Part 105: December 11 - December 13: Sanzo, Junior Gumshoe

-The Path is Open-


The finalized design for Naoto Shirogane. She was designed in a way that suggested a boy detective.


The finalized design for Sukuna-Hikona, Naoto Shirogane's Persona. Its appearance was crafted with a retro anime boy character in mind.



-Omen-

> You have the day off from school today. You wonder if this world will truly be swallowed up by the fog from the TV world...You realize that even if it isn't true, you still need to defeat the threat at all costs.


Young man: For some reason, I feel relaxed. I never realized how relaxing it would be to just let the voices take over...Heh, I've been missing out. I wonder what they'll tell me to do next?
"They'll tell you to stay the hell away from my cats if they know what's good for you."



> You showed Hisano the letters from her husband.

-Traumerei-


How...!?

> You told her they were at Daidara.

Oh my, it must have been when he came to collect the contents of the storehouse...So that's where I kept the letters...Thank you, Sanzo-chan. From the bottom of this old woman's heart. I'm so happy...

> Hisano is very happy...

But I'm going to burn them.
...I'll go get some matches.



> What should you do...?

(Read them)
They can't be any worse than Marie's.

> You decided to read a little bit...

Postcard: "The wooden well frame / I was once shorter than it / I have outgrown it / in the time that we / have been kept apart"

> That's all the postcard says...Another postcard has a short composition on it:

Postcard: "I want to see you so much. How much sky, earth and water do my words have to run through, on and over to reach you, my dear Hisa-san? How I wish I was this postcard."


He had no idea he was being deceived...
I'm sure he never imagined that the "Hisa-san" he loved would some day wish to see him dead...
What do you mean?
......


...He fell ill and became bedridden. I had to work to support our family...He would always apologize to me for failing as a husband. When he did, he would smile so sadly...His illness worsened, and he must have been scared. He began to take his fear and frustration out on me. The man who had been so kind...But that didn't bother me at all. I had agreed that I would work and take care of him the day we were wed. "In sickness and in health"...
But he forgot. He forgot who I was, and he forgot all about me. I couldn't bring myself to love him. I couldn't forgive the way he would look at me with such confusion in his eyes...And when I cried, he would wipe my tears away, like the man he had been all those years ago...I couldn't forgive that. I couldn't bear that...that stranger in his body, stealing his mind day after day. When he slept...I tried to kill him.
But I couldn't. While I was standing over him, he looked up...and he smiled at me. That same smile he gave me when I was a girl. And in the same voice he would use to tell me he loved me, he asked: "Who are you, Ma'am?"
That was three years ago...After that day, he would forget who I was every morning. Every day, he would ask me, "Who are you?" And every day, I would answer: "Who am I today?" I was a total stranger to him, until the very end...He was being cared for by a stranger as he passed away. That was his punishment. Punishment for forgetting me...
That's a cruel tale.
...I was relieved. Before I could feel anything else...I felt relief. Relief that it was finally over, for both of us. It was then that I realized that I had been wanting him to die. And because I wished it, he left this world and went to the gods...I am Death itself.

> Hisano smiles sadly...


Please, throw the letters away. I can't bear to see them anymore. I don't want to touch them anymore. I'm sorry...

> You weren't able to give Hisano back the letters from her husband. Perhaps you should speak with the owner of Daidara...





-Omen-


Still...With the real bad guy being a cop on the case...That really surprised me, man. But now, there's nothing for us to wait for. We just have to go kick his ass.
Let's show that sucker, Senpai!
Let's get prepared.
Yeah, you're right! We ain't saving anyone this time. This is payback!
He'll learn what it means to deal with us! The hard way! The Kanji way!


Let's go somewhere. You're helping me remember, right? Yeah, let's go! Do you think I can remember something this time?

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Samegawa riverbank...You brought a contemplative Marie here.



> Marie seems irritated by the fog...What's wrong with her...?

*sigh* Whatever.
I don't get this...What am I supposed to do? The lady at the store said this comb was something special.
She said it was old.
Yeah, she did. She also said that she's never seen one like this before.
What did she say...? Moozium? Galarry? Would there be combs there?...That doesn't make sense. What are they going to use them for?
They're works of art.
Works of art? You mean like paintings and those stone thingies.
Oh...But maybe it is. Just like those, this comb has no point.

> Marie seems impressed...

Do you know anyone who knows about stuff like that?

> Who around here would know about art and antiques...?

Old Man Daidara.

> Come to think of it, the owner of Daidara considers himself an artist. He may know something about this rare comb...You told Marie about Daidara.

So there's someone who might know? Huh...This town has a ton of weird people here.
Well, let's go. Maybe we'll find something out.

> You decide to go to Daidara with Marie. Shopping District, Daidara...


Yuki-chan, wait for me! All this stuff is so h-heavy...Bearglh!




Ooooh! Looks like I've stumbled across a big scoop...Well? Welllll?
And you two?
Oh, no! What should I do...? They're on to us, Yuki-chan!
I'm buying supplies for the inn. I ran into Teddie on the way, so I'm letting him carry everything.
Wha...Yuki-chan totally blew me off.
...It's all piled up next to the store. I can't carry another thing...
...Who is this?
How cruel...! Emmy-chan, have you already forgotten about little Teddie!? And after all that heavy petting you gave my fur...
Oh, that's right. You've never met Teddie out of his costume yet...
...Teddie? Oh...Kindness and fur.
Correct! That's my Emmy-chan! This is love! This has to be the power of love!
...Yeah, it's not.
What are you two doing here? Oh...Shopping, I guess?
We're doing some research.
I see. Uh...here?


Ho-ho, this is...
This is a very unique comb. What about it?
We want to learn about it.
Oh, I see. I don't know anything, though...
Me neither. I've never seen this before...
But it's really pretty. Nice and shiny!
Ah, so that's why you're here? The owner does seem like he'd know about antiques.
I knew it...Will he know anything about it?
I'm not sure...But, let's ask and find out.
All right! Leave the inbearogation to me!








A comb? I don't sell co--hm!? This here's a beaut. Good craftsmanship. Pretty old, too...And yet, it doesn't show much wear. It's perfect...almost too perfect. Where'd you get this?
Um...Do you know anything about this? We'd be grateful for anything you could tell us.
Hrm...Nope. It's a comb, definitely, but whether it's just an accessory or part of a festival...Heck, I don't even know when it was made.
I see...
Well, hold on there, missy. I can at least tell you what it's made out of. This is...yeah, it's not your average bamboo. It's something similar to a rare type of bamboo that grows in the Chugoku region, but...
But it's not?
No. But it's definitely not normal bamboo. It's beautiful, though...I'd almost think it's something from another world...
Another world? So what world is it from?
I don't understa--



> Marie looks like she's in pain...

Are you all right?
I'm...un-all right. My head...it hurts...
Whoa whoa whoa! Hold on there, missy, I have a first aid kit around here somewhere...
I-I'll go look for some medicine, too! It may be faster to get some from a neighbor!
Wait up, Yuki-chan! I'll go with you!


What is this? What the heck...? I don't get it. This is bugging me...! Something pops up...then just disappears! Just when I had it...!
Take it easy.
I wasn't doing anything! My head just started hurting...and then...It makes me angry...I still can't remember anything!

> Marie is trying hard to regain her lost memory. You sense Marie's urgency...


...I'm going home. This sucks...My head hurts, it's foggy...I wish this fog would just go the hell away.

> After thanking everyone, you escort Marie back to the Velvet Room...



> The model has been completed! Obtained Red Scooter. You should put it on your shelf.



-Omen-

> You overhear students talking.


Dark-haired girl: I felt so relieved once I realized that only those right next to me can even see me. I used to freak out, thinking that a teacher would see me in town and they'd stop and yell at me...But thanks to this fog, none of my teachers would know me even if I was five feet away.
Calm girl: You're right. I feel kinda relieved because of the fog too. Some people get ill from it, but I'm all right so far. Plus, I'm kinda excited that it might be the end of the world; we might actually get to see it!
Dark-haired girl: Ahahaha, I know! What's gonna happen at the end of the world? I wonder...It's like that variety show that plays at midnight. Nobody knows what's gonna happen. Recently, the shows have just been kind of weird, but at least it's entertaining. It's like finding random shows that don't show up on the programming guide...

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Samegawa riverbank...


It was an unforgettable case, full of rewards...I enjoyed it.
What about you?
It was a cinch.
Hmhm, I bet you can become a greater detective than I have.

> Naoto is smiling. She seems to be having fun...

So, er...I wanted to give you something today.
I...err, made this. Please accept it.

> You obtained Detective Badge.

I haven't crafted anything like this in some time. If I went back to the estate, I could have added a camera and transceiver...
Oh, but it flashes! I made myself one to match.
Now you're my assistant, Senpai!
Leave it to me!
Alright! You realize I'm quite serious about this, yes?

> Naoto is smiling cheerfully...

-Smile-

The title of "detective" became a burden to me...I thought that I had no aspects apart from detective self. But you and the others gave me a reason to be, as neither adult nor man...So, I...
I was able to face myself as myself. Before the detective, before the child, before the woman.
By spending time with you all, I change, day by day. It frightened me before. But now...With everyone...With you, I can proudly proclaim that I am myself. Nothing more, but nothing less.

> Naoto is smiling gently...

-Strength of Heart-



> Naoto's strong will that allowed her to accept and overcome her weakness has awakened her heart's true power...



> Naoto's Persona has been reborn...! Sukuna-Hikona has transfigured into Yamato Takeru!





Prince Osu, the son of the twelfth emperor. His enemies praised his cunning and ferocity in battle, and named him "The Brave of Yamato."

-Smile-


I wasn't considering the things that I should have. The people who care about me, as well as my own self...
When I'm with you, I feel fearless.

> You can sense Naoto's warm trust and respect...You feel a tight bond between you and Naoto...



-The Path is Open-

Naoto has seized the wheel.



The course of her destiny is for her to decide--no one and nothing else.



-Like A Dream Come True-

Well then, let us begin!
There's a lot you must learn before becoming a detective. I myself can't relent in my training...To become a formidable woman detective!
We'll start with something that may come in handy before too long: shadowing a suspect...

> Naoto pounded the basics of detective work into you...You had a good time with Naoto...

-Omen-




Hobby shop owner: It's a simple build, but it has a lot of parts, so follow the instructions when you're cutting it from the frame. That moment of ecstasy when you get that unique cowling rounded after hours of patient sanding, the symmetry just right--Oh, yeah. I'm sure you'll do just fine with it. I'm looking forward to seeing how you do!