Philemon seems to enjoy seeing his Wild Cards live on with their lives…
Persona 4 Golden X FeMC!Reader
05/16/MON-After School | Yasogami High
“It was definitely Kanji Tatsumi. No doubt about it.”
The Midnight Channel had brought your team another sense of unease. The silhouette of the delinquent was still fresh in your mind. Even after the event where he saved you and Nanako from that creep, his ruthlessness and anger shown on TV and in the Midnight Channel still scared you.
“It would be difficult to warn a man such as he.” Izanami stated, crossing her arms. “The results could even lead to physical violence.”
Tomoe nodded towards her. “A feckless youth like he is bound to get violent when he sees us. If only I was corporeal I would have taught this runt a lesson.”
Jiraiya scoffed at her. “Bold words.”
“Anyway,” Chie interrupted, “he’s really scary, isn’t he? Did you see the news the other day?”
“Yeah, I saw it.” Yosuke replied.
“You mean the special on biker gangs?” Yukiko said. “I saw it, too.”
She then looked down. “She wasn’t like that when he was younger, though…”
When she said that, you all turned to her, surprise clearly written on each of your faces.
Chie was the first to break the silence. “You know him, Yukiko?”
She nodded at her. “Uh-huh, but we haven’t talked to each other in a long time. His family runs a textile shop, and we’ve been a customer of theirs for many years. So I speak with Kanji-kun’s mother from time to time.”
The memory of Kanji saving you and Nanako from that creep resurfaced. You looked over to Izanami and thankfully she understood your wary glance.
Yukiko continued. “Why don’t we go there now? We might be able to talk to him in person.”
“I agree.” Chie said. “Besides, we can ask if anything strange happened too.”
Konohana shivered. “Do you think he’ll murder us when he sees us?!”
Chie slumped. “I’m sure he’ll only murder us. Besides, he probably won’t hurt us inside his own home.”
“Then it’s settled.” Yosuke said in finality. “We’ll go there right now.”
He turned his head to you, looking for confirmation. You nodded.
“If all else fails,” Chie continued, “we hope that our Personas can clobber him using textiles!”
The rest of you except Tomoe (who looked proud) looked at her in shock.
05/16/MON-After School | Tatsumi Textile Shop
The textile shop was an old Japanese building, complete with paper sliding doors and tatami mats. The numerous textiles that were displayed all range from colorful patterns to normal colors. To you, it wasn’t anything special. But for the female Personas, they were ecstatic. Immediately as soon as you entered the shop, Izanami, Konohana Sakuya and even Tomoe made a beeline towards the numerous textiles being displayed. It was painful to have all of you keep your emotions in check when they attempted to pick them up. Even Chie had to choke back a scream when Tomoe picked up a yellow-colored textile.
Trying to keep your expression back to normal, you looked at the woman who attended the shop, only to see someone else talk to her.
The boy was wearing all blue, with a blue cap atop his head with blue hair peeking from below. His blue coat and plaid pants stood out from your uniforms as he turned to see your group. He only gave a little nod as he walked past your group.
“What’s up with him?” Yosuke asked as soon as he was out of the store.
Chie only shrugged. “I dunno.”
“Yuki-chan!” The older woman gasped. Your group immediately turned to her. She was an old woman but she still seemed youthful at heart, wearing a traditional kimono and sitting near the textiles. Immediately you have to bite back a scream when Izanami picked up a piece that was dangerously close to Kanji’s mother.
As calmly as you could, you and the group asked what you needed from the woman. Yukiko tried her best not to worry her by mincing her words but it would ultimately lead to Kanji being pictured as a rebel punk. You thought that this would warrant enough attention for your Personas to be brought back to normal but you see Izanami and Konohana dress Tomoe up in a scarf. At that point, you just gave up.
Speaking of Personas, Jiraiya was the only one who wasn’t as excited as the others. Instead, he looks at the textiles boredly, lingering his stare on the women for a little while before moving on. He notices a scarf hanging near them and he immediately floats over to it. Without thinking, he decided to grab it outright and wear it around his neck. Red did always suited him well and combined with the white butterflies? He wasn’t an insect person but he had to admit the patterns looked so nice on him.
He sauntered to Yosuke, who was away from the group. “Hey, I look good in this, yeah?”
At first, it didn’t register with him. But when he realized it, he gasped and glared at Jiraiya. “Dude! You can’t just wear that thing when one of us isn’t a Persona user!” He whisper-yelled, not wanting to draw attention to him. Still, he decided to humor the frog and looked at the scarf. In that moment, he felt a sense of deja vu.
“This scarf…” He muttered. “Hey, Chie, c’mere a sec.”
The girl turned to him and gasped at the sight of Jiraiya wearing one of the scarves of the store. She hurried to them and dragged Jiraiya down by his scarf so it wouldn’t be obvious.
“The hell is wrong with you?!” She whisper-screamed at him. “Are you trying to cause her a heart attack?!”
“You can pummel him later, Chie.” Yosuke intervened. “But look at the scarf he’s wearing.”
Ignoring Jiraiya’s choking, she looked at the scarf. Like Yosuke, it brought her a sense of deja vu until it hit her. “We saw this inside the TV!”
At that moment, you and Yukiko turned to the two. Jiraiya was down on the ground, trying to catch his breath while Yosuke and Chie sheepishly held the scarf in their hands.
“Oh?” The woman asked them. “Do you want to buy that scarf?”
Yosuke tried to ignore your glare. “No but um… Did Ms. Yamano happen to have a scarf like this?”
The woman tilted her head. “Ms. Yamano? Why yes. It was a special order she placed.”
The team’s eyes widened. Chie took the time to return the scarf where it belonged as the woman continued her story. “She actually ordered a pair, but in the end, she said she only wanted the women’s scarf. It left us with no choice but to sell this one separately.”
Izanami, Konohana, and Tomoe were still blissfully trying out the textiles.
“… How the hell did you three manage to scrape by with some scarves?”
You stared aghast at the female Personas-each sporting a scarf that matched their clothes and tied to where they liked it: Izanami wearing a black and yellow scarf that replaces her usual white neck scarf beneath her coat, Tomoe with a green scarf that matched Chie’s jacket wrapped around her bicep, and Konohana with a red scarf with pink petals wrapped around her neck.
“Don’t worry!” Konohana said to you. “Izanami managed to get money from you to pay the scarves!”
Your Persona chuckled when you sent her a death glare. “Consider this as a gift for us women.”
Yosuke said your name. “You can strangle Izanami later but we need to reconsider this entire case.”
The adrenaline from running away from Kanji after hearing his dilemma on going to school after a long time still thrummed within you but you calmed yourself down. “Okay… Let’s figure this out one more time.”
He nodded. “Remember the common points we were talking about? His mom fits the pattern. She’s a woman, and she knew Ms. Yamano. But it was her son who appeared on TV… So what does that mean?”
You pondered for a moment. “Kanji is definitely the target. The Midnight Channel wouldn’t lie.”
Yukiko nodded at you. “That’s right. Maybe it’s similar to my case because of my mother. She fits the criteria more than me yet I was the one targeted.”
“Does that mean it’ll be the kid again instead of the mother?” Chie asked. “But if that’s true, then the killer’s motive makes no sense at all. It’d have nothing to do with silencing witnesses or revenge or anything.”
“Y’think we’re on the wrong track?” Yosuke questioned. “Maybe even the first case had nothing to do with grudges or revenge. Or is there some kind of secret in the textile shop itself…?”
“Unlikely.” Jiraiya piped up from behind Yosuke.
“Can it, woman. Anyway, I did a whole check around the building. I can confirm there’s no hidden passageways or traps or anything in that building.”
“How do you know that?” Yosuke asked him incredulously.
“Dude,” Jiraiya tested the word and you had to bite back a laugh on how uncomfortable he looks. “I am a ninja. The greatest ninja, might I add. I searched the damn place like a madman. I can confirm there’s nothing wrong with the store.”
Yukiko hummed. “Either way, we can’t just ignore it.”
Tomoe spoke up. “Didn’t we hear that runt talk with the hat-wearing boy? Maybe we’ll find our answers there.”
“Oh yeah!” Yosuke said. “It’s his first time going to school after the new year. It would be really suspicious if he just showed up at school out of nowhere.”
“Then it’s settled.” Izanami stated. “We’ll intercept Kanji Tatsumi after school and see where that takes us.”
The idea sounds good enough. But with two loudmouths on your team, you were sure this stakeout would become a disaster.
Chie practically vibrated where she stood. “A stakeout? Oh, I’m excited!”
“Don’t get too excited.” You chided her. “We need to be quiet if we want to get answers.”
You looked at the team, seeing that they’re all in agreement with the plan. “Let’s rest up. We have a big day ahead of us and there’s no telling what’s in store.”
They all nodded. All of you were ready to figure out the case.
05/17/TUE-After School | Tatsumi Textile Shop
Underneath the torii gate by the shrine, you waited patiently for Yukiko to come back. Your foot tapped idly against the concrete, your eyes watching the shop but occasionally fleeting over to Izanami. Her clawed fingers kept fiddling with her new scarf and despite the mask, she looked happy wearing it.
You’ve elected to ignore the hole in your wallet (both metaphorically and physically). “You seem happy wearing that.”
She stopped her fiddling and looked at you. “I am. It’s not often I get to have a luxury such as this.”
Your mind thought back to her memories as a goddess. She clearly was not the real goddess that you’ve read and yet she retains memories of the real one. Hell, even Jiraiya said he had memories of him being a ninja and Tomoe saying that she was in war once. If they’re having deja vu being important figures of Shinto lore, then it doesn’t make sense that they’re here under your beck and call.
Remembering what you’ve read, you decided to ask her. “Izanagi doesn’t bring you gifts?”
She flinched. You watched her with widened eyes. “Did I say something wrong?”
Izanami clutched her scarf and you feared her fingers would leave holes. “It’s-It’s nothing. Just… When you said that name I-I felt so… scared. Yet so angry I…”
Your arm raised up awkwardly, wanting to comfort her but before you could, Yukiko and Konohana came back with drinks. You turned to her and Izanami composed herself like she didn’t have a breakdown.
You have to bring this up one day.
“Here.” Yukiko said, handing you the drink that you wanted. Grabbing it, you thanked her as you uncapped it.
She looked at the shop. “Nothing seems to be happening, which is good. Though we can’t be too comfortable.”
Konohana visibly shook. “You think the killer will come by?”
Izanami comforted her by placing a hand on her shoulder. “If they do, I’m here to protect you.”
“We’re here to protect you two.” You corrected, giving Izanami a side-eye glance. “Don’t worry too much.”
Yukiko blushed lightly. “Th-Thanks… I’m counting on you two.”
She looked back at the store then looked down at her drink. “It would be scary if they did show up… But I’ll do what I can if they do. You all saved my life… I don’t want to be the only one doing nothing.”
You said nothing, not wanting to break her spiel. As if she realized that, she jumped up from her stupor. “Oh! I’ve been rambling again, aren’t I? I’m sorry, I’m just so nervous…”
Without thinking, you punched her shoulder lightly. “Don’t worry about it for the last time, Yukiko. You and Konohana are a valuable asset to the team just like any of us. Don’t start belittling yourself because of what happened in the TV World.”
From your words, you can see the immediate effect. Both Yukiko and Konohana’s eyes shined at your praise and you inwardly gulped. Is this what Jiraiya meant?
“I… Thank you,” Yukiko said your name, “it’s strange. Normally, I’m so confident when talking to other girls and yet… You make me feel like I can do anything. No wonder I’m having so much fun hanging out with you, Chie and Yosuke.”
Thou art I… And I am thou
Thou hast established a new bond…
It brings thee closer to the truth…
Thou shalt be blessed when creating Personas of the Priestess Arcana…
“… You two are ridiculous.”
Tomoe said dryly, looking at her master and Yosuke hiding behind a tree as they scouted Kanji and the mystery boy. If she was alive, she would’ve felt her soul leave her body from how absolutely cringe it was to see them huddle behind a goddamn tree like they were reenacting a comedy skit in a play.
“I don’t know Tomoe,” Jiraiya said, leaning his elbow on her shoulder, “maybe he likes it-”
The pained yelp didn’t deter the teens who were still watching Kanji. Despite that, Yosuke sighed and removed himself away from Chie. “This is ridiculous… Some stakeout this is…”
Chie got up from the ground and placed her hands on her hips. “You think the others are having any luck?”
He shrugged. “If the killer does show up there, then…”
He trailed off, thinking about what he was about to say. If the killer did show up, then…
He suddenly had an itch on his leg. Like he was about to hightail it out of the park and sprint towards the textile store. But he held it back down, for your sake. He knew you were tough, you can make it out of there, right?
“Hey, earth to Yosuke.” Chie said, snapping her fingers to shake him out of his daze. “What’s gotten into you?”
“Huh?!” He stammered, feeling that his face warmed all of a sudden. “N-Nothing! Besides, pipe down, we’re on a stakeout!”
She was taken aback by his voice and scoffed. “Geez, it’s not like we’re close to them or anything. Besides, I wanna ask a question.”
He crossed his arms, not liking where this is going. “Go ahead.”
“How are you with ____?” She asked innocently. “You two are closer than the last time I saw you two.”
He immediately choked and averted his eyes from her questioning gaze. His hand flew to his face to cover the blush as he tried to come up with a response. “Chie! Wh-Where did that come from?!”
“Like I don’t see you going ‘partner this’ ‘partner that’ everytime we go inside the TV World! I swear, I feel like there’s something going on between the two of you that I don’t get!”
He choked once more but before he could respond, Jiraiya swooped in the middle and shoved Yosuke away. “Oh, green lady, the amount of times that Yosuke is hopelessly pining for ____! It’s disgusting really, but I don’t blame him one bit with that body!”
“Jiraiya/Frog!” Both Yosuke and Tomoe exclaimed, one in embarrassment and one in anger.
Chie laughed triumphantly. “So there is something going on! Oh man, I wonder how she’s gonna reject you like Yukiko did with you!”
“R-Rejection already?!” Yosuke screamed. The word felt heavy in his heart but he covered it up as much as he could. “Now you listen here–”
“Hey!” A voice called out. Immediately they could feel fear grip their hearts. “The hell are you two doin’ there?!”
Sad to say, the mission failed.
