Warnings: Slight violence. Suicidal implications. Lemon scenes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Persona 3 Portable or any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me

Chapter Ten: Inaba

~August 01, Yasoinaba High School, Daytime~

The sounds of a bus pulling up in front of Yasoinaba High School caught the attention of the students in the classrooms, particularly those on the lower levels. As the morning lesson bell hasn't gone off yet, the students in the classrooms gathered at their windows curiously.

"Are those the arrivals from Gekkoukan High?" One curious male student wondered. "Man, they're sure cute though." He almost drooled.

"Why can't we ever get some girls like that here?" His friend whined, only to freeze when he felt more than saw the death glares of the girls in his class.

"Want to repeat that again to my face, Sato-kun?" One of the girls growled, cracking her knuckles.

"Umm…"

A handsome dark haired boy laughed, his school tie tied loosely around his collar, his school blazer left off. His hair fell down perfectly around his face, and his eyes were a cool sky blue. He then turned towards the only student still at their desk.

To be exact, a sleeping student who is still asleep at his desk.

"Hey Minato, aren't you going to see?" He called out to his best friend.

The young man sleeping at the desk raised his head partially sleepily, blinking bleary blue eyes, running his fingers through his blue hair. "Hmm? See what?" He stifled a yawn.

"Gekkou High." Another classmate stated, jerking one thumb over his shoulder. "And isn't there anything you do besides sleep? I wonder how you can remain at the top of the class and our year level despite you sleeping the entire day." He then turned back to the window. "Man… There sure are some cute girls in their tennis team…" He nearly drooled.

Hariyama Minato blinked, his mind slowly focusing itself as his friend's words echoed around in his mind.

Cute… Gekkou High… Girls… Tennis team…

Minato blinked slowly. 'Gekkou High… Didn't Yuuki say that she'd be coming to Inaba with her tennis team? Is it today?'

He then got up from his seat and made a mad dash out of his classroom, confusing his entire class, including half the population of girls in his class that were eyeing him dreamily as usual. Ishigawa Ren, the dark haired boy, blinked in confusion as he saw Minato's seat empty in a few moments.

"What? Minato, where's the fire?" He called out.

Yuuki stared up at the school building of Yasoinaba High. In terms of size, it is definitely smaller than Gekkoukan High. And seeing as how Inaba is a rather small town as it is, it isn't too surprising.

'So this is Yasoinaba,' she thought.

"What a rustic school." Ms Kanou remarked, fanning herself. "There's no convenience stores nearby, and no clubs either." She turned towards the tennis team gathered behind her. "I want all of you to be on your best behaviour, okay?"

The Gekkoukan High students bowed respectfully to their Yasoinaba counterparts. "It's a pleasure to meet you." They chorused.

"It's a pleasure for us too!"

"Shall we get moving to the gym then?" A third year Yasoinaba girl who seemed to be the tennis team captain stepped forward, a warm smile on her face.

"That sounds—"

"Yuuki!"

Both teams blinked owlishly as they turned as one towards the source of the yell, and saw a blue haired boy running towards them, dressed in the school uniform of Yasoinaba minus the school blazer.

A warm smile spread over Yuuki's face, and she squealed, "Mina-nii!" as she jumped onto her older brother, hugging him around the neck.

Minato laughed as he caught his sister easily, nearly lifting her several inches off the floor.

The tennis captain of Yasoinaba blinked slowly in confusion, and several of the girls in her tennis team glared hatefully at Yuuki. "Erm…" she coughed as she took one step forward, ignoring the confused looks on the faces of the other half of her team who was not trying to glare holes through Yuuki's head. "Hariyama-kun, what are you doing here?"

"Hariyama?" Rio echoed, looking from Yuuki to the blue haired boy whom she's holding. "Yuuki, do you know him? He has the same last name as you."

"Yeah!" Yuuki smiled, getting off of her brother. "He's my older brother." She explained, jerking her thumb towards Minato who gave a light one shoulder shrug lazily, too lazy to wave at Rio in greeting. "My older twin brother." She jabbed at Minato gently in the ribs. "Hey, Mina-nii! Introduce yourself! You've got a tongue, haven't you?"

"Hariyama Minato. Pleasure." Minato drawled, and Rio, along with nearly the entirety of Gekkoukan High tennis team sweat dropped.

Rio twitched. "Not a social butterfly, are you?" she remarked. "You're totally different from Yuuki!" The other girls in the tennis team nodded. "Are you sure you both are really twins?"

"Minato!"

Another shout rang through the air just then, and everyone turned only to see a dark haired boy running out of the school building. One of the juniors in Yasoinaba sighed. "Ishigawa, what brings you here?"

"Get your ass back into class right now!" Ishigawa Ren ignored the speaker from earlier, and addressed Minato directly. "Yasou-sensei is about to throw a fit!" He looked curiously at Yuuki before bowing to her politely, a gesture that was returned.

The captain of Yasoinaba coughed, bringing attention to her when it looks like Minato didn't seem to want to leave his sister's side. "Well, our training will take up most of the afternoon anyway. Your classes will end around the same time when our training ends. Hariyama, you might as well go and attend class, since you'll be left standing around even if you wait for your sister."

Yuuki smiled and shoved her brother on the shoulder gently. "Go ahead. I'll still be here until tomorrow. Right?" She turned towards Rio who nodded.

"I'll wait for you outside the school," said Minato before he bowed politely to the two tennis teams and went back into the school building. Ren followed his example before an awkward silence fell.

The captain of Yasoinaba coughed, breaking the silence. "Well… That was awkward," she remarked. "Let's get moving to the gym."

XXXXXX

~Yasoinaba High School, Gym~

"Let's start off with basic drills." Rio suggested once the teams on both sides have changed into their training gear, and was currently doing some light warm up exercises. Yuuki, as usual, had been the first to finish, alongside Rio. "Might as well try going all the way to the mountains for our runs. Our region's pretty flat, so this will be good practice."

The Yasoinaba students begin looking at each other. "…Aren't we supposed to like, bond in a fellowship?" One remarked. "Why's she bringing up stuff like basic drills?"

On the other hand, the Gekkoukan High students groaned as one the moment they heard the words 'basic drills', 'runs' and 'practice' come out of Rio's mouth. In Rio's dictionary, a basic drill is equivalent to a full day training in one of those Spartan camps. So far, Yuuki is the only one out of all of them who could manage to survive Rio's insane training.

"Who's the liar who said that this'd be a paradise with hot springs?" A Gekkoukan junior groaned.

Rio ignored the groans and complaints coming from her team, and continued as if there have been no interruptions. "Afterwards, let's do a couple sets of muscle training, and then a match."

Even Yuuki paled at this. A practice run with basic drills, and muscle training coupled with a match is enough to even wear her out, and she has easily the best stamina and reflexes out of the entire team, next to Rio, thanks to her time spent in Tartarus. She still wants to be able to use her legs once they go home.

A girl's voice rang out throughout the gym just then, drowning out the light groans from the Gekkoukan High students. "How about…the losing side cleans up afterwards?"

Everyone turned towards the source of the voice only to see a dark skinned girl dressed in the school uniform of Gekkoukan High running towards them. Rio and Yuuki were both surprised to see her. "Whoa, Yuko?" Rio questioned. "What're you doing here?"

"I've got my reasons," said Yuko. "Anyways, wouldn't you guys take the challenge more seriously if there was something at stake?" She grinned.

"That's true." Yuuki nodded in agreement.

"It's not like you guys usually care about winning anyways, so why not?" Yuko shrugged.

Rio looked cross. "Are you saying that's how our team is?" she huffed. "Well, maybe you're right. Alright, then not only will the losing school have to clean up… Let's add ten wind sprints to the bet!"

The Gekkoukan students blanched. "It's up to ten?" They yowled.

"Rio, are you trying to murder us?" A junior screeched.

"We can't lose!" The Yasoinaba students muttered.

And as a result…

Yuko was panting like crazy. "Whewwww… We're finally finished cleaning up," she panted, leaning on the mop.

"Okay, time for the sprints then!" Rio cheered, sounding extremely excited, ignoring the groans coming from the rest of her team, and the sighs of relief from Yasoinaba.

Yuuki giggled, despite herself. "Rio, give them a break."

"Me too?" Yuko pointed at herself, not looking pleased.

"Of course. This was your idea," said Rio.

Yuko looks as if she was about to die. "Yes, Ma'am," she whined.

XXXXXX

~Yasoinaba High School, Front Gate~

"My muscles are still hurting." Yuuki groaned, rubbing at her shoulders. "Rio, you've gone a little overboard. I'm betting that the rest of the team will probably sleep through our wakeup call tomorrow. YOU'LL be waking them up, if that's the case, seeing as how it's YOUR fault."

Rio grinned sheepishly. "Sorry," she apologised, before turning towards Yuko who looked half-dead on her feet. "Yuko, you still alive back there?"

"Yeah… Just barely though." Yuko groaned, dragging herself over to where Rio and Yuuki are. "Are they preparing an inn for us to stay at or something? I just want to sleep the entire day through."

"Yeah, I've heard that they're preparing one for us, since we're not going back to Iwatodai tonight," said Yuuki with a nod.

"And did you hear that they have a natural hot spring there?" Rio sounded excited. "Wanna wash each other's backs later?"

"Sounds like fun," said Yuuki. "I hadn't been to a hot spring before."

"This is so fun!" Rio chirped. "Last year's fellowship wasn't too far from our school. This place is so laid back. I love it." She looked around. "That shopping district seems pretty lively though." She gestured towards a large building where the word 'Junes' could be seen hanging over it. "What a peaceful town… It'd be nice to live here."

At that moment, a girl with short dark hair who seemed to still be in middle school approached them just then. "Are you the club members from Gekkoukan High School?" she asked. "The Amagi Inn sent me to get you."

Rio was surprised. "Huh? Oh. T-Thank you very much," she said, bowing politely. "Um… You don't work there, do you?"

The girl shook her head. "No. I'm just helping out. I'm Amagi Yukiko, the daughter of the hostess at the Amagi Inn," she introduced herself.

"The hostess's daughter…" Yuko trailed off. "So does that make you a junior hostess? Cool! Oh, are you in high school?"

Yukiko looked taken aback at this. "No… I'm still in middle school."

"You're in middle school and you're already helping with the family business?" Yuko looked awed. "Man, talk about responsible… So are you going to inherit the business?"

Yukiko looked troubled at that. "That… I don't know yet," she muttered.

Yuuki laughed as she clamped her hands over Yuko's mouth, seeing that her eager questions were making the younger girl nervous. "Ahahahaha! Forgive her, she really doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut."

"And don't stick your nose in other people's business!" Rio reprimanded.

"Sworry." Yuko mumbled out from around Yuuki's hands.

Yukiko giggled. "Oh, that's all right," she said. "It's fun chatting with people from outside town."

Just then, a woman dressed in an elaborate kimono approached them just then. "Ah, Yuki-chan! Did you take the car keys?" she asked.

"Oh, Kasai-san." Yukiko greeted. "Car keys?" She fumbled about in her pockets. "Why would I— Huh?" She tilted her head in confusion. "What's this?" She pulled out a bunch of keys from her pocket that seemed to be car keys. "I-I'm sorry. I must've mistaken them for my house keys."

The woman laughed good naturedly as she took the keys from Yukiko. "No worries. Well, I'm heading out to get some groceries."

"Oh, do you want me to go instead?" Yukiko asked.

"N-No, that's fine!" The woman said. "No need to send you on that kind of errand, Yuki-chan! Plus, they'd be too heavy for you." She then seemed to remember something. "By the way, Chie-chan stopped by. She said that she needed help with her homework."

Yukiko looked surprised. "Oh. Okay."

The woman then turned towards the three Gekkoukan High girls. "Oh, are you all guests?" she smiled. "Forgive me for rambling on like that. I'm a waitress at the Amagi Inn. I hope you enjoy your stay tonight." She then bowed and left.

"Yuuki!"

The four girls turned only to see Minato approaching them with the Ishigawa Ren guy from earlier, both with their school bags with them. Minato had his school blazer slung over one shoulder.

Yukiko brightened up at the sight of the two boys. "Minato-sempai! Ren-sempai!" she bowed to them.

"Hey, Yukiko-chan." Ren greeted with a grin.

"I promised you that I'd take you sightseeing." Minato smiled at Yuuki. "It's been so long since we've last seen each other, and phone calls and emails just aren't the same. It's fine, isn't it? If I steal my sister away from you for just one night?" He looked towards Rio and Yuko.

"It's fine." Rio laughed. "I'll inform Kanou-sensei about it so she don't freak out. Have a good time, Yuuki! Just remember to be back before nine! We'll take care of your belongings and make sure that they end up in the right room, so have fun!"

"Well, let's go then." Minato smiled. "Our bikes are over there."

The three of them then walked away. Yukiko then turned to smile at the two remaining girls. "Well, shall we go then? This way."

~Yasoinaba High School, Bike Racks~

"I don't believe that I've ever introduced myself." Ren smiled at Yuuki as they approached the bike racks at the back of the school. "I'm Ishigawa Ren. Minato's best friend." He offered his hand in a handshake that was accepted. "But you're sure different from your brother though. Are you sure you both are really twins?"

"Ren…" Minato hissed warningly. "Are you hitting on my sister?"

"Chill out." Ren raised his hands. "Just being friendly here, dude."

Yuuki giggled as Minato unlocked his bike and wheeled it out from the racks, tossing Yuuki a helmet, even as Ren did the same thing. "Well, I see that you've settled in all right." Yuuki commented, buckling on the helmet. "I was worried that you won't be able to settle in a new town, with your anti-social attitude."

Minato grunted. "I could say the same thing about you."

"I've made some great friends. So don't worry." Yuuki beamed. "Besides, I'm just a train ride away from Inaba. You could always come and visit."

"Uh oh. I'm low on gas." Ren remarked, looking at his gas meter. He then glanced at the twins. "Sorry, but think that we could make a side trip to the gas station?"

Minato twitched. "You mean you're coming too?"

"Of course." Ren smiled. "I want to get to know your sister too! She's so different from you, and I want to know just how she survived growing up with Mr. Anti-Social over here."

Yuuki giggled at this, but Minato didn't look pleased. "It's fine, Mina-nii." Yuuki chirped. "I kind of want to know your friends here too."

Minato sighed, giving in at last. "Whatever. The gas station first, right?" he enquired, and Ren nodded. The blue haired teen then got onto his bike, with Yuuki getting on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Hang on tight, Yuuki. You've never ridden pillion before, right?"

"Well, does a regular bicycle count?" Yuuki asked sheepishly, recalling the number of times when she'd rode pillion on Junpei's bicycle.

"Afraid not," said Ren cheerfully, getting onto his bike as well. "All right. First stop: Moel Gas Station!"

XXXXXX

~Moel Gas Station, Daytime~

"Welcome!"

The gas attendant busied himself with filling the gas tanks of both Minato and Ren's bikes, as the two boys headed into the convenience store of the gas station, saying something about buying some food and drinks for that night or something. Apparently, the two are roommates in the same dorm.

Yuuki had stayed behind with the bikes, looking at the vehicles that headed in and out of the gas station that isn't considered a lot, for Iwatodai's standards that is. The gas attendant filling the gas then stood up and Yuuki glanced at him.

He wore the same orange and white uniform that all the gas attendants of Moel Gas Station wore, with wavy long gray hair, also with light brown eyes and a slightly tanned complexion.

"You a visitor from the outside?" The gas station enquired.

Yuuki smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I'm from Gekkoukan High School. We're here for a tennis fellowship, and my brother offered to take me around, since it has been over a year since we last saw each other."

"Ah, Gekkoukan High." The gas attendant smiled. "I've heard that students from that school will be coming today." He grinned at Yuuki. "In a small town like this, we get news fast." He explained. "Nice to meet you." He offered his hand.

Yuuki grasped his hand lightly, and she narrowed her eyes lightly as she felt a light tingle go through her body, and looked at the gas attendant who looked bewildered and surprised before he smiled. Minato and Ren approached them just then, with bags in their hands.

"I see. Well, I'll get back to work then." The gas attendant walked past Yuuki. He then lowered his voice. "I'll look forward to seeing what you can do in one year…if you can live past this."

Yuuki's eyes widened and she turned to look over her shoulder, but the gas attendant was far away by now. Minato and Ren reached Yuuki and their bikes just then.

"Something wrong, Yuuki?" Minato asked.

"Nothing's the matter." Yuuki shook her head, smiling a small smile at her brother.

"Well, I guess it's really none of my business," said Minato. "Are you hungry?" A growl from Yuuki's stomach answered the question, and the brunette blushed. Minato laughed. "Well, I guess that answers that question." He got onto his bike, with Yuuki getting on behind him.

"Well, come to think of it, I'm hungry too." Ren grinned. "Shall we go to get lunch?"

~Junes Department Store, Evening~

Lunchtime at some restaurant in town called Aiya was rather amusing, at least it is for Ren. He had at least found one thing that the twins have in common. They both have bottomless pits for stomachs, since both of them managed to finish off three deluxe bowls of pork ramen each before declaring themselves full.

Minato had then dragged Yuuki and Ren to the Junes Department Store, a rather popular hangout for the high school students, and also a favourite haunt for the townspeople.

"Well, here is the Junes Department Store." Minato waved his hand towards the building, getting off his bike, and taking Yuuki's helmet from her. "Probably nothing on the stores that you have in Iwatodai, but this is the largest and most popular store in Inaba. We can literally get anything that we want here. Back when Ren and I were first assigned our very empty dorm room that is virtually empty except for a desk and a bed, we went shopping for furnishing."

Ren grinned. "Yeah, we nearly went broke by the end of it," he commented. "Thank goodness that Hanamura-san, the owner of Junes, was kind enough to give us a discount on it, on the fact that we were still students, and he seems to be pretty fond of Minato here."

"I was just his son's tutor, Ren! Get over it!" Minato jabbed his elbow into his best friend's ribs.

"Oof!"

"Who are those two?" Yuuki asked, ignoring the drama that is her brother and his best friend, her eyes following two younger students, with one looking to be in high school, maybe a freshman.

Minato glanced towards the two whom Yuuki was looking at only to see a pretty girl with wavy light brown hair and eyes, dressed in a school uniform similar in fashion to Yasoinaba High. A cheeky looking younger boy with brown hair and eyes who is wearing a uniform similar in colours to the one that Yukiko was wearing earlier was following the girl.

"Oh." Ren exchanged looks with Minato. "The boy is Hanamura Yousuke. He's the son of the Junes' boss. Minato is his tutor."

Minato grunted. "I've never met a more hopeless case than him," he grumbled. "The girl goes to Yasaogami High, the sister high school to our Yasoinaba." He told Yuuki. "Her name is Konishi Saki. She's a worker at Junes, and the daughter of the liquor store owner around the corner. There's a bit of bad blood between the two owners though, thus we're surprised that Konishi actually wanted to work here, though I suppose that she didn't really have a choice anyway, as her family is in financial difficulties."

"What's up with the boy following her?" Yuuki asked, following the two with her eyes. She can see that the Konishi girl seems irritated, but didn't let it show on her face much.

"He has a crush on Konishi." Ren snickered. "It's kind of endearing in a way, but even I can tell that Konishi isn't too fond of him, despite how she treats Yousuke."

"Konishi-sempai! Konishi-sempai!" Yousuke ran after Konishi.

"Hana-chan, why are you following me?"

Ren stifled his chuckles. Minato and Yuuki exchanged grins. This scene reminded Yuuki of one of Sanada-sempai's endless fangirls and the way that they stalked him all over the school until Shinjiro had put a stop to it.

"I need some help with my English homework!"

Konishi Saki resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Minato-sempai is coming by to tutor you tomorrow, right? Ask him then."

"I want to get it done by tonight." Yousuke whined. "Besides, I want Konishi-sempai to tutor me."

Konishi put on a forced smile. "Hana-chan, I'm working now," she said. "Besides, Minato-sempai is better than me when it comes to tutoring. He even tutors me and my brother. Besides, I can't stop to talk now. I'm working."

She then turned around a corner, with Yousuke close on her heels. As soon as the two were out of earshot and sight, Ren, Minato and Yuuki nearly collapsed into laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh God! How embarrassing!"

"Poor Yousuke." Yuuki giggled.

"Poor Yousuke? More like poor Konishi." Ren chuckled. "She had to deal with all that drama!"

XXXXXX

~Amagi Inn, Evening~

Minato and Ren ended up giving Yuuki a tour of the entire town.

So far, she's met everyone – from the town's local delinquent, Tatsumi Kanji to his textile store owner mother; to the detective Dojima Ryotaro and his young daughter; and to some teacher in Yasaogami High that both Minato and Ren doesn't like in the least that they called 'King Moron'.

It was nearly nine o'clock by the time that Minato had dropped Yuuki off at the Amagi Inn, the town's finest and longest established inn. Yuko and Rio have both just stepped in as well, much to Yuuki's surprise. Apparently, they have felt so hungry that they both decided to get something to eat, getting Ms. Kanou to accept their room for them.

"Wow, this room is nice!" Yuuki commented, entering the room that she was given to share with Rio, already finding her bags in a corner together with Rio's.

"So huge… So luxurious…" Yuko looked about in awe. "Is it really okay for people like us to stay here? Won't we get a scolding?"

"From who?" Yuuki asked.

"Umm… I don't know? The government?" Yuko suggested.

Yuuki sighed. "Is that a question or an answer?"

"What are you both talking about?" Rio asked. "And this isn't your room, Yuko."

Yuko looked angry at that. "Yeah, about that! You gotta listen to this!" she said. "There was some mistake, and I ended up getting stuck in the same room as Kaz!"

Rio blinked slowly. "Kaz…" she muttered. "You mean Kazushi? Wait, he's here too?" She asked. "Huh?" She tilted her head to one side in confusion. "Wasn't he supposed to take part in the tournament?"

Yuko gave an exasperated sigh. "I was supposed to stay behind…to sort of look after him," she explained. "He's injured, so we're trying a hot springs cure. I'm gonna get the most out of this trip by clearing up my skin too!"

"Huh?" Rio looked confused. "Wait. Didn't you say you were in the same room? Kazushi…is a guy, right?"

Yuko rolled her eyes. "He's a big ol' girl on the inside, but on the outside, yeah, he's a guy," she said, annoyed. "Ms. Kanou's assigned the rooms, right? What the hell was she thinking?"

Yuuki snickered. "It was probably on purpose."

Yuko sighed. "Ugh… I can just see her raving about summer romances and all that crap!" she said, annoyed. "Kaz is just a big kid to me."

"By the way, Kazushi's injured?" Rio asked, concerned. "Is he okay?"

"No, it's pretty bad," said Yuko, worried. "That's why we're relying on the hot springs cure. And that idiot didn't say anything about it for the longest time. Thanks to that, it's gotten even worse!" She sighed, exasperated. "He's such an idiot! A total dumbass! He got me so worried!"

Rio and Yuuki exchanged amused looks. "Sounds like you two are perfect for each other," said Rio teasingly.

Yuko looked at Rio as if she had suddenly grown two new heads. "What? You've gotta be jok— Wait, what time is it?" She asked suddenly, and Yuuki showed her the time on her watch. "Oops, it's time for Kaz's medication. Well, see you later!"

Yuko ran out of the room, leaving silence behind. Rio coughed. "She can say whatever she wants, but she's taking pretty good care of him," she remarked. She then looked at Yuuki. "So…the hot springs?" she suggested.

Yuuki smiled and nodded. "Sounds good to me."

After a good long soak in the hot springs with everyone, Yuuki returned to the room with Yuko and Rio, feeling energised and not feeling so tired anymore. The three girls then sat down on the futon.

"Hey, isn't there something more appropriate to talk about at times like these?" Yuko grinned, lying down on her front on her futon, supporting her chin with her hands.

"What, like boyfriends?" Yuuki asked.

Yuko's smile got wider. "Exactly! Well… I'd be confessing my love if there was anyone I really liked. I'd prefer a thin guy, but he'd have to be athletic… And there's no one at our school who fits that description."

Rio grinned. "What about Kazushi?"

"No way." Yuko said at once. "Uhh, but I do have this feeling… This is just an if, okay? IF Kaz and me don't end up finding someone for a long time… I get this feeling that I might end up getting married to him…" She sighed. "Ack, what should I do?"

Rio and Yuuki exchanged bewildered looks. "What kind of premonition is that?" Rio wondered.

"I mean, he's completely useless without me." Yuko continued. "There's no way he'll even remember where he keeps his underwear. Imagine him getting old all alone and eating nasty convenience store food every day! It's just so sad!" She sighed.

"So marry him." Yuuki grinned.

Yuko looked like the end of the world is near. "Noooooo!" she nearly shrieked. "I've gotta fight it!" She cleared her throat. "So what about you, Yuuki-san? You've got someone you like, right?"

"Yep." Yuuki said happily.

"Ooooh!" Yuko squealed. "Who is it?"

Yuuki hesitated. She knew that Shinjiro doesn't have a very good reputation in the school. She then shrugged. "It's Shinjiro-sempai," she said.

Silence.

Rio and Yuko exchanged glances before turning back towards Yuuki. "Shinjiro… You mean Aragaki Shinjiro? The senior in class 3-B?" Yuko asked slowly. "The one that had missed school for well over a year before suddenly coming back all of a sudden? The one that is rumoured to hang out around back alleys and all that?"

Yuuki nodded hesitantly. "Yeah," she said. "I know that he's got quite a dubious background and all that, but he's really sweet and kind. He's really nice too. He's really not all that scary once you get to know him."

Yuko looked at her doubtfully. "Well, if you say so…" she trailed off. "Hey, I know! Let's tell some ghost stories! Give me one second!" And she bolted out of the room.

Rio glanced at Yuuki. "Hey Yuuki, I don't know Aragaki-sempai personally, so I'll withhold my opinions on him," she said. "But as long as you believe in him and like him, it'll be all right. Just follow your heart."

Yuuki smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Rio."

Kaz's voice could be heard outside the room just then.

"W-What do you want, Yuko? I was gonna go to sleep!"

XXXXXX

~Amagi Inn, Dark Hour~

Yuuki's eyes snapped opened as the Dark Hour begun, and the world was blanketed in the usual eerie green glow. She glanced over at the other futons only to see coffins in the places of Rio and Yuko's futons. Yuko was so scared after the lights were turned off on them all of a sudden that she refused to sleep alone, and decided to bunk in with Yuuki and Rio both.

Yuuki sighed as she stood up and slid opened the shoji door, stepping out onto the balcony. She wondered for a moment how her friends are doing back in Iwatodai, and what Shinjiro is doing now. Yuuki then frowned as she caught sight of something black moving down the streets.

"A Shadow?" Yuuki mused. "They're in this town too? It can't be good."

She then entered her room once more, changing into a shirt and pants, also throwing on a jacket as she grabbed her Evoker and headed out of the inn room.

~Dark Hour, Inaba~

Yuuki ran down the streets and around a corner, and ran smack into someone. She fell back on her behind, rubbing her bruised forehead.

"Ouch!"

"Yuuki?" A bewildered voice greeted her, and she opened her eyes only to see her shocked and surprised brother in front of her, pulling her to her feet, looking over his shoulder every few seconds.

"Mina-nii?" Yuuki was equally surprised, and confused as to how he could be moving about freely during the Dark Hour. "How are you—?"

A low howl greeted their ears, and Minato cursed before turning around and spying a large Shadow creeping up from behind him. "Shit!" he leapt aside before the Shadow could cut him into half, and drew out a gleaming revolver.

Yuuki's eyes widened. "Mina-nii, you—"

"Ren!" Minato shouted, and Ren dropped down from a building overhead, landing in between Minato and Yuuki, also with a revolver in hand. "Let's go!"

Ren nodded. "You've got it," he grinned, pointing the revolver to his head. "Persona! Susanno!"

With a loud shattering sound, a Persona appeared behind Ren, taking on the form of a majestic-looking being with red skin and golden eyes. His long wavy black hair fell down to mid-back and he has an amulet-like object hanging from around his neck, with a seven-branched sword in his right hand.

Minato pointed the revolver to his head. "Persona!" he shouted. "Orpheus Telos!"

Yuuki nearly suffered a stroke when she heard what her brother had shouted and summoned. His Orpheus looks almost exactly like her Orpheus, only in the colours of red and gold instead.

'A Persona…'

"Orpheus Telos, Garula!"

"Susanno, God's Hand!"

With a loud mournful howl, the giant Shadow then dispersed into nothingness. Minato and Ren sighed before dismissing their Personas, turning towards Yuuki who is currently looking at them with a raised brow.

Ren chuckled nervously. "I guess we got a lot of explaining to do, don't we?"

Yuuki's look told him her answer.

XXXXXX

~August 02, Daytime~

"Well, thanks a bunch for all your help. We'll remember what we've learned here and keep trying our hardest." Rio beamed.

"Yuuki!"

Yuuki turned only to see Minato and Ren approaching them, both smiling, and Yuuki smiled as well. She remembered their conservation from last night.

Apparently, both of them have awakened as Persona users the moment that they've arrived in this town. A Shadow had attacked them in the middle of the Dark Hour, and just as they've thought that they're goners, someone had thrown two Evokers at them from out of nowhere, and the rest is history.

"I'll come to Iwatodai to visit whenever I can." Minato promised, hugging his sister goodbye. "You take care of yourself, you hear?" He said sternly. "And I mean it. Three proper meals a day, enough sleep and rest, and all that."

"I'll be fine. You two stay safe as well," said Yuuki.

"Yuuki, we're leaving!" Rio called out, and she nodded.

"I have to leave now," said Yuuki. "I'll call back as often as I can. See you, Mina-nii. Ren, take care of my brother for me."

"Sure." Ren grinned as Yuuki ran off to join her team.

Minato was quiet for several moments.

Jin… Why?

This…is for him…

No… No…! No! Sayo!

Takaya! You bastard!

Minato!

Give…me…power! PERSONA!

Ren placed a comforting hand on Minato's shoulder. "It looks like trouble is brewing in Iwatodai as well," he remarked, and Minato nodded.

"Looks like it," he said. "Most be those guys again. It isn't enough that they've messed with Sayo. Now they're messing with my sister? I have no intention to interfere in their affairs, but it looks like I can't ignore it any longer."

He clenched his hand into a tight fist.

A/N: Sorry for the late update, people! Anyway, a bit of news here for you guys: I've started up a LiveJournal blog sometime back where I've been posting original stories there (non-fanfiction), and I'll appreciate it if you can take a look. The link is on my profile.

Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review!