—Chapter 3—

Sitting down at Chagall Café, Ryoji and Shinjiro each got a good look at each other. Going to get down to business, Shinjiro crossed his arms and glared at him. "Okay. Spill. How the hell do you know Minako—and tell the truth."

Ryoji gulped the rest of his tea down and smiled warmly to Shinjiro's death glare. "I know only a little about her while I was here, living in Iwatodai. We came here to the safe café and helped me understood what it was like to be someone…" He began, unsure if Shinjiro knew about him from the other SEES members.

"That sounds like something she would do. Helping people out…"

Just like Fuuka…

"Yes… We went to Kyoto on the school field trip and we talked when we could—explaining life's grandeur and the possibilities and goals set within one's own self. Told me about what was right from wrong…helped me with the customs around here." Ryoji continued on as he ate some of his piece of a small strawberry pie. "Honestly, she was a wonderful persona and I wished I knew more about her…"

"And why couldn't you?"

"I had to leave…before I could really be her friend. I left in order to make Minako and Minato happy…" He looked away and sighed heavily. Putting his hand around his scarf, he could feel hi heart pounding a little in anticipation. Ryoji lowered his hand and placed it in his lap. "Shinjiro-san… What memories do you have of her?"

Shinjiro looked away, sipping some coffee, and sighed softly. What was up with everyone bringing back memories of Minako today?

Shrugging, he lowered his coffee onto the table and nodded. "…Cooking and talking. You had possibly more time with her than I did…"

"Oh?"

"I joined SEES last—she seemed to have this…aura around her and always knew what to say to make me cave. But, she had so much patience…just, how did I deserve someone like her?" He stated quietly and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was…severely injured in October. I had to be taken to the hospital and was on life support until March. I couldn't help her or the rest defeat Nyx, I couldn't go on the school trip, and I couldn't be there for any of them.

"It really…pissed me off when I run to the school's roof and see Aigis holding onto Minako while Fuuka was… …" He trailed off, unable to form another word. He hated to bring that one memory back.

"With Minato?" Ryoji threw out there as Shinjiro gave a stern nod. "I see… I always thought Yukari would be with him…but, I guess not… They must have formed a bond based on friendship more than love…possibly the difference between their relationship and yours with Minako—she loved you more than anyone else in the world."

Hearing Ryoji saying it and noting how strong those words felt, Shinjiro nodded and sighed. "That's what I heard a lot, too. That she waited for me until she could see my smile and eyes." Shinjiro chuckled softly.

"Minako…that's her." Ryoji grinned as he continued to demolish his pie in minutes. "And what are you doing now? Aren't you a free man waiting to be a heartbreaker and woo the women?"

Shinjiro raised an eyebrow, shaking his head and sipping more of his coffee. "No. I'm married and have a child."

"This young? Er, not that it is bad, believe me—but, with whom?"

"…"

Do I dare say her name? Does he know her, too? …

"Fuuka…Yamagishi… She is my wife and has been for a year and a half. We dated a month or so after the twins…" He closed his eyes, hoping that Ryoji got the message.

"You can say 'die'. We all will die eventually and that there isn't much we can do—but heck, what am I saying?

"So," he quickly changed topics like that, "you and Fuuka-chan? I never expected her to rebound that quickly after Minato passed…" He was a little surprised, but didn't show it on his face.

"…Yeah, well…We helped each other move on, thanks to those two, and they seemed to push us both together… It was strange and awkward, but we've been together for so long, I… …" Shinjiro stopped himself and closed his eyes, his head lowered a little. "…couldn't see myself with someone else."

"Aren't you tired of being a father? Someone your age is still a bachelor and trying to live life before dating or roaming the Earth around here looking for someone and hanging out and having fun! No offense on Fuuka-chan but, don't you hate it?"

Shinjiro looked at Ryoji, a concerned look on his face—he was never really given those questions before in his life. Hell, he didn't mind talking to Ken as they are friends now, but… deep down inside, he hated being a father—he wanted to be free and become a chef and make a name for himself (as he already has being a father). Something was missing out on Shinjiro's life, but what was it exactly?

"I…sometimes do. Make sure Fuuka and Elizabeth are safe…bathe Elizabeth, tuck Elizabeth in, dress Elizabeth—she's always forcing me to do all this stuff while she does the menial stuff—packing the baby bag, make the bed up, ordering take out, et cetera." Shinjiro explained as his fist was drawn into his lap. "Always the child, take care of Elizabeth, make sure she doesn't get sick—Hell, I am sick of it all!" He wanted to yell to the world but noticing they were in a small restaurant, with people around and enjoying their Pheromone coffee and tea and water, he whispered and cursed it loudly.

Ryoji smiled and nodded. "You just want to be free before being tired down by a family or worries—You were in a coma for months and you wanted to live those parts of your life before anything else, ne?" Shinjiro nodded and sat up more in his seat once Ryoji pulled something from his pocket. "I am here to help people like you, Shinjiro-san."

"What the hell is that?"

Ryoji unfolded the contract and pulled a pen from his other pocket out. "This is a contract stating that you would like to live your life as a 'free' man for five days. At the end, you will go back to being the person you are now. Simple as that my friend." He smiled cunningly as Shinjiro read the contract.

"As much as I believe you and trust you, this contract seems…like a hoax."

"Don't you want to see Minako again? This will take you back on the 21st of December, the Winter Solstice. One day, after Christmas ends, you will leave that time period and head back here and be happy once more. That's all I have to say—" He held a pen out to Shinjiro and smiled. "—and all you have to do is sign."

Shinjiro held the pen in his hand and gritted his teeth. "Nothing will happen to Fuuka and Elizabeth, our child, right?"

Ryoji nodded. "I promise. It'll be as if you were gone for a few hours, nothing else."

Shinjiro glared at the contract, all big in black that was on a two feet long piece of paper as she lowered his eyes down to the "X". Without a second thought, he quickly signed his name.

Shinjiro Aragaki

"Ah…you signed it. Now, just close your eyes and everything will be taken care of…" He chuckled softly as Shinjiro leaned back in the chair and when he closed his eyes, he could hear Ryoji's laugh turn sinister. Shinjiro tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. Within a matter of seconds, he felt like he was being thrown around by punches and such before feeling his body hit the floor without him leaving his seat.

Shinjiro opened his eyes carefully, noting that there was snow on the ground—and luckily, he was protected from the cold thanks to his warm peacoat. His beanie helped as well as he decided to take a look around the town. Slowly walking out from the alleyway, from where he was shot—but didn't know it—he could see the town was bustling with life and such.

"It feels like… I'm back…?" He wondered as he walked to the flower store and asked the cashier what today was.

"Ah, it's December 21st! Only a few days until Christmas—do you need flowers for that special someone?"

He shook his head and thanked him before leaving. Seeing people leave the movies on this cold night made Shinjiro wonder if he could go back to the SEES dorm without being asked questions… A little boy bumped into him and smiled. "I-I'm sorry!"

"You're fine." Shinjiro began to walk away before the boy clung onto him as his eyes shot down to the boy—sharp, bright blue eyes and the darkest of black hair. "What now?"

"I… My parents abandoned me…a-and I don't know where I-I am!"

Shinjiro sighed and had to play father for a little bit longer, huh? "Did they say they were coming back?" He crouched down to his height and the boy shook his head.

"All they said was fine someone else who will deal with me!" He balled loudly as Shinjiro noted he was in pajamas of sorts—he had to be freezing. "Y-you seemed lonely, so I went up to you…"

Shinjiro moaned and picked the child up. "Listen, if we take the train and head back to solid land, will you stop crying?" The boy nodded and Shinjiro walked up the stairs, ordering a child's ticket and an adult one as they quickly got on a train and sat down together. "So…you're from around here, right?"

The boy nodded. "Yes. My name is Pharos—I hope that my parents will come back…"

"Pharos… An odd name for the boy who is wearing pajamas from prison—I kid." He smiled and rubbed the boy's hair. "Well, I'm sure we can find a place to stay—"

"I have a friend of mine—well, my brother lives alone in his apartment and he went over to America for the month—we could stay there. He wouldn't mind." Pharos smiled and looked up to Shinjiro as if he was his own brother. "He has a code to get into his house, it's really simple too so I can do that part!"

Shinjiro nodded as she turned his head to the left and blinked a few times. He never really cared if he was people kissing or making out as if they were the only ones in the world—hell, Minako and him DID have sex while they were in the dorms and while everyone was down stairs doing God knows what. But, that's not what bother him.

"Aki?" He uttered softly as he could see the back of his head covering another woman's face. He wanted to call out to them, but wouldn't it be strange? Seeing his best friend and his possible girlfriend making out on the train—even if there were a few people on said train—as he didn't know what to. But, who the hell was the other girl?

Ah…seems he's getting lucky for Christmas—I'll call out to him and shock his mind.

"Oi, get a room you two!"

Akihiko turned, noting that he was a little buffer than he thought so and saw a familiar face being held closer in his arms. His mouth almost dropped as he saw the teal hair in a braid as she blushed and looked away.

"S-sorry…"

"Oh…I-I thought you were someone else… Gomen." Shinjiro called out as Akihiko gave him a death glare and turned back to the girl, making sure she was okay and such. Shinjiro turned his head and his eyes grew. "Wh-what the hell…is going on?!" He whispered and had to look back at Akihiko.

"Why the hell is Fuuka dating Akihiko!?"

"Hmm? Is something…wrong, Shinjiro-san?" Pharos asked as Shinjiro didn't catch that he called him by his name.

"I… How did they both get together?" Shinjiro crossed his arms and pondered it for a moment. Just…what the hell happened and what brought them together? Shinjiro was beyond confused and hurt. Akihiko DID look much better than Shinjiro did—but Fuuka…GOD, she looked the same and acted the same way when someone called Fuuka and him out…and in the same place too—on a train. "Pharos, can you tell me what the year is?"

"Umm… It's 2013, right? That's what I thought the 13 meant."

This is the same year as it was when I closed my eyes…but wait. Something is wrong—Aki, nor Fuuka, pointed me out… They didn't say my name and Aki didn't want to punch my guts in… WHERE THE HELL AM I!?

Pharos pulled on his sleeve and frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Pharos—I am going to follow those two for a little bit. Do you mind?" Shinjiro turned to him and asked quietly as Pharos shook his head. "Good. Because I need to see how these two got together…and following them might be my key…"

WHOA! ANOTHER PLOT TWIST! or two

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