Part 33: June 19 - June 21: The Next Victim

-Tanaka's Amazing Commodities-



-Junes Theme-



> You gave her three Hiranya Cabbages...

Fussy housewife: Oh my, what large cabbages! You may be young, but I'm very impressed. I know. Why don't you take this as a sort of reward? It's very good for digging.

Digging GRAVES.



Now I can trade in Sanzo's jammies for some proper armor, like Kanji's Ame-agari Kesshi.

Fussy housewife: Such beautiful Inaba-grown cabbage...I know my grandfather will be happy to see these. Now, I'm off to cook dinner! I'd better make something worthy of this wonderful cabbage! What should I make? Stir fry? Pickles? Stuffed cabbage? Keeping it simple with just cabbage julienne sounds good, too!

-How Much?-


Eh...You fell into a waterfall? You jumped into it from somewhere high up, didn't you? You rebellious little troublemaker. Ahyahyahyahya.


You were almost poisoned?...I'm sure there's a story behind that. I won't ask. Well, it's something you can only do once in your life, so just make the best of it. By the way, do you know what Inaba Trout are? You can fish for them at the Samegawa River, and they make a great pub snack. If you like to fish, maybe you could go catch one for me? Oh, you have it already. Well? Can I have it? Whoa...this one's got a pretty good shape to it...! Hey, wait right there for a sec!

*BONG* *CLANG* *CLONG*

Sorry about the wait! Inspiration suddenly struck and I had to go make something with the materials I had in the back. I want you to take it as a token of my gratitude. I might ask you another favor, and if I do, I'll be counting on you again!



I'm not sure Evade Physical is actually better than an extra 40 SP against most enemies, but it's battle trout! That supersedes any and all tactical concerns.

-Heartbeat, Heartbreak-


Don't you think?
I agree.
"It's not their fault they can't weaponize their neuroses and jump into the TV, though."
For real. I just don't want to see our tax dollars going to waste.
Hey, don't you think that Morooka guy over at your school is pretty suspicious? He's got a rep for being strict, but he's pretty arrogant, too. I bet that deep down, he's got some crazy grudges. And teachers rank pretty low on society's totem pole, you know. Maybe he thought...

> The student from a rival school dragged on and on...


Ma said she wanted to meet you...

-Like A Dream Come True-

> Central shopping district...You came to Tatsumi Textiles.




......? She ain't here. What's she doin' leaving the store open...?
Aiya owner: Kan-chan! There you are!

-Who's There?-


The hospital...?
What happened?
Aiya owner: I only heard from a customer, but she's at Inaba Municipal Hospital! Hurry, go!
Y-Yessir!

> Inaba Municipal Hospital...


You all right!? You were taken to the hospital!? Someone do this to you...!?
Kanji's mother: Goodness, but you look pale.
Never mind me!! What about you...!? Huh? You're okay?

-Like A Dream Come True-

Kanji's mother: I wasn't taken to the hospital. I took someone.
Huh...?
Kanji's mother: The poor thing got hit by a bicycle right in front of our shop. He hit his head, so I had a doctor examine him. He said there's no damage, thank goodness. The one who hit him was a boy from your school. When he saw the poor child fall, he ran away. Why don't you find him and give him a little scolding?
And naturally this turned into "YOUR MOM'S IN THE HOSPITAL!!" on the way through Inaba's heavily fermented grapevine.
Cut the crap!! You've got no idea how I felt!
Kanji's mother: Haha, I'm fine. Your mother isn't kicking the bucket that easily. It's not like you to get so worried over such a little thing.
Shut up, you old cow!!


I don't blame you.
Y-Yeah? If it's not just me, then...I guess it's okay.

> Kanji still looks embarrassed...

I thought I faced alla my bad parts back there. But not everything can change just like that, huh...?
Oh, uh...Sorry for draggin' you around. If I'd been by myself, I mighta been even more scared...Hah. Hope I can repay the favor.

> It seems you were able to support Kanji. You sense his trust in you...


...I'm goin' home.


Kanji's mother: We were both going home...He didn't have to run away like that. Oh...You're Sanzo-kun? You came to our store with Yuki-chan, right? I've been hearing a lot about you from Kanji. "Senpai this" and "Senpai that"...He must really like you. I'm sorry to have made you both come all the way here. He hates hospitals, you see. His father...my husband died here. Kanji happened to be somewhere else when he collapsed...So I think he was scared today. Haha, but it's good to see you. He's always had trouble getting along with people. He didn't have any friends like you before.
Because of his hobbies?
Kanji's mother: Oh, he told you? He would always rather play house instead of catch, or go to home ec instead of P.E. So he never had any male friends, but the girls didn't accept him either. After a while, he started getting into fights every day and bleaching his hair...I was worried about him. But lately, he seems to be having fun. Please take care of him.

> You feel you understand Kanji a bit more...You parted with Kanji's mother and went home.



> An entertainment news show is on...

Agency spokesman: That concludes Rise Kujikawa's statement regarding her temporary leave of absence from the entertainment industry. We're short on time, so if anyone has any remaining questions, we ask that you please keep them brief.
Magazine reporter: I'm Ishioka from Lady's View. It says here that you'll be recuperating--are you facing health problems?


Magazine reporter: Psychological problems, then?
Wha...?
Magazine reporter: Rumor has it you'll be staying with your relatives, but isn't that in Inaba where the murders have been taking place!?
Huh? Um...
Magazine reporter: Is it true that they run a traditional tofu shop? Will you be helping out with the family business!?
Agency spokesman: No more questions! This press conference is over! Clear the way, please!

I hope Rise's portraits turned out okay. Why did they have to give her such enormous hair!?

> The press conference has erupted into chaos...

Is Rise-chan quitting her job on TV?
Who knows...But if this is her hometown, we'll have to deal with everyone who's trying to get a glimpse...
Rise's commercial: I'm tired of diets! Enough with going to the gym! Good thing there's something even I can handle! *giggle*
Commercial voice: Quelorie Magic is made for those worried about their calorie intake and body fat. It'll slim you down in no time!
Rise Kujikawa, huh...?
The one good thing about this town was that it had nothing of note, and now we get all the buzz...What's going on?



-Heartbeat, Heartbreak-


Oh, sorry. I haven't completely woken up yet. Oh yeah, the shopping district seemed different today when I was passing by...Like, everyone was really hustlin' more than usual...I wonder what's going on.
I smell a case behind it.
"Smell"...? Man, you're sounding like Teddie. It didn't seem like the cops were involved in what was there, though. Guess I'll try asking around at school...


Hey, there he is. You've been coming to school pretty often lately. What's up?
It's this annoying thing called the mandatory attendance policy.
But man, seeing you here kinda reminds me of the school campout...
I thought we were all gonna forget about what happened...
Oh...Sorry.
*sigh* Eh, whatever. So hey, you guys see the news?
News...? Oh, that stuff about Rise Kujikawa taking a break from showbiz? I wonder why. She was just getting popular lately...
Just goes to prove that being an idol is tough work.
Is Rise that popular?
Huh...? You don't know her? Dude, what's wrong with you? She's all over the media!
It hasn't been that long since her debut, but at this rate, she'll be a top-class idol in no time. To be honest, I'm a fan, too! She's such a cutie pie!
A cutie pie...? What are you, 80?
But I think she used to live here, so she must have a lot of local fans.
The news said she's going to her grandmother's tofu shop, right? Do they mean Marukyu...?
Marukyu?
Marukyu Tofu. Our inn was serving their tofu until recently.
Oh, that place in the shopping district! I pass by it all the time. Wait, does that mean I can meet Rise if I go to her tofu shop!?
I'm not interested.
Hey, aren't we getting a little sidetracked from the point here?
Did you forget about the murders!? You're the one who said the connection between the victims might be the TV! She could be the next target!
C'mon, it's not like Rise started showing up on TV just recently. Also, how could Rise be connected to the incidents so far?
I wondered the same thing, so I did some research. It seems that she had no personal interaction with Ms. Yamano. They've just been on the same show once or twice.
She's been an idol for a while now, but she's the talk of the town thanks to the news last night. And she is moving here, after all.
So, if our assumptions are correct, she fits the pattern...She'll probably be targeted next. And if she is, that narrows the killer's methods down even further.
What's that supposed to mean?
*sigh* Kanji-kun, listen real carefully...If Rise is next, then that lets us rule out our theory that the targets have to be connected with the first case. And that means the killer's targets are people who've been shown on TV recently. Get it now?
Huh. Ohhh...Yeah, okay.
Alright, now we have to keep a close eye on everything Rise does! Let's do it!
Sheesh, he's all pumped up...

-Specialist-


Mrs. Nakayama: So, I've heard all the gossip going around about Rise Kujikawa. Those idols don't have "normal people" problems. They'll have money, they'll never have to compromise in marriage...*sigh* What should I make for dinner tonight? But you know, June is bonus month! That's why I'm a little bit happier right now. They say that Japan first implemented the bonus during the Meiji era. What a wonderful culture...Hey, are you listening to me!? I'm talking about a wonderful culture! Especially you, Genjo-kun! You're looking bored!


Meiji.
Mrs. Nakayama: Oh, so you were listening. That's correct. Japan began issuing bonuses during the Meiji period. It's a wonderful culture. It's the joy in labor...So you're all ignoring me thinking I'm just chit-chatting, eh? Well, now this is gonna be on the test.

-Heartbeat, Heartbreak-


I just wanted to talk.
...I don't want to talk to you.

> His words are harsh...Fortunately, your impressive Understanding allowed you to thaw his icy demeanor a bit...

...You're an odd person, actually wanting to talk to me.
Oh yeah...It appears that I'm chopped liver to the health committee. Do you know what "chopped liver" is? It's something that no one cares about. Whether or not I'm there, the result is the same. I'm "exempt" from everything because of my family troubles...Why don't they just come out and say that I'm pitiable?

> Saki Konishi's brother is smiling glumly...

Everyone circles around me, saying I'm "so brave"...It's kind of a nice feeling, though. But they all have these obvious looks of curiosity written all over their faces. "How was she killed?" "Why was she killed?" "Do you hate the killer?"
They don't have the courage to ask me, but they follow me with their eyes...Every move, every step. I'm sick of it.
Is that what you want, too? Did you come talk to me to ask about the murder?
That's right.
...Haha. You're a funny guy. Unfortunately, I have nothing to say. All I know is what they've said on TV. But the answer to the "Do I hate the killer?" question is "No."
You don't have a reason to be here right?...Goodbye.



-Like A Dream Come True-

> You decided to go eat with Chie after training. Central shopping district, Chinese Diner Aiya...


You look so happy.
On the happiness scale, it's up there with watching action movies...

> Chie drifts into a blissful reverie...

I need to work hard and pump myself up, or else I can't pull us out of a jam, right?
Especially Yukiko...I need to be able to protect her...
I hope she's not straining herself. Makes you worry, huh?
I worry more for you.
Huh...M-Me? B-But I'm fine! I mean, I've been training and everything!

> Chie seems a bit embarrassed.

I'll make myself stronger! For Yukiko, too! So keep it up, Leader! I know me and Yosuke joke around with you a lot...But we're all counting on you. Heheh...

> You can sense Chie's burning passion...


...All this talking is making me hungry.
'Scuse me! Another fried rice with meat, please!
How about you?

> You talked with Chie for a while...You walked home partway with Chie.





> You attended band rehearsal. Ayane is sounding good...


I'm going to the river to practice!
It's so peaceful there. There's even a little roof nearby, so I can still practice when it's raining. I've been going there every day, even when we don't have rehearsal. I need all the practice I can get!
It may be a lost cause, but...I might as well try. It's all thanks to you, Senpai. If I'd been on my own...I would've given up.
Senpai...I'll make it a performance to be proud of...for both of us...I want to make you smile.

> You feel Ayane's affection for you...


Uh...well...I'll be on my way now!

> You parted with an enthusiastic Ayane and went home.

-Who's There?-



> A figure appeared! It seems to be a girl. She's wearing a swimsuit...She looks somewhat like Rise Kujikawa, the idol you saw on TV yesterday. For some reason, it keeps zooming in on her chest and thighs...It's hard to make out her face as a result...


That was Rise for sure! Rise Kujikawa!
You're right.
Thought so!
Oh...I guess I shouldn't be so excited. There's a chance she might get kidnapped...C'mon, we should go there tomorrow! What was it called again...? Oh yeah, Marukyu Tofu! Dude, my heart's pounding already...Well, see you tomorrow!

> You'll be going to Marukyu tofu shop with Yosuke tomorrow. You decide to go to bed for tonight.