Chapter 4: Confession
Mitsuru broke out in a cold sweat, her hand gripping her cellphone tightly. Minato? Awake? The auburn-haired girl struggled to say something, but couldn't because of the painful tightness in her throat. It had been almost six months since they had all witnessed their blue-haired and gray-eyed friend fall into a seemingly endless coma, but now he was miraculously awake. For a moment, Mitsuru felt old feelings for Minato stir within her, but it was immediately replaced by intrigue and concern. Sure, it was good news that he was awake, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that he may be awake for a variety of reasons… many of them with negative inclinations.
"Senpai?" Yukari's voice snapped Mitsuru out of her thoughts. "Are you alright?"
Mitsuru shook her head vigorously to clear her thoughts. "I apologize, Yukari," she told her friend. "I was caught up in surprise upon hearing your news." She sounded so formal again as she got a hold of her emotions. "He truly is awake?"
"Yes senpai," Yukari replied. "Junpei and I were visiting at our old dormitory and catching up in the lobby when some sort of alarm started beeping on Aigis' wrist-device or some high-tech watch," she explained. "Apparently Aigis hooked up some sort of alarm device to Minato just in case there was a sudden change in his condition. In this case, he had woken up so we all rushed to his room." Aigis' voice sounded in the background. "Senpai, it looks like Minato went back to sleep so you should come here tomorrow after your class to check on him."
Mitsuru let out a sigh. She had wanted to come over so that she could truly see with her own eyes that Minato was awake, but she knew it would have been useless since he had fallen asleep. "I'll try my best to come over for a visit after my class tomorrow," she promised Yukari. I do have a lot of work to do, but I really should go to check on him.
"Alright…" Yukari said over the phone, pausing for a few seconds. "Senpai…"
"What is it Yukari?" Mitsuru asked, masking her sudden worry for her dear friend. There was something off in Yukari's voice.
Yukari laughed rather forcibly. "Nothing senpai! It's nothing! I hope to see you tomorrow then!"
"Yukari-" Mitsuru tried to talk more to the younger girl, but couldn't because she suddenly hung up. The auburn-haired woman brought the phone away from her ear and stared at it. "There's definitely something wrong with her," she mumbled to herself. "Looks like I'll really have to go visit tomorrow so that I could find out what's wrong with Yukari." She made a move to set her cellphone down on her desk when it began to ring once again. "Kirijo speaking," Mitsuru greeted after putting the phone against her ear.
A familiar deep female's voice sounded on the other line. "Mitsuru," the woman greeted. "I just wanted to inform you that I already brought your Ducati to my apartment."
Mitsuru smiled upon realizing that it was her European History professor. "Good evening Skye," she greeted. "How is Sagara-san?" She knew that the young professor's father would be kept in the hospital for a few days.
"Oto-san is doing alright," Skye replied, relief evident in her tired voice. "Look… I just wanted to thank you for… what you did for oto-san and me earlier. If it weren't for your quick thinking… the situation would not be like this."
"It wasn't a problem at all," Mitsuru replied, feeling quite happy that her professor was grateful to her. "I'm just glad that Sagara-san is alright."
"I truly am grateful," Skye reiterated. "Now about your Ducati bike," she changed the subject. "Perhaps you could just pass by for it after class one day, but since you still can't ride I'll obviously just convoy with you. Sound good?"
Mitsuru nodded and sat down on the edge of her bed. "That would be fine. Perhaps the day after tomorrow?" she suggested, remembering that she was due for a visit at her old dormitory.
"Great! I'll see you then, Mitsuru!" Skye told the student. "By the way, I know I'm not supposed to be leaking this out especially since I'm your professor…" she began, sounding hesitant. "I was planning to give a graded recitation tomorrow since quite a few of your classmates are starting to slack off. Don't worry though," she assured Mitsuru. "You're not part of that particular group."
The auburn-haired college freshman couldn't help but grin. "I'll be sure to remember that, Skye-sensei," she replied in amusement. In a way, she already knew her professor's favorite student was. Not that she was being smug about it or anything similar to that.
"It's getting late. I don't want to keep you up for too long so I'll just see you tomorrow in class." The unconventional professor kept her goodbye short and hung up afterwards, leaving her auburn-haired student alone to continue contemplating Minato's awakening and Yukari's strange behavior.
Just as Skye had said in their recent conversation, there was indeed a graded recitation during her class. Much to Mitsuru's relief and amusement, she wasn't called at all to answer one of the variety of questions asked by the young professor. Her other classmates weren't as lucky as she was though. More than half of those students called to recite could not answer thus inciting the quiet wrath of the dark blue-haired woman.
Near the end of the class, only around ten students were safe either due to being able to answer the question posed to them or not being called at all. There was a smile on Skye's face as she looked on at her class. Most of the students knew the smile was a forced one and that their professor was probably feeling something obviously contrary to the look on her face.
"I could see that many of you are abusing my kindness," Skye mused. "Don't think that this is a sure to pass subject just because I'm what many call an easy professor. I give good grades to those who deserve them," she told everyone. "To the chosen few who were able to answer my questions, I'd like to congratulate you."
"Sensei," one student raised her hand, obviously unnerved by their professor. "How about those who weren't called?" Of course, she would be worried. She was one of those students who weren't called.
Skye nodded her head. "Those students are the ones I congratulate all the more." The class gave her a dubious look. "Based on their performance, which I would like to describe as outstanding, they don't need to prove to me that they are truly taking this class seriously." The school bell started to toll. "That is why I decided that those students who were able to answer my questions and the others who weren't called at all will be exempted from making the final paper." When the victimized students reacted loudly and began to complain, Skye unleashed such a fierce scowl that even Mitsuru shuddered at. "Alright then if that's how all of you feel, the due date of your paper is due by the end of this week. Any more complaints?" The class was silent, not wanting to further incense their professor. "Good. Class dismissed."
Mitsuru held a stony face as her class left the room in a fast-moving herd. It was definitely going to mean trouble for her and the minority of her class who were exempted from Skye Sagara's wrath. Already she could hear the angry muttering of several students from outside the hallway. One thing she didn't like to handle were students who bore grudges that would last for so long.
"Surprised?"
Mitsuru turned around to face Skye. "Quite," she replied. "People were right when they said that it's usually the nicest and most unexpected people that you should be cautious to not anger." She looked up at the taller woman with admiration. "You're definitely one of those people."
Skye laughed heartily. "I would like to think that every person's patience has its limits and that no one likes their kindness and generosity abused." She casually fingered the piercings on her ear. "Wouldn't you agree with me, Mitsuru?"
"Definitely Skye-sensei," Mitsuru replied.
Skye nodded her head in approval. "Tomorrow then?"
"Yes," the freshman student replied, knowing that what Skye meant was picking up her Ducati bike. "Perhaps it would be easier for you to hitch a ride with me going to your apartment when we pick up the bike? It wouldn't be such a hassle for you that way."
"Only if it doesn't trouble you, Mitsuru," Skye stated, gathering her things and stuffing them into her messenger bag.
Mitsuru shook her head. "It wouldn't be any trouble at all, Skye-sensei." The both of them walked into the almost empty hallway and made their way out of the building. "I'll see you tomorrow then, Skye-sensei!" She waved at her professor as the woman walked down the road towards the faculty building. "To my old dormitory," she directed her chauffeur when she settled herself in the backseat of her car. Throughout the ride, Mitsuru couldn't shake off the feeling of uneasiness. In just a few moments, she was going to meet once more with Minato. The months that he had been unconscious seemed like years to Mitsuru. Besides that, she felt rather awkward especially since he had developed intimate relationships among the girls in their group of friends.
"Kirijo-san?" The chauffeur twisted around in his seat to regard his employer. "We've arrived," he reported, looking a bit worried for the heiress.
"Hmmm?" Mitsuru snapped out of her thoughts, looking outside the window to realize that they were indeed at the doorstep of her old dormitory. She looked at her chauffeur and thanked him before stepping out of the vehicle. Heading tentatively up the steps and resting a shaky hand on the familiar front door, Mitsuru took a deep breath before pushing it open and heading inside. She was greeted cheerfully by Junpei and Fuuka while Yukari simply smiled at her from behind her two classmates.
"Akihiko-senpai is on his way," Junpei informed after their exchange of greetings was finished. "Ken-kun was here earlier, but he had to leave right after visiting Minato." He rubbed the back of his head and grinned. "Man! I can't help but be this happy because Minato's awake!"
Aigis walked down the stairs to meet with the newly arrived guests. "Why don't you all head upstairs? I will wait here for Akihiko-san."
Junpei and Fuuka led the group upstairs and down the hallway where Minato's room was located. Aigis had told them that all the medical equipment was taken downstairs to the basement so that Minato could have the former ambiance of his room. Mitsuru brought up the rear, already feeling that Yukari who was trailing behind her two classmates was avoiding her.
"You guys ready?" Junpei asked, all of them standing outside of Minato's door. Seeing everyone nod their heads, Junpei nodded back, knocked on the door and pushed the door open.
They were all greeted by those familiar somber gray eyes. The young blue-haired man was propped up against the headboard of his bed, his hair tussled and a kind smile on his face. "Hey," he greeted casually.
"Hey yourself," Junpei greeted back, grinning from ear to ear. "You've got a lot of explaining to do, buddy!" The boisterous Gekkoukan senior strode forward, grabbed Minato and proceeded to roughly tousle his friend's hair.
Minato laughed and tried to struggle out of Junpei's hold. "That's enough!" He grinned up at Junpei. "Have pity on the guy who just woke up from half a year's sleep." Once Junpei had let go of him, Minato eyed his other friends who stood in the open space of his room.
Fuuka came forward and briefly hugged the bedded man. "How are you feeling?"
"Weak but nevertheless I'm fine," he replied, returning the hug. "Hey you two," he called out to his remaining friends who still held back. "Aren't you going to come closer?" Minato smiled kindly at Mitsuru and Yukari.
Finally, Mitsuru stepped forward. She bent over and gave the younger boy a brief hug. "It's good to get to talk to you like this again," she told him. "It was getting tiring for us to talk to you during our visits when you were still unconscious." She pulled back and felt Minato take her hands, giving them a gentle squeeze. Mitsuru looked back and motioned for Yukari to come over. "Yukari you should greet Minato."
When Yukari went to give Minato a hug, she gave Mitsuru a wide berth. That just made Mitsuru all the more sure that her friend was definitely acting strangely around her. "We missed you, Minato," Yukari told their friend. She was getting a bit teary-eyed. It was reasonable why she was reacting that way. Yukari and Minato were the first to become friends when the latter had moved into their dormitory and joined S.E.E.S.
"Hoy," Minato started, reaching up to wipe away the tears that leaked out of Yukari's soft-brown eyes. "There's no reason for you to cry." He was feeling a bit distressed that one of his closest friends was crying. Minato didn't particularly enjoy it when it was Yukari who'd be depressed.
"I-I'm alright," Yukari told them, hurriedly wiping her tears and stepping away from the bed.
Mitsuru cleared her throat. Now was the time to get to the bottom of things. "Minato, why are you awake? We all thought that in exchange for humanity's life, you had to sacrifice your soul to keep Nyx from bringing about the destruction of the world."
Minato let out a long sigh. "It's rather complicated, but I'll just put it simply." He looked at each of his friends seriously. "You see-"
"Sorry I'm late!" Akihiko burst through the door. "Minato! Looking good!" He grinned at the young man who returned it with a smile. "What?" Akihiko wondered aloud, seeing that his friends were all frowning at him. "Did I do something wrong?"
The former student council president coughed and narrowed her eyes at the boxer. "Minato was just about to tell us why he was released from his supposedly eternal slumber," she informed Akihiko. "Until you barged in of course," she added, a smirk forming on her face.
"Oh." Akihiko bowed his head in apology and nodded to Minato to continue his explanation.
"As I was saying," Minato began once more. "You all remember that I was a different kind of persona user. More specifically, I was the only one who could summon and use several personas whereas the normal persona user may only use one." He drew the blanket away from his body and swung his legs to the side of his bed. "I was gifted with this unique ability, but of course I didn't immediately have the power of the numerous persona I eventually amassed throughout our time together," he continued. "I actually had some help. Back in Tartarus, there was the hidden room that could only be seen and accessed by me. A man by the name of Igor and his assistant Elizabeth resided there and aided me to develop and create other persona for me to use." He shook his head ruefully. "I know it's hard for you to believe in, but you must take my word for it because I would have never been able to defeat Nyx without their help," he told his doubtful friends. "Anyway, Igor brought my slumbering soul to his new abode since Tartarus was destroyed. He made a deal with me seeing that everyone including him owed their lives to me after sacrificing my soul as a prison for Nyx. He said he could detain Nyx for around 58 years, which would allow me to go back to the living world continue my life."
"What happens after the 58 years are up?" Junpei asked.
Minato crossed his arms over his chest. "Then I go back to an eternal slumber as the seal of Nyx," he said grimly. "But hey 58 years is an awfully long time and by then I truly believe I would have lived a life with no regrets." The blue-haired young man smiled at his friends. "So let's forget about the time limit set on me and help me live my life properly."
"Minato's right," Aigis spoke up. She had entered the room unnoticed while the rest of the group listened to Minato's explanation. "We shouldn't dwell on the fact that Minato will eventually have to go back to his role of containing Nyx. Instead we should all be happy that we could live our lives with Minato in them."
Junpei nodded his head. "Definitely true," he agreed. "Of course, Minato has a lot of catching up to do since he's been out for the last six months. For starters, can he go back to school? It's been a little over a month since the school year started."
"It probably wouldn't be a problem to get Minato started in senior year along with us," Yukari pointed out. "The school administration was informed that Minato would not be going back to school since he was in a coma. Minato was also an excellent student so I have a feeling the school officials will allow him to come back provided that he gets extra work to make up for his month's absence."
Junpei rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You know what? I think you're right about that!" he exclaimed. "What do you think Minato? You up for going back to school?"
"I don't see a problem," Minato replied, smiling at his three year mates. "I would definitely want to go back to school and be with you guys again." He then focused his attention on the upperclassmen. "Although Akihiko-senpai and Mitsuru-senpai are both in college now, right?" he asked, getting a nod from Mitsuru first before Akihiko stepped forward to explain their college lives.
Mitsuru allowed Akihiko to do all the explanations. Unlike the rest of her friends, she had another motive for coming for this visit. Turning around to address Yukari, she was surprised to find that the younger girl had disappeared. "Junpei," Mitsuru called, motioning the young man towards her. "Have you seen Yukari?"
"She just left the room a minute ago saying that she had homework and chores to do," Junpei replied, raising his eyebrows at the auburn-haired college student. "Did you want to talk to her senpai?"
"Yes," she replied, simultaneously nodding her head. "Unfortunately, it seems I won't be able to do that now since she made her sudden exit." There was a deep frown on her face, one that Junpei noticed and worried about.
"Is something wrong, Mitsuru-senpai?" Junpei inquired. "Does this have something to do with the…" he paused to think of the appropriate word. "Aloofness?" he finished. "She has been acting strangely since last night."
"You noticed it too? I'd like to find out what's been bothering her," Mitsuru confided in the young man. "Usually she'd tell me if she was having problems or she was in some sort of trouble since we've become quite close during the latter half of our work in S.E.E.S." She let out a sigh and flipped her long auburn hair over her shoulder, which flowed straight down from the roots and became wavy towards the tips of her hair. "I can't help but feel worried and I really must get to talk to her."
Junpei nodded his head in agreement to Mitsuru's plan. "Why don't you come see her in Gekkoukan tomorrow?" he suggested. "The student council has an important meeting tomorrow after school and it will most probably take around two to three hours for us by the time we finish."
Mitsuru opened her mouth to tell Junpei that she would be unable to go because she had class, but closed it instead. She remembered that Skye had told the class that she would be giving tomorrow's meeting as a free cut so that her classmates would have more than enough time to finish their final papers. That would have definitely given her enough time to travel to the school and get the chance to talk to Yukari, but she had another problem. She had told Skye that she would be picking up her Ducati bike from her apartment. So what was more important to her? Mitsuru gazed back seriously at Junpei, ignoring the weird look he was giving her. "I'll drop by tomorrow at Gekkoukan so that I could talk to Yukari. It'll give me reason too to check on Minato if he was able to enroll late. If he does have problems, I could fix that since it was the Kirijo group who built the school."
"Alright then, senpai," Junpei replied, fixing his cap. "I'll be sure to keep this a secret from Yuka-tan so that she won't suddenly run off. Besides," he added. "The best person to get to the bottom of this is you, Mitsuru-senpai." He smiled looking his part to be the ever so trusting underclassman who looked up to his senpai.
"Just make sure she doesn't leave the school before I get there," she reminded Junpei who nodded vigorously at her. "I'll get there at around four in the afternoon." Mitsuru looked at her watch and thought it was about time for her to take her leave. She began to call out her goodbyes starting with Junpei and Fuuka and ending with Minato. "You take care of yourself," she told the blue-haired man. "It'll take you a while to get back to your former strength."
"No need to worry, Mitsuru-senpai," Minato replied. "You take care of yourself too." With that, he and his remaining friends waved goodbye to the former student council president of Gekkoukan as she stepped out of the room.
Mitsuru strode out of dormitory confidently, waving to her chauffeur who leaned against the parked car several yards away from the building. Her mask of confidence was flawless, but inside she was in turmoil over how Yukari was acting. "Back to my apartment please," she ordered her chauffeur, making herself comfortable in the backseat of the car. As the car lurched forward, Mitsuru took hold of her cellphone, scrolled down her contacts list and proceeded to call her professor.
"Sagara speaking," Skye's voice spoke from the other line.
"Sensei-" Mitsuru began.
"Mitsuru…" the professor interrupted with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "How many times do I have to tell you that you should call me by my real name without the honorifics?" A sound resembling that of a grumble followed the short lecture. "I would have thought that you would have gotten the point already."
Mitsuru controlled her laughter but let a smile lit on her face. "Sorry Skye," she apologized. "It just slipped mind and I do tend to attach the honorifics to your name more since we're usually together in class and not outside the campus."
"Well Skye-san is fine I guess, but that's how far it goes." The professor let out a throaty chuckle. "Anyway Mitsuru, what made you call me all of a sudden?"
It took her a few minutes to explain the next day's change of plans. "Basically, I need to reschedule picking up my bike," she summarized after explaining everything worth explaining. "Would it be alright if I pick it up sometime early next week?"
"It wouldn't be a problem at all Mitsuru," Skye replied. "Pick it up anytime. You just have to send me a text message or tell me after class. Since I won't be seeing you tomorrow or Friday after that, I'll be seeing you next week then." She hung up shortly after that.
It was a bit awkward for Mitsuru to step into the halls of Gekkoukan High School once again. After all, it had been half a year since she was last seen in the school. Right after her last class for the day, which ended at three in the afternoon, she immediately had her chauffeur drive her to her former high school. She had just stepped foot onto the stone-paved ground beyond the gate when Mitsuru suddenly felt nostalgic. It felt just like yesterday when she would go to class in her usual long sleeved pleated blouse with a wide crimson red ribbon tied around the blouse's collar, black skirt with a white leather belt falling loosely around her hips, and black calf boots. Her attire contributed a lot to her very formal personality when she was still a student in this school.
Mitsuru shook her head. Stop being nostalgic! I came here for a reason and I shouldn't get distracted! Taking in a deep breath and releasing it, the auburn-haired student confidently walked up the path towards the familiar school building. School had obviously just ended as a flood of students burst through the doors, some of them almost tripping when they saw the familiar face walking up the short flight of stairs and through the doors.
"Hoy!" one student called to his friend. "Isn't that Kirijo-san?"
"It sure is! She looks as beautiful as ever!"
It was a shock to them to see the ever so famous and popular Mitsuru Kirijo dressed in dark fit slacks and a simple but sophisticated-looking blouse with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Earlier when she was still in class, her blouse had been neatly tucked into her slacks. When she got out of the car upon arriving at the high school, she had opted to pull it out and let the dress shirt hang loosely over her slacks. Mitsuru didn't mind that it didn't look appropriate, but her disheveled look made her look a bit manly.
"Idiot! Don't say that too loud!"
The students continued to whisper at each other as Mitsuru calmly walked up the stairs to the second floor and down the hallway where the second year classrooms and the student council room are. Just as she expected, more students were hanging around in the hallway who turned their heads to regard the stranger dressed in civilian attire. Mitsuru sighed inwardly. She was going to be getting this kind of reaction throughout her stay in the high school. Walking to the closed door where the student council members would meet, Mitsuru firmly knocked on the sliding door.
"Come in!" A young man's familiar voice called from inside.
Mitsuru slid the door open and was greeted cheerfully by Junpei and Fuuka while two unknown students struggled to their feet and stammered out greetings for the former student council president and valedictorian of Gekkoukan High. "Junpei. Fuuka," she greeted with a smile, allowing the latter to usher her into the room. As she stood by the table, Junpei closed the door to stop the curious students from looking in on them.
"We were just about to start the meeting but Yuka-tan hasn't arrived yet," Junpei told Mitsuru. "I had one of our aides look for her and to report back to me where she is located." He pulled out a chair and offered for Mitsuru to make herself comfortable.
"I see," Mitsuru mused, shaking her head to take a seat. "Has she still been acting strangely?"
Fuuka nodded her head. "Her absence right now from this meeting pretty much states that she's still acting strangely. Usually she takes her job seriously and is rarely late."
"But then again, Yuka-tan has archery club practice today right?" Junpei asked.
"She informed me this morning that she wouldn't be late because practice was cancelled," Fuuka pointed out. "She must be somewhere else then."
Just then, a female student walked into the room and walked to Junpei, obviously meaning to tell him something. After the girl left the room, Junpei pushed himself away from the wall and fixed his hat on his head. "Yuka-tan is on the roof," he informed Mitsuru. "According to our aide, she isn't exactly doing anything up there so why don't you head on up and talk? We could start the meeting without Yukari for now."
"Thank you Junpei," Mitsuru told the still boisterous young man. With that done, Mitsuru walked out of the room. She took her time dodging through the students in the hallways and the stairs as she made her way up to the roof. Finally, she was alone as she trudged up the past flight of stairs towards the roof access door. "I hope you're hear Yukari," she whispered to herself, placing a hand against the door and pushing it open.
Sunlight momentarily blinded Mitsuru as she stepped out onto the roof. She blinked a few times to clear her sight and began to look around for a certain honey brown-haired girl. After walking away from the door, Mitsuru easily spotted her closest friend. As usual, Yukari was wearing a short skirt, a blouse, a pink cardigan put over it and the red ribbon tied around her collar. Instead of finding one of her endless supply of smiles on her face, Mitsuru noted that her dear friend seemed down as she leaned back against the steel grates that enclosed the roof.
"I thought I'd find you here," Mitsuru began, stepping towards Yukari whose head jerked up at the sudden company. "Well, perhaps I would have eventually chanced upon this place if Junpei had not told me first that you were here." Despite her friendly and casual approach, Yukari did not respond. The younger girl bowed her head and could not look at Mitsuru straight in the eyes. "Yukari…" Mitsuru sighed. "Please tell me what's been bothering you. I am getting more worried as each day passes knowing that you are acting like this."
Yukari shook her head, still not meeting the worried gaze of her friend. "It's nothing to worry about," she told Mitsuru. "It's nothing that you should worry about." She spun around to gaze through the steel grates at the sky.
Mitsuru was surprised. It seemed like ages ago since Yukari had distanced herself purposely from Mitsuru. "Yukari," she gently called out her friend's name, walking closer. "I have every right to worry about you. I care for you so please, just tell me what's been bothering you," she pleaded, hoping that Yukari would give in. "I'll do whatever I can to help you."
Yukari's head slightly perked up before slowly turning around to face her senpai. Her hazel eyes bore deeply into Mitsuru crimson orbs. "Senpai," she started. "Do you remember when I went to fetch you?"
Mitsuru raised two elegant eyebrows in question. "What do you mean?" She crossed her arms over her chest and stood her ground barely a few feet away from the high school senior.
"This was your favorite place," Yukari continued, gesturing at the rooftop. "Whenever you'd go missing and shirk your student council duties." She looked up at the skies. "It was prior to the school trip last year. Odagiri-san had asked me to look for you because the meeting regarding the trip could not progress without you there."
"Ah yes… I remember now." How could she not remember? It was one of those moments when Mitsuru was feeling so down and alone. But then Yukari had come and tried to cheer her up. Then there was also something else that her friend had wanted to say, but she couldn't because Ryoji had arrived at the scene. "What does that have to do with your strange behavior?"
Yukari rubbed her arms nervously. "Before we became closer friends, I had wanted to use that time to get closer to you," she admitted to Mitsuru. "Back then, I always thought that there was some sort of vague connection between us. I was lonely and had a broken relationship with my mother. You on the other hand were also lonely, but you hid it well beneath a mask of respect, popularity and intelligence."
"Yukari?" Mitsuru was getting confused. Why was her friend saying these things to her?
"I felt that I could help you deal with your bouts of loneliness and at the same time you would also be able to help me deal with my own loneliness." Yukari laughed weakly. "I thought that it was a sound plan, but then Ryoji showed up and there was no other time for me to get closer to you except when Ikutsuki killed your father. We were just naturally drawn together during your time of need."
Mitsuru stayed silent. She was trying hard to comprehend what was truly happening, but could not. Everything that Yukari had mentioned was true, but she still could not tell where Yukari was getting to with their conversation.
The hazel-eyed girl looked down to the ground. "When Minato woke up, it got me thinking about the past. I thought that I was just approaching you that day on this very roof to offer you friendship," she explained, a small smile showing on her face. "But now, I think I was meant to do something else…"
Mitsuru shook her head, still not fully understanding the situation. "Yukari just tell me what you want to say and I'll do anything to help you out of whatever predicament you're in!" She was starting to feel a little bit impatient and frustrated with how her friend was beating around the bush.
"Senpai," Yukari gazed seriously at the taller and older woman before her. "Please answer this question!" It looked like she had already made up her mind and was going to tell Mitsuru everything.
"Sure Yukari."
The honey brown-haired girl scuffed her shod foot on the concrete floor. "Would you still look at me in the same way even if I was… different?"
Mitsuru let out an exasperated sigh. "Yukari… You're not making any sense!"
"Just answer senpai!"
"Why would I care if you were different, Yukari?" Mitsuru replied. "All that matters is that you're important to me and that I care for-" She couldn't finish her sentence because Yukari's smaller form barreled into her body, her arms wrapping tightly around her. Before Mitsuru could open her mouth to ask what had gotten into Yukari, the younger girl gently rested her shaking hands on Mitsuru's cheeks, stood on her tiptoes and planted a hesitant kiss on the older girl's lush and full lips.
Oh my… Mitsuru could feel herself becoming faint, commanding her putty legs to keep her on her feet. This is… truly a surprise.
So I took the advice of some of my readers. For now, I've made this story be a Mitsuru x Yukari one, but it may not stay that way as the story progresses. I'm still having difficulty visualizing and coming up with a plot revolving around these two young women. This may evolve to possibly have a love triangle (Skye/Mitsuru/Yukari) or even a love square (with Minato or perhaps another male character in the aforementioned pairing/s. Anyway, I'm open to opinions and suggestions so just state them in your reviews.
Mr. Thumbsup: Well, I did have to put a twist in it so I decided to have Minato come back. It gives me more to work with as I continue making this story.
Chibi Tetra: I find it amusing that you told me to go ahead and do what I want with the pairings, but still heavily imply that you want it to be a Mitsuru x Yukari fic. Hehe. I don't mean anything bad against you at all by the way. As you read, there will be Mitsuru x Yukari parts in this story… at least for a little while until I exhaust all my ideas about the two of them.
Roxius: Your dog is named Skye? Hmmm… well that's certainly interesting! Haha! Anyway, yes I can empathize with your excitement with this story revolving around a shoujo-ai relationship. :) Part of the reason why I decided to make one was because you could hardly find one on the internet.
Next chapter: getting to used to the relationship, betrayal and misunderstanding, confiding in a friend and patching things up.
