Junpei leaned back on the couch, trying to engross his mind into boring game that was barely keeping his attention on the handheld. "This is so boring..."
"I know," Yukari sighed, pocketing her cell phone. "My manager hasn't called me so I guess I have a day off."
"You sure love being on the big screen, eh?" Junpei teased.
"Shut up," Yukari rolled her eyes. "I'm still a student."
"A student who appears on TV almost daily," Junpei corrected.
Yukari sighed and didn't retort, she merely waved the capped male off, sinking further into the couch. "You know... My job gives me some good cash but it also puts a smile on people's faces."
"Watcha talking about?" Junpei questioned, shutting off his handheld.
"If I can make people smile and happy... Doesn't that mean I'm helping Minato?" Yukari asked, biting her lower lip.
Junpei blinked and his heart sank deeper upon the mention of Minato and his burden. "His burden, huh..."
"Yeah," Yukari cringed upon remembering what Minato was put through. "It helps him, right? Even just a little bit... Right?"
"... Noble," Junpei smiled at the brunette. "Way too noble for you."
"H-Hey," Yukari cried, giving a small pout.
Junpei laughed lightly. "You are keeping your promise," he gazed below at the ground. "... Wish other people could do that."
"They will!" Yukari spoke up determinedly. "One day, he'll finally be at peace."
"I hear you," Junpei balled his fist up, the atmosphere took a nosedive like most times when Minato was brought into the conversation. "3 years... And I still can't believe he went away..."
"Dark days..." Yukari murmured.
"And then Hamu-tan came in..." Junpei continued.
Yukari was about to say something else but a cool voice interjected, halting the two from speaking further.
"There is no need to grieve," the voice was calm and authoritative, but deep down, the two could feel the voice cracking somewhat.
"Mitsuru-senpai," Yukari said as the leader of the Kirijo Group gracefully made her way into the lounge. Mitsuru was smiling softly at the two but Yukari could see beneath her facade, she was still in pain... Much like everyone else.
"Wow, senpai!" Junpei yelped. "I didn't know you were coming."
Mitsuru chuckled, taking a seat next to the brunette. "I was passing through the area so I thought I'd pay a little visit." she turned to Yukari. "How are you, Yukari?"
"I'm doing good," Yukari finally smiled.
Mitsuru turned to the capped male. "What about you, Iori?"
"Doing good," Junpei grinned, although it was a little hard to maintain.
Mitsuru saw through their fake smiles and let out a deep breath. "I understand how you both feel..." she trailed off, gazing at her boots. "What happened to our leader, I can't blame you for not getting over that."
"It was so sudden," Junpei clenched his fist. "I was expecting him to yell at us for being late but..."
Yukari slumped her shoulders. Junpei didn't dare complete the sentence because the mere thought inside of his skull rained shivers down his spine. "..."
"Remember, every moment of grief, anger and sorrow, every negative emotion that you are experiencing empowers the beast," Mitsuru explained, her calm voice cracking. "... Which, in turn, hurts Minato even more."
The two cringed at that, the truth eating them from the inside.
"Try to engross yourself in studies or anything else," Mitsuru advised, giving out another sigh. "This is hard, but eventually... We will get over this and honor his sacrifice."
...
Minato knew the directions by heart and because of that, he arrived to the dorm fairly quickly. It was nearly evening. He smiled to himself and pondered what would his friends be up to.
"... Are they even here?" Minato bit his lip but the lights illuminating the lounge gave him hope. Even if they weren't there, he could ask the students about Mitsuru and then meet up with the rest.
Deep down, he knew they were there. Minato still held onto Elizabeth who was sleeping peacefully. "Here it goes.." he took a step forward.
...
Yukari shed a few tears and Junpei lowered his cap, the silence was deadly just like the silence during their exploration of the Abyss. "Dammit..." the capped male cussed, he always hated when this happened.
"Yukari..." Mitsuru said slowly. "Please go check up on her..."
Yukari stood up and nodded slightly, speeding up the stairs. Hamuko would only invoke more memories of Minato but she wasn't going to let her friend wallow in grief all alone.
Mitsuru closed her eyes and leaned back on the couch, the conversation taking a toll on her, like usual.
A thick and suffocating silence prevailed between the two students who remained in the lounge, until...
The doorbell ringing made the two shiver for some reason, a familiar scent seeping into the lounge. It was mixed in with the smell of almost everything else but despite that, the certain scent wafted towards Mitsuru and Junpei, causing both of them to blink.
Mitsuru clutched her chest, feeling someone stir deep inside of her heart.
Junpei stood up, his breaths coming out heavy. Even if he was a striker, he could feel something, something heavy but warm nonetheless. "I-I'll go check it.." he muttered, making his way towards the door.
The doorbell rang once again and the scent grew stronger as Junpei came closer to the piece of wood. He stopped inches away and held out his hand which was quivering.
"... Please," Junpei begged, looking up at the ceiling. "Let this be a miracle.."
The doorbell rang once again.
"Shit," Junpei bit his lip hard, he really didn't want to open the door and welcome anyone else beside his best friend. He would plummet into the depths of depression if it was anyone else, the conversation from earlier took the toll on his psyche and the familiar scent that somehow permeated throughout the lounge was driving him nuts.
Was it him? It couldn't be... Minato died in front of his eyes.
"Why am I thinking like this..." he questioned. "Why now..." why did all the thoughts and wishful thinking crash onto him just right now? He had opened the door for countless other people but right now, his fingers were shaking.
Junpei needed a shoulder to lean on, the very shoulder he used to cry on when Chidori died. He was able to sleep/work/laugh through the grief for 3 straight years but suddenly, his shoulders and eyelids grew way too heavy. He couldn't do it anymore.
"Please..." Junpei begged once again to the fates as his shivering grew more violent and his heart received yet another smack. He shakily wrapped his fist around the doorknob and took a painfully long breath that nearly buckled his knees.
The scent only grew stronger and a familiar wave of warmth washed over the capped teen, and Mitsuru who was panting very hard right now. She was on the couch but she could feel the warmth even from there.
Junpei closed his one eye and slowly began to open the door.
"..."
He saw blue and nearly tripped onto the floor.
"... Min-" he trailed off, observing blue clothes. His heart sank deeper... Minato would never wear something like this.
The position that the stranger was standing in however raised his hopes once again.
"... Shit.." Junpei couldn't hold it anymore. Why was he so afraid of just smashing the door open!?
Finally, he observed a small smile on someone's features, the cool smile sent a number of shivers down his spine, brushing over the segments on the bone but it was followed by a wave of warmth and pure happiness.
The door finally opened and Minato was standing on the outside.
"Hello," Minato greeted with only a whisper but the voice managed to reach Junpei and Mitsuru who stood up in a second.
Junpei shot like a bullet and without caring for the female in Minato's arms, smashed right into the blunette, locking Minato into a very tight 'bro' hug. Junpei couldn't believe it, he wanted to question and know the situation but those didn't matter at all right now. Minato was on the door, he died 3 years ago but for some reason, he was here right now.
"Minato!" Junpei yelled on top of his lungs, finally breaking down with tears flowing down his face.
"Junpei..." Minato responded back with another smile.
Even Elizabeth smiled softly, despite being fast asleep.
How? What? Why? When?
Junpei shrugged those questions off and leaned his head against Minato's shoulder. "You bastard!" the capped teen growled. "You slept for 3 damn years!"
"Sorry," Minato replied back, patting Junpei on his back. "I won't ever leave again, I promise." It was almost weird how they were talking, usually something like this would result in panic and denial since Minato returned from the dead, but Junpei was no stranger to paranormal happenings and he didn't give a crap about the entity which brought him back.
"You better not," Junpei warned. "Bro, everything fell apart."
"W-Who is there..." Mitsuru had finally stood up, but she was a little afraid to walk over and see for herself.
Junpei wanted to yell that Minato had returned due to some miracle but Minato smiled once again and slowly made his way inside.
Mitsuru's breath hitched in her throat as she caught wind of footsteps, slow and nerve-wrecking footsteps. Junpei stepped aside, teary eyed and yet, he had the grin on the face, the grin that was long forgotten since 3 years ago.
Minato stepped out into her view and Mitsuru's knees buckled. She was barely able to keep standing.
Minato looked different, he was slightly taller and his azure bangs now covered his face almost entirely. He was also holding onto a complete stranger who was passed out in his arms.
"M-Minato..." Mitsuru, tears glistering at corner of her eyes.
"Senpai..." Minato smiled at her as well, hanging his head low as a sign of respect.
Mitsuru reached out and touched his cheek, he was actually there and this wasn't a delusion, neither a dream.
"I'm back," Minato breathed out.
Mitsuru finally let some tears after those three long and painful years. She held them back every time because she was the glue that held the others together, but right now, Minato had returned and she was tired of holding her emotions that ate her up from the inside.
Mitsuru sobbed quietly.
Minato wiped them away and gave another smile. He walked ahead and carefully placed Elizabeth on the couch. The former attendant shifted on the couch and began snoring once again. Minato found that adorable for some reason.
Someone was coming down the stairs.
"Minato!" Yukari panted, nearly tripping down the steps. Minato twirled around and gave one smile that was enough to make Yukari break down and scream on top of her lungs. She had heard Junpei's shout coming from the lounge and like the other two, she felt the wave of warmth that washed over her.
The brunette nearly knocked Minato to the ground as she ran into him, burying her face into his blue shirt.
"You moron!" Yukari sobbed, much like the other two. "I don't you not to go!" she repeated what she said during the final battle against Nyx.
"I came back, right?" Minato replied calmly. He turned around to face the two. "And I promise, I won't ever leave you again." he swore.
"You better not," Yukari pulled back and glared. "You weren't the only one who..." she gulped. "Died that day.."
Minato head his hung low. "I know..."
Yukari started laughing, the deep wound on her heart slowly healing up. Also, she had someone to call. The model whipped around with another merry laugh.
"Ham-" Yukari didn't care about exposing Hamuko to miracle and personae. Hamuko was mentally dead for the past few years after hearing the news and seeing Minato back would surely bring her to life.
Yukari halted mid-sentence as Hamuko stood at the staircase.
Minato blinked, observing a very familiar auburn haired standing on the lower step. "Hamuko?" he whispered, it had been ages since he last saw her. They chatted sometimes when he was alive but it had been three years now...
Hamuko was emotionless and her petite frame was shivering slightly. "..."
Minato released Yukari and stepped forward.
"Are you really him?" Hamuko spoke lifelessly, was this a delusion or just some sick game?
"I am," Minato pinned his bangs to the side and gave a warm smile to the shaken redhead.
"It is him, Hamu-tan!" Junpei cried. "He is back. Don't ask how but he's back!"
"Its been a while," Minato smiled but Hamuko didn't twitch even a bit. "... Hamster,"
Hamuko's ruby eyes widened upon the nickname and memories flooded into her brain. She slowly walked over to Minato who closed the distance between them as well.
The two were inches away. Hamuko reached out and touched him, and he was real.
"Cousin..." Hamuko murmured. She had millions of questions but nothing else mattered right now. The rest watched on as life slowly returned to her eyes, the very thing she lost when Hamuko stepped into the dorm for the first time. The redhead reached out and hugged her cousin.
"Yes," Minato returned the hug. He had missed her too, after all, it had been years since they last saw each other. Hamuko bit her lip to stop the tears but the drops easily penetrated through the effort and cascaded down her cheek freely.
Hamuko sobbed in his embrace, a gigantic weight lifted from her shoulders. "I-I don't care," she sobbed, referring to how had he returned. "D-Don't leave again..."
"I won't," Minato only repeated his earlier vow. "I promise..."
Hamuko increased the pitch of her cries and pounded onto Minato's shoulder. "Y-You idiot!" she bawled, increasing the intensity of her blows.
"H-Hamuko..." Yukari wiped her tears away. The reunion was heartwarming.
Hamuko let out another loud wail and her muscles went limb once again. Minato clutched onto her tightly as her vision blackened and Hamuko fell limp in Minato's arms.
"She's okay..." Minato said to a concerned Yukari. "Just exhausted."
Minato looked back to see Elizabeth shifting on the couch. He had to tell them what happened but he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Someone knocked on the door before opening it. Minato felt a familiar aura stepping inside the dorm. He still held onto Hamuko and slowly turned around to face silver-gray eyes.
Souji was staring into silver eyes himself. It wasn't Naoto either. It was a male.
"Souji," Junpei blinked. The juniors were hanging out till curfew. He had completely forgotten about that.
Souji was confused. The dude was holding onto Hamuko-senpai who was passed out in his embrace, much like the platinum blonde female snoring peacefully on the couch.
"Blue..." he remembered the color and noticed her rare features. "Velvet Room..."
Minato smiled at his successor of sorts.
Souji blinked in response, feeling something stirring inside the sea of his soul. Eventually, he bowed his head and nodded.
Minato nodded in return.
I'm sleepy but since I'm a nice guy, I finished this and here we are. I apologize if the focus wasn't on p4 gang and elizabeth, but I completely butchered the scene in the previous fic. Turned the powerful scene into fucking comedy and there was no way that would happen once again. This wasn't anything dramatic/funny/over the top, it was just Minato returning and his friends pouring their hearts out to him.
It was simple but I think it went pretty well. Next chapter, explanations and finally the entire cast gets introduced. Minato x Elizabeth scenes as well, that is a given tho.
Thank you very much for the support. *thumbs up* We'll keep on writing, just don't stop giving me your thoughts. Can't do/write without your support.
See you soon.
