Part 119: January 26 - January 28: Chie's Epiphany and Rise's Resolution

-The Path is Open-


The finalized design for Suzuka Gongen, Chie Satonaka's awakened Persona. The helmet has been changed from the one worn by Tomoe, to an offroad version.


The finalized design for Kanzeon, Rise Kujikawa's awakened Persona. In order to show that it's more powerful than Rise's previous Persona, the number of antennas on it has been increased.



> Samegawa riverbank...You decided to train here with Chie...


I guess this is more my thing after all. My shoulders were stiff because I've been doing stuff lately that I'm not used to.
Stuff you're not used to?
Actually, I was...You promise not to laugh? I was studying...and stuff...
What happened?
Hehehe...

> Chie seems embarrassed...

-Smile-

I started to think...studying's kind of fun. Just a little bit.
Thinking about Adachi-san made me wonder if he was just weird. But then I thought, if my life had been different, I could have been just like him...Maybe everybody could. I realized that no matter how trivial something seems, it's related to my life, and that scared me...
That's why during history class, it hit me suddenly that the history we were studying was all connected to me. The people back then, the things they did, their culture...it's all connected, and it's tied to me too. It's not just something that happened a long time ago in a faraway country. Real people laughed, cried...and died there.
Math and physics, too...they may not make any sense to me, but they're things I can use to help me understand the world. And when I thought about them that way, I got the urge to study harder...
But it still didn't make any sense to me, so I'd give up...and then I'd come back to it again...It's an endless cycle. Ahaha, I'm good for nothing after all, huh?
That's not true.
Hehehe...Thanks.

> Chie seems happy...

My way of thinking has changed a lot over this past year...But I think what changed the most is that I like this town now. I didn't hate it before, but it didn't really mean anything to me. Now, though, I realize that everyone is here. Yukiko, Yosuke...even you. All my friends and family...It was the people I believed in that gave me the strength to see the case through. So even if some other weird thing shows up again, I'll be okay as long as everyone's with me. If I believe in them and myself, I can always find a path...That's what I think.

> Chie is beaming...

-Strength of Heart-



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



> Chie's Persona has been reborn again...! Suzuka Gongen has transfigured into Haraedo-no-Okami!



Haraedo-no-Okami, the goddess of purification. Born from Izanagi after he returned from the underworld and washed himself clean of its filth.



A rad skill, but very expensive--150 SP! Chie can't even use it twice without some kind of SP boost.

-Smile-


I wonder if this'll help me do more to protect the ones I love. No matter how far away you go, we all want to protect you. We all love you, after all!

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

-Sky Full of Stars-


His face lit up and he started beggin' me real loud to let him be one of my crew. Somethin' about only wantin' to follow a strong man...So this is what I said to him.
"I ain't strong at all. I just wanna be able to face myself."
That was mature of you.
Th-That ain't it! I just said what I thought was right...

> Kanji seems embarrassed.

Well, I dunno if he was convinced, but I sent him home to chew on that. Heh, I wonder if I was talkin' big a little. Even I ain't sure myself...

> You enjoyed your idle chat with Kanji...

Damn, it's late.
We got into a real deep conversation here. Time just flies when I'm with you, Senpai. Oh yeah, I want you to have this. Seein' as how you're always so patient with me...

> You received Medical Kit from Kanji.

Well, be careful on your way home!

> You part with Kanji and go home...



-Like A Dream Come True-



> Yuuta is more energetic than ever. Once again, the children tug at you from all directions...

-Smile-


Yuuta: Today's my last day! I'm not coming here anymore!
Yuuta told me..."We need time," he said...*chuckle* It's funny, isn't it? I mean, he's absolutely right.
Yuuta: That's right!
We were talking...We thought that maybe we could try to become a family little by little. In order for that to work, I think we need to spend more time together.
So, today's the last day he'll be here. When Yuuta's done with school, we'll spend time together at the house.
It's for the best.
...Thank you. We owe it all to you, but sadly, this is goodbye for us.

> Eri is smiling a bit sadly...

I want to give you this.

> You obtained Clover Bookmark.

It's a four-leaf clover I found long ago and made into a bookmark...I've already got my happiness. You can have it. I hope you find someone nice. I don't mean a lover...I mean, someone that you value enough to protect..."I'd do anything for them!" You know, someone like that.

> Eri's eyes are sparkling...

TV...Spiritual lectures...I was so stupid back then. I was trying to find ways to satisfy myself without caring about others...But there was no way I would have truly been content if the people dear to me weren't content also...I was scared. But I've learned my lesson now. I won't just try and escape into my own personal time.
Yuuta: Yeah!
So today is our graduation ceremony!
Yuuta: Yeah!
Thank you so much...
Yuuta: Thanks so much!

> The two are smiling happily. It seems that you were able to support Eri...You feel the bond between you and Eri has grown tight...



-The Path is Open-

Happiness is not a matter of intensity...



...but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony.



-Smile-

All right, let's go home, shall we? Want to hold hands?
Yuuta: I'll race you!
Hey, go easy on me, Yuuta!
Then...I'll be going now. It's a small town, so I'm sure we'll meet again. I'll be a better mother when you see me next time, so be surprised, okay? So long, Mister Sanzo...And thank you.

> Eri and Yuuta raced home happily...You decided to go home as well.

-Sky Full of Stars-


I'm on my way back from an errand, but my legs are about to give out, so I was taking a short break.


This region doesn't get heavy snowfall, but it's still not easy to deal with. Buses and trains fall behind schedule, and the roads need to be plowed every so often. Still, the snowy landscape is beautiful to look at. Do you like snow, Sanzo-kun?
I love it.
Haha, I'm glad to hear that. The serene, snowy look really is wonderful. Oh, I think you might enjoy skiing, too. There are some slopes nearby. You could even stop by our inn on your way back. Our hot springs will warm you right up.

> Yukiko is laughing...

Wouldn't you love to have some hot sake while soaking in an open-air bath? Of course, I'm still underage, so I can't try that for myself yet. That's why I'm thinking about having a hot pot while I take a soak...

> You enjoyed your idle chat with Yukiko...

Oh, I'm sorry. I ought to be getting back.
It was really fun talking to you, Sanzo-kun. Thanks for spending time with me tonight. Ah yes, here...This is for you.

> You received Amagi Manju from Yukiko.

It isn't much, but I hope you'll find a use for it. Well, shall we get going?

> You saw Yukiko off to the bus stop and then went home...



> The hill overlooking town...



> Rise has a meek expression on her face...

You remember when I told you before that I had a "number one fan?" A girl who was being bullied and would send me letters...
She wrote me another letter...She says she's going to stop being my fan. She's made friends with someone, but her new friend is a fan of someone else. It seems she was told something like, "I'll quit being your friend if you stay a Risette fan." She did say that she'll be cheering for me in her heart, but she won't be sending me any more letters.
You have another fan right here.
You mean you, Senpai? Haha, you really are kind.

> You see tears in Rise's eyes...

-Smile-

Relationships between people are difficult, aren't they, Senpai? There's something like a...mutual respect between her and me. I don't even know what she looks like, but I know she has a pure heart. I also know that she's persistent...But when another person enters the picture, things suddenly get complicated. Throw in four or five people, and it's pure chaos.
There's no malice involved, and it's no one's fault. Yet we end up hurting each other, becoming lost...It...It makes me so tired sometimes.

> Rise gazes into the distance...

But that's why I want to keep trying my best. I mean, I am an idol, after all.
That's admirable of you.
...Thanks.

> Rise is smiling happily...

An idol isn't some doll in a window being held up for public display. I think it means somebody who can endure things and stand their ground, no matter which way they're pushed. Even if that girl doesn't write me letters, I bet she'll still watch me if I'm on TV.
I can be her strength, as well as many other people's strengths. Even though many things may not go my way and I may be troubled, swept off my feet, and get lost...I won't lose. I have to protect the smiles of the people who are precious to me. That's the "resolve" I found after meeting all of you.

> Rise smiles cheerfully...

-Strength of Heart-



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



> Rise's Persona has been reborn again...! Kanzeon has transfigured into Kouzeon!



Kouzeon--"Light of Mundane Voices."

Avalokitasvara swore a vow to lift all mortals into Nirvana, but the effort shattered her body. Amitabha Buddha gave the bodhisattva eleven heads and a thousand arms, to ease her labors.



The Analysis function is now actually useful. How crazy is that!?

-Smile-


I've learned so many important things from the people I hold dear to me...
Senpai, I feel like my heart is about to burst. I'm so excited about the future now. Hardship and sadness and everything, it can all be changed into the power to take a step forward...I'm still just getting started. You, and everyone else...You're all going to keep changing too, in your own ways.
That's why I'm not scared of a long-distance relationship either. When I'm lonely, my love for you will grow stronger.
And when I smile on TV...I'm smiling for you. So you smile too, Senpai.
...And tell me you love me every once in a while, okay?

> You can sense Rise's unconditional love...You and Rise spend a long time talking about all sorts of things until it becomes dark out...

-Signs of Love: Reincarnation-



> When you ask her about it, she says it's to catch up on the lessons from when she missed school. She says she's having special lessons at school during the week, but she's decided to study at home on weekends too. Though she gets stuck at times, Nanako is working hard at it...Should you help Nanako with her weekend night studying for a while?

(Of course)
Really!? Thanks, big bro!
Um, tonight's is for the writing class. My teacher gave me some handouts. I need to make sentences using certain words.
I'm home.
Oh, it's Dad!

> Dojima is home from work.


Don't overdo it, okay? You've gotten better, but you're still recovering...
No, I'm all better now! And studying is fun!
Haha...I wonder who you got that from. All right, in that case, I'll help out too. Can't put the burden on Sanzo all the time.
You're going to stay too? Yay!
Let's see here..."Make a sentence using 'leaf' and 'forest.'" Hmm...How about, "The best place to hide a leaf is in a forest?"
What does that mean?
Oh, basically, uhh...By purposely leaving important evidence out in the open, it makes it harder to find...
It's basic investigation.
Yeah, that's right. But maybe Nanako's still too young for that stuff...

> You and Dojima helped Nanako study by giving her hints when she got stuck. After Nanako reached a good stopping point, you put her to bed and returned to your room.
These homework sessions give you boosts to Justice and Heirophant.