04/18 M
Clear
Chie arrived a little late for school, but was doing a little better from yesterday.
That spark in her voice is pretty faint now, though...
Chie asked about what it was like when Yosuke's Shadow appeared, but Yosuke changed the subject-
"Oh, that's right! None of that happened when Yu's power awakened. Hmm... Could it be you've got nothing to hide?"
"Oh? So nothing happened for you? I gotta agree that you seem like a pretty open guy. There's a funny air about you..."
Well, I tried never to let my problems bother me too much, since I knew they wouldn't matter in a few months...
"I dunno, I guess that's what draws people to you, or something like that."
"... Want me to bare it all?"
Wow, can't say I ever thought I'd get to use that one.
"No, don't do it! You'll get arrested again!"
Yosuke's quip led to a good laugh for the three of them.
Chie reminded Yosuke and Yu about how important that they save Yukiko when the bell rang.
"Oh crap, I still haven't gone to the bathroom!"
... Yosuke.
Yu sighed.
As Yosuke ran off, Chie thanked you for saving her.
"Yosuke's cool and all, but... There really is something different about you. I feel like you won't let me down..."
"Yeah, we can do this."
And time stopped.
A card bearing the number "VII" and an abstract image of a cart being pulled by two lions appeared before Yu...
Thou art I... and I am thou...
Thou hast established a new bond...
It brings thee closer to the truth...
Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Chariot Arcana...
"... Ah, that's right. Can I have your phone number?"
"Huh!?... Oh! Right for the investigation!"
Chie was blushing all over.
"Feel free to call whenever!"
After exchanging numbers, Chie reaffirmed her stance about saving Yukiko...
"'The' is a definite article, unlike 'A' or 'An.'"
The P.E. teacher's a nice enough guy, but I really don't think he should be teaching English. Or wear his tracksuit inside...
"Good work, Narukami! Native speakers make the choice automatically, but you guys aren't them! So Practice, practice, practice! Repeat after me..."
"I know it's sudden, but we probably should go ahead and rescue Yukiko today."
I wonder if I should tell them about the whole "Social Link" thing... Nah. They can't even see the Velvet Door, let alone the Velvet Room...
"Hey, I'm not complaining!"
"And I'd prefer it if she were safe sooner..."
"Right. I'll bring some supplies. We meet up at Junes in thirty minutes."
Yu hung up his phone and felt for his wallet.
What the hell is he doing with those Shadow pieces? I can't imagine a hammer is all it takes to turn an incisor into a sword.
Yu thanked the possibly-magic blacksmith for buying his materials, then left, as fast as he could walk.
Old Lady Shiroku's drugstore had recently started offering Revival Beads- "For when your life feels like it might just end, roll 'em in your hands again and again!"- Which had proven to have a very useful alternate purpose in the TV World, as well as Goho-M, a badly-named and fairly obscure but very high-quality brand of chip.
Can't believe they'd sell 'em all the way out here. Wait- What would they do over there, if Revival Beads actually bring you back from the brink...?
The first floor of the Castle was easily traversed by the larger party.
Chie's Persona is noticeably less ridiculous than Yosuke's. I wonder if it's just him?... Wait.
Upon bursting through the doors to the second floor, where Chie's Shadow had been faced yesterday, however...
"Yukiko...?"
That aura... No, I think that's-
The girl in the pink princess gown laughed a horribly echoing laugh.
"Oh, my! Special guests? I wonder how they'll play into all this! Hmhm, things are really heating up!"
The Shadow-
Has to be. Those eyes give it away even more.
Fixed its hair.
"Okie-dokie! I'm going back to the hunt for my Prince Charming! Ohhh, where could he be...? This place is huuuge! It's so exciting, but it makes it so hard to find him. Ooh! Maybe he's playing hide-and-seek in the fog! Ready or not, here I come! Let's go further in then, shall we?"
That way she voiced her words... Was uncomfortably sultry.
Suddenly, a huge, cheap-looking titlecard appeared behind and above the Shadow-
"Princess Yukiko's Hunt for Her Prince Charming!"
The Shadow left on its hunt, amid unexplained murmurs and Teddie's sensing the growing agitations of the other Shadows around...
More hidden thoughts...
"Teehee... My Prince will come for me soon. I'll wait for him no matter how long it takes... I'll always wait... Forever and ever..."
Chie choked on a tiny sob.
"Welcome to the Amagi Inn. Thank you for staying with us. Your room is right this way. If we can help you in any way, please let us know immediately..."
..."Sensei, this isn't an inn, is it? It looks totally like a castle."
Ah, I see... I think I'm starting to see where this is going...
"Ah! By any chance, are you my Princes? I'm locked up in here! Please, save me! Hmmhmm... I'm sure my Princes can do it... Ohoho, I'll be waiting..."
Stupid maze. Stupid Crusader Knight. Stupid Shadow Yukiko, practically sicking a tank on us after disorienting me more than ever before in my life.
The Knight landed some heavy blows against the whole party, who were having a tough time even scratching it...
Quickly doling out orders to focus on healing with medicines, Yu himself tried a rushdown tactic, and called in the recently-Fused Orobas to cast a simple fire spell-
Agi, that's right.
Until the behemoth fell, leaving a Glass Key behind. Yukiko's Shadow had escaped, and its laugh could be heard throughout the area...
There's more of those damn things!? In GROUPS!?
The armored horse-and-knight-shaped Shadow let out a roar as its partner reared up.
This is gonna suck.
"My dear Prince, please... Take me away... To a world where no one knows me..."
Yukiko really feels this desperate... How sad. Maybe I should've- No. No point thinking about shouldas.
"I can smell her around, Sensei! She's close!"
"Right! We can do this!"
It's a good thing I brought along all this soda.
Yu cracked open a can of TaP and quickly chugged it. For whatever reason, the drinks were modestly effective at restoring energy lost from spellcating...
"Yosuke! That Dr. Salt was mine!"
"Aw, come on, I'm sure Yu's got some more stashed somewhere."
"It's all Second Maid and The Natural. You know I can't stand limey things!"
Yu sat against a wall of the Castle and cracked open another soda.
"Huh? Yu, what's the matter? It's just a chest, right? Chie or I could help if it's being stubborn..."
"No, that's not it. There's just something... I don't like about it. Let's leave it be."
Yosuke shrugged and turned around, with Yu following close behind, swearing that he could hear the rattle of chains from behind him...
As he climbed to the eighth floor of Yukiko's Castle, Yu spotted a blue butterfly flying in circles near a great door, the fog tinting everything blood red...
A butterfly? I wonder what that's doing he-
The shimmering blue insect landed on Yu as he approached it, and for a moment, Yu suddenly had a moment of extreme clarity to his memories, only for it to fade as the butterfly returned to its circuitous path.
"Come on, Yu! I can tell- Yukiko's right in there! So why're you just staring at your hand?"
So, they can't see it. I guess it might have something to do with the Velvet Room, then, given the color... Best not dwell on it.
Yu rested his sword over his shoulder as he opened the way forward.
A throne room, of course, made up the top floor of the Castle. Standing at the top and bottom of the stairs, the party saw-
"Yukiko!"
Both of her. It's kinda scary how much higher the Shadow is standing...
Chie and Yosuke ran alongside Yu to the base of the stairs, just behind the Yukiko they all knew...
"Oh? Oooooooh, what's this? Three Princes are here to see me? My my! Are you the surprise guests who came in late? Awwwwww... I wish I'd gotten a better look at you!"
The Shadow stepped forward, going down a single step.
"My, it's getting crowded in here. Why don't you and I go somewhere else...?"
What a creepy smolder...
"A land far, far away, where no one knows me. If you're my prince, you'd take me there, won't you? C'mon... Pretty please?"
And now she's talking like a child. Yeesh.
Teddie's eyes lit up.
"Oooh. Is this 'scoring a hot stud'!?"
Chie, however, was suddenly quite... Stunned.
"Three princes...? Wait, does that include me, too?"
Well... Uh... What am I supposed to say to that?
"Duh! The third one's gotta be me!"
Yosuke just sighed.
"I seriously doubt that, Ted."
The Shadow looked directly at the girl in green...
"Chie... Yes, she's my Prince. She always leads the way... Chie is a strong Prince..."
...So how long has it been like this for her? That's seriously one of the most transparently- No, no. Focus.
"Or at least, she WAS."
Chie repeated that last word, vaguely...
Hurt?
"When it comes down to it, Chie's just not good enough! She can't take me away from here! she can't save me!"
Chie just muttered her friend's name sadly...
Suddenly, the Yukiko they came to save rose to her feet...
"Stop..."
"Historic inn? Manager training!? I'm sick of all these things chaining me down! I never asked to be born here! Everything's decided for me, from how I live to where I die! I'm SO sick of it! To hell with it all!"
"That's not true..."
"I just want to go somewhere far away... Anywhere but here... Someone please take me away... I can't leave here on my own... I'm completely useless..."
What a way to treat yourself, mocking all her feelings.
"Stop... Please, stop..."
I have no hope if I stay, and no courage to leave. So I sit on my ASS, hoping that someday my Prince will come! I don't care where we go! Anywhere's fine! As long as it's not here, I don't give a damn! 'Historical tradition'? 'Pride of the town'? What a bunch of bullshit!"
Yukiko looked ready to cry from her own words...
"How dare you...?"
"That's how I really feel. Isn't that right... Me?"
"N-no!"
Yu and Yosuke both tried to reason with her-
"Yukiko! Stop, don't say it!"
"We can help with this, if we all just calm-"
"No! You're not me!"
Dammit.
The Shadow's aura charged with an incredible amount of darkness. As the red fog drew into it, the Shadow laughed...
"Aaah! This feels wonderful! It's building... More and more... If this keeps up, I'll... I'll!"
And it once more regressed to laughter.
Yukiko was knocked down as her Shadow dropped from the ceiling.
Chie ran in, Yu and Yosuke following close behind her.
"It's all right, Yukiko... Just hang in there! We'll save you!"
"I am a Shadow... The true self..."
A bird in a cage on top of a chandelier...
Yu took in the appearance of his newest foe.
But why did it have to have Yukiko's own face? And human breasts in a heart shape? It's just kinda... Ugh.
Yu adjusted his glasses and braced his body.
"Now, my Prince, why don't we dance and make merry together? Hmmhmm!"
"Hang in there, Yukiko. I'm right here for you!"
The shadow scoffed at the incredibly resolute Chariot.
"Oh, reeeally? Then I'll make sure to give you plenty to deal with!"
Orobas was only modestly strong, but he made up for it to Yu with the aid of the strangely effective
Hysterical Slap
technique. Unfortunately, Yosuke was having trouble matching up with him, and Chie's
Skewer
from Tomoe was only somewhat effective.
Then the Shadow laughed.
"We're not done yet! Show me this strength of yours! Come, my Prince~!"
And in a ray of light, a terrible cartoon of a prince came to life...
Great. The stupid-looking Shadows are always the ones that do annoying things, so this one should be EXTRA annoying.
The Charming Prince charged his blade with light, spun around and healed Shadow Yukiko's wounds...
Yep, extra annoying.
Chie tried for an area attack with her recently-mastered
Mabufu
spell, and found it incredibly effective against the Prince! The great bird didn't seem to like it much, either...
"What!? Are you trying to make me mad? That's not how it's supposed to work! You have to escort me!"
And with that, Chie took an
Agi
to the face and was knocked off her feet, and the Prince was granted a
White Wall
to protect it from further injury to ice.
"Archangel!"
Yu summoned another one of his Personas- A beefy-looking winged man in armor- To slash at the main Shadow, as it fired of a round of
Double Fangs
and scored two hits. The beast went limp from injury, but still hung on...
"Hmph. Looks like I was wrong! You're no Princes. Die worthless commoners!"
A wave of flames-
Burn to Ashes
Swept over the party. Chie had prepared for the possibility, and block some of the damage to herself...
The Prince flicked a ball of... Something, at Yu... When it touched him, suddenly...
"Hah. Hah."
I don't think I've ever been so damn scared.
More deep breaths...
"You're in my way!"
The Shadow flew over to Yu and started to drop its cage,
Shivering Rondo
but-
"No way!"
Yosuke shoved him out of the way!
"I said I could count on you, right? So I want to return the favor! Now, then!"
Yosuke turned himself towards the bird monster.
"Let's do this, Jiraiya!"
Sonic Punch
The Persona's shuriken flew fast and far, destroying the Prince with a well-placed
Critical Hit
"Chie! Your turn to show our leader how you get things done!"
"Right! Protect me, Tomoe!"
Chie's female samurai Persona dropped from the air and landed a fantastic
Skull Cracker
on Shadow Yukiko, who fell to the floor and released its pent-up power...
"N-no!"
Yukiko awoke with a groan after her Shadow's defeat. Chie ran to her friend's side.
"Yukiko! Yukiko, are you hurt?"
The long-haired girl turned to face herself.
"No... I'm not-"
"We understand. You're not the only one like that, Yukiko-san. Everyone has something they just can't show to other people, or they don't want to admit to themselves."
Wow, Yosuke. that's a pleasantly different way for you to act.
Chie bowed her head.
"Yukiko... I'm sorry. I-I was so self-centered that... That I never understood what you were going through... I'm supposed to be your friend, and I still... Oh... I'm so sorry..."
Chie wiped away a single tear...
No. This is something between the two of them right now. They're best friends. I'm no one to Yukiko right now.
"Chie..."
Chie had started to very lightly cry...
"I was always jealous of you, Yukiko. You had everything that I didn't... I That jealousy was like a wall, and I was so lonely... I wanted you to need me... But it was me who needed you. I can't do anything right on my own. I've caused so much trouble for Yu, and Yosuke... And especially you... I-if you weren't by my side, I-I wouldn't know what to do..."
"Chie... I never saw the real you, either... I was so busy trying to find an easy way out."
Yukiko limped towards her other self...
"'I want to run away'... 'I want someone to save me'... You're right. Those feelings are part of me, too. I understand now... You're me."
The Shadow nodded.
The strength of heart required to face oneself has been made manifest... Yukiko has faced her other self... She has obtained the facade used to overcome life's hardships, the Persona Konohana Sakuya!
Yukiko slumped over onto her knees.
"Yukiko!"
Chie ran over to her, along with Yu. Yosuke and Teddie soon followed.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine... Just a little tired. You all came to rescue me?"
Chie giggled a little.
"Of course!"
"... Thank you..."
"Don't mention it... I'm just so glad you're safe..."
"... So, who threw you in here?"
Not to self: Teddie has zero social skills. Then again, he's been alone in here for so long, it's a small wonder.
Teddie explained the nature of his existence to Yukiko, who accepted him as friendly quickly. When the topic returned to her kidnapping, however, Yukiko couldn't say who threw her in...
"So, you believe me now when I say we're not the culprits?"
Teddie's pupils shrank into tiny dots.
"I-I always believed it wasn't you guys! Honest!"
"You little...! You're one lying sack of honey..."
Great, now Yosuke's doing it, too. Soon, we'll all speak in Bearpunese... Dammit!
The team agreed to have Yosuke and Teddie escort them back to the Entrance- Yu and Chie would help Yukiko there.
Teddie cried out that he felt abandoned, but Yukiko promised to see him again, and gave him a pat on his head.
"My, it's getting crowded in here. Why don't you and I go somewhere else?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"... Gah, you're giving me the creeps! That's it, you're stuck here for the rest of your life!"
In the Junes Food Court, the team gently interrogated Yukiko for any clues about her kidnapping. Unfortunately, she couldn't remember much of it at all... The group went over what info they had- Like that the Shadows were the ones on the Midnight Channel, not the victims- But no new ground was truly covered.
"You've been trapped in the TV World for days, and been through a lot of emotional pain. It's fine that there's nothing you can tell us- Just you being safe is reward enough"
"Heh, leave it to the leader to say corny things like that. Ow!"
Yu was quietly placing all his weight into his foot, which just so happened to be on top of Yosuke's.
Dojima actually came home that night.
With a coworker.
Nanako awkwardly shuffled her feet.
"Um... Hello..."
"Hi there!"
Oh. It's that jackass from yesterday. Great, he knows where we live.
Dojima explained that they got off work the same time, and opted to take him back home for some unwinding.
"Nice to meet ya! I'm Adachi, the guy who's been you're dad's slave since spring."
"I can still work you harder, you know."
"Oh, right! You're friends with Yukiko Amagi, right? They found her safe and sound! Tell all your friends at school!"
"... That's a relief."
Adachi explained that the police couldn't figure out her whereabouts, and that her lack of memory of the events was a major hamper on the continuing investigation of the cases...
Dojima punched him.
"Stop blabbering, dumbass!"
Right in front of Nanako...
"Ignore him, he's just spouting some wild fantasy."
Dinner was rather lively that night...
Yu's Level: 15
Current Personas:
Archangel
Orobas
Slime
Izanagi
Pixie
Apsaras
Sandman
Ukobach
Yomotsu-Shikome
Social Links:
Fool: Rank 1
Magician: Rank1
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