A/N: My p3p femc run finally catches up with this fic, nice. Uni is a pain.
Chapter 71
December Continues
Minato was bored one day and decided to go to Tartarus that night. The only members that came were Fuuka (because she had to), Akihiko and Ken (as expected), Junpei (unexpected actually), and Koromaru (good boy). They found some lost people in the tower and helped them out. Other than that it was uneventful.
Except when Minato did a hexagon fusion and summoned Thanatos.
He didn't know how to feel staring at it.
There were exams. They did the exams. Junpei knew he did badly. He had studied, sure. A little, but now when things are like this, how do you focus?
Akihiko, Ken, they both seemed so sure and confident. Even Koromaru! That shiba inu would ace a dog exam if it existed.
Just not him.
He sucked.
All he could think this week was the house key in his pocket. He said sorry to Minato, and that dude was of course forgiving, if a little bit too easily. You have things to worry about too, he said, and Junpei almost said no, no he had Chidori with him instead of Death or whatever, and he wasn't a leader of some organization really! He was a member who fought for his own ego. There's nothing important going on in his life. He had it easy, he would think.
But he thought about it. Something was going on that he had pushed to the back of his mind because he lived in a dorm. It didn't affect his SEES duty nor his school life, so why would he think too much about a drunk loser trapped in a house?
If everything would end, then even his deadbeat father's never sober life would also end.
And he admitted he kinda wanted to really forget about it...
Yet, Junpei came back to his house, fire burning in his heart. Yep, that's Chidori supporting him. And after this, he would return to the Iwatodai Dorm and SEES would have his back.
He entered without knocking, and the door wasn't locked. It was cool no one ever robbed the place. He didn't take off his shoes. He didn't say he's back. He walked to a room with groans and creaks, and he saw the usual sight. A man on a sofa, not unconscious but also not very responsive.
He walked slowly into the room. "Hey old man, I want to go away. I won't come back often anymore." Side stepped a bottle. Keys dropped onto the table. Didn't really wake that man up from the sofa. A letter placed with all his terrible handwriting he wrote last night instead of studying. "I'd leave these here, alright. Unlock the door yourself if you want me to visit. I wouldn't come back often at all anyway. Not like you don't have my phone number." Two steps back, another bottle avoided. "I have money! I made a lot of money this year. Hey, I could pay my university bills! That's how much money you'd get from rich people on an island. I'd have a lot of time before I need to have a career. I could play baseball all day."
Silence. As usual. "I think I get you now, why you're doing this. It's easier to ignore and forget so you won't hurt or worry... Doesn't mean I'd do the same. Doesn't mean I'd forget that it sucked so bad to have to be here all these years! It sucked, you hear that? And trust me being in the dorm is the happiest I've ever been."
Junpei stepped back more to the entrance of this room. "You get money anyway. You'll be fine. I mean, you're still alive alone, been eight months. I don't know how you are. I'm here, but I don't know how you are, and I..." He gulped. "I'm sure you'll manage without me for a bit, so, goodbye. You'll be alive."
Junpei turned around with much difficulty and locked the door on his way out.
Is the end for all humans, or maybe if they fought, it would be just them? He didn't know, but he'd like to think they are special. Maybe Ryoji was wrong. Who knows?
He decided to leave the area and walked back to the dorm. After all those exams he needed a good night's sleep.
"You'll be alive, old man..."
"I can't believe you wanna spend time with me here," Yukari said over the chatting noise of people in the cafe and the sound of grounding coffee.
Mitsuru sipped her coffee. "I haven't been here in a while after all, and they wouldn't understand our talk... And perhaps I'm lonely and miss my friend."
"Heheh." Yukari was glad Mitsuru had recovered so well. She's back with life in her eyes.
"You've made your decision."
Yukari nodded. "Sure did. I won't run away. Dad would want me to finish this. And as I see it, some chance is better than none. We won't know unless we try. Gotta have some hope, you know?"
"I see, then I have made my decision as well," Mitsuru said. "As a daughter, as a Kirijo leader, as Mitsuru, I will do the best I can which is to fight. Running away accomplishes nothing."
"I'm glad you think the same way. I know we already have this talk, so," Yukari held her hands. "We will fight, together, for what we both believe in."
Minato took Elizabeth to the station. It was spacious and the view was nice. He didn't know what to do these days. Waiting for the rest to make up their mind? Akihiko and Ken were already thinking about Christmas.
Minato had been thinking as well. He signed a contract. That started it. No, he was on the bridge. But still, Pharos wouldn't do anything without a reason, and he knew his reason now.
About that, no, he didn't want to meet Ryoji yet despite asking him not to disappear.
Pharos wanted to be free and he got his reason, but Minato also had help from the Velvet Room, so why? Why do they help him? There must be a reason there as well.
Minato didn't expect her to tell him anything directly, but maybe he wanted comfort from someone who's an ally yet also not too involved with him.
They sat there, snow falling, waiting for the other to talk first.
"From a comic I've read," Elizabeth spoke up casually. "With great power comes great responsibility, don't you agree?"
So she started with a simple question. He could do that. "Sure I guess, and they probably didn't ask for it."
"Sometimes things simply... happen." Elizabeth stood up and watched the winter sky. "My dear guest, your life is an elevator. What is it you are aiming for? Higher than you think you are allowed to reach? Do you not feel included?"
Minato was used to her riddles, and when these are directed at him, it should mean something.
"No one asks to live, Minato." Elizabeth sat back down. "You aren't chosen. You just are. That is destiny. Do what you wish to do, and I will observe and respect your decision. Remember that." She smiled, always so light-hearted in any 'date' they were together. He's sure she had his back. He never doubted that. He simply couldn't imagine how.
Well, what's there to be respected when the world ends?
