That was direct footage from the accident. According to the police, the engineer's life was not in danger, despite his injuries. After questioning, even he could not explain his high speed when approaching the station. No further comments were made. Police are still looking for a plausible motive...
Mitsuru Kirijo leaned her head against the car window, watching the raindrops race each other down the pane. Drowning out the reporter's ramblings about the Shibuya subway derailment that had just occurred today.
Just another odd thing that's been happening around Tokyo lately. One that she'd now need to personally investigate, as more and more things like this happen. At this point they're more than likely linked but...what exactly are these incidents? What are they leading towards? Is anyone even really behind these things at all?
She had a growing hunch something was lurking in the shadows, but with nothing to go on and very limited manpower on her side, it was making it exceedingly difficult to locate. Not to mention there's a pretty real chance the perpetrator could be one of those... things. So they'll need to tread carefully or...
"Something troubling you Ms.Kirijo?"
Mitsuru was jolted out of her stupor and directed her attention to the other passenger, her only other companion during this whole trip. A boy a few years younger than her.
"No...no. Sorry Narukami. Just thinking over everything is all." She replied, sliding a few loose strands back into place with a small sigh, while he leaned back in his seat across from her with his hands folded on his lap.
Yu Narukami, another big help to this case, a strong persona user, like herself. He was always ready to lend his strength whenever he felt someone was in trouble, much like herself, her respect for him had grown since they met.
"And I told you before drop the miss, Mitsuru's fine. We're both a part of this investigation and have been working together for quite some time now, being all formal's more a chore than anything." The Kirijo heiress stated, with her usual firm resolve.
She had requested the silver-haired young man to come along on this trip to help scope the area and follow up on leads. Hopefully, by sending out two skilled persona users instead of one they would be able to finish things a little faster. But also due to her growing admiration, he was far easier to work with than her other "partners"...
"Right...Mitsuru." Yu agreed with a curt nod, keeping the rest to himself, finding the window he was sitting next to a better focus for his attention than the women before him. The TV continued to drone on and on, drawing their ears away from the quiet awkwardness between the two.
The car came to a gentle stop, as they arrived at their destination, Ginza district in central Tokyo. Both swiftly getting out, her driver held out an umbrella over their heads, as Yu grabbed the luggage that he and Mitsuru had packed. The sound of the rain amplified, now that they had stepped outside.
A whistle left his mouth as he surveyed the hotel that stood before them, taking up a sizable chunk of the street corner. With such an expensive and ritzy design it practically screamed you need wealth and prestige just to book a room.
"I'm staying here..?" He said out loud in a state of awe, the boy unsure if he was truly worthy to step into such a place. Mitsuru couldn't help but chuckle to herself a bit at his surprise.
"Yes, is there a problem with that? Don't worry I've taken care of expenses for this entire stay."
He snapped back from his daze and waved his hands in protest."N-no no, it's fine. It's very lovely, it's just that I feel like it'll take forever before I ever manage to save up for a weekend getaway here."
With that settled, the pair quickly walked through the front door, relieved to be out of the drab weather that persisted since this morning.
"Regardless, you should relax for a moment after that long drive here. I've been dealing with the owners here several times, so it's nothing new. I'm sure a soft bed is enticing right about now." Mitsuru gave a warm smile, slipping off her coat to reveal a gray cardigan.
The front room had a fair few patrons and guests roaming around. Having a variety of purposes, whether they just wished to eat dinner here, drink, and converse with friends, or, more likely, were patrons of the many rooms offered to those seeking solitude.
"Naps aren't really my thing." He shook his head, standing close behind her as they moved further inside.
"Oh, I figured." She said with an eyebrow raised. "But it was worth a try. In either case, let's settle in first. A suite at the top floor awaits." Her tone firm and her movements with a sense of urgency, Mitsuru always had a manner that reflected a woman of purpose and strength.
They walked past many of the guests scattered throughout the main hall, a few gazes followed their every move. Nothing out of the norm, as Kirijo's presence tends to stick out like a sore thumb.
At the end of the hallway, a single elevator waited for them, pushing in they were finally alone together for what felt like the first time since boarding the train this morning. Yu was happy to be away from any prying eyes or ears that could eavesdrop on them as easily as one could pick up an unlocked safe.
"You really think all the accidents have ties to shadows and personas, don't you."
"Like I said back at headquarters. We're in the dark right now and can't afford any assumptions until we know more. "
She stood facing the steel wall, crossing her arms under her chest as they spoke, her breath fogging the cold surface. Her stance was solid and steady. "But yes, they have to be connected. Most normal people would brush off these recent occurrences but... these aren't exactly normal circumstances."
Her suspicions are the very reason they have this operation, to begin with. Many strange and seemingly unexplainable occurrences have been taking place as of late. Incidents that could lead to dire repercussions in the wrong hands. Or a fortunate reward with a great boon for the ones that could figure it out first...
A sigh from Yu. He knew she was right, though, still, it's hard to get his head around the idea a month ago. Oddities or strange beings had no problem throwing him for a loop time and again. Hell, the whole reason Mitsuru approached him for help with her group was that she knew about him, and his allies' past exploits.
"I feel like Naoto would have been a far better choice for this investigation. Heck, she might've already started piecing stuff together by now."
"I won't lie,Shirogane is a superb detective, almost intimidating, a quality I find admirable in others." She flashed the same grin in his direction that had so thoroughly charmed him already.
"It's unfortunate she couldn't join us on such short notice. But you're no slouch, Narukami. If you've beaten down forces akin to gods...well, I can't see you having much difficulty with simple tracking and fact-finding."
A ding sounded throughout the shaft, the lift reaching its peak.
"You flatter me too much."
"Ha, nonsense," Mitsuru stated as they exited the elevator. Heels clacked lightly against marble tile, the two walked down the halls with their bags in tow. "I don't flatter or praise for the sake of it, that'd be fruitless. Praise needs to be genuine and earned."
She slid the card into the slot of a pair of heavy double doors, the mag-lock chirped as it activated, releasing the magnetic clasp. They entered their home away from home for the foreseeable future.
A massive main room greets them, lined with extravagant furnishings and decorations of quality not many would be lucky to ever see, let alone purchase. Yu whistled. He had definitely been spoiled.
"I wasn't lying when I said I covered this, feel free to indulge as you see fit. I have a certain degree of sway with the owners of the place and won't have any issue reserving any particular services." She explained.
"Don't have to tell me twice." He started. Yu went and opened the nearest window, flooding the room with the dull noises of the city, cars, voices, and wind. All mashing together to make a din. "Oh damn. You have a pretty nice view up here."
"Top floor view of one of Tokyo's finest hotels. Of course, it would be."
"Man, Inaba may be quaint but..." He couldn't help but start comparing it in his head to his quaint little town. No matter how much you dress it up in fancy clothes, his home would forever remain a small dot compared to the towering beast that is Tokyo.
His thoughts trailed a bit longer. When was the last time he took a breather and just relaxed and admired the scenery like this? His mind wandered a bit more, only brought back when Mitsuru bumped into him as she crossed the room to look for something.
"I'll take the bedroom on the left if you don't mind," She remarked. He gave her a thumbs up in agreement. "Also what are your plans for this evening? I'll probably stay here to recheck our records and then get in touch with some possible witnesses. It'll likely take all night, but that should leave us plenty of time for further investigation tomorrow. That is unless you have an objection."
"Yeah. Sounds fine to me." He turned to meet her gaze."Guess I'll take some time to walk around a bit then."
He cracked his neck, feeling some pops and relief from it. Yu didn't require rest yet, a change of scenery might help freshen his mindset for later. He'd also get the chance to look at some of the more obscure places in the meantime, maybe find something on his own. He wasn't worried if it wasn't an immediate breakthrough, the key for Yu was persistence.
"Can't wait to get started can you?" Mitsuru said with a smirk. "Understandable though. This city never rests, you'll have a never-ending stream of people and entertainment to keep yourself occupied." She went to sit in front of the coffee table pulling out her laptop resting it on top.
"While you're sightseeing, don't go far and stay out of trouble," Mitsuru called back. "As a rule, you should try to meet back here sometime near midnight, and call if anything comes up before then. My contact details are still saved on your phone, correct?"
"Yeah," Yu nodded, stepping towards the exit. He flashed the dark red-haired girl a smile, which she reciprocated in kind. "Cya."
"And do be safe." He caught her last-minute comment as he went out the door.
Towering buildings seemed to scrape the very sky above, shifting between monolithic structures. Billboards, street lights, signs, and advertisements. Every space was occupied. And despite its size, everything and everyone moved in such a dense cluster, with a hive mind type of synchronicity.
And yet it felt empty. Cold. Even here, in a city bustling with throngs of people, Yu was able to easily carve a space for himself that isolated him from the crowd. It felt... melancholic almost. The image of loneliness surrounded by uncaring faces. The people who have lost their way and sense of direction, hopeless and stagnant.
"Yeah Yosuke, Kirijo-san went all out with the location. Even the air feels expensive." Yu had the cell up to his ear as he moved down the sidewalks. It felt nice hearing the familiar voice of his best friend after an entire day cooped up in a cramped car.
"Damn dude, Now I really am jealous."
"Don't be. No matter where I stay, it never feels quite like home, you know?" He sighed, stopping at a crosswalk.
"Can't argue that." His partner responded from the other side of the line. "Any news on the case?"
Dodging a few other people Yu crossed the intersection along with a crowd, "Not really. We arrived not too long ago, so it's pretty fresh." Yu replied, Yosuke stayed silent.
"But Kirijo-san seems optimistic, hopefully, we'll find something."
"Hey partner, be careful ok? With all the odd crap that's going down lately, I'd be a lot more comfortable with the situation if you- Hey Ted, knock it off!" The muffled sound of Teddie yelling loudly in the background was audible over the phone's speakers.
Yu shook his head with a smile. Some things really never change.
Once the commotion calmed on the other side, Teddie's voice could be heard clearly."Senpai! Just say the word and I'll hop right on over for extra muscle!"
Laughing he thanked Teddie for the offer but politely declined before his best friend intervened. "Dude you know you'd get lost in less than ten seconds flat." He chided his "cousin" a bit longer until both boys were laughing. It helped relieve a bit of the growing pressure he felt bearing down on his shoulders.
"We got to wrap up and close the store so g'luck out there, partner. You've got this."
"Right, take care both of you and make sure not to break the microwave again." Yu pointedly reminded the bear of a certain incident.
"Hehe..."
A beep signified the call had come to an end. Once alone again, Yu took a moment to bask in the presence of people around him, the light from an advertisement over his head shining brightly over the dozens of people surrounding the store's display.
Looking up, the face of Rise Kujikawa loomed over his own, on various digital displays. Shaking his head with a half-hearted chuckle, he continued moving past the throngs. It was nice to know his friends back home, regardless of distance, were all safe.
Focusing back onto his phone a frown quickly settled on his face. A strange app had made its way onto the screen of his smartphone. It was small and the coloration was of a deep red with a black stylized eye stamped on the center.
He hadn't remembered downloading it and it wasn't a recognizable program to him its simplistic and clean design stuck out to Yu, it didn't mesh with the layout of his phone, everything else being a far simpler user-friendly display and graphics.
Growing increasingly uncomfortable at its presence, Yu quickly dragged the icon to the bin, deleting the app. Best not to dwell on something like that too much, most likely, it was just a piece of unneeded spam or junk code downloaded while browsing around earlier.
Taking the time to admire his surroundings, Yu continued along a narrow path. Maybe he'd be able to hear more about the situation from some locals who had firsthand info about the subway incidents.
Pen scratching against paper in quick sharp motions. Mitsuru jotted down notes with one hand as she read over old files with the other, deep into her research, the moon was well into its' ascent from beyond the horizon, bathing everything with the cold and sterile light. Her eyes, despite the late hour, retained their focused clarity, always burning with an inescapable resolve.
"These Psychotic Breakdown incidents..." she pondered aloud, flipping the page over. A variety of headlines flashed across the sheets at a second glance, a collection of numerous related incidents taking place sporadically across the country.
"None of the victims showed any prior symptoms nor did they have a known history of mental disorders or severe psychiatric problems." Mitsuru analyzed, glancing between each file. "The circumstances are identical but..."
A light knock at the door interrupted the silence, the sudden sound jolting her head upwards as it echoed in the expansive main room.
Her gaze shot to the clock above the doorway. Midnight, Narukami was certainly punctual, a helpful quality in their line of business.
Walking over to open it she greeted him with her usual strong and confident smile. "Hello, welcome back."
"Meant to get back earlier but a few things cropped up that kept me running around the area," Yu answered. "Ah yeah." He quickly slipped off his shoes as he lifted a bag with the other arm. "Figured you hadn't taken a break in some time to get something to eat, so here," The young man offered it with a firm nod.
"Thanks," She replied graciously as she accepted it and glanced inside. A couple of containers were stored inside with the label of the cafe in the lobby.
"Did you enjoy the sites while you were out?" She inquired, turning around, Mitsuru started to lay out the food in front of her notes and laptop. A small conversation would help with clearing her head and, hopefully, bring forward new perspectives and theories.
"More or less." Yu took a seat next to her on the couch, feeling her leg pressing against his thigh in the small space provided. "I walked the local area in an attempt to hear any information that could be useful. But a lot of what I did find was mostly stuff you already knew."
"Anything stand out to you? Personal testimonies, eyewitness accounts, the usual. Even the small things could prove useful." Mitsuru requested. Yu pulled out a notebook from the back of his pocket, the page half-filled with tiny letters.
He glanced over the details briefly before recounting his evening. "For the most part, all these events are consistent, the people of the Ginza district have been largely spared by the... mass chaos, that's been plaguing the region the last few days." Yu tapped his chin, looking at Mitsuru's map she laid out before him. "But they're definitely on edge right now. And I'm sure the other districts aren't exactly relaxed and carefree at the moment."
Humming, Mitsuru shoved a spoonful of rice into her mouth, digesting his information with her own. "It doesn't help that these cases are completely random when and where they'll occur, an absence of any discernible pattern makes this significantly harder. I have people tracing any links we can, and sending it my way." She closed her eyes in thought.
"There has to be something we aren't getting... or something we haven't considered yet..." She mused to herself.
Yu nodded in agreement. "Just because everyone can't see what's happening, doesn't mean the phenomenon itself isn't happening at all. We've both dealt with this kind of thing enough to know." Yu remarked."Expect the unexpected, right?"
"Couldn't have said it better myself."
Taking a break from their conversation, they indulged in their late-night meal in silence. The television switched to the latest episode of Featherman in the background, adding some quiet ambiance for them.
"Thank you for this. I had lost track of time."
"It's no problem. It can be easy to get wrapped up in an assignment sometimes."
She laid her fork down, leaning her head back with a quiet sigh as she stretched a bit, loosening up the tension she had gained. The quiet darkness filled the room, the glow of the screen being the sole source of illumination at the moment.
"Narukami-kun," she muttered, not shifting to look at him. "Can I ask you something?" Her voice held a thoughtful weight to its usual strength and stern tone. Yu quickly recognized that she wished to open up to him with a more intimate manner of speech.
"Sure." He answered after another bite. "Anything."
"Well...it's...something that's been on my mind recently."
Yu kept a close ear, listening carefully as her tone softened, seemingly becoming more unsure, her confident front from earlier wilted away, a stark contrast to the Mitsuru he knows. It's evident she isn't one for exposing her internal conflicts.
"Lately. I feel as though my work has been faltering. Nothing I do is ever enough. When I see all this," She gestures at the notes, photographs, maps, etc. " I get this crushing sense that all the responsibility rests solely on my shoulders. We're a team but..I'm the one leading them." She lowered her head. "How are people able to keep themselves up, knowing lives depend upon the orders they make or their success?"
She sighed and shifted towards him."And it's hard keeping my resolve, the persona users, we're... different. But even then I have a role to uphold and I-"
His firm hand landed on her shoulder and met her eyes with his steady determined expression."I'm not going to give a big speech," He explained. "If it's not what you want to hear, but the same feeling, I get it." He began. "After fighting shadows I thought... we could finally rest. We can finally go back to a normal life. But...we still have this sense of obligation. An attachment we can't shake. Like you, I feel there's more we need to do. But...when it feels hopeless.."
"When the job gets to be too much or all you can see are the bad things we can't solve. Think about the good stuff that came out of it. The friends you made, the knowledge you found, and the experiences you gained, the future that you helped secure. I don't want to think what would have happened, if not for those I knew." Yu smiled gently, looking her dead on, their eyes meeting in the middle. His soft smile was contagious.
"Thanks. Honestly." A half smile was slowly stretching across her lips as the weight began lifting. "I didn't even realize I needed that." She rubbed the back of her neck. "Maybe, the stress has been getting to me more than I realized." Mitsuru stretched her back with a quiet hiss.
She reached out and grasped the cup from the table in a smooth motion, tipping the rim back with an audible sip."Thank you, Narukami," she hummed and placed the glass back down.
"Feeling better now?" he asked.
"Of course.." Her soft expression slowly shifted to a yawn. "Tomorrow we'll interview a few important sources for leads on the case, let's be prepared for whatever's thrown our way."
She patted his shoulder with a contented sigh and got up from her seat, walking over to the bedroom." Get some sleep for now," she called out as she went into her quarters. "We should be fully rested for any obstacles coming our way." The door softly closed with a click.
Rising with an arch and a pop of his back, Yu turned off the TV. All that was left was for him to hit the hay. Entering his side of the suite
Yu had changed into the nightwear he brought with him, a simple pair of pajamas that suited him well and kept him warm, sitting on the bed, Yu grabbed his phone, noticing the red and black pulsating eye from before, his brows furrowed for a moment, "Again? Huh. I swore I removed it, strange..." His features relaxed as his fingers clicked the button to delete the strange little app once again."Tomorrow's a busy day," Yu tucked his phone under his pillow and settled down for sleep."Hopefully we can figure something out..." With that in mind, Yu allowed the feeling of sleep to slowly come over him.