Persona 4: The Golden Apostle

by sithlorde1988

Adaptation of Persona 4 Golden. Everyone knows the plot of Persona 4/Persona 4 Golden well, or at least the plot of CANON Persona 4/Persona 4 Golden. But what if there was an extra character added into the mix? How will the addition of an extra character to the mix change the plot of Persona 4 Golden? Better summary and more info in the first chapter! Read and enjoy!

17. 2nd Dungeon! Tatsumi's Bathhouse part 4

A/N: sithlorde1988 here, with another chapter of Persona 4- The Golden Apostle! If I'm right, this will be the first chapter I've typed out in about a week, since I took some time off for the Thanksgiving holiday and to do other stuff. Also, if I'm correct, I should have posted chapter 1 of this story the day before typing this out (for timestamping purposes, it is currently 5:35PM on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 as I type this start-of-chapter A/N), so hopefully I can shake the metaphoric rust off a bit and get things going to some extent. In any case, before I say much else, let me get to the disclaimer, per usual.

Disclaimer: I, sithlorde1988, do not own the Persona series in any way, shape, or form (excluding the OCs Ryuroni, Hikari Kusanagi II, Hikari Kusanagi III, Koushiro, Yamato, Takeru, Rosie, Gaignun, Slim, Sage, Lily, Kusano, Ace, Marisa, and any other OCs/OC Personas that appear in the story, all of which were created by, and thus belong to, me), and the actual ownership credit for the Persona series belongs to Atlus and Sega, as well as the various other companies that were involved with the spinoffs (whether those spinoffs be Persona 5 Strikers, Persona 5 Tactica, Persona 4 Arena, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, the 'Dancing' games, or the 'Q' games, or even Persona 5: The Phantom X), all of whom know who they are and receive the appropriate creative/ownership credit that is due to them. I just am using these characters to write this story, and do not intend to make any profit off of it whatsoever.

And there we are, one disclaimer done and dusted! I could probably talk a bit more, but you've already been waiting long enough for this next chapter, I think. Therefore, we'll save the lengthier tangents for the end-of-chapter A/N, which will be after the chapter, so keep reading afterwards if you want to see that. Otherwise, let's get this show on the road! Here's chapter 12!

Chapter 12- Stakeouts, Scandalous Shows, and More! Tatsumi's Bathhouse part 4

(Current in-game date: 5/16/2011. That evening, in the lower level of the Dojima residence, with Yu and Nanako)

After speaking to Nanako, Yu decided to retreat to his room for the night and figure out his plans from there. Once upstairs, Yu read for a bit before laying down to get ready for the next day's plans...

(The following afternoon, after school, at the gates of Yasogami High, with Yosuke, Chie, Yu, and Yukiko)

As the quartet of Yosuke, Chie, Yu, and Yukiko stood at the gates of Yasogami High, an impatient looking Chie spoke up.

"Has the target arrived at school!?" Chie asked as Yosuke nodded and spoke up, not seeing Yu groan behind him and lightly massage his forehead in annoyance next to him as he spoke.

"Yes, Ma'am! Visual ID confirmed! Target arrived in-zone near the end of his mess break, with mother-issued rations in hand. Current status: In the bathroom, fixing his hair." Yosuke said as Yu groaned and spoke up.

"Remind me why you and Chie are talking like this is some sort of military type exercise, Yosuke?" Yu asked as Yosuke smirked and spoke up.

"It makes the stakeout more interesting, that's why!" Yosuke said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Okay, fair enough. But how do you know for sure Kanji arrived? Were you hiding nearby when he arrived or something?" Yu asked as Yosuke spoke up.

"Basically. Anyways, back to what I was saying! The target was acting nervous. I left my position before he had a chance to pick on me!" Yosuke said as Yu spoke up.

"That tracks. Good job at least getting that much info, Yosuke." Yu said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"Agreed, Yu-kun. Yosuke-kun did well. Still, I wonder what kind of plans they made yesterday. It didn't seem like Kanji-kun knew that boy very well." Yukiko said as Yu spoke up.

"Maybe it was me, but I got the sense that Kanji might have had at least a slight attraction to that boy. And if he is into guys, that's his choice to make as far as I'm concerned." Yu said sagely as Chie nodded and spoke up.

"Fair point. But I'm not entirely sure I agree. Because, well, I think there's something more subtle-" Chie said before going wide-eyed as she turned to her left, gasped, and kept speaking after she cut herself off mid-sentence.

"Oh, he's here!" Chie said as Kanji walked out to wait by the gates for someone, completely oblivious to the hidden quartet watching him. Yu had to stifle a gasp when he saw the way that Kanji's jacket seemed to hang off of him like a cape, since it struck Yu as vaguely familiar somehow. A second later, Yu realized that was how the figure on the Midnight Channel had worn their jacket in the second blurry image. Before Yu could voice his realization, the young man from the other day walked up to Kanji and spoke up with a slight smile on his face, though Yu thought the smile was very slightly forced.

"I didn't keep you waiting, I hope?" The young man asked Kanji, who spoke up with a decidedly flustered-looking voice.

"No, I-I just got here too, as it turns out." Kanji said as the young man in front of him nodded and the two walked off together without a further word. Once they were out of earshot, a confused Yosuke spoke up.

"Wh-What in the world was that all about?" Yosuke asked as Yu spoke up.

"If I was a betting man? I'm not, mind you, but if I was? I'd say those two are headed out on a date." Yu mused as Chie spoke up.

"Perhaps. Anyways! We gotta hurry after them, or we'll lose them!" Chie said as Yosuke nodded and spoke up.

"Okay, sounds good. Then let's split up into two teams. One team will follow Kanji, and the other will stake out the shop." Yosuke said as a flustered Chie nodded and spoke up.

"R-Roger that! How should we split the teams?" Chie asked as Yu spoke up.

"I think that, at least in part, that's up to what we all want to do. I personally think a nice simple way to split things up is to have you and Yosuke be one team, while myself and Yukiko, if she agrees, are the other. Once we agree on the teams, we can figure out which team goes where." Yu said, deciding to stake dibs on pairing up with Yukiko on a whim. Yukiko smiled in surprise but nodded as Chie spoke up with a nod.

"Sure, that sounds like a plan. I'm not thrilled about being paired with Yosuke, but it's for the good of the case. So that's fine with me." Chie said as Yukiko spoke up.

"Be fair, Chie. You and Yosuke-kun at least somewhat get along, don't you?" Yukiko said as Chie spoke up with a sigh.

"True. I suppose that's a good point." Chie said before gasping in realization as she kept speaking.

"Oh man, they're almost out of sight! C'mon, Yosuke!" Chie said as Yosuke turned to give a knowing smirk to Yu before speaking up with a smile.

"So, I'm pairing up with Chie so Yu can be paired with Yukiko? I feel like Yu had ulterior motives behind that decision, but he is the leader. Eh, okay." Yosuke said as Yu smirked and spoke up.

"That would be telling, Yosuke. And given Chie's remark just now, it sounds like she volunteered you two to tail Tatsumi-san and his friend." Yu said as Yosuke spoke up with a nod.

"Eh, alright! We'll need to pretend we're on a date to make it look natural, though!" Yosuke said as Chie winced and spoke up in disgust.

"WHAT!? Ugh, not in a million years! There'll be no need for that if we stay out of sight, anyways. Sheesh, the things I do for this case. Let's hurry up and go, Yosuke!" Chie said as she and Yosuke sprinted off to tail Kanji and the slender young man he'd been with. Once they were gone, Yukiko looked at Yu and spoke up.

"I wonder if those two will be alright on their own, Yu-kun?" Yukiko asked as Yu spoke up with a smile.

"Probably not, considering we're talking about Chie and Yosuke. But would you honestly rather have had to listen to whatever bickering they inevitably end up getting into with one another? At least they volunteered to race off after our target, so that gives us a bit of a breather for now." Yu said gently as Yukiko smiled and spoke up with a shocked look on her face.

"Hm? Oh, that's a good point, Yu-kun. U-Um, but if they chose to tail our targets, that leaves us in charge of staking out the textile shop. So in that case, shall we go?" Yukiko said as Yu nodded and spoke up with a smirk.

"Indeed we shall, Yukiko. After you, milady." Yu said in his best impression of a posh gentleman, getting an amused giggle from Yukiko as she spoke up.

"Thank you." Yukiko said with a shy smile as she let Yu take her hand and the two headed off to stake out the textile shop...

(A short time later, in front of the gate to the shrine, next to Tatsumi Textiles, with Yu and Yukiko)

As Yu stood near the textile shop by himself, Yukiko ran up to Yu with two bottled drinks in hand, one mostly yellow, white, and orange, and the other mainly white and blue, and spoke up with a smile.

"Sorry about the wait, Yu-kun. This one's for you." Yukiko said as she handed Yu the blue bottle, which he accepted with a nod and spoke up.

"Fair enough. Thank you for getting this for me, Yukiko. Also, don't worry about the wait, Nothing really happened while you were gone anyways." Yu said kindly as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"Thank you. And you're welcome. That being said, everything seems fine at the shop so far, doesn't it? I hope it stays that way, to be honest." Yukiko said as Yu spoke up.

"I'm sure it will, but we can't rule anything out at this point. As a wise person I know once said, 'Even the best-laid plans rarely survive first contact with the enemy'. What I mean by this is that we should be prepared for at least something to inevitably come up by the end of this stakeout, and thus not be too surprised if something goes wrong." Yu said wisely as Yukiko nodded and spoke up with a smile.

"That's true. Do you think the culprit will come to the shop then, Yu-kun?" Yukiko asked as Yu spoke up.

"Possibly, but if he does? You have no need to worry. I'm prepared to protect you if something happens, Yukiko. However, I doubt it'll come to that, truth be told." Yu said honestly as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"True. Our efforts might be fruitless if the culprit doesn't come. But maybe that's for the best. It would be scary if the culprit did show up, after all." Yukiko said as Yu spoke up with a nod and a smile.

"That's fair. But I feel like the culprit is likeliest to show up where Tatsumi-san is, since he was the one we saw on the Midnight Channel the last two nights, or at least I suspect he is." Yu said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"I agree. The culprit probably won't show up here. But if they do, I'll do what I can to help you catch them. You all saved my life, after all. And I don't want to be the only one doing nothing." Yukiko said as Yu spoke up.

"You're hardly doing 'nothing', Yukiko. You've been busy with your own things. Plus I know you've had to help get that new guy settled in at the inn. I think you told me his name was Gaignun or something like that?" Yu said as Yukiko smiled and spoke up.

"Yeah, his name is Gaignun Kusanagi. Apparently, his mother was my mother's best friend when she lived in Inaba many years ago. But she apparently was banished from Inaba out of nowhere many years ago, well before Gaignun was born. Gaignun hasn't said much about it, but I haven't tried to pry into his business since I can tell that talking about his mother is a bit of a painful subject for him.

But that's to be expected, given that she presumably passed away recently. But I haven't tried to ask Gaignun about it too much, out of respect for his privacy. That, and I appreciate the way he helps me out around the inn at times. Sure, he might do it since he agreed to help out around the inn in exchange for a long-term place to stay as part of a deal he made with my mother, but I get the sense there's more to it than that. So I'm trying to be there for Gaignun as best I can, since I get the feeling he needs friends more than anything right now." Yukiko said with a shy smile on her face as Yu spoke up.

"I see. Well, hopefully things work out for your friend. Maybe fate will make it so that he meets up with the rest of us, but I'm not going to hold my breath on that." Yu said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"Honestly, I agree. As it is, he seems to be in a delicate mind-space right now as it is. I can't imagine how much worse off he'd be if he was thrown into the TV at some point. Or even worse, what sort of Shadow he'd have if that did happen. But back to the subject of Kanji-kun, yeah? I mean, I might not feel like I'm doing much now, but I'm sure there's something I can do to give back after you guys put yourselves at risk to save me from myself." Yukiko said as Yu smiled and spoke up.

"That's okay. You do enough just by being yourself, Yukiko. You don't need to blame yourself for what your Shadow said. But to be honest? I didn't think you could talk so much. Not that it's a bad thing, because it's not. I'm just pointing out what I've seen." Yu said kindly as Yukiko blinked and spoke up in surprise.

"Hm? Oh, sorry. I went on and on without realizing it, didn't I? I-I guess I'm a little nervous. You see, despite what you might think, I've never chatted with a boy my age like this before, Yu-kun." Yukiko said as Yu spoke up understandingly.

"Oh, you mean just you and a boy alone one on one?" Yu asked kindly as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"Mmhm. Chie, of course, has no problem getting along with guys because of her personality, or so it would seem. But to be honest? I think she's had more fun hanging out with you and Yosuke lately." Yukiko said as Yu laughed and spoke up.

"If by 'having fun hanging out with myself and Yosuke', you mean she often ends up butting heads with Yosuke, you're not wrong. But I get the sense those two barely tolerate one another. But I trust Yosuke to be able to put that aside for the sake of the case. But still, I have to say, I think I was the lucky one here, managing to pair up with you." Yu said kindly as Yukiko surprised Yu by blushing slightly as she spoke up.

"R-Really? You think you made the right call partnering with me for this part? To be honest, the same is true for me." Yukiko said as Yu spoke up with a smile.

"Good. I'm glad you seem to be comfortable enough to spend time with me like this, Yukiko. It's very reassuring." Yu said as Yukiko smiled shyly and nodded, making Yu chuckle fondly as he felt like he could sense Yukiko's gratitude and affection in that moment, half-expecting that to translate to a new Social Link. Sure enough, the expected voice echoed in his mind after an equally-expected shattering sound.

"Thou art I, Yu Narukami. And I am thou, just as surely as thou art I! Thou hast established a new bond with the one you call 'Yukiko'. It brings thee closer to the truth thou seekest. If you make the most of this newly-forged 'Priestess' Social Link you have created with Yukiko Amagi, then thou shalt surely be blessed when creating Personas of the Priestess Arcana in fusions." Yu heard in his head as a new card appeared in his mind's eye, this one with the usual blue lining at the bottom, and a Roman numeral 'II' engraved at the bottom of the card, with a smaller circle appearing at the top of the frame with a small Roman numeral 'I' in the circle.

As Yu looked over the art in the middle of the frame, he noted that most of the edges of the middle were black, with a pink pillar of light splitting the black bars, and a large multicolored tower sprouting up from the ground wearing a hat, with what appeared to be pink rings rippling outward from the base of the 'hat'. As Yu noted the 'I' at the top of the card, he made a note that his newly-forged 'Priestess' Social Link with Yukiko was now at Rank 1. From the creation of this link, Yu noted that Yukiko's determination in battle had been enhanced. Accordingly, Yukiko was now capable of waking up a knocked-down ally during battle, much like Yosuke and Chie could do.

After the card vanished from his mind's eye, Yu blinked as he realized that he hadn't asked Yukiko for her contact information. Figuring Yukiko wouldn't mind if he asked, he just spoke up.

"Now that I think about it, I realize that I have contact info for both Chie and Yosuke, but not yourself. If you don't mind, could we exchange contact info? If nothing else, it'll make it easier to gather everyone in a pinch. If we end up using it to chat every now and then? Well, then I consider that possibility, if it happens, to be the icing on the cake, so to speak." Yu said as a shocked Yukiko blushed at the question and spoke up, her cheeks going very visibly red as a result of Yu's question.

"Huh? You want my contact information? O-Okay, if you want. I can't always answer, since I help out around the inn most of the time. But feel free to call anytime." Yukiko said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"I'll keep that in mind, Yukiko." Yu said understandingly as he and Yukiko pulled out their cell phones to swap contact information with one another. After doing so, Yu idly noted that there appeared to be no change over at the shop. While the two waited, Yu and Yukiko conversed about many different things at length. As the two spoke, they idly questioned how things were going with Yosuke and Chie...

(Around the same time as Yu and Yukiko's conversation, on the Samegawa Flood Plain with Yosuke, Chie, Kanji, and the slender young man from before)

As Kanji and the slender young man he was with walked through the Samegawa Flood Plain together, Yosuke and Chie discreetly tailed the two while hiding behind various objects, such as a tree. Chie eventually spoke up with a frown on her face.

"Man, this is weird, Yosuke. I really think we drew the short end of the stick on this mission." Chie said as Yosuke spoke up with a sweatdrop on his face.

"Yeah, you're not wrong. We definitely stand out." Yosuke said as Chie frowned and spoke up.

"No, not us! I mean THEM! I get this weird feeling about them, Yosuke. Almost like there's more to them than meets the eye." Chie said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Weird, you say? What about them is weird?" Yosuke asked as Chie spoke up.

"Umm, that's a good question. I don't know how to put it, to be honest. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I get a feeling that we're going to need to keep an eye out on both Kanji and the guy with him." Chie said as Yosuke chuckled and spoke up.

"You? Having an imagination? Good one." Yosuke joked as Chie pouted and spoke up.

"Hey, I'm being serious! But never mind that for now. How do you think the others are doing?" Chie asked as Yosuke spoke up.

"Beats me, Chie. I know Yu seemed rather excited to pair off with Yukiko. For all we know, he could be hitting on Yukiko as we speak." Yosuke said as Chie winced at that and spoke up.

"Yu-kun? Hit on Yukiko!? Yeaaaah, no. He's not like you. Yu-kun seems like more of a gentleman than that. Besides, even if Yu-kun DID like Yukiko that way, she doesn't seem to be interested in that stuff anyway. However, I swear I saw her talking to a guy recently when I went to pick her up for school at the Amagi Inn a few days ago. Maybe it's that new guy who started working at the inn recently?" Chie said with a shrug as Yosuke spoke up.

"Perhaps. Did you get a name for the guy Yukiko's hanging out with?" Yosuke asked as Chie spoke up.

"Not a full name, but I did hear her call the guy 'Gaignun', so I assume that's at least his first name. However, I don't know that for a fact. Wait, back up. You said something about Yu-kun hitting on Yukiko just now. Are you saying he's interested in her? If so, that would explain why Yu-kun was so quick to cut Nanako-chan off the other day when she was talking about Yu-kun smiling at someone's picture. Maybe it was a picture of Yukiko?" Chie mused as Yosuke spoke up uneasily, visibly flustered.

"Huh!? Uh, maybe? I'm not sure about that, truth be told. I wouldn't know the particulars of what Yu gets up to at home, anyways. We don't really talk about that kinda stuff at all, hahahaha." Yosuke said nervously with a chuckle as Chie frowned and spoke up.

"Now I'm even more suspicious! You know something, don't you?" Chie said as Yosuke chuckled nervously and spoke up.

"I seriously don't know! It's not like we've been hanging out that long, haha. Besides, we're supposed to be tailing our targets right now, not speculating on Yu's love life." Yosuke said as Chie blinked in realization. Before she could verbally reply to Yosuke, they heard another voice behind them as Kanji had seen them and walked over.

"I thought I noticed something off earlier. The hell are you two doing?" Kanji asked as Yosuke spoke up nervously while looking uneasy.

"Oh, well, you see, we were here hanging out, on a date. We're experimenting with being more than friends. We're just two crazy lovebirds!" Yosuke said as Chie stamped her foot irately and spoke up.

"HEY! Whaddya mean bird!?" Chie said angrily as Yosuke turned to speak to her angrily.

"Play along, birdbrain!" Yosuke rebuked Chie as Kanji spoke up in annoyance.

"Now I know why you two look familiar. Didn't I see you guys yesterday near the shop?" Kanji asked as Yosuke chuckled nervously and spoke up.

"A-Ahahahaha, that's right! We were there yesterday because our friend had business with the shop owner." Yosuke said as Kanji spoke up.

"That doesn't explain why you're seemingly following me today, though." Kanji said with a confused look on his face. Yosuke chuckled and spoke up.

"True. C-C'mon, it just so happened that we were walking behind you guys for a bit. Pure coincidence! Hey! Our houses are just over that way, so we'll be going now, if it's all the same to you." Yosuke said as Kanji seemed to pause, as if deciding if Yosuke's story checked out or not, before Chie spoke up, not seeing Yosuke groan at what she said next.

"Um, look, we weren't planning on getting in you guys' way, and there's nothing strange about it, either, if you and that guy with you are trying to sneak off on a date." Chie said as Kanji blinked in shock at this and spoke up.

"S-Strange, did you say!?" Kanji asked as Yosuke glared at Chie and spoke up.

"Dammit. Why can't you keep your big mouth shut!?" Yosuke rebuked Chie before the two took off at a run as Kanji sputtered after their retreating backs.

"W-Wait, dammit!" Kanji said as he started running after Yosuke and Chie, continuing to speak as he gave chase.

"This ain't what you think! Y-You got it all wrong! Hey! Are you listening, dammit!? It seriously ain't like that!" Kanji said as he spent a while angrily pursuing Chie and Yosuke around the benched area of the floodplain, the slender young man who'd been with Kanji having walked off ahead of Kanji alone a while prior...

(A little while later, back in the northern shopping district, with Yu, Yukik, Chie, and Yosuke)

As Yu and Yukiko finished their drinks and had a casual chat about various things, they looked up in time to see Chie and Yosuke walk over and bow apologetically, their hands together as if begging for forgiveness, as the former of the two spoke up.

"We regret to inform the two of you that our mission failed." Chie said as Yu frowned and spoke up.

"Oh? Not that I'm altogether shocked to hear that you two failed your assignment, but may I ask how you two failed it?" Yu asked uneasily as Yosuke spoke up with a wince.

"Truthfully? There was nowhere to hide. That, and Chie couldn't keep her mouth shut long enough to not alienate Kanji." Yosuke said as Yu groaned and spoke up.

"Really? In any case, I have to be the one to take the blame here, since I could've tried harder to insist that Yukiko and I should be the ones to tail Tatsumi-kun and his friend. So thank you for your efforts, Yosuke and Chie." Yu said understandingly as Yukiko spoke up.

"Well, they might have failed their end, but not all is lost. I say let's wait here a little longer. Maybe Kanji-kun will come home." Yukiko suggested as Yosuke spoke up after straightening up.

"Yeah, good idea." Yosuke said as Chie also straightened up, right as footsteps were heard behind Chie and Yosuke, making Yu's eyes go wide as he saw Kanji walk up behind Chie and Yosuke and speak up in shock.

"Huh, what the heck? What're you guys doing here?" Kanji said, making the group turn to face him as he glared at Yosuke and Chie while he kept speaking.

"You're those stupid lovebirds I just saw!" Kanji said, prompting Chie to speak up, drawing Kanji's attention onto her and off of Yu, who mouthed 'lovebirds!?' under his breath in confusion, getting a quiet giggle from Yukiko, who'd been the only one close enough to hear what Yu had said to himself.

"We're not a couple!" Chie said as Kanji spoke up, his temper visibly starting to flare a bit as he spoke.

"Who cares if you two are a couple!? Why are you assholes followin' me around!? Ugh, dammit! What the hell's going on!?" Kanji said before sighing as he kept speaking in a more calmed tone.

"Ugh, look. I ain't sayin' this is you guys' fault or anything. But this is both very confusing and quite annoying! Dammit. Ugh." Kanji said as Yosuke spoke up, not seeing Kanji and Yu's eyes widen at what he asked next, albeit for very different reasons.

"Hey, uh, Tatsumi? Do you mind if we ask something? Has anything strange happened to you lately?" Yosuke asked as Kanji frowned at Yosuke's word choice and spoke up.

"Huh? Strange, did you say? What's this 'strange' stuff, huh!? Are you saying that I'm strange!?" Kanji asked as Yosuke spoke up frantically after seeing the pissed off look on Kanji's face.

"Huh? N-No, I didn't mean-!" Yosuke said before getting cut off mid-sentence when Yu gently jabbed him in the side and gave him a look that clearly said 'stop talking before you dig us into a deeper hole!', which Yosuke surprisingly heeded and fell silent, but the damage was already done, given what Kanji said next in an enraged voice.

"I don't care what you meant! You shitheads better get out of my face, or I'm taking you down!" Kanji said irately as the group gasped and a stunned Yosuke spoke up.

"Wha-!? Wait, why!?" Yosuke asked as Yu winced at the visibly pissed-off scowl on Kanji's face when Kanji spoke up.

"Do I look like I'm joking!?" Kanji said as he charged at the group, who fled in terror, Yosuke managing to run straight into one of the shop's windows before wincing and running after the others as the group ran from the angry Kanji as fast as their legs would carry them away. Once the group was a safe ways away, they stopped to catch their breath, and Chie, who was the first to find her voice again, spoke up with a disappointed look on her face.

"Urgh, that sucked. Too much running for me in one day! Between having to outrun Kanji at the riverbank, and again just now, I'm all ran out." Chie said as Yosuke spoke up with a frown.

"Well, nothing happened today, so I guess everything's okay, at least for now. But it's already been a few days since he appeared on the Midnight Channel. If this is anything like Yukiko's case, it'll happen soon." Yosuke said as Yukiko spoke up with a thin smile.

"Then we can't let our guard down now, you guys. I think we should come back tomorrow to check up on him." Yukiko said as Chie winced and spoke up.

"True. Looks like we got no choice but to give up for now and hope nothing happens between now and tomorrow." Chie said as Yu groaned and spoke up.

"Chie? You are familiar with a little thing called Murphy's Law, right?" Yu asked as Yukiko spoke up.

"Isn't that the law that says that anything that can get worse inevitably will get worse?" Yukiko asked as Yu nodded approvingly and spoke up.

"Very good, Yukiko. But I was asking Chie. Anyways, my point is that I hope you didn't just jinx the crap out of us with your remark about hoping nothing happens, Chie." Yu said as Chie winced and spoke up.

"Eheh, good point. In any case, let's go home. I'm wiped out from all the running Yosuke and I had to do." Chie said as Yu frowned and spoke up.

"For the record, you only have yourself, and maybe Yosuke to an extent, to blame for that. But fair enough, let's disperse for today and reconvene tomorrow after we're all rested up." Yu said agreeably as the group parted ways for the evening on that note, Yu making his way back home...

(That evening, in the lower level of the Dojima residence, with Yu and Nanako)

As Yu put his shoes down in the entryway and walked into the living room, Nanako looked up, having heard the door open and close, before smiling as she saw Yu walk in, prompting her to speak up happily.

"Oh, you're home! Welcome home, Big Bro! You probably noticed, but it's started raining outside. I hope you didn't get wet out there." Nanako said as Yu spoke up with a nod.

"That's fair. Fortunately, I keep an umbrella in my bag at all times, just in case of sudden downpours. But enough about me. What's this you're watching?" Yu asked in intrigue, noticing that Nanako wasn't watching the news for once. Nanako smiled and spoke up.

"It's a documentary that started airing on TV about the rise and fall of various yakuza clans. Most of these clans are ones that operate outside of the Inaba region, but there are a few that were mentioned that did operate there, such as the Kusanagi clan in particular. But apparently they're saving that clan for last. Something to do with giving them a special spotlight to highlight the Kusanagi clan's infamous and storied history? Not really sure. I just watched it because it looked interesting. And Kusanagi may or may not be the last name of a movie star whose movies I've seen from time to time, even if he's only been in a couple." Nanako said as Yu spoke up with a chuckle.

"Fair enough. I guess I can't be too shocked that you're into movies at your age, Nanako. As long as you don't suddenly start crushing on this movie star that you just mentioned, I don't think it'll hurt anyone that you watched his movies. But maybe don't mention that around your father, just in case he gets overprotective or something." Yu said off-handedly, getting an agreeable nod from Nanako before Yu smiled and kept speaking after lightly patting her on the head.

"Good. If it's all the same to you, I think I'm gonna head upstairs early and relax, since I've had a fairly busy day. But don't be afraid to call for me if you need anything." Yu said as Nanako nodded and Yu went upstairs for the evening. As he made his way upstairs, Yu idly considered checking the Midnight Channel, just in case. As he got in position for the Midnight Channnel, Yu's phone rang. When he answered it, Yu was surprised by the voice that spoke up after he spoke up.

"Hello? Yu speaking." Yu said as he heard a flustered-sounding Yukiko's voice on the other end.

"Oh, hello, Yu-kun? It's Yukiko. I-I'm sorry to call you so late. Um, Kanji-kun seems to be missing!" Yukiko said as Yu bit back a number of choice swear words before speaking up.

"Are you sure, Yukiko? I'm not saying that I doubt you or anything, but better to be safe than sorry, y'know?" Yu said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"I understand your skepticism, Yu-kun. But I'm positive. I had some calls to make for the inn, so I called the textile shop as well. When I spoke to Kanji-kun's mother for that call, she told me that he left the house and hasn't returned since. She did say that this happens all the time, but I'm not sure it's as simple as that. What do you think?" Yukiko said as Yu spoke up in a dry, but decidedly deadpan voice, being careful to keep his voice down while doing so to cover the off-chance that Nanako might hear him.

"Well, fuck. This is definitely very less than ideal, to be sure. In other words, this sounds bad. But then the way things played out earlier, I suspected this could be where things were headed, so I'm not all that shocked by it, if that makes sense." Yu said as Yukiko spoke up.

"That makes perfect sense, Yu-kun. And to your assessment of this being where things were inevitably headed? I think so, too. He could be in serious danger if he got thrown into the TV. Come to think of it, it's going to rain again tonight. Maybe the Midnight Channel will come on. Then we'll know for sure if anything happened to Kanji-kun or not. I'll make sure to check out the TV at midnight, just in case. Anyways, talk to you later." Yukiko said before hanging up the phone, leaving a resolute Yu to decide that he needed to watch the Midnight Channel that night, just to be on the safe side. Having made up his mind, Yu relaxed on the sofa for a while.

Once it got closer to midnight, Yu got up and checked his window. Sure enough, as Yukiko said, it was raining through the night. Yu figured that meant something could very well appear on TV when the Midnight Channel came on. Yu then turned to the TV at that point, since it was just about midnight. Sure enough, the TV came on and revealed a very clear image of what appeared to be a bathhouse.

Yu frowned at the fact that the picture appeared to be just as sharp as it was clear. Yu's groans only intensified a moment later, when a very familiar bleach-blonde haired young man came onscreen holding a mic, seemingly wearing nothing but a pair of white briefs. Before Yu could do more than shudder in horror at what he was looking at, the young man on the TV spoke up.

"Hel-LO, dear viewers! Welcome to one and all! It's time for 'Bad, Bad Bathhouse'! Tonight, I'll be introducing a superb site for those searching for sublime love that surpasses the separation of the sexes!" The young man said, giving off a very mixed husky/sultry-sounding purr that had the hairs on Yu's neck standing on end, due to how creepy and cringy this program was thus far. Before Yu could do more than shudder again, the young man kept speaking.

"I'm your host, Kanji Tatsumi, serving you this scandalously special sneak-in report! Goodness gracious, just imagine the things that might happen to me there! Ooooh! Well then, let's get this show on the road! Tootaloo!" The young man, or what Yu fervently hoped was Kanji's Shadow, said as he ran off, leaving Yu to once again shudder in horror as he realized Kanji's Shadow chose briefs that were smaller in the back than in the front, having to not cringe at how much of Kanji's Shadow's ass was hanging out as he walked away and the screen shut off.

The program that had just played had the result of leaving a horrified Yu to question if he could safely bleach his eyes to get what he'd just seen out of them, since apart from the fact that no man should EVER have to witness what Yu had just seen, there was no doubt in Yu's mind that he had just seen Kanji Tatsumi on the TV, or at least he hoped it was Kanji's Shadow, since if it was the actual Kanji, that raised WAY more questions than Yu was interested in hearing the answers to. Yu then swore colorfully under his breath for a moment before his phone rang and he answered it.

"Hello? Yu speaking." Yu said as he heard Yosuke's voice on the other end at that point when he spoke up.

"H-H-Hey! What the hell? I mean, did we just see that!?" Yosuke asked, though his tone of voice made it very clear that he was flustered as heck by what he'd no doubt just seen, possibly even so much so that he couldn't get his point across. Yu then spoke up.

"Calm down, partner. Yes, I agree that what we just watched was inarguably cursed as all fucking hell, but we can't let that get to us if we're going to stop whoever's doing all this. After all, we promised Teddie that we'd catch the killer! And even if we have to put up with shit like what we just saw, we can't go back on our promise to Teddie." Yu said firmly but wisely. Yosuke spoke up with a slight whine in his voice.

"Calm down!? But that was completely over the top! Though there's no doubt about it now. It really was Kanji. Dammit, this sucks! We guessed right, but he completely slipped through our fingers. If only we'd held our ground and stayed there a little longer, maybe we could've stopped this." Yosuke said as Yu spoke up.

"No, this is just as much my fault as it is yours and Chie's, since I should've had you two watch the shop and had myself and Yukiko tail Tatsumi-san. I think I'd have held my ground at least somewhat better than you two did." Yu said honestly as Yosuke spoke up with a sigh.

"Ugh. You're not wrong, partner. But what's done is done. In any case, that place that was behind him on the Midnight Channel, what do you think it is?" Yosuke asked as Yu spoke up.

"If I had to guess? Probably some sort of X-rated TV show filming set. I mean, you heard Tatsumi-kun. He called that place 'Bad, Bad Bathhouse' for fuck's sake! Also, I was legit cringing by the end of his little spiel. I mean, can you believe that crap he was saying?" Yu asked as Yosuke spoke up.

"Right!? He was talking about how he would introduce a 'superb site for those searching for sublime love', or however he put it? I just don't get it!" Yosuke said as Yu spoke up.

"I could be wrong, but I have a feeling this is Tatsumi-kun's way of coming out to the world, though I doubt he intended it to be this way, if that makes sense." Yu said as Yosuke nodded and spoke up.

"Good point, Yu. Anyways, all discussion of Kanji's personal life aside, we'd better hurry and come up with a plan tomorrow!" Yosuke said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Agreed. See you tomorrow, Yosuke." Yu said as he hung up the phone, still slightly disturbed by what he'd seen on the Midnight Channel. Deciding to try and forget what he'd seen, Yu managed to make himself go to bed and eventually fall into a slightly restless sleep...

(The next day, after school, in a classroom of Yasogami High, with Yu, Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko)

As Yosuke, Chie, and Yukiko gathered around Yu's desk after school, Yosuke spoke up with a sigh.

"Ugh, I can't believe we all saw that last night. Anyways, given the pattern so far, Kanji's already inside the TV at this point." Yosuke said as Yu, Chie, and Yukiko nodded agreement, the latter speaking up with a worried look on her face.

"I wonder what the Midnight Channel really is, though?" Yukiko asked as Yosuke spoke up with a frown.

"Hmm, good question." Yosuke said as Chie spoke up.

"I dunno. At first, I thought it was one of those 'paranormal' things, but when I gave it a try for myself? It was real. Turns out it's actually connected to another world inside of the TV." Chie said as Yosuke spoke up with a surprised look.

"Didn't this start out as a rumor? If so, and there is a rumor going around, that means a bunch of people are watching it." Yosuke said as Yukiko spoke up.

"True. How did the rumor go again? Wasn't it something like 'If you stare into a turned-off TV on a rainy night, someone will appear'?" Yukiko asked as Yu spoke up.

"Way I was told, it goes 'If you stare into a turned-off TV alone at midnight on a rainy night, your soulmate will appear'. Or at least that's how Chie told it to myself and Yosuke." Yu said as Chie winced at the looks Yu and Yosuke were giving her, while Yukiko gave a slightly confused look but shrugged as Yosuke spoke up.

"That sounds accurate, Yu. Still, no one in their right mind would try something that ridiculous, don'tcha think? Unless someone urged them to. But if you actually try? It does work. And not just once, either. If this rumor spreads and everyone starts watching the Midnight Channel whenever it comes on-" Yosuke said as Chie cut him off mid-sentence as she spoke up with a wince on her face.

"It could cause a huge panic, at the very least." Chie said as Yu, Yukiko, and Yosuke nodded, the latter speaking up.

"Good point. If Teddie is right, the missing people themselves create the stuff we see. So it's not random. It's specifically related to whoever goes missing." Yosuke said as Chie sighed and spoke up.

"Ugh, I forgot about that. Come to think of it, Yukiko had a show too, but she doesn't remember doing anything like that." Chie said as Yu spoke up.

"That's because if I recall correctly, it was Yukiko's Shadow that did it, not Yukiko herself. So of course she has no recollection of it. And if I'm right, that means anyone who has a Midnight Channel could also theoretically be capable of the same things we all are." Yu mused as Yukiko spoke up.

"Wow, that's pretty wise, Yu-kun. Anyways, um, this might be a little off-subject, but even so, I have to wonder. The culprit is probably watching the shows that come on the TV after he throws people in, right?" Yukiko said as Yu spoke up.

"That makes sense, yes. I could see the killer wanting to see the fruits of his labor, so to speak." Yu said as Chie nodded and spoke up, her eyes widening mid-sentence as a realization hit her while she spoke.

"No doubt. He's probably sitting back and enjoying-! Ohh, wait a sec, you guys! I bet he IS enjoying it! He's probably laughing his head off watching the 'show' that comes on after he throws people into the TV!" Chie said as Yosuke spoke up with a nod.

"Ahhh, I get it. Yeah, it's definitely possible. Ugh, thanks a lot, Chie! Now when I think of the killer, I get this image of a total sicko! And I bet that when he threw her into the TV, the killer probably said something like 'I wanna see everything about you, Yuki-chan!' Or something like that." Yosuke said as both Yu and Yukiko aimed identical glares at Yosuke as an appalled Chie spoke up.

"WHAT!? Urgh, ugh, ugh!" Chie said in disgust as Yu frowned and spoke up.

"Was that last part REALLY necessary to your point, Yosuke? After all, I'm sure that her experience in that world was difficult enough for Yukiko without you joking about it. I understand that you meant well with your joke, but you need to think before you crack jokes, partner." Yu rebuked Yosuke in a gentle but firm voice as Yukiko nodded her agreement with Yu, though Chie spoke up before Yukiko could verbally reply to Yu standing up for her.

"Wait, so if people saw Yukiko's show, do you think people were watching what happened to me too!?" Chie said as Yu spoke up with a frown.

"Maybe? But I doubt it? I feel like if what you went through was on TV, then so was what Yosuke went through, and I don't hear anyone talking about what Yosuke dealt with, so I feel like you two weren't on the TV at all. But maybe?" Yu said as Chie frowned and spoke up angrily.

"Really!? Oh, that is IT! That killer is dead meat! I'm gonna leave footprints all over his face! Guys! First, we save Kanji! Then, we crush the killer! Finally, we crush the killer and SEND HIM TO HELL! Got it!?" Chie said as Yu spoke up.

"Aren't those last two the same thing, albeit a bit more extreme in the case of the last one? Still, you're not wrong that we need to stop whoever's doing this." Yu said, getting nods from the others as Yu noted that the entire of the Investigation Team had strengthened their resolve to save Kanji from the other world. At that point, the 'Fool' card appeared in his mind's eye, the Roman numeral 'II' on the top of the card becoming a Roman numeral 'III' to signify that his 'Fool' Social Link with the Investigation Team had reached Rank 3. At that point, Yukiko started giggling, presumably in response to Chie's indignation.

"Heehee, Yu-kun has a point." Yukiko said as Yu, Yosuke, and Chie all gave her confused looks, leading her to keep speaking around her giggles.

"Ch-Chie, those last two were the same thing, just as Yu-kun said." Yukiko said while giggling as Chie frowned and spoke up.

"Uh, what's your point? I know that." Chie said as Yukiko just kept giggling, leaving the others to shake their heads as they went to meet up with Teddie in the TV world...

(A little while later, in the studio entrance of the TV World, with Teddie, Yosuke, Yu, Yukiko, and Chie)

After the group made it to the TV Studio entrance of the TV World, Yosuke got Teddie's attention by speaking up.

"Hey Teddie, someone's here, right?" Yosuke asked as Teddie turned around with a frown and spoke up.

"Oh, hey, you guys. Yep, I think someone's here." Teddie said as Chie spoke up in surprise.

"You think so? Do you know where he is?" Chie asked as Teddie spoke up with a frown.

"I dunno." Teddie said as Yukiko spoke up with a firm look on her face.

"If it helps, we think it's a boy named Kanji Tatsumi who was thrown in here this time." Yukiko said as Teddie spoke up with a sad look on his face.

"I dunno who that is, though." Teddie said as Chie gasped at the look on Teddie's face and spoke up.

"What's wrong? Not feeling well?" Chie said as Teddie spoke up while waving his hands emphatically in denial.

"It's not that. It's just, well, I sniff and I sniff. But I still can't tell where the smell comes from." Teddie said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Fair, but y'know? Aren't you thinking too much about too many things? I mean, think about it! Last time, you were wondering about who you really are and how long you've been here. Your head's empty, dude. Don't stress out over stuff too much." Yosuke said as Yu frowned and spoke up.

"YOSUKE! I don't care if it is true, you could've phrased that more delicately. Besides, it's your fault we know how empty Teddie is first-hand, Mister 'I ripped Teddie's head off to try and see inside the costume'!" Yu said rebukingly, a disapproving look on his face that Yukiko and Chie matched as Teddie spoke up with a sigh.

"You're right, Yosuke. But I appreciate Sensei trying to stick up for me." Teddie said as the rest of the group sweatdropped, at which point Chie spoke up in concern.

"Whoa, that's not good! He's seriously down about this, you guys!" Chie said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Listen, all jokes aside, Teddie? If you can't figure out where Kanji is, we're in deep trouble. We can't just wander around aimlessly in a place like this, after all." Yosuke said as Yu smirked and spoke up.

"Teddie should know that rather well, given he got caught up in part of the result when we got lost for a while the first time we ended up in here, Yosuke. Same for Chie, since she was there for it too. However, since Yukiko was not there, I won't go into details since some things are just not suitable for repeating around ladies." Yu said as Teddie frowned and spoke up.

"Did you REALLY have to bring that up, Sensei? I'm trying NOT to think about that, since that was traumatizing for me. After all, I ended up spending an entire week, just about, after you guys first showed up smelling like a 'urinal', as Chie-chan called it." Teddie said as Yukiko cringed and spoke up as she scrunched her nose up in disgust at the implications of Teddie comparing himself to a urinal while she spoke.

"A urinal!? Eww, did one of the guys pee on you or something?" Yukiko asked as Yosuke spoke up sheepishly.

"That would be me. But in my defense, I really needed to go at the time, and I was unaware Teddie was below where we all were, or I'd have yelled out 'Look out below!' or something to that effect." Yosuke said as Yu spoke up with a nod.

"It's all right, Yosuke. Accidents happen. After all, as a wise person once told me, 'When you gotta go, you gotta go.' What that means is that you can't fight the call of nature." Yu said wisely as Teddie spoke up, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

"You're so wise, Sensei. Anyways, I know what might help! You should give me a clue about this Kanji person! It's just a feeling I have. I think I could concentrate better with it. Do you have anything that could give me a good understanding of him?" Teddie asked as Yosuke spoke up with a serious look on his face.

"Something about Kanji, huh? I didn't know that that's how this place worked? Anyways, I can't really think of anything besides all the rumors about him." Yosuke said as Chie spoke up.

"Yeah, it's not like we know him all that well." Chie said as Teddie spoke up with a sad look on his face.

"I just need some sort of hint, that's all. Something that tells me what he's really like." Teddie said as Yukiko spoke up with a sile on her face.

"Yeah? Hmm, well, why don't we ask around and find people who know Kanji-kun personally?" Yukiko suggested as Yu, Yosuke, Chie, and Teddie nodded, the former noting that Teddie may be able to grasp Kanji's location if he gets more information about him. But what kind of information does he need to do that? Shrugging, Yu decided to ask around town about Kanji, and see what he and the others could come up with...

(Back in the real world, at Yasogami High with Yu)

After the group split up to look for clues, Yu decided to check around the high school. As he did so, he found the girl he'd ran into twice before standing outside of his classroom. Shrugging, Yu approached her and spoke up.

"Didn't think I'd see you again. What's up?" Yu asked the girl, who spoke up with a smile.

"Oh! Hey you, listen! The confession! It worked! I can't believe it! I'm so happy. In the end, I'm glad I got his shoe box confused with yours. It ended up giving me the push I needed to tell him how I felt. Oh, that's right! I need to give thanks at the Tatsuhime Shrine! My wish came true!" The love note sender said as Yu spoke up.

"Tatsuhime Shrine? Is that the one in the northern part of the Shopping District?" Yu asked as the love note sender spoke up with a nod.

"Yup, that's the one. Anyways, I'll make a big offering!" The love note sender said as Yu blinked before a light bulb went off over his head as he realized he'd accomplished the request written on the ema. Yu figured that as a result, the monetary offerings have no doubt increased. Yu made a note to report back to the fox at the first chance he had to let him know of the fulfillment of the ema. While heading towards the shrine, Yu recalled that the textile shop that Kanji's family runs was next to the shrine. Heading towards the shop on a whim, Yu saw the shop owner standing out front, deciding to talk to her once he was close enough to hear her.

"Hello. Having a break, ma'am?" Yu asked as politely as he could, getting an amused smile from the shop owner as she spoke up.

"Something like that. Ah, but I doubt you're just here to ask after me. Are you here to ask about Kanji too?" The shop owner asked as Yu blinked and spoke up.

"Too? There's been others here asking about him?" Yu asked as the shop owner nodded and spoke up.

"Yep. The cops asked about him once I reported him missing, and I had both Yuki-chan and that short-haired girl she hangs with here asking about him. Sheesh, I wonder where he's wandered off to now. He's always like this. You know, now that I think about it? There was also a small boy who came in asking about him not too long ago." The shop owner said as Yu spoke up.

"I see. Would this be the same small boy you were talking to when Yukiko brought us over to see the shop?" Yu asked kindly as the shop owner nodded and spoke up.

"Most likely. Back on the subject of the small boy who came in, I talked to him too. But even then, I haven't seen that boy come around the shop lately." The shop owner said as Yu frowned at this but thanked the shop owner for her time as he mulled over what he'd heard. A boy who talked to Kanji previously? Could it be the small boy that he and the others had seen Kanji speaking to before?

If it was that boy, and he was with Kanji, Yu figured the boy might know something. Yu decided to go search for the boy. Recalling that there was a woman at Junes he'd not seen there previously, Yu headed to Junes. Once there, he found a brown-haired woman wearing a cream-colored apron, light blue sweater, a dark blue skirt, and black heels standing by the elevators and spoke up to her.

"Excuse me. Have you seen a small boy around here at all recently. He was wearing a blue hat." Yu said as the woman spoke up.

"Ah, you're looking for a small boy with a hat? Ah yes, I've seen him. He's been hanging around here lately. Even asked me all this stuff about that, for lack of a better term, incident. He was just over there a little while ago, but he left at some point. Maybe he'll be back tomorrow, so try checking back then?" The woman said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Thank you, ma'am. I'll be sure to do just that." Yu said politely, deciding to return the next day. Having exhausted all leads on finding Kanji for the time being, Yu returned to his original plan, which was heading to the shrine to speak to the fox about the finished ema. After swapping one of his cans of The Natural for a couple of Tatsuhime Ladybugs with a boy at the shrine, Yu approached the main building of the shrine and called for the fox after making sure no one was around.

"Hello? Are you around, Mister Fox?" Yu called out, wondering if the fox could hear him at all. Surprisingly, he felt a familiar presence, looking up to see the fox from before standing on the roof of the shrine, where he leapt down to land gracefully in front of Yu, who blinked and kept speaking.

"Wow, impressive landing. You've got some skill for a fox. Oh, is that the ema from before?" Yu said, noticing the ema the fox had in his mouth. The fox nodded as he held out the ema, the look on his face as he did so convincing Yu that he was probably concerned about the outcome of the ema. Yu then spoke up.

"If you're concerned about the ema, don't be. I took care of it. There should be proof of that in the offertory box, assuming that girl kept her word and made an offering like she told me she would." Yu said as the fox howled excitedly, the look on his face making the exuberance he felt on Yu's success plain to see. Yu chuckled at that and spoke up.

"Heh, you're an excitable fella, aren't you? I like that." Yu said, not voicing his thought that he was talking to a fox as if he could understand him. While Yu was musing on this, the fox darted over to peer into the offertory box, smiling at the money that was inside of it, giving Yu the impression he was quite pleased. Yu guessed that if rumors of the shrine's benevolence spread, more people may come to make offerings. After a moment, the fox turned to face Yu, a smile on his face as he howled happily. Yu smirked at that and spoke up.

"You're happy that I solved that ema, aren't you? Truth be told, I'm quite pleased as well. Who knows? Maybe we can get this place noticed for the good things it does for the world? If nothing else, I think that what you do is impressive." Yu said, getting a smile from the fox as he walked forward and gently rubbed his face against Yu's leg, almost as if showing thanks for Yu's praise, making Yu chuckle as he spoke up.

"You're certainly affectionate enough, if nothing else. Do you have a name, or should I just keep calling you Mister Fox?" Yu asked as the fox nodded once, making Yu keep speaking.

"I'll take that as a 'Yes'. Still, I don't think you can tell me what it is, so unless you have some kind of an ID on you, I'll just stick to 'Mister Fox' for now, if only to save us both a lot of guessing games and time." Yu said, getting an agreeable nod from the fox, whose gratitude Yu could sense quite clearly. At that point, the 'Hermit' card appeared in his mind's eye, the Roman numeral 'I' on the top of the card becoming a Roman numeral 'II' to signify that his 'Hermit' Social Link with the fox of the Tatsuhime Shrine had reached Rank 2.

Yu then noted that since he'd improved his relationship with the fox, if only slightly, Yu could probably get a discount on any services the fox might provide when the group goes into the TV, which was fine with Yu, since the more options Yu had for making the Investigation Team's work easier, the better. At that point, Yu spent some time with the fox, learning as he did so that the fox was a guardian of sorts to the shrine. After a while, Yu noted it was getting late, and thus made up his mind to go home for the evening before he missed curfew. After thanking the fox for spending time with him, Yu headed back to the Dojima residence for the evening...

(That evening, in the lower level of the Dojima residence, with Yu and Nanako)

As Yu came in for the evening, setting his shoes down by the door, Nanako looked up on hearing the front door open and close, turning around in time to see Yu walk into the living room, making her smile as she spoke up once Yu was in earshot.

"Oh, you're home! Welcome back, Big Bro!" Nanako said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Thanks. How was your day?" Yu asked Nanako, who smiled and spoke up.

"Pretty good. And yours?" Nanako said as Yu spoke up.

"Pretty good." Yu said before heading upstairs and deciding to spend his evening studying, heading up to his room to do just that. While studying, Yu noted his information retention was getting better, netting him an unseen boost to his Knowledge that pushed it up from Rank 2, which was 'Informed', to Rank 3, which was 'Expert'. While studying, Yu found a number of dictionary entries that piqued his interest, netting him another unseen boost to his Knowledge, along with an extra unseen boost thanks to having finished 'Expert Study Methods'. Afterwards, Yu decided to call it good on studying for the night, and went to bed...

(The next morning, in the 'School Zone' of the Samegawa Flood Plain, with Yu and Yosuke)

As Yu walked to school, he heard his name, turning to see Yosuke run up to him and speak up.

"Yo, Yu! I looked it up yesterday, and according to the weather report, we won't have to worry about the fog for a while." Yosuke said as Yu spoke up.

"That's good to know. Still, I don't believe in putting things off. So once we figure things out so we can do it, I think the sooner we go in to save Tatsumi-san, the sooner we can stop worrying about his dungeon. But maybe that's just me." Yu said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Nah, I agree with you on that, partner. Let's keep cool, like usual. We can save the day and still keep our skills sharp!" Yosuke said as Yu spoke up approvingly.

"That's a good plan, partner. Just keep in mind what I said about being smart about things." Yu said agreeably. Yosuke nodded and spoke up.

"Yeah, it's not going to do anyone any good if we get anxious. Let's be sure to use the time we have until the next foggy day to our advantage so we can save him for sure!" Yosuke said as Yu nodded agreeably, and the rest of the walk to school passed uneventfully...

(At lunchtime that day, in a classroom with Yu and Yosuke)

As Yu and Yosuke were talking about various things, a female student ran into the classroom and spoke up, catching the attention of the room while doing so.

"Hey, everyone! They posted the test results!" The female student said as she went to talk to some other students in the room as Yosuke groaned and spoke up.

"Argh, this is it, partner. The awful moment of truth where we see how we did in front of an audience." Yosuke said as Yu chuckled and spoke up.

"True. But compared to what we're doing with Chie and Yukiko, I think worrying about a posted score seems rather petty by comparison." Yu pointed out as Yosuke spoke up with a wince.

"Really? I'm surprised you're not worried. Oh, well. Wanna check it out?" Yosuke asked as Yu nodded, deciding to check out the test results with Yosuke. After the two headed to the first floor hallway, Yu was surprised to find that his score placed him in the top 10 for his year. Yosuke blinked at this and spoke up.

"Wow, nice! Good going, Yu! You're so smart to be able to get into the top 10 on your first exam!" Yosuke said as he noticed yellow notes go up over the heads of Yosuke, Kou, Daisuke, and Chie, all of whom happened to be gathered to check their scores as well, giving Yu the sense that he'd gotten slightly closer to his school friends. At that point, Yu realized that lunch break was nearly over, deciding to head back to class at that point. On his way, he was stopped by Daisuke, who walked over and spoke up.

"Yo, Yu. Hey, have you heard anything from the other guys? The whole team seems a little restless lately for some reason." Daisuke said as Yu spoke up.

"Nope. Haven't heard a thing. Then again, the team doesn't really acknowledge me that much as of yet. So I figure no news is good news." Yu said wisely as Daisuke nodded and spoke up.

"Good point. Well, let's get practice over with." Daisuke said as Yu nodded, figuring he should consider attending soccer practice after school. Once Daisuke walked off, Yu considered heading to class, only for Ayane to walk over and speak up.

"Oh, Senpai. We run into each other on another practice day." Ayane said as Yu chuckled and spoke up.

"Good point. That does happen a lot, doesn't it?" Yu said in amusement as Ayane nodded and spoke up.

"True, it really does. Oh, I'm sorry. I have to go somewhere, so please excuse me." Ayane said as Yu noted that he should think about dropping by the music room after school. After Ayane left, Yu made his way to class...

(After school, in the classroom with Yu)

Once school let out for the day, Yu pondered his options before recalling that he had planned to go check Junes for the small boy, deciding to do that. After making his way to Junes, Yu spotted the slender boy he'd seen hanging out with Kanji, walking over to the boy and speaking up.

"Excuse me. Is now a bad time?" Yu asked as the slender young man looked up and spoke up on seeing Yu.

"Yes? Is there something you need? Many people from the town come and meet here. It's a very convenient location, isn't it? Don't you agree?" The slender young man said as Yu spoke up, idly noting that even though it might be his imagination, he thought he heard a very subtle hint of femininity in the young man's voice. Deciding to put that aside for the time being as unimportant, Yu spoke up.

"That's true. Didn't I see you hanging around with Kanji Tatsumi recently? You see, Tatsumi-san went missing recently, and his mother is worried about him. Also, did anything seem strange when you spoke to Tatsumi-san?" Yu asked, recalling he'd noticed this young man with Kanji at the school the other day. The slender young man blinked at this and spoke up.

"Oh? You're asking if anything seemed strange when I spoke to Kanji-kun, yes? Do I have that right? Hmm. Very well. It seems to be an urgent matter, so I'll simply tell you. If you're asking about recent events, then yes, there was something out of the ordinary. It was something I felt when I was with him the other day. So I told him outright that he seemed to be an odd person.

After I said that, his expression changed all of a sudden, as if he was bothered by being called strange. I was quite surprised. On that basis, I believe his actions were somewhat forced and unnatural throughout the time I was with him. He may have some sort of complex about it. Though I have no proof of this." The slender young man said as Yu spoke up.

"I see. Thank you for your information." Yu said before walking away to ponder what he'd heard. Apparently, Kanji has a complex or something of that nature based on what the slender young man had just told Yu. Coupling that with his purported reaction to the phrase 'odd person', plus his reactions to both Yosuke and Chie calling him strange a couple days prior during the failed stakeout, Yu figured Kanji was insecure about something.

Yu wondered if what he'd found would be enough of a clue for Teddie to go on so he could find Kanji. Yu decided to report to Teddie at the first opportunity with his findings. Wasting no time, Yu headed up in the elevator to gather the others at the food court to share his findings...

(A short time later, at the Junes food court, with Yu, Yosuke, Yukiko, Chie, and the fox of the Tatsuhime Shrine)

Once the group had gathered at the Junes food court, they were surprised to see a fox waiting near the table they usually gathered at. Once he saw the apron around the fox's neck, Yu instantly knew this was the fox he was helping with emas. The fox gave the group an appraising look, almost as if sizing them all up. Chie then spoke up in shock.

"Whoa, something's here!" Chie said as Yu smiled and spoke up with an amused chuckle.

"Indeed. We seem to have a fox sitting in on our meeting today." Yu said as Chie spoke up in surprise.

"A-A fox!? When did it get here?" Chie asked as Yu shrugged, not really sure of that himself. This fox was still quite mysterious to Yu, after all. Yu then questioned if the fox could've followed him without his awareness. Yu idly noted that if he did follow him, this fox was crazy good at stealth. Yosuke spoke up in shock.

"Whoa, where did this guy come from!?" Yosuke asked as Chie spoke up with a worried look on her face.

"Dude, it looks scary too!" Chie said as Yu spoke up with a frown.

"Be nice, Chie. This fox is a he. That said, he looks scary, but he's pretty nice. I've been helping him with various stuff around the shrine in my spare time, so he's likely going to help us as a way of repaying me for my assistance." Yu said as Yukiko spoke up with a surprised look on her face as she saw the apron around the fox's neck.

"Oh, I recognize this apron now. I think I've seen it at the shrine before when I'd go there to pray. And if I recall correctly, my friend Gaignun told me about a time that he ran into a similar fox to this one shortly after moving to Inaba, so I have a feeling that this fox helps out those he meets." Yukiko said as Yu nodded, explaining his own encounter with the fox to the rest of the group. Chie blinked in shock when Yu mentioned the fox having curative leaves and spoke up.

"Huh? What's that? Cure us with leaves, you say?" Chie said as Yu spoke up with a nod.

"Correct. This fox has leaves that have curative powers. I saw this first-hand when one of the fox's leaves cured the leg pains of an elderly man the day I met the fox. But more to the point, this fox here agreed to cooperate with us if I help him with the emas that are posted occasionally at the shrine." Yu said as Yukiko blinked and spoke up.

"Huh? Is that right? Cooperate with us, did you say?" Yukiko said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Correct. However, his help comes at a price. We'll have to pay him to heal us. But I figure that's fair, since nothing in life is free for the most part." Yu said as Yosuke frowned and spoke up.

"Are you serious, partner? So it wants money in exchange for fixing us up, then?" Yosuke said as the fox howled in the affirmative at that point, to Yu's amusement and the surprise of Yosuke, Yukiko, and Chie. Yosuke eventually kept speaking once he got over his shock.

"What's with this guy, anyways? It acts like it understands what we're talking about somehow." Yosuke said as the fox gave off another affirmative cry. Yukiko blinked in shock at this.

"Wow, it yipped again, you guys. Maybe it really does understand what we're saying!" Yukiko said as Chie spoke up

"Maybe it does. B-But when you think about it, that means the police on duty and whatnot didn't find this fox, right? If it followed after us, then it really is something special." Chie said as Yu chuckled and spoke up at the same time that the fox gave off another affirmative cry.

"Of course he's something special. I get the sense this fox is one smart guy, and very useful to have as an ally." Yu said wryly, clearly amused by the confidence this fox has, eventually reaching down to gently pat the fox on the head without thinking about it, getting a contented look from the fox as it gently leaned into Yu's touch, to the amusement of Yukiko. Chie eventually spoke up.

"Huh, is that right? Y'think it really understands us, then? What should we do with it?" Chie said as Yukiko spoke up before Yu could remind Chie that the fox was a male.

"Well, to be honest? I'd feel bad if we trapped it. It doesn't look like he'll do us any harm. How about you, Yu-kun? What do you think?" Yukiko asked as Yu smiled and spoke up.

"Let's let him help us. After all, we have no reason to turn it away. We have nothing to lose, and potentially everything to gain, from allowing it to assist us. Sure, we'll have to ensure he doesn't run across any Shadows, but as long as we keep him at the entrance of the TV world, that shouldn't be TOO much of a problem." Yu said decisively as Yukiko nodded and spoke up with a smile on her face.

"That's a good point, Yu-kun. Yeah, I agree. And thinking about what happened at the shrine with those leaves, don't you think this 'curing' Yu-kun spoke of would be a big help for us?" Yukiko said as Yosuke blinked and spoke up.

"Huh!? Are you and Yu suggesting we take it into that other world with us?" Yosuke said as Yu spoke up.

"Yeah, we are. I mean, I think he can handle himself." Yu said calmly as Yosuke spoke up.

"Hmm. Mmm, yeah, I guess that might work. It doesn't seem like it's going to leave that easily, either, anyways. And I definitely don't want it being all sulky and getting up to mischief in the store while we're in the other world." Yosuke said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"True. But I feel like this little guy's not the type to get up to mischief, anyways." Yu said, noting the satisfied look on the fox's face next to him. The group reached a consensus at that point of letting the fox do whatever he wants, within reason. Yu figured the group should try bringing it into the other world at some point. Yu then spoke up after a bit.

"Anyways, our new ally aside, let's confirm our situation, shall we?" Yu said as Yosuke nodded and spoke up.

"Good idea. First Yukiko ended up in the TV world, and now Kanji Tatsumi's in there." Yosuke said as Chie spoke up.

"Hmm. Could it be that they aren't just involved in the case? Maybe it has something to do with our school, too?" Chie said as Yu spoke up.

"If we focus on just Yukiko and Tatsumi-san, maybe. But if we also take the announcer lady and Saki-senpai's cases into account as well, that makes it less likely that this killer's motives are entirely related to it involving Yasogami High. Or at least, that's my guess." Yu said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Good point. Who knows what the killer's really thinking, though? Just add it to the pile of things we don't get. But man, that Kanji is something else. It was total chaos on that show the other night. He seemed like such a badass before, too. Oh well, guess you can't judge a book by its cover." Yosuke said as Yu frowned at this, but Yukiko saw the look on his face and spoke up before Yu could light into Yosuke.

"Anyways! We should concentrate on saving Kanji-kun before the fog appears, okay?" Yukiko said as Yosuke nodded and spoke up.

"Y-yeah, good idea, Yukiko. You're right. We gotta start from there." Yosuke said as Yu spoke up.

"We'll deal with your apparent opinions of Tatsumi-san later, Yosuke. For now, let's get in there and see if we can save him, now that we have some clues for Teddie." Yu said as the others nodded and spoke up.

"Don't worry! We can do this!" Chie said with a resolved look on her face as the group headed into the TV world...

(Inside the studio entrance of the TV world a short time later, with Yosuke, Yu, Yukiko, Chie, Teddie, and the fox of the Tatsuhime Shrine)

Once the group arrived at the studio entrance of the TV world, Teddie spoke up on noticing the group.

"Sensei, you're here! Any clues?" Teddie said as Yu nodded once to convey he'd found some, making Teddie smile as he kept speaking.

"Oh, you found some!" Teddie said as Yu nodded before deciding to pop into the Velvet Room on a whim. Once he was inside the Velvet Room, he noticed that both Igor and Marie were absent, though Margaret was there, seemingly poring over a book, completely unaware of Yu's presence. After Yu looked around, he cleared his throat to get Margaret's attention, making her look up in surprise as she saw Yu standing there.

"Oh, my apologies for not being aware of your arrival. Excuse me. Do you have any business here?" Margaret said as Yu spoke up.

"Honestly? I was thinking of doing some Persona management, but I might need to hold off, since it seems like you're the only one here right now." Yu said as Margaret nodded and spoke up.

"Mmm, very perceptive. As you can see, my master is currently away. If your errand isn't urgent, I regret to ask that you come back lat-" Margaret said, cutting herself off mid-sentence as she shook her head and kept speaking.

"No, that won't do. This room is bound tightly to your fate. Nothing here happens without a reason, after all. There must be meaning in our meeting here alone." Margaret said as she closed her tome and spoke up again with a smile on her face.

"Welcome to the Velvet Room. I am Margaret. I am the one who rules over power, invited here after my predecessor's sudden disappearance. You may be the first person who has ever been welcomed here by someone other than my master. The Velvet Room is inseparable from the heart of its invited guest, whoever they might be. The shape of the room and its residents are selected by my master, based on the number of guests and their destiny, whatever that destiny might be. Shall we chat? I feel that is what I'm called to do." Margaret said, a faint smile suddenly appearing on her face. Yu noted that her eyes had a hint of gentleness in them, much unlike her normal gaze. Inexplicably, Yu felt a faint bond forming in that moment between himself and Margaret, as the expected shattering sound preceded a voice in Yu's head.

"Thou art I, Yu Narukami. And I am thou, just as surely as thou art I. Thou hast established a new bond with the one you call 'Margaret'. It brings thee closer to the truth that thou seekest. If you make the most of this newly-forged 'Empress' Social Link you've made with Margaret, then thou shalt surely be blessed when creating Personas of the Empress Arcana in fusions..." Yu heard as a card appeared in his mind's eyes, the usual blue frame going around it with a Roman numeral 'III' engraved in the bottom of the card and a smaller circle at the top sporting a small Roman numeral 'I'.

As Yu kept studying the card, he noted that the middle of the card was mostly pink and green with vines and what appeared to be a round figure wearing a crown in black, making Yu cognizant of his newly-formed 'Empress' Social Link with Margaret being at Rank 1. Afterwards, Margaret kept speaking.

"It seems you have several 'Social Links' already. Recurring meetings, recurring words being exchanged. By deepening your understanding of one another, your bonds strengthen. But sometimes the heart is shaken more by a single action than a thousand words. Do you understand?" Margaret asked as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Somewhat. You're referring to the phrase 'Actions speak louder than words', right? I'm familiar with that concept, if so." Yu said. Margaret chuckled and spoke up.

"Hmhm, not bad. You know, today's meeting might be classified as that single action." Margaret said as she nodded to herself and kept speaking.

"I've decided. The strand of fate you follow towards your destiny? Entangle me within it as well." Margaret said as Yu's eyes widened and he spoke up.

"WHAT!? Are you being metaphorical right now!?" Yu asked in surprise as Margaret chuckled and spoke up.

"That's for me to know, and you to maybe find out later on. In any case, if you do entangle me in the strand of your fate, then perhaps a new bond will be spun. There is something I have wanted to know, and you are the first guest I welcomed here personally. In light of today's meeting with my master being absent, then, hm. I believe we are both special to one another, Yu Narukami." Margaret said, making Yu give her an uneasy look, though he was relieved to see her smiling. Before he could say anything, Margaret kept speaking.

"I want to know more about you. First, I think I shall have you show me your rare Persona ability. Let me see here. To start with, show me an 'Ippon-Datara' that knows 'Sukukaja'. The heart is shaken more by a single action than by a thousand words, Yu Narukami. Have you already forgotten?" Margaret asked as Yu shook his head and spoke up.

"Not at all. It will merely take me time to get the Persona that you requested, but I'm certain I can fulfill that request." Yu said as Margaret smiled and spoke up.

"Hmhm, good. Then I have something to look forward to. I wish you well." Margaret said as Yu left the Velvet Room. At that point, Yu approached Teddie and spoke up.

"I believe I told you I found more clues about our target, didn't I?" Yu asked Teddie, who nodded and spoke up with a smile.

"Right. Oh, you found out more about Kanji! Hmmhmm, a complex, you say? Umm, really? Th-That's it!? That's all I have to go on? You're working me to the stuffing here, Sensei." Teddie said as Yu spoke up.

"Sorry. That was all I could find. Not a lot of people are willing to talk about Kanji, as it turns out." Yu said as Teddie thought about it and spoke up.

"Oh well, it is what it is. Then I'll open my nose up real wide and sniff real hard! Hrmmmm, let's see here. Oh, I think I found something! It feels like our target! Is this it!? Follow me!" Teddie said as he led the group into an area that Yu inwardly cringed on seeing, as he knew immediately this was the area from the cursed Midnight Channel show Kanji had put on. But somehow, the show failed to capture how muggy the place was. Chie eventually spoke up after a bit.

"Is it just me, you guys, or does the fog here seem kinda different?" Chie said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"No, I see it too. Which is kinda surprising, since my glasses are fogging up." Yukiko said as Yu spoke up with slightly widened eyes.

"Fogging up? I don't think this is fog we're going into, since fog can't make glasses fog up that I'm aware of." Yu said as Yosuke spoke up with a grimace.

"I agree, partner. But man, it's hot in here. This place is like a-" Yosuke said before getting cut off mid-sentence by the sudden sound of jazz music being played as a man's voice was heard echoing.

"C'mere, pussycat." One manly voice said as another spoke up, making both Yosuke and Yu cringe in visible discomfort, even while the latter was confused at how a voice could manage to sound handsome.

"Oh, my. Such well-defined pecs you have." The handsome voice said as the first manly voice spoke up.

"There's no need to be scared, you know." The manly voice said as the group shuddered at this and Chie spoke up.

"Uhhhh, we all heard that, right?" Chie said as the others nodded, but before they could answer Chie, the manly voice was heard again.

"Now, just relax, and let yourself enjoy this." The manly voice could be heard saying as Yukiko exchanged a confused look with Chie while both Yu and Yosuke had identical looks of horror on their faces, the latter speaking up in a freaked-out voice.

"W-Wait a sec! I-I don't wanna go!" Yosuke said as Yu spoke up with a sigh.

"Neither do I, but we have to do this if we don't want Tatsumi-san to die. Or do you want to be the one to tell his mother that we let him die because we couldn't handle some cringy fucking bathhouse!? I think it'd be worse to have to deal with the wrath of a grieving mother than to have to deal with a cringy bathhouse." Yu said bluntly yet sagely, making Yosuke wince but nod his agreement, conceding that Yu had a point as he did so. Rather than acknowledge Yu's terse outburst, Yukiko changed the subject by turning to Teddie and speaking up.

"Is Kanji-kun really here, Teddie?" Yukiko asked as Teddie nodded and spoke up while bowing.

"Yep! The nose knows!" Teddie said as Yosuke groaned and spoke up.

"We're seriously doing this!? We're really going in here? Urgh, I can already feel the sweat rolling down my back, and we're not even in there yet." Yosuke said as Chie spoke up with a wince.

"That's because it's so hot in there. At this point, we'd almost be better off being in swimwear for this, if only because it'd be less warm than what we have on." Chie said as Yu spoke up.

"Perhaps, but these are our uniforms. And I very much doubt that Yosuke thought to bring his swimwear with him, Chie. Never mind yourself and Yukiko." Yu said as Yosuke and Yukiko nodded. Yu then noted that Kanji's location has been pinpointed. All that remained at that point was to rescue him. Yu felt the need to prepare for the mission. After bringing everyone back to the studio entrance of the TV world, Yu spoke up.

"We'll be going into Kanji's dungeon soon enough, but first we need to do a bit of backtracking to prepare by going through previous locations that some of us have been to. For starters, we'll be going to the place where Yosuke got his Persona to grab a couple of items from the shop there, then we'll be climbing back up Yukiko's castle area to get stronger and build up yen as well. Any objections?" Yu asked. No one voiced an objection, so once the group doubled back to the cognitive version of Konishi Liquors to get a 'Skill Spanner' weapon for Yosuke and a botton of 'Mori Ranmaru', the group was in front of Yukiko's dungeon. Once inside, Teddie spoke up.

"Oh! I sense the presence of a strong Shadow in the room Yuki-chan was in. Let's defeat it!" Teddie said as Yu spoke up with a nod.

"Sounds good to me. That's more experience for all of us." Yu said as the group started climbing the castle. While going through the first floor, Yosuke hit level 22. While fighting an enemy, Yukiko spoke up after downing it with a super-effective Agi.

"Our enemy is down! We must strike!" Yukiko said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Right! ALL-OUT ATTACK, GO!" Yu said as the group charged in and attacked the downed enemy furiously, eventually making an explosion occur on screen which destroyed the enemy. While fighting up through the upper floors of Yukiko's dungeon, Chie hit level 22 off a beaten Shadow and her 'Tomoe' Persona acquired the Physical skill 'Assault Dive'. Chie spoke up at that point.

"All right! I leveled up!" Chie said as Yukiko smiled and spoke up, not seeing the smirks Yu and Yosuke gave her at what she said next.

"Nice. Somehow, I could see you being braggy in your level-ups, Chie." Yukiko said as Chie huffed, but said nothing as Tomoe acquired 'Assault Dive'. Yukiko then hit level 16, and spoke up.

"Oh! Did I level up?" Yukiko said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Indeed you did, Yukiko. Indeed you did." Yu said as Yosuke spoke up.

"And it looks like you got a new skill as well." Yosuke said as Yukiko noticed that her level up had given her 'Konohana Sakuya' Persona access to the healing skill 'Media'. She then spoke up.

"Indeed I did. Good observation, Yosuke-kun." Yukiko said as Konohana Sakuya acquired 'Media'. While fighting more Shadows, Yu hit level 23. Chie spoke up.

"Congrats, Yu-kun!" Chie said as Yu spoke up.

"Heh, thanks. Not the first level up I've gotten, and it probably won't be the last." Yu said. After an All-Out Attack left only one enemy standing, Yosuke spoke up.

"Dammit, it's not goin' down!" Yosuke said as Chie turned to nod at Yukiko before speaking up.

"Guess that means it's our cue. Ready, Yukiko?" Chie said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"Mmhm. Let's do it!" Yukiko said as she went back-to-back with Chie as they charged at the enemy, their Personas appearing and doing a series of intricate moves, causing a pair of giant dragons to appear on the battlefield while Chie and Yukiko spoke up.

"BEHOLD! TASTE THE FURY OF THE TWIN DRAGONS!" Chie and Yukiko said in unison as the dragons crashed into the enemy, annihilating it and ending the fight. Once the enemy was dead, Yu gaped and spoke up.

"What the hell did we just witness, Yosuke?" Yu asked as Yosuke spoke up with a roguish smirk on his face.

"Something badass, that's what." Yosuke said as Chie spoke up with a smile on her face.

"That was something Yukiko and I stumbled into while training against Shadows the other day. We realized that on occasion, if we fail to kill an enemy with an All-Out Attack, we can unleash these powerful follow-up moves that Yukiko's taken to calling 'Twin Techs' for who knows why. From what Yukiko has gathered, they're moves that we can do in pairs. So far, we know that myself and Chie have one, but we think there'll be others. We'll have to wait and see when the others do unlock, and who they're with." Chie said as Yu nodded approvingly and spoke up.

"Fair. And you and Yukiko do have a strong bond, so I'm not shocked you two got one first. However, it'll probably be a while before we get the next, since I very much doubt either myself or Yosuke will have one with Tatsumi-san, much less each other. But I also sense we've still got others who've not joined us yet, so maybe our eventual Twin Tech partners haven't joined yet." Yu said as Yukiko giggled and spoke up.

"Maybe. But imagine if, just hypothetically speaking, Yosuke had one with Teddie." Yukiko said as Teddie and Yosuke both spoke up at the same time Yu did.

"WHAT!?" Yu, Yosuke, and Teddie yelled in unison as the latter kept speaking.

"Why would I have a Twin Tech with Yosuke, of all people?" Teddie asked as Yosuke spoke up.

"If you did, it'd be one of those 'by default' type setups." Yosuke said as Yu nodded and the group kept moving. While beating strong enemies, Yu's 'Angel' Persona hit level 12 and Yukiko hit level 17. While fighting enemies, Yu's 'Omoikane' Persona hit level 12 and got the passive skill 'Resist Elec'. In addition, Yosuke hit level 23, getting the ailment skill 'Tentarafoo' for his 'Jiraiya' Persona, at which point Yosuke spoke up. *1*

"Nice, another new skill for Jiraiya! And a rather niche skill grab for your Persona too, Yu." Yosuke said as Yu nodded while Omoikane and Jiraiya acquired 'Resist Elec' and 'Tentarafoo', respectively.

While fighting Shadows, Yukiko hit level 18. While scaling the sixth floor of Yukiko's dungeon, the group beat more Shadows, putting Chie to level 23. While fighting more Shadows, Yu hit level 24. While fighting off a rare enemy in the form of a 'Golden Hand', Yu's 'Omoikane' Persona hit level 13, and Yukiko hit level 19. While fighting Shadows on the sixth floor, Yu's 'Angel' Persona hit level 13 and Yosuke hit 24. While fighting more Shadows, Yukiko hit level 20. While fighting enemies on the seventh floor, Chie hit level 24, and her 'Tomoe' Persona gained the passive skill 'Counter'. Chie then spoke up.

"Awesome, a new move!" Chie said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Heh, as if you needed any more ability to throw things back at people." Yosuke joked, to which Chie merely stuck her tongue out childishly at Yosuke in response, making Yu and Yukiko laugh while Tomoe acquired 'Counter'. While fighting Shadows, Yu hit level 25, making Teddie speak up.

"Congratulations, Sensei! You've become even stronger!" Teddie said as Yu idly nodded, sensing that another change was about to occur in him, which manifested as his maximum Persona storage size going from 8 to 10. While fighting Shadows, Yukiko hit level 21 and her 'Konohana Sakuya' Persona got the upgraded Fire skill 'Agilao', making her smile as she spoke up.

"Wow, a new move! I'm getting better!" Yukiko said as Yu smirked and spoke up.

"True. Then again, you could say your fire now burns even hotter." Yu joked, laughing when Yosuke and Chie facefaulted from his joke a moment later as Yukiko smiled and spoke up.

"Was that your way of saying I'm hot, Yu-kun? If so, thank you for the compliment." Yukiko said, giggling at the sight of Chie and Yosuke getting to their feet as Konohana Sakuya acquired "Agilao'. While beating some tough enemies, Yu's 'Angel' Persona hit level 14. While mapping out the seventh floor, Yosuke hit level 25 off a defeated Shadow. Once the group reached the top, Teddie spoke up.

"This is it! I sense the strong Shadow in that room! Let's do it, Sensei!" Teddie said as Yu nodded, opening the door and seeing a Shadow that was dressed similar to the 'Prince' enemy that Yukiko's Shadow had summoned when the group fought her. After a long and drawn-out struggle, Yu felt his bravery get bolstered after defeating a strong enemy, netting him an unseen boost to his Courage. Additionally, Yu's 'Pixie' Persona went from level 2 to level 6, netting Pixie the Elec move 'Zio' and the Healing move 'Me Patra', making Yu speak up.

"Two skills for the price of one fight, eh? Interesting. But I'll take it, if it lets me be better able to live up to my role as team leader." Yu said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Damn straight, partner! Good job on the new moves!" Yosuke said as Yu nodded while Pixie gained 'Zio' and 'Me Patra'. In addition to Yu's 'Pixie' Persona leveling up, Chie also hit level 25, and Yukiko hit level 22. Chie spoke up happily.

"All right, I leveled up!" Chie said as Yukiko giggled and spoke up.

"Of course you did. Oh, but have I gotten a little stronger too?" Yukiko said as Yu spoke up.

"We all got tougher from that fight, Yukiko. So let's call this a team victory." Yu said as Yukiko nodded. After the fight, Teddie spoke up.

"Alright! Sensei, thank you!" Teddie said as Yu nodded before Teddie kept speaking.

"Oh, and check the throne, would you? I sense that the enemy dropped something there." Teddie said as Yu nodded, inspecting the floor, where he found a dropped item, which on inspection was revealed to be a 'Suzaku Feather' fan. Yu turned to Yukiko and spoke up.

"Unless I'm wrong, fans are your weapon of choice, Yukiko. Think this will be better for you?" Yu asked as Yukiko smiled and spoke up.

"Probably. But thank you for thinking of me, Yu-kun." Yukiko said with a coy sort of smile on her face while accepting the 'Suzaku Feather' from Yu. After the group returned to the studio entrance, Teddie spoke up.

"Oh, almost forgot. Here we go. I made these the right way this time." Teddie said, fishing out another pair of gag glasses as he kept speaking, cutting off the groans from Chie, Yu, and Yosuke before they could start.

"Per Yuki-chan's request, these gag glasses have lenses in them." Teddie said as Yukiko smiled happily and spoke up.

"Oh, really? Thanks, Teddie!" Yukiko said happily as Yu grumbled what sounded like 'end me' under his breath. Yukiko ignored Yu to focus on Chie as she kept speaking.

"Hey, Chie! Let's put these on!" Yukiko said as Chie groaned and spoke up.

"This again, Yukiko? We did it before. There's no need to do it again when it's the exact same thing." Chie said before turning to glare at Teddie as she kept speaking.

"Come on, Teddie! Don't get all excited just because Yukiko's a goof!" Chie said as Teddie spoke up, both Chie and Teddie either not hearing or ignoring the indignant cry of 'HEY!' that came from Yukiko a moment later.

"Ehehe, you're too kind!" Teddie said as Yu groaned and spoke up.

"Teddie! FOCUS! We need to get back to that bathhouse and save Tatsumi-san!" Yu snapped as Teddie winced and spoke up.

"Okay! Let me show you the way!" Teddie said as he led the group back to the bathhouse. Once there, Yu walked towards the open door, hearing Teddie speak up behind him.

"Be careful!" Teddie said as the others went into the bathhouse to save Kanji. Once inside, Teddie spoke up.

"Wow, this place is really steamy, isn't it?" Teddie said as Yu spoke up.

"Indeed it is. This is a bathhouse, where people usually gather to take hot baths." Yu said as Teddie spoke up.

"Oh? If that's true, then why do I feel a chill down my fuzzy spine? I think I caught a cold as well. My nose is totally useless too. Kanji-kun, where are you!? Answer us!" Teddie called out, getting no response as the group kept moving. While fighting Shadows, Yu hit level 26. While fighting Shadows, Yu's 'Sylph' Persona hit level 12 and gained the passive skill 'Regenerate 1', making Yu speak up.

"Nice, a new move! Not too shabby, if I do say so myself." Yu said as Yukiko giggled and spoke up.

"That is a pretty nice skill, Yu-kun. But let's not let your ego swell up too much, yeah?" Yukiko said, getting a pout from Yu and laughs from Chie and Yosuke while Sylph acquired 'Regenerate 1'. Additionally, Yosuke hit level 26 and Yukiko hit level 23. After beating another 'Golden Hand' type Shadow, Yu hit level 27, Yu's 'Omoikane' Persona hit level 16, Yosuke hit level 27, Chie hit level 27, and Yukiko hit level 24. After beating more Shadows on the first floor of Kanji's bathhouse dungeon, Yukiko hit level 25. While fighting Shadows, Yu hit level 28. While beating some Shadows that were hiding in a chest, Yu's 'Valkyrie' Persona hit level 9. Once the group reached the second floor of Kanji's bathhouse dungeon, Teddie spoke up.

"Hmmm, how odd. We haven't come across this Kanji-kun yet, have we? Hmph. Oh yeah, Sensei! Can I ask you something?" Teddie asked as Yu spoke up.

"I suppose so. What's up?" Yu said as Teddie spoke up.

"Thank you. So, why is it so steamy here? Does it have something to do with Kanji-kun? I don't really get it at all. Do you know what it is, Sensei?" Teddie said as Yu winced and spoke up.

"I think I get the hints well enough to at least have an idea of what's going on. However, I'd rather not say what that idea is, lest I be right." Yu said as Yosuke nodded appreciatively while Teddie spoke up.

"Aah, that's my Sensei! Is there anything you don't know!?" Teddie asked as Yu spoke up.

"Definitely. But this is neither the time nor the place for such a discussion, Teddie." Yu said firmly as the group kept moving. After beating another 'Golden Hand' type Shadow, Yu hit level 29, Yu's 'Oberon' Persona hit level 14, netting it the ailment skill 'Makajam' and the healing skill 'Media', Yosuke hit level 28, Chie hit level 28, and Yukiko hit level 26, getting the healing skill 'Recarm' for her 'Konohana Sakuya' Persona. Yukiko then spoke up.

"I got another new move! Excellent!" Yukiko said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Lookin' good, Yukiko! That's a very nice move!" Yosuke said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"Thank you, Yosuke-kun." Yukiko said happily as Konohana Sakuya acquired 'Recarm'. While beating more Shadows, Yu's 'Oberon' Persona hit level 15 and gained the passive skill 'Elec Boost'. While fighting Shadows, Yosuke hit level 29 and gained the upgraded Wind skill 'Garula'. Yosuke then spoke up.

"Nice! Jiraiya's wind now blows ever harder!" Yosuke said as Yu smirked and spoke up.

"Nice phrasing, partner. But not as nice as that skill." Yu said as Yosuke huffed, but said nothing as Jiraiya acquired 'Garula'. Yukiko also hit level 27. After beating a pair of 'Golden Hand' type Shadows, the ensuing EXP gains lifted Yu all the way to level 31, giving him the sense that he was about to have another change occur. As a result, his Persona size limit was upped once again, from 10 to 12. Furthermore, Yu's 'Oberon' Persona leveled up all the way to level 19, getting the Elec skill 'Mazio' and the passive skill 'Dodge Wind'. Additionally, Yosuke hit level 31, Chie hit level 30, which gave her 'Tomoe' Persona the Physical skill 'Gale Slash', and Yukiko hit level 29. Chie then spoke up.

"Nice! My Persona gained a new move!" Chie said as Yukiko spoke up with a giggle.

"Mmhm, and it's very strong, just like you!" Yukiko said coyly as Chie blushed in embarrassment and spoke up.

"Aww, you're just sayin' that, Yukiko! But thanks!" Chie said as Tomoe acquired 'Gale Slash'. From beating more Shadows, Chie hit level 31. Once the group reached the third floor, Teddie spoke up with wide eyes.

"Whoa! I just got goosebumps! Something is on this floor! Be careful, you guys!" Teddie said as Yu nodded before using a Goho-M to get the group out of the dungeon for a moment, since he felt the need to recharge before tackling the next leg of the dungeon. After doing a bit of Persona management and upgrading most of his Personas for stronger ones, Yu brought the group back to the spot they'd left off, or the third floor of Kanji's bathhouse dungeon. Once they explored a bit of it, they were stopped in front of a door by Teddie speaking up.

"Ooh, this presence is intense. Could it be Kanji-kun already?" Teddie asked as Yu spoke up with a frown.

"I doubt that one, Teddie. But only one way to know for sure, and that's opening this door and seeing what's on the other side. Is everyone ready?" Yu asked, and when the others nodded, Yu opened the door as the group filed into the next room. Sure enough, on the other side was the Kanji that Yu had seen on the Midnight Channel, making both Yosuke and Yu cringe at how little this Kanji was wearing. Chie was the first to speak up and break the awkward silence that had fallen over the group.

"There he is!" Chie said as Yosuke spoke up in a mix of anger and concern.

"Kanji!" Yosuke called out as what appeared to be Kanji turned around to face the group, though Yu couldn't stop the visible shudder that went down his spine as a bunch of what sounded vaguely like very mature-sounding jazz music started playing in the background as what appeared to be Kanji spoke up.

"Oooooh, my my! Thank you for your undivided attention! At last, I've penetrated the facility! These images are coming to you live from inside this steamy paradise! But I've yet to have any charming encounters. Mm, could this hot fog be the cause? It's like steam rising from sweat! Mmmm, my body's tingling with excitement!" What appeared to be Kanji said as a visual cue popped up over his head that read 'MEN ONLY! Kanji's Steamy Hot Rosy Paradise!', causing Yu and Yosuke to shudder as the latter spoke up.

"Crap, is this for real right now!? This is so wrong in so many ways, I wouldn't know where to begin listing them all." Yosuke said as Yu nodded his agreement. Chie spoke up before Yu could verbally agree with Yosuke, though.

"I remember it being kinda like this on Yukiko's show, too, now that I think about it." Chie said as both Yu and Yukiko blinked at this and spoke up.

"WHAT!?" Yu and Yukiko said, wearing identical wide-eyed looks of shock, the latter speaking up with a shocked look on her face.

"N-No, don't be silly, Chie! It wasn't like this at all." Yukiko said as Yu spoke up.

"The only real similarity was you trying to score a harem, and even then, that's a hell of a stretch to liken that to this. Plus your show was a thousand times less cursed than Tatsumi-san's show is." Yu said as a bunch of indecipherable voices were heard, making Chie speak up in surprise.

"Those voices again! Didn't we hear those in Yukiko's dungeon, too? Wait, hold on. Are they louder this time?" Chie asked as Yu spoke up.

"Given how much more infamous Tatsumi-san is compared to Yukiko, I'm not surprised. I'm sorry to offend you, but you have to admit that you have way less people who fear and/or despise you than Tatsumi-san does, Yukiko." Yu said as Yosuke spoke up with a nod after Yukiko shyly nodded her acceptance of Yu's words.

"These voices seem to be more excited-sounding than angry, though. Not sure why, but they are. That said, I was wondering whose they could be, since it's only the victim that's in here usually. Is it the people watching outside?" Yosuke said as Yu spoke up with a nod.

"I'd believe that, Yosuke." Yu said as Chie spoke up in surprise.

"Oh? You mean, everybody who's watching the Midnight Channel? They're reacting to the 'show'? Yikes, if that's true, that's not good! If people are watching Kanji-kun now, he's gonna be a legend in a way he never intended to be." Chie said as Yosuke spoke up.

"Well, given the aura around him, it's really his Shadow, not him. But normal people wouldn't know that without having been brought in here before." Yosuke said as the voices were heard again and Teddie spoke up with a determined look on his face.

"The Shadows are getting really restless!" Teddie said as what appeared to be Kanji chuckled and spoke up.

"That elusive thing I truly yearn for deep inside is calling to me. Will I finally find it here? Teehee! Well then, onward and deeper to much deeper realms of romance! Let's get going, dammit!" What appeared to be Kanji said as he ran off, not hearing Yukiko speak up towards his departing back.

"Kanji-kun!" Yukiko said as Teddie spoke up with a smile on his face.

"That was his other self, or more accurately put, his Shadow. It's trying to reveal his hidden feelings." Teddie said as Yu sweatdropped and spoke up.

"You don't say? I think that Yosuke will agree with me when I say this is probably the most cursed Shadow thus far, then." Yu said as Yosuke nodded emphatically to agree with Yu while Teddie smirked and spoke up.

"Fair. Still, it seems much worse than that time with Yuki-chan's Shadow when her Shadow was looking to score a harem. At this rate, it might end up getting 'bear' naked." Teddie said, not seeing the trio of glares Chie, Yu, and Yosuke aimed at him for his pun due to Yukiko speaking up at that point with a smile on her face.

"Hm? 'Bear', you said? Did you mean bare naked, Teddie?" Yukiko asked as Yu and Yosuke exchanged worried looks while Chie sighed and spoke up.

"Oh man, not another one. Here it comes, you guys. Enter another of Yukiko's laughing fits." Chie said as Yu spoke up.

"While this isn't the time or place for Yukiko to laugh, she is pretty adorable when she does so." Yu said as Yukiko spoke up in confusion.

"Uh, I'm sorry. Was I supposed to laugh?" Yukiko said as Teddie facefaulted from Yukiko not finding his pun funny, getting laughs from Yosuke and Chie, while Yu smirked and high-fived Yukiko before speaking up.

"No, you really weren't. But I think it was funny that you were so honest about your confusion. Granted, you probably just wrecked Teddie's ego, but that's what he gets for making bear puns." Yu said kindly as Yukiko smiled shyly and spoke up.

"I see. Thank you, Yu-kun. Let's keep going, yeah?" Yukiko said as Yu nodded and the group gave chase after what appeared to be Kanji while they kept moving. While fighting Shadows on the third floor, Yu hit level 32. Yukiko also hit level 30 and her 'Konohana Sakuya' Persona gained the support skill 'Fire Break', prompting her to speak up.

"Ooh, a new move! Have I gotten stronger?" Yukiko asked as Chie spoke up.

"Probably, though is that move really a good move? We'll see." Chie said as Konohana Sakuya acquired 'Fire Break'. After beating more enemies, Yu's 'Power' Persona hit level 29. After making it up to the fourth floor, the group started hearing voices from somewhere nearby.

"A man can't back down at a time like this! Just watch, and I'll show you how manly Kanji Tatsumi can be!" The group heard, confusing them, but no one remarked on what they'd heard as the group kept moving. After beating some strong enemies, Yosuke hit level 32. After beating some 'Golden Hand' type Shadows, Yu hit level 33, Chie hit level 32, and Yukiko hit level 31. After beating more Shadows, Yu's 'Gdon' Persona, which was one of his more prized Persona acquisitions since it was literally a yellow and orange striped tigress with a flaming mane, hit level 33 and gained the passive skill 'Growth 2'. Yu then spoke up. *2*

"Nice, a new talent for me. Not too shabby." Yu said as Yosuke smirked and spoke up.

"Got that right, partner! Good work on the new move." Yosuke said as Yu nodded while Gdon acquired 'Growth 2'. Once the group reached the fifth floor, they heard the same voice as before.

"A man fears nothing! A man's always brave and ready to fight for his beliefs! A man's got this thing called pride to protect! Heheh, I'll never lose to anyone!" The group heard as Teddie spoke up.

"Hrmmm, odd. I tried tracking that voice, but it's no good, you guys. The steam's getting worse, so I can't tell where Kanji-kun is at all, unfortunately. Maybe it's already time for me to retire from being a guide at this rate." Teddie said as Yu spoke up.

"Maybe. But don't give up so quickly. Regardless, let's keep moving." Yu said as the group kept moving. After beating some Shadows, Yosuke hit level 33. While fighting enemies on the fifth floor, Chie hit level 33 and her 'Tomoe' Persona learned the passive skill 'Apt Pupil', prompting Chie to speak up.

"Nice, another new power! I'm slowly getting stronger!" Chie said as Yosuke spoke up with a smirk.

"Heh, not bad, Chie. You're actually shaping up to be a formidable fighter." Yosuke said kindly as Chie smirked while Tomoe acquired 'Apt Pupil'. After beating another 'Golden Hand' type Shadow, Yu hit level 34 and Yukiko hit level 32. After beating more Shadows, Yosuke hit level 34 and his 'Jiraiya' Persona gained the Physical skill 'Power Slash', making him speak up.

"Ha ha! I got another new move while leveling up!" Yosuke said as Chie spoke up.

"Impressive. You're getting stronger than ever, Yosuke!" Chie said as Yosuke nodded while Jiraiya acquired 'Power Slash'. After getting to the sixth floor, Teddie gasped and spoke up.

"This feeling is insanely powerful! I think the other Kanji's staring at us!" Teddie said as a voice was heard somewhere nearby.

"Hey there, cutie pie! Are you trying to break the barrier of the acceptable, just like me?" The voice asked as Teddie spoke up in annoyance.

"No! Sensei came to rescue Kanji!" Teddie said as the voice was heard again, Yu and Yosuke's eyes widening at what was heard next.

"OoooOOOOooh! Does that mean you're yearning for me? Is that so? Oh, that makes me sooooo happy! Well then, I simply MUST prepare something spectacular for you! I'm so looking forward to seeing you soon! Well, tootaloo!" The voice said as a wide-eyed Teddie spoke up.

"Uhh, what just happened? Sensei, that was creepy. This little bear's getting too scared to go on much further." Teddie said as Yu frowned and spoke up.

"I'm sorry to hear that, but if we stop now, we potentially risk leaving the real Tatsumi-san to the devices of what I'm guessing is his Shadow. And that is simply unacceptable. So let's suck it up and keep going, Teddie." Yu said as Teddie reluctantly nodded while the group kept moving. After beating some Shadows, Chie hit level 34. After defeating another 'Golden Hand' type Shadow, Yu hit level 35 and Yukiko hit level 33, the latter's 'Konohana Sakuya' Persona getting the healing skill 'Diarama' from the level up. Yukiko then spoke up with a smile on her face.

"Ooh, is that an upgraded healing move? Nice, if so." Yukiko said as Yu smiled and spoke up.

"I'm not surprised you got to that first, Yukiko. You do seem like the most healing-inclined person of all of us. So good job on the upgrade." Yu said kindly as Yukiko smiled and nodded while Konohana Sakuya acquired 'Diarama'. While beating Shadows, Yosuke hit level 35. From beating more Shadows, Chie hit level 35. While fighting Shadows, Yu's 'Gdon' Persona hit level 34, gaining the upgraded Fire skill 'Maragion' as a result, making Yu speak up.

"Excellent! Gdon's flame now burns ever hotter! Watch out for his increased firepower!" Yu said smugly as Yosuke laughed and spoke up.

"Ow, careful Yu! That brag was a bit on the 'muy caliente' side!" Yosuke joked as Yu chuckled while Gdon acquired 'Maragion'. Yukiko also hit level 34. After beating another 'Golden Hand' type Shadow that was hiding in a chest, Yu and Yosuke both hit level 36. After reaching the seventh floor, Teddie spoke up in horror.

"Yeeek! For some reason, this floor is really steamy." Teddie said as Yu frowned and spoke up.

"Hmm, is that so? I wonder if we're coming up on the miniboss of this dungeon. I know we fought at least one of those in Yukiko's dungeon, so I'd be shocked if there wasn't one here too." Yu said as Teddie shrugged and spoke up.

"Who knows, Sensei? Either way, try and hang in there, guys!" Teddie said as Yu nodded while the group kept moving. While fighting enemies on the seventh floor, Chie hit level 36, and her 'Tomoe' Persona got the passive move 'Auto-Tarukaja', making her speak up.

"Awesome, another new move! I'm getting ever stronger!" Chie said as Yukiko and Yu nodded approvingly while Tomoe acquired 'Auto-Tarukaja'. After figuring out the floor was a loop, Yu stopped the group in front of a door on the bottom of the loop and spoke up.

"Let's be careful, everyone. I can feel a vast amount of steam drifting in from the other side of the door there. Let's keep going, but be ready for anything." Yu said, getting nods from the others as he pushed the door open, moving into the next room where what the group figured might be Kanji's Shadow awaited with a giant hulking enemy. What the group figured might be Kanji's Shadow spoke up.

"Welcome to Man's World! This place is heating up from the sudden entry of a fine young man! To celebrate this encounter, I've prepared a special stage tonight! A single match with no time limit! Who will be left standing in the end? Now, pour out your hot blood and guts!" What the group figured might be Kanji's Shadow said as Yu and Yosuke cringed before Teddie spoke up.

"Ooh! Don't lose, Sensei!" Teddie said as a fight began! After a long and drawn-out struggle, Yu's group defeated the hulking enemy, the ensuing EXP gains bringing Yukiko to level 35. After reaching the eighth floor, the group heard a familiar voice from somewhere nearby.

"No, this can't be. No, dammit! That ain't important to a man's man at all! That's not what I want to become, dammit! That ain't it at all!" The group heard as Teddie spoke up.

"That was odd, I think. Hey, Sensei?" Teddie said as Yu spoke up.

"Yeah, what's up, Teddie?" Yu said as Teddie spoke up.

"The world you came from seems really complicated to me. Ever since I met you I really had to think hard about stuff like what I am, and even who I really am. So I can kinda understand how Kanji feels. Still, I feel like Kanji could be in trouble. Sensei, we gotta save Kanji!" Teddie said as Yu nodded and the group kept moving. While fighting Shadows on the eighth floor, Yu hit level 37. While fighting Shadows, Yu's 'Power' Persona hit level 30 and got the Physical move 'Power Slash', making Yu speak up.

"Nice, another power-up for me! Hopefully this helps us grow as a team." Yu said sagely, getting nods from the others as Power acquired 'Power Slash'. While fighting Shadows, Yosuke hit level 37. While fighting more Shadows, Yu's 'Gdon' Persona hit level 35 and got the passive skill 'Fire Boost', making him speak up.

"Nice, another power-up for my Fire skills! Let's go!" Yu said, getting nods from the others as Gdon acquired 'Fire Boost'. Chie also hit level 37, and Yukiko hit level 36. After hitting the ninth floor, Yu was pleasantly surprised to see a lone hallway leading to a door in front of him, making him speak up.

"Is this the top already? I find that hard to believe." Yu said as the others shrugged before a voice could be heard somewhere nearby.

"Ah, yes. This place is great, isn't it? It's wonderful here, what with all the steam and stuff." The group heard as Teddie spoke up.

"S-Something definitely feels wrong! Sensei, we need to hurry!" Teddie said as the group kept moving, finding that it was not the top after going in the first door. After beating a 'Golden Hand' type Shadow, Yu hit level 38. While fighting enemies on the ninth floor, Yosuke hit level 38. While fighting Shadows, Chie hit level 38 and her 'Tomoe' Persona got the Physical skill 'Black Spot', prompting her to speak up.

"Awesome! My power continues to grow!" Chie said as Yukiko spoke up.

"Not bad, Chie. I'm impressed." Yukiko said approvingly as Tomoe acquired 'Black Spot'. Yukiko also hit level 37. After reaching the tenth floor, Teddie spoke up.

"Hmm, I see. I can't hear Kanji's voice anymore. Rather odd. Alrighty! I'm gonna get myself pumped up again to look for Kanji! Concentrate! Raaaaaaaaawr! Hmm, let's see. Here goes! Hmm. Whoa, I like this feeling! I think I've made a comeback! Kanji's not far from here! I'm positive he's really close by!" Teddie said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"Good. If you're right, we've not got much left of this place. Let's keep going." Yu said as the group kept moving. After beating another 'Golden Hand' type Shadow, Yu hit level 39, Yu's 'Gdon' Persona hit level 36 and gained the passive skill 'Evade Ice', making Yu speak up.

"Nice, a better skill for countering Gdon's weak points." Yu said as Yosuke spoke up with a sly grin.

"Not bad, partner! You're getting even tougher than you were before." Yosuke said as Gdon acquired 'Evade Ice'. Additionally, Yosuke hit level 39, Chie hit level 39, and Yukiko hit level 38. While beating Shadows, Yu's 'Gdon' Persona hit level 37. After reaching the eleventh floor, the group was greeted by another lone hallway, this time with a giant set of double doors at the end of the hall. Once the group drew close enough to the double doors, a wide-eyed Teddie spoke up with a smile.

"Hm? This is it, you guys! I can sense Kanji! Hmm, that means he must be behind this door!" Teddie said as Yu spoke up.

"Finally! We're near the end of this accursed place. Let's get in there and save Kanji!" Yu said as he threw the doors open and the group ran into the next room. Sure enough, there were what appeared to be two Kanjis inside. Chie spoke up once the group was close enough to the Kanjis.

"There they are!" Chie said as Yosuke spoke up with a worried frown on his face.

"Kanji!" Yosuke said, only to be ignored as the Kanji who had more than a minimal amount of clothing on spoke up, mostly to himself.

"I-I don't know what to think right now." The mostly-dressed Kanji said as the nearly-naked Kanji spoke up with a frown on his face.

"Oh, come now, enough with the charade. Isn't it awful to deceive people? To deceive yourself, even? What's so bad about doing what I want to do?" The nearly-naked Kanji said as the mostly-dressed Kanji spoke up with a confused look on his face.

"That has nothin' to do with it, man!" The mostly-dressed Kanji said as the nearly-naked Kanji spoke up with an amused expression on his face.

"Perhaps, but I'm what you really want, aren't I?" The nearly-naked Kanji said as the mostly-dressed Kanji spoke up while pumping a fist angrily.

"Hell no! You're full of it!" The mostly-dressed Kanji said as the nearly-naked Kanji spoke up.

"Ohh, how I hate girls with a burning passion." The nearly-naked Kanji, or what Yu was thinking of as 'Kanji's Shadow', said as he kept speaking before Kanji could do more than blink.

"So arrogant and self-centered! They cry if you get angry, they gossip behind your back, spread nasty lies about you, and so on. They look at me like some sort of freak. They see me as some disgusting THING and say that I'm a weirdo, laughing at me all the while! 'You like to sew? What a queer!', some say. Others say things like, 'Painting is so not you.' And still others say stuff like 'But you're a guy, aren't you?', 'You don't act like a guy very much.', or 'Why aren't you manly, dammit?' Tell me, what does it mean to be 'a guy'? What does it mean to be 'manly'? Girls are so scary for the most part." Kanji's Shadow said as Kanji spoke up angrily.

"Bullcrap! I-I ain't scared of 'em!" Kanji insisted vehemently as Kanji's Shadow spoke up.

"Men are much better than women. They'd never say those awful, degrading things. Yes, I vastly prefer men to women." Kanji's Shadow said as Kanji glared at his Shadow and spoke up angrily.

"Hell with that! What makes you think you can say that shit with my face and get away with it!?" Kanji asked as Kanji's Shadow spoke up with a smirk.

"Why, you're me, Kanji Tatsumi. And I'm you, because we're one in the same. You do know that, don't you? Or do you not get it?" Kanji's Shadow said as Kanji spoke up in a mix of embarrassment, anger, and humiliation.

"No, bullshit! I don't believe you! Nuh-uh! No way! THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL THAT YOU'RE ME!" Kanji said as Yu, Yosuke, Yukiko, and Chie all winced, knowing what was coming next as the dark aura around Kanji's Shadow intensified while he spoke up in an agitated-sounding voice.

"Teeheehee, but it's true. You're me, and there's no denying it!" Kanji's Shadow said as the mist of other Shadows enveloped him, making him shift forms into a burly, muscular Shadow with a flower wreath around its neck, Kanji's Shadow riding in the open spot where a head would be on the muscular Shadow. As for the real Kanji, he fell onto his butt in shock, making Yukiko speak up in concern.

"Kanji-kun!" Yukiko said as Teddie spoke up with a frown on his face.

"Everyone, on guard!" Teddie said as a fight began! As the fight started, Kanji's Shadow spoke up in a distorted voice that seemed to deepen itself at some points while Kanji's Shadow spoke.

"I am a shadow, and as such, I am the true self that represents the inner me that I hide. I'm just being true to myself, dammit! And that's why I'll show no mercy to anyone who opposes me! I'll get rid of anything in my way!" Kanji's Shadow said angrily as a shocked Yukiko spoke up.

"Are these really Kanji-kun's true feelings?" Yukiko asked as Yu spoke up while wincing as he saw the two muscular guys that had appeared on either side of Kanji's Shadow.

"If I had to guess? I'd say it's moreso his negative emotions manifesting all at once. But it could also be his true feelings, possibly." Yu said as Yosuke shook his head and spoke up.

"I doubt that one, Yu. This isn't really Kanji! It's just his emotions going haywire!" Yosuke said as Kanji's Shadow spoke up in a partially-distorted voice that seemed to deepen on its own at random.

"This has nothing to do with you guys anymore! Didn't I just say I'm gonna get rid of you!?" Kanji's Shadow said as the fight began! As the fight proceeded, Yu and Chie exchanged a nod before each one picked one of the guys to either side of Kanji's Shadow and called out Gdon and Tomoe respectively to attack their targets, being pleased when they learned of their targets' weaknesses to Fire and Ice hits, respectively. After a few rounds of damage, Kanji's Shadow spoke up while flexing its arms.

"Ooh, so tough. I like that." Kanji's Shadow said as it swung the male gender symbols it was holding together to cause a dark blue miasma to wash over the battlefield, hitting both Yu and Yosuke with the 'Poison' ailment. After a few rounds of effective hits, the tough guys were defeated, leaving just Kanji's Shadow, who glared at the group as he spoke up.

"How dare you defeat my backup!? Stop trying to get in my way! I've already made my decision to go through with this. Get out of my way now and let me be, or I'll crush you!" Kanji's Shadow said as he slammed the male gender symbols he was holding into the ground, making a red wave wash over the battlefield, hitting Chie and Yukiko with the 'Rage' ailment, causing Yu to swear as he spoke up.

"Shit, that's bad! Luckily, I have a counter for that! PERSONA CHANGE! Come forth, King Frost! Chill out my enraged friends!" Yu said as he summoned out a more regal and monarch-esque version of Jack Frost that waved its hands and cast a wave of healing energy over the field, curing Yukiko and Chie of their rage. As if by coincidence, Yu and Yosuke shook off their poison at the same time. After the four rained some blows onto Kanji's Shadow, he glared at the group angrily and spoke up.

"Stay out of my way! What's wrong with acting however I feel like!?" Kanji's Shadow asked as Yu spoke up.

"Very little, if 'however you feel like' is mostly harmless and not a danger to yourself or others. But what you're talking about is not only creepy, but very likely to be harmful to your reputation in the long run." Yu rebuked Kanji's Shadow who huffed and spoke up.

"Shut up with the judgmental bullshit, dammit! HOLD ME!" Kanji's Shadow said as he slammed his male gender arrows into the ground, causing a torrent of Electric energy to shoot out and slam into the group, downing Yosuke and damaging everyone. After a bit, Yosuke got up and glared at Kanji's Shadow before speaking up.

"I'm pissed now, dammit!" Yosuke said as he and Yu charged at Kanji's Shadow for massive damage. After he got up, Kanji's Shadow glared at the group and spoke up.

"I know you all thought I was 'weird' ever since you met me. Deep down, even though you deny it, you don't accept me at all!" Kanji's Shadow said as Yu spoke up.

"Not true! We all have our quirks! Yours are just more pronounced than most, that's all! But I can tell you've got a lot of potential in you. But it won't mean much if you waste it on a destructive attempt to make people accept you. If someone's going to truly accept you, they have to do so no matter what." Yu said wisely. Kanji's Shadow glared at Yu and spoke up.

"Shut up! No matter what you say, I won't lose! Mmm, give me more!" Kanji's Shadow said as he made more Electric energy surge out, once again knocking down Yosuke and damaging the whole group. After Yosuke was helped up and heals were applied, Yu and Chie nodded and the former spoke up.

"Time to end this, Tatsumi-san's Shadow! I won't go easy on you! GDON, END IT!" Yu said as he summoned out Gdon, who gave off an approving growl before lunging forward to slash furiously at Kanji's Shadow, the strong damage, having been buffed by some well placed debuffs, being enough to finish off Kanji's Shadow, who moaned in defeat while speaking up.

"Ohhhh, this cannot be! I LOST!? Noooo! PLEASE ACCEPT ME!" Kanji's Shadow said as he crashed to the ground and slowly shifted back to normal, ending the battle. The ensuing EXP gains brought Yu to level 40. After the battle, Kanji's Shadow remained unconscious on the floor as the real Kanji struggled to his feet and spoke up.

"Dammit, that was rough." Kanji said as a worried Yukiko spoke up.

"Kanji-kun!" Yukiko said as Yosuke spoke up in alarm, his face taking on a worried frown.

"Wait, Yukiko! Something's wrong." Yosuke said as Kanji's Shadow got to his feet, making a horrified Teddie speak up with wide eyes.

"I-It's still coming at us! Kanji's still rejecting it, even after we beat it." Teddie said as a sympathetic Yosuke spoke up.

"Well, I can't blame him with this many witnesses. I think I'd do the same thing Kanji's doing if I were in his position." Yosuke said as Yu shook his head, wisely not pointing out that Yosuke's Shadow wasn't that much better than Kanji's Shadow in some ways. Before he could verbally state his point, Kanji's Shadow spoke up in a pleased-sounding voice.

"Such a passionate approach you guys have." Kanji's Shadow said as Yu and Yosuke exchanged horrified looks, the latter speaking up warily.

"What?" Yosuke said as Kanji's Shadow spoke up, not seeing the trio of horrified looks his next words would get from Yu, Yosuke and the real Kanji while he spoke.

"I think that you three, for all that you deny me, would make wonderful boyfriends." Kanji's Shadow said as Yu and the real Kanji both spoke up.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Yu and the real Kanji both said in unison as a flustered Yosuke spoke up.

"S-Stop it! Y-You got it all wrong!" Yosuke said as Yu groaned and spoke up.

"You're not doing yourself any favors when you deny what Tatsumi-san's Shadow says with that flustered-ass tone in your voice, Yosuke." Yu pointed out bluntly as the real Kanji spoke up.

"Enough already, dammit! Stop saying that shit! What the hell are you blabbering about, anyways?" The real Kanji said as Kanji's Shadow spoke up.

"I don't care who it is, but won't someone, ANYONE, please accept me for who I am?" Kanji's Shadow said as Yu frowned and spoke up.

"I knew it. Tatsumi-san's Shadow just wants acceptance at the end of the day, that's all." Yu said as Kanji glared at his Shadow and spoke up.

"Stop that, dammit! I get it already!" Kanji said as his Shadow spoke up pleadingly, his arms spread out wide.

"Accept me for who I am!" Kanji's Shadow said as a flustered Yosuke spoke up in a mix of fear, embarrassment, and nervousness.

"Wh-Whoa! I really don't swing that way! All of us guys here are straight as far as I know!" Yosuke said as Kanji frowned and spoke up.

"I said stop it!" Kanji said as he ran up to his own Shadow and punched him in the face with a good right hook, knocking him to the ground before he kept speaking.

"Tch. Can't believe something like this is inside me, even though the proof is right in front of me." Kanji said as Yosuke spoke up in awe.

"Kanji, you're seriously going to accept your Shadow that easily?" Yosuke said as Kanji frowned and spoke up.

"Yes, I am." Kanji said bluntly before turning to his Shadow and speaking up.

"Yeah, I know, dammit! I've known all this time I had something like you! It ain't a matter of guys or chicks, though. I'm just scared shitless of being rejected. I'm a total pansy who tries to make everyone hate me." Kanji said as Yu smiled and spoke up.

"That's all right, Tatsumi-san. You're not alone. All of us have parts of ourselves we're not proud of, either. Sure, not all of our inner selves are as flamboyant and expressive as yours, but we've all been through something similar. So no need to be embarrassed, man. All of us here accept you as you are." Yu said wisely. Kanji blinked in surprise at this before he spoke up while looking at Yu.

"Tch, is that right? Well, whatever." Kanji said before turning to face his Shadow while he kept speaking.

"C'mon, dammit! Get up. Anyone who looks like me, I know they ain't so weak that they can't take a punch." Kanji said as his Shadow got to his feet and looked at him while he kept speaking.

"I already know that you're me, whether I like it or not. You're me, okay? And I'm you, dammit!" Kanji said as his Shadow nodded before a card appeared and fluttered down into Kanji's hand, which he caught and read. It read as thus:

"Congratulations, Kanji Tatsumi. The strength of heart required to face oneself has been made manifest within you. At this time, you have overcome your hidden self. As a reward, accept the facade and power to overcome all of life's challenges. At this time, accept the power of the Persona 'Take-Mikazuchi' as your own!" Kanji read as the card vanished into his soul at the same time that a flash of light obscured Kanji's Shadow from view.

Once the light vanished, in place of Kanji's Shadow stood a hulking giant of a black-skinned being with bone patterns across his body, and in one hand was a giant lightning bolt. In short, it looked like something from a heavy metal album. Before any of the others could do more than look impressed at the sight of Kanji's new Persona, Kanji groaned and fell onto his back while he kept speaking.

"Ngh, I did it. Shit, that took a lot out of me, though." Kanji said as the others gathered around him and Chie spoke up.

"Kanji-kun!" Chie said as Yosuke spoke up with a determined look on his face.

"Not now, Chie! Let's get him out of here!" Yosuke said as the group nodded and helped Kanji out of the TV World once they fled his dungeon, leaving Teddie behind to watch over the TV World while they exited to the real world...

(A short time later, in the electronics section of Junes, with Yu, Yosuke, Kanji, Chie, and Yukiko)

As the others gathered around Kanji, who was currently knelt on the floor catching his breath, Yukiko spoke up.

"Kanji-kun, speak to me! Are you okay?" Yukiko said as Kanji nodded and managed to make himself speak up.

"It's fine. It's nothin' too serious. Whoa, but that was draining. Ngh, I've not felt that wiped in a while. Heheh, but still, I feel great now! It's like my mind's all cleared up or something." Kanji said as Yu smiled and spoke up.

"Glad to hear it, Tatsumi-san." Yu said as Yosuke helped Kanji to his feet while he spoke up.

"Hey, you guys? About what just happened back there-" Kanji said as Yu smiled sagely and spoke up.

"You're curious about it, aren't you? That's perfectly understandable, but for now you need to rest and get your strength back. Don't worry, though. We'll tell you about it later. You need to get your strength back first, so you can be at your best for that explanation." Yu said kindly. Kanji nodded approvingly and spoke up.

"Yeah, I getcha. You better not forget about that explanation, though." Kanji said as Yu smiled and spoke up reassuringly.

"We won't forget, Tatsumi-san." Yu said kindly as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"Yu-kun is correct. We'll explain everything later. You need to take a rest now." Yukiko said as Chie spoke up with a smile.

"And once you're rested up and ready for that explanation, we'll be waiting for you at school." Chie said kindly as Kanji blinked and spoke up.

"School, you say? Sure, if I ever feel like going." Kanji said as Yu smirked and spoke up.

"That's entirely fair, Tatsumi-san. Whenever you're rested up, we'll explain things to you." Yu said as Kanji nodded before Yosuke spoke up.

"I'll take this guy home. If anyone asks, I'll just say I found him somewhere like this." Yosuke said as Yu nodded approvingly before the group dispersed for the evening like that to go to their respective homes, Yu heading back to the Dojima residence while noting that he was able to rescue Kanji, and now all that remained was for the group to await his eventual recovery At the same time, Yu wondered if this was another step the group took towards getting closer to solving the case...

(That evening, in the lower level of the Dojima residence, with Yu, Ryotaro, and Nanako)

Once Yu got back, Ryotaro wasted little time fixing dinner for himself, Nanako, and Yu, which the three sat down to eat together in the living room. While eating, Ryotaro looked at Yu and spoke up.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Remember that Kanji Tatsumi guy I told you about? You know, the one who went nuts on that news special?" Ryotaro said as Yu spoke up.

"I remember. What about him?" Yu said conversationally. Ryotaro smirked and spoke up.

"His family's shop called in to report him missing, but now he's been found. I thought I'd let you know, since you guys go to the same high school." Ryotaro said as Yu nodded and spoke up.

"I see. I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure his mother must be relieved to have him back home where he belongs." Yu said wisely. Ryotaro nodded and spoke up.

"Yeah. You're not wrong." Ryotaro said as the room fell silent to enjoy their food. After a bit, Ryotaro spoke up again after swallowing the bite he was on.

"Oh, and one other thing, Yu. Some people have seen you around that textile shop lately, I hear. It's not the kind of shop students normally visit. Just what kind of business did you have there, if you don't mind me asking?" Ryotaro asked as Yu spoke up after swallowing the bite he was on.

"My friend took me there while we were out walking around the city together." Yu said conversationally. Ryotaro blinked at this and spoke up.

"A friend took you there, you say? Oh, you mean that Amagi girl? That's right, her family's inn buys their stuff wholesale sometimes. Ugh, I'm not sure I buy your story, but fine, I'll trust you. Just don't get yourself in over your head, okay?" Ryotaro asked as Yu nodded his understanding before an uncertain Nanako spoke up for the first time since Yu came home.

"Hm? Are you fighting again?" Nanako asked as Yu and Ryotaro sweatdropped before both of them assured Nanako they weren't fighting and the rest of the meal passed by peacefully...

(At the same time as the conversation at the Dojima residence, in the lower level of the Amagi Inn, with Yukiko)

As Yukiko walked into the inn after leaving Yu and the others, she sighed, getting ready to enjoy a nice long bath in her hotel room. However, her plans quickly hit a snag when she found herself surrounded by a quartet of smirking males, two of which were blondes, one of which was a redhead, and the fourth was a brunette. The redhead spoke up with a sly grin.

"Well, well. What have we here, boys? Looks like we lucked out and caught Amagi-san here while she's tired. This could be a prime opportunity for each of us to try our luck at the Amagi Challenge." The redhead said as Yukiko winced at this and spoke up.

"N-No, thank you. I'm not interested in being with any of you." Yukiko said, trying to stand up for herself, but to her surprise, she found herself being ignored. To her horror, the blonde guys herded her up against a nearby wall so that her back was to the wall. Once that was done, the brunette smirked and gave Yukiko an appraising look before he spoke up.

"My, my. I think I forgot about how beautiful Amagi-san is. Why don't we just share her amongst the four of us? After all, it's not like she could do much to stop all four of us if we work together." The brunette said as Yukiko whimpered fearfully and made to scream, only for the redhead to tie a gag over her mouth as the blondes started tying her up. All Yukiko could do was shudder in horror as the four guys made to carry her off, only for another voice to cut in and speak up in an annoyed tone, prompting Yukiko to look up and breathe a sigh of relief as she spotted a familiar looking strawberry blonde haired guy approaching the group, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he glared at the guys surrounding Yukiko while he spoke.

"EXCUSE YOU!? What the hell is all this supposed to be, then? Since when is it not only proper, but acceptable, for a group of cowardly men like the four of you to gang up on a poor defenseless young lady and try to outnumber her 4 to 1!? I thought your parents taught you the proper respect for women, but given this? I'd say not! Now my question becomes this: Are you friggin' dicks gonna back off of Amagi-san here, or am I gonna have to start kicking some asses and taking some names!?" Gaignun said, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he cracked his knuckles and made to advance towards the guys as the redhead frowned and spoke up.

"And exactly who the fuck are you supposed to be, anyways? Do you fancy yourself to be some kind of knight in shining armor or somethin'? Or were you hoping to get a shot at Amagi-san yourself?" The redhead said as Gaignun huffed and ducked under the punch the redhead threw at him, catching it and pushing the redhead back into the blonde guys, knocking all three away from Yukiko and into the brunette, sending all four to the ground in a tangle of limbs. After getting to their feet, the brunette frowned at Gaignun and spoke up.

"Don't think we're gonna forget this, you bastard! We'll get you back for this eventually!" The brunette vowed as the four guys took off running and swearing revenge. Gaignun briefly considered running after them, but thought better of it and turned his attention towards untying the visibly-traumatized looking Yukiko and removing the gag from her mouth before looking her in the eyes as he spoke up, a look of concern on his face after seeing Yukiko with a terrified expression on her face and moving to try and calm her down somewhat if he could.

"Hey, look at me, Yukiko. Those guys didn't hurt you, did they?" Gaignun asked as Yukiko could only shake her head mutely in the negative, getting a sigh of relief from Gaignun, who briefly wrapped his arms around Yukiko to give her a comforting hug and spoke up.

"That's a relief. I'm sorry you had to go through that, though. Do you want to talk about what just happened at all? Or would you rather have some space by yourself to process things? I'm here for you Yukiko, no matter what." Gaignun said kindly as Yukiko smiled and hugged Gaignun before weakly speaking up.

"Thank you, Gaignun. I was more shocked than anything by all that. Honestly, had you not shown up when you did, I shudder to think what those creeps would've done to me. So I'm truly grateful to you for stepping in right then to save me." Yukiko said as Gaignun smiled and spoke up.

"Of course. We're friends, after all. And that's what friends do in my experience. They have one another's backs no matter what. Are you gonna be all right?" Gaignun asked as Yukiko spoke up with her cheeks subtly turning pink in embarrassment as she spoke.

"Y-Yeah, I think I'll be fine. Would it be too much of an imposition if I asked to hang out with you in your room for a while while I process this? If you want, I can give you my perspective of those events while we're there." Yukiko said as Gaignun smiled kindly at Yukiko and spoke up.

"If that's what you want. I don't mind letting you come hang out with me if that's what you need. I just want to be able to help you not think about that whole sorry mess. If I ever see those guys again, they'll be lucky if I don't kick all four of their perverted asses for trying to prey on you, since that sort of thing is not only the height of cowardice, but also entirely unacceptable." Gaignun said as Yukiko smiled and nodded as she followed Gaignun back to his room, the two having seats across from each other on the two beds in the room as Yukiko spoke up after taking a moment to calm herself down and steel herself for recounting what had happened.

"To make a long story short, I just got home from hanging out from some friends. I was going to head back to my hotel room, have a nice soak in the tub, and get some sleep, but then those guys cornered me and tried to kidnap me. They would've probably succeeded had you not come along when you did, honestly." Yukiko said as Gaignun spoke up after shaking his hand and grumbling something under his breath about cowardly scumbags who have no respect for women, either not hearing or ignoring the amused-sounding yet oddly melodic and adorable giggle that came from Yukiko as he spoke.

"Those fools made the mistake of picking an area close to the kitchen to corner you. And luckily for us both, I happened to be there working on a job with some of the staff. Fortunately, the maids were willing to finish up my work for me when I said it sounded like you were in trouble, otherwise I might not have gotten there in time." Gaignun said as Yukiko smiled shyly and spoke up.

"Well, then it's rather lucky for me that you were nearby, isn't it?" Yukiko said as Gaignun nodded and spoke up.

"Indeed. Fortunately for you, this room has an en-suite bathroom you can use if you want to take that soak you mentioned. And if you want, I can escort you to your room so you can get a change of clothes if you need it." Gaignun said as Yukiko smiled and spoke up.

"Would you? I can handle myself, but I'd rather not risk being alone in case those creeps show up again." Yukiko said as Gaignun nodded and spoke up.

"Of course. I don't mind that at all, Yukiko. And if those jerks do show back up, they'll have to get through me before they lay a finger on you." Gaignun said firmly as Yukiko smiled prettily at Gaignun and spoke up.

"You're just being an absolute hero to me tonight, aren't you? How did I luck out in finding such a good friend as you, Gaignun?" Yukiko asked as Gaignun smiled and spoke up.

"I'd like to think I'm the one who lucked out in making friends with a kindhearted and admirable person like you, Yukiko. Now let's get you those pajamas so you can take that soak you were after, shall we?" Gaignun said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"Sounds good to me, Gaignun." Yukiko said as she and Gaignun went down the hall so Yukiko could pull out a slinky light pink silk spaghetti-strap tank top, black pajama bottoms with red hearts on them, and a matching set of silky dark red lingerie, the latter of which Yukiko tucked into her pajama top as she grabbed her toiletries and followed Gaignun back to his room, where he opened up the bathroom for Yukiko, who darted in and closed the door behind her so she could take her shower.

At that point, Gaignun smirked and went to sit on his bed and watch TV, inwardly cursing the cowards who tried to prey on Yukiko out in his head. After a bit, Gaignun heard his name called out and walked over to the bathroom door and spoke up.

"You called for me, Yukiko?" Gaignun asked as Yukiko spoke up from inside the bathroom.

"Yes, I did. I accidentally left my pajama top on the table by the bathroom door. Can you grab it and hand it to me?" Yukiko asked as Gaignun nodded, lifting up the top and carefully handing it to Yukiko in the bathroom, making sure to not look at anything as he handed her her pajamas and closed the bathroom door, trying not to blush at the brief glimpse he'd unintentionally gotten of Yukiko's towel-clad figure when his eyes had briefly glanced in the direction of the reflection of Yukiko in the bathroom mirror. After a bit, a smiling Yukiko came out and spoke up.

"Thank you. I feel a bit better now that I've had a chance to wash myself. Sorry if I embarrassed you with my request before. I should've brought my clothes in with me." Yukiko said as Gaignun spoke up with a smile on his face as he looked at Yukiko.

"It's fine, Yukiko. I didn't mind. But I do feel the need to apologize, since I happened to glance at one of the mirrors as I turned to leave and accidentally got a glimpse of your figure, even though your towel covered you enough for you to be decent. But I shouldn't have been looking regardless, so I apologize for disrespecting you by looking." Gaignun said as Yukiko giggled and spoke up.

"That's okay, Gaignun. Accidents happen." Yukiko said kindly as she smirked slyly and kept speaking.

"Besides, it's not like I didn't ogle your chest rather shamelessly the day we met, Gaignun. So if anything, it's only fair if you did accidentally get a glimpse of my chest. But I appreciate that you were trying to be respectful of my privacy." Yukiko said as Gaignun blushed in embarrassment and spoke up.

"Yes, well, in my defense? I didn't know you were coming in, or I'd have gotten dressed faster. As it is, I'm glad I at least had my boxers and shorts on when you came in that day, or it might have been even more embarrassing for both of us." Gaignun said as Yukiko nodded and spoke up.

"That's fair. Also, would it be too inappropriate if I asked to spend the night in here with you, so I don't have to be alone?" Yukiko asked as Gaignun smiled and spoke up.

"Not at all, Yukiko. There's two beds in here, after all. Besides, I can understand you not wanting to be alone after what happened earlier. I hope you realize that I will always be here for you no matter what, Yukiko." Gaignun said honestly as Yukiko smiled happily and spoke up, having to briefly turn away so Gaignun wouldn't see the shy sort of blush on her face from Gaignun's kind words before she spoke.

"I'm aware of that. I appreciate that you're such a kind guy, Gaignun. I look forward to getting to know you more while you stay here at the Amagi Inn." Yukiko said as she got up and sat next to Gaignun, surprising him when she gently leaned her head on his shoulder. Gaignun then spoke up as he gently snaked an arm around Yukiko's waist.

"Fair enough. I guess I should feel very lucky to have such a pretty woman leaning on me, shouldn't I?" Gaignun joked as Yukiko pouted and spoke up while half-heartedly swatting at Gaignun's arm, glad that Gaignun had closed his eyes to laugh at his own joke, since it meant that he didn't see how red her face was at that moment from Gaignun calling her pretty as she spoke, pouting slightly at the idea of Gaignun teasing her, even if she found his words to be very flattering.

"HEY! No fair teasing me, Gaignun! But I do appreciate that you think I'm pretty." Yukiko said with a gentle smile as Gaignun nodded and spoke up.

"Sorry. I shouldn't be teasing a lady. But it seems to have at least cheered you up slightly, or am I wrong to say that? If I'm right, then I'll take that as a win that I was able to help you feel a bit better, Yukiko." Gaignun said as he gave Yukiko his best contrite look, making Yukiko giggle despite herself as she spoke up.

"To be fair, just being around you usually does make my day better, Gaignun." Yukiko said as Gaignun smiled and spoke up.

"Good. I'm glad I can make your day better, Yukiko." Gaignun said as Yukiko nodded before shyly speaking up.

"Umm, Gaignun? Would it be too inappropriate if I asked you to lay with me so I can relax in your arms?" Yukiko asked as Gaignun chuckled lightly and spoke up.

"Not at all. The important thing to me is that you're comfortable with it. I'm not trying to do anything you're uncomfortable with or that you don't want to do." Gaignun said as he gently laid back on the bed, Yukiko smiling shyly as she relaxed on Gaignun, her head resting on his chest as Gaignun smiled and put an arm around Yukiko's slender waist before speaking up.

"Better?" Gaignun asked as Yukiko spoke up with an embarrassed look on her face.

"Mmhm. Much better." Yukiko said, getting an agreeable nod from Gaignun as he put on some TV for the two to watch as Yukiko got comfortable on Gaignun while they watched a movie together. Towards the end of said movie, Gaignun went to make a joke about how cliche a certain part of the movie had been, only to stop short when he saw Yukiko peacefully dozing on him, her eyes having drifted shut at some point during the movie.

Naturally, this left Gaignun feeling very conflicted, since part of him wanted to gently move Yukiko to the other bed and tuck her in, and the other part wanted to just pull a blanket over the two of them and let Yukiko rest on him. Eventually, the latter part won out and Gaignun pulled a blanket over the two of them, smiling at Yukiko as he spoke up quietly, careful not to wake her.

"Heh, how interesting. I didn't think you were that tuckered out already, Yukiko. But I'm also not complaining in the slightest about having you in my arms right now like this, since it feels right somehow, even if I can't quite put my finger on exactly why it feels so right. In any case, go ahead and rest now, Yukiko. I've got you, and you're safe with me." Gaignun said gently, laying his head back on the pillow as he dozed off, a wry smile spreading over his face, likely because of the petite female currently resting in his arms.

As he fell asleep, Gaignun internally wondered if it was wrong that he already felt like he could get used to this, since despite himself, there was a part of him that felt like having Yukiko in his arms like she currently was just felt right to him somehow. Regardless, the last thing he thought before sleep claimed him for the night was that he was happy that Yukiko was already not only okay, but also that she was so comfortable with him...

END OF CHAPTER

A/N: And there we go, another chapter done and dusted! Yes, I left it on a sort of cliffhanger this time, but at least I ended it on a Gaignun scene this time! Pretty sure this was the first time he's gotten actual screentime since the back half of the Arc 1 Interlude (which I think was about 4 chapters ago?). No, the scene that happened wasn't really planned to play out this way. But when I realized I wanted it to be a scene where Gaignun helps Yukiko with a rough situation, this came to my mind, and I went with it.

However, this is just the beginning of setting the groundwork, so to speak, for the dynamic between Gaignun and Yukiko. After all, there's still the rest of this Arc and all of Arc 3 to get through (along with the Arc 2 and 3 Interludes) before we get to Arc 4, which will be where a lot more of the larger change-ups to the story become more readily apparent. So be patient while we get through the rest of this current Arc and all of Arc 3 if you're a fan of Gaignun. Also, we got through ALL of Kanji's bathhouse dungeon in this one chapter, so YAY, no more having to look at Kanji's Shadow!

If you can't tell by that remark, Kanji's Shadow was arguably one of my least favorite Shadow concepts, largely for the sheer volume of cringe factor involved with it. Also, his Midnight Channel show (which was ALSO in this chapter) was probably the most cursed one thus far (and probably one of the most cursed Midnight Channel shows in all of Persona 4 Golden), so I'm just as happy to get through it, since I'm pretty sure the rest of the Shadows aren't nearly as cursed as Kanji's Shadow is. Though I might be inclined to say one of the upcoming bosses is far more cursed than Kanji's Shadow. But anyways, enough about that little tangent.

As of the point of typing out this end-of-chapter A/N (which for those curious, and for timelining purposes, it is currently 9:13PM on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 when I type out this end-of-chapter A/N), I've actually posted chapter 1 of the story up on the site, so that implies I have a 16-chapter backlog built up. Thus, at the point of posting this chapter, unless something happened to drain my backlog, I should be typing out chapter 33 while posting this. Pretty wild stuff to think about, yeah? But now let's get to the more 'legalese' esque aspects of this end-of-chapter A/N.

Having said that, let me take this chance to thank anyone who's read this far into the chapter and even this far into Golden Apostle as a whole, as your continued support of the story is greatly appreciated. I appreciate any and all support I can get, as it usually lets me continue to grow as a fanfiction writer. So don't be shy about leaving a review below (or PM me if you prefer that to reviews) with any feedback/constructive criticism/suggestions on this story, as it lets me continue to improve my work, making the story get ever better as a result. Regardless, I welcome hearing from my readers, so don't be shy about reaching out, as I enjoy replying to reviews/PMs! And until the next chapter, sithlorde1988 out!

NOTES

*1* - Before I forget, the way Yu's fusions work is that sometimes he forgets to fuse, and as a result, he ends up with lower-leveled Personas when he summons them back, as was the case with Omoikane, hence his being lower-leveled than he was in earlier chapters. Felt like pointing that out.

*2* - Gdon is definitely one of the cooler Persona designs in Persona 4/Persona 4 Golden. As said in the chapter, it's literally a flaming tigress (though I only figured that out on reading its bio) with a fire mane. I feel like it would make a pretty damn sick tattoo design (assuming one didn't just opt for a certain black-skinned dragon that's rather well-known across Persona 3, 4, and 5 who I won't name here to cover the off-chance it pops up later in this story instead) for those who get tattoos. Either way, if you've never seen Gdon before, just google 'Persona 4 Gdon', and it should be one of the first few image results. Felt like waxing lyrical about it a bit.

INVESTIGATION TEAM LIST, SOCIAL LINKS LISTING, AND ALLY LIST AS OF THE END OF CHAPTER 12

INVESTIGATION TEAM STATS AS OF THE END OF CHAPTER 12

YU - Level: 40 Currently Equipped Persona: Gdon

YOSUKE - Level: 39 Current/Partner Persona: Jiraiya Persona Moveset: Garula (Wind), Power Slash (Physical), Dia (Healing), Sukukaja (Support/Buff), Tentarafoo (Ailment), Dekaja (Support/Debuff), Sonic Punch (Physical), Magaru (Wind)

CHIE - Level: 39 Current/Partner Persona: Tomoe Persona Moveset: Black Spot (Physical), Auto-Tarukaja (Passive), Bufu (Ice), Gale Slash (Physical), Mabufu (Ice), Apt Pupil (Passive), Counter (Passive), Assault Dive (Physical)

YUKIKO - Level: 38 Current/Partner Persona: Konohana Sakuya Persona Moveset: Agi (Fire), Diarama (Healing), Me Patra (Healing), Maragi (Fire), Media (Healing), Agilao (Fire), Recarm (Healing), Fire Break (Support/Break)

SOCIAL LINK RANK LIST AS OF THE END OF CHAPTER 12

FOOL (Investigation Team) - Rank 3

MAGICIAN (Yosuke) - Rank 5

PRIESTESS (Yukiko) - Rank 1

EMPRESS (Margaret) - Rank 1

HIEROPHANT (Ryotaro) - Rank 1

CHARIOT (Chie) - Rank 3

JUSTICE (Nanako) - Rank 2

HERMIT (Fox) - Rank 2

STRENGTH (Daisuke and Kou/Fellow Athletes) - Rank 3

SUN (Ayane) - Rank 2

JESTER (Adachi) - Rank 1

AEON (Marie) - Rank 2

ALLY LIST: Igor, Margaret, Ryotaro, Nanako, Teddie, Marie, Adachi, Fox, Kanji