Homework could wait, Junpei was having too much fun. After Innocent Sin, he'd told himself that he wasn't going to get sucked into another MMO, but Kenji had raved about this one so much that Junpei finally gave in. Twelve glorious hours later, his eyes were dried out and he felt like his body was fused to his chair, but he didn't even care. He was just about to join another party and go slaughter something big when there was a knock at his door.

"Come back later, I'm busy." Junpei reached for his Mad Bull and then shook it irritably when it proved to be empty.

"Could you at least turn that shit down then?"

That was Senpai's voice. Junpei blinked and then got out of his chair, a little stiffly. He opened the door and squinted at Akihiko. "Damn, what time is it anyway?"

"It's almost eleven. What the hell are you doing in here?" Akihiko tried to look past Junpei's shoulder.

"Lighten up a little Senpai, it's just a video game. Besides, Minato hasn't said anything about the noise."

"Minato isn't here." Akihiko crossed his arms and leaned against the doorjamb. "He's out with one of his lady friends."

Junpei pushed past him to go for more soda. "I seriously hate that guy."

Akihiko's persistant voice followed him down the hallway. "I don't really give a fuck how you feel about him, but could you turn your stupid game down!"

"Fine, fine!" Junpei grunted as he plugged his coins into the machine. "Have your peaceful little sleep or study time or whatever." He fished out his sodas and came back. Akihiko wasn't happy to see that he'd gotten three more cans.

"...you're going to keep playing, aren't you?"

"I said I'd be quiet."

"We have school tomorrow."

"So? I'm a big boy. You shouldn't worry so much, Senpai." Junpei popped one can and took a slug of Mad Bull, having to juggle a little to keep everything else from dropping on his shoes. He went back in his room and pointedly looked at Akihiko as he turned the volume down. "Now if there's nothing else, I'm real busy."

Akihiko sighed and rubbed the back of his head, looking like he was going to stay there in Junpei's doorway. But evidently he decided that it wasn't worth arguing about, and Junpei watched with relief and some disappointment as Akihiko silently turned and went back to his room. Junpei did his best to get back into the game-mindset and soon enough, he was grinning and pounding keyboard buttons again, all momentary unease forgotten.

A few days later, they went to Tartarus again and Akihiko finally managed to get sick. He'd been taking care of himself religiously up until that point, but there was supposedly another big shadow on the way in a week or so and Minato had ended up working them all half to death. Most of the other people in the dorm weren't feeling that great either, but one or two of them were still fine. Mitsuru was going around with Fuuka and doing what she could for the girls, while Junpei was stuck seeing if the guys needed anything. Akihiko thought that Junpei clearly didn't relish his duty that much, or maybe he was still sore about the other night. Either way, he wasn't being very helpful and Akihiko finally lost patience with him.

"Look, if you don't wanna be here, then just leave. I'll be fine," Akihiko growled in between spasms of coughing.

Junpei blinked. "What does that mean? I'm just trying to be nice here."

"I should have known it'd be you left, you're too dumb to get sick..." Akihiko rubbed his nose miserably until Junpei handed him a box of tissues. "...thanks." He mopped at his face, which seemed to be leaking everywhere. The truth was, if there was anything he hated more than being sick, he hated anybody seeing it.

"Fine, have it your way man." Junpei stood up, then paused. "Shit, I almost forgot." He dug around in his pocket and handed Akihiko a disc.

"What the hell's this?" Akihiko's eyes were still kind of watery so he had to stare at it for a second. "Wait...that stupid game?"

"Yeah, I know you're not into that stuff, but if you're gonna be laid up for a couple of days you might like having something to focus on."

"This is just stupid..." Akihiko flung the disc down but since he didn't have much energy it just bounced a foot or two down the bed and stayed there.

"Jeez, you're such a jerk when you're sick. Well, later." Junpei went to the door.

"Um. Junpei." Akihiko frowned and touched the disc.

"Hm?"

"I guess I'm being a jerk because I hate you seeing...I mean, I hate anyone seeing me like this. ...Sorry."

Junpei turned back to him. "Senpai, that's dumb. Everybody gets sick. It's a fact of life."

"...I guess. I just don't like being weak. That's all it really boils down to." Akihiko looked down at his lap. Junpei noticed he was clutching the disc now.

Junpei smiled a little. "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, right? I think I heard that somewhere, anyway." Akihiko's chin jerked up and he looked at Junpei in surprise, but the door was already quietly shutting.