Chapter 34: Beating the Summer Heat

8/11/09

EARLY MORNING

Today was the second day of Summer school. The sun was incredibly unforgiving this year and summer seemed a lot worse than before. As he walked towards the school gates with Junpei and Yukari, Minato thought idly, I'm meeeeeelting... Heeeeeeeelp me Yukari-chaaaaaaaan~!

And he wasn't joking either. The sun was seriously beating down on them this year and Minato felt as if his shirt would permanently stick on to his back. Though it was thinner, his summer uniform still felt like an unnecessary layer that Minato would love to shed off as soon as he was in a situation where being half naked was considered decent.

"Damn... Today's a lecture by Edogawa..." Junpei groaned, "Why'd he book us anyway! He's not even teaching anything co... co... co-somethin'"

"You mean coherent?" Yukari asked, a wry smile on her pretty face.

Junpei stammered, trying to save himself from further humiliation by the shorter Takeba, "Y-Yeah! That's what I meant!" He grinned, "Big words just pops into my head naturally."

Yukari laughed, "Do you even know what the word means?"

"S-sure I do! The Jun-maestro's all about big words!" Junpei scoffed jokingly.

Minato didn't pay much attention to their conversation, preferring to blend into the background and listen to his mp3. A familiar song begun to play. A fast paced, jazzy hip hop track by a fairly unknown rapper with an unusual stage name. Lotus Juice...? What kinda stage name is that? Bah! He IS not bad though.

GEKKOUKAN HIGH SCHOOL

MORNING

Edogawa came in early and the entire class groaned. Junpei could hear people complain loudly about the male nurse.

"What's wrong with him man... He doesn't even teach REAL subjects...!" The boy sitting behind Junpei mumbled.

"Yeah right? I mean, which university in Japan would consider Kabalah or whatever it's called, a real subject anyways? Like seriously! What was the school thinking?" His neighbour chirped annoyingly.

"Auuughhh! Just kill me already!" He groaned as he covered his face with a heavy textbook.

Edogawa didn't seem to hear the ruckus he had stirred up. Instead he lectured animatedly, "Let's talk about something interesting today. All you future magicians will want to pay close attention... Eeeheehee..."

Junpei groaned as he whispered to his neighbour, "This guy has a weird sense of what's interesting to him."

Edogawa rubbed his stubble as he grinned, "Today's subject is Tarot."

As the class erupted into moans of disbelief, Minato, Yukari and Junpei suddenly felt that this class might actually be interesting for once.

AFTER SCHOOL

The trio walked out of school together before Junpei suddenly declared that he had plans.

"I'd love to stay and chat, but the Jun-Maestro's got some business to take care of." Junpei said with mock seriousness. He folded his arms and shot Yukari the 'stink eye'.

"I hope the young lady won't devour our dear Minato-san in my absence." He said, his face was still all serious looking. Minato was just about to burst out laughing.

Unamused, Yukari rummaged in her bag for something to throw at a retreating Junpei and decided that a suspicious ball of crushed paper would do the trick. The crushed paper hit its target right at the back of his head. The two of them could hear Junpei's carefree laughter.

"So," Minato asked, "What now?"

Yukari thought for a while. She glanced around the empty school grounds and decided, "Let's head to the strip mall!"

"To do what...?" Minato questioned, he had no idea what the girl wanted.

Yukari merely giggled before she forcefully dragged Minato away towards the direction of the monorails.

IWATODAI STRIP MALL

Yukari had brought Minato to the strip mall; she didn't really plan to do anything here, just walk around and maybe grab dinner before they headed back to the dorm.

"Anywhere in particular you wanna go?" She asked, her head tilting to the side.

Minato pointed at an old book store next to the Wild Duck Burger. Yukari pouted, "Um, going to the bookstore is kinda lame... Let's go somewhere else."

Minato laughed, "So where does your highness wish to go?"

Yukari grinned, "I wanna... Wait a sec..." Crap...! I can't go anywhere if I don't have any money left... I don't wanna end up borrowing from him!

She held up a hand at him, indicating him to wait, "lemme see how much money I have..."

She reached into her pocket and fished around for her pretty pink wallet, huh...? W-wait a sec... Where did it go...!

Yukari started to panic, "Oh, no! Where's my wallet! D-Did I drop it...!"

She glanced up and could see that Minato was worried too, "When did you last pull out your wallet?"

She tried to calm down and think, "Where... Where... Um... Oh!"

"The Train station! Somebody bumped into me right after I exited the train station!" Yukari gasped, as if everything had just fallen into place.

Damn that punk! I'll show you not to mess with Yukari Takeba!

She glanced at Minato again, he looked terribly worried, and she felt her heart ache. She didn't want him to worry for her just because she got careless.

That's why you're not bringing him along, idiot!

"Sorry, I'm gonna go back there and look around. It'll just take a minute!" She smiled and ran off before he could protest.

Train station... Train station... Crap... I think that guy might have headed towards that creepy gangster hangout at the outskirts of the station...

Yukari felt an involuntary shiver run down her spine as she was reminded of the patronizing stares of the punks and the poisonous tongues of the chicks who the group met the last time they were here.

He punched one of the punks the last time we were here before that weird senpai came and helped out... I hope they're not here today.

And they weren't. Instead, another small group of punks were hanging around the steps today. They were crowding around a tall boy with bleached blond hair. Decked in a tank top and faded jeans, the boy laughed as he tossed around a familiar looking pink wallet.

W-wait... isn't that... MY WALLET? OH THEY ARE GOING DOWN. HARD.

Yukari clenched her fists as she stomped towards the group.

IWATODAI STRIP MALL

The moment Yukari took off, Minato's instincts were screaming at him to grab her arm. At that very moment, he wanted to just hold her and tell her that he'll handle it, but she took off before he could do anything.

She ran really quickly for somebody who had complained non-stop to him about how the blistering heat had made her incredibly lethargic and tired.

Run baby run, don't ever look back.

He thought he'd finally caught up to her when he saw her run towards the station, but a heartbeat later, she'd turn into some corner and he'd lose her again.

Damn she runs fast!

"What'd you say?" An angry voice caught Minato's attention. He quickly ran towards the voice and spotted a particularly timid Yukari, surrounded by a group of punks.

Shitshitshitshitshit

"You better shut your mouth, bitch!" Another punk shouted, he inched towards Yukari.

The third punk had a lusty smile on his face, "Can I get a piece of that, Bro!"

OH THAT'S IT!

Minato ran in unexpectedly, surprising the trio.

"What the fu—" Before he could finish, Minato sent a fist flying towards the punk's face. He screamed in pain before swiftly abandoning his gang.

The two other boys naturally came after Minato. He dodged their fists easily, a take away from regular Kendo training. Minato smiled at the two worn out Punks before he retaliated with heavy punches that'll send even Akihiko into the hospital.

Luckily for the punks, Minato was exhausted that day and they managed to slip away while he was resting from his rain of fists. Minato bent down as he steadied his breathing.

"Thanks..."

Huh?

"Thanks... Minato-kun."

He glanced up at her, she looked like she was tearing up. She definitely appreciated the help.

S-shit... D-don't cry! I don't know how to handle another crying session with Yukari!

He smiled at her, "No problem."

A voice begun ring in Minato's head, an indication that he is either slightly mad or that his bond with Yukari had strengthened. And something about the way Yukari looked at him told Minato that things were beginning to get serious between him and her.

"But you got a little carried away," She tried to laugh. Suddenly, she fell silent again.

Without warning, Yukari glared at Minato, "Hey, why'd you come after me?"

Whoa... Where did THAT come from?

"Didn't I say to wait?" She seemed annoyed, though at Minato or herself, he wasn't so sure.

"Do you think it's funny?" Yukari asked, still angry, "I got my wallet by myself. I... I didn't need your help!"

Minato could see that she was trembling, she doesn't mean it.

"Hey... Look, I'm sorry," He smiled at her; Yukari seemed to have calmed down "C'mon, Smile." He said.

And she tried. It was still a shaky smile, but she did. "Thanks, it's okay..."

"Sorry, I'm going home now." She said, her shaky smile still there, "See ya..."

Minato watched as Yukari walked briskly towards the direction of the dorm.

All in a day's work.

Shortly after, he begun to walk home himself.

Author's Note: Finally up! Oh and people! Don't bother checking my profile! It's quiet messy and I dislike updating it :)

My mid years are coming up in about 4 weeks, which means chapters will be delayed. Sorry!

On to business! In this chapter, don't bother asking me about Junpei's plans. I don't know! Maybe he went out with Kenji or something! Or maybe Minato sent him telephatic messages to help him win Jack frost dolls from the crane machine! :O

Oh and Yay for social link level up! :D Oh and question! Which do you prefer? Third person narration or my first person narration? Because personally, I think writing first person is really fun :D Not that I wanna change the narration style for this story, I just wanted to know.

29/3 : finally let me update! :D This chapter was actually due last week but an error screwed it up so it was delayed until today! Sorry!