NOTE: Happy birthday Shinjiro! I don't know what to get you but maybe Tomoe's got you something 'special' ;)
Love you and keep up that gorgeous smile. :)
ANTENORA 17TH FLOOR
"Surt!" Aigis called out, summoning a dark creature with red stripe. The Ice Raven cackled as a pillar of fire started to form. Before it rose however, the bird shifted to the right, away from the flames.
"My turn." Junpei shoved his evoker to his temple. Trismegistus wailed in a low tenor, fire bursting from its wing tips. It released the immense power and a massive lion head on a flaming wheel protected the black bird. The flames added onto the monster as it roared.
"Damn...they're working together." Junpei swore.
He nearly got hit as the Judgement Sword attacked with its gigantic silver weapon. Metis' metallic ears spun as she released her limiters and went into Orgia Mode. Like lightning she dashed to the stone Shadow and bludgeoned it till it created deep cracks on its side. Next she summoned her persona signaling its pointed head to the crack. "Fatal End!" she screamed as the crater grew deeper by Psyche's high pitched screech. The Shadow grunted and swing the scale in its other hand to Metis, flinging her back. Ken summoned his persona to catch her before she landed. Then a gust to wind was created from its spinners. Kala-Nemi moved to the stone Shadow, keeping up the momentum of its arms. "Cruel Attack!" the boy in orange yelled. His persona's arms spun in rapid circles, cracking and breaking off bits of the cement.
A sudden screech and Ken was engulfed by a strange violet string-like light.
"Tentarafoo..."
The ice raven had enchanted Ken! He dropped to his knees and his persona disappeared, a relief to the Judgment Sword. The little boy screamed, giving attention to the others.
"Metis! Go help Amada-san!"
"Roger, Sister!" and Metis ran off to help. "Fuuka-san, what happened to Amada-san?"
"I-I don't know! He was surrounded but the Ice Raven then he screamed. I can't read the enemy's actions!" the girl whispered, frantically. Junpei fixed his cap before he grabbed his sword to slay the mighty flaming beast. "I can't be sure but he looks like he's afraid of them."
"Afraid? Ken? No way, Fuuka-chan."
"But he's screaming isn't he?" Aigis yelled as she dodged and fired her arms (literally) at the bird.
"Good point..." Junpei slummed. Aigis had to do something but what? She had an enemy of her own. No matter what she does both the Brave Wheel and Ice Raven kept evading their attacks. 'Metis...hurry and help Amada-san!'
"Aaahhh!" Ken wailed as he clutched his head and dropped his pike. The Shadow laughed and raised its weapon. It started to electrify, swinging its aim at the kid.
"Don't you dare!" *swish* *crackle* *clang* "Hey, little boy!" Ken looked up to see black armor race towards him, holding up the giant sword with its arms. 'Black Condor?'
"Kid? You okay?" its head turned to face him. A pattern of red and gold in a shape of a butterfly covered its face. He nodded not trusting his voice.
"Good. Now get up." the sword inched lower, cutting Black Condor's armor.
"I-I can't! I'm too scared!"
"Yes you can! Look, you're...just scared 'cause the Shadow made you!" her arms started to break and bent. "I can't Black Condor! I-It's too scary!"
"Black Condor?" *sigh*"I don't have time for this. If you get scared all the time you will always be scared! Face your fear and pick up your weapon!" Metis screamed. Ken's eyes shot open but he still shivered. His weapon on the floor rolled to his side and with shaken hands he picked it up.
'My armor can't take much more of this... I'm done for. I'm sorry Sister, Master...'
*stab* "Kala-Nemi!" several ropes of light attacked the sword and it started to fry the Shadow. It roared in agony and exploded. In an instant the heavy sword disappeared in a ray of light and the mask fell to the ground. Then Metis bashed it with her hand. She started to burn, smoke coming out from her ears. "Metis-san!" Ken rushed to the black android's side. "I'm okay. My limiters are fried from going into Orgia Mode."
"Thank you, though." he said in a small voice.
"Never mind that. Think you can help my sister?"
"Yes. But what about you?"
"I won't be moving for a while. I'll be fine. Go." she nudged her head towards the other battle. The child didn't want to leave seeing as his savior was injured but followed her order. Ken raced across to the other room, hiding behind one pillar.
"Mabufala."
Pillar after pillar of ice shot down from the sky. Two figures of white and blue dodged, fast-paced. Aigis was starting to slow down. With one step to the right a ray of blue rained down on her as she was cast into a block of frozen water.
"Ai-chan!" Junpei wailed in horror as the robot turned into a popsicle. 'I don't get it. That lion-thing is made of fire why isn't it getting killed?' he thought as he ran and evaded for his life. Looking at his enemy he saw the reason. The black bird hovered over its ally, keeping any attacks from it. He swore under his breath and pulled out his evoker.
He had little HP and SP left. And with his leader down and two comrades fighting with another boss, he had to do this himself. 'Since Ai-chan is frozen, I should deal with that but what if the two bosses work together...?' Junpei racked his brain thinking of an awesome plan.
Meanwhile the raining ice died down and the two creatures screeched and growled at its opponent from across the room. 'Ah! Heck!' the baseball player scratched his head and fixed his cap. 'To hell with a plan! Imma charge!'
"AHHHH!" he ran to the enemy with sword behind him. With one hand he summoned his red friend who was by his side.
"Junpei...you're friend."
"Yeah. Go thaw her. I can handle these scumbags." in the corner of the young man's eye his persona hesitated but nodded and left him.
Ten feet away from his enemy, Iori lowered his head. The light in the room barely showed that he smirked under his hat. "You Shadows will be taking me on! Junpei-sama has come to take you to hell!"
Then he charged...Right in front of the enemy. Just. Like. That.
Simba revved its engine (if it had any) and also charged. Birdie cawed and flew up. Junpei was too busy fending off the lion that he didn't see the raven soar far that it was impossible. (there wasn't a ceiling this far into the Abyss.) Junpei's Slayer Sword can't melt but it also did nothing to the Shadow as he slashed nonstop at his opponent. All his efforts weren't a total loss though. Throughout his flailing, the wheel got annoyed and used its tail to slam it off his hand but in one swoop the sword sliced through the tail. Junpei had his eyes closed (seriously Junpei?)as he saw this and smiled deviously. He, with all his PE training, jumped and slashed the Brave Wheel's circle body. The shadow fell apart easily and Junpei cried a battle cry and swung his weapon. A high pitched wail made him look up. Birdie came back and swooped down to take the teen's Slayer. It then came back; beak empty and eyes focused on...him! "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!"
He ducked and Birdie missed. It was getting irritated and turned back. Junpei screamed and ran for his life.
Meanwhile back to the wheel.
It was still alive and starting to get up. Pieces of its body shook and wobbled over to it, trying to put itself back. Its tail wiggled and inched its way to the animal, much to its relief but a scrawny small leg wrapped in a white and green sneaker stomped on it. The lion froze and looked up. A small figure stood up, orange flaming in the light and a tall spear on his shoulder.
"You aren't going anywhere, Shadow." Ken smirked and pointed his weapon to its target with one hand. Brave wheel whined and shriveled back, afraid. Kala-Nemi came into view. Again, with the same attack, the King of Beasts disintegrated into oblivion.
Ken smiled and sighed. "Thanks Kala-Nemi."
"No problem, K!" his persona exclaimed in a child but low teen voice. "It's Ken...*sigh* let's got help Junpei-san." with that his trusted friend disappeared and they headed to save the blue boy's ass.
"AHHH! Stop chasing me you stupid bird!"
*caw*
"A-Ah! I'm sorry! Nice birdie! Nice birdie! Ah!" Junpei with his ball cap gone covered his buzz-cut with his arms. He ran through several corridors and back again.
"What do you want from me?!" he flailed his arms as the raven shot millions of Bufu attacks at him.
*caw*
"HELP ME!"
*bam*
He had hit a dead end and Icy over there cornered him. Wing spread, he knew it was going to attack, if he wasn't so upset about losing his cap he'd piss his pants right about now.
"Duck Junpei!" without thinking he did what he was told. Eyes closed and body in crouch, he felt his skin warm. After it was over he saw his persona hover over him. In its hands was his weapon and hat. Smiling the teen stood up and took his things. "Man, you sure took your sweet time. Where's Aigis?"
"With the little boy." Trismegistus held his hand out and took his master on his arm. He and his baseball loving partner flew under the low glow of the Abyss into the heart of the floor.
DORM: ONE WEEK LATER
She's been ignoring him. And maybe she wouldn't be if that didn't happen at all. For the past week he's been in bed, healing. During that time, she not once came to his room. He didn't care really but she could have at least finished bandaging him. His upper left arm and shoulder blade were broken from when he tripped and hit his body on the wall before falling to the ground. Now that he's mostly healed with she confront him about the kiss? His only problem would be is what he's going to say to her.
It was around late evening and everyone went to their own rooms. He has been sleeping all day and had to get some exercise. The Princess wouldn't let him out of his room until the bandages had come off and his arm and shoulder still were wrapped. It surprised him that Mitsuru still had the composure to order him around like that. Anyway now he needs to get some caffeine into his system. He walked sluggishly into the kitchen to hear a whispering voice and fumbling of cloth. Shinjiro found the person he'd least likely wanted to see that night. He wasn't ready to see her and neither was she.
"You're not going down there alone are you?" he kept it casual.
She hesitated at first before speaking. He could tell that him being there made her uncomfortable. "I-It's not like I can't take care of myself. What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be resting?"
He shrugged making his robe slip, showing his bandaged/shirtless torso. "Been resting all day. I gotta to move around." he examined her from head to toe. Her outfit was new that's for sure. She no longer wore her white turtleneck and the girls school jacket instead she had on a tan coloured cross over shirt that fitted her curvy body and underneath was a slim black turtleneck, to hide her scars. She wore boots now besides the white knee socks. Her black boots had strapped that carried her weapons. "You shouldn't be going down there alone."
"Why not? Think that as a girl I can't defend myself from anything?" she was getting annoyed. At least he took away the awkwardness in the air.
"I ain't saying that. It's just dangerous to go alone."
"I don't care. I've been dealing with the Shadows for a long time now. Besides I can't sleep. I need to tire myself out first."
"Fine. Whatever." He started to walk away from her when she asked where he was going. "To get my stuff. You're not listening to me so I'm coming with." He counted backwards from three until he heard a long exaggerated sigh. He smirked and turned. Tomoe walked away from the basement door and headed to the kitchen counter.
"What are you doing now?" he asked as she filled the electric boiler with tap water.
"Since you won't leave me the hell alone to train, I might as well be a girl and make us some tea." She got a container and opened it. Getting two mugs she tossed in tea leaves in each cup. He watched her do this from a far then sluggishly walked over to her.
Tomoe stared at the boiler then sighed. She really hated when fate played its part at the worst times. 'Now that you got him down here what do you plan to do, huh?' she thought as the pot breathed out steam from its spout. After the incident, she's been sloppy with handling the team investigations. Fuuka worried about her presentation but the girl just said she was tired. Aigis handled most of the exploring and Tomoe felt bad but the robot shook her head saying if she wasn't feeling up to fighting she should rest. From that time Tomoe has been in and out of the dorm into Paulownia asking Officer Kurosawa, sometimes Adachi-san if her uncle has come by to give her what she had asked for. One time Adachi-san was on duty while Kurosawa-san was out on patrol. He said her relative hadn't come by but a boy about her age.
"Said he wanted to give you this. He also said that your uncle is busy with the dojo."
"How come? Why didn't my cousin give them to me instead?"
"Oh he said it's because your uncle is fixing 'em." Adachi-san shrugged, not understanding what he was told to say. "What is it you need anyway?"
"Things."
"Any of those things we got in the police station." Adachi-san didn't know about the shadows and personas so Tomoe shouldn't bother telling him. "I doubt it. Unless you got a female officer who knows what I need." Adachi backed off right after that. Her claim didn't make sense to her but somehow that didn't get across the young police's mind. He gave her a bag and winked as he walked away. In the bag was clothes and two pieces of parchment. One was obviously Adachi-san's cell number and the other was from her uncle. On the front was her name and she unfolded the letter. It said:
You haven't asked for them but I thought you would need it.
P.S I'll have them ready by next week.
Be careful, Uncle
'Uncle always knew what I needed.' She smiled to herself before she felt a breath on her neck. Casually she took the electric pot by the handle and poured the hot water into the mugs. She felt his presence behind her. "You've been ignoring me." She eyes lifted from the counter.
"If you haven't noticed," She stated, back still faced towards him. "I'm one of the battle leaders. I'm not going to drop by everyday to see how you're doing."
"Thanks for not sparing my feelings." He joked, lamely. "You forgot to bandage my arm."
"I'm sorry your majesty." She turned and bowed like an English lady. "My mind reading skills have decreased in the past few years. Would you like me to aid you up the stairs? Or help you put the tea in your mouth?" her sarcasm was annoying but true enough. He shouldn't have complained.
"Will you quit the sarcasm? You sound like me when I give Aki life lessons..." he muttered. She laughed and crossed her arms.
"I didn't think you'd actually dis yourself."
He just looked at her. He stood up tall but still hunched and lowered his gaze at her. They stared at each other and this time the tension wasn't there. Nothing between them not even the event of last week pondered in their minds. They just stared at each other, eyes holding eyes as he unconsciously moved forward. In the heat of the moment, Shinjiro whispered something he might have to regret.
"Did you think about it? The kiss?" as soon as he said it, he wanted to take it back. His mind slowly processed what he had said and he wanted to bite his tongue for saying so. However, instead of a blushing or angry face he saw nothing.
She just stared. Pokerfaced.
She blinked a couple of times before answering him. "No. I haven't." He moved closer; close enough for her to remove her arms off her chest. "I don't remember it actually." She was careful. If she had said the 'k' word she might have just blushed.
She leaned on the trestle now, head lifted to meet his. He moved his hands away from his robe pockets to support his body by placing them on the granite edge. He breathe onto her before mumbling. "Are you sure?" Then he leaned lower. Again it was a soft touch. Skin barely touching skin then she pulled herself up, instinctively. They kissed like their first, shy and wavering then intuitively, she snaked her hands to him bare chest, moaning at the touch to wrapped her fingers in his hair. His hands raked up her side then down to her legs to give her a lift onto the ledge.
"Yeah..." She mumbled unsuccessfully but she knew he heard her.
They kissed some more as he slithered his fingers around her thighs. His warmth heated her and she pulled on his robe, forcing him closer to her. He smiled at that and inched his hands higher up her skirt. By that time they both tilted their heads and slipped their tongue with each other. He moaned for the first time as his hands travel around her legs, higher and higher. Tomoe chuckled a little at his groaning, however what bothered her in the back of her mind was Hesychia hadn't responded or told her to stop her lewd actions...She didn't care now, his lips and hands up her skirt were the only thing she could think about.
Her lower half of her body felt hot and hotter as he reached over to feel her ass. She moaned with him and knotted her fingers tighter in his mane. Their tongues danced and swirled, eye closed and hands wandering. He slips his hands high enough to find the band of her underwear, suspense filling them (and readers?) both as he pulling them down. He would have been successful if they hadn't froze to the sound of a groan from the stairway.
Junpei had stayed up playing mindless videogames since after dinner. And just being him, Cap-boy still acted the way he did before any of this Abyss mess started. He stretched his arms, groaning and yawning at the same time. He had just finished a fighting game called Mayonaka Arena: Battle of Two Worlds and he needed something to keep him up longer. He doesn't know it he was hallucinating from the lack of sleep but he swore he saw five of the character look like Aigis, Tomo-chi and the three seniors. "You should be sleeping, Junpei. It's bad to stay up in the condition we are in." His persona said as he stepped into the last stair and groaned again.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just let me get some tea, will ya?" He walked onto the kitchen to find Shinjiro-senpai and Tomo-chi sitting across from each other, talking and drinking.
'Oh crap.' "Iori-san? What are you doing up so late?" Tomoe was the first to spot him. The way she looked at him was weird. To him. She really did look like the character in his video game. "I-uh was...playing."
"Playing?" Shinjiro shot a brow up. "Video games..." Junpei finished, ashamed. Shinjiro looked at him and remarked. "If you keep doing that Princess will 'execute' you for waking up late again."
Junpei's face turned morbid and scared. He remembered the last time he got executed. 'Damn Ryoji and his stupid plan to sneak in the baths...' A chuckle came from Tomoe as she looked down at her tea cup and sipped the remains. He noticed now that she wasn't in PJ's like everyone should be but in her new outfit she got from her home-stay uncle. "D-don't be such a hypocrite, man. You guys are up late too." He pointed his fingers towards them. "A-and how come you're wearing your gear still?"
Shinjiro almost choked at his question but decided to look at her. She just looked at her tea and leisurely spoke. "Forgot to change." Junpei nodded and understood. Shinjiro was flabbergasted but sipped his tea. It was quiet for a few minutes as Junpei stirred in the kitchen to get his tea. The two sighed in relief then looked at each other before laughing as the boy in the buzz-cut left for his room.
"Tomoe, take me with you today."
"Again? Senpai, don't you ever rest?" Tomoe had shoved her knapsack over her shoulder and grabbed her dual swords with the other. It was her shift today and Sanada-senpai insisted to go with her. *sigh* "Okay fine." She walked over to the basement and looked around. Aragaki-senpai sat in the kitchen, reading a new cooking magazine. She got an idea and hollered at the man. "Hey." He looked up instantly. "Join my group today. You need the exercise right?" he stared at her then at the man in the red vest, discreetly. Akihiko cringed and looked at Tomoe from his side. "Uh, are you sure about—"
"Don't complain senpai. You wanted to go in the first place." She walked down the stairs not waiting to see who would follow.
ANTENORA: 22ND FLOOR
"Oh! You've almost caught to the black shadow! A few more floors to go. Don't let your guard down." Fuuka transmitted in their minds. Now that they were farther down into the Abyss, Tomoe might as well start her plan now. The girl jogged ahead without looking back.
"Tomoe!" Akihiko shouted and tried chasing after her. Shinjiro shrugged but followed. "Where are you going?"
"Look for Shadows, duh! You two need some bromance time. When I come back I better see you two hugging like there's no tomorrow!" then she ran full-speed with hair swaying from side to side.
Akihiko stopped and sighed. He turned around, forgetting he was now alone with Shinji. He gulped and said: "Shouldn't we be following her?"
"Yeah. But she said to make up..." They were stuck in an awkward position. For a while they walked around and busted a Shadow here and there. They didn't make eye contact or teamed up. Fuuka didn't even reply to their calling. After a while of walking around the silver boy spoke up. "Sorry."
"What?" Shinjiro turned around. The only light came from the wall shone on the silver haired boy. He kept his head down and he looked ashamed. "I-I'm sorry Shinji. I didn't mean to punch you. I just got angry about Miki and..."
"Doesn't this happen all the time anyway? Why are you apologising now?" Akihiko couldn't believe his ears. "But if your gunna be like that I might as well say sorry too. I shouldn't have brought up Miki like that."
They kept silent as the light flickered. They heard a giggle echo through the hall. "That was it? You guys are funny." Tomoe came from a far corner behind Shinjiro and walked into the corridor. She had been watching the entire time, asking Fuuka to not talk to them. 'Thanks for your help Fuuka.'
"No problem Tomoe-chan." The girl said, only to her. She was glad to help if it finally let the two senior boys make up.
"You were there the entire time?" Akihiko blushed pink. She nodded which made him blush harder. The female of the group walked over to them and grabbed their hands. Without a word, they followed her into the dark.
'Like old times...' Akihiko thought, smiling.
They were back in Paulownia Mall. It was evening and the teenagers came out to play.
The scene played out by the central water fountain and an old wooden bench. Footsteps then suddenly a boy clad in blue, black and white walked over from the entrance of the main mall lobby. He had a leaned posture, looking at the ground. He saw an empty bench, stared then sat down. He breathed out a long sigh.
"Stupid old man…" He spat. "How low do you have to be to get drunk on cooking wine…?"Junpei muttered with annoyance in his voice. He rambled to himself inaudible things as a white puppy trotted over from the alley. He saw the boy in the cap and walked over, slowly.
"But I guess it's just as pathetic to rush out like this every day…" he scoffs to himself."Maaan…what am I gonna do…? I got nowhere to go…"he wallowed some more until he felt like someone or something was watching him. From the corner of his eye Junpei saw a white fluff. A dog stood beside the bench, two feet away from him.
"Yo…'sup pooch? Here to join my 'Nowhere-To-Go' after school club?" he greets the animal. Koromaru looked at him, pleased. He had felt a sad aura emitting from the boy. He trotted over, tongue hanging and tail wagging. "Arf arf!"
Junpei misunderstands the shiba's intention and chuckles. "Heheh…sorry, pooch. I don't have any food for ya." He stars at the dog again, feeling some nostalgia from it. The pup's red eyes and white fur. He had no collar so for all he knew Koromaru was a stray and yet not one. "Y'know…haven't I seen you around here before…?" he pets the dog's head, feeling a little better that he had some company. Junpei felt content when a voice called for his name.
"Hey, it's Junpei." Junpei turns his head to see two old classmates.
"Huh…? Oh, hey guys."
One boy, hair cut short looked at him with eyebrow raised."Why the long face? Are you that sad that we're in different homerooms now?"
Junpei still didn't understand how he became friends with these guys."Still dumb as rocks, huh?" Then he came to a realization. "Wait, isn't it way past your dorm curfew? What're you guys doing out so late?" he asks them.
"Oh, we snuck out. When you get to be a junior, you learn the secret exit." He tells him proudly. Junpei just nodded, uninterested. The boy felt bad and tried inviting the sullen boy. "Hey, we're going to Escapade, wanna come with? We're helping this guy drown his sorrow over a girl."
The other boy, with a growing buzz-cut spoke up for the first time. From what Junpei saw he looked as sad as he had. "That's not true!"
Daisuke, the first boy laughed at the other boy, Mamoru. "Heheh, don't let it get to you. That's what you get for going after someone like Yukari Takeba. But you've got guts, man. Going after the transfer student the day after? You should have just stuck with that girl from 2-D, Tomoe Shujinko. She'll say yes to pretty much every guy who asks her." Junpei felt like a third wheel in this conversation. Koromaru stared at the standing boys, confused. Tomoe as in his friend, Tomoe?
'A girl from 2-D? I've seen her around but I thought she looked like a quiet smart girl that kept to herself.' Junpei thought. 'Guess looks can be deceiving...'
"I-I could've if I wanted to." Mamoru said, wavering. Daisuke laughed again. "Well, I guess everyone is going for the new chick. She is pretty hot. But I hear she's got a dark side too." Junpei's ears perked just like Koromaru's had been. "Well, more like a dark past."
"Dark past? Hamu-chi?" Daisuke looked at him. "Don'tcha know? You're in the same homeroom as her." Junpei shrugged, shaking his head and the first sighed. Daisuke darkened his expression.
"Rumor has it both her parents died when she was little. Considering her personality you'd think she couldn't keep her emotions in like that. Anyways, someone got a peek at her file when Toriumi left it lying around."
Junpei rolled his eyes. "Man, you're so gullible...that stuff only happens in soap operas." Though he wondered about her too. 'She always seems so happy that you'd think she's got a fine family background. But Yuka-tan said she lived in the dorm with her.'
"Hey, I said it was a rumor." Daisuke protest, placing his hands in front of him. He had gotten impatient with all the standing around, gossiping. "C'mon, let's get going! You snooze, no booze!" The baseball capped boy, flinched at the last word. He remembers why he was there in the first place.
"Booze...? Oh, uh...I think I'm gonna pass." He replies.
"Huh? What's the matter? C'mon, why don'tcha live a little—"
"I said I'm gonna pass!" Junpei glares at him. He stood up, abruptly filled with rage. "I just...ain't in the mood." Junpei tried to keep from yelling as he stared the two boys down. They didn't know his dad was an alcoholic. He didn't really tell anyone. And why should he? It's not like they're gunna care.
The two looked at him, startled. They hadn't seen Junpei, THE class clown act like that. The talkative boy turns to his sullen friend. "Well, man, looks like I'm the only one you got to console you."
"I keep telling you, nothing happened!" Mamoru should have just went with that Tomoe chick after hitting on the popular Yukari and the transfer student. Anything to keep Daisuke from making fun of him.
The two walked over to Escapade, one teen arguing with the other. Junpei stares at them until the door to the club closed. He sighed heavily and sat back down on the bench.
"Heh...they offered to hang out, and I turned 'em down...things never go the way I want 'em to." He sighs again and that's when the shiba whined."Man...Is my life really as bad as it seems now...?" he asks to himself, completely in depression mode.
He raised his head up to the night sky. "I wish there was like...something I could do to change the world...like some awesome skill that no one else has."Junpei felt like he didn't belong in the world but he wasn't going to go suicide over it either. He wanted to help change the world. If he had real friends, maybe they could help change the world together. So he wouldn't feel so alone all the time. Especially when his old man was in that state.
The albino dog whimpers again eyes saying: "Don't look so sad. I'm with ya." Junpei looked to his side, a sad smile across his face.
"Haha, don't gimme that." Junpei tells the dog, hand scruffing up its fur."I'm sure someday...we can make some real friends that'll listen to us." The dog barks in agreement, happy to see that Junpei understood him.
The memory faded slowly like the others.
Just like before, the group turned to the victim of the memory. This time it was two. "Heh...all the scene in my past and you guys had to see that one..." Junpei chuckles sadly.
"Junpei..." Yukari felt his sadness too. 'Some real friend I am. I should really make it up to him...After he gives me my milkshake.' Tomoe felt Yukari and Junpei's emotion but said nothing. Out of the short silence Koromaru barked loudly. He wagged his long tail and stood up, paws moving to the boy in blue. Junpei was surprised as well."Dude, I know! I was surprised to see you, too!" he then looked happier and smiled.
"So, you were the dog from that day!" he realizes. Koromaru barks again as he jumped up to get petted by the boy he met. Tomoe smiled. 'Guess I'm not the only one who makes conversation with a dog.'
"Makes it seem kinda like...destiny." Junpei grinned and rubbed the pup's face. The shiba yipped and settled back down on the floor.
"Looking back, that was the day Akihiko-san found me. The only place I could go from there was the convenience store, and that's where I was when the Dark Hour hit..." Junpei reminisce.
Akihiko laughs, to ease the tension. He remembered that day too. "You were bawling in the dark with that awful expression. Honestly? You looked worse than the Shadows."
Junpei felt his cheeks flush and he waves his arms, trying to defend himself. "W-Well what was I supposed to do!? That was the scariest damn moment of my life, man!" he tried to protect himself while Akihiko teased him. Fuuka couldn't keep her giggles in and had to let them out. Everyone else chuckled and laughed as they asked questions about the boy.
On the other hand Metis pondered to herself. "I see... Unlike me and my sister, other people usually have a reason to 'awaken'... I comprehend." The childish robot nodded to herself. Her sister saw this and replied. "I had my reasons as well." Aigis tells her. "However in my case, it happened in reverse. I had the power first, and gained a reason later." Then her facial expression changed. "Now that I mention it, you're—"
Metis interrupted by accident, still trying to find an answer. "Hmm...I think I'm starting to get it. There is a reason we see what we see inside the doors." Aigis silenced herself, waiting for her younger sibling to continue. "Doors that have delivered on that reason disappear and those with roles to play still remain..."
"A reason...? What kind of reason?"
"I can't say for sure..." She replied still looking down and wondering. "But if we keep moving forward, I think we'll start seeing it." Then Metis looked up, smiling. She curled her fingers behind her metallic ears. "Let's do our best, Sister."
Aigis was taken by surprise. She was like that when she tried to understand something. "Y-You're right..." the two robots converse while a girl in pink spoke up. She only intended for one person to hear her but... "Hey, Tomoe." The girl beside her looked at her now. "In that memory, that was you who was mentioned, right?"
'Is she trying to pry me open?' The girl with gray locks thought. "Yes. That was me."
Yukari turned baffled and asked, "But that would mean your—" Shinjiro was behind them and though it not was his business, he listened in. Everyone did now. "Well, yes and no. Usually it's just a normal date. It's to get the girlfriends jealous really." Tomoe smirked and Yukari choked.
"Don't they um, bitch at you when they find out? I mean if you...did it with them." Akihiko's head turned to the two girls.
"Oh, no. The guys do all that stuff for me. I don't know why though." Yukari felt disgusted all over and ended the conversation with a shiver. Shinjiro felt upset. He had done that a couple of times too but that's because he's a guy. Yukari must think she's a slut now. He looked over to Tomoe. She played it cool and stood there and shrugged.
It was Akihiko's turn to talk. Shout was more like it. He moved away from his spot and walked over to his 'sister'.
"Why the hell were you doing that, huh? Do you know what others will think of you? Do you want them to think you're some sort of slut!?" His raged grew.
She stared at him at first then her eyebrows turned down into a frown. "I don't know...for fun? And what's that got to do with you? It's my life and I can do whatever I want."
"No, you can't do whatever you want! You're a girl! You shouldn't be giving away your body to a bunch of sex-hungry fiends!" the air turned ominous and the group tried to calm the two down.
"Shut up! I'm not a little girl! Or your sister so leave me the fuck alone!" She pulled her arm away from Shinjiro and swilled around, heading to the teleporter. Akihiko puffed out a breath then sighed heavily. He hunched and placed his gloved hands in his face.
'Great...'
His girlfriend rubbed his shoulders, softly and turned to the others. "Let's end this today." They agreed and walked up the pathway. Leaving the couple to stay behind.
"Akihiko?" Mitsuru looks at him but he rubs his face. "Nothing. Let's go back." he stood tall and walked away with her hand in his. Mitsuru has turned more curious and suspicious of Shujinko. She's a prostitute, her past is shrouded in mystery and her surname sounded off. 'It's been two months. Maybe Shinjiro has found something about her.'
"Must you really pry, Mitsuru? She is mysterious yes, but shouldn't we leave her be? She's doing us a favour by leading the team investigations."Artemisia mumbled with a velvet voice.
'I know it's wrong to pry but she's been too much of a curiosity for me. And for the others as well.'
"Don't use your friends as an excuse." The red head 'humph' at her persona. "Let her be. In time she may reveal her true self to us. Remember we still haven't see her door..."
'You're right.'
"When am I not?" Artemisia gloated as Mitsuru rolled her eyes. It was her persona after all.
AIGIS' ROOM: LATE NIGHT
"What's bothering you Metis?" Aigis walked over to her recharging chair or her bed after dumping her equipment onto a pile by the box of discarded ammunition.
"I don't understand Master at all. She was nice to Akihiko-san then angry the next." Metis sat in a wooden chair, contemplating. Aigis stopped before getting on her 'bed' "Do you know what's bothering Master, Sister?"
"Hmm...No but I think it's because Akihiko-san sees her differently. From what I see from his vitals, he's heart rate increases, fast enough but slower than the way he looks at Mitsuru-san." Metis tilted her head. "It means he's expressing a different kind of affection towards Tomoe-san."
"And Master doesn't like the way he treats her?"
"No, that's not it. More like she's trying to keep him at bay...? Tomoe-san is a mystery and she intends to keep it that way. Or so it would seem."
"I know very little about her and yet I still call her Master. I'm so confused." The black android clutched her head. Then she dropped them and looked at her sister in white who climbed on her chair. "But what about the other guy? In the beanie with the scary looking expression? She doesn't get irritated when he's around." Metis continued. "And her eyes light up sometime when they see each other and when they talk, he smiles more. She also likes to touch him a lot. Is that normal?"
"Uh..."Aigis fails to answer.
"And Master's odd behaviour only began right after the guys fought. I wonder what happened—"
"I-It's best not to pry in others problems Metis. Rest now." Aigis stammered. Metis apologises and flicks her visor down. Within a few minutes, Aigis hears tiny snores from below.
*sigh*
'She's finally asleep. Metis over thinks like me. We really might be sisters. But...what she's been speculating might be correct. Tomoe-san, what is your relationship with Shinjiro-san?' The android pondered as her eyes closed. She couldn't sleep anymore but closing her eyes and shutting herself down made it fell more human.
Until then, it hadn't occurred to me to wonder about it...
She's so full of emotion...nothing like me, when I woke up in July.
But she'd never had any chance to come into contact with others...
Was there a moment when she discovered her emotions, as I did?
The seed of my curiosity was planted as I began to wonder...
I need to work on my Akihiko and Mitsuru pairing... lacking.