So yeah we know that the Persona 4 spin-off novel is coming, equip with a new designed Naoto and a look at her new life. But there are many things I would like from this interpretation.
1. How Naoto is holding up
A interesting story element is a look at a person's life after a life changing event. In Naoto's case, after understanding her position as a woman in a mostly male work environment as well as knowing her limits as a kid, it'll be interesting to see how she is after year. Is she still having problems dealing with her male co-workers or have they seen her in a new light after solving the Inaba case. From the cover art, Naoto looks to combine her masculine outfit with the tie, pants, and jacket, while embracing her feminine features with revealing her bust and letting her hair grow (Although how hair grows so fast in a year is another story). She also sporting a motorcycle which could mean she's more adventurous than her self-restraint younger self. I could go on with what she eat, buys, and where she lives but we can wait and see (Or read).
2. Her past relationships: From family to friends
I wonder if we will meet up with the other characters from the series? There can many logical explanations from any of them to show up in this novel centering around Naoto being away from Inaba for a year. Rise and MC are characters that will most likely bump in to Naoto since they move around a lot. Chie would have some connections to meet up with Naoto since she's was planning on joining the police force after the end of P4. There also a possibility that she made a few friend at her time at the new school, can't spend a year alone in a new place without shaking a few hands. As for family, she only has her Grandfather and butler, which would give her support from time to time, but we don't know much about her parents. Since this is Naoto's story, it is a good opportunity to talk about them for a bit but not too much so that it would feel overbearing.
(Update): Naoto will be partnering with a “mechanized” detective name Sousei Kurogami. Not sure how that is going to work out but since Naoto has experience with other androids (When they're not shooting or axing her) she'll probably have a good time dealing with Kurogami.
3. Dat plot
So what is this case she's on? Could easily be a simple case of kidnappings and it'll just show Naoto using her detective knowledge to get the case down. However, this is Persona we're talking about and nothing is simple. With the experience from jumping in to TVs, Naoto would expect something is odd with the disappearances.
(Update): It looks like it is some supernatural event since the case is surrounding a website called Mayonaka Site. Naoto is teaming up with a “mechanized” detective name Sousei Kurogami to search for Touko Aoi, another detective. So yeah, a Persona story with a robot in it. Surprised!?
What we do know...
The novel is being handled Natsuki Mamiya who has experience with writing super natural story-lines, had worked on a few police animes, and is getting some help from Atlus so it safe to say that the writing would be solid. Shuji Sogabe will be the Illustrator and his past work on the mange versions of P3 and P4 have shown he can do it well. And to show that this isn't some cheap tie-in on the series, Shigenori Soejima is the person who done the cover art, showing that this product is in good hands.
So that is all I hope to see in this novel when it comes out soon (And translated soon).
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