Part 18: 5/17/11

5/17/11

Stakeouts turn out to be harder than they are in the movies.

VIDEO- "Mission Impossible"

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Yes, Ma'am! Visual ID confirmed!
Target arrived in-zone near the end of his mess break, with mother-issued rations in hand.
Current status: In the bathroom, fixing his hair.
The target was acting nervous. I left my position before he had a chance to pick on me!
I wonder what kind of plans they made... It didn't seem like he knew that boy very well.
Well, I think there's something more subtle--
Oh, he's here!

They both showed up about the same time. Kanji's visitor came from outside the school, I noted.



No, I-I just got here too...
Wh-What in the world was that...?
Oh, a-anyways! We gotta hurry after them, or we'll lose them!
Okay... Then let's split up into two groups. One team will follow Kanji, and the other will stake out the shop.
R-Roger that! How should we split the teams?

Yeah after all that mission impossible crap from earlier I'm not going with Chie or Yosuke.



Sure... that's fine with me.
Oh man, they're almost out of sight! C'mon, Yosuke!
So, I'm pairing up with Chie...? Eh, okay.
Alright! We'll need to pretend we're on a date to make it look natural!
Not in a million years! There'll be no need for that if we stay out of sight.
Sheesh... Let's hurry up and go!
I wonder if those two will be alright...
Oh... U-Um, that leaves us in charge of staking out the textile shop.
So... shall we?

So yeah, staking out textile shops is pretty boring it turns out.

VIDEO- "The Priestess"

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Everything seems fine at the shop. I hope it stays that way...
Do you think the culprit will come...?

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a possibility.



Then we need to keep our eyes open.
It would be scary if the culprit did show up...
But if they do, I'll do what I can to help you catch them.
You all saved my life... I don't want to be the only one doing nothing.
I mean... I'm sure there's something I can do...
Oh, sorry.
I went on and on without realizing... I-I guess I'm a little nervous.
I've never chatted with a boy my age like this before...
Chie, of course, has no problem getting along with guys because of her personality...
But I think she's had more fun hanging out with you and Yosuke lately.
......
...The same is true for me.
> You sense Yukiko's gratitude and affection...

In a funny way, it seems like everyone's actually become stronger for facing their Shadows.



> You haven't yet asked Yukiko for her contact information.

By the way balls status: none. I am greatly humiliated.



Oh, you're right. We'll need to contact each other if anything happens.
> You exchanged cell numbers with Yukiko.
> There seems to be no change over at the shop.
> You spoke with Yukiko about many different things...


Meanwhile, at the same time...

VIDEO- "The Wrath of Kanji"

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Yeah... We definitely stand out.
No, I mean THEM! I get this weird feeling about them...
Weird? What about them's weird?
Umm... I don't know how to put it...
Maybe it's just my imagination...
Hey, how do you think the others are doing?
Beats me. For all we know, he's hitting on Yukiko as we speak.
Yeaaaah, no. He's not like you.
Yukiko doesn't seem to be interested in that stuff anyway.
Wait... are you saying he's interested in her?
Huh!? Uh... I... wouldn't know...
We don't really talk about that kinda stuff... Hahahaha.
Now I'm even more suspicious! You know something, don't you?
I-I seriously don't know! It's not like we've been hanging out that long, haha...



Oh, well, you see... We're... We're just two crazy lovebirds!
Whaddya mean bird!?
Play along, birdbrain!
Didn't I see you guys yesterday...?
A-Ahahahaha...! C-C'mon, it just so happened that we were walking behind you guys. Pure coincidence!
Hey! Our houses are just over that way, so we'll be going now...
Um, look, we weren't planning on getting in you guys' way, and there's nothing strange about it, either...
S-Strange...!?
Why can't you keep your big mouth shut!?
W-Wait, dammit!



Hey! Are you listening, dammit!?
It seriously ain't like that!

So when Chie and Yosuke got back I was immediately happy I'd been at the shop.



There was nowhere to hide.
Well... let's wait here a little longer. Maybe Kanji-kun will come home.
Yeah...
Huh...? What're you guys doing here?
You're those stupid lovebirds I just saw!
We are not a couple!
Why are you assholes followin' me around!?
Dammit, what the hell's going on!?
*sigh* I ain't sayin' this is you guys' fault...
But... Dammit...! *sigh*
Hey, uh... mind if we ask something? Has anything strange happened to you lately?

Note to self: Never say the word strange in front of Kanji.



What's this "strange" stuff, huh!? Are you saying that I'm strange!?
Huh? N-No, I didn't mean--!
You shitheads better get the hell out of my face, or I'm taking you down!
Wha--!? Wait, why!?
I look like I'm joking!?
> You ran away from Kanji as fast as your legs would carry you...

God damn is he scary.



Well, nothing happened today, so I guess everything's okay...
But it's already been a few days since he appeared on the Midnight Channel.
If this is anything like Yukiko's case, it'll happen soon.
Then we can't let our guard down... I think we should come back tomorrow to check up on him.
Looks like we've got no choice...
Let's go home. I'm wiped...

It looks like it might rain again tonight, so at least we can keep checking the Midnight Channel.

5/17/11 cont'd

Oh no.

VIDEO- "Unexpected Outcomes"

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Oh, hello? It's Yukio. I-I'm sorry to call so late.
Um, Kanji-kun seems to be missing!
I had some calls to make for the inn, so I called the textile shop as well.
When I spoke to Kanji-kun's mother...
She told me that he left the house and hasn't returned since.
She did say that this happens all the time, but... what do you think?

This is not good.



I think so, too. He could be...
It's going to rain again tonight. Maybe the Midnight Channel will come on.
Then we'll know for sure if something happened to Kanji-kun or not.
I'll make sure to check out the TV at midnight... Talk to you later.
> Yukiko hung up.

I waited up for the Midnight Channel, and it was bad news.



> The image is clear and sharp.

Like seriously, BAD NEWS.



Tonight, I'll introduce a superb site for those searching for sublime love that surpasses the separation of the sexes!
I'm your host, Kanji Tatsumi, serving you this scandalously special sneak-in report!
Goodness gracious, just imagine the things that might happen to me there! Ooooh!
Well then, let's get this show on the road! Tootaloo!
> That was unmistakably Kanji...

I mean what the fuck was that?



Yosuke was pretty freaked out too.



Huh? O-Oh yeah, you're right!
What in the world was that...?
But... Dammit, it's just what we were afraid of...
If only we'd held our ground and stayed there a little longer...
*sigh*
In any case, that place that was behind him... What do you think it is?
A "superb site for those searching for sublime love"? I just don't get it!
Anyways... We'd better hurry and come up with a plan tomorrow!
> ...You decided to go to bed.

It sucks how close we must have gotten to the killer. But all we can do now is try to save Kanji. We'll start tomorrow...

Next Time On Persona 4: It Is A Mystery