A/N: Head's up that midterm is near so I'll be poof again. I'm a poor college student. This fic is almost 5 years old. Woo boy.

That evening, Fuuka and Minato tried making cake with grounded coffee. It smelled nice. They eat the small test cake at the kitchen table.

"I'm scared to meet him again."

Fuuka immediately knew who he meant. "He was your childhood friend right? And I can guess that seeing your friend changed so much would be scary, that you aren't sure if you actually know your friend at all."

"Yeah, something like that."

"I don't think he intended to, umm, hurt you."

"I know."

"And now he can't do that anymore."

"You're sure?"

"One hundred percent." Fuuka looked into his eyes. "He can't control you or your decisions, and we all got your back. Whatever you decide to do, we respect it and we trust you on it, okay?" She gave a smile.

Minato nodded and munched the cake. Coffee from Chagall Cafe was the best.

"If you wanna hear my opinion, then Ryoji-kun is a nice person. He's a great friend. I know I didn't ask for your permission to invite him over, I'm sorry..."

"It's okay. I'm glad you did." Somehow, Minato knew Fuuka was the one to invite him. Ryoji would be the one to disappear until New Year's Eve. Minato would be the one to also avoid him.

He knew he couldn't run away from this choice forever, but he sure was not looking forward to meeting Ryoji.

Minus Aigis (and Shinjiro for obvious reason), SEES were all here again. Everyone had made their decision and made sure to tell Minato that at the entrance.

"There could be a possibility that we may be able to stop Nyx, but we would not return," Mitsuru said. "If I do not come back, then someone else will have to take over the company. Although, I have every intention of returning."

Yukari nodded. "There are less than ten days until New Year's Eve, but for some reason I'm not that scared at all. Win or lose, I'm going to fight to the end and give it my all."

"My money prob will go to my dad if I go poof," Junpei said. "I've locked my... materials, in a box and everything! I'm ready!"

"What's 'material'?" Ken asked.

Akihiko coughed. "I'll give you the talk later."

"I will fight alongside you all no matter what. Only Aigis' opinion left," Fuuka said. "I feel bad for her. She has less time to think this through."

Tonight, his friends eventually get used to him using Thanatos as a Persona.

Minato said goodbye to Akinari.

Or more like, to a notebook.

The hospital called him earlier today. They said Minato's phone number was one of the few emergency calls Akinari had. The man had something for him.

Minato went there to get the notebook only. He didn't want to visit. He read the first page of it, came back to Naganaki Shrine to read it out loud, and found a shop to scan the notebook into book files. He posted the book anonymously. That's what Akinari wished.

It's a good thing tomorrow was holiday, because it's one of those days Minato wanted to wake up late.

The next day, he went the Naganaki Shrine again and then the graveyard. Minato visited his parents. Last time he did this Shinjiro was still alive. Of course he visited them all. Just stood there, and thought about it.

Miss Terauchi talked about today. "In Japan, Christmas Eve is thought of as a romantic day for couples to spend time together and give gifts. We celebrate today more than Christmas Day, unlike Europe and America. It's interesting that a day which is celebrated worldwide is observed differently from country to country."

Maybe he could walk Koromaru through Paulownia. Not as a romantic partner obviously. He would enjoy the lights. Junpei seemed pretty somber in class, and Yukari probably had plans. Fuuka texted with her friend Natsuki under the table.

After school, Minato headed home first. Fuuka's still fixing Aigis. Akihiko and Mitsuru were most likely together.

Koromaru dropped a ball in his mouth and ran up to him. "Woof!" He got six senses for sure.

Ken was playing catch with the dog. "Have fun, Minato-san! I'll be watching Featherman R here. Please buy popcorn."

There's a big Christmas tree in the middle of Paulownia. Everything was decorated in lights. All the shops were full of people. There were even smaller temporary shops outside the mall.

Koromaru barked at a pet shop. Minato pointed at Santa Claus dog costume, and the shiba inu barked louder. So Minato bought that and dressed the dog.

Koromaru in a red shirt and bright red hat wagged his tail, now fully in Christmas spirit.

The dog ran away.

"Wait, Koro!" Minato ran after him. The dog's lost in the crowd, or maybe hid behind a corner. He's so quick.

Has he ran to the Port Island Station?

Minato bought some popcorn at the theater.

He heard a bark.

He had a very very strong feeling that Ryoji is somewhere behind.

Minato turned around, and there he was. At the flowerbeds. Koromaru you...

"Who's a good boyy?" Ryoji was sitting on the floor with the dog, petting him. "You! You're a good boyyyy. Uwuu owo."

Minato blinked. Pharos would never do that. Pharos looked young and cute, but he sat on the highest horse, only saw Minato as an equal, and looked down on all his friends as merely a tool. He had been out of touch.

This Ryoji could touch grass. Maybe being a human gave him some humility?

"Yes, Minato. It seems being able to experience the world as a human gives me some new insight." Ryoji patted the floor next to him. "Come sit."

"You can carry him to the flowers," Minato pointed at the concrete edge they could sit.

"Oh right. Brace yourself boy." Ryoji carried Koromaru as if the dog didn't weigh anything at all and put him on the grass. Koromaru immediately went sniffing flowers.

They sat at the concrete edge. Ryoji mostly looked at Koromaru.

"Long time no see," Minato said.

"It's only been twenty days." Ryoji reached out to scratch Koromaru behind the ear. "I didn't expect you to be so nice. You're so welcoming."

"I'm not being ni-"

"I thought you'd bark and bite me! But you gave me this cutie eye."

... Minato ate some of that popcorn. Ken wouldn't mind.

"Now that I have a chance to tell you," Ryoji bent down to face the dog at eye level. "I'm sorry, Koromaru, for everything that's been happening. The Fall will come. All living things will turn to The Lost. Would it affect you? I don't even know. Aigis can understand you too right? You have a say in your group's decision as well."

Koromaru barked. "Arf."

"Thank you." Ryoji put his forehead on the dog's fluffy neck. "Best of luck to you and your bravery."

Minato had half a mind to sneak off.

"Minato wait." Ryoji grabbed his wrist. "I'm pretty good at sensing your thoughts, you know."

How nice.

"You seem better now. I'm glad."

"Actually happy? Or is it because a happy person can make more friends and use Personas for longer?"

"Minato..." Ryoji touched his own chest. "I know me being inside you was not nice, and there's no excuse for me controlling you. How do I say sorry to you all? How do I make you trust me again?"

"Just like this."

"Huh?"

"Living like a human. Like this." Minato looked him over. "Talking with Fuuka. Respecting Koromaru. Asking me for my opinion. Seeing your own mistakes. You've made me trust you a little bit again."

"Woof."

Ryoji played with his scarf. "Oh. Okay, thanks. It's nice to gain some humanity. I could feel what you feel and truly experience your life. I know I was a liar and I pretended to be a human while knowing that I was not, but I appreciate all the time we had spentas fellow students."

Minato nodded. "Also, maybe bring some fried chicken to the party tomorrow. The best ones you can find. That's how you will say sorry to me."

"Woof woof! Arf arf arf!"

Ryoji calculated the amount of money he had and concluded that he needed to work a quick part time job starting now. "Yes, yes. Anything for you, Minato. Anything for you. I don't know about you but I'm busy now I have work to do bye!"

He was left with a bucket of popcorn, and a proud looking Koromaru, still in Christmas costume. "Woof!"

Minato removed the pointy hat and petted the dog's head. "You're the best boy."