If anybody asked Junpei about his best friend, his mind would thought about a brunette. With pins on her hair, blood red eyes, and bright smile.
Minako was many things. It's hard to pinpoint words to describe her. She was just.. Minako. His leader and best friend.
Junpei loved her. Not like how the others love her. Not like how he loved Chidori. They were the ultimate bros. The type of bros that got each other back when one of them wanted to sneak around an overprotective android. The type of bros that could lend their shoulder as one of them cried.
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Emotion always been an uncomfortable subject for Junpei. He didn't know why, it's just was.
When Chidori... After Chidori was hard. He locked himself in his room. He didn't want to hear Yukari's careful words. More used to hear her called him a pervert and Stupei. Not used with how everyone's worried about him, but unsure how to approach the subject.
But still, it's suprised him how easy it was for him to cry on her shoulder. As the rage, grief, and loss just to much for him. How losing Chidori was to much for him. Minako didn't say anything, only offering her shoulder.
It's a familiar sight, just liked how she cried on his shoulder. Scared and unsure. As Shinji's slept (medically impossible for him to wake up, the doctors murmured), Minako hung on the hope that's he would wake up in no time. No matter how she'd cried when they brought Shinji to the hospital. Hugging him tightly, afraid to let go. Even when his blood covered hers.
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Maybe he wanted to redeem himself.
Junpei knew that he wasn't the strongest of the group. The title was still up to debate. He definitely wasn't the smartest. At best, he's the comic relief. That one guy that told jokes to brighten the mood.
But here he is, standing around Paulownia Mall, hoping to find Minako's stalker.
The idea seems great a while ago. Catch the stalker then tell him to stop.. or something. But now he realized how stupid his plan was. There's like, thousands of people in Iwatodai. The chance he actually found the guy was.. slim. But Minako came here like, every day. So if her stalker really stalk her, he should've known her routine already.
Junpei frowned, he didn't like his line of thought.
And of course, that was time the stalker passed him.
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He came back to the dorm with a bruise and a victorious grin.
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"You don't have to you know."
"But I want to treat you." Minako said, not even hiding how she kept looking at his bruised face. "I should've come with you."
Junpei grinned at her. "Yeah, you're right. You're strong, but should've seen the other guy."
He received a smile after that and pretended the steam from the ramen they order didn't hurt his cheek.
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Minako's death felt like a slap on his face. Sudden and painful.
Because she's right there, in front of his eyes all this time. He noticed how pale she's gotten. How tired and exhausted she was. But he ignored it. He forgot.
When he remembered. When everyone remembered. She's already gone. Sleeping, but they knew somehow, deep inside that they were to late. She's gone.
It's hurt. It's really hurt. But there's no shoulder for him to cry on anymore.