I'm a horrible bastard for not updating. Sorry for that
"What's up dude? I'm bored let's go to Tartarus tonight." requested Junpei.
Minato freaked out. He ran out of excuses. He even used the I'm-studying-one-month-early-for-the-test excuse. He still haven't redeemed their weapons and once they find out, they're gonna perform an All-Out Attack on him. But more importantly he's gonna lose their trusts, especially Aki's. He has been fighting with SEES side by side for almost a month. He goes to school with them, he eats with them, they're like his family, SEES is where he belongs, and now at this very moment, the bonds and social links he forged with them might turn to itty bitty specks of dust blown away by the wind if he spills.
A droplet of sweat fell down his nose. He couldn't tell if summer came too early or he was losing his cool. He had to think of a better excuse, and by better, meaning more believable. But what? What's he going to use?
"Umm. Are you okay? You look sick. Mitsuru-Senpai maybe he should rest, he doesn't look so good, he's been like that since morning. I'm a bit worried." requested Yukari.
Minato, wanted to thank Yukari for what she said, but in any case he has to make it look more believable. He thought of a good way to make it look more convincing and that is reverse psychology with a combination of some acting.
"No it's okay I uh *coughs* shouldn't let you guys down. *sniffs* Mitsuru-Senpai- let's go to Tartarus toni- *coughs harder*"
"Arisato, it's alright you don't have to push yourself. As the leader you should prioritize your health over defeating the shadows" Mitsuru commanded.
"But Senpai, I should.."
Aki interrupted. "Nuff said. Mitsuru's right. You should rest. We don't want you going inside Tartarus in that condition, it's dangerous. Don't worry about letting us down, we should recover quickly if we try our best."
Minato wanted to add some more lies and convincing acts but, it would appear too obvious already so he just went upstairs with more coughing and sniffing sounds.
As he lies in bed, he felt as if he's on a bed of yen. He felt good, his heart was pumping hard, he couldn't tell if Aki was really worried or was he just too lazy to go to Tartarus.
His mind being clouded by such thoughts.
"Aki-senpai was worried? No he's just being too nice or maybe he just wanted to sleep early today. No Aki likes good training, he can't possibly say no to some good training in Tartarus"
He was confused yet happy, he wanted to obtain a Persona that can inconspicuously read anyone's thoughts (mostly Aki's), but one thing is for sure; he felt bliss in every small concerned action or word Aki imparts to him. With that, he can surely sleep well.
As Minato sleeps, a familiar aura filled the air, it was creepy and he knew who was coming.
"Hello, we meet again" It was the apparition Pharos, but something was wrong, Pharos usually comes a day before an ordeal and it's a week early.
Minato didn't want to get up so he spoke with his eyes closed. "Aren't you too early to be warning me about the ordeal?"
Pharos chuckled in a creepy and childish sort of tone. "Yes, I did come too early but, this doesn't concern the ordeal. It concerns you!" And he chuckles some more.
Minato's eyes opened. He was aghast. Whatever Pharos came for must be of great importance. Before Minato can speak Pharos chuckled again in a creepier and irritating tone.
"Now YOU are going to face the ordeal, it's not a shadow. As your contractor I must warn you. Unfortunately this is all I can give you for now. Till we meet again" Pharos vanished into the thin air leaving Minato speechless.
Minato tensed. Pharos became his "fortune teller" since day one in SEES, and whatever he predicts MUST come true.
All the while he thought he can sleep well, but the very thought of facing an ordeal all by himself makes him want to throw up. Where will he gather the courage to face such an obstacle? Although Pharos didn't give sufficient clues, Minato is sure as hell that this will be HUGE. Of course Pharos only comes to warn him about The 12 Boss shadows the SEES have to face. He knew that this ordeal will be bigger than those 12 shadows combined.
Those words, left Minato sleepless..
It was Sunday, no school; of course Minato had the chance to put his plan into action even though he was still greatly bothered by Pharos' warning last night.
As Minato went downstairs in his blue pajamas when he saw Aki about to leave the dorm.
Aki caught a glimpse of Minato.
"Hey um are you okay? Are you sure you should be out of bed this early in the morning?" Aki asked with a concerned tone.
"I'm just fine I just need some more rest."
"Okay if you say so, do you want anything? Food? Medicine or the latest manga maybe?"
Minato once again blushed "Some takoyaki would be nice"
"Good I'm getting some myself. Just stay in bed okay leader? We don't want you getting sick for long, to tell you honestly we're getting a little left behind"
"Understood Aki-Sempai"
As Aki closes the dorm's front door he then rushed upstairs to the second floor and stood before the door of Aki's room.
"This is it" he thought. He confidently grabbed the knob and shook it violently.
"shit locked.." as he tried to turn the knob.
He thought hard. This might be the only day Aki leaves the dorm. And as he rubs his chin his eyes locked on the mat that he's standing on that says "WELCOME".
He turned the mat over and found a gold key under it. But he wondered how could such a sophisticated man like Akihiko-senpai hide the key to his private room under his welcome mat?
That didn' matter right now, all he knew was that he's literally one step closer to making his admired man happy.
He opened the door. He expected a very well-organized room but he was wrong. Aki's school books scattered on the floor, his clothes spread on his bed and his boxers dangling from the cabinets. Maybe Aki's a calm and reserved person but he's still GUY and that can never change.
"This is gonna be a tough one. I can't decide where to start with this mess" he thought.
Fortunately, Minato took interest in sneaking Aki's boxer shorts for his own personal reasons. Lifting the checkered trousers, he found a simply designed brown notebook with the initials A.S. on the front.
Minato' eyes brightened. He instantly picked the notebook up and turned it to the first page. He felt uneasy and his heart was beating. He read the journal entries quickly but to no luck.
All he read about how Aki's training progressed.
Until he found a torn page that says
9/18/10
This is really personal and I can't really talk about it with anyone. We've ... (The page was torn)
It sounds interesting but, that was all there is to it so he turned it and the page after that, had some more sense in it. It read:
9/22/10
I just stumbled upon a store in Paulownia that sells all kinds of sports gear. I happened to look around and found a pair of synthetic leather boxing gloves. They were sturdy and perfect for my training. It WAS perfect, until I looked at the price tag that says 80,000 yen. I sadly left the store and went home. I wonder how powerful I can punch with those gloves? I mean I love my old gloves but I need to level up on my training. My allowance isn't really enough for me to save that much. The only thing I can do now is to check those gloves daily. Okay maybe twice a week will do.
Aki.
This was it. He was in seventh heaven. It was a moment of complete bliss and excitement. Minato quickly left the room as if it was never touched, he locked the door and left the key under the WELCOME mat.
He went to his room just next door to compute on how much he earned, he grabbed a paper, a pen and a calculator. He summed the money from the pawned weapons and the money he'll be earning from Mr. Tanaka. All was well. The money was enough to buy the gloves for Aki's birthday. It somehow made Minato day dream and lost track of his computations.
Aki's birthday... Minato giving the gift to him with a shy expression on his face, then Aki opening the present then Aki thanking him repeatedly. After that, they go up stairs to Aki's room and and and..
It was perfect! Minato thought. He's finally gotten Aki, maybe not yet but soon.
As he was about to sleep, there was a ring from his phone. It was Mr. Tanaka.
"Good evening son, how was yer night?" Mr. Tanaka sounded rather horny than usual.
Minato didn't reply
"So the gig's tomorrow night. Are you in?"
"I'm down with it. No funny business okay?"
Now Mr. Tanaka didn't respond and he hung up.
He was nervous yet he had to do this for the sake of Aki's happiness.
Though he knows there is some misfortune coming down the pike, he couldn't care less
It was for Aki's love that made him take these risks and if he manages to conquer and get through this, Aki will finally be in his arms.
AAAAAAAAAND THE END OF CHAPTER TWO. Leave a review please and go easy on me.
