Chapter 7

Naoki came rolling to a stop just a few feet away from the TV. The trip back was disorienting as the first time traveling between worlds but at least his landing wasn't as rough this time. Landing more than once on your face wasn't anyone's idea of a good time, no matter the circumstances. As he lay on the soft, soft carpet ("My, I never noticed how nice it felt before," he thought to himself) he just realized he forgot to remove his shoes before making the leap and quickly yanked them off. Saki used to chide him on his forgetfulness when he was young and he wasn't up for getting an earful from Tatsumi-san right now. Voices from the kitchen confirmed Kanji's mother was home and had company on top of it. What would they think if they found some uncouth boy clad in armor and wearing his dirty outdoors shoes inside?

Kanji's arrival was announced with a thud behind Naoki. Unlike Naoki he was an old hand at inter-dimensional travel and had landed on his feet without any problems. Plus he remembered to remove his shoes too. "Hey Naoki, trouble sticking the landing?" he asked as he helped Naoki to his feet.

"Yeah, but at least I didn't land on my face this time," Naoki said quietly. He didn't want to attract whoever was visiting Tatsumi-san and have to field a billion questions.

"Don't worry 'bout it. It's disorienting' at first since which way is up changes on you. Everyone takes a few tries to get it right, even Yu, or at least that's what Hanamura told me. Shit, I think Ted's the only one who kept landing on his feet," Kanji told him.

"It makes sense, seeing as he's the one making the portals to begin with, " Naoki said. "Say, you mind if I lie on the couch for a moment? I'm feeling pretty bushed right now. I haven't felt this drained in well... forever."

"Yeah, sure, sure. Just gimme your shoes and make yourself at home. Something about gettin' yer Persona for the first time knocks the wind outta your sails so I get what yer going through. I'll scrounge up some ramen for yah when I get back," Kanji said as Naoki handed him his shoes. Before he could warn him about the newcomers in the kitchen Kanji had stampeded down the stairs as loudly as possible.

Seeing the damage was done, Naoki dumped his armor and their bag of spoils on the ground before plopping himself on Kanji's couch. A large penguin doll lay nearby and Naoki decided to use the soft toy as a pillow. He remembered crashing on it a few times in high school when he couldn't stand to come home, the musk and softness always a welcome respite from the shouting and the pointed stares. It was strange that he felt safe whenever he curled up on the unassuming sanctuary but that piece of mind was exactly what he needed after such a trying day.

After getting comfortable he wondered to himself where Yukiko had gone. Being a first timer to this exploration team he wasn't sure what the post-expedition protocol was, or even if one was in place, but he figured that they'd most likely have a sort of de-briefing afterwards. After seeing all of the painstaking notes taken and the care used to record new creatures and fauna it would seem to be somewhat out of character if everyone just disappeared as soon as they got back.

Naoki had finally closed his eyes when he heard Kanji dashed back up the stairs, taking two at a time. "Something must have light a fire under him," he muttered to himself, although he couldn't fathom what could be worth the hurry after the danger they faced earlier. Even sliding face first into the wall didn't seem to slow him down as Kanji hurried into the kitchen. Curious to the cause of his friend's excitement Naoki reluctantly got to his feet and followed suit. Much to his surprise, Kanji was hugging and showering the heads Tatsumi-san's guests with kisses, and judging by the flashes of blue and magenta spilling over his shoulder they were much younger than the middle-aged women he expected.

Naoki cleared his throat to get the trio's attention, causing Kanji to reveal the recent arrivals. As suspected he held Naoto and Rise, the duo looking flushed and in Naoto's case a little embarrassed by the interruption while Kanji held the biggest smile. Once upon a time it would have looked out of place on the rumored slayer of grizzles but nowadays it came more easily to his soft-hearted friend .

Come to think of it, he's not the only one that's changed since high school, "he thought to himself.

The Shirogane Naoto that now faced him (or rather half hiding her face from him) seemed to be worlds away from the first year student he met years ago. Aside from puberty seeming to take forever to catch up to her, the thing that stuck in Naoki's mind about the old Naoto was well... rigid. The first time he'd encountered her Naoto was working his sister's case and he noticed how adamant she was to keep control over the conversation, almost getting visibly frustrated at his constant attempts to change the topic. She struck him as someone who needed to control the situation at all times, a trait that was off-putting to say the least.

He remembered asking Yu about her behaviour sometime after she started hanging out with the team and in his usual insightful manner told him that for Naoto being a detective was the only way she knew how to interact with people. Everything outside of police work was foreign territory for the child prodigy, even something simple like talking about the weather, and so she kept to herself to avoid the embarrassment. She believed that she could only be tolerated by others, never appreciated, so she threw everything into becoming the perfect detective, even taking great lengths to hide her gender to avoid the misogyny that pervaded law enforcement. Naoki knew firsthand how easy it was to be pigeonholed and dismissed by others, and vowed to be more patient with his fellow kohai.

Since becoming friends with the team, Naoto had tried to make strides in becoming more outgoing. Like with Kanji, the odd group of misfits had accepted her as one of their own and given her the unconditional support she needed, whether it was words of support or pointers on how to act outside of the job. Rise had been more observant to her numerous faux pas and had decided to take her under her wing after overhearing some third year girls picking on Naoto, calling her a "brain dead robot in old men's suits". According to Kanji, Chie and Yukiko often crashed the idol's lessons to help Naoto from going nuts and the four of them ended up bonding over episodes of the old Feather Man Q series as well as sharing their own struggles in life.

"I even found 'em playing with the action figures one time, " Kanji gushed the same way he did when talking about cat videos he found online. The camaraderie lead to the development of a more confident Naoto, one who was willing to define herself as a detective and much more. This was reflected in many ways but most notably in her wardrobe. For example, instead of the stuffy suits she used to wear after school she now opted for a powder blue blouse and well fitted black denim pants, a perfect compliment for her conservative values and her desire to display her femininity like a badge of honor. As Kanji put it, "She's showing those sonnabitches in blue just how gutsy a lady can be."

Rise had changed since high school in her own way. Although more subtle than Naoto's facade, Rise too had worn a persona that didn't perfectly reflect her since others had a hand in its creation. Before moving in with her grandmother, she was primarily Risette, the happy-go-lucky pop idol that everyone adored and expected her to be. Naoki could attest that her positivity wasn't an act but it seemed to him like she had to be the eternally chipper idol that couldn't say no to her fans, or be allowed an off day. In a way this seemed exhausting to Naoki as much as Naoto's old lifestyle did. Having to constantly censor your words and your actions out of fear of being detected as a fraud certainly must have been nerve racking."Secret agents have less stressful lives," Yu joked onetime, although the words seemed to ring true whenever he saw the exhausted looking Rise manning the register.

It didn't help either that her fame had earned her animosity amongst the female students (and Kashiwagi-san for some reason) who saw her as some foreign invader out to scoop up all of the boys in school. The extent of this jealousy truly shocked Naoki with viciousness displayed by some of the girls as terrible rumors began to circulate around town and the pranks began to escalate. Rise had kept this from the team so Kanji was surprised when he caught a third year girl dumping thumbtacks into Rise's outdoor shoes. After cornering the girl in the Practice Building he gotten the story out her before letting her flee in terror. He was furious that Rise kept this from her friends at first but he changed his tone once she explained why.

"Can't stand havin' people hate her, " Kanji told afterwards. "When she was a kid everyone at school treated her like dirt and that didn't change until the whole idol thing started. Shit, I kinda get where she's coming from but actin' like a doormat ain't doing her any favors. Just wish there's something I could do to get 'em to lay off. " He did give an update weeks later after Naoto tracked one of Rise's more prominent detractors. At first Rise was hesitant to take action but Naoto eventually convinced her to confront the girl, that she should stand up for herself and put a stop to the bullying. "And like that she got that witch's toadies to back off. Didn't even lay a finger on her, " Kanji said proudly. "Glad she took a stand. Someone nice enough to stand a goon like me oughta look out for herself more. Be her own boss and tell 'em to get bent if they don't like it."

Rise seemed to take the lesson to heart and it really showed in the direction her career took after her return to show business. Gone were the fluff commercial spots where she pranced around in a bikini selling soft drinks, replaced by meatier T.V. roles that showed her acting range. Her music too took on a different vibe as she attempted to put her own touches on the songs, incorporating the influences from various of music genres the team exposed her to ranging from jazz to electronic and even a bit of the harder rock Kanji favoured .The fans seemed to the more mature Risette and she in turn felt more empowered to develop as an artist. Also, she just seemed more confident these days or least that was the impression Naoki go. In the past she felt that she had to always had to project the Risette image so it was a big change up that she'd dress down for the day. Today she wore a pair of yoga pants and a pink zip-up hoodie she wore open to display a dark t-shirt. To Naoki's surprise the shirt bore one of Kanji's designs, the one with the reaper. For anyone not familiar with Rise wouldn't think twice about her ensemble but the fact that she could relax and let her hair down without feeling guilty was a big step for her.

"We've all faced our demons and come through stronger than before," Naoki noted to himself. The thought that he now shared a certain kinship such admirable people warmed his heart and he was glad for the umpteenth time that he'd accepted Kanji's offer to venture into parts unknown.

"Oh, Naoki-san! I didn't hear you came in, " Naoto said in surprise as she took in his presence.

"Yeah, Tatsumi-san didn't mention you were stopping by. Wow, you must be sneakier than you look if you could catch Naoto off guard, " Rise chimed in.

"Oh, it's not such a big deal. He came back with us, " Yukiko told them nonchalantly from the corner of the kitchen where the stove laid. She was currently being served tea by Kanji's mother which did explain where she disappeared to earlier and the two joined them by the table.

"He came back with you? Are you implying he accompanied you on an excursion?" Naoto asked.

"Yeah, and he was pretty chill about it too. Even managed to keep his cool when things got a bit rough , " Kanji said offhand.

"Kanji, " Naoto began slowly. "I'm just curious but how did you convince Naoki-san to follow you through?"

"Simple. I asked him if he wanted to come along and he said sure. Of course, we got him outfitted and prepped him about what to expect but that didn't worry him any."

"I think Naoto's asking how you convinced him that Teddie's world was real. When you think about it, most people would want to commit us if we said we could travel to another world through TVs. Then again, those tabloid weirdoes claim I'm having a nervous breakdown every other week so I'm probably biased," Rise added.

"Well, it wasn't the first time I got a demonstration, " Naoki told them. "The first time I was checking out a baseball game when Teddie-san came through and head butted me in the face. " Everyone in the room winced, even Kanji's ma. "Don't worry, it didn't hurt much. His original body is surprisingly soft and spongy so I was surprised more than anything else. I also saw Kanji and Yukiko-san disappear into the same display model so I knew something was up. I confronted Kanji about it and he filled me in about what you guys were doing ."

"And none of this worried you?" Kanji's mother asked him.

"Well, it did at first until I thought about the people that kept disappearing. Those creatures over there sounded much tougher than even what the Defence Forces could deal with and having seen them up close I'm sure they wouldn't have gotten to Rise-san, Naoto-san or Yu's cousin Nanako in time. "

"Hell, they ain't the ones whose asses Yu and the others pulled outta the fire. I was such a block head back then I'm sure my shadow woulda ripped me to shreds in no time without their help," Kanji added.

"I would have died too without their help," Yukiko agreed with him. "Something about our shadows made them much stronger than the other monsters roaming around so they needed to be subdued before we could accept them. I don't know about you Kanji-kun but mine simply terrified me."

"Plus there was that fog that made people go crazy, " Rise pointed out. "We couldn't just stand by and let it destroy our home. Someone needed to deal it and we were the only ones that could get the job done."

"My word! I didn't realize things were so dire, " Tatsumi-san exclaimed.

"Would you have tried to dissuade Kanji-kun or the rest of us if you did?" Naoto asked nervously. After this time she still felt uncomfortable being coddled even with good cause.

"Knowing what I do now, no, I wouldn't have. Like Rise-chan said there was an important job that needed to be done and you were the only ones that could do it. My son made it sound like you were just hunting Yameno-san and Saki-chan's killer the whole time, and the police could have handled that themselves. I didn't even realize that someone's life was at risk," Tatsumi-san admitted to them.

Kanji blushed. "Jeez Ma, I just didn't wanna make you worry alright? You were always on my case about getting those biker wimps a lesson and I didn't want you scared that someone could croak we screwed up. Are... are you mad at me for leaving you outta the loop?" he asked cautiously.

"Nonsense dear, though I do wish you trusted me more with something so momentous. Secrets tend to do more harm than good in my experience and I want you to know that I'd never do anything to hurt you. You're the most important person in my life and no matter what I'm always proud of you."

Kanji, not sure what to say, was overwhelmed by his mother's kind words. He'd always worried about letting her down so her reassurance caused him to grope for the right words. As always, Rise was there to do the talking. "Aww, that's so sweet of you Tatsumi-san. I wish my grandmother could have been so supportive about me navigating alien worlds. With my luck she'll think I'm on drugs or making up excuses for why I wasn't tending the shop when I was on break."

"You'd be surprised Rise-chan. Old Marukyu seen her fair share of ... unusual events over the year and I know that the existence of other worlds wouldn't even faze her. Inaba women never been faint of heart and considering the stories about your travels I've heard from Theodore-san that definitely doesn't come as news."

"So you think we're brave then, not foolish for delving into the unknown, " Naoto stated. She smiled as she added, "Thank you, I couldn't imagine anyone else paying us a higher compliment." Kanji's mother was someone she admired for her keen insight and her unyielding strength of character, and she found herself looking up to the older woman as a role model of sorts. Although normally too embarrassed to admit it to anyone, she did confine to Rise during one of their girls' night outs about how happy she was to finally have a positive female role model in her life. Rise, having been shuffled from relative to relative before being discover, could sympathize and told her, "I can't blame you. She's probably one of the smartest people I've ever met."

"Though I believe that not everything Teddie-kun says should be taken at face value. Speaking of our friend, I am curious as to where he is right now. He's usually eager to come back afterwards for the debrief. " Naoto brought up.

"You mean he's eager to mooch snacks off me. Well, don't worry about him, he's A-Ok. He's just settling in his new pet right now and considering what a headache that little pest was I'm not surprised he's taking awhile. I'll fill you in when Ted gets here," Kanji told her.

"I see," was all Naoto said but to Kanji her eyes told a different story. Her innate curiosity was out in full force and it was only due to her insistence need to follow protocol that she didn't press him for more.

Kanji however wasn't the only one that noticed. "Don't worry Naoto-kun, Teddie's new aid is very obedient although it does have some odd notions. It shouldn't take long to lay out the grounds rules so he'll be here soon, " Yukiko comforted her between sips of tea. She turned to Naoki and explained, "Oh, we usually compare notes after a trip. As you seen firsthand we don't always have time to write down everything that happens so we like to review everything in case one of us forgets something."

"Which is why we're keeping Naoto-san waiting on the edge of her seat, " Naoki concluded. "Hmm... well I we were separated for awhile and I am curious as to what you guys encountered while I was being 'entertained'. "

"Ah nuts, now you got me curious, " Rise huffed. "That silly kuma better not be checking his email now, this sounds like a story I want to hear. Who was entertaining you Naoki? Did you meet a girl or something?"

"Something like that, " Naoki revealed. "But maybe we should leave it at that for now. So, what were you guys up to today? Kanji didn't mention about you guys dropping in today."

"Yeah, I am wonderin' why you and Nao are here now. Not that I'm complaining but you both sounded like yer week was packed, " Kanji told her. "Did something come up?"

"It's nothing to worry about, " Naoto assured him. "Just..."

"Politics," both Rise and Naoto said with equal parts frustration and disdain.

Naoto continued. "After all the hours I spent going over the crime scene and the toxicology reports I finally discovered the real cause of death. It was a major breakthrough, one with serious ramifications if I was correct, but that... man they call a police chief invented some excuses to have me taken off the case. His ego has been a roadblock to my investigation since the mayor hired me and my efforts to smooth things over with him haven't worked out too well. It seems accepting help from a consultant, one of the 'gentler sex' as they say, made him feel threatened."

"Sorry to hear that," Naoki murmured.

"Guy sounds like an asshole to me, " Kanji agreed. "Sorry Ma but it's true. He only talks shit since he can't handle a lady in charge."

Rise shook her head with derision. "Some men are really little boys at heart. It's just like with this new producer the Label's got me paired with. Everyone in the business calls him a genius but he's just a big control freak. Everything has to go his way exactly or he gets cranky quickly. He scrapped like 80 takes on a track, most of them perfect if you ask me, because he thought, and I quote, 'it didn't sound like the way he imagined it.' Of course it doesn't you jerk, you're not giving me any good direction and I can't read minds!"

"Sounds like you were ready to toss him out a window," Yukiko noted.

Rise let out a small laugh. "Can't say I wasn't tempted to. Might have gotten more sleep then. I only managed to leave the studio when I did because he launched into a temper tantrum and shut production down, all because I made a couple of suggestions to him while we were reviewing tracks."

"He didn't try to hurt you, did he?" Kanji asked nervously. "I remember you telling me about that time a producer pulled a gun on Kanamin so I know some of 'em got a screw loose."

"It's sweet that you're worried but don't worry, nothing happened, " Rise told him as she patted his shoulder. "All he did was scream at me how I was 'getting in the way of his vision' before he stormed off. That would have been the end of it if he didn't swipe the tracks before he disappeared off the face of the earth. Thankfully this producer has a rep for being notoriously hard to work with so my manager wasn't on case. but as of now the album's in limbo. For whatever reason the Label executives are refusing to replace him and that's nothing can be done until he shows up. "

"I texted Rise after I was unceremoniously taken off the case and we both decided to take a sabbatical once it became clear that our schedules both were open, " Naoto continued. "Neither of us were in the mood for anything elaborate and the weather was perfect for walking today so we decided to spend the afternoon in Okina City."

"Lemme guess. Rise dragged you to all of the clothing stores and tried putting you in super frilly dresses, " Kanji hazarded.

"Actually, I did decide to go willingly this time. I needed a few more blouses for my wardrobe anyways so the timing of our excursion was quite fortuitous, " Naoto admitted.

"Plus we had fun taking turns picking out ridiculous outfits for each other to try on," Rise said smiling at the memory. "I don't know how but Naoto managed to find a dress that makes me look like a layered cake!"

"I have my moments, " Naoto replied demurely.

"Just goes to show that you shouldn't underestimate a Shirogane while she's on the hunt, " Yukiko chimed in. "Last week she managed to find my motorcycle keys in a minute and that was after I turned the inn inside out looking for the stubborn things."

"Thank you, though it wasn't hard to deduce. You have a tendency to leave them in your bike jacket and it's always the last place you think to look in, " Naoto pointed out.

"Oh, r-right," Yukiko stammered embarrassingly. "So... you do anything else in Okina?"

"Yes, and I do apologize if my observation was worded offensively, " Naoto told her in her usual straightforward manner. "We did visit a book store and Rise was patient enough to accompany me while I looked for spare parts. Grandfather's favorite watch stopped working the other day and I did promise to repair it as soon as possible. Afterwards we decided to drop in for a visit and your mother was kind enough to play hostess while you were still in the other world."

"Wow, that sounded like an awful lot of time on the train considering that Kanji told me you were in Tokyo on that case. How'd you manage to fit all of that traveling in one day?" Naoki asked.

"Through the TV of course, " Rise told him matter of fact. "You know how Teddie got those Warp Points set up right?"

"You mean a teleportation way station?" Naoto offered hopefully.

"Sorry Naoto-kun. I know you want them to sound all professional but you do have years of video game convention working against you," Yukiko pointed out to her.

"Yeah, those things, " Rise continued undeterred. "Teddie got them set up right by the gateways that link to our homes, so we like visiting one of our old senpai we just pop into a TV, use the warp and bam! We're there in minutes."

"Is such a thing possible?" Kanji's mother asked. "I always wondered how you were able to go visit your friends so often Kanji and now that I got my answer it all sounds so fantastic. Like you got magic at your fingertips."

"It is extraordinary Tatsumi-san, though the landings are hard to get right at first, " Naoki replied. "And the structures Teddie-san creates are more reliable than any magic I've ever read about. You don't need any complex rituals or incantations to use them, just think about a place. Wow, I wonder what else he could create."

"Well, I do know he can't make pants. Good thing your jacket is huge Kanji-kun, or else my modesty wouldn't be intact, " Yukiko brought up.

"Wha? Why are you talking... Oh right, you need a change of pants, " Kanji said shamefaced. "Sorry 'bout that, guess we all got kinda sidetracked there."

Naoto went over to the corner where a several bags lay and pulled out a new pair of jeans. "Here you go Yukiko-san. I do believe we're about the same size so this should fit."

"You're a life saver Naoto-kun, " Yukiko said as she eagerly grabbed the pants. "Back in a second."

"Don't toss your pair out!" Kanji called after her. "I can probably salvage it if you give me the chance." Silence set in soon after and Kanji was desperate to fill it ASAP. Seeing how Yukiko's tattered appearance was bound to bring up questions among the two most inquisitive members of the team, answers to which might cause a whole lot of pain to Naoki if taken out of context, he asked everyone, "So, who wants ramen? I promised Naoki a bowl or two earlier so I might as well make the lot of it now."

"Oh, oh, I'll take one!" came a familiar cheerful voice. Teddie had returned, this time clad in sweats. "Sorry I'm late everyone, I had to convince Preta not to go potty in the dog house. Who knew house breaking a demon would be so tricky?"

Tatsumi-san chuckled. "Never a dull moment with you around Theodore-san." She turned to face her son to add, "I'm off to run some errands before the store closes. Let me know if your friends plan on staying tonight for dinner so I can make extras. Have fun with your secret meeting dear." She gave Kanji a quick peck on the check making him flush with embarrassment before turning to the others. "Try to keep my Kanji- Bō out of trouble."

"Ah ma, you make me sound like I'm 5 when you call me that!" Kanji exclaimed.

"We'll do our best Tatsumi-san!" Rise said cheerfully. When the elder Tatsumi left though she turned to face the adventurers. "So, what trouble did you guys get into this time?"

"Trouble? What do you Rise-chan?" Teddie asked nervously.

"You did mention a demon. Now I'm not big on ghouls and ghosts but I know enough that they're usually bad news," Rise said as she regarded the bear with a steely glare.

Yukiko chose that moment to come back, the new jeans fitting her almost perfectly. "You're talking about Preta? Isn't he the sweetest?" she told them.

"I can't believe you were serious when you said you made a demon your pet Teddie-kun, " Naoto said shaking her head. "Perhaps now that we're all here we could begin. I can't speak for everyone but I'm personally eager to go over the events you four encountered. What little that has been revealed sounds intriguing."

"You don't know the half of it Naoto-san," Naoki added. "This is my first time so uh.. who goes first?"

"I'm lead so that'll be me," Kanji told him. He'd already unpacked his notebook and had it flipped open to a fresh page. "If I miss anything just speak up. We ain't a strict outfit so don't worry about. So, should I start from when we entered the TV?"

"Maybe start a little before then since you had a neophyte join you this time around," Naoto suggested.

"A neo... oh ya meant Naoki," Kanji realized. Being around Naoto enough allowed him to guess what she was getting at even if he didn't know half of what the fancy words meant. "Yeah fair enough. Most of us went in when the fog was around so things might be different for 'em. So, let me start. I remember rolling outta bed around 8-ish and ..."

The next hour or so the four of them gave their accounts of what they encountered, sometimes filling in the gaps, others complimenting what was said. It was interesting to Naoki how the others viewed the events he'd encountered, especially when it came to the battles. Kanji, not being a stranger to fights even before gaining his Persona, spoke of them matter of fact while Teddie seemed to gloss over them and Yukiko just relished in the carnage. It was jarring to see the bloodthirsty side of the usually mild-mannered heiress for the first time and Naoki was very glad that she was on their side. They were hardened warriors, even if most wouldn't recognize it, and to hear them praise his meager contributions to the battles meant a great deal.

The whole time Rise and Naoto listened in with great rapt as the story was pieced together. Everything from Naoki's unexpected first taste of combat to his experience traversing the alien landscape was taken in as Kanji severed up piping hot bowls of ramen. Until recently the monsters' behaviour was predictable and encountering a friendly sentient being was unheard of. Every now and then the team would spitball theories about what the phenomena and for Naoki it was the most interesting part. For the most part it was heady stuff for Naoki to wrap his head around at times, and to see one of his oldest friends throw around ideas about food scarcity, climate change and migration patterns with pop idol, a cartoonish gaijin and one of Japan's top criminal investigators was certainly an experience in itself.

The recap got interesting when Naoki "fell down the rabbit's hole and took us with him," as Teddie put it. Several discoveries were accidently discovered during their search, some of which was news to Naoki. The existence of a whole world full of demons and the first real instance of inter-dimensional travel was amongst them as well as the underground plaza suggested whole new realms of possibilities that previously existed to them in science fiction. But perhaps the most compelling part was the recounting of the team's encounter with Saki's shadow since there wasn't any precedent for what occurred.

"From what I gathered the shadow selves were under the impression that killing their 'original' self would somehow give them freedom from their prison," Naoto explained to Naoki.

"Which they do by making us really angry or upset at them," Rise added. "Somehow it makes them stronger, which is why they act and look like our worst fears. Say... did Teddie say anything about our shadows?"

Naoki, having grown up with a sister, knew a loaded question when he heard one so he kept the answer vague. "Not really, but having heard the rumors around town so I can guess what might be bothering you. People love celebrity scandals for some reason and from what I hear that didn't change even when they're living in the area and you see them every day. "

"But that's..." Teddie began but mercifully Yukiko interrupted him with a sharp elbow to the gut.

"Absolutely unfair," she finished. "I agree Teddie-kun. You've been nothing but a model student while you were at Yasogami and despite how much you flirted with the boys and your difficulty with gauging other's personal space I really didn't think any of those nasty rumors were warranted."

"Uh... right. The point I was making was that people only started to like me when I became an idol and since people see idols as sex objects, well... I'm sure you get the picture," Rise continued. "When my shadow showed up on the Midnight Channel it basically acted like it was starring in some sleazy skin flick to get a rise out of me. So the question I always wondered was how would it have acted if I wasn't there anymore. Was the slutiness just act or was it genuinely the only way it knew how to behave?"

Kanji hummed to himself as he finished his mouthful of ramen. "I get what yer saying Rise-chan, about wonderin' if there's more to them than all that. After seeing what was left of Saki-san though... I really doubt it. Whenever she started straying from the mean girl act she started acting loopy and nuts. It's almost like the shadow just couldn't handle anything else."

Naoto put down her chopsticks. "But that could also be due to the fact that Konishi Saki had..." she paused to find a more sensitive term. "had passed away several years prior. During our investigation the shadow entity was more coherent and intelligent than the other shadows encountered in their realm. Taking Teddie-kun's theory about the parasitic nature between host and persona/shadow I theorize that this might be because the host was somehow grounding the shadow's state of mind. With this bond gone the shadow could be lapsing into a more primitive mindset."

"Whatever Naoki knows I know too," Naoki remembered his shadow say. "It does make sense with what I've seen. We ran into a couple of other shadows in the shop and I'm sure this will be right up your alley," he said out loud.

"I'm sure it fascinating but before we continue I am curious about one thing. Just where did you get this theory of yours Teddie-kun?" Naoto asked.

"That's a good point. Did you recover one of your memories from before?" Yukiko added in her own inquiry.

Teddie beamed. "Nope, this is a 100% original theory devised by this cute and talented bear. It all started when we were taking Yuki-chan home after we defeated her shadow. Her tummy started making this funny growling sound and I'm not ashamed to admit it made my knees quiver at the time."

"See? I always knew you can be scary when you put your mind to it Yukiko-senpai," Rise teased before ducking a cushion shaped projectile aimed at her head.

"All that crap you picked up and you didn't know about hunger?" Kanji asked.

"That's right. The whole time I was in the fog I took for granted that I'd never run out of energy and it wasn't until then that I asked sensei about Yuki-chan's tummy that I began to wonder about it. He told me that people needed food and water to keep their bodies going and sleep to help it recover, otherwise they stop moving for good. By the time we reached her Yuki-chan was in my world for over a week and she wasn't worst for wear, just weaker like Preta was."

Yukiko gasped "I didn't realize I was there for so long! All I knew that as soon as I went back I remember feeling sickly and tired. I didn't... I mean how was I still alive then? Dehydration should have gotten me."

"It was the same way I kept alive the whole time, " Teddie explained. "You were absorbing the energy of my world to keep you going. I knew it as soon as I tried poking my into your world after Rise-chan was rescued and I got the same sickly feelings you just mentioned. That's when l knew that in order to survive in your world I needed to produce energy the same way you all do. That's why I asked Yosuke for a book on what people are look like inside when he came by to visit."

"A book on human anatomy," Naoto supplied.

"That's the one," Teddie confirmed. "After being hollow for so long I was surprised by all of the parts inside a person but being alive sounded so complicated. All of the tubs and squishy parts all seemed to do something important so I made sure I understood what everything did while I was getting stronger, and boy I felt a thousand times stronger once I got my Persona. Once I was in peak shape I began the process of growing this wonderful body you see before you and the rest, as they say, is history, " he said as he gestured to himself.

"You grew your body from scratch?" Naoki said in shock. "That's amazing! How did you know how to do that? Was it something you knew about the whole time?"

"Actually, it's funny to say but it was almost like instinct, " Teddie said quietly. "As soon as I began having thoughts it occurred to me to have a body that was cute and cuddly so I could get around. I never was able to think about it back then, like my thoughts were pushed away whenever I began wondering why I was solid while the shadows were all goopy. When I got my Persona it was like a switch was flicked and I just knew that I could make more of myself. The whole process was familiar, so I must have done it before I lost myself to the fog. I wish I could explain it but it would be like a caterpillar explaining how it moves all of its legs at once. Things get jumbled when put into words."

"Wait a minute. Are you saying your body is... complete?" Yukiko asked shamefaced.

Teddie beamed. "Of course! Teddie 2.0 got all of the latest features. Lungs, heart, digestive tract, this bear got it all. I'm especially proud of my work on the Islets of Langerhans. Aside from the brain that was one of the trickiest parts to get right."

"Langerhans? Is that a place or something?" Kanji asked.

"It's a region of the pancreas Kanji. I have to say that this news comes as a surprise to me. After the x-ray machine failed to work on you I had assumed you were lacking in organs and was just mimicking human behaviour the whole time," Naoto confessed.

"Really? That's odd since my other tests went fine. When they took my blood there wasn't any problems. Came up clean as a whistle, a true statement to my crafts-bear-ship, " Teddie corrected her.

"It does explain why he was complaining about being thirsty when he first came over," Yukiko chimed in. "Oh that's right, you weren't there Naoto-kun. Yosuke-kun told me when I first met Teddie that he was just a suit so it came as a surprise when he removed his head in the store and there was a sweaty naked gaijin underneath."

"Technically he wasn't naked Yukiko-san. He was wearing his first form which had on the overalls and shirt," Naoki pointed out.

"I'm surprised you thought he was still empty Nao. Considering the fact that he uses the can all the time I thought you would've caught on, " Kanji pointed out.

"Are you sure he wasn't just mimicking what you boys were doing?" Naoto asked him.

"Trust me, he actually gotta go. One time I caught him takin' a leak behind the tofu shop."

"Oh gross! Damn it Teddie, my grandma's shop isn't a toilet!" Rise snapped at him.

"I was marking my territory like my instincts dictate. Not every bear out there is as nice as me you know and they need to know to who's in charge around here!" Teddie exclaimed as he thumped his chest with pride.

"I see. Well it's not every day one of my theories gets debunked so thoroughly but I am curious why this revelation made you so uncomfortable Yukiko-san," Naoto said.

"Well... how should I put this..." Yukiko trailed off in embarrassment. This topic wasn't something a lady would bring up in polite conversation.

"It has something to do about 'scoring' isn't it?" Rise guessed. Yukiko, whose face was now red as her old school jacket, could only bring herself to nod. "Ugh, do we really want to solve this mystery?"

"Oh, I found out what you guys were talking about when you mentioned 'scoring'. Yosuke's friend Joe finally filled me in awhile ago. I thought guys were talking about playing video games the whole time! Here I was wondering why you guys got weird about getting a co-op session going and all the while we were talking about baby making!" Teddie exclaimed. "Geez, why didn't you guys fill me after all this time? Was this your idea of a joke, having the cuddly bear makes himself look like some sort of pervert?"

And then the room fell into an awkward silence. Everyone except Naoki. He noticed that the others tended to treat Teddie like a stuffed bear came to life instead of the alien creature he was and that had biased them to think of him like a child. It was true that he was pretty naive about the world but he was constantly learning and mature like any child would and that meant coming into contact with tricky topics. "It wasn't to be mean Teddie-san, it's just that matters of ... intimacy between people isn't something most people in Japan talk about freely and so it would have been too embarrassing to explain. I'm not sure where you heard the term 'scoring' before but you are right to be angry that nobody bothered to explain the context."

"Hmm... that would explain why people are more willing to talk about lady parts in Canada than they are over here, " Teddie said as he considered the words. "Okay, I'll forgive you guys but you got to promise to explain things so I avoid looking like an ass next time. Deal?"

Relieved that they all dodged a bullet the team murmured that they agree, though Kanji thought Yosuke would have a harder time being patient with Ted. Dude got wound up about the weirdest things after all. "Right, now that we got all that stuff cleared up we better continue. I think we were at the part where we fought Saki-san's shadow."

"Sounds about right, " Naoki agreed. "So, the shadow's form shifted just as the three intrepid adventurers prepared for battle..."

Naoki took over the lead as he detailed how the battle went. The others had become so accustomed to combat and were used to what their Persona was capable of, so it was jarring to hear them described with fresh eyes. What was standard healing to them seemed like a miracle unfolding before Naoki, while basic attacks was comparable to the wrath of some old vengeful spirit. For the most part the others stayed silent except to add details or to comment . The only time things got heated was when Naoki admitted to setting Yukiko on fire to save her and he got an earful from Rise for his recklessness, though he admitted that out of context it did sound rather bad.

The appearance of the many tentacle shadow wasn't news to the team since they did witness shadows acting and feasting on one another for substance. The same fog that had driven people to become comatose heaps around the neighborhood was also keeping the shadows sedated somewhat. Without it around the shadows were more aggressive and apparently hungry, since larger variations of familiar shadows had been spotted where the unnamed dark energies collected the most. Naoki's shadow was a different story though. It was taken as a fact that shadows were inherently antagonistic and selfish so when Naoki told them that not only did it not want him dead but was also protecting his sister's shadow Rise and Naoto couldn't believe it at first. By the time Naoki's shadow had willingly become his Persona Rise could feel tears welling up. She couldn't relate to his blight exactly, since she never had siblings and her parents were a distant memory, but she could feel the grief in his words. For once Japan's Top Idol was at a loss for words and she wished she could find the right ones to say now. Dealing with one's shadow was draining enough but adding renewed grief on top was sure to be killer on him.

Naoto must have felt the same since she paused from taking notes to rest a hand on his shoulder, albeit a hesitant one. "Thank you for sharing this with us Naoki-san. In my experience it can be trying for most people to relive such an dire situation so I want you to know how grateful we all are for doing so. You might not realize this but the information you've shared will be very valuable in the future."

Yukiko nodded. "Naoki-san has shown great courage and spirit in battle so I doubt he'd hold back now."

"Even so, there's also the fact that he had to confront his own sister's shadow. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like running into someone who looks and sounds like a dead relative but it must have been rough. I'm sorry if all this drudged up bad memories Naoki-san," Rise said with eyes downcast.

Naoki shook his head. "You don't have to worry about me Rise-san. I thought it would be difficult remembering Saki again but the funny thing is that I actually feel better now. I've been carrying a heavy burden for a good long while no and after today I think I can let it go. I know now my sister would want better for me than a life of being someone's doormat. "

"Are you talking about yer folks?" Kanji asked.

"Among other things. There's still a lot to sort out but I do know I need a change in my life."

Rise found herself nodding to his words. "I know what you mean. Things didn't change right away when I got my Persona, but I found myself thinking honestly about my life. I realized just how much I loved being an entertainer and why I loved it so much. Being able to touch so many people's lives is just the most amazing feeling and I know how fortunate I am to have to be Risette, but at the same time I knew that the things that drove me nuts to begin weren't going to go away. Being around you guys taught me that I had to stand up for the things that are important or else I'd just end up being miserable."

"It's like when I decided to join the basketball team back in third year, " Yukiko suggested. "I always wanted to try out for one of the sports teams but my parents were worried I'd be too distracted from my responsibilities at the inn. In the end I compromised so that I played during the slow seasons. I may of missed the championships but I had a blast playing with Kou-kun and the others."

Teddie nodded. "Oh yeah, I can related to that Yuki-chan. I wanted to come over to your side I knew that I had to breath constantly so I got myself a cardiovascular system. I mean I couldn't even talk to you guys now if I didn't take the initiative and grow one for myself."

"Err... kind of... though I think Yukiko's example fits better. "Rise said hesitantly. "I guess it comes down to having the guts to make the unpopular decisions when it helps the most. For example, I really wanted to get my high school diploma but the private tutoring wasn't helping my grades. Maybe it was because I was too distracted at the time but all I knew it wasn't working, so I decided to scale back on the jobs and do my last semester at Yasogami. Inoue-san wasn't happy about it at the time but considering the fact that I managed to graduate I can't say I was sorry."

"Can't say I am either," Kanji agreed. "Hell, I would have barely squeaked by if it weren't for those weekly study sessions you setup Rise. Man, you don't know how happy my ma was when she got my grades for that year."

"I think I get what you guys are trying to say. Start small and go from there, right?" Naoki concluded. "I think I can do that."

"You have something in mind I take it." Naoto guessed.

"It's actually something I've been kicking around for awhile. I've been considering moving out of the shop for awhile now. Things have been tense between my parents ever since Saki died and well... I think having some distance between us would be best. I still want to help run the shop but I need my own space away from them."

"I believe that does sound like a prudent plan Naoki-san. In my experience domestic disputes have a negative impact on the children such as low self-esteem and anxiety, and some of that is due to them blaming themselves for the parents' conflict when it was those parties at fault. Some might not agree but I believe it best to remove yourself from the situation for your own state of mind if nothing else," Naoto told him. "Have you given any thought to where you'd to go?"

"Not yet, though I'd like to stay in Inaba if possible. I love this town and I couldn't imagine living elsewhere."

Teddie seemed to brighten up at this news."Really? If that's the case I got some beary good news. Yosuke helped me find an apartment recently and I'm looking for a roommate to help split the cost. Since he started going to University in Tokyo his dad didn't want to put me up anymore and his lovely mother been acting weird around me lately so I had to move out."

"But why do you need an apartment when you have a house in your world already?" Naoki asked.

"Well for starters mail doesn't get sent to my world and I need an address if I want keep getting paychecks. Also, I like having a safe spot where I can travel between worlds without making people nervous. And... I like being able to entertain guests without revealing that I'm not entirely human, " Teddie added cryptically.

"Oh, that makes sense," Naoki told him. Having friends over could be problematic at best for Teddie and having a lady friend come by, well... that would be the very definition of awkwardness. "Hmm... I'll have to think about it but it does sound promising. Thank you for considering me for the spot."

Teddie shrugged nonchalantly. "Heh, what are friends for?"

"Well, no matter what you decide just wanna let you know that my couch always available to you Naoki, " Kanji told him. Seeing the looks from Rise and Naoto he amended, "Well most of the time anyways when I don't interfere with snuggling time. Point is we always got your back if you need it."

"I hate to ruin the moment but I would like to make sure that we haven't missed anything worth reviewing. Yukiko, other than the group shot, was there any other photos taken this venture?" Naoto asked, barely able to conceal her excitement. The mysterious always appealed to her and the desire to further her knowledge of the other world was strong. Kanji knew that the "Shadow dungeons" continued existence had always gnawed at her and yet she'd been hesitant to revisit hers. Heck, after the fog disappeared nobody had the courage to see their own personal slice of hell and Yu never pressed the issue.

"Well, there is the shot of our new multi-eyed friend, the group shot in front of the beanstalk and the video of the shadow shop dissolving. Teddie also took some shots of the marketplace after we rescued Naoki but we didn't have time to look at them yet, " Yukiko replied. For a moment she had the feeling she was forgetting something and for once she remembered what it was."Oh yes, there was one more thing. I took a shot on my phone of a bottle I found in the underground walkway. I know we usually want pictures with better definition but like I said we were in a hurry."

Yukiko fished her phone out and passed it around the room. The shape was odd but what caught everyone's eyes was the odd designs etched into it. It was so alien it was hard to tell if it was writing or symbols or just some pretty pictures but it definitely was a rare find. Like Yukiko explained the team had only encountered artifacts from Japan (or at least mimicked them) so this was like stumbling on a treasure .

When Teddie finally saw the picture, his reaction was unexpected to say the least. A warm smile erupted on his face as his eyes went distant and he began to hum a tune nobody on the team heard before. Before anyone could say a word, Rise flipped to a blank page of a notebook and started furiously scribbling circles on it. It wasn't until she drew the lines in that Naoki realized she was creating a music sheet for the tune.

"Whoa, he's doing that thing when he remembers something. Hey Ted, do you recognize what that thing was?" Kanji asked.

"Huh, what?" Teddie asked in a daze. "Oh shoot, I did I nod off again?"

"Not this time. I think my picture triggered a memory. Do you remember anything?" Yukiko asked him.

Teddie's brow furred in deep concentration. "I... remember tasting something sweet. Tangy like a lemon but not as sharp. It's hard to explain but... oh shoot I'm losing it."

"Do not push yourself too much my friend. Not all of your "Flashes", as you call those moments of clarity, are strong to persist in your mind but they can be accessed again later with the right stimuli," Naoto reminded him. "Perhaps for our next trip I can convince the others to retrace Yukiko's footsteps and we can retrieve the bottle then."

"Thanks Nao-chan, " Teddie said unenthusiastically. "I'm sorry, I just wished I could have held that bottle even for a second. This is the first time I can prove that I wasn't alone in my world after all. That there were people who had lives and had made beautiful things and were happy and loved. And maybe, maybe there was someone that loved this confused little cub."

Yukiko paused to consider this. For all of his cheeriness, none of the others had considered some of the reasons why Teddie was so keen to explore his world. Much had been lost to him since Izanami's arrival in his world, this they all knew, but they never considered really how much he had lost. They all had families and loved ones to rely on while Teddie was all alone in his world, possibly being the last of his kind. Yukiko's heart went out to the boy and she pulled him into a hug. "I'm sure there's a sorts of people that did Teddie, and why shouldn't there be? You're always trying to cheer up everyone you meet and you got a kind heart. Just remember that even though they're not with you right now they still love you and you still have people that care about you. "

Teddie's mood improved with her kinds words and his need to cry disappeared. Yosuke and Yukiko both knew the bear long enough to know how to cheer him up without fail. "Thanks Yuki-chan. You know just the right things to say when I'm feeling blue. And you're right, I got you and Sensei and Nan-chan and everyone else. But still... I just wished I could remember more."

"Maybe there's a way we could knock loose one or two more." Teddie turned to face Rise whose face was schooled in thought. "You were humming a tune just now. I can repeat it for you if you can."

"Really? Go for it Rise-chan!"

Rise hummed the tune at first and then sang it back to him. Both times Teddie didn't react. "Oh nuts, it didn't work," he said disappointedly.

"I suggest that we replay the notes it in a different way, " Naoto suggested. "I heard that sometimes amnesiacs reacted differently to specific stimuli. Perhaps we might get results if we used a different medium."

"You mean like an instrument?" Rise asked. As she spoke the words a thought came to her. "Hey Kanji, is my guitar still here?"

"Yeah, you left it in my room after your last jam session with Hanamura. Lemme just grab it for yah, " Kanji told her before rising. "If anyone's thirsty help yourself. Back in a sec."

Yukiko was in the middle of showing the other's the video Teddie took when a loud thud came from Kanji's room, causing everyone to wince and Kanji to break out his special brand of cursing. A moment later Kanji returned with an acoustic guitar in his right hand, his left clutching his head and a red pouch wedged under an armpit. "Finally found your wrench set Nao," Kanji muttered as he dropped the set beside Naoto. "Damn things are heavier than they look. No wonder Hanamura uses a pair as his backups." More gently he handed the guitar to Rise.

"Thanks Kanji, " she told him as she tugged him down. "Here, lemme kiss that better." She quickly gave him a wet sloppy kiss on the spot he was holding and his headache was momentarily forgotten as his cheeks went red. "You owe him one too Naoto. Poor Kanji wouldn't have banged up his head if it wasn't for your carelessness," she said with mock sternness, her serious expression at odds with the mischievous look in her eyes.

"Oh very well, " Naoto replied in her usual deadpan manner yet she eagerly showered Kanji's noggin with affection. As predicted Kanji's blushed even further to full scarlet and quickly excused himself to get an icepack before his pesky nosebleed returned. Those two knew all the right way to push his buttons but Kanji didn't find himself minding so much these days. Better to get even than get angry after all, especially when he and his nimble fingers knew where the idol and detective prodigy were ticklish.

Teddie, finding himself in better spirits now, called after him, "Grab me a topsicle while you're there, will you Kanji? A growing bear's got to get his sweets!" He turned to Rise and asked her, "You think this work Rise-chan?"

"Only one way to find out," she told him as she tuned her guitar. She studied the rough music she jotted down for a few seconds before starting to play. It was a short melody but it definitely catchy. Teddie was quiet the whole time, his face locked in thoughtfulness. Naoki, his focus solely devoted to the alien composition earlier, didn't notice something was different until he heard Naoto gasp. He turned to face Teddie and did a double-take of his own for the usually blonde Teddie's hair had turned fire truck red.

He tore himself from the flood of feelings long enough to fix his sights on the guitar. "Would you find if I borrowed that?" he asked Rise solemnly and she wordlessly gave up her instrument to him. She never knew him to be musically inclined but then again there seemed to be much they didn't know about their friend. With a skill none would have guessed from him Teddie began to play a song like a seasoned pro as Rise quickly recorded the notes. The song was a happy one, as upbeat as the bear himself, filling everyone with an odd feeling of cheerful nostalgia. Teddie was affected too, his control over his features fluctuating as his hair ran the spectrum of colors and the tattoo of power reappeared on his body and seemed to writhe in time with the melody. Halfway through the song Naoto realized it was an expansion of the previous melody but she dare not voice the realization fearing that she'd destroy the Flash of memory midway through.

When the song came to an end Teddie carefully set the guitar to the side as he let out a satisfied sounding sigh and his features returned to normal. It was only when he turned to face the others that they noticed that his face was streaked with tears yet he bore the biggest smile anyone had seen on his face. "So, what do you guys think?" he asked them.

"What do I think? That was marvelous!" Rise exclaimed.

"A treat for the eyes as well as my ears," Yukiko chimed in.

"Quite literally out of this world, " Naoto added straight-faced.

"A once in a lifetime experience, " Naoki beamed. "Music and a special effects bonanza all wrapped up into one."

Kanji, who stood there with a half forgotten topsicle in hand, thought it over for a moment. "Eh.. it's not bad. I give it one outta one lemon topsicles," he said passing the frozen treat to Teddie.

"Such high praise, and you got me my favorite flavor on top of it. You guys are the best!" Teddie beamed just before devouring the frozen treat whole.

Naoto looked absolutely giddy at Teddie's little show, ("practically bouncin' off the walls," Kanji later said). "Amazing, just simply amazing. We've never seen a memory trigger cause such a physical reaction and uncover a new skill set before. Tell me Teddie-kun, do you think you'd be able to repeat such a feat again?"

"You mean my hair changing color or the guitar playing?" Teddie asked.

"Either would suffice."

"Such a receptive audience deserves an encore don't you think?" Teddie said before launching into a new song. This time Teddie's hair color fluctuated at a more consistent rate but this time the colors never repeated. When the playing stopped, a round of applause greeted him and Teddie bowed at the waist, soaking in the attention like a sponge.

When Teddie set the guitar down Naoki noticed that Yukiko was scribbling away in another notebook labeled simply "Teddie Facts". A quick glance told him that she was writing in "Music skill- string instrumental" underneath the impressive list of languages their friend was fluent with. He was fluent in Japanese when he'd met Yu and Yosuke so it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that he knew other Earth languages. How he knew about several languages from another world, let alone one, was another mystery that had vexed the team for some time now.

"Wow, I can't wait to show sensei some of my mad skillz!" Teddie exclaimed. "I wonder if he's free tonight."

Rise brightened at this. "Oh, good idea! It's been forever since I've seen Yu-kun and Chie, let's invite them over for some grub later. And Yosuke too if he's not buried under schoolwork. I swear, his study habits are so lame he makes me look like a scholar in comparison. That is, if you mind Kanji."

Kanji grinned at the backpedal. Didn't seem that long ago she'd sequester his place without another thought (though he couldn't complain after) but he guessed if a hothead like himself could mellow out anything was possible. "Don't gotta twist my arm. Ma loves entertaining and Aiya's is just around the corner. Order up some grub, maybe grab some drinks and we're set."

"And maybe indulge in some of your delicious croquettes?" Naoto asked hopefully. Kanji's cooking was second only to Yu's (which Naoki could attest to) and she was always eager to sample his cooking. She'd yet to find any restaurant that could replicate his feats in the kitchen and as corny as it sounded, Teddie might be right when he said they were missing the key ingredient, "love".

Kanji playfully poked her nose. "All you gotta do was ask."

"A real team reunion. It's been ages since we've all been together, hasn't it?" Yukiko wondered out loud.

"Well, if it's just for the team I should get going then," Naoki began. "It's been a long day and ..."

"Nonsense, you're one of us now. You've faced your shadow, gotten your Persona and Teddie whipped up your very own pair of glasses. If that doesn't make you part of the team than nothing will," Yukiko pointed out.

Naoto nodded at the logic. "Our group doesn't require much in the way of ceremony aside from those and if it's a question of authority you're worried about keep in mind that Teddie has the most seniority of out everyone here.. He wouldn't have given his consent if he didn't think you worthy."

"You stood up to those shadows like a champ!" Teddie exclaimed. "Plus you're always looked out for your teammates. Knowing sensei I'm sure you'd be welcome in any future missions."

"Thank you Teddie, everyone. If you'll have me along I promise I won't let you down," Naoki said just before a yawn escaped his mouth. His second wind had finally run out. "All the same, I'm dead on my feet. Maybe I'll take a rain check this time."

"It's only 4:00 right now, "Kanji pointed out. "How about this: you catch some shut eye here and I'll wake yah around 6:30. If you're still beat you can head back to your place. Sound good?"

Naoki paused for a moment. He definitely wasn't in the mood to deal with his parents right now and it was good to catch up with Yu. "You drive a hard bargain my friend but I'll do it. Just make sure you save some croquettes for me. I know they go fast whenever you cook up a batch."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure Ted and Rise doesn't inhale the lot," Kanji reassured him.

"It's your fault for making them too damn good," Rise pouted. "Luckily for you I got to watch my calorie intake right now or you'd have a fight on your hands."

"It'll be an arduous task considering how delicious they are but I'll see what I can do, " Naoto added. "Have a nice nap."

After saying good night to everyone, Naoki found himself on Kanji's couch once again, this time with a proper pillow and blanket. Considering all the excitement he'd encountered today he thought sleep would be elusive, only to be proven wrong as exhaustion took over. He dreamed like he had many times before but this time he found himself back in the world beyond the TV. It was beautiful as it was before but now everything seemed more vibrant with life. The feeling of calm that came with being connected to the green washed over him as he walked amongst the exotic plant life. The trees formed around him making a path to follow, as if leading Naoki to a destination only they knew about. He found himself in front of the hole the team had climbed out of earlier, the beanstalk still there but this time reaching further up into the sky. It was joined by the lilac tree that had sprouted from the shadow sake shop, having burst through the underground market to reach the sun.

But he wasn't alone there. He could feel it in the Green. A figure walked out from behind the tree, clad in a high school girl's uniform. Saki. Her face lacked the maliciousness her shadow reveled in, instead bearing that whimsical smile she usually bore when her little brother had his head in the clouds. She shook her head as if to say, "What took you slowpoke," as she waved him over to the tree. He joined her underneath the tree's shade and drew her into the tightest hug he could muster. He knew it was ridiculous to try to hold onto a dream but still he held on as if for dear life. He stood there under the lilacs letting the petals settle on them both until Saki drew away. There was so much he wanted to tell her, about his life, about what happened to her, about well… everything but as he looked up into her eyes he knew that words weren't needed.

"It's beautiful here, isn't it, " She said nonchalantly like it was just another lazy Sunday.

"It sure is," he agreed. Did she know where they were? "Saki…" he began.

"I know, I know. I miss you too. But at least I can rest easy knowing you got people looking out for you plus from the sound of things you got a pretty sweet side-gig lined up. I mean, not too many people get to realize their nerdy dreams at all."

"Well, it's not all fun and games but... you're right," Naoki admitted. "Heh, you nailed that one right on the head. Always wanted to go exploring alien worlds and now I got friends to do it with too. Plus we're learning all sorts of new things about the animals, and new cultures, and the shadows too. " He paused for a moment to let that sink in. "I want to do everything I can so what happened to you and Yameno-san won't happen to anyone else. "

"Well people aren't being tossed into TVs so there might not be an issue, " Saki pointed out.

"Maybe, but then again who's to say that this is the only place with Shadows? Teddie told me them sustain themselves on people's negative emotions so anything is possible. I figure that if I can help uncover ways to deal with shadows without violence like I did with mine than maybe it could help other people further down the road. "

His sister beamed at him proudly. "You're a good kid Naoki. Oops, I mean you've become a good man. Boy still can't believe how big you gotten . I still remember you playing in the mud with little Kanji and the Amagi girl."

"We're not very small anymore, especially Kanji. I think he's even taller than his father now."

"All the better to keep the baddies at bay." Saki paused. "I'm glad to see you one more time brother, but like you I have my own path to travel now. I wish you luck and I hope a big tough explorer like yourself won't mind sharing a few stories with his big overbearing sister when he sees her again."

"Wouldn't dream of keeping it a secret."

"You promise?"

"To paraphrase a term from the West, Cross my heart," he said as he drew the symbol across his chest, "and hope to live a good many years to come."

A/N: Naoki's arcana is that of the Hanged Man, one who seeks understanding, and I thought he was a good fit to be the focus of the narrative.

Thinking back on the game, it seems to me Naoto might have Asperger's Syndrome since she displays the basic characteristics. She has difficulty picking up social cues and behaviour (and several characters pick up on that), sometimes coming across as non-empathetic to others since she cannot read social situation properly, always uses formal language even in informal settings and is preoccupied with a specific interests (detective work in this case). I'm not sure if the writer's did this on purpose but as someone that has been diagnosed I find myself identifying when her struggles and I'm happy that she's finally found such supportive friends.

Oh, and I'm assuming that it wasn't common knowledge that Naoto used to bind her chest. People just figured that puberty hit her with both barrels when she decided to swap her chest-bindings for something with better support.

Reviews are always welcome, even for indulgent pieces like this one. :-)