Let's Play Persona 4: Everyday's Great at your Junes!

Wait, it's the biker?! I never could have guessed. He never told us to get bent so it can't be him! /endsarcasm

I honestly forgot Nanako thought the words Biker Gangs sounds cool to her. Dojima would be so mad at us.

Why us? He's the one who raised her that way!

And I do wish there were a "Common Sense" attribute that went down whenever a really stupid, attribute-raising choice had consequences. Like eating a pot of "grass."

Yukiko's reaction to a horrible lunch is my favorite. She takes it so well!

Another day to indulge in television mystery. No school today, so we go straight to the Junes food court.



Chie: Dude, take a breath!
Yukiko: Oh, then does this make this place our special headquarters?
Yousuke: Yes! Exactly! Nicely put, Yukiko.



Sometimes the dialog options are kind of random, and aren't really things you want to say, but oh well.

Chie: I saw it too! I couldn't get a good view of the person's face, but it was a guy, wasn't it?
> You told everyone that you saw someone who looked like a high schooler.
Yukiko: So that's how I looked on TV… Hm? Wait a moment.



Yukiko discovers a giant hole in our theory so far.

Yousuke: That's what we thought… But we still don't know who exactly we saw.
Yukiko: In my case, the image on the Midnight Channel changed after I was kidnapped, right?
Yousuke: Yeah, the screen got clear all of a sudden and the program looked like some low-budget TV show. Come to think of it, maybe Teddie was right… Maybe we were seeing the other Yukiko from that world. But last night, we couldn't clearly see whoever it was.
Could that mean… he isn't inside the TV yet?



See, I'm good at answering obvious questions! Especially when they're presented in multiple choice form.

Yukiko: Uh-huh, I think that's safe to assume. If we can figure out who he is, can we prevent him from being taken?
Yousuke: Yeah… And if all goes well, we might catch the killer in the bargain. *sigh * But to do that, we need to know who the latest Midnight Channel star is… I hate to say it, but I guess we'll have to wait another night and see what happens.



Chie plays detective.

Chie: But if that's the case, it goes entirely against our prior assumptions… Since we cannot identify the person at this time, we have no choice but to wait and see what happens!

Yousuke isn't impressed.



Neither is Chie.



Yukiko clearly is, though.



Yukiko: Ahahaha, oh no! M-My funny bone…!
Chie: Not again…
Yukiko: S-Sorry, heeheehee!
Yousuke: This is how Yukiko really is, huh… Who'd have thought?

Chie knows where the priorities are.



Chie: Pretty recently, too…
Yousuke: Oh, you too? Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing since last night…
Chie: Well, let's check the TV again tonight and think about it more tomorrow.
Yukiko: Heehee…



Yukiko takes all name-calling in stride.

Dojima is home in the evening. Nanako's still thinking about the coolness of the word "biker gang", whereas Dojima has this to say to us:



I'm not even sure what the "it" he's referring to is, but I choose to believe that it's the biker gangs.

Also, oh hey, it started raining again at some point!



It's time to look at the Midnight Channel again.





> The image is unfocused…
> But you feel like you've seen him before…

Yousuke calls us this time.



Yousuke: Yeah, I think so too. I knew I saw him somewhere! It was on TV! He was on that special news report! He's one scary dude. He was even yelling at the camera to "Get bent!" Alright, so we finally have a lead. Let's all get together tomorrow, okay?
Oh, I almost forgot… It's kinda off-subject, but as long as you're on the line, mind if I ask something? It's something I've been meaning to ask for a while.

Yousuke has a very important and relevant question to ask Pockets.



I heard that when two guys are friends with each other, they're not considered "bros" until after they've had an honest, heart-to-heart talk about girls. I guess Yousuke just decided to promote Pockets to a "bro"!

The game is kind of screwy in this question. "Yukiko" or "Chie" doesn't give us any bonus, but "Both" will increase Understanding, and "Neither" will increase Courage. Since we got Courage to 3 already, we want some Understanding (because Tower). Besides, they're both kind of cute!



Hey! that's not what I said!

Yousuke: Haha, seriously? Well, you get a better chance that way! Hey, but don't worry. This is just between you and me. Okay, see you tomorrow.
> Yousuke hung up.

I tried to pull another update today, but looks like there's not enough time =( But there's always tomorrow!

So that's all for today! Pockets is a busy man. No time to hang out or improve himself tomorrow.

it's so sad but before this LP I'd never been exposed to Hiimdaisy's P4 comics

Clearly I'd been making bad life choices


and WR, this continues to be a super-engaging LP, I've really enjoyed reading it while doing my own playthrough of P4G.

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it, uudd!

Yeah, thank you for the kind words! It makes me really happy

You should see the dubbed version.

(Warning, first timers, there are implied spoilers in there. As in, they kind of make the ending plot twists obvious for comedic purposes)

A new day to ponder murder mysteries. It looks like the rest of the party had it figured out, too.



Chie: Now there's an understatement. Isn't he really scary? Did you see the news special the other day?
Yousuke: Yeah, I saw it.
Yukiko: You mean the special on biker gangs? I watched it too. He wasn't like that when he was younger, though…
Chie: You know him, Yukiko?



Yukiko: His family runs a textile shop, and we've been a customer of theirs for many years. So I speak with Kanji-kun's mother from time to time. Oh, why don't we go there now? We might be able to talk to him in person.
Chie: Sounds good. At the very least, we can ask if anything strange has come up lately. I wouldn't want to run into him in a dark alley, but I'm pretty sure he won't fly off the handle in his family's store.
Yousuke: Alright, then let's get going.
Chie: If things get rough, we're counting on you guys!

Kanji Tatsumi's mother runs Tatsumi Textile, a textile shop in the Shopping District. It's near the shrine and we've gone past it many times. We just didn't have a reason to visit until now.



As you can see, the shop is very Japanese. Kanji's mother dons a kimono and sits by one of the entrances. Someone is already there.



It looks like she has been talking to this guy in blue here.



Shop Owner: I'm sorry that I couldn't help more.
Slender Young Man: It's all right; you've given me plenty to think about. Thank you.

MAJOR CHARACTER SPOILER, DON'T CLICK IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW WHAT THIS IS. The nice thing about doing a screenshot LP is that Naoto doesn't give her secret away immediately by just speaking.

He leaves immediately after, under our scrutinizing gazes.



Chie: I 'unno. Never seen him before.
Shop Owner: Yuki-chan, you're as lovely as always. Your features are starting to remind me of your mother when she was young. How can I help you today? Are you out shopping with your friends?
Yukiko: Oh, um… Well, actually…

Pockets, Yousuke and Chie aren't all that interested in Yukiko's and Kanji's mother's smalltalk. You can just see how distracted they look.



Chie notices something important.



Yousuke: Hm? Huh, you're right. Where was that…?
Chie: Oh! It was that place! Inside the TV!
Yousuke: That's right! That room with those faceless posters… Then… it's that announcer's…

Pockets is not the only one eavesdropping on people.



Yousuke: Uh, well, kinda… Um… Did Ms. Yamano happen to have a scarf like this?
Shop Owner: Yes, it was a special order she placed. She actually ordered a pair, but in the end, she said she only wanted the women's scarf. It left us with no choice but to sell this one separately.
Chie: Oh man… There IS a connection to the first case…! What are we gonna do…?
Yousuke: H-How should I know…?

Conveniently, a delivery comes just right this moment, allowing us to be alone to discuss the case.



Shop Owner: Oh, I'll be right there. I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me.
Chie: Oh, it's okay. We should get going.
Yukiko: I'll come again, Ma'am.
Shop Owner: Is that so? Well, then please say hello to your mother for me.
Yousuke: It really is connected to the first case after all… But it's just a scarf. Would the killer target someone just because of that…? Dammit, what's going on…? C'mon, let's talk outside.

Outside, the group notices something else.



Yousuke: Wha--Quick, hide!

They ran into a corner. I can't honestly say that they're well-hidden, but by video game logic that may as well be good enough.



It's Kanji, talking to the boy from before.

Chie: You're not fooling anyone, you know...
Yousuke: Shhh! I can't hear what they're saying!
> You eavesdropped on Kanji's conversation with the boy…
Kanji: T-Tomorrow's fine with me… Huh? S-School? 'Course I'm going to school…
Slender Young Man: Then I'll meet you at the gates after school tomorrow.

With that, the boy leaves.



Oh my. This is turning awkward pretty fast.

Before we've had a chance to feel awkward about it though, Kanji spots us. It's time to run!





Yukiko: The one on TV last night was definitely Kanji-kun…
Yousuke: Yeah… And I just realized something. Remember the common points we were talking about? His mom fits the pattern. She's a woman, and she knew Ms. Yamano.



Yousuke: Yeah, that's what it seemed like, based on the TV image… But his mother fits the pattern more than he does.
Yukiko: Oh… Maybe it's similar to my case. If you think about it, my mother fit the victim profile more than I did. She was the one who dealt directly with Ms. Yamano… but I was the one who was targeted.
Chie: Does that mean it'll be the kid again, instead of the mother? But if that's true, then the killer's motive makes no sense at all. It'd have nothing to do with silencing witnesses or revenge or anything.
Yousuke: Y'think we're on the wrong track...? Maybe even the first case has nothing to do with grudges or revenge... Or is there some kinda secret in the textile shop itself…?



Yousuke: Argh! I'm totally lost!
Yukiko: But we can't ignore this.
Chie: Hmmm… Why don't we just go ahead and ask Kanji himself? We could at least see if anything odd's happened lately. He scares the wits out of me, but…
Yousuke: Hey, wasn't Kanji making plans with that weird kid a moment ago? Something about meeting up at school. I heard he's been skipping school ever since the new year started… Doesn't that see a little suspicious?
Chie: Yeah, something did seem weird. Yeah, it's suspicious all right. There's something funny going on here… I can sense it.
Yousuke: "Sense"? You sound like Teddie… Still, we might find some clues. Alright… Let's try staking out both Kanji and his family's store. We definitely don't want the killer getting ahead of us.

Time for Yousuke to drop the important question.



Chie: Hey… Was this your plan all along?
Yousuke: Uh, no? I got everybody's number except for hers. And the Y section of my address book needs some filling out.

I did a few days ago! It's shockingly well done for an amateur production, and Mr. LRLR and I spent a lot of time giggling while we watched.

Chie: You really sound like a pervert.
Yousuke: H-Hey! I'm trying to have a conversation with Yukiko here!

Yukiko is either really oblivious or really smooth.





Yousuke: Whoa… She didn't hear a word I said…
Chie: Okay then, the stakeout is set for tomorrow. Hmm… Stakeouts… Tailing people…

It even sounds like "steak"!



With the grand plan for tomorrow, Pockets heads home. Only Nanako is at home today. Nothing much we can do except checking the fridge again.



> There's a chilled Gulping Melon Cream Soda...



> ... You powered down the entire bottle in less than a minute.
> The sweetness of the melon perfectly matches the taste of the cream!

... wait, that's it? No death by sugar? Lame.

The game thinks that we need all the preparations for the grand event tomorrow.



And that's it for today! Tomorrow is again a busy day for Pockets. No time to see friends or study.

Yeah, the dub really adds a new dimension to it

"Know what's on my mind? MURDERS!" will never not be funny

also, the kimono bit

"Before you start, do you want to see a completely unrelated 15-year old girl in a bikini?"

->Yes

-> Yes

That's right, Nanako's not cute! Remember that one time she killed a dude?

A new day to stalk the scary but confused guy. The investigation team doesn't have a very good track record of finding good hiding places, and this new addition doesn't exactly improve it.



Yousuke: Yes, Ma'am! Visual ID confirmed! Target arrived in-zone near the end 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!
Yukiko: I wonder what kind of plans they made... It didn't seem like he knew that boy very well.
Chie: Well, I think there's something more subtle-- Oh, he's here!



The target has indeed arrived, and so did the other guy. They're both oblivious to or ignoring the group of nosy people that followed them yesterday.



With that, they walk off together.

This clearly confuses Yousuke.



Chie: Oh, a-anyways! We gotta hurry after them, or we'll lose them!
Yousuke: Okay... Then let's split up into two groups. One team will follow Kanji, and the other will stake out the shop.



Since we have the highest rank with Chie, I just choose Chie.

Chie: I wouldn't mind going with you, but you'd leave Yukiko with Yousuke? That worries me... for other reasons. Oh man, they're almost out of sight! C'mon, Yosuke!

Yousuke has a one-track mind.

Yousuke: So, I'm pairing up with Chie...? Eh, okay. Alright! We'll need to pretend we're on a date to make it look natural!
Chie: 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!
Yukiko: I wonder if those two will be alright... Oh... U-Um, that leaves us in charge of staking out the textile shop. So... shall we?

And so we leave Chie with Yousuke, even though it's not okay to leave Yukiko with Yousuke. Not much is happening at the textile shop. Pockets stands at the nearby shrine alone, until Yukiko walks back with a can of soda.



Yukiko: Everything seems fine at the shop. I hope it stays that way... Do you think the culprit will come...?



I have no idea, but it looks like we can only be presumptuous about what will happen or be chauvinistic. If what we've seen so far is any indication, we'll either need more Courage to say this or gain some Understanding.



I guess not. It pleases Yukiko, though.

Yukiko: 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 something I can do...
Oh, sorry. I went on and on without realizing... I-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 and Yosuke lately.
......
...The same is true for me.
> You sense Yukiko's gratitude and affection...



And we finally get a social link, The Priestess, with Yukiko! It took long enough. Yukiko's social link's been foreshadowed by her shadow: it's about her perceived lack of control over her life, the pressure to take over the inn, and her attempt to outgrow that. Many hate this social link's ending, and many think that it's extremely boring. As for me, it sort of falls into the "average" category -- neither terrible nor impressive.

And of course, like our other party members, Yukiko is so impressed by Pockets's charm that she agrees to die for him despite only knowing him for only a month.



And don't forget the crucial thing here, too.



Let's try that asking her straight out thing again!



Thanks to Pockets's newly found courage, he could ask the question straight out this time.

Other than this little flirting incident, the shop seems to be very quiet. I wonder how Yousuke and Chie's doing?

Things that killed a dude can totally be cute!

Meanwhile, elsewhere...



Yeah, that position is kind of weird. Chie better look out for herself!

Yousuke: Yeah... We definitely stand out.
Chie: No, I mean THEM! I get this weird feeling about them...
Yousuke: Weird? What about them's weird?
Chie: Umm... I don't know how to put it... Maybe it's just my imagination... Hey, how do you think the others are doing?



Didn't I say something about Yousuke's one track mind?

Chie: Yukiko doesn't seem to be interested in that stuff anyway. Wait... are you saying he's interested in her?
Yousuke:Huh!? Uh... I... wouldn't know... We don't really talk about that kinda stuff... Hahahaha.

Liar!

Chie: Now I'm even more suspicious! You know something, don't you?
Yousuke: I-I seriously don't know! It's not like we've been hanging out that long, haha...

While they're busy with teenager stuff, Kanji notices them and approaches.



Yousuke: Oh, well, you see... We're... We're just two crazy lovebirds!
Chie: Whaddya mean bird!?
Yousuke: Play along, birdbrain!
Kanji: Didn't I see you guys yesterday...?
Yousuke: A-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...
Chie: Um, look, we weren't planning on getting in you guys' way, and there's nothing strange about it, either...



Something about the word "strange" clearly bothers Kanji. It's like Kanji's magic word:

"Look, that scary biker gang is here!"
"Have you said the magic word?"
"STRANGE! Did you hear that? STRANGE!"
"NOOOOOO!" *Kanji runs away*

Anyway. Speaking of running away, Yousuke and Chie didn't have the courage to stay there any longer.



So they go on a pointless chase around the gazebo.





And that's the end of Yousuke and Chie's great stakeout mission.



Yousuke: There was nowhere to hide.
Yukiko: Well... let's wait here a little longer. Maybe Kanji-kun will come home.
Yousuke: Yeah...



Man, Kanji finds us no matter where we go. I wonder who's stalking who!

Chie: We are not a couple!
Kanji: Why are you assholes followin' me around!? Dammit, what the hell's going on!? *sigh* I ain't sayin' this is you guys' fault... But... Dammit...! *sigh*
Yousuke: Hey, uh... mind if we ask something? Has anything strange happened to you lately?

Oh no!



Kanji: What's this "strange" stuff, huh!? Are you saying that I'm strange!?
Yousuke: Huh? N-No, I didn't mean--!
Kanji: You shitheads better get the hell out of my face, or I'm taking you down!
Yousuke: Wha--!? Wait, why!?
Kanji: I look like I'm joking!?

And so everyone runs away, again --- but not without Yousuke crashing into a door first.



> You ran away from Kanji as fast as your legs would carry you...



Yousuke: 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.
Yukiko: Then we can't let our guard down... I think we should come back tomorrow to check up on him.
Chie: Looks like we've got no choice.. Let's go home. I'm wiped...

Well, what an unproductive day! No progress, it seems.

By the time Pockets gets home, it's started raining.



Nanako tells us what's happening at her school recently.



And since Pockets's exhausted from all the running away, he chooses to go straight to bed.





Or he plans to, anyway.

Yukiko: 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: 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.
> Yukiko hung up.

Nothing to do at this point but waiting for the midnight channel to come on.



Something appears!



Unlike last time, the image this time is clear and sharp.



It's really Kanji!



Whoaa this is all very sudden...





Well...



Yousuke calls us first this time.



Yousuke: Huh? O-Oh yeah, you're right! What in the world was that...? But... Dammit, it's just what we were afraid of... If only we'd held our ground and stayed there a little longer... *sigh* In any case, that place that was behind him... What do you think it is? A "superb site for those searching for sublime love"? I just don't get it! Anyways... We'd better hurry and come up with a plan tomorrow!
> ...You decided to go to bed.

That was some development! Anyway, since we no longer concern ourselves with stalking Kanji any more, we're going back to our normal routine tomorrow. So vote!

Afternoon:

- Go to basketball practice, hang out with Kou, increase Diligence

- Go to drama practice, hang out with Yumi, increase Expression

- Study?

- Fish?

Evening:

- Hang with Dojima

- Study

- Make envelope

- Translate

- Fish?

Vote vote vote!

Fish and fish.

(But I'll take translation if people insist.)

Basketball and fish

Yumi and Dojima. We need them social links!

Basketball and Dojima.

Dojima.

Drama Dojima!

This!

Study while fishing, then invite Dojima to go fishing with you.

The game is a strong believer of single-tasking, save the occasional cram time before exams.

(And it's not even designed by Apple!)

Too bad; Dojima would probably enjoy a good fishing trip.

All the Dojima!