A/N: Ninja editing.

Chapter 14

Pharos' World

Junpei is weird. Yukari is weird. Fuuka is weird. Mitsuru is weird. And the beanie guy said Akihiko is weird. Was there something he didn't know? There probably was, but Minato didn't pay attention. Exam score would post soon, and girls wouldn't shut up about it.

"Summer vacation is just ahead, so study hard!" A woman teacher said. "Summer is beach season! Shaved ice! Wheeee!"

'Wheee!' Pharos cheered.

"Whee," Minato muttered and took a nap. Summer was not his thing. It was hot, and it was not easy to stay awake. Sleeping was less comfortable, too.

He spent some time with Maiko. Her parents were so terrible. He's not sure if eating takoyaki with her could help. There was a guy watching them. A striped shirt person.

That evening, everyone gathered at the table in the lounge. No one dared to speak. It was awkward. Minato could feel it. The dorm was not normal. There was some tension between Yukari and Mitsuru. Akihiko looked at Mitsuru from time to time, and Junpei glared at Minato. This place didn't feel right. Not now. Not at all.

Minato stood up and went back to his room. He threw himself onto his bed. Whatever news they had a certain brunette would tell him whether he liked it or not. After a while, he heard a loud 'Yakushimaaa! Woohoo!' from downstairs.

The Dark Hour came. Pharos was sitting on Minato's desk chair. "Is something troubling you?"

Minato was sitting on his bed. "Will he yell at me?"

Pharos thought for a while. "If you mean the boxing guy, then I am quite sure he won't."

"If it's Yukari," Minato lay down. "She would."

Pharos crossed his arms. "The Whirlwind Princess and the Boxing Albino are not the same people."

"Aren't humans all the same?" Coffins. They were coffins. Minato could walk around as a kid and no one noticed him. No one annoyed him. Coffins don't talk, and they couldn't think.

"No, not them. They are not coffins, are they?" Pharos asked. "Like you, Minato. You are special."

"I doubt that."

"You may not think you are special." Pharos smiled. "But I consider you special, like how Koromaru considers you special."

"Okay, Yukari and Akihiko aren't the same, but one thing that's the same," Minato shrugged. "Is that they will be gone at the end of winter. My relationship with them doesn't really matter."

"You could say that because you are you, but imagine it from my perspective..." Pharos frowned. "You have a whole world out there, but you are a whole world to me. You know that."

"Yet you keep telling me what to do." Minato sat up. "Since when is my business yours?"

"Since you accepted me as a friend."

Pharos appeared right in front of Minato. Their noses are inches apart.

"And we always will be."

Minato stared into his blue eye. He slowly nodded. "You are always a friend of mine, and your wish is my goal. I won't break the promise."

"Thank you." Pharos smiled. "I know I can count on you, my friend-"

"-and remember," Pharos whispered into his ear. "I'm always right beside you..."

In the morning, Junpei was waiting for him at the school gate.

"Yo," Junpei said. "Well, first of all, sorry." He raised his hands to stop Minato and continued. "Sorry about the way I've been acting. I was in a bad mood and I took it all out on you."

Minato nodded.

"You know, in Tartarus, and on the train... I was a loser." Junpei looked down. "I wanted to be the leader. I acted like it's the only fair thing that should happen. And when it's not going the way I want? I got mad."

Minato nodded again.

"Geez, I'm seriously ashamed of myself now. I know it wasn't cool of me…" Junpei scratched his head. "And, what you said that day was the truth..."

Minato himself couldn't remember what he had said but decided to go along.

"I'm not as good as you, I forgot to think that being a leader is tiring, too. And I won't be a good one anyway. You were right about that." Junpei sighed. "I was reckless. I might've got you guys in danger on that train, and just because I'm angry doesn't mean I can say whatever. You have lots of things to worry about and I have to make it worse… I'm sorry."

Junpei removed his hat and bowed, receiving some glances from the passerby. It wasn't important in the moment.

"It's okay," Minato said. He decided not to dig deeper. Junpei may be annoying at times, but when Minato saw the conflict and sadness in his eyes, he just couldn't blame Junpei. "I forgive you."

Junpei strengthened up and smiled. "Thanks. I was stupid, so, thanks for forgiving."

"At least you know," Minato said.

"Hey!" Junpei fixed his cap. "I'll treat you ramen. Surely you'll stop calling me stupid and consider me a nice guy Junpei."