Fate/Reach Out (Fate/Stay Night x SMT Persona 4)

[Kishou the Badger]

The new chapter is coming out soon, depending on beta reading traffic. Until then, here's a spicy preview for the readers here:
<><><>
"Senpai, I need help wrangling Ted!"

"Let me go, Kanji! I need to see my heavenly wardrobe malfunction!"

"No way! You heard your scary girlfriend! Don't piss her off screwing around!"

"I was planning on using this on Yuki-chan, but if you dare to come between a bear and his beloved peaches—!"

Shirou's caught whiff of a sudden concentration of prana. This wasn't like any of Teddie's Gradation Air spells, and as he flailed out of Kanji's grasp, he aimed his intent to use it on him. "Teddie, no!" he cried, running over.

"Teddie, yes!" Teddie proclaimed, cupping his paws together. "Auditee! Unity! Offering!"

Kanji flinched as he saw a light sea-blue glow from Teddie's hands. "What the hell?!"

"Cast Off!" He threw both hands together, mimicking a powerful pose he read in a manga once, and fired.

The blue prana beam arched closer to Kanji, ready to envelop him. At the last minute, Shirou shoved Kanji to the side. However, he had no time to protect himself before it hit him, detonating in a bright flash.

"Wooaah!"

"Senpai!"

"Dude, what was that?!"

Shirou had prepared himself for the worst, and he could feel the magecraft cascade over him. He wasn't blown back, or burned, or shocked or anything. Rather, he felt a sudden draft and wetness around his legs, but he didn't pay for it much mind as he had rushed into the water waist deep.

The light died down, finding himself staring at a sheepish, posing Teddie. "S-Sensei…?" he squeaked out, with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Shirou sighed. Relieved that nothing happened, but also exasperated at what could have been. "Teddie, I don't know what that magecraft you just pulled off was, but I hope you never try something like that out again. Least of all using Kanji or Amagi as your test subject."

"Shirou-Sensei—"

"Promise?"

"I promise, but Sensei—!"

Shirou turned and walked back to shore. He still had questions for Naoto, and didn't want the momentum to die off just yet. He said something about topsicles—

"Shirou, are you okay? What was that—FLAPPING DANGLES MY EYES!" Shirou didn't know what got Yosuke in a hurry, nor why he suddenly flustered and looking away.

Kanji wasn't any better, turning away and covering his eyes. "Geez, make yourself decent, senpai! As least stay in the water!"

"What are you guys talking about?" he asked. Yes, he was blasted by some spell, but he wasn't harmed in any way.

Labrys explained in a way the others couldn't, intently staring at his waistline. "I believe it's because you're naked, Shirou."

…what?

"Labrys, don't look!"

"But is this not the 'wardrobe malfunction' Teddie was talking about?"

"Wait a minute… you intended to blast ME with that!"

"N-Now Kanji, let's be reasonable here!"

"What's reasonable about this, you pervy bear?!"

The guys around him were filtered out to white noise. He slowly looked down, and noticed that his trunks were not there anymore. His bathing suit was now a birthday suit, and the water only came up to his ankles now.

"KYAAAAAAAA!"

A shrill scream broke Shirou out of his stupor, as he dove back into the deeper water for what little dignity he had left. When he popped up, he saw Naoto further down the shore, having dropped two topsicles to the sand and covering his face with his hat.

"Naoto!" Kanji rushed over to his friend's side, consoling him.

Yosuke let out a low whistle. "Geez, first Kanji's briefs and now Shirou's buck. Poor guy can't catch a break."

"That could have been so much worse, Shirou-sensei," Teddie noted. "Well, at least none of the other girls saw you like that!"

"I can keep a secret!" Labrys offered helpfully with a raised arm. "I did NOT see your private parts, Shirou!"

"Don't blab that out!" Yosuke scolded, pushing her hand down. "The point of a secret is not saying anything!"

"Ah, gotcha!"

"See? Everything worked out, Shirou-sen-BLLBLBULBLBLBL!!"

Shirou did not hear or care about what the others were talking about just now. He took his near catatonic rage and humiliation out on Teddie by forcibly dunking his head below the water. He held him down there, with reinforced arms and watched with cold fury as the blond-haired bear-man flailed and gargled for air. Before pulling him out.

"*Cough* *Cough!* Sensei, I'm s-OBRBBLBLBL!"

And dunking him again.

"Should we… help him?" Labrys asked concernedly, as she saw one treat the other to waterboarding.

"Nah, he's got it handled," Yosuke shrugged, already walking away. "Let him have a few minutes to cool off first."

"I was talking about Teddie," she clarified.

"And I was talking about Shirou."

 

[Kishou the Badger]

Chapter 53: Tropic Monsoon
<><><>
August 21st, Ruined Shopping District

Five months. To think that was how long ago they first started their investigation for the truth, and so much had happened since. The shopping district, a leftover of Saki Konishi's memory when thrown into Teddie's world, had not changed since the last battle. Or rather, had not recovered since the climax.

Buildings had been blown apart, asphalt torn, glass from windows stained and cracked, metal signs bent... it looked like a scene straight out of some post-apocalyptic horror movie setting that Fuji-nee tried to get him to watch once.

Shirou wouldn't ever come back here if he could help with it. Not because it was a bitter memory of what happened here, but because there was no point. He was already committed to solving the case, to prevent Inaba from ever looking like this, and he was sure the others did too.

And yet earlier today, he got a single text from Yosuke:

"Come meet me @ the shopping district.
ill let Teddie know not to close the door."

It was coded enough to remind him of the other shopping district; the one where they fought in the TV world. Shirou had to give his friend credit, he knew how to keep secrets on the downlow and stick with a code.

Still, why ask him to come here alone? They always agreed to not explore without the others. At least the place was close enough from the Junes entrance, and he didn't even need Teddie's guiding hand (or paw) to direct him.

The further he walked in, the worse the damage to the world got. It had not recovered at all since the battle with Shadow Yosuke, nor had any other Shadows thought to come back. Which was weird as the other… what did Satsuki call them? Palaces? They were still teeming with Shadows, almost as if waiting to squat and take over when his friends' Shadows were placated.

But not here. Not once. Was it because Saki died? Then would the world formed by both Mitsuo and Satsuki's minds also fade away, if it hadn't already when she activated her Reality Marble?

"Ah, you're here."

Shirou's musing stopped, and so did his automatic walk. He saw Yosuke standing at what remained of the Konishi Liquor Store, being the epicenter of the tornado attack. His friend's back was to him, but he seemed to sense his presence and comment on it.

"Yosuke," Shirou started, glancing up and down at his friend. He didn't know what to expect, but his friend had been reclusive all summer, keeping himself busy with work or unexplained absences throughout his free time.

Shirou almost held his tongue back on the first thing that popped into his mind. But after everything they'd been through, Yosuke and the others were more or less used to his dry wit and cutting remarks. He didn't have to worry about offending him more than usual, so he just spoke his mind. "You look like shit."

Yosuke chuckled, finally turning to him. Shirou could see his sunken eyes and tired smile. Shirou quickly amended, "Scratch that, you really look like shit."

"Geez, once was bad enough, dude," Yosuke sniped back. "It's not you've had a girlfriend die on you. Again."

"You were dating Saki-senpai? She didn't seem to think so in her dying thoughts."

"We had a date planned, man! It totally counts!"

The two teens glared at each other, suddenly tense. But then their gazes fell as they bellowed long laughs that echoed in the desolate faux-Inaba. It was absurd, and yet it left them both feeling relieved. Whether they were crazy or not, they were both on the same wavelength.

Shirou knew he could never have this kind of rapport with Issei or Shinji even on his best days.

"Thanks man," Yosuke said tiredly. "I really needed that."

"If you wanted to talk, you could have picked anywhere else," Shirou offered. He looked around the ruined store, vividly remembering one of his first intense fights.

"Nah, it was either here or the telephone pole where I first saw Saki's body, and I'd rather not worry Hisano-san or Labrys about… no, I'm getting ahead of myself."
As Shirou wondered what Yosuke meant (such as who was Hisano-san, or Labrys?), he waited for his friend to gather his thoughts. At some point, Yosuke turned his back towards him again, crossed his arms, and lowered his head.

"The truth is that envy I had towards you… never went away."

A stiff wind blew between them. Despite the bitter words, Shirou could feel the sincerity and remorse of Yosuke's words, and he waited for him to elaborate.

"I thought you were just like me. A city boy coming to the countryside to see some folks, probably bored out of his mind." Yosuke let out a single guffaw from his teeth and nearly doubled over. "Boy was I wrong. We couldn't be more worlds apart from the get-go, and that was before I found out you were a magus.

"It would be so easy to call you a jackass. I mean, have you heard half the stuff that comes out of your mouth sometimes? Even just a minute ago you were roasting me for no reason."

Shirou's eyebrow twitched, and he had the sinking feeling like he heard that accusation somewhere before. "Get to the point, Yosuke," he deadpanned.

"Right, sorry. It would be easy to call you that, but that would be unfair. You awakened your Persona, helped build our team, even grew into our leader. You became a real hero, saving all our asses more than once."

Shirou's animosity evaporated then and there. A hero… he hardly ever talked to others in Fuyuki about his dream, lest he be mocked and ridiculed for it. It was just some childish fantasy he never outgrew, but Yosuke didn't see it as facetious. He saw it as fact and stated it as such.

"It's not like you were born better than us, either," Yosuke continued. "Because for all the good you had in your life, it's riddled with just as bad with your folks dying. You've got me beat even in the bad luck category. I should resent you for that, and I probably do. But you've been nothing but humble and kind since coming here."

"Yosuke," Shirou said slowly. "If I'm humble, it's because you and the others help keep me honest. And if I'm kind, it's because you have been just as considerate since I came here. You offered to show me Junes even before I fixed your bike."

Yosuke was starting to turn his head back, as if listening for the first time. Shirou continued, "I may not have known Satsuki very well, and I knew Konishi even less, but I don't doubt that both of them cared about you because you're not wrong. We are a lot alike."

"…it sucks to know that you really meant that, and I believe you. Because, well…"

Yosuke's azure aura flared to life, and a visage of his Persona appeared next to him. However, the appearance was of a familiar scarf ninja he had for months than the awakened storm God from their last battle.

"Jiraiya?" Shirou exclaimed. "But how? I thought-!"

"Yeah, so did I," Yosuke confirmed as the Persona faded back inside him. "I might have come out to this place on my own to vent because, well, within walking distance from work, so why not?" He shrugged and then sighed. "But no matter how many times I fought, no matter how many Shadows I took out, I can't feel that spark again. And I know it's there. Just waiting to come out."

"'Come out'?"

"You know, like… ever get that feeling where you need to take a huge dump? You're sitting down and pushing, and while it feels good for the itch it isn't fully coming out, no matter how much you push? So you keep pushing harder and harder and—"

"Yes, and for the sake of your nads, never use that analogy around Satonaka," Shirou warned exasperatedly. In the corner of his mind, Lilim's laughter over the dirty innuendo was just as soul-crushing as the imagery.

Yosuke, unaware of the mental scarring he gave his friend, continued on. "Anyway, I know Susano-O is in me, but I can't seem to summon him. Jiraiya is as much of a part of me as Susano-O, so it's not like I can just switch Personas like you do." He then blinked and turned around fully, asking. "How do you do that, anyway?"

"I never thought about it, actually," Shirou admitted awkwardly. "Frankly, I think the fact they're not really born from my own Shadow means they're kind of malleable. I can only hold so much memory at a time, and they become stronger and compact when I fuse them?"

"Oh, so it's like that dance thing from Dragon Ball! Heck, maybe I just need to reach a higher level too, like Super Saiyan!"

"That might work," Shirou allowed. He barely remembered the show or manga growing up, but he was pretty sure battle shows glossed over how long it really takes to reach a power threshold. "Maybe focus on your Kiai?"

"Actually, I got a better idea," Yosuke said. "Well… no, it's actually a bad idea, but kind of the reason why I called you up here." He exhaled a deep breath, relaxing his body, and then tensed.

"I want you to hit me!"

"…what?"

"I want you. To hit me," Yosuke repeated with stern emphasis. "As hard. As. You. Can!"

Shirou blinked, somewhat shocked and concerned with what was being asked. "O-okay, but… why?"

"Because I'm a messed-up bundle of nerves and this inferiority complex I have is not going to go away on its own!"

"Yosuke-!"

"I'm serious! And… we promised to settle this with our fists, didn't we?"

Shirou really didn't want to do it. Fighting against friends didn't sit well with him. And it left him very conflicted that Yosuke was asking for his help. By hitting him. Probably a lot more than just once or twice, too.

Frankly, he did have a few grievances with Yosuke as well, such as springing such a request on him like this, or that time he roped him to showboating "motorcycles" in town. It wouldn't hurt to vent those out just this once, right?

Shirou nodded and drew his sword. "Then it's only fair that you go all out as well."

"Heh, yeah, fair enough!" Yosuke grinned, and he twirled his knives.

There was nothing but the two fighters in a ruined world. Their locked gazes told the other that they were serious, waiting for the proverbial gunshot.
Which came as they both conjured their Tarot cards. ""PERSONA!""

Wind and thunder surged out in a gridlock; more glass was shattered by the sonic boom while bolts of lightning charred more asphalt. And yet as a proverbial storm kicked off, the two teens rushed forward to clash with steel.

The very danger of cutting or maiming one another didn't register to them; they had faced dangerous fights together before, and their bodies and armor were not so easy to cut or bleed. But whether it was subconscious or an unspoken rule, they avoided any easy blows to the head, chest, or groin. Magecraft Persona skills were fair game though.

It was too close to count; for all of Shirou's power and stamina, Yosuke edged out in hit and run. It was mirrored in their Personas, where Jiraiya leaped from one area to the next, just narrowly avoiding Izanagi's swings. The sound of their magics detonating deafened all else.

At some point, Shirou's sword was blown away by a gale, and Yosuke dropped his own weapons from numb shock. And yet they continued to fight; their Personas with their weapons, and the users with their fists.

"RAAAAAAH!"

"HIYAAAAA!"

At the apex of their fight, they both charged one last time with all their might put behind their cocked fists.
And then-!

POW!

They found their mark in each other's cheekbone, nearly breaking their glasses. A double knockout. Both bodies collapsed to the ground, the only sound heard being their ragged breaths of exhaustion.

"God…dammit!" Yosuke gasped out. "Did you… have to go that hard? I think I… I was seeing stars… for a minute there."

"Speak… for… yourself!" Shirou panted. "My arms… are so numb…"

"Yeah… punching would do that…"

Shirou chuckled; such a stupid comment yet it made a lot of sense. As he mulled it over more, his laughter grew. Then Yosuke joined in, and their laughter carried out in the void. Even when it was hurting their chests to do so.

It was sometime later before they got the energy to move again. They leaned and rested their backs on the remains of a wall to one of the buildings. It was hard to tell where the street ended or began now, but it seemed their fighting cleared the debris and even the sky somewhat. There was no binary red-and-black ripple, but instead a clear sky as if in the real world.

"We should fight more often," Yosuke decided. "That one just now cleared up so many things for me, I can't even put them into words."

"I should say no," Shirou admonished. "But… you're right. It puts stuff into perspective better than just talking things out. I think I get why all the manga heroes do it now."

"Haha, right?" Yosuke grinned. "Though now you look as shitty as I do. Here, use this."

Shirou accepted the worn and slightly used bandage wrap Yosuke pulled out. "I don't need the whole thing, you know."

"Nah, you kinda do. Consider it a gift to use whenever you bang yourself up more than a Dia magecraft can patch up."

"I should feel offended you know me so well by now," Shirou jokingly grumbled as he started applying the wrap to his hands.

Yosuke barked another laugh before looking up at the sky. His smile fell slightly. "…you think they're watching over us?"

"Without a doubt," Shirou said instantly mid-wrap.

"Smiling over us?"

"Of course."

"…even a pain in the ass like me?"

"Especially for you, Yosuke."

"Ha-ha, maybe I should be the one offended by you now."

Unheard to Yosuke, a little pixie chimed playfully in Shirou's ear: "Da-da-dadada-da! Heart get!" It was enough to get the magus to smile wryly.

"Senpai. Sacchin. I'm going to live." Yosuke declared to the sky. "Without lying to myself, without deceiving myself. For every day; days like today, or days like before, even the boring ones where nothing happened. Because they're all important."

A gentle smile grew across his lips. "Those are the days I met you. And the days you won't live to see anymore. So, I'm going to live them all right here. I'm gonna protect those days." He turned to Shirou next to him. "And live them all with a smile."

"Yosuke…"

It was a fond moment… that suddenly shifted. Yosuke's body stiffened, and although Shirou himself couldn't see it, he felt the change within Yosuke as Jiraiya transfigured to Susano-O again.

And it wasn't a simple shift either; the change in Yosuke's heart, now clear of doubt and regrets, allowed him to overcome his weaknesses and come out stronger for it.

That wasn't all though; the social link between them became as strong as a chain and as bright as a neon light. The Magician Tarot appeared in his mind's eye, with a voice that for the first time was clear to him.

I am thou, and thou art I.
Thou has established a true bond.

The voice, Shirou realized, sounded a lot like Margaret.

A true bond, once fully fledged, can never be broken.
The bonds you create and nurture shall be your eyes to the truth.
We bestow upon thee, the ultimate power of the Magician Arcana:

The Magician Tarot then turned over, revealing the portrait of a Persona card. A teal blue, four-armed giant. Cyan rings on each arm and growing out the side of its mouth. A black maw with no eyes. Fire burning in not just the funneled-out head, but the waist that was extended out like a saucepan.

Mada, the Intoxicator.

As soon as the card was revealed, Shirou's senses cleared again. Mada… he'd have to remember that name to look up later, but it sounded leagues stronger than any other Persona he had fused or summoned before.

But that wasn't important right now.

"Ha… I think it worked!" Yosuke exclaimed, giddy. He would have bolted up from his seat if not for the still aching sores. "Geez, if I got such a rush from that before, maybe we should fight more often!"

"Maybe in a more controlled environment," Shirou said with an awkward smile. He'd rather not anger the others with sparring as crazy as this. Especially not Fuji-nee or Satonaka, the two most likely to respond violently.

"Well, I owe you one for this partner," Yosuke said gratefully. He extended his hand down to help him up. "And I hope to keep counting on you from here on out, too."

Shirou's smile was less awkward as they clasped hands. "You too."

<><><>
August 22nd, Dojima Household

Ah, after a day of resting from that "fight", Shirou was ready to tackle another day of summer vacation. He'd just finished cooking breakfast with Nanako, a daily ritual between the two of them now, and was ready to sit down and eat-

When the front door burst open with a strong kick. Taiga rushed in, not even bothering to kick her shoes off, and grabbed Shirou by the shoulders.

"SHIROU! NEED HELP! NOW!"

"But-! AHHH!"

Her superhuman strength dragged him off his feet as she dashed out the front door and slammed it behind them.

"Huh?" Nanako blinked, confused about what she just saw.

Her confusion peaked when the door opened slowly, and Taiga, still holding a frazzled red-haired teenager above her, awkwardly smiled as she walked in. "Hey, Nanako-chan! Is it okay if I join you for breakfast?"

<><><>

After the older woman was placated with a high-tier morning meal, she dragged Shirou out of the house again. But not against his will, as he more or less forced her to explain what she needed him for in the first place.

"It's my kendo exams. They're coming up soon and I'm worried I might fail them again. I haven't gotten time to practice!"

Shirou felt that Taiga Fujimura didn't need to practice at all. She had raw power, form, anhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TC6pEsHmTwd now a Persona to boot. But she was asking for his help, and he was obliged to lend a hand.

Their practice took place in her apartment; she easily moved her furniture away in the living room so they could move in relative freedom forward and back. Shirou argued against this, but there were hardly any appropriate places to practice kendo in the first place.

THWACK! Shirou's face impacted the floor for the umpteenth time today.

"HA! I win again! You're not going easy on me, are you Shirou?!"

Like he could ever win against Fuji-nee. Maybe before he could have when he had awakened to his Persona, but her own awakening widened that gap again, and she had years of experience. Still, her attacks felt harder than usual.

Grunting and pushing himself up, he noticed she wasn't holding her normal shinai at all. It was almost a slab of pitch black. Was it dark wood or… "Uh, Fuji-nee? Could I see your weapon?"

"Oho, you finally noticed my secret weapon, eh?" she said smugly, even as she handed it to him.

He immediately Traced the weapon, finding the act simpler and more natural since his remedial lessons with Margaret. As such, he picked up its main properties right away. "This blade-! It's made almost entirely of obsidian! Fuji-nee, where did you get this?"

"Daidara's, of course. He was pretty giddy from all the materials you brought him from that castle that he even started making weapons that feel like bamboo blades."

Feel was an accurate description, as it was a similar facsimile to a kendo weapon. The weight, the balance, the shape… all with the intense power to bludgeon on the downswing. Perfect for fighting Shadows. But as an official kendoka sparring weapon?

"Fuji-nee, you can't possibly be thinking of using this weapon in your exam. It'll get you expelled!"

"Huh?!" The very idea of failing knocked the wind out of her sails. "No, I can't have that! I can't get disqualified again!"

Again? That was rather alarming. "Fuji-nee," Shirou asked slowly. "Are you saying you've been failing your exams because of cheating?"

"Me, cheat! Never!" she denied vehemently. Then she wilted, looking away from him sheepishly. "Well, maybe not cheat cheat. I tend to cave when dieting, and I make shortcuts whenever I commute to school like a hole in a wall dividing the neighborhood."

"You go through a hole in a wall?" Shirou balked, and then his mind immediately wandered to a dark place, seeing her legs flailing in a cramped alleyway. "W-Wasn't it dangerous? And small?"

"Well, it was small at first," Taiga admitted, unaware of Shirou's concern. "But after I went through it a few times, it expanded to fit my gorgeous figure! I practically go through there every day now back in Fuyuki!"

Ah, yes. Her "human jet coaster" propulsion. And it sounds less like a "shortcut" if she made it her usual route.

No, they were getting too distracted now. "Fuji-nee, why do you want to change shinai now?"

"Because every time I used my old one, they'd disqualify me! So I thought maybe I need a better shinai or one not as worn out?"

There were so many things wrong with that statement that pointing them out wouldn't help as much as getting to the root of it all. "Well, do you have your old shinai with you? Let me see it."

"Uh, sure. I think I put Tora-shinai over there. Or was it there…?"

Taiga shifted through her whole apartment for several minutes before finding what she dubbed "Tora-shinai". From the tiger-printed covering over the blade, he could immediately tell why. It was well worn for sure, for a few years at least. But another feature caught his eye before he even started scanning.

"Fuji-nee, what's this?" Shirou asked, poking a small stubby cat figure tied by the guard.

"That's Tora-shinai's most distinguishing feature!" Taiga gushed with a smile.

"You mean… you keep this tied on your shinai at all times?"

"Why not? It's a good luck charm."

Shirou sighed exasperatedly. "Fuji-nee, you can't have accessories on your shinai for official tournaments. It's considered rude. No wonder you've been disqualified."

"B-But," Taiga's good cheer diminished, and she looked about ready to burst into tears. "But it's cute! It is literally what makes Tora-shinai Tora-shinai! I can't just get rid of it!"

"But it's a ti-" Shirou started, before mentally screeching and backpedaling. Bring no attention to the T-word! Especially when Fuji-nee is emotionally compromised now!! "T-tiny little thing, you'd hardly notice it otherwise!"

"Yeah, but I don't want to lose it if I take it off! It's like how cameras come with a lens cap, but you have no place to keep it safe after you're done using it so the lens gets dirty!"

Was she attached to it? Well… now that he had a chance to scan it, it was actually pretty strong for a weapon; well-kept too. It just fell short to the obsidian in power scaling. "Tell you what; I'll get another shinai for you that is tournament standard. That way you have something for your next rank-up and you can keep, uh… 'Tora-Shinai' as is."

Taiga blinked. "You… you'd do that for me?"

"Why wouldn't I? It's only fair," Shirou explained. "In fact, I owe you for all you've done for me over the years. Watching me since Kiritsugu died, arranging this trip to Inaba… I never did quite thank you for that, so let this be my thanks to you."

"Ah-!" Taiga gasped, and her cheeks flushed brightly. For a long moment she stood there and stared at him. Perhaps too long, as it started to make Shirou worry.

"Huh? Fuji-nee, are you okAAAAYYY!?"

Taiga lunged over with a wide smile and gave him a bone-crushing hug around his neck and face. This boy! This stupid, caring, utterly charming boy! "I knew I could count on you to help! Thanks Shirou, you're the absolute best!"

Granted, Shirou was glad to be here and help Fuji-nee with this problem. They would need to buy a replacement shinai later, but it was still progress. It's just… he was very self-conscious about her more open displays of affection such as now. Was it something he said?

It's a shame that she's more on the lean side, as there was only so much relief feeling her bre-NO! Bad Shirou! BAD Shirou!

The only "solace" in his overwhelmed mind was Lilim's laughter and Cu Sith's howling as the Sun link grew stronger.

<><><>
August 23rd, Shichiri Beach

"Ah, the ocean. A brilliant blue body of bath salts, glistening like the dew of a goddess. This must be a glimpse of what heaven looks like!"

Granted, what Teddie described made the view of the ocean sound very appealing. This beach Yosuke found was only a short drive away from Inaba by scooter. With only so much vacation time left, it was decided that everyone would get together and have a beach day.

Right now, Shirou was standing by Yosuke and Teddie, in swimming trunks, waiting for the girls to get ready.

"Yeah, I bet Sacchin would have loved to see this," Yosuke lamented softly. "Though I have a feeling Saki-senpai came here before, as she's been here longer than us."

Shichiri Beach was several miles away from Inaba, so at least a very manageable driving distance. It was manageable by scooter, and the girls all applied for their licenses over the summer. Though they lacked the age requirement for scooters, Shirou was impressed that Kanji and Teddie followed them with just a bicycle and pair of roller skates respectively. They were practically half-dead the way over. It was only after seeing the ocean that they barreled ahead with a second wind akin to Reinforcement.

"This was a good idea coming here," Shirou said. "We hadn't had time to relax lately, and you both missed the festival at the shrine."

"Why do you think I suggested this idea? It's my way of saying sorry."

"Come on, Yosuke!" Teddie grinned. "Don't think of it as a loss that Sacchin's gone. Think of it as a happy memory that you were glad that happened!"

Yosuke turned to the bear in human skin with a touch of awe. "Wow. Teddie, that's—"

"And that you're single and ready to bounce back into the dating scene!" Teddie finished with arms raised over his head, briefly letting go of his inner tube.

Yosuke grimaced. "That's about what I expected from you. Thanks for keeping me grounded."

"Anytime, Yosuke!" the bear said obliviously.

"So, you're not nervous about seeing Rise in a swimsuit again?" Shirou asked.

Yosuke made a non-committal sound as he wobbled his hand in the air. It certainly sounded like he still held the former idol in high regard, but not enough for his current bit of listlessness. "It's more like—"

"Are you guys seriously not in the water yet?!"

Chie's sharp remark brought the three's attention towards her, and the girls. For Teddie, it was the first time seeing them in swimsuits, but it brought vivid memories of the camping trip for Shirou and Yosuke.

Chie wore a slim yellow bikini with faded lines, almost passable as summer clothes with turquoise short shorts over the matching bottoms. Yukiko's white bikini with a single red stripe was equally demure with a flowing skirt. And Rise's g-strap bikini was orange with yellow flower designs, and no outer wear. As she had options, she chose to forgo Yosuke's gift from the trip.

"Such heavenly bodies of angels!" Teddie grinned with a blush. "This must be heaven!"

Rise giggled, eyes scanning the boys in their shorts. And satisfied how Shirou and Teddie couldn't take their eyes off them. "Aww, did you all wait for us to get ready?"

"It would be rude to not all join in," Shirou said with an easy smile. "Isn't that right Yosuke?"

"Huh? Y-yeah," he replied, looking past the girls down the other end of the beach, and the stairway between it and the road. "Say, wasn't there anyone else with you in the changing tents?"

Rise's smile fell and she felt confused and offended. "What kind of response is that? Shouldn't you be happy to see the idol Risette in a bikini?!"

"Former idol," Shirou said. "You quit, remember?"

In the back of the magus' mind, he heard Undine hiss a sharp intake of air (water?). Rise's bad mood seemed compounded by a blank, annoyed stare towards him.

"I-It's not that you don't look amazing, Rise-chan!" Yosuke placated quickly for his friend's safety. "But I'm kinda expecting someone else, and she said she was supposed to be here soon."

"Oh, mine too!" Teddie chimed in. "That's why I asked Taiga-sama to pick her up on the way!"

Ah, Shirou nodded to himself. That would explain why Fuji-nee would be running a little late and sounded annoyed about being deemed the chaperone to pick up everyone. He probably shouldn't have asked Marie to be brought along, but he felt bad barely making time for her as it is.

"Wait, 'she'?!" Chie cried out suddenly.

"Huh?" Teddie blinked. "Uh, yeah, my girlfriend. The one I made sweet summer memories nearly a week ago!"

"Not that part – we're talking about it later, by the way!" Chie huffed, before pointing to Yosuke. "You seeing someone again? When did this happen?"

If possible, Yosuke looked more flustered at the questioning than by their swimsuits. "W-well, we were visiting Naoto's place during the festival, and she just happened to be there at the same time…"

"Oh, are you talking about Labrys?" Kanji's voice called out. "You seemed pretty smitten by her."

"It's not like that!" Yosuke snapped, turning to the bleached-haired teen as he walked in. His eyes darted down to the rather revealing piece of swimwear Kanji had on. "…and what the hell are you wearing?!"

"It's basic black," Kanji huffed defensively.

"And yet why does it show things I never wanted to see?" Yosuke whined. Not that Shirou could blame him; it would take a special kind of daring to wear swim briefs like Kanji.

"Don't change the subject!" Chie snapped. "First Teddie's secret girlfriend and now 'Labrys'? What gives?"

"What do you mean 'what gives'?" Yosuke asked back. "Just because two girls I cared about died means I should just give up dating forever?"

"Th-that's not what I mean!"

"Then what does it mean?"

"Ahem," Yukiko cleared her throat, speaking up for the first time today. "I think what Chie is trying to say," she said, as she placed a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "Is that we were worried about you all month, Hanamura-kun, and are happy you are doing better. But we're also concerned about it being too soon after… Sacchin."

Yosuke glared between the girls, before his budding anger fell with a sigh. "Look, I get it. So soon after dating a vampire and now this. But nothing happened happened. And Labrys is nice. She's practically Naoto's only friend after Kanji."

"So, you thought to invite her out to the beach, too?" Shirou asked. Yosuke nodded. "That was nice of you."

"Geez, it's just a courtesy, showing her the sights," he grumbled with a flush. "I'm not trying to date again."

"Knowing your luck, you might end up with a werewolf," Chie remarked dryly.

"Hey! That's… not entirely a non-factor?" he argued weakly, almost questioning as he turned to Shirou, who shrugged. Seriously, if vampires existed, then anything was fair game. Werewolves, mummies, slimes, hodge-podge electric zombies… probably all chilling in some hotel in Transylvania, too.

"Snrk!" Yukiko's cheeks puffed, forcing down a case of the giggles. "Tehe, s-sorry! Just imagined Hanamura-kun with ahahaha – with a-hahahahaha-!"

"Amagi?"

"Uh, Yukiko, maybe you should sit down."

"No, no, let's hear it," Yosuke said dryly. "Go ahead Amagi. Imagine me with what?"

"Pfft, promise you won't get mad?" she asked shyly. At Yosuke's nodded, her laughs exploded with her punchline. "…with a BITCH! BWA-hahahahahaha!"

Yosuke blinked. The others all did the same, mentally processing what they heard, and feeling the pointed stares of other beachgoers looking their way.

"I don't get it, Shirou-sensei," Teddie asked Shirou. "What do 'bitches' have to do with dogs?"

By this point, Yukiko fell on her back and rolled on the sand, kicking and hugging her sides as she laughed louder. Then the association clicked, and Shirou chuckled. Then Chie, much to her chagrin, and Rise. Even Yosuke found the wordplay hilarious.

"I don't get it either, Ted," Kanji shrugged to the confused bear. And so, they waited until the laughter died down. Which came sooner than expected at the sound of new arrivals.

"Heh, Red has a good sense of humor."

"I never liked wolves, to be honest. Fussy eaters and crybabies."

Shirou looked up to see a few familiar faces, and several unfamiliar ones. Taiga Fujimura waved to the kids, wearing a straw hat, sunglasses, and a yellow one-piece swimsuit with black strap laces. Marie wore a simple but revealing black two-piece bikini, with extra lace binding over the top, and walked down with confidence like she had always known the group. Naoto, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here, was recognizable with his navy-blue hat (as always) but also sky-blue shirt and shorts; the bare minimum for a beach trip and not in any interest to go swimming.

"Hehehe! Thanks, Marie-chan!" Yukiko smiled; although Marie came across as aloof or cold, there was no doubt she was kind and sincere. "Everyone's here now! Fujimura-san, Naoto-kun, and… wait, who are these two?"

Shirou didn't recognize the other two either, but he felt some sort of… familiarity with one of them. A somewhat tall girl, almost to Fuji-nee's height, barely standing on elevated sandals. She wore a white t-shirt covering down to her mid-thighs with a fox stamp over her left breast, and a large white sunhat over her strawberry-pink wavy hair. Her eyes were as bright as gold amber, yet also sharp, discerning. Sly. From the way she held a beach parasol in one hand and an inner tube in another, or how her gait was slow and hypnotic, drawing attention to her bare legs.

The other girl was a bigger mystery. She wore a long blue dress, with the white-rimmed ends fluttering just beyond her knees. Her skin was rather porcelain, a shade too white for anything other than prosthetics. Her face, with long platinum white hair and ruby red eyes, seemed rather passive and guarded. Until her gaze turned towards them (or rather, Yosuke) and she was now smiling.

"Why it's Mamo-chan and Labrys-chan of course!" Teddie said happily. "So happy you could join us girls!"

The pink-haired beauty, Mamo-chan, smiled and knelt close to Teddie, noses nearly touching. "My Ku-kun, of course I would love spending more time with you in the sun~!"

"Aww, teehee!"

"Eeeeeh?!" Chie screeched, while Yukiko gasped and Rise stared blankly at Mamo's leaning backside.

Labrys' arms tucked into a cheer, her face bright as she greeted Yosuke. "I'm so happy to be at the beach again!" she said. "Thanks for inviting me!"

"Hey, any time," Yosuke said. "I wanted to introduce you to the rest of my friends, anyway."

"Friends?" Labrys asked, before noticing Shirou and the girls behind her. "O-Oh! Forgive my rudeness! Yosuke has told me so much about you all! You must be Shirou, Chie, Yukiko, and Risette! My name is Labrys, NOT a secret agent watching over the Shirogane estate! Just a normal girl like you!"

"Normal. Right," Rise said flatly, glaring at her dress to try and discern her figure. Chie and Yukiko dumbly nodded, more overwhelmed than convinced. And if anyone took notice to her "secret agent" comment, they didn't show it.

Shirou smiled and extended a hand to Labrys. "Nice to meet you," he told her. Labrys' smile grew wider as they shook hands. Though it wasn't hard to tell her evident joy; he had been familiar with Personas so much he picked up a few things even when they weren't all active around his active bonds.

"Honestly, the things I do for you boys," Taiga groaned loudly, setting her blanket and icebox down near them. "Each of you asking me to pick up a girl – and Naoto-kun – last minute? When I said I would rent a car for the stragglers, I didn't expect to be a carpool!"

"I was the only one who insisted on staying behind, Fujimura-san," Naoto said tiredly.

"Ooooh no you don't. Not this time!" Taiga might have put on a show of being tired or annoyed, but she was quick to scorn the blue-capped boy with a pointing finger. "You don't get a say after blowing me off all week for the festival! You're here and not leaving until we all get our fill of the sun, especially for Labrys-chan!"

"But-!"

"Sensei's right, Naoto!" Kanji said, hands on his hips proudly. "We're all here, so let's have some fun!"

"KYAAAH!"

Naoto and the girls only then noticed Kanji's swimwear. A few gasps and alarmed looks came from them, but Naoto's reaction – a very shrill and feminine shriek – was not what they were expecting. Much less for Naoto to run and hide behind Shirou. "Uh…"

"N-Naoto?"

"See? Even Naoto thinks your swimsuit is disturbing! You should've gone with trunks like the rest of us!"

Labrys gazed at the befuddled teen up and down, mostly on his back. "But those briefs give such a flattering view of his buttocks."

Yosuke's face suddenly flared red in embarrassment. "LABRYS!"

Kanji frowned and squirmed. "Is this what being violated feels like?"

Marie snorted a short chuckle. "Well, as fun as that all is, I came to the beach to swim. Red. Green. Pinkette. Wanna swim?"

The girls snapped out of their perturbed stares of Labrys and Mamo. "Huh?" Yukiko squawked.

"Uh, why us?" Rise asked.

"Well, I was gonna ask Four to do it," Marie clarified, before gesturing to him. "But it looks like he's gonna be busy keeping Cappy company."

"Gee, thanks," Shirou remarked snidely. Marie only smirked back at him, and Naoto seemed to huddle closer to his back in shame.

Labrys blinked twice. "'Cappy'? Oh, OHHH! Because Naoto wears a blue hat! It's her favorite!" Labrys explained excitedly, before bristling. "Uh, his mother's, I mean. Naoto's mother's favorite hat! She gave it to him!"

"A hand-me-down, huh?" Marie said thoughtfully. "Yeah, it does look good on him… I think."

"Well, whatever, I'll go swimming Marie-chan," Chie shrugged and smiled. There were so many weird things going on, but the fun of swimming in the ocean was too tempting to get bothered by them now.

"What the hell, I'm down for the water too!" Taiga said, finishing up setting up her things and taking off her hat and sunglasses.

"I didn't ask you, Tiger," Marie reminded her, much to Shirou's horror.

"And you didn't need to!" she responded back, as if she didn't hear the taboo word. She did, however, climb up the stairs out of the beach. "Let me just get my surfboard from the car first."

Marie watched her go up to the road with a shrug, then noticed everyone staring at her. "What? Did I put my swimsuit on backwards or something?"

"N-No, not that," Shirou shook his head. It was kind of hard not to look at how provocative she was dressed already. "Just… she usually doesn't like being called that."

"Oh, that. Yeah, we got into a big fight over it on the way over," she shrugged. "I told her if she didn't like being associated with a tiger, she should try wearing less yellow and black stripes together. Not that it was a bad thing; it works to her style."

"Ah, I get it now," Shirou nodded. "You appealed to her name as something to be proud of than as a joke."

"Of course. Strong mythical creatures are tied to tigers, you know. Dawon, Byakko, even the Nue if you want to get technical."

"'Newy'?" Labrys asked with a head tilt. "Is that some kind of lizard? You know, because it sounds like a newt?"

Mamo chuckled softly. "Marie-chan refers to the legendary monster with a monkey's head, a tanuki's body, a snake's tail, and of course a tiger's paws. Sort of like a Japanese Chimaera, only not sired by Gods."

Marie nodded along, impressed. "Huh, didn't think you'd be an expert on the subject, Mamo."

"You pick up a few things when you're around long enough," was her cryptic reply.

"DORIAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Everyone jumped and saw Taiga run towards the ocean, holding a long tiger-patterned surfboard overhead. She jumped on and paddled fast with her surfboard beyond the shallow water, where there were more intense waves for those that dared to shred.

"H-Hey! She got into the water first!" Chie exclaimed.
"Well stop gawking and start swimming!" Marie shouted back, running ahead. Yukiko and Rise almost ran after them before the former stopped and turned to the others.

"You should join us, Mamo-chan," Yukiko offered. "And you as well, Labrys."

"Yeah, slip off those dresses and show us the goods," Rise remarked with an edge.

Labrys tensed again, and she awkwardly waved her hands as she stepped back. Closer to Yosuke. "Uh, no thanks. I'm, uh… not a good swimmer. At all."

"I'll have to pass too," Mamo declined. "At least for now. I want to do a little search around here first."

"Whaaat? But it's the beach!" Rise whined.

"And there's plenty of fun to be had aside from water play." Mamo-chan was already walking further down the beach before stopping. "How about you, Ku-kun?"
Teddie looked uncertain, eyes jumping between her and the beach edge. Marie and Chie were already splashing each other, and Taiga was paddling further towards the waves. "Uh… can I join Yuki-chan and the others in the water?"

Mamo-chan smiled happily towards him. "Of course, Ku-kun. They are your friends, after all."

"Whoopee!" Teddie cheered and lifted his inner tube above his head while dancing.

"Huh, she really is a nice girl for Teddie," Yukiko remarked.

"Must take a lot of confidence to let the bear on a short leash," Rise agreed. "How does she do it?"

Mamo-chan turned her gaze to the sand and knelt to reach for a shell. "Oh, and Ku-kun?"

"Yes, my voluptuous vixen?"

"You can look, but you absolutely cannot touch other girls," she said slowly, picking the shell up in her hand. "Because doing so will make me… very angry."

CRUNCH! The shell in her hand was crushed completely, fractured to dust, and almost no resistance to her fingers or palm. Shirou swore he smelt a hint of prana flare up, but it was still scary how easy she made it look. Not that it was needed, as it cowed everyone into nervousness.

Mamo-chan's smile never dropped, but it held a very distinct feeling of pain and death even with her eyes closed. "And you do not want to see me get very angry, Ku-kun. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mamo-chan!" Teddie gushed quickly with bowing motions, the most scared out of everyone there. "Anything you say, sweet perfect Mamo-chan!"

"Good! Have fun now~!" She turned and waved goodbye; the oppressive feeling gone as quickly as it came. Everyone exhaled a breath they didn't know they were holding.
Kanji gulped audibly. "That was so scary."
"I know. I like her," Yukiko beamed. Rise turned to her with a dismayed expression.
"Dude," Yosuke started, looking incredulously at Teddie. "Where the hell did you find her?"
"I-In the woods?" Teddie said uncertainly. "Though it was more like she found me first." He then shook his head. "But enough about that! I have permission now! Banzaaai!"
Teddie roared as he ran into the water. After a moment's deliberation, Yukiko, Kanji, and Rise all chased after him.

Labrys hesitated. "Oh… it looks so fun to play in the water, but—"

"Hey, there's plenty of fun to do otherwise, Mamo-chan just said so," Yosuke assured. "Why don't you and I build a sandcastle?"

"A castle made entirely out of sand?" Labrys' eyes widened with interest. "Such technology is possible?!"

"W-Well, not so much as technology as it is making a sandy diorama. But don't worry, it's easy."

Yosuke led Labrys by the arm, taking her to a spot with "good foundation" as he put it. Though Labrys' steps were somewhat stilted, she smiled and followed him eagerly.
It made Shirou smile, seeing Yosuke happy and living life like he promised he would. That while he missed Saki and Sacchin, he wouldn't be burdened down by their passing. He couldn't get a good feel of Labrys as a person, but she was genuine. And he would be there for his friend, no matter what life threw at him or Labrys.

Now he just needed to decide what to do. Help Yosuke and Labrys with their sandcastle? Or join up with the others on the beach? Maybe catch up to Taiga and try to warn her not to surf in a public area? Or ask Mamo-chan directly who she really is.

"Uuuh…"

Oh, wait. Naoto. He almost forgot all about him, what with him hiding behind his back for a while.

Shirou turned fully to face the younger, smaller boy. He didn't look as frazzled as before, making sure to stand confidently and arms crossed. "That was… unnerving," Naoto said neutrally.

"Kanji's swimsuit or Mamo-chan's threat?" Shirou asked.

"…yes."

Well, that was about as expected, though he believed it was Mamo-chan that edged out.

"Do not worry about me, Emiya-san," Naoto said briskly. "I'll just sit here and wait until the day is over." He sat down on one of the beach towels Taiga had set down and kneeled his knees crisscross Indian style.

"Then I'll join you," Shirou said, sitting next to him. He almost regretted it as he landed on the hot sand with only trunks on, and the splash caused some crystals to land on his skin. But he stayed committed to his decision.

"Don't be ridiculous. There are others that you wish to spend time with, I'm sure."

"Yeah, and you're one of them. I wish to know you better too, Naoto."

Naoto blinked, turning to him with wide eyes. "Me?"

"I know you don't fight like the rest of us. You've still been a big help since you joined us. You could have told everything to Doji-nii and the police force, but you didn't. You didn't have to go to Misaki Town to find out more about Sacchin, but you did anyway."

Shirou turned to Naoto and smiled. "I'm sure you get this a lot in your line of work, but we couldn't have gotten this far without you. Thank you, Naoto."

The blue-haired boy's eyes widened; they looked almost grey at a distance but were really a faint shimmer of blue. Then his cheeks flushed red, and he broke eye contact. "I… I actually don't get that a lot."

"Huh?"

"I'm skilled in my line of work, but police officers and detectives are usually old, experienced veterans who insist things have to be done a certain way." Naoto's hands clenched on his knees. "You can only imagine how many find the idea of a new Shirogane detective barely fifteen coming along and showing them up. They drag their feet on some cases for months, even years. But when I help solve them in less time, they view me as a threat and never hire me again. It doesn't matter how little I assist them or how discreetly I do it. I'd be lucky to get a backhanded compliment my way out the door."

"Is Shirogane an important family name?"

"That's right," Naoto nodded. "The Shirogane family has had detectives for generations, mostly as consultants for the police. I've been trying to follow in the footsteps of my parents, who passed away when I was young, but it's not easy. My grandpa's connections don't seem to convince them to see me as an asset."
"I see," Shirou said, unsure what else to say.

Naoto sighed, shifted his legs with his knees bent up. "A lot of these issues will be gone with age, but I won't have the experience that comes with it if I keep getting shut out. And even then…" He trailed off as his head lowered and his hands wrapped around his legs, hugging his knees closer to his chest.

Shirou frowned at the boy's conflict, and at his own silence. Taiga was right; they did have a lot in common, and the similarities were concerning. Aloofness. Friendless. Alone.

A desire to prove something.

Shirou breathed deeply in and out before speaking. "Naoto, you shouldn't be in a hurry to prove something."

"Pardon?"

"I want to be an ally of justice. I still plan to be, but for the longest time I had to keep that secret buried and hope what amounted to training on my own would be enough. I didn't awaken to a Persona until coming here, but it's been the biggest boon to my goal. All because I have friends to help me."

"I… still do not understand," Naoto said, turning to face Shirou with a perplexed expression. "An opportunity presented itself for you, yes, but why shouldn't we hurry to prove something?"

"Because in my self-training, I neglected to care about the people around me at Fuyuki," Shirou explained. "I quit archery thinking it was holding me back. I pushed people away because of my secret. Now I'm relying on the skills I learned in archery, my old bow again, and the people I wouldn't have normally given the time of day.

"In trying to become an ally of justice my own rushed way, I lost sight of what it really meant. I lost something I could almost never get back."

Naoto stared at him. Something in the young man looked ready to snap, to yell, to get mad… but he didn't. As he was reminded of what Taiga said to him when he snapped. Of how personal Shirou's own talk was, and what that meant for the red-haired teen to admit. "…you make it sound so easy," he hissed out bitterly.

"It's not," Shirou agreed. "But you're smart, Naoto. Smarter than me, smarter than most of us here. We might get mad or tease each other over slights, but we're not going to hold a grudge over you or anyone else for being who they are. I certainly won't."

A ghost of a smile slowly etched on his lips. "I appreciate it."

And he meant it; Shirou's senses dimmed as a familiar experience enveloped him; the forming of a new Social Link. And a Tarot Card, a white wheel centered in a green background. The pointer was a gold-mask-rimmed sword, pointing up towards a figure of a horned devil, with a snake slithering below the wheel. The Roman numeral on the card read "X".

I am thou, and thou art I.
Thou hast established a new bond.
It shall bring thee closer to the truth.
Thou shalt be blessed by Personae of the Fortune Arcana.

It had been some time since he had made a new bond, actually. Hopefully this one will grow as strong as the rest of the others he had made thus far.

"Actually, I was hoping to ask your opinion on something, Emiya-san," Naoto began, suddenly more cordial. "How do you plan to confront the Inaba Killer again?"

Shirou frowned. Not that he didn't expect the young detective to go about business as usual, but the timing was rather poor. "I understand this is important, Naoto," he began. "But shouldn't we get everyone together first? Or at least not during a break like this?"

"It's because this is their break that I don't want to bother them with this," he stressed. "You are the team leader, so you are the most important person to discuss this with. I… don't want to ruin everyone else's time with my trivial matters."

Well, at least he knew when work was appropriate. And trusting to talk to him about it, too. Shirou's frown turned to a smile, which eased Naoto's worries. "All right. But let's keep this brief. And then go swimming after."

"I, uh… am not much of a swimmer either," Naoto insisted rather quickly. Too quickly, in fact. "Anyway, the culprit. You mentioned his calling card of sorts involves the Midnight Channel?"

Shirou nodded. "We don't know the peculiars of why yet, but it always involves a popular news story involving a person of interest, and then their Shadow appears on the Midnight Channel."

"And it's never before?" Naoto asked.

"No. The Midnight Channel needs specific triggers to activate, and only for a short time. I make sure to check it every rainy night after a rescue, and nothing pops up. Not even the Shadows from before."

"That makes sense," Naoto agreed, his hand resting by his chin. "Rise-chan, Kanji-kun, Amagi-san… this pattern even dates back to the first two victims with Konishi-san and Yamano-san. Not that anyone would have taken the Midnight Channel seriously at the time. The culprit must have something nefarious in mind."

"And yet the Shadows keep getting stronger with each victim thrown in," Shirou commented. "If we have to fight something as serious as a vampire again, I doubt we'd survive."

"That's another thing; Satsuki Yumisuka Kubo. She is entirely an outlier to the pattern, and yet she also revealed some important facts."

"What do you mean?"

"Fujimura-san pushed her and Mitsuo Kubo into the TV at the same time. If what Sacchin's Shadow's story was correct, she didn't have the power to put people into TVs, vampire or no. It would make sense that her Shadow would have already been inside the TV world then, yes?"

"I… yes?" Shirou guessed.

"Except no," Naoto explained. "At least not at first. Mitsuo's Shadow was formed without ever having a Midnight Channel. Satsuki's Shadow didn't appear until her own channel was aired. And then there are your friends that weren't kidnapped but forced to confront their Shadows anyway: Hanamura-kun, Satonaka-san, Fujimura-san, and Teddie."

He never stopped to think about the discrepancies until now, honestly. Shadow Teddie told them explicitly that the TV world was a collective unconscious where every stray thought became a Shadow that knew only how to hunt and kill. Why would such a world exist though? What would there be to gain?

"What if," Shirou began, as cold doubt filled him, and it wasn't from the summer breeze. "What if the culprit is using that world to create Shadows? Not just mindless ones but those that could in theory… conquer our world?"

It was crazy to even think about. It had to be. But with how little they knew for certain, the worst possible outcome seemed plausible.

"A probable hypothesis," Naoto agreed. "We can at least confirm that concentrated Shadows are made by two distinct methods: from rumors based on the person through conjecture, or by doubts of the person themselves while in the TV world. Right now, these kidnappings are just stress-tests and are hiding something far sinister. It might only be a matter of time before something catastrophic happens."

"So, what are we supposed to do?" Shirou asked. "We've been trying to find the culprit for months and don't even know what he or she looks like."

"We know the culprit's modus operandi," Naoto assured. "And we also know that they follow it to the letter. Compulsively so. Fujimura-san would have been thrown into the TV next, but the culprit missed the window of opportunity."

"But they threw Kanji in anyway when it was his turn."

"Precisely. So, it only makes sense that, despite Satsuki's meddling in the case, the culprit will continue to throw people that appear important in the limelight. It also makes sense to…"

Naoto's voice trailed off, and he looked away from Shirou. Instead, he looked at everyone swimming in the ocean, how Kanji was reigning in Teddie from getting too close to the girls' swimsuits. To how Labrys held on to Yosuke's every word of making sandcastles and how simple the designs were. How Taiga was confidently surfing across the waves, and how Mamo-chan talked with young kids also picking up seashells.

How happy everyone was.

"…to what?" Shirou asked. "Naoto? 'Makes sense to' what?"

Naoto's gaze turned to the boy next to him. Comforting eyes, strong muscles with faded scars, a welcoming presence. A masculine presence that convinced him that everything would be okay. To melt in his arms and-

"Emiya-san," Naoto began slowly. "You said you were an ally of justice, correct?"

"Yes?"

"If I were ever in any danger, would you rescue me?"

"Huh?"

"Like a hero would?"

"Naoto, what are you talking about?"

"Yes or no, Emiya-san?"

"Yes, I would, but–"

"Then that's good enough for now," he said, pushing himself up from the blanket. "Let's get some topsicles."

"But Naoto—!"

The boy didn't listen, almost briskly leaving for the snack bar. It was just as well, as Shirou heard splashing close by. Kanji grabbled Teddie from behind and pulled his arms back, inching closer to shore. "Senpai, I need help wrangling Ted!"

"Let me go, Kanji! I need to see my heavenly wardrobe malfunction!"

"No way! You heard your scary girlfriend! Don't piss her off screwing around!"

"I was planning on using this on Yuki-chan, but if you dare to come between a bear and his beloved peaches—!"

Shirou's nose caught a whiff of a sudden concentration of prana. This wasn't like any of Teddie's Gradation Air spells, and as he flailed out of Kanji's grasp, he aimed his intent to use it on him. "Teddie, no!" he cried, running over.

"Teddie, yes!" Teddie proclaimed, cupping his paws-now-hands together. "Auditee! Unity! Offering!"

Kanji flinched as he saw a light sea-blue glow from Teddie's hands. "What the hell?!"

"Cast Off!" He threw both hands together, mimicking a powerful pose he read in a manga once, and fired.

The blue prana beam arched closer to Kanji, ready to envelop him. At the last minute, Shirou shoved Kanji to the side. However, he had no time to protect himself before it hit him, detonating in a bright flash.

"Wooaah!"

"Senpai!"

"Dude, what was that?!"

Shirou had prepared himself for the worst, and he could feel the magecraft cascade over him. He wasn't blown back, or burned, or shocked or anything. Rather, he felt a sudden draft and wetness around his legs, but he didn't pay it much mind as he had rushed into the water waist deep.

The light died down, finding himself staring at a sheepish, posing Teddie. "S-Sensei…?" he squeaked out, with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Shirou sighed. Relieved that nothing happened, but also exasperated at what could have been. "Teddie, I don't know what that magecraft you just pulled off was, but I hope you never try something like that out again. Least of all using Kanji or Amagi as your test subject."

"Shirou-Sensei—"

"Promise?"

"I promise, but Sensei—!"

Shirou turned and walked back to shore. He still had questions for Naoto, and didn't want the momentum to die off just yet. He said something about topsicles—

"Shirou, are you okay? What was that—FLAPPING DANGLES MY EYES!" Shirou didn't know what got Yosuke in a hurry, nor why he was suddenly flustered and looking away.
Kanji wasn't any better, turning away and covering his eyes. "Geez, make yourself decent, senpai! At least stay in the water!"

"What are you guys talking about?" he asked. Yes, he was blasted by some spell, but he wasn't harmed in any way.

Labrys explained in a way the others couldn't, intently staring at his waistline. "I believe it's because you're naked, Shirou."

…what?

"Labrys, don't look!"

"But is this not the 'wardrobe malfunction' Teddie was talking about?"

"Wait a minute… you intended to blast ME with that!"

"N-Now Kanji, let's be reasonable here!"

"What's reasonable about this, you pervy bear?!"

The guys around him were filtered out to white noise. He slowly looked down, and noticed that his trunks were not there anymore. His bathing suit was now a birthday suit, and the water only came up to his ankles now.

"KYAAAAAAAA!"

A shrill scream broke Shirou out of his stupor, as he dove back into the deeper water for what little dignity he had left. When he popped up, he saw Naoto further down the shore, having dropped two topsicles to the sand and covering his face with his hat.

"Naoto!" Kanji rushed over to his friend's side, consoling him.

Yosuke let out a low whistle. "Geez, first Kanji's briefs and now Shirou's buck. Poor guy can't catch a break."

"That could have been so much worse, Shirou-sensei," Teddie noted. "Well, at least none of the other girls saw you like that!"

"I can keep a secret!" Labrys offered helpfully with a raised arm. "I did NOT see your private parts, Shirou!"

"Don't blab that out!" Yosuke scolded, pushing her hand down. "The point of a secret is not saying anything!"

"Ah, gotcha!"

"See? Everything worked out, Shirou-sen-BLLBLBULBLBLBL!!"

Shirou did not hear or care about what the others were talking about just now. He took his near catatonic rage and humiliation out on Teddie by forcibly dunking his head below the water. He held him down there, with reinforced arms and watched with cold fury as the blond-haired bear-man flailed and gargled for air. Before pulling him out.

"*Cough* *Cough!* Sensei, I'm s-OBRBBLBLBL!"

And dunking him again.

"Should we… help him?" Labrys asked concernedly, as she saw one treat the other to waterboarding.

"Nah, he's got it handled," Yosuke shrugged, already walking away. "Let him have a few minutes to cool off first."

"I was talking about Teddie," she clarified.

"And I was talking about Shirou."

<><><>

"Ara ara, Ku-kun can be such a handful, sometimes," Mamo-chan said.

Shirou, in a good-as-new pair of trunks he "convinced" Teddie to make, glanced warily at her. "Then why are you dating him?"

"He makes me laugh," she said simply.

The long beach day was winding down to dusk, and Shirou quickly calmed down after not-drowning Teddie. He was hardly a vengeful person, but the idea of nearly fracturing a newly formed bond with Naoto, because of another friend's shenanigans… Well, he had a feeling Kagutsuchi's reach was getting closer to him for better or worse, and he recalled clearly how much he wanted to burn the bear.

Mamo-chan even approved of his hands-on punishment. "Now I don't have to worry about punishing Ku-kun later!" She said with a coy, too-wide smile.
No one else suspected what had happened, and the day went on as normal. Labrys showed her new skill in sandcastle making, Mamo-chan showed off her blue bikini and swam laps with Chie and Kanji, Marie wrote secret poems about today, and Fuji-nee bought everyone take-out food from a food truck.

Naoto was sadly still standoffish, but at least he understood that the "flash" wasn't intentional or Shirou's fault. But he refused to elaborate further about the case.

"Something wrong?" Mamo-chan asked him. The two of them were sitting by the old rowboat laying where the sand meets the ledge, watching everyone else having fun.

"Just a little worried," he admitted. Not that he could talk freely about the case or Personas with her, so he kept things vague. "There always seems to be problems no matter what I do to solve them."

"That's life in general, is it not? New problems come up even as little ones are resolved. That's why people are fixated on the little ones first, and rarely the bigger ones larger than them."

"Yes, but I think my problems are nowhere near as small."

"In the eyes of the kami and divine? They are small. Insignificant, even. But that is what makes human life so fascinating, isn't it? To tackle problems with such abandon and relish in the thrill of life that comes with it."

He didn't expect such an introspective answer from Mamo-chan. He barely knew her, so he didn't know what to expect at all.

"Just keep doing what you've been doing," she continued. "You are naturally attuned to hear the cries of help from others, and gifted with the resolve to see them saved. It's why I entrusted you to carry out the ema requests, after all."

Ema requests? What is she talking about?

Wait: knowledge of mythological creatures? Fox-like behavior and cloth emblem? Found in the woods of the Tatsuhime Shrine?

He normally would have brushed this all off as coincidence, but nothing has been just coincidence in Inaba. And perhaps most damning of all, Ippon-Datara, his Persona of the Hermit Arcana, was among his active Personas today, which usually act up near his friends.

"Ta—?" A finger was pressed to his lips, along with a knowing look.

"I know you have questions, but for now, promise to keep this between us. Okay? <3" Mamo (Tama?) said with a wink and smile. Dumbly, Shirou nodded.

"Ooooi! It's time to head back, kids!" Taiga called loudly from the road above. "You rookie motor-wannabes need to get back before it gets dark!"

"Hey! Hanamura is the only one insisting we ride motorcycles!" Chie yelled back.

"Dammit, Satonaka! Now I look stupid in front of Marie-chan and the others!"

"I don't think you look stupid, Yosuke." Labrys assured Yosuke, even as she and everyone else started to head up.

"Aw geez, I'm not looking forward to pedaling all the way back to Inaba," Kanji lamented. "Being underaged sucks."

"My feet hurt just thinking about it," Teddie added. He looked especially ragged from the events of today. He brightened up upon seeing his foxy girlfriend. "Say, Mamo-chan-!"

"No."

Then he deflated. "'No'? No what?"

"I'm not convincing Taiga-san to allow you to carpool with us on the way back."

"But it's so slow and painful to skate all the way back! There are too many slopes and hills and twists and curves!" Teddie whined.
Mamo-chan shrugged, casually brushing the back of her ear and hair. "I couldn't trust you to swim with your fairer friends on your own, Ku-kun. Why would I subject them to your antics again?"

"But I'm a good bear, honest! Shirou-sensei, you can vouch for me, can't you?"

"I would if you hadn't disintegrated my swimsuit today," he replied flatly. He refused to look back at Teddie's pleading, blabbering face as he dusted himself off and made a way to his scooter.

"S-so cruel…"
"You best get your bearings before it gets too dark to see the streets, Ku-kun!" Mamo-chan giggled. She too got up and headed up to the roadside.

"Gah! I still need to put on my skates! Don't leave without me!"

And thus did the day at the beach end on a high note. Mostly.