembering the type of person you were when we first met. You were pretty aloof and kept to yourself. I could never see the you back then talking to anyone, much less tell me about your cases. Can you?"

Kyoko smiled. "I can't see my old self act like that, no. By the way, how did you know I was here?"

"Oh, I didn't." Sayaka said. "I was gonna visit the tofu shop because I knew Rise was there. I would've said hi to her, as a fellow idol."

"Do you know her personally?" Kyoko asked.

"Not… too well, I want to say?" Sayaka said. "I've met her a few times when we were both performing at the same concerts, but it's weird."

"What is?"

"Every time I meet her, her eyes change." Sayaka said. "I saw a spark of passion when I first met her, but it gets dimmer and dimmer whenever I see her again. Maybe that's why she took a break."

"Dimming passion, hm…"

"Oh… look!" Yukiko suddenly shouted.

Everyone looked at Yukiko, as she pointed upwards at one of the utility poles. There was an oddly dressed man climbing it.

"Wh-Who's there?!" Adachi shouted, running out of the shop.

The man slid down the pole, before taking off.

"Hey, he's running away!" Chie said.

"Get back here! Stop running, dammit!" Kanji yelled.

The others all chased after him. Kyoko stared and Sayaka laughed.

"There's no way that's the guy, yeah?" Sayaka said, as a truck drove by.

"No." Kyoko said.

"But your friends are gonna still chase after him, right?"

"Yes."

The two quickly followed them, only to wince once they saw Yosuke and Kanji grab him, as Chie unleashed a powerful kick that knocked the man down. The two boys kept the man pinned down.

"What is wrong with you guys?! Get off!" He yelled. "I'm just your average Risette loving fanboy!"

"There's nothing average about murderin' people, douchebag!" Kanji yelled.

"Murdering people?!" The man said. "What are you talking about?!"

"Save it for the station, pal!" Adachi reached down and handcuffed the man before grinning. "...I always wanted to say that!"

He hoisted the man onto his feet, keeping a firm hand on his shoulder.

"P-Please! Let me go! I didn't do anything wrong! I-I know for a fact it's not a crime in this country to take secret pictures!" The man begged.

"It's only illegal if you're causing issues with them." Kyoko said as she and Sayaka walked up. "Which, it appears to me that you were."

"And besides, you're under suspicion of murder!" Adachi said. "Come with me! We'll talk about this later! Wow, that went better than I thought! I gotta thank you guys for all your help! Well done!"

"Oh… sure!" Yosuke said.

"But you really should stop getting involved with this stuff. It's dangerous. I know Dojima-san trusts you, Kyoko, but it'd probably be better on his conscience if you didn't." Adachi pulled along the suspicious man. "C'mon, let's go!"

"Is it… really over?" Yosuke said, watching Adachi tow the man away.

"Rest is up to the cops…" Kanji said.

"Looks like the killer was a pervert, just like we thought. Wait… Does this mean the case is closed? Seriously!? Awesome!" Chie said.

"Um… I'm not technically part of the group, but that guy isn't the killer." Sayaka said.

"Hm? What makes you say that?" Yukiko asked.

"I'm pretty sure that guy was just your average stalker." Sayaka said. "Trust me, I've seen plenty of 'em."

"And thinking about it now, if the killer's methods are secretive, their own outside presence would be too." Kyoko said.

"So wait, you let us chase the guy for no reason?" Yosuke asked.

"He was still a creep." Sayaka reminded them. "And besides, with how riled up you guys got taking the guy down, I doubt we could've stopped you."

"Well, we should at least let Rise know the good news that we got one of her creepy-ass fans away." Yosuke said.

"I can say hi to her as well." Sayaka added.

They walked back to the tofu shop, where Rise's grandmother was managing.

"Oh, hello. Would you like some tofu?" She asked, looking up.

"Oh, h-hello. Umm…" Yosuke tried to think of an excuse, but the woman spoke up again.

"Oh, did you come to see Rise? She seems to have gone out, unfortunately…" She said.

"Huh? But wasn't she just here?" Yosuke asked.

"She does that sometimes. She'll just wander out without a word… You must forgive her. She's quite worn out, in many ways." Her grandmother said.

"She left… without saying anything?" Yosuke said, as dread started to spread through the group.

"She left without saying anything...? Could that mean...?" Yukiko muttered.

"As an idol myself, sometimes stepping out for air helps." Sayaka said. "But I've got a bad feeling…"

"Shouldn't we look for her!?" Yosuke said. "She can't have gone far."

"Y-Yeah, I agree!" Chie added.

They all scoured the shopping district, but couldn't find a trace. Kyoko inspected the area around the tofu shop, but couldn't find anything that stood out. They regrouped at the front.

"None of the neighbors have seen her…" Yukiko said.

"Maybe we're just not looking in the right places… But where could she have gone?" Chie said.

"Dammit, this isn't good. I hope I'm wrong…" Yosuke muttered.

"Well, we did everything we can. No use griping about it." Kanji said. "The weatherman says it's gonna rain tonight, so let's just keep our fingers crossed and tune in."

They all nodded. Seeing her chance, Sayaka spoke up.

"Hey, if it turns out that Rise didn't exactly disappear on her own… could I join this investigation?" Sayaka asked. "It'd leave a bad feeling in my gut if I didn't do anything."

"Sorry, but I'm going to have to ask that you refrain from doing so, Sayaka." Kyoko said.

"Huh? Why not?" Sayaka asked. "You let me stay during the stakeout."

"Because what we're about to do next… it's something I'd rather not involve you in." Kyoko said.

"What do you mean by that?" Sayaka raised a brow.

"I can't tell you at the moment, but I hopefully will be able to soon." Kyoko promised. "Stay safe."

The Investigation Team all went their separate ways, leaving Sayaka by herself.

"Kyoko… are you hiding things again…?"

It was nearing midnight again. Kyoko closed her blinds as the television turned on.

The image was quite vibrant and vivid, and walking on screen was Rise Kujikawa clad in a swimsuit.

"...oh no." Kyoko muttered, guessing what was next.

""Maru-Q! Push Risette!" Good evening, good evening! I'm Rise Kujikawa! This spring, one young girl levels up to become a high school idol. Yayyyy!" Rise grinned. "So today, I'm gonna celebrate by pushing the limits of Standards & Practices! Does everybody know what time it is? Showtime! Show what, huh? Hmhmhm… E-very-thing!"

Kyoko immediately grabbed the remote and rapidly pressed the power button, but it did nothing.

"Eee, how embarrassing! Is this too hot for TV!? Well, if a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing all the way! I'm gonna bare it all for you! Heehee! Stay tuned!"

The TV turned off, and Kyoko could breathe again. She picked up her phone, seeing it was Yosuke calling.

"Hey, did you see Risette on the TV?" He practically yelled. "I-Is she serious about baring it all!? Is it me, or are these shows getting crazier and crazier!?"

"...Yosuke." Kyoko said in a firm voice.

"R-Right! Sorry!" He apologized. "We'd better rescue her asap. 'Cause I bet her Shadow self is gonna do whatever it wants again. But man, we couldn't prevent the kidnapping this time either… even when we knew who the target would be."

"Knowing the target doesn't guarantee their safety, Yosuke." Kyoko said. "If you feel bad about it, make it up by solving the case."

"Thanks for that." Yosuke said. "That detective from this afternoon was no help at all. I guess we'll have to do everything ourselves... A-Anyways, see you tomorrow!"

The call ended, and Kyoko looked back at the TV.

Remembering how Kanji's Shadow was, she was very concerned considering what she had seen.

Sayaka watched as the TV turned off. She wasn't sure how to process what she had just seen.

She was just about to go to bed, when the TV lit up on its own. The next thing she saw was Rise Kujikawa talking about stripping and baring it all, nothing like the real Risette.

Normally, she would have dismissed this as some sort of crazy dream, but with everything Kyoko had told her, this didn't seem to be the case.

Should she go ask Kyoko about what she had just seen? …no, Kyoko would likely deny it and push her away.

The rain hit the window, as Sayaka made her decision. Her expression was determined.

I'm gonna get to the bottom of this, whether Kyoko likes it or not.

Kyoko's Social Links:

Magician (Yosuke Hanamura): Rank 8

Chariot (Chie Satonaka): Rank 7

Priestess (Yukiko Amagi): Rank 7

Emperor (Kanji Tatsumi): Rank 2

Justice (Nanako Dojima): Rank 3

Hierophant (Ryotaro Dojima): Rank 3

Fool (The Investigation Team): Rank 4

Hope (Hope's Peak Academy Students): Rank 2

A/N: Didn't include the Social Link stuff last time since there weren't any changes.

We got a big chapter since we're starting the next major arc. I combined elements from both the game and animated adaptation for this. Now, to discuss a few things.

So, since Kyoko is already a detective, this is one of the first major plot differences. Dojima isn't as snippy about her on the case, and pretty much expected her to get that far. This will obviously affect things later down the line.

And introducing the next Hope's Peak student to make their appearance, Sayaka! I was heavily juggling between her and Ibuki, but ended up going for her in the end. It's only fitting considering who's involved in this one. But what will the length of her involvement be? Well, you'll just have to wait and see.

Feel free to leave a review. See you all next time.