I'm on a roll! I can't believe I wrote a chapter as long as this one, I wanted to add more but I had an exam so I had to stop here. Though I made a lot of changes on how this chapter ran, mostly because I stirred Minato and Hamuko out of their usual personalities. Personally I wanted Minato to be laid back and calm while Hamuko was quiet yet cheery at the same time. But so far my desire for Minato to use more words and for Hamuko to be a little more open totally changed the whole perspective of things.
For now, enjoy Chapter 2 of Social Chain! And I have a special guest on this chapter. A special guest that will be staying for a while.
For the reviewers:
I didn't have time to reply to your messages one-by-one, so I decided to just type it here!
namine23: nope... no Persona and Tartarus involved. But I think they will be discussing this as a subject lecture in future chapters. I'm really sorry if you wanted Tartarus involved.
MysticForest44: I think there's a part like that in this chapter... I have to review the whole thing again.
Aya001: Thanks for pointing out that small mistake. I took care of it already.
: I love the whole incest thing too. I'm trying my hardest to not turn this into a Minato x Hamuko incest love story.
alyssapearl38: here's the update! Thanks for tuning in.
Have a Little Feith: so it seems... but gaaah sorry I won't be able to correct that one. I don't know where it is.
Lin.B'Cry: Hamuko will be with Aki. Don't worry about it.
John.K-pRc: I think I'll keep that pair open. For now, I'll let the others decide also. But I'll make a fanservice for you and Lin.B'Cry.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything!
4/9
Hamuko walked the halls of the 2nd floor casually, turning her head side-to-side occasionally to watch the students and teachers pass by her.
"It's Minato-sama!" A girl from her class shrieked and ran past Hamuko. A few girls started to follow afterwards, shouldering her with brute force. Her head spun with the sudden stampede and loud ear-peircing shrieks the fan girls gave off.
She turned around to where the girls ran to, and saw her brother ascending from the stairs. He had an annoyed expression on his face as he walked casually towards Hamuko.
"Minato-senpai, have you eaten your lunch?" A girl with buns asked him. He just brushed pass her.
"Minato-senpai, why'd you come here?" Another girl from 2-D questioned. He just stared at her bankly.
"Minato-senpai, me and your sister are classmates. Do you want me to take you to her?" A girl from her class stated making Minato pause from his tracks. The girls were expecting for an answer, but he grabbed his earphones and plugged his ears with it.
Her brother was showered with these questions. He brushed them all aside and continued on with the usual sleepy expression spread across his face. His earphones, weren't even blasting music due to the fact that the batteries of his player were dead. He just wanted to give off the idea that he wasn't listening to any of the girls.
"What do you want Minato-nii?" Hamuko asked when her brother was directly in front of her. She tilted her head a little to check on the crowd right behind Minato and saw a bunch of girls huddling close together whispering and murmuring while pointing fingers at both of them.
"Uncle called." He informed with a stoic voice.
"And?" Hamuko pressed on waiting for his brother to say something else.
"He said he's going to check up on us this weekend." He replied and noticed the students passing by were giving them looks. He felt uneasy under the watchful eyes of those students, but kept his composure while talking to his younger sister.
Hamuko's jaw dropped. "Screw you…" She told him with narrowed eyes. No way in hell would she believe that their uncle was coming to "check up" on them. As far as she knows, he was far too busy with work and "business" to even take a short vacation. Plus, their uncle tend to play it safe.
"I'm serious." He said and pulled her into a corner to talk to her quietly. The stares were making it hard for him to talk in the middle of the hallway. "If you don't believe me, call him when we get back to the dorm." After saying that, he turned on his heel and walked away pushing past through some girls who were cooing over his presence.
Hamuko watched the back of his brother walk off until it disappeared completely from her sight. She sighed and went on her way back towards her classroom but was stopped by a female classmate. If she remembers correctly, her name was Risa.
"Hamuko-san, I was wondering if you had adjusted to Gekkoukan yet." She asked with huge plastic grin plasterd on her face.
Hamuko really wanted to say, "why do you even care?" so bad, but fought the urge to do so and instead said, "I'm getting used to its system, thanks for asking."
She turned around to leave, but she was again stopped by another classmate. "Minato-sama is your brother right, Hamuko-chan?"
Hamuko cocked an eyebrow. Seriously, why were they pushing her for info? "Is it not obvious?" She asked them.
The two girls laughed almost forcefully. "Hamuko-chan is so funny, right Kari?" Risa commented and elbowed her bleached-blonde friend.
Kari also laughed at the comment. "We were just wondering, because you guys looked so different."
"Really now? " She asked, sarcasm leaking from her voice. Sure, they had different eye, hair and skin color, but the features are pretty much the same. Same jaw, same round eyes and same bone-structure. If you let Minato wear a brown wig, red contacts and bleach him, he'd totally look like the guy version of Hamuko. Same goes for her as well. If she wore a blue wig, blue contacts and got a tan, she would look like a gender-bent Minato. But so far, only people who are close to them and who are around them always only get to notice the similarities of her and her brother.
"Hamuko-chan you are such a comedian. Why don't you hang out with us some other time?" Risa suggested and tugged on Hamuko's arm lightly pulling her towards the direction of their classroom.
"Totally!" Kari agreed. But Hamuko knew all too well that they were just using her to get close to Minato.
She slid her arm off of Risa's grip and backed up a few steps a forced smile fixed on her face. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass. After all, I do have a busy schedule." She said before bailing on the two wannabees. Well, she was lying about the busy schedule, but it was the quickest alibi she could come up with and at this point she was walking away from her classroom 'cause of this.
She was hanging her head low muttering things when she bumped into someone on the hall. She looked up only to be greeted by the same silver-head man living on the dorm. "Sorry. I wasn't looking." She apologized and bowed her head.
"No it's okay..." He replied and stared at her. Seriously, nothing is happening. No shrieking, no pouncing. Nothing.
"Ah... well, I'll go on ahead." She scratched the back of her head and proceeded to walk away, this time going back to her classroom. That small encounter with him must have snapped her back to reality. Either way, she was still gonna see him back at the dorm. And if she really thought about it, he was kinda cute, but no. She will not mess with the campus heart throb. She's already got her hands full with her own brother's fans.
Evening…
"That was not necessary nii-chan! He was just asking for directions!" Hamuko screamed as she opened the door of the dorm.
It seems as though the siblings had an encounter with a male student from Iwatodai High (A/N: Not Gekkoukan, just a normal high school in Iwatodai), who decided to ask Hamuko for directions. Minato, being overly-suspicious and over-protective, pounced on him and slammed him to the nearest wall threatening to dislocate his arm if he tried anything funny with his sister.
"Are you sure he wasn't planning to knock you out so he can kidnap you!" He reasoned, raising his voice for the first time that they had arrived in Iwatodai.
"You were watching Ryan Higa's movie on Youtube again weren't you!" She accused shutting her brother up. "You always get influenced with the things you watch! I can't believe you!" She turned on her heel and attempted to walk out, but Minato grabbed her arm and forcefully pulled her into a hug.
(A/N: Ryan Higa's movie about being an A.S.S. AKA Agent of Secret Stuff)
"I was just worried that what happened 2 years ago would happen again." He said, this time a little bit softer.
Hamuko calmed and let herself sink into his brother's embrace.
"It won't happen again. I'm no longer a kid nii-chan" She reassured pulling away from the hug. "And will you please stop worrying about an event that had happened 2 years ago!" Her voice was cheery as if the argument between her and Minato has never actually happened. She turned around to walk to the stairs but caught something in the corner of her eye. It seems as though they weren't the only ones in the lobby. Well doy! They were in a dorm! Of course some of them would have been home from school already, stupid!
"Uh… sorry for the ruckus." Hamuko apologized. She was so embarrassed right now. She wanted to crawl under her bed and never get out until next semester. Minato seemed embarrassed also, but kept it cool and just casually joined the others in the lounge. He took a seat on an empty space on the couch and stared at the unfamiliar face that was in front of him.
Hamuko was also aware of the guy and also stared at him. Yukari had noticed this and was suddenly snapped back to reality. "Oh! I forgot to introduce you to Shuji Ikutsuki. He's the school's chairman."
"It's very nice to meet our new acquaintances in this dorm. Oh and by the way, I don't think you've been introduced yet. This is Akihiko Sanada. He's a senior like you." He pointed at Minato who looked the least bit interested in Akihiko.
"Hey." Was all he said.
"Hi." She replied finally learning the boy's name. "I'm Hamuko and this is my brother Minato." Hamuko said in behalf of his rude brother.
She gave him one of her sweetest smiles and caught him off guard. No girl has ever given him that kind of smile before. Mitsuru, mostly wears her business smile around him, Yukari never gives him her sweetest smiles and the girls in their school would usually put up smiles that gave off a weird flirty aura for which he did not like. The last time he'd seen a smile as genuine as Hamuko's smile right now, was from when his sister Miki was actually still alive. Right before that fire ever happened.
When he blinked, he thought he saw the image of his younger sister in her place. He was dazed and was lost in her eyes. He stared so much, to the point of actually glaring at her.
Hamuko blinked and stared back wondering why he gave her that look. Minato in particular noticed how Akihiko was glaring and decided to clear his throat to snap him out of his trance. Fortunately for him, he did.
"It's nice to meet you…" He trailed off and went on looking at the ground beneath his feet.
An awkward silence enveloped the air and if it wasn't for the chairman asking on the whereabouts of Mitsuru, the silence wouldn't have been broken.
"Student council." Was the single answer of Yukari.
"Ah... busy as ever I believe." Ikutsuki remarked.
With that said, Hamuko decided to make her exit. She directly went upstairs to her room and took out her phone to dial their uncle's number. A few rings and the door to her room opened. She looked up to see Minato standing at the doorway with his hands on his pockets.
"I'm calling uncle now…" She told him and the other end picked up. She placed the phone on top of the bedside table and put it on speakers.
"Hamuko-chan! I'm so glad you called! How's Iwatodai?" His uncle asked in an all too eager voice.
"It's fine. I called to ask if you're really gonna visit us on the weekend?" She asked.
"Yes. I was scheduled with a meeting there, so I decided, why not visit my niece and nephew?"
Hamuko looked up to her brother and saw him mouth the words, "I told you so" before taking his leave. She rolled her eyes and approached the open door and closed it with a loud bang.
"So are you guys okay with that?" Her uncle asked when she finally returned to sit on the edge of the bed. She picked up the phone and pressed it on her ear, cancelling the speakers.
"Yeah I guess." She told him.
"Good. And oh, before I forget, you're cousin came by the office this morning. It seems, that he would be coming with me."
"Yeah sure." She said and ended the call. She laid on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. She screamed and placed a pillow on top of her face. Her uncle visiting means trouble in Iwatodai, though she didn't really want to interfere, but it can't be helped. A few minutes after that, she heard a knock on her door.
"Is everything all right Arisato?" The voice on the other side of the door asked. It was Mitsuru checking on Hamuko.
Hamuko sat up and whipped her head at the door. "Uhm, yes, everything's fine. I was just blowing off steam." She stated.
There was a moment of silence and Hamuko could hear the soft murmurs of Mitsuru on the other side. "Blowing off steam?" She asked herself on a low tone, but Hamuko heard it loud and clear. "Very well… I'll let you "blow off steam", just make sure to keep it on the down low." Mitsuru stated and walked off.
Hamuko once again place the pillow on her face and muffled a scream.
The days had gone by quickly and school was as normal as it could get. Homeworks piled up and the Arisato siblings breezed through the classes. "Too easy..." Minato would say when their french teacher called him up to translate a whole paragraph in french. You need to know your languages when you're gonna get into the family business after all. Before you know it, it was already the weekend.
4/12
After waking up on a beautiful morning, Hamuko went straight to the shower and got dressed. Today was the day where her uncle and cousin will come to visit them. Her uncle didn't exactly say what time though. He just said on the "weekend".
She had prepared for his arrival though. She made sure to check the high quality restaurants in the city if ever his uncle asked to dine in a restaurant. Oh, but that would mean attracting some attention to themselves. They are usually surrounded by bodyguards for means of protection. Living in this dorm was the first time that she and Minato had gone without big men in black suits hiding somewhere unseen while watching them carefully.
After getting ready she proceeded to the lounge of the dorm and was surprised to see his uncle sitting on the single couch with two big men in suits standing right behind him as expected. She checked the time on her watch and saw that it was still 8:12 AM.
"Hamuko!" Her uncle, Yukihara, greeted her. He stood up from the couch and greeted her with open arms.
"Uncle." She said and gave Yukihara a hug. "When did you get here?" She asked when she broke the hug to look at his uncle.
"Just a few minutes ago. Minato-kun came down to greet me and Souji here." He explained and pointed to her cousin who was indulged in a conversation with Minato.
"You haven't changed a bit." Hamuko commented when she saw Souji's appearance. "What made you come here?" She asked.
"Souji will be moving next year to Inaba due to uncle Kyouseke and aunt Hana's occupation." Minato explained getting straight to the point as usual.
Of course… Souji had always lived a life like that. His mother Hana was their mom's sister, so he had no relation in the business of the Arisato bloodline. Though they were actually rich considering his parent's jobs. The only problem was they had to travel a lot and he had to move and switch schools, a lot too. Last time in one school year he actually had to transfer schools three times. That's why he usually shuts himself out from the other students and not get too attached. The closest thing he had with friends was with Hamuko and Minato themselves 'cause they cared enough to come visit their lonely cousin at least twice a month to check on him.
Although he usually takes his pick on a few girls in his current school and would usually enjoy himself with them until he transfers once again. That guy is unpredictable after all.
"I asked mom and dad if I could stay here with you guys." He stated with a huge grin on his face.
Hamuko shattered to pieces. She couldn't believe what she just heard from Souji. Sure it was great that they'd be together and all, but seriously! It's bad enough that she had to deal with the prying hands of Minato's fan girls, now she has to deal with Souji's too! Don't get her wrong, but Souji is quite attractive. He was the spitting image of his mom, only his hair color was inherited from his dad. Sure he looked a little nerdy sometimes, but when you look past the glasses that he doesn't even frikkin' need, you see a total hottie.
"Are you sure about that?" Hamuko asked him.
Souji nodded his head yes. "Positive. Starting tomorrow I am a freshman in your high school."He stated with a proud smile that Hamuko so wanted to knock out of his face.
"Well… that's… wow…" Was all that came out of her mouth.
"I'm fine with it, but what about your room?" Minato asked him.
"I was wondering if I could room with you nii-san." Souji asked in a polite but straight voice. He was always like that towards Minato and Hamuko.
"Fine with me. But you buy your own bed." He remarked and placed one earphone on his right ear.
"Splendid! I will have someone talk to the school's chairman about Souji-kun's enrolment." Yukihara exclaimed after hearing the news.
Someone. It was always "someone" and not "me". Their uncle takes too many precautions. He never rendezvous with anyone in real life, unless it's someone really important. It seems he wanted to learn from his older brother's mistake.
The Arisato's, plus Souji, talked for a while in the lounge totally ignoring the two body guards standing on each side of Yukihara. If she wasn't mistaken, there were two or four more just outside their dormitory. After 5 minutes of talking they heard footsteps coming from the stairs. They halted and all turned their heads to see the Kirijo heiress making her way down. She stopped in her tracks when she saw that they had visitors.
"Arisato. I see you have visitor's" She stated eyeing the two men in suits right beside Yukihara.
Hamuko stood from her seat. "Uh yeah. This is our uncle Yukihara Arisato and our cousin Souji Seta." She introduced. "Uncle, that's Mitsuru Kirijo."
Souji and Yukihara stood up to bow down to the Mitsuru. "I am very pleased to meet the heiress of the Kirijo group." Yukihara stated when he finally looked up.
Mituru's eyes widened and realization struck her. Of course! No wonder the name Arisato was so familiar! They were a top trading business partner with the Kirijo group. How could she have forgotten? "I'm pleased to meet you too." She replied. Her eyes flickered to the two bodyguards that he brought with him and she wondered why he had one. Sure, it's for protection and all, even her father has one, but why the big ones? "Are you here to check on your niece and nephew?" She asked and motioned for them to sit back down.
"I'm here for a meeting with one of your executives, and since I'm here I decided to stop by. By the way, their cousin Souji-kun here will be enrolling in your school. He had decided to room with Minato-kun if it is okay with you." Yukihara had said.
"I suggest you talk to the school's chairman on that one." She replied. "Afterr all, it is not on my agenda."
Yukihara smiled knowingly. "Yes, but the school and Port Island itself is run by the Kirijo group. If I'm not mistaken, so is this dorm. So I assume you have direct contact to the higher-ups of this whole thing."
Mitsuru was awe-struck. "Uhm… yes… I'll contact the chairman and settle for his enrolment."
"Thank you very much. Now if you'll excuse me, I should be heading off to that meeting." He stood up and turned to leave but was stopped by Hamuko.
"You're not staying for lunch?" She asked.
Her uncle shook his head and stated, "Not today Hamuko-chan. Maybe some other day. Ciao!" He bid them goodbye and finally left the building with his two bodyguards tailing him. A black volvo S80 was parked right outside the dorm with two matching black GMC Yukon XL Denali parked at each end of the expensive car. He stepped inside the volvo and bid his final farewell to his niece and nephew.
"So... you're the heir to the Arisato industries?" Mitsuru asked when the three mysteriously bullet proof cars left the lot.
Hamuko scratched the back of her head and ruffled her wavy ponytail. "Well... no. Minato is." She corrected. "For one: he's older, but it's mostly because a woman can't inherit the family business."
Mitsuru cocked an eyebrow. "Oh? Why not?" She asked seeming a bit curious. She shouldn't stick her nose in other people's family business, but her curiosity got the best of her. Especially since she just found out that one of her dorm-mates were the heir to the Kirijo group's top trading partner.
"We have a complicated lineage." Minato stated earning the attention of the red-head. "It's some sort of tradition. But if there is no male to inherit the business, the husband that the daughter chooses will be the one to run the industry, though he has to take in the name of the Arisato instead." He added saying more than he usually does. Mostly because he wanted to impress the Kirijo and show her that they are not the only ones who are powerful enough to run Japan. He was being a jerk, but that's the usual him. Especially when Souji is around. It was his way of being a good role-model to their younger cousin.
Mitsuru was interested now. Their family was even more complicated than her own arranged marriage. Who would've thought.
"Mitsuru, I saw a couple of cars on the way back from my jog. Did your father come to visit?" Akihiko asked the minute he saw MItsuru standing just near the front desk.
"No. It was Yukihara Arisato. Their uncle." She answered and pointed to Hamuko and Minato.
His eyes widened with shock. "You mean..." He trailed off.
"Uh... yeah..." Hamuko answered even if he didn't finish his question. It was because she knew what he was going to ask anyway. "You're an Arisato?" Yeah, they get that a lot. The Arisato children were not as popular as the Kirijo mostly because of personal reasons. Some people wouldn't even know that the Arisato industry had an heir. As far as the news go, they died in the explosion 10 years ago. They let the people believe what they believe and witness what they witness. Though if they witness too much, some higher-ups would make sure to take care of this.
He studied the girl who answered his question. Now that he thought about it, she looked like the late wife of the also late Katsuhiro Arisato. He knows because he'd seen them in person. They were the ones who helped his father get his job before he passed away himself.
Hamuko fidgeted under his intense stare. Why did he look at her like she was some sort of specimen anyways? She looked around the room and saw that Souji was staring at Akihiko wierdly and sometimes whispered something to Minato.
Souji narrowed his eyes at Akihiko. Feeling the cold stare directed at him, the silver-haired senior turned his head towards Souji's direction. In doing so, they had just indulged themselves at a staring game right before Souji broke into a fit of laughter for no apparent reason, earning him looks from Hamuko, Akihiko and Mitsuru, and a smack right at the back of the head from Minato.
"Ow." He whined and rubbed his head.
"Why were you laughing?" Minato asked in a stern voice.
"I'm just amused at him." He said and pointed to Akihiko. "No one's ever beaten me at the staring game before." He stood from his seat and patted the older boy in the back making Akihiko totally confused.
"Senpai, I'm gonna go out for a bit." Yukari said when she finally joined in on them. "Oh. Who's that?" She asked and pointed to Souji, who was standing right beside Akihiko.
A smirk formed on Souji's lips when he saw Yukari. "I think I already like it here..." He muttered and earned another smack at the back of the head, this time from the female Arisato.
"Keep your hands to yourself Souji." She scolded.
"What are you talking about?" Yukari asked Hamuko.
"Uh it's nothing." She reassured. Knowing Souji, he was probably thinking of the same thing he thought when he found a "potential" girl on his old schools. But since they were all here, she might as well introduce them. "Oh yeah. This is our cousin Souji Seta. He's a freshman at Gekkoukan starting tomorrow and will be Minato's roommate as well."
"It's a pleasure meeting you all." He dipped his head lightly for a few seconds and looked up to see Hamuko's reaction at his gesture. She simply rolled her eyes signifying that she wasn't buying the "act polite around other people" crap. He wasn't usually this polite and respond with a "hn" whenever someone introduced him. But they usually act differently around each other than they do around strangers. Of course, none of the three ever had close friends before mostly because of some personal reasons. That's why Souji and Minato would tend to shut themselves out from everyone around them and would only open up around each other and Hamuko. Sure Souji was as friendly as Hamuko was, but he doesn't keep his friends too close unlike Hamuko who loves to keep them as treasures near her heart. Though she couldn't also say she's ever had a real friend before. Most of them were only after money and some of the nice people were afraid to approach her and her brother.
"It's very nice meeting you too..." Yukari muttered and analyzed the appearance of the new arrival. He was also strikingly attractive like the Arisato siblings. In fact, if gods and goddesses were real, she would say that they were a family of demigods judging from their appearances.
"Well now that I see we're acquainted with our new dorm-mate, I need to make some preparations for your transfer." Mitsuru remarked and proceeded to go up the stairs once more, her cellphone already in hand.
"I'm gonna go change from this sweaty clothes." Akihiko followed suit and also left the 1st floor lounge leaving behind Hamuko, Minato, Souji and Yukari alone.
"So... have you guys eaten breakfast yet?" Yukari asked and took a seat at the couch across Minato.
Speaking of breakfast, Hamuko suddenly remembered she was actually hungry. And just at the right moment, a certain blue-haired boy's stomach growled.
They all turned their attention towards him who still kept on his straight face. "Well, that answers you question." He said and stood from the couch. "I'm going out for brunch. You coming with me?" He turned to Souji and Hamuko who was standing side-by-side at the hall way.
"Why not." Hamuko remarked. She turned to Yukari and offered for her to come, but she turned it down. So the three of them left to eat at Hagakure leaving Yukari alone at the lounge.
As much as she wanted to join in on them, she had a feeling that she'd feel a little out-of-place.
She kept her eyes on the three when they went outside the door and noticed that they acted differently around each other. Minato was actually using more words in his sentences(usually he would use one or four words when speaking to others), Hamuko was sarcastic(she's usually dead serious whenever she says something) and Souji... well she didn't know his personality yet so she didn't judge him. For now that is.
So what did you guys think of the surprise guest? Anyways, anyone who can guess the reason about the big time bodyguards and the bullet proof cars gets to pick the pair for Souji! Hint: it's about my current fascination to a certain affiliation. If you want, I could make an OC for you just so you can dish it with Souji Seta *wink*.
Tell me if you guys hate the attitudes of the P3, P4 and P3P protagonists in this story. I re-read through it and so far I was not satisfied with their personalities. I twisted Souji and turned him into a bit of a playboy and also I decided that they should act differently around each other.
I wanted to continue this chapter until I got to the Akihiko and Hamuko moments, but I realized this chapter got too long and I wouldn't want to bore you guys.
Review on you opinions okay? Like I said, I'm open to suggestions so be free to click the button right below this story!
