#i love that nanako was the one that responded to yosuke with like “oh like homework?” and yosuke gently plays along

[daily-hanamura]

[m0e-ru]

HI dumb silly liveblog im putting into tumblr post format from a year ago. P4GA vol 4 drama cd "Boo ~ I bear a grudge on you ~" featuring !!! the investigation team +marie horror summer school trip adventures. dojima and adachi at the pub. naoto getting scared to death again.

i am not fluent in JP and i just did this for fun the best i can i hope you can comprehend it at least. here's where i listened to it !!! please listen to it it has all the audio cues and context and it's part of the experience !! it's really fun

September 27, 2021

10:17 PM

synopsis: the IT is trying out summer activities with marie :)

the track: /kids screaming yelling/ /adachi at the pub/ /kids screaming and yelling/

10:18 PM

i mean it also did say 'a test of courage' so i get why'd they be scaring each other but why does golden always love to pick on naoto

10:21 PM

narukami going 'yosuke....goochab (good job)' was cute actually

10:30 PM

from what i can comprehend so far, the IT's on summer break and want more stuff to do and decide to have this 'test of courage' by hanging around yasogami in the middle of the night with marie

they all pull straws and walk around in pairs depending who they pull and theyre narukami and marie, yosuke and rise, kanji and yukiko, then teddie and chie

10:30 PM

i dont wanna rewind rn but yosukes like 'haha im with risette im gonna scare her in revenge (of something, i couldnt catch it)' but shes being a girlboss and sharing her own horror story of something that happened in a film set and yosuke's like '(we are walking in the dark hallways of this school) ths is fine im a brave boy totally haha'

10:32 PM

their segment ended off with 'aww senpai but it's toootally real !!' and wind wooshing and thumping noises scare yosuke and rise's just 'oh thats just the windows. haha hanamura-senpai's a scaredy cat' and all he could do was laugh nervously

10:32 PM

oh tebbi footsteps

10:34 PM

oh he uses watashi?my little mascot bear i never noticed from all the third person or this is a golden thing

10:36 PM

i... couldnt understand what happened. teddie's paired with chie but he was busy scaring each other like 'wh...what if this happens' and chie's like 'omgg!!!stop!!!!' then something scared the two but all i could understand were zipper sounds and punching

10:53 PM

okok so it's dojima and adachi at the pub with dojima already a bit woozy and adachi sober for the sake of keeping his boss in check and we get some mamasan interaction!! (mama-san is what you call the lady bartender at the pub)

anywho, dojima's complaining about naoto being 'prodigy detective' and 'the kubo kid' and almost smacking the soul out of adachi's body while adachi responds like a good subordinate listening to his boss' drunken complaining

it's concerning to know that he made his own cup (mug?) overflow with adachi's concerning 'dojimasan--stop, stop!' and even reminding him about...nanako

keeping him together with the thought of his daughter and hes like 'nanako....' while adachi gets a call about how dojima's doing and while acting in disbelief that his boss going off again when accused and he gets hung up on and he just finds dojima asleep and. yeah.

look, i also forget adachi and dojima's dynamic whether adachi's genuine or not, dojima is right to be grateful for his company woww a pair of besties if i see one

10:54 PM

im only halfway through this disc and i havent even heard marie for the second time but i know she screams

10:55 PM

omg it's kanji and yukiko ohhh she sounds so excited like 'ohh creepy dark hallways this is so fun dont u think so my dear kouhai'

10:55 PM

'whether it'd be a monster or a Shadow i'll fight it' hi kanji

11:00 PM

ohh my vocab is failing me but some lovey dovey dialogue is going down and kanji's misunderstanding it but yukiko's like 'i love.,.,.,.,scary things (I THINK)'

they enter a room and yukiko's like 🗿 and kanji's like 'senpai¿?' and yukiko's like 'ok yeah whatever——OH PIANO' and she plays a few keys sounding creepy something something midnight something something

kanji keeps talking and yukiko just slams on the piano and goes 'kanji.....kanji....!' and she laughs over some pun i couldnt understand

11:04 PM

ok yukiko keeps laughing over the piano and banging on the keys and kanji's 'what if satonaka senpai and the others hear this' and yukiko goes all monotone again like 'you hear that' it;s footsteps

and she slides open the door and kanji's like 'wtf amagi senpai' and she sprints out and he chases after her 'SENPAI????'

11:06 PM

omg,.,.., mari,.,...,.,.,.,narukami asks 'are you scared?' and she's like 'whats a scared?' like her usual genuine unknowingness

11:09 PM

ohh thats so cute narukami's like 'watch this' and in yosuke and rise pov does yosuke get a call from him and rise's like 'yusenpai???!!!' as usual but all he does is breathe into the phone all creepily and while theyre distracted marie sneaks up on them and goes 'boo' and the two lose their minds screaming jskdfasfgwyefgasf

11:10 PM

narukami: so how was it, marie?

marie: it was...fun

narukami: right?

yosuke: WHAT DO YOU MEAN "RIGHT"???

11:11 PM

SHE WANTS TO DO IT AGAIN OOOOHH.,..,.,.,.,MARI HORROR GIRL SUMMER

11:16 PM

from what i can understand it's like chie hid into teddie's costume along with him and hes just having a hard time moving around. hes the only one who can see though and these two are a bunch of scaredy cats (bears) where teddie's like 'theres a-a-a g-g-g-guy'

11:19 PM

before marie finishes her creepy chant, chie loses it and starts kicking and punching inside the costume screaming, but once she unzips it shes like 'YOU GUYS?????'

then narukami's like 'do you hear the other disembodied voice next to you' and teddie's just Dead and while chie's apologizing hes like 'ahh..sharing chie-chan's warmth was such an experience.,.,. i thought i could see the light (from almost dying??????)'

11:22 PM

it's kanji trying to look for yukiko like 'amagi senpaaaaai where are youuuuuu' and marie tries to scare him and he's like 'oaugh. u n senpai tryin to scare me?' and marie's like 'aw geez, old timer' 'im NOT old'

11:22 PM

seven more minutes to this

11:28 PM

kanji goes 'so have you seen amagi senpai?' and narukami immediately tells everyone else 'new goal (idk what the initial one was) let's look for amagi' and oHHHH marie

shes running with the IT and shes like 'im making a memory...my heart feels....' AND THE V ROOM MUSIC BOX STARTS PLAYING AND SHE STARTS MAKING A POEM ON THE SPOT OHHH,.,.,I LOVE HERSO MUCHH

something something kami, shinigami, any god out there, heart something something "forever dreamer" AAAUAUGHGHGHGHG....

and narukami's talking about yukiko totally unrelated to marie, to which she snaps back into reality tsundere screaming 'NOOO NAAHH I WASNT WRITING ANYTHING NOO STUPIDIDIOTIHATEYOU'

11:32 PM

ohh wait they split up lmao so marie's alone and she just heard narukami in her head. anyway theres no one around and she heard something and shes like 'ANYONE?? DOES ANYONE HEAR ME??' and it cuts to narukami, who kanji followed, finding yukiko and hearing marie yelling

theres a weak exhale, as if the person's dead, and kanji's like 'naoto¿??'

11:35 PM

back to adachi in the pub getting a call about naoto and hes like 'yeah yeah yup yup i got it' ending the call he does his usual 'everything's such a pain' then dojima's heard snoring. adachi asks for beer and ponzu and mamasan talks up and goes 'oh it's all a pain, you say. but it's not like you hate it all either, do you?' FUCK OFF

11:38 PM

golden loves bullying naoto huh like the golden anime christmas special wasnt enough

11:43 PM

anyway, new scene where the IT apologize to naoto and they go on a fit with stuff like 'why are you here??? you couldve damaged schoool property????youre all idiots!!!' and something about being at yasogami because of uhh,., adachi?

WAIT SO 'shin-chan' FROM THE FIRST CALL WAS REAL??? SHIROGANEKUN.,.,.,,.,.,.brb strangling adachi for a bit

then a loony cartoon sfx and we're into naoto's pov flashback where they kept running into the IT and accidentally scaring each other starting from yukiko banging on the piano and laughing, being the first one to scare chie and teddie,

and ultimately running away to be where marie is after they split up to find yukiko. from how naoto perceived it, she recites her poem rather,.,.,.,ghoulishly and finally they drop dead on the spot, which was the thump marie heard

11:46 PM

loony cartoon sfx plays again and the flashback is over and rise's like 'aww but all that matters is that youre fine!' and naoto's still in a daze back to yelling 'NO, SCHOOL IS A PLACE TO STUDY AND YOURE ALL MORONS' and the fun time montage plays and fin

11:51 PM

ok thats it for my sucky tl liveblog oh wait heres the thing https://youtu.be/PasKTZtKx

[skye-maxwell]

Snack Break

Persona 4 | Souyo | Rated T

---

Noting that it had gotten dark since they had first started playing their video game, Souji paused the game and turned to Yosuke, who was sitting on the floor beside him (pretty much glued to his side, like usual). 

“Do you want some more snacks?” Souji asked. 

Yosuke just stared back, oddly silent for a moment.

Then he slowly started leaning toward Souji’s face, and Souji suddenly had no idea what was happening. 

He wasn’t sure if he leaned in too, or if that was all Yosuke (though he was halfway sure he did tilt his head just the tiniest bit, on reflex), but then Yosuke was closing his eyes and kissing his lips, gently, almost reverently. 

Souji didn’t dare move, didn’t close his eyes, didn’t breathe, just allowing Yosuke to do… whatever he was doing. 

It ended soon enough, with Yosuke pulling back and the dreamy look in his eyes instantly dissolving into pure fear. 

For some reason, Souji felt like he could cry. 

Yosuke’s gaze stayed fixed on his face, searching for something as his gaping mouth tried and failed to form words. 

Souji was confused more than anything, and he could feel the tension growing throughout his body, from his rigid posture to the small, tight frown on his face. 

Yosuke seemed to notice these things too, scanning Souji so quickly that Souji couldn’t even keep up, and then Yosuke was backing away and rising to his feet. He scooped up his coat and phone so fast it was like he had rehearsed the movements (while Souji was still paralyzed, drowning in sea of a thousand tangled thoughts), and without looking at Souji, he mumbled, “I should go,” before making a hasty escape through Souji’s bedroom door. 

Go? Souji finally thought, a few words of clarity surfacing in his brain. But you were supposed to sleep over… 

As he heard Yosuke’s footfalls descending the stairs, he noticed Yosuke’s headphones lying on the floor, forgotten. 

“Yosuke…” Souji whispered somberly to the now-empty room.

His best friend had left a very important part of himself behind.  

That wouldn’t do. 

As Souji rushed down the stairs and into the living room, Nanako nearly ran into him, looking distressed. 

“Big Bro!” she cried, latching onto the hem of his shirt. “Is something wrong with Yosuke? He just ran out the door, and he looked really sad!”

Oh no, Yosuke, Souji thought, his muddy thoughts steadily becoming clearer. He’s sad. I made him sad. He’s leaving. I don’t want him to be sad. I don’t want him to leave.

“I’ll check on him. You stay here. I’ll be back,” Souji said, patting her head and then taking off toward the door. 

“Be safe, Big Bro! I’ll wait for you here!” Nanako called after him as he went through the door and shut it behind himself. 

Yosuke was already disappearing down the sidewalk, shakily walking beside his bike instead of riding it. 

Souji jogged after him, noticing Yosuke’s left shoe was untied and simultaneously realizing that he’d forgotten to slip his own shoes on as his feet connected with the cool pavement. 

“Yosuke!” he called, stopping under a street light and waiting for Yosuke to turn around. 

He was surprised when Yosuke tensed at hearing his voice and then just started walking faster. 

“Yosuke?” Souji tried again, but when Yosuke refused to slow down or acknowledge him, Souji had to start jogging again. 

Soon he was matching Yosuke’s pace, walking on the other side of his bike, but Yosuke wouldn’t look at him, quickly turning his head toward the street and using the sleeve of his jacket to swipe at his eyes. 

I don’t want him to be sad. I don’t want him to leave.

“Don’t go,” Souji requested, placing a hand on top of the seat of the bike to stop it from moving forward. 

“And why shouldn’t I?!” Yosuke asked, voice cracking as he insistently pushed the bike forward by the handlebars, effectively moving it out from under Souji’s grasp. 

“Because you left your headphones.”

Yosuke halted to shoot a scathing look of disbelief at Souji. 

“That’s why I shouldn’t leave?” he asked. “Just… let me go, man.”

“No,” Souji responded bluntly, swinging a leg over the bike and plopping his ass right down on the seat. 

When Yosuke started to protest, Souji put down the kickstand and planted both of his feet on the sidewalk. 

“Are you seriously hijacking my bike right now?!” Yosuke shrieked, not letting go of the handlebars and staring Souji down. 

“Can’t we just… go back and talk about this?”

“No, we can’t!”

“Why not?” 

“There’s nothing to talk about! Besides, you already said enough…”

Once again, Souji was confused. 

“But I barely said anything.” 

“You didn’t say anything! But haven’t you ever heard of ‘actions speak louder than words’? The way you looked at me, like I’d grown a second fucking head… Will you just get off my bike?!” 

“Do it again!” Souji demanded out of nowhere, finally letting his impulses overpower his thoughts. 

“Do what?!”

“If actions speak louder than words, then kiss me again! I’m listening this time! I’m… I’m ready this time.”

Souji tried not to wither under Yosuke’s hard stare, standing his ground as Yosuke seemed to go through several flavors of internal conflict. 

Yosuke finally shook his head, minutely. “I shouldn’t have… the first time…”

“Fine. I’ll do it,” Souji resolved, reaching up to tug on the open flap of Yosuke’s jacket, firmly enough to bring Yosuke’s face closer to his, but not so much that Yosuke couldn’t pull away if he truly wanted to.

Yosuke didn’t pull away. 

Instead, he just watched Souji, waiting for his next move. 

Souji slowly leaned in closer, and while it didn’t appear that Yosuke leaned in to meet him, he definitely tilted his head to accommodate the kiss… probably on reflex. 

Thankfully, mercifully, beautifully, Yosuke was a much more reactive person than Souji. 

As soon as their mouths met, a thin, short whine came from the back of his throat, and his attempt to swallow the noise down only pushed his mouth more firmly into Souji’s. 

Their lips separated with a light smack, and then Yosuke inhaled a big gulp of air, holding it for a second as he stared at Souji’s mouth. 

“Partner…” he exhaled, and then he asked vaguely, “This… is okay? You’re okay with… this?” 

Souji nodded, not even bothering to smile since the smile blossoming on Yosuke’s face was already blinding enough for the both of them. 

“I, um, guess I read things wrong back there,” Yosuke laughed bashfully. “I’m really sorry, Partner.” 

“And I read things too slowly,” Souji said, shaking his head. “It’s okay.” 

“It’s okay,” Yosuke repeated, eyes shining, and then he nodded as if to confirm the words one more time. “It’s okay!” he chuckled happily, before letting go of the handlebars to grab Souji’s face to pull him in for another kiss. 

Souji quickly had to brace himself against the pavement again (Yosuke had done such a good job at sweeping Souji off his feet that Souji had forgotten to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground), and he grabbed the handlebars just as Yosuke’s lips collided with his, with a confidence this time that Souji already found irresistible. 

Finally, Souji’s thoughts were completely clear.

I don’t want him to be sad. I don’t want him to leave.

I want to make him happy. I want him to stay with me. 

I love him.

When Yosuke released him, Souji abruptly turned Yosuke’s bike around. 

“Let’s go back now?” he asked, looking back at Yosuke. 

“I mean, I kinda have to go back, don’t I?” Yosuke said, ruffling the back of Souji’s hair. “I did leave my headphones, after all.” 

Souji grinned as he smoothed his hair back down. “Would you like to ride on the back of my bike?” 

Flustered and blushing, Yosuke yelled, “Get the hell off my bike!” 

[dumbassdisaster]

Adachi for the character ask game! Lol

give me a character and I’ll say some stuff about them

ANON WHY djshflkjshdf I started laughing so hard when I saw this notification, followed immediately by a whine of despair bc OH GOD THE 5 GOOD QUALITIES

answers under read more

do I like them:

I did at first, and then I figured out he was the killer, and I got really sad, and now I’m just angry and want Yu to punch him <3

HOWEVER, I really love him as a villain. I think he’s incredibly realistic

5 good qualities:

he’s willing to help out the IT after he goes to jail. he gives them the hint about Izanami, comes back for p4au... thanks, Adachi, you didn’t have to do all that

walks around with that haircut and does not give a shit

doesn’t shoot Yu when they’re in the TV together (he gives me the impression that he wouldn’t be able to kill someone in person. I want to be clear, though, that that’s not a compliment)

i don’t know??????????

man loves his cabbages

3 bad qualities:

“you’re a girl who rejected me, so you deserve to die.” does this twice. and saki was a HIGH SCHOOLER. he’s 27.

allows Namatame to do his dirty work for him. he claims he’s BORED, but can’t bother to kill his victims himself?? he doesn’t even have to do it in person, he just has to push them into the TV!! instead, he manipulates Namatame into believing he’s helping these poor people when he’s actually putting them in danger

convinces the Dojimas that he’s trustworthy and then is the reason why Nanako almost dies. and Yu still wants to see the best in him, tries to reason with him before they go into his dungeon. god. fuck you, Adachi

favourite episode/etc: social link rank:

I LOVE when the Jester arcana shatters and changes to Hunger, I lost my MIND when I first saw it. started screaming at my tv and everything, it’s such a cool effect. also, the entire scene with Yu and Adachi talking in the TV one on one is PHENOMENAL. the dialogue options Yu gets as he tries to see if he ever knew Adachi at all are heartbreaking… the CAMERA ANGLES add so much tension and do a fantastic job of making everything feel surreal and off-putting…. and the narrative surrounding the scene, too, with Yu sneaking out to get there and Yosuke catching him and asking if he could trust the team more…. bro, I have emotions

otp:

none! I can’t even jokingly say I pair him with rotting in prison, or dying, bc he doesn’t care!!! he just doesn’t care!!!!!

brotp:

there’s a lot to be said about Dojima consistently visiting Adachi. Dojima has a hard time letting people go. Adachi was his partner, Dojima trusted him, and even though Adachi betrayed that trust (almost getting Nanako killed in the process), Dojima still feels a connection with him. which isn’t healthy, since Adachi isn’t apologetic. he may be living by “the rules,” now, and he may have helped out a few times, but. he’s not apologetic about the murders

ot3:

none

notp:

there are so many gross ships that are popular with Adachi and I hate all of them

best quote:

OKAY, it’s when he’s bringing Dojima home drunk, and Dojima trips coming into the house and is like “who put a step there!?!” and Adachi responds, “that’d be the carpenters, sir!” with his dumb smiling portrait. that makes me laugh EVERY TIME, the delivery is so good

head canon:

I can’t think of one, so I’m going to use this space to say that Chie should get to galaxy punt him out of existence. thank you and good day

[chroniccombustion]

Phantom Limbs - pt. 2

From “And a Week is All I Need (To Fall in Love With You)“, part of @souyoweek2020​

Genre: supernatural, ghosts and hauntings, bittersweet pre-romance, M/M Rated: T Characters: Hanamura Yosuke, Souji Seta (Yu Narukami), memories of Nanako Warnings: implied/referenced past suicide in pt. 2 Status: drabble collection, incomplete

<- previous chapter | next chapter -> (unavailable)

(prompts have been done out of order from here on out; previous chapter was day 4)

Ogaki “Granny” Kaede is a reference to Granny Okagi from ‘My Neighbor Totoro,’ with her given name taken from Priestess Kaede from Inuyasha~

Day 4 6: Scent or Stormy

After the ghostly stranger vanishes, Yosuke only hangs around long enough to change his clothes and throw his pajamas into a sling bag with his wallet, charger, and phone, before grabbing his keys and bolting out the door. There is no way he's sleeping in that apartment tonight.

Yosuke stays in a cheap hotel down the street.

After the ghostly stranger vanishes, Yosuke only hangs around long enough to change his clothes and throw his pajamas into a sling bag with his wallet, charger, and phone, before grabbing his keys and bolting out the door. There is no way he's sleeping in that apartment tonight.

He pauses just inside the front door of the apartment building to do a quick search on his phone for the nearest affordable place to stay; luckily there's one not too far from where he is. He doesn't even bother trying to call a cab, he just sprints on out into the rain and books it down the sidewalk like he's being pursued. Hell, for all he knows, he might be. He gets one heck of an odd (albeit sympathetic) look from the lady behind the check-in desk, and while under normal circumstances he might feel self-conscious, right now he honestly couldn't care less about the way her brow quirks at his disheveled, drowned-rat aesthetic. He simply slaps his card down on the counter with a wet and shaking hand, then thanks her as she hands him his key and points him up the stairs.

Yosuke climbs into the hottest shower he's ever taken and stares at the wall in shock until his skin turns pink.

---

The next morning dawns bright and misty, with the sun peaking through the gloom and chasing away all that's left of the rain from before. It's at least something pretty to look at after hardly sleeping for the scant remainder of the night, he tells himself as he's gathering his clothes back up from where he'd hung them to dry in the bathroom. He's not quite sure he really wants to go back home at this point, but if he doesn't vacate the hotel room pretty soon they'll charge him for another night, and if that's going to happen then he'd need to go back anyway to pack an actual away bag. So, for now at least, he's going to try and brave the apartment while he has as much daylight as he can possibly get – and save another hit to his wallet if he can.

He trudges back to the apartment building and takes his sweet, sweet time getting up to his floor, dragging his feet in the stairwell to the point of almost tripping over them. It's as he's hesitating near his door, key in the lock but unturned, that he hears a voice behind him.

“Oh! Well hello there, dear, I don't believe we've met yet.”

Yosuke looks up to see an elderly woman in a periwinkle dress, grey hair pulled back into a tight bun and held in place by a wide white bandana. Her back is hunched slightly with age, and while her face is heavily wrinkled and sports a large mole just where her left eyebrow starts, her eyes are sharp and kindly – as is the warm smile stretching across her features. Near her feet are an array of plastic grocery bags; in her hand is a set of keys, no doubt for the door to the apartment directly to Yosuke's left, which means she is likely his neighbor. He blinks at her for a moment, exhausted and bedraggled in more ways than one, but finds that no, he still doesn't recognize her. (Then again, he hasn't really met too many of his neighbors – he's been too busy trying to finish settling in.)

He swallows to unstick his weary tongue from the roof of his mouth. “N...no, we haven't,” he manages, though it's rough and crackly and very much not the kind of first impression he was hoping to make. He clears his throat to try and force himself into some semblance of being human again, rolling his shoulders to try and stand a little straighter. “Hanamura Yosuke,” he introduces, “I just moved in about three weeks ago.”

The old woman smiles a little wider. “Such a polite young man,” she says approvingly. “Ogaki Kaede – but call me 'Granny,' won't you?” She chuckles. “Nearly everyone does. I don't think I'd even remember to respond to my actual name anymore, if someone were to use it.”

Dumbly, Yosuke just nods; he's far too tired and far too rattled still from last night to properly interact with other human beings. As he's standing there, staring blankly at his neighbor while continuing to not unlock his apartment, 'Granny' unlocks her own. With a low grunt she tucks her keys into the pocket of her dress and slowly bends down to gather up her shopping bags.

It's as perfect an excuse to continue stalling as any, and it's also a way to make a better first impression, so Yosuke takes two long steps closer and hovers near the old woman's side. “Can I help?” he asks quietly, throat still a little rough from dashing through the rain to the hotel.

Granny gives him another warm smile. “Well thank you, that'd be lovely.” She takes a step out of his way and Yosuke carefully grabs what bags he can carry; he loops the handles of ones that he can't over his forearms.

“Come in, come in,” she says as she pauses near the door to toe off her shoes before stepping aside to let Yosuke in. “Would you like to stay for some tea, dear? You helped me get the bags in, it's the least I can do.”

“Uhhh,” he drawls, brain lagging. On the one hand he doesn't know how much energy he has left to spend on polite small talk with his neighbor; on the other, even if she winds up trapping him there for a couple of hours showing him pictures of her grandkids or whatever, then it's a few hours more that he doesn't have to constantly feel like looking over his shoulder in his own home. Though he admits that part might be a double-edged sword, considering he would rather brave his apartment while it's still daylight, rather than lose precious hours of sun.

He's still trying to come up with an answer when Granny looks up at him with a raised brow, eyes knowing, and says, “It's quite alright, dear, I'm not going to be offended if you say no.” She chuckles and takes the bags from Yosuke's hands. “I will say, though,” she says as she begins tottering over to the little kitchen space identical to his own, just set against the opposite wall; “...you didn't seem in too much of a hurry to get back home.” Wrinkled hands set the bags down on the counter and she gives him another look with eyes that know far too much. “Could almost say you looked like you'd seen a ghost.”

Yosuke's head snaps up, amber eyes going wide as his heart doubles its beating for a split second. “Wha—but—huh?” Several sounds try to make their way out of his face at once, none of them succeeding. It's such a specific thing to say, and yes, it's a figure of speech, so it's not like she'd straight up said anything direct, but of all the figures of speech to use here, and the glint in her eyes. Yosuke closes his gaping mouth so quickly his teeth click together, and all the while, Granny's shoulders are shaking with silent laughter.

“I thought as much,” she says, taking the tea kettle down from the cabinet above her head. She turns on the faucet and starts filling the kettle up with water. “When you live in one place long enough you start to become familiar with the patterns of the building.” She taps at her temple, smirking a bit. “Not just the people, those can change over time – someone has a baby, someone gets divorced, things like that – but the building? No, the building and its rooms are quite set in their routines.”

Yosuke just kind of stands there, staring at her as his brain tries to play catch up while she putters about putting her groceries away and a faint string of steam begins to drift from the kettle. Eventually Granny just huffs in amusement and, shutting the cupboard door on the last of her things, she shuffles back over and gently puts a hand on Yosuke's arm. “You've seen him, haven't you, dear? The boy at the window?”

Yosuke swallows hard, nodding slowly.

She gives him a nod in return. “Why don't you come and sit down?” she says softly, patting his arm. He finally slips off his shoes and she leads him further into the living room over to the couch. The kettle whistles in the kitchen.

“I'm sorry,” Yosuke whispers, still trying for normalcy as his neighbor turns around to heed the call of the kettle. “I... I don't mean to impose...”

But Granny just waves her hand dismissively and shuts off the stove. “Shush, you're not imposing on anyone.” A few moments pass and she shuffles back over with a little tray, setting it down  on the low table she'd seated her guest at. She sits opposite him and busies herself with the teapot and cups. “You're not the first to see him,” she says after a short silence; her smile holds a hint of sadness as she looks back up at him. “My grandson Kanta lived there for a bit while he was in college. He moved out only a month or so before you moved in, actually.” She points over to a few framed photos on the wall behind the small couch at Yosuke's back, one of which is of Granny and a lanky young man with short, short black hair that Yosuke can only assume is Kanta. Granny chuckles warmly, but her eyes hold that same odd melancholy. “Every time there was a storm during finals week, Kan-chan would come over here and pull his all-nighters at my place; even slept on the couch. He said it felt like he was intruding on something private whenever it rained.”

Granny pauses in her talking to take a long drink of her tea. In the quiet, Yosuke holds his own cup with both hands, staring down into the steaming liquid in thought, and letting the warmth of the porcelain ground him as it seeps into the palms of his hands. He pulls in a slow, deep breath as Granny's cup makes contact with the surface of the table once again.

“...What happened in the apartment?” he asks her quietly. He can feel his exhaustion from the night before still lingering in his bones. The real problem, though, isn't just the fear he'd felt, the lack of sleep, the adrenaline that had kept him going as he'd sprinted though the rain – it's the last few seconds of the stranger's existence in Yosuke's living room that's been playing on loop through his head like a damaged cassette tape. He's never seen anyone with an expression so helplessly lost, so utterly afraid and confused, since his crush back in high school had died. Yosuke remembers seeing the way her little brother's face had twisted at the funeral – just for a moment, when he thought that no one else was looking – and the image has been burned into a sad, hollow place inside Yosuke's his mind ever since. He'd hoped he'd never have to see anything as devoid of hope ever again.

But then he had, and it's left him cold in a way that nothing seems to help – not the burning shower in the hotel, nor the tea stinging his hands through the sides of the cup.

On the other side of the table, Granny hums. “Well,” she starts, drawing out the sound as if she's thinking. “I don't really know the whole of it, but before Kan-chan came to live next door there was another boy named... Oh, what was it.” She puts a knuckle to her lips for a moment, muttering to herself as she tries to recall the name. “Seta, I believe it was,” she finally says; “Wonderfully kind young man, said he was getting ready to start college in the fall.” Her frown deepens. “He was always alone, though; I think the only time I ever saw anyone next door besides him was the day he arrived, and even then it just looked like a pair of hired movers.”

Granny sighs from one side of her mouth, an odd, unrecognizable emotion coming to rest in the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. She takes another long, deliberate drink of her tea. When she sets it down again, there is a look of grief and deep regret set into the lines of her face, and her lips press into a harsh, thin line as her eyes begin to mist over. With painful slowness she turns to stare over at her own sliding glass door.

“...They found his body on the sidewalk not even a year after he moved in,” she whispers. “A suicide, they labeled it; said he must have jumped from the balcony somewhere around 3:00, 3:30 in the morning.”

Her shoulders slump. “It was storming so badly that no one even heard him land...”

---

Yosuke winds up staying with Granny until late afternoon, unable to leave a kindly old woman alone with her sorrowful memories after that. He does eventually wander back to his own apartment, the shadows having just begun to shift as he leaves, but this time there is no fear, no panic or racing heartbeat. Instead, there is only a quiet kind of melancholy that makes him drag his feet and lean heavily against the front door as he closes it behind him. He stares unseeing into the slowly-darkening interior of his home and lets out a long, quiet lungful of breath through his nose.

“...Are you here?” he calls softly into the silence of the room.

The silence does not answer.

It doesn't answer later that night, either, as Yosuke sits on the carpet and watches the cloudless, moonlit night outside the glass of his sliding door. Nor does it answer the next night, or the next one, or even the next. It continues not to answer for a week's worth of setting suns as they bring nothing but clear and storm-less skies.

[individuationfic]

Seeking to Seize Chapter 6

AO3

Yosuke groans, laying his forehead on his desk in resignation. “How are exams already so close?”

Beside him, Yukiko snorts. Chie turns sideways in her seat and, catching the movement out of the corner of his eye, Yu does the same. Of course Yu and Yukiko are unbothered by the prospect of exams. They both have stellar grades.

Wait.

“Yukiko, you gotta help me study!” He knows he probably sounds desperate, but he doesn’t care. If he doesn’t do well on his exams, his parents will actually kill him.

Yukiko gives him an apologetic looks. “Sorry, but Chie and I already have plans today. I’ll help you another time.”

Yu shoots Chie a knowing look and she turns red. Before he can ask what that’s about, Yu signs, ‘I’ll study with you. My uncle will be home late, so we can use the living room.’

Relief washes over him. He might actually cry. “I owe you my entire life,” he says. “Seriously. I’m gonna get you a lifetime discount at Junes.”

Yu smiles. ‘I think Nanako will like that more than me.’

Yosuke chuckles. “You’re probably right. I’ll think of something else then.”

Next to him, Yukiko gracefully rises from her seat and smooths her skirt down with her hands. “Ready to go, Chie?”

“Yeah.” Is it Yosuke’s imagination, or does Chie sound a little nervous? Yu gives her a thumbs up as she stands. “We’ll see you guys on Monday!”

Yukiko agrees to hold a table for them while Chie orders. Chie finds herself not particularly hungry for once, as her stomach is too busy turning somersaults to worry about food. Can I really do this?

You will, says Tomoe from within her, startling her a bit. Even with Yu’s warning, she’s not quite used to having another voice in her head. Plus, Tomoe’s generally pretty quiet, so when she does speak up, it’s a weird experience.

Thankfully, the Aiya employees seem impervious to any kind of emotion, so no one remarks on Chie’s jumpiness. Chie is able to place her and Yukiko’s orders and joins Yukiko at their table.

“So,” Yukiko says when Chie settles into her seat, “what did you want to talk about?”

Any words Chie has promptly leave her and her head fills with white noise. Her throat tightens up and her eyes start burning. Desperate, she reaches out. Tomoe, help me.

Then, suddenly, it’s like she’s floating, seeing everything in the restaurant from above. I will speak with her while you collect yourself, says Tomoe. I will not say anything that is yours alone. Let me know when you are ready to return.

Thank you.

Yukiko knows something has changed immediately. Chie’s spine straightens and her chin lifts, transforming a girl who has been nervous and fidgety all day into a confident and commanding woman. “Amagi Yukiko,” she says, her voice not quite her own, “Chie needs a moment to compose herself, so you will be speaking with me in the interim.”

“You’re her Persona,” Yukiko breathes, realization dawning over her. Chie’s body nods. “Wait, may I ask your name?”

The Persona makes a pleased, rumbling sound. “You’re very polite. I have been called by many names over the years, and I will be called many more, but, for the moment, I am Tomoe.”

“And you’re part of Chie, right?”

Tomoe nods. “That is correct. I was born from her thoughts. I am her subconscious taken form. I know what she knows and what she has forgotten. I feel everything she feels—every emotion, every sensation, every thought. I am Chie, and Chie is me.”

“Were you her Shadow, too? Like Konohana Sakuya was mine?”

“Yes. I achieved my current form after Chie accepted the aspects of herself she does not like.”

The blank-faced waitress delivers their steak bowls and wanders off. Yukiko says, “Shouldn’t you let Chie eat?”

“Chie will come back when she is ready. Also, she will be able to taste anything I eat like this.” Tomoe takes a bite. “Oh, this is delightful. No wonder Chie likes it so.” Her eyes, a mix of Chie’s brown and a flash of gold, look up. “You are handling this encounter very well, Amagi Yukiko. Not many in your position could remain so calm.”

Yukiko swallows her mouthful of steak before she replies. “Chie is very strong-willed, so either she voluntarily let you talk to me or you overpowered her. In the first case, I have nothing to fear from you, because Chie would take back over before she let you hurt me. In the second case, causing a scene would do more harm than good.”

Tomoe looks like she approves. “Chie is ready to come back,” she says, “but I have one more thing to tell you. I implore you to be kind to Chie after she says what she has to say. Her greatest fear at the moment is cruelty. If your response is unnecessarily hurtful, I will do everything in my power to ensure you never come near her again.”

Ice floods Yukiko’s veins. She’s not entirely sure it’s just fear, since Tomoe specializes in ice-based magic, but before she can comment on it Tomoe bleeds back into Chie. She offers Yukiko a bashful smile. “Sorry about that,” she says, her voice back to normal. “I just needed to calm down.” She looks down at her bowl and scowls. “For someone who talks so much, tomoe sure ate a lot. She barely left me any steak!”

“Couldn’t you taste it?” Yukiko asks.

“Yeah, but it’s not the same as eating it myself.” She sounds mournful, and Yukiko has to stifle one of her ugly snorts. Chie shovels the last few mouthfuls of steak into her mouth, swallows, and continues, “So, about what I wanted to talk about…”

Yukiko waits for Chie to continue, and when she doesn’t, says, “You can tell me anything, Chie. tomoe said you’re scared, but you don’t have to be.”

Resolve flashes in Chie’s eyes, and she sits up just a little bit taller, just like Tomoe did when she first took over. Yukiko is amazed at the effect on her presence; who knew a straight spine could be so powerful? “Amagi Yukiko,” she says, her voice hushed but commanding, “I have been in love with you for years.”

Yukiko swears her heart stops.

Yu decides to stop by the Velvet Room on his and Yosuke’s way home. He hasn’t gotten a chance to ask Igor and Margaret about Elizabeth yet, after all, and he also kinda wants to see if Yosuke can see the door.

He can’t.

‘I don’t know what happens to my body when I go in,’ Yu signs to Yosuke. ‘I don’t think this will take very long. Wait here, ok?’

Yosuke grins and gives him a two-fingered salute, and Yu reaches for the door and closes his eyes. When they open again, Margaret is waiting for him, like she always is, but Igor is nowhere to bee seen. ‘Where is Igor?’

‘My master is currently handling another matter,’ Margaret replies. They way she differentiates between her own signing and her translations for Igor is something Yu very much appreciated. When she signs for Igor, every movement is exaggerated and theatrical, while when she signs for herself, her hands move much more elegantly. Yu wonders if Igor realizes this. ‘Can I help you with something?’

‘Do you have a sister?’

Margaret freezes and what litter color there already is in her face drains away. Yu, suddenly, is almost scared. What is causing this kind of reaction in such an unflappable person? Whatever it is, it must be serious. ‘Have you seen her?’ Margaret asks, hands shaking as she signs.

‘I think so. She was picking two of my senpai up from school a few days ago.’ Margaret’s shaking spreads from her hands to the rest of her body. ‘Is something wrong?’

She’s clearly lying when she signs, ‘No, nothing is wrong. We just didn’t expect her to be in Inaba.’ Before Yu can call her out, she continues, ‘You shouldn't keep your friend waiting. My master should be here the next time you visit.’ Then, without warning, the Velvet Room fades away and he’s facing a wall in the shopping district once more.

He finds Yosuke crouching near a wall, scratching a stray cat behind its ears. He has to stop his scratching to ask, ‘How did it go?’ and the cat is clearly unhappy, glaring at Yu as though it knows he is to blame for his loving being taken away.

Yu, still rattled, shakes his head. ‘I’ll tell you when we get to my uncle’s house.’

Yosuke may not be academically intelligent, but Yu thinks he doesn’t get enough credit for how smart he is when it comes to emotional and social matters. He reads Yu’s mood and becomes serious. ‘Let’s go, then.’ He gives the cat a parting pat before they depart.

Neither boy is in the mood to study after Yu recaps his conversation with Margaret, despite the token attempt they makes. The weight of the issue feels oppressive, like a too-heavy blanket on a hot night. It’s something they just have to deal with until after exams, when they can meet up with Chie and Yukiko and have a meeting. Yu actually counts it as a blessing when his phone vibrates, giving him an excuse to get distracted.

New Chat

[Satonaka Chie] → [Narukami Yu]

[Satonaka Chie]: I told her.

[Narukami Yu]: How did she respond?

[Satonaka Chie]: She didn’t.

[Satonaka Chie]: She got really quiet so I told her she could wait to answer me until after exams.

[Narukami Yu]: I’m proud of you. That must have been hard.

[Satonaka Chie]: Something weird happened with Tomoe at Aiya’s, though.

[Satonaka Chie]: Nothing bad, just weird.

[Narukami Yu]: Something strange happened in the Velvet Room this afternoon, too. We’ll have to have a meeting after exams are over.

He waits a few seconds to see if she responds, and looks back to Yosuke when she doesn’t. Yosuke has abandoned any pretense of studying and is instead watching the local news channel. ‘It’s a report about the local biker gang,’ he signs when he sees Yu’s questioning look. ‘Apparently one of the members is a first year at Yasogami. Kinda scary, don’t you think?’

Yu exhales sharply through his nose. ‘As long as they don’t have a Persona, I don’t care. We have enough to worry about as it is.’

Yosuke nods in agreement and shuts the TV off.

He only gets to see Ryoji when he sleeps.

They’re always in the Sea of Souls, the two of them, floating in empty space like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “I miss you,” he says, face buried in the milky skin of Ryoji’s neck and shoulder. “I wish you were here with me.”

Ryoji’s chuckle reverberates through both their bodies. “I’ll find my way back to you eventually. Nothing in the universe could keep me away from you for very long.”

“I’m worried about the kids,” he admits. “Their Wild Card is deaf, for one, and they’re up against a serial killer.” His throat gets clogged and he hugs Ryoji tighter to him. “I’m tired of seeing people die.”

“As long as they have you guys looking out for them, they’ll be fine.” Ryoji presses his lips to his forehead in a gentle kiss. “You need to wake up. You have exams coming up, right?”

Reluctant, he detaches himself from Ryoji. “Yeah. Find me soon, okay? I love you.”

Ryoji’s eyes are wet when he says, “I love you, too.”

The Sea grows darker and darker until he can no longer see Ryoji. Then he blinks, and when his eyes open again, he’s staring at his bedroom ceiling. He holds his eyes open to stave off the tears threatening to pour out. Hurry up and find me, idiot.

[livefreeordie13]

Day 5 (When November)

Day 5 of @souyoweek2018 “Together or Separate”

I basically did both. It was hard to choose! Also yeah I’m a day late I’m a loser.

Warnings: implied sexual activity | insecure boy | self-hate | mutual pining | cavities | Teddie

(When November)

Yosuke snapped his phone shut, frustratedly flipping a stray bang out of his eyes. He sighed. He hated when Yu didn’t pick up.

“What’s wrong, Yosuke?” Teddie asked with genuine concern - although, Yosuke wasn’t in the mood to be moved by it. Even when Teddie was being sweet his voice could reach impressively high levels of obnoxiousness.

“Nothing,” he groaned, a little more sharply than he intended.

Yosuke was being an ass. He knew he was. And yet, thinking that and knowing it was true somehow didn’t magically help. Just like trying to understand that his Tokyo boyfriend was busy about ninety-percent of the time didn’t help. Just like when Yosuke breathed and tried to remember all the important things - all the times Yu had told him he loved him, that this was only temporary, that he was always thinking of him and missing him. He believed him. Right? He definitely believed the guy he trusted more than anyone alive, more than anyone he’d ever known.

Definitely.

… Didn’t think Yu was getting sick of him.

Nope.

“Oh, Yosuke, don’t be sad. It’s 50¥ mushroom day at Junes! I wonder who will sell more today,” Teddie taunted, putting his hand to his chin in consideration. “Hm, will it be the lowly prince of disappointment, or will it be moi - the talented, fuzzy, and bear-markable Teddie?” He concluded by dramatically touching all of the fingertips on his right hand to his chest.

Yosuke stared at him in astonishment for several seconds. Finally, he sighed yet again and pinched the bridge of his nose between two fingers, unable to choose which part of his speech to pick apart first.

He had eventually settled on, “Just shut up, Ted,” when his phone vibrated to life in his hand.

It was Yu. He flipped the phone open immediately. “He~y, partner!” he sang, silently willing himself to control his own stupid voice.

“Hey, Yosuke,” came Yu’s calm, crisp voice on the other line. “Sorry I missed your call.” Yosuke was a touch relieved his partner actually sounded aggravated for a change.

“Aw, that’s okay, man. Don’t worry about it; I know you’re busy.” Teddie poked him and Yosuke shoved the boy away.

Yu seemed to hesitate before he responded. “Y-yeah, but still, I …”

Yosuke waited, and subconsciously held his breath when Yu sighed deeply.

“I hate missing your calls. They’re important to me.”

He swallowed, trying to smother the butterflies and get his voice to work. He was an idiot. Yep. Still an idiot after a year and half. Six months into dating Yu and he still had the nerve to doubt this guy? Well … okay, in Yosuke’s defense, it wasn’t exactly Yu he doubted.

“O-oh, well …” he mumbled, completely unsure how to respond to that. Should he make fun of him, or pick on himself? Should he try to flirt? “T-that’s, um …” He swallowed, muttering softly, “That’s nice to hear.”

Crap, he was being sentimental! He grimaced and hoped Yu didn’t pick up on the emotional twinge in his voice. He was in front of Teddie; he couldn’t deal with this right now.

Fortunately for him, Yu chuckled discreetly and changed the subject right away. “I was just talking to my parents. They said it was fine for me to come down in November for a few days.”

Yosuke’s heart leapt. “Really?!” He took a few steps away from the railing he’d been leaning against as though he were chasing those words. “That’s awesome! So you’ll be down for your birthday?”

“And Nanako’s.”

“Oh - yeah, right! Nanako-chan’s, too.” Yosuke laughed, blushing and turning his body away from Ted a little more so the boy wouldn’t see it. He barely caught Teddie shrugging and prancing off out of his peripheral.

“Happy to hear you’re excited. What kind of, um …” Yu trailed off, voice dropping quite low. Yosuke stepped forward again, hoping that would somehow allow him to hear better.

“W-what,” Yosuke laughed. He glanced around to place where Ted was and spotted him by the grill stand all the way across the food court. He wasn’t getting into his bear suit yet (although, he ought to be), but he looked pretty distracted.

He bit his lip as he waited for Yu to continue, his stomach beginning to twist up.

“What kind of present are you going to get me?” Yu’s voice was so low and muted Yosuke wasn’t sure if he’d even heard him correctly.

“‘Present’?”

“If it helps, I already know what I want.”

… Oh.

Yosuke’s face fell. His cheeks flushed and his heart immediately began pounding, the blood rushing towards various … extremities. Thank god Teddie was nowhere near him right now.

Yosuke tried to chuckle but it came out more like a jittery whine. “D-dude-”

“-Want me to tell you?” Dammit, how did Yu sound so composed right now?

Yosuke stilled and licked his lips.

“A fish.”

There was a long pause where Yosuke’s mind and Yosuke’s body weren’t in sync. One was confused, the other was extra confused.

“A fish.”

“Yeah. For the tabby outside Dojima’s. He’s still there, right?” Yu sounded like he might get worked up into a panic at that last sentence, so Yosuke rushed to reassure him.

“Y-yeah! Yeah, he is. I’ve been feeding him, partner, don’t worry.” He laughed and adjusted his clothes, his jacket. Even though it hadn’t been that hot out today, he found that he was sweating. He pulled at the collar of his v-neck to try to cool himself down. “Dammit, Yu …” he swore, a little ineffectually, but he hoped Yu understood him nonetheless.

“What? What did you think I was going to say?” Oh, Yu was not about to laugh!

“Sh-shut up! Jerk. You know I’m lonely over here.”

This time, Yu did laugh. “Well, I’m lonely, too,” he argued.

“I guess at least we’re lonely together, huh?”

He heard Yu take a measured breath and keep it. “Yeah,” he said, in a voice Yosuke had long ago figured out to be the one Yu used when he was trying to keep something from him, a hidden pain he couldn’t bear to expose. “Until November, right?”

He swallowed and tucked his hand under the arm he was using to hold the phone. “You bet.”

There was a comfortable silence between them until Yosuke continued.

“So what do you actually want for your birthday? I’m not sure a fish will do it, partner.”

“Hmm,” Yu’s voice hummed on the other end. It reverberated into the speaker and its soothing rumble made Yosuke’s heart whirl. He suppressed a shiver. Damn, he missed him way too much. “What if we just …”

Yu never finished his sentence, and Yosuke didn’t ask him to.

“… Yeah.” He smiled into the receiver and hoped Yu could tell, somehow. “Sounds good.”

fin

Epilogue:

“Yosuke~! It’s time for work!”

“Alright, already, I’m coming!!”

(I’m not really happy with the way this one turned out but like hell if I’m going to be TWO days behind.)

[hdawg1995]

Chapter two, this time with the P4 cast!

The Cognitive net; a Persona 4 and Persona 5 cross over fanfic with OCs. Summary:

When a string of missing persons cases all seem to be linked by a far too familiar rumor, detective shirogane tries to enlist the help of her old investigation team. Unfortunately, not all of the original members are able to make it to shibuya-the sight of the latest case- but she finds help from an unexpected hacker and her friends. Elsewhere, a small team of brand new persona users have already figured out the “cognitive web” and it’s strange search engine. Will detective Shirogane and the hacker Alibaba discover the new group of heroes in time to realize this case is not city wide, but WORLD wide?

Chapter 2: one new message/a run down for the newbie

1/2/3/4/5

If the walls of Detective Shirogane’s office could speak, they would have very little to say but those words would be astonishing. 45 cases- murders, kidnappings, petty crimes and robberies- in the two years she returned to the force alone. The bluenette was diligently looking over the latest case files; missing persons cases that were handed to her not because they were another case to solve, but because SHE could possibly be the only one to solve them.

“5 people have gone missing in the past three weeks. The first went missing at 8am while in their own home. His mother reported him missing after she came to check on him. He had been playing video games…” she flipped to the other file. “This one went missing in the middle of school, the only thing the police were able to find was her cell phone…” Naoto stared at the file and made a note to make a request to look at the phone. She shifted though the other files and saw a pattern with those who went missing and leaving their phones behind. The 3 phones that were not locked led to a website and all apps aside from the web browser were locked.

There was something about these cases she couldn’t shake. They felt familiar and it sent a rock like weight down to her stomach.

“I need a second opinion… maybe a third.” She fiddled with the brim of her hat and reached for her cell phone. It has been a long time, least to her.

Opening the phone, she found the old text chat she had been added to the day it seemed everyone became adults and parted ways.

<Thisll b how we stay in toch!

<Yosuke please type like a normal person.

<yu, plz stp txtin lk a old man.

She laughed at the interaction between the two partners. Scrolling though the old chat she felt a wave of nostalgia. It was bitter sweet- she missed the old times and the silly things they would do, but all that changed a year and a few months ago. That was the last she talked to any of her old friends from Inaba.

>Hello Everyone. It Has Been A Long Time. I Wish I Was Contacting You All With Happy News Or Questions About Your Lives But I Have Been Given A Case And I Request Your Opinions On It.

She stared at her phone for a few moments. She did not expect the almost instant “many people are typing” notification and gasped when her phone buzzed with text messages.

<Naoto kun! I will be happy to help you! I’m taking a break from performing, so I’m all ears!

<Holy shit shes not texting in all caps!

>My Word Yosuke, You’re Texting In Full Words!

The chat grew abuzz with laughter and the nostalgia was fading. The truth was she didn’t have to stay in the past; her friends were right here, even if they were miles away.

<Naoto, I’m happy you remembered this chat but out of all the cases “The Returning Prince of justice” has solved, what makes this one special enough to ask for our assistance?

Senpai. Even in text form she was able to hear that suspicious tone he had when he knew she was avoiding something.

<oh man I’m not dreaming! This chat IS active again!

<whoa, Kanji! You’re not getting long distance charges are you?

<oh my that’s right! you’re in America!

<nah, don’t worry yukiko, i get free texts from japan since ma checks in with me. wait, Yosuke how did you know I would have been getting long distance charges?? What about you? Weren’t you in America as well?

The detective blinked down at her phone with shock. So much has happened she was almost floored. She made a note to speak with her friends more often.

<haha yeah. About that…

<guys! I love you all but I don’t have long for my break! Naoto still needs to explain why she is coming to us for this case!

>Yes, My Apologies. It Would Seem There Has Been A String Of Missing Persons Cases, Three Of Which I Have Noticed A Trend That My Gut Is Telling Me The Other Two Cases Will Also Exhibit Once I Investigate The Crime Scene Of One Case.

<I heard of this. Nanako mentioned it to me the other day. one of her class mates’s older siblings knew the 3rd victim.

<How is nana-chan, Yu san?

<focus yukiko! I heard about these too. My teacher at the training camp is working on the case with you Naoto!

>Does That Mean You Are In Shibuya, Chie?

The detective sat up strait in her chair. She reached for a note pad and pen when her phone buzzed, Chie confirming her location and adding she would be visiting the district her office is in with said teacher (he had planned to surprise her she guessed, but the cat is out of the bag now).

<hey I know! Lets all meet up!

<yukiko, what about the Inn? And Kanji is in America. Plus Rise is on tour!

<my Tour is ending soon Yosuke kun!

<WHAT? But I didn’t get to see you on stage yet!

<I’m sorry, the last 3 stops had to cancel due to

>Rise?

<I just realized! The last 3 stops had to cancel because the kids of the venue owners went missing! oh no Naoto kun I think I know why you want our opinions! Is it because they went missing like people from the midnight channel went missing?

Naoto smiled grimly at her phone. Rise may have been a bubbly idol but she wasn’t dumb like morooka had implied she was (least that’s what one of Yoskue’s stories about the former home room teacher suggested).

>Yes. I Am Afraid There Seems To Be A Connection To The Victims That Feels Far Too Familiar To That Of The Midnight Channle.

<Holy shit.

<Naoto you said you were in Shibuya?

>Yes, That Is Where My Office Has Been For Two Years Now, Yu San.

<I can be there in a few days to discuss things face to face.

<I will not be joining. Yosuke kun is right, I can not leave the Inn. Not yet at least. If the case hasn’t been solved in a month I will be joining you! But I certainly hope you will be able to solve this soon. Those poor parents must me worried sick.

<I can swing by in two weeks, Naoto kun! And my break is over, love you everyone! Tty real soon!

<Count me out. Unfortunately I’m in America for the next year. I havn’t told you guys this, but I got invited to do a run way show a few months back and one of the companies loved my designs so much they offered me an internship.

<Kanji that’s amazing! You HAVE to make me an outfit some time!

<Rise go, you’re going to be late. As for me you know I will be there!

<sorry, I can’t swing the train ticket or plane ticket or… anything like that right now.

>Do You Need Me To Send You The Money? This Counts As Case Related So I Can Use The Funds The Department Has Granted Me.

<its not just that Naoto. I actually have to get going anyway, customer needs me. I Will explain another time.

<wow. Since when has yosuke been responsible?

<Chie have you never noticed his dedication?

<OF COURSE I HAVE! Its just. I don’t remember him putting anything before us. Shoot, he even let me buy teddie’s outfit with his money!

<hes an adult now. As we all have noticed we can’t put our friends first all the time anymore. As sad as that is, I am proud to see he is still dedicated to his work.

Naoto nodded at Yu’s words. She felt better about not speaking to anyone in such a long time and decided to make the notes she was beginning to make. First, to make arrangements for three of her friends to be a part of the case, and second… to visit the first victim’s home and investigate his computer.

“I certainly believe you are right Yukiko. Lets both hope we are able to solve this case before the Calvary is needed.”

--------------------------------------

meanwhile, in the world wide cognitive web, The Admins stood around, waiting on their leader. 

With a wave of her hand a blue room appeared. It was a box and it fit with the other random structures in the cognitive web. A door appeared with the number 5 on it. as everyone filed in Alpha paused and looked out at the ninja that was watching them a moment ago. Sure enough, he was still there, still watching, however now he looked ready to spring away into the artificial night the web was simulating.

“Alpha? [what are you doing?]” the rabbit poked its head out of the litteral chat room to become it’s partner inside.

She didn’t respond, she simply walked inside. Once the door was closed the 5 glowed for a moment before shifting to a 6. On the inside two couches and a coffee table appeared. J4k3 and Skitty took the one to the left while Click sat at the one at the back of the table. Alpha stood at the front and opened a text chat.

“whats with that? Were all here.” Skitty leaned forward and clawed at the table, testing the cutesy paws that appeared when she wasn’t thinking.

“that sillouete we all saw is Hero. He is a unofficial member of the Admins.” The toy rabbit leaped onto Alpha’s sholder as she moved the chat box to be at her right. “Alpha is allowing him to listen in if he wishes.”

“we figure hes mute since he doesn’t talk to us, but he has messaged us once. Is that what the chat is for? Incase he has something to say?” J4k3 gently took Skitty’s…paw? Hand? Into his to keep her from clawing the table any further.

With a nod their leader presented the group with the IP address she was able to trace.

“okay everyone! Since this is Skitty’s first meeting lets give a run down!” the rabbit hopped down onto the table and pulled up various floating documents. “our first rescue was ClickClickBoom, Alpha’s right hand man! He was support until I entered the web!” the star arcana explained as they puffed out their chest. “now I am support. I scan shadows and tell you their weaknesses.”

“shadows, Nyan?” Skitty tilted her head and click rolled his eyes.

“I’ll explain what shadows are if you agree to stop with the nyan stuff.”

“aww you’re no fun… but fine.” She purred as she leaned back in her seat and gave the youngest her full attention.

“Shadows are the manifestations of human hearts. There like personas, but bad. Your shadow can be your suppressed emotions, your over inflated ego, or even your inner darkness. They are always exaggerated tho.”

Skitty nodded “you explained that when I got Leomund. So all shadows are like that? Not just the ones that drag their other halves here?” the Magician turned from The Lovers and regarded the Fool, who simply nodded.

“Yup! They all have weaknesses, which means you also have weaknesses! We’ll figure those out later. Anyway, back to the meeting!” the rabbit sprang up and landed on a floating document.

“we have discovered that we have about a week to rescue someone. When you are dragged here you become data. Your shadow however starts to corrupt your data; if you become corrupted, your body can’t return to reality.” The air became somber as J4k3 leaned back.

“but even then we don’t know why some people can return and others can’t.” the Emperor reached out and tapped a floating file. The image of a chibi girl appeared. She smiled at the Admins and waved.

“This is Hallie. She was the team’s first rescue after me-“

“Rescue mission five!”

“-but like Gerade she became a data card instead of returning to reality.”

Hallie frowned and bowed her head. The robot reached out and hesitantly gave her a pat on the head. it wasn’t anyone’s fault she was like this.

“wait, so even if we save people they just become those cute tamagchi things? then whats the point!”

“its better then them becoming corrupted data.” Side Kick jumped up and flipped Hallie’s data card. “see? All of Hallie is right here. She is healthy and stable. She can return to reality once we figure out how to open her data card!”

The room felt warmer as click stood. “that’s our second job as Admins. We HAVE to figure out how to open the data cards and safely return the victims to reality.”

Alpha nodded and glanced at the text chat. there was a notification that a 6th persona had joined the chat room. She turned to the rest of her team. “Normally we have to trace the IP address that was used to access Cogntive.net, and then find a entry point. This takes a few days. At most 3. After that we track down the dungeon.” Alpha reached out and a map appeared. “These are the 9 dungeons we have found.” she grew silent to let Skitty look over the map when a block of pixels shifted to reveal a 11th dungeon. There was a ping and the Admins looked to the text chat to find a message.

Hero> I found a dungeon while you all were out. It was the “false alarm” you dismissed. I did not know dealing with the situation myself would affect the algorithm.

“Dude… you found a dungeon, took down a shadow, AND rescued someone in the span of a few minutes? That’s crazy!” J4k3 stood up to get a better view of the map.

“Hero, was the person… are they a data card?” Skitty also stood to look at the map better. There was another ping.

Hero> no, they will be assisting me. They insisted on it. You have two people on your side now.

Alpha nodded and went back to the map. “Any dungeon we encounter will become part of this map. However this is not a map of the cognitive web. The web is constantly changing. But when a new dungeon appears it rarely takes a day to travel to.”

Skitty blinked and her cat ears twitched. “you said “normally”. Does that mean this case is different? Is it going to be easier to find the dungeon?”

“yup!” click stood up and slammed his foot on the table, a wall of binary coming up. “since the victim used a public wi-fi we can just enter the IP address into the search engine and we’ll be teleported there! Public wi-fi isn’t password protected, that’s why you always gatta be careful when you’re using it, ya dig?” the motioned at the binary as it formed the cognitive net search engine, the IP already in the search bar.

“If we are ready, we can head out right now to save yuki mishima!” Side kick stated as the other gave their own affirmatives.

“one more thing!” Alpha stated as the chat room became barren again. “time is different here, Skitty. Don’t worry about things taking a week. Once we are in the dungeon it will feel like we’ve been in there for days, but in reality it had only been a few minutes.” She placed a hand on the cat themed idol’s shoulder. “are you ready to put your talents to good use?”

With a chestier grin she gave her leader a firm nod and The Admins were teleported away.

[snowpeawritings]

4. Unlocking the Wild Card

Philemon seems to enjoy seeing his Wild Cards live on with their lives…

insp.

Persona 4 Golden X FeMC!Reader

04/15/2011 | Early morning

You went downstairs to see Dojima going out with his coat slung over his back.

"Ah, you're up. Well, I'm off." The sound of the door opening and closing signaled he left the house.

"...Dad has to go do something. He got a call, so he left." Nanako said. She looked worried. 

When you made your way to school, it was raining, so you opened your umbrella. You saw two girls gossiping with one another.

"When I looked, I saw three police cars zooming by." The red umbrella girl said.

"You live by the police station don't you? Did you hear anything?" The white umbrella girl said. 

"I heard some yelling but nothing more. Total disappointment."

"Geez, you need to pay more attention to stuff like that. How else are we supposed to get the juicy stories?" You hear sirens nearby. It seems there's been an incident. You decided to brush that off and head to school.

Afternoon

"Hey... Did you see it yesterday?" A girl said.

"Of course not. What, is that rumor for real?" Another said.

"I don't know, but it seems like a lot of people have seen it." You heard and heard the rumors.

"Yukiko said she'd be here after lunch..." Chie said. "I wonder why they're holding a school assembly all of a sudden." She noticed Yosuke's look. "...Hey, what's wrong, Yosuke?" 

"Oh, it's nothing..." He said. Ms. Sofue came upon the podium.

"Everyone, please settle down. The school assembly is a bout to start. First, the principal has something to say." She leaves the microphone to the principal. 

"I... regret to say that I have a terrible announcement for all of you. One of our third-year students, Ms. Saki Konishi of Class 3... has passed away." All three of you were shocked, Yosuke the most.

"Passed away...!?" Chie said. Yosuke seemed to seethe pain. "Ms. Konishi was found deceased early this morning. The reasons behind her passing are currently under the investigations by the police. If they ask for your cooperation, I urge you, as students of this school, to provide only the facts." After that everyone began murmuring with each other. Did she really die? That explains she didn't went to class were a few of those things said.

"All right, please quiet down..." The principal said as everyone kept quiet. "I have been assured by the faculty that there's been no evidence that bullying was involved in the incident. So mind what you say, not only to the police but to anyone who asks..."

"Found dead...? How could this happen...?" Chie asked. She took a glance at Yosuke who didn't respond. The Principal's address continues. After the assembly, you and Chie walked through the corridor, suddenly overhearing two rumor-loving girls.

"She died the same way as that announcer, right? That's so creepy..." The girl said.

"Well, last time, it was from an antenna, but this time she was hanging from a telephone pole. Its gotta be a serial murder case..." Her friend said.

"Someone said the cause of death was from unknown poison."

"Unknown? C'mon, this isn't some sci-fi drama. Oh, by the way, did you hear? Someone saw a girl that looked like Saki on that Midnight Channel thingie. They said that she totally looked like she was in pain. Isn't that scary?"

The girl laughed. "Looks like someone had a nightmare. The media's been broadcasting their interviews with her nonstop, so maybe they just had Saki on the brain." They took their discussion elsewhere and walked off.

"Sheesh, it's easy to toss around theories if you're not personally involved..." Chie said. You heard footsteps and saw Yosuke walking up to you two.

"Hey... Did you guys check out the TV last night?" He said, no emotion.

"Yosuke! Not you too!" Chie said angrily.

"Just listen for a sec! Something kept bothering me, so... I watched it again, and... I think the girl on the screen... was Saki-senpai."

"There's no mistaking it... Senpai looked like... she was writhing in pain..." He added. "And then... she disappeared from the screen."

"What?" Chie asked.

"You heard Senpai's body was found in a similar situation as that announcer's right...? Well remember that guy you told us about? How he was all excited that his soulmate was the announcer? Maybe... Just maybe, but..." He trailed off. "Ms. Yamano might've been on that Midnight Channel before she died, too."

"What's that supposed to mean...?" Chie asked, worried.

"Hold on... Are you saying...?" Realization hit her face. "People who appear on that TV... die...?"

"I can't say for sure. But something tells me... I just can't dismiss it as coincidence." Chie took a sharp breath before he continued.

"Plus, remember what that bear thing said? How that place was dangerous, and we should leave before the fog clears...? It also said that someone's been throwing people in there. And that room with the posters on the wall... It has to have something to do with the announcers's death. I mean... don't you think there's some kind of connection there? Couldn't that world in the TV have something to do with Senpai and the announcer's death!?" He directed his attention to you.

"Well...? What do you think...?" 

"You might be right." After that long explanation, you'll admit, his theories hold true.

He nodded. "So its not just me, huh? If there is a connection, then it's a good bet that the two of them went inside that world. That would explain the posters in that room. Which means... if we look around, we might find a place that has something to do with Senpai, too."

"Yosuke, don't tell me..." Chie trailed off. He nodded in affirmation.

"Yeah... I'm thinking about going in again. I want to find out for myself."

"D-don't do this... You should just let the police handle this and-"

"You think we can rely on the police!?" He snapped. "They haven't made any progress in the announcer's case. Besides, even if we told them about the world inside the TV, there's no way they're gonna believe us! If I'm completely off-base with this, that's fine... It's just... I need to know why Senpai had to die like this."

Chie looked down. "Yosuke..."

"After what I've seen and what I've put together, there's no way I can ignore it now..." He looked up at you again. "Sorry... but you're the only person who can help me. I'm gonna go get ready. I'll be waiting for you at Junes." He ran outside, leaving you to prepare to enter the TV. Again.

"I kinda understand how he feels..." Chie said. "But we can't be sure we'll be able to get out safely again. What should we do...?"

"We should go with Yosuke. He seems pretty determined to figuring out this case."

"Y-you serious...?" She looked outside before finally agreeing. "Anyways, let's go to Junes. We can't leave Yosuke alone..." You ran after her as you made your way to Junes.

After school

"You guys came." Yosuke said, looking pleased. He held a rope which was safely fastened around his waist and also holding a golf club.

"We came to stop you, idiot!" Chie said angrily. "C'mon... You really shouldn't do this. Its too dangerous."

"I know... But we were able to come back once, right? If we go in from the same location, maybe we'll meet that bear again."

"'Maybe' isn't good enough!" Chie snapped.

"Look, I can't just act like everyone else and pretend this has nothing to do with me."

"That's true, but..."

He turned to you. "What about you? Could you just walk away?"

"I can't leave it alone." You said.

"Alright." Yosuke said, sounding pleased.

"Don't worry, I'm not going in without a plan. Chie, I'm leaving you in charge of this." He handed her the pile of rope hanging from his wrist.

"Huh? What's that? A rope...?" She said, unsure nut took it anyway.

"We'll go in with this tied to me, so I want you to hold on to this and wait here."

"Wh-what? Then, this is a lifeline? C'mon, wait a sec..."

"Here, (Name)... This is for you." He handed you the golf club and three bottles of medicine.

"Am I supposed to fight in this?" You questioned.

"Well, its the only blunt thing we have in stock! Besides, I can't be seen holding a real sword, what did you expect? I thought it might be better than going in empty-handed." He reverted back to being serious. "Alright... Let's go. There's no use wasting any more time. Chie, whatever you do, don't let go of the rope!" Together, you and Yosuke ventured inside the TV, ignoring Chie's protests.

You two fell in a tunnel of black and white as you landed safely on your feet while Yosuke landed on his butt yet again. He groaned in pain as you stood up.

"Is this...?" Yosuke started. "Look, this is the same place as last time! So they are connected from place to place!"

"Y-You guys... Why'd you come back...?" Said a too-familiar voice. The bear that 'helped' you escape last time appeared. Only this time, he seemed angry, stomping his little foot on the floor.

"I get it! You're the ones behind this!"

"You're that thing from last time!" Yosuke said. "Wait, what the hell did you just say!?" He turned his back behind you two.

"Lately, I can tell someone's been throwing people in here. It's making this world more and more messed up..." He turned around. "This is the second time you guys came here. And I don't think anyone forced you in. That means you're the most suspicious!" He pointed an accusing paw at you two. "You guys must be the ones throwing people in here, raaaawr!" 

"Shut up..." You muttered.

"What're you talking about 'throwing people in'!?" Yosuke demanded. "If someone was thrown in here and they couldn't get out, they might die! Who would do such a-"

"Wait a sec..." He paused, bringing his voice down. "All this talk about someone throwing people in here... Does he mean Senpai and the announcer? Did that 'someone' throw those two in here?" He looked at you, fierceness and nervousness in his eyes. "H-Hey... What do you think?"

"That must be it." 'Although it seemed pretty obvious the announcer and Saki didn't get thrown in on purpose, he only realized this now.' You thought. He nodded.

"Yeah... I agree. Let's assume he's telling the truth..." He looked at the bear. "Could it be that someone's throwing people in here, intending to kill them...? If that's the case..."

"If that is, then it must be a very absurd way to murder." You said.

"What're you guys mumbling about? Why'd you come here anyways!?" The bear said, stomping his foot again. "It's a one-way door! You can't get out once you're in! Remember? How I had to let you guys out?"

"Yeah, whatever." Yosuke snapped. "We don't need your help this time! See, this time we have a lifeli-" He stopped, due to the fact that a, the lifeline was cut and b, you have to ask the bear to help you get out.

"H-Hey! You better let us out once we're done investigating here!" The bear growled.

"I'm the one who wants to investigate! I've lived here for a long time. But it's never been noisy like this till now. Do you have proof!? Prove to me you're not throwing people in here!" 

"It doesn't work that way... How could we do that? You don't have proof if YOU'RE the one killing the ones who were thrown in?" The bear stumbled back.

"Whaaaaaa-!? I would never do such a thing!"

"Whoa, nice comeback." Yosuke said, grinning at you. "Hey, you better answer our questions. This isn't like last time, when we came by accident. We're dead serious! Listen up, 'cause people have died in our world... Every time the fog appears, a dead body shows up with it. It has to be related to this place somehow! If you know something, tell us!"

The bear looked confused. "A dead body? Whenever the fog appears...? I know that if it's foggy on your side, the fog lifts here. It's really dangerous when the fog lifts. That's when the Shadows get violent." You both raised questioning looks. "Aaah... I get it..."

"Huh,...? If you get it, then explain it to us, dammit!" Yosuke said. "If it's foggy on our side, it isn't in here...? Shadows get violent...?"

"That's why I said to hurry back! It's dangerous when that happens!" The bear said. "Okay, no more questions. I know you guys did it! You better stop right now!"

"We've already said it countless of times..." You said. 

"I've told you and told you, we're not the ones doing it!" Yosuke said annoyed. "I've about had it with you... Why the hell won't you listen to what we're saying!?"

"I-I'm just saying... you might be the culprits." The bear said nervously. "I'm just making sure..."

"What...? Man, this bear's driving me nuts..." Yosuke muttered. "What is this place, anyways? It looks like a TV studio... Is something being filmed here...?" He realized something. "H-Hey, don't tell me... Is that weird show being filmed here!?" 

The bear gave a confused look again. "Weird show? Filmed? What does that mean?"

"Uh... I'm asking if someone been filming the people that get thrown in here." The bear looked even more confused.

"I don't get it... This world has always been like this. No one has ever done that filming thing here."

"Always been like this...?" You asked. He turned to look at you.

"Only me and Shadows are here! I told you before!"

"Ugh... We don't know what these Shadow things are! Or what you are either, for that matter! You keep telling us to prove our innocence, but you're the most suspicious thing here! Maybe (Name) was right, maybe you're the real culprit! And what's with that stupid costume!? I'd say it's time you showed your face!" He grabbed the bear's head and yanked it off, only to find nothing or no one inside the still moving body. 

"Wh-What the hell are you...? I-It's empty inside..." He muttered. The body searched around a bit until it picked up its head and threw it on top. 

"Like I said, I would never do such a thing." He said. "I just live here... I just want to live here peacefully..." You two didn't say anything.

"Okay. I'll believe that you guys aren't the culprits." He finally admits. "But I want you to find the real guy who did all this. You have to stop him. Promise me, or else..." He prolonged the 'or else'. "I'm not gonna let you guys outta here."

"Y-You little...!" Yosuke said.

"This can't keep going on! My home will be a complete mess! And then... and then... I..." He started crying though not releasing tears. 

"Wh-What're you crying for all of a sudden...?" Yosuke said. "Geez, this thing's really weirding me out..."

The bear asked you to find the culprit behind this and make him return to his 'normal' life. You know that the culprit, knowing it's not you or Yosuke, is throwing people into the TV. 

Yosuke turned to you and sighed. "Hey... What should we do?" You remember the words that that 'Igor' person told you.

"It seems you will encounter a misfortune in your destination, and a great mystery will be imposed upon you..." Could this be the mystery, you thought. The more you thought about it, the more you thought about that 'contract' you unconsciously made. Could solving this case and finding the culprit be part of this? Well, since you can't leave the TV unless you help the bear, there's seems to be no other option...

"I promise to help you." You said with a small smile.

"Th-Thank you!" He said gratefully.

"Damn bear... Practically holding a gun to our heads..." Yosuke mumbled. "But... it's true that we came here to figure things out. So far, we're completely in the dark. Look for the culprit, huh...? Bring it on! You got my word, too. Might as well introduce ourselves... I'm Hanamura Yosuke, and this is my buddy (Last name)(First name). You got a name?" He asked him.

"... Teddie." Yosuke groaned.

“Figures..." He said. "But how are we supposed to find the culprit in the first place?" 

"I dunno..." Teddie said. "Oh, but I know where the last person came in."

"The last person...? You mean Saki-senpai!?" Yosuke questioned.

"I mean the person who came in and disappeared last time. I dunno the name. I'll take you there. You might find clues." Teddie said. "Oh, one more thing first. You should put these on." He handed you a pair of glasses. Yosuke's was orange with a rectangular frame while yours was dark grey and (frame shape).

"What're these glasses for...?" Yosuke asked. You did as Teddie asked and put on the glasses. When you looked, your vision became much clearer, is as if the fog doesn't even exist.

"Whoa! The difference is like night and day. With these on, it's like the fog doesn't exist." Yosuke said.

"They'll help you walk through the fog... Well, I've been here for a long time. So you can rely on me! Uh... But I can only show you where the place is. You guys will have to defend yourselves." Teddie said.

"What happened to relying on you!? Th-There better not be any monsters! You understand!? We brought weapons, but I mean... They're more for show!"

"Yeah, a golf club can do pretty serious damage to monsters." You said sarcastically.

"We just got here! If it's so dangerous, why don't you do something instead of relying on us!?"

"Uh uh. No way. I've got no muscles. Oh! Oh! I'll give you guys moral support from a safe distance! How's that sound?" Can Teddie really not fight? You went up to Teddie and pushed him. He landed on his back and flailed like a turtle upside-down.

"N-Noooo..." He moaned.

"I-Is this thing for real!?" Yosuke said. "Ugh, this is so lame... We swore to find the culprit and this is all the backup we get...?"

"Oh yeah. Can I ask you something?" Teddie asked suddenly. "Who's this Saki-senpai person? Someone you know?"

You could've sworn you saw Yosuke bit his bottom lip. "That doesn't matter right now..." He said after a few seconds of silence. "Anyways, at least we know Senpai might have been thrown in here. Maybe we can find more information, too. Let's get moving, (Name)." Yosuke walked away with you to follow, only to stop for Teddie's cries for help. You sweat-dropped and helped him up.

What seemed like a few minutes, you reached what you thought was the shopping district. Only the buildings were an eerie yellow, and the sky overhead was red and black like last time.

"What is this place...? It looks just like the shopping district..." Yosuke said. "What's going on here!?" 

"Some weird places have appeared here recently." Teddie said. "Things are getting so tangled, I dunno what to do..." You two turned to him, which was a considerable few feet away from you.

"Uh... by the way, why are you standing so far from us? You better not high-tail it if something does come up."

"Of course not!" Teddie said, his pupils turning into small dots. "I mean. Uh. I can't stand too close, you know. I'd get in your way..." Yosuke groaned a little and looked around the place. "Man, they really went all out on this...But out of all the places in town, why'd they replicate this one?"

"How should I know? This is reality for the one who's here." Teddie said, clutching his head. 

              Yosuke sighed. "As usual, nothing you say makes any sense... But if this is our shopping district, we're not far from Saki-senpai's..." He ran north which you and Teddie followed, leading you to a liquor store with the same red and black entry.

"I knew it! This is the liquor store that Senpai's parents run." Yosuke said. "Does this mean... Senpai disappeared here? What could've happened...?" He walked to the portal but Teddie stopped him. "W-Wait a second. Th-They're here!" 

Yosuke gave a questioning look. "What?"

"... Shadows. I had a feeling they were going to attack...!" 

Suddenly the portal grew ripples as a blue mask oozing with black sludge dropped down followed by another. The ooze formed until it had two arms and hands with long fingers. Yosuke stumbled back and tripped on his own two feet as the two 'Shadows' moved forward, leaving a trail of slime like snails. Then the Shadows moved in the air into a ball-like form as pink and black colored it, creating a huge, red-lipped mouth with long, thick black tongues. Then you felt a shot of pain in your head, the same voice returning,

"I am thou... Thou art I..." You clutched your temple in pain as you shut your eyes. "The time has come... Open thine eyes... And call forth what is within!" 

You snapped your eyes open and laying, in your hand, is a tarot card of a half white and blue face. You flipped the card and a bright light flashed through the blank card. Somehow, you felt adrenaline rush through your veins, and... You're lips tugged upward with excitement. Teddie backed away, amazed and also afraid of the power. 

"Per... so... na."

The light turned into blue flames as you crushed your hand in the card. The Shadows stopped and instead looked at its new-found prey. The energy was so great, you had to scream as the blue flames engulfed you as an entity appeared behind. It's long hair flowing madly with its black coat. A naginata in its hands as its yellow eyes brimmed with power.

"Zio!" You yelled as you crushed your card. The entity thrusted her palm as a rod of lightning struck a Shadow, making it stunned. 

"Cleave!" You yelled again. It responded by slashing its naginata at the other one, sending it flying across the pavement.

"Izanami, synchronize!" You braced your golf club and Izanami did the same. You swung it at the stunned Shadow as Izanami followed your every movement, destroying the Shadow to black mass. The other Shadow you attacked, managed to body slam (or head slam for that matter) you, skidding the soles of your shoes across the pavement. You ran towards the Shadow, golf club still in hand with Izanami copying your every move, then you swung it at the Shadow, together with Izanami slashing it, disintegrating it to black sludge.

You're breathing wad irregular, due to how much energy you spent and how much your head and muscles hurt. You turned to your Persona, looking down at you, then disappeared into blue mist and turned into a card. Your Arcana, if you will. 

[individuationfic]

Seeking to Seize Chapter 22

AO3

Nanako can’t stop smiling.

She’s home, finally. The nurses at the hospital were nice, but she missed home. And her daddy and Onii-chan and all of Onii-chan’s friends are here, too, and her hospital room wasn’t big enough for all of them. She feels like her family is finally coming together.

The cake the girls (and probably Kanji-niichan; she remembers the omelettes they tried making once) made is really yummy. She hasn’t had good dessert since before she was in the hospital, and it tastes so sweet she could cry. And the doll Teddie-niichan gave her feels good in her lap, even if her daddy doesn’t understand it. Her kidnapping feels like it happened a lifetime ago.

Until someone knocks on the front door.

It was the usual delivery man. Onii-chan said not to open the door for strangers, but she’s seen this delivery man a lot, so he’s not a stranger. She blows her nose, throws the tissue away, and answers the door. The delivery man’s smiling at her, but he doesn’t have a package, and then suddenly his hands are grabbing her shoulders and pulling her away from the house, and then he covers her mouth with a washcloth and she feels sleepy, really really sleepy—

Teddie-niichan’s hand on her shoulder makes Nanako realize she’s gone tense. Onii-chan and Yosuke-niichan have gotten up to answer the door, but everyone else is looking at her with worried eyes. “Sorry,” she mumbles, face heating.

“Don’t be,” Yukiko-neechan says. “It’s okay to be scared, Nanako-chan. You went through something really scary.”

Nanako takes a deep breath. “It’s just a door,” she says, trying to convince herself that’s all it is.

Onii-chan and Yosuke-niichan return, followed by a pretty blonde lady in a blue dress. Her daddy makes a weird noise in his throat. “You’re that interpreter!”

The lady smiles. “Yes. My name is Margaret. I have been helping Narukami-kun and his friends in their investigation. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Nanako twists around and sees her daddy blush. Then she looks at Onii-chan and sees the playful gleam in his eye. She takes a minute to think, then decides she wants to get to know Margaret-san better. After all, she thinks, she might be my new mommy soon.

Rise meets Kanji-kun and Naoto-san at the shrine about an hour after the party ends. She’d stayed behind to help clean up and give Kanji-kun and Naoto-san some privacy to talk first. Plus, she can’t deny how funny it was to watch Dojima-san tripping over himself in front of Margaret. I still can’t believe Yu-senpai is playing matchmaker. He doesn’t seem the type.

It may have been a mistake, Himiko says. He probably didn’t realize his uncle would be attracted to her until she came in.

Yeah, Rise admits, that makes more sense.

Kanji-kun and Naoto-san are sitting side by side on a bench near the shrine when Rise arrives. Even from this distance Rise can see how their fingers brush against each other, the blush on their cheeks, and her heart sinks. I’d better prepare for a rejection.

When he sees her, Kanji-kun stands and motions for  her to take his seat/ “Did you two have a good talk?” she asks, hoping they can’t hear the emotion trying to invade her voice.

“Y-yeah!” says Kanji-kun.

“It was… enlightening,” Naoto-san says.

“And your decision?” Rise keeps her chin raised. She’ll be damned if she isn’t graceful in this. No matter what, they’re her best friends. They deserve happiness, even if it isn’t with her.

“I’ve been doin’ a little research,” Kanji-kun says, “and I think I know a way we can all be happy. Rise, have you heard of ‘polyamory?’”

The word seems familiar. “Like polygamy? I know there’s an American TV show about a man with four wives, but I’ve never watched it.”

Naoto-san snorts. “Don’t. It’s a garbage show.”

“It’s similar,” Kanji-kun says. “Except in our case it wouldn’t be me having two partners. It’d be all of us having each other at the same time. Like, uh, a three-way relationship. That’s a good comparison, right?” This last part is aimed at Naoto-san, who nods in approval.

Rise’s chest tightens. “What are you saying?” She stands, legs shaky. “I—that’s not how relationships work!” She turns on Naoto-san. “And you’re okay with this?” She’d come here expecting a rejection, expecting her two best friends to find happiness and love in each other, but here’s Kanji-kun, proposing what sounds an awful lot like an emotional threesome.

Naoto-san opens their mouth to respond, but it’s Kanji-kun who barrel in. “Three people came to Ma’s shop a few weeks back,” he says. “Two guys and a lady. The one guy—he’s the one who gave me the idea. He said it works for them. It makes them happy. They all love each other, so they’re all together. And.” He pauses here. Licks his lips. “And I love both of you. I don’t know if I could ever be happy with just one.”

“That surprisingly selfish of you,” Rise says, a little breathless. “I didn’t know you could be so selfish.”

“And I never expected you to be so stubborn,” Kanji-kun rebuts. “Naoto sees my point. Right, Naoto?”

Much to Rise’s shock. Naoto-san nods. “I like you both,” they say, “and I’m more than happy to share you with each other.”

Rise’s knees feel weak, so she sits back down. Her hand lands atop one of Naoto-san’s.  She doesn’t pull it away. “How would this even work?” she asks after a few seconds. Kanji-kun says, “Communication. Lots of it.”

Naoto-san’s fingers twitch under hers until they’re entwined on the bench. “All three of us will have to be on the same page,” they say. “It wouldn’t be like an open relationship or anything like that. We’d all be committed to the entire thing.”

“People won’t like it,” Rise says. She squeezes Naoto-san’s fingers. Their hand is warm.

“Fuck ’em,” says Kanji-kun. “The important people won’t care.”

“What about marriage? Kids? Won’t this complicate things like that?”

Naoto-san exhales in a way that doesn’t quite hide a laugh. “Do you worry about things like that every time you contemplate a relationship? We’re high schoolers. Rise; concerns like that are a long way off yet.”

She blushes.

“The important thing right now,” Naoto-san says, “is whether or not this relationship is something you want. I know you like Kanji, but…” They sound shy now, and Rise can feel the sweat on their hand. “Do you like me?”

When Rise swallows, she knows the others can hear it. Then,very quiet, she says, “I think I do.”

Kanji-kun and Naoto-san both breathe out sighs of relief. Kanji-kun sits on the edge of the bench, barely even really touching it, and leans his weight onto Rise/ The touch fills her with warmth, just as Naoto-san’s did. “That’s a fuckin’ relief,” he says, and Rise can’t help but laugh. Then he says, “What will you tell your agency about work?”

“I won’t hide you,” Rise says. “Either of you. I’ll miss being an idol, but it’s not worth more than you guys. Besides,” she adds, “as long as I keep practicing my singing and I stay in shape, I can become an independent singer when I’m older. I’ll have more freedom that way.”

“I’d hate for us to be the reason you quit, though.”

On her other side, Naoto-san hums, contemplative. “Just leave that to me.”

It’s always weird to see Yukiko in her room, Chie thinks. The inn is more convenient most of the time, after all, but on Christmas Yukiko would be roped into helping out, so Chie offered her house for some private time.

Yukiko never seems to mind the mess, or that Chie’s room is so much smaller than her’s. She sitting at Chie’s desk, now, reading a book with so much intensity Chie’s worried she might set it on fire. None of their powers have bled over to the real world, but with how little they really know about Personae, it’s a possibility. Chie sets the two cups of tea she made for them on the edge of the desk to get Yukiko’s attention. “What’re you looking at?”

Yukiko blushes but closes the book so Chie can see the cover. It’s a university guide. “We’ll be third years soon,” she says, “and my parents have been asking about college plans, so I picked this up.”

Chie’s stomach drops. She hasn’t put much thought into the future this year, what with all the supernatural shenanigans. Her parents are gonna be on her ass. “What are you gonna study?”

“Business would be best for the inn, but I’m not really sure I want to take over. I’ve been thinking about studying medicine instead.”

Chie laughs a little. Because that makes too much sense to not be funny. “You’re smart enough for it. And your parents won’t be able to complain about their daughter becoming a doctor.”

Yukiko sends her a fond look. “Do you know what you want to do?” she asks.

Chie sits on the floor facing her. “I dunno. Maybe I’ll go to the police academy or something. God knows I’ve had enough practice this year.”

She means for that last part to be funny (how long has it been since Yukiko has actually laughed?) but Yukiko makes a contemplative humming noise instead. “That’s good,” she says. “Police academies are pretty much everywhere. It shouldn’t be hard to find a school with a medical program close to you.”

Chie startles and feels herself start to flush. “W-what?”

It’s Yukiko’s turn to blush as she realizes she spoke aloud. “Oh—uh—I mean…” She takes a deep breath,  as if to calm herself, though her cheeks remain a fiery red. “I was sort of hoping we could move in together after graduation.” Chie finds herself at a loss for works, which Yukiko must take as a rejection, because she quickly continues. “I know it’s a long way off, and we might not even still be dating then—I mean, I hope we are, I like dating you, I don’t want to stop—and I shouldn’t’ve said anything—”

Her body on autopilot, Chie surges up. Her fingers wrap around one of Yukiko’s slender wrists and Yukiko, surprised by the movement, goes silent. “I would love,” Chie says, her voice rough in her ears, “to move in with you after graduation.” And then, before she can chicken out, she presses her lips to Yukiko’s.

Itt’s clumsy, as far as first kisses probably go. Even when Yukiko starts to respond, there’s no real coordination. They just kind of mash their lips together a few times. When they break apart, Yukiko’s face is redder than it’s ever been and her lips look a little swollen and Chie thinks I did that.

Yukiko fists her free hand in the material of Chie’s shirt. “No fair,” she mumbles. At Chie’s confused look, she continues, “I was supposed to kiss you first.” Then, quieter, “It was going to be your Christmas present.”

Chie feels her heart swell. “Well. You could always kiss me again.”

Yukiko snort-laughs and Chie’s smiling so hard her cheeks hurt and then Yukiko is pulling her face back up and they’re kissing again and everything feels right.

Yosuke can’t help but smile as Nanako-chan wiggles along to the Junes commercial on the TV. He knows he needs to be getting home soon—it’s been dark for over an hour and he didn’t tell his parents he was going to be out late—but it’s hard to tear himself away. They’ve all be worrying about Nanako-chan for so long. He almost forgets he’s just a normal kid sometimes.

A plate clatters to the floor, startling him. Oh, right, he thinks when Yu’s puzzled face turns to look at him. I’m helping with the dishes. ‘Sorry, partner.’ He bends to retrieve the plate and starts at it with his drying towel.

Yu shakes some excess suds from his hands. ‘What’s on your mind?’ he signs. ‘It’s not like you to be so distracted?’

Yosuke sets the plate on the counter to buy time. ‘I’m just glad Nanako-chan is okay.’

Yu raises one eyebrow.

‘Fine. I was wondering what you were like as a kid.’ He knows he’s blushing, and he prays Yu won’t comment on it.

He doesn’t. ‘Before I got sick,’ he signs, ‘my parents say I was a lot like Nanako. Cheerful, energetic, a little shy. Apparently I used to fake being sick to get to to miss work. That’s why—’ His hands stutter and his face falls.

‘Why what?’ Yosuke refuses to let him retreat in on himself. ‘Talk to me, partner.’

Yu glances at the living room to make sure Nanako-chan isn’t paying attention before he continues. ‘That’s why my parents caught it late. They thought I was faking again.’ He doesn’t have to clarify what “it” is. Yosuke knows Yu’s deafness stems from a childhood sickness; it’s been brought up a few times. But Yu keeps going. ‘My hearing was already going when they finally took me to a hospital. And the medication—it took the rest of it away. So, really,’ he finishes, ‘it’s my own fault I’m deaf.’

Yosuke frowns. Yu looks as nonchalant as he usually does, but Yosuke can see the real emotions underneath. “Hey,” he says aloud, mindful of the volume. Then he continues signing, ‘I like you the way you are.’

Yu’s smile is painfully tender. So much so that Yosuke is actually glad when someone knocks on the front door. In the living room, Nanako-chan whimpers. Yosuke signs, ‘Someone’s at the door. Go comfort Nanako-chan; I’ll answer it.’

Yu nods and moves to calm Nanako-chan down, giving Yosuke an excuse to escape.

The person on the other side of the door is one Yosuke’s seen around but never actually met. “Ah, Yuki-senpai, right? What brings you here so late?”

The third year raises an eyebrow. “I could ask you the same. This is Narukami’s house, right? There are a lot of things two teenage boys could be doing together after dark…”

Yosuke flushes. “Point taken. Wait here, I’ll go get Yu.”

Together they manage to convince Nanako-chan to go get ready for bed, promising a story and cuddles when they’re done talking to their “friend,” and then Yuki-senpai is sitting at the kitchen table. Yosuke, absurdly, thinks he should put on some tea before he remembers this isn’t actually his house. Instead he looks to Yu so he can start translating. “Why are you here?”

Yuki-senpai’s face remains blank. “Can’t a guy come wish his schoolmate a Merry Christmas?”

Yu’s bland stare needs no translation.

“Fine.” Yuki-senpai leans across the table to he can lower his voice. “You guys did good, getting rid of the fog, but don’t get too comfortable. There’s always a bigger fish to fry. Complacency could get you killed.”

Well, thinks Yosuke, that’s cheerful.

Jiraya chooses then to speak up. He’s correct. Were the danger truly gone, I would be, too.

What?

Personae exist to counteract threats. When the threat is gone, we’re no longer needed.

Yu’s snapping breaks Yosuke out of his own head to he can translate again. “You’re a veteran Persona user, right? Have you ever seen two people wield the same Persona?”

Yuki-senpai frowns. “No,” he says. “I—have you?”

“Adachi had a version of Izanagi.” Yu’s face twists. “It felt wrong, seeing someone else use him. Even Izanagi was confused.”

“I’ll look into it,” Yuki-senpai says. “That doesn’t sound good. In the meantime, your team should continue combat practice. At least once a week, I’d say.” He stands. “I won’t keep you any longer. Merry Christmas.”

And then he’s gone, and Yosuke and Yu have a child to put to bed and many, many things to think about.