Part 111: December 22 Part 4 - December 30: XIX. The Sun

-Smile: Reincarnation-






We did it...This time, it's for real...
...Wh-What's up, Senpai? Did you think I was crying? It's just so bright...It's been so long since the sky was that blue...
It's finally over...
Thank you.
Hey, don't get all sappy. We did this together. But well, this means...We've won.


Ooh, what's this?
Everyone ready!? Here goes...We did it, woohoooooo!
...Why didn't you guys say it!? You all joined in when Rise-chan did it!
Um...I think that was a little too hard to get on the spot...
Which part did you mean for us to say?
The "woohoo" part!
Can't we just do it over...?
Man, having to redo something like this kinda kills the fun of it...Alright Chie, do that weird call again.
Not if you're gonna call it "weird." Hmph.
U-Um, people are beginning to stare...I don't think we should stay like this much longer...
My hand's getting kinda sweaty...
Sheesh, fine then. It's all yours, Sensei!
Okay...It's finally over!
All: WOOHOO!

> With everyone's help, you were finally able to lift the fog enclosing the town...



-The Path is Open-

The day of judgement has come and gone...



...and the world has been renewed.



-Smile: Reincarnation-


Huh? Wh-Who cares!?
Snrk...Ahaha!



> The one behind everything has withdrawn, and the fog enclosing the town has lifted...And...



If you beat Ameno-sagiri any earlier than December 22, the game skips ahead to today. No, you do not get told this anywhere.



> Christmas Eve is tomorrow...

Cell phone: *RING RING*

> The screen reads: "2 new messages"

senpaaaaaaai! \(^_-)/
c u tomorrow, rite?
cmon, its xmas eve
senpai! <3 PLZ! @}-,-'-

> You decided to spend time with Rise tomorrow.

Maybe we can find out how she texts like that. Copying that rose thing took me like ten minutes!




Ahhh...*cough* My throat is killing me. It's probably all the voice training...
*sigh* Stupid hiatus...
...But that has nothing to do with tonight! It's Christmas, and I'm with you, Senpai!

> Rise seems to be enjoying Christmas with you...

You bought a cake for us, Senpai!? I love cake! Thank you! I got a present for you, too!

> Obtained Silver Bangle.

That's one of a kind. It's the only one in the whole world...In fact, I designed and made it myself at a carving class in Okina.
The shape's a little weird, but...I put all my love into it!
Thanks.
No problem.



Everyone you can chill with on Christmas Eve has a different protagonist-only accessory. Rise's gift is the only one that's actually unique. The others all mimic Persona skills: Resist Physical, Resist Ice, Resist Fire, Ailment Boost, Divine Grace, Hama Boost, and Mudo Boost.

The Bangle might be even better than the Chakra Ring, since it stacks with Spell Master. It's a little too good, really. There are only one or two places where you'll actually need that much SP, and otherwise it's kind of redundant with all of Rise's other SP abilities.

Also, it's a little worrying that Rise can just make stuff like this. I mean, what about her tofu? Is everyone who ate at Marukyu this year going to start hulking out?

> You had a wonderful Christmas Eve with Rise...

...Senpai, can I stay here tonight?
When you go back to your home town, and if I decide to go back to my singing career...We won't be able to see each other very often, will we? Maybe we'll never have the chance again...
That's why I want tonight to be something precious to remember...So, please...?

> Christmas Eve continues...



> Near the end of the year...December 25th...Junes, at the usual food court...

-New Days-


I think we can safely leave the rest to the police. Adachi has confessed his crimes, so I'm sure Namatame's presumed guilt will be reexamined as well.
I see...
Then that really wraps it up.
What'll you do now, Teddie? You're not going back over there, are you?
You better not, you dumb bear! You don't know how much you worried us last time...
I-I won't suddenly disappear like that again!
Damn straight you won't. Man, just stay here, alright?
Cell phone: *RING RING*

> It's Dojima.


Good news. It looks like they're letting Nanako come home for a bit. She's awake again, and she's got a good amount of strength back too. All goes well, she might be able to leave the hospital for the time being. And as for me, they said I just needed to see a doctor regularly. So I'm planning to come home with Nanako today. Sorry I had to stick you with all the housework. I'll make up for it somehow. Anyway, I'll see you later.

> You told everyone about Dojima's message...

Really!? Nanako-chan's coming home!?
I-I'm so happy for her...!
Me too...I'm really glad...The fog's all gone over here because everyone tried so hard...And now Nana-chan's gotten better!
Nanako-chan tried hard too...
Sh-She's such an amazing girl...*sob*
W-Waaaaaaah!


*sniff* *sniff*

WHAM.


Augh...
Well, one thing's certain...It's party time! Let's throw a big Christmas party for Nanako-chan!
A party, you say!? I'm sure Nana-chan will be delighted!
We'll need a cake then.
G-Guys...Please say you're not gonna...
Huh? We're gonna make one.
Of course we're gonna make one.
I've already researched the ingredients.
Hey--W-Wait! Wait a sec! Whoa there! That's way too tall an order for you!
Let's go to the grocery department! C'mon, Naoto-kun, you too!
B-But I've never baked a cake...
Don't worry. Neither have we!

-Like A Dream Come True-


So this is the fabled kotatsu...
I was really looking forward to the new kotatsu!
Yeah, you talked about it all the time at the hospital.
Nanako needs to go back for a full checkup early next year, but if they don't find anything wrong they'll let her go immediately.
If I'd gotten better sooner, we would've been able to buy the kotatsu together...Sorry.
Sorry you went through that.
I don't mind...since big bro and everyone came to rescue me.
Sorry for the wait!
Oh no...The Christmas edition of Mystery Food X is about to be served...
Bring it on, I'm ready. Got my insurance card and everything.


Hey, this is bigger than I imagined...
Wait, Nanako-chan! I'll be the first one to--
NOOOOOO!!
It's delicious! It tastes really good!
Th-That can't be...
No...Has she lost all sense of taste?

> She's right! It's like nothing you've tasted before!

Did you guys really make this?
Huh? O-Of course we did.
Does it actually taste like something...?
It's not hot, is it? How is it, Kanji? Hm?
I-It's amazing!
You know what they say about true talent not needing to show off? Turns out we had good taste in cooking after all.
Then again, this one was our third attempt...
Hey, Yosuke! Chie-chan and the others really are talented chefs! Three stars for sure!
I-Impossible...This...actually tastes good! Wait, I didn't already pass out, did I? This isn't a dream, right?
Ummm...Nana-chan, guess what I have...


Oh! It looks just like you!
I wish I could've made it look better...But I thought it'd keep you company at the hospital, Nana-chan.
Oh, and it's made from 100% pure Teddie fur. I'm a guy who's all about using all-natural materials!
I-Isn't that nice of him, Nanako?
Teddie fur...?
Uh-huh! Thank you, Teddie.
I have to thank you all again...Adachi confessed to the two murders. He insists it was him who hung the bodies, too. There are still things that are unclear about his story, but he's most likely gonna pay for his crimes. Anyway, this was one strange case...If what you said about a world inside the TV was true, then everything might make sense...
...Though I still don't believe it. Some things in this world just can't be explained.
Like Nanako...She made a miraculous recovery, and now she's as healthy as ever. Back in the day...my own senpai on the force told me something. "There's an underside to everything that you can never see." This case has made me think about a lot of things. You've helped us out so much...Heh, it was meant to be the other way around, really...
There isn't much time left until spring, but I hope I can do some catching up until then.
That's right...You're only here until spring, huh...?
Senpai? You're going back...?
...It won't be the same without you.
Sensei...Are you going somewhere...?
I don't want to go back.
Don't forget, there are people waiting for you. When you get home, show your parents how much you've grown this past year.
And then, if they're okay with it...you can come back here at any time.
C'mon, spring's a long ways off, right? Let's have all the fun we can until then!
H-Hey, don't get too carried away. My sis would kill me if you got yourself held back a year...
Oh, but then you wouldn't have to go back, huh?
Wow, if that happened, I'd be in the same grade as Senpai.
I wanna go home now...

> You received a Christmas Costume from Dojima. It seems it was originally supposed to be used in a festival at the police station.



-Heartbeat, Heartbreak-


Man, yesterday was great! We haven't had that much fun in a while. And there's no case to worry about anymore, either. Let's just keep hanging out and having fun into next year, okay?
Oh, that reminds me...did you see the weather forecast? It looks like it's going to rain tonight.
Worried about the Midnight Channel?
Yeah, it's been on my mind, too. Since we beat that Ameno-sagiri thing, the case should really be closed, right? I'm just a little skeptical, so you should check the TV too, if you have time.

-Specialist-


Hehehe, I'm so excited for winter break! I got this beautiful coat. All my adult charm is just going to come bursting out! Well, enjoy your winter vacation, everyone. Don't get too crazy!

> The closing ceremony has ended. The second term ends today. You decided to go straight home.


It's not like the city here. You should wear another shirt over that.
The weather report said it was going to snow tomorrow.
If it snows, the veggies will catch a cold...
Haha...It's okay, you don't have to worry. Sanzo's gonna handle everything so that the vegetables don't get sick, right?
This evening is your very last opportunity to harvest veggies.


It wasn't spicy at all.
That was one rowdy Christmas. It made Nanako real happy, too. I have to thank you. Things wouldn't have gone that way if it had been only me here.








Nothing came on.
For you either? I didn't see any glow or anything...It's definitely raining outside, though...Does this mean the Midnight Channel's off the air?
I'm being serious here! Now that we beat that Ameno-sagiri, the case is definitely over, right?
I gotta thank you.
Oh, uh, thanks. Haha, I should be the one thanking you, though.
Yeah...all of us together...we did it! Man...all these things are coming back to me, like when I put you on the spot and asked you to be our leader. Haha...What am I getting all worked up for? The others must all be super happy right now too. I bet Chie's practically crying her eyes out...Alright, I'll call you again later! Seriously, though...thanks!

> The case has ended and the Midnight Channel seems to have stopped broadcasting as well...The Midnight Channel will surely never come on again. You decide to go to bed early for today...Peaceful days pass, and the end of the year comes...