"... And that's what's been eating at Rise, apparently..."
"Searching for her true self... Well, I think we all can relate to that."
Chie nodded at Yu's info, as did the rest of the Investigation Team soon after. Wordlessly, they descended into the Electronics Department, and then the World Inside the TV...
Yu talked to Teddie as soon as the Team entered the TV World.
"Hmhm... Her real self? I see! She's just like me. The delicate, sentimental type."
Well, considering how depressed you both have been...
"Then... Hrrmmm... Wah! There's something out there! Is this it!? Did I find her!? Follow me!"
Teddie marched after the scent his nose had caught...
Wow. He's a lot fast than those stubby legs suggest... Better keep up!
Teddie brought them to a dark area, far from the Entrance...
All I can see is purple carpet... With... Hearts. Oh, no...
Suddenly, the lights flashed on, revealing a gaudy-looking set of tables and booths near a catwalk stage, all accompanied by neon lighting...
Yep.
Chie was stunned.
"Whoa, is this a...?"
"Oh, like the kind you always find in resort towns!?"
Yosuke, don't get excited. This is Rise's various psychoses made manifest.
Yukiko nodded.
"Ah, I think you're right, Yosuke-kun. Um... Oh! But we don't have one... Our inn is NOT like that!"
"Huh. So this is a strip joint, huh?"
Leave it to Kanji to hit it on the nose.
"Strip? Aha! I know what that is! It's the thing Zebras have, right!?"
Teddie looked left and right, eager for a response...
Most of the others stayed silent. Chie just sighed.
"Strip... Like a zebra, right!? Right!?"
Yukiko suddenly changed the subject.
"It's so bright here... Even with the glasses on, my eyes hurt."
"Doesn't anyone get the joke!? Okay, let's try one more time... Strip- It's something zebras have, huh?"
"Can anyone shut this thing up!?"
No kidding, Chie.
Yukiko looked around, confused.
"Huh? Zebra? Sorry, what're you talking about?"
Never lose that obliviousness, Yukiko... With Yosuke AND Teddie around, I think you'll need it.
"I... I won't say it again. Let's hurry on..."
And with that, the group entered the Marukyu Striptease.
Oh, wow, there's music. It just enhances the creepy sleaze this whole place has...
Yu felt a subtle headache from all the purple and pink upholstery blending into each other...
Eyeballs with secret faces and human figures made from DNA models... The Shadows just keep getting weirder, somehow.
"We've got three masks held up by smoke or somethin' incoming!"
Damn. I think those only show up on rainy days... And just eat everything but one element... Damn, that's annoying...
"Sensei! Are you okay? I think I'm getting a little drunk from all the pink..."
At least I'm not the only one... Still, a drunk Teddie... Yikes.
Stupid Shuffle Time cards... Playing a memory game isn't very fair... I guess I've only got my subconscious to blame, though...
"Hey, Yu! I got something to show ya!"
Yosuke gave his friend a heads-up before shattering his Magician card, calling forth Jiraiya, who unleashed a moderately large whirlwind on a Shadow,
Garula!
Wow, he's really coming along...
"Nice one, Yosuke."
Yosuke gave a friendly smirk.
"Hm? I can smell it! My nose is picking up some kinda clue!"
"Alright, Teddie. Thanks for the warning."
Shadow Rise's probably hanging around on this floor, I'm guessing...
Yu pulled back yet another curtain on the third floor...
Yep.
The Team confirmed amongst themselves that it was definitely Rise's Shadow...
"Hello, all you fans out there! Thanks for coming today!"
Oh, man. All the previous Shadows had weird eyes, but Rise's has the creepiest so far. That's a killer's stare...
"Today, you're gonna see every last inch of me! What's that? You don't believe me? Ahaha! Okay, okay! Then why don't we..."
The Shadow suddenly looked around.
"Oh, but you won't be able to see with all this smoke, huh? Okie-dokie! Just follow me a little further in and I'll prove I'm every bit as good as my word!"
And with that, a cheap-looking titlecard appeared above and behind the Shadow-
Maru-Q Midsummer Night's Dream Special! All the way- LIVE!! HOT! Risette EXPOSED!!
"... Were we like that? That's... Going kinda far..."
No joke, Kanji.
An extremely loud crowd started roaring...
Lovely.
"Where is that even coming from...?"
Yosuke seemed to have the same fears as Yu.
"Man, if people really are watching this... We gotta do something, and fast."
The Shadow giggled.
"All right, Risetteers! Don't touch that dial! When we come back, you'll get a good, long look at the real me! Maru-Q!"
Is that like, her catch phrase? From the stage, even? It's been bugging me that she keeps saying a cutesier version of the tofu shop's name...
The Shadow ran off, into the fog...
"W-we'd better move it! This is a thousand times worse than just hearing a few nasty secrets!"
This isn't anything really new, though, Yosuke. Bad as it is, this was basically the same as the last Midnight Channel...
The crowd chattered again.
"The Shadows are really getting aggravated! What we just saw is what that Rise girl is suppressing! She'll be in trouble at this rate!"
"Thanks for the confirmation, Ted. Alright, let's move on!"
Kanji pumped himself up a bit.
"Guess I'm on the rescue team now, huh, Senpai? Alright, let's hurry up and go!"
What the hell.
Yu stared in stunned silence at the Persistent Fuzz across from him, as a blast of ice reflected away from it onto Yu, who shrugged it off...
Yeah, I've got King Frost helping me here, but... That thing reflects ALL magic!?
The Shadow aimed its pistol and fired.
Rise's voice rang out as the Team climbed to the fourth floor...
"Gooooood evening, everyone! I'm Risette! Thanks for being such faithful viewers! I'm tired of diets! Enough with going to the gym! Good thing there's something even I can handle!"
That ad seems to keep popping up everywhere... And it makes her sound kinda vacant... Wouldn't have guessed it was bothering her that much, though.
"I've had enough of this place, too! Urgh, I'm getting all dizzy..."
"You and me both, Ted."
Basalts. I hate Basalts. They're so obnoxious, and they actual hit exactly like a ton of rocks. No other type of Shadow has been so consis-
"Not you!"
Yukiko suddenly shoved Yu out of the way of an incoming attack.
"... Thank you."
"Hah... Hah... Any... Time..."
I'm a little worried... Yukiko's got a steel will, but her body is kinda... Fragile-looking.
Rise's voice called out again...
"You've come all this way... Are you a fan of mine? Seriously!? That makes Risette sooo happy! Since you tried so hard, I wonder if I should do something special for you... But not here! First, you gotta prove your love just a liiittle bit more! I'll be waiting!"
"..... S-sensei! I'm gonna try even harder!"
... Considering the last few times, I don't think the 'proving my love' bit is going to be the same kind of interesting you think, Teddie.
"Galactic Punt!"
Chie threw herself straight at a Shadow and blasted it into orbit...
Come to think of it, how does she shoot a pile of rocks or a huge knight or... Anything, into orbit, without her Persona...? Ah, whatever.
"C'mon, hang in there! Just a little more to go! I'm rooting for you!"
Even Shadow Rise is really supportive... I wonder how this'll all come back to bite me on the-
"Whaa-? The girl Sensei's trying to rescue is cheering him on... I dunno... It's kinda weird...
Yu and his friends found a Shadow-free corridor and took a break, everyone cracking open a soda to keep their energy up for spells and such.
Chie decided to talk to Yu first...
"Hey, Yu-kun? You're trying to get through this quick, right? 'Cause if you're gonna act like Yosuke, I'll kick your butt!"
Her face is so... Serious.
"No. I thought you knew me better than that, Chie?"
"Hmm? Oh, right... I'm sorry. I get a little..."
She's really easily worried, I guess... I'll try not to hold it against her.
"Hey, Yukiko! You wanna come sit with us?"
"What? You want me too... Oh, okay."
Whew. Thought I might've gotten a slap there.
"I'm not even bothering with the upset looks anymore."
"*Yip!*"
The leaves are a LITTLE cheaper, at least...
Yu visited the Velvet Room...
"Welcome to the Velvet Room. This Gdon has Rampage, I see... You have successfully completed this quest... Do you know why I asked you to bring me such a beast?"
Frankly, I don't know why you're asking me for these exact Persona/skill combinations... Or why I'm so fine with following through with them...
"... It's because I wanted you to be aware that even an innocent boy like you can harbor such a dreadful creature inside.
... Yikes. When you put it like that...
"... And... I wanted to ride on it for a bit."
What.
"But this Persona seems too hot for me... Can I extinguish its flames?"
Margret chuckled just a little.
"I'm kidding. I wouldn't harm your Persona, nor yourself... I think."
The One Who Rules Over Power is... Interesting...
After thanking Igor and Margret for their services, Yu saw a fourth Empress card appear before him.
"Well then... For my next request... I would like a Neko Shogun capable of using Bufula. If anyone can do this for me, it's you. I eagerly await your return."
Seventh floor... This is just getting sillier and sillier, how many floors there are for each area...
"Wow! I'm so happy you came! But, still, I'm a little embarrassed... So I'm gonna turn out the lights!"
Crap.
"Whoa! It got really dark! This is dangerous! Be careful going onward, Sensei!"
The Team began to gradual explore the darkened hallways...
"You came! Okay, I'm ready for anything..."
Yu pulled back the curtain in the central area of the floor.
Shadow Rise laughed at the Team, as it sicked a huge Shadow on them...
"C'mon, look at me!"
Amorous Snake... More like 'Unsubtle Innuendo'. Did it have to be white? And have a giant male symbol penetrating a giant female one?
Stagnant Air
Oh, it's trying to choke us, too...
Poison Mist
Dammit...
The battle dragged on a little longer than Yu would have liked, but ultimately the Shadow was defeated with the aid of Yukiko's
Agilao
spell and Yu's own.
But man... That was disgusting... At least the lights are back on...
"Good evening! It's me, Rise Kujikawa! Why don't I tell all you fans a little about myself? Hmm... What should I talk about first? Umm... Never mind. Maybe some other time."
That was... Bizarre, even for those inner-thought rambles...
Yu barely pulled himself up from being blasted backwards...
"These Knights are always gonna be awful to deal with, aren't they?"
As soon as he finished saying that, Yu was knocked out of the way of its lance by Kanji.
Holy hell I just got dropkicked!
"Let's see... My work right now... Yeah, I think it's really fulfilling.I longed to be an idol ever since I was a kid. Every day's so much fun!"
So, it wasn't really work stress...
"Every day's fun for me, too, since I'm working with you guys, Sensei!"
That thing's a tank. I go inside a TV and I rescue people from the world there by sending monsters from my psyche to destroy tanks. Only way it'd be crazier is if I had to shoot myself or something.
Yu called forth Gdon to
Rampage
the Shadow, destroying it after an arduous fight.
"My ideal guy? Hmmm... I guess someone that's kind and clean? Oh, looks don't matter that much. I actually don't like handsome-looking guys. I mean, it's what's on the inside that really counts, right?"
She's incredibly magnanimous, if that's true...
"I see... So one's insides are important... But I'm all empty..."
Oh, Teddie... We don't need a depressed bear backing us up.
What sick madness is this?
Yu swung his sword at a Shadow that took the form of a man strapped to a wheel by several chains and straps...
Bondage giants that spin around to kill me... Creepy. Who's repressed issues are these?
Yukiko swiftly fell them with her
Maragi
Spell, and the Team quickly moved to the eleventh floor...
A short hallway with a butterfly fluttering in front of a door... That butterfly never signifies anything good in this world...
Yu touched the butterfly- It gave him a strange moment of absolute clarity to his mind, only for it to disappear once more- Then peeled back the curtain.
The Investigation Team barreled into the room, spotting both Rise, who was weakly lying on her side, and her Shadow, which gave a shrill laugh as it stood over her.
"They're all watching! All eyes are on me now!"
"Stop it!"
Rise herself seemed exhausted...
"Aww! What's the matter? You wanna show your stuff, don'tcha? How's this!?"
And with that, the Shadow banging leaning of of a nearby pole, blowing kisses...
Wow, that's... Kinda expected, kinda unexpected...
"Please... Stop this..."
Rise demanded at her other self, barely avoiding tears.
"Oooh, she wants me to stop. That's so funny! As if that's even close to what you're really thinking, you little skank!"
Wow, they just keep getting more and more aggressive with the insults.
"You're me! And obviously, I'm you!"
"No... that's not true..."
"Ahahahah! C'mon, look! You can't tear your eyes away! This is me! This is who I really am! Not Risette, the fake celebrity! Look at the girl right in front of you!"
Blowing kisses on a stripper pole?
"I'm sick of being some airhead cliche who chokes down everything she's fed and takes it all with a smile! 'Risette'? Who the hell is she? There's no such person in this world! I'm no one but myself! C'mon, look at me!"
So, just as we thought... She feels like she's losing herself.
Rise barely squeaked out a protest.
"That's not- I...!"
"Hmhm! I guess it's time to prove it. I'm gonna show it all off! Let my naked truth be burned into your brains!"
Dammit, do I give the order to move? Rise's sitting right between us and the Shadow, and I don't think I can just ask two of the Team to move her with that thing there...
Rise rose to her feet.
"Stop... Stop it! You're..."
Yu started to move towards her.
"No, don't say it!"
"You're... not me!"
The Shadow started laughing manically.
"Here it comes! Now, I'm finally myself!"
The Shadow transformed, blasting
"Dammit... Guys, we move in!"
Kanji nodded to Yu's command.
"Tch... Here we go again!"
"I am a Shadow... The true self... And now, the moment you've been waiting for! It's time now for me to show you every last inch of myself! Heehee... And for our guests in the front row... I'll give you extra-special, extra intense service!"
A giant, acid-trip Rise... And she's got... Some kinda satellite dish/censor pixel on her face. She's really upset about her... Double life? Is that what you call it?
Kanji sighed.
"So, I was like that, too? Oh, man..."
The shadow laughed again.
"Ohhh? You're going to rush the stage? What an ill-mannered guest... Maybe you're looking for an experience that's a little more... INTENSE!?"
The fight raged...
Oh, god, those noises it makes when it moves. No. No.
The Shadow released wave after wave of all sorts of spells...
"Tomoe!"
Chie's Persona spun its weapon around, creating an orange aura around Kanji,
Tarukaja.
"I feel a lot stronger... Thanks, Chie-senpai! Take-Mikazuchi! C'mon!"
Kanji's Persona slammed its weapon in a huge swing,
Fatal End
Into Shadow Rise...
"Ahahah! Enjoying yourself? I've got a ways to go until I show my true self... You ain't see nothin' yet!"
Dammit... This thing is tough. It keeps smacking someone's weakness and sneaking more in during that opening...
"Come! Konohana-Sakuya!"
Yukiko's Persona restored the health Kanji had lost in the onslaught and from his own attacks,
Diarama
as a rain of fire and ice fell upon them...
"Ahh!"
Dammit... I didn't want to use this thing, but here goes!
"Taotie!"
Yu crushed his Persona card, summoning a bizarre sheep-like demon that danced a little before a searing light engulfed Shadow Rise,
Megido.
"Kanji, we're playing defensively from here on!"
"Got it, Senpai! Hey, Chie-senpai! Lemme return the favor!"
Kanji called upon Take-Mikazuchi once again, this time having it generate a purple aura around the Chariot,
Rakukaja.
"Take this!"
Shadow Rise suddenly swung around from her inverted position on its pole and struck the entire Team with a sharp kick,
Mind Slice.
"You aren't having it that easy!"
Yu called in Taotie once more, for his own
Mind Slice.
"What? I dealt all that exquisite pain and you're still not satisfied? What a finicky guest... You might as well DIE, then!"
Oh god, its humping the pole
After finishing its... Dance, the Shadow suddenly formed green radar grid around the Investigation Team...
Supreme Insight.
"No touching allowed. Hmhmhm~!"
What was that?
Yu ran forward and swung his sword, but, somehow, he missed...
His friends all tried the same, and all missed in the same mysterious way...
"I can see everything about you... Ahaha!"
"What's the deal here? Our attacks keep missing!"
Chie was incensed, as was Yosuke.
"Damn, it's like it's anticipating our every move..."
"I-I'm completely useless..."
Teddie panicked in the rear of the party's formation...
Another wave of scanning energy was released from Shadow Rise...
"What the-!?"
"That power... I think it's scanning us, Sensei! Ohh, this is not good!"
"When you say 'not good', what exactly does that mean!?"
Kanji shouted at Teddie...
"Woohoo...! Analysis complete! Okay, here comes my counterattack! See if you can dodge, hmm?"
Teddie suddenly snapped at the Shadow...
"Stop it!"
And with that, a massive tide of energy engulfed everyone but the bear, nearly obliterating them...
"You gotta be kidding..."
"How're we supposed to win...!?"
"A-are we... going to die...?"
Teddie panicked even more...
"No! You guys can't die! What can I do...? Sensei..."
I... I can barely even move...
"It's... Up to you, Teddie..."
"... There must be something... Something I can do... Am I going to be all alone again...? No... That's not what I want!"
Another wave of energy...
"Shit! It's winding up again!"
Kanji struggled out his words...
"I... I..."
Teddie whimpered to himself...
"Okie dokie, here- we- go again!"
It humped the pole in time to its words... Talk about insult to injury...
"Goodbye... Forever!"
"Aw shit, it's coming!"
Yosuke barely could speak, either...
Teddie suddenly made a move towards the Shadow...
"M-my body's moving on its own! Wh-why am I stepping forward!? Wh-whoaaaa! I-I feel like I'm going bear-serk! Grr! I'll do it! Take a good look... At Teddie's last stand!"
What the-
Teddie suddenly radited an aura of incredible power...
"Wha- This high-energy reading... Is it coming from that weird thing...!?"
"Teddie!? The hell are you doing!?"
"Teddie!"
"Roawwwwwwwwwwr!"
And with that, Teddie rammed into the Shadow, and everything went white...
Wha- Why do I feel so much better-?
Everyone rose to their feet, and ran to the literally flattened Teddie...
"Did I... Did I help?"
"You didn't just help, you saved our lives!"
And got Yosuke to be nice to you. That's two miracles in one action.
Teddie laughed a little.
"Neat...! I'm so glad... I didn't want to be alone anymore..."
"Teddie..."
Chie spoke with solemn gratitude...
With a little effort, Teddie rose to his paper-thin feet.
"Wh-what in the world!? Nooo... My fine, silky fur... I was so proud of it! Waaah..."
"Looks like he's gonna be just fine... I guess."
Really sensitive Yosuke.
"Right, we need to get to Rise! She can't be doing well..."
The others nodded at Yu, and the group advanced to the stage at the center of the area, Yukiko arriving first.
"Rise-chan!?"
"Mm...? Where... Am I...?"
Rise looked right at Yu.
"I'm sorry... It's all my fault..."
Well... Sorta?
"You can let go now."
"Huh? Yeah... Haha... When was the last time someone said that to me...?"
The ex-idol walked over to her Shadow...
"Here, stand up."
The Shadow did so. Rise focused on it...
"I'm sorry... You must've been in a lot of pain up to now. You're part of me, but I kept refusing to 'admit you existed... I was trying to figure out who the real me was. But I realize now that I was on the wrong track. There is no 'real' me. It just doesn't exist."
Teddie muttered in the background...
"There's no... Real me...?"
Rise continued addressing...
Herself? I guess? When you break it down, this is really weird. I guess I just never really thought too much about it...
"You... Me... Even Risette... They were all born from me. All of them are... Me."
The Shadow nodded.
The strength of heart needed to face oneself has been made manifest... Rise has faced her other self... She has obtained the facade used to overcome life's hardships, the Persona Himiko!
Rise turned to face the party one more... And collapsed.
Rise recognized the male members from the other day, and thanked the entire group, only for...
"There's... No real me...?"
Oh, dear. We have a failure in communication, don't we?
"Teddie?"
Kanji started to walk towards Teddie, only for Rise to shout at him.
"No, get back! Something's coming out of him!"
An ominous voice suddenly rang out, seemingly from all around.
"Real? Me? Hmhmhm. Such foolishness."
I don't like where this is headed.
Teddie's Shadow suddenly emerged, forming behind Teddie.
"D-don't tell me... Is that the other Teddie? Teddie's hidden thoughts!?"
Rise nodded.
"I believe so, but it seems like there's more. I felt some powerful presence intervene..."
So, someone or something is able to force situations so that Shadows appear? Maybe the killer...?
"Wh-what's going on!?"
Teddie pivoted his flattened body around...
"Wh-whoaa!"
The Shadow chose to speak once more.
"The truth is unattainable. It will always be shrouded in fog. Though you reach through the murk and the gloom to grasp something, you have no means to know it is the truth... In which case, why? What sense is there in yearning for truth? Close your eyes. Lie to yourself. Live in blissful ignorance... It is a much smarter way to exist."
"Wh-what're you talking about!? I don't understand a word you're saying! You're just making it sound difficult because I'm not that smart! How rude! Maybe you can't tell, but I'm thinking as hard as I can!"
The Shadow laughed.
"It is those efforts that I'm calling useless. You are hollow. Empty. At your core, you know this... You just cannot accept it. So you seek an alternate form... A denial of your nature. You have no lost memories. If you have forgotten anything, it is this truth."
'There is no truth' and 'know this truth'...So, now I know Teddie's Shadow- Or whoever is controlling it, or manipulating it or whatever- Is a big, fat hypocrite.
Teddie back away from his Shadow.
"Th-that's... A lie..."
"Hmph. Shall I spell it out for you? You are but a mere-"
"I said shaddup!"
Teddie rammed his other self, only to bounce uselessly off of it...
Yukiko called out to her friend.
"Teddie!"
"It is the same for you all. You undergo suffering because of your search for the truth... This world is filled with thick, heavy fog... How can you find something when you know not what you search for?"
This bastard's really pissing me off...
"The truth has to exist."
"Obtaining the truth is simple... All you have to do is believe that it is the truth. Then, allow me to grant you one such truth... You will all die here. You sought the truth, only to find death..."
It's winding up...
"Dammit... Teddie... You really did help us, y'know. Now we need to fight without you?"
Rise tried to encourage Yu and the others.
"It's all right. Get ready, everyone."
Chie objected to her fighting when she was still so weak...
"I'm okay. I should be able to take that bear's place! Now, it's my turn to save you all!"
Rise summoned her Persona and began scanning, as Shadow Teddie sunk into the floor...
A woman with a satellite dish face and visor-shaped hands... Himiko's made for this job, huh?
"I am a Shadow... The true self... I shall give you the truth you claim to hold so dear... The inescapable fact of your death here!"
A giant Teddie... But his fur's all mangy, and he has nasty-looking claws... And that face... Those cracks... And those EYES...
"Was that creepy thing really inside our Teddie?"
Chie managed a nervous question before the Shadow continued...
"Foolish beings! Accept your end with dignity and grace!"
"C'mon, Unicorn!"
Yu called forth a one-horned horse, which focused on the titanic beast as it called a
Zionga
down on it.
The Shadow countered with a slam of its massive paw on the ground, summoning a burst of hot air,
Heat Wave.
The fight raged for a bit before the Shadow reared up and roared, a massive aura forming around it,
Mind Charge.
It's powering up, huh?
"Everybody, put up a guard!"
The Shadow summoned a wave of ice on the party,
Mabufula.
Mabufula... So, I guess I shouldn't cast Bufu on it?
"Kanji, this thing looks powerful!"
"Loud and clear, Senpai!"
Kanji called in his Persona to enhance everyone's defense with
Rakukaja.
"Stop his futile struggling. Even if you resist, it will all come to naught..."
The Shadow ducked into its pit, then returned with a huge mass of darkness around its hand,
Ultra Charge.
Rise chimed in.
"What? I have a bad feeling about this..."
After the Team wailed on it a little more, Rise sensed a huge attack coming in.
"Right then! Everybody, guard!"
The Shadow sweeped its hand across them all,
Nihil Hand,
but the blow bounced harmlessly off of all the fighters...
That looked like it'd hurt if we hadn't blocked, though...
"Mithra!"
Yu called down the strange lion figure wrapped in a snake, which summoned a cyclone,
Garula.
"We're never stopping our search! We'll never give up!"
"What...? How can you summon such strength for such a futile endeavor...!?"
The Shadow called a ball of energy around Chie and smashed both it and her in one huge blow,
Nuilty Guidance
then began another
Ultra Charge
The fight raged for a long time, but Chie managed to pull off a critically-powerful
Assault Dive
And finished Shadow Teddie as he readied yet another
Nihil Hand.
"Graaaaa!"
The Team talked to Teddie after the fight...
"Even Teddie had a hidden side..."
Chie sounded a little concerned...
Teddie turned to face his other self...
"I... I don't know who I am... I've thought a number of times... That maybe there is no answer. But I'm here... I live here."
Teddie...
"You're not alone."
"Sensei... Then... I don't have to do this all on my own...?"
"Dude, we'll help you figure it out."
"I'm sure we'll find out about you, as we continue investigating this world."
Yosuke and Yukiko also offered their support, and Kanji and Chie both nodded...
"Y-you guys...! I'm... I'm one lucky bear! Waaah..."
Teddie turned around one more time...
The courage of heart needed to face oneself has been made manifest... Teddie has faced his other self... He has obtained the facade used to overcome life's hardships, the Persona Kintoki-Douji!
"... Is this my Persona?"
Rise barely responded...
"I can sense strong power from it... Its awesome, Teddie..."
And with that, Rise collapsed to her knees...
The team decided that they needed to escort Rise out as quickly as possible, as she was still weak from being trapped and having just had her Persona awaken...
At the Entrance area, everyone made sure Rise was okay...
"I'm fine... I'm more worried about Teddie."
The flattened bear was uncharacteristically quiet in response to everyone's worries...
"I wanna be alone for a while. My beautiful fur is all rough and coarse... And my nose hasn't been working too well, either..."
With that, Teddie threw himself into an endless series of situps...
"So, while I wait for my fur to grow back, I'm gonna train hard! Nobody can stop moi! Here goes! Huh!"
Yosuke yelled at him a little.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Don't, talk, to me, please! One more set! Huh! Huh! Another! Huh! Huh!"
Kanji sighed and nodded.
"Leave the dude be. Comes a time when a man's gotta stand on his own two feet."
"Umm, I'm not sure this is one of those times..."
Yukiko spoke up before Chie could continue.
"Well then, Chie and I will take Rise-chan home."
"Oh, right! Well, good luck, Teddie."
"Yeah! Just kick back and wait for my wonderful comeback Peace out!"
What a bear.
"I'll see you later"
The others all left through the TVs, but Teddie talked to Yu a little before he could leave.
"I said this before, but... I can sense something special about you, Sensei. There must be something that only I can do... That's how I feel when I'm with Sensei. That's why I'm gonna get stronger! To find my special thing! Raaawr!"
"I know you can do it, Teddie!"
As Yu climbed into the exit TVs and fell through the space between the worlds, he saw a second Star card appear before him...
That night, Yu set a small spread he got on his way out of Junes for himself and Nanako, when the door opened...
"He's back!"
Nanako ran up to meet her father...
"Whoa, there! Careful now, Dojima-san!"
Crap... It's Adachi... And that smell...
"Ow! Dammit...! Who built a shtep here!?"
My worst fears have been confirmed...
"That'd be the carpenters, Sir. C'mon, don't take your anger out on the house. That won't solve anything."
"Whooo... I'm hoooome. Nanako! I'm baaaack!"
"W-welcome back..."
Dojima's terrifyingly giddy when he's shitfaced.
"Oh, hi Nanako-chan. Sorry, but could you go get his futon ready?"
Nanako ran upstairs, as Adachi rested Dojima on the couch...
"Phew! I think he had a little too much to drink, haha."
"How else... *hic*... Am I supposed deal with this crap!? Friggin' fancy-talkin' kid... I've... I've been in this line's work... Since you were all learnin' yer times tables!"
Adachi tried to explain.
"The prefectural police sent in special investigational support. 'Cause you know, we haven't really made any progress on the serial murders since they started in April... Haha. So this 'special support' is supposedly a hot-shot from some well-known private agency... But you shoulda seen the look on my face when I met him! He's only a kid your age! I hear he's a pretty sharp cookie, though."
I wonder if it's hat-boy, from when we first dealt with Kanji...
"Aww, he's a brat like any other Ain't nothin' he can do to help. *hic* He goes on and on about deductions and... Deductions... Heh... Ace or no ace, the prefeckshure oughtta be more careful about giving us brats to babysit... Condes... Condescenscendin' bashtards... *hic*"
"The kid said once, as long as he can be of assistance in solving a difficult case, he won't require a reward. Well, you can imagine the shine the higher-ups took to him after that. So we can't exactly turn him down after that..."
"Adachi!"
"Gah, I'm sorry... Me and my big mouth..."
If this weren't such a tiny police department, I think you'd have been fired about seven or eight times over by now.
"You-you run yer jawe like this is all shome kinda joke... It's your fault to begin with, for jumping the gun and hauling in that Peeping Tom!"
Should I fess up to my involvement there...?
After Adachi mumbled and awkwardly laughed to himself, Dojima faced towards his nephew.
"And you! You'cn take your share of the blame, too... Always wandering around crime scenes whenever somthin' happens..."
Nanako ran down the stairs and in front of the couch.
"His futon's ready."
Nanako! You saved me! Thank you!
The younger detective hauled Dojima to bed, and Nanako looked to her Big Bro...
"... Sure does stink like sake in here..."
Damn you,. Adachi... You just had to keep pouring him drinks, didn't you?
Yu's Level: 37
Current Personas:
Mithra
Unicorn
Taotie
Gdon
Setanta
Pazuzu
Pyro Jack
Ganga
Oni
Virtue
Makami
Yamata-no-Orochi
Social Links:
Fool: Rank 4
Magician: Rank 3
Priestess: Rank 4
Empress: Rank 3
Emperor: Rank 2
Hierophant: Rank 6
Chariot: Rank 4
Justice: Rank 6
Hermit: Rank 4
Strength: Rank 5
Hanged Man: Rank 1
Temperance: Rank 5
Devil: Rank 4
Tower: Rank 2
Star: Rank 2
Moon: Rank 5
Sun: Rank 6
Comments
