Two things interested me about the first scene. First is that the voice chooses to communicate to Naoto through her phone, rather than more directly, as it does to Souji (I'm assuming this is the same voice from the dream at the start of the game). Given that a large portion of Naoto's interaction probably comes through her phone (clients, maybe her grandpa or Yakushiji checking to see how she's doing during a long absence), it seems like the right choice. Even when she's talking with metaphysical voices, she still employs distance and a conduit to communicate.

The second is Naoto's half-analyzed reaction to her jumping in after Kanji. I like that she already seems to know why she did it, but she's still at a point where she can deflect it. Also like Rise's attempts to tease it out of her - on one hand, Rise says Naoto being concerned for Kanji isn't anything to worry about, on the other hand, she doesn't want to drop the subject.

(And, to Naoto's credit, I think she could've jumped in after any of her teammates. She's big on correcting wrongs, and saving your friend would fall under that. Though, given her current mindset, she's not seeing herself in the best light.)

Crit:
"supposed to [lie] on the floor"
"[as] dumb as a bag of bricks"

All I can say is FINALLY!
They're both so incredibly socially awkward I can't believe it's finally happening.
However given that this is now figured out I can't help but feel the ending is looming omniously closer.

So is that the ending? Awesome chapter YAY!

OMG FINALLY! we've all been waiting but i think that just makes the story better. very well put together chapter w i can't wait for next chapter! i hope there's more kanji and naoto fluff too

That was surprisingly cute! I'm glad to see that they're slowly advancing in their relationship; all that build-up over forty-two chapters had to lead somewhere. The stuttering is totally in-character, haha. Reminds me of the ski-trip in Persona 4 Golden where there were some d'aww-inducing moments between the two of them. Actually, when I was playing through P4G, some of the added events had frighteningly close dialogue written in the vein of this story. Just goes to show that you understand the characters pretty dang well, I suppose.

It'll be enjoyable when we get back to the rest of the Investigation Team. Now that Kanji and Naoto have started to work towards a better relationship, hopefully Souji can start improving his outlook on things. Nanako and Dojima returning must have been good for the kid.

Almost three hundred thousand words later and they are finally going out. Achievement unlocked: Beating around the bush no more.

Untasteful jokes aside, loved this interlude to bits, thank you for it.

Well it took entire month for Naoto to find out what she feels, and only thanks to her grandfather. And based on what we know about her grandfather he might already know about Kanji, hell, he might have known before Naoto did. And while most grandparents would indeed quite disagree for having Kanji looking person as a grandson in law(or at least granddaughters boyfriend), who knows, after all for a detective of such small constitution as Naoto some muscle might be beneficial, plus a tailor as well in that package. And while I can not guess precisely how her grandfather will act, I know for sure that Kanji will be quite scared, hell a person with good social skills is.

Awwwww. 3

You write from Naoto's perspective very well, I love the Interludes. (Of course, you write from Kanji's perspective very well too, so...I love the whole thing.) I think you did a great job with Kanji's reactions to Naoto coming back, the way he took his usual head-on approach and finally applied it to her, but seeming kind of reluctant about doing that all the same.

YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS. GAH. FINALLY. AFTER 42 CHAPTERS. and the last few chapters of uahdgjahdkgjbkhg. I'm so happy right now. Thank you. -rollsaround-

Ahahaha they're so cute together. The team's most socially awkward people. XD

SQUEEEEEEE *bounces up and down* LOVE IT! They are so cute, and akward and totally perfect together. I really think Naoto should have sent a text that just said "Happy Birthday" to Kanji at the least. I kinda wanted to see more of her grandfather's reaction to her choice to come back to Inaba. But that's just me.

Of course the best part is at the end when she comes back in Inaba. The fact that she wanted him to be at the train station and was disapointed when he wasn't is very telling about her true feelings... as if the kiss wasn't enough. I also really like the line of Kanji's "I can't just- chase after you" he wants to be with her, but he also wants her to want it too... it is very sweet. What was unexpected and fun was that she kissed him...short as it was... We all want them to get together. You are doing wonderfully. I can't wait for the next chapter so see how they get along, if they tell anyone. What the teams reactions will be...all that jazz. Keep up the good work!

oh Naoto... paranoia by definition...

XD

awesome kiss, awesome kiss, aweso- WAIT! ... WE'RE IN PUBLIC! *brain-fry*

XDXDXDXDXDXD

i take it Nao-chan is NOT an exhibitionist... *laughs all the harder*

remember what i was saying about the whole 'meet up scene being AWESOME!' :D well yea... ITS AWESOME! XD primarily more because of how much they fumble the f*ck out of it XD like, okay, i LOVE the 'meet-up scene', obviously, but usually its, how shall we say, 'self-contained' as in all about 'only us' and 'resolving' and blah blah blah, but its dramatic and obviously hopelessly romantic... THIS, by comparison, IS A TRAIN WREAK! XD and so much better for it...

now, you may be going 'wha-huh? but you said-' *slaps hand* shut up, explaining, now why is it better? ITS SO THEM! that's why, the two of them are a train wreak from day one, why, oh great mighty universe, TELL ME WHY! would they 'suddenly' actually 'function' in such a dire situation? *grins* so the slow pick up, flopping all over the place like a dying fish, and FINALLY scrapping some semblance of 'what should be' is adorable, plus still reminds us they're teenagers and therefore stuck in the stupid age of f*cking sh*t up... totally :D plus they're both awkward and weird, not realizing that their insecurities are actually rather 'typical', its just that you'd never see it on a disney afternoon special i'm afraid, 'society' has its plastic definitions of what 'old people in power' what the 'dumb masses' to 'think' they 'should' be... unfortunately that just makes 'normal' people rather insecure thinking they're 'ab-normal' when they're just f*cking teenagers... sure, these two are... 'atypical' by lots of definitions, but scr*w that, emotionally, relatively 'normal' :3

excuse me for this next bit, but i was having flashbacks reading this of the 'stupid years' when i met my husband and he said he loved me the first time... i'll have to admit, i think i handled it... hmm... 'better?' then Naoto, with an immediate response of 'No you don't' and logging off and disconnecting from the living world of communication for about, say, a month... hmm... didn't notice that part, lol... anywho, back to the dysfunction that is being 'female' and a 'teenager'... *starts laughing so hard* i'm sorry, i kinda WISH i had someone to give me that nice slap in the face that Grandpa gave, love that guy, just like Ma in being that older experience caretaker who is AWESOME cause they know ALL! :D i suppose my gay-best-friend kinda counts, but he's more like my Rise... XD anyway love the add of both 'caretakers', both whom i can just see sitting in the background shaking their heads after they 'leave' going 'idiots...' or 'f*cking teenagers', whichever works, because they OBVIOUSLY know better... experience, such a nice thing...

now, again, i'm HIGHLY familiar with late-night 'brooding' sessions... especially the kind that result in that 'shocking' revelation of 'oh f*ck... i'm in love with him! ... F*CK!' XD i'm a more 'instinctive' creature, so i can accept my experience was more tinged with... well, instinctive emotion, so if i was thrown for a loop, oh Naoto's poor poor abused logic... i like how the first thing she 'thinks' of after the 'reveal' to herself is '…Grampa would not be impressed.' *snorts* i'm sorry, i was laughing so hard at that, believable, yes, amusing, COMPLETELY! XD i thought it was an amusing touch that since she has no experience with social thing or emotions, she uses the next best thing, DETECTIVE SKILLS! :D cause that's totally how one should think things through... right... whatever, still amusing, and got the job done, see Nao-chan emotions aren't that 'hard'... *snorts* right... but it does help facilitate this 'revelation' and proves just how far she's come, while amusing as it is that she STILL avoids 'certain' words in her own head cause she doesn't quite get what it means, or knows what they mean but just doesn't want to admit it, its funny to watch her 'admit' something :3 she's embarrassed because she doesn't' know if its 'okay' to be feeling something, let alone if its 'okay' that she actually likes it... you're a teenager, you're supposed to be feeling all kinds of 'weird' things... *snorts* it is cute that once she 'accepts' this she can make a decision, not exactly stop running, but enough to admit fault, and try owning up to it, and running back in the other direction :3

the phone thing was cute, i will not confirm or deny if i've done that too... but it was still cute... XD

also while reading this i've come to realize i'm an extremely aggressive person, once i've made a decision i just do it, no thought further, Naoto seems... skittish... i thought it was cute and in character, like at any moment, despite all her build up need to 'confront' 'admit' and 'accept fault' she was one step away from running... its adorable... i actually feel Kanji's more the aggressor in the relationship here, but the cute thing about it is that despite it obviously bristling and wanting to jump out of his skin, he holds back and doesn't 'grab' what he wants, and waits patiently for her, like coaxing a frightened animal... i suppose i 'should' learn this... but where's the fun in that? *snorts* its a good balance either way, and actually in my opinion proves more just how masculine/feminine they both are, even if they don't realize it...

gotta say, loved this line (not to mention Naoto saying 'F*CKIT!' and just grabbing Kanji... XD):

'...the pragmatic part of Naoto's mind reflected that they probably just needed more practice'

Translation: excuse to kiss again, and again, and again... XD trust honey, i know what 'Need more Practice' means *evil grin*

i actually found its slightly hilarious how that (entirely) female part of Naoto's brain seemed to 'activate' after effectively saying 'kiss me again... DAMNIT!' aww, she's turning into a woman :D then there was that last kiss... *snickers* yea, if i were more crude i'd say some really, REALLY, terrible things like- *snickers* no, shouldn't... SHOULDN'T! XD *shoves that thought aside... while snickering* i'd just like to point out how much... uh, 'lighter' Naoto's mood seems to shift after that whole drama and the second kiss... and how she seems much more concerned they find some, 'privacy' for i'm sure 'practice' *evil grin* fufufufu... yes, didn't take long for that (entirely) female part of her brain to activate... F*CK LOGIC! XD

'practice' indeed... *snickers*

i think i'll stop... i've probably ran out of space, or close, no freakin' work count thingy *kicks*

loved it, AB-SO-FREAKIN'-LUTELY LOVED IT! XD ahh... Naoto, angsty Teenager is revealed XD

i was waiting for Shirogane Sr. in the begining to just cough politely under his breath 'bullsh*t' *snickers* just saying...

Till next *Hugs* Sayounara, Zero!
-Ikasury

Ps: *snickers* 'practice', like science, done over and over and over again, just to 'confirm' the results... and its fun... XD sorry, the pervert in me seems to have come out... 'practice' fufufu...

You know, you're the only author that I know that can make me feel this way about fictional characters. You are truly an amazing writer and this chapter was just pure gold. Your take of the situation through Naoto's perspective is just so in character of her and her uncertainty with dealing with her friends and Kanji were such a delight to read. But that last part, that last part was what really made this chapter. It's what really made me, as the fangirls put it, "feel", and damn it, it felt good. I hope this isn't the last chapter and that this isn't your last story with these two in mind, though this has been one epic ride. Awesome job as always, and if there is still something to come, I eagerly await it.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaay omg I had hoped you would update again, this story is so awesome! Love how you keep the characters so in character through everything, something I tend to struggle with. Especially with Naoto (and Margaret). Looking forward to reading more of this and more of your other stories!

I think I speak for us all when I say...

YES.

YES.

FREAKING YES.

Forgive my lack of, y'know, coherent sentences here. But this could NOT have been more perfect. Everything just came together so beautifully, and we finally got some honesty out of the two of them (I think somebody already pointed out that one line of Kanji's, the "I fricking hate labels" one - that was perfect, such a defining moment right there). And I'm forever in love with your Naoto, so having this section as an Interlude, from her perspective...just lovely, to see inside that complex, indecisive, muddled little mind of hers 3 and how she actually came to terms with finally admitting she was in love with this guy.

..The impending end of this story is just making me want to start reading from the start again, heh...think I might ;)

As usual, awesome work man. Your story is just so entertaining to read, since you nail the characters so well. It has progressively become my favorite Persona fanfic, along with GeNiUs (A shame that one was discontinued).
I'm going to be honestly saddened when this story is over, but I'll take heart in the fact that there is still a lot of content and potential for great reading until that time arrives.
Keep up the good work!

"Shit, I dunno," he cut in. He scuffed his boot against the floor and let out a sigh. "I hate fricking labels. But - I've thought 'bout it a lot since we met, y'know? I-I think I like - you. Boy, girl, whatever you want." He shrugged, a loose roll of his shoulders. "The rest...I guess I'll figure out."

This has got to be the most romantic thing i ever read. And so in context to the characterisation. I cannot tell you how happy i am at this chapter. Making me grin ear to ear like a maniac would be a start. But man what heart warming chapter. Naoto's grandfather might be talking with experience. I love how you portray him caring without being overly ... mushy. He is still a shirogane. A strong shirogane. Oh it would be a nice one shot or future chapter when he does meet kanji. I want to know how he would feel when he meets him hehe... a whole new set of drama i believe. Kanji and naoto would be worried. Heh anyway...getting off topic. Awesome job. I would hope you update faster but i guess you cannot rush perfection so... take your time.