2/14(Valentine's Day)
After classes were over, many of the male students were sticking around the classrooms, hoping to receive Valentine's gifts from their female classmates. Some lost patience and left rather quickly, while others went to other parts of the school in hopes of catching someone's attention.
"Geez, most of the girls have already gone home. They should just give it up." Yosuke mumbled.
"If they want candy so damn badly, they should just buy some themselves." Kanji said rudely.
"Dude, this is the one day of the year you shouldn't be buying chocolate for yourself!" Yosuke replied.
"Says who? Maybe I don't have to wait on someone to gift me any!" Kanji argued.
"Well then it's not special to get that stuff anymore, is it?"
Yui, Chie and Yukiko were listening in on their conversation, with Yui in particular rolling her eyes at their pointless argument.
"I almost don't want to give them their chocolate, just to see where their argument goes." Yui muttered.
"That wouldn't be very nice, Yui-chan." Yukiko stated.
"I'm kidding. Really though, it's just candy. Nothing to make a big fuss over." Yui said.
"Well Kanji-kun, I guess we just have to spend time with each other today! Nothing for us!" Yosuke said overdramatically.
"Sure, why not…" Kanji muttered.
"These guys…" Chie muttered.
Yui walked over to their desks and slammed her bag of chocolate on them, intentionally startling them.
"Is someone feeling left out on Valentine's?! We can't have that! We got chocolates just for you!" Yui said loudly and sarcastically.
"*laughs* OK, Yui-chan! I get it! You were planning this all along." Yosuke replied.
With a smirk, Yui handed a box of chocolate to both Yosuke and Kanji, with Yukiko and Chie following shortly after.
"Hi everyone!" Rise cheered as she entered the room.
"Hi Rise-chan!" Yukiko greeted.
"Are you handing out chocolate? I have some for you all as well!" Rise said with a smile.
"Did you get some for Marie-chan?" Chie asked.
"Of course! But this is the time of year to say 'thank you' to all the important people in your life! Not just your romantic partner!" Rise said proudly.
"Hey, she knows what's up! I've always felt that way." Yui concurred.
"Wow! I never thought I'd get chocolate from THE Risette!" Yosuke said with a pleasant smile.
"Don't let it go to your head, Yosuke-senpai. It's just friendship chocolate." Rise clarified.
"Yeah, I know." Yosuke replied.
"Still, I picked out good chocolate for you!"
Rise handed out a box to everyone present.
"Wow! This is a pretty luxury brand!" Yui noted.
"I hope you like it, Yui-senpai! You too, everyone!" Rise chimed.
Rise left to hand out chocolates to the rest of her classmates. Kanji suddenly got a text from Naoto.
"Eh? Hang on guys, I have to go." Kanji said, excusing himself from the room.
"I actually have to go help out at the inn. I'll see you all later." Yukiko said.
"OK. See you, Yukiko-chan." Yui replied.
With only Yui, Yosuke, and Chie left in the room, Yosuke felt the need to ask the obvious.
"So...do I need to give you two some privacy?" Yosuke asked.
"Please, Yosuke. We're not going to have a date in the classroom of all places. We're going...someplace else." Yui stated.
"Right! Nothing you need to know." Chie added.
"I didn't want to know. It's between you two." Yosuke replied.
"I'm gonna go home now! I'll see you later, Yui-chan!" Chie said quickly as she left abruptly.
Yui watched Chie leave with a smile.
"Your girlfriend is weird." Yosuke said.
"Shut up, Yosuke." Yui replied jokingly.
"I wish I had someone in my life with the dynamic you two have."
"Maybe someday, Yosuke. Keep being a kind, decent person, and the right girl for you will fall into your arms." Yui said poetically.
"Whoa, you really mean that?" Yosuke asked in awe.
"OK, admittedly I read that from a book on dating advice. But I think it stands true."
"Well, you should get going."
"I should. Happy Valentine's Day, Yosuke."
"Happy Valentine's, Yui-chan."
Just outside the room, Kanji was reading the text from Naoto with red cheeks.
N: Are you available to get some coffee with me?
K: Yeah, sure.
N: Excellent. I'll meet you there.
Yui was getting things ready for later today when Nanako got her attention.
"Onee-chan!" Nanako chimed.
"Yes, Nanako-chan?" Yui asked.
"I made you something!"
Nanako brought Yui over to the kotatsu and showed her what she made. Though what exactly it was Yui couldn't grasp, as it was an indescribable blue and black blob.
"Oh...what is it exactly?" Yui asked nervously.
"It's homemade chocolate! The other girls told me how to make it!" Nanako said cheerfully.
Yui's heart jumped in her chest when Nanako said this.
"Oh no...they didn't…"
"Chie-chan told me to add bacon, because everybody likes meat! Rise-chan told me it should have personality, so I put peppers to make it spicy!" Nanako explained.
"Nanako-chan…" Yui tried to say.
"Yukiko-chan told me adding fish would give it a deeper flavor, so I used fish sausage and salted fish guts!"
Yui nearly shrieked in horror at this, sweat rolling down her face.
"Nanako-chan, I really shouldn't…" Yui said.
"You're not going to eat it? But it'll melt…" Nanako said sadly.
Yui found it incredibly difficult to keep a straight face for Nanako, but it was clear from Nanako's smile that this unholy creation came from a place of love.
"I just wanted to say...thank you for everything. I love you, onee-chan!" Nanako said sincerely.
"Nanako-chan...thank you. I love you too!"
Against her better judgment, Yui took a small sample of the "chocolate". A trip to the bathroom to relieve her vomiting urges had Yui rethinking her life decisions.
"Damn it...I really have to learn how to say no to Nanako-chan…" Yui groaned.
After cleaning herself up and drinking something sweet to cleanse her palate and regain her appetite, Yui got on her scooter and headed for Shichiri Beach.
Yui and Chie met up with each other at Shichiri Beach, shyly approaching each other with their respective gifts.
"I was almost late. Sorry about that." Yui apologized.
"You were almost late? But we got here at the same time." Chie pointed out.
"I got held up. It's nothing you need to worry about."
"I took my time making your gift. That's why I got here later than I intended."
Chie held out a green gift bag, decorated nicely for Yui. Yui proudly took it from her.
"Let me guess, you made chocolates for me." Yui guessed.
"I wanted to make it personal. It was really hard, and I know they're probably not great, but I think it was worth it." Chie stated.
"Chie-chan, just knowing you went through the trouble of making them yourself, I have to give you credit." Yui said politely.
Yui unwrapped the bag and took out one of the chocolates. They were rather misshapen, but Yui assumed they were supposed to be hearts. She eagerly put them in her mouth, just to make Chie happy. As she had been warned, the chocolates weren't great, but the sentiment of even making an attempt, of going through the effort, made Yui cry happily.
"How are they?" Chie asked Yui.
"They're a bit bland. Not nearly enough sugar. But I still like them." Yui replied.
"You can say you don't like them if they're not good…" Chie stated.
"I mean it, Chie-chan. The fact that you made this all on your own, and it tastes acceptable, is leagues from where your cooking skills were at the camping trip. And that's sweeter than these chocolates will ever be." Yui said sincerely.
"Aw...thank you, Yui-chan."
Yui hugged Chie tightly, giving her a kiss on the head.
"Oh, and the heart thing? Too cute." Yui added.
"You could tell they were hearts?" Chie asked.
"They were supposed to be hearts, right?"
"Yeah, they were! I'm glad! I know it's not like me." Chie said with a blush.
"You know, I remember saying the same thing about me wearing bright pastel colors. But looking at myself now, I feel like I should start wearing them more often."
"I'd love that! You look great in those colors!" Chie said sincerely.
"Well, here are my chocolates. They were pretty difficult to make."
Yui held out a blue box for Chie to take. When she opened them, she saw a dozen carefully crafted chocolates shaped like butterflies.
"They look amazing! And I'm sure they taste better than mine." Chie stated.
"Well, you won't know until you try them." Yui said.
Chie took a bite of one of the chocolates, and was brought to tears.
"They're so good! It's not fair…" Chie said happily.
"For you, it IS fair. I'd only wish to make the best." Yui stated with a smile.
"I love them. Thank you so much!"
Yui and Chie sat on the stone stairs leading to the shore, staying quiet for some time.
"I still can't believe it sometimes." Chie stated.
"Can't believe what?" Yui asked.
"That another girl actually liked me. And that out of all people...you chose me."
Yui's heart instantly grew warmer upon hearing this, and she knew how important she was to Chie.
"Why was that so surprising, Chie-chan?" Yui asked.
"Well...you being the new transfer student and all, it was a massive stroke of luck that you also liked girls. And between Yukiko-chan, Rise-chan, and Naoto-chan, I'm kind of just...ordinary. If this is all a dream, I'd better not wake up!" Chie stated.
"Ordinary? The lesbian tomboy, who watches martial arts movies daily, who could probably kick a hole through a brick wall, is ordinary?" Yui asked rhetorically.
"Well OK, when you put it like that…" Chie chuckled.
"Wasn't it me who thought myself as ordinary? Who used to believe I was mediocrity manifest? How lucky I am to have people in my life smack me in the head and tell me otherwise, huh?" Yui said.
"You're amazing in so many ways, Yui-chan! It's for that reason I feel so fortunate to have you in my life! I want to be a girl you can brag about to others."
"Chie-chan…"
Yui gently took Chie's hand.
"You already are." Yui stated.
"I am?" Chie asked.
"If the world was fair and didn't care if two people of the same sex loved each other, I'd brag about you every chance I got." Yui said with a smile.
"Oh, wow! You really mean that."
"I do. I truly do."
Chie leaned closer to Yui, listening to their hearts beating together in unison.
"Chie-chan?" Yui spoke up.
"Yes, Yui-chan?" Chie asked.
"I have a lot of things to say, if you don't mind."
"Please say them. I want to hear everything you have to say."
Yui took a deep breath.
"When I used to imagine having a girlfriend, I had trouble envisioning in my mind what she should look like. She could have been anyone, and I might have been content with it. With how limited my options were, I was willing to accept anyone who...who would have me." Yui said, her words carrying some weight.
Chie looked at Yui with understanding, listening very intently.
"I chose you because I realized you were my ideal girl. Feminine and pretty, but with a tomboyish personality to act as a mirror for me. You were everything I loved about loving girls. Does that sound weird?"
"No, it makes sense to me!" Chie said with a smile.
"You were perfect, or at least as close to perfect as could be. But because of my self-doubt I…"
Yui looked at her feet in shame.
"I can't believe I almost gave up on us. I found gold with you, and I almost let you go! I feel so stupid!" Yui said harshly.
"It's OK, Yui-chan. You know better now." Chie reassured her.
"I do. Now I know how good we have it."
Yui hugged Chie warmly and happily, and Chie returned her hug.
"I love everything about you, Yui-chan. Your face, your voice, your smell...you're one big, beautiful gift." Chie hummed romantically.
"I love everything about you as well, Chie-chan. Even your rough edges. Because it lets me know you're real, and not some fluffy daydream in my mind." Yui muttered happily.
"That means so much to me, Yui-chan. Thank you...thank you for being in my life."
Yui and Chie looked into each others' eyes as a blush crept on their faces.
"So, do you wanna-" Yui began to ask.
Before Yui could finish that sentence, Chie leaned forward and kissed her enthusiastically. Yui closed her eyes and took in her bliss, nearly falling backwards as Chie put her weight on her. Each heartfelt kiss was sprinkled with the taste of handmade chocolate. When they eventually separated, Yui and Chie found themselves in a romantic trance, their breathing tranquil and warm.
"Sorry, were you saying something?" Chie asked Yui.
"Ah, never mind." Yui replied.
"What do you wanna do now?"
"Well, there was this onsen I wanted to go to."
"You mean somewhere that isn't the Amagi hot springs? That sounds interesting!"
"Let's get going then!"
"Sure! I want the whole day to ourselves…"
Yui and Chie stood up and went to the nearby onsen on their scooters.
Rise met up with Marie at the train station, intrigued when she saw her holding a present.
"Hi Marie-chan!" Rise chimed.
"Hey Rise-chan..." Marie said shyly.
"Aw, you look shy!" Rise teased.
"Yui-chan filled me in on the meaning of today. What girls do on Valentine's Day, which is giving chocolate to the boy they like. But...I'm not in love with a boy, so…"
"Marie-chan, you know girls can give each other chocolate, right? Especially if they love each other!" Rise said with a giggle.
"Yes, I realize that! Anyway, I just want to say I...I...agh! Why is this harder for me now?" Marie stammered.
Marie held out the present to Rise. Rise's eyes widened in fear when she realized that the present was vibrating.
"I made this for you!" Marie stated.
"Oh! I see! Uh...what is it?" Rise asked nervously.
"It's supposed to be chocolate. That's what you give to the one you love on this day. But that room doesn't have any outlets, so it might not taste very good. I tried really hard though!" Marie explained.
The more Marie continued to explain the "chocolate", the more Rise seemed reluctant to accept the gift, let alone eat it.
"Agh, never mind! This was a stupid idea! I shouldn't have bothered…" Marie spouted, pulling the gift back.
"Wait, Marie-chan!" Rise spoke up.
Rise cautiously took the present from Marie and opened it up. The "chocolate" inside took on the form of an indescribable blob that seemed to shudder as though it were alive.
"Are you sure this thing is edible?" Rise asked.
"I...I tried a tiny bit of it. You can see where I broke off a piece. So...eat it before it melts." Marie replied.
Rise's hands shook nervously as she held the object, but she chose to put on a polite smile for Marie.
"Marie-chan, this was so thoughtful of you! I'll try it, just for you!" Rise said bravely.
Rise managed to eat all of the "chocolate", finding it to be shockingly tasty. Though the squirming sensation she now felt in her stomach left her grinning awkwardly.
"I didn't think you'd actually eat the whole thing. I'm...I'm so happy!" Marie said with a smile.
"My stomach feels tingly…" Rise said in a shaky voice.
"Ah, is that the 'butterflies in the stomach' thing?"
"Eh, sure, let's go with that…"
"You gifted me a lot of things in the past. I thought it was only fair I did the same for you." Marie stated sincerely.
"I appreciate it, Marie-chan! It's the thought that really counts, after all!"
Marie gave Rise a warm hug, to which Rise hugged her back with a smile.
"OK, it's finally starting to digest…" Rise said quietly.
"We still need to go to Okina, right?" Marie asked.
"Of course! Let's get going!"
The train ride to Okina was more crowded than usual, so Rise unfortunately had to refrain from giving Marie the love she wanted to until they arrived. Once they made it to Okina City, they took it upon themselves to revisit the places they went to on their old date, including Croco Fur. While they were browsing the store, Reiko, the store owner, approached them as Rise debated whether to get one of the more pricey dresses.
"It's a bit expensive, isn't it Marie-chan? I was hoping it would be marked down for Valentine's…" Rise muttered.
"That would've been nice, yeah." Marie agreed.
"Excuse me? Can I help you?" Reiko asked them.
"Oh, hello! Um, no thanks. I was just reconsidering." Rise replied.
Reiko looked them over for a couple seconds, which made Marie a bit anxious.
"Have I seen you two before?" Reiko asked.
"Yeah, you have. You don't remember?" Marie asked her.
Reiko snapped her fingers as she recalled their faces.
"That's right! How could I forget? I had someone helping me that day and almost didn't see you two leave the store. Did you like this dress?" Reiko said, pointing to the dress.
"I do, but it's a little out of my budget range." Rise stated.
Reiko motioned them to move closer to her, allowing her to whisper to them without the other customers hearing.
"You know, we're offering a couples discount for Valentine's Day. It's on the sign outside!" Reiko whispered.
"Wait, do you mean it?!" Rise asked in surprise.
"You two are a couple, aren't you? Your body language tells me everything." Reiko stated.
"Well...yes, we are." Rise replied with a small grin.
"Great! I can ring that dress up for you!"
"That's so cool!" Marie exclaimed.
Reiko smiled and waved her hand in a "no big deal" gesture. Rise happily bought the new dress and walked out of the store with Marie.
"Ahh, I love this job." Reiko whispered to herself.
Rise invited Marie to take some pictures in the arcade photo booth. After squeezing together into the booth, Rise closed the curtain and put some yen into the machine.
"I've never tried this before." Rise told Marie.
"Take pictures of yourself?" Marie asked.
"Not that. I meant take pictures with someone in a photo booth. I've never had the opportunity to try it before. Now's the perfect time!"
"We should have a picture taken with the others. All of my friends, together in one place." Marie stated.
"That's a great idea! Especially when Yui-senpai is leaving soon. We'll tell the others about it!"
The photo booth prompted the two of them with a digitized voice to get ready to have their pictures taken. Rise flashed a smile and a peace sign, while Marie simply smiled. The machine took the first picture without incident, allowing a couple more seconds for the two of them to prepare for the next photo. What instead happened was Rise sneaking a kiss, resulting in a flustered Marie. Taking it as a challenge, Marie put her hands on Rise's shoulders and kissed her back, making sure to continually kiss her to prevent her from trying something else cheeky. Unbeknownst to Marie, the impromptu makeout session was Rise's intention all along. After it was all said and done, the two of them left the photo booth, somehow without anyone noticing how disheveled they were. Once they were out of sight, they fixed each other's hair and smoothed out their shirts, taking a peek at the pictures the booth had taken of them.
"Ooh! These are scandalous!" Rise giggled.
"Nah, this is normal compared to every other time we've kissed. But seriously, are you TRYING to get us caught?" Marie stated.
"Who knows? Whoever catches us might think it's adorable!" Rise said with a coy grin.
"And that's how Risette was outed as a girl kisser…" Marie joked.
"Please, like you're any less guilty." Rise replied.
"Let's continue being shameless together, Rise-chan…" Marie told Rise with a gentle smile.
"Happily, Marie-chan!" Rise said as she gave Marie a warm hug.
Kanji met up with Naoto in a small, cozy cafe that had just finished its busy hours, resulting in fewer customers. Naoto appreciated the perfect timing of the quieting down, inviting Kanji to sit at her table and have a friendly discussion. It mostly consisted of them being honest with each other, telling the other what they wanted out of their friendship.
2/15
"Ohayo, Yui-chan!" Chie called out, approaching Yui near the school entrance.
"Ohayo, Chie-chan!" Yui replied cheerfully.
"It looks like spring is almost here. I saw it on the news." Yukiko stated as she followed close behind.
"Spring...it feels like everything went by so fast." Chie commented.
"That's what happens when someone...has to leave soon." Yui said, with a sad tone in her voice.
Chie and Yukiko's expressions dropped a bit, knowing that they only had a month left to spend with Yui.
"Hey everyone! What are you all so gloomy for? We still got time, don't we?" Yosuke called out, overhearing their conversation.
"I guess you're right, Yosuke. A month is longer than we think it is." Yui replied, staying positive.
"We'll spend so much time with you, fill your brain with so many good memories, you'll beg us to stop!"
"I'd like to see you try!"
The bell rang, prompting Yosuke and Yukiko to hurry inside. Yui offered her hand to Chie, and Chie happily took it.
2/26
Yui and her friends brought Nanako and Dojima to the ski resort to make up for the time lost recovering in the hospital. Nanako in particular was in high spirits, urging Yui to ski down the slope with her again.
"Again, onee-chan! Again!" Nanako cheered.
"Of course, Nanako-chan!" Yui said with a smile.
3/14 (White Day)
"Happy White Day, Yui-chan!" Yosuke said happily as he handed Yui a store bought box of chocolates.
"Happy White Day, senpai!" Kanji said as he gave his gift bag of handmade chocolates.
"Aw, thanks you guys!" Yui replied.
"Friendship chocolates, obviously." Yosuke clarified.
"Yes, I know." Yui said with a chuckle.
"Here you go, Marie-chan!" Yosuke told Marie as he gave her another box.
"Oh! I get one too?" Marie asked.
"From me too!" Kanji added, handing a bag to her.
"I've got something better than those!" Rise chimed, handing Marie a bento box.
"Wait, why are YOU giving her a gift?" Yosuke asked in confusion.
"Um, because she's my girlfriend? And also because I forgot to get chocolates for her on Valentine's." Rise replied.
"I feel like you're really going against tradition…"
"Shut up, Yosuke. I like her idea." Marie said teasingly.
Marie opened up the bento box to find tofu, rice and kale packed inside. She grabbed the tiny fork inside and took a bite of the tofu.
"It's pretty spicy." Marie stated.
"Do you like it?" Rise asked.
Before Marie could reply, the spice began to ramp up, causing her to cough repeatedly.
"Are you OK, Marie-chan?" Chie asked.
"I'm...I'm fine!" Marie coughed out.
"It can't be that bad, can it?" Yukiko asked as she took the fork and stole a bite.
"Wait, Yukiko-chan!" Chie warned.
Yukiko chewed for a couple seconds before she started coughing uncontrollably. She suddenly fainted and fell to the floor, overcome by the heat.
"Yukiko-chan?!" Chie cried out.
"Oh dear...maybe I put too much spice." Rise muttered.
"It's alright, I don't mind it…" Marie stated, even though she was still coughing from the spiciness.
Yukiko managed to recover, Chie helping her to her feet.
"So, you doing anything for White Day?" Yui asked everyone.
3/17
"OK, everyone ready?" Yosuke asked as he prepared the camera.
Yui and her friends were all huddled together, ready to take one last group photo before she had to leave in a few days. Kanji and Yosuke were to stand in the back as the tallest members, while the girls arranged themselves in front, Rise and Chie making sure they were closest to their loved ones. After Yosuke set the timer, he ran over and took his place in the picture. Everyone smiled as the camera flashed, preserving the moment.
3/19
Yui finished packing all of her belongings, making sure to keep her art in safe compartments. She took one more look at her group photo with her friends, smiling happily and thinking back to all the time she spent with them.
"Just remember, this goodbye isn't forever. You'll see them again before you know it." Yui reminded herself.
After putting the photo in her bag, she went straight to bed.
3/20
Yui sat in the living room, watching the news with Dojima. The weather report was very favorable, reporting a pleasant sunny day.
"Did you remember to pack everything? Don't worry. If you forget anything, I'll mail it to you." Dojima said to Yui.
"Thank you, Dojima-san." Yui replied.
"I bought your train ticket already. 9 AM tomorrow morning. Don't forget."
"I won't."
Nanako came into the room, having retrieved the mail.
"This letter's for you!" Nanako told Yui.
"Oh, thank you, Nanako-chan." Yui said as she took the envelope from her.
"Hey, why don't you go say goodbye to your friends? Don't worry about us." Dojima told Yui.
"OK then. But I still want to give you both a proper farewell."
"And you'll have your chance. You can count on that."
Yui stood up and left the house, sorting through her thoughts on how to say goodbye to everyone.
The first place she decided to visit was Junes, and she managed to find both Yosuke and Teddie at the food court. Yosuke waved her over and invited her to sit at a table.
"Good to see you, Yui-chan." Yosuke said.
"It's good to see you too, Yosuke." Yui replied.
"So what do you think of the peaceful version of town? This is how the town normally is, without all the crazy stuff that happened."
"It's nice. And it's not like I never got to experience that while we were dealing with the fog and everything."
"You know, I wonder why all that began when you came here? It's weird thinking about it now." Yosuke wondered.
"I still remember the first time it was just you and Yosuke. How nostalgic!" Teddie chimed.
"I can't imagine being here without you around. Just a quiet, peaceful town, without needing to use our Personas." Yosuke mused.
"I can't imagine it either." Teddie spoke up.
"Well yeah, we were in the middle of the case when you came to this side, so you wouldn't have known what the town was like normally."
"I'm really glad to have met you all. You gave me purpose in life." Teddie said earnestly.
"Come on, man, it's not like that. You changed so much because you wanted it for yourself." Yosuke replied.
"I'm glad I met you two. Especially you, Yosuke. You're like the brother I wish I had growing up. You'll behave yourself while I'm gone, won't you?" Yui said.
"Why do you have to put it like that?" Yosuke asked.
"Who else is going to keep you in check?" Yui joked.
The three of them laughed.
"Hey, do you know where Yukiko-chan is?" Yui asked Yosuke.
"She's at work, I'm pretty sure." Yosuke answered.
"OK, thanks. I'm going to go see her."
"Thanks for stopping by, Yui-chan."
"Welcome to the – oh, it's you!" Yukiko greeted Yui as she walked into the Amagi Inn.
"Hi, Yukiko-chan." Yui greeted back.
"Thank you for coming to see me before you leave. Sorry I can't spend more time right now." Yukiko apologized.
"Don't worry. I'm sure you're working hard." Yui stated.
"I was planning on spending today like any other day. Helping with housework, taking a long bath, then going to sleep. Then I wouldn't have to...say goodbye crying." Yukiko said sadly.
"Oh...I see." Yui responded, a sad look in her eyes.
"Yeah...that didn't work. I couldn't stop thinking about you."
"If that's interfering with your work, I apologize."
"Not at all. If anything, thinking about you motivates me to do my best. I've made my decision to run the inn. It's daunting, and more than once I've doubted if I can do it. But all I can do is give my best attempt, right?"
"That's right. And I know you can do it, Yukiko-chan!"
"Thank you, Yui-chan. Thank you for everything."
"Well, I'd better leave you to your work. See you tomorrow." Yui said as she waved goodbye.
"Yeah. See you soon." Yukiko replied, bowing and turning away just in time to prevent Yui from seeing her tear up.
Yui ran into Kanji in front of textile shop, making sure to put on a cheerful smile for him.
"Thanks for stopping by, senpai!" Kanji said happily.
"Of course, Kanji-kun. How are you doing?" Yui asked.
"Well, I'm holding those handcraft classes, I'm helping out a lot more with the shop. Not much else has changed. Oh right, I chatted with Naoto-chan recently."
"Oh? How did that go?" Yui asked, intrigued.
"It was...not what I was expecting." Kanji replied, seemingly embarrassed.
"How so?"
"I basically told her how I felt about her, you know...in that way. And the way she responded was a bit...unexpected. I don't know how to put this but, she felt the same way...just not as strongly." Kanji explained.
"Oh...that's a good thing, isn't it?" Yui asked.
"I mean, I think so? But we both seemed to agree that it was just physical attraction, nothing that serious. I guess we realized that we didn't really know each other that well."
"That's...I see."
"So...we decided to stay friends for now. But we'd be hanging out a lot more. That way we get to know each other better. After that, we can...decide if we want to take things further." Kanji said with a blush.
"That sounds great, Kanji-kun! I wish you luck there." Yui said cheerfully.
"Thanks, senpai." Kanji replied bashfully.
"I'm going to go see the others now."
"Sure thing. Later, senpai!"
Yui met up with Naoto at the school, and she seemed to be lost in thought. She asked Yui to talk with her on the rooftop, to which she agreed instantly.
"This town has become so peaceful now." Naoto stated.
"It sure has. Are you feeling alright, Naoto-chan?" Yui asked.
"Yes. It's just that without a case to solve, I feel a bit listless. I know we already discussed this, but…"
"I see how it is. You're just worried how things will be when I'm gone."
"Ha...maybe you are correct. After all you have done for me, I'll be sad to see you go, even temporarily."
Naoto looked out over the horizon.
"In time, my services will be needed elsewhere. But Inaba will always be my home. I want to cherish all I've done here, with you and the others. And I want to thank you for helping me accept myself."
"You're very welcome, Naoto-chan."
"I'll see you at the train station tomorrow, senpai."
"See you then."
Yui went to see Rise at the tofu shop, and to little surprise, Marie was also there.
"And how are you two doing today?" Yui asked teasingly.
"We're fine. Nothing particularly interesting…" Marie stated, trying to downplay everything.
"Grandma found out about us." Rise corrected.
"Found out about...oh. Uh...is she...?" Yui replied.
"She was really kind about it. All she did was scold me for trying to keep it a secret. I guess suddenly having a random girl move in with you raises some alarms." Rise explained.
"I'm pretty sure she only confronted you about it because she found those photos…" Marie stated.
"Marie-chan!" Rise shrieked in embarrassment.
"What photos?" Yui asked.
"Never mind, senpai!"
"Hey, you're leaving tomorrow, right?" Marie asked Yui.
"Yes. I honestly wish I didn't have to leave." Yui said.
"I know. It's not fair." Rise replied.
"How's the idol business going?"
"I went to voice training today. I'm going to make my redebut with a new album!" Rise stated.
"Wow! That's great!"
"I'm writing all the lyrics by myself. Though...they're not exactly the best. I want to put my feelings out there, my own words. So I have to give it my best."
"I'm sure Marie-chan can help you out. She has a way with words." Yui said, looking over to Marie.
"I want to help however I can. That's what you do for the person you love." Marie stated.
Marie tapped her boots together as she pondered.
"I think back to how I didn't want you all to save me. I'm really, really glad you did. Because now I get to explore this town, this world, all on my own. It's scary, but if I don't move forward, I'll never learn. I'm going to miss you, a lot." Marie told Yui.
"I'll miss you too. But it won't be so bad. We'll meet again, surely."
"Of course we will. Otherwise, I wouldn't let you go."
"Thank you for everything, senpai. Thank you for helping me, and for introducing me to Marie-chan!" Rise said gratefully.
"Thank you both for being good friends." Yui responded with a smile.
"Hey, Rise-chan?" Marie asked Rise.
"Yes, Marie-chan?" Rise replied.
"Can we get a bed for myself?"
"Why? Isn't the futon enough?"
"I mean, the futon's great. But I'm still basically sleeping on the floor."
"You could always just share the bed with me. It's big enough for the both of us."
"There's no way your grandma is going to let us do that. Especially not after finding out about us."
"You're no fun…" Rise pouted.
"No, no I'm not."
Rise giggled and hugged Marie. Yui waved goodbye before someone caught her attention. It was Margaret, standing outside the door to the Velvet Room.
"Hi, Margaret." Yui greeted.
"Hello, Yui. I trust you're in good spirits?" Margaret asked.
"Yeah. Just saying goodbye to everyone."
Margaret nodded.
"I know we didn't really get to talk much. But we'll meet again someday, right?" Yui asked Margaret.
"I...can't guarantee that. But with how things turned out for Marie-chan, I get the feeling we may very well meet again." Margaret replied.
"How exactly do you feel about that? The stuff with Marie-chan?"
"How do I feel? The more I think about it, the less I understand. You certainly have been an influence on her."
"Are you just confused by the fact that she fell in love with a human?"
"That's not confusing to me at all. After all, my sister fell in love with a human as well."
"Really?"
"But that's a story for a different day. When you return."
"Aw, I would've liked to hear it."
"You should run along now. I believe you have someone else to say goodbye to…"
Margaret motioned over to Chie, who was standing outside the bookstore. Yui took her cue and said one last goodbye to Margaret. Yui walked over to Chie with a smile.
"Oh, hey Yui-chan! I was just thinking about you, and here you are!" Chie said in surprise.
"What do you know? How have you been, Chie-chan?" Yui asked Chie.
"Tomorrow's the day you leave. It's been so hard to think about that." Chie said sadly.
"If it makes you feel any better, I don't really want to leave either. I would absolutely stay if it were up to me." Yui assured Chie.
"I'm sure you would. I've been thinking what to do besides crying or feeling sad about you leaving. I decided that I'm going to use what you've taught me. And to help me with that, I bought this…"
Chie held up a book for Yui to look at.
"How to Become a Police Officer." Yui read aloud, her expression lighting up with surprise.
"I told you how much I wanted to become strong so I could protect what matters most to me. And I want to protect this town. After all, there's no guarantee that an incident like this won't happen again. I want to become a cop, so that my home will be in good hands!" Chie said proudly.
Yui began tearing up and smiling happily, feeling very proud of her girlfriend.
"That's amazing, Chie-chan! I'm sure you'll do great." Yui told Chie.
"Yeah. And also, I want to help make sure members of the police don't end up like Adachi did. There's more than enough people like that in the world."
"That's good. Set a good example for others, won't you?"
"I will!"
Chie anxiously stared at her feet, trying and failing to hide her emotions.
"There's no getting around it. I'm going to miss you…" Chie whimpered.
"I'm going to miss you too. But I'll always be a phone call or text away." Yui replied, doing her best to remain cheerful.
"Yeah, you're right. Never forget the moments we shared together."
"I won't."
Chie hugged Yui tightly, unable to hold her tears back any longer. After crying for a few seconds, she leaned in to give Yui a kiss.
"I don't know if I'll get the chance to kiss you again tomorrow, so…" Chie muttered.
"Come on, now. Of course we're going to make time for that." Yui giggled.
"Have you said goodbye to everyone else?" Chie asked.
"I'm going to go talk to some of my other classmates, and then say goodbye to Dojima-san and Nanako-chan."
"Sounds good. See you tomorrow. I love you…"
"I love you too."
Yui found Nanako and Dojima sitting at the picnic table in the Samegawa Riverbank, and took time to chat with them one last time.
"You've become so mature, Yui. Even though it's only been a year, it seems kids grow up so fast." Dojima stated.
Yui and Dojima looked towards Nanako, who was trying so hard to hold back her sadness.
"Hey, don't look so sad, Nanako. We're family, remember? It doesn't matter if we're apart. We can go see her when I'm on vacation." Dojima assured Nanako.
"Stay healthy, OK onee-chan? Don't forget about us…" Nanako said quietly.
"I'll remember. Thank you, Nanako-chan." Yui replied.
"You're family to us now, alright? When you decide to come back, I'll make sure your room is the way it was before."
"Why do you have to go? It's not fair…" Nanako whined, bursting into tears.
"Nanako…" Dojima mumbled.
"It's OK. I completely understand her need to cry." Yui said, giving Nanako a hug.
"We're going to head home in a bit. Make sure you say goodbye to everyone you need to."
With that, Yui left them, deciding to make one last visit.
Yui walked back to the Junes food court, and to her surprise, her friends were all gathered there, as though they knew she would find them there.
"Hey Yui!" Yosuke called out.
"Hey. I guess you all had the same idea." Yui stated.
"It felt like the right thing to do. For old time's sake." Chie said.
"This is also where Marie-chan met all of us, so it's even more appropriate." Yukiko added.
"It's too bad we don't really have time to do anything special." Kanji stated.
"But that's OK. I'm happy just to be here with senpai!" Rise said cheerfully.
"Are you sure we can't do anything? We should at least try!" Teddie asked everyone.
"No, I'm sure senpai will need to get plenty of rest for tomorrow. This meeting will be very brief." Naoto responded.
"How are you feeling right now?" Marie asked Yui.
"I'm alright. Seeing my friends together is making me feel better about tomorrow. Because I know we'll meet again soon." Yui replied.
Yui sat quietly for a minute or so before her mind wandered to the letter Nanako gave her. She pulled it out for her friends to see.
"What's that?" Chie asked.
"It's a letter addressed to me. I got it in the mail today. I've been meaning to look at it." Yui answered.
Yui opened the envelope and saw who the letter was from...making her spine chill.
"Yui-chan?" Yukiko asked in concern.
"It's...it's from Adachi…" Yui said in shock.
Everyone else gasped at this statement.
"What does it say? Why did Adachi send a letter to you?" Chie asked in fear.
Yui read the letter aloud for everyone, her dread increasing with each word.
Since I've been in here, I've been thinking about Dojima and Nanako...and also you. I never really considered those days to be good times, back then. It's strange to say, but even after all we've been through, I'm grateful to you. Don't let that go to your head...idiot.
I want to leave you with one final thought I've had, regarding this whole mess. There's this feeling I can't shake, about how this all started. You know what I'm talking about, right? The Midnight Channel? Someone told me about it when I came to town, before I started hearing rumors about it at the station. When Namatame's reports mentioned something similar, that caught my attention. We both gained our powers after coming to Inaba, so I wonder if there's a connection. But...most of that escapes my memory at the moment. I doubt we'll see each other again, so...stay healthy, alright?
Yui tucked the letter away, discomfort growing on her face.
"Now that he mentions it, it has been gnawing at the back of my mind. The whole deal with the Midnight Channel, and how I awakened to my Persona without facing my Shadow." Yui told everyone.
"Rumors about the Midnight Channel were spreading around all last year, but supposedly Adachi learned about it the moment he came here. If only he could remember who that was." Chie stated.
"And then there was the whole situation with Marie-chan. No matter what she claims otherwise, someone made her do all that. Someone told her to disappear. Isn't that right, Marie-chan?" Yui asked Marie.
"Is it? I really don't know…" Marie stated.
Before Yui could say anything else, dark clouds had starting rolling in, pouring a heavy amount of rain.
"Woah! Why is it suddenly raining?!" Yosuke exclaimed.
"I'll see you all later. I have to go!" Yui stated, making a run for it.
"Yui-chan! Where are you going?" Chie called out.
Yui ran off to a place that prodded her mind, a stirring memory that she believed held great importance.
It was now a heavy downpour, but it did little to dissuade Yui from approaching the gas station. Her resolve was solidified when she saw who she was looking for.
"Hello! You're getting wet out there! Come under cover." The gas station attendant told Yui.
"I will." Yui responded with a serious expression.
"Can I help you with anything?" The attendant asked Yui.
"Maybe you can." Yui stated.
Yui turned to look at the attendant, her eyes burning with clarity.
"I know who you are…" Yui said in a threatening tone.
"Excuse me?" The attendant asked in confusion.
"I remember your voice."
"Ah, that's right! You came to the gas station one time! How long ago was that?"
"Do you know someone by the name of Tohru Adachi?"
"Adachi? Let me think...ah yes! I remember him. He was a police detective, wasn't he?"
"That's all I needed to know…"
Yui grabbed the gas station attendant by the collar, gritting her teeth in fury.
"You're the one who hurt my friend, Marie!" Yui declared.
"Marie?"
"She was forced to disappear, to let herself fade away in the Hollow Forest. It was YOUR voice! I remember clearly now."
The attendant chuckled in amusement before disappearing in a flash of light, then reappearing in front of Yui as a floating woman in a white cloak.
"*laugh* So you finally discovered me." The woman stated.
"Who are you?" Yui asked in anger.
"I am the goddess, Izanami!" The woman shouted proudly.
"THE Izanami? What's your deal? Why were you tormenting Marie-chan?"
"Marie-chan? Do you mean that puppet of mine who was meant to absorb the fog until you came along?" Izanami replied.
"You have no right talking about Marie-chan like that!" Yui said angrily.
"I see you still have that comb. To think she treasured such a symbol of separation. She must have been desperate to cling to anything that gave her a semblance of identity."
"You gave me this power. The power of persona…"
"Yes, and that spark drew your friends closer to you, so that they too would awaken to their power. Why have you come to me now? Wasn't the part you played enough for you?"
"I don't care about that anymore. I care about what you might do the moment I leave. What will you do to Marie-chan? What will you do to my other friends?"
"Wouldn't you like to know? Come then, show me the extent of your futile resistance! You will know where to find me…"
Izanami disappeared in a flash of light, prompting Yui to sprint to her friends and tell them what had happened.
Author's Note(3-20-24): This chapter has been uploaded to Ao3 for some time now, but I couldn't upload it on due to technical issues.