A/N: Written from Shinjiro's point of view. Will contain spoilers for the game.
Never would I have thought that I could fall this hard for somebody, much less the girl who was supposed to be our leader, and my junior. But I guess what they say is true, love truly is blind. Especially since, those feelings that I had… were returned.
At the hospital… That was where we first met.
The sliding door of the ward rumbled as it slid open to reveal the three Gekkoukan students who came to visit their senior. A tall, thin fellow clad in slightly loose-fitting uniform, and two girls; the one in pink he had seen before, but not the redhead. She was new.
If only I knew then the joy she would bring to my life, and the sorrow I would bring to hers.
The new girl did not appear startled by my appearance, while the other two visibly recoiled when they saw me standing by the ward bed. "Um… Is Akihiko senpai… in this room? By any chance?" The tall guy looked nervous, but I didn't care, Aki would deal with them.
"I don't have time for this shit," I scoffed and stepped towards the door. On my way out, I stopped and looked at the new girl.
"You…"
There was something about her... I could not pin it down.
"Never mind…"
I left, not knowing what fazed me back there. It was not until much later that I realized that… That feeling… That strange, unfamiliar sensation… That - was attraction.
Seeing her again didn't seem remotely likely. Though as always, irony dictated that she should show up where I least expected her to.
Did the girl in pink just call them scum? Seriously? Those idiots. I looked over at the crowd ganging on the trio from the hospital. It's not my problem, I thought. But when the punk punched the other kid, I finally stood up and walked over. "That's enough. They didn't know what they were getting into, I'll make sure they leave. Alright?" But they really were a troublesome bunch.
"Who do you think you are, dumbass? You want some too!" Dumbass? I wouldn't take that. His fist came straight at my face, but I avoided it with ease and head-butted the prat, knocking him backwards. Then, I stood over the punk as he sat on his ass trying to figure out what hit him. He was pathetic. "Guh… Shit! You just crossed the line!" he shouted, "You think you're going home alive!"
Obviously, he doesn't know that I don't take well to being threatened. "… Wanna give it a try?"
"Uhh… Screw this!" he ran off. And so did his lackeys, though one of them did turn back and to taunt me.
"Damn you, Shinjiro… That's right… You're from Gekkou High too, aren't ya!"
"You better grow eyes in the back of your head!"
I then turned to leave the scene, in case they came back, thinking those three idiots would have the sense to leave as well. However, one of them spoke up. "Oh man, Senpai. That was awesome!" That voice… Why did it sound so familiar? Curiosity made me turn back, and upon closer inspection, I realized…
"Hey, I remember you… You clowns were in Aki's room at the hospital. You idiots!" My first instinct was to berate them for stupidly turning up at the punk's hangout at this time of night. "Get outta here. This place isn't for you."
After saying my part, I turned to leave again. This would at least ensure they thought twice before coming back again. "Wait!" Damn… "We came here for a reason!"
Without turning back, I asked, "Did Aki tell you to come here?"
A strong, yet feminine voice replied, "No."
"… Hmph." I walked back to them and sat on the steps. Facing them, I asked, "What do you wanna know? About that ghost story?"
"Um, yeah… How'd you know?" That smart-mouthed girl in pink looked like the type dumb enough to come here. But he was surprised the others didn't have enough sense to talk her out of it. I filled them in all I knew regarding those rumors and the girl named Fuuka Yamagishi.
"That's all I know… Satisfied?"
"Thank you very much." The bright-eyed redhead caught my eye and I swiftly lowered my gaze.
"… I didn't do nothing."
I could never go back, not after what happened… Or so I thought.
"Dammit, I'm tired of your nagging." Aki wouldn't stop following me…
"I'm sorry, but I won't take no for an answer." So annoying.
"Well the answer's still the same: I'm not coming back."
Sometimes I still wonder if my decision to return was the right one.
"We saw someone die right before our eyes, too… But, it's been two years since then…" Aki didn't finish the sentence. And I didn't add to it, there was nothing to say. "How long do you plan to beat yourself up over it? You're always at that spot behind the station, even though you don't hang out with the crowd there."
…
"It doesn't matter. It was my fault, and it can't be erased." He wouldn't understand. "What difference does it make if I come to terms with it? It won't change anything." It was still my fault. I lost control. "This isn't the same as what happened to Miki." I killed her.
"Shinji…" He was always the sentimental one.
"That's enough, already. I just want to forget it ever happened." As if I ever could.
It haunts me every day. It still does.
As I left, I felt Aki's glare piercing my back, but I had to keep going. If I looked back, all those efforts would be for nothing.
Even as I look back on that time, I suppose I had no choice once he joined. He even brought her with him… I wonder if what I would have said if I knew how things would turn out between us. Ha…
"You're getting on my nerves!" When will he get the message and leave me the hell alone!
"The situation has changed. Sorry, but this time, I'm not asking."
"What?" I didn't even manage to fully process the implications of what he said before he thrust a suitcase into my arms.
"This belongs to you."
I grimaced, priming myself for a retort, when he said, "We have a new enemy. They're Persona-users, like us."
As if that would change my mind.
"Ugh… Yeah. So what?"
"There's more. Ken Amada has joined our team."
Many things changed for me that day. Most of which involved me returning to the life I turned my back against, something I swore never to return to. Perhaps, if I didn't, I could have spared her the suffering.
"So, you're the one leading the operations now, huh?" I looked her straight in the eyes, daring her to respond. She merely looked back. "If you don't mind me asking, what exactly are you fighting for?"
"I don't know."
…
Geez. "Is that so? Well, you do your thing; I'll do mine."
I turned to Aki, "Is my room still vacant?"
"Yea."
"Sheesh… Another girl? First Mitsuru and now her…" She kinda looked like an airhead, but I wasn't going to say that in front of her. I mean, just look at her, smiling all brightly… Like a child. A cute child… Gah! What am I thinking?
"So what? She might be a girl, but she's one hell of a-"
"That ain't my point, numbskull. I'm saying you gotta keep an eye out for her. Honestly…" She's younger than me, too… I guess I'll just have to see for myself.
Though I have to admit, it was kinda nice to be back. Fighting alongside Aki again. And… she was always there, supporting me.
"… the Original SEES Team." Mitsuru looked around them, and true enough, it was down to the three of us again.
Back then, Mitsuru recruited Aki out of nowhere, and I… I camped outside the dorm until she let me join him. If I didn't watch him, that idiot would only hurt himself. "Haha, yea… I only remember Aki charging ahead by himself." He often did. But now, he's changed. He follows orders. Not just anyone's orders. Her orders. I wonder what their relationship is… He's gone soft, that's what happened. Huh, though I doubt he realizes, he really is a slow one.
Our leader was, in fact, an extraordinary fighter. She wielded the pole arm in such a way that maintained balance and accuracy, and fought with the skill and grace of a seasoned veteran. I could not help but admire her in combat. Although, occasionally she would give me strange outfits, insisting they were 'beneficial'…
I would wear any outfit for her if she came back… to me…
Thank goodness for Tartarus' dim lighting. This way, she won't be able to see me… I could feel my cheeks burning as she buttoned up my butler jacket, her cleavage showing slightly as she bent over in her maid outfit. "W-why… are you making me wear this?"
She flashed an innocent smile, which rendered me speechless for awhile. "Are you into this sort of thing!"
She gave me a quick nod.
…
"I mean…" I could feel blood rushing to my cheeks again. "T-that's fine and all, but…"
Damn it, Shinji! Get a hold of yourself!
"Can't you see how out of character this is for me!" He tugged at the tie with his free hand, as the other was wielding the Guillotine axe he favored so much.
And then there were the times she would wear those… I hate to admit it, but I'd like to see it again.
It was like lingerie… Why would she wear something like that? How can that be good for battle? It showed so much skin! She'd be too vulnerable! Oh crap! She's coming!
"Senpai...?"
I had to look away. I couldn't possibly look at her… when she's clad in… She's almost naked! I covered my mouth and looked anywhere but at her.
"What's wrong?"
What? I'll tell you what's wrong! "I get it if you have to wear that in battle… But just… don't go struttin' around other guys looking like that! Promise me!"
Our feisty leader sure put us through a lot when we went to Tartarus, but she never let us down… Never… Unlike how I…
Back at the dorm… It was strange to be back. It wasn't bad… Just strange. Usually, during the evenings, I would shower and go to the lounge for the news. Koromaru would be there too, it's always good to see him healthy, because it meant he was eating well.
Normally, that's how I spent my evenings, until she approached me…
"Want to go for a bite?"
I was taken aback. "… What, with me?" Her signature nod. "Okay… I don't know any fancy places, though." We left the dorm together, and I'm betting she didn't even notice the others watching us. She's a strange one, I thought.
Without noticing, I led her to Hagakure. I guess… it's kind of a reflex for me to come here these days. "Sorry for bringing you here. I don't know many places to go out to eat."
To my surprise, she replied, "I like this place."
I found myself smiling. "… You're an odd one. Ha ha…"
We sat down and ordered. "Watch the soup… It's ho-" When the food came, she dove into it right away, while I watched in awe for about ten seconds before starting on my own bowl, unable to wipe the stupid grin off my face. The noodles did it for me though… "Ow…"
"'Ow'?" she looked up at me, a string of noodle still clamped between her lips.
"… Forgot I had a cut in my mouth. It's 'cause Aki punched me." I held a palm to my cheek where it hurt. "Sheesh, that guys' gotta learn how frickin' heavy a boxing champ punches…" I winced as my tongue grazed the tender cut.
She looked up at me, concerned. "Were you two fighting?"
"Ha ha, hell no." Was that what she was thinking about? "… I gave him a little 'lecture' on how his fighting style's too reckless, and this is what I got in return. Well, we get in fights all the time. Just get used to it."
"All right."
"Yeah, thanks." Her face broke into a clear smile, and she turned back to her noodles. I laughed a little, thinking about how silly this would all sound to her…
"But man, you're actually younger than him..?"
…
"We're lucky that you're such a reliable leader." I looked at her fondly…
At that time, I thought it was admiration that I felt.
"… Oww." I had no choice but to set the noodles aside for now. "That reminds me… I cut the inside of my mouth the first time he punched me, too. I couldn't eat for a while because of that."
She looked unfazed, "When did this happen?"
"… We were kids. I forget why." Those were the days… "Ha ha…" Looking back at my noodles, a sigh escaped me, "This just ain't gonna work… I'll have to wait till it cools down."
That marked the beginning of my relationship… with the girl who would become my first love.