The next day was a school day. Everyone was forced to move on with their lives. A traumatized look remained on Minako's face throughout the day.
In the morning, a school assembly was called in the auditorium. All the students were gathered to say goodbye.
"No words can express the sense of loss we feel as a result of this terrible tragedy."
They didn't even know him.
"He had a lifetime of opportunity ahead of him …."
They didn't know about his nurturing nature.
"As educators, we are to blame for ignoring his silent calls for help."
They didn't know that he watched cooking shows with Koromaru.
"We lost him to violence before we had a chance to help him realize his true potential."
They didn't know about the dinner he made them while he was teaching Fuuka how to cook.
"Forgive us … Forgive us for our negligence."
They didn't know just how forgiving he was.
.
The next night, Minako stayed awake, waiting for that familiar presence.
"Hello."
She really needed to speak with him right now. Speaking to Pharos was like talking with her big brother. He calmed her down and reassured her. She ignored the talk of the coming end. As long as she could remember Minato-nii.
"… It's cold tonight. You seem tired … did something happen?"
"My friend he … he died."
He looked broken. "Is that so…. In this world people die every day. Until recently, this was the same to me as the blowing of the wind. But now I see differently."
"Really?"
"For the first time, I have a friend."
Minako felt her heart burst. Of course Pharos was her friend. Why would she let him break into her room in the middle of the night if he wasn't?
"We are kindred spirits, you and I, so why is it that only I can remember?"
"Remember what?"
"… This is a heartrending matter. Is my existence something you will never be able to accept?"
"No! Of course I accept you!"
"Right. Because you are my dearest…."
.
"What's with all the long faces?" Akihiko addressed the dorm. Everyone was in a funk after what had happened. Ken briefly ran away from the dorm before coming back the next day. He was still admittedly depressed afterwards. They all were. Except for Akihiko.
"Shinji died satisfied. He got out while he was ahead."
"But senpai-" Akihiko cut Minako off.
"Let him rest in peace. We should be focusing on what we need to do now …"
"And what's there?"
"There's less than a week until midterms."
Midterms?! That was what he was focusing on?!
"You …" She started, but then she stopped. This may have sounded heartless coming from Akihiko, but his best friend did die right before his very eyes. She shouldn't provoke him just because she felt he wasn't showing enough emotion.
It did still bother her, however.
"Are you …. really okay after what happened?" Minako reluctantly asked him.
"Shinji died an honorable death. I can't say it didn't hurt, but he protected Ken and that's what matters in the end. I'm not going to cry. It's what he wanted."
"… You're right. It is what he wanted."
.
The days moved by faster than they would've liked. With every day that past, the pan lessened just a bit and they were able to move on bit by bit. An altar was set up for Shinjiro in the lounge. The dormmates would pass by it every day, paying their respects to their friend.
The dorm grew a lot closer with each other as well. Fuuka and Minako officially introduced Sunday night dinners for the entire dorm to eat together as a family, like Shinjiro gathered them together that single time. Minako cooked, not letting Fuuka near the kitchen. The kitchen was a sacred place.
Minako and Koromaru went on their usually walk to the shrine. This time, Ken went with them. He was running as fast as he could to catch up to Koromaru.
"I … I finally… made it …!" He panted. "My legs are still short … can't keep up…"
They let Koromaru run around the playground while Minako and Ken had a serious talk.
"I …." Ken started to speak, but he hesitated. "Um … I wanted to apologize … for making so much trouble, and for worrying everyone …."
Minako knew how hard it was for him to talk about this. She put a hand on his shoulder while they sat on the bench.
"I lost something important … but I gained something at the same time. That's why I think I'll be alright on my own from now on."
"But you're not alone." Minako reminded him. "You have me. And Koro-chan too!"
Ken chuckled. "Thank you for having me along today."
"Woof!"
"Ah, he's back." Ken said, getting up from his seat. "Alright, this time I'm not going to lose. Let's go!"
.
After midterms were over, Ken asked Minako if she would go with him to a certain spot. Knowing what it meant to him, she agreed on the spot.
There were in the back alley where Shinjiro died.
"I'm sorry I was too scared to come here myself …." He looked down, about to cry. Minako took his hand and gripped it tightly.
"I'm with you."
He looked up to her, smiling gently.
"Yes … thank you very much …"
They stood in silence, grieving for their friend together.
"It's … hard to live, isn't it?"
Minako bit her lip. "It is …."
"Living … is painful …"
"It can be. If you make it."
Ken began to sob dryly. She couldn't bring herself to say anything to him, so she enveloped him in a hug and waited for him to calm down.
"It's okay now."
.
Despite what he said about getting over his best friend's death, Minako couldn't help but ask Akihiko again. Was he doing alright?
This time, Akihiko asked her to go somewhere with him. She accepted without a second thought.
They wandered to Naganaki Shrine together, but Akihiko seemed rather quiet.
"Thanks for coming out today …" He said somberly.
"I'm happy to be with you."
"I-I see …" He stuttered, looking confused. Why was he so bewildered that she enjoy spending time with him? "Why are you so …?"
Akihiko was at a loss. So …what? What was he going to say? He looked down at the ground.
"If you don't mind me asking, can I talk to you about something?"
Minako nodded her head vigorously. "Yes, of course."
"I haven't been able to get it all arranged in my head though … I've been thinking about Miki ever since Shinji died…"
That's right …. His sister too. How many loved ones did a person have to lose in a lifetime?
"I've told you a bit about my sister. I … I couldn't save her."
Minako looked down at the ground. She couldn't save her brother, either.
"I was the only person she had, besides Shinji. She'd always tag along after me, and call me 'big bro' all the time … Why …. Why did they have to die? Why did they have to leave me?"
She grabbed his hand. It was the least she could do for him, who looked so lonely in that single moment.
"I've accepted her death … and Shinji's … but I can't do anything about the anger and sadness that I feel… I have to live with that for the rest of my life…"
She tightened her grip.
"Here's what I wanted to tell you … I thought … I wanted you to help me bear my burden. I know it's terrible to ask this of you …. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. I lost my own brother AND Shinjiro just like you did. We both have the same burden to bear."
"I might …. be seeing Miki in you. But if that's not what it is, then these feelings I have …"
He cut himself off.
"Why don't we start heading home?"
They linked their hands together the walk home.
.
They spent some more time together after school. One day, instead of going to Hagakure, they went up to the rooftop of the high school. Akihiko guided her the entire way but didn't say why he brought her here.
"There's no one here … Shame, since the wind is so nice right now."
"Do you come here often?"
"No, not so much lately. Shinji used to come up here when he skipped his classes. He'd fall asleep, so I'd come over after club activities to get him." He laughed nostalgically. Minako smiled too. It was nice to hear stories about the two when they were in school together.
"You can see out into the distance from here … "
"Wow … it kind of hurts my eyes just looking at it. But it looks pretty."
"Yeah …" Akihiko went silent, as if he was contemplating something. He seemed reluctant to speak after a moment of silence.
"The stuff I told you about my sister … you remember right?" She nodded her head slowly, now understanding his silence.
"….. I'm tired of losing what's important. First Miki, then Shinji. At first, I thought it would be better not to let things get too important than to risk losing them. But lately, I don't think so."
Minako cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean?"
He looked her straight in the eye. "I want to avoid that feeling, I have to work to protect what's precious to me. And that means everything precious …" He linked his hands with hers. " … including you."
His eyes glimmered with strength and determination. Minako stopped breathing; her face flushed. She was precious to him. SHE was precious to HIM.
His confidence wavered just a bit. He was going to say it. If he didn't, she would.
They never broke eye contact for even a second. Akihiko was about to speak, mouth open and ready, but nothing came out. A few more seconds and Minako got restless.
"Tell me what you need to say. Please."
"I-I will! I was getting to it!" He overexcited himself without realizing he was shouting at her.
He was nervous. So was she.
"Um … so …! …. It's really strange …."
"… what is?"
"I really liked hanging out together … I used to, anyway."
Used to? Oh no, things weren't looking good for her. It was getting to be too much.
"Do you hate me now?!" Minako blurted out without thinking.
"Wha- No!" He screamed out. He couldn't possibly hate her. It was impossible for him. "Listen to me."
She stopped freaking out and listened.
"When I'm with you, I feel all tense and on edge … if I saw you with Shinji or Junpei, I just got angry. It's the weirdest thing."
Wow.
Shinji was right. They were a bunch of idiots.
Minako stared at him, wide-eyed. If she messed this up, if she read it all wrong, what they had could be ruined forever. But she had to take the plunge. It's now or never.
"You're in love."
Akihiko matched her own astonished face. "L-love…? This is love? I'm … I'm in love."
He took a while to grasp his feelings. "Huh … Oh!"
He suddenly turned red, looking at Minako.
"It already slipped out, but … I'd like to know how you feel…."
Minako watched him with a dopey smile and small tears forming in her eyes. "Well for one, I'm hoping the girl you're in love with ….. is me."
"Of course it's you! There is no one else except for you!"
Her smile intensified. "Good."
"So ….. will you be my girl?" He asked hopefully. Leave it to Aki to say it in the most awkward, yet charming way possible.
There was no other answer. Nothing but …
"Yes!"
The newfound couple shared an embrace. Akihiko was fumbling a little, but Minako found it too adorable that she couldn't resist. She stood on her toes and placed one short kiss on his lips. Their first kiss …. Not including the kisses they shared at Shirakawa Boulevard.
Life was now pure bliss.
.
"Congratulations to the new couple!" Junpei exclaimed, popping celebratory poppers and throwing confetti in the air. Akihiko and Minako walked to the dorm together only to be greeted by … this. Dammit.
They had spoken about taking their relationship slowly and casually, not making it a big deal to the rest of SEES. So why was Junpei treating them like newlyweds?
"I kinda overheard you guys confessing to each other." He admitted to Minako while Akihiko was being bombarded by Yukari and Ken. Yukari was ecstatic about the new couple; Ken, on the other hand, was playing the role of Minako's brother and eyed Akihiko with suspicion. Aigis joined Ken's side as the family of the girlfriend. Uh-oh.
"You what?! What were you doing on the rooftop anyway?"
"I was looking from a prime napping spot. I didn't think I'd stumble on some teen soap opera."
"Shut up, we are not like that."
"Uh yes, you are."
"No we aren't."
"Yes you are."
"No we aren't!"
Their back and forth was interrupted by Mitsuru who wanted to steal Minako away along with a relieved Akihiko. She took the couple upstairs to the second floor, which was cleared of people. Akihiko and Minako glanced at each other nervously.
"Akihiko, Arisato. First I would like to congratulate you two. I admit it wasn't much of a surprise to hear that the two of you would get involved. I just want to make things clear when it comes to SEES that there will be no favoritism from our leader while we are choosing teams. I cannot turn a blind eye to nepotism. Just because Akihiko is your boyfriend now does not mean that you can always be choosing him to explore Tartarus with you. Understand?"
"Y-yes, of course!" Minako assured her senior after her lecture was finished. Oh wait, no it wasn't Mitsuru now addressed Akihiko.
"And Akihiko, you must continue to go by the dorm rules, especially while dating another dorm mate. I will not allow any slumber parties, so to speak. If I catch either one of you in the other's room after hours, there will be punishments."
Akihiko nervously blushed and shouted a "Yes ma'am" in recognition of Mitsuru's rules. He did not want to hear any more restrictions coming from her, however well-meaning they are. The two have been friends for a long time, so they understand each other's own social impairments, like Mitsuru's stiff demeanor or Akihiko's awkwardness around girls. He got that she was coming from a good place.
Minako was just scared.
.
"… Well, tomorrow will be our last operation."
It was November 2nd, the day before the full moon. The group gathered together before the attack to prepare themselves mentally.
"We've been through a lot this past six months." Yukari stated. Minako nodded her head in agreement.
"Six months …. Well, we did our best."
"Yeah … we did what we could."
"It was a lot better than doing nothing, right?" Junpei chimed in. "Besides, we made some new friends."
Junpei was certainly right about that. Thinking back on it, Minako never would've had this kind of family surrounding her if it hadn't been for the Dark Hour. For that, she was thankful for everything that happened. If it hadn't, Minako would probably be alone right now. No friends, no boyfriend, no family.
She really was grateful in the end.
"Well, it's all been worth it, if you ask me." Her boyfriend spoke. "It's been two and a half years since I got this power and you don't hear me complaining."
Minako shook her head. "No. We just hear you training. All day long. Day and night."
"Uh-oh, honeymoon's over already!"
"Shut up Stupei!"
.
