"Today turns out to be fun!" Ryoji said.

Yukari groaned. "It's a cursed subject."

Turned out Ryoji liked Edogawa's class. What a surprise. After school that day, Junpei headed to the hospital and Ryoji wished him good luck.

Minato kinda hoped it would get better after a few visits.

"I screwed up today man." Junpei sat at the kitchen in the dorm. "I told her I wanna look at her sketchbook… She told me it's not my business."

"Then it's probably not your business," Minato said.

"I know, okay. I said sorry, but still… She looked mad." Junpei sighed. Yukari walked to them.

"Keep saying sorry, then. And keep visiting," Yukari said. "Don't stop visiting!"

Minato nodded. "Don't give up."

"Yeah, you're right." Junpei managed to force a smile. It might not be so bad between them right now. "I'm famous for never knowing when to quit. I'm going to visit her whether she likes it or not!"

Yukari patted him in the back. "That's the spirit."

"Yuka-tan cheering me on, I'm happy."

Girls squealed when Ryoji was in class. That had been less and less these past few days. He was usually talking to SEES members and didn't give the girls much attention anymore.

"Chinyan means Lover." Ryoji had been trying to say that Cantonese word for a while. "Chinyan… Chinyan."

"Why do you have to practice saying the word Chinyan?" Aigis asked. Aigis of all people tried to talk to him. Minato was not sure if she's trying to be more outgoing? Less biased? Or she was trying to distract Ryoji from him.

"Because," Ryoji smiled. He always smiled for girls. "After our date at Kyoto, we will be called by that."

Aigis tilted her head. "I cannot go on a date with you if I have to stay by his side."

Some students were whispering how a cute girl could choose guys to go out with. Ryoji noticed it. "Okay, Aigis. I don't mind it being three people, if that is what you want."

"I never agree to that," Minato said. He himself didn't care too much about rumors and reputation, but Ryoji and Aigis were totally hopeless.

If Minato didn't know them, he would think they had never talked to people before.

"Ah, there she is," Ryoji arrived at the school rooftop. He stood in awe of the afternoon sky before looking back at the person. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Takeba, thank you for your concern," Mitsuru said. "For now, I will attend to my duties." Mitsuru walked passed him and exited the rooftop.

"Huh…" Ryoji looked at her walking down the stairs. "Is she still angry about last time? Is a three-star hotel not enough for the head of Kirijo?"

"Don't say that!" Yukari snapped. It took Ryoji a few seconds.

"... Oh, sorry," Ryoji said. "She has become the head only recently, right? I know what it means."

"You'd better." Yukari sighed. "It's still new, okay? Even if it's hard to relate to her… Anyone could guess how hard it is to lose a father."

Ryoji didn't say anything.

Mitsuru was at the lounge today. She didn't look so good.

"The school trip is next week," Mitsuru said. "Amada and Koromaru will have to stay here."

Akihiko was really worried about Mitsuru, as usual.

"When she gets depressed, then Akihiko-senpai gets depressed, too." Fuuka looked at the redhead on the sofa. "I hope the school trip will cheer her up…"

Ken was all namayatsuhashi-ing Minato, well, bugging him to buy the snack using reverse psychology. He made a mental note to buy that in Kyoto.

"I am unable to understand the significance of a trip," Aigis said. "I thought that it was simply an activity to experience, but it seems to be more complex than that. What do you obtain when you go on a trip?"

Minato thought of Ryoji's words. "Memories."

"Memories… What do you benefit from gaining memories?" Aigis tilted her head. "It is very difficult."

Ryoji looked around the cafe with wide eyes. He was like Aigis number two. Minato walked to his favorite seat and they ordered their drinks.

"Hot chocolate milk, please," Ryoji said.

Minato ordered the same. Ryoji liked it too, huh?

Ryoji looked around again so Minato did too. Lovers everywhere. Most of them were drinking coffee and sharing cakes.

Minato spoke up. "I thought you would want to be with girls and not me."

Ryoji sighed, much to his surprise. "... I did. I have, and I don't like it. It… wasn't as nice as I thought it would be." He took a gulp of milk. "It's like they just want my body there, and all they did was taking pictures."

Minato nodded. He could get that.

"I had a friend who really hates fangirls. Now I know why." Ryoji smiled as a slice of cake was served. When did he order that? Ryoji cut the cake with a fork and put it in his mouth. He hummed. "I've never had something this great in my life!"

"You sure are happy," Minato said. "Kinda remind me of someone."

Ryoji shoved more cake into his mouth. "Who?"

My imaginary friend, Minato stopped himself from saying that. "Fuuka."

"Ah, her." Ryoji nodded. "She is nice. We've gone to bookstores and a DIY shop. Her smile is really bright."

That was creepy, or Ryoji was a really friendly and optimistic person. Minato watched the new student eating his piece of cake. He sipped the hot chocolate until he started hearing noises behind him… gears, or gun loading bullets.

"Aigis."

"Yes?" Aigis popped up from the table next to them. She was hiding there all this time. Minato once thought she was a detective android because of her curiosity. Now he thought she was a hitman, or something in between those two. She was a Shadow hunter, alright.

"Hello, Aigis." Ryoji flashed a smile. Maybe by now, Ryoji was used to this as much as Minato was. "Do you want cake?"

"I do not need cake." Aigis hopped off her seat and walked to the table Ryoji and Minato were at. She sat next to Minato. "I hope you don't mind."

"We welcome the idea of threesome in the first place," Ryoji said. It's hard to tell if he was serious.

Aigis nodded. "If it means I can stay by his side."

Minato sighed. She didn't even understand the word. He never agreed to that, but how could he stop them? Aigis would follow Minato anywhere, and Ryoji would either follow him or Aigis, and Aigis would chase Ryoji away, which Ryoji took as an invitation.

At one point, Aigis ate the cake. It was how she blended in with the humans.

"You know..." Ryoji said in a low whisper that Minato couldn't hear. "I would still like you, no matter if you were a guy or a girl."

"Leave." Aigis could hear that.

"Are you jealous?" Ryoji asked her. "I'm sure I'll like you no matter the gender, too."

"What if I am neither?" The android asked.

"Even if you're asexual or even agender, I wouldn't mind one bit." Ryoji sure had his way with words, no wonder why he was so popular. He was always with a smile, unlike Aigis and Minato at all.

And to be honest, Minato found Ryoji's presence comfortable and familiar… almost addicting. He's never going to say that out loud.