CHAPTER 10

Heartful Cry

December 30, Friday

Morning

Iwatodai Dorm, Minako's room

"Uh-huh, yes, Grandfather, we had fun. Yes, we will be coming back tomorrow. Yes, yes... Of course, I will. See you soon, Grandfather."

~ BEEP BEEP ~

"That was a long talk, Naoto-chan."

"Was it? Grandfather is always taking long to talk."

"It's sad to see you leave with the others; and we were all just starting to get close too."

"But we are already close, and we've treasured our each day here. We're sad to leave here too."

"Once you graduate, wanna study here? It's not that boring here and you get to spend more time with Minato."

"Yeah, I know. But I guess by the time I finish, he'll be finished as well and working somewhere."

"Nah, I don't think so. Minato's not that ready to get to work; you know how lazy that guy is," she chuckles. "Do you want to do something before you leave? How about a nice trip to the mall?"

"I'm not like Rise-chan," Naoto giggled. "But I do want to do something before we leave."

"So anything you wanna do? Arcade, shopping, window-shopping, karaoke... I know you won't like the night club-so do I-sooo..." she twirled her book. Her book fell as she suddenly has an idea, "Ooh! Perfect, I know just the thing!"

"What is it?"

"Tomorrow's the right moment! Weeell, though it's gonna look a bit dramatic, but spending the New Year with Minato before you actually leave is worth it! Leave in the morning and you won't get that chance until the next time. C'mon," she held onto Naoto's shoulders, "just move your departure times in the afternoon or evening!"

"I suppose I can reschedule our time."

"Great! Think of this as a farewell gift from me, Naoto-chan."

"Thank you very much for this."

"I can be an airhead sometimes, but when it comes to these matters, I do my best to help."

oOo

January 1, 2012, Saturday

Early Morning

Near Tatsuhime Shrine

"Aaahh... Cool breeze!" Teddie stretched his arms, "I hope we'll get to feel this wind when we get back!"

"Of course, we share the same wind, y'know!" Junpei grinned.

"This is the last day you'll get to see your twin, Minato-san," said Souji.

"I know, so I'm not going to waste any minute while she's here."

xXx

Tatsuhime Shrine

"Thank you for lending us these kimonos, Mitsuru-san," said Yukiko in a red kimono with her hair adorned with pink sakura designed clip.

"Yeah, these are amazing!" Rise added. She's wearing a pink kimono with purple hems, and her hair tied into a left ponytail with a large flower holding it into place.

"You're welcome," said Mitsuru. "I happen to find those in my closet while I was at our home the other night. Since it doesn't fit nor suit me anymore, I thought of giving them as presents, if you don't mind."

"Whoa, seriously? Thanks!" Chie clapped. She's wearing a yellow-green kimono with flower and leaf designs, and her hair tied with a ribbon.

"Hm? Naoto-chan, don't you like yours?" Rised asked.

"H-Huh? Oh, I like it, really." Naoto is blushing, "It's just my first time to wear this elaborate design and well, the kimono itself." Hers was a blue kimono with butterfly-prints on top of flowers, and her hair is tied with ribbons and flowers. "But is it necessary to tied up my hair like this...?" she turned to Rise and Minako.

"Cute~!" Minako squealed, "I couldn't have done it without Rise-san!"

"Back at you, Minako-san! We make a pretty good team too."

"You didn't answer my question..." she sighed.

"I thought the boys would be here?" Chie looked around.

"They'll probably come when there are lesser people here," replied Yukari, "And so, I guess we'll wait for them here or we just go home before they come."

"No, we'll wait!" Minako said. "We won't leave until Minato sees his cute sister in these clothes! Right?"

"U-Uh..." Naoto looked down.

xXx

"Are we missing anything?" Minato waved.

"Speak of the devil," said Minako. "Minato, lookie! See how your sister is right now!"

"M-Minako-san...!" Naoto wanted to hide. And because Yosuke and Kanji's there, they'll probably say something that will make her even more nervous. After Minako shoved Naoto in front of him, Minato just stared right at her without saying any word.

"Whoa... Naoto-chan...?" Yosuke blinked twice.

"Whoa..." Kanji stared as well. "Uhh..."

"Eww, Kanji-kun...!" Yukiko noticed him nose bleeding.

"Damn!" he quickly wiped it off, "Uh, sorry 'bout that..."

"You've just earned the pervert's mark..." Chie's face is filled with disgust. "Scratch that, you were already a pervert..."

"What's that supposed to mean, Chie-senpai...?"

"Heeey, the girls are all here and in super smashing kimonos!" Junpei's face is filled with glee. "Whoa, Ai-chan and Me-chan!"

"Is this unpleasant to the eyes?" Aigis looked at her kimono, "I'm not quite sure if I picked the right one."

"Please stop looking at us with those rude eyes, Junpei-san," Metis glared at him.

"Hey, no need to get all angry!"

Ken taps Yukari, "Yukari-senpai, can I ask a question?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Is it really warm when you wear a kimono?"

"Huh? Of course since it's... Wait a sec; do you still remember what Junpei told you before? Junpei!"

"W-What...? C'mon, I already got that punishment! That's a thing of the past!"

"You shouldn't have said such things to good boys like Ken..." Yukari glared at him. "Because if you did, they'll remember it... Just like what's happening now."

"Well, let's go and enjoy the last few hours before they leave!" said Minako. "You!" she turned Minato to face her, "Go do the time for sibling moment!"

"Why are you being pushy today...?"

"Just because!"

"'Just because' isn't a good reason..."

oOo

They break into groups to get the most out of their time. Some just sat down on the benches to relax, the others went to see the large tree, look over the horizon, and the rest went over to pray at the shrine. Minako is determined to get the twins to spend more time with each other, and Shinjiro and the rest are confused why she is doing that. Minato took Naoto alone to a spot that will see almost the city, and they have their moment there.

"So this is it, huh?" Minato said.

"Yes," she replied.

"It'll be a few hours before you board the train and go back," he sighed. "Ugh, I really hate it when I sound like this."

"No, it's actually quite new," Naoto chuckled.

"So uh... What are we supposed to do now? I can't think of anything."

"How about if I ask you once more?"

"That? Oh right, I almost forgot. I've decided that...I won't be leaving this city..."

"I already expected you will say that..." she sighed.

"Let me finish," he faced her, "I won't be leaving this city until I graduate. It's sort of a shame to leave out a year of my college like that; makes me want to feel guilty."

"Ah, yes; you are a smart student, I understand."

"What, it doesn't upset you?"

"I am... But education is important too. I may not be in college yet, but I can understand what college students are going through."

"I think you're the older twin, Naoto," he laughed.

"What? I suppose so since I talk like an adult..."

"I think you just have to lose that way of talking and I won't feel down," he said with a chuckle. "But that's just a joke; I really want you to stay as you are."

"Then you have to talk seriously instead," Naoto chuckled.

"No way, I won't sound like an adult," he laughed some more. "But I will when I get old someday."

"If only I had gone to school sooner, I should've been in the same year as you. But since I prioritized my detective work more after that incident, it happened this way."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But I think it's actually how fate works for you, and mine too. Fate separated us when we were young, and reunited us again in a certain time-this time to be exact."

"Whether we knew or not that we would be together again, we are still tied to meet."

"Naoto, is it really okay for you that I won't be going back with you?"

"Yes," she nodded, "I don't want to force you and I respect your decision. But at least we can still visit each other, that's better than not being able to visit at all."

xXx

"Yep, you're right about that. Wanna get a drink?"

"Sure, I want melon soda!" Naoto said, and then Minako shouted the same thing.

"How did you hear that from that spot?" Minato shouted back at Minako.

"Let's treat everyone!" said Naoto.

"What? Hey, I have only enough...! Naoto!" Minato is laughing with Naoto, and ended up buying drinks for everyone. Souji got dragged in also by him because he's going to leave soon too.

oOo

When it's almost time for them to say farewell, they all went to see their new friends before they board the train. Rise was clinging onto Minato stating that it's going to be a long time before she does again. The twins embraced each other, and soon, they waved farewell to their Inaba friends as they leave for their home.

junkosakura01: Whew, it's already the end of the fanfic. I apologize for making not-so detailed kimono designs and those other scenarios very well. I also didn't intend to make this whole story slightly dramatic...but I'll leave it up to the rest to judge that. If anyone's gonna ask, Minako's way towards Naoto is sister-like so she acted like that, not because she's an airhead; I think it's because Minako is Minato's female ego (or something like that...I dunno...). As for Naoto, I made her lose a year (or two?) in school due to her being a well-known detective so she's not in the same year as Minato. I hope that will make sense. Criticisms given to me during the unrevised edition is acceptable because I didn't really had a clear plot before. So this time, I hope it'll be something to be inspiring.