08/07 Su
Clear
Yu took a walk along the Samegawa...
It's the perfect spot to cool off during summer... And it's quiet.
Yu found Hisano in her usual spot, near the water's edge.
Yu smiled at her, and she smiled back.
"I'm happy we could meet again."
Hisano and Yu stood in silence for a few minutes, before the old woman spoke again.
"... Why do you keep coming back? It must be boring, listening to this old bag's stories..."
Happy, sometimes, a while back... But really heartbreaking, all the time...
"It's interesting, to me."
Hisano chuckled a little.
"Well, you're just a special boy, aren't you?"
Hisano smiled, and the two fell quiet again, though for just a short time.
"Enough about me. I want to hear something from you. Tell me anything."
... Oh, man. If only, if only... Maybe I can make an allegory on the spot...
"I've been really fighting my way through this one class..."
Yu continued for a short while. At the end, Hisano laughed again...
"Is that so? You must be brilliant in your classes. I'm starting to think you shouldn't be wasting your time talking to an old lady like me. Hah... I wish I could listen to your stories forever and ever."
I'm... I'm very flattered. Thank you.
"But... I do not want to see you anymore."
... What!?
"But I... Why?"
"I'm sorry... You just remind me of him too much... Thank you for everything... Goodbye..."
And with that, Hisano walked away...
Despite what had just happened, a fifth Death card appeared before Yu on his walk home...
... Maybe she didn't really mean that. I'll... I'll have to find out.
Hey, there's a Homerun Bar in the freezer!
Yu bit into the confection, the crisp wafer breaking off in a single piece, the vanilla ice cream slowing melting on his tongue...
... Lovely. Oh, right, the wrapper!- Darn... No prize this time.
Great, more untranslateable puns. Couldn't I just get a surreal, non-sequitur gag strip? Ugh...
08/08 M
*PI-PI-PI! PI-PI-PI!*
... Oh, it's her.
"Hello. It's me. Let's go to Junes today."
Ai. On one hand, she was kinda horrible to Rise, but on the other, I'm not sure she has very many friends, and if I reject, I'm scared she might do something drastic...
"Okay."
"Don't be late."
As blunt as she came across, Ai sounded a little happy, too...
Yu found himself on the roof, as Ai scanned the food court's menu...
"Takoyaki, yakisoba, okonomiyaki... All on one combo plate? No one except starch junkies would order that."
It's summer. It's festival food. It's a sampler plate. 'Sides, the way you're focusing on it...
"I know you want to try it."
"H-how'd you know...!? You better not tell anyone!"
"Wooooow, Sensei! I'm impressed... You scored a hot girl..."
Hornbear, twenty feet and closing!
Teddie put himself right next to Yu...
"Let me in on the secret!"
Ai stared at Teddie, dumbfounded.
"Huh? 'Teddie'...? You don't look like a bear."
"Nooooooo!!"
"Back to work, Teddie!"
Yosuke came running in...
"Huh? Yu and Ai-san?"
"Hi. You know your store offers nothing but carbs? I need some salad."
"We have a salad bar!"
"No way! It's all soggy!"
"Wow, her temper surpasses even Rise-chan's..."
Teddie threw his arms over his head in celebration.
"But I love it! I want to see even more!"
... Oh boy.
Yu stared long and hard at the beer in fridge.
You... You're tempting me. Seducing me. Or trying to, at least. You know that I had to keep Teddie from pouncing on Ai all day...
Yu closed the fridge.
'Sides, drinking in a detective's house is just a bad idea.
08/09 Tu
Clear
Yu went to the Shopping District mid-morning, stopping by Marukyu Tofu...
I still need to make up for that time with Ai... I hope Rise is around today.
At that moment, Rise walked out of the store, taking off her headkerchief on the way out.
"Oh, Senpai! I just finished my shift at the store. Are you free today?"
Yu smiled and nodded.
Leanan Sidhe locked into place in Yu's mind, bringing him a little closer to the Lovers...
Souzai Daigaku... It was either here of Aiya, and Rise said she didn't want Chinese.
Rise put her fork down.
"I can't take another bite. My stomach's full..."
... Where did they go? Three super croquettes, just... Gone. Not even Chie could eat that fast... Though she might be able to eat MORE...
Rise stretched her back a little and continued talking.
"That hit the spot! I've been wanting to come here. But it's a little embarrassing to show up alone, you know?"
"You don't ever eat out?"
"Nope! If someone snapped a photo of me doing that, I'd hear it from my agency."
... Well, that makes sense. But man, stardom sounds pretty annoying if you just want to do things off-stage...
Rise continued.
"The last time I ate out was at a festival when I was still a little kid. Back then, it was me and my family... It was fun."
... Well, can't let anything bad happen at this festival, then, huh? Wonder if she's more of a takoyaki or okonomiyaki person?
Rise stood up and stared at the curb, looking deep in thought...
"... Too tell you the truth, I've wanted to this since I was a child. My parents were actually pretty strict. I didn't really have many friends. Though I guess that couldn't be helped, since I hardly showed up for school."
Rise fell silent for what seemed like a long time...
... What? I mean, I guess anything's possible, but it's just hard to think of Rise having been there.
"Oh! Er, that's enough talk about that! What a depressing subject, huh? Let's talk about something fun. After all, I don't want to waste the time we had together!"
Rise giggled a little.
"It's so great that I came to this town and met you. Really, I'm serious!"
Yu and Rise both smiled, he a little, she a lot.
She's all over the place- I think it's good she can just tell me stuff, though.
Yu and Rise spent another hour talking about nothing in particular-
"You ever notice how that drink company- Atlus- Seems to be selling a ton of stuff besides drinks nowadays?"
"Eh, if it'll sell, people'll make it. I actually had a commercial with Jack Frost on the table before I came here..."
Before Yu took Rise on a courtesy walk back to Marukyu. After saying their farewells and Rise walking away, a second Lovers card appeared before Yu...
That night, Yu sorted through his emails on the bus ride to the other side of town, to Shu's house. Cu Chulainn had slotted himself into the fore of Yu's mind and had already primed him for a night with the tower.
Yosuke... It's just weird of you to forward me a bunch of articles about Rise out of the blue... Even if it's totally expected from you. Damn, just answered myself. Well, I guess this is a part of Rise, too- Hmm? A song she helped write? That's more than a lot of other Idols can say, I guess... Why not- I'll give it a listen.
"... And then you carry the three."
"Oh, I see..."
... Not talking much tonight, huh, Shu?
Shu thanked Yu politely before he left...
Shout friends, just those words you feel that
You'll need
And let your voice be heard all over the world
... This is great. It's a little more rock-y than most Idol stuff, and the lyrics... Are kinda cutesy, but sincere. Well.
... I hope I don't turn into Yosuke.
Yu smiled in spite of himself and got ready for bed.
08/10 W
Clear
Yu once again wandered through the Shopping District, finding Kanji near his family's textile shop.
"Hey, uh... Yu-senpai... You have some time?"
"Sure. What's up?"
Yu felt Oukuninushi bringing him a little closer to the Emperor...
Kanji brought Yu to the hill overlooking town, where they met up with the boy from before...
"Here's the stuff I promised ya. N-no complaining, okay...?"
Kanji handed the boy a small knit rabbit doll...
Clothes, a ribbon, a hat... An umbrella? It's... Very elaborate.
The boy was ecstatic.
"Whoa!! This is incredible! Where'd you buy it!?"
"Huh...? Wh-who cares!?"
"But I want one, too!"
"Oh... Well, I got one for you."
Kanji passed another knit rabbit to the boy...
Clothes, shoes, a cap... A soccer ball? Wow, it's... Very elaborate.
"For me!? Thanks! But where'd you buy it...?"
"Er, um..."
This kid clearly likes them...
"Just tell him the truth, Kanji."
"Er... I-I made it..."
"You... Made this?"
"Y-y'got a problem with that...? If ya think it's creepy, then give it-"
"Wow! You're so cool!!"
Kanji's eyes opened wide...
"Hey, can you make me something else!? Mom loves this kind of stuff!"
"Huh? S-sure..."
"You promised! I'm gonna go give this to Sana-chan! Thanks, Mister!"
And with that, the boy ran off...
Kanji stood still for a little while...
"I'm not that old, dammit... Hah, he said I'm cool..."
Well, of course.
"It was pretty amazing."
"Yeah, but it's not like sewing's good for anything..."
Kanji blushed a little in embarrassment...
"But y'know... It ain't a bad feeling. 'Thanks', huh...? Ahh, it was nothing."
"... Say, you think you could make one for Nanako, too?"
After a little laugh, Kanji said he might... The two of them walked back to the textile shop, and a fifth Emperor card appeared before Yu as he turned to head home himself...
That night, Yu decided to work at the hospital, Succubus bringing him a little closer to the Devil...
Yu cleaned out the usual assigned hospital room, the usual draft providing its usual spooky noises...
Someone really oughta look into that...
Sayoko came to check on Yu, leaving almost as quickly as she came...
She looks like she's falling apart... Man...
'08/11 Th
Rain
Hmm... Raining something awful. Report says it's going to continue to tomorrow...
Yu eyed his fishing rod...
"Are you used to this town now? County life has gotten a lot more convenient than it used to be, but... Convenience isn't the only good thing in life, is it? OR something like that, ahaha.... I've been here for a while, so I think like that sometimes. But compared to the city, I bet it's still pretty inconvenient here."
... Who ARE you, anyway...?
Yu stared at the gas station attendant, as the fins of the fish he had caught started digging into his hands.
They smiled at him as he left...
That night, Yu decided to continue his tutoring work, Cu Chulainn bringing him a little closer to the Tower...
"I need to have this sentence to mean the same thing as the one before it... Umm... He is good at..."
Yu explained how English sentence structure worked and gave a few synonyms...
After finishing the work, Yu sat down with Shu for their usual after-practice tea...
"People who grow up speaking a different language end up thinking in their native tongues, right?... That's funny."
Shu shrugged a little.
"... There's going to be a fair commemorating the anniversary of my school's founding. So there's a discussion about what our class was going to do, and all the girls were being noisy..."
Shu sighed.
'Girls are so loud and obnoxious', right?
"So, they were a pain in the ass, huh?"
"A major one. They're all stupid."
"At your age, honestly... Everyone seems kinda stupid."
"... So you used to be think like that, before? Is that how it goes...?"
Shu sighed again.
"School's like that all day, and when I get home, Mom is all over me. 'You're so excellent', 'You can be number one', 'Mom's so proud of you', 'You're my pride and joy'."
Shu gulped hard.
"But I'm... Um... You only come here because you're being paid to, right?"
Not entirely. You're kinda obnoxious, but you're not exactly a happy camper, either. I can't just leave someone who needs help.
"That's not it."
"Well... I don't need to know why you keep coming back."
Despite what he just said, Yu smiled.
"Up until now, all I ever did was go back and forth from home to school... I look forward to when you come to tutor me."
Yu smiled a little back. The two talked for a little longer. As Yu left, a sixth Tower card appeared before him...
08/12 F
Rain
Still raining... I think I'll just stay home, today.
Yu continued his translation work for a while, then went downstairs to be with Nanako until after dinner...
The fog's rolling in tonight... Better safe than sorry.
Yu closed his curtain and stared at his TV. A pale yellow glow filled the room...
Nothing... But why doesn't this feel more... Final?
Yu focused on the TV until it faded off, then went to bed...
08/13 Sa
Cloudy
Yu went to the Shopping District again, a little tired from how late he'd stayed up the night before.
There's just something buggin' me... Hm?
Rise waved at Yu from near Marukyuu.
"Senpai! Hey! If you're free, let's go play!"
... Kinda an unusual way to phrase it, but...
Yu nodded.
"Sure."
"Yeah! Where shall we go?"
Yu felt Leanan Sidhe bring him a tiny bit closer to the Lovers...
"Whew, that was a long trip..."
The train ride to Okina... It takes a while, but it's gotten pretty familiar. 'Sides, it's nice having a little quiet company sometimes.
"It'll take time to get back, so let's walk around quick!"
"So, what're you looking for?"
"A one-piece, of course! Make sure you take notice when I wear it, okay?"
Rise smiled mischievously...
...A one piece, huh? I wonder if she's trying to distance herself from... THEN.
"Oh, come to think of it, where does Kanji buy his clothes? You can't find pointy stuff like those at at Junes, can you? Hmm... Does he buy them online...? ... Maybe he makes them...?"
That sounds like him, but then, I'm not sure he's a metal worker.
Right then, a guy around Yu's age slunk nearby...
"H-hey, umm... A-aren't you Risette? I, I-I-I-I..."
"No... I'm not. Let's go, Senpai."
Rise walked away with heavy footsteps, Yu following after her...
"Aren't you Risette?"
"Can I have your autograph?"
"Risette! Wow!"
... Geez, they just keep coming.
Rise snuck herself into a corner bench area in Okina Station and hid with Yu...
"Geez! They just never learn!"
Rise sighed, but wore a small smile.
"But I told them! I told them today, Senpai! 'No, I'm not'. 'You're mistaken'. 'I'm not Risette'!"
The ex-idol giggled a little.
"And it's true... I'm no longer 'Risette'... I'm just an ordinary girl."
Another giggle.
"Which is fine with me!"
... Still a little hung up on all this, huh?
Rise continued.
"I never thought I'd be out in public like this... I love Inaba, Senpai. You see the same faces every day, rumors spread fast, and there are times when it gets on my last nerve... And sometimes it feels like I might be better off if I was in a big city full of strangers... But even then, I love that town. You're there, Grandma's there... And above all, there's something I can do there."
Rise raised her fist above her head.
"Let's keep at it, Senpai!
Yeah... It's hard not to like that energy.
"Hmm... I didn't see any one-pieces that clicked with me, so I guess we should go home. Let's go, Senpai."
Rise and Yu ran back to the boarding platform, and talked quietly about all sorts of things before Yu escorted her to her home. As he headed for his own house, a third Lovers card appeared before him...
That night Yu sat down to a dinner with-
"Wow, what a great spread! I've never seen so many pieces of fatty tuna!"
"If you're going to have a celebration, you can't do it halfway."
Dojima wore a small smile as his junior nearly drooled over the sushi platter...
Hmm... On one hand, sushi. On the other, Adachi. Well, hopefully he won't be too much of an idiot tonight...
Nanako cocked her head a little.
"Celebration?"
"Ah, it's about this. Watch."
Dojima turned on the TV, as it played a news story about the recent arrest...
"... Because of several inconsistencies in the boy's deposition, some have called for a mental examination to be carried out. Until then, the police will be continuing their investigation on all the prior incidents."
Adachi spoke up-
"It was actually really tough to make a case outta this. All we had was the suspect's confession and some circumstantial evidence. But the lab found the perp's prints on the victim's clothes, so we made it stick after all. Man isn't crime scene investigation something? Who would've thought you could get viable prints from cloth?"
Don't talk so big- I know your skill set. You got coffee.
Dojima faced his daughter.
"There's no more scary stuff to worry about. You're safe now."
"Uh-huh!"
Adachi ruminated on the events some more-
"Man, that guy was twisted. A high schooler committing multiple murders and leaving the bodies like that... He was over the edge. Good thing we caught him! Now I can stop seeing suspects in every shadow!"
... If only I could say. If only.
Adachi continued a little longer.
"If the killer was still on the loose..."
"Enough, Adachi! If you keep running you mouth, the sushi's gonna dry up!"
"Oh, you're right. Sorry!"
"C'mon everyone, eat up."
"Well, since you asked..."
As everyone else grabbed their first piece, Nanako stared at her sushi. Adachi noticed first...
"Huh? You don't like sushi, Nanako-chan?"
Nanako seemed a little embarrassed...
"There's wasabi in it..."
"Ah, that's right. I forgot to tell them to hold the wasabi. Here, I'll take it off for you. Which one do you want? Hmm?"
Nanako smiled at her father's offer-
"... Halibut!"
"Excellent taste, Nanako-chan. As for me, I'll go for sea urchin..."
"Hey, there's only one of those!"
"Too late! First come, first serve!"
... Eh. With his luck, it'll make him ill. Now, lessee... Octopus, egg, salmon roe... I'll try to make sure the crab is saved for Nanako...
08/14 Su
Clear
That was something last night. Nanako seemed so happy... Hell, even Adachi didn't make TOO much of an ass of himself.
*PI-PI-PI! PI-PI-PI!*
Chie?
"Hello, this is Chie. I ran into Yosuke at Junes. He said he was really in a bind because he didn't have enough employees working at Junes. He's probably going to come to you and beg for you to rescue him. He'll be all 'You've gotta save me from this chaos, Yu!'."
Yeah. Yeah, that sounds like him. Can't say I blame him, though...
"I feel kinda sorry for him, so I'm gonna help him out this week. You're welcome too, Yu-kun!"
And with that, Chie hung up.
Well, at least I'm braced for him.
Yu kept his phone out as he turned his TV on-
"Here comes Tanakaaaaa! Over the airwaves to youuuu!"
Yu decided to met with Rise.
I'm still a little concerned about yesterday... She played it off pretty easily, but that many people asking all at once just seems like it'd be horribly stressful.
"Hey, Senpai! What's up?"
Leanan Sidhe asserted herself a little more, bringing Yu a tiny bit closer to the Lovers...
Yu and Rise decided to eat at Aiya...
I was a little surprised to see Rise order a Mother child bowl. It can be a bit rich...
"The flavor was a little strong, but it was good. My grandma's food is kinda bland. Though tofu's good for you, so..."
As the pair approached Marukyu, the noticed a suspicious-looking man in a business suit and sunglasses standing out front...
"Is that a reporter...? Or... A stalker...?"
... Dammit, I was afraid something like this'd happen.
Yu grabbed onto Rise's hand-
"... I think we should run."
"Uh, th-that's alright. We don't know if he's dangerous or not." Let's just wait and see, okay? But... Thanks for that."
Rise blushed, but seemed visibly less tense...
"But still... That guy.. Where have I...?"
Rise moved a little closer to the mystery man.
"Inoue-san, is that you!?"
The man approached her excitedly.
"Rise-chan!"
"Wh-why are you here...? I already settled everything with the agency...!"
"I'm here because... Personally, I can't accept that. I've watched over you this entire time as your manager..."
Rise was suddenly incensed.
"I'm no longer a 'personality'! My private time doesn't belong to a manager anymore! Go home. If you don't, I'll call the police."
"W-wait! Could you just think it over? I strongly believe no other actress can play that role better than Rise Kujikawa. Your fans were looking forward to the movie, too..."
"You still want me to act...!?"
"Huh...?"
"... Anyway, I'm through with it! I have nothing to do with showbiz and all that stuff now! I..."
Rise suddenly moved herself right next to Yu.
"I-I've decided to marry this man once we graduate high school! I said before it was only a hiatus, but I've changed my mind! There's no way I'm coming back! Yu... Sees the real me... He's so gentle...!"
Shit! What do I do here...?
Rise turned her head and stared right into Yu's eyes, her desperation incredibly obvious...
"Yeah! We, uh... We've become incredibly close! She lets me see things for how they are!"
"S-see? I told you..."
Rise faced Inoue again, a little less tense. Her ex-manager fell silent...
"... I understand. I'll go home... For today. B-but I..."
"Go away! Now!"
And with Rise's harsh words, Inoue ran off.
Rise fumbled around words for a little bit after he had gone...
"Oh... Um.. That was Inoue-san. He was... My manager. I'm his daughter's age, so he treated me like one of the family... But... He's a stranger now."
Rise stared at the ground...
"S-senpai, umm... I'm sorry... Lying about marrying you and all..."
''
"I don't mind."
"Senpai... You're so mature... You really are a nice guy. Th-this isn't good... I feel like I'm going to depend on you even more..."
The Lovers giggled a little.
"... J-just kidding!"
Rise smiled sheepishly and returned home...
"I wish I could spend more time with you, but... I'll save it for next time. See you later, Senpai."
As she disappeared behind the shop curtain, a fourth Lovers card appeared before Yu...
That night, Yu chatted with Dojima, Hokuto Seikun bringing him a little closer to the Hierophant...
Dojima happened to be flipping through what appeared to be car data...
"Oh, Yu. Sorry, but my hands are full here."
Well...
"Want some coffee?"
"... That's my job. Don't worry about it."
Dojima smiled wryly...
"Oh, yeah. I was thinking about this when talking with Nanako just now, but... I feel like she's changed a bit lately. I don't know how to put it... She's stronger... I feel like I'm being left behind... Ever since you came, this house has become, well... Home-y. A house isn't just a big box. It's a place for a family to live together. Laughing, crying, fighting... Spending most of your lives together... A warm place. I forgot what that was like... I wanted to get that back more than anything... And yet, I feel like I've been dodging it the whole time. Do you... Understand why?"
Yeah... Like my parents...
"It's because you're a coward."
Dojima gave a short laugh.
"You punk. You nailed it. That's exactly it..."
Dojima smiled a little...
"We've been in the same place, but we weren't connected. You brought the two of us together. The rest... Is my problem. Where do I draw the line with this...?"
Dojima sighed.
"Screw it! I'm drinking tonight! Yu, you're drinking with me. Alcohol-free, of course. You pass out before me, and you're under arrest, got it!? Alright!"
When Yu went up the stairs to his room that night, an eighth Hierophant card appeared before him...
08/15 M
Clear/Cloudy
*PI-PI-PI! PI-PI-PI!*
Right on schedule.
"Hey, it's Yosuke. Sorry for dropping this on you all of a sudden, but I need a big favor. Can you work at Junes from today 'til Friday?... We;re short on staff! I'll pay you more than we usually pay our workers! I'll buy you lunch everyday at work, too, I promise! Please, I'm begging you!"
... Wow. I was expecting a little desperation, but this is just... PITIFUL.
"... I'll help."
"Oh, sweet! You're awesome, buddy! A real lifesaver! I'll be waiting for you at Junes, so I'll see ya soon!"
And with that, Yosuke hung up.
Well. Guess I'll be busy- At least I'll be with some friends, right?
"Why are there so many people just for the hero show...? This is sooooo freakin' tiring... I'd be a zombie by now if you weren't here, Yu..."
If he's thankful... Better keep it up.
"Welcome! We've got shaved ice here, in all your favorite flavors! Cheer on the heroes while enjoying a tasty snack of frosty shaved ice!... Ugh, it's so hot today!"
You think it's bad now, try it in heavy aprons, Chie... But geez, look at Teddie go...
08/16 Tu
Rain/Cloudy
SO.
08/17 W
Clear
DAMN.
08/18 Th
Clear
HOT.
08/19 F
Clear
... Man, I think Teddie's breaking down... Who's idea was it to have him man the grill IN THE SUIT!?
"Welcome, everyone! Beat the heat and eat some meat! Yakiniku! Grilled stak! Pork ginger! Chow down and restore some energy the brutal summer days have taken from you! Try our tender, delicious beef!"
Chie's... Not a spokeswoman by nature.
Yosuke talked with Yu towards the end of the day.
"Hey, tomorrow's the Summer Festival, remember? Meet us at the shrine tomorrow, okay?"
Yu put in what was left of the day with Yosuke, Chie and Teddie...
40,000 yen... Damn.
That night, Yu moved his earnings from his pocket to his wallet and fell asleep right away...
08/20 Sa
Clear
Today's the festival... I'm, just gonna recover from yesterday and head out once the sun starts setting...
Yu met up with Yosuke, Teddie and Kanji at the Shrine gate. The four of them walked towards the stalls...
"Funny, I remember this festival being a lot more crowded... Is it because of the murders?"
Kanji nodded to Yosuke.
"Yeah, there ain't that many people here this this year. Well, I guess you can't blame people for getting scared..."
Then again, it's a crowded, lit area... Well, that's not really important right now, is it?
Kanji continued.
"Haven't seen the reporters around, either. They sure are good at stirring shit up and the disappearing. Well, it ain't so bad to have thin crowds. What IS important right now is that we go get some ikayaki!"
"Ooh, I wanna get some too! Kanji, what's ikayaki?"
Wonderful, Teddie. Ikayaki is wonderful.
... Why the hell did Yosuke get himself and the other guys yakitori, and grab me a shaved ice?
"Man, they're late... Why were they meeting up at Yukiko's house in the first place?"
"Eh, they'll show up sooner or-"
Teddie stopped Kanji-
"Whoa, isn't that them?"
Chie, Rise, Yukiko and Nanako walked up, wearing yukata.
That explains it.
"Sorry we took so long."
"It took us some time to get dressed."
Rise nodded after Chie and Yukiko finished speaking.
"You have to wrap towels inside, so they're not as breezy as everyone says."
Nanako blushed a little.
"It's kinda hard to walk..."
Nanako...
"You look very cute."
Nanako giggled happily.
"Nana-chan, you look so cute! I'm head over heels for you!"
Geez, Teddie... You're lucky you're you.
Nanako giggled again.
"Thank you."
Rise jumped in.
"How do we look, Senpai? Does the sight make your heart skip a beat?"
Rise... You're too good at making yourself cute. I think it might be an abuse of idol training.
"You look good in it, Rise."
"Ooh, that slipped out so naturally. Perhaps... You're used to saying things like that?"
... No. Not really. Then again, it's not like Chie or Yukiko don't look cute in them, either... I hope I'm not turning into Yosuke.
Rise laughed a little.
"Well, I'm happy to hear it."
"Kanji? What're looking away for? Don't tell me you're ashamed to look! What are you, a monk...?"
Yu faced Yosuke, who had himself turned to see Kanji with his back from the girls.
"Th-that ain't it!"
Rise laughed a little.
"You're so cute, Kanji."
He's adorable. I'd never say that to him, though.
Kanji fumed a little, but Dojima came walking in not long after.
"Hey... Thanks for looking after her."
Nanako walked up to her father.
"They bought me cotton candy!"
Not fair! I didn't get to spend time at the festival with Nanako, but my friends did?
Dojima smiled a little.
"Did they now? Alright then, you wanna go over and do the target prac- I mean, game with me?"
"Uh-huh! Let's go!"
Dojima addressed Yu and his friends.
"I'll take care of Nanako from here. It's only a few times a year that this town gets charged up like this. You kids should go have fun."
The Dojimas walked away, Yu and comapny waving them off.
"Hmm, a summer festival... Hrrrmmmm..."
Everyone faced Teddie, who was-
Thinking out loud?... This can't be good.
"A couple walking together at a festival... Unused to wearing it, the girl's yukata comes loose... Summer has begun."
... Even if you use that husky voice, I'm not convinced you understand anything like this.
Chie seemed to agree.
"... What kinda tagline is that...?"
Teddie pumped himself up even more.
"We gotta go two-by-two! Raaawr!"
Yukiko seemed a little confused...
"Two-by-two...?"
"See, I've been thinking. It's the summer, you're wearing yukata, and we're at a festival. It's just wrong for guys and girls to walk around in a huge group like this. We should couple up while we're here! It's the natural way of things!"
"Wh-what the hell are you babblin' about!?"
Kanji looked stunned, but Rise...
"I'm with Teddie!"
What!?
"C'mon, Senpai... Why wear yukata in the first place? So we have memories we can remember fondly, right? So we should pair off right away!"
Chie shook her head a little.
"Rise... What a terrifying girl! You got a point, though... Good memories..."
Yukiko forced a smile...
"I-I'm fine, too. Oh, what I mean is, um... Count me in."
"Alright... Y-you guys decide how we'll split up."
"W-we choose? Alright..."
After Yosuke's confirmation of Chie's request, the guys started talking with each other.
"Three guys and three girls... What should we do...?"
... Well. Rise's bound to latch onto me... Not that I necessarily DISLIKE that... Chie and Yukiko make the most obvious pair, so that leaves Yosuke chaperoning Kanji... Or would it be the other way around...?
"Three guys? Aren't you missing one?"
"What? Me him and Kanji makes three."
You're not old enough, Teddie.
"Whaaa!? You did that on purpose!"
Kanji and Yosuke found themselves talking back-and-forth...
"Uhhh... Should I really do this?"
"Oh, yeah... You can barely look at them..."
"N-No way! I can look at 'em! It'll be a cinch, just you watch!"
... You sound so unsure, Kanji.
"... Nah, you should bail, Kanji. It'd be best for everyone that way."
"Wha-!? You don't believe me!?"
"Well, I've made my decision..."
Teddie... What's that look...?
"Hey, wait 'til we're done for that!"
"I want Chie-chan and Yuki-chan and Rise-chan for my partner."
... WHAT.
Yosuke sputtered.
"That's not a decision! Dude, you're the one who said we gotta pair off in the first place!"
"I ain't joking here, Ted! If you try and butt in on this-"
"That's right, Kanji! This is serious business! And you're a true man! A true man wouldn't be prancing around with other girls at a place like this!"
"O-okay...?"
"How much more can you butter him up?"
Then again, Naoto isn't here. I can see how that might mean this ain't Kanji's thing.
Teddie continued.
"Kanji! This is a test to see if you can uphold your status as a true man! Phew... Now no one will be left out."
"Y-yeah... You're right! Thanks, Teddie! you said it. Okay, count me out."
"Dude, come on! Don't fall for that!"
It's silly, but it's his decision, Yosuke. Lay off 'em.
Teddie approached the girls...
Wait...!
"It's decided! I'm going with all of you!"
"Huh? What's going on?"
"Oh, well, there were too many guys, so someone would have been left out... I just couldn't let that happen."
"WHAT!? You little-!"
Chie laughed.
"I see."
"You're so kind, Teddie..."
Rise grumbled a liitle after Yukiko finished.
"We let them decide and this is what we get? Awww, what a letdown... Oh well... Let's go, then."
And with that, Teddie and the girls left.
"... We fail, huh?"
Yosuke sighed...
"An epic fail..."
Rise shouted from a way's off.
"Hey! Teddie!? Why're you buying another idol's photo!? Mine's in there too!"
Yosuke stomped on the ground.
"Aaaaaargh, what's with this!?"
"H-hey, Ted! Hands off my corn!"
"Teddie! You got ketchup on my yukata!"
... Man.
08/21 Su
Clear
... Dammit, Ted. Well, we wound up falling back into one big group for the last couple of hours, anyway.
*PI-PI-PI! PI-PI-PI!*
"Hello? It's me. You got time today? I heard there's a festival going on at the shrine... Do you get it? I'm inviting you to come with me."
... Well, how many festival have I ever been to? Going to the same one twice wouldn't be such a bad thing, right?
"Sure."
"Okay. I'll see you in a bit."
... What've gotten my self into...?
Yu smiled in spite of himself as he went downstairs.
Yu walked through the shrine grounds with Ai...
Same stalls as yesterday... Same wonderful smells, too!
"This place looks pretty dead. I thought there'd be more to do... Oh well. Why don't we start with... Candied apples!"
Had a feeling she'd know all about the best food.
Yu and Ai walked along the path a little further-
"Oh, wait, before we do that, we should make a wish at the shrine. ... Why are you making that face? It's common sense."
... Sorry, what face?
The two approached the shrine and stood side-by-side...
"So, what are you gonna wish for?"
I must choose my words carefully here...
"I'm making a wish to... Make myself a little closer to everyone. That includes you, Ai."
Ai blushed deep red.
"... Y-you don't have to wish for that. What a weirdo."
... Yeah. It was cheesy at best... But I do really want that.
Yu and Ai bowed their heads a little and prayed.
"... Now it's time for those apples!"
The pair approached a red-striped stall. The man behind it smiled and spoke.
"Hello there! I've got the best candy apples in town! Hm? What a beautiful young lady you have there. You must be lucky! I'll add a lottery ticket for each item you buy!"
"Huh?"
"You'll get a chance to draw a lottery at the torii when you buy something from the stands here. The prizes range from cheap to fabulous, magnificent items!"
''They didn't do this yesterday...
Ai brushed her hair back.
"... Alright, I'll give it a try!... Gimme ten candied apples."
... Oh... No...
Ai brought Yu along to almost every stall...
"Can I get ten orders of okonomiyaki, please?"
"Hmm, goldfish scooping... Let's see how many we can catch in... 30 tries."
The pair finally made it to the torii...
"Hm... You've got... Whoa, 50 tickets!? Thanks for your support. I'll go get the lottery box."
The attendant walked off.
"... No way I'm wasting my time doing fifty draws... How 'bout you do it for me, Yu? Make sure you get the grand prize, though!"
Oh, man...
The lottery worker walked back with the box...
"Close your eyes and draw your prize."
1... 2...
Yu drew Ai's fifty tickets...
"Congratulations! You've drawn the grand prize!"
Ai smiled.
"Yes!What is it?"
"The grand prize is... A bale of rice."
"... A bale of rice? I don't want it. Too heavy."
"Wh-what? It may be heavy, but rice is a nutritious part of a balanced meal! Well... H-here, how 'bout this instead? It's a coupon you can use you can use at the Inaba Shopping District."
"... Better than a bale of rice. Thanks."
The lottery worker handed two prizes to Ai...
"I'll give the other prize to you. Here ya go."
Yu took the small book Ai held towards him...
The Divine Way... Huh.
"Well, we better get home... I had a blast today. See ya latter."
The two of them left...
Funny. I'm pretty sure she mouthed 'thanks' on the way out...
Yu made his way home...
Yu's Level: 48
Current Personas:
Oukuninushi
Succubus
Hokuto Seikun
Black Frost
Cu Chulainn
Dis
Dominion
Triglav
Parvati
Leanan Sidhe
Genbu
Hanuman
Social Links:
Fool: Rank 7
Magician: Rank 6
Priestess: Rank 6
Empress: Rank 6
Emperor: Rank 5
Hierophant: Rank 8
Lovers: Rank 4
Chariot: Rank 5
Justice: Rank 9
Hermit: Rank 6
Strength: Rank 6
Hanged Man: Rank 4
Death: Rank 5
Temperance: Rank 7
Devil: Rank 7
Tower: Rank 6
Star: Rank 4
Moon: Rank 6
Sun: Rank 7
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