Persona 4 FYL

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Persona 4 or its characters, nor do I seek monetary profit from the writing and presentation of this story.

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Persona 4 FYL (Five Years Later)
Chapter Six: Chie


The group pressed onward toward the Rift through the TV world, a little more upbeat, yet still largely worried by their situation. The more time they seemed to spend within the colorful land, the more they seemed to realize the dangers they were now exposed to. Only once had they been forced to spend an entire day within the TV world without ceasing their journey, but never before had they been entirely separated from the real world. With no way of obtaining supplies, the team was forced to ration out their meager supplies that mainly (thanks to Kanji's foresight) consisted of eight bottles of water and eight boxes of animal crackers.

"I would have brought some Topsicles, but chances are they'd have melted before we could even eat them," said Kanji sourly.

"That's a shame," pouted Teddie. "I miss Topsicles."

The team continued their journey as they slowly nursed their crackers. Souji, who was at the lead, pocketed his crackers without a word. He wasn't hungry, and decided that it would be safe to conserve what food he had.

"You okay, partner?"

Souji turned to see Yosuke walking beside him. "Yeah. I'm just not hungry, that's all."

"You either?" Yosuke smiled a little. "I understand, but I don't think that.. thing.. affected you as bad as it did me."

"What do you mean?" asked Souji.

"Well.." Yosuke looked thoughtful, and he lowered his voice so the others wouldn't hear. "You know how I completely lost it, even before that fear-thing even started turning into me? ...I have to admit, it was like it was looking inside me the moment we locked... eyes? Faces?" He shrugged. "What ever it was, though... it got inside my head. It was like it was looking for any shred of fear I had in my heart."

"It did say it wasn't a Shadow," remarked Souji, remembering the doppelganger's taunt.

"Yeah. Remember what those things used to say once they transformed?" Yosuke lowered his voice and put on an expression of mock-seriousness. "'I am a Shadow, the true self! Blah blah blah!' I have to admit, though..." he added, running his hand through his orange hair again. "...The Shadow versions of ourselves were a lot easier to take than THAT thing. It was like... everything exploded in my chest. All the doubt, and fear, and... and anger... were just surging up inside me for no reason." He laughed again, patting Souji on the shoulder. "You were the one who brought me to my senses, though, as usual."

"I didn't-" began Souji, but Yosuke cut across him, appearing unusually serious.

"You did. Just you being there, stepping up to fight my fear... it sort of made me realize that the only one would could fight back is... me." Yosuke smiled. "People can't face our fears for us. We need to step up and bash them in ourselves. It doesn't hurt to have the extra support, though." He seemed to consider something else. "About that... your Persona. That's the one that defeated Izanami five years ago, right?"

Souji nodded, and Yosuke took on a worried expression.

"This.. isn't good. Judging from the power it had five years ago, you should have been able to cripple that monster. But.. it held it's own. What could be more powerful than Izanami, then?" Yosuke sighed. "It's just like before. We don't know enough."

"I'm also wondering about you-know-who, too," said Souji, silently mouthing the name 'Hotei'.

"You're right," agreed Yosuke, rubbing the back of his head. "Unlike us, he knows way too much, and he's spoon-feeding us. But he isn't a bad guy, though. Don't ask me how I know. I just... have this feeling that he honestly cares about us, like he KNOWS us..." Yosuke laughed, shaking his head. "But how could he? We just met him today! Or, I just did."

"We both did," Souji confirmed.

"And I also don't get his.. lack of.. sticking around. It's like he's..." Yosuke laughed again. "Nah, couldn't be."

"Couldn't be what?" asked Souji.

"Nah, it's nothing. Just be being stupid again. Speaking of which..." Yosuke looked backward at the group. Naoto and Yukiko were chatting to themselves. Rise, Kanji and Teddie were also deep in their own conversation further away.

Chie was at the rear, looking down at her feet, silent and morose.

"...Chie hasn't said a thing since we started moving again." Yosuke and Souji looked at each other and nodded firmly, their thoughts unspoken but easily understood between them. Yosuke stepped to the side to allow the group to pass, moving to walk next to Chie as she neared him. Souji remained at the lead, hoping his best friend would finally be tactful in his conversation.

"Hey, what's up with you?" asked Yosuke with genuine concern. "You don't look too good."

"H-huh?!" Chie jumped, surprised to see Yosuke next to her. She blushed as she looked away, not wanting to look him in the eyes. "Oh, I'm... fine! Just fine! Nothing to worry about here!" She laughed nervously, and Souji sighed to himself. That laugh had never been a good sign.

"Seriously," persisted Yosuke, "you don't look 'fine' at all. Do you.. wanna talk?"

"I don't.. need to talk about anything, Yosuke." Chie pulled her arms inside her jacket again, hugging herself inside it. It was warm, it was snug, and it was comforting. "I'm fine, okay..? I'm just... thinking about stuff, that's all..."

"What kind of stuff?" said Yosuke. "Hey, did Dojima-san put you on traffic detail again tomorrow?" He laughed, neglecting to notice the dark shadow that fell over Chie's face as he did so. "Not many asses to kick in the middle of the highway, I guess."

Souji groaned inwardly. This was what he had been worried about. But his thoughts were wrenched from listening to the unfolding scene as a red light flashed around them, the peal of thunder ringing out a second time. As the surroundings faded to gray once again, Chie's voice rang through the land like an explosive blast.

"Shut up! Just shut the hell up, Yosuke!!"

Souji turned to see Yosuke and Chie moving from behind the others, who had once more faded into the frozen grayness. Chie was visibly enraged, her face contorted in fury as she lashed out at Yosuke, who hadn't noticed the return to the timeless state.

"What do YOU know about my feelings?! What could you POSSIBLY know?!" Chie was trembling visibly, her arms returned to their sleeves once again, her hands clenched tightly into fists. "And why are you interested in my feelings all of a sudden?! You were never interested BEFORE, when I tried to TALK to you!!"

"Ch-Chie?!" Yosuke reflexively took a few steps back. He knew what Chie was like when she was angry, but this was by far the worst he had ever seen her.

"Go on, laugh it up, pal!" snarled Chie, taking a step forward. "You don't know ANYTHING about how I-"

".....I can see...."

Chie's rage abruptly ebbed, the redness in her cheeks draining to be replaced with a pale white. Her trembling intensified, and she couldn't seem to stop herself from turning around, her eyes widening in terror as she beheld the black-cloaked presence that had mysteriously emerged out of nowhere.

Yosuke let out a yelp of surprise, falling backward over a monotone tree root. Souji was at his side almost immediately, hooking him under the arm and hoisting him back up to his feet as the menacing presence stared into Chie's fear-immersed face.

"S..see...?" Chie could barely speak, her legs pressed together and her arms wrapped around her chest as she tried without success to control herself.

"...I can see your fear..."

Again, the menace floated to the ground, shrinking considerably this time. Once more, it grew hair that was a solid part of it's scalp, but it was much shorter than before. The face was rounder, as well, but the cheeks became wasted and bony, the false black 'skin' stretched and taught over nonexistent bone. The eye sockets receded deeply into the ghoulish face, wide and haunting as the twin pinpricks of red lit once more within the depths.

As she stared helplessly into the bright red eyes of her deformed doppelganger, Chie let out a blood-curdling scream of horror that caused the cloaked version of herself to cackle vilely.

"Where did all that hot-blooded anger go, Chie?! Where's the self-righteous attitude now?!" It spoke with her voice, but the underlying voice of the creature made it seem more wicked than even her Shadow self had been.

"Y...you're not... What ARE you?!" Chie sank to the frozen gray grass, unable to remain standing. Tears were beginning to pool in the ducts of her eyes as she continued staring at her dark mimic.

"Can't you tell, moron?!" sneered the dark Chie, its hair swaying in the same unseen wind as the cloak, which seemed to be rising up from the ground, exposing legs clad in demonic-looking armored greaves. "I guess not. After all, it's not like you could beat me anyway. You're way too WEAK."

"S...shut up..!" Chie tried to sound brave, but her voice was a mere whimper.

Her dark self laughed pitilessly. "Weak! Weak and useless! You almost enjoyed the police department for a while, but now things are just too damn quiet for you, huh? Traffic detail, crosswalk duty! No excitement, no fighting, no anything!" It bent lower, grinning broadly and exposing its pointed, razor-sharp teeth. "Why do you think they do that? Because no one NEEDS you! No one NEEDS your strength!"

"That... that's..." Chie stuttered, but the black-colored menace persisted.

"Not even Yosuke needs you, does he? How could he even love a weak, pathetic little freak like you?! He'd much rather have someone like Rise, the pretty, voluptuous idol! Or maybe even Yukiko, the one all the boys STILL want!"

"NO!!" screamed Chie, cowering with her arms over her head, bending forward with a sob.

"That's.. not true..." whispered Yosuke, clearly at a loss for words as he stared painfully at Chie, his eyes reflecting something beyond simple friendship for the woman.

"You know who ELSE was like you are now, Chie?" asked the vile version of herself, bending her gaunt head closer and grinning with sadistic approval at her work. "Someone who was disgusted with working in a dull, boring, backwater shithole?! Someone else who wanted excitement in his life?! TOHRU ADACHI!!" She spat the name at her prey, causing Chie to howl in despair, throwing her head up to the bleak gray sky as she did so, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "Just admit it... You haven't changed at all!"

"I HAVE!!" Chie bellowed, begged. "I DID!!"

"Leave her alone!!" Yosuke was charging forward, the name of their old nemesis having spurred him out of his own moment of weakness. He forced himself between the two Chie's, his daggers drawn, his face contorted in fury. "What gives you the right to do this?! Invading people's minds? Drawing out their fears?! That's just sick!"

Souji moved next to Yosuke, who inched over to allow him nearer, the two men forming a human wall between Chie and the doppelganger. He held his sword at the ready, staring at his enemy with his usual stoic expression.

Chie looked between her two friends, her eyes now swimming with tears of a different sort. "...Souji-k-kun... Y-Yosuke...."

"Ooooo, gonna let THEM defend you, Chie?" mocked the dark Chie malevolently. "Go on! Let him fight for you! Stay there quivering like the coward you are!"

"I'm NOT a COWARD!" snarled Chie, slamming her fist into the gray grass beneath her. She looked sternly up at her ghoulish double with focus and determination. "I've had ENOUGH of you! I'm NOT gonna let you badmouth my friends, and I'm NOT gonna just sit here and do NOTHING."

"Then come, little Chie..." said her dark self as it leaped back and took on a fighting stance. "Show me what strength you believe you possess! Not that you'll WIN."

"You talk too much!" roared Chie as she jumped to her feet, her patience gone. She rushed between Yosuke and Souji, who followed behind her and raised their own weapons at the ready. The two Chies began to exchange blows, punch for punch, kick for kick, striking and parrying each other in an almost dance-like exchange. Holy sandal soon met demonic greave, and the forces repelled each other, knocking both combatants back a few feet, but both of them remained upright.

"Remember, Chie," the black malice leered, "'Don't think; Feel!'"

"Are you still TALKING?!" roared Chie in a rage, leaping into the air and attempting to roundhouse kick her opponent's head. But it was too quick, leaning to the side to escape the attack, forcing Chie to land yards behind it.

"Mmmm.. I know EXACTLY how to make you see reason!" the black-cloaked Chie taunted, and it charged toward Yosuke, raising its feet and throwing a strong kick in his direction. However, he had seen it charging, and he threw himself behind a nearby tree as the attack struck, ripping a huge chunk of wood from the plant.

Th.. that could have been my HEAD! thought Yosuke, thankful he hadn't decided to take the blow.

"Yosuke!!" Chie screamed, but Souji reacted instinctively, summoning Izanagi and throwing a strong wind attack at the assaulting creature as it prepared to kick at Yosuke again. It was knocked off-balance, but it allowed itself to be carried by the winds, riding high above the three friends and laughing hysterically at them.

"Is that all you've got?!" it sneered derisively. "You all are as weak as SHE is! Just give up and die already!"

Chie was about to throw back a retort, but she blinked as she noticed how the doppelganger rose into the air on the wind, and inspiration struck her. She turned to Yosuke and yelled, "Hey! Gimme a lift!"

"Huh?!" Yosuke looked up at the floating silhouette of their enemy, and he looked fearful. "Y..you WANT me to do THAT to you?! Are you crazy?!"

"Please! You have to trust me!" begged Chie, giving Yosuke a pleading look.

"...Okay. But don't make me sorry for this, alright?!" He summoned Susano-O and fired a strong Garu gust at Chie. But instead of taking the blow, Chie leaped into the twister itself, causing her to rise rapidly into the air just as the deformed creature began to descend. Using the powerful momentum from the wind current for extra power, Chie raised her left foot into the air and thrust it at the doppelganger, and her heel connected with its chin with a loud, sickening crack.

The black-shrouded creature let out a painful roar in Chie's voice, its back arching from the impact. Both it and Chie started to plummet to the ground, but Chie followed up her kick with a strong knee blow to her opponent's stomach. It doubled over, and Chie pushed her dark copy forward and put both her feet against the back of its head.

"Feel THIS, you BITCH!!"

Both slammed into the ground, Chie's feet forcing the darker one's face into the cold, gray earth. With a shriek of agony, the fear-based Chie writhed on the ground, it's face buried and obscured, only to stiffen its entire body painfully as Chie raised her foot and slammed it into the back of its head repeatedly. Black mist seeped forth from the broken form of the doppelganger, the voice of Chie fading and only leaving the malicious whisper in its place.

"Ff...f....feeeeaaarrr...." it hissed, and its limbs fell limply at its sides. It melted into the ground like Yosuke's had done, leaving behind a panting, sweating, and thoroughly exhausted Chie where it had once lain, her feet half-buried in a small crater.

"...Is it... over...?" whispered Chie to herself, shivering again as she was overcome by her adrenaline rush. Yosuke ran over to her and put his arm around her quaking shoulders, helping her out of the crater. "Is.. is it over, Y-Yosuke...?"

"It is. It's alright now, Chie," said Yosuke reassuringly.

Souji smiled as he approached his two friends, and they grinned as they noticed him moving toward them.

"Good job with that wind attack, partner," Yosuke said with a wink. "I don't think we would have been able to think of a way out of that one without it."

Souji shrugged, but Chie reached for him, pulling him into a strong, warm embrace.

"Thanks, Souji-kun," whispered Chie with a sniffle. "I dunno what I'd have done if you and Yosuke weren't here..."

"Are you okay?" asked Souji as the three sat on a stone near the rear of their frozen friends. "Would you like to talk to us about what happened here?"

"...If... if that's okay. I don't wanna be a bother.." Chie smiled thankfully at Souji, and turned to Yosuke with a concerned look. "D-do you mind..?"

"Not at all. And since when do you care what I think?" grinned Yosuke, putting his arm around her and squeezing her around the shoulders.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you the truth..." Chie laughed softly, wiping her eyes on her jacket sleeve. "It's so weird.. Everything started off so well after school was over... Two years of heavy, intense police training... Everyone knew me and liked me in the department, actually. They all said I showed a lot of potential." She giggled softly. "Even Dojima-san said so. He said I showed a lot of promise... That really made me want to try harder..."

The smile seemed to wilt from her lips. "Geez... when did it all go so wrong...?"

Yosuke blinked, remembering asking almost the same question himself after his own battle. He looked around in curiosity, and saw Hotei walking toward them from the bottom of a nearby hill. "Hey, Hotei! Over here!"

"Huh?!" Chie looked around as well, and blinked as she saw the old man. "...Who are you?"

"As Hana-san said, my dear, I am Hotei." The gentleman smiled down at her, his grey eyes twinkling with warmth. "And you are Chie Satonaka, yes?"

"Y-yes, sir.." said Chie, who seemed to calm visibly just by looking into those gentle eyes. Who is he...? And why do I feel like I know him from somewhere...?

"Please, just call me Hotei." He patted Chie's shoulder, and the tension was lifted from her almost instantly, a soothing warmth spreading over her body. She looked over at Yosuke, who smiled.

"It's okay," said Yosuke. "He's a friend."

"Oh.. okay..." Chie smiled up at the old man. She didn't know whether to trust him or not... though she FELT like she could, and that was enough for her.

"Go on, then," said Hotei encouragingly. "Look inside yourself, and tell us what you see."

"Well..." Chie looked thoughtfully down at her knees as she sorted out her thoughts. "I eventually became a full-ranked rookie detective, as I said at the Inn... Things were looking up. I was seriously excited about being able to make a difference, about being able to protect people... It was my dream..." She pulled her legs up to her chest and hugged them, rocking back and forth on the rock. "And then... something just... happened. I found myself stuck in boring patrol routes and traffic detail... There was no more official police training after that, so I sort of just... made my own regimen. I was used to that, and I needed to stay active... And yet..."

Chie sniffled softly, hugging her legs more tightly. "..Something... snapped... I found I was becoming frustrated by the peace all around me, the idea that I wasn't protecting people... I was afraid that I wasn't really wanted... that I wasn't really NEEDED..." Her eyes narrowed as she tried to hold back tears. "So I just... intensified my training. I told myself to suck it up, that it was for protecting people... But now, I'm not so sure that was the reason.. I think I was doing it to.. protect myself from the fear... the fear that I was the same as before... that I really hadn't changed at a-all..." Her voice broke, and she broke down into sobs.

Yosuke held her tightly, and before either he or Chie knew it, they were holding each other in a tight embrace. They felt each others warmth, sensed each others heartbeats, listened to each others breathing. Chie clung to Yosuke's jacket, afraid he might let go, or say something to spoil the moment... But Yosuke kept his mouth shut and leaned his head against Chie's, sighing deeply. He was going to listen for once, and not mess things up by saying anything. They both took time to enjoy the moment, for both their sakes.

Souji and Hotei both smiled warmly at the pair, and didn't speak for a moment out of respect for their friends. With a loud sniff, Chie gently moved out of the hug, rubbing her eyes again on her sleeve. "I-I'm so sorry..."

"Nothing to worry about, Sato-san," smiled Hotei. "You needed that, after all... But, could I trouble you for your jacket, if I may?"

"Huh? Oh..." Chie blinked in confusion as she removed her green jacket and handed it to Hotei, who peered at it through his round lenses.

"Mmmm... This is very well cared for," said Hotei with interest. "You've had this a long time, hmm?"

"Yeah... Over six years... I got it when I started high school.." sniffled Chie.

Hotei's eyes were twinkling again. "I think I see now." He handed the jacket back to Chie with a kind smile. "Some people seek to protect themselves by enclosing themselves in something."

"I.. don't understand..." said Chie, looking confused.

"Well... It's basically a human being's way of protecting themselves from outside pain. They 'shut themselves away' from the problems they face, and become incapable of seeing the problems of others for what they truly are. They put up walls to show people that they're fine, but in reality they're facing considerable pain of their own."

"...Then.. am I really a failure?" asked Chie, her face contorted in anguish. "Yosuke... you were hurting, but I didn't even do anything to help... I couldn't protect you from your pain.."

"I'm no better, honestly. I did the same thing," said Yosuke sadly. "My music became my wall. I let it block out the pain and used it to avoid actually dealing with my emotions."

"But..." said Chie, looking at the empty place on Yosuke's neck where his headphones had been. "..But you tore that wall down... Is it possible for me to do the same thing?"

"It is," said Hotei with a broad smile. "But you must decide what you must do, and commit yourself to your choice."

"Well.. I think I see now." Chie lowered her feet to the ground, and stood tall. She turned and smiled at Yosuke and Souji, her eyes once again full of purpose. "I thought protecting people was only a physical thing. But.. there are some things that people are hurt by that are emotional and mental, too. I.. I think I was comparing things to the past too much. I focused on successes we had five years ago as my basis for training and working, and... somewhere along the line, I just stopped growing. I looked back... when I should have looked straight ahead."

Chie smiled down at Yosuke, her determined eyes soon shimmering with affection. "...I'm done training. I'm needed now. And I won't back down when my friends need me most..."

And then a blue glow lit Chie's face as a tarot card spun into existence, materializing slowly before her eyes. She gasped as she beheld the card, uncertain of whether or not it was real. Touching it with her fingertips, the card shattered into blue shards that rose into the air, blue flame flooding the space in front of her. Within the flames, the form of the Persona Suzuka Gongen hovered in all of its glory.

"The chains have been severed," said the Persona in a gentle whisper. "Your heart has once more been opened to the truth."

"The.. truth?" said Chie as Suzuka Gongen vanished in a haze of blue fire. "What did it mean?"

"I believe I can answer that," said Hotei, smiling down at her. "The chains that it was referring to were placed there by you. You could not entirely use that facet of yourself because you placed restrictions upon your heart by choice."

"We.. chose to lock them away?" asked Yosuke, astounded.

"Yes, but you had the keys with you the entire time." Hotei smiled, his eyes shining. "You made the choice to stop growing, and so your Personas actually remained the same as they were five years ago. Stagnation of the heart cannot allow it to evolve, you see."

"So... it all boils down to choice, huh?" said Chie, looking down at her hands.

"Precisely," grinned Hotei. "I'm glad to see you understand a little."

"A little, yeah." Chie smiled back at the old man. "Not everything, though. Like... who are you?"

Hotei's eyes twinkled yet again, almost appearing as blue as his suit. "I am merely an old man who wishes to behold the triumph of love before moving on."

"The... triumph of love?" said Yosuke, confused.

"Forgive me, my friends," said Hotei with a slight sadness in his eyes, "but time is not on your side, as you should well know by now. You all must return to your journey. Your friends await you, remember?"

"Oops! Sorry, you're right!" gasped Chie, looking at the frozen forms of the others. "So... what are we supposed to do?"

"You've gotta discard your limits," said Yosuke, his hand resting on Chie's. "Actually, the item that represents them."

"So that's what happened to your headphones..." mused Chie as she looked down at her jacket. "I dunno, though... I... really like this jacket... it has a lot of memories tied to it, and... Well... It really is like a security blanket for me.." She sighed and shook her head. "All the more reason to lose it, I guess..."

"Well..." said Yosuke, looking away and blushing slightly. "You could... hold onto me from now on..." He laughed nervously and hastily added, "Well, if you want to! I mean, if you'd rather not, I, well..."

Chie roughly grabbed the lapels of Yosuke's jacket, pulled him to face her, and kissed him deeply on the lips.

Yosuke stiffened, totally unprepared for the kiss. But he melted, his arms hanging limply at his sides as Chie broke the kiss with a heavy blush.

"Thanks for listening, Yosuke..." she whispered, gently stroking his cheek.

"A-anytime.." stammered Yosuke, his own face touched with a deep crimson.

"Great job," said Souji to his two friends, who both grinned uncomfortably as they finally remembered him sitting nearby.

"I will see all of you later, then," said Hotei, nodding at the flushed Chie, who nodded back determinedly as the others stood up to take their places in line once again.

With a flourish, Chie threw her green jacket over her shoulder.

Time moved forward once more. The jacket, and Hotei, had vanished.

Chie sighed, and she felt like a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She peered around at the return of vibrance to the TV world.

"What's up with that?" she mused.

Everyone started peering around at her, some of them even glaring at Yosuke.

"Please don't give her a hard time about work, Yosuke-kun..." said Yukiko with a sigh. "What she's doing is very important for Inaba."

Chie blinked, remembering their conversation from before she faced her fear. She looked around quickly, and gasped. "That! What's up with that?!" She pointed at a tree near the side of the road, and everyone turned toward it.

"That's... whoa, what happened to it?" asked Kanji, moving slowly toward the tree. "It looks like something took a huge chunk out of it."

"That's weird," said Teddie. "Shadows don't usually attack the landscape..."

"Maybe they were hungry?" suggested Rise with a giggle. Yukiko snorted, trying desperately not to laugh.

"We may be on the right track, then," said Naoto coolly. "Since what we seek isn't a Shadow, then we can assume that it was the one who damaged it." She turned to the Rift, looking thoughtful. "At least this confirms our suspicions that it's headed back toward the Rift itself, and not straying off the track."

Souji, Yosuke, and Chie exchanged a nervous smile between each other. They wished they could tell Naoto she was right.

"Let's keep going, then," said Souji. "And keep your eyes open for more Shadows."

Everyone nodded and picked up the pace. But Yosuke turned as Chie hung back at the rear.

"Sorry.." said Chie softly, looking away from Yosuke's eyes. "...about yelling at you before. You didn't deserve it."

Yosuke blinked stupidly. He had never heard Chie apologize to him for anything before. "D..don't worry about it. I'd probably have done the same thing..."

But Chie was leaning toward him, her lips moving inches away from his right ear... She whispered into it...

And Yosuke turned scarlet, unable to look Chie in the eyes. But he could tell she was blushing, too.. He gulped, and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Wow... R-really?" Yosuke shook his head, trying to clear it. "...Wow... Umm..." He gulped again, and forced himself to look into Chie's eyes... forced himself to say what was in his heart...

"...I love you too..."

Chie appeared thunderstruck. Then with a whoop of joy, she bounded into Yosuke's arms and hugged him tightly, pressing him to her and not ever wanting to let him go.

"O-ow! Hey, take it easy!" laughed Yosuke with a grin. "C'mon, they're gonna leave us behind!"

"Oh! Right!" Chie reluctantly let Yosuke go, but grinned as he offered her his arm. Taking it in her own, she grinned broadly as they hurried together back to the group. She couldn't help feeling relieved at what had just happened, and she sniffled as she tried desperately not to cry again, hit with a thrilling revelation.

...I guess I really did have the strength to tell him after all...