People are not going to be happy with me after this chapter.
Minato blinked, watching the girl next to him forcing the noodles from the bowl down her throat. What bowl was this? Her third? Fourth bowl?
Yet, she was still wolfing it down like she was preparing for a long fast.
His eye was drawn to the single noodle hanging from her mouth, quickly being slurped up by the girl with a bright smile on her face.
Noticing his gaze, she raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong?" Minako asked her brother.
Minato's eyes began darting from the bowl and then back to her—rinse and repeat until finally saying, "you're a pig."
His statement was met with a gasp. Her pale cheeks quickly reddening, she began stammering, "A-Am not!"
"You sure are messy like one," he grinned, pointing to the mess she had made after spilling some of the bowls' contents on her clothes.
That accusation, however, caused his sister's expression to change. From shocked and embarrassed red cheeks to a predatory glare, she began growling her brother's name.
By the time he realized his mistake, she was already pouncing on him, ready to exact her revenge.
But that was years ago. Now, Minato could only chuckle at the memory, glancing at what was once their favorite spot in the restaurant.
He's not sure what got into him that day but his younger self wasn't ready to submit to his younger twin. "Oink, oink," he found himself muttering, briefly losing himself in the nostalgia. He could almost feel the black eye she gave him for that stunt. They didn't talk to each other for a day after that—until they were rejoined by their shared nemesis that was bathtime.
"Hmm?" he then felt his life was in grave danger when Kotone, who is sitting next to him on his right, turned her attention towards him, her mouth full after stuffing it with what he swore was her fifth bowl. He could only pray that she did not hear what he just said.
"Um," the next words he says are crucial. He needs to tread carefully. "Nothing. Just remembering something."
His excuse appeared to be enough to satisfy her. Shrugging her shoulders, her attention returned to her bowl, continuing to ravage it like a ravenous wolf.
"Whew," he mentally sighed in relief—crisis averted; that was too close for comfort. Something tells him he would have gotten something much worse than a black eye.
Looking towards the rest of the group, he saw SEES' various differing eating habits.
Akihiko kept adding some sort of powder to his, and declaring that each bowl was some sort of "challenge" for training. Minato couldn't decide whether to feel relieved or disturbed that his confusion seemed to be shared by the rest of the team.
Ken and Mitsuru were the least rowdy of the bunch. Despite their environment, they kept what would widely be regarded as "proper" table manners. Minato couldn't help but suspect that the former had been taking lessons from the latter.
Yukari and Fuuka were talking more than they were eating. There was a mentioning of Koromaru at some point, and the archer almost jumped out of her seat panicking. Instead, she assured Fuuka that they can "save some" for him instead. What could've sparked that reaction?
Junpei was… Junpei. Not quite as messy as he expected, admittedly. He appeared to be far more relaxed than usual, perhaps being able to take his mind off everything for the first time in weeks.
And then there was Aigis, sitting to his left with her eyes directed at him.
"Are you well, Minato-san?" her question was as abrupt as it was puzzling.
"I'm good," he said nodding. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "why? Something up?"
"No," she said, shaking her head.
"If you mean Makoto, then," the mention of his other self's name forced him to pause briefly, swallowing a lump in his throat and nodding, "yeah, he's quiet. I don't think that we will be seeing him again."
"What about—" Aigis stops her words before the sentence could form, instead, shaking her head and apologizing, "I am sorry. It is inappropriate to bring up the topic. We are here to celebrate."
"I guess," Minato shrugged his shoulders.
Celebrating what? That Aigis is back after what he did?
It doesn't change anything.
There's nothing stopping Dark Hour and the cases of Apathy Syndrome running rampant. Day by day, more and more people are turning into living statues; they're breathing and existing without the spark that makes one truly alive.
With Ikutsuki dead and being an infiltrator, they no lead to go on. All they do is keep exploring Tartarus blindly, hoping something comes up while they try to maintain their strength.
Makoto's quest for revenge failed. Whatever happened to him during his last fight restored whatever sanity he had left, but he's given up. There's nothing left for him.
As for Minato, there was one thing he had left.
The door to the restaurant swung open, and in came the person Minato wanted to see the least. "Ooh, are we celebrating something?"
"Ryoji," the name came out Minato's lips as a hiss. The sight of this… boy stirring something inside him. His voice was instead drowned out by his girlfriend's voice, "oh, hey, Ryoji!"
Minato could see Ryoji's jaw tighten, giving Kotone side-glance and balling his hands into fists before forcing himself to relax. Instead, his attention refocused on his old victim.
"Hey, Minato!" watching him waving at him stroked the flames that he didn't know were burning. For the past month, he's felt so many things—guilt and sorrow—pain and anguish.
But now? Seeing him and knowing who he is—he can only remember. With each memory, he brought, all the emotions he felt the past weeks began melding into one—hate.
Ryoji continued unaware, beaming a smile that made the boy sick to his stomach, "it's nice to see you all again. I hope I'm not interrupting anything!"
Before he could speak, Aigis rose from her seat, "You should not be here." Her glare is sharp—predatory—surprising her friends.
Ryoji barely had time to blink before she followed, "this is a celebration—one that does not concern you."
The members of SEES are now murmuring amongst themselves, each puzzled at the android's reaction.
"Aigis?!"
"Aigis, what's gotten into you?"
They don't recognize it, but he does. She wasn't lecturing at an uninvited guest; she was a machine and in front of her was the very enemy she was designed to destroy.
Ryoji unconsciously took a step back, stammer through his words in bewilderment, "d-did I do something I don't remember? Who even are you?!"
"You are dangerous!"
"You are dangerous!"
Too many bad memories came flooding back at that familiar sentence. So many that it only kindled the flames more.
More and more they burned, and more and more the heat continued building.
Heart pounding.
Palms sweaty.
Body fidgeting.
It was too much. He wasn't looking at his old friend that betrayed him. No, he was looking at the one who ruined his life—the one that took his family away from him and haunted him for ten long years.
"You heard her," it was Minato's turn to rise, his voice oozing with rancor. The more he looks at Ryoji, the more he chastises himself for not knowing who he is sooner.
His features were an almost perfect emulation of his own. And his voice—heighten the pitch, and Minato had no doubt he could replicate his tone and mannerisms perfectly.
His body was a mirror and in it, Minato could only see the reflection of a boy watching his sister die because of him.
"Mi… nato?"
How many people are dead because of him? His sister was his first victim, and then his uncle. How many followed? How many would have followed if he wasn't stopped?
He can still remember the boy Makoto tortured to death. What was that? A moment of depravity from a tortured soul who would do anything to revenge, or budding a monster—the one that would have watched the world burn?
"W-What… what did I do?" did his lip just tremble? Does he think that he has the right to be shocked?
Then there's Ikutsuki's experiment that Makoto tore apart during his rampage. Another victim of everything, yet he ripped him to pieces. God knows what they did with what was left of the body.
Those aren't the actions of a victim. He's a monster—he's been one ever since that day, and it all traces back to him!
It's not until he sees the shocked faces of those around him that Minato realizes that he was cackling, unable to contain his laughter. "Really? You're asking that… Ryoji?" he can't help but draw his name out.
He can't stop himself. Are his eyes flickering as a reaction to the stress? It doesn't matter. It just means he has this creature's full and undivided attention.
"I…"
Before he could finish, Minato grabs him by his shirt, pulling him in closer. This was enough to make everyone jump out of their seats, surrounding them, and he swears he hears the owner yell something about threatening to call the police if he doesn't settle down.
"I want you out that door, old friend," Minato almost finds himself bursting into another fit of laughter at those two words. But no, he needs to keep his voice down—he can't risk the others hearing this.
Ryoji is too shocked to respond. He tries, but all that escapes is hot air. Good, it makes this easier.
"Full moon's close, you know?" Despite the twelve shadows being gone, he hadn't stopped keeping track of the lunar cycle. Looks like it was paying off now, "I'll meet you then at our special place, I'm sure you can remember that, right?"
He didn't need an answer. The message was enough.
Minato released Ryoji, but not without pushing him with enough force that he was almost thrown out the door.
There's a brief moment where Ryoji pauses, glancing back awestruck at what he was witnessing; Minato was glaring daggers into him, barely able to restrain himself from physically lashing out at him.
Funny, he actually looks heartbroken before doing as he was told.
"Minato, what in the hell was that about?!" Junpei? Oh right, those two were spending a lot of time together when he came back. Minato can't help but wonder how quickly his tune would change if he knew who—what—he really is.
No, that's not him talking. He's defending who he believes is his friend. There's enough irony in that to give him metal poisoning.
"None of your business," Minato grumbling, brushing past the capped boy and leaving the restaurant. He has enough deaths on his conscience; they've fought his battles long enough.
He thought that walking alone would slowly quell his anger. He was hoping that his pounding heart would calm down and that he could regain control of himself.
Instead, he felt the sensation worsen. It was a festering wound that he had been ignoring for so long. By now it was infected, poisoning him and threatening to wear him down but he didn't care.
"You need to stop."
He passed by the ghost without sparing a single glance.
"Minato," the phantom called out his name before reappearing in front of him again, "please."
"I'm not dealing with this right now," he growled. He was already lunatic but indulging what has to hallucination was a line he wasn't going to cross quite yet.
Fractured souls.
So much anger.
So much resentment.
It was a wonder how he manages to get out of bed every morning.
As quickly as the thought came, what must be one of those reasons came calling his name.
"Crap," Minato muttered, turning back to see Kotone running towards him, no-doubt having followed him after his… confrontation with Pharos. Or would it be Ryoji now?
Upon reaching him, Kotone briefly hunched over, panting heavily as he had made a surprising amount of distance in a very short amount of time. Between everything that happened with him and the overall lack of a tangible goal at the moment, she had been slacking on her training in Tartarus and now she was feeling one of the consequences.
Catching her breath, she looked up and flashed him a warm smile, only for it to immediately falter under his cold gaze. Crossing his arms, he waited for her to speak.
"So…" she let the sentence trail for a moment, giving him an opportunity to speak. When it became apparent that he was keeping his silence, she continued, "you want to tell me what that was about?"
"No."
She blinked.
"No?"
"No," he affirmed, "I don't."
Kotone appeared to be genuinely stunned, looking down at the ground for a brief moment to collect herself before speaking again. "Okay… let me rephrase that: Tell me what that was about."
"That is none of your business." His words were as cold as they were when he first met her months ago.
"Excuse you!?" Kotone frowned before taking a moment to close her eyes and take a deep breath. "Minato, it's obvious something is troubling you. That is my business."
She's just as stubborn as she was back then too. But he wasn't backing down, not now. "Leave me alone."
"Alone?!" She's frowning again, only now she's given up restraining herself, "last time I left you alone, I nearly lost you."
Damn, what is he supposed to say to that?
The phantom appeared again, this time besides the redheaded girl. Minako smiles warmly at the girl before turning her head back towards her brother, "she really loves you."
Her smile drops, her gaze softening, silently pleading for him to listen.
"Stop," he scoffed, "I don't need babysitting?"
"Oh no?" she raised an eyebrow, "what did you do after meeting with Mitsuru-senpai?"
That was enough to get a reaction out of him. His expression softened and his tilted his head, "what?"
"After you met with her father, you just…" she paused, eyes watering. This was something that had been worrying her for some time but was afraid to confront it, "I watch you space out all the time. I'll talk to you, say hello to you, but you're not even there. Not really. Sometimes, it's like you go into some sort of trance and just... forget half the day."
"That's…"
Minako saw her chance. This may be the only time he'll listen and she'll be damned if she doesn't try to reach him.
"Brother, you're hurting," she repeated what she had been trying to say for the past few days. "And you will only hurt yourself more."
"That.. I…" so many things. So many voices in his head.
"I'm not dumb, Minato," Kotone's voice was gentle, though he didn't know if it was because she was desperate or afraid... or both. "Sometimes you can't stand to look at yourself in the mirror, and when you do, your whole body tenses. You'll smile when you're around me, but when I look back, you just look so… lost."
Lost? Of course, he is. His family's gone, his childhood his gone, his soul is gone—he has nothing left to live for. He just exists.
Minako bit her lip, as if hesitating to say the words. "You're not really angry at him, are you?" her tone is one of fear as if she knows the answer but is hoping she's wrong. "It's not him you're seeing, is it?"
"Stop…" Minato could only get out a whisper. His breathing increased, boarding on panting. His hands are beginning to tremble.
Not noticing this, Kotone continued. "When you told me about Mom, it was just too much. I needed time to think and I hoped time to yourself might help."
"Don't do it," Minako shook her head. She knew what he was planning now, even if he doesn't understand it himself.
They just… wouldn't stop. "C-Can't…" he couldn't force the words out. So many things bombarding him at once; he could feel his head splitting open.
"But what you did? The voice? The expression on your face?" Kotone swallowed a lump in her throat, "it was the same one Makoto had. The exact same."
"Stop..."
"Minato, please..."
"You're angry, hurt, and I'm worried you're about to do something you'll regret."
"Stop…"
"You know she's right."
"Say something! Please!"
"Stop it…!"
"Minato, please…"
"Don't shut me out."
"Minato!"
"Minato!"
It was too much. The pressure of the two voices had him collapsing until he felt himself burst. "Shut up!" it was as much a scream as it was a guttural growl.
Kotone took a step back, gasping and stunned as Minato glared daggers into her, the stress of the situation causing his eyes to flicker again.
His body is shaking, muscles convulsing, and he's barely able to control himself. "I said no. For once, take the damn hint and stop!"
Rather than falter, Kotone stood up straight and met his gaze with a stern expression. No words were spoken, but the meaning was conveyed well enough.
Any other time, he might have calmed down. He might have given her a chance to speak. He might've even seen reason.
Any other time but now.
Hissing through his teeth, he took a step forward. "What? Afraid of losing your little toy?"
It was when he saw her eyes widen that he knew he hit a sore spot. After all, he knew her all too well.
"Isn't that what you want?" he asked accusingly, tilting his head to the side. "My head's screwed up in so many ways I don't know where to begin. My soul is pieces. I go through every day begrudgingly because I have nothing."
His lip curl's into a half-smile, "but as you told me before, you like broken things. And now, there's me. Someone you can 'help' and feel all good about yourself."
It was a low blow. So much so that it was unlikely that Makoto would stoop to using it, but he was gone now.
"All it takes is you pretending to understand. Tell me that nothing is my fault." There's no understanding what it's like to lose everything, especially a part of yourself… and only have yourself to blame for it.
"I-I…"
"Nothing," he interrupted, "why don't leave me to deal with my problems, and you can go back to that so that absent moth—"
His words end when he feels a hand strike the side of his face, causing a loud slapping sound to pierce the air. Caught so off guard and struck so hard, Minato was forced several steps back.
Bringing a hand to rub the new red spot on his face, he saw her; tears in her eyes and down her face, yet glaring at him. The pain would be felt by anyone saying those words, but not heartbreak. That's something only he could do.
She lowers her arm that had still been raised. She opens her mouth to speak only to take several quick breaths to avoid choking on her words. "I wanted…" she shakes her head, "never mind. Do what you want. We're done here."
Kotone wasn't giving him a chance to respond before turning on her heel and leaving.
Minato kept his eyes on her back until she was too far for him to see. She never looked back.
Those last words. Did that mean what he thought?
"Shit," he exhaled, shaking his head. Now, why did he have to go and do that?
Minako stood there, frowning and shaking her head. "You deserved that."
He couldn't disagree.
It might be better this way, though. He needs to go into this without any second thoughts or distractions.
No one disturbed him when he became even more reclusive than before, locking himself in his room all day except for the brief moments he had to eat or relieve himself. He was thankful they let him stay after that—he wouldn't have blamed them if they hadn't.
But it made everything easier. No one was talking to him. No one was disturbing him. There was no talking him out of it or any goodbyes getting in the way of everything.
Most importantly, none of them are getting involved. They've done more than enough for him already.
"Don't do this."
Of course, there was that one voice that wouldn't stop.
"Too late for that," he replied, shaking his head. Too late to turn back, and too late for the words that had been repeated the past few days to have any effect.
"Minato, don't…"
"Minato's gone," he let out an empty laugh. "I'm just an empty shell with his skin and name."
Looking up, Minato saw the full moon reflecting its light, looming over him. To think, it was a full moon that night too.
Midnight approached, and with it, the world began shifting.
The walls bled their red ichor.
The moon turned green.
The tower, Tartarus, rose from the ground.
And most importantly, he was here.
Minato could feel his knees weakening, wanting to collapse the closer he approached but there was no turning back.
Ryoji looked dazed and confused, looking at the bridge with familiarity yet seemingly not knowing why.
"Having trouble remembering?" Minato raised an eyebrow. There no hostility in the question. Any anger he felt died when he used it to break Kotone's heart.
Ryoji didn't so much as turn to face him. Clutching his head, Ryoji felt vertigo beginning to set in, "I…"
Minato couldn't help but feel that explained a lot. He remembers, but only partly. He just needs a little push.
"Yeah," Minato nodded, turning his head towards a seemingly mundane and non-descript part of the bridge. It was a place special only to them. "This is where it all happened, Pharos."
Here, on the Moonlight Bridge.
Sorry my updates continue to be sporadic. College sucks. I don't know how or why, but I suddenly got the motivation to write this chapter, finally. I wonder how pissed you all are now.