Snowy Spring Chapter 07: I'll Face Myself
Lyall the Werewolf: This story may not have gotten much traction, but I think getting a short review from UnknownHero, the author behind Senran Persona: Ninjas of Hearts, is an achievement. I have read Ninjas of Hearts, and it was partly an inspiration for Snowy Spring, as was the release of P4: Golden on all platforms. Unfortunately, I haven't beaten the PS4 version yet.
As for the story, I'm glad some of you agree with the power nerf on Yumi. Like I said before, I believe it will be more meaningful when she obtains her Persona.
And yes, I do try to strike a balance between the game and anime, with a bit of the manga thrown in. The last's chapter opening act was based on Yosuke's perspective from the manga. After Souji Seta (Yu's name in the manga) is introduced in the opening chapters, the narrative shifts to Yosuke's perspective for his arc, and the same happens with other characters. I don't know if I'll be doing that too often since the whole manga hasn't been translated yet, but hey, it is good to mix things up once in a while. Although, the manga doesn't seem to understand how the Persona/Shadow mechanics work. You'll know what you read the manga.
So then, let's see how Yosuke will face himself.
(I don't own Senran Kagura or Persona)
"Huh? There's two of him?" Yu gasped in shock at the creature that emerged from the dark.
Confusion and anxiety were all the team of four could from seeing the malevolent other Yosuke. It appeared from the darkness, without warning and its first spoken words were taunts. It looked like Yosuke. An exact physical copy. However, this creature's personality seemed to be the opposite of Yosuke himself.
"T-This sensation… it's a Shadow!" Teddie yelled. There was no mistaking that menacing presence.
"How can this be? Hanamura-san's Shadow…?" Yumi wondered. This other Yosuke. It gave off the same maliciousness as the Shadows. And Teddie just said it was a Shadow. Shadows weren't just evil monsters?
"W-Who are you? I-I wouldn't think that…!" Yosuke meekly said as his sinister doppelganger approached. His mind was already reeling from Saki's phony confession of hate. Seeing… this thing in front of him did little to put his mind at ease.
And it didn't stop there.
"Hahaha! Yeah, right! Isn't it obvious who I am? How long are you gonna keep deluding yourself?" the other Yosuke mockingly asked, "I'm you, and I know everything you're thinking."
"Y-You're me…?"
"You made everyone believe you came here for Saki-senpai's sake, but that's a fat load of crap! You came because it sounded like a good time. What else is there to do in this backwoods shithole town?" the other Yosuke asked with an air of disdain and sadism.
"W-What're you talking about?! That's not true!" Yosuke yelled back, but it was evident that he lost more confidence the more the creature spoke. He could feel its judgmental eyes piercing his very soul, and it made him fearful. Fearful of what the others thought.
"Don't act like a big shout! It is so true! You're sick of living in the sticks! But play your cards right, and you might even be a hero! That's what you're really thinking! And your dear, sweet Saki-senpai's death was the perfect excuse you needed to make the trip." the other Yosuke snarled.
Yu and Yumi turned to Yosuke in shock. That's what he was really thinking? He wanted to be a hero? He didn't even care that Saki was taken from him? Or should this creature's words be taken at face value? But then, Saki's inner thoughts were laid bare as well. The Shadow could be telling the truth. And Yosuke's reaction to the Shadow's words… he wouldn't be so nervous and trying to avoid eye contact if those statements weren't true. If these were Yosuke's true feelings, then it threw his real character into question.
"Stop spouting bullshit! Who or what the hell are you?!" Yosuke angrily yelled.
"Hehehe… I already ya. I'm You. Your Shadow. There's nothing I don't know about you." the other Yosuke answered with a sinister grin.
"Screw that! I don't know you!" Yosuke reported, "You can't be me, you son of a bitch!"
At hearing this, the other Yosuke cackled wildly.
"Hmhmm… Hahahaha! That's right! Say it again!" the Shadow demanded.
At that moment, Yumi sensed something terribly wrong. The aura around the Shadow grew sharper and brighter. It was getting dangerous.
"Hanamura-san, don't say anymore! You mustn't fall for its taunts!" Yumi warned. Unfortunately, she was ignored.
"Y-You're not me! You're nothing like me!" Yosuke yelled. Somehow, he knew saying it again was a bad idea, but another part of his mind couldn't bear facing the ugly truth. He had to reject it. Reject this monster wearing his face. What else could he do besides react instinctively to what claims to be his other half this way?
"Haha… yeah, that's right. I am me now! My own self!" the other Yosuke began to change. Dark clouds began to gather and surround the Shadow. It laughed maniacally again as power surged through its entire being. "I ain't you anymore!"
Shadow Yosuke's transformation was complete. It wasn't a humanoid shape anymore. It took the form of a giant cartoonish-looking frog with the upper body of a humanoid on top. The frog's body had a camouflage design, and the humanoid wore a red superhero-like cape and big yellow gloves. The most unnerving aspect of the lower beast's half was its wide, sinister, sharp-toothed smile.
"Eek! It turned into a big Shadow!" Teddie squealed while Yu and Yumi stayed calm and prepared for battle.
Yosuke looked on in horror at what his doppelganger had become. He'd laugh at its design if wasn't so scary up close. The scariest part was that it was like staring into a warped reflection of himself.
"Was this… what Saki-senpai saw when she…"
The liquor store's walls fall back, revealing a new stage. A wide area with girders standing in the dark luminescent background. Giant monitors were attached to scaffoldings.
"I am a Shadow, the True Self." Shadow Yosuke declared. Its voice was even deeper now that it was in this hideous form. "I'll crush everything that bores me. Starting with YOU!"
The giant Shadow began its assault, lunging forward with a thrust of its massive palm. Its target was Yosuke.
The first to react was Yu, who tackled Yosuke to the ground to protect him from being smashed.
Meanwhile, Yumi jumped in front of the boys and blocked the attack with her fans. The force pushed her back and sent her flying back.
"Tsukikiri!" Yu shouted.
"I'm fine! Focus on the fight!" Yumi shouted as she flipped back and landed on her feet.
Focusing his sights on the giant Shadow, he summoned the Fool Card and crushed it.
"Persona!"
Izanagi appeared soon after to dropkick Shadow Yosuke. The two entities immediately engage in battle.
"Hanamura, are you okay?" Yu asked in concern for his classmate. He didn't receive an answer as Yosuke was still on all fours, downtrodden and in denial.
"Sensei, be careful! That one's stronger than the last type!" Teddie warned in a panic.
"Teddie-san, what kind of Shadow is that?" Yumi asked as she returned to her comrade's side.
"It's a unique type called a Shadow Self. It's a strong-willed Shadow that manifests when a person has lost control of their suppressed emotions. Just like Yosuke." Teddie explained.
This was surprising information for Yumi and Yu. Shadows weren't just monsters inhabiting this world?
"No…" Yosuke muttered, "That jerk… it isn't me. We're nothing alike!"
"But that jerk came from you, Yosuke. From a place deep inside your heart. And rejecting it is what caused it to go berserk." Teddie said. He tried to sound as sympathetic as he could, but it didn't work.
"No! It's all lies!" Yosuke denied.
"So it really is…" Yumi thought as she internalized what Teddie had explained. The Shadows were a manifestation of the inner darkness of humans. It made sense, given the twisted nature of this world.
Now that she thought of it, Yumi remembered studying human psychology back in Gessen. The theories by Carl Jung were a highlight. The book he wrote explained his theories that every living being has an ego that governs the consciousness and several layers of the unconscious, and it all stems from the collective unconscious. The Shadow was the part of the human psyche that was kept hidden deep in the subconscious.
It seemed that Shadow Yosuke was a literal example of an ego's Shadow. It represented the aspects of oneself that the ego wanted to suppress and reject. Shadow Yosuke taunting its host with his insecurities, and Yosuke's subsequent rejection of it was indicative of this. Its monstrous outward appearance could also be symbolic of Yosuke's suppressed thoughts and feelings.
"Hahaha! You put on a good show of being 'carefree' and 'happy-go-lucky', but in reality, you're terrified of being alone!" the Shadow cackled, relishing its host's despair. It waved its arms around in the air, almost like it was dangling as its human half was attached to the lower beast half. It must indicate Yosuke's feeling of helplessness and isolation regarding his situation in Inaba. Many of Inaba's residents disliked Junes, so they retroactively disliked Yosuke, and there was little he could do about it.
Before Shadow Yosuke could taunt Yosuke further, Izanagi appeared to slash its spear at it, chasing the creature off.
"You're wrong! This isn't me! You don't know me at all!" Yosuke cried as he got up and ran away. It was as though he was running from the truth.
The truth stomped in front of him to slap Yosuke across the face to keep him from escaping, as demonstrated by the boy's Shadow.
The force of the Shadow's slap sent Yosuke flying back into Yu, knocking him, Yumi, and Teddie to the ground.
Izanagi stood protectively between them and the Shadow.
However, Teddie noticed black clouds seeping through the floorboards. It was more Shadows being attracted to battle.
"Oh no! He's beginning to attract the other Shadows! Sensei, if you don't make him stop, things are gonna get real grizzly real quick!" Teddie shrieked.
Heeding Teddie's warning, Yu guided Izanagi in cleaving Shadow Yosuke with its spear. But it missed, and the giant shadow grabbed its advisory. Jump high onto one of the monitors, Shadow Yosuke threw Izanagi to the ground.
Izanagi skidded across the ground until it hit a girder pillar. Yu felt the impact on his back.
The next to spring into action was Yumi. Despite being unable to transform and risk draining her energy, she refused to stay out of the fight. She scaled another girder pillar to reach the Shadow and swiftly threw three kunai at it.
Shadow Yosuke blocked the kunai with its massive arm easily, "Was that supposed to hurt?!"
The Shadow thrust its fist at Yumi, stretching to unnatural lengths. Yumi ducked behind the pillar before the punch made an impact, causing the pillar to bend inward.
Yumi leaped away from the pillar to another to avoid a second stretching punch, which destroyed the pillar. She leaped off the pillar and launched over to Shadow Yosuke to land a double kick. It blocked her attack again and pushed her back with his arm.
"Don't run, baby! We're just getting started!" Shadow Yosuke made a ninja-esque hand sign and conjured a deadly gust of green wind. The Wind of Oblivion hurdled toward the Gessen Shinobi as she was struck in the air.
She couldn't get out of the way in time to avoid getting caught in the gust. The green wind tore through her uniform's top and cut into her skin. She was blown away instantly as the gust hurdled to another.
The pillar collapsed, falling to the ground in pieces, with Yumi along with it. She was trapped beneath the rubble, injured, and nearly unconscious.
"Tsukikiri!" a concerned Yu yelled.
"Yumi-chan!" Teddie cried.
"I-I'm alright… you need to keep fighting…! You're the only one who can defeat it, Narukami-san!" Yumi uttered as she struggled to lift the debris. The energy drain was worse than she imagined. Somehow, that attack weakened her even further.
"D-Don't push it, Tsukikiri! I can help!" Yosuke tried to approach the helpless Yumi.
"Don't!" Yumi snapped at him, "Prioritize your own safety!"
"Huh?" Yosuke hoped he was mistaken, but rather than be concerned for his well-being, Yumi seemed disgusted by him. That was probably why she refused his help.
"Acting like the nice guy again? Get real! She knows your dirty little secrets now! She's obviously sick of you!" Shadow Yosuke yelled. It was as though the Shadow read its host's mind.
"B-But…" Yosuke couldn't deny the possibility. He tried being nice and friendly despite everything. But no one was satisfied. He managed to make a few friends who didn't mind his presence, like Chie, but it didn't distract him from knowing everyone else disliked him.
Seeing the conflicted look on Yosuke's face made Yumi shut her eyes away. A part of her did feel a layer of repugnance toward Yosuke's motivation, but another part of her felt guilty. This was a crisis for Yosuke, and yet she couldn't do anything to help him.
Speaking of helplessness, Yumi was grabbed and hoisted up in the air by the stretched hand of Shadow Yosuke. Now up to its face, Yumi glared in defiance as she struggled to get free of the giant Shadow's grasp. It tightened its grip on her, causing her to gasp in pain.
"Tsukikiri!" the concerned and angered Yu yelled. He could have had Izanagi rescue her, but he had to be careful, or else he could hurt her.
"Yumi-chan!" Teddie cried in worry.
"Hey, sweetheart, wanna know something? I know everything about him. I know how pathetic he truly is!" Shadow Yosuke declared.
As if on cue, the monitors turn on, revealing two young female workers at Junes. They were discussing plans to use Yosuke to get out of work, insulting him all the while.
Yosuke recognized those girls as third years at Yasogami High like Saki. He remembered seeing them talk behind his back while they were unawares. He couldn't believe their friendliness to him was an act. And now that memory was being used against him as he was forced to go through this nightmare.
"See? He knows people hate his guts, but he still tries to be their friend! He needs to be surrounded by other people to block out the pain of isolation!"
Yumi looked in abhorrence at the monitors. More than being disgusted by his motivation, she was revolted by the idea of people abusing Yosuke's trust without his consideration. Now, all she could feel was pity for him.
"S-Shut up already!" Yosuke cried, mortified by his insecurities being broadcasted throughout this nightmarish fight.
"I told you not to fall for this monster's taunts!" Yumi yelled at Yosuke.
"Huh?!"
"Regardless of your selfish motivations, you came here with a purpose, didn't you? To find out why Saki Konishi was taken from us? If you run from this battle or die crying in misery, that purpose will be lost, and Konishi-senpai will have died for nothing! Is that what you want?! To play the helpless victim because you can't accept the truth and face yourself?! How do you want this to end, Hanamura-san?!"
It was frustrating. All Yumi could do was try to encourage Yosuke to not give into his Shadow's mind games. But it wasn't enough.
"I don't know!" Yosuke yelled back, "I don't know what I want, okay?! Don't act like you know what I'm going through, so save your pity!"
Yumi froze from hearing that. Suddenly, the memories surrounding her parents' death surfaced in her mind. By now, she could barely their faces, but she could still feel the love they had for her. And then one day, she was forever deprived of that parental love. But, she gained a new purpose in life when she was taken in by her grandfather, Kurokage. She wanted to repay his kindness by carrying on his dream of a world without evil. However, so far, she has failed to protect innocent lives, not once but twice. And Yosuke may suffer the same fate. What right did she have to pity him or encourage him to move past this trial?
"Wow, I thought you liked this girl too! I guess getting bored of stubborn women is par for the course with you!" Shadow Yosuke mocked as it released Yumi, letting her fall to the ground.
Izanagi quickly rescued her and set her gently down on the ground. Izanagi and Shadow Yosuke resume trading blows soon after.
Meanwhile, the monitors show Yosuke's excitement over Saki accepting his invitation to the movie theater.
"You were bored, so you decided to ask Saki-senpai out! All you wanted was some cheap thrills!" cackled Shadow Yosuke. It threw more stretch punches at Izanagi. The Persona dodged each attack, albeit it was difficult for Yu to concentrate as Yosuke continued crying in denial.
"That's not true! You're wrong, you're wrong, you're WRONG! I'm not that kind of guy! Everything you're saying is a lie!"
This was when Shadow Yosuke decided it had enough of its counterpart's whining.
"Then you're better off DEAD!"
"I have to do something!" Yumi thought as she tried to get up, but her body ached too much. She had to save Yosuke before it was too late.
"IZANAGI!" Yu suddenly yelled.
Simultaneously, Yosuke and his Shadow were punched in the face by Yu and Izanagi.
Yumi stared dumbfounded as Yosuke fell to the ground, groaning in pain.
"Sheesh. That was annoying." Yu flatly said. It was difficult to concentrate on fighting while Yosuke was screaming next to him, so Yu had to shut him up for a bit. Teddie was snickering behind him.
"What?! Dude, I'm going through a crisis, and you punch me?!" Yosuke yelled.
"You liked her, right?" Yu asked.
"Huh?" a confused Yosuke uttered.
"Saki-senpai, I mean. Did you like her?" Yu waited for an honest answer. He wasn't being judgemental, which surprised Yosuke.
"Y-Yeah… I loved her," Yosuke answered honestly.
"Then, isn't that enough?" Yu asked as he offered Yosuke a hand, "Like Tsukikiri said, you came here with a purpose. Don't waste it."
Yosuke contemplated briefly before smiling, "Yeah, you're right. Thanks!"
He accepted Yu's help and stood up.
"Hehe, so she dumped you, huh?" Teddie teasingly asked.
"Watch it, you!" Yosuke retorted. However, as embarrassing and somber as it was, he knew it was time to come clean to move forward. "I knew it wasn't lying. Deep down, I knew a part of me felt that way. I was so ashamed of myself that I didn't wanna admit it. I always pretended things were cool and tried to not let everything bother me. Sometimes, even I think I'm a pain in the ass."
Yosuke took out the movie ticket he saved up his allowance for, to ask Saki out on that date. And he remembered the day he first met her. When he was down on himself, still hating the fact that everyone likened him to his dad and didn't see past his Junes Prince label, Saki came up to Yosuke and told him that Yosuke was himself and not his father. By now, Yosuke wasn't sure if she was sincere or not, but it still made him happier than he had ever been since coming to Inaba.
"But, no matter what, my feelings for Saki-senpai were real!" Yosuke declared with certainty. He looked at his Shadow as it kept feebly fighting Izanagi. "So, that's a part of me?"
Shadow Yosuke noticed its host walking up to it, so it howled in anger and stomped toward him, attempting to intimidate him again. But Yosuke was resolute as he faced himself.
"When you get down to it, all of this is me." Yosuke acknowledged, much to his Shadow's shock.
Suddenly, its massive body glitched out, indicating its weakening.
"AAGGH! You're so fucking annoying!" Shadow Yosuke bellowed as it writhed in agony.
Yumi looked on in pure astonishment, "He weakened his Shadow? But how?"
"Sensei, now's your chance!" Teddie yelled.
"Izanagi!" Yu commanded, and Izanagi unleashed a lightning bolt that struck Shadow Yosuke.
In a blinding flash, the Shadow's body exploded. After the black smoke disappeared, Shadow Yosuke's human form collapsed to the ground.
Yu breathed a sigh of relief as Izanagi vanished back into his subconscious. Teddie was in awe of the display of the Persona's power. Yumi was also relieved that the fight was over but wondered what would happen next.
The resolute Yosuke approached his Shadow and kneeled to it. Placing a gentle hand on its shoulder.
"You're me… and I'm you."
Without uttering a word, the Shadow smiled happily to be accepted by its host. Soon after, a metamorphosis began.
The Shadow transformed again. While its new form retained its ninja frog theme, it was less monstrous. It was physically humanoid, and it donned a white disco jumpsuit, completely with gold shuriken attached to its palms.
Bathed in a familiar blue light, the new entity assumed the form of a tarot card, this time being the Magician. It slowly fell into Yosuke's hand as Jiraiya was welcomed into his subconscious.
"Is this my…?" Yosuke asked.
"Persona," Yu said.
The card faded as Yosuke accepted it into his being. He turned to Yu, grateful for his help.
"Narukami, thanks. For everything."
Yu smiled, happy to be of help to Yosuke.
The two were then distracted by the sound of Yumi slowly approaching them. It took the remainder of her strength to get up and walk, so she panted heavily.
"Oh man, I almost forgot about…" Yosuke trailed off when Yumi glared at him and Yu for neglecting her. Though to be fair, she did tell Yu to keep fighting.
"Yumi-chan, are you okay?!" Teddie asked as he frantically ran over to her.
"Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine," Yumi said as she dusted herself off. It didn't distract from her injured state as she collapsed to her knees.
"Yumi-chan!" Teddied cried as he smothered Yumi, causing her discomfort.
"T-Teddie-san, that hurts!" Yumi winced. For some reason, she could imagine Minori doing this.
"Uh, Tsukikiri… I'm sorry about what I said before." Yosuke mumbled while cautiously approaching her.
"Eh?"
"You were right. I did have selfish motivations for coming here. Being bored of the same routine, getting crap from everyone, looking for some excitement, and wanting to live every boy's dream of being a hero. At the same time, I wanted to know why Saki-senpai had to die so badly that I rushed in here blindly. I thought I was prepared for the worst, but this wasn't what I expected."
Yumi silently listened as Yosuke went on.
"I know you were trying to help, and I appreciate it. Truly. But, now that you saw all of that, I guess you're not too keen on hanging out with a loser like me, huh?" Yosuke said somberly.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of. At least not anymore. What you've done today took tremendous courage. I can't deny you that." Yumi said.
"Wow… thanks for understanding." Yosuke smiled gratefully.
"And… when I was a little girl, my parents died." Yumi suddenly shared, surprising Yosuke, Yu, and Teddie, the latter of whom she casually pushed to the side.
"Your parents?" Yu asked.
"Much like Konishi-senpai, they were killed by evil-doers. So yes, I do know what it's like to lose loved ones." Yumi answered. She stood, despite the pain she was in, and faced Yosuke. "By now, I can barely remember their faces, but no matter what I do to bury them, I still remember the grief and frustration I felt that day at their funeral. I swore to myself that I'd avenge them and that I wouldn't let someone else suffer the same pain. Despite that, two people have died because of my negligence. And worse still, despite all my training, I can't protect my new classmates. If anyone should be ashamed of themselves, it is I."
"Yumi-chan…" Teddie said with empathy.
"Tsukikiri, I don't think you should be so hard on yourself," said Yu.
"Yeah. You're only human. Even badass ninja girls need a break, right…" Yosuke trailed off as he got a good look at the state of Yumi's uniform.
His Shadow ripped a good chunk of it off with that wind attack. While it was still intact, the tears revealed some of her cleavage and her blue and white Polka-dotted underwear.
Yumi noticed he was staring at her and sighed, "Perhaps this isn't the best place to discuss this."
"Y-Yeah… I'm worn out too…" Yosuke said as he squatted down.
"This place isn't meant for humans. It's not comfortable for you here." Teddie said as he was worried for Yumi and Yosuke. He could no longer sense any Shadows coming to attack them. As soon as Yosuke's Shadow was defeated, the gathering Shadows backed off.
"I don't hear any more voices, so I think we're done with this place. Let's go back." Yu suggested.
[-TV Station-]
"Be warned, if any of you attempt to peek, you will be executed," Yumi said as she hid behind the stack of TVs Teddie conjured. While they decided to rest at the TV Station, Yumi decided to use the healing ointment on herself to recover. She needed to remove her torn clothes first, so she took cover behind the TVs. She set her torn clothes on the top TV. Right now, she was naked, save for her underwear.
"Yes, ma'am," Yosuke replied. As tempting as it was to try, he'd rather not get executed today. Yu and Teddie felt much the same.
On the way back, Yosuke recovered his strength and had time to reflect.
"Those voices we heard back there… I wonder if that was something Senpai was keeping deep down inside." Yosuke thought aloud.
"Probably…" Yu replied.
"What a way to find out… 'a pain in the ass', huh? Talk about embarrassing!" Yosuke sighed as he bitterly held his movie ticket.
"I believe there may be hope for you in the future, Hanamura-san," Yumi said as she applied the ointment on her arms and shoulders.
"Huh?"
"Because I think you and Chie-san would make a lovely couple."
Yosuke looked very uncomfortable at the suggestion.
"Uhh… I'm gonna take a hard pass on that." Yosuke winced. Yeah, Chie did have her cute moments, but those were few and far between. Plus, she was more like a casual friend than girlfriend material.
"Too bad." Yumi teased.
"I didn't you had a sense of humor, Tsukikiri." Yu chuckled.
"There's plenty you don't know about me. Not yet." Yumi said. She finished applying the ointment to her legs and moved onto her stomach.
Sure, was probably a lot Yumi wasn't allowed to him or Yosuke, but Yu was in no hurry to know everything. He was patient enough to wait. But something was nagging at him. And it was about this world.
"By the way, Teddie …" Yu said to Teddie, "You mentioned this world becomes reality for those who enter. Does that mean the strange room we found and the shopping district manifested due to the ones who died being thrown here?"
"I'm not sure. It's never happened before. But it's likely where they were when the Shadows attacked them." Teddie answered, "I sensed those two people as they came in, but they disappeared when the fog lifted."
Yosuke turned to Teddie inquisitively, "Hey, that reminds me… you said my Shadow came out because I lost control of my suppressed emotions, right? Did the same thing happen to Saki-senpai and the announcer?"
"I think so." Teddie answered, "The Shadows here were originally born from humans. Sometimes the fog clears, and they go berserk. And you saw what happens next. A strong-willed Shadow Self draws others to it and the big mass of Shadows kills the host."
"So, if I have this straight… The victims, Mayumi Yamano and Saki Konishi were unceremoniously thrown in here and were completely trapped. They wandered around until their Shadows appeared. And once the fog cleared, they went berserk and they killed them. And that's why people die when it gets foggy in our world?" Yu asked.
Meanwhile, Yumi listened in on the conversation. The Shadows were born from humans? As ludicrous as it was, it explained Shadow Yosuke's existence. According to Carl Jung's theories on human psychology, the Shadow is the suppressed self. The darker self the ego denied.
As difficult as it was to accept, it was the truth. Humanity was locked in a struggle with its own darkness. All the more reason to purge the evil of this world and the real one.
But then that raised a profound question: Did Yumi have a Shadow? Was it possible that she had a festering darkness in her heart like Yosuke and Saki did?
No. It was impossible. Yumi was pure in body and mind. She had no inner darkness to suppress. She was certain of it.
And then she heard it again. That whisper. It was subtle but was louder this time.
"Where is that voice coming from?" Yumi thought.
"In other words, if I were here until the fog cleared, I would've been in much deeper trouble?" Yosuke asked.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure," Teddie answered.
"Looks like you were lucky me, Tsukikiri, and Teddie were here with you, Hanamura," Yu said apprehensively. While Yosuke had his and Yumi's protection, the reality of the other victims having no such luck was sobering.
"Dammit… Senpai and the announcer… they were here all alone… no one could save them." Yosuke said with empathy for the victims who died.
Yumi was silent as guilt gnawed at her soul. She could have saved them had she known a killer on the loose in Inaba. So far, there were no clues to this killer's identity or what their motives were. There was one ray of hope in this frustrating situation.
"There might be a way to prevent more tragedies like this," Yumi said, catching the others' attention.
"I think she's right. Those people disappeared when the fog lifted, but they were safe before then." Teddie said.
"My thoughts exactly." Yumi stated, "It's unlikely the killer will stop their murder attempts. More victims will surely follow. And that's where we come in."
"Are you saying if someone is thrown into the TV, we can save them before the fog lifts? Like how you guys saved me?" Yosuke asked.
"Yes. Though, we won't know for sure until we try." Yumi answered. She was done applying the ointment to places where she was injured. Her wounds healed in almost no time. Once that was done, she started dressing herself in her uniform.
"It's our only option, that's for sure," Yu said. He could picture more victims being stranded in this world, like Yumi said. He finally understood would the great mystery was and where his responsibilities lay.
"Don't forget about the Shadows. The Shadows attacked us, remember?" Teddie reminded, "They must be keeping a close eye on us. They may view people investigating this place as enemies. I think that's especially the case with Yumi-chan."
"Oh yeah! When we first showed up and attacked us, they went straight for Tsukikiri." Yosuke said.
"Her Shinobi powers must scare them," said Yu.
"I realized that right away and decided to fight them head-on. However, my Shinobi Transformation wasn't as effective as a Persona." Yumi said glumly. Sure, she could still fight them, but the draining side-effect this world had on her transformation made fighting cumbersome. Compared to the lesser mindless Shadows, a transformed Shadow Self would be much more difficult to deal with.
Yumi was uncomfortable asking civilians for help, but her power wasn't enough to deal with the Shadows. Yu's Persona ability is an invaluable asset to combat them. And now Yosuke has the same ability. The chances of solving this case went up considerably.
"Don't worry so much, Yumi-chan! With the four of us working together, we can still fight the Shadows and save people!" Teddie said.
"Yeah, you're not alone." Yu said, "We all feel the same way, Tsukikiri."
"We're gonna catch the killer. It doesn't matter if you can't use your Shinobi powers here," said Yosuke, "Plus, that story you shared about your parents helped me understand you a little more. You're someone who can't let the suffering of others slide because you've been there."
"Thank you both. I feel embarrassed to be showing you a weaker side of me, but it is a relief that you understand how I feel." a grateful Yumi said, "You know, this may sound silly, but it seems fate has brought us, individuals with special powers, together so that we may solve this case."
"I agree. If not us, then who else will solve the case?" Yu asked.
"It has to be us. That world is too dangerous. Saki-senpai and Ms. Yamano were trapped with no protection and no way out. But with the three of us working together, I think we pull this thing off." Yosuke said confidently.
"Yeah, I think so, too." Yu nodded.
"It seems we're united in thought. This may be a long endeavor, but let's do everything in our power to solve this mystery and bring justice to this killer." Yumi held out her hand to shake with Yu and Yosuke.
The three students shook hands, solidifying their alliance.
"And now that we know our mission objective, let's return to the other side," Yumi said. She was fully dressed, albeit her uniform still had tears.
"Uh… I don't think you should go back looking like that." Yosuke said as he and Yu averted his eyes. They were both worried Chie might flip out at them for letting Yumi get hurt and her uniform destroyed.
"That won't be a problem." Yumi made a hand sign, and her body was bathed in a flashing white light. Her uniform repaired itself, and now it was back to its undamaged state.
"You can fix your clothes, too? You sure you're not a magical girl or something?" an amazed Yosuke asked.
"I'm not a magical girl. I'm a Shinobi." a semi-annoyed Yumi answered.
"Between the transformations, conjuring ice from your fans, and repairing your clothes instantly, I don't see much difference," said Yu.
"In any event, we should hurry back. I'm sure Chie-san is worried sick about us." Yumi suggested.
"Yeah." Yosuke nodded.
"U-Um… I have a question." Teddie timidly spoke up, "If Shadows are born from humans, where was Teddie born from?"
This question surprised Yu, Yumi, and Yosuke.
"You don't even know where you came from? How should we know?" Yosuke asked.
"You don't know yourself at all, Teddie?" Yu asked.
"I know some things. Though, it's mostly about this world. I don't know anything about myself. Until now, I've never thought about it." Teddie explained.
"Are you serious? No wonder we couldn't get a straight answer out of you." Yosuke said.
"Your situation is sadder than we realized," Yumi said with empathy.
"Will you guys come back…?" Teddie asked.
"Of course we will." Yu smiled.
"Really?" Teddie gasped.
"Yes. We did make a promise to you." Yumi happily reminded.
"And you said you wouldn't let us out if we didn't." Yosuke teased.
"Oh, right." Teddie said sheepishly, "Well, the exit's up, anyway! You guys can go back now, but one last thing… I'll be waiting for you all here. You need to come in from the same place so we can meet up."
"From the same place? Why is that?" Yu asked.
"Sure, you could enter from somewhere else, but then you wouldn't end up here. You might show up somewhere I couldn't get to you. You'd be doomed…! Got it?"
The three teens nod in agreement after hearing Teddie's explanation.
"Yeah, pretty much." Yu said, "Now that we have a game plan, let's head back."
"Yeah. Besides, I'm worn out. I wanna go home, soak in the shower, and go to bed." Yosuke sighed. He had a feeling he'd sleep well tonight, though.
"Agreed. But we should make sure no employees are wandering about." Yumi added.
"Okay, go, go, go! Squish!" an impatient Teddie started shoving the three teens into the TVs again.
"Whoa! Hey! Stop squeezing, you little-!"
"Kya! Where are you touching?!"
[-Junes Electronics Department-]
Chie lost track of time as she sat on the floor, stewing in her anguish. For one, she was worried about her classmates. Second, some people gave her strange looks and it was mortifying.
Her stewing would end when she heard a loud thud in front of the TV. Chie panned up and saw that Yu, Yosuke, and Yumi had emerged from the screen.
"Agh… does he have to do that every time?" Yosuke groaned.
"I have another question… are we doomed to have accidents like this every time?" an annoyed Yumi asked as Yu was saddled on top of her as she lay on her belly.
"S-Sorry…" Yu awkwardly moved away from the Gessen Shinobi.
"Y-You…" Chie uttered in relief as tears burst from her eyes, "You all came back!"
The three were surprised by her wailing.
"W-Whoa, Chie, what's with the waterworks?" Yosuke asked.
"Don't act like you don't know, you jackass!" Chie gathered up the remaining rope and threw it at Yosuke, "The rope snapped off as soon as you left! I had no clue what to do, and I've been worried sick this whole time!" Chie said in between angry sobs, "I'm so pissed at you jerks right now! I can't believe you put me through this! You all suck!"
Three returners exchange looks of guilt for having put Chie through this stressful position.
"Umm… Sorry, Chie." Yosuke said with the most guilt. If he wasn't so gung-ho about looking into Saki's death, all of his classmates wouldn't have had to endure this stressful situation.
"Me too," Yu added.
"I, too, apologize for worrying you. But as you can see, we made it back safe and sound. So you can rest easy." Yumi assured.
"B-Beef steak…" Chie muttered.
"C-Come again?" Yosuke asked.
"You owe me ten orders of beef steak!" Chie announced.
Yosuke flinched at the sudden extravagant demand, but he felt he had to make up for his brashness somehow.
"O-Oh yeah, that's cool! That's a great way to apologize! Right, Narukami, Tsukikiri?!"
"Huh? Us too?" a shocked Yu asked. He didn't have much money on him at the moment. Neither did Yumi.
"Narukami-kun's getting me Mikudan." Chie said.
"Uh, sure, you got it…" Yu nervously replied. He didn't know what that was, but it might be less expensive.
"Emotional blackmail for all… clever." Yumi thought before hesitantly asking, "And how shall I compensate you?"
"Tell me the secret of big boobs," Chie demanded.
Yu and Yosuke were surprised by Chie's biggest demand.
"I-I'll think about it." said an embarrassed Yumi.
"Then I forgive you," Chie said as she wiped her tears.
[-Shopping District-]
Following the awkward reunion at Junes, the four teens parted ways.
Yumi and Chie strolled through the shopping district. It was still raining, so they had their umbrellas up.
The Good Shinobi found it jarring to be traveling through the genuine local after seeing the crude replica in the TV World. She would have to practice not confusing this world for the other one when going into the TV World. Who knows what kind of places could manifest because of the victim thrown inside?
"Man, today totally sucked! I get that Yosuke was grieving, but he can't put people out like that!" Chie complained.
"You may be right. But perhaps you should ease up on the beef stake. You wouldn't want to upset your diet." Yumi suggested.
"Y-Yeah, you may be right. Plus, it's not very feminine to eat so much, right?" Chie sheepishly asked.
"She looked rather feminine when she was crying, though." Yumi thought.
"But I gotta clean out his wallet as punishment for worrying me!" retorted Chie.
"I thought you forgave him."
"I did. I'm just making sure Yosuke learns his lesson, that's all."
"Hehe…" Yumi chuckled, catching Chie by surprise.
"Huh? What's so funny?" Chie asked.
"I was just thinking that you and Hanamura-san are very close. Close enough that I'd almost mistake you for a budding couple." Yumi teased.
Chie cringed upon hearing that, "Yeah, no…"
Yumi chuckled again, amused by Chie's reaction.
After a moment of silence, Chie spoke again, "You know, Yosuke seemed kinda different after coming out of the TV. It's like he matured somehow. What happened in there?"
Yumi paused for a moment. It was doubtful Chie would understand the situation as it were. She clearly couldn't handle getting involved with the case, so it was best to leave her out of it. However, there was no harm in satiating Chie's curiosity.
"Let's just say he achieved a form of enlightenment," Yumi said.
"Enlightenment? Like when monks meditate to gain wisdom or purge their inner demons or something like that?" Chie asked.
"You could say that. Thanks to this enlightenment, Hanamura-san may have found a form of balance within himself to move forward." Yumi answered.
"Balance, huh…?" Chie trailed off in thought.
As they continued to walk, Yumi wondered if Chie had a hidden darkness deep in her heart as well. Was it like that for everyone? Having certain thoughts and emotions locked away, screaming to be set free, like Yosuke's Shadow. Would it be better for a person to accept that part of themselves to achieve the same enlightenment Yosuke did? Perhaps it would, but why anyone choose to accept a dark part of themselves? Wouldn't it make more sense to purge that inner darkness before it can fester into a Shadow? They would be pure in body and mind, and they'd never fall into the path of evil that way. And besides, that world was too dangerous for the average person, as proven by the two deaths thus far. The less unwanted visitors, the better. That meant protecting good people like Chie from the killer.
Yumi swore to find the killer and ensure they would never harm innocent people again. Not in this life.
"Hey, it's Yukiko!" Chie called out.
Before Yumi realized, they were at the Samegawa Flood Plain, and they saw Yukiko sitting beneath the gazebo to wait out the rain.
"Hm? Hi, Chie, Yumi!" Yukiko replied. The two joined Yukiko beneath the gazebo.
"Hello, Yukiko-san." Yumi greeted. She noticed Yukiko was wearing a pink kimono instead of her uniform, "That kimono looks lovely on you."
"Oh, thank you." Yukiko smiled, "My parents sent me out on an errand dressed like this."
"Even though, it's raining. Sheesh, your parents run you ragged as always." Chie sighed.
"It can't be helped. Especially now of all times." Yukiko said glumly.
Yumi could see that Yukiko had a modest but slender build beneath her kimono. That included the bust, which was the right size to properly fit in a kimono. It was something Yumi envied due to her needlessly large bust.
"Anyway, I heard about what happened to Saki-senpai. Is Yosuke-kun doing okay? He liked her if I'm not mistaken." Yukiko said.
"Yeah, I guess. Yumi said he found enlightenment." Chie answered, confusing Yukiko.
"Enlightenment?"
"Let's just say he'll be okay for now." Yumi clarified.
"I see. That's good to hear." Yukiko replied.
"But man, you wouldn't believe what he put me through today! I'm definitely draining his wallet for it later!" Chie declared.
"Huh? Did something happen?" asked Yukiko.
"Best not to worry about it," Yumi replied. Explaining Yosuke's misdemeanor would entail explaining the TV World and its use in the murders. The less who know about it, the better.
"O-Okay…" Yukiko trailed off, "So um… how are you adjusting to your new school and town, Yumi?"
"Barring some tribulations, I've come to like here," Yumi said. The murders aside, this town had a calm and peaceful atmosphere. It will take some time, but the Good Shinobi planned to keep it that way by stopping the killer.
"Really? But it must be not easy moving to a place you know almost nothing about. I've never been outside of Inaba, so I wouldn't know what to do if I transferred to a new school." said Yukiko.
"Why would you want to change schools? You'll run the Amagi Inn in the future. That's more exciting, right?" Chie asked.
"Oh, yeah…" Yukiko mumbled.
"But, if you did transfer schools, I'll follow along with you. I'm not gonna leave your side, Yukiko!" Chie assured.
"Thanks, Chie." Yukiko smiled at her best friend.
Yumi could see the strong bond between the girls, but she noticed some kind of rift forming between them. She hoped it wouldn't cause a problem later.
"Anyway, I gotta run! See you two tomorrow!" before getting a response, Chie sprinted home.
"Chie, always full of energy," Yukiko said admiringly. She turned to Yumi curiously, "It looks like you're getting along well with her, Yumi."
"She can be a handful at times," Yumi said, remembering that emotional blackmail from earlier.
"I know, but she's very supportive. It's always her that gives me the extra push I need." Yukiko said. It was like their conversation before, where she seemed livelier when talking about her so-called prince. Yumi raised an eyebrow when Yukiko casually mentioned skipping class with Chie last year.
The two leave the pavilion with their umbrellas up.
"Um… I'll see you at school then," said Yukiko.
"Actually, since we're together right now, I was thinking of getting that job interview with your mother," Yumi said. Now was as good a time as any to get that interview for the job.
"Oh, um… I don't know if now's a good time for that. My mother isn't feeling well, so I'm filling in while she recovers." Yukiko informed.
"I see. Is there a reason why your mother is under the weather?" Yumi asked.
"It's not something I can discuss out in the open. Sorry." Yukiko replied.
"I understand. Would you like me to escort you home, just in case?" Yumi suggested, "You can't be too careful with these murders happening. And if I'm going to work at the inn, I should memorize the way there."
"That's a good idea. There is safety in numbers. Besides, Chie told me over the phone that you had amazing martial arts training." Yukiko said as her eyes marveled.
"I-It's just basic self-defense. Anyway, shall we go?" Yumi sputtered.
"Yeah, I don't want to worry my mother," Yukiko replied.
[-Later: Amagi Inn-]
The two girls arrive at the Amagi Inn upstream of the Samegawa River. The inn was a large-scale traditional Japanese inn surrounded by a thicket of trees.
"How beautiful," Yumi said as she marveled at the inn's well-designed interior.
"Really? I guess it would seem that way from an outsider's point of view," said Yukiko while folding her umbrella.
The rain hadn't subsided, and it was likely to continue through the night.
"Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, Yumi."
"Just a moment, Yukiko-san. There is something else I wanted to ask you," said Yumi. This was regarding something she came across during her investigation in town. It was rumored that Mayumi Yamano had secluded herself in the Amagi Inn following the scandal. The students at Yasogami High were talking about it as well. And since Yukiko's family owns the inn, curious students would try to poke their noses in her business to confirm it for themselves.
"Huh? What is it?" Yukiko asked.
"I assume you've had to answer this question a lot, but…"
"Excuse me!" a familiar man's voice shouted. The girls turn and see a news report and his cameraman approaching Yukiko.
"Huh? Um… are you talking to me?" Yukiko nervously asked.
"We heard you're the new manager, but you're still in high school. Is that true?" the report asked as his microphone was placed in front of Yukiko.
"I-I'm only filling in temporarily," Yukiko answered.
"Someday, though." the reporter said, "That aside, wow! You look gorgeous in that kimono! You must get a lot of male visitors!"
"Huh? N-No, I…" Yukiko became perplexed by the reporter's rambling.
"I wonder if we can get an opinion from your friend… huh?" the report turned to face Yumi, but he soon realized that she vanished. "That's strange. I thought there was another girl here."
"Huh?" Yukiko looked around and saw that her new classmate was gone. She didn't make a sound despite being in the building's main entrance.
"I guess she slipped away while we interviewed the young manager. Oh well. Maybe we can get her again sometime in the future." the reporter said, "Anyway, good luck, Miss Young Manager! Let's do a proper interview next time. I hope you bring your friend along, too!"
"Uhh… goodbye?" a confused Yukiko watched as the reporter and camera left.
"I hope they never come back," Yumi said as stood behind Yukiko, much to the latter's surprise.
"Oh! You startled me! How did you do that?" Yukiko exclaimed.
"I'm sorry. Let's just say I don't do well in front of a camera." Yumi replied. As a Shinobi, she must refrain from making herself known to the public. That includes impromptu interviews like that one. And honestly, she hated the idea of being seen on live television.
"Okay…" Yukiko muttered, "So, anyway, your question… it's about Ms. Yamano, isn't it?"
Yumi paused for a moment before nodding.
"I'm not surprised. Almost everyone at school has been asking." sighed Yukiko.
"I apologize for prying," Yumi said.
"It's okay. Normally, I can't discuss such things, but I think I can trust you. You're not the type of person to ask questions and spread unfounded rumors for no reason, are you?" Yukiko said with a trusting smile.
"I thank you for trusting me despite the short time we've known each other, but are you sure you want to do this?" Yumi asked.
"I'm sure. Like I said, you're a trustworthy person." Yukiko smiled, "And yeah, Ms. Yamano was staying here after the affair went public. I think she was trying to get out of the spotlight for a while."
"I see. Do you recall Ms. Yamano ever leaving the inn?" Yumi knew this question was crucial. The time between when Ms. Yamano came to Inaba and her death hasn't been made clear. The only known fact was the rumor of her stay in this inn before her demise.
"To be honest, I don't think she did. At least, no one ever saw her leave." Yukiko answered.
"No one saw her leave?" asked Yumi. Did the killer find and kidnap her before throwing her into the TV?
"We're trying to keep this from getting out as much as possible. Ms. Yamano got a lot of media attention as is, both before and after her death. If more people find out she stayed here, more reporters are bound to keep showing up. It's causing my mother a great deal of stress." Yukiko explained.
Yumi listened intently as Yukiko explained the situation.
"On top of that, Ms. Yamano had some harsh things to say about our staff. She was never satisfied and kept complaining to my mother about their attitude towards guests. It got so bad that Mother collapsed from shock." Yukiko's tone was slightly indignant as she spoke about Yamano's complaints, "I guess she was stressed out about the affair going public, but that didn't mean she had to right to treat my mother that way."
"And that's why you're filling in for your mother right now. I'm sorry to hear that." Yumi said empathically. Yukiko's mother must take great pride in entertaining guests, so hearing someone's harsh slander was an undeniable blow to her esteem.
"Don't worry. After all, I'll take over the Amagi Inn after high school. Better to get used to the job now than later." Yukiko said.
Yumi detected a bitter tone in Yukiko's statement. It was like the last time they spoke face-to-face about the inn.
"You sound as if you don't want to inherit your family's inn," said Yumi, causing the Amagi Heiress to stiffen.
"O-Oh, look at the time! I should report back to my mother! I'll be seeing you, Yumi! And please don't share what we talked about with anyone else." Yukiko briskly entered the inn, leaving Yumi alone.
That was fine. What Yukiko shared was valuable information, even if was a small contribution. Ms. Yamano came to the Amagi Inn to get away from the media. And then she met her tragic fate because the killer got to her here.
The killer had taken Ms. Yamano away and threw her into a TV, whereupon she had her fatal encounter with her Shadow. That was the most logical explanation. How they did it without witnesses seeing the crime was another part of the mystery.
Yumi could only imagine the kind of darkness in Ms. Yamano's heart that gave birth to a Shadow. But Yumi was different. She had no darkness in her heart. She was sure of it. And she wouldn't rest until she found the culprit.
Soon after, Yumi it was time to go home. But, as she exited the Amagi Inn, Yumi paused. She felt eyes on her. Deadly eyes.
Yumi turned and looked up to the trees where the killing intent came from. But there was nothing.
She knew this feeling well. It was another Shinobi announcing their presence, and they were evil. No question.
The Evil Shinobi was hidden well, and they seemed to have fled. Yumi would have gone after them, but she was exhausted from her time in the TV World. She would lose long in a one-on-one fight with the Evil Shinobi in this state. A tactical retreat was in order. The Evil Shinobi didn't seem interested in fighting either. But their confrontation wouldn't be postponed for long. Next time, the two Shinobi will do battle.
With nothing else to do, Yumi went home cautiously.
Meanwhile, the Evil Shinobi had stopped at a distant location in the forest.
"Are you sure I shouldn't have eliminated her?" they asked, "She'll be a nuisance and try to stop any further murder attempts."
Over the communication device in their ear, their commander issued that the Good Shinobi remain alive for now. Their organization needed to monitor her activities in the TV World.
"Alright. I'll intervene if another victim is chosen. That Good Shinobi won't get in Hebijo's way. Over and out." the Evil Shinobi complied before shutting off communication.
Soon after, they vanish and return to their base of operations in Inaba.
[-Dojima Residence: Yu's Room-]
It was a long day, and Yu was ready to go to bed after seeing the weather forecast. According to the news, it seemed there would be heavy rain throughout the year due to an unexpected climate change.
However, right after turning his TV off, the Midnight Channel came on. As it was still raining outside, the conditions were met.
Yu could see a clear image, but the person on the screen was blurry. He could make out a woman wearing a kimono. Could it be Yumi? Her Shinobi outfit was a kimono too. But then again, the woman on screen didn't have Yumi's… unique shape.
The supernatural program ended as abruptly as it appeared.
Yu thought about touching the image to see if he could reach the person on screen. He figured the image would only disappear as soon as his hand went through the screen.
He decided to speak with Yosuke and Yumi about this tomorrow and went to bed.
[-Velvet Room-]
Yu awoke from his slumber. He found himself in a familiar velvet place. It was the Velvet Room. He saw Igor and Margaret sitting in the same spots as before.
"Welcome." Igor greeted softly, "Do not be alarmed. I have summoned you within your dreams. Thus, we meet again. And much has happened since your last visit."
"I didn't know he could do that." Yu thought. He wondered why he was summoned to this place again. As if reading his thoughts, Margaret spoke up.
"There is much you don't know about the Velvet Room. Only those who have formed a contract may enter this room." she explained, "At the moment you and your colleagues were in danger, you heard the call to awaken, and you heeded the destiny of your inner voice. Congratulations. You have awakened to your glorious power."
"My Persona." Yu immediately assumed they were talking about his Persona ability. That was the only explanation he could come up with. It certainly felt like the right call to summon Izanagi.
"Precisely! Therefore, I would like you to keep this." Igor conjured a luminescent key from his hands. It floated to Yu and he grasps it.
"This is..."
"That key will allow you to come and go to the Velvet Room as you please," Margaret explained, "The road ahead comes with many trials. Such is the fate of the Wild Card."
"Wild Card?"
"Your Persona is unique. Like the number zero, it holds infinite possibilities." Igor said with an air of excitement. "You'll need our help to reach that potential. Our only stipulation is that you abide by your contract and assume responsibility for the choices you make. However, I think you already understand this, correct?"
"Yes, I do." Yu nodded. He decided to solve the case with his friends. If anything should go wrong, it was his responsibility.
"The power of Persona is like a mask of determination you wear when facing life's hardship." Igor explained, "And it will grow stronger through your bonds with others."
"Bonds?" Yu asked.
"Observe," Margaret said a card floated down to her book and vanished. She opened it, revealing the Magician Arcana on one of its pages. The Magician card had an image of him and Yosuke after his Shadow was defeated. "After awakening to your Persona, you established a bond with your friend and helped him overcome hardship, enabling his own awakening."
"As you form bonds by becoming involved with others, your own Social Links will gradually develop. The power of these Social Links will determine the abilities of your Persona." Igor said.
"So I have to socialize to strengthen my power?" Yu wondered.
"If we told you, there wouldn't be much of a challenge, now would there." Margaret teased.
"She really is reading my mind?" Yu thought.
"Social Links are necessary for more than strengthening your Persona." said Margaret, "At times, they will help light the way to the truth you are searching for."
"Where will your awakened power take you? I look forward to traveling the road of your destiny together. Til we meet again," Igor said.
Before Yu could get any more clarification, Igor sent him back to the conscious world in time for school.
Lyall the Werewolf: That's the end of chapter 07. I could have had Yumi awaken to her Persona here, but I think it's better to build up to facing herself later. That includes Yu forming a Social Link with her. As Yumi is currently portrayed in this story, she is similar to early characterization in Shinovi Versus, where she held tightly to her beliefs about good and evil. It'll be interesting to see how she will react to her Shadow.
And yeah, I'd say the Investigation Team has been established earlier than expected. Though, I don't think the Social Link aspect will prop up until later.
I added the bit with Carl Jung's psychology theories because it's a big part of the Persona franchise, and I thought it would be fun to give a shout-out to it.
I've got new projects coming up, but I think I'll wait until the website fixes its server problems or whatever is happening. If not, I may decide to switch over to another site or cross-post my current stories elsewhere.
I'm going to leave a poll up for anyone interested to guess which Hebijo Shinobi is in Inaba. Considering this timeline, there are only four possible candidates, those being: Homura, Yomi, Hikage, and Haruka.
Happy Halloween!
Update: Decided to add a bit more to Yumi and Yukiko's conversation about Mayumi Yamano, as it will be relevant in the next chapter.