Yosuke: So did and Naoto do it last night?
Kanji: WHAT?!?!? 0////0
Yosuke: Ya know, go on a date. Did you do it?
Kanji: Ohh! *relieved sigh* I- I thought you meant something else! Yeah, we went to a movie than took a walk.
Yosuke: Nice, so did you get lucky? :)
Kanji: HUH?!?!?
Yosuke: With your seats at the theater. The best ones for a date are in the top row. Everyone knows that.
Kanji: *calms down* Oh... Y-Yeah we had good seats...
Yosuke: Did you take her home afterwards?
Kanji: ARE YOU DOING THIS ON PURPOSE?!?!?!??
Yosuke: *snickering* Yes! :)
Begin!
The next day, Yu decided to not mention Marie's disappearance to his friends for the time being, but promises to himself that if things go too far he'll get their help.
The bad news is that the skip trip had to be postponed until another holiday due to Yu's cold. They'll be going during February.
Teddie decided to stay at Yu's place for a bit to take care of him, for the time being the two of them would be looking around for bugs where Yu used to plant plants with Nanako and his uncle.
Yu was also going to plan some T.V. world trips to train his Personas, with his roster consisting of Izanagi as his default, Surt as his Fire build, Thor as his Electric Build, Odin as his Wind build, Loki as his Ice build, Alice as his Mudo build, Daisoujou as his Hama Build, Kaguya as his Light Build, Yoshitsune as Physical build, Trumpeter as his debuffer, Jack Frost as his buffer and Megidolaon spammer and Black Frost as his healer and Dark build.
1/11, Naoto had asked Yu to hear him out about something so he agreed to. She took her to the Samegawa riverbank.
Naoto: This place is covered in snow, too. It's chilly, but I like the winter and its tranquility.
Yu: I prefer summer, but winter has it's perks.
Naoto: Things have become so peaceful lately... I finally feel like I've gotten used to it. The people of Inaba are thinking about the events that transpired, and are making an effort to make the town better.
Yu: That sounds great.
Naoto: I've heard that a lot of local government projects are being considered, such as bringing back old festivals. It would seem that they're trying to revitalize the town commercially, but I think the people yearn for "connection."
Yu: True.
Naoto smiles gently...
Naoto: But as time passes, everything fades away eventually...
Yu: ...
Naoto: Whenever I handle a serious case, I always come across a certain problem. Man can forget about painful memories, and in doing so wipe away tears and learn to stand up again... But because we forget, we repeat the same mistake that caused those bad memories in the first place.
Yu: True...
Naoto: Being able to get used to difficulty is a strength, but people make mistakes because they get set in their ways...
Yu: I get that...
Naoto: But after meeting you, I feel as if I've found an answer to these doubts. I feel that as long as you can find something precious in your heart... something to protect... you'll be okay. And as long as you have that precious someone, no matter how much you forget, you can strive for a better future...
Yu: That's true
Naoto: Of course, I have people who are precious to me as well. That's why I'm thinking about doing whatever I can... for them, too. This isn't just about me. I draw my strength from everyone else... They keep me alive. I've never considered things like that before. And, of course, the ones who taught me to think that way are none other than you and all my other friends. ...Thank you. Really.
Yu: You're welcome.
Naoto smiles cheerfully...
Naoto's heart, having developed over this difficult year, attains greater power... Naoto's Persona has been reborn again...! Yamato Takeru has transfigured into
Yamato Sumeragi of the Fortune Arcana!
Naoto: There's... a new power, budding in my heart?
Yu: Your Persona... it awakened again?
Izanagi: (That's possible? I thought Ultimate Personas was the end.)
Yu: (Looks like this is the Ultimate Ultimate Persona.)
Loki: (We're calling this a Third tier to make it easier and better to say than that.)
Naoto: I wonder if this means that I'm still capable of change.
Yu: We all are.
Naoto: I'm going to keep learning from here on, and as long as I do, I can always change...That doesn't just apply to me. I'm sure the same can be said about you, too.
Yu: I still have a lot to prove to myself.
Naoto: I'm starting to look forward a bit to getting older... You, I, and everyone else will keep changing. We'll all be having effects on each other, all those years... I want to watch how all of us change each other all throughout my life... That's what I truly want.
Yu sensed an unchanging strong bond with Naoto...
Yu: If you and Kanji get married, dibs on being the best man.
Yu spent a long time with Naoto discussing all manner of things, until it got dark out.
1/12 Yu went back to the Samegawa flood plain, but this time with Yukiko.
Yukiko: I'm sorry to ask you here so suddenly. It feels a bit awkward going home today...
Yu: It's fine with me.
Yukiko: Haha, thank you.
Yu: (Yukiko seems relieved...)
Yukiko: It's actually "Customer's Day" for me today.
Yu: Huh?
Yukiko: That's a day when the inn's employees take turns being customers. We've done it every now and then for a while, but I decided to participate this time, too. I wanted to see from a customer's point of view if our inn is truly satisfying... So I asked them to sign me up.
Yu: That's a great thing to do.
Yukiko: Y-You think so? I was embarrassed...
Yu: (Yukiko is blushing...)
Yukiko: I played customer once before, too... but it made me a little uncomfortable. It was strange, having Mother and everyone say things like "Welcome!" to me. That's why I wanted to stay out of it a little longer... Haha. But I brought this on myself.
Yu: (Yukiko is smiling wryly...)
Yukiko: I told everyone at the inn that I hadn't planned to take over as manager...that I wanted to leave Inaba.
Yu: Huh?
Yukiko: I thought it would be me finally coming clean to everyone. But they all just laughed... and said they knew already!
Yu: Wow
Yukiko: It made me realize how small I was. I was surrounded by good people, but I didn't understand that at all. I had myself convinced I had to bear my problems alone... I lied to myself, looked away from small opportunities... and only put my efforts into leaving it all behind... But after making so many good friends, like you and Chie... I realized something. If I'm going to take one step at a time away from here, every step I use to run will take me somewhere I don't want to be. And if I keep averting my eyes, one day I might find myself blind to everything...
Yu: That's true.
Yukiko stands up.
Yukiko: When I open my eyes, I see how vast the world is. If I was alone, I think it would be incredibly scary. But fortunately, I'm surrounded by kind, supportive people... Now, I hope I can grow into someone that can support them in turn.
Yu stands up with her.
Yu: (Yukiko is smiling cheerfully...)
Yukiko's heart, having developed over this difficult year, attains greater power... Yukiko's Persona has been reborn again...! Amaterasu has transfigured into
Sumeo-Okami of the Priestess Arcana!
Yukiko: My Persona...? I see... so I can still change...
Yu: We all can.
Yukiko: As long as all of you are with me, I think I can go on without making mistakes. So... I hope we'll always be friends.
Yu felt an unbreakably strong bond with Yukiko...
Yu: I hope so too.
Yu spent time talking about all sorts of things with Yukiko until it became dark out...
1/13, Teddie wanted to talk to Yu, so Yu took Teddie to the beach.
Teddie: Woohoo! It's so huge! So wide! So salty!
Yu: That's what she said.
Teddie: What?
Yu: What?
Teddie: Wait... The salt was actually me sweating. It's tough to skate against the wind!
Yu: Damn
Teddie: Wow... The winter sea is really cool, too. Coming here with everyone was fun, but it's exciting to be here alone with you, too. This must be the true charm of the winter sea!
Yu: (Teddie is in high spirits...)
Teddie: Sensei, over here! Let's do that thing people are supposed to do on the beach and run around in the surf! C'mon, try and catch meeeee!
Teddie runs off, Yu sighs and goes to chase Teddie.
Yu played with Teddie for a while... After a bit, they just look at the sea.
Teddie: ...Sensei. Why is the sea so huge?
Yu: Because the world is huge.
Teddie: The world... I know what that is. It's where everything is, and everything in it is connected.
Teddie gazes out over the horizon...
Teddie: The sea's sparkly.
Yu's reminded of the time he and Marie looked out of the sea back during summer and smiles, it was a good memory.
Yu: Yeah.
Teddie: I didn't know anything about anything until I met you and everyone else. Fun things, feelings that make me want to cry, how the sea is so beautiful... I didn't know anything, and I never thought about wanting to learn, either. I can feel all kinds of things in me now. All these feelings, created after I met all of you. I think that's... my life. It's these different feelings that keep me going. There's still tons of things I don't understand, and I don't know what I'm gonna do from here, either... But I've decided that I'm gonna do the best with this "life" that I can. Even though I was scared, I took a step forward and discovered such a wonderful, shiny world... That's why...you too... Sensei... S-Sen... Senseeeeeei!
Teddie is shedding large tears...
Yu: (I wanna know how that's even possible.)
Izanagi: (Better not to question it.)
Teddie: Because you're going away soon, I want you to know, Sensei... But I felt like if I told you, then you'd leave for good... Waaaaaaaaah!
Yy: I'm sorry. I promise to return.
Teddie: If saying "sorry" solved everything, we'd never need the police! Then Pops wouldn't be in trouble!
Teddie is angry...
Yu: Yeah... if only saying sorry could fix everything.
Teddie: But I'll be okay... It's sad, but being sad is part of life, too.
Yu: It's part of being human.
Teddie: I've made my decision to stop relying on you so much, Sensei. I will now enter the Independent Teddie Chapter of my life... so that this time, I can be your Sensei!
Teddie smiles cheerfully...
Teddie's heart, having developed over this difficult year, attains greater power... Teddie's Persona has been reborn again...! Kamui has transfigured into
Kamui-Moshiri of the Star Arcana!
Teddie: Holy moly! Something came out! I'm an all-new model now! Teddie version 3!... Or is it 4?
Yu: It's 3.
Teddie: Maybe I should study counting, first. Oh, but even though I've entered my independent phase, I'm still gonna have Yosuke take care of me. I'm not THAT independent yet.
Yu sensed an unchanging strong bond with Teddie...
Yu: True, but one day you will be.
Yu and Teddie sit and talk about all kinds of things until the sun begins to set before heading home together...
1/14, Yu went to the hill overlooking town with Rise, at Rise's request.
Rise: Was it okay to come out today...? Did you have anything you needed to do?
Yu: It's fine.
Rise has a meek expression on her face...
Rise: You remember when I told you before that I had a "number one fan?" A girl who was being bullied and would send me letters...
Yu: Yeah.
Rise: She wrote me another letter... She says she's going to stop being my fan. She's made friends with someone, but her new friend is a fan of someone else. It seems she was told something like, "I'll quit being your friend if you stay a Risette fan."
Yu: That sounds like a fake ass friend.
Rise: She did say that she'll be cheering for me in her heart, but she won't be sending me any more letters.
Yu: You have another fan right here.
Rise: You mean you, Senpai? Haha, you really are kind.
Yu sees tears in Rise's eyes...
Rise: Relationships between people are difficult, aren't they, Senpai?
Yu: Yep.
Rise: There's something like a... mutual respect between her and me. I don't even know what she looks like, but I know she has a pure heart. I also know that she's persistent... But when another person enters the picture, things suddenly get complicated. Throw in four or five people, and it's pure chaos.
Yu: That seems chaotic.
Rise: There's no malice involved, and it's no one's fault. Yet we end up hurting each other, becoming lost... It... It makes me so tired sometimes.
Rise gazes into the distance...
Rise: But that's why I want to keep trying my best. I mean, I am an idol, after all.
Yu: That's admirable of you.
Rise: ...Thanks.
Rise is smiling happily...
Rise: An idol isn't some doll in a window being held up for public display. I think it means somebody who can endure things and stand their ground, no matter which way they're pushed. Even if that girl doesn't write me letters, I bet she'll still watch me if I'm on TV.
Yu: I bet so too.
Rise: I can be her strength, as well as many other people's strengths. Even though many things may not go my way and I may be troubled, swept off my feet, and get lost...I won't lose. I have to protect the smiles of the people who are precious to me. That's the "resolve" I found after meeting all of you.
Rise smiles cheerfully...
Yu: That's a good resolve.
Rise's heart, having developed over this difficult year, attains greater power... Rise's Persona has been reborn again...! Kanzeon has transfigured into
Kouzeon of the Lovers Arcana!
Rise: ...Yeah, I can tell. I can sense a power inside of me that I didn't have before. I've learned so many important things from the people I hold dear to me...
Yu: That's good.
Rise: Senpai, I feel like my heart is about to burst. I'm so excited about the future now. Hardship and sadness and everything, it can all be changed into the power to take a step forward...nI'm still just getting started. You, and everyone else...You're all going to keep changing too, in your own ways. And when I smile on TV... I'm smiling for you. So you smile too, Senpai.
Yu: I will.
Rise: You have me and everyone else, Senpai. When springs comes around and we have to say goodbye... It'll be sad, sure, but we'll be okay.
Yu can sense that the strong bond between him and Rise's cannot be changed...
Yu: I'll be back whenever I can, don't worry.
Yu and Rise spend a long time talking about all sorts of things until it becomes dark out...
1/15, Yu had gotten the news that Nanako and Dojima will be back by the 20th. In other news, Kanji had asked Yu to talk in private, so the two of them went to the Dojima Residence and were at Yu's room.
Kanji: Sorry for bargin' in like this. I wanted to talk to you. Or, well, more like I wanted to ask you somethin'...
Izanagi: (Kanji is fidgeting for some reason...)
Yu: No worries.
Kanji: You know, well, uhh... I-It's about a present... What would be...Uhh...
He blushes.
Kanji: Okay, let me start over. I...wanna give someone a present. I dunno what they'd like, so...I thought I'd ask for your advice... I-It's for a woman...
Yu: Ah, You know since you and Naoto are already dating I already know who, don't worry, I'm sure she'll love anything you give her, so anything would work.
Kanji begins to blush and sweat
Kanji: Um... It's not for Naoto... I want to give it to Ma...
Yu: Oh... I'm sorry the way you said it, it just seemed like.
Kanji: No, no, it's fine. I should have just started off with that.
Yu: Well, I still think anything would work.
Kanji: That's what makes it so hard! There's gotta be SOMETHING it wouldn't be a good idea to give her!
Yu: (Kanji seems desperate...)
Kanji: I'm beggin' ya! I have no idea what to give her. I want to be damn sure Ma's happy with it...
Kanji pauses for a moment.
Kanji: I should tell you, Ma went to the hospital.
Yu: Huh? Is she okay?
Kanji: Oh, it was just for an exam, though. She's out already and doin' totally fine. But the tests seem like they were rough on her, so... I wanna give her somethin' like a "hospitality award"...
Yu: How nice of you.
Kanji: Stop teasin' me!
Yu: (Kanji's face is completely red... If this is teasing, may god have mercy on his soul if Naoto ever wants to tease Kanji.)
Kanji: I went to go visit her while she was there. It was hard for me to see her in that hospital, though... When I was there, Ma looked at me and said, "You've changed"...She said, "Your father and I are proud of you, son"...
Kanji's eyes are slightly red...
Kanji: Pretty funny, huh? I ain't too bright and I keep causing her all this trouble... And she says she's proud of me...
Kanji's voice is shaking...
Kanji: I mean, I'm the one who should be proud of her... She raised a punk like me without a single complaint and worked herself to the bone, and no one thanked her for it... I just... I feel like I need to give her some encouragement now and then... Heh, I'm gettin' kinda leaky here.
Yu: It's fine, don't worry, you can let it out here.
Kanji: Ma was right, though. I have changed. It was 'cause I got to know you guys. Until I met you, I was so mad that people saw me as some weirdo that I tried to get back at anyone who looked at me funny... I wasn't holding my head up high. I wasn't proud of myself. But gettin' to know you better made me realize somethin'. I don't think it matters what kinda guy I am. Long as I can hold my head up high, Ma's gonna be proud of me. Still... I wanna become someone that Ma and you guys can be proud of. So I'm gonna spend my life keepin' myself in check to make sure I don't lose my way again or start lyin' to myself.
Kanji is smiling cheerfully...
Yu: That's a great idea.
Kanji's heart, having developed over this difficult year, attains greater power... Kanji's Persona has been reborn again...! Rokuten Maoh has transfigured into
Takeji Zaiten of the Emperor Arcana!
Kanji: New power... This must be another "me," huh? And I'll keep changing however I want to from here on out.
Yu: Nice
Kanji: I... I want to fight for others instead of just for myself. I'd rather die protectin' something that matters than worryin' if I can win the fight. I think that's the way to be... And one day, I hope I can be strong enough to protect you too.
Yu: I'll be counting on you.
Kanji: It takes a hell of a strong man to say that, Sensei. I've got a long way to go...
Kanji is smiling with fierce determination...
Kanji: Well then, let's make that gift!
Yu: Huh?
Kanji: My present to Ma! I've got some tools for you to work with, too!
Yu: Huh?
Kanji: It's cold out now, so maybe somethin' warm for when she goes to sleep would be good!
Kanji comes up with an idea.
Kanji: How 'bout a crocheted hugging pillow you can put a hot water bottle inside!? I'll call it a "Warmy Yarny!" If we work together on it, it'll be a masterpiece!
Yu: Nice.
Kanji: Ma always seems to like it when I tell her stories about you, so she'll love this! Man, I'm glad I asked you, Senpai! Wasn't this a great idea!?
Yu: Sounds like a great idea.
Yu spent an unexpectedly long time with Kanji... Night fell, and Yu saw Kanji off.
1/16, Yu went to go train with Chie at the Samegawa riverbank...
Chie: Heheh, my moves are as sharp as always!
Yu: *nods*
Chie: I guess this is more my thing after all. My shoulders were stiff because I've been doing stuff lately that I'm not used to.
Yu: Stuff you're not used to?
Chie: Actually, I was... You promise not to laugh? I was studying...and stuff...
Yu: What happened?
Chie: Hehehe...
Chie seems embarrassed...
Chie: I started to think... studying's kind of fun. Just a little bit.
Yu: It is if you enjoy what you're studying.
Chie: Thinking about Adachi-san made me wonder if he was just weird. But then I thought, if my life had been different, I could have been just like him... Maybe everybody could. I realized that no matter how trivial something seems, it's related to my life, and that scared me...
Yu: Take it from someone who joined him in another timeline, it's scary how right you are.
Chie: That's why during history class, it hit me suddenly that the history we were studying was all connected to me. The people back then, the things they did, their culture... it's all connected, and it's tied to me too. It's not just something that happened a long time ago in a faraway country. Real people laughed, cried...and died there.
Yu: History isn't pretty.
Chie: Math and physics, too...they may not make any sense to me, but they're things I can use to help me understand the world. And when I thought about them that way, I got the urge to study harder... But it still didn't make any sense to me, so I'd give up... and then I'd come back to it again... It's an endless cycle. Ahaha, I'm good for nothing after all, huh?
Yu: That's not true.
Chie: Hehehe... Thanks.
Chie seems happy...
Chie: My way of thinking has changed a lot over this past year... But I think what changed the most is that I like this town now. I didn't hate it before, but it didn't really mean anything to me. Now, though, I realize that everyone is here. Yukiko, Yosuke...even you. All my friends and family... It was the people I believed in that gave me the strength to see the case through. So even if some other weird thing shows up again, I'll be okay as long as everyone's with me. If I believe in them and myself, I can always find a path... That's what I think.
Yu: And that is the truth.
Chie is beaming...
Chie's heart, having developed over this difficult year, attains greater power... Chie's Persona has been reborn again...! Suzuka Gongen has transfigured into
Haraedo-no-Okami of the Chariot Arcana!
Chie: Is this power... mine...?
Yu: Yep, it's been happening with everyone lately.
Chie: I wonder if this'll help me do more to protect the ones I love.
Yu: It sure will.
Chie: No matter how far away you go, we all want to protect you. We all love you, after all!
Yu felt an unbreakably strong bond with Chie...
Yu: Thanks
Yu spent time talking about all sorts of things with Chie until it became dark out...
1/17, Yu decided to go talk to Yosuke at his request. The two of them went to the Samegawa riverbank.
Yosuke: It's been a while since I last talked to you one-on-one like this. It's been pretty busy in the department I work in. I'm still doing that consultation thing, too.
Yu: (Indeed, Yosuke looks like he's lost some weight...)
Yosuke: I caused you some trouble, too, with that mess at Junes.
Yu: What're you talking about?
Yosuke: Haha, do you mean that? Or are you just being nice? ...Well, whichever it is, you're really something.
Yosuke is smiling happily.
Yosuke: Back then, I was constantly irritated, wondering why that stuff was happening to me. I was overworked just because I was the store manager's son, and on top of that, tons of people took me for granted... I thought no one was thinking about me. But that's not how I feel now...
He looks up at the sky.
Yosuke: I took a roundabout way realizing this, but one constant in my life is that people rely on me. I thought before that I was shameless for being like that, but...I just don't mind it. When I'm doing things for other people, it helps me try harder...
Yu: I see.
Yosuke: ...When Nanako-chan was kidnapped, didn't you think I was surprisingly on top of things?
Yu: Yeah, you were.
Yosuke: Haha, now that you say it like that, I feel pretty lame.
Yu: (Yosuke seems embarrassed...)
Yosuke: In any case... I tried pretty hard at the time. Of course, I was serious about wanting to save Nanako-chan and solve the case... But mainly, it was because I thought you were going through some tough times.
Yu: I was...
Yosuke is smiling gently...
Yosuke: When we were debating dropping Namatame into the TV... I was just seeing red. I was so overwhelmed with hate and wanting to blame everything on him that I stopped thinking for myself.
Yu: I know that feeling.
Yosuke: I think the same could be said about what happened at Junes. People just think about their own interests, but if I ignore them and say it's none of my business, I won't get anywhere. I'll forget what's important... and I won't be able to be proud of myself. I won't be able to say I did my best. I want to keep pushing myself like that... I want the people I care about to be happy.
Yosuke is smiling cheerfully...
Yosuke's heart, having developed over this difficult year, attains greater power... Yosuke's Persona has been reborn again...! Susano-o has transfigured into
Takehaya Susano-o of the Magician Arcana!
Yosuke: New power...? Haha... is this for real?
Yu: Looks like it.
Yosuke:...There's a lot I'm grateful for from this past year, but the biggest thing... I think it was that I met you.
Yu: Thanks,
Yosuke: If you ever lose your way again, I'll go knock some sense into you. It won't matter if you're at the ends of the earth or in somewhere dark and bleak. That's what partners are for, right?
Yu: I'll be counting on you, partner.
Yosuke: ...Hehe.
Yu sensed Yosuke's passion and strong, unwavering bond...
Yu: I promised to myself I won't lose my way again, but if that unfortunately happens, don't hold back.
Yu spent time talking about all sorts of things with Yosuke until it became dark out...
End...
Okay so I cheated with Yosuke cause you can't talk to him on this day, but due to me wanting it all to happen back to back in the same chapter, I feel it's alright if I bend the rules a little, besides It's coinvent for the next chapter opening.