Part 93: November 25 - November 27: Knife Fights and Other Romance

-The Path is Open-


The initial draft of Rise Kujikawa's design. This early conception of her was as a female delinquent.



-Specialist-


Mr. Hosoi: This weather feels like all the gods have gone away and left us since the last month. This fog is just nasty, isn't it? It's like being wrapped up in gauze, like an Egyptian mummy or something. Of course, if my house was as nice as one of the ancient pyramids, I probably wouldn't complain about it so much...But mummies are already dead, so they don't have anything to worry about. You, however, have tests coming up! And if you failed the last exams, you have even more cause for concern! I don't want to see you haunting these halls!...Well then, Sanzo-chan. I've got a question for you.


Khufu.
Mr. Hosoi: That's right! The "Great Pyramid" is the tomb of the pharaoh Khufu, also known as "Cheops!" It took over twenty years to build, and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for almost four millennia. I'm gonna put this question on next week's test. I wish you all luck on moving on to the next grade! Study hard!

-Deduction-



> Central shopping district...You came with Naoto to search for the Phantom Thief, based on the information she gathered...


He isn't a local, and his appearance doesn't mark him as a tourist or a shopper. I talked to the owner of Shiroku Store, and she said that she saw the man only a few hours ago. She confirmed it was the same man who bought the card...
If that's true, then he's likely looking for his next hiding place for one of the stolen items. We may be able to catch him in the act.
I feel kinda sad.
You...too?
The detective I dreamed of becoming as a child...I feel like that's what I am now...

> A wry smile appeared on Naoto's face...

If my deductions are correct, there are two things remaining that the Phantom Thief has stolen. And if so, I'm quite certain that he's going to hide that one. Perhaps he is...Anyway, where in this area could he hide something unnoticed...? I have an idea. Let's go, Senpai.

> Tatsuhime Shrine...





> The man brandished a knife!



-Border of Insanity-


That knife is a toy! Don't hurt him! Please!

> The man dropped the knife and ran away...

-Smile-


This is a knife-shaped radio. As I said, it's just a toy...I consider you a friend as well. So...Please don't do these rash things any longer. I'm sorry for involving you in this...We've almost reached the end. Just a little more, and it will be over...For some reason, the thought is not a cheering one...I've never had a case like this before.

> Naoto is smiling helplessly...




I'm going home now. I have research to do...You needn't worry about the Phantom Thief case any longer. I'll explain later...once everything calms down.

> You watched Naoto run off and went home by yourself...

-Omen-


Drunk subordinate: I know, I know. You want to go to "one more" bar. I'll go with you, but only because I have to.
Drunk boss: Not putting up much of a fight today, huh! I bet you need to talk to me about something important. Is that it?
Drunk subordinate: No...I just thought having my asshole boss along would be better than drinking alone.
Drunk boss: Oh, okay. Then we're drinking 'til morning! Don't worry about the fog! Gahahahahaha!


Hobby shop owner: It's a simple build, but each part is big, making painting a chore! Having an airbrush will save you a ton of time! Man, that little compressor hiss and seeing that perfect spray of color, then gently stroking the paint back and forth--Huh? What? Look, I wouldn't be saying this if I didn't think you felt the same way! Anyway, let's see how you do!

-Alone-











-Omen-

> You overhear students talking.


Girl with average-length hair: I even see people wearing these huge gas masks around town...
Athletic girl: Yeah, and people are getting sick, too. Haven't there been people saying a lot of weird stuff lately? Like that the world is ending, and that global warming is because of Original Sin, nutty stuff like that...
Girl with average-length hair: H-Hey...What do you think's going to happen if you think someone's sick, but you don't do anything about it...? I mean...To be honest...Yesterday, my dad...

-Specialist-


Mr. Kondo: Are you exhausted from studying for the test around the corner? I hope you're not forgetting something...Christmas is coming up in a month! Have you found your dates yet? Hahaha, I've got mine already! Tell ya what! I'll give you guys a Christmas question! All right! I'll ask a question regarding cakes, Genjo!


Mochi.
Mr. Kondo: Excellent! Mochi is a type of rice cake! When you think of "cake," you think dessert, but something pounded together is also called a cake! That's the case with mochi, as it's rice pounded together. As another example, kamaboko is a fish cake, fish meat pounded together! However, you probably don't want to be eating fish cakes on Christmas night! Hahaha!

-Smile-

> The hill overlooking town...You came here at Rise's solemn request.


Why my mind just went blank when I heard about Kanami...
I mean, I ran away from showbiz because I was tired of being an idol. So I shouldn't have had any problems...And yet...I felt so angry about it. Why do you think that is?
"Risette" is Rise, too.
Yeah...You knew all along, huh?
Haha, but really...that's how it was. Risette's name in lights...Idolized by the masses...That was "me," too. I didn't want to lose that "me"...

> Rise is smiling sheepishly...

There's no way to become someone else. I ran away from my plain, gloomy self...Then I ran away from my idol self...
Right now I'm the homicide detective self, I guess?
I would've run away from that as well, if I didn't realize...I've been trying to become how I wanted to be. I pick a role...When I'm through with it, I continue chasing the "real me" by picking another role...When in fact those roles are all "me."
I don't want to run away anymore. I don't want to search somewhere else for myself. I'm gonna hang in there...as the complete me.

> Rise spoke her mind, looking straight at you...



Once per battle, if an enemy makes an area attack that would KO anyone, Rise will negate the attack completely.

I'm glad I came to this town. After all...it's where I met you...
...I have to go home now.
......
I wish time would just stop...

> You walked Rise to her house and went home.

-Omen-


I came to check the bookstore...but I seem to be a little late.
Would you like to stay here for a while and chat?
Thank you. Well then...


He's an interesting man...My first impression of him was your typical hard-boiled detective. But when the police officials and I were in disagreement about their methods, he was the only one to put a word in for me. In the end, my advice was still ignored, but I won't forget that he tried.
He's a good man.
Yes, I think so too.
But more than that, I had the sense that he was making a serious effort to solve this case.
Haha...You and he are indeed quite similar.

> Naoto is smiling gently.

The Shirogane family has close ties to the police, but that relationship is sometimes overshadowed by conflicting interests.
That's why it's helpful to have detectives like Dojima-san around. Then again, in his case...

> You enjoyed your idle chat with Naoto...

Oh, I should be getting back...I didn't mean to keep you here for so long. I have a gift for you...You should have it if you're ever feeling hungry.

> You received Cream Melon Bread from Naoto.

Well then, let's go home.

> You saw Naoto off and then went home...



-Tanaka's Amazing Commodities-


But the deals don't end there, folks! I'll throw in four emergency first-aid kits with the four gas masks! Can you put a value on your family's safety? We can! Protect your loved ones for the low price of only 29,800 yen! Wow, I can hear the phones ringing off the hook already! Looks like we've completely cleared our inventory! Thanks for participating in our amazing sale, everyone!

-How Much?-


You need to be careful, too. The fog...There's something about it that just gives me a bad feeling...


This fire is what allowed me to stave off the cold and the elements from invading my art studio! If I have to close my shop down in the middle of the winter like this, how am I supposed to make a living...!?

-Omen-


Gas-masked man: The fog is poison, so you have to be careful! Everyone's saying it, so it has to be true!
Get ahold of yourself!
Gas-masked man: Wha--I-I know what I'm saying! It's poison!...I-Isn't it?


Gas-masked man: This whole town's cursed! The world is ending, and you're wandering around without protecting your lungs and body? You need a gas mask, man! Don't you even watch TV!?


Woman: Eh? Well, I just heard someone collapsed...But you know, I don't know who exactly...It's just so scary, though. On top of that, the people who came to investigate the fog have vanished! If that fog is actually poisonous...I don't even want to think about it, it's too scary...

-Like A Dream Come True-





A future of ass kicking.





> The model has been completed! Obtained D-Type Prithvi. You should put it on your shelf.