Persona 3: Boku Ga Shinigami de Shinigami Ga Boku De
Chapter 5: Having Another Member Of Seitokai Isn't So Bad... Especially If It's The Shinigami Himself!
Gekkoukan High...
After last night's battle, it's now time to deal with the exams for Minato and the gang, the latter is walking towards the school gate in his summer school uniform along with the rest as it is now the time for the heat weather to come. ...Tap, tap, tap. "Yo!" Junpei greeted him from the gate.
"Yo, what's up?"
"Yamagishi is still in the hospital, but I think she's coming to see us tonight back at the dorm. ...But before that, we have exams to worry about. Nahh..."
"...It can't be that bad." ...He enters into his Shinigami Mode with the silhoutte of Thanatos mirroring him then it quickly vanish... "For I will rock this crazy exam..."
"...Huh?"
"...Nothing, let's go."
"Ah, oi, wait up!" Yup, it's now time for the exams, with Minato being in his, can be said, godly mode, he can be sure to pass this without an inch.
At class 2-F...
"Did you hear? ...That Yamagishi girl has been found!"
"Really? Who found her?"
"...I'm not sure... but they say it was the S.E.E.S club who found her."
"S.E.E.S? ...Ah, that club with a strange name to itself, the members are Arisato, Takeba, and that other Arisato right?"
"Ah... and I heard Iori was part of it though... Though I'm not expecting much from him." ...This insulted Junpei who is pretending to reading a previous lesson.
"Yeah, you tell me."
"HEY! Who the hell are you talking about!" The latter yelled out.
"Whoa! He's here! Get back to your seats!" The male students return to their seats while the girls could only chuckle at the development. The news about S.E.E.S rescuing Fuuka came to school this morning and it hit a lot of students to admire the club members such as Minato who the girls have been staring for a while now. Some of the boys are staring at Hamuko, who is also reviewing some previous lessons.
"Say, Minato-kun, can you help me with this?" She asked for her counterpart personality's help.
"Hm? Ah, sure." He's still in his Shinigami Mode so his expression is that of a confident young man much to the confusion of some of his classmates who is used to seeing him in his usual calm expression.
Slide. "Alright, class, your favorite days of examinations has come! Please return to your seats now!" Toriumi-sensei has now arrived in class, making some to return to their seats. "Now then, the first thing I will remind you is that whoever is caught with a calculator will be compensated of their test papers and will have to be... Nah, I'm just kidding, you're free to use it however you like ha ha ha!" ...Everyone sweat drops on her terrible sense of humor. "Now then, please pass these to each other." ...And so the busy days of examination begins... kari... kari... kari... The sound of pens and erasers are only thing that can be heard throughout the hall as those who are noisy are to be sent to detention should they make too much noise and they will compensate of their test papers and their grades will be mark zero.
Later that night, at the command room in the dormitory...
A meeting is being held, Fuuka is invited in it, and so is Zanchou-san. "You are Yamagishi Fuuka yes?" He asked.
Fuuka stands up nervously as if responding to a class attendance. "Heehee, relax, you don't have to stand up, please have a seat." ...She oblidge to. "Now then, everyone, you did a marvelous job of uncovering the truth, the three girls who were wind up in the hospital, have all regained consciousness due to your efforts of defeating those Shadows."
"Thank goodness."
"The facts became twisted concerning a ghost story."
"..." Minato remembers a silhoutte that is resembling Fuuka the other night, he speculates that it may have been her calling for someone to come to Tartarus and help her. ...He figures he has to listen more to his intuition more if he wants to see the correct path to follow like he did during the monorail incident.
"I knew right from the beginning that it wasn't an angry ghost..." Yukari boasted though not in a way that she's trying win an argument.
"...It's all my fault." Fuuka said looking down.
"...No it was not, you were a victim, and so are those girls who were... well, bullying aside, your classmates." Minato said while in his Shinigami Mode that has lasted until just now when he said that.
"...Yeah, don't blame yourselves for something you didn't even did, you won't get self-esteem with that." Yukari said.
"...Arigatou-gozaimasu, Takeba-chan and uh... Arisato-kun." Fuuka said grateful to the two to which Minato turns away with a slight blush on his cheeks.
"Heehee." Hamuko chuckles at that though none heard her.
"Now then, those special Shadows have come again, we still have no idea where they are coming from but... Sanada-kun here has an idea..."
Akihiko stands up after that hinting introduction. "Though we are not sure of this but... ...during the time Arisato and Hamuko came to this dorm, it was attacked the next two days and we noticed something peculiar... the moon was full..."
"...Huh...?" Everyone asked.
"Think about it, the moon was full as well when we fought those two Shadows last night, and so is the day when you guys fought that Shadow in the monorail."
"...Now that you mentioned it... it does coencides with the full moon... I remember staring at it during the monorail incident..." Yukari said.
"What? So, they're kinda like werewolves or something?" Junpei asked.
"Something like that, it can also be a especial advantage for us to get prepared for our next battle, we have to pay attention to the phases of the moon from now on." Akihiko adviced everyone.
"...I see."
After the meeting, Fuuka was asked to join S.E.E.S and she joined immediately without hesitation much to Mitsuru and Akihiko's relief and some disappointment from Yukari for whatever reason she has and so another one has joined their group. Hamuko is delightened at this and so is Junpei who is excited that the new member is a girl.
...More people means more lively conversation... But it can also mean new enemies...
Later that evening, right before midnight... At the back of Port Island station...
Tick... tock... tick... tock... tick.. tock... Tick! Sharp! ...The brutal hour begins. Minato and the others went to sleep while unknown to them, or at least some of them, that... Sharp! "Huh...?" ...One of the coffins in the area turns human. "...How the heck did I...?"
"Good evening." ...A pale voice said. Emerging from the shadows, three people approach the young man. One is a pale young man with long with long gray hair and yellow eyes, the other is a short dark blue hair with a pair of glasses who is carrying a suitcase which can only wonder what is inside, and the third is young woman with long red hair who is wearing a white gothic-lolita dress with a, strangely, a chain axe. "Are you surprise? ...This is the dark hour, a time of salvation."
"..." The other two, the one with glasses and the young woman, seem to doubt the pale young man's words.
"Huh? ...Salvation? Wh-Whatever. Where did everybody go?"
"...Didn't mommy told you any manners?" The genius one, it seems, asked as he shown him an identification letter. "...This is you, right? Name, address, signature... Yup, it's you."
"Huh? Wh...Where did you get that?"
"...Someone got a grudge against you, and they asked us to get revenge."
"...Revenge? What kind of bullshit is this! Who put you up to this!"
"Can't tell you, we're professionals." The genius one backs away for the pale young man to do his job.
"...Professionals? Oh shit... You mean that rumor site in the net was true!" The pale young man points a revolver gun on the young man. "W-Wait, why ME, what did I do!"
"...That is not your concern, my client's wish is all that matters. People wishes to hear, only what they want to hear and see only what they want to see. ...That goes the same for us." The pale youngman said in a nihistic tone.
"...S-Stay back... Get away from me!" The young man panics and runs away. Bang! ...The young man shot him, but he seems to have only injured his hips as he fell down.
"...He's not dead." The young woman confirms.
"Doesn't matter, besides, this will be just one random crime again." The genius one said.
"...If there's nothing else, I'm feeling rather tired..." The leader, who is the pale young man, said. ...They left area...
The next day... At the school gate of Gekkoukan...
...Tap... tap... tap. The students are now on their summer school uniform since it is now almost summer, and as usual, Minato is on his way to the gate with his dull expression. On the way... "Ah, Arisato, ohayou-gozaimasu." Someone greeted him.
"Huh? Oh, Kirijo-senpai, ohayou."
"...Can I have a word with you? ...It's something important..."
"...? Okay." ...He doesn't know what this is about, and as if in a cue, his Shinigami Mode activates. This may be safer as he will be able to respond in a witty and wise words of expression. They both sat at the side where the auditorium of the school can be seen from there. "So, what is this about?"
"...Well... I'm not much for words but, have you joined any clubs lately...?"
"...? ...I have joined the Kendo club if you must know. Siip." He said taking a drink of the soda that Mitsuru gave him as they sat there.
"Siip. I see, ja, do you have any time to join in another group then?"
"...? ...Are you asking me to join in a club?"
"Not really a club, no. Siip. ...I'm asking you to join the seitokai."
"...What?" Now that's a surprise, being invited by kaichou to the seitokai. "...Why all of the sudden...?"
"Well... You're not doing much aren't you? ...And we need some extra help there, everything is going busy with all the incidents occuring near this area. ...I would welcome you there, ...if you agreed."
"..." Though she said that, it doesn't look like he doesn't have a choice. But... since he's in his Shinigami Mode at the moment at the moment, it didn't bothered him and in fact, he smirks at that. "...Is that all? Hmph, okay... Ja, I'll come by later."
"...That's good. I'm glad to hear that." He pleases kaichou. "Well then," She stands up. "I'll see you later at the student council room, Oh, and you have to fill up some papers in the faculty office first before you become a member so please visit Toriumi-sensei after school there."
"Hai, hai, I'll be sure to do that." He said waving at her.
"Well then, execuse me." Kaichou said another English word and left. ...A group of male students have taken interest on the conversation.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yeah, he was asked by Kirijo-senpai DIRECTLY! He's so damn lucky!"
"..." Minato could hear what they were whispering since their voices were loud and that they are in the open but he only ignored them and proceed to his classroom with his schedule for the afternoon is to join the seitokai.
...Tap, tap, tap! "Ah, Minato-kun!" ...? Oh, it's Hamuko. She came along with Yukari, Junpei and Fuuka.
"Ah, it's Arisato, hehe, looks like he got here before us. Heehee." Junpei said.
"Ohayou, you're up early Arisato-kun." Yukari said.
"Oh, uh, Ohayou-gozaimasu, Arisato-kun." Fuuka said bowing.
"...Ohayou, you don't have to bow to me, just treat me like an ordinary friend."
"Oh uh... o-okay."
"That's what I've been telling her on the way her... Sigh, you don't have to be so polite... But, that also makes you look cute." Junpei snickers.
"...Wh-What?"
"...Ignore Stupei. Anyway, come on, we're gonna be late!" Yukari said cheerfully.
"Alright!" And Hamuko as well. The five of them head for their respective classrooms with a majority of the students staring at them, taking notice that they are the members of S.E.E.S who is known to the school as a special club.
"...It's those guys..."
"Ah, S.E.E.S right?"
"...Just what do they do in that club anyway...?"
...The gossiping continues.
Later... After school...
Minato went directly to the faculty office to get some signing to do, afterwards, he went straight to the seitokai room, much to Hamuko's wonder, who spotted him along the way there. "I've been waiting for you, come on in."
"Ah." ...Kaichou was waiting for him just outside the door, and he's been invited in. ...Some of the students, males and females, wonder if he has a relationship with the kaichou of the seitokai... "Ugh, better switch to my other 'persona'..." ...He, of course, means his Shinigami Mode... He does so and his expression has changed into that of the calm to his confident expression. "...Sa, let's go in."
"Right, this way." Sliide. They both went in. ...The room has a lot of space, surprisingly. And there are some... 'decent' would be the right description for the people inside as they seem to be the 'authority' type figures among the students. ...Both male and female students here are all seem to be seniors with the exception of the female student with long brown hair with a pair of glasses. ...She seems to be a kouhai according to Minato's speculation. ...Both he and kaichou go in front. "Everyone, this is Arisato Minato, the new member who I was going to introduced to you earlier, but due to some... expectations... it wasn't done early as possible."
"Hello, boku wa Arisato Minato, as some of you know... I'm in the same school club as Kirijo-kaichou." He said in a well-manner tone since he knows, he has to be decent when he's in this sort of room where... 'authorities' are to be oblidge by their mannerisms.
"Hm... I'm Odagiri Hidetoshi, nice to meet you, Arisato-kun." ...The male student with dark-grayish hair said. ...He seems to be the most obedient type among all the members of seitokai here.
"W-Wata shi... Fushimi Chihiro... N-Nice to meet you, A-Arisato-san..." The first year female student, from Minato's observation, said nervously.
"Ah. ...I'll be on my best behavior." Minato said assuring her of something decent-like that no harm will come from him.
"Hm..." ...Hidetoshi is sizing him up. "...I certainly hope so, I'm the one who supervises the discipline committee so I will not hesitate to punish for doing something that is against the school rules."
"There is no need to worry about that, Arisato is trustworthy, I doubt he'll do anything like that." Kaichou boasted on her kouhai and dormmate.
"Hm." ...Hidetoshi has taken this to consideration.
"Now then, as for the matter of that..."
"This is where my busy life begins huh... Oh well, I'll save some of my energies and 'kill' any mischief around here." Minato thought then he notices Chihiro's stare, but she quickly turns away nervously when he does so. "Hm... Maybe I can help her... Assuming of course if she needs help... and I'm sure she does." And with that, the blue Arisato has become a member of the seitokai in school. ...The events are becoming a wonder as time goes by...
Later in the evening, at the dormitory...
Keplunk.. "Oh, you're back." Minato is greeted by Yukari, who is sitting by the sofa on the upper part of the room, then Mitsuru comes in first. "...How's seitokai business...?" ...She is sounding sullen for some reason...
"Hm...?" Mitsuru asked for that reason.
"We heard you asked him to join the seitokai turf, so we decided to know what happened heehee." Junpei said.
"Oh... You heard about that yes? ...I asked Arisato to help me that's all. Why...? You wish to help too, anyone?"
"Uh... I'll... I think I'll pass."
"Me too." Yukari said.
"Oh, you're back, welcome back Arisato, Kirijo-senpai." Fuuka comes down from upstairs.
"...Welcome back... Yamagishi, Oh, Arisato, she'll be the one you're going to ask if we're going to Tartarus, I'll be joining you guys in the explorations from now on."
"Eh? ...R-Really...?" Junpei asked surprised by this development.
"Yes... After performing several tests-"
"...she's capable of scanning than Kirijo, she'll be our main analyser from now on, so... that means Kirijo will be joining us in our wild parties from now on." Akihiko comes down from the stairs as well.
"Cool! She's really capable!" Junpei cheered.
"...Yes, I'll show what I''m made of as soon as we explore again."
"...Then, why don't we hit the place tonight...? Let's see how my training has been going!" Akihiko suggested an exploration tonight.
"Ja, I'll get ready then." Fuuka shares the enthuasm.
"..." Yukari seems to distanced from the group's conversation with a sullen expression.
The next day... At Gekkokan High 2nd Floor Hallway...
...Tap, tap, tap... Minato is walking down the hallway on his way to the seitokai room, then he noticed a fellow member. "Hm? Fushimi?"
"...! Oh, A-Arisato-san... ...Wh-What do you want...!" ...She seems to be agitated.
"I wanted to talk about-"
"I don't have time to talk! ...!" ...She realizes that she just raised her voice for no reason at all... or at least it's irrational for her to raise her voice, for she is needed to act decent, being in the seitokai member. "I... I'm sorry... I..."
"...Hm." ...An awkward atmosphere befalls the two. "Oh." Then he notices a paper on her foot. "...You drop this." He picks it up and hand it to her.
"Oh Y-yes! A-Arigatou-gozaimasu!" ...Whoosh! ...She dashes as fast as she could. Sliide... ...She went inside the so-called room of sanctuary for the "decent" committees of students.
"Ugh... Better switch to my 'persona'. "...Again, by 'persona', he means his Shinigami Mode. ...And so the Shinigami himself enters the realm of the "decent" committees... sort to speak.
At the Seitokai room...
...Hidetoshi is discussing something with the other members while Minato does some paperworks beside Chihiro who is nervous by his presence though he assures her with multiple hand gestures and she took them to heart and nod nervously. With his Shinigami Mode, the job became swift like a waterfall that is continuosly falling to the stream. After a while, all the other members went out of the room, leaving only Hidetoshi, Chihiro and the Shinigami himself. "...Say, Arisato-kun, I have a question for you, it's nothing personal, but a group of students are complaining about the school uniform code, they think it should be uninhibited for us... what do you have to say about it...?"
...Hidetoshi just asked Minato with something that is of interest of student bodies. "...It's a bunch of nonsense of some no good for nothing punks." ...He said that since his personality right now is that of his Shinigami Mode.
Hidetoshi nodded. "You're right, they think rules are irrelevant... What a bunch of simpletons, without rules around here, there would be chaos around all over the school." ...He said that while nodding triumphly. "...Forgive my matters, but I hate those who have no common sense."
"...You're like a father to everyone huh?" He asked in an almost mocking tone, though he's not really mocking him.
Hidetoshi plays along with it. "Heh, not really, I'm just concerned for those who cannot defend themselves. ...I know what it's like to be bully. ...And I do not wish for anyone to experience that from each of the students around here."
"..." An honorable man from Minato's observation, Hidetoshi is. "...Good, because I won't let it happen. ...Even if it means going against something that is of others."
"...Yes, that is the only way sometime yes...?"
"..." Chihiro overhears the conversation as it move on. The two boys has taken notice of this.
"Ah, forgive us Fushimi, you can go home now."
"Oh, O-Okay." She stands up.
"Do be careful now." Minato said.
"...R-Right, y-you take care too, you two..." She left.
"Well, I think it's time for us to go as well." Hidetoshi said and he and Minato has taken their leave as well.
Later, at the dormitory...
...Keplunk. Minato comes in with Fuuka only the one can be seen in the living room. "Oh, hi."
"...Hello, you're alone...?"
"Ah, everyone else is studying for the exams tomorrow."
"Oh..." That's right, it's still the examination, yesterday, they went to Tartarus, but now, they have to focus on their studies, ah, the difficulty of balancing school and a supernatural phenomenon battle. ...It's like war at Hell... sort to speak. "Ja, I'll go study as well."
"Oh, okay? Hm?" To her confusion, he sits beside her in the upper sofa. "...Wh-What's the matter?"
"...I'll study with you, my room is kinda bumpy so I decided to study here." ...He's in his Shinigami Mode at the moment, so he's rather flirty in his personality right now.
"Oh... I-Isee. Arigatou."
"So... have you made your peace...?" He said as he begun "studying" under the book he's carrying.
"...Huh...?"
"...I mean with that girl, Moriyama."
"Oh, well..."
"...Why don't you go talk to her...? Tell her about what transpired between you two...?"
"...But... won't she-?"
"..Daijobou."
"Hm?"
"...Fortune will befall you tomorrow, you will gain a pillar of support whenever you are down, got it? And that includes us."
"...Arisato-kun... Hm, very well, arigatou-gozaimasu."
"Hm." ...Now he begun studying for real.
Later... during the dark hour...
...tick... tock... tick... tock... tick... tock...Tick! Sharp! ...The dark hour began... ...Minato is on the second hallway walking towards the nearby bending the machine at the end of the hall in the left. ...There are two bending machines there... Slot! ...He inserted a 30 yen on the large one and ordered mad bull. "...Hm...?" He then heard something outside through the window... sliide... He checks it out only to find out that a garbage can just fell due to the wind... a storm is said to be coming and it's moving very slowly. "Hm... Better not stay outside during this time..." slide. He closed the window then he stares at his mad bull. ...Now that he thinks about it, his thirst became null due to the reminder of the storm, and he decided to just put in the freezer downstairs, ...it'll just have to serve as his lunch for tomorrow. "...Who knows, maybe this will be a key to open a path for someone..." ...We'll see.
The next day... at the school gate...
...Tap, tap, tap. Just when Minato is about to enter the school ground. "Did you hear...?" ...Yet, another rumor... Two girls are conversing with each other.
"...There's a girl by the shrine, I don't know if she ran away but she seems to be sad... ...You know rabbits can die from sadness, right?"
"...Okay, I don't if that's true, but you're not a rabbit, and we had a math examination to worry about."
"Hey! That's cold! ...I just wish I could do something her."
"...A young girl huh...?" Minato said, then his Shinigami Mode takes over. "...Might as well check out, I guess. ...I'll go there after school, see if there's anything I can do for the little princess of mine." ...To him, during his Shinigami Mode, decent girls are princesses to him... That's why he's protecting them... Like a gentleman does... ...It is an unstoppable desire... ...those who stand against his way will die...
Later... after school...
Tap, tap, tap... "Sorry, there's something I have to take care of." Minato decided to part ways with everyone at Iwatodai station.
"Eh? What is it?" Hamuko asked cutely as usual.
"...There's someone I had appointment with." Up until now, he's still in his Shinigami Mode, so he was able to do well in the test today, without stressing himself out.
"Someone? ...Who's this "someone"...?" Yukari asked.
"A girlfriend?" Junpei teased.
"Eh! Really!" Hamuko asked amused though didn't buy it, for... well...
"...No." ...She thinks that no girl might match the blue Arisato's level... or at least, he hasn't come to that part of life... yet. "Ja, I'll see you guys later." Tap, tap, tap.
"Ah, do be careful now Arisato-kun." Fuuka advised the blue Arisato.
"Yeah, and don't get yourself involved with those guys!" By "those guys", Junpei meant the "residents" of the Port Island station outskirt that they met in a "good" way the other day, when they were searching information for Fuuka's disappearances. ...Though it would be more appropriate to say, that they should watch out for Minato for he is in his Shinigami Mode at the moment, and he intends to remain that way until evening unless a situation arises. ...He decided to buy a weird looking octopus at the nearby vendor before he went to the shop since he was kinda getting hungry. ...Tap, tap, tap. He climbed up the stone-stair way and there he sees...
"Hm?" ...He sees a girl... ...This is a shrine and there's a playground nearby, so it might be a wonder if she's the girl that is referred to as the "sad rabbit" by the girls earlier, well actually, it was just one theory that one of the girls said. "..." ...tap, tap, tap. He approaches her.
"Hm...~? Who are you, mister? Oh, wait, you're just an highschooler, I should refer to you as 'onii-chan'!" ...She seems to cheerful... despite what the girls said about her being sad... "Say, my okaa-san warned me to stay away from bad persons... are you a bad person...?" Though she asked that, she seems to be the type to... shall we say, hang out to where 'delinquents' hang out...?
"...Hn." Knowing what to response in this kind of situation, Minato acts cooly as a way to impress her due to his Shinigami Mode way of doing then... "Ah... I'm a very bad person..." He said smirking.
"Ontou! Wow! I never met a bad person before!" ...He seems to have hit the "score" of her heart... "...Hey, I'm kinda hungry... can you- Oh wow! You brought them for me!" She asked excitedly, the ones she refers to are...
"Eh? You mean-" Before he could respond, she took the mad bull he put at the freezer last night, and the tokayoki he bought before he went here, not that he's complaining but, ...he was hoping to eat something here... ...Well, at least the princess is happy... That is enough to repay for his hunger. "Wow! They're so delicious! They're my favorites!" The two of them sat on the nearby bench as she continues eating while Minato is simply enjoying the gentle wind that is passing by the shrine's playground. "Wow! You're so nice! ...Say, will you play with me...?" ...She asked hoping for a "Yes" answer from the Shinigami...
"...Of course, my princess." He said with a wink.
"Ontou! Ja, you better come through with your promise!"
"Ah... I'll definitely come through it." ...He stands up. "Sa, let's go have fun."
"Hai! hai!" The two of them plays at the playground. ...Well actually, Minato is sitting on the bench while watching Maiko plays around, sometimes he catches her at the slide and push her on the swing, and they both make a run at the jungle gym. Moments later... "Wow, you're too fun to be with, I like to play with you again."
"Ah... I'll come by again, when I have time."
"Hm. ...But, I don't want to go back home yet... I don't like there..."
"...?"
"...Hey, promise me that you'll come play with me again okay...?" She offers a promising finger tip...
"Ah, I'll come by..." ...He touches it with his own.
"Ontou! Ja, you better not forget!"
"Ah... Ja, I better get going now."
"Oh, by the way, my name is Oohashi Maiko! What's yours onii-chan?"
"...Boku wa Arisato Minato. ...Boku wa..."
"Hm?"
"...Shinigami."
"Eh? ...I don't know that but... Okay!" She takes acknowledgement without understanding the full content of that... After that, the two parted ways...
The next day... At Gekkoukan 2nd hallway...
...It was still the examination week so there's not much noise in the halls today as well, except during lunch where some students are complaining of how hard the exams are and they felt like their brains have danced like spaghetti, sort to speak. ...Tap, tap, tap. Again, Minato is on his way to the seitokai room. "Hm?" Then again, he spotted Chihiro near the so-called room. ...She's agitating. Then he notice a paper is beside her. "Hmm..." ...He concluded that she drop it and he decided to switch into his Shinigami Mode, again, he activated during the first examination until now, perhaps it may come in handy for the rest of the day. He picked up the paper and approach the timid girl. "Hey-"
"Waah-! Oh, A-Arisato-san... I... I got a little- I-I mean... What I'm trying to say is..."
"...Daijobou. Here, you dropped this." He hands over the paper that seems to be a treasurer's note, which is understandable since she's the treasurer herself.
"Oh? Oh... I... see. A-Arigatou." ...She nervously takes it from his hand. "Waah... I-I'm a little a nervous... I'm scared of... boys... you see."
"...What?"
"I-I have a phobia... whenever a boy would approach me I..."
"...Half of the school is males you know, and besides," He leans closer... "Wanna go out...?" ...He has asked the "question" that most guys would ask girls to do some activities together... in town...
"EH! Oh uh... that's... that's a little... too early... wawa..."
"...Relax, I'll treat you nicely, well, I'll come to pick you up tomorrow how's that?"
"...W-Well... ...Okay..." ...A first girl to walk with... or rather, a first girl who is outside the S.E.E.S to walk with... a first score... "W-Well then, should we?" She's asking if they should go inside the seitokai's room.
"Ah, ...let's." Another busy day in the so called room. Sliide.
Seitokai room...
"Hey, WHAT THE HELL IS THE MEANING OF THIS ODAGIRI!" ...A male member exclaim outloud, enough for the two members, Minato and Chihiro, to be taken by surprise by it.
"...I'm counting on you Odagiri, for both of our sakes." ...Tap, tap, tap... ...A teacher walks away from the room...
"Hey, what does he mean for both of our sakes? ...This cannot be done without kaichou's approval!"
"...He simply wants to be "the honorable place" for a proper school..." ...Hidetoshi talks like this is nothing personal... though it is for the other members.
""Honorable place"? ...More like lowly scum if you ask me!" A female member said outloud.
"...Hey, what's going on...?" Minato asked as he and Chihiro walks in.
"Oh, Arisato-kun... perfect timing, can you snuff some senses unto Odagiri? ...He's suspecting all of us!"
"Huh...?"
"Someone found a cigarrete on the boy's restroom, that teacher wanted us to find who's responsible for it, meaning we're all suspects! Even kaichou!" The male member said.
"...Huh...?" Both the two members, who just came in, asked.
"...Why would kaichou be a suspect...?" Chihiro asked.
"Because that means everyone who is said to have a connection with the school and those who are considered "delinquents" are all involved into this, that's why!" The female student said.
"...!" This surprise Minato and Chihiro.
"...Kaichou is an honorable young woman! How could you suspect her Odagiri!" Another male member asked angrily, ...it seems most of the students really admire Mitsuru to the point that they won't accept any insults from anyone who gives insults to the honorable kaichou...
"...I'm just trying to make a better school environment, now if you will execuse me, ...oh, and good luck Arisato-kun..." ...Tap, tap, tap... Minato is the only one he has respect now it seems.
"Hey! Don't ignore us you teacher's pet!" ...Some of the members chase him out of the room...
"...What should we do...? ...Kaichou needs to hear about this...!" Sliide... Chihiro left the room as well, ...leaving only Minato and some few members in...
"...What the hell do you think you're doing Odagiri?" He thought. Since there was nothing to do, since apparently, the meeting got cut-off, sort to speak, Minato decided to go back to the dorm.
...Then in the next morning in the same room...
"...Where's Odagiri? ...Why's he absent?" ...Kaichou asked as the other members of seitokai gather.
"Umm... I think... he's busy..." Chihiro answers in a stutterring tone.
"...? Busy doing what...?"
"...Playing private DICK." One of the male members said.
"Oh... that thing... that Fushimi told me about. Well... His intentions are good so, ...you can't really blame him... ...I'm sorry to put you all through this..." Everyone nods, accepting her apology. "...You can all dismiss now." ...On that, everyone stands up.
"I wonder where Odagiri-kun is...?" Chihiro asked as she approaches Minato.
"Sa... Let's get going." ...He said entering into his Shinigami Mode and Chihiro nodded in agreement, then they left the room... Sliide.
At the Laboratory hall...
...Tap, tap... "You got evidence? Where is it? Come on, punk!"
"...?" The two heard someone yelling near the gymnasium hallway. ...They turn to it to find Hidetoshi arguing with a delinquent.
"...There's no need for evidence, I know all about your exploits in the school..." Hidetoshi said sounding like a mafia boss instead of a police officer.
"Tch!" ...The punk merely ignored him however. Minato and Chihiro sweat drops on this development.
Then two female students passed by to witness this event. "Whoa! He's at it AGAIN! My boyfriend got accused too!"
"...This guy's really asking for a beating."
"If you want, we could testify you to the teacher, after that, we get to give you a lesson about discipline, I'm the one running it so fill free to ask me." Hidetoshi said mockingly to which, again, causes Minato and Chihiro to sweat drop as the punk is getting angry at his almighty tone, sort to speak.
"...Shut up, you asshole." He said.
"...Which is it?" ...That was the last straw... Strike! ...The punk hit him on the right cheek, causing a bruise on it.
"*gasp* ...!" Chihiro gasped at that, and Minato decided to intervine.
"Halt." He said in a calm, deadly tone as he steps in front of the punk and Hidetoshi.
"...Who the hell are you? ...This punk's friend or somethin?" He asked in a threatening tone.
"Yeah... You got a problem with that? ...If not, then just walk away if you don't want to be lying on your grave as I deal with him and his stupidity."
"..." On hearing that, the punk walked away feeling dejected as if he just confronted the grim reaper who will deliver him to the "afterlife"... sort to speak.
Moments later...
"...You okay?" Minato asked Hidetoshi. The "audiences" have already left the scene when the punk left, leaving only him, Hidetoshi and Chihiro.
"...That was reckless of you Odagiri-kun..." Chihiro scolds him though not in a convincing tone.
"...I'm only doing my job as the supervisor of the disciplanary committee." He merely boasted as if saying he has done nothing wrong.
"Sigh... You need to lighten up, anyway, good job at your work, but don't get reckless now... unless you want to be sent to the hospital and kaichou will have to fill me in with your position." Minato said, like an emperor does to his subjects... or a king.
"...Right, sorry to get you two involved with this, I want to find out the culprit for the cigarrette incident, and get this case solved as soon as possible. Execuse me..." ...He left.
"Sigh... Kaichou and Odagiri-kun have not always been in good terms..." Chihiro said.
"...Why's that?" Minato asked.
"Oh that's... ...That's because Odagiri has a complex of not wanting to let children by bullied and he thinks kaichou is doing a poor job of keeping the school altogether, he's getting everyone's nerves actually... Of course Kaichou could not supervise the entire school campus... No one can, that's why we have a lot of members this time, to keep an eye out on the campus. Oh... sorry... I said too much..."
"No... no. Thanks for telling me, you best go home. The meeting has already been dismissed." ...Minato said leaving.
"Arisato-kun?"
'So he's acting all fatherly towards everyone huh...? Hm... So be it... I'll 'kill' his inferiority complex... and show his true fatherly side.' He thought as he left the school.
The next day... At the seitokai room...
Sliide. ...Minato walks in. "What the hell is your problem!" ...A sweat drop appears on his head, it's the same scene yesterday... The exams is almost over but it seems Hidetoshi is facing another "examination" today as well...
"Mataka..." He said placing his hand on his forehead. ...Then he switches into his Shinigami Mode to solve the problem of stress... "Guess I have to teach him a lesson..." He said with a confident expression.
"...Do you have any evidence?" Hidetoshi asked much to the three members annoyance.
"There's just no reasoning with you!"
"...Kaichou is getting irritated at you! Arisato is better off handling the disciplinary committee if you ask me! He's better off without some nose-ass punk who is going about acusing everyone just because of something inappropriate!" A male member exclaimed.
"...What?" Hidetoshi clunches his fist... Though he's not the fighting type...
...Tap, tap, tap. "That's enough." The Shinigami intervines.
"Arisato!" The three exclaimed.
"...Leave this to me, I promise I'll beat some sense out of him, ...alright?" ...He said sounding sincere...
"...Fine, we're done with him anyway."
"Yeah... Good luck trying to make him have common sense." The female member said as they left the room. Sliide...
"...What a bunch of hyenases." Hidetoshi commented, further annoying Minato... and the members for that matter before they leave through the hall...
"...You can't about acusing everyone you know."
"Hmph." Hidetoshi stands up, looking through the window. "...What the hell? What is the point of having power if you're not going to use it...? I want to have power! I want to have the power to stop all the bullying! All the abusing! Is that too much to ask!"
"..." ...He's quite shouting quite frankly, hopefully, the jocks outside didn't heard him or he might get reported of violating obedient rules in the school... "...Why the hell do you want power for anyway...?" Minato walks up beside him, his Shinigami Mode should be enough to protect him from harm... sort to speak.
"...Because... ...My father owns a company... He didn't care what the other employees thought of him... He remained honorable and over time, he earns their respect. He gained new friends because of that... I want to be like him..."
"...And you think bossing around would do that...? Or rather... Would He be proud of you for all these improper way of acting like a father to everyone, by bossing them around...?" ...His questions are beginning to sound like mocking questions.
"...No, I suppose not... Sigh... I became a spoiled brat I guess... My father used to say that to me... ...I became a power-mongering... Sigh..."
"...Sigh, will you stop acting childish for once, I'll be going now since there's no meeting today, I just want to remind you with something..."
"...What is it?"
"...Dead men tells no tales, unless they spent the last of their lives telling their intent to those they love... Until it is too late, remember that, or you may end up losing everything." ...Sliide. He left the room with that poet of warning of one's entering the "grave" should one makes a grave mistake... Like a Shinigami does to his victims... and those he saves...
"..."
...The next day, again, at the same room...
..Sliide. "What the hell is your problem punk!" ...Another squall(A violent storm, not the name of the FF8 protagonist, ha ha) is in the room.
"Sigh... " Minato gives another sigh as he entered the room, ...it is best that he switch into his other persona here... Just like he switched with it during the examination earlier, tomorrow will be the last day of examination anyway... "..So this is the conclusion this chapter of fatherly priority..." He said with a glaring expression. ...There are three guys, with one bickering whether they should just leave the room, which they strongly disagreed in a childish way, the fourth one's, who is not should be considered one of them, dismay. Hidetoshi is in the middle of them, sitting on a seat..
"You mess with us for the last time!"
"Yeah, we'll show you what 'priority' means to us!"
"H-Hey, hey, come on, let's just leave the room quietly..." The fourth one, who is innocent, said.
"Shut up girly! I'm gonna show you how men do things!"
"...Shut up." Minato walks in, catching their attentions. "The only 'girly' show I see is you and you other two idiots. He's very manly." He points at the fourth one who is trying to prevent the squall(Not the name of the protagonist of FF8 again ha ha).
"..Who the hell are you dumbass!"
"You want some too!" ...Seeing all that violence is unavoidable, there is only thing... 'mischief'... is about to be laid to rest here...
"..Yeah... I'll put an end to your 'mischief'... ha ha... HA HA HA!" He begun to laugh maniacally.
"Uh..." The three punks are frightened by his atmosphere which makes it look the room is an execution room for the grim reaper to slice off the heads of its victims, afterwards, it's straight to the *graveyard*... "GYAAHH-!" STRIKE! Strike! Strike! Strike!
..15 minutes afterwards...
Kaichou and some other members of seitokai came in to report the three, excepth the fourth who is founded innocent by Minato and Hidetoshi, and who is happen to be the "culprit" for the "cigarrette bathroom incident". "Arigatou-gozaimasu, dewa, I'll leave things to you here, Arisato, Odagiri." Mitsuru said as she leave with the others with the three punks who are "executed" by the grim reaper, Minato, sort to speak.
"..So... You're the one who left that cigarrette in the boys' restroom?" Hidetoshi asked like a gentle father... as Minato advised him to as of yesterday.
"Y-Yes... I wanted to be friends with those guys, but... Sigh. I see now I've been hanging around with the wrond crowd.."
"Ah, a loner huh... Well, be yourself and follow your heart," Minato said as he hands him an execuse letter, which means he's free of charges for all the scandal that took place. ", stay the hell away from those guys from now on, and be friends with the nice guys, not idiots like those."
"Hai... Hai. Arigatou-gozaimasu, sir."
"Ah... Now get going, we're going to clean the place up."
"Hai!"
"Be wary of the people around you, I will tell you this as a fellow student, fill free to relate your problems to us okay?" ..Hidetoshi asked caringly, surprisingly. He may have taken Minato's advice to heart yesterday and he has found the kindness that overpowers all..
"Hai! Arigatou-gozaimasu!" .Sliide. ..He left the room happily.
"...Happy?" ..Minato asked, he seems to have reverted back to his usual personality.
"Ah... I'm glad I was able to help him.." Hidetoshi said staring at the cigarrette that the young man gave him. He then turns to Minato... "..Can you come with me? ..I have something to discuss with you... at the roof."
"...Sure." They both went to the roof.
At the intended destination...
"Thanks a lot... for your advice yesterday. It pulled me out of my illusion world."
"Siip. ..That's good." Minato said drinking a juice that he bought downstairs.
"Ah... ..I have forgotten the most important value of being a father... The courage of helping others... the courage of supporting the people you know.. you reminded me of that... ..My father used to say that too.. I guess I was too obsessed with power, ..I have forgotten about what I really wanted... what I've been longing for..."
"Ah.. ...Though it's a good thing that you remembered, right?" They both stare at the sunset.
"Ah, and that's why..." Both faces each other... "...I'm quitting being a member of seitokai."
"...!" This caught Minato by surprise. "..I think I'm not suitable to be in the position of being the supervisor of the disciplinary committee. ...I'll leave that one to you, Arisato-kun. .You thought me a lot of thins... Now I see why kaichou entrusted you of being a new member of the committee, haha, you're a lifesaver."
"...Ah, ah..." ...He's going to continue being the "darkness" that devours darkness itself, evil, greed, negativity... all that will be laid to rest before the shinigami... "Sa, what are you going to do now?"
"..I'll give this to you first." He hands over the cigarrette of the young man. "Keep that as a keepsake if you want, I'll be leaving seitokai soon and I hope to see you see me off."
"Ah, good luck with whatever you intend to do." ...For a rare chance, Minato smiled.
"Ah, you too. Arisato-kun." Both share a fare handshake and a bear hug, sort to speak, though it's a friendly hug. "Sa, mata ne, Arisato-kun."
"Ah." ..Minato waves off at the leave of his another new friend in school. "Sa te... Another negavity down... What's next?" He stares off at the distance... ..More negavity will be put to rest in this city where he lost everything... He does not wish for anyone else to suffer the same fate, so he'll become the Shinigami that destroys evil and corruption that is plaguing everyone... ..for that... is his... role.
Later, at the second floor hallway...
"Ah, h-hello!" Chihiro tries to call him off with a wave.
"Oh... Hi." He returns it. ...Then it strikes him to return to his Shinigami Mode so that he wouldn't mess it up once he's talking to a girl. "What is it..?"
"W-Well... I've thinking about what you said about hanging out... S-Should we...?"
"Ah... Let's go." He offers a hand for the princess, sort to speak.
"..H-Hai! Sa, l-let's get going..." They both went downstairs to the lockers.
Later...
..A silent atmosphere befalls the two. "..Are you sure about this...? I mean..." Chihiro stutters.
"..Having second thought...? ..I would be heartbroke if you are..."
"N-No! L-Let's go..." They both exit the school campus afterwards...
Later, at the Iwatodai dormitory...
"..." It's been a 30 minutes of silence for the two.. That's a new record of trip of silence... "Um... Wh-Which... way... are you...?"
".Which way is your house?" Minato asked.
"Oh umm... It's... right over there..." ..It's just across the dorm in the intersection on the right side of the street. ..Minato stares at the dormitory.. "..? Do you... live here...? Arisato-kun...?"
"Ah... It's a student dormitory."
"Oh... I see... I remember kaichou staying as well... She also mentions that you're living together..."
"How rude of me not to ask for directions to your home."
"N-No! D-Don't feel bad! It's okay! Really! That's... It's just across the intersection."
"Ah... I'm glad I could escort you then.
"Ah... A-Arisato-kun..."
"..What?"
"A-Arigatou... You're the first boy I ever talk with for a long time in school... I... I thank you for concern..."
"Ah... And I'm grateful that you enjoyed it." He bows like a gentleman.
"Th-That's... very gentle of you. Ja, M-Mata ne..." She left blushing.
"Hm." ...He reverted back to his usual personality... "That's done it." Keplunk. He enters his home to be greeted by...
"Yo!"
"Hey, you're back!" Everybody is already there, eating dinner.
"You're late, Arisato, go ahead and have a seat, consider this dinner that we prepared for you as a token of our gratitude for uncovering the truth regarding the cigarrette scandal in school." Mitsuru said.
"Oh, right... I heard about that... Odagiri has quit right?" Junpei said.
"Yeah, that and a bunch of high school punks have been sent to expulsion." Akihiko said.
"Well I'm glad that's done with." Yukari said.
"Heehee." Hamuko laughs at that. A merrily dinner happens to the students in the dorm... A pleasant aroma is on the dinning room as well for the reward of bringing justice to the school... ...The weather outside is not well though... There's a storm coming...
"Oh, we best prepared for the storm, everyone." Fuuka advised everyone of it.
"Yeah... Thanks to this, the heat during examinations has died out..." Junpei sighed.
"Well tomorrow, is the last day of examination I hope we do well..." Yukari said.
"Yeah huh?" Hamuko said. And just like that, the evening passes by.
The next day... At the bookstore...
Minato took the courtesy of escorting Chihiro again, and this time, they stop by a bookstore in Iwatodai... "Wow... I've been dying to read this!" Chihiro suddenly exclaimed.
Minato approaches her." ...Is it good?" Minato asked. He's in his Shinigami Mode at the moment, so he knows how to respond to girls' questions in a flirty way.
"Of course! It's about a love story of a shy girl and a kind young man..."
"A shojo manga then.."
"Yes... Do you... Like manga Arisato-kun...?"
"Ah... ..I like them." Though he only reads them to satisfied his sweetness of witnessing heroic deeds being fruitful and that the light will prevail, as he does not wish for anyone else to suffer his fate... ten years ago.
"I see! That's good! We have one thing in common! Oh uh... I mean..."
"I know, ja, why don't you buy it?"
"...I wish I could but... My family is..." ...Poor.
"...Oh. I see, well, let's get it next time. Let's go."
"Oh, h-hai. Coming... Um..."
"...What...?"
"Is it... boring to hang out with me Arisato-kun?"
"No, in fact... it's a blast!" He cheered though in a flirty way.
"Oh... that's good... Arigatou. I never had any boys to talk to, until now, you're like a pillar of support for me Arisato-kun. ...Arigatou." She said blushing.
"Ah... You're welcome.
"Well then... I better go home now, my okaa-san will need help in cooking..."
"Ah, see you tomorrow."
"Mata ne." They both parted ways. ...Two weeks left before the full moon again... What awaits the S.E.E.S? ...The moon will reveal that.
End of Chapter 5
Note: As I mentioned, the only Social Links that are included here are that of the people in school and some of the S.E.E.S members. There will be a plot twist in the school festival, such as the storm will not occur during that time, but in this chapter. The next chapter will that of Chihiro's Social Link events and the Hierophant and Lovers Shadows. Until then, Ja ne!