Been awhile. Sorry for the delay. I'd like to thank all those who take the time to review my stories, good, bad or indifferent. So without further wait here is ch 13.

EDIT: Errors mentioned by Alphakoka. Thanks for catching that.

POV: Souji

Time: 5/19, Lunch
Where: Classroom

Yosuke and I were discussing various things in the classroom, when a girl came in from the hall.

"They posted the test results!" She said with a little too much enthusiasm. Maybe she got good grades, or she believes the good grades make you popular rumor. With that, though, Yosuke turns to me.

"Argh…The awful moment of truth. Oh well, want to check?" Yosuke asked me. Seeing no point in putting it off, I nodded and we walked over to the message board in the hall. Looking at the board, the first thing listed was the top 5 scores:

1st: Minato Arisato 98%
2nd: Souji Seta 95%
3rd: Yukiko Amagi 93%

The rest were names I didn't recognize. Apparently Minato beat me and Yukiko, but I've barely seen him pay attention at all in class. From what I've heard from Yukiko, he spends most of his free time helping at the Inn. Is he some kind of Genius?

I failed to notice all the eyes on me do to my own thoughts, a lot of strangers looking on with both awe and jealousy. My friends were happy to congratulate me for coming in second. I guess that popularity rumor was somewhat true.

"Man, congrats, but seriously, did you know Minato was some kind of genius?" Yosuke asked.

"No…but he was always pretty smart, at least he seemed to be. This just proved it." I said as we began to walk back to class.

"Sigh…Maybe I should ask him for some help. I'd ask Yukiko again, but…" He trailed off.

"What did you get?" I asked.

"75 and Chie got a 70." He said, "I know tests are important, but…with everything that's been going on it's been a bit difficult. I wasn't that much of an A student before anyway."

POV: Minato
Where: Roof

I decide to eat lunch on the roof. On the way up, I was joined by Yukiko.

"Hey, Minato-kun, mind if I join you?" She asked as she was approaching me.

"You'll get no protests from me." I said. We sat down a bit away from the other roof goers, enjoying the nice weather. After eating in relative silence for awhile, Yukiko started to make small talk.

"You know, I never did ask what it was like, living in the big city." She stated, but it seemed more like a question.

"It was not all that different from here really. Grated there was more to do, I did mostly the same things I can do here. The main differences come with the atmosphere I suppose. Inaba has a relaxed go at your own pace kind of feel. Tatsumi Port Island was much more rushed here, rush there." I explained.

"Hmm." She appeared to be in thought.

"Still thinking about moving away, huh?" I asked as I looked towards her.

"I…I'm still considering it yes." She said while looking down.

"But you are having some doubts?" I asked.

"Yeah, I guess…" She said without looking up.

After a few seconds of silent thoughts I spoke up, "Do you consider leaving Inaba to be a goal or a dream?" I asked.

"What do you…" she looked up with a face full of confusion.

"Call it curiosity." I stated and waited for a response. When one didn't come I spoke up again, "Well think about it, the answer you find may help you in the long run."

We got ready to go back to class. On the way back we stopped by the message board, because of the crowd and learned of our grades. We gave simple congratulations and returned to class.

POV: Souji
When: Afterschool
Where: On route to Junes.

Yesterday I found out that the boy look-a-like of Minato may know more about Kanji. I had heard from a Junes daily customer that he tends to go there on Thursdays. Arriving at the entrance I find him talking to a white haired police officer.

"-so you don't know anything about him either." The white haired man said.

"I'm afraid I don't anything either. If you find anything about this can you let me know, I'm looking into it from my end as well." The blue haired boy asked.

"Sure, so long as you do the same for me." The white haired man said as he started to leave. He locked eyes with me briefly as he exited. It seemed like he was sizing me up…It's just my imagination, right?

As I turned my attention to the boy, "Is there something you need?" He asked, "Many people from the town come and meet here. It's a very convenient location, isn't it?"

"Yes it is…Did you, by chance; notice anything odd about Kanji Tatsumi?" I asked.

"You're asking if anything seemed strange when I spoke to Kanji-kun, yes?...Hmm" He is definitely sizing me up, "Very well. It seems to be an urgent matter, so I'll simply tell you. If you're asking about recent events, then yes, there was something out of the ordinary. It was something I felt when I was with him…So I told him outright that he seemed to be an odd person. After I said that, his expression changed all of a sudden…I was quite surprised. On that basis, I believe his actions were somewhat forced and unnatural, throughout the time I was with him. He may have some sort of complex…Though I have no proof of this."

"…Thanks for the information." I said and turned around.

"Wait…" He said before I could leave, "You are friends with the man who looks like me, right?"

"Yeah, we hang out a bit, why?" I asked.

"Do you know anything about him?" He asked. Well he did give me something…

"Not too much, but I heard from Yosuke and Chie that he used to live around Tatsumi Port Island. He is very smart, top of our class, despite not really paying attention in class. Other than that he's an enigma. If you want to know more you should ask Yukiko Amagi. The two of them are pretty close, given he lives at her families Inn." I said.

"Thank you for your information." He said.

"Call it even." I said on my way to the elevator. Once inside I called the others to meet up at the food court.

Later

Everyone but the new guy, Ryoji showed up.

"What happened to Ryoji?" I asked Minato.

"When I went to get him he was still too tired from his ordeal, so he has to sit on the bench today." He explained, "So based on the fact that you called us here, it would seem you found some information?"

"Yes, according to your look-a-like…I really should have asked his name…anyway, it appears he has a sort of complex that involves people calling him strange. I don't know if it's enough, but it's all we have."

"Well let's go see Teddie and find out." Yosuke said. And so we ventured into the TV once more.

Where: TV World

Again we find ourselves before the being know as Teddie. After explaining everything to him, he replies, "Hmmm, a complex…Th-That's it! That's all I have to go on? You're working me to the stuffing…Oh well… Then I'll open my nose up real wide and sniff real hard!...Hmm…Oh, I think I found something! It feels like our target! Is this it! Follow me!" The bear runs off like a bloodhound on a mission. After a short while we arrive at our destination.

It appears to be a locker room of some kind. In front of us is a set of double doors. One is open allowing what looks like mist to waft out. It is quite humid here.

"Is it just me…or does the fog here seem kinda different?" Chie asked.

"My glasses are fogging up." Yukiko said. I looked over and they were.

"Man, it's hot in here. This place is like a—"Yosuke began to say.

"C'mere, pussycat…" Said a manly voice.

Oh… Such well-defined pecs…" Said a handsome sounding voice.

"There's no need to be scared…" The manly voice said.

"Uhhh…" Was the only sound Chie could think to make.

"Now, just relax…" The manly voice said in a calming manner.

"W-Wait a sec! I-I don't wanna go!" Yosuke yelled while freaking out.

"Now just relax, Yosuke. There's no need to be scared." Minato said.

"D-Don't repeat what they were saying to me!" Yosuke yelled.

"Geez…a bit homophobic?" Minato asked.

"Yeah, well, how would you feel if I was coming on to you?" Yosuke asked.

"Hmm, depends on my mood I guess. I might just accept." Minato said and everyone just looked at him.

"But…You…Men…I LIKE WOMEN!" Yosuke said. Both Yukiko and Minato broke out laughing.

"Yosuke, he was messing with man, chill out." I told him, "Anyways, it's a bit too late to start the search right now. We now know where he is so let's head back…Yosuke, get your head in the game!"

"R-Right." He said as we walked back to the entrance. We all decided to go home and begin preparing for the rescue.

Earlier
POV: Naoto
Where: Amagi Inn

After leaving the silver haired man I identified as Souji Seta, a recent transfer student, who showed up a day before the murders. That already made him stand out a bit to me in this investigation. Now he shows up asking about my recent investigations into the now missing Kanji Tatsumi. He seems like a nice guy, but he also appears to know a bit more than he should. Maybe I can get some insight on him based on how he uses the information I gave him.

Enough about that, time for a more personal case. He gave some information on this Minato Arisato. Aside from the fact that we look almost like twins, I didn't have much till now. The new police officer, Akihiko Sanada, was interested in my relationship with Minato as well. Perhaps they know each other. That's a question for another time.

I walked over to the service desk.

"Hello, miss." I said to the women behind the desk.

"Welcome to the Amagi Inn. I'm Sayoka Amagi, the proprietor of the inn. How may I help you?" She asked.

"I wish to speak to Yukiko-san about a boy she knows, whose appearance is similar to my own." I stated.

"You wish to ask about Minato-san? May I ask if you are related to him?" She asked.

"I…I don't honestly know." I told her.

"I see… Well unfortunately Yukiko isn't here right now, but there is a second guest in Minato's room right now. If you want to know more, why not ask him?" She told me.

"Is there anything you can tell me about him?" I asked.

"Not too much. He is a kind young man. He helps out around the Inn, most of the time for free. He is an excellent cook, but as far as personal information he is very secluded. He helped me get myself straightened out when Yukiko went missing, because of that and his constant aid around the Inn I allow him to stay here for free." She told me.

"I see…" I said, lost in thought. He managed to calm a distressed parent while her child was missing, with the recent string of murders. "May I ask how he calmed you?"

"Hmm, well he basically said that he knew she would be alright. He even went out looking for her when I could not. I don't know what it was, but I felt like I could trust that he could help find her and he did." She said.

Wait, that wasn't in the police reports! The report just said that she returned home and couldn't remember anything. "What's his room number?" I asked.

"Second floor, room 13." She said.

I walked up to the second floor. With nothing else to do I looked around. It really is a nice Inn. The staff must take good care of the place. Arriving at the room I knocked on the door.

"Hold on a second." A male voice said from behind the door. Within a few seconds the door opened to reveal a black haired, blue eyed young man with a white button up shirt and black pants. He looked me over, "Uhh…Minato, did you change your clothes or something?"

"Sorry, but I'm not Minato-san. My Name is Naoto Shirogane." I introduced myself.

"A pleasure. Ryoji Mochizuki." He said holding his hand out.

As we shook hands I said, "Sorry to interrupt whatever you were doing, but do you mind if I ask you some questions…inside?"

"So long as I can answer, I see no problem." He said moving out of the doorway and gesturing for me to follow. We sat by a small table, near the rooms TV. The news was on, but Ryoji turned it off as he sat down, "So what can I do for you miss."

"M-Miss? I'm a boy." I said trying to remain composed.

"My, my, such a reaction. I guess my instincts were correct right, Naoto-chan?" He said.

"H-how?" I asked somewhat bewildered by the strange antics of Ryoji.

"When I first saw you, while I admit you look very much like my friend Minato, your features a more feminine in appearance. Granted, that alone wouldn't really draw too much suspicion. However, your slight nervousness at entering my room made the first observation a bit more powerful. So that combined with my gut feeling caused me to bluff you and you confirmed my thoughts." He explained.

"You could pass as a detective with that kind of reasoning." I thought aloud.

"Indeed I could, I would imagine you do. Back at Port Island I had heard some tales of the Detective Prince. You quite the beauty, just as the rumors say." He said, "As for the skills…well call it a family trait."

"Beauty?...But I dress and act like a boy?" I asked trying to get my thoughts in order.

"I appreciate female beauty in all forms." He responded.

"What are you, some kind of artist?" I asked.

"I can be, if you'd care to be my model." He said in a somewhat odd manner.

"I…ah…" My mind blanked out for a few minutes leaving us in silence until I remembered why I came here in the first place, "C-Can I ask my questions now?"

"Go right ahead, Princess." He responded.

A little taken back by the statement I asked, "So do you know if Minato-san has any family?"

"He is an orphan, and was never adopted so no official family." He said, "He sort of had dysfunctional familial relationship going with his dorm mates. It was the only mixed dorm so the place was quite interesting to visit."

"You weren't roomed there?" I asked to make sure.

"No, just friends with 2 of the people roomed there."

"What were their names?" I asked.

"Hmmm…What are planning to do with that information?" He asked.

"I…I simply wish to find out more about Minato-san…He may be a relative of mine after all." I explained.

"I see you are looking into lost family. What of your Mother and Father?" He asked.

"Dead…they died in an accident. I was raised by my grandfather." I said looking down.

"I'm sorry…Perhaps your grandfather has the answers you seek." He said.

"He may, but I want to know a bit more before I bring it up to him." I said.

"…Junpei Iori…" He said.

"What?" I asked.

"Junpei Iori was my friend in the dorms, the other was Minato himself." He explained, "Junpei was one of Minato's best friends."

"Was?" I asked, somewhat confused.

"I'm afraid that's all I wish to say on the subject." He said.

"But…There's so much more I want to ask." I told him.

"I know that, I can see it in your eyes, however to truly understand everything you must see it for yourself. Talk to Junpei and visit an old friend with him." He said cryptically. I got up to leave, "Nyx."

"Nyx?" I asked.

"If you wish to learn what happened search for info on Nyx." He said as he walked me to the door, "Stop by any time to chat, spending time with you wasn't too bad, Princess."

"R-right…" I said as I was about to open the door, "Please keep my gender to yourself."

"As long as you visit sometime Naoto-kun." He said with a chuckle.

And so I left the strange man with more questions than answers, but at least I now have some leads on the subject.

Balancing these subplots will become a problem later, but oh well. Hope you enjoyed it.