LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I GIVE YOU: SHADOW KANJI!!!!

May 17

"So we're staking out the biker, great." I said

"Has the target arrived at school!?" Chie asked

"Yes mam! Visual ID confirmed!" Yosuke said. "Target arrived in zone near the area 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." Yukiko said

"Well I think there's something more subtle. Oh! He's here!" Chie said.

Kanji walked up to the gate- OH SHIT NAOTO! I jumped into a nearby bush to hide.

"What are you doing?" Yu asked

"I'll explain later." I said

"I didn't keep you waiting I hope?" She asked

"N-No I just got here too." Kanji said

The two of them walked off.

"They're gone. You mind explaining what's going on?" Yu asked

"s— HE! I said HE, is my probation officer. I didn't want to get caught." I said

"WAIT WHAT? HE'S A COP!?" Yosuke asked

"Yes, the "detective prince"." I said

"Well, W-What in the world was that?" Yosuke asked

"Anyways, we gotta hurry after them or we'll lose them!" Chie said

"Okay, we'll split into two groups. One team will follow Kanji, the other will stake out the shop." Yosuke said

"R-Roger that! How should we split the teams?" Chie asked

"I'll go with Yukiko and Y/n." Yu said.

We split up. This is a bad idea.

"Sure, that's fine with me." Chie said. "Oh they're almost out of sight! Come on Yosuke!"

"So I'm pairing up with Chie? Ok. Alright! We need to make it look like we're on a date, to make it look natural." Yosuke said

"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!" Chie said before they walked off.

"I wonder if those two will be alright. O-Oh, um, I guess that leaves us with staking out the shop. So, shall we?" She asked

The three of us snuck down to the shop. Yukiko brought some drinks.

"Sorry I'm late, these are for you two." Yukiko said. "Everything seems fine at the shop. I hope it stays that way. Do you think the culprit will come?"

"No worries, I'll protect you." Yu said

"H-huh? Okay, thanks. I'm c-counting on you. 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 s-something I can do. Oh, sorry. I went on and on without realizing, 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 two and Yosuke lately. The same is true for me."

Thou Art I, and I am Thou

Thou hast established a new bond

It shall bring thee closer to the truth

Thou shalt be blessed when using the power of the Priestess Arcana.

Priestess Social Link: Rank 1

"Hey, could I get your number?" I asked

"Huh? O-Okay, if you want. I can't always answer since I help out at the inn. But feel free to call anytime." She said while blushing.

Meanwhile

Third person.

Yosuke and Chie were following Naoto and Kanji.

"Man, this is weird." Chie said

"Yeah, we definitely stand out." Yosuke said

"No I mean THEM! I get this weird feeling about them." Chie said

"Weird? What about them's weird?" Yosuke asked

"Um, I don't know how to put it. Maybe it's just my imagination. Hey, how do you think the other's are doing?" Yosuke said

"Beats me, for all we know, Yu's hitting on Yukiko as we speak, and who knows what Y/n's doing." Yosuke said

"Yaaa, 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?" Chie asked

"Huh? Uh, I wouldn't know. We don't really talk about that kind of stuff." Yosuke said

"Now I'm even more suspicious! You know something, don't you?" Chie asked

"I seriously don't know! It's not like we've been hanging out that long, haha." Yosuke said

"The hell are you two doing?" Kanji asked as he walked up to them.

"Oh, well you see we're, we're, just two crazy lovebirds!" Yosuke said

"Whaddya mean bird!?" Chie asked

"Play along birdbrain!" Yosuke said

"Didn't I see you guys yesterday?" Kanji asked

"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." Yosuke said

"Umm, look, we weren't planning in getting you guys' way, and there's nothing strange about it either." Chie said

"S-Strange!?" Kanji asked

"Keep your mouth shut!" Yosuke said

"W-wait dammit!" Kanji said as he began chasing them. "This ain't what you think! Y-you guys got it all wrong! Hey! Are you listening dammit! It seriously ain't like that!"

Later. Chie and Yosuke met up with us back in front of the shop.

"We regret to inform, that our mission failed." Chie said

"There was nowhere to hide." Yosuke said

"Well, let's wait here a little longer. Maybe Kanji kun will come home." Yukiko said

"Yeah." Yosuke said

Kanji's back.

"Huh!? What're you guys doing here!? You're those stupid lovebirds I just saw!" He said

"We're not a couple!" Chie said

"Why are you assholes following me around!? Dammit, what the hell's going on! I ain't saying that this is you guys' fault, but, dammit!" He said

"Hey uh, mind if we ask something? Has anything strange happened to you lately?" Yosuke asked

"Huh? Strange? What strange stuff huh!? Are you saying that I'm strange!?" Kanji said

"Huh? N-No! I didn't mean-!" Yosuke said

"You shitheads better get the hell outta my face, or I'm taking you down!" Kanji said

"What? Wait why?" Yosuke asked

"I look like I'm joking!?" He said as he ran at us.

The five of us ran as fast as possible.

"Uggh, too much running." Chie said

"You're telling me." I said

"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." Yosuke said

"Then we can't let our guard down. I think we should come back tomorrow to check up on him." Yukiko said

"Looks like we've got no choice. Let's go home, I'm wiped." Chie said

The five of us headed home. I'm getting tired of all these wild goose chases.

Evening.

It's raining. I've got a bad feeling about this.

I got a call from Yukiko while in my room.

"Hello? It's Yukiko, 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?" Yukiko said

"This sounds bad." I said

"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." She said

Midnight.

Oh boy, here it comes. I WAS NOT READY FOR WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO SEE.

An image of some weird looking boathouse appeared, as well as a SHIRTLESS KANJI.

"Hel- LO dear viewers. It's time for "Bad Bad Bathhouse! Tonight I'll introduce a superb site for those searching for a sublime love that surpasses the separation of the sexes! I'm your host, Kanji Tatsumi, serving you this scandalously special sneak in report!" OH DEAR GOD HE'S JUST WEARING A TOWEL! "Goodness gracious, just imagine the things that might happen to me in there! Oooh! Well then, let's get this show on the road! Tootaloo!"