My Silent Season
By: TheWildFool2011
(I disown Persona 3 and all the wonderful characters!)
January 26th 2010 ~
The sun shined brighter than the day before, but the students expressions weren't that of happy ones. Students began to quickly flood the schools entrance, halls and all three floors, most students who were outside smoking went almost unnoticed.
"You there get to class! No lolly-gagging!" Hidetoshi seemed frustrated that he had to deal with so many students at once.
"Ahahaha! Make us asshole!"
Hidetoshi turned around quickly with a deadly glare, "All of you….CLEAR OUT NOW!" he pointed his finger toward the door. This caused most students to go in but they were muttering amongst themselves.
"Tch, imbeciles…honestly it should be a crime to be this stupid." Hidetoshi then turned around to face another upcoming crowd that seemed to dash towards him. He sighed in distress. Nobody else in the student council was able to help him out for the next few days, not even Mitsuru Kirijo, the class president herself.
"Hey, there Toshi-chan!" Junpei raised his hands above his head to grab his attention. Two other students followed behind him, were in an intense conversation.
Hidetoshi sighed muttering to himself. "Iori-san please refrain from calling me that, I've told you over and over again to call me Hidetoshi! And do NOT put chan at the end, those are used for girls. Such a Chihiro-chan…see where I'm getting at?"
"Eh, yes but no. Only no because, I love to piss you off."
"Hey, Hidetoshi…still have that stick up your ass?" Kaz smirked, Junpei started to laugh. This caused Hidetoshi to turn red in the face.
"Come on guys give him a break. I don't think any of us are nearly as stressed out as he is…" Minato defended Hidetoshi, Kaz and Junpei both gave him a weird look.
Hidetoshi lightly smiled at Minato 'Thank god for people like you Arisato…'
"Tch, dude…." Junpei was lost for words. The crowd of students continued to pass by them, Kaz began to follow soon after he spotted Yuko.
"HEY YUKO-CHAN!"
"Dude, you leavin' already?" Junpei seemed slightly confused as Kaz started to run toward Yuko who had stopped to wait for him.
"Bro, I'm out…I'm gonna hang with Yuko here, until the homeroom bell rings. See you two in class!" Kaz exclaimed when he made it to the entrance.
"Alright…I guess…" Junpei turned around to Hidetoshi and Minato, "Dudes' gotta split too…I'm supposed to be getting some help with my homework again."
Minato raised an eyebrow as Junpei scurried off into the school, "More…help…? Well good luck to him I guess, right Hidetoshi?"
Hidetoshi nodded slowly and then turned his attention to Minato, "Where has Kirijo-san been? I'm only asking because, it's been quiet long since she attended the last few meetings…"
"You don't remember…?"
"Remember what?"
"Mitsuru-chan's fathers' sudden passing…" Minato mumbled under his breath, but his expression grew gloomy as he thought of the shooting that happened at midnight on the school grounds.
"Oh yes…I'm terribly sorry. It's just that with all this apathy syndrome going on and the rumors of the world ending…it's been getting under my skin…"
"Worse than the cigar in the bathroom situation?"
Hidetoshi let a long sigh escape, "Yes…more badly than that situation…I don't know what to make of this whole school year…I've seen so much, heard so much…and gain knowledge…useful knowledge that is."
He turned to look at Minato and smirked, "And I have of course, gain a very special friendship…thank you for having my back Arisato, even when I was a pain in the ass to you."
Minato waved him off, "Nah, I have to be thankful for you…I mean you stood up for me when that teach was going to make you blame everything on me…" all of a sudden Hidetoshi held out his hand as he stood upright.
For a moment Minato was slightly confused as he looked down at his friends' hand and then looked him in the eye. Slowly he pulled his hand from his pocket, latching it onto Hidetoshi's hand.
"Damn, you always have to be so formal?" Minato laughed as they shook hands.
"Tch, I have to if I'm going to become a teacher, and help future students, am I not right?"
"Ha, you have a point."
Minato then began to walk away from him to let him finish his duty. "Arisato…" Minato turned around only to see his friend turned toward the oncoming crowd.
"I'm here if you need anything. And no matter what sort of trouble you get into, I'll be there to see the situation all the way through…" he then lifted up his hand, giving Minato a thumbs up.
Minato smiled 'The stronger the bonds…the more belief and strength I obtain. Or something like that…huh Igor?' he grinned and sharply turned his heel, making his way to his shoe locker, "I'm starting to see things more clearly now…I want people to remember me, not only for my name, but for what I am about to risk for them."
Crowds of students still swarmed the halls, but a timid voice could be heard from within. "Excuse me, but you all must move on I'm sorry. No, lounging around today." Chihiro stood in the middle of the crowd of students as she tried to direct everyone to move on.
Only a small amount of the students moved to another side of the building. The rest of the remaining ignored the slightly frustrated Chihiro.
"Oh!" she gasped and smiled as she saw Minato at his shoe locker, "Minato-senpai! Hey!" Minato raised his head as he switched out his shoes from his locker.
"Oh, hey Chihiro-chan. What's going on…?"
Chihiro blushed slightly, and held a clipboard full of papers against her chest, "Nothing much….well actually Odagiri-senpai asked me try and clear the lounge for him, while he directed all the students to enter the building…"
They both took a quick look around. The lounge area of the school was full of bustling students. Chihiro had sighed, having doubts on Hidetoshi's plans.
"It doesn't really seem to be going to well…"
"Well, maybe I could help?"
"N-no! I need to learn how to do things on my own…or else I'll never let go of my fears right? It's what you told me after all….and not just that but you won't always be around to stand up for me and get me out of situations."
Minato put his arm around Chihiro's shoulder. Chihiro looked up at him, only to see a gentle look painting his face.
"Seems like you've learn a lot. I'm proud of you…really I am." Chihiro blush a cherry red color when he flashed a smile at her, "Umm….are you alright? You're body temperature is sky rocketing…"
Chihiro scooted from under his grasp and took a few steps back, "Y-yes! I'm alright, but I really shouldn't keep you for so long! Plus, I have duties to attend to! Can't let Odagiri-senpai down…" she then speed off down the hall 'He's so clueless sometimes…but so gentle and lighthearted…I'm glad to have met someone like him…'
Minato just blinked as Chihiro walked away farther down the hall. "Wonder what's up with her…? Oh well guess I'll ask her next time…" he shrugged and walked up the steps overhearing girl's conversations about how cute he was.
'Tch, girls…' he rolled his eyes and smirked to himself, "This is gonna be a long day…"
He entered the classroom to see Kenji sitting in his seat talking to another student in their class.
"Yeah, man and I was freaking out. I was like what the fuck is this shit?! I was so confused…"
"Dude, I'd be freaking out too if I found something like that in my shoe locker…" the student with black hair looked up, "Ha, bro time for you to hull ass."
"Huh? The hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Meaning…Arisato's here bro…I'll catch you later man, I got work to finish."
Kenji looked up to a see his friend with a blank expression. "Hehe, hey there bud. How's life treatin' ya?"
"Kenji get your ass up…"
"Tch, fine Mr. Perfect…" Kenji exclaimed in a mimicking, yet jokingly manor. Minato leaned against his desk and looked around to see only but a few of students in the classroom.
"Where the hell is everybody…?"
"Oh, everybody? Well Yukari-chan is supposed to be somewhere in the archery club area, having a quick meeting about something… Kaz is hangin' with Yuko for a bit and that idiot Junpei claimed he was going to look for Akihiko-senpai to get some help on his homework…" he shrugged as he thought about what Junpei could be doing, "For all we know he could be making out with some hot girl."
"Get you head outta your ass. Anyway, did you see the entrance of the school?" Minato replied sourly.
"The saying is '''''get your head outta the gutter'not ass. Haha, and yes I've seen the damn entrance of the school, I come through the fucking thing almost every day."
"No, dumbass. I mean have you notice that it's been sorta crowded lately?"
Kenji sweat dropped, and scratched his head. "Oh…you mean that…yeah I don't know what's going on that's so special but, until then…I guess it'll probably be like that."
"Yeah…guess so…" Minato looked down at his shoes as he sighed. The classroom door opened causing Minato and Kenji to look up.
"Oh, hey Yukari-chan!"
"Hey Kenji-kun, Minato-kun…ugh it's so busy in the halls…" she walked over toward the boys and leaned her head against Minato's shoulder.
"I know right? Kinda makes me worried a little, like something wicked is going to happen this coming week…or weekend. Maybe, it's just me but, this school year was a kick ass one! Especially with you around, Minato. Hopefully, we all have class together again…?" Kenji smirked at Minato. Minato nodded thoughtfully.
"I'm sure we'll all be together in the same class again…me, you, Minato, Kaz, and Junpei…all of us." Yukari smiled and kissed Minato on the cheek. She then turned around to sit down at her desk, proceeding to pull out her books.
Minato also sat down in his own seat. "This is gonna be a long day bro…" Kenji whispered to Minato before they heard the bell. Junpei and Kaz came running straight for the door only to get stuck. The other students walked through the second door on the opposite end to avoid being late to class.
"Dammit, Kaz I came before you did!"
"Pfft, like hell you did, I was a door down! I saw you running up the steps!"
Both the boys began to argue throwing each and every colorful word from the book at each other. Everyone in the class laughed as the two boys fought to get through the door.
All of a sudden the students' laugher died down, as did Junpei and Kaz's arguing. "Really, Iori…Miyamoto…you two have been getting stuck like this almost once out of every week since the beginning of this year. It's a new year, new days. Stop getting your asses stuck through the same door." Ms. Toriumi exclaimed as she pushed against both of the boys back.
Junpei fell face first on the floor. Kaz had stumbled over him but was able to catch his balance. Ms. Toriumi grabbed Junpei's shirt, helping him up to his feet.
"Ehh, heh thanks Ms. Toriumi…" Junpei rubbed the back of his head and quickly made his way to his seat, Kaz in turn did the same.
Ms. Toriumi sighed as she sat her books on her desk in the front of the classroom, "I swear…you all are just silly sometimes. Anyway, ready for class everyone…?"
The whole class moaned and groaned, most began whispering amongst each other, "Shush, you all sound like a bunch of elementary schoolers. And plus it's going to be quiet enjoyable, I promise."
**After School**
The classroom was almost empty with only 6 students lingering around. Minato gathered his belongs and began to head out the classroom door. He was extremely exhausted from Ms. Toriumi's so called fun lesson.
'What the hell the halls are still filled? Why do people complain yet at the end of the day they end up staying after school late…' Minato walked through the hall passing a lot of people by. Everything around him had seemed to go slow-motion every time he thought about the promised day.
"Hey, Minato-kun!" he was snapped out of his train of thought by a few girls calling his name. The girls came running from both sides of him and stopped once they were in front.
"Huh? Uh, what's up?"
"We haven't been seeing you practice at kendo club!" one of the girls whined and pouted. The other girls that was with her nodded in agreement.
"And…?"
The girl sighed and rolled her eyes playfully, "We wanna know if you're going to be there this week! We were totally wasting all of our time all those days you've never showed up…"
"Uh…I'll try? Sorry, I've just been busy…" he sighed rubbing the back of his head 'Damn these girls don't get it…'
The one girl raised her eyebrow curiously. She then sighed as she turned around, the other girls did the same as well. "Hopefully we'll see you there!"
"Heh…yeah I guess." He continued down to the lounge area of the school. Before he could progress forward to the entrance he was stopped by a familiar voice.
"Heading home early are we…?"
"Actually no Mitsuru-senpai…I'm looking for Fuuka-chan. Have you seen her?" he turned to face the red haired women with a blank look upon his face.
"Last I saw her she was leaving her classroom and heading to the main office. Where she might be now, I have not a clue."
"Alright, well thanks and see you at the dorm." He made his way down the hall to the main office. Everyone else seemed so carefree like nothing was going to happen…but Minato knew better, he knew that the world would end soon, but he chose not to let that happen by not killing Ryoji.
His thoughts were interrupted when he bumped into a familiar person. "Huh? I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"
"Oh no, it's my fault, I'm terrible…" Fuuka looked up from all of the papers she had in her arms, "Minato-kun? Why are you still here…?"
"I was looking for you actually…"
"Oh, well here I am." Fuuka smiled brightly at him. Minato thoughtfully returned the smile.
"So what's the papers for…?" Minato asked curiously.
Fuuka glanced down at the papers, "Well, they are for the music club. Keisuke-senpai requested that I pick them up and take them to the music club room today."
"Alright, I'll tag along." Minato replied simply. He then offered to grab most of the papers Fuuka was holding. She gladly handed some over to him.
"Minato-kun thanks for not passing me by and helping me out…" Fuuka said as they walked to the music club room. "I don't know, but it seems like we were meant to meet each other. Thanks for showing me that I can be more that what I really am. That I don't have to be pushed around and bullied…Natsuki, S.E.E.S and you…" Fuuka blushed out of complete happiness.
She stopped in the hallway. Minato also stopped and looked at her. With determined look on her face, she smile, "Thank you for being there for me. I-I want to be there for you to! I…I made my decision, I will protect you."
Minato shook his head, "No…don't thank me. It was all you, you had the will to change, but you just need a little push, or guide…" he motioned her to follow him to the club room. Fuuka closely followed behind with a smile.
After they had set the musical sheets in the room, they had decided to go out for a quick bite to eat at Paulownia Mall's Chagall Café. They then went to Shinshoudo Antiques and Minato out of the kindness in his heart brought Fuuka an antique.
Fuuka held the antique stuffed animal to take in the details. She then hugged it close to her, "Minato-kun you didn't have to buy this for me…" she said quietly.
"Nah, it's okay." Minato replied with a smile. "I heard from Junpei that you had been saying you wanted something like that. He's probably gonna be jealous when he finds out that I brought it for you."
Fuuka smiled warmly and gave him a hug. He hugged back and then decided that they should be heading back to the dorm. As they made their way back they talked about odd ends, past and future.
"Thank you for staying after with me…" Fuuka started off at looked up at the evening sky. "I don't know…but it seems like this will be the last chance we would ever get to talk to each other. Maybe I'm thinking too much, but can we sit here for a while and just let the time pass by."
Minato shrugged and sat down on the steps of Iwatodai Dormitory. Fuuka sat beside him. They both watched as cars passed by them and ran stray cats and dogs would pass them by just like the time would.
"It will only be the last time if you make it." Minato said, clear out of the blue. Fuuka looked over at him startled by his voice. "So, try not to think about the end." He looked over at her with a warming smile.
Fuuka nodded, "Right…" looking up at the sky she sighed softly, "Live for today, with no thoughts of tomorrow…"
"Something like that…" Minato close his eyes, "You know before Akihiko and Mitsuru graduate or on their graduation we should make them a nice sized meal."
"Maybe." Fuuka giggled inwardly, "Only if you join in with the cooking."
"Yeah, of course!" Minato said with excitement. "Hey we should go out to that tea shop, before the promised day."
"As long as we aren't busy…" Fuuka got up and brushed herself off. Looking at the sky she was stuck deep in thought but continued to talk, "We should bring the others along also. So they can get some stress relief."
Minato nodded and stood up also. They had decided to head inside before the dark hour begun. Fuuka enjoyed the day, but felt a wave of sadness every time she would look Minato's direction. Almost like she would never ever be able to speak with him, never see him. She would brush this feeling off and didn't dare to tell anyone.
Authors Note:
Okay, I apologize for not being punctual and on time with this chapter. I had laptop issues and had to get a new one, and ta-da! A new laptop and then I had to wait to be able to transfer date because, my old laptop screen was cracked. But now, have no fear, you will not have to wait any longer! Anyway, peace out!
Forever Yours Truly, TheWildFool2011