11/1
Yui brought Naoto to the school rooftop to speak with her in private. From the look on Yui's face, Naoto easily deduced that something was very wrong.
"What seems to be the problem, senpai?" Naoto asked.
"I wasn't sure if I should let the rest of the team know. I checked the mail this morning...and I found this…" Yui said gravely.
Yui held out a small envelope that had a written message inside:
"Stop rescuing them."
Naoto instantly understood the seriousness of the message.
"This must be a message from our culprit. And it seems they found out where you live…" Naoto muttered.
"No signature, obviously. Do you think you can figure something out if I give you this?" Yui asked.
"I will try my best. I should be able to tell you anything I've discovered by tomorrow." Naoto said with a nod, taking the letter from Yui.
"Arigato, Naoto-chan! I'll be honest, I'm terrified right now."
"That's understandable. We should let the others know about it."
"You're right. I'll...let you guys know if anything happens."
"Please stay safe, senpai."
"I will."
When Yui got home, she saw Nanako talking to the deliveryman in front of the house. She couldn't hear what they were saying, and the deliveryman left by the time she got to Nanako.
"Welcome home, onee-chan!" Nanako greeted.
"Who was that, Nanako-chan?" Yui asked.
"That was the deliveryman! He was asking where Mr. Takahashi's house was." Nanako stated.
"Shouldn't he know that if he's...never mind…"
Yui and Nanako ate dinner as they watched the news. Even though Nanako was being very talkative, Yui stayed mostly silent, something Yui knew was suspicious. The last thing Yui wanted was to worry Nanako.
"I spoke with a student was not swayed by rumors and spoke her mind. We adults could learn from her." A man said in an interview on TV.
"Oh, he came to my school today!" Nanako said.
"He did?" Yui asked.
Yui watched the interview and took note that they were talking about the frequent fog, and concerns about the potential health risks. Yui, of course, knew the true reason behind it, so she didn't have to speculate like everyone else not involved.
11/2
"I ran all the tests I could. I was unable to find anything that would identify the sender. No fingerprints, no handwriting matches, nothing. I'm sorry." Naoto said to Yui as they sat by the Samegawa Riverbank.
"It's alright. Thank you for trying." Yui said.
"The Phantom Thief sent me another challenge some time ago. 'When the banks close, the fruit tree grows. By the large seven at the third is the spot I chose.' I already solved this riddle, but I was curious if you knew the solution." Naoto stated.
"By the large seven at the third...ah, it's the seventh and third words in the riddle, isn't it?" Yui said after thinking for a bit.
"You're correct, senpai! By the large 'tree' at the 'banks'. More specifically, the riverbanks. And when I searched said tree, I found this buried underneath it."
Naoto held out a small digital wristwatch.
"It's a specially modified watch with a strong backlight. I always enjoyed this kind of thing as a child. I was the type to prefer robots and cars to dolls and teddy bears." Naoto said happily.
"Sounds about right." Yui replied.
Naoto's grin quickly drops as she began to feel dysphoric again.
"*sigh* Why couldn't I have been born male? It would have made things so much easier for me…" Naoto muttered.
"Naoto-chan."
"Yes, senpai?"
Yui took a deep breath, considering her next words carefully.
"Is this really what you want? To become a man? I'm not asking to be rude, I just want to know your feelings." Yui asked.
"To be perfectly honest...I'm not so sure." Naoto admitted.
"I can't begin to imagine what it's like in your shoes. To feel that you were born as the wrong sex. So if this is how you truly feel, that transitioning would make you happy, that's your decision to make. I'll support it, whatever you choose."
"Is that so?"
"But...if I could give my opinion, Naoto-chan? I really don't think you should transition just because the police are a 'male oriented' environment. That's a problem with the culture, not you as a person. You shouldn't have to change to fit their environment, the culture should. Because whether you're a man or a woman, you're still the same brilliant and talented Naoto Shirogane. And it seems a bit much to ask to have to be male, just so people would accept your excellency." Yui said firmly
"That's…"
"Yeah, I get it. Society tends to put women at a disadvantage. Look at me! I'm not just a woman. I'm a gay woman! As long as I live in Japan, I will never be allowed to marry, and I will be looked down upon for liking other girls. That sucks, it really does. But you know what? I think I'm doing OK for myself. I get good grades in school, I have friends and family that admire and support me, I have a girlfriend that I love to pieces. Anyone deserves to have happiness in such a healthy way, they shouldn't have to be things out of their control just to have it. I shouldn't have to be a man, or stop liking girls, just so I can get married. You shouldn't have to be a man just to be a detective." Yui continued passionately.
"Senpai, what an excellent speech." Naoto said with a smile.
Naoto sighs again.
"I do see your point. I may have to...reflect on this some more."
"Take as much time as you need. But do think about it."
"I'll be seeing you again soon, senpai. Stay safe."
"Thanks. You too."
11/3
Marie asked to visit Yui's room, to which Yui agreed. But as they were about to go to Yui's house, Rise happened to catch up to them, insisting she come along. Yui couldn't help but be a bit nervous as the two of them looked around her room. Marie was intrigued by the various sketches posted on the walls, but somehow not as much as Rise, who acted as though she were invited to the Prime Minister's house.
"Wow, OK...I am currently in senpai's room…" Rise muttered, a little loudly.
"What are you so worked up for?" Marie asked Rise.
"Come on, Marie-chan! This is a big deal! It's not everyday you get to see a senpai's personal space." Rise said with a smile.
"You look like you want to ask me something, Rise-chan." Yui said to Rise.
"Do I want to ask you something? Well…" Rise began to say.
"Don't let her. She's probably going to ask you something perverted." Marie stated.
"Marie-chan! I can't believe you think of me that way!" Rise said, pretending to be upset.
"Well, were you? I've been with you long enough to expect these kinds of things." Marie said.
"You two lovebirds can bicker some other time. You're supposed to be guests right now." Yui teased both of them.
"Actually senpai, there is something I wanted to tell you. And since Marie-chan is here, she can hear it as well." Rise said, suddenly becoming serious.
"Oh? What is it, Rise-chan?" Yui asked.
Rise sat down on the couch next to Marie, giving her a warm expression before speaking.
"I'm gonna go back to being an idol." Rise stated.
Yui stared in surprise at this statement.
"Really?! Are you sure?" Yui asked.
"Yes. It's like you said, senpai. Risette was a part of me. IS a part of me. But this time, I want a fresh new beginning. I'll do it for myself, my family, my friends...for you." Rise said confidently.
Rise took hold of Marie's hand.
"For you too, Marie-chan!" Rise said with a bright smile.
"For me? Why? I'm nobody." Marie asked, confused.
"No Marie-chan. You're not nobody. You're special to me." Rise stated.
"But...if you go back to being an idol, you won't be allowed to tell anyone that you're dating me…" Marie said sadly.
"Marie-chan...I told you already, didn't I? I won't let anything come between us." Rise said reassuringly.
"I didn't really think of that. Are you going to come out as bi to your fans? Or are you going to keep it a secret?" Yui asked, concern in her voice.
Rise seemed to ponder a bit before raising her head up.
"Maybe someday. But not right away. I know it'll be a big deal when I tell people I'm coming back. To tell them I'm bi would probably cause an uproar I'm not ready to handle. But times are changing. I can already see a better, brighter world ahead of us. I know it'll be alright." Rise answered with conviction.
"You're right. You might lose some fans over it, but were they really fans if they leave over something like that?" Yui said.
"It's true. I won't shed any tears if they do. Besides...I can at least be vocal about supporting any queer people out there watching me. I might even gain some fans I didn't have before!" Rise said with a grin.
"Oh, I know some girls would faint over that announcement!" Yui joked.
"So you really mean it?" Marie asked.
"Of course I do. It's my challenge to overcome, not yours." Rise replied.
"But...I want to help you through it. Because...that's what you're supposed to do for someone you like more than normal." Marie stated.
"That's very sweet of you Marie-chan. You'll be there for me?"
"I will."
"It goes without saying, but I'll be there for you too, Rise-chan." Yui said.
"Thank you, senpai. And thank you, Marie-chan."
Rise gave Marie a hug, prompting Marie to hug her back. Rise looked at Marie longingly, causing both of them to blush.
"I've confessed my love on TV countless times, when I was acting. But with you...it's different, and so much better. It's a dream given life." Rise whispered.
"If we ever show up on StarScandalz, it'll be your fault. But...I don't care." Marie said with a chuckle.
"Do I need to give you two some privacy?" Yui asked.
"Senpai! We're not going to...do whatever you think it is!" Rise said in embarrassment.
"Do what?" Marie asked, confused.
"I'll walk out of the room and put a sock on my door handle." Yui joked.
"No! Get your mind out of the gutter, senpai!" Rise shrieked.
"Only when you do." Yui said with a smile.
"*sigh* I give up…" Rise muttered.
"Rise-chan." Marie said.
"Yeah, Marie-chan?" Rise asked.
"Make a memory for me right now, please."
"Like what?"
"Close your eyes, lean closer…"
Understanding what Marie meant, Rise instantly smiled and did as Marie told her, giving her a gentle kiss.
"You two are so cute together. I wish you both the best." Yui said.
"Thanks, senpai…" Rise said gratefully.
"Hey, Yui?" Marie asked.
"Yes, Marie-chan?"
"Can you...leave us alone?" Marie said with red cheeks.
Yui started to walk out of the room, but just as she was closing the door behind her, she made one last quip.
"Make sure you use protection." Yui said quietly.
"Pervert!" Rise shouted.
11/4
Yui stood by and awaited the Midnight Channel's message as the torrential rain pattered furiously against the window. And while the image of a person did appear, the static was too thick to make out who they were.
11/5
Nanako seemed rather cold, and she even sneezed a couple times, which prompted Yui to ask if they had a kotatsu. Nanako informed her that they did, but when they set it up and tried to turn it on, it simply did not.
"We should go to Junes and buy a new one. What do you say, Nanako-chan?" Yui asked Nanako.
"Yay! That sounds great!" Nanako cheered.
Dojima suddenly entered the house, which made Nanako happy at first, until she noticed the concerned expression on his face.
"This was in the mailbox. It's for you." Dojima said, holding a brown envelope.
"Oh, arigato." Yui said.
But when Yui held it in her hand, she suddenly felt a foreboding chill in her spine. She opened it up, and what she saw caused her heart to stop:
"If you don't stop, the next one to go in and die will be someone dear to you."
Dojima saw the horror in Yui's eyes and snatched the letter from her in order to read its contents.
"Oh shit!" Yui panicked.
"I'd like to hear what this is about." Dojima said gravely.
Yui was scared speechless by the situation she found herself in, to the point where looking at Nanako only exacerbated her fears.
"Not here…" Yui managed to mutter.
"You don't want to discuss it here then? Alright. Come with me." Dojima stated.
"Dad? Onee-chan?" Nanako asked, her face wrought with worry.
"It's alright, Nanako. We're just heading out to talk." Dojima reassured her.
"We'll...we'll be back soon, Nanako-chan…" Yui told her.
"OK...I'll be waiting."
Yui sat in the chilling interrogation room of the police station in front of Dojima. Adachi was present to witness their discussion. Dojima had confiscated Yui's phone, which was incredibly inconvenient. If there was ever a time Yui needed to inform her friends, it was in this very moment. Dojima took one more puff of his cigarette before pressing it into the ashtray beside him, giving Yui a cold, serious look.
"Yui, you are family to me. That's why I should have done this sooner." Dojima stated.
"Dojima-san…" Yui began to say.
"Tell me everything. What you're involved in, and how you got involved." Dojima asked firmly.
"Dojima-san...you're family to me too. You're like a second father to me. But...I'm afraid if I tell you, it'll be difficult to believe." Yui said, doing her best to put on a display of confidence.
"Try me." Dojima said.
"OK...then I'll tell you the truth about everything."
Yui wrapped her arms around herself and took the deepest breath she had ever taken.
"The truth is...we are involved in that case. My friends and I...we rescue people who have been kidnapped by going into the TV." Yui stated.
"Eh? Into the TV?" Dojima said in total disbelief.
"Inside the TV, there are these monsters called 'Shadows', and we fight them using this power we have called 'Personas'." Yui continued.
Dojima stared on for what felt like an eternity before ultimately shaking his head, much to Yui's devastation.
"I can't ever be your real father...but by now, I thought I had earned your trust. I see I was mistaken. Pity..." Dojima said grimly.
"Dojima-san! Please believe me!" Yui said desperately.
Yui looked around the room and saw a small TV in the corner, immediately springing an idea in her mind.
"I'll show you! I'll show you how we went into the TV!" Yui pleaded.
Yui quickly stood up and went over to the TV, but stopped dead in her tracks when Dojima slammed his fist on the table.
"SIT BACK DOWN!" Dojima boomed.
Yui's heart struck with terror, and she lost any courage she had left. She did as she was told and sat back down, defeated. Dojima sighed and stood up, handing the envelope to Adachi.
"Send this to the lab." Dojima told Adachi.
"Ah, right away!" Adachi said.
Dojima began to leave the room, and Yui pleaded one last time.
"Dojima-san! Uncle!" Yui cried out.
"Stay here for the night." Dojima told her, before closing the door behind him.
Yui buried her face in her arms and wept, crushed and hopeless.
"Hey, don't cry! Dojima-san's just worried about you!" Adachi said nervously.
Yui glared at Adachi, wanting to give him a piece of her mind, but she chose to stay silent.
"Well, I'll be just outside this room. Call me if you need anything!" Adachi stammered, sensing all of the tension and awkwardness in the room.
Adachi left, leaving Yui all by herself as she continued to cry.
"Just like my life before...surrounded by people and yet feeling more lonely than ever...I never should have come here…" Yui thought drearily.
Yosuke was carrying crates in the Junes storage room, with some help from Teddie, though he preferred to be doing anything else.
"How did I get stuck working here with you?" Yosuke complained.
"We have to clear up my tab, so you have to help!" Teddie reminded Yosuke.
"Yeah, I know. Hey, I probably shouldn't have gotten this for you, but here…"
Yosuke pulled out a cheap cellphone and gave it to Teddie. Teddie held it like it was a prized heirloom.
"For me?!" Teddie said excitedly.
"I was starting to worry how you didn't have one. Here, let me show you how to use it. I'll call Yui-chan."
Yosuke proceeded to call Yui, only to receive no answer.
"No answer? That's weird…" Yosuke muttered.
Yosuke suddenly got a call from Chie, which greatly startled him as the phone was still next to his ear.
"Hello?" Yosuke said, ears still ringing.
"Yosuke! Have you been able to contact Yui-chan at all? She's not answering her phone!" Chie asked anxiously.
"You too? Oh, I know! Try her home phone!" Yosuke suggested.
"OK! One second." Chie replied.
Chie called the home phone, and Nanako answered the call.
"Hello?" Nanako said.
"Nanako-chan! Do you know where Yui-chan is?" Chie asked.
"Nana-chan! Let me talk to her!" Teddie said eagerly.
"Yui-chan isn't home right now. She got a weird letter and when Dad saw it, he got angry and took her to the police." Nanako explained.
Chie gasped in horror at this statement.
"Another letter? That's strange…" Yosuke muttered.
"I have to go! There's someone at the door." Nanako said.
"I see, sorry to bother you, Nanako-chan." Yosuke responded before hanging up.
Yosuke said that in order not to worry Nanako, but he knew something was wrong.
When the call ended, Chie felt a terrible sense of dread in her heart. Suddenly, her TV flashed on, another message from the Midnight Channel.
"What the hell?" Chie said aloud.
Chie looked at the screen...and nearly screamed at what she saw…
Yui had finished crying a while ago. However long she was in the room, she no longer knew. But she had spent that time mentally scolding herself, calling herself stupid for allowing this to happen. Her invasive thoughts were interrupted when the TV in the room flashed on. Yui stood up to get a closer look at it...and was mortified by the image being shown: Nanako.
"No...NO, NO, NO!" Yui shrieked.
Naoto was being driven to Yui's house, asking her chauffeur to take her there immediately after hearing the terrible news from Chie.
"I don't understand! Why is he after Nanako-chan?! She's never been on TV!" Chie asked over the phone.
"No...she WAS on TV. Nanako-chan was never shown on TV, but she was mentioned on air. Remember when that politician visited her school and spoke highly of her? The newspaper took interest of this and released her name and photo in an article. This is a small town, I imagine people knew who she was long before the publicity…" Naoto thought aloud, piecing together the hints leading up to this.
Naoto slammed her fist against the seat in anger.
"Kuso! I should have realized this sooner! I was certain that only those shown on TV would appear on the Midnight Channel!" Naoto seethed.
"How close are you to Nanako-chan's house?" Chie asked, her fear rising drastically.
"I'm almost there! I have to confirm that she's OK!" Naoto said.
Yui desperately banged on the door, begging to be let out.
"Dojima-san! Let me out! Please! Adachi! Open the door!" Yui shouted at the top of her lungs, tears streaming down her face.
Yui knelt in front of the door, her heart beating furiously and her breathing becoming agitated.
"Fuck!" Yui cried out.
"Nanako-chan...Nanako-chan's in danger! I have to get out of here!" Yui's mind kept repeating.
Suddenly, Yui heard a commotion going on outside the room.
"Hey! You can't go in there!" Adachi said in a panic.
"Let us through! We have to see Yui-chan!" Yosuke shouted.
"Yosuke!" Yui gasped to herself.
Yosuke, Kanji and Teddie burst into the room. Kanji released Adachi from his choke-hold, causing Adachi to stagger. Dojima came into the room shortly after, furious.
"What are you punks doing in here? Get out!" Dojima shouted.
"Yui-chan!" Yosuke said to Yui.
"What is it, Yosuke?" Yui asked, dreading his answer.
"Nanako-chan...she's gone missing." Yosuke stated bleakly.
All of the oxygen left Yui's lungs in an instant, leaving her reeling and covering her mouth in shock.
"Huh?! What do you mean, 'Nanako's missing'?!" Dojima asked in horror.
"Dojima-san! Shirogane's on the phone right now! Talk to her!" Yosuke told Dojima as he held out his phone.
Dojima took the phone from Yosuke and spoke with Naoto.
"Shirogane? What's going on here?!" Dojima asked Naoto.
"I rode by your house just now. The door was wide open and no one was home." Naoto calmly explained.
Naoto took a deep breath before speaking again.
"I believe the serial killer has kidnapped Nanako-chan…" Naoto said regretfully.
Dojima stood in shock at this realization, his jaw agape in abject terror.
"Dojima-san, you must have known. The case is still going on!" Naoto stated.
Dojima hung up and immediately called home, only confirming his greatest nightmare.
"We are currently unavailable. If you like, you may leave a message at…" The answering machine played.
Dojima slammed his fist against the wall, boiling with rage and fear.
"Damn it! Why?! Why Nanako?!" Dojima shouted.
Dojima turned around and immediately headed for the door.
"Hey! Where are you going?!" Adachi asked Dojima.
"Where the hell do you think I'm going? I'm going to find her!" Dojima stated.
"That's impossible! You don't even know where she is!" Adachi retorted.
"I'll set up a checkpoint by the highway." Dojima insisted.
"That's not going to help!"
"Shut up! Don't try to stop me!"
Dojima stormed out of the room, shoving Adachi out of the way.
"Uncle! Wait!" Yui called out.
"Yui-chan! Please be reasonable! I can't let you out of this room!" Adachi pleaded.
"Let go of me!" Yui angrily shouted.
Adachi got out of the room and immediately shut the door behind him, locking Yui and the others inside. This only agitated them however, and prompted all of them to slam on the door.
"Open the goddamn door!" Kanji shouted, bashing a chair against the handle.
Adachi recoiled in terror, but stuck to his conviction.
"Nana-chan's in trouble!" Teddie pleaded.
"What'll you do if something happens to her? Are you gonna take responsibility or what?!" Kanji asked angrily, still bashing the door.
"Stop it! Or I'm gonna call for backup!" Adachi threatened, despite being terrified.
Just then, Chie, Yukiko, Rise, Naoto and Marie all came rushing down the hall.
"Yui-chan!" Chie called out.
"Oh god, there's more of them!" Adachi whimpered.
"Narukami-senpai!" Naoto called.
"Naoto-chan!" Yui said in small relief.
"Adachi, please release senpai and the others!" Naoto asked.
"You know I can't do that!" Adachi stated.
"You'd better move out of the way…" Chie growled, prepping herself to kick down the door.
"Chie-chan, don't!" Yukiko said, holding Chie back.
"You stupid idiot! Let Yui out of there!" Marie told Adachi, glaring daggers at him.
"I'm...I'm sorry! I can't let them go if I don't know what's going on!" Adachi stated.
"If we explain the situation, you'll let them go?" Naoto asked.
"Naoto-chan, we don't have time for that!" Yui cried out.
"We must remain calm, senpai. Panicking will do us no good." Naoto reassured Yui.
Yui held her breath, but silently agreed with Naoto.
"It's safe to assume that the culprit is the same as before. And when I checked the front door, there was no sign of lock picking or forced entry." Naoto explained.
"Wait, so Nanako just opened the door for them?" Rise asked.
"But Nanako would never open the door for a stranger!" Yukiko stated.
"Then that means the culprit is someone Nanako knows!" Yui thought aloud.
"That narrows down the suspects, but that's not enough to go off of…" Yosuke muttered.
"Thinking back to when the culprit kidnapped me, I remember how quickly he threw me into the TV. He must have done it right in front of the house." Naoto stated.
"So the killer is taking a TV with him everywhere he goes?" Yui asked.
"Precisely! And in order to do that, he must be driving to the scenes of the crimes, using a vehicle big enough to carry and large screen TV!" Naoto said confidently.
"But, hang on! Nobody ever reported any suspicious vehicles, and most of this was in broad daylight too!" Chie pointed out.
"What if it's not an unusual vehicle? What if it's a car that nobody would notice?" Yui thought aloud.
Yui's mind raced for any possibilities that fit this description, until it came to her like a bolt of lightning.
"...a delivery truck!" Yui stated.
Everyone else gasped at this statement, as if everything was made clear.
"Wait, that's right! I remember now! A delivery truck came by when I got thrown in!" Kanji stated.
"Nobody thinks twice about a delivery truck being parked anywhere." Yukiko said in realization.
"If it's a local delivery company, it would be the same person making the deliveries each time." Naoto stated.
"Adachi! Does this sound like anyone to you?" Chie asked Adachi.
"Eh? I wouldn't really know...unless…" Adachi began to say.
Adachi pulled out a notepad from his pocket.
"Dojima-san said he wanted to redo the investigation. One of the suspects of the Yamano murder was a deliveryman who used to be a city council secretary." Adachi explained.
"Taro Namatame!" Naoto stated.
"The guy who had an affair with Ms. Yamano?" Yosuke asked.
"Well, is this enough?" Naoto asked Adachi.
Adachi had a conflicted look about him before giving in, unlocking the interrogation room door. Yui swung the door open, letting herself and the others out.
"Chie-chan!" Yui said, wrapping Chie in a tearful embrace.
"Yui-chan!" Chie whispered, tightly hugging her back.
"I have to head to the crime scene now. Whatever happens while I'm gone is not my responsibility anymore." Adachi stated, quickly turning away and sprinting after Dojima.
"Come on, there's no more time to waste!" Yui told her friends.
Dojima sped his car through the driving rain, keeping his eyes on the highway cars in search of Nanako.
"Hang in there, Nanako! Dad's on his way!" Dojima said to himself.
Dojima's phone rang again, and he quickly answered.
"Hello?!"
"Dojima-san! Where are you right now?" Adachi asked Dojima.
"Like I told you, I'm on the highway!"
"I know who the culprit is!"
"Huh?!"
"Your suspicions were correct! It's Taro Namatame!"
Just then, Dojima saw Namatame driving his delivery truck, passing right by him. Dojima slammed his brakes and immediately turned around to pursue him.
"There you are!" Dojima growled.
Yui and her friends all got into Naoto's car, agreeing to leave the capture of Namatame to Dojima and Adachi.
"We need to head for Junes!" Yui declared.
The chauffeur instantly obeyed, driving in the direction of Junes as quickly as he could safely allow. Marie anxiously clutched onto Rise each time the car made a sharp turn, and Rise gently coddled her whenever it happened.
Dojima was close behind Namatame, his eyes zeroed in on his target. Adachi had managed to catch up to him, following somewhere behind Dojima's car. Namatame anxiously glanced from the road to his rear view mirror and back again, attempting to escape to the highway through the Shopping District main street. When he realized Dojima was fast approaching, he did something desperate and insane. He swerved his truck, causing it to block the entire road. Dojima, not anticipating this at all, slammed on his brakes, but it was far too late to stop himself. He crashed into the truck, severely injuring him and causing both vehicles to grind to a halt. By the time Yui and her friends got there, Adachi had pulled Dojima from the wreckage, trying to keep him conscious.
"Dojima-san! Hang in there!" Adachi pleaded.
"Uncle!" Yui called out, running over to them.
All the others ran out to witness the scene, greatly worried when they saw Dojima bleeding on the ground.
"Where's Nanako...and Namatame? Please find them…" Dojima said weakly.
"Yes, Dojima-san!" Yui said with a determined nod.
After Naoto called for an ambulance, she went over to the delivery truck to examine it.
"Hey, wait! We need to preserve the crime scene!" Adachi said.
"Don't worry. I can handle that." Naoto replied, putting on a pair of gloves.
Yui and Naoto opened the door to the driver's seat, but Namatame was nowhere to be found.
"He's gone!" Yui stated.
Naoto noticed a notebook on the seat and reached out for it, examining its cover and backing.
"Back here! There really is a TV inside the truck!" Chie called out after opening the back.
Yui instinctively ran over and started reaching for the TV.
"Wait! Sensei!" Teddie shrieked.
"What?! I have to go save Nanako-chan!" Yui shouted.
"What if you end up in a dangerous place? You could die!" Teddie warned.
"We have to take that risk!" Yui pleaded.
"No, senpai! If we fail, no one else will be able to save her!" Rise cried out.
Yui grit her teeth in despair, realizing that acting rash now was not worth the potential of losing. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Come look at this. This looks like Namatame's diary." Naoto said, calling everyone to attention.
Naoto opened up the diary and read its contents aloud.
"I have discovered a new world. As such, I must save others." Naoto recited.
"Save us? What the hell is he talking about?" Kanji asked.
Naoto turned the page, and what she saw caused her to gasp in shock.
"This is..."
The next pages were filled with names and places that corresponded to each of them.
"Mayumi Yamano, Saki Konishi, Yukiko Amagi, Kanji Tatsumi, and Rise Kujikawa! These are all the names of the victims, including his failed attempts from the third name onward! And Morooka's name and address aren't listed here!" Naoto stated.
"Amazing! This proves it was him!" Adachi exclaimed as he listened in.
"The last page says this: I can't believe this small child appeared on the TV. At the very least, I must rescue this child." Naoto said.
"Yui…" Dojima mumbled.
Yui snapped to attention and rushed over to Dojima.
"Dojima-san!" Yui responded.
"Nanako...she gives my life meaning. You can save her, right? You must! Please…" Dojima pleaded, each word a struggle to speak.
Yui held back tears and clutched Dojima's hand.
"I swear it." Yui stated.
Yosuke unlocked the back door to Junes, allowing the team to enter. They made their way to the dark electronics section, preparing to enter the TV world yet again.
"Is everyone ready?" Yui asked.
Everyone nodded in agreement, with the exception of Marie.
"What about me? I don't have a Persona…" Marie asked.
"Stay behind, Marie-chan. We don't want to put you in unnecessary danger." Rise said.
"Please don't die…" Marie said with a worried gaze.
"We won't!" Chie stated.
"But just in case we don't make it back…" Rise muttered.
Rise gave Marie a hug and a kiss.
"If this is goodbye, don't forget about us, Marie-chan!" Rise told Marie.
"No! It won't be goodbye! Because you'll make it back!" Marie declared.
"You're right!" Yui said.
The team entered the TV world, leaving Marie in the dark.
"Don't let this be our last memory…" Marie muttered.
When Rise detected Nanako and led the team to where she was, they were shocked to see the place they ended up in. It was unlike any other location in the TV world, a bright, sunny palace straight out of a fairy tale book.
"What is this place?" Yosuke asked.
"It's so beautiful! It looks like Heaven…" Rise stated.
"But why is this here?" Yui asked.
Suddenly, the team heard Nanako's voice.
"Mom! Where are you? Why did you leave me?" Nanako's voice rang.
"Heaven...that explains it…" Yosuke said, coming to realize.
"We're going to save you, Nanako-chan!" Yui muttered.
"Look! There they are!" Yukiko called out, pointing forward.
Namatame was running up a flight of stairs, dragging Nanako by the arm.
"Hey! Stop!" Kanji shouted.
The team followed them until they reached the top of the stairs, cornering Namatame.
"You all followed me here?!" Namatame exclaimed.
"Nanako-chan!" Yui called out.
"Onee-chan…" Nanako responded, her voice weakened for some unknown reason.
"You're Taro Namatame, aren't you?" Naoto asked.
"I know you! You're the ones I saved!" Namatame said, suddenly beginning to laugh.
"What? You saved us?" Kanji asked.
"What are you talking about?" Yukiko asked.
"I'm going to save this child…" Namatame stated, taking hold of Nanako.
"Like hell you will! Give her back!" Yui shouted.
"Calm down, Yui-senpai!" Naoto told her.
Naoto slowly approached Namatame.
"Aren't you the one who's been throwing people who appear on the Midnight Channel into the TV?" Naoto asked.
"That's right." Namatame said firmly.
"What made you do that?" Naoto pressed further.
"On rainy nights, the TV sends me a sign, telling me who wants to be saved." Namatame answered.
"A sign?" Yosuke asked in confusion.
"If I hadn't put you into the TV, what would have happened?" Namatame asked.
"What are you saying? You mean we wouldn't have faced ourselves?" Chie asked Namatame.
"That's crazy! We nearly died!" Yukiko stated.
"You're...you're right…" Namatame confessed.
"This guy's crazy…" Kanji growled.
"I only wanted to save you!" Namatame insisted.
"Shut the hell up! Save people, my ass! All you're doing is killing people!" Yosuke angrily shouted.
"You're the murderers! I know you're planning on killing this child!" Namatame angrily replied, referring to Nanako.
"What are you talking about?!" Naoto asked.
"I'll save her too! I'll save this child!" Namatame declared, laughing crazily.
"No! Stop it!" Yui shouted.
Namatame lifted Nanako into the air, his eyes wild and twitching.
"I am a savior! I am the hero of justice!" Namatame shouted.
Red and black energy began to swirl around Namatame, sweeping himself and Nanako into a whirlwind of darkness.
"Onee-chan! It hurts!" Nanako cried out.
"What's happening?!" Yui asked.
"His power is attracting a whole bunch of Shadows!" Teddie exclaimed.
Namatame transformed into a terrifying form, taking on the appearance of a blackened humanoid with an elongated head and a white shirt, gears shaped like peace symbols orbiting above his head like a halo. He carried Nanako in his fingers as his eyes spun wildly.
"I am Kunino-sagiri! I am the savior!" His voice echoed.
"Nanako!" Yui cried out as she ran forward with her Persona.
Kunino-sagiri flashed a peace gesture and a strange force overtook Yui, causing her to turn around and stare at her friends.
"What's...what's happening to me?" Yui shrieked in terror, losing control of her body.
"Yui-chan?! What's going on?!" Chie asked, horrified.
Yumiko suddenly glared at Yui's friends, summoning several bolts of lightning in their direction. They summoned their Personas in order to protect themselves from the attack.
"Senpai! What's gotten into you?" Kanji asked, wide eyed.
Take-Mikazuchi ran towards Yumiko and attempted to attack her, but with a contorted twist of Yui's hand, she turned into static and reformed into an entirely different Persona, this time into the form of Yaksini, a female demon with purple skin and swords. Yaksini countered Take-Mikazuchi and slashed at him, hurting Kanji.
"What just happened?!" Yosuke shouted.
"No...NO!" Yui shrieked.
"That thing is controlling senpai! It's calling on her power to summon any Persona!" Rise said in horror.
Jiraiya flew towards Yaksini, only for her to glitch into the form of Cybele, the mother goddess. She stopped Jiraiya with ease and launched a storm of arrows upon him.
"Yes! I won't allow anyone to get in my way!" Kunino-sagiri said gleefully.
Yui continued to struggle as her Persona kept changing forms, adapting and shutting down any and all of her friends' attempt to stop her.
"Onee-chan...please stop fighting them…" Nanako muttered.
Somehow, amid the chaos, Nanako's words reached Yui, and with a pained shout, she reverted her Persona back to Yumiko, chaining herself to the ground.
"Yui-chan!" Chie called out.
"Stay away!" Yui shouted, trying all she could to avoid hurting her friends further.
"Sukuna-Hikona!" Naoto shouted, calling upon her Persona.
Sukuna-Hikona flew up to Kunino-sagiri and slashed at his hand, causing him to howl in pain and drop Nanako.
"Nanako-chan!" Yui cried out.
Using all her willpower, Yui broke free from Kunino-sagiri's influence and sprinted over to catch Nanako. Nanako landed safely in her arms, and she opened her eyes to see Yui with a look of relief on her face.
"Onee-chan…" Nanako whispered.
"Are you OK, Nanako-chan?" Yui asked.
Kunino-sagiri became enraged, casting a new spell.
"Give her back! Give her back!" Kunino-sagiri boomed.
Kunino-sagiri took control of Yui's friends, and they struggled in terror as their Personas prepped to attack Yui. Yumiko broke her own chains and fought back against them. With every ally she was able to take back, Yumiko grew more and more exhausted.
"Do not interfere! I am going to save her!" Kunino-sagiri declared.
"Enough! Get him, everyone!" Yui commanded.
Sukuna-Hikona fired a blast at Kunino-sagiri, knocking him away from Yui and Nanako. Jiraiya tossed shurikens at him, and they planted themselves in his chest. Konohana Sakuya lit him on fire while Kintoki-Douji flew a rocket into him. Tomoe froze his head, and Take-Mikazuchi followed it up by grabbing his legs and slamming him into the ground, causing the world to shake. Yumiko finished him off with a final incantation:
"Mahamaon!" Yui shouted.
A series of talismans surrounded Kunino-sagiri, conjuring a giant pillar of light that banished the Shadows, leaving only Namatame behind. Namatame fell to the floor, and with that, the fight was over. Yui looked down at Nanako, suddenly fearful when she realized she was no longer conscious.
"Nanako-chan? Nanako-chan!" Yui shouted, trying to shake Nanako awake.
"She's in pain, but she's not injured." Rise stated after examining her.
"This place must be bad for her! We need to get her out of here!" Teddie said.
"Right! Take Namatame with us as well!" Yui told her friends.
With that, the team carried Nanako and Namatame back to the entrance.
Author's Note(7-4-23): There is no worse feeling in a game than spending time and effort getting stronger before a boss, only for that boss to use your power against you, making it so you are the architect of your own suffering. That's certainly how it felt fighting Kunino-sagiri for the first time, and were it not for the protagonist's plot armor, the Investigation Team would stand no chance. That feeling of futility can only really be communicated properly in game format, but we can still get a taste of that in prose.