Minako bounces around the dorm with a renewed spark in her step. She smiles and laughs at nearly everything with a bouncy ponytail and bright eyes. Meanwhile, Shinjiro is too busy hacking up his lungs in the corner to celebrate with her. He doesn't know what she was celebrating, but damn she was happy.

"Senpai!" Minako hops in front of him with a laugh. He can't remember the last time she had called him senpai. It seems more like a joke now, though, considering everything they'd been through.

"Wow."

"It's been a really good day!" Minako jumps once, shocking Shinjiro a bit.

"Can you come with me, actually?" Shinjiro asks. This was it. Now or never.

"Yeah, of course!" Minako answers as if his offer caught her off guard. It was only a matter of time, she had decided earlier. She was going to tell him tonight whether he liked it or not.

"Thank you." Shinjiro leads her out the dorm and to their next destination.

Needless to say, Minako had not been expecting this place of all places. It seemed like a million years ago that she had been rescued here by Shinjiro. It seemed like a million years ago that he had so easily sweeped between her, Junpei, and Yukari, and sent them home like they were lost puppies.

Shinjiro takes a few steps in front of her before stopping with his back facing her. Minako figures that she could tell him. She really could.

No she couldn't.

"Here we are again..." Shinjiro speaks very clearly. His words crisp in clear in the cold, night air.

"Seems like forever ago." Minako studies the buildings nearby, each one crappy in its own individual way.

"Back then, I would have never imagined coming back. Not once. Not for anything." Shinjiro shakes his head as he sticks his hands in his pockets.

"Well if it's any consolation, I'm glad you came back." Minako comforts carefully. She could tell him. Oh yeah, she could tell him tonight. No wait. Yes. No. Ugh. She shakes her head. Minako is thankful that he couldn't see how red her face was right now.

Well she was thankful until he turns around.

"...I doubt I'm bringing much to the team."

"That's not why I'm glad you're here." Minako couldn't believe what she was saying. She was too deep to dig herself out of this one.

Shinjiro turns to face the wall once more, his confidence not as bright as it usually was. She could hide herself like an ostrich. Really she could. Just straight up dig her head in the dirt and pretend that nothing had happened. Nothing at all. Nope.

"You're a pain." She can hear Shinjiro speaking quietly through the ringing in her ears.

"I'm a pain?" Minako sounds angry, but Shinjiro is laughing.

"You keep messing things up for me." Shinjiro is still smiling which made it all the more infuriating for Minako. She was beet red, and angry. Very angry.

"I'm messing things up for you!?"

"I keep thinking about how my life should be. How it's supposed to be, but..." Shinjiro trails off.

"But what?" Minako asks angrily. She had never been thrust through such a range of emotions before. Earlier she had been skipping with delight and excitement. Tonight was the night that she was going to tell Shinjiro!

Obviously that wasn't happening.

"Your face keeps popping up in my head." Shinjiro shakes his head dejectedly.

Oh. Oh that's what he means. Minako is more than embarrased. She's hit ostrich levels now.

"My face?"

"You just gonna repeat everything I say?" Shinjiro laughs as he turns around to face her. She should laugh too, she realizes, but something is holding her back. Perhaps it's how nonchalant he is about it. Now or never? No, never. Never was better.

"You." Minako says the word once, but it's enough to recall something in him. The very first time. The hospital room. Everything hitting everything all at once. A universe shifting. A change in the winds. The future looming. Minako Arisato and Shinjiro Aragaki.

"We should head back." Shinjiro stares through Minako as he speaks, unaware that her eyes are so intently focusing on him. She wishes so badly for nothing more than to tell him right then. Now or never.

They leave the alley leaving too much unsaid.

(a/n: the next few chapters are going to get a little intense, so this is just a forewarning! Intense in a sense that most of you already know what's going to happen, so be emotionally prepared for it. Anyways, thanks again for reading! I really appreciate you guys and hope you keep enjoying the story. Reviews are very much appreciated, and I'll see y'all next chapter!