Chapter 25: Meeting on the roof

7/24/09

LUNCHTIME

The episode in the morning had left Minato sore and even more fatigued than usual. Damn… The scores for the exam is up today…

Minato headed outside to check on the scores, he could hear Junpei groaning from the second floor. "AW MAAAN!"

Minato laughed as he descended to the first floor, "Hey Junpei, what happened to you?"

Junpei quickly held his friend's shoulders for support, much to the amusement of Kenji, who was just recovering from getting 'dumped' by ms. Kanou.

"MINATO! I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS SHIT!" He yelled, sobbing in between shouts, "I GOT LOWEST IN CLASS AND YET YOU, MY BEST FRIEND, GOT HIGHEST IN CLASS, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!"

"H-Highest?" Minato stammered as he pushed the other people crowding around the score board away, and there it was, Minato Arisato - First place, 430pt.

"Ha… Hahaa! Whoa…!" Minato laughed, Junpei growled playfully, "OH SHUT UP!"

Yukari exited the faculty office after meeting mr. Edoka about her Classic Lit assignment, What is wrong with that guy? Geez…

Outside, a large crowd had formed after the exam results were put up. Yukari could hear girls cooing softly between themselves, "Hey, Your prince Charming got highest in class!"

Lovestruck girls, *sigh* Probably Akihiko senpai's fan girls .Hmmm Akihiko-senapi got highest? Wow, he must have studied really hard… Usually Mitsuru senpai hogs the highest spot.

She started to walk away, the gossiping girl swooned to her friend, "Yeah, I know…! Minato-sama's sooooo cool!"

Yukari stopped in her tracks, w-what…? She eavesdropped on the girls, the one with buns on her hair giggled, "I heard he's gonna be Akihiko-senpai's successor after Akihiko-senpai graduates!"

The girl with the long hair squealed, "Really? That is SO COOL! Minato-sama's gonna have his own fan club!"

The girl with buns hugged her friend excitedly, "YEAH I KNOW RIGHT? I mean, did you see how he was kicking Kazushi's butt during Kendo practice? He was soooo hot!"

Yukari cringed, Yikes… They even spy on him? That's just downright creepy.

The girl with long hair giggled idiotically, "Heeheehee! He's ALWAYS hot! I wonder if he has a girlfriend…"

The girl with the buns wiggled a finger at her friend, "I heard he was pretty close to that freshman from student council."

The girl with long hair shook her head, "Neh, Minato-sama was just helping her out with some stuff, I heard."

The girl with buns nodded, "Yeah, I guess. Oh oh oh! How bout Yuko? She's the Kendo team's manager! They always hung out on days without practice."

The girl with long hair sobbed, "Oh no!"

The girl with buns laughed, "Aww! Don't be like that! Hot market stuff like Minato is sure to have high demands!"

The girl with long hair stopped sobbing and nodded, "Yeah I guess so… But I still think Yukari Takeba from 2-F's the most dangerous."

Yukari's blood froze. The girl with the buns laughed, "Yeah! I mean like, they are like so close! She even walked him to school on the first day! And they like live together!"

The girl with long hair started sobbing again, "Heeey! Don't say it like that! It makes me feel as if I have no more chance to be with Minato-sama!"

The girl with the buns patted her friend's back as they started to head back to class, "There, there! Well Takeba's pretty popular, she's probably got lots of boyfriends and suitors, Minato-sama won't like loose goods like her."

Yukari balled up her fist, reminding herself that violence wasn't the answer, and besides… I'm used to those rumors already. She felt somebody tap on her shoulders.

Minato smiled at her, "Time's almost up, you should hurry."

Yukari felt the anger dissipate, "Y-Yeah, I guess."

Minato held on to her shoulders, "H-Hey… Don't put what those girls said to heart, alright?"

"You heard…?"

"They started to get really loud after a while." Minato laughed. His face became kind again, "They think they know me, but they don't. Like how they think they know you, but obviously they weren't at Yakushima beach that other night."

Yukari felt her cheeks burn and quickly stepped on Minato's feet, "Hey! Watch your mouth!" She growled playfully, mimicking Junpei. Minato chuckled and urged her to head up to class.

While they walked along the hallway, Yukari spoke softly, "Hey… Are you free later? Can you meet me up at the roof?"

Minato nodded, "Yeah, Alright."

GEKKOUKAN HIGH

AFTERSCHOOL

Yukari packed up her things quickly, behind her, Minato was packing up too. He packed faster than her and flung his bag over his shoulder like how Akihiko would fling his jacket over his shoulder.

He approached her from behind and was standing so close, she was already within hugging distance. "Just a sec."

"Alright… you're slow…" He laughed. Yukari sent another foot smashing down on his shoe. He jumped back in pain but he continued to laugh.

Yukari finally finished and dragged him along, pulling his jacket as they made their way to the rooftop.

ROOFTOP

The roof was an idealistic place. The view from the top was beautiful and because their school was smack in the middle of the island, they could see and feel the breeze of the ocean.

During colder seasons, couples liked to hang out on the roof because of the quiet serenity and the view. But since it was summer, the weather was a killer and sweaty shirts and basking under the hot afternoon sun wasn't exactly romantic.

Yukari took this chance to speak to him alone.

Minato looked just as confused as ever. Yukari wanted to laugh, but decided against it, it'll ruin the moment.

"Hey… Um…" She stuttered nervously. Don't screw this up, Yukari!

Say it… say it…! "Um… I…! Oh Nevermind." Damn it!

Minato sat down at the bench and motioned for her to sit too, "What is it?"

Yukari calmed herself down, "Sorry. Well um…"

Minato watched Yukari carefully, his heart setting itself on overdrive, Shit! Since when did I feel like this for her?

Yukari mumbled softly as she lowered her head, "Y-You might have forgotten about it already but…"

She took a huge breath, "At Yakushima… I said some stupid things. I just wanted to say sorry."

Minato felt his face burn up, Damn it, why does she have to be so cute… Shit… if she sees me blushing she's gonna call me a pervert and never speak to me again! GAH! STOP BEING SO RED, FACE!

Yukari didn't notice Minato beating himself up, she looked up into the sky as they sat together at the bench, "It's been bothering me for a while… It's hard not having a regular family, ya know?"

She turned towards Minato, "Everyone else has a mom and a dad… Why do we have to be different…? Why us"

…We…? Us…? Minato stopped being stupid and stared at her, Yukari noticed and blushed, "I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to lump both of us together but…"

Minato watched bashfully as Yukari smiled, "...but I feel like you understand, and have been looking out for me, Minato-kun."

She laughed nervously, "A-At least, that's what I thought… Haha! Is that just wishful thinking?"

She watched Minato's face for a reaction, he grinned at her. Yukari giggled, "That's how I really feel though."

Minato heard a small voice talk in his head, Thou shalt be blessed… when creating persona of the Lovers Arcana…

Minato nodded to himself, much to the amusement of Yukari. He spoke softly, "You can count on me."

Yukari smiled, reassured. The wind started to get colder as the sun went down, Yukari shivered slightly beside him, "Wow… Time flies! It's getting late… L-Let's go home."

Yukari blushed; we're going home together… Just like what that girl said… it's because we live together… Wow it would've sounded so awkward if I said it out…

Next to her, Minato was quiet. His face had a tinge of pink as he walked home together with Yukari, Today was a good day. Maybe we should head to Tartarus tonight.

DORM

EVENING

Aigis waited for Minato to come home. She detected his presence as he stepped forward to open the door for Yukari.

Minato-san is attracted to Yukari-san, is he not? Aigis thought. His heart rate escalates when he is around her, Yukari-san's heart rate also only escalate around Minato-san, although she seems upset when I am near him.

Aigis stood motionless at the window, would Yukari-san give her life for Minato-san, as I would?

Aigis watched Yukari nudge playfully at a laughing Minato, I believe so. But… It is my highest priority to protect him. I don't know why, but I must. I… I'm sorry, Yukari-san.

Fuuka was sitting at her usual seat on the sofa, her laptop open and blinking. She turned towards the door as it opened slowly, Minato laughing and falling while Yukari pushed him in. Fuuka smiled, Yukari-chan seemed to feel a lot better after hanging out with Minato-kun.

"...Hi, how was your day? So, how did you do on your exams?" she asked. The moment she said 'exam', Junpei (who was lounging on the armchair) groaned softly.

Yukari answered amongst her giggles, "Hahaa! Uh, um, I got pretty good, hee! Minato got highest in class… Stop pushing me!"

Minato managed to break free from Yukari's chokehold. Fuuka exclaimed happily, "That's great! I'm happy for you."

She turned her body around, "Did you see Mitsuru-senapi's score? It was amazing!"

Aigis, who had been standing at the window the entire time, mumbled, "… In two weeks, the moon will be full again."

Junpei jumped up from his seat, "Dude, those freaks with Apathy Syndrome will be everywhere... Wait, I mean "The Lost." I prolly shouldn't complain about 'em, since it's not their fault. It's those damn Shadows..."

Minato nodded, "So we gotta fight to prevent the shadows from getting to anybody else."

Aigis walked up to Minato, "It is possible to end this... Six Shadows remain. If we can eliminate them, the Dark Hour will vanish."

Junpei walked over to Minato too, and flung his arm around Minato's neck, "Yeah, that's true... So, what you're trying to say, Aigis, is that fighting is more important that studying, right? ...I agree 100%!"

Aigis ignored Junpei, preferring to stand at the window. Minato headed upstairs to bathe. Soon after, he came downstairs in his school uniform and his S.E.E.S arm band, "Let's head to Tartarus tonight."

Junpei yelled out excitedly and quickly dashed into his room to grab his long, heavy sword.

As the rest of the S.E.E.S went to their rooms to prepare (Aigis included, she had to go reload her guns.), Minato sat in the empty lounge and thought about just now.

I can't let my emotions get in the way of protecting and leading my friends. If the relationship ends up bad and we break up, it would totally mess up our Tartarus exploration trips… W-Wait a second, how do we know we're gonna go out anyway? M-Maybe I'm just thinking too far ahead… Yeah… That's right… Just my wishful thinking.

"Um… Are you alright?"

Minato got startled out of his daydream. He looked up and saw Yukari's concerned face. "I-I'm alright, just thinking about stuff."

She sat down beside him, "If you're not feeling too well you can skip tonight you know? Mitsuru-senpai can take over the leadership role."

Minato shook his head, "Neh, I'm fine, really. Just thinking about my schedule for next week." Minato laughed nervously. Yukari's eyes told him that she didn't buy it; she opened her mouth to question him before she got cut off by Junpei's yell.

"WOOHOOOO! TARTARUS! C'MON GIMME THE BEST YA GOT, YA DAMN SHADOWS!" Junpei pranced around; he jumped up on the table before he got shot down by Mitsuru.

"Iori, what do you think you're doing on top of the dining table?" She glared at him.

Junpei quickly jumped down from the table and hid behind Minato, "N-Nothing! Sorry, senpai!"

Author's Note: Aw right! The Lovers social link is established! Woohoo! Yesterday, I went to the Siloso Beach with my friends, and I was immediately reminded of Yakushima. Eh heh heh heh... Oh and I threw seaweed on my friend's hair. BWAHAHAHA!

Okay enough about me, this chapter was kinda lame, I read it through and thought that it was a little boring. I wanna add more stuff, but then I realised that their relationship was only just friends , so if ya'll wanna see more MinatoxYukari this n that, you gotta wait for me to reach at least rank 5 of the Social Link, THEN things get interesting.

In the next chapter, our heroes explore Tartarus! Aigis and Yukari have a little conflict and mayhem ensues! Stay Tuned!