Part 18: May 9 - May 14: A New Victim

> Your first term midterms begin today and continue through Thursday. You should hurry to school...

-New Days-


Exams are finally starting today. Real life's harsh...
Learn to pick your battles.
Ugh, way to put it all into perspective...But, even once exams are over, we're not done with the case. All this depressing stuff's just gonna keep going on and on and on...

-Specialist: Reincarnation-
This song's not in the game, but it's related and it owns so here you go.















> You answered every question with ease...The answers seem to be flowing from your hand!
It's the first time Sanzo has ever seen a major exam with only six questions.


Whewwww! What a load off! I bet every student feels like this after exams are over!
Hey, quiet down!
So, what did you write for number seven? The one about what "that" referred to in the sentence.
Um...I put "her sorrowful expression."
Oh crap, then I got it wrong! I put, "the rice cakes on top of the table."
Rice cakes...? Wait, was that what the story was about?
Alright, I'm giving up on composition. I'm gonna bet it all on geography!
What did you choose for the tallest mountain in the solar system?
Olympus Mons.
Oh, seriously!? I chose the wrong one...
Oh, I put that one too.
Whoa, you too!? Then it's probably the right answer.
*sigh* Boy, I can't wait for our grades to be posted out in the hall where everyone can see 'em. Geez...
Knowledgeable student: Hey, did you hear? A TV station's filming here in town.


Knowledgeable student: No, it's not that. You know the highway nearby? They're gonna cover those biker gangs that hang around there. A friend of mine goes to the biker meetings sometimes. I heard it from him.
Student's friend: Dude, what're you doing hanging out with a guy in a biker gang? Well, anyways...Whaddya think about tomorrow's group blind date? We were gonna meet outside, but it's gonna rain soon, right? Won't it be better to play it safe tomorrow too?


Oh yeah. They raise a ruckus from time to time. I guess your place is too far away to hear 'em.
We live right by the road. The noise can drive you insane.
I hear some guys at this school are part of it, too.
Yeah, I know there are some rumors about a first-year student here who's a total hellraiser. One of the guys working at Junes said the dude's been a legend ever since middle school.
Although...Was he in a biker gang?
D-Did you say he was a legend?
Uh, it's not what you think, Yukiko.
That one went over my head. Something lost in translation?

-Heartbeat, Heartbreak-

> Today was the final day of midterms. You have no choice but to wait for another rainy night...



> It's the girl that mistakenly put a love letter inside your shoe box.

Love note sender: D-Did you read my letter?
I read it.
It's a bad habit of his.
Love note sender: H-H-How could you!? You jerk! I didn't even have the confidence to sign it, and yet a totally random person now knows my secret! Argh! What's the point of even trying to be secretive any more!? I've already embarrassed myself this much, I might as well go confess! How do you like that!?

> The female student ran off...Maybe you should ask her how her confession went.


Sweet! Let's give it our best shot!

-Like A Dream Come True-


Let's grab some grub!


How do you always pop up when we start talking about food? Alright, let's get changed, then head over to Aiya.
Oh damn! I forgot, I can't!
What are you arguing with yourself about?
Sorry, I just remembered some personal stuff I've gotta take care of. You two go on ahead. Sorry, guys!


Today's the day he goes before the almighty "House of Ichijo." Hm, well, I guess it wouldn't hurt if I told you. In fact, I could use your help...

> Daisuke looks serious...You head to Aiya to listen to what Daisuke has to say.



> Daisuke slowly begins to open up.

I don't really like talking behind his back like this, but...I want you to help him out.
Just tell me how.
Yeah, thanks.

> Daisuke nods somberly.

It's about Kou's family. He lives by himself, but his parents's place is like, right next door. Once a week or so, he drops by there, like he did today.
His family is--what's the word I'm looking for--distinguished? Very traditional, very strict. You'd never know just by looking at 'em, though.
The head of the Ichijo family is Kou's grandma. They follow her orders like she's the law. Problem is, the old crone doesn't approve of him playing basketball. She calls it "barbaric."
I can see that.
Well, I guess I can kinda understand too, with all the potential for injuries...

> Daisuke sighs.

He's been forced to quit a lot of things since he was a kid. But not basketball. He can't give this up. So I want you to help him out.
Leave it to me.
Okay...I'm glad I came to you.

> Daisuke looks relieved.

...I'm glad I can rely on you.

> You sense Daisuke's trust in you...


This one's on me, so eat up, man.
...I-I used up my allowance...
H-Hey, how 'bout some zha cai? Those are good.

> You talked with Daisuke for a while about school. You decided to go home after saying goodbye.

-Signs of Love-


You go to Junes a lot?
Very often.
That ass Adachi keeps vanishing every now and again. I figure he's probably slacking off around Junes whenever he does...If you see him hanging around when you're at Junes, he's probably goofing around. So if you see Adachi at Junes, tell him off for me, okay?

> You remember that you've seen Adachi in the food court before. The next time you go to Junes, you should be on the lookout for Adachi...

-Like A Dream Come True-


About, well...I heard you guys hang out at Junes pretty often.

> Dojima's probing stare hurts...

Nothing wrong with that, of course.
The question is: Why do you make so many trips to and from the electronics department?


Oh, er, this isn't what you think. I'm not interrogating him...
It's not fair. You're always talking with big bro.
What...?
I mean...Today, you're home, but...
...I always talk with you.
When is always?
I...I wanna...talk...

> Nanako rubs her eyes sleepily as she says it.

*sigh* It's bedtime for you already. Go to sleep. I'll play with you...Next time.
...You promised.

> Nanako reluctantly returned to her room...

-Traumerei-


Why not play with her?
...I'm busy.

> Dojima grimaces.

Truth is, I mostly left raising her up to my wife...her mother...
So...I don't really know how to approach her.
Plus...I'm not fit to be her family...
Fit or not, you're family.
...Maybe you're right.

> Dojima is smiling wryly.

You think just being related by blood makes you "family?" That's not the case...

> You feel you began to grasp the worries Dojima carries around inside him...


Oh...sorry. You didn't need to hear that. Get some sleep. 'Night.

> You said goodnight to Dojima and went to your room.



-Junes Theme-


What's the matter? Can I help you?
Dojima sent me.
Really!? D-Dojima-san!?
Well, obviously, I'm working here.
It's easy to investigate here with all the people around. It's cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. It's a pretty good place to...
Yeah, I think I've said enough!

> It seems Adachi is slacking off...

I'll hang out with you too.
Oh? That's a little strange.


Tough to do out here in the sticks, isn't it? There's nothing here. It's not like the city at all.
You can say that again.
I knew you'd understand. You're from the city too, right?
Get this--my first assignment here was tracking down a cat. My suit got so dirty...and they wouldn't let me expense the dry cleaning bill! Next, I played peacemaker in a spat some married couple was having. I can't believe they've got the police doing that stuff.

> Adachi seems unsatisfied with country life...

But it's been more dangerous lately, so I can't kick back. There's that one case, you know? It's still not solved yet.
The higher-ups don't know what to do. They keep changing procedure on the fly...
Oops! I hope I'm not making you nervous.
You guys have nothing to worry about, you know. Us police are on the job!

>You sense that Adachi cares for you. You feel you understand Adachi a bit more...

-Strength of Heart-





Jester is simply another name some tarot decks use for The Fool--others include The Beggar and The Madman. In Persona 4, Jester represents the Fool Reversed. When a card is played upside-down in a reading, whatever it represents is supposedly impeded in some way--Jester might represent an inability to trust in apparent folly, perhaps, or a journey that is blocked from beginning.

-Junes Theme-









> Adachi doesn't seem to want to see that old woman...

I'd better go. You hurry on home, too.
Don't tell Dojima-san I was in Junes, okay?

> You watched Adachi go back to work, then went home.


Narrator: Our special report took a turn for the violent when one of the apparent leaders attacked the camera crew!


That voice...


Still up to the same old tricks?
Do you know him, Dad?
Mmm, well, I know him through work. His name's Kanji Tatsumi...He's quite a handful. He's been crushing biker gangs in the area since middle school. But I thought he got into a high school and started attending class...
Huh.
Man, that blur sure is pointless. It's completely obvious who it is.
The guy's family runs a historic textile shop. I think what happened was, he crushed the local bikers all by himself because the noise kept his mother up at night.
It's a nice gesture, but he's way too violent. At this rate, his mother'll have to apologize again.
Oh, the weather report's showing on the bottom. It's going to rain tomorrow. I'll make sure to hang the laundry inside the house.






I hope we don't see anyone...
Yeah, that'd be best. But if we do, maybe we'll see some kinda clue that can point us toward the killer.
Well everyone, don't forget to check your TV tonight!
Got it?

> It seems to be another rainy night. What will you see on the Midnight Channel tonight?



> It's been a while since it's rained through the night like this. You should check out the Midnight Channel...





-Who's There?-



> It seems to be a man. He looks like a high schooler. The image is unfocused, and it's hard to tell who it is. Should you try calling Yosuke?


So, what do you think? That was a guy, wasn't it? I wish I could tell what he looked like. Let's get together and talk more about it tomorrow!

> You hung up. You decide to go to bed for tonight.