Today was the day. The day of the school trip to Kyoto, that is. Junpei decided that after all of the depressing talk they've been doing that they deserve to have a little fun on their trip, and Minako agreed. When he asked if it was okay if Minato tagged along with them, Minako agreed.

The two had become surprisingly close friends in such a short time, though they didn't have much in common. Minato was very smart, surprising everyone when he beat Minako's latest test scores, where she had been number one since she transferred. He was also very outgoing, making friends with both girls and boys alike, though the girls fancied him the most. Lastly, Minato mastered three different sporting clubs, swimming, track, and kendo. He would've joined boxing with Akihiko but the club was already full. Besides, he didn't seem to like Akihiko too much. Minako couldn't really figure out why.

Though their friendship was oddly mismatched, Junpei and Minato bonded together over whatever it was teenage boys bond over. Girls, probably. So the two were joined at the hip come time for the school trip to Kyoto. Minako was on Aigis duty. The robot was staring at the pond in the courtyard contemplatively.

"Hm … is this one of the open-air hotsprings?" Aigis asked, ready to step in. Minako had to hold her back with all her strength.

"That's just the courtyard! You can't step in, there's fish in there!"

She had to rescue the koi fish from Aigis. This was going to be a long trip. It didn't even seem like she was going to see Akihiko at all, since the classes were separated. How long was this going to go on for?

People began to disperse to find their rooms; few stuck around, Minako included. She walked over to a near vendor to pick out some souvenirs for Ken. After getting some namayatsuhashi, she found her tennis teammate Rio lingering in a corner with a couple of guys. Minako recognized them as her classmates, but didn't really know them too well. Deciding not to mingle with the strangers, she took her souvenirs and went off in search for her room.

She got a little lost on her way. Was her room on the second or third floor? Minako stopped at the second floor first. Let's see now … Ms. Toriumi said her room was the last one at the end of the hallway. She experimentally knocked the door. There was no answer. Slowly, she slid the door open to find a familiar face. It was her senior on the Student Council, Hidetoshi with another senior.

"Hmm, Minako-kun? What are you up to?"

"Ummm …. I was looking for my room actually. I guess this is the boys' floor." She admitted embarrassingly. She never liked to admit her own mistakes in front of Hidetoshi. He was a stickler for rules and perfection, that was for sure.

Hidetoshi laughed. Not at her. Just laughed. He certainly lightened up over the school year. If something like this happened before, he probably would've berated her. His laughter quickly turned serious, however.

"You shouldn't just wander into a boy's room like that, Minako-kun. You never know what may happen to a girl like you."

Minako couldn't help but pick up a tiny compliment in his statement. She smiled bashfully. Not flirty. She was with Akihiko, people.

"Thank you for thinking about me, Senpai. I'll get out of your way then." She turned around and was about to leave the room when Hidetoshi stopped her.

"Wait, let me escort you to your room." How gentlemanly. She accepted his offer, as she didn't get a chance to spend time with her senior outside of school, as opposed to her other friends.

They only walked together for about two minutes, absorbed in idle conversation about the trip, when Minako bumped into another familiar face.

Akihiko had never seen the two out and about together. He didn't even make a connection between the two at first, until he remembered they were both on the student council. But why were they walking together? And what was with the look of adoration on the guy's face?

"Minako."

She looked up from her conversation to see her boyfriend with a strange look in his eye. Minako couldn't place it, as he never looked at her that way before.

"Aki! There you are. I accidentally wandered on the guy's floor by mistake. Can you believe that?" She asked comically, trying to break his glare. But he still had that look. And he was directing it towards Hidetoshi.

"Hidetoshi. What were you two doing together?" He asked harshly.

Was it Minako's imagination or did that sound really jealous? She turned to see Hidetoshi's reaction only to find him with an angry face of his own. This was beginning to feel like a showdown now. Showdown between two Emperors. About what though? Minako? Hidetoshi didn't feel that way towards her. He seemed like the kinda guy who would say something. Right?

"I was escorting Minako-kun to her room. She was lost after all."

Akihiko's glare was unwavering, even as he said his thanks. "I can take it over from here, but thank you."

He let Minako say her goodbyes to Hidetoshi and took her by the hand. As soon as they were away from the second Emperor, Akihiko sighed of relief.

"So we have sight-seeing tomorrow. I'd want to walk around with you but …"

"But it wouldn't be too good if we stood out together, huh?" Minako finished the thought for him.

"This is difficult…"

They continued walking in a comfortable silence. Minako didn't care to bring up Akihiko's hostility towards Hidetoshi; it would only ruin the pleasant mood between the two. Besides, seeing Akihiko jealous was a rarity that turned the tables on them. It was usually Minako jealous of Akihiko's fangirl harem.

They met with a ghostlike Mitsuru, who was far too silent and dazed. She slowly snapped out of it to spew something about the school's itinerary, only to go back into her still position. Once again, Akihiko was overcome with anguish over his close friend's behavior. For now, the best that he could do was guide her to the room the girls shared along with Minako, who didn't miss the pained look on his face.

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The next day's itinerary was visiting historical sites. The second years went on a tour bus together sightseeing around Kyoto. While visiting the places in person was more exciting than seeing them in pictures, Minako couldn't help but worry for her seniors. Mitsuru was still as dazed as ever, and it was affecting Akihiko more than people thought. She and Yukari separated from the group for a short time. Minako hoped they weren't lost or anything.

Come evening time, however, the girls were back and Mitsuru had brightened up considerably well. Minako even caught sight of a smile. What did Yukari say to her that made so much of a difference in her? The unlikely pair spent much of their time together; both Aigis and Fuuka also noticed.

"I saw Yukari-chan and Mitsuru-senpai talking to each other. It seemed strange for them to be so cheerful together that way …" Fuuka perceived. Minako nodded her head in agreement.

"I know. A few months ago, they were swimming in a pool of awkward tension and now they're BFFs."

"Must be the Kyoto air, huh?" The two laughed with each other. Aigis was busy scanning the area.

"I just saw Yukari-san and Mitsuru-san leave the room together." She announced.

The trio of girls decided to follow them downstairs. On the second floor they met with Akihiko, who seemed to be much more cheerful. He gave his girlfriend a quick peck on the cheek and he made note of Mitsuru's new change.

"It seems like Mitsuru's overcome her pain."

Fuuka nodded her head. "Mm-hm, she's definitely changed. I didn't expect to see it happen so quickly though."

"I don't know what happened, but as long as she's feeling better, I'm relieved."

"She and Yukari-chan were spending a lot of time together. We were just following them out of the room together but we lost sight of them." Minako told Akihiko. If they didn't stop for him, they probably would've caught up to them. Oh well.

"That's too bad. We could've all gone to the hot spring together …" Fuuka looked a bit disappointed.

"We shall go to the hot springs tomorrow." Aigis said almost encouragingly, making Fuuka perk up.

Hot springs, huh?

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"Wow! This hot spring is huge!" Yukari bellowed out, practically diving into the waters. Minako laughed. She was definitely enjoying herself.

"So this is an outdoor hot spring." Aigis took notice, her mechanical joints visible. Good thing the hot spring was empty, right? "Unfortunately, its therapeutic healing benefits will not help me."

Way to be a kill joy, Aigis.

All the girls were in the water enjoying themselves, when they heard a splash. All of a sudden everyone was on the defensive.

"Who's there?!"

"Yukari? Did you see something?"

"I heard something ….."

Minako's ears perked up to the faintest of whispering. This was getting creepy. And with her wearing nothing but a towel, too….

"I heard it too!"

"…. Fuuka, could you check over there? I-It could be a ghost …." Yukari murmured, reminding Minako of her fear of the supernatural. Like it was really a ghost …right?

"Um … but .. I, uh …. Okay ….." Poor Fuuka was basically forced to do it, thought she was also scared to do it.

"Don't worry Fuuka, we'll team up. You head left, I'll head right." Minako successfully calmed her down. The two girls creeped towards their assigned areas.

"Oh wait! Could there be guests in the bath too?" Yukari reasoned. That was always a possibility, but then why didn't they call out to them? Why hide?

"Is there someone here?!" Minako called out to the depths of the hot springs. There was no answer, only the faintest sound of water splashing.

"…Let's check ahead." Her intuition was tingling. Something was there. She just knew it. Yukari reluctantly followed.

"There! The hollow behind that rock!"

"Ugh … I was avoiding that area for a reason … looks like something could pop out from there….." Yukari whined. And she was usually the brave one between the two. As if she had an epiphany, she gathered her courage together. "…. Wait. Let's check it out."

What they saw shocked and confused them.

They saw someone in the hollow of the rock. Three someones. It was Junpei, Akihiko and Minato! Everyone's faces were a scarlet red. Junpei flailed his arms in the air, trying to come up with a good reason. It wasn't working.

Minako only glared at Akihiko. He tried to defend himself unsuccessfully.

"W-Wait! Th-this is just a misunderstanding, Minako! ….. Minako?"

There was no answer from her.

"Silence!" Mitsuru cut him off. "I'm going to execute you all!"

Whatever it was Mitsuru did them was far worse than anyone could possibly imagine. Which is why the author won't even make an attempt to describe it.

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"Wow, namayatsuhashi! It's even got red beans in it! Awesome, thank you for the souvenir!" Ken loved his souvenir, giving Minako a huge hug when they got back. He and Koromaru seemed a little lonely after having the dorm to themselves. She was glad the souvenir cheered him up.

"By the way …" Ken continued, capturing Minako's attention. "I noticed the rest of the girls seem to be holding the guys in contempt. But I can't imagine why …."

Ah, Ken and his sweet little innocent mind. He wouldn't have pulled something like that, Minako was sure of that.

She patted his head reassuringly. "They made a mistake. A really stupid, horrible mistake."

Minako tried to make her way upstairs but was stopped by Akihiko. Minako could've taken a page from Aigis' book and commenced ignoring mode, but truth be told she had already forgiven him. Not knowing this, Akihiko made his case.

"The prime offenders were Junpei and Minato. I was just an innocent victim, you have to know that. You, of all people, have to believe me."

"Of course I believe you."

"And another thing, I- wait, what?" He asked, relieved and yet absolutely dumbfounded.

"I believe you." Minako repeated with a firm guarantee.

Akihiko was speechless; the couple just stared at each other, even more in love than they were the day before. It was making Junpei sick.

"Just kiss already!"

Akihiko winced in hypothetical pain as he took Minako up the staircase, giving themselves some privacy. Once they reached the top of the stairs, that's when he hesitated.

"Do you- I mean, would you like to … come into my room?"

.

His room smelled like sweat, which was not exactly an appealing smell on most people, but on Akihiko it was a perfect fit. Every little thing lying around had something to do with training; his boxing gloves were lying on a tiny table next to his protein powder and there was a rather large punching bag in the corner. His room screamed "Akihiko Sanada is living here!"

It was perfect.

"Sorry there's nowhere to sit …. Do you want a cushion or … Oh Do you want something to drink?" He asked, mostly out of nerves for actually having a girl in his room.

Minako sat down on his bed rather daringly, patting the spot next to her. "Just sit here, Aki."

He blushed at her bold move. "Y-Yyeah, I guess I should."

He plopped down next to her, not leaving any distance between them. He was getting more courageous, too. His arms automatically curled around her waist and he pulled her onto his lap.

"… Is this better?"

Now Minako was getting flustered. Trying to up the ante, she wrapped her own arms around his neck, resting her head on his chest.

"This is perfect."

They pulled each other even closer, if that was possible.

"I love you." He whispered into her ear. If this was any other person, at any other time, Minako probably would've flipped. She would have freaked out at the possibility of another human being loving her and would never be able to reciprocate. Not this time, however. And not with this man.

"I love you, too."

Akihiko and Minako spent a long time together that night.

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If I had the ability to write smut, I totally would've continued this chapter. Just saying.