On her way to school, Akihiko caught up to Minako, extremely out of breath. He huffed out a 'hey' and they began to walk together side by side.
"Running late?"
Still wheezing, Akihiko shook his head. He stopped for a few seconds, allowing his heart rate to go back down, then presumed walking.
"The doctor said I'm almost fully healed, so … I couldn't wait to get some exercise."
Minako shook her head. Leave it to Akihiko to get right on back to his training.
"I'll be ready for battle after midterms."
"And then you'll go back to leading the group, right senpai?"
Akihiko contemplated for a moment. "We'll see about that."
.
Exams were brutal, but Minako was confident in her abilities that she could make top ten easily. On the last day before exams started, however, she was asked a question that left her shaking.
"Will you continue leading SEES in my place?" Akihiko begged, no, pleaded to her by the school gate. This had to be the worst timing for him to say this. Minako's head was filled with nothing by algebraic formulas.
"What?! Why?"
"That way I can concentrate on building my strength."
"Well… "
Minako was completely against being the leader from the start. Hell, she didn't even want to join SEES in the beginning, but she somehow got talked into that. Everyone was putting so much pressure on her and she was starting to break down. The night of the full moon was proof of it when she wouldn't stop crying. Luckily, Akihiko didn't know about her miniature meltdown.
"… You'll be fine. You've been a wonderful leader. Just keep doing what you've been doing. I already talked to Mitsuru and she was fine with it."
It wasn't Mitsuru she was worried about.
.
So Akihiko was officially mended and ready to go back on the battlefield. Just as Minako expected, he proved to be a powerful ally with an even more powerful punch. He even found the name of a possible new recruit. Fuuka Yamagishi. Unfortunately, said girl was missing in action.
The trio of Minako, Yukari and Junpei were currently investigating the rumors surrounding a particular ghost story floating around the school. Well, just Yukari and Minako. Junpei wouldn't stop trying to freak Yukari out with his "Believe It or Don't" stories.
Between school and her extracurricular activities, Tennis Club, Student Council, library committee, all of which she was yet again forced into, Minako also squeezed in some time to help Yukari debunk the ghost rumors. Honestly, Minako didn't consider herself a person who would allow herself to get walked all over, but this school was sucking her dry. Everywhere she turned, someone needed something from her. Join this, help with that, integrate yourself into the school, make friends, blah de blah. Minako already had SEES. They were friends enough for her.
Back in Minako's room, a week before the next full moon, she felt that same presence. At least this time she had expected it, so she stayed awake.
"Good evening."
"…. Hi."
"I came to see you again, as I promised. How are you?"
"….. I'd be better if you didn't try to freak me out in the middle of the night."
"That isn't very nice. Show some courtesy."
Maybe he should show some courtesy by coming to visit at a normal hour. Why was she even welcoming him?
"Now then … in another week, the moon will be full again. And the next ordeal will be upon you. So, please be careful …. I'll come again, my dearest …"
.
"Okay, let's get this meeting started. We are gathered here today to discuss what we have learned in the last week."
Yukari was holding an impromptu meeting in the dorm lounge about the ghost rumors. Minako and Junpei were SUPPOSED to help gather information, but a few things came up and, well …. They didn't. Minako actually had plenty of good excuses like Student Council meeting, Tennis Club, and the library committee. She had no idea what Junpei's excuse was.
"It turns out no angry ghost was involved." Yukari said with a smug look on her face, bumming out Junpei. Minako figured he wanted to be involved in some sort of paranormal phenomenon. What better paranormal phenomenon is there than Tartarus?
Yukari's findings in the case brought them to one of the shadiest places of Tatsumi Port Island; the alleyway behind the station. Several boys and girls you would not want to meet up with in a dark alley were right here in this dark alley they were walking into. So far, Yukari's plan was not going so well.
"Check out those rags… they're from Gekkou High."
"Hey you." One guy directed his attention to Junpei. "I think you're in the wrong place."
"You don't belong here, get it? Beat it, Goatee."
Minako was too scared to speak. Yukari was not. She stood in front of the other two, bravely standing her guard. Minako wished she could be fearless. She was supposed to be their leader, wasn't she?
"We don't need your permission to be here." Yukari spoke clearly and heroically. Junpei thought differently.
"Hey! Are you nuts?!"
"C'mon, don't be intimidated by this scum!" Bad words, Yukari.
The punk stood bowlegged, his mouth wide open at Yukari's words. "What was that?" Another punk, a woman backed him up, preparing for a fight.
"She just called us 'scum'. We'll post some pictures that'll make her daddy cry!"
Ouch. Bad move, tough chick. Yukari was enraged by her words. If she had her bow or Evoker, the girl would probably not have much to say. Instead, she swallowed her anger and simply mumbled, "These guys are the worst."
The punk who was apparently the leader of the group heard that comment and did not let it go. "Heh, you better shut that mouth. Man, I feel sorry for you, Goatee. This bitch is a pain in the ass…" He spoke with an almost friendly tone before unceremoniously punching Junpei in the gut. Said boy dropped to the ground, holding onto his stomach.
"Junpei!" Both girls screamed for their fallen friend, scurrying over to his side. With her fear finally getting to her, Minako began to cry.
"That's enough."
A familiar voice cut through the atmosphere like glance. Minako squinted a bit until she recognized the incoming figure.
"They didn't know what they were getting into. I'll make sure they leave. Alright?"
It was the guy they briefly met at Akihiko's checkup. When Junpei was asked for the roster for 2-E, the trio stopped by the hospital together, only to find this man in Akihiko's place. They must've been friends.
Now, Akihiko's friend was fighting off the punks that were ganging up on them. He dodged the punk's fists and matched it with a butt to the head, knocking the punk backwards. Just one hit left the gang scurrying off in fear. Minako glanced up in awe of this fearless man who saved them.
"Oh man, Senpai, that was awesome!" Junpei cheered him on, but what was cut off by the intimidating man, whose name was yelled out ceremoniously by one of the punks as Shinjiro.
"You … you guys were in Aki's room at the hospital You idiots!" Minako was not expecting this man to chastise them. He didn't seem like a very caring senpai.
"Get outta here. This place isn't for you." He began to walk away until he passed by Minako's tear stained face. He stopped, getting something from his pocket and handing it to her without so much as a word.
It was a white handkerchief, clean, ironed and pressed.
"You can keep it when you're done."
He tried walking away again, but was stopped by Yukari.
"Wait! We came here for a reason!"
He slowly turned around, sizing them up before asking, "Did Aki tell you to come here?"
Akihiko? Minako let out a stuttered no. Shinjiro merely sighed.
"What do you wanna know? About the ghost story?"
.
The girls who wound up in the hospital all had one thing in common. They all bragged about bullying a girl named Fuuka. Fuuka Yamagishi, SEES's supposed new candidate. According to Shinjiro, the rumor was that Fuuka's spirit put them in the hospital and that the girl might be dead. She had been reported missing by her parents over a week ago.
After Shinjiro told them all he knew, the three shared their thank yous with him, too which he simply answered, "… Don't come around here again."
Minako looked back down at the handkerchief he had given him, now stained with her mascara.
"He was actually very kind wasn't he?" Yukari commented on the way back to the dorm. Minako didn't say anything while Junpei disagreed. She looked back to the handkerchief.
He certainly was.
.
During lunchtime, the trio decided to go to the faculty office and talk to Fuuka's teacher about her disappearance. When they got there, however, Mr. Ekoda was already accosted by Mitsuru and another student. So they were here for the same reason. Mitsuru took charge in the interrogation. She had just begun to question him about Fuuka when the other student yelled out.
"No! I-I never thought it would turn out like this … please, Fuuka…"
"What did you do to Yamagishi?" Mitsuru asked the girl. Mr. Ekoda, however, desperately tried to stop her from saying anything. The girl, Natsuki, spoke on her own.
"Fuuka, she … She always looked so frazzled whenever I gave her a hard time. Then, I realized, she's an honor student, but she's just like us. I knew exactly what buttons to push."
Natsuki admitted to locking Fuuka inside the school gym overnight. A friend came back for her early in the morning, but when she opened the door, it was empty.
They had locked the defenseless girl in the school after hours. But as time passes, the Dark Hour occurs, turning the school into the Tartarus. Could that mean ….?
Mitsuru had the same idea as Minako.
Fuuka Yamagishi was trapped inside of Tartarus.
.
The five members of SEES met up in the Student Council room after school. Waving goodbye to her fellow members, Hidetoshi and Chihiro, Minako stayed behind with Mitsuru, Akihiko, Yukari and Junpei waiting for her. They have decided to infiltrate the campus, and enter Tartarus the same way Fuuka did.
In classroom 2-F, after hours, the group of five met up. Why their classroom? Why not just pick one close to the gym? Minako kept her thoughts to herself, for once.
"First, we have to find the key to the gym. We'll split up into two groups, going to the faculty office and the janitor's room, and meet in the main hallway on the first floor. Understood?" The other four nodded. Mitsuru made a much better leader than Minako. Why couldn't she just lead them?
Junpei himself had other ideas on his mind.
"The faculty office, eh?" He gave out a laugh. "Maybe I'll find some test answers, eh?"
Mitsuru was not amused. "Are you planning something unscrupulous under my supervision?" She spouted with her signature icy glare. "If so, then expect to be severely punished."
"It-it was a joke! I'd never do something like that! Ha, haha…." Junpei laughed nervously. Minako didn't blame him for being so scared; Mitsuru scared everyone. Even Akihiko.
"…Perhaps I'd best take Iori with me to the janitor's room."
Yeah, that'd be best.
"Arisato, I leave it to you who to take along with you."
Minako took a minute to contemplate this. She would love to go with Yukari, but the girl seemed very rattled in the dark and might not be able to handle being in the smaller group. She opted to go with Akihiko instead.
Together, the pair walked down the hallway as quietly as they could, with nothing but the light squeaking of their shoes echoing throughout the hall. Once they made it down the staircase into the main hallway, however, Akihiko saw a flash of light. He held onto Minako's wrist tightly and pulled her behind a nearby pillar.
"Someone's coming!" He said in a hushed whisper. Minako's eyes widened out of shock, but for an entirely different reason. He guided her body to hide behind the tight pillar by shielding her with his own body. They were in a cramped space, so there was absolutely no personal space between the two whatsoever. All they could do was stare into each other's eyes until the security guard left.
Minako tried her hardest not to blush in this kind of situation. Even in the dark, Akihiko might see it and misconstrue it as something else. That didn't stop her lips from trembling. Why were her lips trembling? Because they were about two inches away from Akihiko's, that's why.
Meanwhile, Akihiko's mind was all over the place. He didn't mean to put themselves so close together, he just couldn't let them be seen. That didn't stop him from holding her in such an intimate way, however. If he moved even the slightest bit, their bodies would rub against each other …
Unlike Minako's strong restraint, Akihiko's face was entirely scarlet.
The footsteps began to fade away. The pair counted off the seconds before moving out of their previous positions, allowing them some room to breath.
"…"
"…"
Neither made any motion to speak of this.
They simply chose to ignore it.
Waiting for his flushed face to cool down, Akihiko finally made a motion to leave.
"Alright. Let's go."
.
"Here, I found it! The gym storage key!"
"… That's the wrong key, Senpai."
"Huh? Oh, I-I see."
He began rummaging again, but his mind was still a mess from earlier. He kept searching and searching, but still found nothing.
"It's not here. Must be in the janitor's room."
Minako saw one little key marked 'gym' hanging right next to Akihiko.
"… Are you blind?"
"What?! I'm telling you it's not-" Minako cut him out by dangling the correct key in his face. "Oh."
An awkward silence filled the room.
What they should've done was mention the elephant in the room. They didn't.
They decided to meet up with Mitsuru and the others in the main hall.
.
The new team of Minako, Junpei and Akihiko decided to enter Tartarus. However, something unexpected happened. They were not entering Tartarus in the usual way, and ended up separated. Minako couldn't exactly remember what happened. She was somehow unconscious through it all. When she woke up, she found a familiar face that she was not expecting in the least.
"Are you awake?"
"Ack!" What the- How was he doing this? He shouldn't be here!
The boy remained unaware of her surprise and continued speaking.
"This is the first time we've spoken outside of your room."
"Why are you here? You already made your warning."
The boy merely chuckled. "I told you, remember? I'm always with you."
Yeah, Minako was trying to forget about that. It was just too creepy for her to handle.
"But we don't have much time to talk. Tonight there is more than one ordeal you need to face."
"More than one?!"
"You should hurry. She's waiting for you. You guys will need her."
And he left the same way he usually did. Minako would'vee questioned further, but she began to hear static ringing in her ear. Communication was coming up but the signal was very choppy.
"Are y-oOu alri-? …distan- … oo far.. n't prov- .. back up."
Communication was cut.
Minako was getting scared again. She couldn't survive alone in Tartarus. She needed someone.
She took a few experimental steps. No shadows so far. She took a few more. Then began to walk. Her pace turned into an all-out sprint trying to avoid the shadows and find the stairs. All the while, Mitsuru's connection was going in and out. Mixed in was a second voice.
"Who's there …? … Are you human?"
Fuuka! Yes, she wasn't alone.
Now she just had to find her.
Minako searched everywhere on this floor, but couldn't find anyone but shadows. Once she found the staircase, she decided to move up to the next floor. This wasn't any different from the last. Communication was dropped yet again, and Fuuka's voice rang through the halls.
"Where am I..? Why am I hear …? Please answer me…"
"Fuuka!" Minako called out. But there was no answer. "Fuuka Yamagishi, can you hear me?"
Nothing. Minako continued further through the labyrinth, artfully dodging shadows. She found the next staircase and gave up on this floor. Where was she? By the time she had gotten to the next floor, she was met up with some more familiar faces.
"Hey, there she is!"
"We were worried about you.." There was an award pause in Akihiko's voice.
"Oh yeah," Junpei suddenly called out. "Did you hear a voice while you were in here? Uh, kinda like-"
"Who is this …? Are you human?"
"That's it! That's the voice!" he exclaimed. "It sounded like it came from behind us …"
The three turned their heads slowly to find …
… a pale-faced girl. She had teal hair and was wearing her own version of the school uniform. This must be Fuuka!
.
The boy's warning came true yet again. Not one, but two shadows attacked Minako's friends. This time, however, it was Fuuka who showed her true strength and summoned her own Persona to support them. With her help, they made it through the battle against the Emperor and the Empress. The rest of the nights events forgotten, Minako was too exhausted to think anymore. All she needed to do now was sleep.
.
"Hey Minako?" Yukari stopped her on their way to school.
"Hm?"
"Do you think Mitsuru-sempai saved Fuuka-san for the right reasons?"
What was Yukari going on about? Mitsuru may seem cold, but she wasn't actually coldhearted.
"Hah? What's this about?" Actually, Minako knew what this was about. Yukari, on some level, believed that the untimely death of her father was the fault of the Kirijo Group, the business of Mitsuru's family. What did that have to do with them though? The future wasn't certain on that.
"C'mon, I'm serious! Did she save her for the right reason? Or was it just because she's a Persona-user and we need her …?"
She was really serious about this …
"For the right reasons." At least she thought so.
"I-I guess so….."
Why do awkward silences follow Minako?
"Well, whether or not she joins, it's up to her…"
"That's right Yukari. She does have free will."
"Hey, I thought we beat that sarcastic streak out of you."
.
A few days after the full moon attack, Minako got a text from Akihiko. It seemed that Fuuka had woken up and was being released from the hospital. The text also said to meet up with the chairman on the fourth floor lounge. This could only mean one thing. Fuuka decided to join them.
Minako walked back to the dorm with Junpei after spending some time at Wild Duck Burger. Up on the fourth floor, the Chairman and Fuuka were among the rest of SEES. Some of the color returned to Fuuka's pale face; she looked so much better after her ordeal. The group made their introductions to her, who seemed a bit frazzled and overwhelmed. Much like Minako was when she joined.
"Everyone, you did an excellent job uncovering the truth." The Chairman seemed grateful, but Minako felt that same uncertainty that she always felt with him. Something didn't sit right.
"It's all my fault …" Fuuka looked down, refusing to look anyone in the eye. Minako thought she was rather brave during her endeavor; if it had been Minako trapped alone in Tartarus, she might've lost it.
"You shouldn't say that!" Yukari vehemently disagreed.
"Yamagishi… what you did then… You saved our lives." Mitsuru stepped in. "You should feel good about yourself. You have a special power that you can use to help others."
"A special power…?" Fuuka asked, being lured in by her senior's words.
"You could be a tremendous help to us. Will you lend us your strength?"
"Are you …. asking me to join you?" Fuuka asked questioningly.
"That's correct." Mitsuru verified. The others stepped in as well.
"I think you'd make a good addition to the team, too." Akihiko put in his own two cents.
Yukari butted in. "You know, we're not trying to pressure so if you need some time to think about it …"
"I'll do it."
The entire room was surprised at just how willing Fuuka was in joining them. Minako was probably the most surprised, as she was the most hesitant to join. Did Fuuka realize what she was getting herself into? No, she should've. After all, she had already experienced both Tartarus and the Shadows.
"I'll help too!"
.
Even though she willingly volunteered, Yukari was convinced that Fuuka was forced into SEES. If anything, Minako was the one forced to join AND lead. Not that she said anything like that to Yukari.
There was nothing SEES had to do until the next full moon, so Minako decided to invest a little time into school activities.
That's why the night after Fuuka, something happened that completely took her by surprise.
Minako was awoken by a familiar voice.
"You've prevailed yet again."
"Ack!" He was here? Now?
"Do you remember what I said before?" the mysterious boy asked. Minako would've taken a minute to think of what he told her had she not been utterly shocked at his presence.
"About everything coming to an end?"
Oh yeah. That.
"Well, I recalled something else."
Oh good. Minako wondered what this news could be. Hopefully something good.
"I'm fairly sure that the end is inevitable."
Nope. That's not good news.
"That can't be true!" Minako tried to argue back. But alas, it was no use.
"It is. But it's funny …" He finds all this funny?
"It doesn't seem so certain, considering the vast potential within you."
Oh. That was a compliment in there, wasn't it?
"As a matter of fact, your power seems to have changed quite a bit …. Hey."
Minako looked up at him from her bed. She never really focused on his face, mostly his creepy voice, but there really was something eerily familiar about him. It didn't really hit her until just now. He looked eerily like …. him. Minako didn't want to think about it anymore. Instead she listened to his words.
"Can I be your friend? I'm very curious about you … is that okay?" He asked skittishly. For the first time, he seemed sort of … endearing. He was starting to grow on her. Minako no longer wanted to scream "STRANGER DANGER" whenever she saw him.
"First tell me your name." She said with a start. After all, how can one be friends with someone without knowing something like that?
"Name …? Oh I see. I need a name." Minako stared at him.
"You don't have a name?"
"My name ….. is Pharos."
Pharos. He looks so much like him.
Thou hast established a new bond.
.
Minako was sitting in her classroom during lunch break with Junpei and Yukari when Mitsuru came to visit. With her came the news of the Chairman coming to see them with some news and, as usual, she left as quickly as she came. Minako was curious of what the Chairman had to say, so she and Yukari headed straight home.
Fuuka was standing outside the dorm, playing with an adorable small dog. Minako didn't seem like it, but she was quite the animal lover. She ran up to Fuuka and the dog with stars in her eyes.
"Aww, who is this little guy?" She asked Fuuka with a sweet smile that had never before graced her face in public. Yukari was star struck.
"This is Koromaru. Here, Koro-chan give me your paw!" The white dog barked in response and did what he was told. Minako gushed.
"Oh, he's so smart!"
"I've seen him sitting by the steps on the shrine for a while now."
"Oh!" A woman passing by stops to take a look at Koromaru. "This dog still goes on walks all by himself?"
The girls looked up at her in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Yukari asked the housewife.
"He used to belong to the priest at the Naganaki Shrine." She gossiped. "Every afternoon, the two of them went this way for a walk. Until the priest passed away, that is."
"He passed away?"
Minako looked back down to the dog, who was now whimpering. He seemed to understand they were talking about his old master. He really was a smart dog. Minako's heart couldn't bear to hear the story of his deceased owner. Not while this little guy walked the streets alone.
"I wish we could take him back to the dorm…" Minako voiced her thoughts aloud. The girls nodded their heads in agreement. Even Koromaru barked happily.
"It's too bad. The Chairman probably wouldn't allow it."
"Oh!" Fuuka suddenly realized. "The chairman is coming by today. We should go get ready."
"Yeah. See you later, Koro-chan." Yukari said her goodbyes. Koromaru barked again in response.
Unfortunately, it came time for Minako to leave as well. She gave him a good nuzzle and went inside the dorm.
In the dormitory command room, everyone has been gathered.
"Hello, everyone. I wanted to let you know how my research has been going. It's about those shadows that have appeared during full moons. I want you to listen closely; it might be hard to follow. Shadows can be divided into 12 categories, or arcanas. These Shadows, the ones that have appeared during the full moon, have belonged to categories I though IV, in order of their appearance."
"So ….? Is that something we should be excited about …?" Junpei asked, not seeming to get it. Fuuka, however, understood it perfectly
"I get it. Twelve shadows … so eight we haven't seen yet."
"That's exactly right, Fuuka."
Eight shadows left, huh?
.
"Hey, listen to this! Last time I was out with my boyfriend, he was heading to Shirakawa Boulevard!" A girl gossiped loudly with a friend in front of the school.
"Ewww… I know what was on his mind!"
"We've just started dating but I'm already kind of disgusted. He's got such a dirty mind… Maybe I should dump him."
Maybe she should take this conversation in a private place. Dumbass.
But now that she thought about, Minako did hear a rumor about Shirakawa Boulevard before. Something about finding the Lost in pairs …
Gross.
.
The day of the full moon was now upon them. Minako went straight home after school to prepare herself. She sharpened her naginata, prepared her Evoker, and tidied up her uniform. Only fifteen minutes had passed.
She still had a good seven hours until the Dark Hour.
Minako knew she had to preserve her energy for the Shadow, but this was just ridiculous. She decided to leave the lonely confines of her room and went downstairs to the lounge. Sure enough, every member of SEES was sitting there with the exact same dilemma.
They were bored.
Fuuka fiddled on her laptop, not really searching anything. Mitsuru was shuffling through papers trying to keep herself busy. Akihiko was doing whatever he did with his boxing gloves. Yukari and Junpei sat silently, trying to think of something to do. Finally, Junpei had an epiphany.
"Let's play poker!"
Each and every one of them eyed him with their own special glare.
"Stupei, if you suggest we play some kind of strip poker, I swear-"
"No no, just regular plain old poker! We don't even have to gamble, just throw in any old thing into the pot."
Mitsuru had a contemplative look her face. She wasn't really considering this, was she?
"Well, I suppose if there's no illegal gambling, it should be fine." She said with a confident smirk on her face.
Oh boy. She must be some kind of poker champ or something. She just seemed to exude confidence.
Slowly, each person agreed to the game. Minako was not as confident in her skills as the others were, but it wasn't like there was anything at risk, was there?
.
Yukari walked away with Minako's favorite lip gloss and nail polishes. Dammit. She got way to overconfident and began to bet everything she had. And now … Minako tried her hardest not to cry.
She would never gamble again.
Fuuka surprised the lot with her mad poker skills. She defeated Mitsuru in the final hand with ease. Man did that chick have an amazing poker face. You'd think she would be completely readable with her meek nature, but when the cards were dealt, her face was stone cold.
Damn.
Junpei was one of two, along with Minako, who was so close to betting the shirt on his back. He was quite literally left with nothing. Akihiko cleaned him out of his favorite snacks. Oreos, potato chips, even his lifetime supply of instant noodles. Not that Akihiko even ate any of that stuff. There was no protein in it. He opted to share his winnings with Minako, who hadn't won a thing. Junpei cried.
"Dammit, why me?!" Junpei screamed at the Gods of gambling. It seemed luck was never on his side. His fault for suggesting poker in the first place.
The dorm proved to be quite lively for the rest of the evening.
.
Now the Dark Hour, SEES was gathered in the command room with Fuuka's Persona, Lucia,summoned to help scan the area.
"Any luck, Fuuka?" Akihiko asked her encouragingly.
"…Just a moment … I found it! I sense a strong Shadow!"
"Hey, we were right!" Junpei cheered. Not that it was something worth cheering about.
"It's located in Iwatodai … inside a building on Shirakawa Boulevard."
"Shirakawa Boulevard? Isn't that where the Lost have been found in pairs?" Minako spoke up, remembering the rumors she always heard by the school gate.
"In pairs …" Mitsuru wondered aloud. "Why ….. Oh. I get it." She said disappointedly. Was she really that sheltered?
"What's on Shirakawa Boulevard? I'm not familiar with that area." Fuuka asked innocently. Oh Fuuka.
Junpei was glad to explain it to her. The perv.
"That's where all THOSE hotels are. That explains a lot!" He said with an excited look on his face. He really wanted to go, didn't he? Perv.
"I'm not so sure about this ….." Yukari said hesitantly. Fair enough, considering the shadow's location.
Junpei didn't let her go that easily. "Oh what, are you scared?" He teased. Yukari glared at him, anger boiling in her eyes.
"Fine! But this time I want a piece of the action!"
And Yukari has stepped up to the plate.
"Arisato."
Minako looked up to Mitsuru's line of vision.
"You're in charge again for this operation. Please pick who will go with you and Takeba."
Oh man, Minako was hoping Mitsuru would take the lead for this one. But she was beginning to get used to her leader status. Here's hoping there were no mishaps this time around.
.
Minako had opted to join forces with Yukari, Mitsuru and Akihiko this time around. Poor Junpei was stationed outside of Shirakawa Boulevard with Fuuka, sulking. The old perv really wanted to be a part of this. Minako did not want to know what he would do if he was part of the team.
"Oh come on! Why can I take part in the mission?" He whined to Minako.
"Like we could trust a guy like you in a love hotel." Yukari shot back.
"You're taking Akihiko-senpai and he's a guy!"
"Akihiko-senpai is different." Minako said. "He wouldn't try anything like you would."
Minako would take back those words soon enough.
.
The group of four hurried through the halls up to the third floor of the hotel. There were small shadows on the way to the hotel's luxury suite but they weren't the target that they were after.
Minako opened the door to find the shadow. According to Fuuka's scan it was a Hierophant. It looked more like two figures; one a large man who was being pampered on a throne by the other female figure. It looked like it was getting massaged the entire time they were fighting it. The Hierophant cackled a deadly laugh, but they succeeded in the end.
"Good job everyone!" Fuuka's voice echoed. "I'll see you when you get back."
Akihiko went for the door first; it wouldn't budge.
"Huh?!"
Fuuka's voice resonated through the room yet again.
"I still sense a shadow in that room! It's not the same one you defeated!"
"What?!" Yukari shrieked. "But where is it hiding?"
The team searched every nook and cranny for a lever, a secret door; anything that could get them out.
Yukari walked past the mirror. She stopped in her place and then walked back up to it.
"Is it just me, or is there something strange about this mirror?"
Then everything faded to a bright light.
.
Her head felt foggy. That was the only way she could describe it.
Minako sat on the hotel bed, drying off her wet hair and readjusting her towel.
Why was she here again?
'I guess it doesn't matter…'
She heard the water running. Was there someone else here? Before she could think any more, she heard the water stop. A few seconds later, the door knob to the bathroom began to turn. Someone was coming out.
There he was. Abs glistening from the water, still wet. He barely dried off his body at all but, for the sake of modesty, wore a towel around his waist. Minako smiled.
"There you are."
Akihiko smiled back.
"Here I am."
Minako still couldn't remember, but there was something nagging at her in the back of her head. She ignored it, allowing Akihiko to crawl beside her on the bed as he began to nuzzle her neck. He kissed up her neck up to her ear, and began to nibble at it.
Minako's face flushed as she felt his hot breath on her body. One of his hands trailed up her thigh, playing with the towel covering her body; the other hand held her face as he guided to meet with his.
He shifted his body so that he lay on top of her. Finally, their lips met in a slow, passionate kiss. It intensified, and they both rubbed their hands all over each other. Minako settled her arms around his neck; Akihiko found his hands groping her breasts. All the while, both their towels were just hanging by a thread.
That voice in the back of her head reached her again. This time, Minako listened.
She opened her eyes to find Akihiko's wide eyes staring back at her; their lips were still connected. His hands were still …. There. They broke apart carefully, gripping their towels for dear life.
Neither said anything. Not even so much as glance each other's way. Their faces reddened in embarrassment.
What did that shadow do to them?!
Still gripping on her ….towel, Minako gathered up her clothes and rushed to the bathroom. Akihiko followed her cue and found his clothing lying around. With nowhere else to change, he reluctantly sat on the bed to pull his pants on.
Inside the bathroom, Minako was having a nervous breakdown. She fiddled with the buttons on her shirt but her hands couldn't stop shaking. She faced herself in the mirror. Why did it look like she had sex hair? Did they actually-
No. Minako would not go there. She couldn't think anymore. She sprayed some could water on her face and pinned up her still wet hair.
She didn't remember taking a shower. Did they take one together?
No. Just no.
Minako slammed open the bathroom door to find Akihiko having his own problems buttoning up his shirt. They avoided eye contact.
Neither said anything, yet again. Why was no one saying anything? There was an elephant in the room begging to be pointed out. Its name was Awkward Sexual Tension.
"Oh, I can finally reach you!" Fuuka's voice connected to their minds. Both jumped up in surprise. "Can you two hear me?"
"Fu-Fuuka? Wh-what's going on?" Minako's voice trembled and cracked.
"The Shadow was interfering with your thoughts and you all got separated… The enemy is still in the same room. Please regroup and hurry there."
Right. They were on a mission right now. They were just controlled by the shadows. That was all there was. Really.
Minako turned to the door, desperate to avoid talking about what happened. Akihiko had other ideas.
"Minako…" He lunged forward, grabbing her hand. "Please forgive me."
Minako's back was facing him so he couldn't read her face. They stood like that for hat felt like several minutes until Minako spoke.
"I forgive you."
She shook his grip off her hand and turned the door knob, leaving this forsaken room. Akihiko didn't see her flushed face or the smile that graced her lips.
That shadow was dead meat.
.
"Oh Minako!" Yukari called out to her, having regrouped. "Were you guys okay?"
"Err …. How about you guys?" Minako asked, sidestepping the question.
"W-We're fine! Nothing happened!" Mitsuru burst out unexpectedly. It didn't take a genius to connect the dots. Especially since each and every one of them has shower fresh, wet hair.
That shadow was still dead meat.
.
One can only imagine the kind of torture that shadow went through that night.
The team left the love hotel, hoping to erase it from their lives completely. Everyone wanted to forget the events that occurred in those hotel rooms. All but two.
Minako was too distracting fighting the shadow, but after it was defeated, her mind went back to what happened. The fog over her memories was starting to clear and she was beginning to remember more. Akihiko's touch left a deep impression on her body; she felt her face flush in a moment's notice just thinking about it. She shook her head, fighting it off. Minako would not think about this anymore. He apologized for his actions, and she accepted. They never had to speak of this ever again.
So why did it hurt so much?
"Hey Minako." Junpei's voice startled her. He had been so quiet on the way back from the hotel.
"Junpei?"
His face scrunched. "What're you trying so hard for?"
Oh? Did he notice how hard she was thinking?
"I'm sorry. Were you worried about me?" She asked innocently. Junpei scrunched his face even more if that was possible.
"Meh, like it really matters …" He shirked her words off and kept walking ahead of her. Yukari noticed the way he was avoiding Minako.
"Dude, what's the matter with you? You gonna keep sulking cuz a girl's the leader instead of you?"
"Sh-shut up!" He screamed bitterly. He quickened his pace, practically running away from the girls. Yukari turned to Minako.
"What's up HIS butt?"
Minako couldn't say. All she knew was how hurt she felt for having dear friend avoid her.