Minato panted as sweat trickled down his chin. His once blue hair, now matted with drying blood and plastered onto his face was a complete mess, and his clothes stained with more of the crimson liquid.
"Are you okay?" Yukari asked softly.
Minato responded with a dagger look as if to say 'are you fucking serious?' before throwing his head back in a spasm. The wound in his gut shot searing pain through his body. "Aaaahhh!" Minato screamed out in pain.
"Arisato, Calm down!" Mitsuru said, tightening the bandage around his wound.
"Easy for you to say, you stuck up little… UGH!" Minato couldn't complete that sentence, as he let out another shout of pain. "Get away! Out of my sight!" Minato commanded, giving an expression of pure rage at his senpai.
"It's done… " Mitsuru said, letting go of the bandage.
"Dammit!" Minato spat, sitting up on the couch. His gut was still busted open and his back was probably cracked from the blows. His arm was wrapped in a sling, and multiple bruises all over his body.
"You're really lucky, you know that?" Akihiko said, tending to his own wounds.
"Who the fuck was that son of a bitch!?" Minato snarled, his head burning from his anger.
"I have no idea... But whoever he was, he tore us apart," Akihiko responded.
"Tch…" Minato stood up wearily.
"Minato! Stay low!" Hamuko commanded with a stern tone. Minato listened to her like always and flopped down on the couch, before wincing in pain.
"In any case, Theodore was on a completely different level than us," Mitsuru stated, and Minato's eyebrow twitched.
"No shit! He was even stronger than Minato," Junpei said in awe.
"Shut the fuck up!" Minato snarled, jumping to his feet with a murderous look on his bloodied face. "Mention that fucking albino again and I'll rip your heart out!" Junpei flinched and went silent.
"That bastard may have beaten me, but I swear, I'll have his head next time," Minato swore. "I goddamn swear!"
"Calm down, Arisato," Mitsuru said with a sigh. "We all know, firsthand about how ruthless and powerful he is."
"Oh look at how many fucks I give!" Minato snapped. "I'll have his head and I don't care if he's a million times more powerful than me." Mitsuru could practically feel Minato's determination. He wasn't this hell bent on anything before, except Hamuko's protection. "The meeting is fucking over! Shove your head back into your asses again." Minato groaned. "Good riddance!"
Everyone slowly made their way back to their rooms, exhausted and beaten. Only Hamuko and Minato were left in the lounge, and both of them were silent. "Uh…" Minato blushed, remembering the kiss. Hamuko gave a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of her neck, avoiding Minato's gaze. "Um…" Minato stammered, the blush on his cheeks spreading.
"Y-Yes?" Hamuko asked.
"…Are you okay?" Minato finally asked.
"O-Oh yeah, I'm fine. You?" Hamuko responded.
"I'm fine too…" Minato said, and the two of them went silent again. Minato's heart leapt into his throat as he stared at Hamuko. "I'll be going..." Minato said as he gave a wave before slowly limping his way up the stairs. Once he entered his room he slammed the door shut and rested his back against the wall, panting heavily.
He slowly slid down, his mind in a frenzy. Why in hell did Hamuko kiss him of all people? "Dammit! I feel like shit!" Minato panted, rubbing his eyes. They were starting to sting again. "Why the fuck does she make this so hard!?"
Minato sighed and got up, rubbing his eyes again. "If only I wasn't such a bastard," Dragging his injured body towards his comfy bed, Minato immediately collapsed onto it, before drifting to sleep.
The next few days went on awkwardly.
Mitsuru and Akihiko were on edge, fearing another attack from the other persona users and Theo. Junpei and Minato were still at cold war with each other. And the most awkward thing of all, Minato was actually avoiding Hamuko. He didn't interact with her much, and just gave a troubled smile before walking off whenever he encountered her. And it pained Hamuko.
Over all the awkwardness the worst had yet to come: the exams.
Minato staggered back into his room. He had avoided Hamuko again, and this was a fucking stinger on his heart. Minato badly wanted her hugs again, but he couldn't. "Dammit! How much more can I take it?" Minato shook his head before dropping his backpack onto the desk and fishing his book out.
"Ah. Biology!" Minato exclaimed with fake enthusiasm, opening the book up. "Hormones are fucking bitches!"
The next day, Minato and his… 'friends' were sitting in the lounge, a pile of books and pizza boxes dominating the table. The juniors were studying for their exams.
"Arisato!" Mitsuru's voice made Minato sigh. Couldn't he catch a fucking moment of peace!?
"The hell is it with you!?" Minato snarled, just as Mitsuru came downstairs.
"He escaped!" Mitsuru panted. "Keima Kuruso escaped!"
"Oh man! Why didn't you drop dead before all this!?" Minato rubbed his temples. "More problems!"
"Isn't he the brute that Minato fought?" Yukari asked, receiving a nod from Mitsuru.
"Why the fuck didn't you kill him!?" Minato snarled at Mitsuru.
"I-I thought we could force some information out of him…" Mitsuru said, looking at the ground.
"Man, you and your fetish for knowing shit," Minato shook his head.
"Watch your tone, Arisato." Mitsuru glared.
"Shut up," Minato shrugged the glare off. "Next time, I'll take him life by my own hands."
"Good thing that blue wearing bastard didn't pay us a visit," Junpei shivered. "We'd be doomed!"
"…Oh My God…" Minato facepalmed, hard.
"What happened?" Hamuko asked worriedly.
"Tch! I'll be back!" Minato said, before bolting out the door, leaving everyone scratching their heads. Minato ran towards the mall. He was so caught up in his grief that he ignored the most obvious clue; Theodore's facial features and clothes.
"Those Velvet bastards!" Minato scowled, barging into the back alley, before kicking the door open with a vicious glare. "Alright! You bastards better spill!" Minato roared.
"Hm?" Igor glanced at Minato with his bloodshot eyes. "Welcome, Master Minato."
"Don't you fucking play dumb!" Minato said, stomping his way over to Igor and Elizabeth.
"How can I help you?" Igor said with a raised eyebrow.
"Your bastard son attacked me," Minato spat, smashing his fist onto the table. "Dammit! Who the hell is Theodore!?"
A expression of pain crossed both of the resident's features. Luckily, Minato didn't notice it.
"Master Minato, I suggest you cal-" Igor was cut off by Minato.
"Fuck you! You lying pieces of eggplant shit!" Minato said hotly. "You said you were here to help me! And now you send a psychotic sumbitch against me!?" He pointed at his gut. "That bastard gave me this!"
"Minato-sama, pleas-" Elizabeth was cut off as well.
"Shut up, bitch!" Minato snapped. "Shove your nose back onto your face because it doesn't belong here." Elizabeth frowned at that. "Now, you!" Minato pointed at Igor. "I'll bend that nose backwards and stick it where the sun doesn't shine! Spill! Who in the blue hell is Theodore!" Minato said, as his voice shifted to the same demonic tone. He was seething with rage.
"Please, calm yourself," Igor commanded.
Minato flipped the table in anger, before getting dangerously close to Igor.
"Spill… " Minato said, his voice dangerously low.
Igor shook his head. And Minato finally had it. "Fuck you!" Minato shouted, preparing a fist right for Igor's face.
But, before the strike could connect, something else happened. Minato felt his ribs crack from a sick impact on his chest. Minato felt his vision blur as he was lifted off his feet and smashed against the wall. Minato panted as he tried to control the pain on his chest. He blinked rapidly to correct his blurry vision. All he could see was Elizabeth standing in front of Igor, with her fist raised.
"D-Damn i-it!" Minato said, coughing out some blood. The punch was the hardest he ever felt. He actually thought it was going to tear right through his flesh once again. He slowly stood up, his legs wobbling. "Dammit! Someone as frail as you could be that wicked." Elizabeth smirked slightly.
"You better tell me what's going on," Minato said, coughing again. "Please help me, I don't want Hamuko hurt." He said slowly, staring at the ground. Igor's frown disappeared as he smiled again.
Elizabeth walked over to Minato and placed her hand on his shoulder, before send a warm wave of energy into his body, healing his wounds completely. "Huh…" Minato said in awe as the wound on his gut began to close up as well, along with his arm. Elizabeth was freaky strong, and Minato made sure never to forget it.
"You're welcome," Elizabeth giggled.
"I never said thank you anyway!" Minato scowled. "You should be saying sorry for harming me!" Elizabeth pouted and crossed her arms.
"Let me be clear on one thing," Igor spoke up, alerting both of them. "I assure you, that we, the residents of the Velvet Room will never betray you."
"Then who is he?" Minato asked.
"We'll let you know, Master Minato," Igor said with a slight nod. "We will help you on this matter. That I promise."
"You better," Minato coughed out. "I'll be back." He actually waved at them, before walking out, free of every injury.
...
The next day, everyone gathered in the table for dinner. There was utmost silence once again. Nobody knew what to say. Fuuka looked uncomfortably between her friends. Hamuko sighed and started. "So, um..." Minato stood up and went towards the stairs, disappearing from view.
"What's up with him?" Junpei spat at his retreating figure.
"This has gone far enough!" Hamuko scowled, throwing her fork onto the ground and racing towards the stairs, behind Minato. Minato was stopped by Hamuko's shout. "Stop right there!" He flinched and stopped, before slowly turning around to meet an angry Hamuko who had her arms crossed.
"Y-Yes?" Minato stammered as his heartbeat doubled once again, along with the same grief resurfacing once again.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Hamuko spat.
"Going to sleep?" Minato responded.
"No! The hell are you on these days!?" Hamuko scowled. "You've been acting strangely, avoiding me all the times."
"I wasn't avoiding you," Minato said, clutching his heart as his chest writhed under his lie.
"You have been! You barely talk to me and whenever I start to talk, you just walk away," Hamuko continued. "You better have a damn good reas-" Hamuko stopped as she stared at Minato who was looking so frail and broken. His forehead was sweaty and his hand was on his chest, his breaths coming out shakily. "M-Minato, are you okay?" Hamuko asked worriedly, placing her hand on his forehead.
Minato scowled and slapped her hand away, before screaming. "Leave me the fuck alone, Hamuko!" He put as much energy he could muster, leaving Hamuko shell shocked. He never snapped at her before.
Minato glared at her before stomping over to his room and slamming the door shut. Hamuko stood rooted to the spot, unable to process the scene. She didn't even do anything wrong. Minato slumped against the door and panted. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Fuck!" Minato cried as tears finally broke free and ran down his cheeks. He couldn't believe it. He was crying. And over a girl no less! He never thought it would happen.
More tears cascaded as Minato shook and sobbed, finally breaking down. He smashed his head against the door and sobbed some more.
"This fucking hurts!" he cried, ignoring Junpei's excited shout of 'YAKUSHIMA'.
Raider: *looks idly at name change* Hmmm hope you guys like the chapter.
Plz box us yo thoughts and we'll see ya guys later.
Guest: We'll definitely try.
Koizumi no Yokan: Interesting theory. Just have to see, ne?
MinaxMina: Yay. We don't really know. But judging from how far we've gotten I'd estimate somewhere around 80 chapters or something.
Gin: Yup! Haha I see… Well, indeed. Least you laughed.
Spisant: Haha. Glad you like them, and we'll be back with more Theodore after. Yeah well… kinda? Suries.
ConstantCutie: Glad you're liking the series so far. Oh well… I wouldn't say you sound like one. Ah, I have to be careful then. Haha, thanks a lot!
Yoshikunitsu: I can imagine. And of course he does. It remains to be seen what will happen with Theodore and I'm glad that someone might be liking the Weapon Fusion mechanics. They are a bit different, but the base idea is still the same. Yeah, he can survive a lot of stuff. We will.
EeveeGen9988: Indeed. He isn't dying anytime soon. It's almost certain that he will. Thanks.
Saint : Welp, that's that. Hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for the reviews so far. We'll see you guys later.