September 1
You head back to school today, with Yosuke remarking that he almost forgot where the school was.
Mr. Kondo remarks about how sad it was that Mitsuo was one of his former students, and offers to train you against those who have grudges against you.
After school, the gang is a bit concerned about how Naoto will fare at Yasogami, so Yukiko invites him to hang out. Yosuke notes that for Naoto, the case is closed, which makes him ordinary, or, in other words, a New Transfer Student like them (I suppose Yosuke's thinking of himself, Rise and you, since Chie, Kanji and Yukiko have lived in Inaba all their lives). Rise wanders by, a bit confused by the discussion Yosuke's having, but seems to get it when he decides to invite Naoto, with the other girls amazed by his status as a detective.
They happen on Naoto, who bluntly refuses two girls who want to hang out with him, and Kanji ends up scaring the girls off without even trying. Naoto then declines their invitation, since she has "some things to mull over," and must go straight home.
At Junes, Yosuke wonders if Naoto left a bad first impression, but Yukiko says Naoto's attractive, in a way that inadvertently implies that she's interested in him. Chie suspects Naoto's thinking about the case, while Yosuke theorizes that Naoto's not satisfied with the outcome.
Chie changes subjects to the class trip, which is to Tatsumi Port Island, an island that should be familiar to those who played the previous game, and is familiar to Rise. Rise notes that there are a lot of places to hang out, but Chie says the problem is they won't have time, since the trip's to ensure that local and urban students mingle, and will involve visiting places on the island, like a social studies field trip. Like the campout, the school trip combines first and second years (I assume third-years are busy with exams), as it happens once every two years. It also turns out that King Moron came up with the idea (possibly like how P3's similarly unpopular Mr. Ekoda was responsible for the trip to Kyoto), causing Yosuke to lament how King Moron's torturing them from beyond the grave. Teddie comes by, echoing the sentiment, even though Yosuke says he shouldn't know who King Moron is- perhaps Teddie's never met him, but he's heard about him. Teddie's interested in the trip, but Yosuke tells him to get back to work. Chie notes that the trip is some ways off, and Kanji muses "Man is just an animal trying to figure out how to kill time through his days." and earns a snicker from Yukiko.
Evening
I went to the hospital again.
Devil Rank 7
Two nurses- Nakata and Takahashi- are talking with each other, apparently partly scared of Sayoko and partly scared for her. Sayoko then arrives and tells Nakata off for not disimpacting a patient and Takahashi for making mistakes when filling out the forms. She's glad that you don't slack off, unlike those two (although Takahashi seems more careless than lazy). Another choice comes up with a fine distinction- you can either express concern about her working too hard (wrong choice), or encourage her to hang in there (right choice). Since she can't be talked out of working too hard just yet, the latter is what she wants to hear.
September 2
Since it was raining and my Genji Beetles were finally here, I decided to fish for the Sea Guardian. It's possible to do so without reading Expert Fishing (which enables you to instantly pull the fish in closer by pressing Triangle when prompted), and doing so frees up a few nights, but it's more difficult and may require you to reload your game or spend multiple days.
The first time you fish in the ocean, you fish up some trash that can be used as a weapon. You don't use any bait or attempts on this if you succeed, but just to be safe, I don't use Genji beetles.
Evening
I spent some time with Yumi, who has the least to talk about in the evenings.
September 3
I decided to make more progress on the Temperance Social Link.
Temperance 5
Yuuta insists that he's playing with you, and Eri leaves. A while later, the two of you find Eri on the bench, and Yuuta asks if he should apologize, but none of the choices matter. It turns out that Yuuta doesn't hate his stepmother- he merely feels sorry for her. He says nothing to any of your suggestions, and then leaves.
You then talk with Eri, who notes that Yuuta seems happy at the daycare center, compared to being home alone without his father. The narration effectively points out how they both pity each other, but while this is a useful insight, there's no opportunity to share it with either of them. As you can see, there don't appear to be any opportunities to gain points or make much progress on their troubles this time, which tends to happen in social links that involve problems in which the NP Cs must get over a wall of sorts.
Evening
I ate the Steak Bowl at Aiya for Understanding points.
September 4
Yukiko calls to hang out, and I did so to complete her Social Link.
Priestess Rank 10
As is the case with all romantic endings to Social Links, you invite her to your room. After a bit of wondering where to sit, and accidentally giving the impression of wanting to have sex with you, Yukiko sits down on the sofa with you. Like in the friendship version, she tells you that she wants to stay in Inaba, to support those dear to her, and is glad that she realized that, since she believes she'd have regretted leaving. She gives you a shrine charm so she can protect you when you leave, even if she's sad about you doing so, and this is probably the most romantic gift option. You then hug her, and she says that she loves you again.
I then upgraded Yukiko's Persona to Amaterasu. Most second-tier personas upgrade their previous resistance to an immunity, add a new resistance and get an Evade skill for their weakness, a nice way of protecting your party members from various elemental damage.
You also get the ability to fuse the ultimate Persona of that Arcana- in this case, it's Scathach, a powerful spellcasting Persona.
'Evening
Hierophant Rank 10
Dojima decides to take a walk with you and Nanako, but before that, he gives you a mug and tells you to write your name on it, since it's proof that you're part of the family.
You head to Samegawa Flood Plain, as Dojima remembers that Nanako always wanted to go there (which makes more sense if you do this after Nanako first mentions this- the Expression gates and required holdover visits make this likely to happen), and offers to bring her back on a nicer day. Dojima also notes that he's glad to see Nanako so happy, (which also makes more sense if you've completed her Social Link first), and vows to find the man who ran over his wife, not to run away, but because it's his duty as a detective, and part of protecting his hometown.
You unlock Kohryu, a Persona fused from The Four Gods. Unfortunately, I didn't use that much, although it seems like it's good for Lightning skills.
Soon afterward, some cops pursue a gang of thieves, and ask Dojima for help. Dojima apologizes to Naoto, saying that catching thieves is her father's job (when speaking Japanese, some parents refer to themselves as "Mom" or "Dad"), and Nanako encourages him to go. After Dojima makes a Badass Boast to the thieves, you and Nanako head home.
Incidentally, Dojima's Social Link was the first one I maxed out on my first playthrough (in which I only maxed out the Investigation Team, the clubs, the Dojimas and Marie), largely because he's available at night.
September 5
With the school trip and exams on the horizon, I decided to progress Yumi's link while I could.
Sun Rank 7
Yumi gives her father some fruit from a can. She then comes out and remarks how he wakes up when she comes, knowing that he won't have much longer. Yumi has conflicting feelings once again, remembering how he was a kind man when she was young, but now that he's back, he's going to leave again soon, this time permanently
September 6
I realized I'd forgotten to even pick up the final Hermit quest, so I did that and showed the man the Guardian, completing it. I then went to the shrine, but that wasn't enough to get up to Rank 10, since there's something else required for the rank-up.
Evening
I ate at Aiya to increase my Courage.
September 7
On the way to school, there's an actual fully voiced scene. Kanji complains about how the news media are treating Mitsuo like a criminal, even if he doesn't like the guy. It certainly would hit close to home for someone like Kanji, who's been profiled as a delinquent for a long time. He then panics and runs off when Naoto approaches.
I decided to get started on Ai's social link, since it takes a while.
Moon Rank 2
Ai continues shopping, but seems bored with the process, so encourage her to come back. You actually get some points for insisting that if she wants an iced latte, she'll have to buy it herself. After talking with a friendly and overly familiar salesperson who's eager to talk about her own troubles and is interested in you, Ai suggests that salespeople should be replaced by machines, since she won't have to talk to them and deal with "pointless banter," showing her cynical side. She also admits that it made her jealous when the sales lady flirted with you, before hinting that her home life isn't that great by saying she has no reason to hurry home.
Evening
Yet again, I couldn't do anything due to having to prepare for an event.
September 8
The class trip to Gekkoukan High School begins, and Yosuke's immediately struck by how large he is. Since he went to an urban high school before, I have to wonder how much larger Gekkoukan is than his old school.
At the start, the principal, who's apparently fairly long-winded, gives a speech, then gives the floor to Chihiro Fushimi. In Persona 3, she was the Treasurer, but here, she's the president, and is somewhat more attractive and confident than before. Chihiro delivers a stirring speech, but realizes too late that she forgot to hand out copies of the schedule. The Investigation Team's fairly understanding, though, and compliment her speech, but Chihiro says that she had help from one of her predecessors- i.e. Mitsuru, one of your party members from the previous game. Chihiro admits that she's babbing, as she's wont to do when she gets nervous, and tells your group about the special lecture. The group finds out that it's by Mr. Edogawa, about Qabbalah. Yosuke's disappointed to learn that there's no free period, but Yukiko's more enthusiastic.
Mr. Edogawa ends up changing his mind, and gives a lecture on Izanami and Izanagi. The short version of it is that the two gods were married, until Izanami died giving birth to Kagutsuchi, causing Izanagi to seek her out in the land of the dead. He succeeded in getting her to come back, but while she was negotiating with the god of the underworld, he set his comb on fire, and got a look at her rotting body. She chased him to the entrance, and he sealed it with a boulder, prompting her to promise to kill 1,000 humans a day, and he decided to give 1,500 life in response (clearly based on an outdated assumption about population growth). The myth not only involves Foreshadowing, but also reveals superstitions such as against throwing combs, or lighting one fire at night, and discusses Izanami's grave.
Your group meets up outside the love hotel that's the site of the fight with the Lovers Arcana Shadow, and it turns out that Kashiwagi found the place. In yet another Call-Back, Teddie says "Faster than expected," from the same vantage point that Takaya was at when he said that, and then jumps down to greet you, revealing that he followed you here. As Rise gripes about not being able to use her Persona in the real world, Teddie reveals that he took the train, having saved up money from working at Junes, and summoning Heroic Resolve from a promise Chie supposedly made to go out with him. The group then makes plans for their time off the next day.
Kashiwagi stops by , and Teddie pretends to be a stuffed bear. She buys whatever excuse you give her (it seems people are fairly gullible as far as Teddie's concerned), and warns you not to hit the wrong switch when going for the lights. The Star Social Link then goes up a rank- in most of my playthroughs, Teddie is significantly behind most of my party members.
September 9
After touring the island by day, you go to Paulownia Mall and go into the club, which amazes everyone. Naoto happens by, and asks whether high school students are permitted to be here, something Yosuke calls him out on, and Naoto can't say anything beside the fact that "the clientele seems above-board." Naoto's on his way out, though, but Yukiko invites him to stay, even though Kanji seems nervous having him around.
Rise reveals that two years ago, one of her "secret shows" was cancelled, so she called in a favor and got everything on the house. Despite the fact that the beverages are non-alcoholic, Rise, Yukiko and Teddie get intoxicated, and Rise challenges everyone to a King's Game.
Your turn comes up, but no matter which one you get, it's wrong. Teddie orders a smooch as his turn.
You get the correct draw the second time, and you have the chance to give orders. Of course, since you're giving them based on numbers, which means that the King doesn't know who s/he is ordering around. Yukiko wants a more extreme order than the last, but the orders aren't that extreme. With the benefit of knowing which does which, I think I chose the "#1 sits on my lap," for points with Rise.
Yukiko's turn comes up, and she asks Naoto to divulge something embarrassing (blatantly ignoring the numbers). Yosuke insists that Naoto ignore it, but Naoto proposes a trade in information. Rather than give something embarrassing about himself, he talks about his family, a clan of detectives that has served the police for generations. Naoto's grandfather is his mentor and caretaker, but he says that he must get his skills up-to-date, now that the police have crime scene investigators.
Naoto then asks the Investigation Team to honor their end of the bargain, and Yukiko, still "drunk," gives a completely honest account of what they're doing, one that Naoto fails to believe (as well as swearing one of two times she does so in the game). Naoto, assuming that they're lying and failing to convince them that it's not alcohol, gets fed up.
September 10
The group visits Hagakure Ramen, which Rise remembers visiting while in the island (It's roughly equivalent to Aiya in this game, as the main hangout for Social Links). Neither Yukiko nor Rise remembers last night. Rise points out that she's incognito without her makeup, even though she signed an autograph last time, and as everyone looks up, Teddie steals Yukiko's ramen. Chie notes that Teddie "sticks out like a sore thumb," and will have to keep the costume on to keep up appearances. Yukiko then realizes what Teddie had done, and complains, since she was going to finish her bowl, while Teddie is up to his eleventh bowl.
Chie says she enjoyed the trip, and suggests that you buy Nanako a souvenir. You can choose one of a few, with varying results.
Naoto says it's almost time to meet up, and everyone gets ready... except Teddie, who can't move. Everyone wonders if Teddie can't stay in the real world too long, but then he reveals that he just ate too much, and an annoyed Yukiko says "Leave it behind," before storming off, the first to follow Naoto out, followed by Chie. As Teddie complains that he doesn't have money for a return ticket, you, Yosuke, Kanji and Rise bid him farewell, although he somehow makes it back.
Evening
You get back with the souvenir you chose for Nanako, and can gain points by asking her to come with you. Dojima arrives, and asks if Nanako thanked you for a souvenir that came out of your own pocket, although you're never shown paying for it, just like with various meals and shopping you do at social link events.
Dojima asks about Naoto and your interactions with him. Dojima likes Naoto, even if he comes off as cocky sometimes, but says the higher-ups are no longer willing to tolerate him, and might soon kick him out. Of course, to Dojima, that reflects worse on the "adults" than on Nanako, another show of how Dojima's fairly understanding at heart.
September 11
I decided to advance Marie's link again on my day off.
Aeon Rank 6
Marie demands that you give her suggestions about her memory. No matter what approach you take, you keep going back to the one clue Marie has- the comb. You conclude that it's an antique, and therefore, find the shop most likely to have something like it- Tatsumi Textiles, a fairly nonintuitive choice but better than the other two (Junes and Marukyu Tofu).
You find Rise and Kanji at the store, and they suspect that you're on a date (somewhat par for the course for romanceable Social Links). You soon get down to business, though, and Kanji is at a bit of a loss for what to say about the comb, so he calls his mother. Unfortunately, Mrs. Tatsumi isn't any more help, and says that you'd be better off looking at a museum or a gallery. Marie wonders if she got it as a gift, but Mrs. Tatsumi says that they're not good gifts, since they have the sounds for "pain" and "death," and are symbols of separation.
As a customer calls Mrs. Tatsumi aside, Marie suffers a severe headache, but just barely stops short of remembering something. She decides to follow up on this, and makes a special comment if you're doing this in November or December.
