A/N: Hello! Quick note, there won't be a chapter next week (maybe the next too), as I'll be on vacation. Also, unfortunately I haven't had the time to make the next chapter. The general idea is laid out in my head, but I need a little more time to actually type it out... well, to be honest, you can mainly blame it on me getting P4G in the last couple of weeks lol
Anyway, I also wanted to say a huge thank you to those who've been keeping up with the story! I truly appreciate it. And if you just clicked on this out of curiosity or boredom, welcome!
I'll try my best finish up the next chapter. For now, enjoy Magician: Rank V!
MAGICIAN: RANK V
It's the Friday after the full moon, and it's quiet around the dorm. You're sitting in your room, restless, and your leg shakes controllably as you attempt to study for the exams coming up. Mitsuru wasn't at all impressed with your half-assed grades last time, and you feel a pretty brutal punishment coming your way if you don't put some serious thought into your studies. Still, math's not making the least bit of sense to you; this has got to be alien language, you think incredulously as you shut your book.
You suddenly think of Junpei. There's no way he's studying this early. You could hang out with him for an hour or so, right? It might clear your head.
After you convince yourself that must be the right option, you head out. Unsurprisingly, Junpei's door is wide open, and when you peek in the cluttered and messy room, its occupant is nowhere to be seen. You figured as much; still, did Junpei not learn to lock his door after the last incident with Mitsuru and Officer Kurosawa?
You decide to try the lounge and pass by Akihiko's room. Memories of what happened during the last full moon battle float through your mind, and you suppress the urge to knock on his door. The distance Akihiko has been putting between you and him has been painfully apparent, even to your other dorm mates. Battles in Tartarus haven't been as coordinated, and you'd like to get the whole thing behind you as quickly as possible. However, it seems Akihiko is in no shape to talk yet.
Moving your hand away from Akihiko's door, you take the stairs to the lounge. Fuuka is sitting at the dinner table, laptop and a can of pop on hand. "Minato-kun, hello," Fuuka says a little shyly. Her fingers move lithely over the keys of her laptop even as she makes eye contact with you. You're impressed. "Are you taking a break from studying?"
You nod. "Yeah. You gotta teach me how to type like that." You gesture to her insane typing skills.
"O-oh, this is nothing," Fuuka says nervously, giving you a small smile. "I like typing, that's all…"
"Well, that's still cool." You smile as well. "Do you know where Junpei is?"
Fuuka laughs softly. "He stepped out. I think he was trying to be sneaky about it, so I pretended to not notice when he slipped out the front doors."
"Cool, thanks. I'll see you later," you say, nodding at her. Fuuka waves before returning her attention to the laptop's screen.
Outside, the air is cool and crisp. You stretch and wrack your brain as to where Junpei could be. In all honesty, he's probably wasting time at the arcade. You take a train to Paulownia Mall and find the place pretty deserted. There's only a few people walking around, most of them headed for Escapade. The door to the infamous club opens and closes frequently, and you can smell the heavy liquor and hear the frenzied music.
The arcade, on the other hand, seems tame. You head over, say hello to the student who's usually playing the crane game. Inside, there are a total of five people, including the arcade's attendant, and they look about five years or so older than you. No Gekkoukan students, and certainly no Junpei. You circle the room, thinking maybe you'd missed him.
No dice. You sigh to yourself, not in the mood to play games without someone else. As you exit, you accidently bump into one of the 20-something year olds. He's carrying a can of Mad Bull, and the contents slosh all over his shirt. A bit gets on you as well.
"Damn, what the hell?!" he curses, looking appalled. He turns to face you, anger flaring in his eyes. You start to feel bad when you notice a strange black tattoo on his face. It's composed of three, thick lines, which line the underside of his eye. You're not sure what the hell the guy was thinking when he got them; to be frank, they look like huge, ugly bags, like he's in serious need of a long, long nap.
You keep a straight face the best you can and say, "Sorry. Let me help you-"
"Don't touch me, you fucking idiot," the young man snarls. Something sour hits you in the face. Booze? You glance over at the empty can of Mad Bull, which is currently being crushed in a tight fist. "What the hell is your problem-"
"Is there a problem?" The attendant comes over, crossing her arms. She looks tired and not ready to deal with whatever bullshit you two are causing.
"Yeah, there's a fucking problem!" the guy sputters. "This dude bumps into me, spills my shit, and soaks my shirt!"
The girl turns to you, and you calmly say it was an accident. She sighs, rubs her forehead. "Could you buy him another drink or something? As for the shirt…" She trails off as she squints at his eyes. "Hold on…" She gasps. "You… you're the guy who's been offering booze to kids, aren't you?" she asks, her voice growing louder. It looks like she recognizes those funny lines. She grabs the empty can out of the guy's hands, who immediately freezes up. "Wow, really? You hid liquor in this- hey!"
The guy bolts, almost knocking over the student by the crane machine. You start to run after him when the attendant, "Just let him go." She looks pretty steamed. "I'll let my manager know."
You tell her that you'll keep an eye out for him, and she nods, thanking you.
"I guess I should also thank you for spilling his drink," she laughs. "Anyway, you have a nice night." She walks back to her station, taking out her phone.
You leave, figuring you've had enough excitement for one night. It's nearly eleven, and the streets are deserted. The street lamps flicker unsteadily as you walk, making you feel as though the Dark Hour might arrive an hour too early. You're about five minutes away from the dorm when you hear yelling. Two black figures are arguing up ahead, and, as you get closer, you start to make out their heated conversation.
"...me alone!"
"I have hic every goddamn right to, to be here! Show some res...respect!"
"You're just causing more problems, so go home before-"
The light catches the two people's face, illuminating them. Junpei looks wide-eyed at you, his mouth open mid-sentence. Next to him, there's a middle-aged man, who's teetering back and forth slightly. He's clearly drunk. His clothes are tattered and loose, which can't even conceal his beer belly. A massive, bushy beard consumes the lower half of his face, uncombed and messy.
Junpei doesn't have to say anything; you have a pretty good idea of who it is.
The man notices you. He groans and spits onto the ground. "All I want...wanted to do hic was talk." He seems a little calmer.
"Then get sober first!" Junpei yells back, momentarily forgetting about you. "You want to talk? You think we can talk while you're in this condition?" He laughs bitterly. "Get out of here."
He starts to turn away, then the man grabs him roughly by the arm.
"Let him go." Junpei and the man turn to you. The words just kind of fell out. Still, you keep composed and repeat yourself, "Junpei and I will be going home now."
Something snaps inside the man. "Home?!" he screeches drunkenly, spit flying through the air. "His true home is with me, not in that fucking dorm." He roughly removes his hold on Junpei and storms away, and you watch him until the street lights can no longer find him.
You turn to Junpei, let the silence permeate the air for a couple of seconds. Then you ask if he's okay.
Junpei doesn't answer your question and instead says, "I really wish you hadn't seen that… but… thanks for doing that." Though he's thanking you, his words are cold.
Out of nowhere, his link strengthens. What odd timing, you think, and that's all you get to think before Junpei starts walking away. You run up to him, the wind blowing harshly with your steps.
Junpei's back freezes, then he whirls around. He comes close to you, so that you're face to face. His eyes narrow. "Dude… were you drinking?"
You give him a confused look. Then, you glance down at your shirt. The beer from that guy's Mad Bull can has created yellow stains in your shirt. Also, since he got in your face, you realize that some of the smell might've stuck with you. It was really repugnant, after all. You start to explain what happened earlier, but Junpei is having none of it.
"I gotta go," he says a little harshly and takes off without another word.
After a minute, you follow slowly. When you get back to your room, you plug in your headphones and collapse onto your bed, curling up in a ball. You're tired. Screw studying, you mumble to yourself. Still, it takes you nearly two hours to finally fall asleep, and when you do, your dreams are less than pleasant.
