Persona 4: Golden Part #85 - November 5 Part 2 - November 6 Part 1: XVI. The Tower

Part 85: November 5 Part 2 - November 6 Part 1: XVI. The Tower

> Meanwhile, on the road to the Dojima residence...

How could it be her...!?

I know what you're thinking, but...Nanako-chan does fit the pattern. She wasn't seen--but she was heard.

What!?

Do you remember the politician who visited a local school, and made the news several times? In those interviews, he always quoted a particular student he spoke with. The child became well-known while remaining anonymous...That girl was Nanako-chan! A reporter who took interest in this released her photo and interview using her real name in today's evening paper. But even before that...This is a small, rural town. Her identity must have been circulating for quite some time.

Oh my God...

I should've realized it much sooner...But I was hung up on the idea of people who were "shown" on TV. It didn't occur to me that this would qualify.

Wh-What're we going to do? Nanako-chan's home alone right now, isn't she!?

I'm on my way there as we speak to check on her! Yosuke-senpai is heading to the police station! He said he called Kanji-kun too. They'll explain the situation there.

Alright, I'll join them right away! And I'll let Yukiko and Rise-chan know!

Yes, please do!

> Some time later, in a room at the police station...

Hey, what do you think you're doing!? I didn't say you could go in there!

Wha--!? What do you mean!?

Naoto's on the phone, calling from Nanako-chan's...I mean, your house.

Shirogane!? You there? What the hell's going on!?

I'm at your house right now. The front door's open and there's no one inside...I'm afraid that Nanako-chan has been kidnapped by our serial killer. Surely you must've known, Dojima-san!? The case isn't over yet!

Recorded message: The number you have dialed is unavailable right now. The phone may be switched off or outside our coverage area.

Nanako...

Dojima-san...

Is this true? Has Nanako really been...?

We have to hurry.

Why...? Why Nanako!?

Um, it's probably because the media--

Duty officer: Traffic Division, Ohta speaking.

There's been a kidnapping! Get your men on it immediately! Start with checkpoints along the highway!
Duty officer: Checkpoints!? Umm, could you explain the situation a little more--

Quit griping and get to it! The victim's a seven-year-old girl...My daughter!
Duty officer: Your daughter? Wait...What about the scene? What makes you think this is a kidnapping?

Th-That's...

Look, this could be connected to that multiple murder case!
Duty officer: Connected...? But we caught the killer. How long has she been missing? Have you received any notices or ransom letters?

N-No, but...Dammit, there's no time for this right now!
Duty officer: Um, a-alright...I'll try contacting each of the departments...

Even if you tell 'em this is connected to the murders, we can't prove it. And everyone on the force thinks this case is over and done with...

Wh-Where are you going!?

If this is connected to that murder case, the top brass won't accept the facts until it's too late. I'm not gonna wait for those clowns!

But do you even have any ideas or leads on who took her!? If they used a car, there's no way--

Shut up! That's why I'm hurrying!

> Dojima left by himself...

Adachi-san, we'll go look for her, too! So please...let him go!

Huh? You know I can't...

So what's going on!?

Besides, we don't even know if this thing's--

Quit your bitching! Now ain't the time for that shit! The hell are we sitting here for when this guy's family's in danger!? You gonna own up if something happens!? Huh!?

Kanji-kun!

I know how you feel, but if you don't tell me what's going on, there's really nothing I can do...

Ah, so you agree to release him once we explain the situation? Very well, then.

N-No, that's not what I meant...

-Deduction-

In any case, if we run out blindly, we'll have no idea where to begin. Let's all take a moment to stop and sort out the situation. Perhaps this will help Adachi-san understand as well. There's no doubt in my mind that this is a kidnapping by the same culprit who was behind the others. Now. Consider that the front door at Nanako-chan's house was open. I examined it, and found no trace that entry had been forced...

You mean...Nanako-chan opened the door herself?

Precisely.

The culprit didn't sneak in. He came boldly up to the front door and pressed the doorbell.

Like how it was for all of us...

U-Umm..."For all of us?"

But the circumstances are different for her, as compared to us. Remember what Nanako-chan said when we were at the hot springs? "I always do what my dad tells me, like not opening the door for strangers."

So is the killer...someone Nana-chan knows?

Senpai, do you have any insight into this possibility?

I don't know...

Hmm...I don't think we can limit ourselves to people Nanako-chan knows...

I agree...Then let us change our perspective slightly. We know for certain that the culprit must be using a large-screen TV.

Huh...? TV? What?

Each victim was taken at a different scene, yet was thrown into a TV almost immediately after being kidnapped...I would go as far as to say that it took place in front of their houses.

Therefore, the culprit must be taking a TV with him as he goes.

You think he's using a car?

Given the efficiency of the culprit's methods, I would assume a vehicle larger than a sedan. However...

No unusual vehicles have been sighted. I'd expect someone to notice, since most of the victims vanished during the day...

So it's someone Nanako-chan knows, who has a car...But it's a car that can't be seen?

I think we can rule out the possibility that no one happened to see the vehicle...Especially since it's happened so many times now.

A car no one would notice...? Is there such a thing? What would it be...?

A delivery truck.

That's right...Now I remember...

A delivery came! It was a delivery truck!

No one looks twice at a delivery truck, no matter where it's parked...

And if it were a local company, it'd be the same deliveryman every time so he's not a "stranger" to Nanako-chan.

She must've received packages from him during the times she was home alone, meaning we wouldn't know his face...

Adachi-san! Is there anyone who fits this profile!?

A profile formed by a bunch of kids talking it over...? Let's see...A delivery company, huh? I dunno, take it from a detective...I think this is gonna be...a lot more difficult than--

Hey...!

Maybe you're not too far off base...Dojima-san put this stuff together to reinvestigate the first case--the murder of that announcer. And there's a deliveryman mentioned right here...I better go tell Dojima-san!

...After resigning from his last job, he took up the family delivery business...Before that, he was...a council secretary!

-Who's There?-

The enka singer's husband!

All we know about him is his occupation, but I'd say that's enough of a lead to tell us where to go next. The address is...It's not far from here!

Is he gonna be okay...? The killer's not just a normal guy.

Nana-chan...!

Adachi-san!

...If there's been a break in the case, I'd better hurry to the scene. I'll just have to hope nothing happens here while I'm gone...I didn't see anything.

Adachi-san...

Let's go to Namatame's place! Dojima-san's probably on his way now!

-Zone Time-

Hang in there, Nanako...Daddy's coming for you!

SHIT!!

-Who's There?-

An accident...?

*gasp*

Wh-Where's Nanako...?

Hello? We need an ambulance, quickly. There's been an accident. One adult male is injured...

That's right, I should call backup, too! We gotta find Namatame!

Nanako...Where's Nanako...?

...was on my way to Namatame's house...when I saw him...drive past me...I...I gave chase...and he...dammit...Where's Nanako...? And Namatame...? Find them...Please...!

But how...?

Oh yeah, maybe there's clues in the truck!

Wait, you can't! We need to preserve the scene!

Then allow me. If it rains again while we wait, the information we need will be lost regardless.

Look! There really is a TV in there!

I also recovered a diary from the driver's seat...Most likely kept by Namatame himself.

"I learned the existence of a new world. Thus, I must save people..."

"Save?" The hell's he mean by that?

*gasp* This...It's a list of the victims' home addresses!

Mayumi Yamano, Saki Konishi...Yukiko Amagi, Kanji Tatsumi, Rise Kujikawa...Even the victims who survived and were never released to the public are written here.

I note that Mr. Morooka's address is absent from the list...

Wow...Then that settles it.

The last date is today's..."I can't believe such a small child appeared on it. I must save this child, no matter what."

Is that...about Nanako-chan!?

"I managed to take her to safety. The police have been active lately...This will probably be the last time I write in this diary. I've done everything I can..."

It's clear now...He used the same trick on all the victims. He'd just ring the bell, like he was making a normal delivery, then throw the victim into the TV in his truck...Namatame is the killer!

We need to go save Nanako-chan! Here, let's use this TV and--

W-Wait a sec! We don't know where we'll enter through this one! What if we end up somewhere dangerous?

It doesn't seem like it's going to be foggy tomorrow, so we should go in tomorrow, the same way as usual!

But...!

If we fail, who's going to save Nanako-chan!?

Saving her will be our top priority from tomorrow forward. We'll leave Namatame's whereabouts to the police.

Dojima-san...

> Later, in a room at the hospital...

> ...Dojima opened his eyes. It looks like he's regained consciousness.

-I'll Face Myself-

Are you all right...?

I must look like hell right now...

......

Nanako...She's...my reason for living...If I lose her...I might as well be dead...

...She must be so scared right now...Waiting for someone to save her...And...here I am...*cough* *cough* When she needs me most...I'm helpless...What kind of a father am I...? I can't even protect my own daughter...!

Dojima-san...

If anything happens to Nanako...I'll make Namatame pay...!

You can save Nanako, right...? I trust you...Please...save her for me...!

You're the only ones I can turn to right now...

We'll do everything we can.

We will rescue Nanako-chan at any cost. It may take some time, but you must put your faith in us and wait for us to return with her.

-Deduction-

> Junes food court...You can sense stronger determination than usual from everyone's expression...

Definitely. There's no mistake.

The police should be pursuing Namatame, so let's focus on saving Nanako-chan.

Yeah. We're the only ones who can.

We'll save her no matter what.

I often thought it might be impossible, but we've finally cornered the culprit...

We made it this far...We won't let him take Nanako-chan's life!

Yeah...This is it! Let's go all-out and get it done!

I made a promise with Nana-chan! I said that we'd play again...and that everything would be okay...I promised her that!

Yeah, so let's save her. We're doing it for Dojima-san, too. Hehe, he'll owe us another watermelon.

Regardless, we must do whatever we can with what we have now. This is something only we can accomplish...

C'mon, we can do this, guys! No problem!

Yeah. We do this the same way as always. All we gotta do is find Nanako-chan before the next foggy day and get her out of there. Nothing to it. Let's keep calm, be careful, and get it done.

> Everyone's feelings are one.

> You'll rescue Nanako for sure before the next foggy day...

-Junes Theme-

Dammit...He kidnapped Nanako-chan, and on top of that, Dojima-san's in the hospital because of him...

Dojima-san is a marvelous man. To think he'd reinvestigate the first incident after so long...Without his efforts we may have never discovered the culprit's true identity, leaving us in the dark once again...

But back when they thought it had to do with the affair, they looked pretty hard at Namatame, didn't they? Why would he have a solid alibi for that time...?

Technically, according to the files, Namatame's alibi covers the night when the corpse appeared. When the cause of death is unknown, an alibi cannot be established, due to questions of when the murder occurred. What they obtained was not about the murder itself, but an alibi for when the corpse was placed at the scene. Since the estimated time of death fell within his alibi, they decided that he could not be to blame for the killing. Now, it's true that Namatame has a perfect alibi for that night. But we know the true method behind the murders...The victims aren't killed on the night the crime is committed. If he cannot prove his innocence for the time they were thrown into the TV, his alibi falls apart.

First Yamano-san died, then he got fired, so we thought he was as much of a victim as her...

After the announcer died, Namatame was laid off from his job and he came back here, to his hometown. Now that I think about it, I did see him in town from time to time, but he didn't seem to be working much. He probably helped out with the delivery service only once in a while...That's why no one knew about it.

But this Namatame guy has no connection to the other victims, so we have no idea why he'd want to kill them...And what was that "saving" thing he wrote in his diary about...?

Whatever it is, it's obvious this dude's been kidnapping people and throwing 'em into TVs...We gotta catch the bastard.

Actually, I wonder where that Namatame guy escaped to...

And Nanako-chan...I hope she's okay...

Since we've come this far, there's no need for us to strain our brains about it.

We'll rescue Nanako-chan before the fog sets in!

All right! Time to get fired up!