"I want to go back on top of the roof."

The words took even Aigis by surprise, her heart stilling as her gears turned in her head. She reached up, curling her fingers into Minato's blazer. Why would he want to go back there? She couldn't think of a good reason why, but Mitsuru spoke her concerns first.

"Minato, I don't believe that's a good idea. Remember that we're guests here now, so we should leave snooping around out of-"

"Please."

His voice was lacking in its usual determination, sounding small and needing. "I just need a few minutes." Aigis couldn't find it in her heart to say no.

"Ok. Tell us what you want us to do."

The lectures were rather bland, but the buzzing ideas of getting Minato to the roof was keeping Aigis alert. Not much had changed since they left, though there seemed to be some tenseness in the air as they progressed through the day. People were giving the members of S.E.E.S. sidelong looks as they whispered. Aigis heard every single word. Do you think they're doing ok after that boy died? I heard he was their closest friend or something. What should we say to them? I'm sorry doesn't really cut it.

Minato must have heard them too, if the small clicking noise of his holster was any indication. Even without his Evoker, Aigis knew that the sound of the clasp helped calmed him. It was a familiar sound to her too, but more so as a way to determine if her allies were ok.

The lectures drew to a close, and as the teachers rounded everyone up, Mitsuru spoke up loudly. This is it.

"As the former student council president here, I noticed some things that required my attention. They were minor things, but considering we were only in a small part of the school, I wish to survey the rest. I'll take Aigis, Fuuka, and Minato with me." Aigis turned to look at Mitsuru, bowing to accept the job. At a nod from Mrs. Tori, Mitsuru swept away with the other three students in tow.

Minato took the lead, running up the stairs to the roof. The doors were shut, as normal, but what wasn't normal was the simple silver plaque across one of them. Aigis leaned closer, scanning them. In memory of Arisato Minato. May he rest in peace. There was a strangled laugh in Minato's throat.

"Resting in peace. What a concept." He pushed past the doors before whispering to Aigis. "Give me a moment, but please join me. He wants to talk to you." Before she could question what he said, Minato had strode out to the roof. Aigis reached out for him, then pulled her hand back.

He? Aigis was completely unsure what, or who, Minato meant by that. She stepped out anyway, the warm summer sun glinting off her metallic arms. Minato was standing by the edge, wind whipping through his hair. He looked so serene, that Aigis felt the need to turn around and let him be.

Then she saw his Evoker.

He was holding it loosely in his fingers, hand curled delicately around the sleek gun. Aigis got closer, questions pounding through her head. "Minato-"

He turned around, brilliant sapphire eyes glittering through his hair. Aigis' body moved before she could think, fingers clicking bullets and aiming for the Shadow in front of her. He put up his hands in defense, worry sparking in those familiar eyes.

"Whoa! Aigis! Calm down, I just wanted to talk." The voice was Ryoji's too, confusing Aigis further. "I asked Minato if he could tell you some things, but he insisted I tell you myself." Ryoji slowly lowered his hands and Aigis lowered hers, though she was still aggravated by his appearance. "There's nothing crazy I can do right now, ok? I'm stuck in Minato's body, just like before."

Aigis mulled this over for a moment. It was true that in this state, Ryoji couldn't do anything other than talk. It still didn't change the fact that he was dangerous. But he wants to talk. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Ryoji noticed and smiled.

He took a step forward, clasping his hands together. "I should start this by saying that I'm sorry." Aigis wasn't expecting that, not that she was expecting anything for that matter. Talking to Ryoji like this felt almost normal. Almost. "I shouldn't have existed in the first place. All of this, even you, was my fault. I won't ask for you to accept my apology, I just wanted to tell you how I feel."

Aigis was flying forward, though she wasn't sure why. There was a yelp from Ryoji, a rustling of fabric, and suddenly he was embraced in her arms. Aigis' heart pounded, feeling the slow breathing of Ryoji's chest rise and fall against her own. "I do accept your apology. You were created with the intent to destroy, and yet you helped me. You helped me and the others grow far beyond what we thought possible."

There was some silence before a pair of arms slowly circled around Aigis' shoulders. Ryoji's face fell into her arm, and before she knew it, the boy was shaking. The sobs that wracked his body shuddered against Aigis, soft tears falling down his face. He wasn't expecting to be accepted.

"I think you're more than just Death. You're Ryoji Mochizuki, and your feelings for Minato are real." The crying stopped a moment, Ryoji pulling away to give Aigis a tearful look. She felt slightly guilty, but pushed herself to continue. "I tried to get in the way, but I should have trusted Minato, and you. It was because of those feelings that we were able to stop everything." Her chest creaked as she smiled softly. "So I'm sorry too."

Ryoji burst into tears again, one hand holding tightly to Aigis' arm as he used the other to try and stop the flow from his eyes. He tried to choke out words, but it seemed he didn't quite know what he was trying to say. Aigis gave him a moment to calm down, and eventually he managed to compose himself.

"I…" Ryoji sniffled before starting again. "Thank you, Aigis. I should let Minato back now, I think I've said all that I've wanted to." He put on that always brilliant smile, which had first blinded and irritated Aigis, but now showed his sincerity. "Just...just remember, please, that you are more than just a machine. I don't know how often you need to be reminded of that, but you are special. I promise. Minato cares an awful lot about you, and so do I."

"Ryoji wait!" Aigis felt like she had been hit by a sword, driven straight into her heart. Ryoji didn't need to say such things, or make her chest ache in such a painful way. If Aigis could cry, she would be, but instead she felt like her heart was being torn apart. "You can't just-"

"I'll talk to you later, Aigis. Do keep up the good work in protecting Minato for me." The boy shivered from his head all the way down to his feet, blue hair falling back into place over half of his face. When his eyes opened again, they had returned to their normal stormy gray color. That characteristic scowl was back as well, but it seemed that Minato was content.

Aigis searched his face, trying to find any sign of Ryoji left. The scarf wearing boy was completely gone though, returning back to his place inside Minato. "Aigis, sorry about this, he really wanted me to tell you things, but I thought it better if he told you himself- Ah!"

Minato's voice cut off as Aigis pulled him into a hard hug. "Thank you, Minato, and Ryoji. You've both helped me so much."

And I vow to do my best to protect both of you.