Part 23: May 23 - May 25: Rearranging Sanzo's Brain

-Specialist-


The first-years are slacking off because you guys are slacking off! Kanji Tatsumi is a perfect example! That lazy punk is always ditching! I'd expel his ass from school if I were his homeroom teacher! You may not think it's any of your business, but it is! You could all be expelled just as easily! Cause any problems, and you earn a one-way ticket out of this place! You'd best keep that in mind!


Mayumi...forgive me...
What's eating him?

Sanzo has gained enough levels to try some of Margaret's fusion challenges today.

-Aria of the Soul-


Ippon-Datara is of the Hermit Arcana...I'm sure it would come in handy with the Sukukaja ability. And, I'm sure its muscles will become stronger as well...Hahaha, I'm looking forward to it.

Shuffle Time can get you what you need for a lot of these. Ghoul, who shows up early in Yukiko's Castle, learns the Sukukaja skill at level 10.





Fuse it with Obariyon, from the Steamy Bathhouse...



(Are those eyes, or nostrils?)



...and you have Margaret's one-eyed, one-legged, flying purple people beater.








Well-rounded, flexible, muscular...Splendid. You've done good work here. You are indeed the one with infinite potential...*chuckle* Now I'm even more curious about you.

> Margaret is smiling gently...You became a little more intimate with Margaret.


Well then. For my next request...Bring me a Matador with the Mahama skill. I know that if anyone can do this for me, it's you. I eagerly await your return.


The Matador is of the Death Arcana...Yes, that's right, the card of death. But, that's nothing to fear. Death is just one side of life, one facet of existence. All things must die eventually...And in their places, new lives are born. One soul's dying breath becomes the first gasp of a newly born life. All things within you that are old and new...They will all die and be reborn again. Which of these things will you hold onto? Haha, I can barely contain my curiosity...Well then, I look forward to seeing what you can deliver.

For Matador, you can use two Personas from the Bathhouse. Get Anzu and level it to 19 for Mahama...





...then fuse it with Berith.







iOlé!


What a beautiful Persona. This fascinating dance, performed by a true sportsman...I'm amazed. You're still young, but you hold such masculinity within your soul...Mmm...I can feel my heart beat faster. Thank you. I am strongly confident that you are the one I've been searching for. I want to see more of your soul.


Well then. For my next request...Bring me a Gdon that knows Rampage. If anyone can do this for me, it's you. I eagerly await your return.

I think Ippon-Datara and Matador can be used for this one, but I'll need some grinding to be sure.

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Junes food court...You came with Yosuke for a quick bite to eat.


Even if we're short on cash, we can get a little discount here. Though there's a small price to pay in exchange for that...
Girl's voice: Oh, there you are, Hanamura!
...For example.


Gaudy student: You better say something to that blockhead manager! I told him I can't come in on Saturdays or Sundays. But he's saying I have to be here since we're low on staff. And if I don't, he'll fire me!
Snooty student: Isn't there some kinda law against that!?
Er, but...Didn't you guys say you could work weekends during your interviews?
Gaudy student: Well, yeah. They wouldn't hire us if we didn't!
Alright, I got it. I'll try talking with him...But you don't want to get fired, right? It'd make it easier for me to strike a deal if you could show up every now and then on weekends.
Gaudy student: ...We'll think about it.
Snooty student: You'd better do it, 'kay?
Woman's voice: Oh, Yosuke-kun. Just the man I was looking for.


Loudmouthed woman: Hear me out! Remember that claim I had the other day? Well, the head butcher said...
Alright, alright. Let's talk over there. Sorry, Sanzo. Could you give me a minute?

> Yosuke went to listen to the employee...


You're incredible.
Huh? Dude, it's nothing but trouble!

> Yosuke smiles sheepishly.

Geez...Everyone's just trying to take advantage of me as the Junes kid. Maybe I wouldn't mind if I was free, but we have the murders to deal with. I don't have time for this. Can the police really handle the killer? Can the law really convict whoever's behind this...? Once I started worrying about that stuff, I knew I couldn't bother with anything else. I have to do what I can...
That's the spirit!
Hey, don't get carried away! You make me feel like I said something crazy...

> Yosuke is taken aback...

Haha...I never thought I'd be talking about serious stuff like this. Before I moved here, it was all small talk...Stupid, trivial things. I thought that was fine. It's only with you guys that I talk seriously like this. I dunno why, but I feel like I don't have to lie...Especially with you. You've already seen the worst of me and all.
But well...thinking about it now, if someone had to see that, I'm glad it was you. It's a bit late now, but...Thanks for going in with me that time.

> Yosuke is smiling sheepishly...





A damn good skill today. Chie could have laughed off the Daring Gigas if I'd had this at my disposal. Or not pulled my punches completely. Oh well.

Man, I'm getting kinda hungry. Alright, I'll see if I can get a deal with the guy at the counter and try out the Meat Lovers Combo!

> You hung around the food court with Yosuke before going home.

-Traumerei-


...Why do people die?

> Is Nanako talking about her mother, who died in an accident? Nanako is looking straight at you...This is a difficult question for a girl Nanako's age to understand. But, with your level of Expression, you were able to explain it to her. You decide to talk with Nanako about life and death...


But I get it! Thank you, big bro!

> Nanako is nodding her head cheerfully.

Is there anything else?
Well, ummm...Oh, there is!

> Nanako's eyes are gleaming...

What happens to a person...when they die?
They go to heaven.
So, it is true. Mommy went to heaven.

> Nanako is smiling happily...

Oh, yeah, I saw this on the news: "Robbery at the post office." Why do bad people do bad things?
I don't know.
I see...You're not a bad person, so I guess you wouldn't know.

> Nanako looks relieved.

But if there were no bad people, Dad would be home more...Last year, there weren't many crimes, so Dad was here a lot. He used to pick me up from kindergarten...Are bad people more important to Dad than I am?
He's protecting you.
...I don't get it.

> Nanako is thinking...It seems that Nanako is bearing her sadness stoically. You feel that you understand a bit of Nanako's loneliness...


...Let's talk about something else, big bro.

> You decided to talk about something different with the lonely-looking Nanako...It's getting late, so you put Nanako to bed and went to your own room.

Goodnight...




*chuckle* You're pretty passionate about music.

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Yasogami High music room...You attended band rehearsal. Ayane isn't playing today...


Band captain: Ooh, where?
Two places--Yuryoku-en and Shiozawa Hospital. They want us to come play for them. Um, they said they'll give us an exact date as soon as we can.
Band captain: Did they request any specific songs?
Oh, I-I'm sorry. I didn't ask...
Band captain: You didn't? Well, make sure you ask next time you talk to them. We kinda need to know.
O-Okay. I'm sorry...Er, I'll go right now!
Band captain: No no, just remember next time. And don't forget to tell the activities advisor.
A-All right.
Band captain: Oh, sorry Sanzo, but we decided who was gonna go to the next performance before you joined. You can play with us next time. Alright, that's it for today. You guys can take off.


I think I'll stick around and practice. I was out so long, I didn't even touch my trombone.
Forget about it today.
I can't. I'm so bad, I need twice as much practice as everyone else!

> Ayane looks like she's enjoying herself.

Now that we've got a performance, I need to be tip-top.
...Not that I'll be in it, but still...
You don't want to go?
Uh, ummmm...
W-Well, I'm not very good, so it's really no surprise I never get picked.

> Ayane looks glum...

But, I think I'll make myself useful. If I played along for a performance, I'd only give us a bad reputation...But there are lots of other things I can do for the club. Scheduling, accounting, cleaning up...
That's a great attitude.
"Right up to that part where you shoot yourself in the foot by wasting your practice time on all the grunt work."
Thanks!

> Ayane looks happy.

A-Anyway, I better start practicing! Be careful on your way home, Senpai!

> Ayane is concerned about you...



> You parted with Ayane and went home.


It was there before...Those damn kids...Don't they teach 'em how to file data anymore?
Oh...Sorry, I wasn't talking about you.
Can I help?
No...It's okay. Don't worry about it.

> Dojima is smiling wryly.

I was trying to find an old newspaper article...It was falling apart, so I made a copy, but...The copy seems to have gone missing. There's a certain case where we don't have a suspect yet...And since the trail's going cold, it's about to be buried under newer cases.
But I can't give up on this one. Ever.

> Dojima has a cornered look on his face. This doesn't seem to be the time or the place to ask him more about it.


Hm? What's wrong?
My stomach hurts...

-Who's There?-

Was it something you ate!?
It feels like a sharp pain below my stomach.
What!? I'll call the doc--N-No, wait. This happened before. Is it the same feeling!?
I don't know...
Urgh...Okay, the medicine we used before is--
Cell phone: *RING RING*
Dammit! Who's calling at this time of night...? Dojima here! What's this about?...A sealed letter? For me?
Is it from Ichihara-san!? When did it come!? You forgot!? I'm on my way!
Gotta go. The medicine should be in the first aid kit...She's in your hands.



> You gave Nanako the medicine and put her to bed. A few hours later...

-Traumerei-

*sigh*

> Dojima has come home. He seems to be in a bad mood...


It's late. Go to sleep.
But Nanako...
Shut up! Now's not the time...
No...Sorry. It's something personal with me...

> Dojima looks apologetic...

How's Nanako...?
She's sleeping...Good. You've been a great help here.

> Dojima seems to bear a heavy burden...What is he keeping locked away in his heart?


It's pretty late. Go hit the hay...'Night, Sanzo.

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



-Your Affection-


Chatty girl: I saw a new job posting on the town bulletin board! The daily pay for being a tutor looks really good.
Braided girl: Yeah, but...Don't you need to have more Knowledge before anyone would ask YOU to tutor them?
Chatty girl: Wh-Why would you say that!? Anyway, you're wrong! It turns out you need Understanding to take the tutoring job!
Braided girl: Yeah, but you don't have much of that, either.
Chatty girl: That's not true! I understand everything! Maybe I can start washing dishes at Shiroku bar. You need Understanding there, too.

Sanzo must have ALL THE JOBS.







Can you imagine a hiring system where just anyone could take a position, sight unseen? I bet it would be quite an adventure.

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Okina Station, Croco Fur....


Hmmm, doesn't look like they've gotten anything new in. I already have all of this...
We'll have to come back.
I'll get something next time, but I want something today, too. I came here to buy, not to look.

> Ai looks enthusiastic...


Buy me an iced latte.
Buy it yourself.
Huh...? Did you seriously just say that? You're probably the first guy who's ever taken that tone with me.

> Ai is surprised...


...Well, yeah?
Saleswoman: Are you looking for anything in particular today? Oh, we got a purse in that's just your style! The guys'll be alllll over you!
...That's all right. I'm not shopping for purses today.
Saleswoman: Ooh, is that your boyfriend? He's quite a handsome one! Are you gonna introduce him to me? I've had the worst luck with men lately! We were at the bar the other night--
Sorry, we've really gotta get going. I'll be back.

> You returned to the station...


I'm the one keeping them in business, why do they have to pounce on me every time I go in there? They should get rid of all salespeople and put in vending machines. Press a button, and out come your clothes.
That'd be kind of boring.
You think so? But what's the point of all that petty small talk?
I can see right through it...There's no such thing as a relationship without ulterior motives.
"You mean like supernatural power? You might be right."

> Ai looks somewhat sad...

I don't know why, but I got a little annoyed when she was talking about you back there. She said you were handsome. Good for you, I guess.

> Ai looks like she's pouting...


Let's go home. It'll be dark by the time we get back. Not like I have any reason to hurry...

> You returned to Inaba with Ai and went home...

I was all set to start showing the new jobs, but Sanzo will be slacking off for just a little longer.


What are you doing out so late? It's dangerous, you know. Go home.

> Adachi seems to be on his way home from work...

You must have a lot of time on your hands. Dojima-san will be on your ass, you know.

> Shopping District, Souzai Daigaku...


I got off work early, so I thought I'd make something, but then I got lazy. What should I do? I have tons of nimono at home...


Oh...H-Hi. Yeah, I just got off...
Old woman: Have you had dinner yet? You're young! You need to eat up! Would you like to come to my house? I'm making your favorite--nimono!
Oh, uh, today? I've...got a...
That's right! I promised this kid I'd eat dinner with him. He's my boss' nephew, so I can't say no...Haha, maybe next time.
Old woman: Oh...That's too bad. Well, next time, then! Good night.


I don't really like her nimono, anyway. The lotus root is too tough.
Oh, uh, sorry for using you like that. You were a big help.
Why don't you come over for real?
At Dojima-san's? Well, isn't that a generous offer.

> Adachi is looking at you in surprise.

But Dojima-san's still at work, right? Does that mean it'll be just us? Isn't that weird?
I'm a good cook.
You're seriously inviting me over? You don't think it'd be awkward?

> Adachi is looking at you like you're a rare breed...

Well, I am interested to see what you're like as a cook. When I was in high school, I never gave cooking a single thought.
What did you do instead?
I just studied, and studied. It was a pretty good school where your grades really mattered. I didn't mind, though. You get back as much as you put in. Everyone knows that. My parents didn't care what else I did as long as my grades were good, too. But that works out when you're a student.
You don't enjoy yourself now?
I dunno. Grown-ups have a lot on their plates.

> Adachi gives a tired smile...

But I guess lately, things have been fun. It's nice to know there's something I'm good at. Haha, this is embarrassing.

> Adachi seems to be working hard on solving the case. You feel like you know Adachi a bit more...


Oh, we were talking about dinner...Sorry, not today. Maybe next time. I'll just stop by someplace on my way back. You make sure to hurry home.

> You parted ways with Adachi and went home.