Naoki Konishi

Hey ! Did you know this
week is health week?
And you're not part of the Student
Health Association! In other words,
you're a lazy bum!

I hate lazy, good-for-nothing kids like
you! So I'm signing you up to take the
place of a sick member!

That's not fair...

Quiet, you!

I don't know what school's like for you
big city kids, but here, it's every
student's duty to pitch in!

Don't tell me you're not enough of a
man to do something this easy.

I see, I see. Then go straight to the
infirmary, right now.
They should be expecting you, since
I already told them you'd do it.
Thank me!

Hmph, too late. I've already signed
you up.
Now get over there or face suspension!

Um, good luck...

Oh, -kun, was it?
The transfer student, right...?
Did you get hurt or something?

> You told them that you'd been sent
here to replace a sick member...

Thank goodness. We were running low
on people.

We need to check around the school to
see if anyone needs help, but someone
has to stay and watch this room.

-kun, would you mind
staying here and dealing with anyone
that stops by?

...No touching the medicine, of course.
If someone who's hurt shows up, use the
first aid kit.

The only other things you'd have to
worry about are salesmen and phone
calls. They're pretty uncommon, though.

> The Student Health Association split
up throughout the school...
> ......?
> Someone's here!

Hello, I'm Kitao from Santo
Pharmaceuticals.

Hm, aren't there any adults here?
Could you deliver a message for me,
then?

Your school placed an order for gauze,
but I need to know if the order can
wait until the month after next.
Give my regards to your teacher.

Thanks for your help. Anything happen?

> You told her that a representative
from the pharmaceutical company came...

Oh, we should have Sensei call him
back. Do you remember his name?

Oh, about the gauze, huh? What did
he say?

Hmmmm... Got it. I'll call Sensei.

> You had her relay the message to the
teacher...
Infirmary teacher
I contacted them immediately.
Thank you.

> You gave them the correct
information!

> You had her relay the message to the
teacher...
Infirmary teacher
You got his message wrong! He corrected
me over the phone!

> You gave them the wrong information
and embarrassed the teacher...

Alright, let's discuss what we found
while we went around the school.
Okay, group one...
Oh, that's right. You went alone.

Yeah, since Konishi isn't here.

Oh yeah, Konishi-kun... He can't help it,
after what happened...

Yeah, poor thing. So you just have to do
his part, too.

Hey guys.

I'm sorry I'm late.

N-No, it's okay!

You don't have to come, really. Helping
out at your parents's store is hard work,
right?
We have a replacement, so don't worry.

......
I don't want to be the only one...

Well... You can help -kun
clean up this room then.
We'll go report to the teacher, so why
don't you clean a little and go home,
okay?

W-Well, goodbye!

......
I'm Konishi... A first-year.

You knew Saki Konishi? I'm her brother.

You're friends with... Hanamura, right?
I hate him... And you, too.

Can I go home now...?

......
Goodbye.

...I have to help out at home.
It's a mess... You understand, right?

......
Goodbye.

......
Ok, I'll do the shelves... Can you hand
me a rag?

> You did your part and helped the
Student Health Association as
ordered.
> The other members didn't return, so
you decided to go home.

All Student Health Association members,
please report to the infirmary
immediately...

*sigh* Student Health Association
members, huh?

No thanks, I'll go by myself.

> You were bluntly refused...

You're right.
If they're allowing a downer like me to
be somewhere, then that's where I should
probably be.

> It seems like he's an earnest
person...

Well... I could just leave, but...
I wouldn't feel right about it, when
all the other members are working.

> It seems like he's an earnest
person...

Hey, you're -kun, right?

A teacher said you're filling in for an
absent health committee member, so you
have to go, too.
I told you, okay? You better go, or
else I'll get suspended!

Haha... You got dragged in again.
I have to turn in some notes, so I'll
join you later. Just go on ahead.

> Apparently you are in the Student
Health Association for another day...
> You hurried to the infirmary...

-kun...? You got called
in again?

> You told them about how you were
drafted into the Student Health
Association...

Really? Well, we're still low on members,
so I'm grateful.

I really wish they didn't call us in
today. Heck, half the people here are
saying they have dates or something.
Plus, we have to take inventory?
That's such BS... Man, Konishi has
it easy.

I heard that he's exempt from homework.
Is that true?

What the hell!? That's so unfair!

> Everyone is talking about Saki
Konishi's brother...

It's okay. I don't mind...

If you're so jealous, then why don't
you have your own family killed?

......
Uh... Sorry. I didn't mean to kill
the mood...

O-Okay, back to work!

> You dealt with an awkward day's work
on the Student Health Association...

> It has begun to pour...

> Saki Konishi's brother is still here...

Oh...
...H-Hi.
......

...I didn't want to just leave when
everyone else was still working.
I just felt like I...
......

Oh... Your sleeve has dirt on it.
...It was because of inventory, huh?
Haha... I'm sorry, I was supposed to
help with that...
......
Use this...

> You were given a cute handkerchief.

Um, you know what, that...
...Never mind.
I'll stay here a little longer, so...
Goodbye.

> You parted ways with Saki Konishi's
brother and went home...

> You went home using the umbrella you
borrowed from Saki Konishi's brother...

> Central shopping district,
Chinese Diner Aiya...
> You came with Naoki, who has finished
helping his parents...

This place is pretty good, huh?
I usually eat here a lot because it's so close
to our place, but for some reason, I haven't
eaten here recently.

No... I'm actually pretty free right now,
especially now that I'm not part of the
Student Health Association.

> Naoki is smiling wryly.

Nah. I've been coming here since I was
a kid, but for some reason I've never
really gotten tired of it...

> Naoki is tilting his head.

Hmmmm... You're right, actually...
I feel like everyone's staring at me...

> Naoki is smiling wryly.

The liquor store is pretty busy, but...
I can't do much to help.
I mean, it's actually not our business
that's busy...
......
Most of the media has stopped coming
around, but if there's nothing new to
report on, sometimes they'll pop up...
Lately, the neighbors have been coming
one after the other... "Poor thing,"
they'll sob.
Even the lady from the neighborhood
association came. Funny how she never
actually spoke to Sis before...
Then they all tell me, "You need to live
an admirable life for your sister's sake."

It's suffocating.

I mean... What exactly is an
"admirable life," anyway?

Contributing to society...
Like... becoming a politician?

> Naoki is tilting his head.

So... Making my parents happy is
living admirably...
Hm... I guess I can see that.

> Naoki is thinking.

Like inventing something?
I doubt I'd be able to make anything
useful...

> Naoki is smiling wryly...

So you're looking for the answer, too?
Living is hard, huh? Even though we're
already going through it... it's like
we're still learning how.

> Naoki laughs awkwardly...

Oh, I'm sorry. I just seem to talk about
odd things when I'm around you.

> You feel that Naoki is slowly opening up
to you.

Anyway, let's eat. Chinese food isn't good
once it gets cold.

Haha, the chef's glaring at us.

> You went home after eating with Naoki.

> Central Shopping District,
Souzai Daigaku...
> You came here with Naoki, who has
finished helping his parents...

...Then Masaya made up an excuse for why
he was late, and he said, "The wind was
really strong."
The teacher got really pissed. "Shut
your eyes, all of you!" he yelled, and
started scolding us...
But no one knew why we had to close our
eyes, so it was really awkward...

After scolding us, he starts class and
he yells out, "Who wants to answer?
I know! Masaya, answer the question!"
And Masaya says, "I can't see the board
with my eyes closed."
The teacher lost it right there, and
the class became a free period.

> Naoki is laughing like he's having
a good time...

Something else...? Okay, here's something
that happened recently.
I slipped off the road, fell into a rice field,
and left a perfect imprint in the rice plants.
Then the next day, the owner was
complaining about someone damaging his
field and went looking for the culprit.
He started calling out all the kids in
the neighborhood and making them lay down
in the imprint, like in Cinderella...

"No, the arms are too short!"
"His head's too big!" and on and on...
I went over to apologize to him, but
when I did, I started cracking up, and
he got SO ticked.

> Naoki lets out an embarrassed laugh.

> You told Naoki a funny story about an
embarrassing moment of your own.

Hahahahahaha!
R-Really!? Oh, man! That's hilarious!

> Naoki is overcome with laughter.

> You told Naoki an American joke
filled with wit.

Um... Is that it? Was I supposed to
laugh there?
Sorry, I didn't get that at all. You
must have a different sense of humor.

> Naoki is impressed.

Haha... I feel like it's been a while
since I laughed.

> Naoki's expression looks gentle...

That child, remember? The liquor store's...

Konishi-san's son, right?

......

Their daughter was killed.

Poor thing.

A psychic on TV said that their ancestors
committed some sin...

I heard their store faces the northeast,
and that's what's bringing in all the
bad luck.

But that boy looked cheerful. You'd figure
he would be sad.
That's pretty cold of him.

Siblings close in age aren't that friendly to
each other. My son and daughter are...

......

> Naoki is biting his lip...

No, it's okay... They're not worth
your time...

> It looks like Naoki cheered up a bit.

It's okay.

> Naoki shrugs...

You're right... Why do I care about what
random people think? I know someone
understands me, and that's enough.

> It looks like Naoki cheered up a bit.

Those "roving eyes" are always around
somewhere...
I'm used to it, though...
It seems they're not satisfied unless
I look like a victim.

That's why it's been so long since I've
talked to anyone about stupid things
and just laughed... It's fun.

> Naoki is smiling cheerfully...
> You feel that your relationship with
Naoki has grown still deeper...

Haha... I'm sorry. I probably made you
feel uneasy, huh?
Let's go home...

> You parted ways with Naoki and
went home.

> Fog has enveloped the area...

Naoki-kun!

Are you coming back from school? You
shouldn't be wasting time here!
Don't you think your parents are
worried with you wandering about,
just like your sister did?
You're not helping out at the store?
I hear your father's having a hard time.

...Hmph.

Don't "hmph" me.
I know it's tough, with what happened
to your sister...
But in times like these, a family has to unite
and help each other out, right?

Look, I'm just trying to help you and
your family out. That attitude isn't
very nice.

......

> Naoki looks distressed...

I-It's okay, -san...

> Naoki looks troubled, but looks
slightly happier.

No, really? Do I really look that young?

> You successfully diverted the lady's
attention...

> You can sense Naoki's relief...

I'll be going now. Naoki-kun, keep your
chin up, and think about your family!

I'm sorry... It's a little awkward to be
around me, huh?

Yeah...?

> Naoki looks happy...

That's a good idea. Actually, I'm kinda
getting used to it now...

> Naoki shrugs.

If you weren't here... I would've been
in a predicament.
Since my family runs a business here,
we have to stay on good terms with the
neighbors... So I can't yell at them.
...Thank you.

> You empathize with Naoki's distress...
> You feel that your relationship with
Naoki has grown still deeper...

I'm sorry. I'm... gonna go home now.
We'll eat together next time...

> You parted with Naoki and went home.

> Central shopping district,
Chinese Diner Aiya...

Yeah... So that thing I wanted to tell
you was...
I'm thinking about quitting school.

I might take over the liquor shop.
I really wasn't interested in our family's
business... Honestly, I'm still not, but...

When that woman told me that our family
should unite, I knew she had a point...
......

It is, huh...?

> Naoki is nodding...

Then what can I do to satisfy those
neighbors...?

> Naoki is biting his lip...

Up until now, I never even thought about
taking over the liquor store.
It's hard for me to say to you, but...
As long as Junes is there, I know our
shop has no future.
It's not like it's a store with a long tradition,
so I thought it'd end with Dad's generation
when he retired...

But... Now I think I don't have any
other choice.
...I have to do it.

Why did Sis die?
Er... I don't mean how she died...
I don't want to know what killed her.
But... Why did she have to die...?

Inadvertently dragging me and my parents
down with her...
Why did everything end up this way...?

> You quietly listened to Naoki's worries
about his life...
> You feel like you were able to
support him.

...I'll talk with my parents.
I think they'll be happy about it.
Then I'll be a productive member of society
and live an admirable life. Haha...

> You went home after eating with Naoki.

> Central shopping district,
Chinese Diner Aiya...

You remember how I talked about quitting
school? I told my parents my plan.
They were really against it...

They told me, "That's not what we want.
Live the way you want to."
......

Then they asked, "You hate school, don't
you? You're just running away from it."
They got all suspicious of me suddenly.
I wasn't expecting that at all.

I was just stunned. I couldn't even
think of anything to say to them.

> Naoki is biting his lip...

But... When they said that, I started
to think that maybe they were right...

> Naoki is biting his lip...

But I was thinking about helping out
with the shop in the first place so
they wouldn't worry...

> Naoki is smiling wryly...

If I wanted to run, I could do that forever.
Since everyone's being so kind to me.
Not just the Health Association...
The class chores, club activities...
Everyone says I can just do whatever.

Even the teachers just allow me to take
tests home. If I show up late, if I leave
early, I don't get penalized.
None of my actions have consequences.
I can't tell if I'm right or wrong, since
everyone reacts the same either way.

No one gives me orders. They just tell me
to "take it easy."
Then they take all responsibility away
from me. Eventually, it doesn't matter
if I'm even there.
I don't have to do anything...
I don't even have to exist.

Am I really that pitiable...?

I guess I am...
If a friend's family member was killed,
I might think the same way and
alienate him, too.
I guess nobody really knows what to do
in this situation, huh?

> Naoki is nodding sadly...

...I know.

> Naoki is biting his lip.

Yes, I think I understand their point of view...
If a friend's family member was killed,
I might think the same way and
alienate him, too.
I guess nobody really knows what to do
in this situation, huh?

> Naoki is nodding sadly...

What should I do...?
Should I just keep going around and
telling people not to treat me special,
like I've been doing?
Should I act like Sis never existed?

Being stared at... Being pitied...
Being alienated by my friends...
Should I just pretend not to notice?
Until everyone gets tired of it?

When they do get tired of it...
Won't I be alone?

I'm sorry... I'm just rambling...
I really don't know what I'm saying
right now...

> You can feel that Naoki is trying to
open his heart to you...

Haha... I'm sorry. It's not a good subject
to talk about while eating...
Lately, I don't even taste my food...

> You went home after eating with Naoki.

> Central shopping district,
Chinese Diner Aiya...

Um, sorry about last time...
How I kept talking about all that
nonsense...
I wanted to apologize for that.

...You're so strange.
You don't distance yourself from me
like everyone else... Or preach to me
like you know everything...
I feel comfortable around you.

> Naoki looks happy...

Oh, it's okay. If you don't remember,
then that's fine.
I dumped on you a lot of emotional stuff
that you couldn't have done anything
about... so I kinda felt bad.

> Naoki looks relieved.

...You know, I like cream puffs. I know
it's kinda girlish.
There's a good cream puff shop by our
house, so every once in a while I'll buy
some and take them home.
If I put them in the fridge, Sis would eat 'em.

She'd make up some lame excuse like,
"I ate them for you since they were
about to expire."
So we'd always get into fights over the
cream puffs.

But now... the cream puffs don't
disappear. I bought some, and they
expired in the fridge.
When I saw that, I thought, "Oh, maybe..."
"Maybe Sis isn't here anymore," y'know.

So I threw them away.

I told you before, "If you ask me if
I hate the killer, the answer is no."
The truth is, it's not even a no...
I don't know anything.

I have a meaningless daily life...
Just confused parents and a dark house.
Just rotting cream puffs...
How do I get out from that...?
What would be best for me, for Sis...?
I just don't know.

But the more I wait, the more time goes by,
and I'll be older than Sis before I figure
anything out.
That won't be good...

> Naoki is grimacing...

I know...

> Naoki sighed and nodded...

I know I'm stagnating. I know it's not good,
I know that I need to move...
I know all that...

> You quietly listened to Naoki's worries...
> You feel like you were able to
support him.

Come to think of it... Sometimes Sis
would bring cream puffs back from her
job at Junes...
We would eat them and complain that
Junes' brand tasted bad.

Sis looked like she was having a hard time
working at Junes.
But she said it would eventually be for
the sake of our store...
She'd play around, but... Sometimes she
acted like the eldest sibling.
That always irked me...

Umm...
N-Next time, will you go to Junes with me?
I'd like to check it out...

> You promised to go to Junes with Naoki
next time...

> You went home after eating with Naoki.

> Junes food court...
> You just finished walking around all
of Junes...

The grocery department downstairs was
incredible.
And they had so many kinds of liquor,
at prices much lower than ours...
There's no way we could win.

But we've been doing well lately...
After Sis's murder, there are some
people who buy from us out of pity.
Ironic, isn't it...?

It's better than selling nothing, so
I don't mind.

> Naoki is looking the other way...

Good idea...
We make money, they get to be
hypocrites...

> Naoki is looking the other way...

But... it's over for us. Our family is
in shambles.
My parents won't even speak a word
about Sis.
They try to act as if she never existed...
Then at night, they cry...
What can I do...?

Huh? ?

Aren't you Saki-senpai's...?

This is the first time I've been to Junes...
I don't really have anything to do with
our store, and I don't hold any grudge
against you, but...
It's just that my parents and the
neighbors would have said something,
so I never bothered.

We're in the same boat, buddy.

...I see.
......
It's incredibly huge, huh...? I'm full
just looking at all the food here...
It's like its own country.

Your sister said that too...

......

You two do kinda look alike. You have
the same chin... The nose and eyes, too.

Stop it...
My sister isn't here anymore.

Lonely, huh...?

...Shut up.
Just stop it! What do you know about me!?

...She told me she was proud of you.
She boasted about you.

......

I liked your sister.

Past tense, huh?

I'm doing what I can right now for my sake...
And your sister's.
If you just sit there crying, you're just
troubling her, y'know?

......
I'm not crying...
......

Alright, today is grilled steak day.
I'll go grab three.
Oh, ? You'll have to
pay for your own.

......
Yosuke-san sure is nosy.
Oh wait, so are you...

Haha. That look of disgust on your face...
But you really are nosy. Hanging out
with the likes of me...

> Naoki is smiling wryly...

Am I that pitiable?
No, that's not it... It's different with you.
You're not being kind to me because
of that...
I'm sorry.

> Naoki apologized sincerely...

I'm glad I saw where Sis worked.
I'm sure I could never have come by
myself... I wouldn't have even thought
about it.
Thank you.

> You can feel that Naoki is opening up
his heart to you...

Is it good?

It's awful...

Then you're okay.

> Naoki silently continues to eat...
> Yosuke is warmly watching over him...

> You passed time talking about trivial
things...
> You walked Naoki back to his house
and went home...

> Fog has enveloped the area...

> The scene of the second victim's
discovery...

This is it... Where they found Sis...
......

This whole time, I could never bring myself
to pass through here.
I was afraid of remembering Sis, and
thinking about how... How her body
ended up.

But now, I feel like I can finally accept
the truth...
...You know how it is in TV dramas?
People cry for days on end, or their sad
memories come back and torment them...
It wasn't like that for me. I was the same
as ever...

So I thought... I thought I was a cold
human being...
Because I wasn't able to cry like the
actors on TV, I thought that maybe I
didn't actually like Sis...

Yes... I know now that it isn't.
Talking with you made me realize that...

> Naoki is nodding with gentle eyes...

You're right...
Just because I'm not like a character on
TV doesn't mean I'm wrong or strange.
Talking with you... little by little,
I started to understand that.

> Naoki is nodding gratefully.

Yes... I really am.
Talking with you... I finally started
to understand that.

> Naoki lets out an embarrassed laugh...

I was just trying not to think about Sis...
It was easier for me to tell myself that
I was a cold person than to think about
Sis and suffer.
I kept running away from the pain...
I never let myself think about her.
She must've wanted to live more, huh?

Poor Sis...

> Naoki finally let go and started crying...

Only Sis knows the answer... But she's
not here anymore...
She can't think of anything, say anything,
or even smile...!

> Naoki finally let go and started crying...

Yes... You're right. That's the only
thing I can do for her now...

> Naoki finally let go and started crying...

I wanted her to live more...
I wanted her to live...

> Naoki is biting his lip...

It's so unfair... Why did she have to...?

> Naoki's fists are trembling...

Yes... I believe that too...

> Naoki is trying to smile...

I'm trying for the first time...
Ha, haha... *sob*

> Naoki is crying and hiccupping...

Thank you...
I finally... finally, feel that I'm sad...

> It seems Naoki has released the
profound sadness he had buried...
> You feel that your relationship with
Naoki has grown stronger...

-san... Let's go home.
I'm going to talk with my parents.
About Sis... About me.

> You parted ways with Naoki and went
home.

> Fog has enveloped the area...

> Samegawa riverbank...
> Naoki took you here...

I played with Sis here once...
A long time ago...
Sis was pretty agile, so she'd cross
the river by jumping from rock to rock...
I was scared, so I just watched from
this side... Then Sis waved at me, and
disappeared into that grove over there...

I cried like hell.
While I was crying, Sis crossed the
bridge without me noticing and yelled
right behind me. I pissed my pants...
Haha... Lately, that's all I've been
remembering.

......
I think it's the same way now.

There's a river separating us.
Sis is gone, and I'm still here.
Sis has crossed over to the other bank,
and I'm still on this one...
No matter how much I cry or piss my pants,
I know she isn't coming back...

I've been trying not to think about it
all this time... But I finally feel
like I can face reality.
It's all thanks to you.

No, you did everything. You talked to me,
you listened to me...

> Naoki started talking seriously...

Haha. I am, really.

> Naoki's smile is completely free
of worry.

I... I thought that there was no point to
my existence.

But I was really happy... to find that
there was someone out there who would
actually devote time to me.
That's why I was able to do this.
...Here, check it out.

> Obtained .

It's not just a receipt to me. It's not
just a normal purchase like it would be
for someone else.
I wanted... to give it to you.

> Naoki is smiling cheerfully...
> You feel as if you and Naoki have formed
a tight bond...

By mastering the social link "Arcana
name," you can now fuse (mother earth)
"persona"!

I'm thinking of helping out at the store.
I'll stay in school, though, so it'll only
be after school and on holidays.
The rest of our family has yet to really
accept Sis's death.
I thought we all needed to bond...
And working at the store's the first step
I can take towards uniting the family.

-san... Please come
visit our store.
I'll make it so successful, you'll think,
"Junes-who?"

> Naoki's smile is completely free
of worry.
> You and Naoki may not get another
chance to talk this much...

> You spent the rest of the day
with Naoki...

> Fog has enveloped the area...