It had been another excruciating night through Tartarus. While it was physically easier thanks to S.E.E.S' new member Shinjiro, Minato found that the night's expedition was more mentally exhausting than prior nights. He had decided to test his senpai's usefulness in battle, and his expectations were all met as he had expected of the former S.E.E.S member. Shinjiro had more than proven his prowess during the Dark Hour. He made sure to outfit Shinjiro with some of the best equipment Officer Kurosawa currently had. Only Ken had better equipment than Shinjiro; a fact which the boy took great proud of. If Ken got seriously hurt, Minato would never forgive himself. The problem arose from Minato's decision of only bringing Shinjiro and Ken.

They had both been proficient in battle, but they worked as two separate units. Unlike the conglomerate that was Junpei and Yukari whenever a situation arose, whether in battle or in school. The atmosphere between the two seemed too cold, too hostile. Minato knew that his presence affected how the two acted yet he could tell that the two's current behavior on the expedition wasn't far off from how they usually interacted. When they encountered a shadow, Ken would make sure to stay as far away from Shinjiro as possible, even if that put him closer to a shadow. Despite this, Shinjiro would make sure to protect Ken until he got he realized that it was only putting the ten year old in more danger. Instead, Shinjiro focused on helping Minato whenever the second-year felt fatigued. Although Minato noticed a harsh glare directed toward his way from Shinjiro whenever Ken got hurt. Despite the care of Minato's and Ken's health, S.E.E.S's leader could tell that Shinjiro was mindless of his own. Made worse from Ken's behavior. Ken was always mindful and quick to cast diarahan regardless of how minor the injury yet, whenever Shinjiro was injured, Ken would always seem to not notice the third-year's condition until Minato prompted Ken to heal him. This was usually met with either Ken clenching his teeth or glaring at Minato. Overall, Minato knew there were serious benefits from having S.E.E.S. newfound members, but they were heavily outweighed by negatives that came from the newest members. Minato knew there were issues between Ken and Shinjiro, but he hadn't imagined that they would run this deep.

Ever since Shinjiro rejoined, Ken made it a habit of staying in his room whenever the other was in the dorm; Ken also felt the need of keeping close to Minato, especially whenever Shinjiro tried to, admittedly very few times, talk to either Minato or Ken. The few times he had hung out with Shinjiro, Minato had enjoyed them. Especially when Minato and Fuuka has taken some, much needed, cooking lessons from Shinjiro. Minato noticed that whenever he made the smallest interactions with Shinjiro, Ken would always make a face and seem to ignore Minato for some time. Ken would also keep a further distance from Shinjiro. In turn, Minato saw that Shinjiro held a great distance between him and Ken. Shinjiro kept a distance with everyone from S.E.E.S, even with Akihiko, but Minato knew that the cold rift held between Shinjiro and Ken was maintained by both members, not from Shinjiro alone.

Minato missed the days when Ken would be in the lounge, drinking black coffee; until Minato had told Ken that coffee would stunt Ken's growth. The 10 year old immediately gave up the beverage… for all of two days until the kid suffered a relapse from the lack of caffeine. Eventually Ken rationalized with himself that drinking enough milk would counter the coffee, and also enhance Ken's attempt of seeming like an adult-although he would never disclose that piece of information to anyone. Minato missed the admittedly few days when he walked Ken to school -Ken had later told him that Minato's presence had caused quite a stir with Ken's friends, wondering who the mysterious stranger was. Minato missed being able to spend time with the kid. As soon as he met him, Minato felt a deep connection with him. He knew all the deep feelings that Ken secretly harbored. A young kid forced to grow too early. A young kid forced apart from their parents at all too ripe an age. A young kid forced to fight against shadows in a desperate bid to find someplace to belong. A young kid mercilessly punished by the cruel mechanicians of fate. Minato refused to accept it; he refused to let Ken suffer through growing up alone. Minato made a sincere effort to get to know the kid, and he did. Ken began to trust Minato. Minato wasn't much of a talker, but he knew the effort of just being there for Ken spoke volumes to the elementary-schooler. Eventually, Ken felt confident going to Paulownia Mall and Iwatodai Station with just Minato. Although Ken had gotten food poisoning from Wild Duck Burger and Minato had to take care of Ken the following day. Minato felt as if he had made a connection to Ken, he had truly felt that maybe he could make a difference in the kid's life; that Ken could have a father figure.

Yet all of that changed when Shinjiro joined. That was the real reason for only having Ken and Shinjiro join for the expedition. Minato hasn't found out much. All he could tell was that Ken really disliked Shinjiro. Minato also saw Shinjiro trying to help Ken, and immediately giving up on the idea. The two seemed to play their own game of chess, carefully moing around one another making sure to avoid each other yet keeping each other within arm's reach. Frankly, It peeved off Minato to no end. He was tired of weakly attempting to join in on their game. Minato had a gut feeling that if he simply let the two play their pieces as they wished, something irrevocable would occur. Deep down, Minato knew he would have to join Shinjiro's and Ken's game; an unexpected third player that would play by his own rules and hopefully end this senseless game with all three the victors.