Chapter 8: For Faith

The sun was setting, and Minato was thankful for a modicum of respite after school.

Kurumi's bold interest in Minato had thrown the Ratatoskr crew for a loop. It was supposed to be Shido's duty to romance Spirits, but now they had a situation where one was invested in somebody else. Minato had received an earful from Kotori for "stealing" one of her brother's options, even if it was unintentional.

They were treading in unknown territory, with Shido himself being hesitant in pursuing Kurumi. He still held on to his desire of saving Spirits, but the realization of Kurumi potentially falling for Minato instead was something he and Ratatoskr never considered.

Because of this, Shido had admitted Minato would be better for this specific mission. Shido wasn't a fool. He understood what backing out as the main operative meant. However, he had stated that he personally wouldn't feel good about interfering if Kurumi was genuinely more attracted to Minato.

Kotori wasn't keen on the idea initially, arguing the point of Ratatoskr's existence was to save Spirits by sealing their powers. Shido countered by addressing Minato's help with Yoshino. If it weren't for Minato's Personas, saving Yoshino may not have gone as well as it did. And depending on what Kurumi was capable of, maybe her powers could be just as handy when not sealed.

Reine had even supported Shido's stance, saying that they could be risking a lot if they tried coming between Kurumi and Minato. How Kurumi would behave afterwards was too much of an uncertainty.

After some deliberation, Kotori eventually relented. With this approach, they could minimize spacequake frequencies and keep tabs on Kurumi.

The rest was up to Minato's cooperation. And he had felt unsure.

He had always planned on being backup for combat at most. Romance had been the furthest thing on his mind ever since he realized he was afflicted with amnesia.

Reminding himself that this was to save Spirits, he agreed on the condition of this being a one-time case. It helped that he was at least a bit familiar with Kurumi. In the future, Ratatoskr would have to brainstorm more contingency plans.

If there was any consolation, Minato knew he would have the utmost support. Shido was rather apologetic, but the blue-haired Spirit couldn't blame him for his beliefs. Kotori maintained her doubts, and she had every reason to, but placed her trust in him regardless. The rest of the people aboard Fraxinus gave him thumbs-ups and words of encouragement.

Once everything was said and done, Minato returned to his room and fell backwards onto his bed with a sigh.

He didn't know if he could make Kurumi fall for him, but he would make the attempt anyway. The AST girls were likely going to be problematic again if he wasn't fast enough. Then there was the matter of Kurumi's intentions related to him. Her advances toward him on the school rooftop wasn't something he'd be forgetting anytime soon.

Even if it was temporary, he would have to be in Shido's shoes for the sake of the world.

The following day at school was fraught with ignoring the numerous looks sent Minato's way. Was it really such a huge deal for Kurumi to be interested in him? One saving grace to come from all this was that no girl tried approaching him, which was a stark contrast from the norm, and thus he was only surrounded by Shido, Tohka, and Kurumi nonchalantly inserting herself in the group during lunch and class activities.

When the last bell rang, it was time to make progress, or as Kotori put it, "earn affection points." Minato had planned to walk Kurumi home, but to his surprise she wanted him to fulfill one of his promises to her instead.

"Remember the time we met before I transferred to Raizen, Minato-san?" She had responded with a smile. "I'd like to take you up on your offer of a meal this evening."

A perfect opportunity had arisen. While he was going to be monitored by Ratatoskr, inviting Kurumi to his apartment would provide the two of them some measure of privacy.

And so the two students headed to the Spirit residence. The walk was uneventful, save for an accidental collision with a group of older men who briefly glared at Minato in particular before leaving. Despite this, Kurumi sounded like she was in a good mood, considering she was humming softly while walking next to the blue-haired boy.

Once they reached Minato's apartment, he unlocked the door and gestured for Kurumi to enter.

"Pardon the intrusion," she said whimsically. Her eye scanned the interior furnishings. "You have a charming home, Minato-san. Although, didn't you say you were living with a friend?"

"I was waiting for this place to be finished from construction, so I was crashing with Shido until then," Minato clarified.

"Ah, so it was Shido-san you were talking about," Kurumi mused. "You two seem to be good friends."

He acknowledged the remark with a nod as he shut the door behind him.

"Okay, Minato," Kotori's voice spoke up in his ear, "the team's decided on what you should cook for Kurumi."

Minato had ended up making karaage with rice and salad. There was no need to be extravagant immediately. Sometimes simple was best for first impressions.

Kurumi had been a patient guest in his home, occasionally glancing around or at him as he cooked. Minato wasn't sure if she had any specific preferences or dislikes when it came to food, but the girl insisted on being surprised.

And surprised she was.

"I must say," Kurumi had finished eating, "the wait was definitely worth it. My compliments to you."

"Glad you enjoyed the food," Minato replied. He personally believed Shido was a better chef, but the past months spent learning were paying off.

"You continue to impress me," Kurumi smiled wider. "Why don't you tell me more about yourself?"

That was an intriguing question to impose on him — one he didn't have a ton of answers for.

"There's not much to say, I'm afraid," Minato shook his head. "You already know I can cook and like music. Unless you're referring to my powers."

"Hmm, while I am curious about your abilities," Kurumi placed her finger on her cheek, "I wish to know what sort of man Arisato Minato is."

Oddly enough, she was the one questioning him, even though it should be reversed. But he supposed he could indulge her.

"I wish I could tell you more, but… I don't remember anything beyond the past few months."

"So you have amnesia," Kurumi stated. "That does sound troublesome."

Something about her tone piqued his curiosity.

"Do you have all your memories by any chance, Kurumi?" Minato wondered. The black-haired Spirit blinked in shock momentarily.

"Ara, ara, you're certainly perceptive," she commended. "Indeed I do, but admittedly I also had amnesia once."

Assuming she was being honest, even Kurumi had suffered from a loss of memories at one point apparently. If Minato pried further, he could be pushing his luck. Nonetheless, if she did know anything related to Spirits' memories, it was a lead worth pursuing.

"Would you know what caused you to forget?" He had to try asking.

Kurumi giggled softly.

"Trying to get answers out of me, Minato-san? I am kind of tempted to share what I know after you treated me to such a tasty dinner, but such information is top secret, especially with a fellow Spirit."

This was going as well as he figured. She wanted more from him. It felt as if she was testing him and the lengths he'd go to. She had the upper hand so far. Her confidence was plain to see.

Having a moment to think, what came to mind was the next logical step of progression.

"Will you go on a date with me?"

"Is this your way of bargaining with me?" Kurumi asked teasingly.

She wasn't entirely incorrect.

"You did say you wanted to spend more time with me, right?" Minato answered. "I was thinking the two of us could walk around the city together. I'm free tomorrow, so if you're not busy either…"

He had refrained from his selfish curiosity consuming him, reminding himself of the goal.

Kurumi's knowledge of potential truths was a matter for another time. After all, he was supposed to make her fall for him.

Her persona made it difficult for him to judge how she'd behave, so he couldn't help but have doubts on whether or not she'd accept. Her eventual response was conclusive at least.

"I'd be happy to go on a date with you, Minato-san."

After Minato had bid Kurumi farewell for today, he decided to visit Shido next door. He still possessed the spare key to the Itsuka home despite him not living there anymore, so he let himself in.

He opened the door to the living room and quickly reminded himself that he should knock more often, or at least announce his presence before entering. Just to be more mindful of people.

"Oh, Minato?" Tohka's voice was among a few things he recognized. The others were the room being dark, Tohka was on top of Shido on the sofa, and her school shirt was slightly unbuttoned.

Shido was looking like a deer in headlights.

"Am I interrupting?" The living room was a unique choice for a romantic encounter, but he did not judge.

"N-No, not at all!" Shido nervously chuckled. "We were just about done." A raised eyebrow from Minato caused the eldest Itsuka sibling to blush. "W-Wait, it's not what it looks like!"

Fortunately for Shido, Tohka then dismissed any misunderstandings.

"Shido promised me a date with him tomorrow, Minato!"

Ah, that explained it. Well, partially, but he didn't feel like pressing further.

"I'm happy to hear that, Tohka," he acknowledged. Tohka nodded and giddily left the living room, leaving the two blue-haired boys alone.

"I totally wasn't expecting that this evening," Shido muttered in disbelief. "Oh yeah, how did things go with Kurumi?"

"It seems like you and I will both be going on dates tomorrow," Minato replied with a thumbs-up.

"Seriously? That's great to hear…" Shido's brow furrowed. "I'm sorry, Minato. I put you in a very awkward spot, huh?"

Minato frowned, but there wasn't much else he could do to absolve that guilt except keep moving forward.

"I already said I understood where you're coming from. And I chose this fate of my own free will."

Shido smiled wryly.

"True. I'll just have to be ready when more Spirits appear. For now, let's just focus on our dates."

The boys nodded at each other. A moment later Shido's phone rang.

"Hello? …Oh hey, Origami. …Hold on, you want to go on a date tomorrow? But-"

The call abruptly ended, and Shido sighed afterwards.

There was a lot to be desired from having that sort of fate, and Minato was inwardly thankful he did not share it with Shido.

Minato arrived half an hour prior to his scheduled meetup the following day. It just so happened that Kurumi and Tohka wanted to convene with their respective dates at Tengu Station. He had figured he may as well tag along with Shido until Tohka whisked her man away. Kotori's crew was feeding him information about his options while he waited.

Because of how warm the weather was, he was mildly curious about his date's choice of clothes upon rendezvousing with her. It wasn't what he would deem ideal for a sunny afternoon in June, but to each their own.

"Ara, you're early, Minato-san," Kurumi noted. "And here I was hoping to surprise you by arriving 10 minutes before the time we established."

Upon closer examination, she was wearing a different attire compared to the other times he encountered her. The black and red colors, skirt, and frills suited her well. He couldn't help his gaze remaining fixated on her dress — something she took notice of and smirked.

"How do I look?" Kurumi playfully inquired.

"You look pretty," Minato complimented truthfully.

"Why thank you," she giggled. "What's the first stop for our date?"

"Hmm." The Persona-user crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He was contemplating yet also waiting for Ratatoskr's suggestions.

And it was only now that he fully realized what sort of people Shido had to deal with.

"Why not take her to a lingerie store?" Kotori recommended. He could practically see the redhead's grin in his mind.

His eyebrow twitched at the idea. Maybe he was putting too much faith in the members of Ratatoskr if he was going to hear absurdities like visiting a lingerie shop, especially on a first date.

So it was with great confidence that he opted to ignore their counsel and go with a tamer pick.

"How about the mall?" Minato proposed. "We can go to stores that catch our eye."

"That sounds great." Kurumi wrapped herself around Minato's arm, looking at him expectantly. "Lead the way, Minato-san."

With sounds of astonishment and irritation in his ear, his date officially started.

It wasn't often Minato found himself at the mall. He could recall two or three times he had previously come here, and it was typically for new clothes to wear and whatnot. Now that he knew Kotori's occupation, perhaps he didn't have to fuss over things like that anymore and could simply request whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.

Kurumi's boldness was something he wasn't properly prepared for still. They had passed by the aforementioned lingerie store he refused to indulge, and Kurumi teased him with the mental image of her wearing "sexy unmentionables" that he could choose for her. Kotori and her team smugly affirming themselves in his ear did not help.

But he did not falter, and had dragged himself and Kurumi away, not looking back in spite of the girl's remarks of him being flustered and cute.

Afterwards, their date continued at a comfortable pace. They stepped in and out of stores that piqued their interests, admiring possible outfits to buy and knicknacks. Minato even purchased a black, fashionable swimwear for Kurumi, mostly at Ratatoskr's behest. At least Kurumi herself seemed quite happy.

It was around the time they finished eating lunch that the two spotted Shido from a distance, appearing absolutely exhausted, with Origami. Kurumi had amusedly commented on the coincidence of dates occurring today, but Minato simply pitied the other bluenette.

As they toured, he couldn't think of where else Kurumi might enjoy heading to and thought of asking for Kotori's input. It wasn't until they came across a cat cafe near the other end of the mall that he noticed Kurumi pausing and gazing inside.

The business itself was apparently managed by a group of young women, and there were all sorts of cats playing with toys, scratching posts, or taking naps. One of the women took notice and waved at the two high school students as she approached them.

"It's been a while, Tokisaki-san!" The adult greeted them with a smile. "Here to visit the kitties again?"

Kurumi liked cats? This was a riveting discovery. Arching an eyebrow, Minato glanced at her. The girl coughed into her fist, not making eye contact.

"Why hello there," she responded calmly. "I happened to be passing by, that's all."

He craned his head to the lady in front of him, sensing her gaze on him. She had a cheeky smirk on her face.

"I see you're not alone today, Tokisaki-san," she remarked. "Is this perhaps… your boyfriend?"

"Hmm, I wonder?" Kurumi mused, winking at him. "We have been on a date today."

The woman let out a hearty laugh.

"I knew a girl as pretty as you was bound to snatch someone up at some point. Well, even if you two kids are still figuring stuff out, just remember to not rush. You're both young, so live in the moment and make plenty of fun memories along the way."

That was rather sound advice. This cat lady seemed wise.

"That being said…" The lady's face darkened, maintaining an eerie grin. "I would hate to see a loyal customer's heart get broken because of an unworthy excuse for a man."

He didn't flinch, yet he understood the intent behind those words.

"Hehe, I don't believe I need to be worried about that," Kurumi spoke. "Minato-san has been a gentleman to me ever since we met."

"Good to hear!" The woman's dark aura subsided as she eagerly gestured for them to enter the cat cafe. "Come on in! It's about time for the kitties to be fed, and you two can help if you'd like!"

Minato had no qualms about this, and since Kurumi was a repeat visitor here, this was a good way to kill time together.

"Shall we?" He offered his hand to her.

Kurumi seemed to ponder the chance briefly. Eventually, she smiled and accepted his hand with her own.

"Yes, let's."

The park was a few blocks away from the station, and it made for a good place to relax. Kurumi had requested for a cold can of milk tea while resting at a bench, and Minato obliged by purchasing said drink from nearby vending machines. The convenience gave the blue-haired boy minutes to reflect.

It had been a couple hours since the date began, and as forced as this situation was, it wasn't unpleasant.

For a first date, it felt as if things went rather smoothly. Minato originally had his reservations, doubting how much enjoyment he or Kurumi could derive from their arrangement. Dating was not a field of expertise he could readily tack on to his amnesiac self. Whatever sounded appropriate to him, he'd do it. If anything, he honestly believed he was lucky that the decisions he did make worked out. And when they weren't providing any ridiculous notions, Ratatoskr proved to be helpful.

He had begun to wonder how much longer it would take to have Kurumi fall in love with him. Of course, this was merely their first outing together, so it was reasonable enough to assume the process would be gradual until the time was right. But that did beg the question.

Was Minato himself interested in Kurumi?

Ever since he had agreed to replace Shido in this mission, there was this mysterious feeling nagging at him in the back of his mind. It was only now that he comprehended what it was.

If and when he did manage to succeed, what then? He imagined himself and Kurumi carrying on with a romantic relationship, but it would be one-sided if only she had such feelings. He had failed to take into account her and the future.

That unnerved him. He had been too focused on the present, too focused on world peace. Ratatoskr's objective was altruistic on paper, and yet it did not sit well with him. Human or Spirit, love wasn't a simple matter. It was foolish of him to believe it was.

Shido and his fortitude might be another story, but Minato was not his friend. Shido had already gone through this process twice with Tohka and Yoshino, then would resume romancing Spirits after this. It never fully sank in what sort of strength that took until now.

He hated how shortsighted he had been.

Nevertheless, this was the fate he chose. Instead of treating it as if it were a burden, he would still see this through to the end.

And for that to happen, he would also have to fall in love.

When Minato returned to find Kurumi missing, he was perplexed. According to Kotori, Kurumi had vanished despite being monitored by Fraxinus's surveillance.

Kurumi's capabilities were unknown, so it would be problematic if she were to be provoked somehow. With no words necessary, Minato started scouring the area.

The notification of Spirit activity being detected during his search did nothing to ease him, although it at least gave him a lead on her whereabouts.

After navigating past several trees, a foul stench had entered his nostrils. It made him recoil, forcing him to cover his nose.

Closely assessing the area, he was able to identify overt splotches of blood splattered on the ground and tree bark. There were miscellaneous items scattered as well. A shoe, a phone by bushes, and a hat dangling on a branch — all covered in blood.

Grimacing, Minato steeled himself. In the clearing ahead, he heard gunshots, promptly hastening his steps.

Snapping a twig in half with his foot alerted the gun-toting individual to his presence, causing them to turn to face him.

"Ara, it's you, Minato-san."

Kurumi revealed herself, no longer wearing the outfit she had on previously during their date. He suspected it to be her Astral Dress. It was primarily crimson with black frills, the opposite of her former clothing. Her twintails were uneven in length too.

Her left eye was now visible. Contrasting her right's red was a golden hue and what appeared to be a visible clock.

And behind the girl was a man's fresh corpse, riddled with large holes and bleeding out.

"Forgive me for disappearing," Kurumi spared an indifferent glance to the person she just killed, "I had some garbage to get rid of."

She advanced toward him, grinning in spite of her recent action.

"Now then… shall we continue our date?"

A/N: This is on the shorter end this time, but I still liked how it turned out.

Admittedly, this was an odd hurdle to overcome — showcasing Minato's views about Ratatoskr's purpose and how he would interact with Kurumi for romance. Minato views the world differently than Shido, so he has own opinions even though they both want the same thing. And obviously, this is just the beginning for what I do have planned for Minato and Kurumi.

It's not a stretch to say I've been doing some soul-searching since the last update. I wish I could write and update more often, but it's not always easy. However, I do appreciate concerns about my well-being. And it lifts my spirits when I see some of guys enjoying what I've written.

Until next time, everyone. Take care.