Part 129: March 20 Part 2: XX. Judgement

-The Path is Open-


The initial draft of the Persona 4 protagonist's design. You can see that even at this point, his bearing is very similar to the final design's.

> The usual food court...



> This is where you had spent so many afternoons going over the case with everyone...Just sitting here brings back a lot of memories...














But I was feeling too restless, so I decided to come here.
Well, since we're all here, why don't we have something to eat?
Ooh, let's have steak! Steak! And make Yosuke pay for everything!
Will you shut up about your steaks...

-Like A Dream Come True-


I really had fun in this world.
Dude, your whole existence is about fun.
...Well, what we've gone through wasn't all fun and games, but I gotta say...I've never felt so fulfilled in my life.
It seems we've been working on this forever...but at the same time, it felt like it went so fast. We won't ever gather here again like this...or tear our hair out trying to solve the mysteries...
Even if we wanted to talk about it all, there were so many extraordinary things that no one would believe us. Come to think of it...For me, I think it all started when Chie told me about the Midnight Channel.
I think I heard about it from her too. How did you learn about it, Chie?
I guess...it was just a random rumor? A lot of girls were trying it out.
Huh. I wonder how it started, then.
Who knows...? Maybe someone accidentally came across it?
The Midnight Channel...You know, that really was the cause of everything. I mean, the fog lifted after we caught Adachi, but there's still a lot of stuff that isn't clear yet. It's still foggy over there, too.
Hmm...Some weird guy might use it to do bad things again.

-Deduction-

Didn't that Ameno-something monster say...it granted us power...?
"I bestowed power onto those who could brave the hollow forest."
In other words, he gave the power to enter TVs to those who awakened to their Persona ability...So that he might use us as pawns to enact his scheme.
Hey, that reminds me...Didn't your hand suddenly slip into the TV even before anything happened to you?
Does that mean you're an exception...?
Well wait, then what about Adachi and Namatame!? Those two could go inside TVs before all this stuff about Personas, right?
What? Then Senpai and the other two could do it for some other reason?
There must be something you're not remembering. Anything come to mind, Senpai?

> You're the only exception...You had the power to enter TVs before your Persona awakened...And the same goes for Adachi and Namatame. You remember that Nanako gave you something this morning as you were about to leave...

-Who's There?-

A letter...? Hey, this better not be another warning.

> The sender is listed as...Adachi.

Huh...? This is...from jail!?
It's from Adachi!
(I'm sure you're surprised to get this letter out of the blue. I'm writing this because there's something I need to tell you. Ever since I made it out alive, there are some things I understand now. It's true that my game's over. As you all insisted at the time, I'll abide by the rules of this world. But as long as I'm in stir here, I can't clean up after myself. So I hope this will give you something to think about, regarding the case. There's still this feeling I can't shake...)
(It's about how it all started...about that Midnight Channel. Now I remember...Someone told me about it when I first came to town...before I heard the rumors at the station. And I was intrigued when I noticed that something similar was written on Namatame's reports as well. But...I can't remember who it was that told me. Since Namatame and I both gained our power after coming to Inaba...I have a feeling that has something to do with it. I don't know if any of this will be useful or not...But I hope it can help somehow.)

> There's still more...


(Though my time with you didn't seem like much fun before...It's strange.)

> Adachi's well-organized words unfold on a piece of stationery paper...

(Despite it all, I'm grateful to you. Thank you. But let me just say this:)
(You're a dumbass.)
(You take the path you choose. And I'll think about what that means to me, too. I doubt I'll ever see you again...but stay healthy. Goodbye.)

> The letter ends there. You obtained Adachi's Letter. You feel a definite bond between you and Adachi...



-The Path is Open-

Is there any hope for Adachi? Could even a word of it be true?



I guess we'll never know.



-Who's There?-

> ...Still, though, the things he wrote gnaw at you..."Who did we learn about the Midnight Channel from...?"


I'm not sure how to put it, but...I kinda know the feeling...It's like...Argh, I don't know how to say this...Like something's connecting all these things...Something beyond what we can see. That world, the Midnight Channel, the ability to enter TVs...They all feel like separate things. You know what I mean? First the rumors, then the serial murder, followed by us deciding to investigate the case...If they all really were separate, they wouldn't fit together like this, right? There has to be some kind of "conductor" behind everything.
So you think the person Adachi mentioned, the one who told him about the Midnight Channel, is that conductor?
Uhhh...Did I strike gold again? I-It's seriously just something that popped into my head!

-Deduction-

Senpai, is there anything like that you can think of?

> The power to enter TVs, where everything about this case started...You learned about the Midnight Channel from Chie a few days after coming to this town when she told you the rumor. But Adachi and Namatame heard about the Midnight Channel from someone immediately after coming to this town...When you think back...you feel as if something happened to you as well upon your arrival here...

There is something...
We were involved in a murder case last year, which we succeeded in solving. But the monster we fought last said we did well in "playing our parts"...Perhaps this means Adachi and Namatame were "players" as well. Could it be that from the beginning, this serial murder case was merely a portion of a much larger scheme...? And none of the people who were directly involved in the case ever suspected it...
Hey, this "scheme"...Could it be the whole thing about filling both worlds with fog and turning mankind into Shadows? So someone was behind the scenes watching us, the culprits, and maybe even that monster...? And he manipulated Adachi and Namatame at the very beginning so everything would come together perfectly...!?
Let's go out into town. We might find something. Although...you may be the only one capable of noticing it. Please contact the rest of us, should you come across anything.
We can't say our goodbyes tomorrow with this hanging over our heads! Let's go figure this out!

> Who could've given you the inital "spark" for this power...? The one you met immediately after coming to town was...

My uncle, Dojima.

> ...In any case, you need to see them and confirm the truth.

-Heartbeat, Heartbreak-



Keep your heads down, little homies. I have a feeling there's a storm coming.




I want to talk to you.
Mm...What's this all of a sudden?

> You asked Dojima about the first day you arrived in town.

-Deduction-

The day you first came to town...? Hmm, let's see...We were the first ones to greet you, right? Did we stop somewhere on the way home...? I'm pretty sure Nanako and I left home that afternoon, picked you up, and came straight back. Haha...Now that I think back to that night, I was called back to work as soon as we got home, so I couldn't talk much. And the very next day, those strange murders started...
Sheesh...A lot's happened since then. It's been one heck of a year, hasn't it?
Hey, big bro. On that first day...Didn't we stop at that place...? The gas station. I used the bathroom there. When I got back to the car, you were talking to the weird attendant.
The weird attendant?
Yeah. When I first met you, I remembered the gas attendant because he was weird.
Hmm, now that you mention it, I do remember that...I filled the tank before we went home, huh?...Ah, yeah. I do remember you talking to the attendant there. I didn't remember seeing him much before, so he stuck in my mind. But I don't know about calling him "weird"...It wasn't like he looked or acted funny. Yeah...Come to think of it, I never saw that guy again...
Umm, it wasn't really that the attendant looked weird...But after you talked to him, you looked sick, big bro.
I looked sick?
Umm, don't you remember? I asked you on the way home, "Are you carsick?" You said you were okay, but...That attendant...He was just a little scary for some reason.
Hmm...I didn't know about that. But honestly, I'm surprised you're asking all these questions. I thought you came here just to reminisce. So why are you looking for the person you met first? Is something going on with that attendant? Do you know him?
It might be important.
...I see. Well, just remember that you leave tomorrow. I don't know what you're up to, but you should come back home early. There are some dark clouds on the horizon...We might get some rain soon.
I understand.
...Okay!

> The first place you stopped when you came to town was the gas station...Maybe something there will jog your memory...




Spacy girl: I've only seen an older man and an older woman working there...

-Aria of the Soul-


How may I help you? You have solved the mystery and deflected the disaster that so nearly fell upon you. Is there something else beyond this you need our assistance with?
I wanted to thank you again.
My, what a well-mannered young man...We are most obliged to your kindness. But there is no need to show such consideration...We are here to serve you. Or...is there something on your mind that led you here subconsciously...? Well then...Let's take a look and see what it is you might be sensing.






Ah, this is a surprise...These are shards of power, allowing one to see through to the truth of things without being swayed by hollow rumors. Interesting...Indeed you have come here today for a reason. Then I shall play my part as well.




That is a crystal of power which you have nurtured through your journey...An orb that repels fabrications of all sorts, dispels lies, and shines upon the truth.

> Obtained Orb of Sight.

Hey...I remembered something about myself...I was born a long, long time ago. I was...the unconscious "wish" shared by people's minds. To protect the world of man, walk the path of man, fulfill the "wish of the world"...That was my role. But...People changed. People stopped wishing for truth and life...Or maybe they just stopped paying attention.
Eventually, the "me" that wanted to protect humanity and the "me" that wanted to fulfill humanity's wish couldn't stay as one...The desires of man had no bounds, and one day, my other half became its own existence, much larger than myself. I was left behind, with no power or memories...I became a tiny fragment, incapable of even clearing the fog without giving my own life to do so..."Kusumi-no-Okami."
The rest...you already know. Without my powers, I became a tool, manipulated by the other me...
...You already know, huh.
The cause of it all, the one who created the Midnight Channel and gave you the power to enter the TV...The real puppetmaster who tried to fill both worlds with fog, using me and the Sagiri...If you don't defeat her, the world will never be truly clear of that fog.
Go...Follow what you believe in. The "truth" is right in front of you.
Truth is a thing which only appears to those who have observed, considered, and made a choice. At the end of the path you chose lies the truth...Believe in it, and continue without faltering.
*chuckle* How marvelous...It seems that you will reveal the journey's true end, one beyond our predictive power. Now go...To the place where everything began...



In the rain, things that hide themselves underground are forced up to the surface.


Attendant: ......? Hi there. Do you need something?
Isn't this where I first...?
Attendant: First...? What are you talking about?...Oh, is this about the part-time job? I'm sorry, we don't have an opening yet.
Do you know Adachi?
Attendant: ......? Ah, that serial murder suspect? A real tragedy, wasn't it? But the case was solved, right? Thank goodness. Something else I can help you with?
Did those two come here?
Attendant: ...Well, that's a weird question to ask. I don't know if it was right here, but I might have met them before...I've been in this town for a long time, so yeah, there's a good chance. But it's not like I knew them personally...If you've got nothing else, you mind leaving me alone...? Oh. You still need something? *chuckle* Hey...I asked you to leave me alone...Did you miss that?
Did you do anything to them?

-Who's There?-

Attendant: Huh...? To those two?...Ah...That's right, I remember now. I think I met them when they first came to town. So I greeted them, saying, "Welcome to Inaba." But that's all...Just that. *chuckle* What about it?
What did you do to me?
Back on December 5, a few of you guessed this attendant as the real culprit, along with "Sanzo's Shadow," which I'm assuming means that hazy figure from Sanzo's weird dream back at the very start of the game.
Attendant: What did I do? *chuckle* Don't you remember? I met you here when you first came to town, and did the same thing as what I did to those two. I greeted you, that's all. Remember? We talked for a couple minutes...Hey, mind if I ask you something? Why all these questions? Is there something that's bothering you? About the time when we first met...?
Did you give me the power?
You get the No-Prize. Unless you already knew, you cheaters.
Attendant: ...Hmhm...Ahahahaha! Amazing...You've reached me at last. *chuckle* Let's drop this charade...To be quite honest, I was waiting for you to come. Adachi...Namatame...And you...It is I who awakened that power within you three...The ones who had potential. But having said that, I am rather surprised...


Not only did you defeat the two Sagiri I snuck into Adachi and Namatame, but you even saved that stunted dwarf of a life.
I heard about you.
*chuckle* It's such a foolish thing. What good is saving her life? She is but rubbish, suitable only for getting rid of that pointless fog...Hm?
Hahahaha...! Don't tell me she was still carrying that around!
Oh, excuse me...I was talking about that bamboo comb you have on you.
What about it?
*chuckle* It seems you don't know who gave her that comb, either. That comb is a symbol of the separation we went through.

> You remember that Kanji's mother mentioned that when you visited Tatsumi Textiles with Marie...It's an old belief that combs have the power to cause separation.

How foolish...That comb was a curse, and to think she treasured it all this time. She must have been desperate for something to cling to...There's a limit to how irresponsible you can get.
You've messed with me as well.
Hm...? And what are you going to do about it? The last battle wasn't enough for you? You certainly have the powers I was expecting.
Why did you choose me?
For your special potential, of course. Your friends were drawn to the spark I stirred in you. That's why they are here now with their awakened powers.
Still, I didn't think you'd make it all the way to me...Indeed, I never expected this at all. You're really something.
...What, you don't remember? When you first came to town, I gave your power a gentle push. Just like...this.




Attendant: Does it surprise a city boy to see how little there is out here? There's so little to do, I'm sure you'll get bored fast. You'll either be hanging out with your friends or doing part-time jobs. Speaking of which, we're actually looking for part-time help right now. Give it some thought, why don't you? We don't mind if you're a student.



> You felt an extreme dizziness...


I did the same for a few other outsiders like you.
A handful of strangers were more than sufficient to stimulate a small place like this.

-Border of Insanity-


Not only that, you now stand before me as if your assigned part wasn't enough. What for?
To end everything.
The fog has lifted, and you still are not content?
Why such greed? I guess it's the foolish nature of being mortal...






Ameno-sagiri, ruler of the fog, is merely an aspect of myself that I birthed long ago. You awakened to a power I had not imagined. You defeated the two Sagiri, and the one fragment born from me. And now here you stand, face to face with me...
I can no longer ignore this situation as mere foolishness. This may be fate, as decreed by the world...
Very well. This time, I shall pit my full strength against you. But in return...you must come prepared to follow through in your futile resistance.
*chuckle* I'll be waiting for you there.



> The one you just encountered was the entity behind everything...Her name is Izanami. You can hear your friends' voices in the distance...


Did she...just disappear!? Wait, don't tell me...!

> You told your gathered friends what happened between you and the gas station attendant...

So...it wasn't over after all.
You're saying this so-called Izanami is the conductor, and she's waiting for us in the other world? If we don't beat her, I'm sure it'll all happen again.
O-Okay. The others aren't far off, so I'll call them up!
Yeah, will ya? Tell 'em this is really gonna close the case!
Right. We'll defeat her, and put an end to this for sure this time!
Alright, then once we're all ready, let's meet up at Junes!

> You have finally discovered the true cause of everything that happened. You must defeat this "Izanami" who waits for you in that other world...If Izanami truly gave birth to Ameno-sagiri...Then as long as Izanami is left alone, the town will definitely fall into the fog again someday...And if that were to happen, everyone...all those precious to you...would become Shadows. This is the most important task you have faced, and it must be taken care of before leaving town. You must ensure complete peace for this town, where you've lived with everyone...

First, though, some last business in the Velvet Room.

-Aria of the Soul-

> Something is different from usual...You don't see Igor anywhere.


I wonder how many times it's been that we've seen each other like this. Apparently, we met for a purpose after all. Do you remember...? The Velvet Room is inseparable from the heart of its invited guest...The shape of the room and its residents are selected by my master, based on the number of guests and their destiny...But my predecessor is gone from this place for a completely different reason. No one ordered her to leave...She left of her own will, to accomplish her own ends. Such a thing cannot happen to the residents of the Velvet Room. So I wished to know the reasons behind it...My ultimate aim was to bring that foolish girl to her senses and return her here. To do so, I had to know why she left. And I felt that the key to understanding rested with you. But now...I'm even more confused. I can't say whether her choice in fact was foolish or not...All residents of the Velvet Room are destined to find themselves...It was true for her as well.


But then again...Maybe my premises were flawed. Maybe she found her answer, and so left this place...In which case, my role is not to blindly bring her back. What was it that she gained? And...Who am I? What I may receive from you will most likely show me the answer to those questions. That is why fate did not bring a guest who only talks, but one who holds unmatched power...I would like to issue a request to you. Not as my master's guest, but a personal request from me to you. Would you fight a match against me? I won't force you, of course. There's no reason for you to go that far. After all, if we were to clash...I might sever your thread of destiny. But encounters always bring change to both sides. If you emerge victorious, you will surely gain something as well. Please consider the offer carefully before making your decision. Should you opt to accept my request...Bring this to me where I will wait.

> You received an invitation from Margaret. Obtained Aqua Invitation. It says, "I await you at the ends of Heaven"...

I look forward to seeing you again.
Getting the Aqua Invitation requires three steps:

--First, you need Clear Data from a game in which you found and defeated Izanami.
--On your next game with that Clear Data, complete the Empress Social Link and defeat all the optional dungeon bosses--Contrarian King, Intolerant Officer, Momentary Child, Escapist Soldier, Extreme Vessel, and Lost Okina--before defeating Adachi and Ameno-sagiri.

Then, once you've reached March 20 and uncovered Izanami again, you have access to the toughest fight in the game. I was sort of freaking out about this a little while back, because I couldn't remember if you also need to save Marie and I had failed to do so in my last game. Luckily you do not. I actually should have realized I was in the clear way back on July 12.



Goddamnit stop kicking me out! I'm not done!

-Aria of the Soul-


You have created true connections with each and every Social Link there is. This is not something that just anyone can accomplish...You are indeed the person I had imagined you to be. Your world...I wonder what it is like. If it is possible, I would like you to take me there with you, and show it to me...Please accept this. I spent many long hours making it. This will surely protect you in my stead...

> Received Mandala Robe.



It's the thought that counts.

Note that, thanks to Hunger, it is impossible to receive this item before today. Even after three months in prison, Adachi still finds new ways to screw you over.

-How Much?-


Hmm...from the look on your face, I'd guess you have a score to settle first. Well, I won't pry. We've known each other long enough that there's no need. Now, take a good look around my shop!

Don't mind if I do.



I may have been hoarding just a little bit. I got paranoid about fetch quests for crafting items.





Before now, I've never bothered with fighting in the Magatsu Mandala or the final dungeon. I've been missing out.


...Right, I heard. You're leaving Inaba...It'll be lonely without you. If by chance, you happen to return to Inaba someday, please stop by.

Then there's just some minor, last-minute Persona preparations. Nothing to concern yourselves over.



Time for the last meeting.

-Junes Theme-


So many things have happened up until now, but now we'll beat this Izanami and put an end to this!
...Right?
Yes, but since we were spread out all over town until a moment ago, let's go over what happened. This is the last measure that must be taken. We need to make sure that we end this properly.

> What will you ask about?

(Ask about Izanami)
We thought Ameno-sagiri was behind everything, but it turns out there was something behind it too...And that "something" was...a guy at the gas station!? I can't believe she was disguised as a gas station attendant smack in the middle of town...
She must have known that Sanzo and company really suck at spotting girls disguised as boys.
Does that mean she knew Sanzo and Dojima-san would stop by there on that day he came to Inaba? I guess it is the best place to greet people from out of town, but...Then, did she come into contact with Adachi and Namatame also, at a different place and disguised as someone else...? Who the hell is this Izanami!?
Izanami...and Ameno-sagiri...Those names would be familiar to students of ancient Japanese mythology.
Huh? You're saying she's a god? Heh, like that's possible!
That reminds me, remember the Persona that Adachi summoned? I dunno how to put it...but I thought it was kinda like the Persona that Sanzo first called. "Izanagi," was it...?
Izanagi is also the name of a god, in the same legends. Since both of them awakened with the same "push" from the same individual, their power may have been similar. A Persona is one's heart given form...The images of gods and mythical beings were created by humans, so if the Personas resemble them...There may be a connection there, since the enemy reigning over that world calls itself Izanami...
Oh yeah, we were taught that Izanagi and Izanami's names originated from the word "izanau," meaning "to invite"...Maybe I'm thinking too hard about this, but Namatame-san, Detective Adachi, Sanzo-kun, and even us...Were we "invited" to play our parts in this case, as if there was some deeper meaning behind it all...?
Deeper meaning? Hrrm...I don't really get it...But if she's trying to mess everything up, I can't let that happen.
We gotta defeat her!
(Ask about the "push" I got)
By facing our Shadows on that side, we awakened to our Persona abilities...However, that did not apply to Sanzo-senpai...
Yeah, even before all this Persona stuff, Sanzo could stick his hand into a TV. I guess that sorta backs Izanami's claim that she personally awakened his power.
The same holds true for Namatame and Adachi...She selected three outsiders to bestow powers upon, and watched what would transpire from there...
Well, now that we know all this, we just gotta beat the hell out of Izanami!
Let's hurry and get this over with! Sanzo's going back home tomorrow!
(Ask about the Midnight Channel)
The rumors about the Midnight Channel...It may be that this "Izanami" was the one who originally spread them...Neither Ameno-sagiri nor the Shadows have taken a single step outside the other world. Simply put, the only one who could have spread the rumor was someone who had come from there...
The more it got passed around, the more extra junk got added to it...Like one big game of Telephone. That's where all the "you have to watch it alone" and "the one who appears is your soulmate" stuff came from.
Since it took place on a TV, we never considered the possibility...that the images broadcast on the Midnight Channel could vary from viewer to viewer.
But whenever we talked about what we saw afterwards, there were never any inconsistencies!
What changed according to each person was most likely the image's clarity.
Yeah...I can think of a few places where that might've happened. When Saki-senpai appeared, I was the first one who was positive it was her. For Yukiko, it was Chie...And for Kanji, it was Yukiko that said who the person on the TV was. I thought because each of us had a strong attachment to the victims, we linked the TV image to them in our head...I bet we actually saw a clearer image on the TV than everyone else.
The same could probably be said for Namatame. That's why he was always a step ahead of us...I thought it was because he knew the area well, as a deliveryman, but I was stymied at how fast he identified Nanako-chan...Since he was a "savior"...he must have seen Nanako-chan's image from the very beginning.
Alright, but who cares about the details!? Sanzo-senpai's leavin' tomorrow, right? Should we really be wastin' time like this!?
Yeah, he's right. Let's hurry and defeat this Izanami!


I sense a tremendous presence...It's unlike anything we had faced...And it seems like a new area has formed...


That reminds me...That Ameno-something we beat said stuff like, "We'll meet again." If that thing's gonna show up again, let's crush him completely so he can't cause any more problems from here on out!
Damn straight!
Let's go snap that thing in two. We'll do it, and give Senpai a big farewell tomorrow!
Let's do our best like always...Leader.
It is kinda sad that this...really is gonna be the last time we do something like this. You know, this might sound like a weird thing to say...but it was a lot of fun.
That's because we all strove together toward a common goal. There were many things we believed in without questioning them...The culprit's identity...Their motives...There were many occasions where we nearly gave up.
It may have been easier if we had chosen to look the other way...but we didn't.
Even if we had to fight every inch of our way...I wanna go on feeling, seeing, touching, and thinking for myself.
Yeah...Still, one person alone can only understand so much. That's why we're all here together.
Right! All for one and one for all!
So long as someone's got your back, you can kick against the pricks no matter how tough they are!
This is for our future!
So we can see him off tomorrow with no regrets!

-New Days-

Eeeewww...Yosuke always has to try to make himself look all cool...But he's so pathetic, it makes my skiiin crawl...
Probably just fleas on your ratty old suit. I spilled juice on you earlier.
No wonder I smell of orangey freshness...!
Well then, let's do this!