Naoto approached me after school. "Misaki-san, may I have a word with you?"

I smiled. "Of course!"

He nodded, fidgeting. "If you'd like... would you... like to come to my apartment?"

I stared at him.

"P-Please say something..."

"Y-Yeah, I'd love to!" I blurted.

He looked at me and smiled, face red.

Naoto's living room had a TV, a coffee table with a bunch of paper stacked on it, a bookshelf filled with books and case files, and a sofa. The kitchen was clean but empty.

Naoto shut the door behind us, blushing. "I'm sorry... I haven't invited... a girl here before."

I smirked. "Did you invite any boys?"

"Wh-What are you implying? J-Just because I'm..."

I laughed. "Relax! I was just joking."

He sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just... so nervous."

I smiled. "Thanks for inviting me, Detective Prince."

Naoto blushed again. "U-Um... Would you like to... come to my room?"

I stared at him. "... Your room? Me?"

"Y-Yes. But i-if you're not comfortable with it, then it's fine if—"

"I'd like to see it," I interrupted.

He led me into one of the doors.

His room, much like the living room, was filled with paper and books. A laptop, a stack of papers, and a lamp sat on a small desk against the wall. His bed was covered in a Neo Featherman sheet. A blanket sat folded on top of the pillow.

I laughed. "I love your bedsheets."

"I-I found it when I went back to the estate a few weeks ago. I figured it'd be a waste to simply throw it away."

"Of course." I turned to him. "Oh, and... I have something to give you." I fished out the Sukuna-Hikona doll Kanji helped me make and held it out to him. "This is for you. I know it sucks, but it was my first time making something like this..."

Naoto took it gingerly. "You... made this?"

I nodded. "I even had Kanji help me, but it looks like I have no talent in this whatsoever."

He shook his head. "No... it's perfect." He smiled at me. "Thank you."

I beamed at him. "No problem! I also have one for Goyoku-Izanagi." I took mine out. "I screwed up on him, but he's all right, I guess."

"No, they're great."

I laughed. "Thanks."

"I also... have something to give you." He held out a detective's badge. "Please accept it..."

I took it. The badge had some weight to it, and it shone brightly. "It's really good!"

"I haven't crafted anything like this in some time. If I went back to the estate, I could have added a camera and a transceiver... Oh, but it flashes! I made myself one to match. ... Don't laugh... or say it's stupid or childish... okay?"

"Not at all," I said. "I think it's cool."

"Th-Thank you." He sighed and looked at the ground. "The title of 'detective' became a burden to me... I thought I had no other aspects apart from detective self. But you gave me a reason to be, as neither adult nor straight... Senpai... Being with you... I felt glad to be a detective..."

Naoto's Persona evolved.

His new Persona had a long, pointy helmet. He was wearing a white soldier's uniform with blue pants and thigh-high black boots. Wings were attached to his arms, and he held a sword.

"This potential... was still dormant within me... I wasn't considering the things that I should have. The people who care about me, as well as my own self... The detective, the child, the bisexual... The 'me' who existed before them... I am... simply myself. I'm glad to have met you..."

I hugged him. "I'm glad to have met you, too."

He hugged me back. "I'm not sure how to put it... The puzzle of my emotions has been solved already, but... I love you."

I smiled. "I love you, too."

He pulled away, face red. "... I hadn't planned this far..."

I laughed. "Then do you wanna make a paper cranes with me? I'm trying to make a thousand cranes for Nanako."

His eyes widened. "A thousand? By yourself?"

"Well, I had some help. And I was thinking I can get the others to make some for Nanako and finish it off."

He nodded, smiling. "Then let's get started."

We sat at the coffee table in the living room and began making paper cranes.

I couldn't stop my thoughts from wandering to Nanako and Adachi... and how the world was going to end.

I sighed and set down half-finished my crane. "Hey, what do you think of the 'everyone turns to Shadows' thing?"

Naoto looked at me. "Do you mean what Adachi said?"

"Yeah. I'm so scared... If I can't do this... Nanako won't be able to see what the world has to offer. I know it's selfish to think that, but... that's what scares me the most. We've already lost her once... I don't want it to happen again."

My heart was beating too fast and my hands were clammy.

"Nanako-chan and everyone else will live through this. Misaki-san, I'm sure you already know this, but you're not alone." He placed his hands on mine. "You don't have to do everything by yourself."

"Yeah, but... I don't wanna rely completely on you guys. I'm the leader! I..."

He shook his head. "You and everyone else taught me that people depend on each other. We give and we take. Although you think you are using us, it's really you who have helped us. You're not alone, so please... Don't be afraid to ask for help. Besides, leaders are part of a team for a reason, aren't they?"

I sighed and smiled. "... You're right."

He nodded. "Let's try our best... together."

"Thank you, Naoto. I think... I think I'm ready to face him now."

Naoto smiled. "Just say the word, and we'll be at your side."

I squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

As much as I wanted to stay the night, I knew I couldn't ask Naoto to house me like that.

He walked me back to my empty home and left.

I went straight to the hospital after school.

Dojima was awake.

"Hey, Uncle!" I greeted. "How're you feeling?"

He smiled. "Better. They'll let me out in a few weeks."

"That's great news!"

He nodded. "How are you doing?"

"Good." I sighed and took a seat next to his bed. "... I wanted to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

"I wanted to properly apologize to you about... hiding my involvement in the case."

Dojima sighed heavily and turned away.

"I'm really sorry for hiding it, Uncle. It's just... no one would believe us if we did tell anyone."

He looked at me. "Were you telling the truth in the interrogation room?"

I nodded. "Of course! But I know it's hard to believe. I mean, jumping into TVs? That's just absurd..."

He nodded. "But you say it like it's real."

I sighed. "Because it is. As absurd as it may be, it's true."

He shook his head, chuckling. "I can't believe it. There's no way..."

"Well, either way, I just wanted to apologize. I know it probably can't make up for it, but... it doesn't feel right to just leave it hanging."

He sighed. "... It's fine."

I sighed. "I wanted to tell you something else too. I'm planning to bring my friends to apprehend Adachi tomorrow."

His eyes widened. "What?"

"Like I said, it's something only we can do. He's escaped into the other world."

Dojima sighed. "I know you kids saved Nanako, but... you shouldn't be risking your lives like this."

I smiled weakly. "But we're the only ones who can do this."

"If what you say is true, then I don't have much of a choice, do I? Not that I can believe that TV crap..."

I sighed. "I guess not."

"... You will catch him, right?"

I nodded. "Of course. Just trust us."

Dojima nodded. "... Thanks... for everything."

I smiled. "It's really no problem."

"Just be careful."

I nodded. "I will. Well, I'm gonna go see Nanako now." I stood up.

"I'll come with you."

"What? But you're still recovering! You shouldn't move ye—"

He swung his legs over the bed. "No, I'm coming."

A nurse walked in with his food. "No you won't! Do you want your wounds to open up again?"

Dojima immediately lay back down on the bed. "Sorry, you're right. Misaki, say hi to Nanako for me."

I nodded. "Of course."

I sat beside Nanako's bed.

"Hey, Nanako. Your dad said hi. He seems to be doing better, which is good."

I sighed. "Remember when I was whining to you about my problems? Well, turns out my friends saw me being a little baby and helped me. I'm not alone. I don't have to do everything myself." I chuckled. "Sometimes I forget that. But you shouldn't, Nanako. You should always find help when you need it.

"... Of course, Adachi is still a problem. I still don't know what to think about him just... betraying me and your Dad like that. Not just us, but everyone. But I can't let my feud with him distract me from what matters. If the world is gonna end either way, we might as well take our chances at stopping it, right?

"I'm planning... to call everyone to chase after Adachi tomorrow. We'll end this, so don't worry, Nanako. I hope you'll get better soon. And... again, I'm sorry. For everything."

Nanako's eyes opened. "Big... Sis?"

I gasped and held her hand. "Nanako...!"

"You... can do... it..."

I nodded. "Let's keep fighting, Nanako. Together."

She nodded and closed her eyes again.

I squeezed her hand, blinking away the tears. "You got this, Nanako. I believe in you."

A/N: The last few chapters were so hard for me to right for some reason, and I'm not sure if I'm completely happy with how they turned out.

But either way, we can finally move on to the action.

Thank you for reading.