Episode 4: Somewhere Not Here
Oh god, even the episode title is personal.
But enough of my shock, welcome to the Velvet Room. Margie is impressed with Yu's skill with his power already and that she's curious how his relationship with Chie will influence him. And...that's it. -shrug-
Opening. I believing you and I can do anything. We can change the world~
First thing I hear, Yukiko's dungeon music. Second thing I see, Chie in her school uniform. Imma gonna guess they are doing what I do and rescue Yukiko the next day after. Anyway, here comes her Persona to make with the slashes. It seems she's doing most of the fighting and still being a bit of a LEEROY JENKINS, despite both Yu and Yosuke warning her about using her power too much. Of course, then Yosuke will waste his energy healing Chie up from her constant physical attacks.
Monday the 18 th eh? -double checks a walkthough- Yep, it's the day after you first enter the dungeon. Not a prefred stratagy, most walkthrough recommend you actually gain some social links before you go into a dungeon. However, it is what I pull in-game at least so....
...wait, where was I? Ah, yes. The Shadow self of Yukiko appears before the group, ready to announce the next segment! Chie is angered at the Shadow and wants the “real” Yukiko but she is brushed off as the Shadow resumes her “stud hunt.” Cue the mass of Shadows to attack the group.
And, what's this? Yukiko being asked to hang out with guys. For “good clean fun.” And I'm actually certain that's what they mean. But when Yukiko gives the excuse that she's busy and she gets brushed off, CUE THE CHIE! AVENGING AVENGER! Or knight in shinning armor as Chie actually remarks that she “just stormed your castle milady.” Yukiko thanks Chie for always being able to come to her rescue. As the scene fades, Yukiko awakens with taunting remarks on how Chie will always protect her. And a birdcage rolls down a stairway to Yukiko.
Another flashback. And I think it's those two girls from Yosuke's social link again, grrrrrr. Yukiko overhears them and a couple as she heads home. She then hears chirping. A small baby bird, alone and abandoned. Jeez, how many other pets did she find like that? First a dog, now a bird. There must have been more. Anyway, we then see Yukiko hard at work at the inn. And eventually, tired and worn down, she sees her bird, which is older and bigger but still a bit of fluff on it.
Back to the group. As they fight Shadows, Teddie tells Yosuke that the odd Yukiko is probably her Shadow. Yosuke remarks that he thought it was something like that, since she'd never say anything about stud hunting in real life. That confuses Teddie as why would she hunt horses. “I'll explain later!”
More memories of Yukiko. Her hard work at the inn, her care of the bird, her apologizes for not being able to go to movies with Chie, more work, older bird, more apologizes, more work, and more care of the bird.
“You're just like I am. You can't be anywhere but here.” At least, that's what I thought.
We then see an empty cage. The bird has flown the coop. Her mother tells her that she must be heartbroken for the loss. And another apology to Chie for not being able to hang out with her. Chie actually does notice that Yukiko seems down. We get a brief look at the empty cage, and Yukiko says she's fine. Then Chie says that's it's okay, seeing that she'll run the inn one day. This surprises Yukiko and almost doesn't notice when Chie offers to help out at the inn if need be.
Her shadow then taunts her, saying that's when she lost all hope for Chie, knowing that Chie wouldn't free her from her life. Yukiko says for this voice to reveal herself. But the Shadow says that she is Yukiko.
Commercial break! Courage is up to reliable, Diligence is typical for teens, Understanding is Basic now and everything else is still the same, Average and Rough. Not surprised that expression would be the fail stat for Yu. For me, that was diligence.
The group bursts in on Yukiko and her Shadow. The Shadow is quite happy to see three princes come for her. She asks her prince to take her far away from this place. Chie is naturally confused to be a prince with Teddie saying he's the third! But no, the Shadow does go on to say that Chie is a strong prince. For a while. Cue, the Falling Chandelier of Doom to squash Chie like a bug! Yu moves to make a Diving Save but...he can't! If only he had the power of multiple personas and one that could absorb physical attacks...
Oh wait, he does. He pulls the Chariot Arcana and uses...Ara Mitama. Which is actually an appropriate Persona he can summon. Though he should be able to summon Chimera at least, if not Zouchouten. Anyway, Ara takes the hit and is staticy because of it. And Yu is very weak. One Persona down.
The Shadow vents her anger on Chie not being able to save her and swings the chandelier back around to the group. Jiraiya, Yosuke's Persona slows it down, but it ends up getting trapped up against the wall, weakening Yosuke. Izangi tries to pull him out. Shadow Yukiko says she's sick of being stuck at the inn and uses the carpet to wrape Chie and her persona Tomoe up. Oh, and Teddie. The Shadow says she never asked to be born here and that she doesn't want the life set for her as she glues Yu and Yosuke to the floor with wax.
Shadow Yukiko says she wishes she could be anywhere but here but admits that she lacks hope and courage to do anything about it, hoping for someone to save her. Yukiko gets more upset and finally angered at the fact her Shadow says screw the old traditions. Shadow Yukiko then says that's how she really feels to her otherself. Yukiko then outright denies her Shadow. It transforms into a very symbolic bird-monster trapped within a Chandelier cage. She uses the bird cage to trap Yukiko away from the battle. Chie frees herself from the rug with Tomoe and the guy's Personas smash out of their trap. Chie says she'll be able to take whatever the Shadow can bring out, who responds by using Burn To Ashes – er um...explosive fire to attack the group. Oh noes! Chie's elemental weakness!
Anyway, the boys are free from their melting wax. But as their Personas attack, Shadow Yukiko retreats to her cage. Chie rushes over towards Yukiko but is knocked back by the Shadow. The Shadow admits that she thought that Chie would save her but was dissapointed when she accepted Yukiko's “cage”. In anger, the Shadow beings to flare up another fire attack when Yu summons Pyro Jack to absorb the fire explosion. -keeps mouth shut on he should not be able to summon him in the first place-
Yu does his thing, reminding Yukiko that does that even matter if Chie can't “save” her. Chie did come to save Yukiko at risk of her own life, what else could she do to prove she still cares? Cue, Shadow Yukiko putting almost the entire place on fire, enough so much that even Pyro Jack can't get it all. Well this makes for a spectaular glowing battlefield.
Chie moves over to Yukiko telling her she won't leave her behind and tells her of how jealous she is towards Yukiko. Good grades, all the guys and yet Yukiko needed her as a friend. It gave her life meaning. The Shadow remarks that of course she can't do anything on her own but Chie tells Yukiko that's not true. She does have the power to get out of her cage just on her own. Yukiko says she isn't that strong at all. When her bird escaped, he was mortified instead of heartbroken, knowing that the bird could actually fly away on it's own. She tells Chie that she is weak and a coward and needed someone else to help her. Chie says that she's not perfect either and she has parts of her that she hates too, but that doesn't matter. They will be friends and that can save each other. The Shadow lashes out in rage but Yukiko realizes that she isn't afraid now and has everything she needs to break free. She lands safely in Chie's arms and I should metion they got each other by the Intertwined Fingers. The Yay is through the roof here!
Anyway, Shadow is staticy. Cue the bros rampage with Pyro Jack getting all up close in Shadow Yukiko's grill (…) and Jiraiya attacking from behind. Naturally Chie gets the honors of finishing the Shadow off as it explodes into a feathery fireball. Chie apologizes to Yukiko for not really noticing what was up with her and Yukiko apologizes as well. She heads to her Shadow and accepts that she did want to escape from her life and accepts her Shadow, and gains her Persona. She thanks everyone for saving her. And then Teddie asks her who threw her in. Teddie confuses her. Chie says that they need to get Yukiko. Teddie objects to them leaving so soon but Yosuke notes that he lives there. Yukiko apoligizes and that she'll return soon. Teddie is overjoyed about the beary nice Yukiko and gives her a certain pair of glasses as a gift. Yukiko is overjoyed with these silly glasses and everyone is a bit taken back with her acceptence of it. Also Teddie shows off his smooth fingers to Yosuke in the background while Yukiko gives Chie the glasses to try on.
And she looks abosultely dorky, causing Yukiko to go into hysterics. Chie is a bit surprised that she's laughing like this around people outside of Chie. And so the episode ends.
Closing. No new arcana today. This was Chie and Yukiko's episode!
Bonds of people is the true power
Thoughts on the episode: Did I mention that Yukiko is my least favorite character out of the Investigation Team? It's mostly based on it being personal and the ending of her social link not being the ending I like. It's purely personal and nothing major against her.
But still, in terms of emotional punch, this episode hits it in all the right places, letting us see how lonely and trapped and tired Yukiko felt of her life. Making her denial of her Shadow a bit odd but...
Anyway, ON THE NEXT! It seems like we are joining a sports club. And...what's this about love? Is that Ai? IS SHE GOING TO BECOME THE CANON LOVE INTEREST?! Tune in next time to find out.
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