10/09 Su
Cloudy
After a pleasant breakfast with Nanako, Yu left for the Samegawa Floodplain...
"Hmm... Oh. My, Yu-chan... I'm happy to see you."
"I'm glad to see you, too..."
Yu and Hisano walked along the banks, until Hisano stopped and stared out to the water.
"... I suppose that today is the last day I'll be seeing this river."
What...? Is it that she's sick?
"I've decided to move. My children have offered me a place with them,"
Oh, it's not anything bad... I'm relieved.
"... At first, I turned them down, because I didn't want to leave the place I was born in, but..."
"What about your husband?"
"Oh, no. If I stay here, I'll only think about my husband and the time I spent with him. If I stay here and mope around, I'm sure he'll feel bad up in Heaven."
... She's moving on. I'm happy for her.
Hisano turned and offered Yu something-
"Will you accept this?"
Death handed Yu an Old Fountain Pen...
"I saved up my money to buy this a long time ago. I used it to write to my husband, before we were married. I'd be delighted if someone... If you would have it. I'd feel... That our story hasn't truly ended."
"I'll treasure it."
"Thank you... I believe... That the past, when we exchanged letters, is connected to the present day. I'm sure I don't have very long left for this world, but that's not the case for you. You're carrying on my story now. I think I can keep smiling, to the end. I think... I've had a good life."
... Yeah. I'm not just living for myself... I haven't been for a while, now...
Suddenly, time seemed to stop, and a tenth card of the Death Arcana appeared before Yu...
Thou art I... And I am thou...
Thou hast established a genuine bond...
These genuine bonds... Shall be you eyes to the Truth...
A tremendous wave of energy washed over Yu from Hisano's eyes and the Old Fountain Pen...
We bestow upon thee the ability to create the ultimate form of the Death Arcana...
Time returned to its normal flow...
Mahakala, the King of Darkness...
"... Yu-chan, do you have someone you love?"
... Well...
"I think I do, yes."
Hisano laughed gently...
"Is that so...? Then remember this: Live a long and full life. That is the greatest thing you can do for your beloved."
Yu and Hisano talked slowly about all sorts of things, before Yu bid her one final farewell and left for home...
That night, Yu went fishing...
Ugh... It was tough, but hey! Two Huge Fish in one day ain't bad.
Yu tried to ignore the sensation of his hand bleeding slightly from a cut he got from one of the fish's fins...
10/10 M (Health & Sports Day!)
Clear
Yu was wandering the Shopping District, and decided to visit the Fox...
I wonder what the ema's asking for today...
As usual, the Fox leaped down from the top of the shrine building, the ema in its mouth.
Calligraphy brushed letters... 'I want to see the Guardian of the Samegawa once more before I die'. Well, then... I think I know who wrote this...
Yu nodded to the Fox.
"I'll be sure to take care of this."
The Fox yipped.
Yu approached the old fisherman by the banks of the Samegawa...
"Hah... The Guardian won't let me see him... You know what I'm talkin' about, right? Samegawa has a Guardian in the river. A huge catfish. I've only seen him once, when I was younger... I felt a tug like I'd never felt He was huge! It before, and when I pulled... It was incredible. Not only was it huge, but there was this incredible aura around him... I fought with him for hours, but I lost 'im... No. I know he was just toying with me. I kept on fishin' for years and years, just hoping to catch one more glimpse, but... I'm an old man, now, and the strength is gone from these arms... Maybe it's time to hang up my rod for good... I just want to see him with my own two eyeballs one more time before I go to the big bait shop in the sky... Then, I won't have any regrets..."
It sounds a little like a tall tale, but I don't want to say no- I've heard of stranger things than a large catfish in a small river.
The old man suddenly perked up and looked at Yu's face.
"Wait... You. You're that boy who caught those two Huge Fish last night. Your skill... Your eyes... I want to see you give it a try. I want you to land the Guardian! You can do it!"
Well, how can I say no after that monologue you gave me?
"I'll catch the Guardian and bring him to you."
"I see! I see, I see! Alright then... That fishin' rod I gave ya... Let me upgrade with my old Angler's Set... If you use this puppy on rainy days, then who knows... Maybe the Guardian'll come a-bitin'..."
Yu nodded and left...
No sense in trying to catch a fish that only comes out when it rains when there's not a cloud in the sky... Maybe I'll head to-
Yu arrived at Junes. Yosuke was waiting around in the lobby at the time...
"Oh, hey, Yu. I'm free today... You wanna do something?"
Yu nodded in agreement, Rangda bringing him just a little closer to the Magician...
Yosuke brought Yu up to the hill overlooking town...
"... I hated this place when I first came to Inaba. You can tell how small the town is from up here. But looking at it now... It's a nice town..."
... Yeah... I think I can relate.
Yosuke looked out, smiling falsely...
"... Cheer up, Yosuke."
"If it were only that easy."
Yosuke laughed a little in spite of himself.
"I want to tell Saki-senpai something. That what's important... Isn't where you are."
"Hm?"
"This town I hated so much? Now, I love it."
After all we've done... It's a little hard not to.
Yosuke continued.
"There's still nothing here, but I have family and friends... And you. The important things are never far off... They're all around you."
Yu nodded firmly.
Yeah... But, why was I singled out...?
Yosuke seemed a little embarrassed as he went back to looking out at Inaba...
"I always wanted to be 'special'."
The Magician cringed a little at himself...
"I thought my life'd finally have meaning if I was 'special' to someone... That's why I was really excited when I got my Persona. But I didn't really need it... It's not what you have or what you can do... Just being born, living your life... Before you know it, you're already special to someone."
Well, I know that's true.
"You're right."
"Yeah... Like you. You're special to me, you know?"
"You're important to me, too, Yosuke..."
Yosuke chuckled sheepishly. The two friends stared out at the town for a moment in peaceful silence...
"... Alright! Let's see if we can spot everyone's house from up here! There's Junes, and that's the main street, so my house is... There, with the funky roof! And there's the apartment complex Naoto's been living in, and that's Yumi's... Err... She's from one of my clubs..."
The two had a great time pointing around the roofs. When they finally left, Yu saw a ninth Magician card appear before him just as he made it home...
Yu decided to continue his volunteer work, folding paper cranes...
Hmm... That's a thousand today... Still a bit of time left, though...
Yu pulled out a set of papers and began working on them...
10/11 Tu
Clear
Chie caught up to Yu that morning just outside the school gates.
"Morning, Yu-kun. We've got midterms later this week, huh? Oh, hey! We should have a study session with everybody after school! We're all in the same boat, right? Let's help each other out!"
... She doesn't want to ask for help directly, I guess. Well, it could be fun.
"Alright, then."
"Alright! Thanks for agreeing to help me- I mean, all of us!"
"Now, please take a look at the second page of the handout. It's about the French Dynasty. I'm gonna spend a little time covering the king who served during the golden age of the Bourbon Dynasty, Louis XIV... Known as one of the most prolific rulers in France, he's also remembered for his famous line, 'I am the State'. His achievements turned France into one of Europe's most prestigious nations, earning him the title of 'Sun King'. He excelled in politics, and he's also the one responsible for building the Palace of Versailles. So... The Sun King certainly left his mark on history, but he also had an interesting personal quirk. Let's see... Yu, would you stand up, please?"
... Whee.
"Mr. Narukami, what part of his physical appearance was the Sun King, Louis XIV, most concerned with?"
"His height."
Ms. Sofue laughed a little.
"... You're right. He was a short man, who was concerned about his height. One record says he wore shoes with an 8 centimeter heel, and that he even specially ordered his wig. That wig alone was an astounding 20 centimeters tall! On top of that..."
... At least she knows her passion... But wow...
The Team gathered at the Junes Food Court after school. There was already a pair of people there when they arrived...
"Oh, Nanako, Teddie. Good to see you both."
Teddie smiled back at Yu.
"Hey, greetings to you."
"Greetings to you!"
... That was too cute, Nanako.
Yukiko seemed extremely at-ease.
"Looks like you're having fun."
The first-years arrived a little behind.
"Yo."
Rise and Naoto walked up from behind Kanji.
"Wow, everybody's here!"
Nanako seemed delighted-
"Oh, so many people!"
The Team laid out their study tools across the table, being careful not to spill into Nanako and Teddie's space. The Star seemed a little confused...
"... Why did you all come here?"
Yosuke sighed.
"Exam study group. Ugh... Times like this, I'm jealous of Teddie..."
"Come on now. Let's start with proving the trigonometric identities!"
... Yukiko, we're not all quirky supergeniuses.
Chie sulked.
"Ugh... Jumping straight into math..."
"Ours is the section on trig functions, right? The one where we find the area of a triangle given two sides and a-"
Kanji seemed to understand Rise-
"Huh? You find the area of a triangle with... Y'know, that thing... Uh, base by height by 2?"
Rise seemed to visibly deflate.
"If you don't mind, shall I teach you?"
Yosuke seemed to brighten very slightly upon hearing Naoto.
"Oh? Are you as smart as I thought? Could you, ah... Lend me a hand, too...?"
Naoto suddenly blushed for a moment.
"Oh, um... I wouldn't know where to begin with second-year subjects."
... Huh. I guess her extra studies are rather focused. I wonder if she has- No. She's Naoto, that's what matters most.
Yosuke fumed.
"Aww... What's up with that? Useless after all..."
"D-don't call me useless!"
... Aaaaand another mark.
Yosuke snickered to himself.
"I think I've figured out what buttons to push to get Naoto-kun riled up. You're pretty cute when you're angry."
"Wh-what are you talking about!?"
... She's pretty cute, yeah, but I ain't siding with you, Yosuke.
Kanji slid back from the table along the bench.
"That's it, I quit. This just ain't my thing. The with exams. 's time for my animal crackers..."
Rise's eyes shined.
"Ooh, can I have some too? I wanna find the penguin!"
"Hands off the penguin! It's mine!"
Yosuke sighed...
"Forget it. I can't think..."
The Team wound up losing itself in conversation for a while. It stopped suddenly when Nanako spoke up-
"Teddie said he doesn't know who he it. That's so weird."
"... My life on this side is really fun. But the more I feel that way, the more I want to know who I really am... I've surfed the net, read manga, watched TV... I even went to a place called the libeary, but I still can't find anything about me..."
... That pun was even worse than the usual stuff, Teddie.
"I'd be a little surprised if you did, Teddie."
"Still, I'm starting to get an idea..."
Yukiko seemed a little surprised-
"An idea?"
Chie echoed the sentiment-
"Whoa, isn't this your first time sharing a theory about yourself?"
"I lived in that other world. That world was my reality... But now, I have a feeling that it was born from the minds of people on this side... And over in that place filled with Shadows, I think I was some sort of special being..."
Yosuke scratched his head a little.
"A 'special being'?"
"I don't remember anything from back then, though... Maybe it's that 'amnesia' thing I read about in a book the other day."
Naoto seemed to be deep in thought.
"It's true... There are some aspects of the other world that make it seem as though it's rooted in human thoughts. Still, there's no point in applying the principles of logic and deduction to a place like that... But the fact that you existed in such a world from the beginning adds credibility to your theory. There is little doubt that you are a 'special being' on the other side. If you yourself know nothing about it, perhaps it's true that part of your memory is missing. Tell me, what is the earliest memory you can call to mind?"
... Hmm... But still, why would Teddie be all alone with nothing but Shadows?
Teddie nodded...
"It's from a while ago. I've always lived there, as far as I could tell. Then it started to get noisy, so when I happened to bump into Sensei and Yosuke, I asked them to do something about it..."
Naoto seemed lightly disappointed.
"I see... If you've always been on that side, you'd have no sense of time or days..."
So, he could be much, much younger than that theory suggests...
Nanako looked around, confused...
"Oops, that's right! Nanako-chan's completely clueless about all this! I'm sorry, Nanako-chan. We didn't mean to leave you out..."
Good catch, Chie! I almost forgot she was listening...
Nanako just smiled cheerfully...
"Hey... I think Teddie must be a king. I read in a story that a king was all alone inside a forest because of a bad guy's curse. Isn't that what happened to you, Teddie?"
"A King... Well! When you put it that way, it sounds about right..."
Yukiko smirked.
"Teddie...? A King...? Pfft... I can see him wearing a cape..."
Yukiko fell into a giggle fit.
Of COURSE you thought of that... I can't see him pulling it off.
"Sheesh, Yukiko... You get like this in front of anyone now..."
... Do I detect a hint of jealousy there, Chie?
"Can we... Not talk about Teddie being a King...?"
Yosuke cocked his head.
"Hmm? What's with that face, Kanji?"
... Oh, no.
"... Teddie really was a King. There were all these other Kings too, and we all-"
Chie's face suddenly filled with dread.
"Hey... He's talking about what happened at the club! Quiet, you! Not in front of Nanako-chan!"
Nanako asked for a drink, so everyone but Yu and Teddie got up to go buy her one...
"... Am I really a King?"
"Maybe so, Teddie."
Teddie laughed to himself a little.
"If I am a King, I'll get to smooch girls every day!"
... Well, we all have our fantasies, I guess.
"... I have this fuzzy feeling that I'll find out sooner or later with your help, Sensei."
"Big Bro, Teddie! Is melon cream soda okay?"
"Ooooh! Anything's good if you picked it, Nana-chan!"
After a few more vibrant hours at Junes, Yu walked Nanako home. A seventh Star card appeared before him on the way home...
Hmm... I think I've given things enough time to cool...
Yu decided to continue his tutoring work that night, Abaddon bringing him a little closer to the Tower...
"Um..."
Shu twiddled his fingers nervously...
"I-I'm sorry about what happened last time. It got kind of ugly..."
Shu looked away for a while, and awkward silence filling the room...
Hmm... Wait, what the-
Yu noticed the day's date on a calendar, circled in red.
"Shu, why's the calendar like this today?"
"Oh, that's right... Today... Is my birthday. I forgot..."
... What.
"Well, Happy Birthday."
"... There's nothing to be happy about."
Shu looked ready to cry...
"Mom forgot, too. She's not even here."
... Well, can't leave it like that.
Yu pulled out his phone.
"Hello, Yosuke? Does Junes have prepared cakes? And decorated? Great! I've just run into a birthday emergency here, so if you could bring one of them over to this address... Uh... Well, it's because..."
... This turned into a lot more of an event that I expected it to.
Yosuke had told the other members of the Investigation Team about Yu's request, and they had all come to visit Shu, as well...
Shu was in total shock.
Chie seemed bright enough about it.
"Yosuke just called us up out of nowhere, y'know? He was all 'Meet us at Junes!'. I was worried there for a moment... But a surprise party like this is the kind of surprise I like!"
Yukiko nodded.
"Me too. But we have to start this off right... With a song!"
Everybody sang the birthday song...
Shu stared at the cake, unsure what to focus on...
Chie smiled.
"C'mon, now for the candles! Blow 'em out!"
"Huh? But..."
Yukiko smiled gently.
"If you don't hurry, you'll end up with a wax-flavored cake!"
"And no one wants that! Now come on, blow!"
Shu nodded, uncertainly.
"... O-okay."
Everyone counted-
"One... Two...!"
Suddenly, the room went dark.
"Whoa! The lights, hit the lights!"
Okay, okay, Chie! Don't panic out of nowhere!
"... What, who did that?"
"I-t's not meeee! Aaaaaaack! No kicking!"
... To be honest, I wouldn't put it past you, Teddie.
"Huh? Isn't the switch somewhere around here...?"
"... Oof!"
"Ahh!"
Yukiko and Shu seemed to bump into each other...
"I-I-I'm sorry! I'll get the switch... Huh? Is this your face?"
"Y-y-y-yes! Let go of my nose!"
"S-sorry! I'll just sit back down..."
"Ow! You're stepping on me!"
"R-rise-chan!? I'm sorry! ... Wait, where am I?"
"Sheesh, Yukiko... L Et me handle this."
I think it's gotten crazy enough with you sitting there, Chie!
Yu thought he heard Chie fall. Kanji groaned loudly after...
"Guh... Right in the... Solar plexus..."
THAT'S ENOUGH!
"Everybody stay still! I'll get the damn lights!"
Yu flipped the switch, and beheld...
... What a damn mess.
Half the Team was on the ground in pain, and a chair had been flipped over...
"... Well, at least the cake's okay."
"... That's the first thing you talk about? Ugh... Well, let's just put all this behind us..."
... Don't let the stress get to you, Yu. You're not mad, just a little tired. And exasperated...
Everyone dusted themselves off and got back around the table...
"Happy Birthday!"
"Th-thank you."
Chie asked-
"How old are you?"
"Uh, er, 13... I mean, 14."
"Wow, that's young! Man, it must be great being in the prime of one's youth."
Yukiko grinned a little.
"Umm, you're not exactly an old lady, you know... But, um... Shu-kun. Your life is only beginning here."
Yukiko gave the Tower a warm smile...
"... Oh, yes..."
Yosuke shook his head a little.
"Man, you have no idea when to turn on the cute."
"I mean... It's nothing... It's just the day I was born."
Chie nodded, in a slightly exaggerated fashion.
"Yep! It's time for a celebration."
Yukiko gave another warm, almost motherly look to him.
"It's a reason to be happy."
Shu shuddered suddenly and stared into his lap.
"... Should I... Have been born...?"
"... Stupid!"
"Stupid!"
"Stupid."
"Stupid."
"Stupid."
"Stupid!"
"... Stupid."
"... Stupid."
Shu stared, again in shock.
... Well, it was the truth. That was stupid.
Yosuke picked right up.
"Of course you should've!"
Everyone else nodded in agreement.
"... Ah... Yeah..."
Chie laughed off the situation-
"Alright, now for the cake!"
Yukiko giggled a little, too.
"Yes, let's all have a slice."
The group had a lively time getting to know Shu over cake. It eventually got late, so everyone returned home, except Yu...
Shu stared at the floor a little before finally addressing his tutor...
"Um... Thank you. I-I..."
Shu took off his glasses and started crying into his sleeve...
... I guess I'm finally gonna find out what was up with last time...
"I... I was suspended from school... I'm sorry, Sensei... I cheated..."
... Ah.
"I was so worried about the test...! If I wasn't number one, I thought... There's no point in anything if I'm not the best... It's all I can be... If I'm not, Mom won't... Love me, anymore... Mom asked me why I did it... She said she was betrayed, embarrassed... She said... I'm not her son... She was crying..."
... I'm not sure I'm equipped to talk much about this... I can still give him a sympathetic ear, though.
Yu breathed slowly and waited for Shu to calm down...
"... I... I'm sorry."
Shu hiccuped and sputtered as he talked...
"... When I was able to write my name for the first time... Mom praised me. She would tell anyone who'd listen that I was a genius... So I did my best... I studied all the time... So I could live up to her expectations... So that people could accept that Mom could raise a child on her own..."
... So, it goes back to feeling pressured... I should've asked earlier.
"I always had to be number one... But then, he... That transfer student came along. The school he came from was ahead of us, and he always got perfect scores on all the tests... Plus, he's good at sports... Good at talking to people... He became 'the best' in everyone's eyes, and they all started laughing at me... I know that all I'm good at is studying... But now... I don't even have that. Studying all day! No clubs! No friends! What do I have left...? I don't... Have anything..."
Shu started sobbing again.
"I'm nothing if I'm not number one! If everyone... If even Mom gives up on me... I'm scared... Cheating was the only option I had... That's... What I thought... So I... Sorry... I'm sorry..."
Shu went back to crying...
"I guess I don't need to tell you that you shouldn't do that again... And that you don't need to, either."
Shu nodded...
Suddenly, they heard the front door open...
"It's Mom... She's back... I..."
Shu tried as hard as he could to steady himself...
"I'll go... Talk to her... Thank you... For today. I was really... Really happy."
Yu nodded and left. On the way home, a ninth Tower card appeared before him...
10/12 W
Cloudy/Rain
Chie ran up to meet Yu outside the school gates that morning...
"Oh, Yu-kun. Morning. You know, lately, I've been wondering about 'over there'... Does it feel like you've seen those Shadows before? I mean, we've fought robots and stuff that look like they're right out of some anime, right? Doesn't that bother you?"
I wouldn't say BOTHERED, but...
"Now that you mention it..."
"Yeah! Like how our other selves had those TV show logos? Maybe it was like that for the same reason as to why the Shadows look like something from the TV. Teddie did say that the other world is related to our minds somehow... People who watch the Midnight Channel believe it's a TV show, and we treat the world as 'something inside the TV'... So maybe that's why... Or is it just that we've all had our brains soaked in TV since we were kids? Hmmm... I guess I can't really deny that... I can't help watching Hong Kong action movies whenever they're on TV..."
"That's a really good point..."
Chie and Yu chatted as they walked into the building...
"With this equation, you can figure out the center of gravity... Did you copy that down? Not that you'll use it... Why would anyone need to find a center of gravity in real life, anyway? Ugh, it's sooooo tiring coming up with stiff for the exams... All I wanna do is go home and play with my stocks. Even one yen makes a difference in the world of stocks. So addicting, too... I gotta start saving more money! Speaking of one yen... Narukami-kun!"
Oh boy.
"How much do you think it costs to make a one-yen coin?"
Something kinda silly, no doubt- Why bring it up otherwise?
"... Two yen."
"Correct! It costs about two yen for every one-yen coin to be made! It's so inefficient... By the way, the cost of making coins or bills decreases as the value increases. Money isn't free after all! I think... I'll put this on the exam. You got a free one, but study hard!"
I don't think I'll ever understand your thought processes, Mrs. Nakayama.
It's finally raining again... I wonder if this rod will really work...
Yu ran out he school's gate and straight for the Samegawa...
Any moment now...
Yu felt a sudden tug on the line, and pulled.
A tremendous catfish, a x-shaped scar notched into its side, suddenly leaped out from the water, several feet into the air.
THE GUARDIAN! This is it, Yu... All your efforts will pay off...
The battle raged for hours, but eventually, Yu managed a second wind and landed the animal.
... That's funny... It almost looks... Impressed...
The old fisherman noticed not long after...
"Oooh!! Th-th-thst... Must be!"
The man hacked a few coughs...
"... Phew. You scared me. I thought I was gonna die... So, that's the Guardian... Congratulations, youngster!! I... I have no more regrets... Now I can live out whatever's left of my life in peace..."
The old man was quiet for what seemed like a while...
... I'm glad I've been able to give him this chance, then...
"... YEAH RIGHT! I'm gonna fish! You hear me!? I'm gonna FISH! Ya brat! Why don't we have a competion, eh!?"
The old man let out a hardy, good-natured chuckle.
... Well.
The Guardian wriggled slightly in Yu's hands...
Ah, right. Can't leave you out of the river too long. Thanks for playing along with me...
The fish stared into Yu's eyes knowingly as the Fool dropped him gently back into the water...
Ugh... After all that, I don't wanna make anything complicated tonight... Ham, potatoes, breadcrumbs... Croquettes? Yeah, those'll work.
Yu set a pot of frying oil on high and added a few croquettes at a time...
... Perfect.
10/13 Th
Clear
That morning, Yu overheard a pair of students chatting on the way to school...
"Ugh... Exams start tomorrow... But I feel sooooo lazy... I can't believe you're so hardcore about studying for exams, Senpai. Are you sure you're gonna need to know all that stuff in the future?"
"Well, you probably won't. By the way, would you not say the word 'lazy' around me, especially this early in the morning?"
"Whatever... After exams, we have the Culture Festival. There are more first-year students this year, so it should be more fun than it was last year."
That's right, I'm always forgetting about those kinds of things...
Hmm... Who'd like me to share this with them the most...?
Yu made his way down to the first-years' classrooms...
".... Wow, this is great, Senpai! I'm really happy."
Kanji shoveled another croquette into his mouth and ate it with gusto...
... It's a little scary seeing you eat like this, but at least you're enjoying yourself...
"So, there's a teacher here who tried to put a problem on the test involving a student's bust-waist-hip measurements."
... What.
"I won't say who, but isn't that just wrong? I mean, who cares about a high school girl's measurements? It would've been much more interesting if they were mine, huh?"
... What.
"Organic species grow because it's nessacary for both survival and reproduction. You could say the same thing about cute little plants, too. Hmm... Yu-kun, I think our eyes just met. Stand up."
... What. Oh, boy.
"Yu-kun, what happens to plants when you touch them?"
You wouldn't bring it up if you couldn't make an innuendo out of it, so...
"Their growth speeds up."
Kashiwagi chuckled to herself.
"Correct. You're trying to think from inside the pant's shoes, right? When plants feel pressure from an outside source, they discharge a hormone that regulates their growth. Hence, by talking to or petting a plant, it'll bloom flowers quicker than usual. This process is called thigmomorphogenesis. Maybe humans woek the same way... I think I'll be putting this on the test tomorrow- I want you all to remember it."
Kashiwagi gave a strange, overly-youthful giggle...
... What.
After school, Yu was met by Kanji by the exit...
"Oh, hi, Yu-senpai. Are you free today?"
Yu nodded solidly, feeling Pabilsag bringing him a little closer to the Emperor...
"Sweet! That lunch you gave me got me in mood for some more good eats. Ya wanna head out?"
Kanji brought Yu in front of Aiya...
"Chie-senpai says the steak bowl here is great. And hey, she's the expert."
Point.
Suddenly, a pair of police officers walked up from the other end of the street.
"You're Kanji Tatsumi, right? I'd like to have a word with you."
"Huh? Yeah, well I wouldn't."
"... Come with me."
Police using schoolyard bullying tactics? Can't let that slide.
"You got a warrant?"
"S-smooth, Senpai..."
"Ah... You're the kind that Tatsumi's been hanging out with lately. I see... So you're in cahoots..."
Kanji became a little more angry.
"So what if we hang out? What's it to you?"
"... You know there's been a group of teenage bullies lurking around here, don't you?"
The jerks from that time with Chie, huh?
The officer continued.
"We got a tip saying you've been threatening a child at the hill and the floodplain."
Kanji seemed baffled.
"Threatening? Child...? Oh, him."
"Hmph, so you admit it. Not a shred of remorse, either."
More of this?
"This a misunderstanding."
"Oh? Then tell me, what was he doing?"
"Er, that's..."
Don't hesitate, Kanji!
"You two are gonna have to come down to the station with us."
"Now wait a sec! Senpai has nothin' to do with this!"
The little boy from before happened to walk by at that moment...
"Oh, Mister. What are you doing?"
The officers stared at the child.
"You know these boys, kid? Can you tell us how you know them? I don't think they're being straight with me."
"The hell are you telling that kid!? You call yourself a cop!?"
Kanji... You're not helping us. This police are pretty unprofessional, though, if they're running entirely off a tip.
The police continued addressing the child.
"Did this boy ask you for anything? For instance, did he claim he lost his money?"
The boy seemed confused.
"You lost your money, Mister? You can have some of mine!"
"Just as I thought..."
Orchestrating witnesses... A child, no less. That's low.
The boy got back on his train of thought- "Oh, but I came today to give you the cookies Mom baked as thanks. I was going to sneak in and leave them at Tatsumi Textiles, but here you are."
The officer turned his head slightly.
"'Thanks'...? Thanks for what?"
The boy got slightly excited about talking about it...
"He made me a bunch of dolls, like a bunny and cat. He's really good!"
"Dolls!? And you're saying Tatsumi made them?"
"What a load of... There's no way you expect me to believe that."
May as well make this a learning exercise.
"Tell him, Kanji."
"Yeah, Senpai. I got it."
Kanji nodded firmly to his friend...
"Awright, listen up, punks... There ain't any lying about it. I made the kid some dolls. What with the ones for his friends and his mom, it was eight all told! And lemme warn you... They're so cute, they'll give you diabetes- The instantly fatal kind! So, you want me to teach you to make 'em!? Huh!?"
... I've never seen someone make knit dolls sound so badass.
The policemen were stunned.
"What...?"
"You about to say that ain't like me, right? Go ahead and laugh, dammit! Like I care. I'm used to being pointed at. And what's most important is, I ain't gonna make this kid or Senpai a liar! And you!"
Kanji pointed at one of the officers.
"That button's fallin' off! I'm gonna sew it back on, y'hear!?"
Kanji's mother walked by right then...
"Hmm? Officer, what are you doing with my Kanji?"
"Oh- Well, Ma'am, there've been several cases of bullying around here, so..."
"Kanji has had nothing to do with them."
"Ma..."
"He would never do such a thing. He may be stupid and short-tempered, but he's a strong and gentle child. Why, just the other day, he showed me his dolls, and he told me I could put them up for sale..."
... I guess she's being self-effacing?
Kanji sputtered a little in surprise-
"Y-you old bag! What're you saying!?"
The officers seemed humbled by Kanji's mother...
"W-we apologize. If you'll... Excuse us..."
The officers left...
"M-Ma... You'd believe me over the police...?"
"You would never do such a thing. A mother knows. I need to go prepare dinner, now... Don't go stuffing yourself at Aiya before coming home."
Mrs. Tatsumi left. Kanji shuddered a little...
"I..."
"Huh? Mister... Are you crying?"
"N-n-no! I ain't crying! This is... Snot! I got a cold! You wanna catch it!? Huh!?"
... I'm impressed with you, Kanji. You're one hell of a guy.
Kanji sputtered a little longer as the boy went off to Tatsumi Textiles. Yu waited until he calmed down, then part their ways. On the way home, an eighth Emperor card appeared before him...
That night, Yu decided to continue his work as a tutor, Abbadon bringing him a little closer to the Tower...
Yu and Shu sat down for tea early that session...
"Umm... Thank you very much for what you did last time. My suspension wasn't very long. Having everyone stare at me hurt, though... It's my own fault... I need to change."
I'm glad you've realized that.
"Mom bought me a cake. For my birthday. She said, 'I lost my temper and said terrible things to you, but I didn't mean any of it. I'll always be proud of you, dear.'. That's what she said."
Shu took a deep breath...
"... I also told her... Why I cheated... About what I was thinking, about the transfer student, about not wanting her to hate me... Then she said, 'Let's start over. Let's start over... As a family.'."
That's really good to hear. I was a little worried, but I guess I shouldn't have been.
"I always thought... A family was something that is already 'there'... That it's something 'finished'. But it looks like you can try to start it over again... I wasn't paying attention to Mom this whole time... I thought that if I wasn't the best, that she'd look down on me. Because of that, I must have thought that I needed to be number one in order to be loved... But that wasn't true. It didn't matter. She loved me this whole time."
... I think I can relate. I had a phase like that, too.
"... I have to thank you... And your friends, too... Thank you for recognizing 'me'. I wouldn't have been able to talk to mom if you hadn't."
"No, it's all you."
I may have lit a match, but you're the one who opened your eyes.
"... Thank you. About this..."
Shu got up and handed Yu a sheet of Test Results...
"I got this for getting the best score in a mock exam a while ago. I thought that this... Was my only bond with Mom. But... It wasn't something I can see. So... Please take it away. Until I can laugh at how I thought about myself... I cheated on a test, I got suspended... My permanent record must be a wreck. I've gone right off the rails leading to a good college and a good company. But... I can see now that I don't have to be on that straight and narrow path. If I'd stayed on that rail, not seeing anything except what was right in front of me... My life would've been empty."
Shu took a deep breath.
"... I'm going to think about my life and set my own path. I feel... Like my life is just beginning. Not just because I'm young... Because I just realized that."
Shu laughed, embarrassed.
Suddenly, time seemed to stop, and a tenth card of the Tower Arcana appeared before Yu...
Thou art I... And I am thou...
Thou hast established a genuine bond...
These genuine bonds... Shall be you eyes to the Truth...
A tremendous wave of energy washed over Yu from Shu's eyes and the Test Results...
We bestow upon thee the ability to create the ultimate form of the Tower Arcana...
Time returned to its normal flow...
Shiva, the God of Destruction...
"... I have to ask a favor of you... Starting today, I want you to stop. The tutoring, I mean. I was thinking of joining a club. Umm... Th-the baseball team. I've never played before, but I've always wanted to... I don't really know the rules, though."
Shu laughed a little...
"I only had my studies... I had to be number one... That's what I thought, all this time. But if I think that, then I'll never have anything. So I want to try a bunch of things! I'm sorry, but please let me quit. We can play baseball together sometime, though."
Shu and Yu spent their last session talking about where Shu thought he could go in his life...
... I'm gonna miss the kid.
10/14 F
Cloudy
Oh, boy. The second round of midterm exams starts today...
Yu made his way to school...
Chie ran up next to Yu on the walk to school and sighed.
"Morning, Yu-kun... Hey... How much studying did you get done after we met up? Actually... Have you studied at all?"
I cheated a little, in that I've been studying some of this stuff since I was a kid, but I've got to set a good example!
"Of course."
"I see... Of you would... Wait, I asked the last time we had exams! Crap... Could it be... Am I really that hopeless right now...? C-come on, Chie! Keep it together, girl!"
Oh, dear...
Midterms.
10/15 Sa
Clear
Midterms...
10/16 Su
Clear
I've got the day off... What to-
*PI-PI-PI! PI-PI-PI!*
Yosuke?
"Yo! Yu! It's Yosuke. Do you wanna make a study group today? We've got four more days of exams coming up."
I don't really need it, but I get the feeling Chie or Kanji might.
"Sure, I'll come."
"Cool! Don't forget!"
The Team gathered at one of the tables at the Junes Food Court.
I wonder where Kanji is... He was pretty unwilling to study last time, though...
"Gathering here has kinda become a custom! That aside... Can I borrow your notes?"
Do you do anything for yourself, Yosuke?
"Borrowing notes is getting to be a custom, too... Alright, let's get started!... But first, I want a melon soda."
Yosuke gave Chie a thousand-yard stare.
"Is that your way of saying you'll lend me your notes if I buy you a melon soda...?"
"Could be."
Naoto chuckled a little to herself.
"Yosuke-san and Chie-san seem to get along well."
Rise was wearing a goofy smile.
"Why don't you two date?"
Because Chie's above cheating, probably.
She's response was firm but good-natured-
"Never!"
"That was quick...!"
Ahhh, I think you like Forehead Girl... Yumi, right?
Rise kept herself going-
"You too, Naoto! You could go out with Kanji!"
Naoto suddenly went both pale and red.
"Please, stop it!"
Rise giggled.
"Aww... How cute! Hey, Yu-senpai... Wouldn't Kanji and Naoto make a good couple?"
I'm pretty sure it's at least one-sided already. Her reaction makes me really wonder...
"Yeah."
Naoto's eyes went even wider.
"C-come now, Yu-senpai..."
Yosuke sighed.
"That's enough, guys... Let's get back to studying!"
Yukiko seemed to shutter a little, trying to hold back a giggle fit...
We didn't really get much studying done today... I hope Chie and Rise will do alright. Yosuke's earned whatever's coming for him, though.
Yu was tired and went to bed early that night...
10/17 M
Clear
... That was one hell of a dream. I'm a little scared that it would involve that much... Don't think about it too much, Yu. You've got tests!
Midterms!
10/18 Tu
Clear
MIDTERMS.
10/19 W
Clear/Cloudy
MIDTERMS.
10/20 Th
Cloudy
MIDTERMS!!!
Yosuke yawned from behind Yu.
"Ugh. It's finally over..."
Yu overheard Chie and Yukiko chatting next to him.
"Hey, about question 8..."
Yosuke kept talking to the Fool...
"I pulled an all-nighter last night, so I'm ready to collapse any second now... I'm gonna head home. See ya later."
Yosuke grabbed his briefcase and left...
... Well, they're all over now. Geez, I'm terrified of what finals will be like...
Yu bumped into Kou as he left his classroom...
"Hey, Yu. Ya heading to practice today?"
I... Probably should.
Yu nodded, as he felt Kali bringing him a little closer to Strength...
Ugh... Well, practice was uneventful...
Yu came back to an empty house...
Guess Nanako's been at a friend's place. Well, she'll be back soon enough...
Right after that, the door slide open-
"I'm home. Oh, welcome back, Big Bro."
Nanako held up an envelope.
"This letter came for you in the mail today."
A letter...? I never get anything in the mail that isn't an order from Tanaka...
Nanako smiled as she handed the letter to Yu...
'To Mr. Yu Narukami'... No sender or address... That means it was delivered directly.
Yu opened the envelope and unfolded the letter...
... 'dont rescue anymore'... Shit.
Nanako came back to talk to Yu.
"Is it from a friend?"
"Uh..."
"Oh! My show is almost on!"
Nanako ran over to the table and turned on the TV...
... 'dont rescue anymore'... I can't think of anyone who would send me this except... How would they know it was me, though? It's... Yikes.
Feeling his nerves get to him, Yu went to bed early...
10/21 F
Clear
At lunch, Yu gathered everyone on the Team on the roof and showed them the letter...
Naoto nodded after reading the document...
"'dont rescue anymore'... Is this a warning?"
Chie seemed a little indignant at the writer.
"No punctuation or capitalization... What a cliche."
I'm shocked it wasn't written out with letters cut from magazines.
Kanji seemed nonplussed.
"Ain't this just a prank? The kinda stuff that only happens in movies?"
"Did you show this to your uncle, Yu?"
Yu focused a little more after Yosuke's comment.
Under any other circumstances, I would, but right now...
"I don't plan to."
Naoto nodded as he finished.
"Senpai... Dojima-san is trustworthy, but it may indeed be best to keep this to ourselves. He will ask why you received such a letter, and if he were to put you under surveillance, our hands would be tied."
The detective sighed.
"If this letter is real, what's most important isn't what it says... It's the fact that it was delivered to the Dojima residence, addressed directly to you. That means the culprit knows in great detail who has been interfering with his crimes... And of all of us, he chose to deliver his message to the dojima residence, home of a police detective. I'd have this letter checked at a crime lab, if I could... But even then, I doubt they'd find anything. The text is a warning, while the subtext expresses the culprit's confidence that we can't expose his identity."
Chie stared at the ground.
"So, it's useless to tell the police... In fact, that would make things worse."
Yosuke seemed stiffer than usual.
"Cross your fingers it's just a prank..."
Yukiko seemed particularly downcast-
"I think the chances of that are slim... The message is too specific, too perfect to be a prank... But how could the killer know so much about us? Could he be watching from somewhere...?"
... That's making my stomach turn, but it makes sense...
Yosuke nodded.
"Teddie's been saying for a while now that when we're over there, he senses something watching us... Wait... Every time we went to the other side, did we end up on the Midnight Channel ourselves...?"
Chie didn't seem sure of herself-
"I-I dunno... It seems like no one else knows what we're doing. I haven't heard any rumors about us around school. Even the people I know check the Midnight Channel haven't said anything... The only gossip I heard was about the people who disappeared."
Yu focused before he spoke again...
"Thinking on it, the Midnight Channel and how it works is still a complete mystery."
Everyone was quiet for a while, before Naoto broke the silence.
"Let's put aside for now the matter of what that world truly is. There's too little data to go on. For now, we need to keep in mind that the culprit knows who we are... As long as we're all aware of that, it'll be enough for now."
The Team nodded in affirmation to each other.
Yeah...
"No use in thinking about it if we can't make sense of it. Panicking through speculation would be playing into the killer's hands. Besides, this might come in handy."
Chie nodded.
"... Yeah."
"We'll have to wait until the situation changes."
"All right, Leader. Mind if I change the subject, then? The Culture Festival's just around the corner. What's our class doing again?"
Everyone's eyes light up a little at Chie's question.
"Oh yeah, it hasn't been decided yet, huh?"
Yukiko nodded after Yosuke.
"I heard we'll be voting on it soon... But aren't hey still gathering ideas?"
... Shit, Yosuke's got that look from the campout again...
Chie sighed.
"Looks like Yosuke's been hit by a bolt of inspiration. Whatever it is, it'll be out there. I'd bet my lunch on it."
Rise got up from the siding and looked directly into Yu's eyes...
"Hey Senpai, have you decided who you'll be going around the campus with during the festival? My schedule's still wide open, you lucky guy!"
... Don't look directly at me like that... I might not say no...
Chie rolled her eyes.
"Urgh.. .She just had to say something..."
After school, Yu started for home. In the Shopping District, he came across a mysterious man in a black suit...
"You're..."
The man sized Yu up...
"... Do you know about luminol reactions? What part of the body do you use to test DNA? What's the best way to obtain an e-mail address? What ten things can you learn from footprints?"
Yu somehow managed to keep up with the barrage of questions...
I'm kinda half-guessing my way through this... But I'm getting it right, I think!
"I see, I see... You are quite an interesting young man. Do you know Naoto-sama... Oh, er... You know a detective by the name of Naoto Shirogane, correct...?"
"... I do."
"Yes, I know you know him. Deliver this to him. He will understand."
The man handed a small card to Yu...
... You know I'm friends with Naoto, but don't know she's... A she?
"Good day, Mr. Narukami..."
The man in black left...
... Next time I see her, then...
As he walked past Marukyuu Tofu, Rise called out to him-
"Oh, Senpai! There you are! Um, could you please... Come with me somewhere, today?"
Rise seemed solemn...
Yu nodded, as he felt Raphael bring him closer to the Lovers...
Yu and Rise arrived at the hill overlooking town...
"Senpai... I thought about it. Why my mind just went blank when I heard about Kanami... I mean, I ran away from showbiz because I was tired of being an idol... So I shouldn't have had any problems..."
Rise sighed heavily...
"And yet... I feel so angry about it... Ahy do you think that is...?"
I think we both know...
"Risette is Rise, too."
"Yeah... You knew all along, huh...?"
Rise laughed a little to herself.
"But really... That's how it was. Risette's name in lights... Idolized by the masses... That was 'me', too... I didn't want to lose that 'me'..."
Rise smiled sheepishly.
"... There's no way to become someone else. I ran away from my plain, gloomy self... Then I ran away from my idol self... Right now I' the homicide detective self, I guess? I would've run away from that as well, if I didn't realize... I've been trying to become how I wanted to be. I pick a role... When I'm through with it, I continue chasing the 'real me' by picking another role... When tin fact those roles are all 'me'."
I'm glad you finally see that... I think I learned that from you, too, Rise.
Rise smiled as she turned to face Yu.
"I don't want to run away anymore. I don't want to search somewhere else for myself. I'm gonna hang in there... As the complete me."
Rise blushed red as she slide a little bit closer to Yu on the bench.
"I'm glad I came to this town. After all... It's where I met my friends. It's where I met you... I have to go home now..."
Rise smiled, having blushed incredibly red...
"I wish time would just stop..."
"... Sometimes, I do, too..."
Rise giggled as Yu went around to help her up and walk her home. As he turned to leave for his own home, a ninth Lovers card appeared before him...
That night, Yu continued folding cranes for the hospital...
10/22 Sa
Cloudy/Rain
As Yu walked past the school gate, he overheard two first-year girls talking...
"The Culture Festival's going to be Saturday and Sunday next week. There's a rumor that one of the classes still hasn't decided what they're going to do!"
"Yeah, that's pretty common. They'll argue about it forever, but in the end, they'll do something lame like a rest area."
"Only one more week left to get ready... I need to get fired up, too!"
I'm a little concerned, myself...
During homeroom, the two class reps got up at the front of the classroom.
"Well, as you all know, next week is the Culture Festival. And as you also know, we still haven't decided what our class is going to do for it... Ugh. You guys don't care, do you?"
The other rep picked up where her counterpart left off.
"W're going to decide based the suggestions we have so far. Please vote for one of them. Here they are: 'Break area'... 'Video room'... and 'study room'."
So, no matter which we choose, there's no work involved... That's a little disappointing.
Over the chatter from the rest of the room, the female class rep spoke again-
"Oh, one more. Um... 'Group date cafe'.
"Heeeey, who put in a suggestion like that? Was it you, Chie?"
Yosuke, what the hell?
"Yeah right! Why would I do such a thing!?"
Yukiko turned to see her friends.
"What's... A group date cafe?"
"Who knows... But I doubt anyone will vote for it. Our class is actually a pretty serious bunch."
"Yeah, it's just a joke idea. You gotta have one weird one mixed in, y'know?"
I'm really concerned, anyway...
Chie was incredulous at Yosuke.
"Urgh, figures!"
The class rep continued...
"We'll be passing around the vote sheet. Just circle one of the suggestions."
The reps passed around vote sheets...
Hmm... I don't want to do something dull, but group date cafe seems... DANGEROUS
Yu put his pencil to the paper, before Chie accidentally bumped her desk into his...
... Circled the cafe... Great. I should've used a pencil.
Yu turned his paper over and silently prayed to no one in particular that his friends wouldn't find out...
The votes were soon gathered up and read off.
"Alright, first vote is... Group date cafe. Second vote... Group date cafe. Seriously? Third vote, video room, fourth... Group date cafe. Group date cafe, group date cafe, study room, group date cafe..."
... I guess it didn't matter. Can't say i expected this, and yet, I kinda did, too.
Yosuke seemed panicked.
"Wha- 1st place!? What are we gonna do!?"
"Don't ask me! This is your fault! I do wonder, though. Do all those people who voted for it realize they have to run it themselves...?"
Don't react too much, Yu. This is not your fault.
Yukiko turned around again.
"I've never been on a group date before, so I was a little curious..."
"What the- You voted for it!?"
"Um, I did, Chie... I thought it would be sad if no one voted for it."
Chie sighed.
"But Yosuke's the one behind it..."
"H-hey! It wasn't just me! It came in 1st place! The public agrees!"
The male class rep seemed to grit his teeth as he talked.
"Well, since the majority rules, we'll be doing the group date cafe. But what does that even mean...? Is it like speed dating? Can we really pull this off? You'd all better pitch in on this."
... If it were anyone but Kashiwagi, this'd be DOA, but considering here, I fear we'll have to stick to it...
Yu heard some vague mumbling about two notorious pageants taking up all of Kashiwagi's time, hence her absence...
Pageants? Like, beauty pageants? What could be so bad about them?
Chie slumped in her chair...
"How the heck's this gonna turn out...?"
"Don't you think it'd be nice if everything was done for you? That's what I call convenience. Kinda like driving a car... All you gotta do is step on the gas, and the car does the rest. If life was like that.. Uh, what am I saying? Sorry, I tend to think of crazy things when I'm bored."
You do that anyway.
Yu walked away from the Moel Gas attendant on the way to the Shrine...
As usual, the Fox jumped down from the roof...
Yu nodded to the slightly concerned-looking animal, which ran up to the offeratory box and yipped excitedly.
The Fox howled and ushered Yu out, but it didn't particularly upset...
Huh... Maybe it wants to do something special for me? I guess I'll find out...
That night, Yu finished his bundle of cranes...
They're being sent on request a boy's pen pal in Australia... I didn't think they'd ever really fly...
Yu's Level: 63
Current Personas:
Kali
Abbadon
Raphael
Belphagor
Kikuri-Hime
Kin-Ki
Girimehkala
Ganesha
Pabilsag
Taowu
Rangda
Lachesis
Social Links
Fool: Rank 8
Magician: Rank 9
Priestess: Rank 7
Empress: Rank 9
Emperor: Rank 8
Hierophant: Rank MAX
Lovers: Rank 9
Chariot: Rank 7
Justice: Rank MAX
Hermit: Rank 9
Strength: Rank 7
Hanged Man: Rank 8
Death: Rank MAX
Temperance: Rank 8
Devil: Rank MAX
Tower: Rank MAX
Star: Rank 7
Moon: Rank 8
Sun: Rank 9
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