Meanwhile…
After class ended and Usami-sensei bade farewell to the students and left the classroom, Minato packed up his school stuffs, stood up from his seat, tell Makoto, Hanzo, Haru and Ken that he's going for counselling session, left the classroom and as he make his way toward the nurse office, he met and quickly stopped in his tracks before he could bumped against Akira (who also stopped in his tracks too).
"Hello, Kurusu-kun. You ready for the counselling session?" said Minato.
"Hello, Arisato-senpai and yes, I am." said Akira as he nodded at Minato.
"I see." said Minato as he nodded back at Akira before they resumed walking toward the practice building where the nurse's office is and once they arrived, they saw with slight surprise looks on their faces as Doctor Maruki talking to Kasumi outside the office before they noticed and turned to glance at them.
"Ah, hello, Arisato-senpai and Kurusu-senpai." greeted Kasumi politely to both Minato and Akira.
"Hello, Yoshizawa-san." greeted Akira politely back to Kasumi while Minato smiled and nodded at her.
"Are you 2 here for counselling sessions as well?" asked Kasumi.
"That's right, we are." replied Minato as he nodded again at Kasumi.
"Is that so? Doctor Maruki is a wonderful counsellor. I've actually been seeing him for a while, before he even came to Shujin." said Kasumi happily to them about Doctor Maruki's counselling.
"Really? I guess we'll see how good his counselling is soon enough, Yoshizawa-san. Also nice to see you again, Maruki-san." said Minato before he greeted Doctor Maruki.
"Nice to see you too, Arisato-kun. I had no idea that the 3 of you were acquainted and I'm a good enough counsellor." greeted Doctor Maruki back to Minato before he glance at Kasumi. "Still, don't go overselling me too hard, though, Yoshizawa-san-I'm really nothing special."
"Alright, Doctor Maruki." said Kasumi as she nodded at Doctor Maruki before she glance at both Akira and Minato. "Well, I need to get going. Please excuse me, Arisato-senpai, Kurusu-senpai." added Kasumi as she bade farewell and bowed to them both before she walked away from them.
"So, which of you two young men wanted to get started first?" asked Doctor Maruki to both Akira and Minato.
"If only you knew that Minato's as old as you, oblivious doctor." said Pharos in amusement to Doctor Maruki.
"How about you first, Kurusu-kun?" suggested Minato as he ignored Pharos words.
"Me? Very well then, senpai. I'll go first, Doctor." said Akira.
"Alright. Come on in then, Kurusu-kun." said Doctor Maruki before both he and Akira went into the nurse office and closed the door while Minato leaned against the wall and wait outside.
XXXX
Inside the nurse office…
"Welcome! Thank you for coming." said Doctor Maruki enthusiastically to Akira.
"No problem since we make a deal after all." said Akira.
"Ahaha, that's true, we did. Well… I'll try to make sure it's worth the trouble. Let's sit down and you can start by telling me on how you came to Shujin and your interaction with Kamoshida-sensei, Kurusu-kun." said Doctor Maruki before both he and Akira sat down on the 2 couches and Doctor Maruki offered Akira some snacks before he listen as Akira told him of his interaction with Kamoshida-sensei. "I see… Mm, thank you. I think I've gotten a good grasp of the situation you're in, Kurusu-kun. Well, full disclosure… the school gave me a brief rundown of the circumstances surrounding your transfer here."
"Of course the school did but it's in the past now." sighed Akira.
"That's quite mature of you to put it behind you, Kurusu-kun. Now that you've told me more about yourself, I think I've realised something. It seems like you've largely been able to reconcile your internal world with your external one. I should note-that's really, truly impressive. Even most adults can't reliably manage that." said Doctor Maruki.
"What do you mean by that?" said Akira in confusion to Doctor Maruki.
"How to put it-You know how everyone has an internal reality? Some conception of themselves they're striving for? Like, wanting to be a model student, or wanting to be loved and relied on… That kind of thing. But that idealized reality and the one in actuality are often far apart. That gap is responsible for a lot of people's pain. Not everyone can ace their tests. And not everyone can be the heroes they wish they could be. You've already been through so much. That kind of suffering is usually enough to twist people up into dark places. But you-you're standing up to it, and confronting a tough, painful reality. To me, that's incredibly admirable… Then again, maybe that's little weird for you to hear all that from a guy you just met, huh?" said Doctor Maruki calmly, admirably then slightly jokingly to Akira.
"Yeah. But what you just told me is right in a way, Doctor." said Akira.
"Not even any deflecting self-deprecation! You really are strong, Kurusu-kun." said Doctor Maruki proudly to Akira before he briefly glance at the clock hanging on the wall then glance back at Akira. "Well, I guess that concludes our session for the day, Kurusu-kun. You may go now and asked Arisato-kun to come in for his session… On second thought, before you leave, I've actually got one last request? Do you mind?" added Doctor Maruki slightly seriously to Akira.
"No, I don't. What kind of request, doctor?" asked Akira slightly curiously to Doctor Maruki.
"I'm actually doing certain research along with my duties as a counsellor. It's not quite like the counselling session that I'm doing now-more like a type of psychological treatment… Basically, it's a project to learn more about people's metaphorical hearts. What they think, how they feel. If I get far enough with it, I think it'll be able to help a lot of people! So…?" said Doctor Maruki slightly enthusiastically to Akira.
"I think I need more details and calm down, Doctor." said Akira calmly to Doctor Maruki.
"Oh, forgive me for being excited and neglect in giving you more details! Uh, I guess my point is… I'd like to ask you to help with that research! All you have to do is listen to my theories, and then tell me if they spark any ideas or realizations on your end. Please! Any time's good for me-I can work around your schedule. And, uh… I've got a lot of snacks, too! You can have them! They're yours, Kurusu-kun!" said Doctor Maruki apologetically then hopefully to Akira about aiding him with his research.
"Hm… Alright, I'll help you out and thanks for the snacks offer but I don't need them now, doctor." said Akira as he nodded and agreed to help Doctor Maruki's research and declining his generous snacks offer.
"Really!? YES! You're a lifesaver and I see about the snacks. Let's see…" said Doctor Maruki happily to Akira before he fell silent and think about how Akira can help him and managed to think of one. "I got it! How about I teach you some tips for mental training? I happen to know a lot on the subject. I'm sure I can cook up a special regimen for you. If you're dedicated enough, I'm sure you could draw out your full potential! What say you, Kurusu-kun?" suggested Doctor Maruki hopefully to Akira.
"I accept your tips for mental training, doctor." said Akira as he nodded again at Doctor Maruki.
"Okay! I guess that's our second deal." said Doctor Maruki happily at Akira (who felt his Councillor bond with Doctor Maruki went up to level 2 and learn Detox X skill from him). "… Oh right! Would it be okay if we traded contact information? I'll contact you when I've got time, or when I need some input from you." added Doctor Maruki to Akira as he take out his smartphone.
"Alright." said Akira as he also take out his own smartphone and traded contact info with Doctor Maruki.
"… That should do it! Thanks for that and you may go now and tell Arisato-kun to come in for his session before you leave, will you, Kurusu-kun?" said Doctor Maruki thankfully to Akira before he told Akira to tell Minato to come in for his session.
"You're welcome and sure, I'll tell him, doctor." said Akira as he nodded at Doctor Maruki, stood up from the couch, walked out of the office and tell Minato that it's his turn for the session, which make Minato give Akira a nod before he went into the office while Akira turned and left Shujin Academy.
"Nice to see you again, Arisato-kun. Have a seat and do you want some drinks or snacks?" greeted Doctor Maruki politely to Minato before he asked Minato to sit down and whether he want something to eat or drink.
"Yeah, nice to see you too and thanks and of course I don't mind having some drinks and snacks from you, Doctor Maruki." greeted Minato politely back to Doctor Maruki (who nodded before he prepare a cup of cocoa and a huge bag of mango-flavoured pocky stick biscuits for Minato) before he sat down on the couch.
"Here you go, Arisato-kun." said Doctor Maruki as he put the cup of cocoa and the huge bag of mango-flavoured pocky stick biscuits on the table in front of Minato. "Once you're done, I'd like to hear and know about what you do before we met in Big Bang Burger a few days ago and then here in Shujin Academy today, Arisato-kun." asked Doctor Maruki curiously to Minato.
"Thanks and very well, Doctor." said Minato thankfully to Doctor Maruki as he drank the cocoa and ate some pocky sticks before he take a deep breath and began telling Doctor Maruki about what he gone through before he enrolled into Shujin and before he met Doctor Maruki (while leaving out the huge part of him and his twin sister and old friends fighting shadows and Strega member every night during the Dark Hour and of him sacrificing himself to become the Great Seal to keep both Nyx and Erebus apart) twice in Big Bang Burger restaurant first and then in Shujin Academy right now.
"My goodness! And I naively thought that what Kurusu-kun told me he gone through is tough and painful until you told me about yours! I'm sorry to hear that and ask you to tell me about it, Arisato-kun." said Doctor Maruki sadly and guiltily to Minato.
"It's fine and I managed to get over it thanks to my family and my friends and I'm not telling you all that just to see you being all sad and guilty to me like the others, Doctor Maruki." said Minato reassuringly to Doctor Maruki.
"I see. I'm glad to hear that your family and friends have greatly helped you become just as strong and admirable as Kurusu-kun, Arisato-kun." said Doctor Maruki as he smiled at Minato.
"And me too, in a way." said Pharos.
"I know, Pharos." said Minato mentally back to Pharos before he spend some more time doing the counselling session with Doctor Maruki (who's surprised to know that Minato's as old as him despite how young he look then impressed at Minato for continuing his missing education in Shujin, getting a job as a new idol and being with his family and friends again after he woke up from his coma) before he and Doctor Maruki fell silent as they heard the school bell start ringing.
"Oh dear, it seems that the counselling sessions I have with Kurusu-kun and you make me lose track of time! Forgive me for keeping you here so long for your counselling, Arisato-kun." said Doctor Maruki apologetically to Minato.
"It's fine and this counselling session I have with you is quite enlightening and helpful to me, Doctor." said Minato reassuringly to Doctor Maruki.
"I'm glad to know that my counselling help you, Arisato-kun… Oh right, is it alright for you to exchange contact info with me?" asked Doctor Maruki.
"No, sorry. Goodbye and I'll see you tomorrow, Doctor." replied Minato as he shake his head at Doctor Maruki.
"I see. Goodbye, Arisato-kun." sighed Doctor Maruki as he watched Minato walked toward and open the door and left the nurse office.
XXXX
A few minutes later, in Niijima apartment…
"Welcome back, Arisato-san. Do you want some dinner now and how goes your counselling session with Doctor Maruki?" asked Makoto after she greeted Minato.
"I'm back and no thank you. I've already ate my dinner in Big Bang Burger in Shibuya and the counselling session that I had with Doctor Maruki is quite enlightening and helpful, Makoto-san." replied Minato as he shake his head at Makoto.
"Indeed." said Pharos.
"I see." said Makoto.
"Yeah and good night, Makoto-san." said Minato before he went toward and entered his room, closed the door behind him before he change into his pajamas, heard his phone vibrating with incoming messages and he quickly pick it up to see the messages he received from Minako asking about how his counselling session with Doctor maruki goes and from Goro asking about how his day goes, which make Minato type and send his answers back to them before he turned off and put his phone down on the table, lie down on the bed and fell asleep.