Part 75: October 8 - October 10: XIV. Temperance

Exams start next Friday, but I am just not in the mood for schoolwork. The true killer is someone else...We're the only ones who know that. If we don't act, the case will grind to a halt.
I can't study, either.
That isn't good. If your grades drop, Dojima-san may suspect that something is going on. Please, do your best on the tests for the sake of the case. Anyway, we can only wait for the culprit to make his move. We must not forget to check the Midnight Channel, too. This is a crucial moment.

-Specialist-


Mr. Kondo: Guess what!? We're going to have exams at the end of next week! I hope that nobody in here's being an ostrich and goofing around without doing any studying! Why did I say "ostrich?" Because it's a common metaphor for somebody who avoids inconvenient truths! It comes from the common mistaken belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand in the face of oncoming danger! To feel safe just because you can't see the problem - a sure sign of escaping from reality! Don't be like a fake ostrich! There's another kind of bird, though, that has a cowardly connotation in English! Lay it on me, Genjo!


Chicken.
Mr. Kondo: All right, that's correct! "Chicken" is a word for "coward" in English! There are many theories as to why. You know how you get goosebumps when you're scared, right? It looks like a defeathered chicken skin! Wait...Then why are they called "goosebumps" and not "chickenbumps?" It doesn't matter! The point is, you need to face reality and boldly prepare for your tests next week!

Some parts of these scenes are a bit difficult to transcribe. Here's another video.


Why are we getting together on the roof on a day like this?
Yeah, what's this "urgent business" about, Yosuke-senpai?
Seriously! I was busy handing out fliers at Junes.
Hey, I saw you hitting on girls just outside the school gate.
Was there some kind of progress in the case?
I need you guys! You have to help me! You're the only ones I can rely on! Can you please keep this weekend open...!?

-Deduction-

This weekend...Does this have anything to do with that event at the Inaba Police Station that's been canceled?
What're you talking about?
The idol Kanami Mashita was scheduled to be the honorary Chief this Sunday.
Oh my gaaaaawsh! The famous Kanamin is coming all the way out to the boonies!?
So, she's taking on jobs like that already...
I have been seeing a lot of her on TV lately. I didn't know she belonged to the same agency as you, Rise-chan.
I mean, if she's coming to Inaba now, the agency's obviously trying to use all the fuss about me to their favor...
So what's the big deal about that being canceled, Yosuke-senpai?
There was going to be a big sale at Junes to take advantage of the event, but now it's down the tubes!
It's not a joke!
The police took forever to decide on cancelling the event. My dad's really in a fix now. He worked so hard to put this whole thing together, and I can't stand to see him like this...I can't just let it go.
I heard that the police couldn't prepare for the event because I had gone missing.
I'm sorry...This is my fault.
Nah, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself...But yeah, it does seem like that's what happened.
Okay, so you called us up here. What do you want us to do about it?
From the way it sounds, I've gotta say, I don't think we can be much help...
I want everyone to help me with a bunch of different tasks.
Um...Rise-san...Well, if you could, y'know, do an event at Junes...
You want me to substitute for Kanami?
...So there's no way?
......
Is it really that bad?
I don't know. I may be his son, but I'm still only a part-timer...
But...My dad's being awfully nice for some reason. I think it's possible that he might get fired if this thing falls through...If that happens, I might have to transfer schools again. Haha...Seriously, what am I gonna do if that happens?
...Singing and handshakes only.
No autographs, and nothing that I can't do as a high school student. Otherwise, I'll get in trouble. And, I'll only do it if you all get on stage with me.

-Like A Dream Come True-

Wh-What!? Wait, I'm no idol.
It would be troublesome if people came to try to recruit me to be an idol.
Me, too. I already have an exclusive contract with Junes!
I don't think you guys are worryin' about the right things here...
But if you're gonna sing, what're we supposed to do on stage?
I need a band, of course. I'll make this very clear: I can't use pre-recorded tracks.
Whoa, whoa...! There's no way we can pull off something like that!
I have some experience playing the keyboard. My grandfather suggested that I take piano lessons when I was younger. I have one that I can bring as well.
You're up for this!?
This incident is a result of my actions, after all. I will do whatever I can to help.
Naoto...Thanks!
If it's music you need, I have a guitar! I've never really played it, though. Oh, wait...I accidentally bought a bass once. I think it's in storage.
How do you "accidentally" buy something like that!? I bet you just thought it was another guitar.
Hmm, I should have some kind of musical instrument at my place. For dinner parties and such.
"Some kind of instrument"...? Oh, boy.
Then, it's decided! I'll look for a song I can sing that can use a band arrangement. You guys get instruments and find a place to practice!
Got it! Try to pick an easy one, okay!?
All right! Now that this is happening, I'm getting fired up about it. Let's go ask if we can borrow the music room at school.

-Youthful Lunch-


I just grabbed whatever I could find that wasn't being used by the symphonic band.
...What is that?
It's a gong.
Well, duh...I'm pretty sure he meant to ask "What is that doing here?"
I thought Chie might want to play that. You know, it sounds kind of Chinese-ish.
Um, I don't think that's going to really matter in this case...
Yosuke, try holding these.
Huh?


Yeah, you do look like that when you're fighting. Try summoning your Persona while you're holding those.


Wait, I can't summon it here!
I'll choose this then.


I think she's convinced we're playing for a dinner party at the inn...
Come on, we need stuff like guitars instead of little backup instruments like these!
Hey, I'll play the guitar. Why don't you take the bass? I can at least teach you a little bit.
Leave it to me.
Wait...Do you already know how to play the bass? Because that would be awesome.
Actually, I know next to nothing about it. Way to step up, partner!
Well then, since you two and Naoto-kun have decided what to play, let's put Kanji on drums.
Hey, hey! Why don't I get to pick!?
If you're up front, it'll look like a metal band.
I think you'd be good at the drums. You're always hitting and stomping on things, after all.
How does that make any sense!?
Heh heh...Then I will take over all the charming percussion accoutrements.
Hey, baby! I'll lay down the passionate beats that flow from my soul!
Uh...So that leaves Yukiko and me?
You two, umm...How about the chorus? There is a part for that.
S-Singing!?
N-No can do! We'll hold something! Let's see...What looks easy...


Yeah, I don't think it looks bad at all.
They've got everything they need for a solid cover of the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. That'd be pretty rad.


*fwoof* *fwoof*
...It's not doing anything.
Is this thing broken? I'm blowing, but the air goes right through.
...okay maybe not EVERYTHING they need.
That's how it is for everyone when they start out. Anyway, we don't have much time, so let's start practicing!
What's with all the tadpoles on this paper?
Oh yeah, I don't know how to read music...Ahahaha...
I guess I'm gonna have to transfer schools after all...




One, two, three, four!



The rehearsal goes...about how you'd expect, for people who have mostly never picked up their instruments before yesterday.

*TONK*
That wasn't me!...I think!
That wasn't me, either. I mean, I can't get any sound at all out of this.
A hip and young audience yearns for the element of surprise in music as well! A bizarre sound suddenly rings out...An overturning of the expected cliches found in today's sound! You get it?
...Oh, I get it. That means, "Teddie did it," doesn't it?
Huh...? That reaction overturned my expectations.
Why don't we take a break? We've been at this since morning.
Good idea. My fingers are all stiff...
Nice follow up, Nao-chan! I think I'm falling for you.
Let's just ignore this bear...

-Deduction-


There's just not enough time...

> Everyone is silent...

Show some spirit!
You really get into that do-or-die spirit sometimes...
But that seems fitting for him!
That's right! Everythin' would've been for nothin' if we give up now! A real brawl doesn't begin until you've got your back to a wall!
We're here to start a band, not a fight club!
I'll do it too. It's not just about Yosuke now. I'll simply feel angry at myself if I give up.
Don't worry, Yosuke-senpai. I agreed to do this, so I'll do it. I didn't say anything pathetic like "I'll do what I can." I'm going to get a huge crowd, no matter what, and they will go home satisfied. Please, I just need your help to do it.
Wow. Now that's how a pro delivers a team-boosting speech.
Haha...Well then, should we resume our practice?
All right, let's do this!
*HONK*


I did it! I did it! So this isn't broken after all.


Whoa, w-wait a sec!
Can't we get a little more practice before we try doing that stuff? Playing for the real Risette...I mean, I'm all for that.
Don't think of it like that. I'm seeing how hard you're trying, and I don't want to just sit and watch you practice without me anymore.
Here goes! One, two, three, four!



It's not ska like I hoped, but the team is showing some unreal significant improvement.

That...! Didn't that sound pretty good!?
That was actual music!
Yeah, it felt good!
It seems there's hope after all.

-Everyday Sunshine-

The band has practiced hard and overcome many obstacles that dared face them, but now is their time to truly shine. All they have to do is discard whatever remaining fear holds them back, and a lifetime of public adoration awaits!
Hell no.
We've...already been on a TV show...A midnight one.
I was discarding my clothes more than I was discarding my fear...
For me, it was like...discarding my public image anyway.
C'mon, everyone! Let's cheer up! Okay?

-Youthful Lunch-

And you! You have a bunch of stuff lined up, but you're still only playing the tambourine!
Heh heh...Haven't you heard the phrase, "A clever bear conceals his claws?"
I'm going to play a special little bear-formance of my own and charm all the girls!
That saying's about a hawk, not a bear! And don't even think about it! We don't have the skills to ad-lib! Do you understand me? We're doing this EXACTLY. LIKE. WE. PRACTICED. Got it!?
Whaaaaat.
If you don't, then I'll make sure you pay for all the Topsicles you've eaten during breaks at work.
Just like we practiced! Got it!
Well, let's take it from the top, one more time. Keep up that energy that we had before!

> Everyone's hard work is slowly taking shape. You practice late into the night for the actual performance tomorrow...



-Sky's The Limit-


D-Don't say stuff like that! You're making me even more nervous!
A-Are our costumes okay? I mean, they're just our normal school uniforms...Even worse, they're the winter ones.
What else could we have done? It's not like we have any costumes. The clothes we've been wearing all summer won't work as costumes, and since we'll be changing wardrobes tomorrow, it works out.
...O-Oh crap. I-I can't stop my legs from shaking.
You'll be hittin' the skins more than a bear-knuckle boxer!
Y-You shut your stupid bear trap! I don't need to hear this!
You've been on TV before, right, Naoto-kun? Aren't you used to this? You haven't said a word, though...
The last time I played for a crowd was a piano recital when I was young...
Doing an interview on TV is much easier. Even if I make a mistake, I'm the only one who gets embarrassed by it...
You're saying doing interviews is easy? That's crazy, too...
Ugh, I can't take this much longer...Don't you get nervous too?
I'm fine.
You really are something...
Now that's our Sensei. He's got big brass balls! And when I say "balls," I mean...
We get it, we get it, it's a figure of speech. We don't care! Shut up!
Huh? Did someone just...?
Everyone, can you gather around for a second?
Y-Yeah, got it.


Don't think about doing everything exactly right. The crowd's here to have fun, so we need to have fun first.
Rise-chan...
When I say, "Who's ready," you say "We are!" Okay!?
Be thankful for your fans, your friends, and yourself! This is a full-blown, one-time-only performance! Now who's ready!?




Now listen up. We're sticking to how we practiced, okay!?

All right, let's do this!
Here goes!
Everyone: Yeah!!

The concert goes off without a hitch.



















Well, maybe one hitch.


Th-They're askin' for an encore...
Oh yeah...I didn't think about that...
We only know one song! What do we do now!?
There are only two things we can do: ignore them and leave, or play the same song over again...
M-Maybe we can have Rise explain our situation, and they'll go easy on us and let us replay that song!
I saw that guy before...







It's been well-established by now that Teddie has the same physical and mental make-up as a balloon ball.


Stupid Teddie...We can't play without him...
Hey, why don't we all dive into the crowd? They might just carry us out of here and we can escape this awkward situation...
Stage dive...!?
Hey! Don't sound so excited!
Actually, if all seven of us jump in, there'd be trouble...
Then, what're we gonna do!? Do we have any other way out!?
I-If you want to do it that much, then just the guys do it!
A-All right...! I'll show you what it means to be a man!



WHAM.


They just...dodged out of the way...How...
I...didn't know...it was possible...to stand on your own face...

> You and your friends have become legends among your peers. Enough people have gathered at Junes that you consider this mission accomplished...At least, so you tell yourself...

-Signs of Love-


You should join in next time.
Yeah! I'll play the recorder!
Hell yes! Just like Jethro Tull!