A/N: So here's the final chapter of the summer arc. Sorry it took so long but in addition to being busy, I also wanted to make sure something as delicate as this chapter was written right. This is especially applicable to the final scenes of the chapter where the shipping occurs.
I don't know if the moment(s) between the two is what you were expecting but it is a milestone in their relationship and that's what I've said from the beginning. If you're worried that their moment(s) isn't 'large' enough, there'll be plenty more to come in the autumn/fall arc.
Aside from the main attraction, I've also tried a section in Koromaru's POV. It's the first time I've written from a non-human POV so if you've got any comments or thoughts about how I handled that, I'd greatly appreciate it. Additionally, I've made Naganaki Shrine much larger than it is in the game. If you have seen the second movie, you'll likely have an idea why.
Anyway enjoy the update and next time, we'll be heading into the storm of the autumn/fall arc.
The thing about fast food restaurants that intrigued Minato was how so many different stores could make business out of what was more or less the same meal. Burgers. French Fries. Soda. It was all the same. Whether you went to a McDonald's or a Mos Burger, you could find each item on the menu. Sure there were things that they did to differentiate, perhaps using a different sauce or higher quality ingredients but as a whole? You were still eating a burger and fries.
This was not so at Wild-Duck Burger.
While the premium burger joint in Iwatodai Station kept to the standard formula, they also deviated from it in both the food and dining experience. As soon as you walked in, you were greeted with quacking noises and air that was redolent of duck fat and cooking meat. Their comprehensive menu was wacky, including burgers with eccentric meats (there was currently a limited time offer for the all new 'Frog Burger'), to those that used raw seafood (sashimi burgers anyone?) and to those that stuffed so much toppings between the bun that you had to use a knife and fork to eat. They even had a mascot standing by the counter – a blue-green duck with a yellow beak that hung open and comical eyes that constantly darted from left to right.
It was difficult to judge whether the mascot designers had aimed to create a cute character that enticed customers to come in and eat, or one that stood looking at you like an obsessed fangirl as you queued to order. Minato thought it was both as he took his eyes off the mascot and back to his friends.
Summer vacation was almost over, with just over a week remaining. It was hard to believe his third last school semester was fast approaching and even harder to believe that so much had happened in the span of a season. Meeting new allies and making new enemies. Going to Yakushima and learning how to end the Shadow threat as well as the hidden power of this malicious, sentient entity that dwelled within his psyche. Improving his combat skills and coping with his limitations. It was by far the most productive summer and it was soon coming to a close. He felt content in knowing that he'd set out to achieve most of the things he wanted done, but as he sat with Junpei, Akihiko, Yukari, Fuuka and Ken at one of the large booths for a late lunch, he remained unsatisfied with the one loose end. The one unresolved matter that had haunted him ever since the operation at Shirakawa Boulevard.
What did Mitsuru feel for him?
It was the issue he'd intended to deal with as soon as he was released from hospital following the incident. And if it weren't for Junpei's jealously, Aigis' attachment, the assignment of watching Ken that had taken him out of Mitsuru's sight and every other delay he could recall, he would by now either have had his heart crushed or a blossoming relationship.
The problem wasn't that there were no opportunities to ask her. It was that those opportunities were never the right ones. There were always interruptions (the amount of calls for her to turn up at the Kirijo Group headquarters was roughly equal to the amount of times someone would squeeze themselves into their conversation) and he knew that something so delicate required both of them to be alone together and in the best frame of mind. After all, neither of them had much experience in transforming friendship into an intimate relationship.
He sighed and sipped his soda, the fizziness sending a jolt through his throat and nose. Although there was still time to think of a way to get her alone, he knew it was better to do it in the next few days than to wait for school to resume. Once the semester began, the pool of opportunities would become even smaller than it already was.
"I hope Aigis is going to be okay," Fuuka said beside him. "Powering herself up like that and then overheating can't be good for her."
"I'm sure she's gonna be fine," Yukari said. She was seated at the far end on the opposite side of the table. "Mitsuru-senpai and the Kirijo Group know what they're doing."
"I guess. But even so, she's still going to use it often isn't she?"
"Well we could restrict her to usage to full moon operations," Akihiko suggested, folding his arms. He was also on the opposite end of the table and sat facing Minato. "Orgia Mode isn't necessary for Tartarus."
"Like she'll listen to us," Yukari said. She then looked at Minato. "Maybe you could remind her to stop using it. Since she's your bodyguard after all."
Minato shrugged. Since the last operation, Aigis had been extremely keen on activating Orgia Mode, insisting that it would benefit them by reducing the time spent in combat and accelerating their climb of the tower. During the battles with some of the tougher Shadows that guarded certain floors, her reason was justified. But doing so in small skirmishes that were over within twenty seconds? It was irrational and had led to her breaking down like an old battered car dying in the middle of a highway several times. Minato thought she was engaging in such activity to test out her performance and compile data on it but surely she was smart enough to know how much it overworked her.
"I'll give it a try when she gets back but I'm not promising anything," Minato said. "She doesn't even listen to me sometimes."
"Yeah, just like the day after we came back from Yakushima," Junpei said, leaning against the wall with an arm on the cushion top. "Man that was a weird day."
"What happened?" Ken asked.
"Long story short, Aigis annoyed Minato for the whole week," Yukari answered.
Ken looked to Minato. "In that case, moving to my dorm must've been a huge relief for you Minato-san."
"Well, yes and no," Minato replied.
"Anyway," Yukari said, "Fuuka, about that festival the day after tomorrow, are you going to wear a yukata?"
"Well I'm planning to," Fuuka said. "I've never worn one before though so…"
Junpei perked up, a cheeky grin forming. "A yukata? Hey that means–"
He cut off and bit back a cry of pain as Yukari kicked him in the shin. Junpei glared at her. She simply smiled back.
"I don't get it. What's the big deal about a yukata?" Ken asked. "It's just an informal kimono isn't it?"
Everyone except Ken exchanged a look with each other.
"I'll tell ya later," Junpei said, rubbing his shin.
"No you won't!" Yukari scoffed.
"Give me a break Yuka-tan. I can't help it if he wants to know."
"Yes you can. And for the record, there's nothing to know."
The two of them continued to bicker. Minato, Fuuka, Akihiko and Ken decided it was best to leave them be and they turned to have their own discussion.
"So Ken, you're going too right?" Fuuka asked. "To the festival?"
"I'm not sure yet," Ken replied. His cheeks then turned a bright pink. "But um, do you guys think Aragaki-san might be going as well?"
"I don't really know if he will," Akihiko said, "but I know festivals aren't really Shinji's thing. There's no harm in asking him though. In fact, why don't we go ask him right now?"
"You'd do that for me?"
"Sure. If we can find him."
As Akihiko, Ken and Fuuka prepared to stop the argument and inform Yukari and Junpei of what they were planning to do, Minato wondered if he would be able to get Mitsuru alone at the Summer Festival. He certainly wanted her in his sights as much as possible, if only to ensure that she wasn't harmed by Strega. Takaya hadn't explicitly stated the plans he had for Mitsuru but not telling when he would strike as well as whether he would was the best plan. It created uncertainty and instilled fear. Even right now, with Mitsuru safe in the Kirijo Group labs, he was anxious for her. What if Takaya was waiting for her to come out? What if Takaya had disguised himself and sneaked into the headquarters of the Group? Both thoughts were preposterous as Minato was sure Takaya wasn't stupid enough to do either of those things.
But he had thought of them.
Following the others out of Wild-Duck Burger (Quack Quack!) and into the busy streets of Iwatodai station, he glanced at Naganaki Shrine on the distant mountaintop. In two days' time, the shrine would burst into action as people came to enjoy the festivities. Crowds would be in abundance and alongside it, danger. Because if anything would happen
(Nothing's going to happen you're just thinking too much into this.)
it would be somewhere with many people and dim lighting – the shadows cast by both distorting what was there and what wasn't.
"Hey dude, you spacin' out again?"
Minato blinked and found everyone looking at him curiously. "Sorry. What did I miss?"
"We're splitting up in pairs to find Shinjiro-senpai," Fuuka said. "Ken wants to go with Akihiko-senpai and I'm going with Yukari so that leaves you with Junpei. Is that alright?"
"That's fine. But wouldn't it be easier if we just call him?"
Akihiko chuckled. "You'd think that would work but Shinji rarely carries his phone around. He never was too keen on the whole long distance communication thing. Anyway, I'll take Ken and have a look around in Port Island Station. You guys go to Paulownia Mall." He turned to the girls. "And you two can search around here. We'll meet back at the dorm in an hour. That sound good?"
Everyone nodded and split up.
As Minato made his way to Paulownia Mall with Junpei, he wasn't sure how they would find Shinjiro wandering around. Especially in a shopping complex. If anything, their best chance was to return to the courtyard in the back alleys of Port Island Station where the punks had attacked them. Such an excursion however, would never happen again.
"Dammit, he ain't here," Junpei said after half an hour.
They had walked around the entire mall without any success and were now sitting on one of the many benches in the center of the mall where the trio of wishing fountains were. Memories of Elizabeth pouring the contents of her purse resurfaced and Minato curled his lips into a smile.
"Man, I thought he'd be easy to find since he's so tall," Junpei continued.
"Well, we might as well go back," Minato said. "Unless you still want to check–"
"Uh-uh. That ain't happening. We vowed on it remember?"
"I know. Just checking to see if you changed your mind."
"Well it hasn't. By the way dude, you get a chance to ask Mitsuru-senpai yet?"
"No but I'm thinking of doing it as the festival. The only problem is–"
"You guys need to be alone yeah? Don't worry, I'll keep Yuka-tan and the rest of em out of your way."
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me. It's what bros are for. I dunno if I can keep Ai-chan away though so you may have to deal with her yourself."
Minato cursed silently. He had forgotten about Aigis. Never mind her attachment issues, it was her mission of bringing Mitsuru to the summer festival regardless of any objections that bothered him.
But at least she's another pair of eyes who can keep a lookout for Takaya.
"I'll figure something out," Minato said. He stood up. "Come on, let's go."
Koromaru waited patiently in the dorm's dining area.
He always knew it was time to eat when he saw Beanie Guy in the kitchen and smelt the wafting aroma of cooking meat. To have dinner, he had to be a good dog. And to be a good dog, he had to sit and wait. It was especially important when Beanie Guy was doing the cooking because the food tasted better. Compared to the biscuits everyone else gave him, it was full of flavor. Koromaru did receive leftovers from everyone else too but it was an occurrence as rare as going on a walk three times a day.
That was why he liked Beanie Guy the best. Because Beanie Guy gave him nice food and nice cuddles and more food and more cuddles. Miniskirt Girl and Computer Girl also gave him nice cuddles as well but they couldn't give food that was as good as Beanie Guy. In fact, their cooking was bad.
Very bad.
Koromaru didn't understand how someone could get cooking wrong. Yet on one night, Miniskirt Girl did by serving him burnt food. Cap Guy had laughed his head off that evening, apparently amused at the fact that the burnt food wasn't eaten. Koromaru didn't understand that either. What was so funny about not eating burnt food? Nobody would eat burnt food. It was common sense.
Then again, Cap Guy was usually silly and said silly things. Like how he wanted to be a dog to avoid going to summer school, and how he wanted to be a dog so that he could get a girl's attention, and how he wanted to be a dog so that he could be less of a target when they went fighting at Tart "R" Us. Cap Guy wasn't nearly as cool as Pockets Guy, Shorts Boy, Boots Lady and Akee, all of whom would take him out for an evening walk. Cap Guy couldn't match Miniskirt Girl and Computer Girl either, and he certainly wasn't like Beanie Guy.
Because Beanie Guy was the best.
The sizzling sound suddenly stopped and Koromaru's ears perked up. He wagged his tail rapidly, panted in excitement and looked up with glee at Beanie Guy.
"There you go," Beanie Guy said, kneeling to place the silver bowl in front of Koromaru. "That's your dinner."
Koromaru didn't waste any time and attacked the meat patty. He took one bite and recoiled. It was delicious. But also very, very hot.
"Oh crap, it's too hot for you?" Beanie Guy said. He placed his hands on Koromaru's cheeks and gently massaged them.
That was another reason why he liked Beanie Guy. The massages.
"There, there," Beanie Guy said, now patting Koromaru's head. "Eat it slowly now."
Koromaru did. Partly because he knew how to enjoy good food and partly because Beanie Guy told him to. And Beanie Guy was always right.
Because Beanie Guy was the best.
Shinjiro watched Koromaru eat.
He still believed it was unusual for a dog to have a Persona but after some convincing and live demonstrations in Tartarus, he accepted it. If Minato could wield more than one, if an android with an artificial psyche could have one, then a dog could have one too. It was not that weird.
At this point, it wouldn't even be weird if inanimate objects, like a car, got a Persona. Though if cats started getting them too, that would be horrible.
He shivered at the thought. Shinjiro never liked cats. They weren't as cute or loyal or fun as dogs. They were snobbish creatures who looked down at you and didn't show any appreciation for your love. His former caretaker in the orphanage would have scolded him if he had said that aloud (Shinjiro remembered that he did once or twice and somehow avoided getting into trouble) but it was the truth. What other animal would always have your back? What other animal expressed such open affection? Definitely not a–
The front door opened.
Shinjiro looked up and saw Yukari and Fuuka entering. He then looked down at himself, specifically the pink apron he always wore when he was cooking, and panicked. Since he had rejoined S.E.E.S., he had taken a great effort in keeping everything related to cooking – his skills, cookbooks and magazines, and apron – hidden from everyone, embarrassed that if someone found out, they'd make fun of him for the rest of the year. Or even worse, ask him to cook dinner every night. He swore he wouldn't ever let that happen, especially with that idiot boxer around. But now it was becoming a possibility.
"So this is where you were Shinjiro-senpai," Fuuka said. "We were looking for you."
"Y-You were?"
Fuuka nodded and then eyed him from head to toe with a strange look on her face. "Hang on, is that a cooking apron? Do you cook?"
Shinjiro tried to respond but what came out of his mouth was an unintelligible mess.
"Wow, I didn't know you could cook Shinjiro-senpai," Yukari said. "And for Koro-chan no less. He's a pretty picky eater. Maybe you could teach Fuuka a few tricks."
"What?" Shinjiro said, standing up and taking off his apron.
"You could teach me how to cook better," Fuuka said, taking a step forward. "That is, if you want to…"
Yukari placed a hand on Fuuka's shoulder. "What are you saying Fuuka? Of course he'll teach you." She gave Shinjiro a cheeky grin. "Right senpai?"
Before Shinjiro could answer, the door opened once more to reveal Minato, Junpei, Akihiko and Ken. Shinjiro immediately put his hands behind his back as to hide the apron and moved away from Koromaru, who was just about done eating.
"Oh hey, you girls got back before us," Junpei said. He frowned as he noticed the two girls staring at a flustered Shinjiro as if he were some celebrity. "Uh, what's going on here?"
"Nothing's going on," Shinjiro said, avoiding the girls' eyes. "They said they were looking for me. I don't know what for." He paused. "Do you guys know why?"
"Actually we do," Akihiko said. "Ken wanted to ask you something."
Shinjiro looked at the boy, careful to keep the apron out of sight. "What's up kiddo?"
"Aragaki-san, I was just wondering, are you going to the festival the day after tomorrow?" Ken asked.
So they were looking for me for the kid's sake. Are they really that bored?
"Sorry but I'm not interested," Shinjiro said.
"C'mon Shinji," Akihiko said. "It'll be fun. Just like the good old days."
"If you're thinking of having another takoyaki eating competition, you better think again."
"Another… Hey! I mentioned nothing of the sort."
Shinjiro sighed, rolled his eyes, and turned back to Ken. "Look kid, the bottom line is I don't go to festivals. Not my scene. "
"Oh, I see," Ken said, looking down.
The dispirited look on the Ken's face made Shinjiro feel a little bad. The boy had clearly wanted him to come along and turning down the invitation in front of everyone was, Shinjiro thought, the worst way for it to go down. Even so, it was for the best. The idea of spending time with the boy wasn't what made him afraid. It was the chance that the kid might start talking about his deceased mother. From what Akihiko and Mitsuru had told him, Ken firmly believed it was the Shadows who had killed his mother that night. And although that was false, Shinjiro saw no reason to expose the truth just yet.
"Are you sure you won't change your mind senpai?" Yukari asked.
"I'm pretty su–" Shinjiro started before stopping as he inspected Yukari's eyes. They had flashed with mischief. "Wait. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh no reason. It's just that if you won't go with Ken, then I suppose you'll be okay if I mentioned to everyone that you're a really goo–"
Shinjiro raised his arms, exposing the apron he held in his right hand. "H-Hey! Don't tell them!" He regretted the words instantly and smacked the palm of his left hand to his face. There went his secret. And his apron. Admitting defeat, he took his hand off his face and looked at Ken. "Oh screw it. I'll go with you. But I'll have you know, going to a festival with me is totally gonna blow."
A warm breeze blew through the rows of stalls set up at Naganaki Shrine, carrying with it the elegant sounds of a koto, the laughter of children, and the appetizing smells of deep fried foods. It had been a little over a decade since Minato had last visited a summer festival but walking through the maze-like streets with everyone sans Mitsuru and Aigis (they had promised to meet at the shrine itself) was enough to stir up memories of going to festivals with his parents. There wasn't much he could recall from those times; the images were too vague, the sounds were too muffled and every time he tried to reach out with his mind, the threads of memories ran away from him like a flock of birds taking to the sky after a gunshot. The only clear memory was seeing the paper lanterns hanging in the air for the first time. Strung in graceful, curving arcs, he remembered marveling at their pastel glow and trying to count how many there were. Looking back, it was probably the most childish thing he'd done but that was the whole point of festival. They existed for celebratory purposes as well as reminding you that there were still times where you could enjoy goofing around and not worry about the future. Even now as he admired the lanterns, the wind causing them to sway back and forth like children on a swing, he could feel himself absorbing the festive atmosphere. And that was the same as it had been all those years ago.
Pulled out of his thoughts by Koromaru barking joyfully, he watched the dog race off to two figures that were standing beside a mask stall. Minato and the others followed him. As they neared, he saw that it was actually Mitsuru and Aigis, and he couldn't resist a smile upon overhearing their conversation.
"What is that?" Aigis was saying. She was dressed in a dark blue floral patterned yukata and blended in surprisingly well with the crowd.
"It's called a 'mask'," Mitsuru replied. "People sometimes wear it over their face for fun."
"I do not comprehend. How is hiding your face fun?"
"The purpose isn't to hide your face. Rather, you wear it to have a different face. It's a bit difficult to explain. Hmm. How about I– Oh? Koromaru?"
Mitsuru stopped speaking as she noticed Koromaru approaching them, his tail wagging. She then looked up and saw everyone gathering around them. Yukari and Fuuka were dressed for the occasion – the former in a checked orange-white yukata with a yellow sash, the latter in a light blue floral patterned yukata with a red sash – while the boys were all in their usual summer outfits. Shinjiro however, was still dressed in that maroon jacket of his and looked completely out of place. She was surprised that he was here and wondered how he'd been convinced to come along.
"Leave it to Koromaru to find you guys so quickly," Akihiko said. "How'd the evaluation go?"
"It was fine I suppose. We couldn't find a solution to prevent Orgia Mode from wearing her out so we just reprogrammed her system to only activate it in emergency situations," Mitsuru said.
"I see."
"But she's fine right?" Fuuka asked.
"Don't worry Fuuka-san," Aigis responded. "I am well and have been strictly instructed on how to best operate my functions."
"Look at you guys, talking so seriously," Yukari said. "Come on, let's save that for a later meeting and enjoy the festival."
Mitsuru looked at her and smiled. "You're right. We can discuss this later."
Yukari beamed at this. "That aside, was it really alright to bring Aigis here? I mean, I know she's in a yukata but…"
"It couldn't be helped. She really wanted to go and when the Chairman heard, he said it would be a good opportunity to test her ability to interact with a large group of people. I-Iori? W-Why are you staring at me like that?"
All eyes turned to Junpei, whose attention was fixated on Mitsuru.
"Mitsuru-senpai…" Junpei said. "That yukata… You look hot. I, um…I mean…"
Minato thumped Junpei's back, causing him to pinwheel his arms for balance and sending everyone else into small fits of laughter. He too had been stunned by how well Mitsuru's white yukata embellished with a pink flower pattern and green sash suited her, but was wise enough to not stare at her like how the mascot in Wild-Duck Burger stared at you while you ordered. He had fallen for that once before on a moonlit bridge, a second time in that forsaken hotel, and even a third time on the sandy beaches of Yakushima. He wouldn't fall for it again.
"I don't think he's wrong though," Fuuka said as the laughter died down. "Mitsuru-senpai's yukata is really adult-like isn't it?"
Mitsuru's cheeks turned a light pink. "H-Huh? W-What are you saying?"
"Yeah. With your hair tied up like that, you kinda have this sexy look to you as well," Yukari said. She turned to the boys. "You guys think so too right?"
Junpei nodded furiously, Akihiko and Ken exchanged a glance before nodding slowly, and Shinjiro averted his eyes to a nearby yakitori stall.
Glancing at Mitsuru again, Minato couldn't agree more. Although her usual look of letting her long, flowing red hair down was attractive (and it still remained his favorite), he was beginning to like this new geisha-like style. It was different and made her look even more elegant than before. He took his eyes off her for a moment as to not fall in the trance he had experienced three times and peered at the crowd ahead of them.
He froze.
Standing in the center of the street, with the masses of children and adults not giving him a second glance, was Takaya. Minato couldn't believe the leader of Strega was actually here and although he had mentally prepared himself for the situation, he still wasn't ready when Takaya pulled out his revolver and aimed it at Mitsuru. He was unable to turn his eyes away from the sadistic grin and stalking yellow eyes and could only watch with helplessness as the trigger was pulled, the crack of the gun–
–coming from his right?
Minato blinked and looked around. On his right was a shooting stall, where a group of young boys were shooting the displayed prizes with rifles that spat out corks. He sighed and returned his gaze to where Takaya was standing.
And found the leader of Strega nowhere to be seen. So was it just a hallucination then? A vision conjured by his paranoia? If so then Takaya was a genius because being consumed by fear like this meant that there wouldn't be any bloodshed. S.E.E.S. would implode and it would start with someone going crazy.
Minato took a deep breath. He wouldn't let Takaya's threat get to him. Not on such a joyful occasion. Besides, as anonymous as Takaya could be in the crowds, it was just as easy to pick him out as suspicious from the way he dressed and kept his revolver. Stomping his anxiety with those thoughts, he returned his attention to his friends. Junpei was cradling his foot, Yukari had a satisfied grin on her face, and Ken was bewildered at something and was looking to ask Akihiko for clarification. Mitsuru, Fuuka and Aigis were discussing what the latter thought of wearing a yukata.
And Shinjiro was eyeing him.
Or he had been before averting his gaze and shuffling towards Ken and Akihiko. Minato creased his brow slightly. It hadn't been the first time Shinjiro had done this and seeing it again made him wonder what evaluative look was for.
Is he trying to tell me something? Or is he just bored? Minato couldn't think of anything that would need to be discussed in private apart from the slim chance Shinjiro had figured out his situation with Mitsuru. And even if he did deduce it, what did it matter to him? Yes he may have known Mitsuru for as long as Akihiko had, but he had walked out on them after that accident and wanted nothing to do with S.E.E.S. Over those two years, Minato knew from Mitsuru that Shinjiro had just kept in touch with Akihiko, and that the amount of times he had contacted them were less than five. So to show an interest in their problems, especially that of Mitsuru's, didn't seem right at all.
"So are we just gonna stand around here talking about clothing and looks?" Shinjiro asked, breaking up the discussions. "Cos that ain't what I signed up for."
"Well, we could–" Akihiko began.
"Don't even think about it."
"I-I'd like to go to the goldfish scooping stall," Ken said. "That is, if it's fine by you Aragaki-senpai."
Shinjiro glanced at Yukari, whose eyes told him all he needed to know if he didn't grant Ken's wish. "Yeah sure. But all of you are coming along as well."
And with that, they made their way through the crowds in search of the nearest goldfish scooping stall. Seeing the joyful look on Ken's face reminded Minato of when he had tried scooping goldfish as a child. It hadn't ended with much success back then (he remembered making enemies with the paper scooper) and he wasn't finding much success now either. Surprisingly, Shinjiro was a master at this for he had managed to scoop four goldfish without tearing his paper scooper; his efforts inspiring everyone else and several onlookers to try with enhanced enthusiasm. Needless to say, the variation in performance of the other S.E.E.S. members was like the variation one would find when looking at university entrance exam scores. Some did better than expected while others flunked. Minato was glad he wasn't alone in blaming the paper scoopers for the atrocious experience; Junpei, Yukari, Fuuka, and Mitsuru were all annoyed at the lifespan of theirs. Even Aigis was suspicious of this but before she made herself the suspect by commenting whether or not these goldfish were edible, Mitsuru quickly intervened and took her away, saying she would meet back with them when the fireworks started.
Since there was little point in continuing, Junpei, Yukari and Fuuka also called it quits and made for the mask stall they were standing by earlier. As they left, Junpei mouthed "Good luck man". Minato inclined his head at the gesture and watched them go. Once they disappeared into the crowd, he turned back to find Shinjiro passing a bag containing the four goldfish he had caught to a beaming Ken, and Koromaru nuzzling Akihiko's shin. The boxer was one goldfish short of matching Shinjiro's score and was staring at his childhood friend with burning rivalry.
"So, what's next kiddo?" Shinjiro asked, avoiding Akihiko's look.
"I'm actually a bit hungry," Ken replied. "But I also want to see more things."
Shinjiro nodded and finally met Akihiko's eyes. He sighed. "Fine Aki, you pick the next thing we do. Take the kid and Koromaru with you. I'll grab the food."
"Just don't eat too much," Akihiko said, grinning. "I'm still challenging you."
"Whatever. C'mon Arisato, let's go."
Minato followed Shinjiro into the crowd as the latter led him to what was most likely that yakitori stall near the shrine entrance. The number of people had more than doubled, their voices dominating the plucks of the koto that had been drifting in the air, and the pace at which they moved through the crowd was as fast as moving along a queue for a roller coaster ride at Disneyland.
"This is exactly why I don't go to festivals," Shinjiro said once they emerged from the sea of people.
"I can agree with you on that," Minato said. "Don't let Ken know though."
Shinjiro shrugged and they resumed walking. "By the way, there's something I wanted to clarify."
"About?"
"The previous Shadow operation."
Minato stopped walking and turned to face Shinjiro. "Is this why you've been observing me?"
"I guess you could say that. The thing is, it's something I'd rather keep between the two of us. I don't need Aki, Mitsuru or anyone else knowing about this. And I don't want you to tell them either."
"Alright. So what's the deal?"
Shinjiro motioned to keep walking. "Well, as you were giving out your report at the debriefing, I felt that you were leaving out something. Is that true?"
So he did know. "…Yes."
"What was it then?"
Minato proceeded to explain everything Takaya and Jin had told him. About how they had been test subjects for the Kirijo Group's artificial Persona experiments. About how they wanted to keep the Dark Hour around so that they wouldn't die. And about how they had openly expressed their desire to harm Mitsuru. Given Shinjiro was dead serious in keeping it confidential, Minato also included how he'd been worried for her over the past two weeks. When he finished, Shinjiro stiffened.
"So that's how it is huh?" Shinjiro muttered. "God damn assholes."
"Do you know them or something?" Minato asked.
"Let's just say that they're acquaintances of mine."
Minato felt his muscles tensing and he eyed Shinjiro. "They're not your allies are they?"
"No!"
A few bystanders turned in their direction but Shinjiro ignored them. "Sorry about that. But I'm not in league with them. We just do business with each other from time to time." He clenched his fists. "And if they really said they would hurt Mitsuru, then they're not lying. They'll do whatever it takes to get their revenge."
Minato felt his stomach plunge, and the weights that had been lifted from speaking about this after bottling it up came back crashing down on his shoulders. He had known on some level that Takaya wasn't fooling around with such a bold statement but hearing it was true made him all the more frightened.
Shinjiro must have noticed his face paling for he then asked: "There's something between you two isn't there?"
"There might be," Minato said after a few moments. Just how many people are going to know? "It's what I've been trying to figure out ever since the Shirakawa Boulevard operation."
"I thought as much. She's become much softer and more open than she used to be." He cleared his throat as he espied Akihiko, Ken and Koromaru in the distance. "I'll make sure to keep an eye out for them. I doubt that they'll turn up here but I'm not taking any chances. And neither should you. So go find her and keep her safe."
"You don't need me to give you a hand with the food?"
Shinjiro shook his head and smiled. "That was just a cover up." He then made a dismissive gesture, approached the yakitori stall and ordered.
Minato was about to begin his search when a thought struck him and he turned around, waited for Shinjiro to finish ordering, then spoke. "Shinjiro-senpai, if I can ask, why do you care so much? I mean, I know you walked out on S.E.E.S. and Akihiko-senpai told me you didn't really want to do anything with it anymore. So why do you care now?"
Shinjiro paid the stall attendant and looked at Minato. "I'm sure Aki's told you but in case he didn't, Mitsuru was the one who helped us get back on our feet after the orphanage we were living in burnt down. Had it not been for her, Aki and I would have been wandering from orphanage to orphanage for more than two years, instead of settling in at the dorm. You could say that I owe her a debt for that and for walking out on them." He paused as the stall attendant gave him the four chicken skewers and then walked to Minato. "Also, now that I'm back, Mitsuru is going to need a companion who can keep a cool head and isn't blinded by childhood rivalry half the time."
The image of a distraught Akihiko holding a bag of three goldfish came into Minato's head and he chuckled.
"Anyway," Shinjiro continued, "you should get going. Unless you want to see Aki and I stuff ourselves with takoyaki."
Minato nodded and agreeing to meet back when the fireworks started, he left to find Mitsuru.
He found her and Aigis standing by a shooting gallery stall.
The search itself didn't take very long. Knowing that Mitsuru would keep to areas that were less densely populated, there was no need to venture into the crowd. After all, when one accompanied Aigis and took her around, one had to ensure that the android blended in with society.
As he approached them, Minato felt his confidence swaying. Even though finally asking Mitsuru what she felt for him was what he wanted, it also left him terrified. What if she felt nothing? What if her feelings were that of a friend? The possibilities that existed were endless and while he admitted he didn't 'love' her, he was still smitten with her and didn't want the opportunity of a relationship to sail into the horizon, never to come back. He felt powerless that the decision rested with her but in the end, it was her decision to make. If she didn't want to be with him, then he had to respect it.
Once he was within a few paces of them, Mitsuru turned to see him and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh I'm glad you're here," she said. "I need someone to back me up."
"What the matter?" Minato asked.
"Mitsuru-san would like to have that particular doll" Aigis said, pointing at a Japanese Kabuki Doll that stood on the highest shelf of the shooting gallery.
"I-I didn't say that Aigis!" Mitsuru said. "I just said it looked cute."
"I must disagree with you Mitsuru-san. I remember you clearly saying that you wanted it."
Mitsuru sighed. "Saying something looks cute doesn't mean I want it. Right Arisato?"
Minato looked from the small red doll to Mitsuru, whose eyes were telling a different story, and smiled. "Sure. But you do want it, don't you?"
Mitsuru opened her mouth to speak, then closed it and avoided his gaze. Despite the dim lighting, Minato noticed her blush, and nod ever so slightly that you couldn't tell if she was saying yes or just moving her head.
"C'mon Aigis, let's get that doll," he said.
"Affirmative Minato-san."
Before he could reach for the rifle, Aigis raised her arms and aimed her finger cannons at the doll.
"All I have to do is hit it yes?" she asked.
Minato's first instinct was to agree but upon realizing what Aigis intended to do, he quickly grabbed both of Aigis' arms and lowered them, shooting a reassuring glance at the confused stall attendant. "Yeah but hang on a minute. You'll be using this." He grabbed the rifle, pushed and pulled the lever, and passed it to her.
Aigis accepted the rifle and inspected it with little interest. She then took aim and fired. There was a pop as the rifle shot out the cork bullet, which flew and slammed into the back wall of the shelf. She lowered the rifle. "I missed. I neglected to consider the warped barrel and the quality of the cork. Minato-san, please do not forget this information."
"I won't," Minato said, offering another reassuring smile to the attendant. He pushed and pulled the lever of his rifle, and was about to aim when Mitsuru tapped him on the shoulder.
"Just to let you know, it's okay if you can't get it," she said. "I don't how much stress this might place on your arm but I don't want you to hurt yourself for no reason."
"Don't worry Mitsuru-senpai. It should be fine."
He raised the rifle and aimed it at the Japanese Kabuki Doll. It was much lighter than he'd expected and although that made it less strenuous on his bad arm, it did nothing to reduce the chance of skewing his accuracy. Adding in Aigis' analysis of the cork's presumably poor quality, the questionable barrel, and the possibility of a breeze snatching the cork away, Minato knew he would have to wait for the perfect moment to succeed. A moment where the breeze stopped and his rifle was directly aligned with the doll.
The breeze didn't want to stop however, and after half a minute, Minato felt the back of his left shoulder throbbing. Sweat began sliding down his cheek as he steadied the rifle and he bit his lip. The pain and stiffness was on its way and it was coming fast. But he wasn't ready yet. The breeze was still brushing his face and if he fired now, he wouldn't hit the doll.
But he had to fire soon for the pain was coming.
But the wind was still busy rippling his shirt.
But the pain was ready to light his shoulder aflame.
But the wind…
But the pain…
Minato squeezed the trigger. The pop of the rifle dragged him out of his conflicting thoughts and he watched as the cork curved in an arc and hit a box of Pocky that was directly below the doll on the middle shelf.
Damn.
He considered asking if he could have another chance but the rule for this stall was that once you won a prize, you weren't allowed anymore tries. Minato had raised an eyebrow at that, to which the attendant just stated that there were many stalls like his around the shrine and he had to give everyone who visited a chance at winning something. It was a fair claim though Minato noticed that the display shelf was still full of prizes; the box of Pocky seeming to be the only prize won so far. Not wanting to make a scene, Minato took the box of Pocky and walked with Aigis and Mitsuru towards the edge of the shrine.
"Sorry we couldn't get the doll for you," he said, passing the Pocky to Mitsuru as they neared the playground area.
"I too apologise," Aigis added.
"It's okay," Mitsuru replied, placing the Pocky in her purse. She gave Minato a concerned look. "The more important question is, how's your shoulder?"
"Stiff but the pain is easing. I guess I should've listened to you."
"You should have. Honestly, you're like Akihiko sometimes."
The two of them laughed at this until Aigis broke them up with a question. "I do not understand," she said. "How is Minato-san like Akihiko-san? They are nothing like each other."
"They're both stubborn in their own way," Mitsuru said. "You'll come to understand it soon Aigis."
"I see. In that case, I will update my database to accommodate for everything I have learned today."
Minato's eyes widened as he realized what this meant.
"How long would that take Aigis?" he asked casually.
"Several minutes. Why do you ask Minato-san?"
"Well I'd like to speak with Mitsuru-senpai in private for a little while. And I'd prefer it if we weren't disturbed by anyone. Do you think you could keep a lookout for us?"
Aigis stared at him for a moment then nodded. "Certainly."
Minato beckoned Mitsuru to follow him and the two of them moved to sit down on a wooden bench that was hidden behind the jungle gym, and often occupied by a thin young man during the daytime. He briefly wondered why that man always chose to come here then dismissed the thought. He would find out some other time. Right now, his focus needed to be on Mitsuru and after glancing around to make sure Aigis was within sight but not in their way, he turned his attention to her.
"So what did you want to talk about?" she asked with a look that was half curious and half knowing.
Sensing she had some idea of what this talk would entail, Minato decided to jump straight into the heart of the matter. "I wanted to talk about us. Do you remember the time when we were in Yakushima and I wanted to ask you something in the hospital ward but couldn't because of the others?"
Mitsuru nodded and motioned for him to continue, a light blush on her cheeks as she recalled that tender moment.
"Well, what I wanted to ask you then and would like to ask you now is about the operation in Shirakawa Boulevard. I know it's something you want to forget but there's something I want an answer to."
"It's about when we were alone together in that room isn't it?" Mitsuru asked.
Minato was surprised at her discernment. "In a way. Of course, if you don't want to talk about it then I understand."
"No we should talk about it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Because to be honest, I also have something I want answers to." She chuckled lightly. "I've actually been meaning to ask you but I wasn't sure if I should."
Minato's heart skipped a beat and he shifted in his seat. Could it be that what she wanted to know was what he wanted to know?
"After all," Mitsuru was saying, "our relationship has been so great so far that I didn't want to take the chance and ruin it. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I don't know. What if it didn't ruin it? What if it changed it for the better? We would be fools for not seizing the opportunity."
"I suppose we would. Alright then. Tell me what you want to say."
Minato took a deep breath. "So after we were ambushed, but before we found out about our…situation…I had a vision where I saw you in the bathroom, taking a shower. At first, I thought it was really you but then realized it couldn't be after you called me by my first name. You have never done that before and right away I knew that it was the Shadow playing with our minds. What confused me though were your feelings for me. They were so real and strong in that vision and when we regained consciousness, I noticed you acted very differently. Especially when we went into the bathroom so that you could treat my hand. I didn't want to say anything then since it wasn't the right time but over the weeks, I kept wondering if something similar happened to you. So what I want to know first is, did something happen?"
Mitsuru was silent for a while, her features tightening as she thought her answer through. Then she nodded slowly. "I went through the same thing. Except that it was you in the shower and it was your feelings for me that I felt." She looked away from him and directed her eyes to where Aigis was standing and the busy stalls beyond. "Funnily enough, I came to the same conclusion as you until the first day in Yakushima when you tried to ask me something in the medical ward. After that day, I was also confused as to whether or not your feelings were genuine."
She then returned her attention to him. "I suppose you want to know if those feelings I have for you are genuine correct?"
Minato nodded and Mitsuru remained silent for a moment again.
"I…don't think what you felt is reflective of the way I feel for you right now," she began. "I'm not saying I don't care for you but…um…" She trailed off and giggled nervously. "I'm not very good at this."
"You're doing fine," Minato said, taking her hand in his. "Take as long as you need."
She blushed at his touch and inhaled deeply. "Okay. Do you remember when I was tending to your hand in that hotel and I told you about a friend I used to have?"
"Yeah I remember that."
"Well, the way I feel about you now is the same way I felt about that friend ten years ago. That is to say, um, I liked him."
Him? "I see. If you don't mind me asking, what was he like?"
"He…He was the best friend I ever had back then. He was smart, caring, supportive and everything else that you would want in a close friend. I suppose Takeba would be able to phrase that better but I'm sure you understand what I mean."
Minato agreed, oblivious to Mitsuru's nervous gaze. While he was glad that he finally had the answer, he remained unsatisfied. He supposed that it was probably better this way though. Mitsuru's responsibilities were enormous and between her commitments to the Kirijo Group, Gekkoukan High, and S.E.E.S., there was little room for a serious relationship. And even if there was room, he would have to deal with her father and face the constant scrutiny of her admirers. The latter was definitely the larger threat because if word got out that he was dating Mitsuru, he would be in more danger than if he were to fight a full moon Shadow alone.
"So you two must have been close then," he said.
"We were very close. We did almost everything together and always helped each other out. The most important thing however, was that he stood up for me and gave me the confidence I needed."
"Do you still keep in touch with him?"
"I do," Mitsuru said a trifle too quickly. "We…um…drifted apart for a quite a while but reunited with each other just this year. As a matter of fact, I talk to him every day."
She's close with him and talks to him every day? Minato began to wonder just who this person was. It certainly wasn't Akihiko as Mitsuru had met the boxer a little over two years ago. And it couldn't be Shinjiro either. Is she seeing someone else? A boy from another private school?
"It's not Junpei is it?" he asked.
Mitsuru laughed and shook her head, feeling the nerves that held her loosen up. "No. It's not Iori."
"Who is he then?"
Mitsuru gave him a look that he would never forget; one that represented happiness and hope, excitement and eagerness, guilt and liberation. And as she spoke the three magical words, Minato's view of her changed forever.
"He is you."
Time froze as those words entered his mind and expanded as fast as the universe did when it came into existence. It swallowed his thoughts, reverberated in his head, and blocked out the sounds of the festival. He gazed into Mitsuru's eyes, searching for a sign that she was joking, evidence that this wasn't some way to make him feel better about her answer. But he couldn't find it. Her red eyes displayed only sincerity.
"I promise you I'm telling the truth," Mitsuru said. "We've met before when we were children."
Minato remained speechless, confounded by what she was saying. They had met before when they were children? How was that possible? And how could he not remember? Surely if he had met and became best friends with someone as striking as Mitsuru before, he would have held the memories close to his heart.
"Why don't I remember this?" he managed to ask.
"You lost your memories on the night your parents died. I'm not sure how but you did. It's actually a question that I've wanted an answer to for a very long time." She paused and gently squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry. I…I was very reluctant in telling you because if I did, I don't think we would have what we have right now. I would have scared you away and lost my only chance of seeing you again."
Minato squeezed back and shook his head. "I'm not so sure about that. To tell you the truth, you made an impression on me the night I arrived at the dorm and the days following that. And ever since, all I've wanted was to get to know you."
"R-Really?"
"Absolutely. To hear that we've been friends before just makes me even more curious about you. About us. About our past."
Mitsuru smiled at this but before she could reply, Aigis called out to them, saying that everyone was waiting. Minato and Mitsuru exchanged a look, then reluctantly stood up and walked to where the others had gathered. Being interrupted was something he didn't want though Minato let the small wave of annoyance pass. What he had learned in the last ten minutes was more unbelievable than learning of a hidden hour after midnight and he needed time to process it.
"There you guys are," Yukari said. She and Fuuka were both holding candy apples, and it appeared that they had gone on some sort of confectionary shopping spree; both of their purses were fully packed with it. "We almost thought we couldn't find you two until we saw Aigis standing by herself. What've you been up to?"
"Not as much you," Minato said, gesturing at her purse. "Are you stocking up for Halloween or something?"
"That's exactly what I said!" Junpei exclaimed.
"Um not really," Fuuka said. "You said that if we ate too much sugar, Yukari and I would put on weight."
"Hey, I was just trying to make sure you girls keep your figures."
Minato groaned. Shinjiro placed a hand to his face and Akihiko shook his head. Fuuka sighed while Yukari and Mitsuru gave Junpei a cold stare.
"I don't think you're supposed to say things like that aloud Junpei-san," Ken said, breaking the silence.
"Kiddo's right," Shinjiro added. "You gotta stop being so insensitive man. Have a little empathy for once."
Koromaru barked in agreement.
"Koromaru-san says Junpei-san should stop being so silly," Aigis translated, much to everyone's amusement and Junpei's melancholy.
"That was uncalled for Koromaru," Junpei said. "But whatever. The fireworks are starting soon and I sure as hell don't wanna miss 'em."
"Well at least that's something we can agree on," Yukari said. "It's too bad that the best views are already taken though."
Everyone turned in the direction she pointed and saw a large mass of people gathering by the wooden safety railing near the steps leading up to Naganaki Shrine. The crowd was thick and if they were to stand there to watch the fireworks, it would be rather unpleasant. Tolerable, but unpleasant.
"Actually, that's not the best view," Ken said.
"It isn't?" Akihiko asked.
"Nope. But I know a good spot not far from here that we can go to. Come on, follow me."
Ken led them through the emptying street of stalls, turned right once they reached the shrine, and continued forward. After they passed the shrine, the boy then turned left into the trees. As Minato approached, he saw that there was a nature trail that would have been impossible to locate in the dark without the glow of the lanterns. The trail snaked its way upwards and fortunately, the ground was level enough for the girls (who were wearing geta to match their yukatas) to walk on safely. Once they reached the end of the trail, they arrived at a secluded clifftop overlooking the whole of Naganaki Shrine, the city of Iwatodai and even the distant lights of Port Island.
"Wow, this is gorgeous," Fuuka said, taking in the spectacular view. "How did you come by such a spot?"
"Well it was my mother who found it," Ken answered. "It was our secret spot and she brought me here every year to watch the fireworks. Tonight is actually the first time I've come back since she died."
There was a momentary silence; the only sounds in the wind were that of the people below and the rustling of the trees.
"If this place means so much to you, are you okay with bringing us here?" Yukari asked.
Ken nodded. "Even though I haven't known you guys for that long, I feel like we're family. I thought I wouldn't be able to find that ever again that after my mother died but now, with you guys, I think I have. So I just want to say thanks to all of you. For taking me in and being with me."
At that moment, the first missile launched into the night sky exploded in a burst of neon colors. It was followed by two more missiles. Three. And then an entire volley. The sky crackled and sparkled with dots and streaks of green, red, purple, gold and orange that illuminated the ground below. Minato watched in amazement at the vast repertoire of effects and felt his heartbeat quicken as a soft hand clasped his.
"You know, I've seen fireworks before but I have to say, these are so beautiful," Mitsuru said in a voice loud enough for her to be heard. "It reminds me of the time when we watched them together as kids."
"We did that?" Minato asked, surprised.
"We did. It was at this very same shrine too." She looked at him endearingly. "If only you remembered."
Minato pursed his lips as an idea struck him. "Well maybe you can help me with that."
"What do you mean?"
"Well I was thinking we could go out sometime. Just the two of us. Of course, that's if you're free. I know how busy you are."
Mitsuru took several moments to think it through; the display of fireworks continuing to bang and crack in the sky. "I suppose I could try to adjust my schedule on Tuesday…Thursday…and Saturday. I'll have to figure it out but it'll be on one of those three days."
"Great," Minato said, flashing a smile. "It's a date then."
"Yes. Yes it is."
She leaned closer and rested her head on his shoulder. Minato wasn't sure if the others were staring at them but it didn't matter anymore. Fate had brought them together once and it had done so again. This time however, Minato vowed to ensure history wouldn't repeat itself. That no matter what happened between now to the death of the twelfth Shadow and beyond, they would still be together.
Because when fate gave you a second chance, it was the last chance you would receive.
