Part 85: 11/17/09 - 11/20/09

Looks like we're gonna be in Kyoto for the rest of the week, huh? Exciting stuff.

Kyoto



So, there's a fair few anime scenes here that are all... very short. This is the longest one of the trip, for reference.



Anyway, it begins proper with a train pulling into a station at Kyoto and everyone disembarks in a quick transition.



Kyoto, huh? Talk about boring...
You don't like it?
Personally, I think it's one of the most beautiful places in the world!
Whatever...



Meanwhile, Yukari's sort of just off on her own...



But still takes the chance to look at... Mitsuru... smiling and laughing with Fuuka and Aigis. Huh.





> The sun has already set...

Kyoto
for obvious reasons this track only plays while we're here, so enjoy it while it lasts



Whoa, nice place!
It IS an expensive area, after all.
Hey, what's that umbrella for?
It's for decoration.
...I see. So, that's the style here in Kyoto, huh?



That's right, I forgot about that! Count me in!
Keep dreamin', Junpei.



Is this one of the open-air hot springs I have heard about?
No, it's just a courtyard... It's not meant for bathing.
So, where were you guys gonna go at your old school, Ryoji?
...Somewhere interesting, I bet. Kyoto's so typical, don't ya think?
Hmm...



...Are you serious? That's the highlight of the year!



Girls, your rooms are that way. Why don't you go get unpacked?



...You heard her.
We'll see you later, then.



...Goddammit, Junpei. Remember your character progression?



...Aigis, get with the program.

End



So, we've got the chance to look around Godaigo a bit. There's no inn or whatever called Godaigo in Kyoto as far as I know; near as I can tell, it's just named after a former Emperor of Japan but I could be totally wrong about that.



So, we'll just take the opportunity to wander and talk to folks.

We better go to our room, man...
...or else Ms. Toriumi might get pissed off.



Every few hours, there's a surprise. *chuckle*

Speaking of surprises, there's a few more people we can talk to around here that weren't around in vanilla...



Honestly, there's nothing here to interest an avid gourmet.
I tried all the food the souvenir shop had to offer, but it wasn't as good as I hoped.

For what its worth, having Nozomi hanging around here is the entire reason I started his link early. We'll be seeing plenty of the Best S.Link in the near future, don't worry.



Zis eez great!! KYOTO!!
Eet eez better zan Destiny World!
And see how zis tower stands up wiz only matchsticks...? Sugoi...!
Zat is ze beauty of Japan!



Before I forget, we're gonna buy some Nama-yatsuhashi. There's 4 snacks available here, but we'll only grab this one.



Hurry up and get to your rooms. I don't want to be yelled at for your behavior!
...Huh? Don't you know which room you're in?
No, I don't.
Umm, Makoto-kun... To get to your room...
Go up the stairs and turn right. Your room will be on the right-hand side at the end of the hall.
Got it? Now, go.

We will, soon. Got one more conversation down here first...



Check this out...
The hot spring's in there, right? So based on the hotel's layout...
This guy seriously thinks he can sneak a peek.

goddammit kenji

Give it up, Kenji. What, do you think you're ten feet tall?
Give up!? Never! Nothing is impossible!
What kinda athlete are you!?
If you accept your limits, you'll never succeed!!
*gasp*
...I never thought of it that way...!
All right. I won't give up...!
...Although I guess our height is one of those limitations we can't overcome...

The only thing else downstairs is the hot springs door to the right of Kenji and Kaz. We can't go in there, though, which is completely fine with me.

Let's just head on upstairs!



I should just get some sleep and hope we'll have time for sight-seeing tomorrow.

There's not many people up here worth talking to. Akihiko's it, even.



But there's also a vending machine here that sells 3 drinks we can only ever get in Kyoto. It is highly recommended to buy at least one of each before we're done. Getting it outta the way now.



Up on the third floor, there's not many people to talk to either. At least Yuko's hanging out by a vending machine (same contents as the one on the second floor).

But honestly, I've been psyched since the minute we walked through the front door!
The hot springs, and the souvenir shop...
Oh, and I'm a pro at pillow fights. I sling 'em fast as bullets!
Then at midnight, all the girls get together and tell each other what boys they like...
Yep, I'm all set for this trip.
Anyways, have you seen the vending machines here?
The drink selection is totally different than back home.
I wonder what they taste like...

It's only 120 yen to find out. And you're right there...



> She looks like a person with no soul.

Also, uh, Mitsuru's here but, uh....



Aigis, Fuuka and Yukari are nowhere we can find though. They might be in a room on the third floor, but Makoto can't enter those for obvious reasons.



So, we'll just go to bed and see what the first real day of the trip has in store for us.

Silence



In an oddly disappointing move, we don't really get to see much in Kyoto. Like, at all.



There's little animated snippets that are just stills that pan and become photographs.



And really, its only plural in the stricted definition because its two. That's it.

That's the first day of Kyoto. There's still some stuff left before the day actually ends proper, but like... we don't really get to see or do much of anything here.

> You went sightseeing around Kyoto aboard a tour bus...

> Visiting the places in person was much more exciting than seeing them in photographs.

> In the afternoon, everyone went their seperate ways at the Kamogawa near the hotel.

Mitsuru Kirijo
like before this is very highly recommended to just watch the video instead





Why are you still concerned about me?
Our days of fighting together are over.
We have no common goal to fight for, no enemies to defeat... no reason to be friends.
...That's not true...
We've reached our conclusion... Why should we continue on?



You failed to what?
To protect the most important person in your life? Is that what you're trying to say?
You said you were atoning for what the Kirijo Group did in the past, but that's not true.



That's right! I fought to protect him, and look what happened!



My father placed the onus of responsibility all upon himself.
And ever since the incident, he looked as if he was dead inside.
I fought so that he could release the shame and guilt that burdened him so!
......



Right!?



I'm sorry.
But, we don't know that for sure yet.
......



After my dad died, my mom spent all her time throwing herself at random men...
I couldn't stand seeing her acting like that, so I used to come out here to the river bank to get away.
......
My belief in my dad was all I had...
Your father was only doing what he thought was best...



He believed Shadows were dangerous, and they needed to be stopped, even if it meant losing his life...
That's why I fight.



Fulfill his final wish...
That's all I--no, we, can do.
...Right, Senpai?
Yes...

Tranquility

Yes, I agree, Takeba...
It's not over yet. Nothing had been decided.



For the sake of my father... and yours.
Senpai...
Yukari, will you stand with me until the end?
...!



Uh...

T-Take a bath together?
Yeah, in the outdoor hot spring back at the hotel. It's really nice.
Now that we have everything out in the open, there's nothing left for us to hide!
...Nothing?



Yukari, you're the only one blushing here...

Anyways, we should really get going. It's already past curfew.



I am not alone.
...And I'll never look back again.

The Path is Open







I don't know if its just me, but I so prefer Penthesilea's design to Artemisia. Anyway, she's... the first evolved Persona we've seen that's still Greek, and the second that's based on a real person. Artemisia I of Caria was the queen of the city-state of Halicarnassus and several nearby islands.

...Please watch over me.

End

Kyoto



So now we get to, uh, wander around the inn a bit more. Yup. Exciting!



So, we'll head back down to the ground floor and work our way up like before.

If I was her, I wouldn't be having much fun, either.





Dude, help me talk this guy out of wearing his P.E. uniform.
Who wears a track suit at a swanky hotel?
It's so no matter what happens, I can go running!
Dude... don't you ever get tired of exercising...?
Listen to this guy, Makoto! We visited Kiyomizu Shrine, and he decided to run laps around it!
He made the entire group run laps too, all damn day!
Men are supposed to be able to run up hills and climb walls!
Says you, man!
Dude, what about all the girls in the group? You better apologize to them...

Right, so, that was basically just sort of an explanation to justify the developers not being assed to make a second character model...



I... tried to put mine on, but... It came off...
Ze string, it got tangled up, and... My clothes came off!
But you, you look great in ze yukata! I'm jealous!
I wanted to play ze evil magistrate...
I wanted to trap and defeat ze pesky heroes!

It's good to know that even Bebe is a fan of the Steel Samurai. Somehow he didn't strike me as the tokusatsu type, but I'm glad to be proven wrong.



No gourmet worth his salt can wear a yukata.
We eat!
Our belly grows!
The obi gets too tight!
So we loosen it!
We eat some more!
Loosen the obi another notch!
The obi falls off!
We're left in the nude!
See?

...I, uh, will leave you to that wonderful mental image and just... go back upstairs now.



I don't know what happened, but as long as she's feeling better, I'm relieved.

Granted, the second floor only has Akihiko for us, so we'll head on up to the third as well.



It seemed strange for them to be so cheerful together that way...





I knew you'd look good in one.
You look cute...
......
W-We passed your group today.
...You didn't notice me, though.
I tried to talk to you, but I couldn't.
You're a little different when you're around your dormmates.
Your face looked different somehow.
I'm not jealous or anything, but...
......
Arrrgh! I didn't mean to act so weird.
I'm just trying to get you to notice that I'm lonely!
Hah... Mission accomplished.
I... just wanted to walk around Kyoto with you.

After having every other S.Link character give some reason or excuse for why they (understandably) don't have a second model for today, I'm not sure whether its disappointing or a nice change that Yuko does't even try...



...Oh well, I'm sure that this trip will prove to have a use beyond giving Mitsuru a different locale for her persona to evolve.

Silence



Though much like before...



It starts off with just some panning anime stills to become photos.



...And like before, it is just two.

> Mitsuru-senpai seems to have cheered up...

> She's being friendly with her classmates, and Yukari.

> Something must have happened.

It is kinda weird that we get to see scenes where Makoto isn't involved... and then the narration acts like we don't know what happened.

Kyoto



Anyway, that's it for now and we just get to... wander around the inn again. Yep. We'll break new ground and start at the top and work our way down today.



Mainly because Junpei's... up to something. Well, that can't be good.



Also for today, and today only, Akihiko acts as a save point. Just like at the beach at Yakushima!





There's still one thing we've gotta do, though...
Come on, Kaz! Right here, right now! This is our last chance!
You crouch down, and I'll get on your back! That way, I can see!

goddammit kenji

H-Hey... why are you pulling me into this!?
Dude, we can take turns! Come on!!
Hmmm...
No! I'm not listening to you!
Why not!? It's not dirty! What's your plan, just walk in there and stare? That's just as bad!!
*sigh* Man... you're so boring... Why did I have to be in your group...?

Oh right, I nearly forgot. The reason Kenji and Kaz get to have a double-act while everyone else is off on their own is because starting their S.Links is mandatory. Kenji asked us to hangout all of once at the start and that triggered his. Kaz's is less obvious, but if we didn't join a sports club, then Toriumi would have railroaded us into it because being in a club is mandatory. SEES doesn't count, of course.



Sooo tall!!
And zen, I went to ze Kinkaku shrine!
Sooo shiny...!
Tomorrow, I will see ze Ginkaku shrine!
Ze Kinkaku and ze Ginkaku... Which will win!?

If Bebe is referring to something other than "which is better" then I have no idea what it could be.



I've been pondering what I should eat next.
So far I've had the Mibu crackers, Nama-yatsuhashi, pickled turnip...
More nama-yatsuhashi, some more nama-yatsuhashi, another pickled turnip, Mibu crackers, more crackers...
I don't get many chances to have Kyoto cuisine, so I'm stuffing my belly full of it.

I wouldn't have thought candy and crackers would fall into the category of "gourmet cuisine", but I guess that's why I'm not gourmet royalty.



Let's go.
Yeah, dawg!
I'll go get Akihiko-senpai and Ryoji, while you go back to your room and get ready.



We can't just go to bed without agreeing to hanging out with Junpei et al., but I'm sure this'll be fine. He wouldn't bring Akihiko if it was gonna be bad or anything. That'd be silly.

Joy



No way, really? Then, there's a chance it could change to girls only while we're still bathing.



That's true. We couldn't be blamed if something like that were to happen.
Don't you agree?
Yeah.
Well, it's really just a hypothetical question.
...Hey, isn't it getting kinda hot in here?

> Junpei and Ryoji seem to be acting strange...

So, Junpei, at what time does this hot-spring change from guys only to girls only?



...Wait, hang on...

Right. But it could happen at any moment, couldn't it, Junpei-kun?
So that's why we came at this strange time? ...You two are such idiots!



But, don't worry. It's pretty late. I doubt any girls would--



And right on cue, the door audibly opens. Oh dear...

Fearful Experience

...Shit! Someone's here! What're we gonna do...?
...It's probably just a guy.
Don't worry.
This is simply a misunderstanding. We'll just act like we didn't know.

...What do you mean "act," Ryoji???



Oh, you're right... It's the size of a swimming pool.
So, this is an outdoor hotspring. Unfortunately, its therapeutic healing benefits will not help me.
Dammit, it's them... What're they doing here this late...?





...Who's that!? Is someone there!?
...What's the matter, Yukari? Did you hear something?

Crisis



Yeah, but it's not like we could get expelled for this, right?
I mean, it was men only when we got here. So, it's actually kinda funny, if you think about it.
This is Mitsuru we're talking about. If she finds us, she'll... *gulp*
What? She'll what?



E-Execute us!?
...Yeah, I think I heard something. Fuuka, could you check over there? I-It could be a ghost...
Um... but... I, uh... Okay...

Silence



Yukari-chan, will you look with me?
*sigh* Okay, fine...
Let's start on the right side.



So, uh, it's time for a dumb minigame. Everyone's favourite!



Now, I don't know about you, but... I quite like being alive. So, we'll head up the left here and... see Yukari and Fuuka. Okay, they meant THEIR right. Obviously.



Quickly then gonna pull a u-turn, try to not get hung up on anyone else following behind us (a thing that is very common both here and in Tartarus) and head over to the right-most wall and just... hang out here for like a minute.



Hmm, that's strange... I thought I heard someone...
Well, let's try the other side.
Alrighty.



So, now they're gonna check out the right-hand side and... Aigis is blocking the way up. Okay, so we can't go that way. Welp, it was fun living while it las--



Oh. See, Fuuka and Yukari are idiots here. Rather than actually just go up the right-hand side, they... go back up the left, circle around and then go down the right instead.



Because they are masters of planning, we can just hang out over by the left wall for another minute.



No...
Hmm, maybe we're just being paranoid...
Aigis, do you detect anyone?
Because of the moisture here, my sensors are not functioning properly.
I see...
Then, let's split up.
Okay.



So, once again: this should end with us getting instantly caught and... executed... but Yukari and Fuuka are idiots. They go back up the right-hand side and THEN split with Yukari coming down the left and Fuuka down the right.



After a few seconds, we can hide in here. Can't just do it immediately, because Fuuka will see you out of her peripheral vision, get confused, be semi-alerted... immediately lose sight of you and then loop that forever. And once that starts, she doesn't move at all even if you leave.



It's kinda dumb and this bad random stealth segment is dumber. Thankfully, it's over now.

Nope, nothing here.
You're going to get sick if you continue this charade.

Fearful Experience



Doesn't the water seem a little hot? I'm beginning to feel faint...



W-Well, of course it is!
To be honest, I am rather surprised by the difference between human bodies. More specifically...
Okay, that's enough, Aigis. Let's go. I'l treat you to some ice cream.
Ice cream would be quite useful. I require some cooling down.



We never would've survived Mitsuru's "execution."
...Huh?



...Well, at least those two got what was coming to 'em. Sorta.

...Looks like they passed out.
Well, I guess that's what they deserve...



Let's, uh, let's just pretend that this never happened. That'd be nice.

An Unpleasant Premonition



Then, please be on time. If any of you are late, I'm the one who will be blamed.



I guess it's mostly because of last night.
......
You know, in the hot spring...
...!!
Shhh! Yeah, I know. Now, keep your voice down...



U-Um, we're just having a, um... a reflection meeting.
...Oh yeah? What're you reflecting on?



Junpei... how are you so bad at everything, when we're at Kyoto?

Okay...
Whatever...





Honestly, I'm just glad it's over now...

Iwatodai Dorm



In fact, it's so over now that we just skip to being back in the dorm!

How was Kyoto?
Aw, man... I'm so tired.
...But, it was a lotta fun.
I brought you back some "souvenir stories," so I'll tell ya them later.

Let's, uh, not tell the 11 year old about what you and Ryoji were up to, maybe?

...Oh, okay.
I can't wait to hear them...
We can't go to Tartarus tonight; we're all too tired.
Let's go tomorrow night...
...even though we don't have anything to fight for anymore...

We probably should go back to Tartarus soon, yeah. We took a while going the first time this month, and it's already nearly December.



But, the place I liked best was Kamogawa, especially at nighttime.
The sunset was absolutely amazing. I will never forget it.



The school trip was so much fun!
We visited so many beautiful places... and I really enjoyed the hot spring.
Which reminds me, we heard something when we were soaking. It was probably just some monkeys.
Are you alright, Makoto-kun? You're sweating...

Probably just, uh, a temperature thing... yeah, that'll be it...



..but I've never seen the sunset at the Kamogawa. It was so beautiful.



I speculate that you are concealing a serious matter from the girls.

No, no, definitely nothing serious and stupid and anime. Not at all. Why would you even think that? Don't be silly. That's silly.

HEY KEN I BOUGHT YOU A THING



Yay! It's got the sweet red beans!
Nama-yatsuhashi with sweet red beans is the best!
Thank you for the souvenir!
By the way...
It seems like you guys are uncomfortable around the girls...
I can't imagine why you should be...



We sure had a rough time in the hot spring, huh?
Why couldn't it have been some girls we didn't know?

That... wouldn't have made it any better.



......
...we would've experienced hell on earth...

That's silly, Aki. How bad could it possibly have been?

How Bad? posted:

So, uh, shit. I guess we... got caught immediately. This is the left side, not the right! I feel lied to.

Crisis



W-Wait! Th-This is just a misunderstanding...!
Silence!
I'm going to execute you all!
It was nice knowing you.



Well, at least we're... not dead...?

An Unpleasant Premonition



How could I after last night...?
......
That truly was an "execution"...
...Just try to forget about it.



......







Iwatodai Dorm



Would you like another?



> She's ignoring you...

Just a reminder...
Everyone is tired from the trip, so we're not going to explore Tartarus tonight.
See you tomorrow...



As a penalty, I shall not converse with you for the rest of the day.
Commencing ignore mode.



Don't worry, I'm not mad anymore...
But, I still think you should thank us for punishing you guys...
We saved you from making the same mistake in the future.



......
I don't remember anything about it.



We were forced to commit the crime, against our will. We were victims too.
......
Now, please do not mention it ever again.

And they never did! This somehow doesn't have any negative impacts at all beyond the girls being a bit, justifiably, miffed tonight. Come morning all is forgotten.

But, well, since we didn't get caught I guess we'll never know.



Anyway, hey, we can take Koromaru out tonight. Let's do that!

Joy





Everyone's been talking about it non-stop in the lounge...
Only Koromaru and I were at the dorm, so it was really quiet.
I can't remember the last time things were so quiet around there...
I stayed up watching the late-night shows with Koromaru in the lounge... Then I'd doze off for a while...
But it was too quiet, and I couldn't get much sleep.

> You spoke with Ken for a while.



Hm? Are you tired?
...I feel like I know what Koromaru's thinking lately.
It's probably because we spent so much time together alone these past few days...

At least Ken got a nice, relaxing few days to just hang out with noted best boy, Koromaru.











Since the month's nearly over, we really should go back to Tartarus very soon. We'll be bringing Junpei with us as penance for making us deal with the hot springs stuff. And maybe to knock some sense back into him.



Yukari's Magic stat is very impressive, but it's less of a scale-shifter now than it looks. She's two levels of Garudyne at least, so she'll be getting the Vayu Bracers whenever we don't need to deal with lots of elec-dudes.



Akihiko's, well, Akihiko. That he has Boosted (and Amped) Ziodynes is nice. His debuffs are more important, by far, though. Fist Master is still weird filler that he really doesn't need but it does help with trash fights... in those times when anyone that isn't Makoto ever gets turns in them.



Still don't like Artemisia as much, design-wise. I dunno, she just looks kinda bad to me. Anyway, she only gives Mitsuru access to 4 more skills but that's fine. That Diarahan is the first isn't too shabby. Also, note that she has 51 Magic. And Bufudyne. And Ice Boost. And Mind Charge. And the Varna Bracers for good measure.

She, uh, she kinda just managed to leave everyone so far behind that the only person she doesn't beat straight-up now is Makoto. And that's not a fair comparison purely because he's got the Wild Card. Mitsuru is Powerful.



Aigis is... kinda weird at this point. She's one level of Marakukaja at last, but that's functionally her capstone. It'll make sense later, don't worry. That last skill is... different. We won't be getting it for a while longer than you'd think.



Koromaru is Koromaru. He has gotten no better nor worse since last time, except now his numbers are slightly bigger. That he's still not gotten Mudoon just yet is weird, but it'll solve itself quickly enough. Having High Counter by default is nice, since it technically frees his accessory slot open to things that aren't the Berserker's Seal but there's not much TO give him in its stead. Agni Bracer is the best option, but like... he has 32 Magic.

But, Koromaru is Koromaru.



Ken is still kinda really bad, but since he just got Mediarama, Hama Boost AND Ziodyne in rapid succession, he managed to salvage some degree of use. Mediarama makes him the only person other than Yukari capable of multi-target healing, which isn't too bad. Hama Boost lets him make it significantly easier to instakill trash with Hamaon which is nice. Ziodyne is Ziodyne. He's still not anywhere near the better folks in the team, but he's managed to claw himself up out of dead last.

So:

Two slots this time. Junpei's coming whether likes it or not, but who else is?