AUTHOR'S NOTATION: Am I so lazy of an author I can't be bothered to simply post pre-written chapters for my story?
Apparently.
But hey, at least I bothered to write them in the first place! And it's probably the only reason why this is the least time I've had between updates for a looooong time!
Disclaimer: Persona and Atlus don't belong to me.
Minato woke up the next morning to the sensation of millions of tiny construction workers in his head pounding his brain with jackhammers. Not like the previous night, where a symphony was playing a pleasant and calming tune, steeling him for his fateful confession to Yukari later that day.
He being reminded of his failure to win her heart resulted in the construction workers in his head deciding to drive around bulldozers too.
"Groan…" Minato sluggishly lifted himself off his bed and looked around. He was back in his room, albeit a little less tidy than usual, probably from him thrashing around drunkenly. His hair was tousled and his uniform was messy. Otherwise, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
That is, at first glance.
Minato heard quiet (and adorable) snores coming from his bed. What he saw was a slumbering girl with auburn hair, in a white nightgown, tightly clutching a pillow. Her hair was down and splayed across the pillow she was sleeping on.
His eyes darted to the door when he heard someone knock on it. "Hey, um, Minato? Could… Could we talk for a bit?" Minato cursed when he recognised the voice to be Yukari's. He already felt awkward around her now and the presence of Hamuko in his room would only complicate things.
"Er… Yeah, sure! Just a second!" He quickly tossed his blanket over the small girl on his bed, who mumbled something incoherent and snuggled into the blanket. Then, he turned to the door and let Yukari in. She was dressed in a light pink dress with fur trimming and brown boots which were also fur trimmed.
"Are you okay? You're sweating a little…"
"H-Huh? A-Am I?" Minato smiled nervously. "Ahaha, it must just be seeing you again. You know, how I told you how I felt and you rejected me…" His voice hushed and he lowered his head.
Yukari's expression fell. "I just wanted to say…" She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry… I'm really sorry Minato-kun. I can only imagine how you felt after I rejected you and I feel guilty. It's my fault you were hurt," Minato pursed his lips. "Hamuko-chan told me last night. It was after the Dark Hour and I heard some noises downstairs. You were passed out and she was carrying you on her shoulder, so I guess you don't remember," She shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Anyway, she told me that you went to Club Escapade and just drank all night there. And then she snapped at me for rejecting you."
Minato raised a surprised brow. "Hamuko did that? Why would she…"
"I tried asking that myself, but she just ignored me and went to your room. I didn't see her come back out, either," She added. Minato paled. "I don't suppose you know where she went?"
"Uh… Why would I?" Minato scratched the back of his head. "You said I was passed out, right? She probably left after she dropped me off in my room."
"I guess you have a point there. Anyway, I'm sorry about… You know."
Minato smiled. "It's alright, I understand. I'll get over it soon enough. Thanks for going out of your way to apologize to me; I appreciate it."
Yukari smiled as well. "You're welcome, Minato-kun."
The silence between them seemed to last hours.
"Now, uh, I'll just be going now…" The brunette spoke finally, sensing how awkward the situation she was in was. She made her way to the door.
"Right. Bye, Yukari-chan." He waved and closed the door once she was out of sight. Minato turned back to his bed and gently lifted his bed sheet to reveal a fully awake Hamuko, silently curled up in a ball. The solemn look on her face said it all. "Do you… resent Yukari?" Minato asked.
Hamuko lifted herself off the bed, sitting in a seiza position. She shook her head in response to Minato's question. "Not anymore. I don't think she - or Junpei, or anyone is at fault. After hearing her apologize, I can't bring myself to be mad at anyone."
"Why did you snap at her, though?"
"Didn't I tell you? I was upset at her for rejecting you and hurting you."
"Yeah, but…" Minato hesitated. "Did you mean anything else by it, I mean?" He wrinkled his brow.
Hamuko's eyes widened. "Er, no, I didn't," She lied. "You've seen me get in fights with other people; you know I'm really defensive about my friends and me snapping at Yukari was pretty mild by my standards."
"If you say so," Minato shrugged. "By the way, why are you in my room? I'd have figured you would toss me on the bed and go back to your room."
"Well, um…" Hamuko struggled to come up with a believable excuse. "I was feeling really tired too, so when I carried you to your room I just decided to sleep in your room, too!"
"Well, why were you sleeping in my bed beside me?" Minato retorted.
"I… just wanted to keep an eye on you and make sure you were okay! That's it!"
"You didn't need to sleep beside me to do that, though," Hamuko's face flushed. "And besides, there was no need for you to stay here. Aigis keeps breaking into my room early in the morning and watches me sleep."
"Aigis does that?! That stupid robot...! I swear, once I get my hands on her I'll…" Hamuko muttered something bitter and threatening under her breath. The blunette sweatdropped.
"You still haven't given me an answer yet," Minato told her impatiently. "We've outgrown sleeping in each other's beds. Our dorm's rules are different from the orphanages' rules and we'll get in trouble for doing stuff like this."
"I know that, but…" Hamuko looked down sadly.
Minato sighed. "Just… Don't do this again. I'm glad you're trying to watch out for me and take care of me, but I'll be fine on my own from now on."
Hamuko's face flashed with anger. "No, you won't! You always got in trouble then and you do now! I know that, later today, you're just going to go drink again and ignore everything Yukari or I have said!" She said accusingly.
"Wha-" Minato lifted his hands and shoulders defensively. "What are you saying?" He narrowed his eyes.
"You know! You need me to take care of you, that you're helpless without me! You'll try and go off on your own, but I know that you're eventually gonna crawl back to me looking for help!" Hamuko shouted as she jabbed a thumb toward herself. "I've known you this long and I know especially how you think! Admit it!"
"Why would you…!" Minato exhaled heavily. "Just… Get out. Please." He pointed to the door.
"No! Not until you-"
"Leave." Minato's voice darkened.
Hamuko flinched in shock and fell silent. She got off the bed and made her way to the door, shaken by her friend's drastic change in tone. As she reached the doorway, she turned around to look at Minato and saw him glaring at her. Hamuko took a few steps back out into the hallway and saw Minato slam the door shut, recoiling at how violently he did it.
"Geez… What the hell's gotten into her?" She heard an annoyed voice come muffled through the door.
Hamuko stared at the door, listening to Minato grumble about how strangely she was acting.
Tears began to stream down her face and she collapsed to her knees, placing her head and hands against the door and sobbed quietly.
"Please don't leave me, Minato…"
AUTHOR'S NOTATION: If you couldn't already tell, Hamuko is going to cry quite a bit in this story. I'm thinking of dedicating an entire chapter to just her crying about stuff. Like her unrequited love for her best friend, how her parents, like, died in a car crash and why the takoyaki stand in Iwatodai Strip Mall raised its prices. Makes me tear up just thinking about it.
Next chapter will be up soon enough, when I decide I want to do a little proofreading. Also when I pre-write chapter 4, because I like to plan my story ahead since I'm still not entirely sure where it's gonna go. Welp.
FFRRR. Know what that stands for? Favorite (Review), Follow (Review) and Review, Review, Review! And no, that doesn't mean that I see favorites and follows as reviews and that gives you an excuse not to post an actual review, it means I want you to post a review and that that is the only option you have to show your appreciation for this story (but not really). Favorites and follows are great and all, but any form of constructive criticism is welcomed! And the only way you could really give it to me is through a review.
Next chapter will come when I decide I'm not lazy enough to perform the simple act of posting it. If that doesn't happen in 15 years, feel free to pronounce me ded. ded ded ded