A/N: It's alright. He considered himself a lucky guy, and that was how it should have been.


Chapter 52

Alright

Minato couldn't remember what he ate for breakfast or how he was standing on the train. The funeral, he didn't remember much either. It was blurry. It didn't feel real.

He also couldn't remember who was the teacher today or if he even ate lunch at all. He might have slept. Mitsuru came and talked about something. Minato didn't listen. He left.

He couldn't remember a lot of things, like how he wasn't being hit by a car yet when he crossed the road. He was heading home. The sky was red. He halted and looked.

The view from this bridge sure was beautiful.

Strange enough, Ken was right beside him, watching the ocean and the setting sun. It was quiet. It was peaceful. Ken walked away.

Minato stood there on the bridge for a long time. Then he felt like sleeping on his bed. He loved the comfort of his own bed. Sleeping was nice.


"It is cold tonight. Can you believe it is already autumn? It will be winter before you know it."

For the first time ever, Minato was not happy to see him.

"I'm sorry about what happened." Pharos was standing next to his bed. "People… die. That is something you have to accept."

Minato looked away. He should have just slept. He was sitting on his bed and Pharos came out of nowhere, with black and white clothes and blue eyes.

"In this world, people die every day. This was the same to me as the blowing of the wind... But if I lose you, it would be different. You're my friend." Pharos leaned in and grinned. "… Lately, I have become more certain of something. It was something I have warned you about. The end will come. The end of everything. It is drawing near. Don't you sense it?"

Minato laid down on his bed.

"Why is it that only I can remember? Is my existence something you are unable to accept?"

Can I accept it? Minato asked himself.

"... You are still thinking about him," Pharos said. "He's dead."

Minato sighed. "And I won't forget you either, Pharos."

"Thanks, but I don't think you understand yet. There are things in this world that cannot be changed. Remember that." Pharos's eyes were creepy. "People die, though I'll always be by your side." Pharos smiled. "I'll be watching you, even if you forget about me."

And with that, he vanished. Minato wished he didn't have to see him again.


Most people hadn't made peace with all that had happened, but the seniors, Ken, and Aigis had already accepted the truth.

"It is rational for students to concentrate on their exams rather than the incident with Shinjiro-san," Aigis said. There was no one else in the lounge except Ken. She sat next to him. "However, for some unknown reason… I question the value of thinking this way."

"It's good to question things." Ken picked up a figurine and played with it. "It's good to question yourself."

Aigis looked at him. "Are you referring to your decision?"

"Shinjiro was correct. Things could have gone worse." Ken thought it would be way, way worse. "It's as if… he's trying to praise me." Ken sighed. "He trusted that I would do the right thing."

"What will you do?"

"Fight Shadows. Study. Blablabla," Ken said. "He wouldn't really want anything specific, I'm sure."

"I agree," Aigis said. "Shinjiro tends to put other people before himself."

"And that means we can think whatever we want," Ken said as he glanced at the stairs. Shinjiro liked to stand there. "That was his intention, to not matter."

"You seem to understand Shinjiro."

"I did," Ken said. "I always understand him, but I was… distracted. I hoped I could have seen more clearly, but that was in the past. I won't repeat the same mistake."

"Shinjiro would have wanted that as well," Aigis said.

"Heh. you can think now, Aigis," Ken smiled. "Thanks though, for talking to me at the bar. I… wouldn't have been able to accept it so soon. What stupid things could I have done…?"


"Koromaru seems to be okay," Aigis said. "He is expressing a great amount of respect towards Shinjiro."

Minato was glad the dog was okay. There was school as usual. He hated how usual it was. SEES were thinking the same, he was sure. The class these days was so sleep-able.

"Hi, how was your day?"

Minato headed to the stairs.

"Minato-kun…" Fuuka sighed. "I'm worried for him."

"He was really down, huh?" Junpei said. "But if Chidori's gone, I wouldn't be any better."

"Then let me tell you something," Akihiko said. "If Shinji were here, he'd probably think you're all acting like a bunch of little kids. So, get to it!"

Everyone remained silent. Koromaru and Aigis were not affected.

"He needs time, Akihiko-senpai," Yukari said. "Even I still can't believe it…"

"Make sure it won't take your whole lifetime," Akihiko said and went up the stairs.

He walked to the end of the hallway and knocked on the door. Akihiko opened the door and found Minato laying on his bed, as expected.

"Look." Akihiko sat on the chair at his desk. "You… can talk to me, if you feel like it."

Minato glanced at him. "You seem fine already."

"Yeah. Already talked to him," Akihiko said. "I get it now. It really was how it should be. No need to beat myself up over the truth."

"But..." Minato looked away. "It's not easy."

"Never said it was."

"... That's true." Minato played with the rim of his blanket. He wanted to stay in the comfort of this bed.

"Whatever you're having trouble about, I hope you get out of them soon," Akihiko said. "And again, I'm here if you need me."

Akihiko left him alone. Minato felt so tired. He slept.


It was quite late at night. No one should be here by now. Minato walked down the stairs.

Koromaru wagged his tail when he saw him. "Arf!"

"There, there. I didn't leave you waiting, right?" Minato asked.

"Arf!" Koromaru barked. He was so cheerful already. Minato didn't have that much strength, to be so happy, to live on with the truth.

Minato opened the dorm door.

"Wait, Minato." Ken was there. He hadn't slept yet. "Can I go too?"

Minato nodded

"Woof! Woof woof!"

Somehow, they ended up running to the shrine.

Running was nice. Though it reminded him of… running to the back alley, exercising really kept his mind off of things. He noticed how Koromaru kicked his legs and arched his back. He noticed Ken who kept pushing himself forward even though he almost trip.

Minato felt so present. At the moment. It was nice.

"I... finally caught up…" Ken took some deep breaths as he reached the shrine floor. Koromaru was already running around chasing insects. "You're too fast, Koromaru… Stop running so… fast…"

Minato leaned against the jungle gym. He noiced the spot he hanged the lantern when they had a picnic.

"I wanted to apologize," Ken began. "For making so much trouble, and worrying everyone… Do you remember his words?"

Minato nodded.

"He said that it was alright. His death was alright… He was so brave. I'm not too sure if I could say that yet…" Ken bent down to pet Koromaru who had stopped running. "Even when he was dying, he told me to live. He trusted me that I can." Ken looked at him. "That's why I think I'll be alright on my own now. Thanks for taking care of me."

"Woof."

Minato went back to the dorm with them.