Tsuyoi was extremely anti-social - probably because of his latch-key-kid upbringing.

Despite having a sister practically joined at the hip with him.

Maybe it was his base personality.

He honestly liked music more than interactions - so he pulled out his old walkmen out of his messenger bag.

He plugged in his earbuds - and looked at the screen.

>Playing: 99 Luftballons (Nena)
>Up next: Rock the Casbah (The Clash)

He faintly smiled. He didn't know a lick of German - but god did was it just that catchy.

Tsuyoi pressed play, the sound turned on to about medium or whatever.

Hast du etwas Zeit für mich?
Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich
Von 99 Luftballons auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont

He wasn't a sitting duck though, he could here stuff.

Chie blubbered on how she would kick "Yosuke's" ass for this, Yukiko gave a polite and dignified laugh.

"Y-you're Yuki-chan, right?" Asked someone, which caused Tsuyoi pull a headphone out of his ear. The person asking was a creepy, fish-eyed kid with messy black hair. He wore a uniform that wasn't Yasogami.

"Er, yes. But it's Yuki-" Yukiko was caught off by the boy.

"Y-you wanna go somewhere?"

"What...? W-who are you...?" Yukiko mustered out giving a confused look.

Tsuyoi heard one of his peers give an analysis of the situation.

"What's up with him? What school is he from?" Asked an on looking student.

"Never mind that, he's going for Yukiko-san? Man, you'd think he'd at least wait until she's alone to do that..."

Tsuyoi gave a side glanced at the students.

In a big city like Tatsumi Port, saying stuff like that had bad implications. And while he barely knew Yukiko, you don't say that stuff like that.

He wondered if what some of his peers Gakukan were right - dude, you look intense with those eyes.

They didn't really notice.

"I bet you a can of TaP he gets knocked out."

"Dude, no bet. Haven't you heard how difficult the Amagi challenge is?"

Amagi challenge...?

"Um, s-so... are you coming or not?" The strange boy asked, looking at Yukiko strangely.

"I-I'm not going..." Yukiko stated, politely declining.

"...Fine!" He snapped and ran of with his backpack.

Yukiko gave a concerned look. "Wh-What did he want from me...?" She asked Chie, who was ready to kick the now long gone guy's ass.

"What did he want...? Obviously, he was asking you out on a date!" Chie said, almost embarrassed.

Yukiko tilted her head. "Huh? Really?"

"You really had no clue? Sheesh..." Chie groaned. "But then again, that was over the top."

Tsuyoi gripped his walkman. "It was creepy how he called you 'Yuki-chan'." He stated.

He heard the squeaking of a bike.

"Yo, Yukiko-san. Turned down another lovelorn fool, huh?" The brunet boy from earlier (who got a "critical hit to the nads"). "Man, you're cruel... you got me the same last year."

Yukiko gave a confused look. "I don't recall doing that."

"Whoa, you serious!?" The boy said, excitedly. "So then, you wanna hang out sometime then?"

"...I'd rather not."

"That'll teach me to not get my hopes up..." He mumbled, cringing. "Anyways, you two better pick on transfer student-san too much."

"We're just curious that's all!"

Tsuyoi glanced at the brunet. "My name is Tsuyoi... but thank you for the honorifics."

The brunet smiled and he rode off on his bike.

Yukiko smiled sadly at Tsuyoi. "...Sorry for dragging you into this."

Tsuyoi noticed the gathering crowd of students.

"C'mon, let's go. Everyone is staring...!"

~~AFTER SCHOOL~~

"Never thought to ask this but... why you out here in Inaba?"

Tsuyoi glanced at the brunette girl. "Mother's job. She working at her new job this year. My sister is able to be with some friends, but my extended family couldn't take me in. Except my Uncle out here."

"Ah... so you came here because your mom's job. Haha, I thought it was serious!" Chie joked.

They were walking past some flood plains - they were neck deep in the sticks.

Chie looked out. "There's really is nothing here, huh?"

Tsuyoi nodded. Tatsumi Port was bursting with life but Inaba... was mellow from what he's seen. It's... it's a change that he can grow accustomed to.

"That's what makes it nice, but there is nothing much we can show to people from outside." Chie stated. "Though, there is something from Mt. Yasogami...I think our dyed clothes or pottery or something is kinda famous."

Tsuyoi nodded along.

"Oh wait, and there's the Amagi Inn! Yukiko's family runs it. It's the pride of Inaba!"

"Huh? It's just an old inn."

"No way, it's been in all sorts of magazines as a hidden treasure. It's a great inn! It's been going for generations, and Yukiko here is going to take over someday." Chie boasted. "Their inn actually attracts a lot of visitors to Inaba. It pretty much keeps this town going."

"...I don't think that's true..." Yukiko states, blushing.

Chie leaned into Tsuyoi face. "So tell me... you think Yukiko's cute, right?"

"She's quite cute." Tsuyoi answered.

"I knew it!" She squeaked.

"Come on..." Yukiko groaned. "...Don't do this again..."

"Oh. Sorry, Yukiko-san."

Yukiko blushed.

"She's really popular at school, but she's never had a boyfriend. Kinda weird, huh?" Chie explained.

"C-Come on, stop it." Yukiko blushed. "Y-You shouldn't believe that, okay? It's not true that I'm popular or that I've never had a boyfriend! Wait, n-no!" Yukiko continued. "What I meant to say was, I don't need a boyfriend! Geez...Chie!" Yukiko squeaked out, embarrassed.

"Hahaha! Sorry, I'm sorry. But this is our chance to talk to someone from the big city, and you barely said a word!" Chie explained and apologized.

"Hey, what's that?" Chie said, confused as they turned the corner to a crime scene.

"Wow." Said a spectating housewife, flabbergasted. "Who imagined that hanging from a telephone pole?"

"I wanted to see it too..." Moaned another housewife.

"Uh, you got here too late... the police and the fire department took it down a moment ago." Explained the first one.

"Well, I think it's terrifying! I can't believe a dead body showed up around here..."

Chie stopped. "Wait... did she say a dead body?" She shivered in fear.

Dojima walked over to the trio, his jacket over his shoulder. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

"We're just passing by, Dojima-san."

"Huh, I should have figured that'd happen." Dojima stated. "...That damn principle. We told him to not let students come around here."

Chie looked at Tsuyoi. "...You know this guy?"

"I'm Detective Dojima, his guardian. Uhh... Well, how should I say this... I hope you get along with him. But you three really ought to stop wandering around and head straight home." Dojima answered, scolding them.

A young detective ran past Dojima, hands covering mouth. He ran to a bush and vomited.

"Adachi! How long are you going to act like a rookie!? You want to be sent back to central office!?" Dojima barked, yelling at the young detective.

"I-I'm sorry... ngh..." He (Adachi?) moaned in pain.

Dojima sighed. "Go wash your face. We're going to go around and gather information!"

Chie shuddered. "Was that what the announcement was about...?"

"What do they mean... it was hanging from a telephone pole?" Yukiko asked.

"Hey Yukiko...?" Chie squeaked. "...Why don't we go to Junes some other time...?"

"Good idea..." Yukiko stated, disturbed.

Chie looked at Tsuyoi. "Alright then, we're taking off. Staring off tomorrow, neighbor, let's do our best!"

~~AFTER SCHOOL~~ -> EVENING

"I wonder if dad's coming home tonight..." Nanako mumbled, siting down.

Tsuyoi was finally home, ready to listened to music once he goes to bed.

"Our top story this evening concerns a bizarre case in a quiet suburb. Around noon today, a woman was found dead near the Samegawa River in Inaba."

The school zone is being shown on TV. Could this be the incident Dojima was talking about...?

"The deceased was identified as Ms. Mayumi Yamano, a 27-year-old from a local television station." The announcer explained. "The initial results of the Inaba Police Department's investigation have revealed..."

Nanako's eyes lit up. "Ah! Inaba Police Department! Th-that's where dad works!" Nanako then when silent.

"It's going to be okay." Tsuyoi said. Telling her 'it's okay' reminds me of sis...

"... I know. That's his job, so this stuff happens."

"The body was found hanging from a large television antenna atop a local resident's roof. Authorities are uncertain as to why the body was in such a state. With the cause of death also uncertain, police continue to investigate whether the death is an accident or a homicide. A thick fog common to the area has slowed their progress, and plans to fully canvass the area are delayed until tomorrow."

"... They found her on a roof? That's scary..."

It then turned from a grim news story to a commercial for that... Junes place.

"At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! Every day, Young Life, Ju-ne-su!" The guy in the ad. It was the same brunet boy from school.

Brown hair, soft features... despite being a guy, he was quite appealing.

"Everyday, younglife, Ju-ne-su!" Nanako sang cutely.

Nanako looked at Tsuyoi expectantly.

"Everyday, younglife, Ju-ne-su." Tsuyoi sang softly to Nanako.

"You memorized it already? I'm the best one in my class!" Nanako said excitedly.

Nanako sings the song to herself over and over again. It seems that she's forgotten all about the scary story.

4/12 TUE -> 4/13 WED

⚔️

NEXT TIME ON PERSONA 4: THE WRITTEN

"HEYY! CAN YOU HELP ME OUT OF THIS?"

This time on Persona 4: The Written, I help some loser out of a trash can.