"…And the wildcard gained his first social link, so I suppose today was an exceptionally fruitful day."
"I see." Margaret said nodding to herself. "I must confess, Makoto-sama. Today, You exceeded all of our expectations." Margaret said, genuinely impressed.
"Meh."
"I must also agree. It's very incredible that you can able to pinpoint every keywords just from few interactions." Justine also commented in. "And being able to awaken the wild card as well as helping him gain his first social link, I suppose our master's faith in you is not misplaced."
"…There's doubt?"
"Of course not, Makoto-sama." Theodore said with a bright smile. "We have believed in you from the very moment we've felt your presence on the earth. There was not even a flicker of doubt in the whole being of mine that you would not succeed."
"…Nice save."
"But, Makoto-sama, I must ask something." As Justine said Minato turned towards her.
"Hm, I expected this. Well, I may not be able to answer them all but sure, Ask."
"Very well, Ahem." Justine collected herself with a cough as Minato waited.
"Why did you drink that water?" *Bap*
"Ow…"Minato hit his face in annoyance but recoiled in pain. 'Ah! that hurts…*Sigh* knew it was a bad idea to tell them.' Minato turned to look at other siblings to see they are all waiting on his answer.
"*Breattthhhheees*" Minato let out a long breathe. "…First, there was the wildcard, not to tell his clothes changing and his unusual form of summoning." Minato counted with his hand. "Second, there was shadows that takes forms of personas and seems to have their own lines of thoughts." Minato looked up the velvet siblings. "And! There was a literal talking cat that seems to know about metaverse, but that's what you guys take issue with!? My eccentricity!?" Minato raised his voice, holding his chest.
"…Well, yes.", "That is correct.", "Yes, I'm curious too."
"…I can't believe this." Minato watched the three idiots in front of him like he couldn't believe that. '…I've already said that.'
"Well, then let me rephrase her question." Margaret took control of the conversation. "Why would you drink something you're not sure of whether it's safe or not?"
"Uh, do you know who you're talking to?"
"Here it is." Caroline came up and unceremoniously dumped a steaming plate on the table.
"Everything in this world is safe to me. Even Caroline's cooking."
"Hey!"
"Yes, I know how dangerous her cooking is.", "Hey!", "But, you shouldn't take unnecessary risks like that. Sure, you couldn't die but what if you got poisoned or got incapacitated? The wildcard could have been killed without your intervention, not to say unforeseeable consequences to your human body." Margaret said with a worry tone.
"Oh, what are you, my mother?" Which was pay back with a dose of sarcasm.
"Tch, Makoto-sama." Margaret gritted his name as she looked like she could snapped off any moment. "We are in a very important mission here. I advise you to control your childish impulses before something terrible happen."
"Yeah and wasn't that gross?" Justine said making a sour face.
"Relax, there's nothing in this world that can harm me, poison me, or gross me out in any ways." Minato said as he ate a spoonful of Caroline's dish. "Baherh, the hell is this?"
"It's croquettes." Caroline said as it's the most natural thing in the world.
Minato looked the food on his plate. "…It's black."
"Because it's been fried.", "By a volcano?"
"Ahem, let's stay focus on our conversation, shall we?" Margaret shut them down before it could escalate any further.
"Yes, let's." Justine said nodding to her sister. "Makoto-sama, thinking about what you've just said, I feels like all of those doesn't explain anything about your late arrival or bandages on your head."
"Now that you mention it, Justine…" Theodore said looking towards him.
"Yes, that part is weird to me as well." Margaret said carefully observing him. "Makoto-sama, what had happened to your head?"
Minato turned his eyes towards her, as the moonlight revealed the bandages that were tied around his head completely covering one of his eyes and some on his cheeks that seemed to be covering his bruises.
"Oh, that." Minato said back. "That was…Hm…That was *chuckle*…that was a funny story actually. Caroline, you want to take that?"
"Ack!" Caroline stopped in the middle trying to flee the room as all their eyes focus on her. "Wh-whh-w-hat?"
"Do you want to explain how oh, how I got these?" Minato said pointing at his head.
"N-nnnn-no, N-not really."
"Oh Don't be like that, It's a pretty funny story. See,…I'm laughing."
….
You could see your own breaths in the air.
"Come on! I've already made you an apology meal!" Caroline suddenly shouted.
"You called this an apology meal. It's too salty. It's like you're trying to send me a message."
"I wasn't trying to do anything like that! I just couldn't Tell which one's sugar and which one's…Salt."
"That doesn't mean you have to dump the whole bottle. Learn to hold back a little. My kidneys are shutting down as we speak."
"What!? Weren't you the ones saying, just moments ago that nothing can harm you!?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. Is this your first time seeing a hypocrite?", "Enough! Stop this at once!" Margaret shouted, slamming her hands down on the poor table.
"Caroline, stop your shouting! You're disturbing the neighbors." , "We have no neighb-", "And Makoto-sama, since when did you become so chatty!?"
Minato thought to himself for a second. "Well, the doctor lady made me guzzled down like a whole bottle of painkillers so, I guess…It's still in effect."
"What?" Margaret watched him, about minutes or…actually it's exactly three minutes and 46 seconds. Then she turned to her siblings before turning back to him. "Pa-painkillers? Doctor lady?" Margaret turned towards the another one in the room who might know what's he talking about. "Caroline, what happened?"
"Ummmm…
x-x
The world is a hunting ground. All the people here, all the people he's now seeing. They are all preys. And they don't even know that they are being preyed. And do you know why? Because there's too many hiding place here. 'I had to watch every shadows and every nooks and crannies!' Well, normally he wouldn't even bother with this but there's a fact that the one who's preying on him now is very unpredictable puff and there's also the fact of…
"*Whistle, *Whistle*" Minato turned towards the annoying voice.
"….", "*Whis-whistle, whis-", "Kurusu, why are you following me?", "-tle* , Huh?" His source of headache looked up to him like he's not to blame. "Hm, Senpai?"
"…Why are you following me?"
"A-ah-ahhaha, Nononono, I'm not following you." Akira said with a sheepish smile. "My prob-I mean, my house is here."
'Oh, that's right.', "Oh, is that so?" Minato nodded. "Well, then…" Minato signaled for him to go.
"Huh?" But Akira didn't 'Go' and looked around the place. "You live here, senpai?"
"No…But yeah, I have to walk a little more."
"Oh, then why don't we walk together?"
"No." Akira looked shocked at his curt answer.
"U-u-uh?"
"Because…" Minato thought for a second. "Because…'I got nothing'…because, well, why not? Why don't we walk together, Ha, b-b-bro." Minato said awkwardly.
"B-bro?"
Minato looked up to the sky in annoyance. "…Forget about it. Just walk."
"Y-yeah." , 'Why did he look happy?' *Flap* Minato turned towards the voice in speed of light.
"Whauh!"
"….", 'Oh, it was a bird.'
"Se-senpai, what's wrong?", "Nothing, just walk.", "Huh?", "Walk."
Akira kept walking, while still glancing at him. "You were awfully on edge ever since we get out of school. Wh-what's wrong?"
"Nothing.…But, glad you asked." Minato said walking shoulders to shoulders with him. "We're going to a den of monsters tomorrow. And a little bit of paranoia will keep you alive."
"Huh?"
"Sure, all three of us are gonna go. But, you, Kurusu, you are the only who had to fight."
"H-huh, W-why?"
"Well, you're the only one who can summon monsters that can fight those monsters."
"Ah, It's true." Akira said nodding to himself. 'I seem to be lying a lot.', "But, Senpai, they are called personas, I think they are different from those shadows you called monsters."
….
''…Okay.''
"Yeah, But, still, my persona, Arsene, it's like, uh, when I'm summoned him, it's like I'm free. It's like I've got all the power in the world. It's like I can do I want with no chains holding me back. it's like-" Minato looked around in worry as Akira rattled on about his first experience summoning a persona without a care.
"It's like-", "Okay, I get it." Minato stopped him before he could write a novel. "The point I'm trying to make it, because you are the only one who can fight, you are what we would call our leader."
"Le-leader?"
"Yeah, so you have to be always aware of your surroundings. You have to accept the fact that your world is not normal anymore."
Akira listened attentively kinda like a kid. 'Good, because I'm not sure what point I'm trying to make.', "You have to be always checking. Every little things. Every things that people tend to miss. Even a normal vending machine may prove valuable in your cause someday." Minato said pointing to a vending machine on a obscure place.
"Ah, I didn't notice there was one there."
"Yep, but keep doing that, you may be able to notice things that no humans could ever see."
"I-I see." Akira looked genuinely impressed. "S-so, kinda like a third eye?"
"….", 'What's that?', "…Yeah, kinda like a third eye." Akira looked like he's just found a treasure. "But that's it for today, your home is on this street, right? Go on."
"Huh?" Akira stopped walking and looks around. "H-how did you know?"
'Ah.', "…Because I paid attention to every details.", 'Because Margaret told me.'
"A-ahh-ahh." Akira looked too stunned to talk. 'Just asking, should he really be in high school?'. "We-well then, please excuse me, senpai." But before he went, "Senpai, Thank you for walking me home." Akira said, bowing.
"Yeah." , 'Although I was not walking you home though.'
"Then, see you tomorrow, senpai.", Minato nodded as Akira walked towards his place.
"Try to sleep, okay.", "oh, Ye-yep, senpai!" Akira entered the narrow building with the sign, 'Leblanc Cafe' with big dumb grin on his face.
"*Sigh* , Gre-", *Swwosh!* Minato ducked his head. "Die! Convict!", "-at. *Sigh*"
"Why the heck did you dodge!?" Caroline jumped and attacked his head again, and he dodged it again. "Stop dodging, you weasley eel!"
"Ah, Miss Caroline. Thank you for having the courtesy to not show yourself in your full glory until the wildcard's gone."
"Tch." Caroline stopped attacking as she realized it's fruitless. "What do you have to say for yourself!?"
Minato stared at the angry little girl in front of him. "…Sorry?", "Sorry ain't gonna cut it!", "…I apologize?", "What's the difference!?"
"Okay, calm down." Minato stopped her before she burst her vocal chords. And people were starting to stare at them too…laughing kind smiles. 'Why are you guys laughing? She's literally trying to murder me.', "I have to leave you there, think about it. You guys will, someday, have to help him in velvet room, right?"
"Yeah but that has nothing to do with this!"
"*Sigh* , the thing on your head isn't just for show, Caroline. Now if the wildcard saw you and me together and then see you again with Margaret and the others, I'm gonna have to give him an explanation on why we two know each other now, didn't I?"
"Uh?"
"Yeah, the thing I hate more than not getting enough sleep is…" Minato stopped talking as he thought upon himself. "Uhh, no. There's nothing I hate more than not getting enough sleep. Anyway, now do you understand my actions?"
"Y-Yeah…." Caroline said pouting.
"Great, now let's g-"
"But, that doesn't justifies your actions!", "Ahhrghhhh." Minato rolled his eyes and continued walking.
"You ain't getting away!" Caroline followed him close behind. "Do you know that you just left a young girl alone on a shady alleyway!?"
"Ah, young girl? Aren't you older than me?"
"Then stop treating ME LIKE A CHILD!", "Then stop acting like a child.", "Beergh! Just die!" Caroline continued her assault again.
"Ahhh, what can I do to make you stop?" Minato said dodging flurry of attacks.
"I can not rest easy until you're dead!", "Uh, if you don't know, I'm already dead.", "Uhh?" Caroline stopped attacking and looked at him awkwardly. "Uh, sor-sorry. I didn't mea-Huh? HAH! You're guilt tripping me again!"
"Oh god…"
Minato walked through the whole street dodging bites from a psycho chihuahua. "Okay, how about this, I will take you to the city again."
"Huh? why wound I want to go there!?" Although she said that, she stopped her harassing.
"You can eat those puddings you like so much." Caroline looked up to him with a raised eyebrow.
"I never ate those puddings. It was Justine!", "Oh…Sorry I forgot. What did you eat the-", "Cakes!", "Righhtt." Minato said nodding like he remembered. "Yep, I will buy you cakes as much as you want."
"R-really?" Caroline asked with a twinkle in her wide eyes. "As-as much as I want?"
"Yep, we can go there next holiday. You can take Justine to-", "Nononono!" Caroline suddenly walked to the front of him. "You have to take only me!"
"…Why?"
"'Only! Me! Alone!" Caroline said stomping on the ground.
"Why no-", "Baaah! Just! ME!"
Minato looked at the fuming girl in front of him weirdly.
"…Meh, sure why not? Just you. Just Caroline."
"Yes!" Caroline celebrated for some reason. "Hm? Ahem!…Hmph." Then for some reason she turned around and walked haughtily in front of him.
'…Kids…', "*Sigh*" Sighing to himself, Minato continued walking in his own pace.
"So, what you gonna cook?"
"Huh? You weren't kidding about that!?"
"No." Minato looked at her to see her making weird faces, like trying not to laugh or smile or…'Actually it looks more closer to being constipated.', "What's wron-"
"It can't be helped then!" Caroline suddenly shouted with a dumb grin.
"What?"
"Of course, It can't be helped!", 'Why did she say it twice?', "I suppose I will have to cook for you after all!" Caroline said with a dumb smile on her face.
"Yeah, that's what I'm tel-", "Hah! It can't be helped!", "Okay, enough." Minato walked pass her.
"Ah, wait! Makoto!" Caroline ran after him loudly shouting his name. "You didn't tell me what you want to eat. Huh? Huh?"
"Um" Minato thought for a moment. "Do you know how to make croquettes?"
"What the hell is that?"
"It's…Potato and bread and something. You have to fry the potato with…something, I guess."
"Hm? That sounds easy."
"I guess." With that both of them walked silently with Minato thinking absolutely nothing and Caroline, probably thinking how to poison his stomach.
",'Hey, look at me. I paid attention to every details',", "Oh shut it."
"Hahah, Is it okay for a messiah to be lying this much?"
"It's an occupational hazard. I can't help it. Oh and by the way, Caroline, have you ever seen a talking ca-", "Surprise attack!" *Woosh* Minato dodged the lethal strike to his head by jumping a short distance.
He then looked at the girl with very, very annoyed face. "*Sigh*, Must you?"
"Hehhe." Caroline just looked at him with a dumb smile. "Come on it was just a friendly *Vrommm!*…teasing." Minato completely vanished from her sight. "Huh?" Instead, there's only a car which its front looked like it's been pummeled by a giant.
"Innoue! What happened!?", "Uh-uh, my head. Ahhhh, loo-looks like I h-hit someone." , "What!?"
"Huh?" Caroline stood there petrified for a moment. Then finally. "Hu-huh! Ma-makoto!" Caroline suddenly ran up to him who's been lying on his face on the ground. "Makoto! Are you okay!?"
"Ummm." Minato slowly raised his head. "I'm fine." He is fine. Probably something had hit him but it's not like he could be hurt. "Just a little dizzy." He can't be sure how farther he was blown though.
"Huuuhh, Thank god."
"Innoue, how can you make such an mistake!?", "S-s-sorry, Miss Ochimizu.", "Forget about that, we have to check if the person's okay." A door opening and a young girl's voice can be heard. "Kanami, don't."
'She's probably coming to check me. But no need to worry, I'm not even bruised.' Minato thought feeling his limbs. '…wait, I'm not even bruised?' Minato craned his head a little to check the car.
'Ah, Nuts.' The car looked terrible. It might even came out in a better shape if it was hit by Thor's hammer. And he's not even bruised.
"Makoto, why are you still lying? Come on, stand up, let's go."
'No, the excuse that it just grazed him is not gonna work.' There's a lot of witnesses here, thankfully they are still looking at the car. '…I got no choice.'
"Caroline, go away." Minato whispered to the girl.
"What?"
"Go away, before any one notices us."
"What!?"
"Just go away." Caroline hesitated for a moment but she ran towards the corner.
'*Sigh* , I hate this world.' Minato covered his head with his hands. "Universe, Messiah" not to let anyone noticed his hair.
"Huh? Makoto, what are you doing!?"
Pause for a minute please.
….
"*Sigh*" Minato let out a sigh. 'Well, this gonna hurts like a-oh wait, I can't say that.'
….
"Megidolaon" Minato used the almighty spell right on his head.
x-x
"Over there!" Kanami ran towards the lying blue haired student on the ground. "Huh, huh…Mister, are you okay?"
The boy didn't say anything still covering his head. 'Oh my god, is he dead!?' Then to her relief, the boy turned his head on her…Which was soaked entirely with blood dripping down.
….
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"…AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"Huh! Kana-, uh, what's wrong?" Her voice attracted every one near her.
"Innoue-san, call an ambulance!"
"What? Wh-Oh my god!", "Hurry up! He's going to die." Kanami shouted shaking the bloody boy. "Please don't lose conscious. Stay awake. Don't close your eyes!", 'I would live longer if you stop shaking me.', "Innoue-san, what are you doing? Hurry up!"
"Y-yeah. I'm calli-", "Innoue, what are you doing?" One of the mature ladies said, whispering to one of the bespectacled men. "Are you kidding? You can't call an ambulance. The media would be all over us!", "B-but-"
"Please, Ms. Ochimizu, he's going to die.", 'Yeah, the six of you should decide fast before I start to see twelve of you…Oh wait, there's only three of them.'
The woman looked over him and the girl before turning to one of the onlookers. "Is there a clinic nearby?"
x-x
'The day's at least interesting.' Takemi thought to herself as she opened the door.
"Doctor, is he gonna live?" The brown haired girl suddenly asked her.
"Kanami, calm down. He didn't lose his conscious all the way here. Of course he's not gonna be dead." The woman with a hint of grey hair said, calming down the first girl.
"Ye-yeah, you're right. We don't have to have him for dinner tonight. Yeah.", 'Huh?'
"You can go home and rest, I will take care of everything here."
"B-but-"
"No Buts. Innoue, take her home. I've already called the station."
"Ah, yes." The man said standing up. "Come on, We can't really do anything here. Let just leave this Miss Ochimizu."
"*Sigh* , I guess. But please call me, Miss Ochimizu." The girl said going to the door.
"Yeah, yeah." As the girl and the man leaves, the woman suddenly turns towards her. "So, he's dead?"
"N-no, he's not dead."
"You don't have to lie to me. I've seen wounds like that before. He surely can't survive that." The woman said without breaking a beat.
"Yeah, You're right to think that." Takemi also said back fast. "Why did you take him here instead of going to a hospital? You do know that this place is surely not made to threat wounds like that." Takemi said, glaring at her.
"I know that. No need to lecture me." But, the woman didn't even flinch. "I only need you to stabilize his condition. I will take him to hospital myself after this."
'Hm, must have done things like this before.', "Well, he's mostly stable now. and I don't think you need to follow him up on the hospital." Takemi said, walking over to the medical shelf. "Nothing critical was hurt. It was mostly surface wound."
"Surface wound? Did you see how much blood he's lost?"
"I know. I was the one who cleaned that." Takemi said as she took the necessary things from the shelf and putting them on a tray before walking back to the door. "If you don't believe me, you can check him yourself."
"He's conscious? After all that pills you gave him?"
"It was sudden and I panicked. What are you gonna do, Sue me? I can sue you back, you know?" Takemi said back opening the door.
"*Sigh* , just lead me to him." Both women opened the door to see the bandaged boy sitting up and trying to wear a shirt. Takemi's eyes turned stone cold.
….
…*Gulp*
"…What do you think you are doing, Arisato?"
"…Preparing to go home?" Ochimizu looked between the strange doctor and the stranger patient.
"…You're not going anywhere. Lie back down.", "Sorry." Minato conceded defeat fast. "Well…" Takemi motioned the woman to go.
"Uh, Okay. Ahem." Ochimizu walked over the boy. "So, you're okay?"
"Yeah." Minato answered back in his monotone voice. "…Who are you?" Ochimizu looked at the boy before turning back to her.
"Is it because he hit his h-", "No. He really didn't notice you in the first place." Ochimizu looked back at the boy who's looking at her with a tilt of his head. After looking at him weirdly enough, "Ahem, well, my name is Kyoka Ochimizu. My sincere apologies that we have to meet in such an unfortunate circumstance, Minato Arisato."
"Pleasure to meet you, my name is Mina-…How do you know my name?", "Huh? You told us when we get her-", "Get to the point, Miss Ochimizu, I have to threat him before he goes completely retard."
"Uh, Ye-yeah. Ahem." Kyokuo coughed into her hand. "Ah, Mr. Arisato. I know this is asking a lot of you but can you not tell anyone about this incident?", '~Typical~', "We will cover all your expenses here, and even though Takemi-sensei said it's not necessary, if you decided to check on the hospital, we will cover for the expenses there too."
"…."
"And we're doing a concert for Kanamin Kitchen and Risette next month, if you want I will make sure you and your friends get the tickets for free.", "*Pftt*" Kyoko turned towards her.
"Any things you like to comment on, Miss Takemi?"
"Nothing, Just finish up your own PR talk." Takemi said with a slight smile.
"*Sigh* , Anyway can I ask that of you, Mr. Arisato?"
'Hmph, She's trying to buy his silence with concert tickets, Of course he's not gonna-', "Yes.", 'Of course he's gonna accept it.'
"Great." Kyoko said with a content smile. "Here's my card. You can contact me anytime you want." Saying that she walked back to the door. "Well, then, Miss Takemi, I expect you to take care of everything." After that she left, leaving just the doctor and patient in the room.
….
"You realized that you just trade you life for Idol tickets?"
"Hm? Idol? She said Kanamin Kitchen, so I thought she was giving me restaurant coupons."
"Wasn't that worth less than ido-", Takemi stared at the unidentified creature in front of her. "…Yeah, it was restaurant coupons." She didn't want to crush the boy's dream. No matter how idiotic they may be.
"So, can I go home now?"
"Not yet." Takemi said taking out a pen. "I still have to ask you some questions."
"Do we have t-", "Shush.…I will be the one asking the questions. *click* The first question is of course, how the hell are you conscious?"
"*Blink, Blink*…Hm?"
"You got hit in the head pretty bad. Not to mention the amount of blood you've lost. And Based on the diagnosis, your body temperature, blood pressure, glucose, weight, basically Everything is below average." Minato turned away from her eyes. "So, tell me, how are you still conscious?"
"…I don't know. You're the doctor."
"Does that mean I can examine you whatever the way I want?" Minato turned back towards her again.
"Is that a genuine question?"
"…Maybe. Next, So, what did you have for breakfast?"
"Uck…" Minato made a weird noise and looked up at the ceiling. "…Nothing."
"Hm? You didn't have breakfast?", "*Nod*"
"What about lunch?", "…Ahh…*Shake*", "You didn't have lunch either. "…*Nod* Takemi didn't say anything for a moment. "Is that because of money trouble-"
"No, I just forgot to." Takemi looked at the idiotic boy. "But if you must know, I plan to have dinner. I've already told my 'chef'."
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
"You don't believe me?"
"No, I believe you. I got it." Takemi said with an awkward smile. "And I'm just asking this here but…Uhhh, do you have any history of , um, any kinds of mental… illness?"
Minato looked back at her again.
"No. I mean No…But yeah."
x-x
"Make sure you drink this after you eat tonight." They are now in the front with her behind the counter and him sitting on a chair. "You have to come tomorrow at about this time. But, you live near, so you can come by too if it hurts too much."
"…."
"You probably shouldn't go to school. Be sure to rest and try to get sleep. but make sure not to hit your head.…And try to eat a little more and drink plenty of fluids."
"What would I drink, Gases?"
Takemi looked up from the desk. "Don't get smart with me.", "Sorry." Minato apologized fast and took the bag he was given to.
"Then, excuse me." Minato got up and walked up to the door.
"What are you doing?" Minato stopped and looked back at her.
"…Trying to live?"
"I mean what are you doing now?"
"Still…Trying to live."
Takemi looked at the boy narrowing her eyes. "If you keep this up, all of your efforts trying to live will become useless."
Minato rolled his eyes in response. "You said I could go home."
"Yes, with someone."
"…I live alone."
"Where's those two kids I saw you with the other day?"
"Huh…" Mintao made an exasperated face. "Really? Why can't I go home alone?"
"Because I told you so."
Minato stared at her before sighing. "*Sigh*" Then he walked towards the walls. "*Knock, knock* , Caroline, can you come in?" Saying that he walked back to the middle of the room as Takemi kept watching the door.
…But no one came in.
"Oh, for Pete's sake. *Knock! Knock!* Caroline I'm not joking. Come in."
"…Really?" A girl's voice said and Takemi's eyes widened.
"Yes." The door opened and the girl she saw yesterday came in, still wearing the same strange clothes. The moment she saw her, she suddenly ran up to the blue haired boy.
"You happy?"
"Where's the other one?"
"Are you taking attendance? Just one is enough."
"You think letting you go just with a kid is a good idea?"
"Oh, she's not a kid. She's older than me. Go on, Caroline, tell her." Minato said shoving the girl to the front. "Tell her how much you are older than me."
"Huh?"
"Come on. Tell her."
"Um? Ahh-I-Abbba I mean I, Ahhh…Ummm." 'Caroline' said nervously looking between two of them. "Uhhhhhhh…"
….
"…See?"
"Yeah I see that there's no cure for stupidity." Takemi said sighing. "Fine. I will let it slide this time. Don't blame me for anything."
"Why would I?"
"*Sigh* , Now shoo, shoo. And make sure to come tomorrow. But try to be less weird next time you come."
Minato looked back at her. "…Was that an insult?"
"Yes but mixed with genuine concern." Takemi said with a slight smile.
"….", "Wow, even Margaret couldn't shut you u-", "Shut it." Minato opened the door and walked out.
"Bye. Stay safe. Heh."
x-x
…and we came home." Three of them stared at Caroline with mouths hanged open and simultaneously turned back to Minato.
"Why didn't you heal that yet?" Margaret first asked the question.
"There are many people who saw me and there's the doctor. So, I can't heal it completely because it would look strange. And now, I have to live with this constant headache until it heals itself."
Margaret's mouth didn't close back. "*Bam* , Caroline! Do you know how much trouble you made to Makoto-sama!?"
"It was not my fault! I'm not the one who ran him over! And I'm not the one who use Megidolaon of all things!"
"I had no choice. It's your sister fault." At Minato's words, every one turned to Justine.
"Huh, Me?" Justine said pointing at herself. "But, I was sitting here the whole day."
"No, not you. Elizabeth."
"What does Sister Elizabeth has to d-", "Ohhh." Theodore suddenly got an idea. "Right, she gifted you the Omnipotent Orb."
"Yeah. I can't summon other personas and It came into effect when I use the universe and-"
"You become immune to everything except Almighty."
"Yeah." Margaret said and Minato confirmed it.
….
"Wow, that was a disaster, wasn't it?"
"Are you sure it's okay to go to the palace tomorrow?"
"Yeah, It's just a headache, I had worse." Minato answered back Margaret. "Oh and By the way," Minato said and Margaret looked at him again.
"Yes?"
"Does any one of you know what a chuunibyou is?"
"What, Is that a cookie?"
"Not cookie. 'Chuuni'."
….
"…So a cookie monster?" A very helpful advice came from Miss Caroline.
-x-x-
A short (I don't know how it got long) comedy centered chapter because I skipped Caroline and Minato scene in the city. And Also for Takemi and Minato to meet. I made this light hearted because you know…You know what's coming next, right?