Persona 4: Golden Part #4 - April 13: The Midnight Channel

Part 4: April 13: The Midnight Channel

WHAM.
The astute reader may begin to detect a theme here.

> Maybe you should help him...

-Like A Dream Come True-

Oh yeah, that's right. You're that transfer student, Sanzo Genjo.

I'm Yosuke Hanamura. Nice to meet ya.

Are you okay?

Oh yeah, yeah, I'm fine.

> Yosuke seems to be all right...

Say, did you hear about the incident from yesterday? They found that announcer lady hanging from an antenna!

You think it was some kinda warning? There's no way something that weird could've been an accident.

You might be right.

Dangling a dead body over a roof like that...That's just messed up.

Then again, it's pretty messed up to kill someone in the first place.

Oh crap, we're late!

You wanna ride? It's a little squeaky, but it should be fine.

-Specialist-

You guys ARE in high school, aren't you? Can't you shut up during class? Don't you have any common sense? First of all, my job is to waste my precious time teaching you assholes philosophy! And since I'm so nice...I'll straighten up your rotten attitudes while you're at it! Aren't you honored!? And I'll be going especially hard on any of you morons that're curious about the murder! Got it!? Now, get your books out!

Not yet.
The local "crazy fog deaths" factor is a bit steep.

Yeah, well, you just got here.

There isn't much to do here compared to the big city, but there is that certain...something you can't get anywhere else. The air's clean, the food's great...Oh, you know about the local delicacy?

It's grilled steak, man! Like that's anything special, huh? I know a place where you can get it cheap. Wanna come? You helped me out this morning, so it's on me.

My "Trial of the Dragon."

Urgh...You always come around when I'm talking about food...

How about it, Yukiko? Don't you think he should treat us, too?

I'll pass...I don't want to gain any more weight. I need to help out at the inn today, anyway.

Wow, Yukiko-san! You started training to take over the family business?

It's not like that! I'm just helping out when it gets busy.

Well, I should be on my way.

Oh well. We should get going too.

Huh? Do I seriously have to treat two people?

-Junes Theme-

> Junes, Food court...

Yeah, well, once you hopped on the freeloader train, I had to change my plans.

Still, that's no reason to take us to your place.

Dude, this isn't my place or anything. Oh, right, I haven't told you yet, huh? I moved here from another city about six months back. This location just opened up, and my dad was assigned to manage it. So our entire family came out here. Here, this is to welcome you to town.

Satonaka, yours is on me too.

Yeah, I know.

> The conversation became animated over small talk...

It's only been half a year since this place opened up, but I haven't been to the local shopping district much since.

A lot of stores there started closing, and...Oh, uh...

...You can't blame it all on Junes, can you? Hey...It's Saki-senpai! Sorry, be right back.

Is she Yosuke's girlfriend?

Haha, he wishes.

That's Saki Konishi. Her family runs a liquor store in the shopping district...I think she's working here part-time, though.

What's up, Hana-chan? Boosting the family business by bringing your friends here?

Madam, you wound me!

Kidding aside...You look down. Did something happen?

...It's nothing. I'm just a little tired.

Hey, if you need to talk, I'm always willing to listen. I...

*chuckle* I'm okay. Thanks, though.

*sigh* Why'd I leave school early yesterday...?

Hey...Is he the kid who transferred here?

It must be nice to have someone else from the big city to talk to, huh? I don't see Hana-chan hanging out with the other guys much.

Uh--Not necessarily...

He doesn't have too many friends, so I hope you get along good. Hana-chan's a good guy, but he can get nosy sometimes. You gotta tell him right to his face when he starts to annoy you.

Nah, he's a great guy.

Ahaha, I know...I'm just kidding.

C-C'mon, Senpai. There's no need to worry about something like that.

Well, my break's just about over. Back to work I go...Laters!

Oh, uh, Senpai...!

Persona 4 will eventually wring more use out of the word "Senpai" than the definite article. I hope you like it as much as you like ellipses.

She has a younger brother, and she treats me pretty much the same way...

Ohhh, you don't want her treating you like a brother, huh? Haha, I get it...So that's how it is...

The daughter of a local family-run liquor store and the scion of the invading chain...Hoho, the flame of forbidden love!

What--!? Dude, it's not like that.

Oh reaaaally...Well, I know just the thing to cheer up that lovesick heart.

You ever hear of the Midnight Channel? You're supposed to look into a TV that's switched off, alone, exactly at midnight on a rainy night. While you're staring at your own image, another person will appear on the screen...And they say that person's your soulmate.

What? For a second, I thought you were actually going to say something useful...How can you get all excited over such a childish urban legend like that?

Childish, huh? You don't believe it, do you!?

Of course I don't!

Well, it's raining tonight! Let's all try it out--then you'll see!

Try it out...? Wait, you haven't even tried it yourself!?

Wow, I'm trying to remember the last time I heard something this stupid...

All that aside...you know that "incident" yesterday? You guys think it was murder?

Ooh, what if the culprit behind it was still lurking around...? Heehee...

Sheesh, you shouldn't joke about stuff like that. Now who's the childish one...? All I'm saying is, you guys better try it out tonight.

> You heard the rumor about the Midnight Channel, where one can see one's soulmate on a rainy night. Maybe you should try it out tonight...

> Another dinner alone with Nanako...

Don't worry.

...Yeah.

Oh! He's home!

I'm back. Did anything happen while I was out?

No. You're late again...

I'm sorry...Been busy at work. Can you put the news on for me?

Announcer: Announcer Mayumi Yamano's dead body was found hanging above a house in this isolated rural town. It is confirmed that Ms. Yamano had been involved in an affair with Taro Namatame, husband of enka singer Misuzu Hiiragi.

> It's a follow-up report about the incident yesterday. When Ms. Yamano, the TV announcer, was alive, she was having an affair with a councilman's secretary. The man's wife seems to be Misuzu Hiiragi, an enka singer...Could the incident be tied to their lovers' quarrel...?

Just in case anyone missed it:

Mayumi Yamano is dead.
She was a TV announcer.
And was having an affair.
With Taro Namatame.
A councilman's secretary.
Behind the back of Misuzu Hiiragi.
Namatame's wife.
An enka singer.

Announcer: The police plan to investigate this relationship and question any personnel involved with them. In addition, we now bring you an exclusive interview with the student who found Ms. Yamano's body.

*sigh* An interview with the kid...? Where the hell did they find her?

Female student: U-Umm...

> The female student's face and voice are indistinct. But you feel like you've seen her before somewhere...

Reporter: Don't you think it's scary that someone was killed on a foggy day?
Female student: Huh...? She was killed?
Reporter: Oh, errr...So did you see anyone suspicious around here?
Female student: No, not really...
Reporter: We heard that you found it when you left school early. Did you have some personal business to take care of?
Female student: Huh? That's...

> The reporter's enthusiasm seems to be perplexing the girl. Looking closely...she reminds you of Saki Konishi, Yosuke's senpai...

Announcer: --a tragedy that occurred near the local shopping district. Many storeowners are raising concerns about losing customers as a result...

Hmph. If they lose more customers, it'll be because you're raising such a stink about it...
Commentator: It really is a bizarre case, isn't it? I mean, hanging someone upside down from an antenna...I'd have to say it's a warning or a sign from the culprit.
Announcer: Yes, but so far, no one has come forward to take credit for the crime.

Loads of prank calls, though...
Commentator: So the cause of death is still unknown? And they don't have a single suspect yet? Taxpayers' funds are going to a police force who can't even tell if this is an accident or a homicide?

......
Announcer: We'll be right back after these messages.
Commercial: At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!

Hey Dad...Can we go to Junes together sometime?...No?

> He seems to be asleep...

*sigh* Geez...

> The rain falls into the night...You're reminded that you made a promise to test out the rumors of this Midnight Channel. You should check it out in your room...

> It's almost midnight..."Your soulmate appears if you look into a TV on a rainy night"...Could Chie's story be true...?

-The Midnight Channel-

The clock strikes twelve.