Junpei missed the baseball for the tenth time that day. For days he wasn't able to focus on properly on practice. He has been reprimanded by their head coach many times to keep his eye on the ball and children, and to concentrate. Still, Junpei ends up missing or barely hitting the ball.
"Iori," the head coach called out when he missed his seventeenth ball. The coach, who had a stern look on his face, was leaning on the wall. He motioned for Junpei to come closer. "You know those kids are starting to think that they've suddenly become better at this because their coach suddenly got worse. You weren't like this before. If you keep this up you'll drag your team down. Tell me, is something wrong?"
Junpei looked down, a guilty expression marring his face. He rubbed the back of his neck before sighing. "Coach," he started lowly. "I think I did something I wasn't supposed to do..."
The coach facial features softened. "What happened?" he asked gently.
Junpei bit his lower lip. He closed his eyes, as if pondering if he should've kept it to himself and just make something up like lack of sleep or a headache. He sighed again and looked up to his coach. "There was this girl. I don't know much about her but I still... I still said some hurtful things to her. I was angry about something and I put all the blame on her, even though I didn't really know what happened..."
"Then just go and apologize to her," the coach suggested as if it was the most obvious thing to do, which in reality was. He placed a supporting hand on Junpei's shoulder. "I know it's easier said than done but you have to try. You owe her an apology."
"Yeah... thanks, coach." Junpei smiled at his coach gratefully. "I think I'll do that."
"Don't think just do it." He patted Junpei back a little of too strong making the young man to almost lose his balance. "And get back to practice. If you don't apologize by the end of the week I'll take your team from you, got that? Those kids will suffer under my hands. Do you want that?"
"Yes and no, sir!" Junpei saluted and grinned before running back to continue practicing with the children.
Yukari was at her dressing room getting ready for the next shoot. She stared absently at her hands on her lap. What have I done, she thought.
"You've been down recently, Yukari-chan," the stylist said. She looked at Yukari, through the mirror, with concern. "Did something happen, dear?"
"I feel like I forgot someone really important, Riko-san..." Yukari said with downcast eyes. "There was this strange girl who said she was my friend. I didn't believe her. I also said something I shouldn't have to her... All because of an opportunity that I assumed could've happen."
Riko smoothed Yukari's hair gently. "Did you apologize to her?" Yukari shook her head, no. The stylist lightly patted Yukari's shoulders before holding on them. "Why?"
"Because I couldn't face her." Yukari remembered the hurt in Minako's eyes. She remembered how the girl almost broke down before Ryoji and Shinjiro came to her rescue. Seeing the girl that way made her heart wrench. "I don't think I'm ready..."
"Think about it this way, Yukari-chan. She may still be hurting with what you said." Yukari's eyes partially widened. "Just go and apologize to her. It may not solve everything but it could give both of you a peace of mind." She leaned down to place her head near the side of Yukari's. "What do you say?"
Yukari smiled and turned to the older woman. "Thank you, Riko-san."
"You're welcome, dear."
Someone knocked on the dear. "Takeba-san, will be shooting the next scene in five minutes."
"Okay, I got it." She stood up. "Thanks again. I'll do that."
"I think we forgot to ask something," Kanji said. He was having dinner at the Beef Bowl Shop with Yu and Yosuke. They invited the others but they were all busy with their own stuff.
"Oh yeah." Yosuke swallowed before continuing. "What's that?"
"Her relationship with that Yuki guy."
Realization surfaced on Yosuke's face. "Dude you're right! We don't know their relationship. But we do know that they knew each other; that's what we've found out so far."
"Their also counterparts of each other," Yu added.
"Does that mean his the girl version of Yuki-san?" Yosuke asked. "Well he did look girly if you looked at his picture. Maybe he'd make a beautiful girl like Minako-san."
"That's not it," Yu said. "Naoto said that Yuki-san and Minako-san went to the same school years ago." Though he agrees with Yosuke that Minako is beautiful. "Also, another girl with the same name died ten years ago during winter. That means the maybe, in Yuki-san's world, Arisato-san died. And maybe the same goes for her world."
"This whole fusion of universes or worlds in giving me a headache," Kanji said. "But seriously, Yukari-san and Junpei-san were really harsh. I feel kinda guilty for not doing anything."
Yosuke nodded, feeling the same way. "Good thing she had Shinjiro-kun and Ryoji-kun. If everyone I know never knew I existed, I'd be insane."
"If everyone we know never knew we existed," Yu said slowly. "We would've disappeared first before we go insane." It was the horrifying truth of what was happening now.
"Minako... can you hear me?" He smiled sadly. "Of course you don't..." Makoto closed his eyes. After years, he was finally able to send his spirit to earth without breaking the seal. He was present on every journey his friends made. He was there, but they never knew. He was there, but he could barely do anything to give them a hand.
He tried to speak to them but no one heard him, no one except for that one time. Makoto was able to communicate to Minako. She did not see him but she heard him. For Makoto, that was enough to make him happy.
He watched as Minako lie down at the rooftop floor to gaze at stars and moon. He followed suit and lied down next to her.
"Makoto, can you hear me?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," he answered, even if he knew she wouldn't hear. "Loud and clear."
"I'm sure you want to be with everyone too... I'm sorry. This is all my fault." She puts her right arm over her eyes.
"No... No it's mine."
"I hope you're okay there." She smiled and turned to her side. Makoto turned to face her. Her eyes were drooping down. The cool night air was making her sleepy. "I wish we could all be together..."
"Me too, Minako. Me too." He watched her breathe softly as she sleeps on the floor. He tried to touch her cheeks only for his hands to pass through her. He retracted his hand and looked at the girl wistfully.
"You'll catch a cold here, you know." Still no response. "You will be facing many difficult things soon, Minako. You have to stay strong no matter what happens. Also-"
The rooftop door suddenly opened. Makoto watched Aigis as she walked slowly to the sleeping girl. She smiled at the girl before gently picking her up and taking her to her room.
Makoto turned to his back to look at the stars again. He remembered the time when he finally saw her again. He remembered that moment where all that's happened started to brew.
"Please remember what I said, Minako..."
Don't worry Minako-chan. I won't leave you.
Hi everyone! So unlike the previous chapters I proofread this twice. There may still be some errors though, I think. I hope it wasn't too dull. Please review, I'd appreciate it greatly.
So thank you readers. Thank you Xigtus, langeweile, Han Rei-chan, and Chi no Yume for following/favoriting. Thank you Rosalinda Lancaster Leonhart for commenting.
Rosilanda Lancaster Leonhart: No need to apologize. About his full appearance, I'm still wondering how I'm going to do that.