"Senpai!"

It was the third or fourth time that Minako was peeking over his shoulder to watch him cook dinner. It wasn't a big deal or anything… he promised he'd make her something to eat, and he was just making good on that promise.

But he was gonna chew her out pretty soon if she didn't leave him alone to work.

"Anything I can do to help?"

Man, she's annoying. "I got it," Shinjiro said. "Go set the table or something,"

Minako was… pouting? Okay, she's adorable, too. Wait, what? Shinji, stop that, he thought to himself. That's Aki's girl.

"That's what you always tell me to do," Minako whined. She did what was asked of her though, she just liked to complain to him.

"Well, that's what you're good at," Shinji laughed as Minako rolled her eyes and continued to sulk. "Once you're done, get the others down here, and I'll bring dinner out."

Minako liked her curry extra hot, so he made sure to add more spices than he normally would. She also liked miso soup, so he made sure to prepare plenty so that she could go back for seconds. If he had anything that gave him an advantage over Akihiko, it's that he was a master in the kitchen, and his childhood buddy couldn't cook to save his life.

###

"Thanks for dinner, Senpai!"

Minako had eaten three servings of curry, and he'd lost count of how much miso soup she actually had. The woman was stick thin, too. Where does she put it all? Or maybe she burns calories from training in Tartarus. Well, whatever.

Shinji started clearing up the plates as everyone went back to their rooms for the night. "Need help, Senpai?" Minako just shows up out of nowhere like a Shadow, he thought. The idea was funny since it wasn't the Dark Hour.

"You wanna help so bad, then you can help me with the dishes." Shinji said. He meant for it to sound gruff, but he was actually glad she wanted to spend more time with him. He just hoped Aki didn't get the wrong impression. He just liked her company, after all.

"I'll wash, you dry," Shinji said, and Minako stood next to him for the next hour or so, talking about the kimono she was helping Bebe make, whoever the hell that was, and how oblivious Kenji was to Rio's feelings for him. Again, whoever the hell they were. Do you ever stop talking? He wanted to ask, but didn't. He didn't really mind. It was kind of nice hearing about stuff other than Shadows and Tartarus and the Dark Hour.

###

October 2nd.

He read over the letter he got from Ken Amada, to meet him at midnight... at the place where it all began. He had to do this, for Ken and himself. If this was how we was finally going to pay for what he's done, so be it.

Shinjiro's resolve was nearly shattered that evening after Minako, like a middle schooler, confesses her love for him out of the blue.

"Huh?" But... aren't you Aki's girl?

"D-don't tease me like that!" Shinji manages to stammer out a response, but looking at Minako's face, he knew... she was dead serious about this. This isn't right... you're supposed to be...

"I'm not teasing you!" Minako stomped her foot. Is she about to throw a tantrum? That would be cute, too. No, wait... now's not the time for this shit.

"I mean, why just blurt out something like that? Here, of all places?" Shinji covered his face with his hands. This was way more that what he bargained for with her.

"Come to my room," she says, her small hand holding on to his coat.

"I-I can't do that," Shinji answers. What the hell is with this woman, today? It isn't a full moon tonight! "I mean, you're... well, people are gonna get the wrong idea."

Minako wouldn't be taking no for an answer, and just cocked her head to one side. "Well, I guess I'll go to your room, then."

What the hell? "Y-you moron!" He knew what was going to happen if he let her in. "I... I ain't a nice guy. I can't let you in my room. Don't you get it?" He didn't want to hurt her.

Where the hell was Akihiko? He would talk some sense into this woman. "No way, it's not gonna happen," Shinji declared with finality. Or so he thought. "Look, you need to watch yourself... don't bother with someone like me." But who was he trying to convince though? Was he saying this for Minako... or for himself? Because he thought he didn't deserve to get the things he wanted?

He wanted her.

"I love you," Minako replied simply. She waited for Shinji to say something... anything.

"Idiot," he whispered, and walked up the stairs to his room; Minako followed close behind.

###

Shinjiro's room is pretty... bare. A bed, a dresser, a desk and chair, these were the only things he kept in the place. It was obvious he didn't hang around here much.

"So? Happy now?" Shinji seemed pretty annoyed with her. Did she go too far? She did love him though. She didn't realize it until it hit, but the days turned into weeks, and her affection for him blossomed into love just the same.

"You're always pushing me around all the time," Shinjiro complained. "You're just gonna ignore what I want, huh?"

Do you not want me? Minako thought. Was there someone else he liked? Or loved? Mitsuru-senpai, maybe? He did have a history with her, after all. Or maybe he liked Yukari-chan. She's pretty popular at school, after all.

"Yeah well, two can play that game..." Shinji stepped closer, and enveloped her in an embrace before she knew what was happening. Senpai?

"This is your fault, you know... I'm all confused." He continued. "You're all I can think about, day and night. Damn it, this isn't how it's supposed to be."

I'm... what? A flush crept up to Minako's face pretty quickly, and she smiled up at him. He turns red as a response and lets her go. Wait, what?

"You get it now, right? Go back to your room..." Shinji forced his hands to stay at his side. "If you don't go now, you're not gonna get another chance." He warned.

Is that supposed to scare me off? Minako thought to herself. Scare me away from this man I love. As if. I want to be by your side, Senpai.

"I'm not going anywhere," Minako answered, and she could tell Shinji was sighing out of relief.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?" There was a tinge of annoyance in his voice, but he seemed to brush it off right away. Shinji removed his beanie and let strands of his fall, and his eyes... they were smiling.

"I'm gonna make myself clear," he whispered. "I ain't holding back anymore."

###

Gentle. Passionate. Attentive. She never would have pegged Shinjiro to be this kind of lover, yet here they were. They were breathing hard and heavy, and Shinji hovered over her as he showered her lips with kisses... then her neck... down to her chest.

For someone who said he wasn't going to hold back, he sure as hell was gentle. He treated her as if she was fragile, as if she might break if he were to be too rough with her. Be as rough as you want, I won't get hurt. Minako closed her eyes and sighed as the pleasure hit.

"I love you," she whispered. She wasn't sure if he heard her, but she didn't care. She was just glad she could tell him how she felt, and that she could spend tonight with him. A future with him... yeah, she could see that. Shinji started to move.

###

Shinjiro was exhausted, but he didn't mind it tonight. He watched as this pretty little thing slept through the Dark Hour in the crook of his arm. She said... she said she loved him. She said it twice tonight, and before she fell asleep, she had said... she wanted a future with him.

I do, too... but... Shinji's thoughts went back to Amada. He wanted this, what he had with Minako. He finally had something he wanted to protect with his life. That didn't matter though, he had an obligation to fulfill.

Aki would take care of Minako for him. He was the kind of guy who'd do just that.

"I..." Shinji looked at Minako's sleeping figure. She's beautiful, and... at the very least, she's mine tonight.

I love you, too.

The Dark Hour has passed. It ends tonight.

Shinjiro left a trail of feather light kisses on his lover's lips. Their love story was doomed from the start, anyway.