Chapter 16

The worst of all cliches may have just happened.

I woke up in my own bed. Last night could have been a dream.

While rushing to get to school that morning, Nanako told me that I had received another unaddressed card. The first one I ignored since I had been out so often lately. And this time, well, I just didn't have time.

Today was one of those painfully long days. The teachers' lectures felt twice as long. Even Chie and Yosuke's banter had assumed a repetitive and bland tone. Of course, this was in my anticipation of seeing Naoto. She texted me this morning saying she had been discharged and was now home. I planned to drop by directly after school.

But to my surprise, Chie said something interesting toward the end of the school day: "I heard it's going to rain tonight. Do you guys think we should check the Midnight Channel? Just to be safe?"

"I really do hope nothing comes on," said Yukiko. "But something has every time. It'd be silly of me to hope that now."

"What do you think, bro?" Yosuke, a desk away, made a sort-of nudging motion toward me.

"Um. I think…" Of course, I was replaying Margaret's words in my head from last night. Obviously it wasn't over. "We should be careful. I have a feeling this could be the one to tell us what's really going on."

"You do?" said Yosuke.

"Heyyyy. Is there something you're not telling us?" said Chie.

"Yeah," accused Yosuke. "We've hardly seen you lately. Spending too much time with 'Nao-chan', huhh?"

"You're so right," said Chie. "They've sure been all buddy-buddy lately." Then a gasp filled her whole face. "Do you think they know details about the case we don't?!"

"Well, Naoto does get paid to find out details," said Yukiko. "I wouldn't be surprised if she was working under some confidentiality agreement. But then again, she's our friend. She trusts us."

"Man, I don't know," said Yosuke. "Her behavior is totally fishy. She's hardly been at school, and she's always either writing something or reading something related to the case. She's not letting the case rest - even now." He then openly glared at me. "Come on, dude. You must know something!"

"Nope," I said, acting as nonchalant as possible.

"Okay, dude. I trust you, but only because you're our leader, alright?"

As planned, I rushed to Naoto's large, rented house. Its size was out of place, but its charm was quaint as if trying not to show off its true value.

I gave the door a loud knock, which promptly opened to reveal not Naoto nor Naoto's grandfather but Kanji Tatsumi himself.

"Senpai," he gave a warm, loving smile. "I knew it would be you. Come to visit Naoto? She's over here."

He lead me to a place on the floor where Naoto was wrapped in a blue knitted blanket that perfectly matched her favorite winter jacket. She serenely drank black coffee at the table, perfectly relaxed at having Kanji answer her door.

As I sat beside her, she said to me softly. "This is fascinating to observe. So rarely do I get to see Kanji's true colors."

Kanji entered the kitchen area, oblivious to Naoto's statement. "Good thing I'm making large portions," his voice boomed excitedly. "I'll have enough room for you too, Senpai." He didn't wait for me to reply, for a skillet started hissing.

Naoto leaned toward me and said, "My grandfather is traveling on business. Kanji insisted he take care of me. He was so aggressive about it, I couldn't say no. And I suppose I'm fine with it. At least for today."

"I'm glad for you," I said. "Kanji would be my first go-to man if I were sick."

"What? Second to me, you mean," retorted Naoto.

"Depends. Can you cook?"

She gave a low chuckle. "You don't know everything about me. I grew up much like Nanako. Her father is a detective, and she's grown accustomed to domestic chores. I'm the same."

"Oh? So you mean to say you are more of a real woman than I thought." I grinned and she swat me on the head.

"Hey. Just because I declared my love does not mean we're now playing painfully traditional gender roles. Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you more seriously about this… whole ordeal."

I nodded. I was just thankful last night hadn't been just a vivid dream.

Naoto's cat-like eyes locked onto me, and she said with certainty, "I'm going to be straightforward with you, Senpai. Last night, you went to the Velvet Room, didn't you?"

"What? How did you-"

"You slipped up once. Remember? And of course that situation with Marie was impossible to ignore."

She was still smiling. She wasn't in her detective mode, nor was she harboring a tense guilt for interrogating me. This time, she said it in confidence. Our bond was impenetrable; I knew she could keep a secret.

"When you were pulled away to the room," continued Naoto, "you got a message. One that said this wasn't over yet."

I nodded with absolution. "Our bonds mean everything right now," I said. "My warning sounded critical. Like life or death. Not like it wasn't already 'life or death' to begin with."

"I thought so. That's why I thought of a proposition for us. I stayed up all last night thinking about it, and I decided I don't want anything to change the Investigation Team atmosphere. Pairing off would only complicate our unity. I'm convinced that our bonds are the key to defeating our enemy." Her voice, soft and light like a feather, had an aching and longing texture.

"I agree," I said. I had gravitated so close that I easily put my arms around her and placed my lips on her cheek before I could think twice. "What's more important is that you are our detective, and my right-hand man on the Investigation Team."

"I couldn't have said it better myself." She said, blushing wildly. She pulled her hat to obstruct my view and created some distance between us. "You are… a very good leader. And I do hope that we can continue being - how do I say this - closer friends in private."

"Bone appetite!"

The oblivious Kanji carried over a delicious stir fry platter, complete with a serving of tonkatsu and fried squid on the side. Naoto took a bite without delay. We both told Kanji it was delicious.

"Kanji-kun," said Naoto with a bit of hesitation. She stole a glance at me to buy her strength. "Thank you so much for taking care of me. It really means a lot."

"Oh, shut up and eat your food," said Kanji.

She did so, smiling. But didn't let the moment go so easily. After she finished her meal, she addressed Kanji again. "This blanket you gave me… it looks like it was handstitched. Did you craft this yourself, Kanji-kun?"

"Y-yeah I made it. What's it to you?!" said Kanji.

"Nothing," said Naoto. "It's just quite masterful. What stitch did you use?"

Kanji told Naoto about knitting: what stitches he used, certain techniques to pick up speed and accuracy, and even his current projects. As I watched them, I could feel both of their Personas resonating. Naoto let go of her natural introversion to embrace Kanji, while Kanji shamelessly showed his true passions. While Naoto may have not known it, her voice had lost its edge and she was truly in the moment, even ignoring the small dab of blood that had emerged below Kanji's nose. Naoto had not only granted me the Fortune social link, but the lifelong passion for human connection. Whether she would be fighting next to me as my girlfriend or as the detective prince, whether she dressed like a woman or a man, or asked questions until moonrise, I knew I could always find the power to feel unconditionally bound to another.