- There will be dramatic turns in the story from this point. It is strongly recommended that you take this opportunity to save. Would you like to save your game now?—In-game prompt after the exams on December 3. It's not kidding.
December 3, Continued
The group gathers at Junes, and Chie reads from an article about the government studying the fog to see if it's really harmful. Everyone notices that people around town are scared, though, but the only thing Teddie knows for certain is that the fog is like the fog from the TV.
Naoto brings everyone's attention to Namatame's case, and it's noted that he has a possible motive for killing Mayumi (relationship troubles), there's no clear reason why he would kill Saki. Namatame's still in the hospital, though, and has yet to be interrogated. Yosuke suspects that it's over, but the others are less sure, noting that Namatame could be considered mentally unstable, there isn't much evidence and because of both, the law may not be able to handle Namatame. Naturally, Kanji and Yosuke are disturbed to hear this- the former because of his distrust of the police, and the latter because he blames Namatame for everything he did and everything he caused by his actions.
The group goes shopping for a kotatsu, pondering getting oranges and a heated rug with it. Teddie is strangely distracted, and asks if he can still stay now that his promise has been fulfilled, since he wants to stay there for Nanako, but everyone reassures him that he can. Teddie admits that he blames himself for Nanako's condition, but the others say that he helped them save her, and decide to pick out a present for her, since she'll be out of the hospital by Christmas. Yosuke warns Chie not to charge anything to his card this time, complaining about how long he had to work to pay it off, and chides her for not having a boy to buy anything for, leading to some comical bickering and Yukiko cracking up. You then propose one of a few ideas for Nanako chan- a video game, a Jack Frost doll, or a Risette doll (which Rise notes is not for kids), but it ultimately doesn't matter, and the girls offer to make a cake.
Adachi then calls you with disturbing news- Nanako's condition has suddenly worsened and you must come to the hospital immediately.
Evening
You go to Nanako's room, and outside, people are panicking over the fog. Dojima isn't any calmer, as he's highly agitated over his daughter's state, but the doctor orders him back to his room, saying they're doing all they can for her. Dojima nearly collapses, but Yosuke helps him, and Dojima reluctantly agrees to go back to his room, while the rest of you wait in the hall.
Yosuke demands that Teddie think of something, since this is a problem related to "his" world, while Kanji despairs at something like this happening to a girl like Nanako. Nothing you say makes anyone feel at all better.
Adachi shows up, revealing that Dojima's wounds opened up again, and says that there's virtually no chance of convicting Namatame, particularly since Namatame was initially ruled out due to having an alibi for the time of Mayumi's death and the improbability that anyone will believe that. Kanji, infuriated, does a Neck Lift on Adachi, demanding that he do whatever is necessary to prove Namatame's guilt, only stopping when a nurse rushes out of the room and another nurse summons you as a member of Nanako's family.
You, along with a doctor and a nurse, try to get Nanako to hold on at least long enough for Dojima to get there. The scene cuts to show Dojima slowly walking, with the help of a nurse, to his daughter's room... too late, as Nanako dies, her last words being to tell you that she's scared, resulting in the protagonist, along with Yukiko and Chie, breaking down in tears.
As the group mourns, Adachi comes up, not fully aware of the situation, and lets slip that Dojima is headed to Namatame's room. As you come up to Rise, she realizes the implications of this- Namatame is at this hospital. Yosuke's angered, saying that Namatame's the suspect in the case, but Adachi says he had no choice. Kanji, wanting to stop Dojima from doing something to Namatame, demands the room's location.
Meanwhile, Teddie begins to despair that the worst happened to Nanako on his watch, while Dojima angrily and futilely struggles against the police stationed at Namatame's door, and can't resist as they escort him away...leaving the hospital room unguarded. As Adachi leaves with Dojima and the officers, the rest of the group realizes that Dojima knew that Namatame most likely won't be convicted, and laments the injustice of it all.
The group then enters Namatame's hospital room, and finds him seemingly trying to get out the window, assuming that it's to escape (although it's implied that he had something else in mind), with Yosuke bitterly asking if he wants his freedom as well as his life.
Midnight comes and the Midnight Channel comes on, showing what seems like a "Shadow Namatame," who says that while he failed to save Nanako, but gloats that the law won't be able to touch him. The group's horrified that these are apparently his true intentions, and threaten to take matters into their own hands as "Shadow Namatame" taunts them for not having the courage, unlike Namatame. Yosuke says he won't stand by and do nothing, and Naoto, while usually one of the more level-headed and rational party members, casually notes that it would be possible to drop Namatame into the TV and make it look like he escaped, an idea that horrifies the other girls (even though they also blamed Namatame and were upset about how he wouldn't get punished). Rise is horrified to even hear this, but Kanji's also dead-set on revenge, prompting Chie to ask what's gotten into everyone.
Yosuke, however, is undeterred, saying that they have only one chance to deal with Namatame before he gets off and more people die, and offers the others a chance to leave the room if they want no part in it. He does, however, ask for your opinion, leading to the most important series of dialogue options in the game.
If you make ANY wrong decisions, the group will decide to throw Namatame in (or might not do it, but then leave Namatame to the police) and the game will fastforward to March. Dojima's either less than happy about the fact that Namatame likely will get off, or implies approval that you killed him. You then have an emotionless goodbye with your friends, as the fog persists, four months later.
Let's give a rundown of the choices.
I. First, let's start with Yosuke's question about what you want to do.
- Push the bastard in: This one's self-explanatory, and it's the last thing you want to do.
- I can't stay here: Doing so essentially takes Yosuke up on his offer and gives him carte blanche to throw Namatame in.
- Wait a second here...: This makes it clear that you don't approve of what Yosuke's about to do, and helps you progress.
II. Yosuke doesn't like that answer, though, and insists that you get to the point, since the cops will come back.
- We're missing something: This option gives you the opportunity to keep talking, so it's the only viable choice.
- Leave him for the police: Since they spent all day discussing how the courts won't be able to convict Namatame, there's clearly no chance of convincing Yosuke with this one.
- This won't change anything: Since Yosuke's convinced that more people will die if Namatame lives, this argument obviously falls flat.
III. Yosuke then demands what he doesn't know.
- Whether he'll kill again: "Shadow Namatame" said he would, so the group is more likely to believe his confession than this hollow platitude.
- Whether revenge is right: Yosuke's spent the last seven and a half months trying to avenge Saki. His Social Link helps him come to terms with his loss, not give up on his quest for revenge, so he won't buy this argument.
- Namatame's true feelings: This is a bit counterintuitive, given that "Shadow Namatame" declared that he plans on continuing to "save" people, but when you consider that people's Shadows are only part of their personalities, and a currently unrevealed fact about "Shadow Namatame" (which is why I'm putting his name in quotes), it's the best choice.
- Whether he can be tried: Like the second answer for the previous choice, the group's certain that this won't work.
IV. An increasingly angry Yosuke says they just heard Namatame's feelings on TV, and asks what you didn't understand. As you can see, the best answers are ones that invite more questions.
- Why he's scared: Being confronted by the group of teenagers who defeated the fog god inside you and are planning on killing you to avenge their young friend is certainly terrifying enough for virtually anyone.
- Something's still bothering me: This, being a repeat of the second correct answer, is the least obvious correct answer, but it's still better than the others.
- He can still repent...: If Yosuke and the others aren't much for justice for Namatame, they think even less of forgiveness.
- I actually don't know: This answer essentially shows that you were blowing smoke all this time, and is to be avoided at all costs.
V. Yosuke then suspects you're stalling for time and demands to hear what's on your mind,.
- I got nothing: Another choice that essentially causes you to give up, and must be avoided at all costs.
- He could escape via the TV: As Naoto pointed out earlier, Namatame jumping into the TV wouldn't guarantee his being able to escape.
- We're missing something...: A verbatim retread of the second correct choice, but once again the only viable one.
VI.
- I can't do it: Naturally, this means giving in and letting Yosuke do what he wants with Namatame. Since you're on the cusp of convincing Yosuke, don't give up.
- Calm the hell down!: This option brings everyone to their senses.
- I'm sorry: This leads you to give up on convincing Yosuke, and leads to the bad ending in which Namatame and Nanako live.
After you yell at everyone to calm down, Yukiko hesitantly seconds your statement, at which point Yosuke contends that "I'm perfectly calm." and asks what he doesn't get. Rise then chimes in and says that given the state of things, no one's thinking clearly, causing everyone to calm down.
Naoto, once again in a rational frame of mind, points out that while they know that Namatame harmed Nanako, everything else is what they assumed after watching the Midnight Channel. Kanji protests, and Yosuke says he doesn't understand why Namatame would do what he did, at which point Naoto calls him out on not even trying to listen to what he heard. Naoto says that there are still unanswered questions, but Namatame can't answer them right now. Yosuke's not happy about it, but concedes Naoto has a point, although he adds that he'll do what he has to so that he can stop anything like this from happening again. No matter what you say, he'll muse that you're calm about this, but says that it's why you're their leader. That's Yosuke in a nutshell- while he can be fairly impulsive and lacking in common sense, he also strongly respects you as his leader, and his loyalty to his friends is his best aspect.
With the Investigation Team all on the same page, you complete the Fool Social Link, and gain the ability to fuse Loki. He has some impressive Ice skills, but by this point, I've usually found a better Persona, and he's fairly low-level for an Ultimate Persona.
Immediately thereafter, you find begin Judgment Social Link. You might notice that various Persona combinations might allow you to fuse Anubis long before you have the level to do so(e.g. with Personas found in Yukiko's Castle), and as such, it appears that the Judgment Arcana is essentially an endgame Arcana, much more so than even ones with high-level starting Persona, like Fortune, Jester and Star.
Adachi gets back, and while Chie gives a verbatim Oh Crap! at their being spotted in a suspect's room, Naoto slyly talks their way out of this, by pointing out that it would be bad if word got out that Adachi had left Namatame unguarded.
The group then discusses why Namatame would save people after committing two murders, and realize that the "affair" angle is nothing more than a Red Herring. The only explanation they can come up with is the fact that he was insane all along, but that gets them nowhere, prompting Chie to yell in exasperation, prompting Adachi to inform her that he could hear them. A nurse then shows up and informs them that something has happened with Nanako, causing them all to rush off.
Elsewhere, Teddie, despairing and once again in his mascot form, wanders down a foggy road in a unknown area.
The group then learns that Nanako miraculously pulled through, even if the doctor doesn't know why. Apparently, Nanako's "resurrection," is somewhat controversial, but I personally think it's a good thing, even if I struggle to find an adequate explanation for it. Yukiko and Rise cry Tears of Joy, and Chie, after chiding them for it, joins in, too. After a moment, the group notices that Teddie's missing, and Yosuke decides to call Teddie's cell phone once they're outside.
Jester Rank 8
Adachi walks up to you, informing you that Dojima's fine and warning you not to go into the suspect's room again. He's glad to hear that Nanako's doing well and will recover soon, and encourages to enjoy your freedom while you can.
Outside, in the shopping district, the group is unable to find Teddie, as it starts to snow, and promises to meet up the next day. You then get texts from your school friends (both Strength friends, Sun, Moon and Hanged Man) offering their support, but in my case, I didn't have any. The game then asks you whether you did the right thing by sparing Namatame, but the answer is clearly that you did. Now, all that remains is to find the truth behind the unanswered questions.
Igor then has you come in for another visit, and asks you if you think you can solve the case. He then brings up all your completed Social Links, including quotes from people's Rank 10 events and the Investigation Team's dialogue in the hospital. He also notes that the car has stopped, and now is a time for thought, rather than action. It's clear that you're coming up on the end of the game, but there will be many difficult battles and unsolved mysteries ahead.
