A/N: Of course I followed the last chapter with more Aigis x Ken.

Chapter 46

Screwdriver

Is it so hard for them to understand?

Ken gulped down his non-alcoholic fruity drinks. The bar here accepted teenagers in, and he was glad they allowed him to come in. He didn't know why he had to come here of all places. Anywhere but the usual place should be fine.

It's still the same. One thing that wouldn't change was his goal.

He had a goal of getting the justice back, to make it right and fair. He finally found the culprit, and he would not let the chance slipped. He would not let the culprit get away and live a life, even though the victim suffered!

He had the plan, and he had been following them properly. It was his life goal, and nothing else could have higher priority. It was so simple and straightforward, yet no one seemed to understand what he did. Of course he didn't tell anyone, but…

Is what I'm doing so weird?

Ken poked the cold glass. He didn't plan to change anything. It was perfect, the way it's supposed to be. He wouldn't allow the justice to die down with a change of mind. He couldn't.

All that had changed was the location he made the conclusion. Of course he already had the answer. He had the plan. All he needed to do was to follow it to the end.

"Greetings."

But of course, there was one obstacle.

"Can't you leave me alone?" Ken asked.

"I come here to carry your body back to the dorm in case you become unconscious." Aigis took a seat next to him. "Tomorrow is Sunday. Do you plan to stay up late today?"

Ken ignored her and took a sip. "I bet Minato sent you here."

"Your assumption is wrong."

"Then it's Akihiko or Shinjiro isn't it?"

"Wrong."

"Mitsuru? Yukari? Fuuka?"

"Wrong, wrong, wrong. I come here of my own free will."

"Should've known." Ken finished his drink. "Only you can be this annoying."

Aigis seemed unaffected by the comment. She raised her hand and called the bartender. "Screwdriver, please."

Ken raised his eyebrows. Aigis probably has a plan, he thought. No, he wouldn't lose to her fake curiosity of a machine. She made nothing but trouble, and being a trouble herself.

"You might be curious as to why I ordered an alcoholic beverage," Aigis said. "I ordered it because I want to play a game with you."

"A game?" Ugh, he hated the way she talked.

"I know you want to try alcoholic drinks, do you not?" The blonde asked. "To be an adult. To do everything you could have done if you are older." She shook her head. "I could never understand why you are in such a rush."

Ken didn't say anything.

"One question. One sip," Aigis said. "We can ask each other anything, and we must answer truthfully."

The beverage was served, placed between them. The yellow cocktail was garnished with a slice of orange.

"18% vodka, 72% orange juice, and 10% water," Aigis said.

Sounds like a dangerous game, Ken thought. But he hadn't talked to anyone for a while. The atmosphere in the dorm was weird. The girls were acting weird. Everyone was weird. And it got a little boring. He was the one asking so it should be okay.

"This is illegal," Ken said.

"It will be okay if you keep quiet."

"Sure…" Ken reached for the glass and took a sip. The taste is… strong. Eaugh. "Why did you talk to Shinjiro yesterday?"

"Fuuka and I have a perfect plan, and it involves Shinjiro," Aigis said. "But then I realized it will never work. Talking to him is merely a way to entertain myself."

Another sip. "Why will your plan not work?"

"Because I have become an outcast."

One more. "Outcast?"

"As in, not the one Minato chooses to talk to."

Ekk. "Why not?"

"Minato had found out I invaded his personal space too much to his liking. He talked to me less since then," Aigis said. "He is also a busy person. He has to spend his time wisely. I could understand."

"Hmm."

Aigis took the glass from his hand and took a small sip. Wait, she can do that? "He doesn't talk to you much either."

"Yeah," Ken said. "People kinda just… leave me alone, for these past few days." He glanced at the robot. "... But they all focus on Shinjiro for some reason."

"He has made a great meal," Aigis commented.

"I'm not stupid." Ken took the glass back and drank a full gulp.

"Ken, that's-"

"Everyone all focuses on Shinjiro for some freaking reasons." Ken stared at her. "Aigis, tell me everything you know."

"Ah." Aigis rubbed her chin. "This is a dangerous game, indeed."

"Tell me!"

"My goal was to extract information on you first to find the best approach, but it can't be helped." She dropped her carefree attitude. "What I am telling you is mostly part of my own research. You should not share the information anywhere else, or we would we in trouble."

"Sure, I can do that."

"Do you know who Chidori is?"

"Junpei's crush? Yeah," Ken said. "That suicidal girl he wanna spends time with."

"One day, Chidori's Persona tried to kill her in her hospital room. Shinjiro had to use suppressant on her. Mitsuru suspects that Shinjiro might be using the drug as well as the members of Strega."

"Huh?" Ken blinked. Persona trying to kill its owner? The berserk horse...?

"According to my research, Strega seems to be a group of artificial Persona users. They were made in an experiment. Their Personas hadn't awakened naturally and can go berserk, so the artificial Persona users need to take the suppressant." Aigis said. "The suppressant suppresses the Persona to prevent it from harming its host. It is easy to assume Kirijo made both the artificial Persona users and the suppressant."

"Wow…" Ken nodded. "Mitsuru usually seems so tensed. Does she feel responsible for all that?"

"That, I do not know," Aigis said. "Mitsuru mentioned that the suppressant has a serious side effect. I need to confirm that statement. I managed to find a sample of the drug-"

"Wait, wait, wait," Ken said. "May I ask where you get all these info?"

"Cameras. Eavesdropping. Hacking." Aigis said. "And asking. I am not a human, so the laws cannot punish me, if that is what you are asking. Though I am positive I do not leave any pieces of evidence."

"Umm okay..."

"My analysis told me that the drug has a serious side effect on a human body. A large amount could be lethal," Aigis said. "If Mitsuru's assumption is correct, Strega's member and Shinjiro are most likely in poor health."

"How bad is it?"

"They would all die in a few years, if not a few months. Only the seniors know about this fact." Aigis thought for a moment. "Mitsuru did tell Minato, so four. Please keep this a secret."

Ken nodded and didn't ask anything else.

"Has the alcohol taken effect?" Aigis noted his distress. "You seems troubled."

"Well of course I am!" Ken shouted. "You know someone is dying soon, so of course I am!"

"Is it really the reason? You were troubled long before tonight." Aigis asked, "Are you afraid of changes?"

Ken was quiet for a long time. He almost didn't seem to believe what he had learned. "He knew…"

"Correct."

"And yet he keep spending time with him?" He looked at her. "How could he do that?"

"It is nothing hard."

"You don't get it Aigis..." Ken said in a tone that the android had never heard before, insecure and vulnerable.

Aigis observed him. "Minato and you have different personalities. It is understandable if you choose a different approach. I have not finished the explanation, but you need to rest soon."

"Just say it."

"Very well," Aigis said. "In short, the girls have a plan to bond Minato with Shinjiro. I am an outcast, so I could not help them. To be honest, Minato and Shinjiro would have bonded even without help, though much slower."

"I don't like it," Ken said. "It feels like you are all trying to control us!"

"Everything is being controlled by something," Aigis said. "Does it matter by what or whom?"

Ken opened his mouth only to close it again. He was too sleepy to argue anyway. Machine. She's just a stupid machine...

"You alcohol tolerance level is surprisingly high," Aigis commented. "But it ends here. I will have to carry you."

"Leave me alone."

"After this, I will not bother you any longer."

"You don't bother me, Aigis. I just don't like… being stared at."

"You don't like being judged."

"Shut upp…"

…

"Of course I ended up having to carry you home," Aigis said. Ken was unconscious from an alcoholic coma and was carried by her in a bridal style.

She had already texted Minato that she was with Ken. They should not get in any problems for returning late.

She entered the dorm and went up the stairs. She moved without making any noises. Ken's room was locked. Aigis picked the lock in eleven seconds and opened the door.

Ken's room was dark like what she had seen in the monitor. This was the first time Aigis entered his room. She located his bed and laid Ken's body on his bed. He wouldn't wake up until tomorrow.

Mission complete. Aigis walked to the door and grabbed the doorknob. She had a few hours left. She didn't have to return to the command room to charge today, either.

Aigis turned around and observed the room once more. She could stay here for a while.

After all, someone's bedroom always has plenty of information to gather.