Disclaimer: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona belongs to ATLUS. Touhou Project belongs to Zun. I have no ownership of the copyrights of either series in any way.

Chapter 28: Collision Course

Aigis lay in my arms, after having just caught her from falling. I felt nostalgia wash over me as my hands and arms began to register the familiar contours of her body; feminine, but stiff and rigid. Despite that, it was a comfortable feeling. She appeared to be in a bit of shock. From the fall or my perhaps sudden appearance, I wasn't sure. Realizing that I was breathing a bit heavily, I took a couple of deeper breaths to calm myself down.

"Can you stand?" I asked her, each word meted out in an even, slow rhythm. Her eyes that were dazed then focused with a marked suddenness when she heard my question. She nodded, to which I then began to lower her towards the ground. Once her feet landed back down, she rushed to right herself. Her coat ruffled in my face from the force she'd used to stand back up, though it was nothing compared to the turbulence I've been through from high speed flying.

"Thank you for catching me." Aigis bowed, causing my nervousness to return from the awkward situation.

"You're welcome. Well then, if you'll excuse me." I must get away… Wait, why do I? Now's my chance, she's right there. I can talk to her right now… and yet I can't push any air into my vocal chords. They refuse to move when I try to say anything more, to talk to her like before.

"Wait!" Aigis' hand grabbed onto my own before I could make my escape. "Would you mind… staying, for just a while? Just to talk?" I nodded my head before I realized I had even done so. While a wave of embarrassment hit me, so did a bit of relief, as if my body knew what it wanted before my brain did.

We found an unidentifiable waist high chunk of junk that was just large enough for the two of us to sit on. However, it wasn't so large as to give either of us a lot of space, so we were almost shoulder to shoulder. The two of us sat in silence with only the wind, off season cicada, and the occasionally bird cry filling the air.

"You knew my name…" Aigis was first to break the silence. I was so distracted that I didn't register what she'd said immediately. Right, I said her name before I even realized it when I first saw her. Dammit, that was a mistake. "Have we… met before?" I have to say something, quickly.

"No, you must have misheard me, and I'm sure I'd remember a blonde foreigner like you." Perhaps I can get her off my track if I label her a foreigner; make her think I know nothing about her and making assumptions. Aigis' expression remained unmoving. Though in some ways it was comforting and nostalgic, in others it was unnerving and tense.

"I'm sorry if this comes off as rude, but I do not believe you. If you knew my name, then you should know that I do not mishear things," she said suddenly, catching me a bit off guard. However, she was right. Though she could misinterpret, she wouldn't mishear. "Your expression does not indicate surprise or confusion. It looks more like, nervousness, and guilt." She looked like she was about to add something more but held herself back. "Tell me, who are you?"

"I'm… I'm Kotone Shiomi."

"Kotone Shiomi… do you live nearby?" Aigis asked. She was probably just starting small, probing for whatever she could get, and would move on to bigger questions if I slipped up. However, I can't just not answer. I'll have to answer in a way that wards off suspicion.

"I live in the area, if that's what you mean." It's best to keep things vague, leave nothing to attach to or dig into. Some details will help though.

"I see, and what compelled you to come to this abandoned junk yard?"

"I like to wander the area. Just happened to stumble here today." Not good, I can feel sweat forming at my neck.

"I still detect deceit. Please, tell me the truth. How are you related to Minato Arisato?" There it was, going straight for the kill, though it looks like she thinks I'm related to him, rather than being him all together. "There is something about you that is exactly like him. Please, tell me whatever it is you can."

I… maybe I should. Perhaps I should just tell her the truth. But should I? It's been quite some time. People inevitably move on. Do I really have a right to just interrupt their lives like that? I… I can't. I can't just burst into their lives again and selfishly impose myself on them without considering their circumstances. if I'm sorry Aigis. Maybe one day, when I'm sure I won't cause you trouble, but now's not that time. But how do I get out of this situation?

"Huh? This feeling?" I heard Aigis suddenly say. Just as I began to understand what it was that she said, I felt something shift inside my heart. Wait, how? Hephaestus? I was suddenly forced to switch to Hephaestus, Ruukoto's Persona. But I didn't do that. It happened on its own. "What is…" She's distracted, I guess this is my chance.

"Sorry, but I have to get going. Good luck with your investigation!" Before I heard anything back, I ran again. I didn't know for how long I ran, but by the time I stopped the Junkyard was already nothing but a speck in the distance. The sky had already turned purple, and the stars were beginning to peek from behind the night sky. Was the right thing?

"Just this one-time master. Next time, please face her properly."

"Ruukoto!?" I thought I just heard Ruukoto's voice… wait. Could it be the shards still in my body…?

"Ruukoto, can you hear me? If you can, please say something. Please…" I pleaded, hoping that it wasn't just my imagination. No answer came, only silence as the cicadas quieted for the night. What she told me stuck in my mind.

"Face her properly, huh?" She's right. How I acted was cowardly. I didn't know what to do in that situation. I hadn't at all expected Aigis to show up, or anyone from SEES for that matter. It was only in the remotest part of my mind that I thought that I would see them again so soon. I started to laugh to myself. Intruding on their lives? No right? Just a bunch of lame excuses so I wouldn't have to face her. I just didn't know what to do when the moment came and tried to get out any way I could.

Even if I look like this, I still should have held my ground. I still should have properly told Aigis the truth.

"Thank you Ruukoto. I'm going back. Hopefully I can find her before it's too late." Please Aigis. Please still be there.

-0-0-28-0-0-

"The nights are so beautiful out here…" Without the light of the city, the stars were clear in the cloudless sky. And hanging there brightest of all was the moon. For me, the moon brought as many good memories as there were bad ones. When I saw how it hung in the sky, I would remember you. I would remember the bridge where we first met when you were but a child, the nights we would go to Tartarus, how I would sneak into your room to watch you, though now I know a little better. It has been a year and then some, yet even so I still miss you. There's still an emptiness in my heart that I don't think will ever be filled. At least that was until today.

She felt like you, and at first, I thought she was you. She was trying to hide something, and perhaps it was of your return. I took it slowly, trying to ease her into the answers. Just when I had believed she would tell me what I wanted to know, suddenly the feeling changed. She no longer felt like you. She felt different, a feeling that was still familiar and nostalgic, but it wasn't you. It felt like me in a way. However, it was as if it was a masking rather than a change, as if it was meant to hide something. Perhaps it was on purpose and…I'm sorry for still thinking of you like this.

I know that it would not be so easy for you to have returned. After all, if you did, then the world would be in danger. We aren't ready yet for you to come back to us. Still I hope you can forgive me for this little selfishness. As much as I would be happy to see you again, I would rather wait until the time was right. I just hope that we don't make you wait too long.

I used my internal phone function and dialed a number. It was time to make my report for the day. Almost immediately after I had dialed the number, the other end of the line picked up before the phone could ring even a second time.

"Aigis, is there something to report?" I took my time to explain to Mitsuru-san what happened, how after meeting with a Dojima-san and receiving the report, I made my way to the junkyard and was about to test the reports regarding TVs. However, I was then discovered by that girl Kotone Shiomi.

"She felt like him," I told her.

"Like who?" Though I could not see Mitsuru-san, my sensors indicated that she was feeling a mixture of confusion and hope.

"She felt like Minato," I elaborated for her.

"I see… However, unless my memory has failed me, Minato Arisato and this Kotone Shiomi are not anything alike from description. They aren't even the same gender." What she said was true, however I had to insist.

"I would never mistake that feeling," I asserted once more. I would never forget it. I will never forget it.

"… Yes, Of course. You would never make such a mistake. However, based on the sound of your voice, I presume that there's more to this story." Mitsuru's ability to observe others has matured over the years. I suppose it is to be expected of someone running a company as large as the Kirijo foundation.

"Oh yes, when I tried to press her for more answers, suddenly she felt different. It was still familiar, but in a different way. I do not know how to describe it, but it was something like… kinship?"

"Hmmm…" I heard from Mitsuru-san, "How curious. While I would normally discard such aspects of the report, you do remember the incident not long after his funeral correct?"

"You are talking about how his things were taken from the secure vehicle meant to transport them. Yes, the camera had caught someone taking those things using what appeared to be holes of some sort," I recalled the time when I had first watched it. I had watched it over and over again, until I could recall every frame of the video by memory. "I believe that a majority of the force decided that it was a simple visual glitch in the camera system. However, Fuuka-san was unable to find anything of the sort that would allude to tampering with the security systems."

"While you are right in that most of our group dismissed it… something I am not one of them. I suppose it has something to do with what is left of Artemesia's support abilities. She tells me that there is something more to that video. Alongside that, perhaps your feelings are worth taking into consideration, given the note were handed during that incident… Aigis, I have new orders. Suspend your investigations of the TV related incidents and focus on tailing this Kotone Shiomi. I have a feeling she might lead us to clues as to what had happened that day."

"And maybe as well-"

"Please Aigis, let us not… let us not hope too much for that." I stopped myself from speaking any further. I had forgotten that it was not just myself who held him dear. Mitsuru-san, do you also still feel tha-

"As you are investigating her, I will make preparations for back up to arrive on the scene and assist you. However, I am not sure how long it will take to do so, given the murders currently happening in the area." Ah yes, the murders. The latest victim was a Kinshiro Moroka if I remember from the police report I received early today. Thanks to the Kirijo foundation's connections, I was able to easily secure the reports. A fairly uneventful event all things considered.

"Do you know how long it will take for you and the others to arrive?"

"Was I that obvious? Well unfortunately, it may take a month or two depending on how much clearance we can get. Even the Kirijo foundation has its limits."

"I will continue my investigation until then. Until next time Mitsuru-san. Take care."

"Yes, you as well. I bid you adieu." Now, I should get moving. I have quite the assignment ahead of me. Minato, if it is really you…

-0-0-28-0-0-

It was a day after I'd seen Aigis again. After escaping, I went back to the junkyard to see if she was still there, only she was of course gone. When I couldn't find her, I just went back to Rise's place, helped her with some homework and went to bed. My Persona hadn't forcibly changed like that again since. I tried calling for Ruukoto later as well, but I continued to only get silence. If I concentrate, I think I can still feel her presence, but how do I go about actually drawing it out?

"Okay, okay enough about our exams. You mentioned something about running into that detective too, right?" Yosuke took a sip from his drink. We'd gathered at the top of Junes in the food court again. Kind of wish SEES met up at food courts, so I could get something to eat. Instead we met up in the top floor of the dorm. I guess it was more professional, but heck of a lot less filling. Wait did he talk to me?

"Huh?" I let out, not expecting the sudden pivot in the conversation.

"You said that you ran into that detective the other day, right? It's just you didn't say anything more than that," Yosuke elaborated. "I was just hoping if you got anything out of that guy."

"Oh right… I met that detective... Naoto, in front of Rise's house. I think they were investigating something around the area. I didn't know who it was at first, so I thought they were lost and needed help. They then asked me a few questions, but I didn't want to connect anything about us to the case, so I tried to be as vague as possible and left while I could." Minimizing further contact was the safest course of action. Less she can find about us, the better.

"I suppose being cautious isn't all that uncalled for. Though I don't think the police would be able to find, let alone believe anything to do with the TV," Yosuke said, taking the time to think on what I'd just said. Kid's kind of like Junpei, he seems a bit disappointing at first, but he'll pull through in the end.

"Our activities still make us look suspicious. Even just the smallest little thing could make people talk. I'd imagine police work is the same in that regard," Rise added. "Tabloids would latch on to even the smallest thing and spin it into whatever would sell their rags."

"Man, that sounds kind of harsh." Chie cringed at the thought.

"At least the ones here can't fly at supersonic speeds."

"Huh? Wait flying tabloids?" Yukiko looked at me quizzically. Oh right, forgot the Tengu aren't around here.

"Never mind. So back to this King Moron." Not a flattering name in the slightest is it? "The police are connecting it as the same as the others, right?"

"Except that he wasn't ever in the TV. Again, I was in there, so if he had shown up, I would have known!" Teddie explained.

"Assuming Ted's nose is correct, then that means King Moron had to be killed by other means… however that also implies other things as well." I thought, letting my experience working with Reimu investigating incidents work into overdrive. "I think we're forgetting a few other possibilities."

"H-How so? Didn't we say the other day that the killer just switched methods? If that's not the case, then what is it?" Kanji asked.

"In my experience, assuming things too early can be detrimental to finding the truth. You start trying to point the evidence towards your assumption, rather than letting the evidence point itself."

"Quite true, a mistake made by the inexperienced or overly narrow minded. I admit I'm impressed. Being open and able to see the possibilities in events isn't something everyone can do. I may have underestimated the lot of you." All of us turned to find a lithe teenager walking up to us.

"Regardless I must inform you that any further investigation by your group will no longer be necessary," Naoto finished saying as she walked up to us.

"Y-you!" Is that a blush on Kanji's face? Looks like Shinji isn't the only big teddy bear around here… metaphorical teddy bear.

"There is no need to examine the case of any further," she further explained. Interesting… I'll hold off for now and see what else she says. As they say, don't interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake.

"Wh-why's that?" Chie asked, caught off guard like the rest of the team.

"Apparently, the police have found a suspect. It would be best to let them handle the case from here." Huh? Really? Sounds a bit too easy…

"How do you know?" Yosuke asked for the rest of us.

"As I've explained to Kotone-san, I'm on this case as a special investigator, by request of the prefectural police." Everyone looked towards me with varying degrees of confusion, accusation, interest, and I think in Yu's case, nothing.

"Did I forget to mention that?" I guess I forgot to mention that.

"I mean, it kind of would have been nice to know beforehand, but it's not like it would have made much of difference now that I think about it," Yosuke relented.

"Enough about that! They found a suspect!? Who!?" Chie demanded.

"As to his name, I haven't been informed. However, I do know that he is a highschooler." Everyone else seemed surprise by the revelation. As for myself I wasn't shocked but, why is that? Right, Youkai. Youkai would be the sort of thing to make you numb to such things.

"It isn't public knowledge yet, but he isn't a student of your high school. It seems they are quite confident that this boy is the killer… They have testimonies directly linking him with the incident. I expect it's only a matter of time before he is apprehended. Soon, this case will be solved, and your town will once again be its peaceful, rustic self."

"The suspect… is a high schooler…?" Yosuke, that isn't all she said. I can't say anything while she's still here. Will have to wait until after she's gone. "All right… so why come tell us? That's confidential info, right? Why run right here and spill it?" Huh, good point. I didn't catch that part.

"You 'game' will soon reach its end. I felt I should at least let you know that," Naoto said. I couldn't help but be a bit irritated by the slight bit of patronization in her voice. Before I could say anything however-

"It's not a game to us," Narukami spoke up for the first time since Naoto arrived.

"You don't deny, then, that you have involved yourselves in the matter?" She's good; didn't rise to the provocation, and just went straight for the throat when the opportunity presented itself. Have to remind everyone to be more careful around her. "Well, no matter. I have no reason to say anything further."

"Aren't you the one who thinks this is a game?" Rise said, catching Naoto off guard. Unable to react in time, Rise continued to speak. "I don't care you're a special investigator or an amateur sleuth. All you're doing is solving mysteries. What could you possibly know about us? You're the one who's playing a game here." I wasn't aware Rise could be so angry. She's usually so bubbly and sweet, but here she was with a bite that would give Yukari Takeba a run for her money. I keep getting surprised by my juniors.

"One of the victims… she meant a lot to me. How could I possibly treat this like a game?" Yosuke, look of disgust… I hope that report comes in soon. "Plus, we made a promise."

"Y-Y-Yosuke…" Teddie stuttered out. A promise? I looked over to where Yu was sitting. He seemed to know exactly what they were talking about. I see. So that's how he was able to…

"A game? That may be quite true…" Naoto conceded.

"Why so understanding all of a sudden," Chie was first to ask.

"Oh, I get it. I was wondering why you'd be wandering around like this when the police have a suspect. What, did they get rid of you now that they have their man? Is that why you came here? You were lonely?" Yosuke turned that around, quickly didn't he.

"Want a seat? There's room," I offered to her. She shook her head.

"Detectives normally aren't involved with arrests. And we never harbor any special emotions regarding a case either. Still it is rather unfortunate that people are only attentive so long as our services are required. But then, I'm accustomed to it." You don't look like you're all that accustomed to it, or perhaps I'm just reading too much into it.

"You came and you did the service they asked of you. It's not always appreciated, but in the end the world is better for it. Have a bit more pride. At least you get paid and recognized for it, unlike a certain shrine maiden." Man, I can't even begin to imagine what would Reimu do if she had even half of Naoto's recognition and fame for solving incidents… probably work me to the bone on merchandising.

"I'm not entirely sure what shrine maidens have to do with anything but thank you for the kind words. In any case, much about this case was perplexing, but its solution was surprisingly simple. Well then, I'll be going now." And then she just left. Just like that.

"What was that about? He just said his piece and left?" That's what I just thought Chie. "He said they have a suspect… but is this really gonna solve everything?" Hey wait a second.

"He?" I asked, but I wasn't heard.

"Who knows…" Yosuke said with a sigh.

"I'm sorry, are you guys talking about Naoto?" I repeated.

"Yeah, he was just here wasn't he?" Yukiko asked.

"But you're using 'he'. Isn't Naoto a girl?" Almost at the same time everyone blinked. Then they blinked again. The third blink was when I started to get worried. "Did I say something wrong?"

"A girl!?" Kanji yelled, getting up and slamming the table, causing the other customers to stare at us. "Uh… ah… Sorry about that!" Embarrassed he sat back down, we remained quiet until everyone stopped paying attention to us.

"I'm sorry, but Naoto-kun is a boy. His title is Detective Prince after all," Yukiko was first to speak after the awkward silence.

"Yeah, I'm fairly certain that if Naoto-kun were a girl, there'd be more of a fuss. The police are already difficult to work with when you're that young, let alone a girl," Rise explained to corroborate Yukiko's point.

"Then, was I wrong? But her hands…" Eirin can't be wrong, she's basically like Omoikane, the god of wisdom and intelligence. Hmmm… I don't have enough information, and it's not like I asked Naoto anyways. "Fine, let's drop it. Naoto's a boy let's leave it at that. We've got more important things to talk about."

"Huh, like what?" Chie asked, a little surprised that there was anything else.

"Well first off, don't you think it was a bit too easy for them to have found a suspect? After all this time, with a way to kill people in such a way that conventional approaches would fail to do anything? It's a little weird don't you think?"

"When you put it that way… yeah, it does seem kind of fishy. Why would the suspect be caught now of all times?" Yosuke seemed to agree. "I think what you're getting at is that something is different with King Moron's death than the previous ones."

"Something, but I can't say anything for sure." I could make any number of wild guesses. Maybe another Persona user caught them and is part of the police force, maybe it's just a copycat killer, or perhaps it's the work of a Youkai. There's enough tricky Youkai who'd do that sort of thing. "Also, I don't think Naoto-kun coming to tell us all of that was just him sulking." When in Rome I suppose, but I'll keep in mind that I still think she's a girl. "He's a lot more cautious than that. A lot more perceptive, and experienced. I would normally be a major mistake to tell us all that, and a rookie mistake at that."

"Are you saying… he told us all that on purpose? But why would Naoto-kun do that?" Rise wondered.

"That's the question isn't it. What does he want us to do with that information? For now, I think everyone's a bit too exhausted to continue. Just keep that in mind going forward. This case isn't over yet," I told them. Good, looks like they're starting to think on it. I don't have the answers myself, but at least everyone should be on the same page. After a little while longer, Chie looked over in my direction.

"Man, it's great having someone like Kotone-chan around. Having a senpai who's more experienced really takes some weight off our shoulders," Chie exclaimed in her usual pep. "It's kind of nice having someone to rely on like that."

"It's nothing. I've just had to deal with problems left and right back in Gensokyou." Sometimes you couldn't go a single day without something happening.

"Gensokyou… that's the place you live right? You never really told us what that place is." Yukiko pointed out.

"I guess because I was never asked?" Great, they're all staring at me. I guess this is the part I have to explain what Gensokyou is. Well they've already gotten involved in a sense. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell them more.

"Gensokyou is kind of a wonderland, I guess. There you can find things like Youkai, magic, things lost to time, all sorts of stuff. I'm not the best at explaining it, but it's a one of a kind place. Sure, it can be a bit dangerous, but at worst you'll just get a bit scuffed up. Maybe one day I can take you all there when things settle down. The cherry blossom viewings at Hakurei shrine are quite the sight to see."

"Ooh, that sounds lovely," Yukiko remarked. "If it's a cherry blossom viewing, then I'll bring some of my cooking to the event." Huh, I didn't know she-

"Uh, how about no?" Yosuke interjected. Huh? What's wrong with her cooking

"What's wrong with her cooking?" I asked out loud. I didn't get an answer however, as another member of our group stood up to speak.

"Aw come on Yosuke, it was just one time." This time Chie was speaking. Oh… don't tell me.

"And I want it to be the only time, if I have anything to say about it! You nearly killed us!"

"Mystery Food X…" I hear Yu mutter under his breath. Why does that sound like something that needs to quarantined?

"Next time will be different! And besides, what's wrong with a bit of experimentation every now and then?" Oh god it is another Fuuka. Are Chie and Yukiko's cooking…

"We're not your lab rats! And if you want to play mad scientist do it anywhere but the kitchen!"

"Well then how about I cook something then?" Rise offered.

"H-huh? Cooking… from Risette? I didn't expect you to be the homely type," Yosuke said, caught off guard by Rise's offer. Come to think of it I haven't had Rise's cooking either. Her grandmother does all the cooking. Who knows though, maybe it's good? "Oh yes, please!"

"Hey! Wipe that smirk off your face!" Admittedly Chie was right, Yosuke's intentions were a bit obvious.

"I wasn't smirking!" Yosuke then moved to cover his mouth, taking a couple of deep breaths he calmed down. "Back to the main topic at hand. As Kotone-chan pointed out, we should keep an ear out for anything else that happens. She's right. This case isn't over yet."

"And there's one more thing," I added. "Just because the murders stop doesn't tell us anything about the TV World. We still don't know why it exists. Things like that don't happen without a reason, or someone behind it. Keep that in mind too."

"Huh… even I didn't stop to think about why that world existed in the first place," Teddie mused. "It's always been like that for as long as I can remember." Everyone went silent as the idea floated around. It seems that this might actually be the first time any of them had seriously considered just why that world existed. I suppose that makes sense though. There was a more pressing problem to address. I don't have the answer either so it's not like I could say anything more.

"As interesting as that is, let's solve the murders first," Yosuke said. "Yeah, it's important to figure out why it exists, but we can do that once the case is solved and the town's safe again."

"Don't forget that guy that we fought with Kotone-chan that time. He's still around too." Kanji pointed out, much to the surprise of everyone. "Hey, even I can remember stuff like that!"

"Right, that guy. Hopefully that's the last we'll see of him. Though if he does show up again I hope you don't mind if we just throw you at him," Yosuke joked. "Well if there's nothing else, then I guess just keep an eye out for anything suspicious. If anyone catches anything, let the others know and we can meet up then. Kotone-san, we'll keep you posted via text messages since you don't go to our school."

"I mean if it's the roof top then I can just fly up there if you're having a meeting there." All of them looked at me in surprise again.

"Right, I forgot you can fly. Man, sometimes I forget I'm dealing with someone who can use magic and stuff," Yosuke said, scratching the back of his head as he did so.

"It's nothing special. It's just something I was given when I was in Gensokyou," I explained vaguely. Can't say why I was given it. Don't want to panic them.

"Huh, think we can get those things too then? The power to fly?"

"I don't think I'd like that. I wouldn't want people looking up my skirt," Chie then Yukiko commented one after the other.

"Okay, Okay. Let's not keep this meeting going any longer. Does anyone else have something pertinent to add?" Everyone shook their heads at the same time. "If that's the case, alright, meeting adjourned."

-0-0-28-0-0-

The others had left some time ago, I stayed behind on the rooftop, and waited until most of the regular customers were leaving. I didn't want to go anywhere else, but at the same time I didn't want too many people catching me read this. Even if this would come across as nonsense, it was still an important document that had to be at least somewhat protected. In my hands was an official response from the Ministry of Right and Wrong. I'd submitted a request a couple days ago for information regarding the murder victims, particularly about Saki Konishi.

Unfortunately, the thin report I held in my hand did not bode well for the results. Regardless, once I was sure I was being ignored by the majority of people around, I took a deep breath and opened the report.

"Like I thought, Rejection…" I murmured as I perused the reply letter. "We regret to inform you that we cannot carry out your request. We have reviewed the information you have requested and have deemed it too volatile to the living world for requisition. You may request the information again later, after the resolution of the inciting incident in the human world, or… Ugh, dammit…" I stopped reading it. Just more fancy crap that was summed up with: 'Will affect the human world too much'. Though it was written so distantly and impartially, they probably knew where I was, and stopped me from getting the info.

I pocketed the letter, too dangerous to just throw it out. I don't know if that Naoto girl is the kind of detective to rifle through trash, but I don't want to find out if she is. The letter stated I still had access to other admin privileges, provided I still continue my paperwork. Well no problems there. Not like I'm doing much when the kids are in school… which I never finished…

Still, I was hoping to do something for Yosuke. I heard from the others that he seemed to have a crush on the girl. A chance for closure isn't something everyone gets… I suppose I'll keep it in mind for later. I'll probably be able to ask again when this is all over. Worse comes to worse I could just try and find her myself when I have time after this, assuming she hasn't been processed yet. Though first we have to get through the current problem. Even then we have to wait for something to happen at all.

"Well not like I'm unused to waiting for new developments though." Though unlike the moon cycle, fog wasn't as predictable, and neither was just waiting on information in general. Having to rely on the news was a bit odd, but hey, I guess that's just the lay of it. Gives me time to relax and settle in. As I sat back in my seat, I started to close my eyes. I suppose I could use a small nap before heading back to Rise's.

"You're still here?"

"Hm?" I turned to the side to see a familiar silver bowl cut. "Narukami? I could ask the same thing of you." In one of his hands was what looked like a few groceries, a leak chief among the ones that could be seen sticking from out of the bag.

"I was doing some shopping, seeing if there was anything, I could get for the fridge later this week. I decided to see if anyone was still up here." Shopping? I didn't figure him the motherly type. That's pretty impressive actually. I still don't know anything about housekeeping, which isn't helped by how competent Youmu is. I wonder how she's compensated for her work.

"Huh… Well I was just waiting until later to head back to Rise's place." Which was mostly then a big fat load of nothing. "It's not like I got homework or something to worry about."

"I see… if you've got nothing to do right now, want to get a bite to eat? There's a place in the shopping district that makes good rice bowls," He said with a brotherly kind of smile.

"Hmm… you know what? Sure. I wasn't getting anywhere with my thing anyways. Lead the way." I was getting hungry anyways. Hopefully they'll have enough to eat.

-0-0-28-0-0-

"Remind me to come back here when it's raining," I asked Yu as I took another bite of my beef bowl. I couldn't help but look at the promotional image on the wall of the absolute monster of a beef bowl.

"Alright, we can challenge it together. I've been trying it the last few rainy days. I feel like just even attempting it is improving me in some way. Perhaps it will be the same for you." Don't know about that. I just want to eat it. So much meat… If it tastes anything like what I'm having now, I'd probably actually feel as full and satisfied since I went out with Elizabeth that one time. Though admittedly that was more stomachache than full.

"By the way Mi… Kotone-san, how are you acclimating to Inaba?"

"Well… I suppose it's easier than I thought it would be. Gensokyo isn't modern in any sense. Had this place been a full-on city I probably would be a lot more exhausted. As it is though, it's kind of nice middle ground. Though the people are about as weird and eclectic." Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, Kanji, Rise, Teddie... none of them were any less a character than the ones I saw in Gensokyo. In some ways they also reminded me of SEES, the original ones. "You guys have been a lot of help."

"No problem. It's also nice having a senior with us. It's reassuring to know that there's someone who we can look up to. Before, we were kind of just doing things a little blindly. Now it feels like we have some sort of sense of where we're going. Speaking of, have any advice for us?" Yu asked, putting down his chopsticks to focus on the question.

"Advice… Honestly from what the others have told me, you're all doing just fine. Any advice I could give would probably be redundant. That being said, I'll try to let you guys handle the brunt of stuff." Narukami raised an eyebrow when I told him I'd be limiting my help. Right, I should probably explain.

"I don't want to just end up doing everything for you guys. If that guy comes back for real, and you all aren't ready, things could go south the next time. This case is the perfect way for you guys to gain experience enough so that should that guy return, we'll be more than ready."

"So, you want us to just keep doing what we're doing, and you'll stay out of it?"

"Not exactly. If things go wrong, I'll step in to help. Think of me as a sort of safety net. Besides, this is your journey. No one should find the answer for it but yourself." I could feel it, his power was like mine. There are subtle differences, but they are similar in nature. I had the opportunity to grow, and I shouldn't take that away from him.

"My own answer…" He muttered to himself as he looked pensively down into what was left of his bowl.

"Yeah… Other than that, don't ever give up on what you promised. Whatever that is."

"What I promised?" I asked me, unsure of what I was referring to.

"The promise you made to get into… that room." His eyes lit up once he realized what I was alluding to. He only replied with a nod, neither of us elaborating more on the subject, but understanding. He picked up his chopsticks and resumed eating his bowl. I did very much the same. A silence made its way between us, but in a sense it felt natural. Neither of us had anything to say, so we didn't say anything. It didn't feel as awkward as one would think. It was like we understood implicitly that it was fine to just be quiet, eating our bowls. It was kind of nice.

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"Thanks for the meal!" He and I said simultaneously as we slapped our hands together. We stared at each other in surprise when we realized we had finished at the same time. We held there for just a moment before both of us broke into giggles, then into laughter. I don't know what the other customers thought of us two idiots laughing like that, but… this was fun. It's weird having someone so like me, yet at the same time, I kind of like it. It was like meeting a long-lost friend… Yeah, it's like I met him a long time ago.

"Well, here's to working together, Boss." Narukami held his hand out, mimicking what Teddie was calling me.

"Yeah, here's to working together, Sensei," I said back to him, grabbing his hand. At the same time, we shook and then the world dimmed. In an instant I felt something growing within me. That familiar feeling of my power growing coursed through my body. This time, the power of the World was what grew. It was small, but they always started that way. When the feeling faded, the world returned to its usual splendor and color.

"You too?" He asked, blinking his eyes a bit, though I was probably doing the same.

"I guess we have that in common too. Good luck with the other ones, just try not to be too much of a heartbreaker," I jokingly advised him. I was too socially awkward to say no at the time, but hopefully he'll be better than that.

"What are you talking about?" Narukami seemed genuinely confused at my advice… I don't know whether to pity him or envy him. I'll just let him go about that business and see how it ends up. Speaking of heartbreaking… I wonder how everyone in Gensokyou is doing? It's been a few day, so… Maybe I should write something and have Komachi take it back… Later! I'm still hungry.

"Another bowl please!"

"Seriously!? Hmm, maybe I can use this as training for the challenge. Another one for me too!" He stopped after the third bowl. You have a long way to go my friend.

-0-0-28-0-0-

"Alright, I'm not getting anywhere just sitting here! I'm going, ze!" I yelled to not anyone really as I sat at my desk, finally just fed up. Minato's been missing for the past few days and not a single person's been able to find him. Then suddenly just yesterday during one of Kaguya's so called 'Court Lady Meetings', or whatever, a bunny suddenly showed up and told us that he was in the outside world just over the mountains. Needless to say, that caused an uproar, I tell ya. The rabbit didn't say anything more, other than the fact that he was okay, but I'm not sure that really registered in the minds of most of us at the time.

Reimu was in shock, completely had the breath taken out of her. I think it's cause she's now trying to contemplate whether or not to break her own barrier to go see him. Byakuren's reaction was more so just worry, and not really much else from what I could see. Mokou, was quiet but, that's how she usually is. Still though, that girl was thinking more than usual. Sanae was also quiet but proceeded to excuse herself without much ceremony.

Youmu also bolted, probably to go tell Yuyuko ASAP of what she'd just heard. That's when I took my own leave, not even staying behind to tell what was going on in Kaguya's head. I think she said something about waiting dutifully for his return or something like that. I'm getting a bit ticked off just thinking about that smug confident look of hers, like she just trusted him or something. I don't have time to think on it though. I've got to get to him before the others do. I'd bet my hat that they're all planning something on the sly, or my name wasn't Marisa Kirisame.

"Here it is!" Just what I'd been saving for the occasion. "My special furnace booster I'd been working on." I'd made attempts to exit the barrier in the past, but every time I somehow would end up back at the edge or circling the same place for what felt like forever. I asked Yukari about it and I just got some gobbledygook about non-Euclidian geometric something or other. Whatever! A barrier is still a barrier, and like any barrier you can break it with enough power.

"Just got to boost past it so hard that it won't have time to non-Euclidian me, ze!" That was the plan, I'd boost my mini-hakero furnace and use the subsequent final spark while on my broom to fly so fast and so hard that it wouldn't have time to stop me. It just had to work! I mean what could go wrong? It can't go wrong… A sigh escaped from me as I put down the booster.

"I have to get there first…" If there's one thing I've become aware of, sitting in those meetings, it's just how much I don't know about him. Looking at all the rest of them talk, it was easy to see how much they'd talked to him, how they could easily point out things about him or the way he acts that I had trouble seeing. Every meeting it was like getting thrown in my face just how far behind I was.

Youmu lived with him and knew almost all his habits by heart as well as his favorite foods. Combined with teaching him her family swordsmanship, it was like she was trying to integrate him into her family bit by bit. Reimu was with him every day as well, something that she held onto with a vice grip. Any attempt to take him away for a day was met with stiff resistance. She always claimed that it was because he was her employee, but no one bought it as it was clear that she liked him way more than that. Mokou never said anything, but when topics involving him came up, she'd eye the situation like a hawk. She's definitely worried about him.

Sanae's secret past with him was dangerous. Out of all of us, she had the greatest amount of history as well as that commonality of coming from the outside world. Minato always eyed her, but I was a bit peeved that his gaze would descend every now and then. I mean, I'm bigger than Reimu, but still, that wasn't fair! Byakuren I think wasn't in the race, but liked talking to him in general, so I guess she's safe.

Kaguya though… just the fact that she holds those meetings is enough to tell us of her intentions. She acts like she's already his wife. I mean, she treats us nicely, but the idea of sharing him is just too weird! Though who knows who else he's been talking to outside that circle! I certainly can't name all the eligible girls in all of Gensokyou who might want him.

And then there's me… aside from confessing to him first, I think, and coming to hang out with him sometimes, I can't say that he and I have gotten any closer. I'm painfully aware just how much closer the other girls are to him. In all honesty I wouldn't be surprised if I was… dead last. After hearing everyone else, I'm sure that out of everyone, I'm the one he likes the least. The idea that not only he likes someone else more, but way more people more than me… it hurts.

It hurts so much I want to cry, and that's not supposed to happen to me. I ste- borrow things all the time, but I can't stand it if someone else does it. My chest tightens, and it becomes heard to breathe every time I think he's with someone else. The idea that he won't love me… I swallowed that choking feeling in my throat. I can't afford to waste time. I need to get there first. I want to help him with whatever he's doing outside. I want him to acknowledge me, show him that I before anyone else, he could ask me for help. I want to learn more about him than anyone else. Yeah, and to do that I have to get to him first.

"Screw it! I'm not waiting for tomorrow, ze!" That's right! I'm no quitter. I'm Marisa Kirisame, the Ordinary Magician. So what if I'm behind? So what if I'm dead last? That just means I have to work harder than any of them. If I don't know as much, I should just ask. If I don't spend as much time, I just have to make time. I'll learn so much about him, and be with him so much, that I'll become an expert far above everyone else! At the same time, I'll let him learn as much about me as well. As embarrassing as it may be, I want him to know more about me too. If we're to be together, that's just how it's going to be, and I'm going to go at it with all I have.

I ran out of my house, knocking things down one after the other on my way out in an already messy home. I'll just clean it up after I come back. After slamming the door shut and closing it with a bit of magic, I took a deep breath of the night air and checked the stars above. I can do this. The theory checks out, and the tests have looked good so far. Hopping on my broom, I immediately rushed high into the dark night sky and upon reaching the optimum altitude, pointed myself in the direction that that rabbit pointed to yesterday.

"It's all or nothing, ze!" I said as got I off my tush and placed my feet on my broom in what Minato called, surfer style. Pointing my mini-hakero with booster equipped behind me, I began the process off firing my best Master Spark.

"Time to surprise him! Let's go!" From the outside I bet I was able to mimic a shooting star in the night sky; a streak of light racing through the sky outshining all else in the celestial space above. I placed a free hand on my hat so that it wouldn't go flying off from the wind that roared in my face. For a split second I saw myself fly over and past the usual landmarks at a speed I'd never seen before; disappearing right as they appeared. I'm sure I woke everyone up in the dead of night, but I don't care. I'll receive your noise complaints properly when I come back as his number one girl, so please wait warmly until then! For now though, to the outside world, ze!

Author's Note:

Sorry for the wait guys. A shorter Chapter than I thought it would be, but then again looking at Persona 4's story, it tends to happen in chunks, sandwiched between the large gameplay segments of Social Links. In retrospect the games are their length in part because they are genuinely that long without filler, but also large because the VN dating sim aspect takes a really long time to do. Thankfully the structure kind of aligns with what I'm trying to do which is to write shorter chunk chapters rather than the bigger ones I had in the past which could have reasonably split up and be easier to digest. Not that that's helped my scheduling.

Anyways this chapter's focus was more so just to start knocking a couple of Dominos down. I can at least say that next Chapter will include A Beach, A Witch, and a Toaster. I promise that starting from next chapter we'll really be getting into juicy bits and a greater interaction between the Persona side and the Touhou side.

I'll also be avoiding a day to day structure as most of that is gameplay. I'll only really be focusing on big events in the game, so don't really expect any links outside of specific ones to show up. Just assume Yu's on course to complete all of them.

That being said, I hope you enjoyed your time reading my fic. Thank you for taking the time to do so, and please look forward to the next chapter, and I hope you have a great rest of your day, and please leave a Review for whatever criticisms you may have…

PS: Speaking of which, I remember some of you guys coming to my defense on a particular review I received recently as of the time of this writing. While I do thank you guys for your support (genuinely, it was very sweet of you guys), I do think the criticism was valid, even if poorly delivered. I do actually vehemently hate the way I wrote Minato in the early chapters of this fic. Setting the pages ablaze would be only the beginning if I weren't the one writing this. So much so to the point that I do have, in the back log, rewritten versions of the early chapters on hold for later that better align Minato and certain events with how I'd write them now. No major changes to plot progression or character unless they were out of character.

Regardless though, thank you for coming to my defense. It's nice to know someone's got your back. Really Truly, Thank you.