Chapter Text
Yu glared at the sterile room. 'Damn it.' He'd searched the room for anything useful, but found nothing. No emergency key, no window to speak of. Dojima hadn't even left any files connected to the case for Yu to study.
He'd tried to search the station, but had swiftly withdrawn when he saw Adachi sitting at the entrance, poring over some documents. Dojima probably ordered him to stay there to keep Yu from leaving.
Yu could feel his brain churning as he replayed the interrogation over again. Dojima had been disarmingly more open to discuss the TV World and Yu's theories than he'd expected him to be, but it still wasn't enough. Worse still was how Adachi had just stood behind him with that bemused smile. Yu shuddered. Was that a common tactic? Grill from the front while one lurks just behind?
Yu went back to glaring at the mirror. He knew Adachi was most likely as shocked to hear his side of things as Dojima. It wasn't his fault, but it made his stomach roil that he hadn't even tried to jump to his defence. Never said a word at Dojima's insistence to keep him overnight. All the times Yu had covered for him so could sneak into June's while on patrol or talk to him late at night. Nothing.
A sharp crackle rippled across the once smooth surface of the glass TV screen. Yu stared at it. He'd almost forgotten the light drizzle that had gently played along the car windows. No doubt now it would be pouring soon.
Yu hid his head in his arms. He wanted all this to be over. The dungeons, the massive shadows, having to be strong for everyone else. Igor could take all of his talk of destiny and truth and shove them right up his nose.
This isn't right. Yu groaned. He couldn't let this go just yet. He shifted to peer at the TV through his folded arms. There was a small figure on the screen. Yu squinted, rising to face the TV. The face and clothes were obscured by thick black static, but the stature and hairstyle were unmistakable.
Yu's skin writhed, as if trying to rip away from him. Nanako was on the Midnight Channel. Yu grabbed for his phone, slapping away at all his pockets. Dojima. A strangled, unbidden howl ripped its way through Yu's throat.
Yu clamped a shaking hand to his mouth. His eyes swept through the room, settling on his chair. He grabbed it and jammed it under the doorknob. Yu didn't want to see Adachi or anyone else at the moment. If they wanted to know what happened, they could look at the footage.
Damnit, why did Dojima take his phone? He'd warned him to keep Nanako safe, but now he was completely cut off. If he had just switched that damn phone to silent..
Yu shook his head. There was no use agonising over all the factors. It would just make him sick. Yu turned to face the door. Strange. Maybe Adachi had gone to sleep? Maybe he hadn't heard him yell over the rain.
Yu left the chair where it was. Even if he left the room and made it past Adachi, it was far too long a walk to get back home, especially in the rain. Whoever ended up in the TV didn't usually disappear until their third appearance on the Midnight Channel. As much as he hated it, he would have to wait out the storm and hope he could take Nanako somewhere safe before she could get any more screentime on the Midnight Channel.
Yu peered at the ceiling. A black dome stared back at him. Good. Dojima would learn the truth in the morning. Yu growled. Still, if anything happened to Nanako before he could get to her, the video footage would hold little comfort. Dojima should've listened to him before.
Yu returned his gaze to the TV. He could risk a peek through the screen to see what he could make out back there, but decided against it. Without Teddie to navigate, he couldn't be sure what he would be looking at. The TV was larger than the one in his room and he certainly couldn't risk getting sucked in to wait for Nanako to show up.
Defeated, Yu returned to the desk. Cradling his head in his arms, Yu shut his eyes and prayed to whichever force or deity would listen, in the hopes that Nanako would be protected. It wasnt long before his arms went slack and his prayer died on his lips.