Covert Operations
By: Ominae
Rating: T
Chapter 2: Venture
April 14, 2011
2-2 Classroom, 2nd Floor, Classroom Building, Yasoinaba High, Yasoinaba, Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan
It was class as usual for the newly reactivated Center agent as he paid attention to Kimiko Sofue, the school's world history teacher, was seen approaching the podium. Students and staff alike can easily identify her due to the Egyptian nemes and the crook she carries with her everyday. She started the class by rambling on how history can be seen as a romanticist-type subject and how it's like a river, born in the past and continues to flow onwards.
Great metaphor and all. Yu kept to himself while he twirled the blue ballpen on his right index/middle fingers. But I swear that the sensei could be a good motivational speaker.
"Alright class." Sofue-sensei began to point her crook at everyone. "Since this is our first class, I'll start the year with an easy question."
"Narukami-kun." Yu looked at her the moment the crook was point at him. "Please stand up."
Yu stood up from his seat, complying with her instructions.
"When did A.D., in other words, Anno Domini began?"
The gray-haired student placed his hands on the side after he heard her questions. "Sensei, that's when Jesus, the central figure of Christianity was born."
Sofue-sensei nodded, very pleased to hear his reply.
"Very good, Narukami-kun. Take your seat."
Yu took his seat while Sofue-sensei continued. "And does everyone understand what B.C. means?"
No one in the class tried to either raise their hand or voice out their thoughts.
"I may as well tell you then." Sofue crossed her arms, keeping the crook very close to her. "B.C. means Before Christ or the years before Christ was born."
Yu continued to listen to her while she explained to them the significance of the adoption of the A.D. calendar in Western Europe in the 15th century.
For now, nothing was happening. Yu decided that he may as well take some time off to catch a break until he's called in again.
April 15, 2011
Briefing Room, The Center, Unknown Location
MOM was inside The Center's briefing room, which was mostly an ordinary university classroom that had foldable chairs, an overhead projector and a whiteboard. Billy accompanied her inside.
["Reporting for duty."] Jang saluted MOM when she arrived. Mark did so likewise. The other SHADOW agents summoned for the debriefing did so likewise when they stood at attention.
["Take your seats, everyone."]
MOM approached the whiteboard when the lights were turned off as the SHADOW agents sat down on the chairs. The overhead projector was turned on, illuminating the board with the image of a map of Yasoinaba.
["As of 1600 hours yesterday, we've gotten confirmation that paranormal energies are now spiking up even more than ever. I assume all of you have read the debriefing regarding the death of a local named Mayumi Yamano."]
Everyone nodded their heads.
["Make no mistake. That murder was caused by something paranormal in the town's local inn."] She pointed to the inn on the map, which had a red circle around it to show its location.
["What's with the police reaction so far?"] A male Caucasian SHADOW agent with brown hair in a crewcut raised his hand to ask a question, his accent suggesting that he's from Australia.
MOM looked at the agent addressing her. ["Bad. They first concluded that she's a missing person. Until she was found dangling from some TV antennas by the locals."]
["Isn't Narukami investigating the stuff in that town?"] A female Caucasian SHADOW agent, who has her blonde hair in a ponytail. Her accent suggests that she's from the UK.
["He is. But that's not the only reason why I decided to reactivate him."] MOM said when the projector showed a red cross and the red Bordurian flag.
["Our agents in Eastern Europe have mentioned chatter with regards to the Templars trying to dig up more info regarding the activities of the Kirijo Group regarding their experiments on Shadows in collaboration with some intelligence agencies, although Borduria is shown to be the likely candidate."]
["Damn, what the fuck were they thinking when those lab coats tried to do when the old man Kirijo got a hold of that so-called plume? If you ask me, he got a screw loose and it's just a good thing that he died. He'd be a threat to the rest of the world."] Mark said out loud, showing his frustration.
The other agents agreed with his assessment. They were all given copies of the reports done in the events that took place in 2009 at Port Island a while ago. As far as they knew, armed men and women in white hoods, jeans and/or combat pants and boots were responsible for conducting sabotage ops on the facility after one of their moles reported Koutetsu's findings back regarding attempts to bring in Death through research. Rumors in the SHADOW ranks suggest that one of the armed men in Port Island was subsequently recruited with MOM's blessing thanks to the mole.
After the incident, SHADOW agents were responsible for conducting assassinations against Kirijo Group scientists/support staff who had survived the incident, but were found to be unrepentant about their actions. Most of them were made to look like natural causes or from accidents. Only a few of them were done by timed bombing and close range attacks, which were later blamed on terrorists.
["Our Japanese branch has picked up some transmission regarding a foreign intelligence outpost somewhere in Okina City."] The map of the Japanese archipelago was shown on the whiteboard. Another image was shown with the map zoomed in to focus on the Yamanashi area. ["Once we confirm which agency has an outpost there, we'll go in and shut it down."]
["Russians or Bordurians?"] Jang asked her superior.
["We're still checking. For all we know, it could just a Templar thing to draw out its enemies."]
Murmurs began to erupt from the ranks when Billy hovered over them via hovercraft.
["Guys, guys! Come on!"] Billy shouted to get their attention. ["Special Intelligence isn't finished yet! Please wait until at least the first report is out."]
["Fine, fine. Makes you wonder what SID's been doing now in that part of Japan..."]
That voice came from Raidou Kuzunoha the XX, who had been quiet ever since the briefing started. The black cat that accompanied him was seen lying down on an empty chair, but kept one eye open as if it was listening on the entire briefing session.
["While you may have a point, agent Kuzunoha."] MOM replied to the Japanese agent's concern. ["It would be wise to wait for a report before we take action. Otherwise, we'll have an intelligence disaster on our hands."]
Raidou didn't say anything else.
["Any other questions? Comments? Violent reactions?"]
The SHADOWs didn't say anything else.
["Meeting's adjourned for now."] MOM then looked at Jang. ["Agent Jang, I need you and the rest of your team to come to my office tomorrow."]
April 14, 2011
Gymnasium, 1st Floor, Practice Building, Yasoinaba High, Yasoinaba, Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan
It was early morning when Yu arrived at school today. He was told by several of his new classmates that he needs to leave his things in the classroom and head to the gym with the other students later in the early afternoon after lunch.
They're probably going to make an announcement about what happened to her.
After he left his bag on his desk, he promptly lined up with the rest of his second year class.
"Did something happen?" Yu asked Chie, who he just met after he lined up.
"I don't know." Chie shrugged her shoulders when she pointed to Yosuke looking at his mobile phone. "Yosuke just told me that he can't get in touch with Saki-senpai."
"Been doing that after the announcement was made?"
Chie nodded.
"Is..." Yu looked around the students for another person. "she here?"
"No." Chie shook her head. "Yukiko said that she had to leave early. Something happened back at the inn and the staff needs her ASAP."
Yu, Chie, Yosuke and the other assembled students waited as the teachers made their rounds and reminded them to be quiet since the principal had just arrived and was about to go up the stage, towards the podium.
"Please be quiet, everyone." Sofue-sensei said over the microphone. "The principal's here and he has a few word for everyone."
"Good afternoon." The principal softly spoke on the microphone before he continued. "I'm afraid that I have unfortunate news that I must share to the entire student body."
Some of the students murmured and whispered, wondering what the old man was going to say.
"The Yasoinaba Police Station has informed me that Saki Konishi of Class-3 has passed away."
The murmurs and the whispers got louder and louder. Some of the roving teachers began to tell them to keep quiet with Morooka-sensei helping out by threatening to put all of them in his shit list, no matter if they're not troublemakers.
"Settle down, everyone. I've been told by the police that her death is not caused by any types of bullying. As of now, they are still investigating other leads. If they wish to talk to you, please cooperate with them as much as possible."
The ceremony continued with the principal reminding all of the students to not spread any gossip, especially since the police are still investigating and the possibility of them being questioned by them if they're caught doing so.
Outside Gymnasium, 1st Floor, Practice Building, Yasoinaba High, Yasoinaba, Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan
Chie was seen catching up to Yosuke, who had apparently stormed out of the gymnasium in frustration.
"Yosuke, wait!" Yu shouted when he ran up to him. "What are you doing?"
Yosuke stared at him with an angry look at his face. "What do you think? I'm heading down to Junes and really see if that urban legend is for real."
"Yosuke, hold it!" Chie ran after him. "There's always a logical explanation for all of this..."
Yu was about to dissuade Yosuke from doing something reckless when he felt the Iphone 4 vibrate on the right pocket of his pants.
"Chie, can you manage?" Yu got the smartphone. "I need to get this call."
"Will do!" Chie gave the thumbs up.
The student answered the call while Chie was busy talking some sense to Yosuke.
"Hello?" Yu answered the call in English when he found out that the call he got was from a [COMMAND] number and the caller spoke to him in English.
"Agent Inuwashi." The caller greeted him. "Your presence is needed."
"Understood."
He ended the call and used the phone's PORTAL app to locate the nearest area where the Center portal opened up.
Found it.
Only for Yu to cringe where he found the portal.
From the Classroom Building's nearest female toilet.
Dammit. I hope this is not someone's idea of a prank gone wrong.
Yu made a run for it, avoiding contact with any student in case he runs pass by them. He needed the opportunity to sneak inside.
"Here goes." Yu looked around and saw no one was near the toilet. Once he got it confirmed, he ran inside towards the nearest stall. He immediately opened the door and went through the portal.
April 15, 2011
Walkalator Area, The Center, Unknown Location
Yu had just teleported inside the Center, arriving safely when he was on the walkalator. When he was about to pass by a palm print scanner, he placed his right hand over it so that the machine can read his biometrics.
["Agent Yu Narukami, cleared."]
He was greeted by MOM when he was almost at the end of the walkalator.
["MOM, what's going on?"] Yu asked his superior, feeling at a lost. ["The principal at Yasogami High and the Yasoinaba Police announced the death of Saki Konishi publicly!"]
["I was afraid that it'll come to this."] MOM sighed, realizing that Yu would say something in frustration. ["Come with me, agent. You need to see this."]
MOM showed Yu the way out of the walkalator area. They walked towards the direction of the facility's hospital.
["Here".]
The head of the Center showed Yu a still image from her personal Iphone 4. It has Saki on a hospital bed with a ventilator system nearby. An endotrachael tube is seen attached to her mouth.
Hospital, The Center, Unknown Location
["What happened to her?"] Yu asked his superior after he was escorted to the hospital section of The Center by MOM personally.
["After Agent Jang brought her here, she was unresponsive to calls for her to wake up."] MOM explained the situation as they observed the unconscious student from the window overlooking her recovery room. A couple of doctors and a nurse were present to check on her condition. ["For now, we'll keep her here and monitor her condition."]
["Does anyone know?"]
MOM shook her head. ["We're suspecting that it may have something to do with her in that... other world where you secured her. I'll be calling on our experts to check this out."]
["But what about the police? I heard from the Yasoinaba faculty, especially the principal, that they found proof that she was killed with a body of sorts. Back there of all places..."]
["We have the means to produce false leads, agent Narukami. Or did you forget your debriefing when you were first recruited?"]
0000
Yu and several other recruited SHADOW agents were seen inside an auditorium-sized classroom where MOM was seen giving a briefing-style lecture to everyone inside the room.
["...As part of SHADOW's mandate, it is allowed to do anything in its capacity to investigate criminal or terrorist cases of a supernatural or extraterrestrial nature. Deception, misinformation, assassination, propaganda, black ops, false flags, communications interception... these are just some of the examples that the organization must do to protect the public from the dangers of the supernatural and the extraterrestrial in the course of your work. Be warned that whatever you do, you run the risk of burning bridges with friendly law enforcement, military and intelligence organizations."]
The SHADOW recruits continued to listen to the debriefing.
["But from where I stand, I see men and women inside this room willing to risk their lives and their reputation to help safeguard the earth at all costs..."]
0000
["I do remember that."] Yu sighed. ["I'm just worried that someone will be able to figure out that she's still alive and not dead in the first place."]
["I guess that means we need to really use the word classified a lot from here on out."]
Yu turned around to see his fellow SHADOW agent Mark turn up when he arrived at the area.
["Like what agent Lau said, we can still keep this under wraps to keep the local police at bay."] MOM advised her subordinate.
["Right, right."] Yu ran his right hand through his hair. ["As long as nobody in the station gets too nosy about it with either you or the guys, it should be alright."]
["That'll be all, agent Narukami. You should head back to Yasogami High at once. Mark and the others will be dispatched to the area in a day or so when things are done in The Center."]
["Understood, MOM."]
April 14, 2011
Male Toilet, 1st Floor, Practice Building, Yasoinaba High, Yasoinaba, Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan
Yu emerged from the portal inside the male toilet of the school's practice building. He was fortunate that it was empty. Otherwise, he would need to wipe the memories of anyone who's not a Center agent inside the room.
"I think I could be late." Yu took a look at his O-Watch's digital clock to see that it was a minute after 1, which meant that class was going to start soon.
"Shit!"
When Yu ran out, some of the students wondered why he ran out of the toilet and asked themselves if he was in a hurry to be somewhere.
Criminal Investigation Section Office, Yasoinaba Police Station, Yasoinaba, Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan
The CIS office inside the Yasoinaba Police Station got very busy again, in the wake of new evidence that Saki Konishi was found dead with the possibility of being murdered.
"Excuse me." A female plainclothes officer in a white dress shirt, jeans and sneakers handed some papers to Ryotaro. "You wanted to get this?"
"Thanks." Ryotaro thanked the officer and placed the papers near his desk phone. He looked at the initial report provided by eyewitnesses when they told uniformed officers on bike patrol that they found something dangling on a television antenna.
A Japanese man in his mid-20s with a black suit, white dress shirt, red necktie and brown Oxford shoes run towards Dojima's desk. The latter noted that the man's tie was a bit loose.
"Adachi." Ryotaro glared at the Sergeant. "Fix your tie. It's a bit loose."
"Oh... Sorry." Tohru Adachi, the newest officer to be assigned (Some of the veterans and new recruits from Yasoinaba would insist that he just transferred from the city on orders from Yamanashi Prefectural Police Headquarters) to the Yasoinaba Police Station, chuckled as he quickly adjust his necktie.
"So what's the news from prefectural HQ?" Ryotaro asked his subordinate slash partner.
"The call was a bit long," Adachi began to reply. "but the officer who took my call said that they'll get in a report to the station within a few days."
"No timetable?"
Adachi shook his head.
"Great." Ryotaro massaged his temples. "Just the last thing we need."
"You want to call them again?" Adachi asked.
Ryotaro shook his head. "They'll probably give the same answer. Let's just concentrate on retracing what happened to Saki after that blackout at the station."
"Alright."
"Make sure to get a chair and sit next to me. We're going to work on this all afternoon."
Ryotaro frowned at the news Adachi told him.
This just doesn't make sense. What does prefectural HQ have to gain from being involved in this case?
Outskirts of Classroom Building, Yasoinaba High, Yasoinaba, Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan
"I just gotta... I gotta find out why she died."
"Come on Yosuke. Stop for a minute and try to think this through."
Yu saw Yosuke and Chie having a small argument on the death of Saki. If they only knew the irony behind it.
"Hey Narukami." Yosuke approached Yu. "You still remember the stuff we talked about regarding Mayonaka TV?"
Yu nodded a bit. "Still do. How could I forget that?"
"All right. I want you to meet me at Junes later."
"Yosuke..." Chie glared at him.
"I also need you to come with him, Chie."
Chie sighed. "Fine. If it just means that I can keep you in line."
"Sorry about this, Chie." Yu said when he bowed slightly to Chie.
Chie waved her hands. "I-it's okay! Really! It's just that... I've known him for a long time and this is the first time I've seen him like this."
"Well, let's do our best to make sure he doesn't do anything too reckless."
"Yeah."
Electronics Section, Junes Yasoinaba Store, Yasoinaba, Nakakoma, Yamanashi, Japan
Yu, Yosuke and Chie were now present in the store's electronics section. One part of the area consist of HD television screens playing a variety of TV channels in order to demonstrate its image resolution and its internal system to potential customers.
"Okay." Yosuke looked around to make sure no one was around, except for the three of them. Once he visually confirmed it, he put on a brave face and approached a HD TV screen. His headphones were placed around his neck.
"What are you doing, Yosuke?" Chie raised an eyebrow when saw Yosuke approach the screen.
"I heard a rumor from one of our classmates who accidentally placed his left hand inside his TV one time at midnight after he woke up to some strange noise." Yosuke told Chie about something he heard from school. "When he heard that it came from the TV in his room, he wanted to place his hand on it to see if something was wrong. I mean, I'm not really sure though..."
"So you're willing to try it based on what he said?"
"Why not? If it doesn't work, then it's fine. Got nothing to lose. I'll just find another way."
Yu made his way to the screen instead.
"Oh yeah." Yosuke remembered that it was his classmate's first time to foray into the urban legend. "You wanna give it a shot?"
Yu nodded when placed his right hand on the screen. Yosuke and Chie got the shock of their lives when the screen rippled, like someone just tossed a pebble into the lake.
"Oh...my...god..." Chie murmured. "What did I just see?"
Yu kept his straight face on, pretending to look a bit confused. Didn't expect that to happen...
"That's what I want to know."
"Okay..." Yosuke's heart began to beat rapidly when he confirmed his classmate's story. "Chie! Where's the rope?"
"Ugh..." Chie sighed before she agreed to tie hemp rope around his waist. Yu insisted that he didn't need the rope, but he agreed to back up Yosuke in any way he can.
"Thanks." Yosuke tugged the rope to make sure it was nice and tight. Yu gave him a brand new 7 iron golf club he secured from the store's sports section.
"Are you sure this'll be fine?" Yu asked his classmate. "I mean, we're not sure if it'll hold out until we can get back."
"It'll be fine." Yosuke assured him. "We'll just head to who knows where, do some recon and get out."
With that, Yosuke got inside the TV. Yu nodded at Chie when he followed behind him.
Everything went well until the hemp rope snapped off when Chie tried to pull it back despite the length not being enough to maintain a hold on Yosuke.
"Baka Yosuke..." Chie gripped the broken rope tightly after she slumped down onto the tiled floor.
Mayonaka TV entrance
Yu and Yosuke fell down after they entered the TV screen, falling down onto the entrance of the Mayonaka TV world. Yu knew that it was the same entrance he went to a day ago or so, just from the silhouettes he saw on the floor.
"You okay?" Yu helped Yosuke up, but not before showing him the broken rope. "Looks like it broke."
"WHAT?!" Yosuke shouted as he began to panic. "Okay, okay. Just calm down, Yosuke. There's no need to panic..."
Teddie began to show up in the fog, alarmed to see new intruders.
"OKAY YOU TWO!" Teddie began to angrily point his finger at them. "So you can't just get enough with throwing people in that you want to get inside?"
"Wait a second, you bear!" Yosuke pointed the golf club at him. "We came here to check on someone we know!"
"Right..." Teddie glared at him. "That's your excuse, but I bet you got some kinda motive, don't you?!"
"Throwing people in here." Yosuke murmured. "Does he means senpai and the announcer?"
"I guess so." Yu shrugged.
"Hey! Don't just change the subject!" Teddie shouted, seeing that the two weren't paying attention.
"Why you...!" Yosuke charged at Teddie, but not before he dropped the club in order to grapple with his head. "You just keep yapping about us being suspicious, but you're the one who's even more suspicious than us."
"Hey, hey...!" Teddie protested when Yosuke unzipped the head to remove it from the rest of his body. Instead, he got the shock of his life when he saw nothing was inside.
"What the hell..." The student was shocked to see Teddie's arms were waving around, trying to find its head.
"Well... there's nothing inside." Yu murmured. Least I know that he's some kind of creature. At least one that's not hostile.
Yu approached it, got the head and placed it back on its body.
"Thanks a lot, nice guy..." Teddie thanked Yu for his help.
"Dude..." Yosuke was amazed to see Yu so stoic. "Doesn't anything here phase you?"
"Phase me?" Yu asked him, like it was no big deal at all.
"Okay, okay." Teddie sighed after he realized that Yu and Yosuke aren't bad people. "You guys aren't the culprit responsible for tossing people in here. And besides, I wouldn't do such a thing..."
The students looked at Teddie, who seemed to be on the urge of crying.
"So what now?" Yosuke asked Yu. "We're in a dead end and we don't even know where to at least start."
Yu remembered something that... a long-nosed person said to him... What was him? That's right, Igor!
0000
It seems you will encounter a misfortune at your destination, and a great mystery will be imposed upon you…
0000
"You're the only ones I can ask. Can you guys help me find the real culprit?" Teddie begged the two.
Yu sighed. I can't do anything to break my cover. "All right."
"Damn bear. Holding a gun to our heads." Yosuke sighed as well. "Alright. I'll go and help out as well."
"Thank you, thank you." Teddie smiled.
"I'm Yosuke Hanamura." Yosuke introduced themselves. "And this is Yu Narukami. You got a name?"
Teddie nodded. "I'm Teddie."
Yosuke groaned. "Should have known. Anyway, we need to move on if we're going to figure out what happened..."
"I don't know. I can show you the place where the person went to when this mess started."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I'll take you there and you could find something to help you solve the culprit's name and all."
Teddie handed Yu and Yosuke a pair of glasses. When they wore them, they were amazed at how the fog was gone.
"Whoa..." Yosuke whispered before he said. "It's like the fog wasn't even here at all."
"They should help you guys navigate through here." Teddie told Yosuke. "In the meantime, I'll take you to the area where I last saw her. But be sure to have something to defend yourself just in case."
"What?!" Yosuke was a bit furious. "There better not be any monsters, you hear?"
"Come on, Yosuke." Yu placed a hand on his left shoulder. "We're wasting time if we just continue to stand around here."
"All right." Yosuke nodded. "Come on, Teddie."
Teddie walked alongside Yu and Yosuke as they walked towards the Twisted Shopping District.
"So who's the person you're looking for?" Teddie asked the two, inquiring about why they were in the world.
"We're checking in on what happened to this person. Saki Konishi." Yosuke took out his black NEC Softbank 821N GLA mobile phone and flipped it open. He showed Teddie a picture of Saki in her Junes employee's uniform.
Teddie's eyes widened up when he realized who Yosuke was looking for.
"Hey... Something wrong?" Yosuke asked Teddie since he saw his facial expression.
"Nothing! Nothing!" Teddie walked a bit far ahead than Yu and Yosuke. "Come on, you guys! It's this way!"
Twisted Shopping District
Yu, Yosuke and Teddie safely arrived at the Twisted Shopping District, thanks to Teddie's sense of detecting and avoiding Shadows along the way.
"Damn..." Yosuke murmured while he held the golf club. "This place looks way too much like the shopping district in Yasoinaba. Place is already giving me the creeps."
"Yeah, I get the same feeling." Yu agreed with him.
"And here we are." Teddie stopped in front of a liquor shop.
"No way..." Yosuke was a bit stunned at the liquor shop. "This looks like the liquor shop owned by Saki-senpai's family."
"You know this place?" Teddie asked Yosuke when he heard him out.
Yosuke nodded.
"Come on, Narukami. We're heading in."
Yu nodded and followed him afterwards.
April 15, 2011
Briefing Room, The Center, Unknown Location
MOM was inside one of The Center's many briefing rooms, already waiting with Mark, Jang and Raidou with Gotou on the floor, lying down next to him, as they were seen seated down. The three SHADOW agents wore jeans, but Mark and Raidou wore Oakley boots and green Rothco softshell jackets with velcro provisions on over their shirts. Jang wore a blue denim jacket over her white shirt.
["Where is that guy..."] Mark murmured, placing the palm of his right hand underneath his chin.
["I already sent him a message that the meeting was going to start in 3 minutes."] Jang groaned in her seat.
The briefing room's gray sliding door opened up, revealing a teen of East Asian descent. He wore a white shirt with the Petronas Tower on it, jeans and black and white rubber shoes.
["Sorry about being late. I ran into a problem with my apartment's elevator. I got stuck in it for a few minutes."] The Malaysian teen bowed to emphasize his apology. ["It's a good thing that I was there by myself lah."]
["Duly noted, agent Cheng."]
["I told you that you should leave so early David."] Mark grumbled when he heard his complaint, also in the same accent. ["You know that this is important, lah."]
["Very, very sorry."] David Cheng took his seat next to Mark while saying his apologies.
["All right. Now that everyone is here, we can start our debriefing."] MOM sighed when she saw everyone was present and in their seats ready for the session.
["Is there a lead regarding the Bordurian slash Russian angle?"] Raidou asked MOM.
["May be."] The overhead projector was turned on, projecting the map of Okina City on the white projector screen rolled down behind MOM. ["We do know that the city is in the dark that a couple of foreign intelligence agency safehouses are present. We don't know why they happen to be operational. But our moles in Borduria and Russia indicate something about looking for ex-Kirijo Group scientists who may be living there."]
["And do they relate to what's happening in Yasoinaba?"]
["That's the reason why you guys are going there soon. We need to confirm if both countries want to get their hands on intel related to what the scientists did for an event known as The Fall."]
["Are we allowed to use lethal force?"] David raised his hand before he posed the question.
["Yes. I don't need to remind you that you can't leave any traces of the Center's involvement in investigating those safehouses. Understand?"]
["Understood, MOM!"] The SHADOW agents said in unison.
April 14, 2011
Liquor Store, Twisted Shopping District
Yu and Yosuke slowly examined the supposed interior of the liquor store replica. It looked exactly like the Konishi Liquors Store the former went to since he toured the district by himself a few days ago, as part of his habit of getting to know the place so that he can move enough easily and not act like a lost person.
Teddie was close behind them, providing analysis on whether Shadows are inside the store or not.
They're still here. Yu saw the displayed sake bottles and commemorative plaques on the wall.
"I found something!" Yosuke called for Yu's attention.
"What is it?" Yu ran up to Yosuke, who was seen standing next to a shelf full of sake bottles from the rest of Japan.
"It's the tickets I handed to senpai a few days before I introduced you to her." Yosuke and Yu examined the tickets on the floor to see that they were torn in half.
"Who would do this anyway?" Yu picked up a piece of the torn ticket to examine it closely. "Hm. Can't tell if this was done recently or not."
"So what's going to happen to the store? I mean, I heard Saki-neesan works there now."
"Honestly, I don't know. If this continues, we may well say goodbye to the shopping district. It's what making all the tourists come and visit our nice, quiet town."
"Hey! Stop saying all that crap!" Yosuke shouted when he heard the negative comments towards the store.
"I don't mind if you need to get a part-time job while you're studying to save up money, Saki." The voice of an older man began to speak. "But what I don't get is why you need to work at Junes, of all places! You're the daughter of a family who's managed this store in Yasoinaba for many generations now!"
"Is that... Saki's father?" Yosuke murmured.
"What's your motive? Did you meet a guy you know there? Do you need the money just to prepare for university or cram school? Just tell me and your mom! We're your parents, Saki!
"I didn't realize she had so much trouble." Yu said out loud when he heard the voices.
"Me neither." Yosuke agreed with Yu.
Hm? Yu spotted a wooden table nearby and picked up the photos. Among them include a photo of part-time employees at the food courts in their uniforms. "Yosuke! You may want to see this!"
Yosuke and Teddie ran up to him and took the photo.
"This was when some of the part-timers were celebrating their first month into the job at Junes, myself included." Yosuke explained to Yu the significance of the photo he found.
"I never got to tell Yosuke-kun something..."
"Tell me what?" Yosuke was confused what the voice of Saki was trying to tell him.
"I never told him that he's a real pain in the ass."
"WHAT?!" Yosuke was shocked.
"I was only nice to him 'cause his father's in charge of Junes' Yasoinaba branch. But he just took it the wrong way and was way too enthusiastic."
"I'm... a pain in the ass." Yosuke felt hurt by what Saki really said. That is, if it was really her feelings at all.
"Who cares about Junes?! It's because of that store that the store's not doing well, my folks hate me and the neighbors talk about us behind our backs. I wish everything would just disappear!"
"No, no, no, no...!" Yosuke began to panic again. "That can't be right. That can't be right."
"Get a hold of yourself, Yosuke." Teddie reached out to him.
"Come on, Yosuke. Don't try to linger your thoughts..." Yu reached out to Yosuke as well.
"I'm teling you man! I've seen senpai at work! She's not like this...!"
"Boo hoo hoo... It's so sad. I feel so sorrryyy for myself..."
"Who's there?!" Yu shouted when he heard an unknown voice.
"Gosh. Where are my manners..."
The mysterious figure stepped out of the shadows from behind a couple of display shelves.
"What the?" Yosuke gasped.
"It can't be?!" Teddie gasped as well.
This is like the time I fought Saki's Shadow. Yu gritted his teeth, remembering the time he fought the Shadow when he first came to Mayonaka TV.
Out of the shadows came Yosuke. Well, the person has Yosuke's physical features. But there was something different. Something Yu knew.
He has yellow eyes.
"Actually... I'm the one who thinks that I'm a real pain in the ass. Hahahaha...!"
"T-There's two of them!" Teddie was alarmed to see two Yosukes, even though the other one has yellow eyes.
Yosuke began to back away while the other one walked towards him.
"Dude... You just got to admit it. One of the reasons you went here is to link up with Narukami. After all, the more the merrier right?
Yosuke only gritted his teeth. He said in anger. "That ain't true. 'Cause you're not me."
"Yeah right. You're really sick of living out of the city. Sick of Junes. Sick of Yasoinaba. In fact, you're sick of everything here! Just admit it... If you don't, then it'll reach a breaking point."
"Why you I oughta..."
"Not only that, but you put on a carefree attitude in public 'cause you don't wanna be alone in this town."The fake Yosuke crossed his arms. "I know you wanna save Saki-senpai, but you also wanted to snoop around this world."
Yosuke became more and more alarmed by the Shadow's retort towards him.
"What's the matter? You paranoid that I'm spouting all this in front of you and your friends here?" The fake Yosuke smirked. "Or maybe... I'm right after all since I know what your thoughts are!"
"Stop lying in front of me!" Yosuke began to point a finger at his fake counterpart.
"Come on, come on." The fake Yosuke waved his hand, ignoring the real Yosuke again. "With senpai missing and gone, you thought it's a good opportunity to jump right in and get in for the thrills and be a hero if things went well."
"What the fuck are you talking about?!"
"I'm a Shadow. In fact, I'm your Shadow. There's nothing in the world that I don't know about you..."
"Shut it. You're wrong! You're not me!"
"That's rich, coming from you. Let me show you something first!"
The fake Yosuke began to be engulfed in red smoke while the shelves and the door nearby began to collapse, as if they were prop wall taken from a movie/TV set. The area changed to something similar to the studio set Yu fought on.
The screens mounted nearby began to turn on, showing a couple of female Junes employees.
"Hey." A black-haired Junes employee with short called for the attention of her colleague, another female employee with light brown hair in a ponytail.
"What's up?"
"What do you say we go see Yosuke for help?"
"The Prince of Junes, huh?"
"Yeah. He's really taking it the wrong way. He thinks everyone looks up to him, only because his father is in charge of the store."
"I know, right? He's such a loser."
Yosuke was down on his hands and feet when the fake Yosuke changed form into something resembling A giant frog with green, yellow and black colors. On top of its back was a humanoid being with a black body, giant yellow hands and a red scarf on its neck. Its eye resemble ninja shurikens.
"I'm a Shadow! The true self! The Shadow proclaimed boastfully. "And I'll get rid of anyone and anything that stands in my way!"
Teddie became alarmed when he saw some black splotches appear on the ground. "T-they're coming!"
"Starting with you!"
Yu pushed Yosuke out of the way when the Shadow's hand was about to smack Yosuke, who didn't bother to move out of danger.
Dammit! Why didn't he move out of the way!
Yu grabbed the club that Yosuke dropped and concentrated. The tarot card appeared before his eyes.
"PERSONA!"
He crushed the card with his right hand before he gripped the club. Izanagi appeared before him, this time with its black trench coat and white bandanna tied on its head.
"Let's get him, Izanagi!" Yu charged towards the Shadow. "Time for Zio!"
Izanagi obeyed and used Zio to stun the Shadow
"ACK! The Shadow went down on its back, exposing its belly.
This gave Izanagi the opportunity to stab him there with its huge spear-like sword known as the Ame no Nuboko.
"ARRGGHHH!" The Shadow felt the pain of being stabbed in the chest.
Chapter 2 END
PS - Hope the chapter was okay. Let me know if I need to check on something. Also, is there anyone who has access to a photo of Yu Narukami wearing a hoodie, trying to look subtle with his hands in the hoodie's pockets? Let me know on that too.
I envisioned this to have OP/EDs, so it'll have the NYPD Blue Opening Theme as the OP and I'll Be Your Home by Rin Oikawa as the ED.
I almost forgot to mention something and I should have mentioned this. Anything in bold means that a character is talking via electronic means like a microphone, radio, etc.
The Ame no Nuboko/Nuhoko (depending on the translation) is Izanagi's mythological weapon that created the Japanese archipelago. I don't think Atlus ever named it per se, so I decided to give it a name, since the persona in P4 is based on Japanese mythos.