Aigis still kept a close eye on Minato. Especially today. She almost seemed uneasy. When homeroom began, she finally stopped staring at him and looked at the new student instead.

"Alright everyone, today we have yet another transfer student," Toriumi said. "Please introduce yourself."

"My name is Ryoji Mochizuki." The new student bowed and his yellow scarf seemed to flow. He wasn't wearing the school uniform. "This is the right manner, right? Nice to meet you."

There already were gossips left and right. That scarf must be fluffy. I wanna touch it. His slicked back hair looks nice. Blue eyes. He looks so cool…

The class liked him. This guy was considered good looking, huh. Minato didn't really get their standards. Are blue eyes all there is to it to be popular?

"My parents live overseas." Ryoji smiled. "I'm not too familiar around here. I would be grateful if you all can show me the ropes."

"Now then, you need a seat. Let's see… that one's open." Toriumi pointed at the table. "Second from the left, in the front."

"Toriumi-sensei?" Junpei raised his hand. "That seat's taken…"

"You must be present to be a member of this class, so as far as I'm concerned, that seat is available." Toriumi was serious and pragmatic. "Life is nothing but a game of musical chairs. The rest of you should be careful, too."

Ryoji took his seat and the day went by, though he glanced back once in a while and saw a blonde haired girl who never stopped glaring at him.

The last class ended, and Ryoji was shoved in front of Minato by Junpei.

"Psst, introduce yourself!" Junpei said.

"Uhh okay." The transfer student scratched his head. "I'm Ryoji Mochizuki. I'm pretty sure you knew that. You were looking at me in homeroom, after all."

Minato wasn't sure how these two became friends so quick. "Hello. I'm Minato Arisato. Nice to meet you."

"He transferred here earlier this year," Junpei said. "Quite popular with girls, but this dude is still single."

"Oh, I see. You are my rival then. Nice to meet you, too." Ryoji offered his hand and Minato shook it.

Aigis popped up. "Leave!"

"Gah!" Ryoji stepped back. This blonde hair he saw in class. "You stalker again."

Aigis tilted her head. "Stalker?"

"You look at me all day," Ryoji said and smiled. "Are you interested in me?"

"You are not interesting," Aigis said. "Your presence is… disturbing."

"Ouch…" Junpei whispered.

Ryoji turned his back to Aigis. "Anyway, Minato, I get the feeling that we'll become good friends."

Minato nodded.

Aigis popped up. "Leave!"

"Ekk!" Ryoji backed away. "Even if you're his girlfriend, you shouldn't be so possessive. It's not like I'm stealing Minato from you."

"I simply want Minato to stay away from you." Aigis raised her arms to shield Minato. "Or should I say 'over my dead body'."

"Next time, dude." Junpei dragged Ryoji away.

After they left, Aigis lowered her arms. "I have a bad feeling, Leader."

And that was very unusual.

Mitsuru came back to school today. Akihiko should be enough to take care of her.

After school, Yukari and Fuuka dragged Aigis away.

"He is no good," Aigis said before disappearing into the crowd.

The obstacle was cleared. Junpei shoved Ryoji into his face again.

"Introduce him to this school!" Junpei said and poked Ryoji's back. "Say your part!"

"Okay…" Ryoji managed to grin in this forced situation. "Would you mind showing me around?"

So Minato dragged Ryoji to the music room.

"Ah, a piano. It's really big." Ryoji walked around the grand piano. He looked at Minato. "Can you play piano?"

"A bit." Minato sat there and started playing some simple notes. It was basically five notes repeating.

"I have never heard that," Ryoji said

"I composed it myself," Minato said. "I'm in the music club."

"Really? Does the song have a name?"

Minato nodded. "It's called Joy."

"Joy? That's… cheesy," Ryoji said. Minato admitted it was not the best name. It's a place holder name. "What's the inspiration?"

"I thought of people that live in Iwatodai Dorm."

"A song that reminds you of your dorm mates!" Ryoji said.

Where did he get that from. It was from Junpei of course.

"But I feel like…" Ryoji walked to the piano and placed his fingers on the keys. "If you play it slower, the mood changes."

Minato listened to the slower version Ryoji was playing. The mood did change. "I never notice that."

"And if you change a few notes…" Ryoji started playing the first five notes again, but he changed the rest.

"It becomes a sad song," Minato said.

"Yeah." Ryoji smiled. "Music is amazing."

Minato was surprised. Ryoji could play piano and improvise it on the spot. "Now you made this song. What will you call it?"

Ryoji rubbed his chin. "Memories of the school?"

"Why?"

"I know I'm here for only two days, but it feels like I've done so much."

Ryoji smiled again. He smiled a lot.

"It's important to me."

"Greetings," Aigis said. "Mitsuru has returned to the dorm. She went straight to her room. Also, he is a threat."

"What's wrong?" Minato asked.

"Ryoji-san came talked to me on the way to this dorm," Aigis said. "He invited me to a Kyoto date."

"Damn," Junpei said. "That guy really doesn't hesitate to go for the popular chick."

Aigis tilted her head. "Am I popular?"

"On par with Yuka-tan. That says a lot." Junpei sighed. "Wish Chidorita could go to the school trip too… Wait, has she ever go to school anyway? I should tell her all about it then."

Now Ken got into this card games too. Junpei, then Fuuka, and now Ken. They were playing a game on Fuuka's laptop.

"So you walk like this…" Ken controlled the character with the arrow pad. "Hey, wait! There's a Featherman R cameo right there, see? The masks are on the shelves!"

"Where?" Fuuka asked. "Oh, I see them."

"Ahhh you're right." Junpei squinted his eyes. "Black, red, pink... Yeah, that's their masks."

"Cool!" Ken kept controlling the character around. "I wonder why the protagonist walks around instead of riding a motorcycle?"

"He wouldn't be able to talk to NPC that way," Fuuka said. "After all, he needs information."

"Why can't they just fight and kill everything…" Ken groaned. "But I get it, it wouldn't be fun that way."

"Tell you what, I'll make sure I see you in your dreams tonight." Ryoji winked.

Minato wasn't sure if that was meant for the girls behind him or for him.

"Awww!" Well, there were squeals behind him. Those girls went away. Phew.

"You are dangerous," Aigis said from behind Ryoji. "Leave."

"Uh, I start to get used to this?" Ryoji turned around to face her. "Answer is no. Thanks for the compliment."

"Aigis," Minato said. "I have an important mission I shall assign to you right now."

Aigis saluted him. "Yes?"

"Go walk Koromaru."

Aigis frowned as much as an android could. "But, I do not-"

"Go walk Koromaru."

"... Understood."

After Aigis set on a journey to go walk the dog, Minato took Ryoji to Hagakure.

The new student was excited. When the ramen was served, he dug in. He felt like he had seen this scene before. Oh, it was Junpei digging into ramen.

"When I mention the name Ikutsuki," Ryoji chewed a piece of meat. "People from your dorm become weird."

"You talked to Yukari?" Minato asked. That was a bold move.

"Yeah. And Fuuka, and Mitsuru-senpai. Akihiko-senpai too."

"How are you not dead," Minato said.

"I have my way. This ramen is so good!" Ryoji slurped the last remains of noodles. "This Ikutsuki guy, isn't he Aigis's parent?"

"Yeah." That was what was in the paper. Ikutsuki was Aigis's last name. "He's an abusive parent."

Calling it abusive was saying it lightly.

"Abusive? That's not good." Ryoji frowned. "I know that he is dead, and it's only normal people in your dorm hate him, but… I worry about her."

Minato raised his eyebrows. "About Aigis?"

"Yes."

Was it love at first sight that draws Ryoji in? When did it happen? All Aigis did was telling him to go away.

"Don't give me a weird look. I know it's weird… but I feel like I've known her for a long time." Ryoji looked at him. "And you, too."

He's a charmer, Minato thought. No wonder why he is so popular.

"I should have use your last name instead." Aigis told Minato as she was holding the handle in the train.

Minato preferred holding onto the bar. "You know you can't just change your background all of a sudden."

"It would have been a nice cover." Junpei sat on the seat. "Aigis, transferring to Iwatodai due to her twin brother transferring here earlier."

"And why wouldn't she come with Minato in the first place?" Yukari helped in being the gossip voice.

"I had arrived in Iwatodai together with my brother, but a circumstance forced me to stay in a hospital," Aigis said. "I have missed a few months of school, but I can self-taught in the hospital."

"Right. It is a good cover," Minato said. "Too bad no one in my family is a blonde."

"It is a wig, or I dye my hair." Aigis nodded. "Back then, it was a last minute decision. I requested for Ikutsuki as my last name…"

"Hey Minato, Junpei!"

The group turned around to see a yellow scarf. The new student still wasn't wearing a uniform.

Ryoji walked to them and turned to Aigis. "It must be fate that I meet you here today."

"You are dangerous." Aigis glared at him.

"Yeah, I know." Ryoji chuckled. He might be a lowkey masochist. "Aigis, have you ever look out the train?"

"Yes," Aigis said.

"It's a nice view, isn't it?" Ryoji moved closer to the window. "The way water reflects light like that. The school is in the middle of it all. It looks like a miniature city."

Aigis moved closer to the window too. "I guess it is a 'nice view'."

Ryoji had good intention, so Minato would let him do what he wants. Being hit on was a good experience for Aigis. She needed to mature.

"Soon, it's going to be winter," Ryoji said.

Aigis kept looking at the ocean.

"I wonder why you are wearing the winter uniform already. It really suits you." Ryoji gave her a smile. "Hey Aigis, I want to celebrate Christmas with you."

Aigis blinked. Her communication system must be confused. Poor android

"Wow dude," Junpei said. "I should say that to Chidori."

"She'll kill you," Yukari said.