Junpei stayed with me that whole night.
After I stopped crying we just talked the whole night away and watched tv. In the morning I was nestled up against him under the covers.. It's so comfortable and warm.. and... oh no! I didn't set my alarm last night!
"Jun.. Jun wake up we are going to be late to school!"
Long story short, we were late. Luckily not by much though.
During school today, nothing would be able to bother me.. Our battles were over, Strega was gone and tonight we would be indulging in some high class sushi.
At lunch time Jun and I sat in the classroom, absolutely ravenous.. we had the bright idea to not eat lunch so there would be room for more sushi.. of course by now we were regretting the idea. We made small talk to try to mask the sounds of growling stomachs. Junpei wasn't as talkative as he normally was.. He must of really been hungry.
"How do you think Chidori is going to react when I tell her about .. those two guys?"
She'll probably stare at you then start scribbling in her notebook. "I don't know... were they close?"
"She never really talked about them.."
I didn't doubt that.. I mean she seems like she doesn't talk much anyways.. do they just sit in silence when he goes to visit her.. does he just watch her draw all day? Am I... getting jealous again?
...M..maybe I am just crabby since I am so hungry.
Jun and I walked home together after school, something we hadn't done in a long while.. He was really worried about what he was going to tell the last member of Strega.. despite my feelings about the girl and those other two I'm sure hearing such news would be jarring to say the least.. What would she do? Would she resent Junpei? She had to know something like this would happen... I mean.. they've put us in danger.. and killed Shinjiro...
I..need to calm down... I told myself nothing would upset me today.
When we got back to the dorm there was food and drink everywhere. Mitsuru even let us sample a few pieces before everyone got home.
One by one, our whole team trickled into the dorm lounge.. Well Aigis and Ikutsuki weren't there yet... Aigis doesn't need to eat and the chairmen once mentioned that sushi never agrees with him.. oh well more for us.
What's this..
"Hey, you are eating all of the spicy tuna!" I try to grab the piece but he has already claimed it.
"You don't need anymore of it anyways!" Junpei goads.
"You don't talk to a girl like that STU-PEI" Yukari bellows.
"Umm, I am sure there is enough for everyone.." Fuuka mumbles.
"I guess even adults argue over food." Ken mused
"Hey.. don't lump me in with these idiots!" Akihiko seemed offended at Ken's statement.
Mitsuru just chuckled softly from a cup of tea.
Later in the evening we were joined by Mitsuru's father and some black suits. This was the first time I'd seen Senpai smiling so brightly, and not to mention the first time I've seen her dad smile at all. Just because her dad was there that didn't really make us behave, Jun and I were still battling over the bigger pieces and everyone really seemed to be having fun.
"It's good to see children, being children and having fun.." I caught Kirijo-dono saying to one of the black suits.
It's almost midnight and the Chairmen and Aigis still haven't made an appearance yet. I wonder what is taking them so long.
I am reaching my fill of food.. this is certainly the best sushi I have ever had in my life and I don't want it to end... but in the mean time I don't want to explode.. Junpei looked to be slowing to.. and everyone else stopped eating way before the two of us did.
11:59:59
12:00
The dark hour started just as it had done the days before. We all looked around in shock.. the black suits transformed into shiny black coffins next to Mitsuru's father... we all looked to him and Mitsuru for answers.. What was going on.. didn't we do everything we were supposed to do? There is an eerie bell chiming off in the distance. Things aren't looking good... and the Chairman and Aigis are no where to be found...
Mitsuru tells us to prepare for Tartarus... she looks as if her heart is breaking.
When we reached the gates.. there he was.. the corny chairman and Aigis... We found out the hard way that he was our enemy all along.
Oh... Oh.. my aching head.. where am I?
I would... never guess that one of my biggest fears would be a robot.. but it looks as if Aigis would be playing the part of executioner. Aigis has all ways been a machine but in these last critical moments she truly seemed like a soulless robot. When Ikutsuki ordered Aigis to kill Mitsuru's father.. Mitsuru screamed out in sheer desperation.. begging her not to do it... and to my surprise.. she hesitated..
I saw both Ikutsuki and Kirijo-dono draw pistols and shoot in a instant.. The chairmen clutched his side... Mitsuru's father fell into a heap on the ground.
Ikutsuki ordered Aigis to sacrifice us... I don't know if I yelled in fear or not.. but my blood ran cold for a second when the shots rang out.
When I opened my eyes both Ken and Junpei were trying to help me to my feet... She released us?
The chairman suddenly brandished some sort of controller... I recognize it as Aigis's.. Suddenly a white flash came from behind us and lunged towards Ikutsuki.
"Koromaru!" Ken shouted as the canine sank his teeth into the chairman's arm, making him drop the controller. Koro-chan then quickly scooped the device into his mouth and brought it to me...
He staggered backwards towards the edge and stopped. He cursed and babbled something about 'the fall'. He spoke of death to our world and becoming the ruler of the new world built from the fall's destruction… the ramblings of an insane man, his final words before he purposely jumped off Tartarus.
Mitsuru knelt in front of her father's lifeless body.
"One day... a long time ago, my father made a promise. He swore that would atone for endangering our lives and generation... even if it cost him his life." Her words got caught up in a sob. "But... I wanted him to live... I became a Persona-user.. to protect.. him.."
She then started to openly weep. All we could do was stand there.
That evening Jun slept in my room again.
In the morning, the both of us actually woke up early. He gave me a big hug before he snuck out so he could get ready for school. Before I got dressed I sat on my bed and thought for a moment.. The Dark Hour wasn't gone.. I lost Shinjiro.. Ken-kun lost his mother, Yukari lost her dad.. and now Mitsuru's dad is gone too... this is all a very bitter pill to swallow...
When we got to school, the gossiping had already started.. The story fabricated was that Mitsuru's father had succumbed to a long standing illness. I wonder how senpai is holding up..
After school we all met up in the lounge. Akihiko told us that the chairman's room was cleared out and that Mitsuru probably wouldn't be around for a while.
That's understandable.
The air in the dorm was so... stagnant. Everyone was moping around... I needed to blow off some steam.. but no one is in the metal shape to train. I invited Junpei out to walk Koromaru with me.
He was being quiet.. I mean I know everyone is bummed out but he was silent for just about the walk to the shrine. I unleashed Koro-chan and sat on the swing and randomly Junpei pushed me. I had only swung so high when Junpei dropped a bomb on me.
"She dumped me."
I dug my feet into the sand, stopping the forward motion immediately. "..Because of Jin and Takaya?"
Junpei tugged at the brim of his cap. "..No.. She didn't really even seem to care about what happened to those two.."
"Then why?"
"She said... it hurts... It hurts to be with me.. she said she was scared and it hurts... and to not see her any more."
A tiny little part of me wanted to say good riddance... but the rest of me saw how much this was hurting Jun...
I will never understand what he sees in her.. and I am personally offended that she would hurt him like this but right now I have to be there for Jun and help him get though this. Despite myself, I tell him that made she just needs some time to herself.. and that she'll miss him. Well, I have him all to myself again... so why do I feel so crappy.
Days continued to go by, Mitsuru senpai had finally came back to the dorms.. but she wasn't really herself.. she seemed more distant then ever.. Jun was still moping around.. but he was getting back to his normal jovial Junpei self. We would be going on our Junior-Senior trip very soon. Maybe that would be the best for everyone. Poor Ken-chan is going to be all alone with just Koro-chan... He assures me that he'll be fine but I can't help but worry.
I can tell that Mitsuru doesn't want to go on the class trip but Yukari and I were glad when we saw her and Akihiko at the train station with the other seniors.
The train ride up the Kyoto was long but it was fun because most of my friends were sitting with me. Junpei and I spent some time playing head to head on our COMPstations and for the rest of the time I sat back and listened to my music with my new headphones courtesy of Fuuka, on full blast.
I was actually kinda disappointed that we were going to Kyoto.. there are so many other amazing places in our country and the world.. I heard another school was going to New York City in America... So jealous.. maybe I shouldn't take this trip for granted who knows maybe it will not turn out to be a total snooze-fest.
The trip was okay.. it was more like a giant sleep over in a hotel.. and during the days we were visiting the ancient shrines.. most of the girls in my grade were praying for boyfriends and money.. I was praying for a resolution to the dark hour and for Mitsuru senpai.
I saw a new side to Yukari on that trip.. she actually seemed to be worried about our red-haired senpai. At first I though her concern was insincere.. because after that whole outburst at Yakushima it looked like that the only reason why Yukari was willing to associate with Mitrusu now is the fact that now her father was gone too... but I like to think that Yukari.. isn't that bad of a person.
About the fifth time she asked 'Do you think Mitsuru-senpai is alright' I had convinced her to go talk with her... I mean, what would it hurt right?
On the first night I was able to get to sleep before curfew, the second night I wasn't so lucky. I was wide awake when the dark hour cloaked the evening.. Since I couldn't use my COMP or my player.. I decided to do a little exploring. I mean, who is going to know right?
I crept my way out of the hotel room when I realized I didn't have to creep..there was nothing but coffins in that room.. coffins that couldn't be woken up. I went to the lobby and nearly doubled over in shock when I saw Junpei.
"What are you doing down here?" We both asked at the same time making us giggle like fools. I told him I was bored and not sleepy and he pretty much had the same thing to say.
"Man, Toro snores like a band-saw Kenji was going to stick a sock in his mouth but we thought against it since he might die."
Junpei headed back up the stairs. "Going back to bed already?" I asked disappointed.
"Hell no, I'm going up to the fourth floor to see what the teachers were doing!"
Ooo, sounds fun!
The teachers' rooms were definitely a source of entertainment. From what we could gather the male teachers where all sitting around with booze and cards.. while the female teachers on the other hand.. well.. one coffin was surrounded by books and one was perched in front of a laptop and all the others were crowded around a table … filled with booze.
"I bet the coffin with the laptop is Toriumi.." Junpei muses. I couldn't help but agree.
We leave the teachers rooms the way we found them and we head back down to the 3rd floor.. I am a pretty good judge of how long the Dark Hour feels by now, so I would estimate that we still had a nice block of time left. I'm glad Junpei is up so I'm not roaming these halls all by myself.
"It's kinda spooky in here during the Dark hour huh?" He suddenly asks me. "Like ghosts could be roaming the halls looking for a snack" He brings his hands up and wriggles his fingers trying to be creepy.
"I'm not Yukari, I am not afraid of ghosts." I say matter of factually.
"Ok, sorry."
Unfortunately for me.. he still managed to spook me. He turned away from me, then quickly turning back around, grabbing my sides and shouting Boo! I cried out, and he thought this was hilarious.
"Oh Mina-tan it will be okay." he soothed in a mocking voice "Junpei will scare all the baddies away.."
"Yea right! You couldn't scare a baby!"
"I just got done scaring you!"
I had a comeback ready, but Junpei launched the dirtiest of tricks... He tickled me. Being tickled is odd in it's self.. being tickled by your best friend during the Dark Hour... I can't make this stuff up. I tried to resist and to suppress my laughter.. but it was no use.
"Uncle! Uncle!" I cried while squirming under his touch. He stopped his assault only to tease me. Since he stopped tickling I notice how.. close we are.. I could simply lean forward a bit and stand on my tiptoes to kiss him... if I ...wanted to. I can hear him swallowing hard... guess he noticed to.
I lean against the wall and stand on my tippy toes. His face timidly edges closer to mine.. I can feel his breath on my lips when...
"Retaliation!" I call as I begin seriously tickling his stomach and sides. Revenge is sweet. After I made him cry uncle we parted ways before things could get.. weird. I had just settled back into my futon when the Dark Hour broke.
..We were so close to... dammit.. still can't sleep.
The last evening the girls and I decided to hit the hot springs, it simply won't do to come all the way out here and not get in. Luckily there was no one in the bathing area, and it's a good thing too.. explaining Aigis's 'naked' body would be something none of us would be able to cover up. After washing up thoroughly we headed out into the open area. Mitsuru stayed behind for a moment to tie her hair up.
The air outside was brisk and the steam made the water look even more inviting.
"Ahhh... This is nice." Yukari mused.
"So this is a hot spring.. unfortunately it's healing properties will do me no good." Aigis stated.
"I feel so exposed out here.." Fuuka lamented
"It look's like Yamagishi's abilities do not work when she is without clothing.." Mitsuru jokes as she steps out into the open with us. All of us, except Aigis laughed. Mitsuru's joking around.. it looks like whatever Yukari said to her actually worked, her smile was still pained but now.. at least it was genuine again.
"I'm so jealous of all of your figures." Fuuka says with a sigh.
"Oh please, you are so cute and tiny.. well expect for up here" I motion towards my chest. "I'm jealous of you and Mitsuru-senpei and that regard!"
"Me too" Yukari added.
"So umm, do you shave.. you know shave?" Yukari asked nosily. Both Fuuka and Mitsuru looked flushed.. but maybe that was because of the water... "Come on, don't look at me like that.. we are having girl-talk and bonding.." Yukari sounded like she was losing her edge at the end of her sentence.
"Yea, I do." I volunteer. All eyes are on me now. "Completely."
"Woah, I mean.. really, all of it... I just keep it neat." Yukari seems surprised and embarrassed despite being the one who brought up the conversation.
"Umm.. I occasionally trim it as well.." Fuuka says with a giggle. Now we were all looking at Mitsuru. She clears her throat and shifts bashfully in the water..
"I do not shave."
Well, I'm shocked.. I would think a fancy person like Mitsuru-senpai would..
"...I have that waxed at the salon."
Oh.. ouch!
"Doesn't that hurt senpai?" Fuuka just asked the question we were all to shocked to ask. Mitsuru just shook her head and smiled like she had something normal like 'the sky is blue.' If I didn't already respect and admire my senpai I certainly would after hearing that. We continued bantering on about personal preferences and other embarrassing topics until we couldn't take it anymore. We ended up all laughing at each other and having a good time. Aigis even laughed along with us even though she had no clue what we were talking about.
When the laughter died down, I thought I heard a splash in the distance, I would have ignored the sound but Yukari immediately got nervous and stood up. After trying to assure her it was nothing... the sound happened again... okay now I'm nervous.. It was a pretty huge hot spring so the five of us split up to look around. When I didn't find anything I figured it was just monkeys or something.. then that's when I heard Yukari scream..
I made it over to Yukari and by proxy the rest of the girls... why did Yukari scream like that... Oh my god!
Junpei, Ryoji and Akihiko were standing there. Were they trying to peep at us in the bath?..
"Uh ah ummmm.." Junpei mumbled.
"Www..wait this is all a misunderstanding!" Akihiko stammered holding up one hand in surrender and his other hand to securely hang on to the towel that was loosely wrapped around his waist. Ryoji... just stood there.. with that dumb look on his face... staring at the lot of us.
"Silence! I am going to execute you all!" Mitsuru-Senpai.. looked pissed. Brrrr! Even I could feel the icy bite in her tone.
The next day we all ignored those nasty boys for the whole trip home.
When we got back to the dorm Akihiko and Junpei sat off to the side near the kitchen. We had been ignoring them all day and it looks like the cold shoulder treatment was going to continue. I had gave Ken the snacks I picked up from him in Kyoto.
"Umm senpai?"
"Yes Ken?"
"Did something happen on the trip? Junpei-senpai and Akihiko-senpai seem nervous."
I shake my head and cross my arms. "Nothing important." my tone was a bit incredulous.. Ken didn't pry after that.. he's a smart boy.
Ken was about start into the snacks I had given him when Junpei got his attention and called him over. He leaned over and whispered something to him, and Ken just looked confused.. Akihiko-senpai who was sitting next to Junpei.. now looked mortified.. I... don't even want to know what they are talking about. Something about 'souvenir stories' ….. did the boys hear everything we were talking about in the hot spring?
That's not good..
Author's note-
Darn you plot! *shakes fist* Poor Mitsuru T_T I really didn't want to have a critical plot point and then silliness and shenanigans all in the same chapter.. but that's just how it was set up.. the game is set up like that too, I'm not complaining just musing.
