Part 114: January 11 - January 13: Yukiko's Confession

-The Path is Open-


The finalized design for Amaterasu, Yukiko Amagi's awakened Persona. The way some parts of its body are blurred to convey light shining from within reflects the sun goddess this Persona is based on.



-Youthful Lunch-

Peace has prevailed in Inaba, but the team is still restless.


There's something I'd like your opinion on, so...Anyway, I just hope you're free.


There's something I wanna talk to you about...and, uh...you're the only one I can rely on, so I hope you can make it!


Heehee, it's been a while since I came to school. Every day's great here, after all! Um, there's something I want to talk to you about. A man-to-man talk, just between the two of us. If you have time, come by Junes! Fingers crossed, Sensei!


Oh...I-I'm sorry. That was odd. I was daydreaming there for a second...I-In any case! If you're free after school, I'd like you to come with me somewhere.

Man, what's getting into everybody?

Once you've completed a fellow Persona-user's Social Link, in wintertime they'll ask to spend one more day with you. Yukiko asked first, so let's start with her.

> Samegawa flood plain...


It's fine with me.
Haha, thank you.

> Yukiko seems relieved...

It's actually "Customer's Day" for me today.
That's a day when the inn's employees take turns being customers. We've done it every now and then for a while, but I decided to participate this time, too. I wanted to see from a customer's point of view if our inn is truly satisfying...So I asked them to sign me up.
That's a great thing to do.
Y-You think so? I was embarrassed...

> Yukiko is blushing...

I played customer once before, too...but it made me a little uncomfortable.
It was strange, having Mother and everyone say things like "Welcome!" to me. That's why I wanted to stay out of it a little longer...Haha. But I brought this on myself.

> Yukiko is smiling wryly...

I told everyone at the inn that I hadn't planned to take over as manager...that I wanted to leave Inaba.

-Smile-

I thought it would be me finally coming clean to everyone. But they all just laughed...and said they knew already!
It made me realize how small I was. I was surrounded by good people, but I didn't understand that at all. I had myself convinced I had to bear my problems alone...I lied to myself, looked away from small opportunities...and only put my efforts into leaving it all behind...
But after making so many good friends, like you and Chie...I realized something. If I'm going to take one step at a time away from here, every step I use to run will take me somewhere I don't want to be. And if I keep averting my eyes, one day I might find myself blind to everything...
When I open my eyes, I see how vast the world is. If I was alone, I think it would be incredibly scary. But fortunately, I'm surrounded by kind, supportive people...Now, I hope I can grow into someone that can support them in turn.

> Yukiko is smiling cheerfully...

-Strength of Heart-



> Yukiko's heart, having developed over this difficult year, attains greater power...



> Yukiko's Persona has been reborn again...! Amaterasu has transfigured into Sumeo-Okami!



That's "Great Imperial Goddess" if you're nasty. Shinto tradition holds that the line of the Tenno Emperors descends from Amaterasu, and that the Imperial Regalia were once her prized possessions.



Yukiko is now even better at the thing she already did best.

-Smile-


As long as all of you are with me, I think I can go on without making mistakes. So...I hope we'll always be friends.

> You feel an unbreakably strong bond with Yukiko...You spent time talking about all sorts of things with Yukiko until it became dark out...

-Signs of Love-


It stopped snowing, right? Leave the laundry to me! I got a lot of leftover food from Junes! The fridge is packed! Oh, somebody came with a package for you, Sensei! I put it on the table!

> Obtained Tetracorn x 3 and Makaracorn x 3.






Time to dig! Dig and dig and dig some more! Ah, there it is! I found one!
Hrgh...Sensei, my hands are getting cold...I'm at my limit...I wanna go back inside and warm up with the kotatsu...





-Youthful Lunch-


If you've got no plans today, wanna hang out later? I'm off work today and I kinda want to take it easy...Well, think about it!


I feel like getting some exercise, and it'd be really great if you came along...If you're busy, though, that's okay! Just let me know later if you're up for it.

-Snowflakes-



> The unfamiliar cat ate the entire fish while remaining wary of you...The unfamiliar cat went away, satisfied.

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Yasogami High rooftop...You followed Ai here.


The other day, I bumped into him...And we talked for a while. You know, Kou-kun.
But...nothing happened. My heart didn't race. He was just...a normal, good guy. I guess what I felt was kind of a fleeting thing.
You can be so cruel.
Hahaha...I really can be. Imagine if things had gone my way...We would have started dating, and I'd be wondering how to tell him it wasn't going to work out between us right now. Cruel, huh?
This is actually what happens if you pick "I'll be your boyfriend" back at Moon Rank 6.

> Ai smiles wryly...

...I was lying to myself. Whenever there's been two ways I could go, I always did what the "ideal girl" would do. I forgot about the real me...The real me likes bulldogs more than German Shepherds.
...I'm better at long-distance running than sprints, I prefer milk over tea, and I like daifuku better than cream puffs. I don't know how to hook up a TV, I think aromatherapy smells bad, and any purse that'll carry stuff is fine...
But I hid that part of me away, and just pretended it wasn't there. No wonder I didn't think anyone would like me. Of course I didn't have any redeeming qualities...I wasn't me. That's why...right now, I feel pretty good.

> Ai smiles cheerfully...You feel you were able to support Ai in her time of need.


Wow, it's already getting dark. I guess it's true: time really does fly when you're having fun...Bye-bye, Sanzo. I'll see you later.

> You parted with Ai and went home...





-Youthful Lunch-


If you're free after school, I want us to hang out...So, I'll be waiting for you...

-Snowflakes-


Unfamiliar cat: Meeeew.

> The unfamiliar cat went away with a single meow.

-Like A Dream Come True-


Girl: No, he's playing house with me!


I'm fine.
Really? That's good to know...

> Eri flashed a relieved smile.

Yuuta was worried, too. Right?
Yuuta: ...Sor...ry...
Don't sweat it.


Hearing him call me "Mom"...It had a nice ring to it. I was so happy when he said it. *giggle*
People call him a troublemaker and a good-for-nothing...And I believed all the things they said. I didn't bother to look at him with my own eyes...
He gets angry and defends people, he apologizes when he needs to...He's actually a sweet boy...
You're a doting parent now.
Hahaha, maybe I am. Being a parent is actually pretty fun.

> Eri is smiling gently.

I was labeling him like everyone else. He's not related to me, he's the last wife's child, he doesn't listen to me, he's a troublemaker at school...I labeled him over and over, then I told myself it couldn't be helped. I was blind...No, I wasn't even trying to see him for myself. Maybe I was just afraid of facing him...What took me so long, huh?
It's never too late.
You're right!

> Eri is smiling happily. This is the happiest you've ever seen her.


Yuuta! Let's go home! Goodbye...And thanks for today!

-Signs of Love-


Your cooking is so good! I'm gonna get all fat!



Fishing in that nice coat!? Sanzo, you are the very limit.



Then again, I suppose it's no worse than wearing it into battle.



You can catch the Guardians more than once, but it can take a while for them to bite on days when it's not raining.