Chapter Text
This…just might be the first time I’m truly looking forward to Golden Week.
And despite me having all the reasons to dread the upcoming days ahead…I feel good about all of this. I mean, overall.
“*Haaaaaah…*”
Of course, that doesn’t make me feel any LESS tired…! …Shoot. I can yap all I want over dealing with the rush hour and everything, but the only thing that I’ll hear is my own voice echo. …Like always.
It’s the Junes department store located in Yasoinaba. Like always.
It’s right in the middle of rush hour, where things get the most hectic. Like always.
Yosuke Hanamura, son of the Inaba branch’s manager, and recently promoted supervisor of said store, was currently bemoaning his lot in life while on the clock.
…Like always.
Sure, Junes hosts events that can catch the eye of the public on occasion. Such as now. Not every day at Junes is an uneventful slog (Every day’s supposed to be Great, after all!) But, well…it’s Inaba. It’s a small rural side town between the bigger city that is Okina and a whole slew of mountains and rivers. When special events and holidays don’t come in, that’s a recipe for a whole lot of nothing.
But, again…now’s special. Golden week makes it so a good handful of out-of-towners come by and see what sweet deals they can score. More business means more money. It also means more demand, more hands on deck required, and more employee stress on everyone’s part.
“...” Yosuke grinned after that thought passed. “Well, sucks to be anyone else tomorrow! Because this guy’s off!” Whatever holiday rush that Junes has to suffer through will not be Yosuke’s problem. Which, yes, is one reason why he was looking forward to Golden Week. He can actually spend time enjoying it.
…Yosuke’s dad will most likely splay the gore of his profane form across the stars for choosing the worst time to call off when this is all said and done, given the horrified expression he gave his son when he turned in the request, but that would be future Yosuke’s problem. Present Yosuke was just hyped about one thing, and one thing only.
And he knew that he wasn’t the only one in this town who was excited for the exact same reason.
“Tomorrow’s the day my Partner’s comin’ back!”
It’s been…like what, almost 2 months since he left? It really hasn’t been too long, truth be told…and he won’t be staying for that long, honestly. Just a little over a week. Two, tops.
But, well…considering the type of guy he is, it sure felt like an eternity, waiting for him to come back.
Ah, by “him,” I mean my Partner, Yu Narukarmi.
He’s my best friend, no bones about it. That’s why I call him “Partner.” He’s been with me through thick and thin. …Not just that, shortly after I met him about a year ago, he and I went and solved some mystery case.
And not some rinky-dink, half-assed Scooby-doo mystery, either. A full blown serial murder case that quickly took a turn for the paranormal. …Hell, even up to levels of cosmic horror and near future fantasy. No, I’m not exaggerating.
A bunch of dead bodies were found hanging up on telephone wires once it fogged in Inaba overnight after a long period of rain. One of the victims was someone I admired, so that really hurt me personally.
What made this case freaky was how this was done via some parallel universe that can be traversed by hopping into tv screens. We all call it the Midnight Channel. Yu was the first person who could safely go in there, and soon enough, I dragged myself after him to find answers.
Within that world are Shadows…monsters that are born from humanity’s ego and subconscious negative thoughts. If a person falls in there, nine times out of ten, they’ll soon meet some twisted mirror image of themselves, representing everything they hate about themselves. Try to deny it, and it goes in for the kill. If you acknowledge and accept it, along with your shortcomings…
…That’s how you get a Persona. One of the ways, anyway.
Personas give you power beyond anything normal. My Partner and I got one each, and we used those to traverse the Midnight Channel, fight Shadows, and find answers.
But it wasn’t just the two of us. We found a whole bunch of allies who also could do what we could, and they all helped solve this case.
It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. All those Anime and Manga make it look a lot more simpler than it actually is. It was waaaaay too much for an average 16-17 year old to deal with, even with so many people backing me up. As soon as we started thinking that we got a handle on things, something else came up and threw us for a loop almost immediately after.
First it was murders done by a culprit.
Then it became something completely unrelated, involving slightly similar things in the past. That’s why I said “One of the ways to get a Persona.”
Then my Partner started messing with the dimensional barrier, and…t-things got really complicated for a bit.
But that’s all behind us, now. Against all odds…we pushed through. And as we kept being pushed through the wringer, our bonds became stronger out of it. “...Fire-forged Friends,” I think it was called. Something that Naoto, one of the friends I made, told me about. With comrades like these…using the word “friend” to describe them feels like a bit of a disservice.
That goes double-no, triple, for Yu. That’s why he’s my Partner, and not just “my best friend.” I’d go through hell and highwater for him. After everything he did for me? For all of us…? Come on…
Yu wasn’t here to stay forever, though. He only came here for the school year while his parents were overseas. We promised that we’d all meet again once Golden Week comes by.
And now…!
Yosuke clapped his hands together with an infectious smile. “Alright, that’s this day done! Yo, Ted!” Yosuke called out. “You ready to call it for tomorrow?”
…
…
…No reply.
“...Teddie?” Yosuke glanced around. “I…could’ve sworn he was nearby…” Yosuke started walking through nearby aisles in an attempt to find the Junes Mascot/Shadow human (Long story), but he couldn’t spot any boy in a bear suit anywhere. “...Maybe he already left? He didn’t mention Hyde calling him, or anything…”
Teddie’s not the type of person to just up and leave work. The dude loved working at Junes. Yosuke could just assume that he was too hyped to see his “Sensei” again, which is why he left without telling Yosuke, and it was a valid line of thinking, but…
…It just still felt…off. It’s hard for Yosuke to describe it. Letting out a hum, he frisked out his cellphone and tried calling him.
*pi pi pi pi*
*pi pi pi pi*
*pi pi pi pi*
*pi pi pi pi*
Yosuke’s phone rang before he even dialed anyone. Is that him…? …No, it’s…Ruby? Yosuke let out another odd hum, and he answered the call.
Before he could even say anything, the rather shrill voice of one of a few American foreigners in Inaba blew out his eardrums. “YOSUKEYOUGOTTAHEARTHISPEOPLEHAVEBEENSAYINGTHATTHEMIDNIGHTCHANNELISBACKANDEVERYTHINGAREWEGONNAHAVETOFIGHTANOTHERGIANTEYEBALLBEFOREYUCOMESBACK-”
“Whoa, yo, yo, yo!” Yosuke pulled his head away from his phone. “Slow down! Enunciate! And for the love of God, keep it down!” Ruby was always like that. She tended to be loud and tactless at the worst times, usually whenever she got adrenaline pumping through her. …Yosuke was like that too, but not nearly as frequently. Heart always said that “That’s why you two are a match made in heaven.” Only Heart can say that and not have it come off as an insult.
“S-Sorry…!” Ruby muttered. “I’m…stressed. If that wasn’t obvious.”
“Stressed? About what?” Despite the small amounts of worry creeping up inside of him, he couldn’t help but tease Ruby a bit. “Stressed about Yu coming back tomorrow? Did you forget that was going to happen? Typical…”
“Hey, shut up! Like I’d forget about tomorrow!” Ruby fell for the chops-busting either way. “Ah-Gah! That’s not the issue, here! Did you not hear about it!? The Midnight Channel!”
Yosuke blinked. “Uh…w-what about it?”
“People around town are saying that it’s back!” Ruby explained. “I was talking to Chie earlier, and she said that she was hearing the same thing around town! S-Sure, it wasn’t to the same extent as it was during…y-y’know…” The murder case. “But still! Have you asked Teddie about it? Or Marie? Any of those two guys?”
Yosuke frowned. “No, no, Teddie hasn’t said anything about it for the past few days. He’d be the first person to know that something’s off, and he’d tell us…or tell Marie-chan to tell us.” …Marie should know. She was checking in the now harmless Midnight Channel as much as Teddie was. If anything, she should be in there right now, even. “Teddie just left Junes, I think…okay, here’s what you’ll do: Call Hyde, and tell him to keep an eye out for the dude. Honestly, I’m like…90% sure it’s nothing big. …Do you know if it’s gonna rain tonight?”
“Uh, Chie said yes, so…” We should all probably just watch it, for old times sake, was what went unsaid. Again, in all honesty, Yosuke had doubts. If they’re both going by Chie’s word of mouth from someone else, it’s possible that Chie was overexaggerating everything.
…That, and part of Yosuke didn’t want to believe it, personally. He hoped that Yu could just show up and he and everyone else could just hang around like how normal teenagers are supposed to do. Ragna always said that Yu was a walking calamity when it came to things like this, and Yosuke was inclined to agree with him. Just once, Yosuke hoped that Yu could just focus on his own life, and not some weird, cryptic-ass destiny that usually revolved around him for some asinine reason.
…Shit. What are we going to tell Yumi? She just returned here herself, not too long ago. Yu wasn’t the only one who left Inaba. Yumi started University not too long ago, and there aren’t any institutes that are in or near Inaba. While Yumi wasn’t a whole region away from them all, like how Yu was, she was still absent for a bit.
That was the other side of the hard truth that was Yu heading back to Tokyo: It wasn’t just a “him” issue. Yumi had a future to focus on that didn’t involve Inaba. Ruby still wanted to return to her homeland in the States one day. Hyde still had plans in June to visit Kanzakai with his childhood best friend, Yuzuriha. Heart had friends back in the Kanto region that she loved with all her heart. This group of friends still had connections outside of Inaba, and if there was one thing that they all learned in the past year, is that connections are vital to them, due to their own nature as people.
But that isn’t here or there at the moment. “...Okay, tell you what. I’ll-”
Yosuke didn’t get to finish his thought as he heard his phone buzz from a text he just received. “...I think someone messaged me. You go and do what I asked, and update me later, okay? I’ll keep you posted if anything weird comes up.”
“A-Aright.” Ruby didn’t sound 100% content with that, but she didn’t say anything about it. “Talk to you later, okay? …Love you.”
“Love you, too.” Yosuke hung up and opened his messages, seeing what it was. He hoped it was Hyde, who would just tell him “Yo Ted’s here, it’s all good, get ready to see Narukami tomorrow,” and that would be the end of that.
…Imagine his shock when it came from Naoto instead.
“HAVE U SEEN KANJI KUN RECENTLY? Y/N”
“I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM FOR THE DAY”
“CONTACTED TATSUMI TEXTIES, MOTHER SAID THAT HE WAS AT HOME ALL DAY B4 STEPPING OUT SUDDENLY”
“REPLAY ASAP”
…That’s not good.
Now, Kanji’s the type of guy who tends to do whatever, whenever. Usually whenever he has good days. Even if he doesn’t get into fights anymore, he has a habit of not telling his mom what he’s doing, what he’s planning to do, where he’s going and where he’s been. This isn’t anything new.
Though taking into account past discussions that just happened about 3 minutes ago made Yosuke start to officially panic. That, plus the fact that last he recalled, Naoto’s out of town at the moment, so that meant that she learnt about this from word of mouth from someone else…who knows how long he’s been away? Who knows when Naoto just learned about this?
“...Shoot…!”
That’s why he made a complete 180 and bolted towards the tv aisles. He spotted a tv there, a different one from the one they used to jump in. Someone bought the old tv, and Junes got a new one.
Yosuke, without bothering to look if anyone else was watching, stuck his head in. No issues came up. The tv worked like always, and Yosuke phased through the Midnight Channel partially all the same.
He thankfully had the sense to not leap in completely, and stuck his head back out. No, he didn’t sense any hostility or dread. No, nobody saw him do this. No, there wasn’t some weird, inexplicable aftereffect that Yosuke felt when he came through. It felt like it always did when he or anyone else jumped through.
…The Midnight Channel is the same, purified place it always was. At least, at this moment.
Yosuke let out a shaky breath. “...It’s all good,” he told himself. “Everything’s fine…just…go home and try to stay up until midnight. Like old times. It’ll be fine…”
Yosuke told himself this over and over as he left Junes and walked home. Maybe because he hoped that he’d believe himself if he said it enough times.
Well, Yu’s in Okina City.
In a few hours before Midnight, he’ll be back in Inaba with Nanako and Ryotaro Dojima. Funny. Nobody actually really cared about that at this moment. It was all thanks to the Midnight Channel scare that Chie and Ruby gave everyone. It didn’t help that more and more people were saying “Yeah, I think I heard that in passing.” And the fact that Teddie and Kanji are MIA. So, yeah. Yu’s return unfortunately took a backseat.
All Yosuke could do was sit, watch the unrelated news channels, and occasionally glance at his phone whenever it buzzed from some text as the hours passed. Everyone was sending texts and emails to one another, some more frequently than others.
Chie Satonaka.
Yukiko Amagi.
Ragna Terumi.
Hyde Kido.
Ruby Rose.
Heart Aino.
Naoto Shirogane.
Akatsuki. No last name.
Yu Narukami and Yumi Tsukikaze weren’t texting anyone else, because they were texting each other, the lovebirds that they were. But Yosuke knew that Yumi at least was still up and waiting for midnight. Nothing from Teddie, because he doesn’t have a cell phone (He was working on getting one) and Kanji, because aforementioned MIA. Still, that’s just about everyone accounted for…
…Wait, where’s Ri-
*pi pi pi pi*
*pi pi pi pi*
*pi pi pi pi*
*pi pi pi pi*
…Another direct call. Yosuke swiftly picked it up and answered it. “Yeah!? Hello!?”
“Um, Yosuke-kun?” It’s Yukiko. “Is everything alright?”
Yosuke huffed. “Stressed,” he answered obviously. “You can probably guess why. You’re watching the tv right now, yeah? And so is everyone else. …Everyone except Ted and Kanji, anyway…”
“...About that…” Yukiko slowly began. The worry in her voice was very noticeable. “Chie sent me an email a good while back…has anyone seen Rise-chan? She’s gone missing as well…o-okay, not ‘missing,’ just ‘everyone has lost contact with her.’”
That’s three now. Three too many. Yosuke was regretting not fully jumping in the tv at Junes when he still could. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that if something was up (Which it most likely is at this point), then at least someone with Velvet Room ties would come by and tell everyone. If not Marie, then…the three Velvet Girls? Penny, Rachel, Angelia…the three odd girls that suddenly entered Ragna, Ruby and Heart’s lives during the case the same way Yu had Margaret. (Why everyone else got the short end of the stick was just a question without an answer, one of many that the Investigation Team learned to live with)
…And it wasn’t like Rise was stressed lately… Yosuke thought to himself. She’s starting to get her feet back in the water to her idol career, but even so… “...This can not be good,” Yosuke muttered. Normally, he’d try to make a joke to lighten the mood and raise Yukiko’s spirits, but…
Three of their friends have suddenly vanished.
Small rumors involving the Midnight Channel returning, the very thing that started the murder case, are popping up.
If there’s one thing that Yosuke’s learned from last year, it's that things have a habit of not properly ending when they should.
Yosuke cleared his throat, and spoke up. Yukiko didn’t hear his depressing quip, and managed to execute his original plan of “turn that frown upside down.” “Hey, Amagi-chan…did you forget that Inaba’s called ‘The city of gossip’ for a reason? Sure, sometimes the word of mouth can turn out to be true, but…who’s to say this isn’t something that someone’s just saying for fun? We’re the experts, right? We look first, then we make our judgement.”
Yosuke could pick up a very faint giggle from the other side. “...You sound a bit pretentious when you say it like that. But you do have a point. …Thank you, Yosuke-kun. I think I needed to hear that.”
Sure enough, Yukiko sounded a bit more relieved. That relief didn’t fade after they said their goodbyes and hung up. Unfortunately, that was only on Yukiko’s side. Yosuke let out a heavy sigh as the line went dead.
…Does Yu even know…? Should I tell him…?
It didn’t sound wise to pile a bunch of problems onto him as soon as he arrived, even though he would be the best person to tell. Yosuke didn’t want to make Yu worry. After everything Yu has done and went through for the past year, he deserved to have a normal life.
“...” Yosuke turned the tv off and stared at the blank screen. It’s almost midnight. It’s raining. It’s just like old times. And that’s what made Yosuke tense. Because if that was true, then…
More risk of death.
More surreal fights against surreal opponents.
More getting the rug pulled out from under them.
…More friends?
*bzzz*
Yosuke’s breath stopped. In a split moment, one thought went through his head.
I can’t. Not again.
I…I doubt that I’m strong enough.
“…Rivals…”
“They are close friends…and at the same time…”
“Powerful foes!”
“A desperate clash between close comrades of all ages! While known for their seamless ability to work together, everything will be turned upside down in this contest…!”
“After months of teamwork…”
“How well will these bonds hold up…in an-all out contest of strength!?”
A familiar bowl cut appeared on screen. Yu Narukami, clad in his Yasogami High Outfit, was facing a figure across from him. It was none other than Yosuke Hanamura, headphones set around his ears. Both clutched their weapons that were crafted by their dear friend Ruby, Wild Lightning and Youthful Wind. As they stood in what seemed to be a boxing ring, both boys shared a heated smirk. While it was very slightly malicious, it was clear that this was all in good fun, no hard feelings on either side.
Yu spoke first.
“Today, we settle it…who is the best fighter between us, Partner?”
“I think you and I already know the answer to that, Partner…! But if you want a reminder, then I’ll be more than happy to give you one!”
Both boys smirked even wider. Yu did his ever familiar neck crack, getting ready.
“Well, I always wondered which one of us would win in a proper scuffle. And if that’s the case, then…”
Yu unsheathed his blade, tossed the sheath away, and held Wild Lightning to his side.
“...I’ll just have to BEAT ALL OF YOU up!”
Out of nowhere, with no warning, two blurs appeared behind Yu and Yosuke, dashing past the two boys and clashing against each other. The impact of metal meeting metal made them skid across the ring, turning the one on one into a free for all between four youths.
Spiky white hair.
Half and half black and blond in a similar shape.
A large, heavy, convertible scythe and blade hybrid.
A thin katana with a blood colored coat.
Now standing in the ring were Ragna Terumi and Hyde Kido, who also shared the same amount of intensity as the two boys beforehand. With no warning, the four charged at each other, head on. The second before they made contact, the image turned into a freeze-frame, zooming in on the intense expressions of everyone.
The footage then cut to a small cut of in-real-time combat, alternating between everyone. Yu, Yosuke, Ragna and Hyde were fighting each other, using moves that they always did with their respective Personas and skills with their respective weapons that they learned over time.
“We’re friends. Why do we keep doing this…?” Yu’s voice spoke up over the given footage, and as it did, his name appeared alongside Yosuke’s…alongside…titles?
The Sister-Complex Kingpin of Steel
Yu Narukami
Captain Ressentiment
Yosuke Hanamura
“I’m not here for your entertainment!” Hyde’s voice, as the “footage” on him and Ragna changed to the two of them having their own scuffle. “I’m here to win this! You’re just in my way!”
“Big words from a nobody!” Ragna shot back. “Either put up, or shut up, kid!”
The Crass Crimson Reaper
Ragna Terumi
The Boy Who Happened To Be Messed With
Hyde Kido
More footage played out, showcasing the four of them scuffling like nobody’s business. In all honesty, it looked extremely stylish and well done…ignoring the fact that none of the guys would do this. “What gives, Partner?” The Yosuke on tv chided, as he put Yu through the wringer. “Done already? I got a lot more left in the tank!”
A new voice suddenly piped up.
“Is that so!? Put your money where your mouth is, Hanamura!”
Leaping from behind Yu came Chie Satonaka, performing a leaping dive kick. Yosuke barely managed to block it, but the block was messy. Sure enough, the kung-fu lover that many people knew well had joined the fray.
Spunky Dragon With Deadly Legs
Chie Satonaka
“Feel that!? Nobody’s got more energy than I do!”
“I don’t think so! The power of Love has got you beat!”
“Guess you haven’t seen the strength of a Real Man, yet!”
Both the leg of a well-crafted folding chair and a clenched fist with a red ribbon tied around it clashed with Chie’s extended foot. There was a visible shockwave that came from the impact clash. In the camera frame were Kanji and Heart, both exerting a healthy dose of competitive fire.
The Bloodcurling Beefcake Emperor
Kanji Tatsumi
The Lovestruck, Punch-Drunk Maiden
Heart Aino
In a flash of a camera lens, the scene changed. All of a sudden, there was a group of different boxing rings, this time with a huge crowd of people cheering on the competition. Standing in the center of the rings was…
…Teddie? He looked…different. He had an officer’s cap on of sorts and was chomping a cigar, looking more gruff than he usually did. He was brandishing a flag that had “P-1 GRAND PRIX” plastered on it.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” The Teddie on tv announced with a heated smirk. “Boys and girls! Children of all ages! A new legend is about to start HERE, in Yasoinaba!”
Teddie pointed the flag up in the sky, where the lights were the most blinding for the camera. If once squinted, they could spot a figure falling from the sky.
“Now this looks interesting! Mind if I join the fight?”
In a flourish of red cloth, Ruby Rose fell from the sky, hefting her own handmade scythe, Crescent Rose, over her shoulders. Once again, Ruby was on the Midnight Channel, looking like the Live-Action/Comic hero she always wished she could be.
Red-Flagged Rose
Ruby Rose
Ruby wasn’t alone, though. On both sides of the ring she just landed in, two pairs of figures stepped into the ring. On the left side of Ruby was a certain armed, blue haired Detective Prince…or “Princess” as it evolved into as time went on. Standing by her side was a man who was the oldest out of the Investigation Team, a thin but muscular man in a suit with cadet colored hair and blank black eyes.
On Ruby’s right were a pair of women. One with jet black hair with a red hairband, complete with a predominantly red school uniform, and a light gray haired young lady with oxymoronic icy and warm cyan eyes. Both carried war fans in their hands, the first lady having red and black ones and the second one having blue and white ones.
“A competition…? Very well. It isn’t as if I can bring shame to the Shirogane family name.”
“If you wish to win…lay seven misfortunes and eight hardships upon me!”
The 2000-IQ Killjoy Detective
Naoto Shirogane
Dishonorable Discharge
Akatsuki
“Holding back wouldn't be very polite, now would it?”
“Ready yourself. I will show no mercy.”
The Unconquerable Snow Black
Yukiko Amagi
The Frigidly Flowing Femme Fatale
Yumi Tsukikaze
The Ruby on tv saw the opposition, and only grinned, twirling Crescent Rose with a flourish. “This girl’s incredible! Wanna see?”
More camera cuts took place, flashing between the newcomers fighting amongst once another. The members of the Investigation Team that had already appeared had returned, evident by them occasionally showing up in the montage. As time went on, the camera zoomed in and out to highlight moves landing, fierce expressions, special techniques and flashy Personas in action with more and more intensity as the showing continued.
“Pretty cool, huh?”
“Yeah! That’s the way!”
“No escaping me!”
“Oh? Done already?”
“You dead yet!?”
“You want more!?”
“And you’re done!”
“Whoa, that was AWESOME!”
“I did it!”
“This is my job!”
“Quite simple.”
“May you rest a soldier.”
“Get ready for the manliest of matches…TO BEGIN!”
General Teddie appeared again, this time pointing at the sky as the stage fireworks behind him went alight. The image then showed the main logo of the tournament.
FIERCE FIGHTS
THE P-1 GRAND PRIX…
STARTS TONIGHT!
…More fighters to be revealed soon…
“Stop right there!”
Though it looked like the broadcast was about to end, the footage continued once more. The camera was eying the light fixtures on the ceiling, similar to how they were for Ruby’s entrance.
A shaded figure suddenly appeared, performing a swift backflip on the stage. At a glance, the only thing that was visible was the long flowing hair that they had.
As they landed, more and more details could be discerned, as the camera was pointed at their feet, making their shoes visible. The same Yasogami loafers that most students wear. The camera slowly panned upwards, up to the person’s face.
A rather small and slightly meek looking girl. Medium long blond hair. Large blue screw shaped hair accessories on either side. Soft green eyes that didn’t match the fiery determination on her face. Said eyes had rings around the pupils, tracing around the edges of the iris. Rings that weren’t always there.
That, and the two rather large, oddly shaped white pistols in both of her hands.
The girl twirled around in place, and struck a pose, aiming both pistols towards the camera.
“I may look weak…but I won’t lose! I’ll show you all…what I can really do!”
Green-Eyed And (Easily)Trigger Happy
Noel Vermillion
The footage went black, and the broadcast properly ended this time.
Yosuke blinked.
Blinked again.
“W…wh-what the…?”
Blinked a third time, before rubbing his eyes and staring at the static screen that was his tv.
With no warning, Yosuke screamed out his thoughts on the matter. Thoughts that were shared with approximately 8+ people within Yasoinaba.
“WHAT THE HELL!?!?”