"So, Takamaki, Which one you want?"

Ann turned towards the blonde haired boy. "Whichever's not carbonated."

"Ummm." Ryuji checked both bottles on his hands. "Uhh, They kind of both are."

"Ohh…Then I will just take this." Ann took one of bottle.

"So, Akira, I hope you're okay with this one."

"Hm, Ah. Yes, It's okay." Akira also took the bottle, when then his bag started to rustle. "Oh."

"Pwah! Hey, Ryuji. Didn't you bring one for me?" Morgana asked with only his head out from Akira's bag.

"How would you drink? You are a cat."

"Oh, come on! That's discrimination!"

"Ahhahaha." Ann laughed softly looking at the two of them. "Hehhhh, I still can't warp my head around this. A cat, Talking? That's so weird. And I just came back from a freaky castle."

"Lady Ann, I told you. I'm a human. But something happened and that made me stuck in this form."

"Yeah, Hahahahh." Ann laughed again awkwardly. "That kinda made this more weird."

"Don't try to think, Takakamki." Ryuji said, scratching his head. "We're at a point where we keep going back to places we don't understand and fight with things we don't know what, with powers we are not sure of. So, a cat talking is not as weird as a human being playing possum." All four of them turned towards the blue haired boy who's sitting behind them on a bench with his eyes closed and using his hand as a crutch for his head.

"Umm, Se-senpai?" Ann called out uncertainly.

….

"Quick, How does he like to be called!?" Ann suddenly asked, jerking towards the two of them.

"Uhh, I think senpai is fine." Akira answered back also uncertainly. "But, based on our past experiences, I think he prefers more if we don't call him like at All."

Ann kept looking at the blue haired boy.

….

"…Senpai, I'm sor-", "No, it's not your fault.", "Huh?" Minato suddenly said, interrupting the girl.

"B-but," The girl didn't stop talking. "I was her closest friend and I didn't realize what was happening. And I didn't even try to help her even though I know it was weird that she was always getting hur-"

"Don't go there." Minato interrupted again, opening his eyes. "I've already told you, it's not your fault.…So, don't blame yourself." Minato said bleakly and then shut his eyes back again.

….

Ann turned back to Akira and the others, clenching her fists. "Okay, I've decided. I will come with you guys. I will change Kamoshida's heart."

"Huh!?", "Wha!?", "You serious!?", "…."

"Yeah. I can fight like you guys too. And besides, I can't stand the thought of that bastard getting away scott free!"

"Ta-takamki-san, Are you sure?" Akira said worriedly. "Tru-true. We can heal back but that's only after we got hurt first. I mean, on my three trips to that place, I got burned alive, frozen alive, electrocuted alive-", "You should stop with the 'alive'.", "And the other thing! which I even don't know what, I got stabbed by Light. By Light! Most of all, that hurt worse than being burned…"

"…." Akira watched Minato nervously.

….

"Last one.", "ALIVE! I tell you, that place is nuts."

"Yeah. A girl as fair as you shouldn't venture to places like that alone!"

"Hm? You guys are not gonna be with me?"

"Of course. We are gonna be with you. I just added that for dramatic effect." Morgana admitted pretty fast.

"You guys are overreacting."

"No. It is really dangerous, Takamaki. We are not kidding."

"Come on, Sakamoto. I can handle myself. I mean, I could even beat you in arm wrestling."

"Huh?", "Hah, Really?"

"No, she doesn't. No, she can't. She's lying. Wipe that stupid grin from your stupid face, you stupid cat!" Ryuji yelled at Morgana who's laughing arrogantly.

"Besides, I've already fought once. It was easy. I didn't even get hurt."

"No, Lady Ann." Morgana interrupted gentlemanly. "Akira and Ryuji's worries are not unfounded. I assure you, not all battles will be easy. The last battle was that easy because we found their weaknesses fast." Akira and Ryuji nodded sagely. "And that was only because of him." Morgana pointed at Minato who still had his eyes closed.

"Senpai?"

"His persona is a rare type…or something. It is not like our personas. His can also do supports."

"Supports?"

"He can able to identify weaknesses. He can also heals us and can also use buffs."

"Oh, that's why I feel like I was fast last time." Ryuji said to himself.

"And Akira, he can probably be able to figure out the correct order of that levers."

"Ah, Oh, right. Senpai, we were kinda stuck in that room. You have to pull the lever in correct order to get the door open."

"And your persona can able to do that easily, Right, one eye?" Morgana addressed him who still hadn't said a word.

"…Maybe."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait." Ann suddenly shouted. "He can also use that persona thing?"

"Yeah, That's what we are talking." Ryuji answered back.

"Wait, what?" Ann said in a weird face. "You and Kurusu were in that weird clothes and I also got changed into that embarrassing outfit. But he was normal. He was still in our uniform. Why didn't his clothes change?"

"Oh, that's what you are asking." Ryuji said nodding.

"Yeah, but it was more strange." Akira said back with a smile. "Even more than us, because senpai, heh, senpai, he shot himself in the head to call that persona. Ahhahahah, Wasn't that funny?" Akira nudged the cat in his bag. "Ahhahahhah."

….

Minato looked away. Morgana just stared at Minato and Ryuji scratched his head in puzzle.

….

And Ann's just looking weirdly at the boy who's still laughing.

"Ahhaha…Ahah…Hahh."

….

Akira realized that he was the only one laughing.

….

"Sorry, that wasn't funny."

"You weren't joking!?"

"No. He really shot himself." Ryuji answered back Ann.

"And one eye, wasn't that the gun from before?"

"Before?" Akira turned to Morgana.

"Yeah, he also has a model gun even before Ryuji brought one." Morgana explained. "But that thing shot lasers."

"Lasers!?", "What!?", "…."

"But no matter what it shot before, What I don't get is how does shooting yourself in the head summon a persona? And how did you have that gun in the first place?"

All of them turned to the blue haired boy.

"Hey, One eye. Show me that gun again."

"…Nope."

The atmosphere suddenly took a sharp turn.

"Hey, Arisato. Are you hiding something from us?" Ryuji asked but Minato didn't answer back. "Hey, Arisato. Answer me."

'You guys are probably thinking what happened.' Minato slowly turned to his 'Friends'. '…Well, nothing good.'

….

"…It was-", "What are you guys doing!?" But he got interrupted by Ann.

"Lady Ann, please. You don't understand." Morgana said back to the girl.

"Yes, I don't. But you don't either." Ann said pointing accusingly at them. "Neither of you don't. So, why are you blaming him?"

"Come on, Takamaki. How would you explain that!? He had something that shot laser that can also summon personas!?"

"How would I explain that? I just said I don't understand!"

"Then Why are you even arguing!?"

"I said I don't understand but I also said You don't either! Weren't you listening, You Fake Blonde!?"

"Excuse Me! What did you just call me, You…you…you half blonde, uhhh half white Bimbo!?"

Minato and Morgna turned to Ryuji with alarmed stares.

"It's not 'Half Blonde'. It's called 'Platinum blonde' And it's a real hair colour, you stupid ape. And Did you just call me Bimbo!?"

"Did you just call me an Ape!?"

"Okay, Guys, Calm down. Calm down. Calm Down!" Akira stepped in the middle while shouting like a crazy person. "It…"

….

"Uhhhh."

Four of them looked at Akira who was standing between Ann and Ryuji.

….

"Yeah, uhh, Sorry, I thought I would have thought of something if I shouted a little loud but…." Akira stepped back down. "Turns out I got nothing. Ahhahhaha."

"Don't laugh!", "Don't laugh!"

"Hehh, You three, barring Lady Ann, of course.", 'Huh?', "are ridiculous." Morgana stood up from the bag. "Really, you guys are really ridiculou-Ahh, Akira, could you pull the zipper back a little?", "Oh, sure."

"Big talk coming from a talking cat who's stuck in a bag in the most ridiculous fashion!"

"Hehh, Unlike you, 'Stupid ape'-", "What!?", "I get what Lady Ann is saying."

'Really? Because I honestly don't.'

"What Lady Ann saying is, we know almost to nothing about what metaverse is and how that works. And we also don't know what that app in your phone or who made that. Basically, we can't be sure of anything. So, we can not say just because one eye is a little different from us, we shouldn't get all suspicious of him."

'Oh…I appreciate the gesture but I don't even know where to point out first.'

"Yeah, yeah. Awww, Morgana, you're so smart." Ann walked over and petted him gently. "Nyehhhehehheh." Who in turn, made a really, really weird sound.

"Fineeee, Sorry for yelling at you, Arisato." Ryuji apologized, although he looked like he didn't mean it.

"…."

"But, One eye, Don't think you are out of hook. I will be watching you closely. I won't let any harm fall on Lady Ann."

"I see." Minato answered back in his monotone voice.

"So, with that said, can I come live with you?"

"Nope." Minato stood up from the bench.

"Why Not!?"

"Yeah, why not, Senpai?" Ann said still petting the cat. "Why would you not want to take this little cutie?"

"Good. Then he will stay with you."

Ann stopped petting and turned to Minato. "I'm sorry but have I offended you somehow?"

"Hmph, one eye. What do you take me for? Of course, A gentleman such as I will not burden Lady Ann." Morgana said smugly. "But Of course. I have no remorse about burdening you fools."

"Yeah, No. You can't live with me either. I have a really tiny house." Ryuji said interrupting the gentleman cat.

"And I live with…people."

Three of them stareed at Minato for some time. "Okay, we are going ignore that. So, Kurusu. How about you?"

"Huh?" Akira nervously looked around. "Uhhh, Ughh. I-I have cat allergies."

….

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I don't. Fine, you can live with me. But, we have to snea-"

"Good, then I will be going back." Minato said walking out of the group. "You guys go home too. Takamaki will have to rest."

"O-oh, now that you mention it. I kinda feel a little tired." Minato didn't say anything back and just keep walking when Ryuji called him out.

"Oh, hey, come to the rooftop tomorrow. You hear me?"

Minato said anything and just waved back at them without turning around.

"And check your damn phone, You asshole!"

x-x

Leblanc Cafe

"Uhh, Sensei, you are pretty late today."

"Yeah." Takemi sat down on one of the booth. "I was waiting for one of my patients. He still didn't come though."

"Oh, an important one?" Sojiro stood up and goes behind the counter.

"I wouldn't say important." Takemi leaned on the cushion. "He's like one of those abandoned cats you see on street. You probably wouldn't care if you just heard about them but after seeing them, you would felt real bad if you just let them die."

"Heh" Sojiro let out a laugh while preparing the coffee. "Can I ask what he's diagnosed with?"

"Remember the accident that happened a little while ago?"

"Oh, he's that one?"

"Yeah." Takemi said, scoffing.

"I heard it was pretty bad."

"Well, the car was busted real bad but the wound is not that much. It will probably heals in about three weeks or four. I think it won't even leave a scar." Sojiro put down the cup in front of her. "The real problem however is, he probably got some deep emotional scars that no amount of therapy sessions could heal."

"Oh." Sojiro said in surprise.

"…What?"

"Oh, Umm, nothing. Uhhhh." Sojiro awkwardly walked back to the stool. "Uhhh, I'm just thinking, Uhhhh." Sojiro muttered to himself while Takemi was drinking from her cup. "Umm, How do you…I mean how do you fix someone like that?"

"What do you mean?" Takemi put down her cup.

"You know, people like that boy." Sojiro's expression darkened. "Ones who have to live through something that no one at their age should have and those experiences leave a mark…then they never recovered from it. And as time goes on, it becomes worse and worse until it reaches the point that she doesn't even get out of her roo-"

"Are we talking about someone now?"

"Huh?…No, no. I'm just asking."

Takemi looked at the man for a minute before turning back. "Well, I'm not a specialist so, It'd better if you just go to a therapist."

"You just said therapists don't work."

"Nooo. he's an exception." Takemi said with a laugh. "He's broken beyond fixing.…Way broken." Takemi said, sipping on the coffee with a mischievous smile.

"Okayyy." Sojiro thought to himself. "But, what if they don't want to, I mean, what if they don't want to leave their house in the first place?"

"Well, Like I said I don't know. Maybe you should ask him. He may be a mess now but at one point he was also a shut in."

"Did he tell you?"

"No. But you should see his skin. It is whiter than this cup." Takemi said with a laugh. "Actually I saw him come here with his sisters, I think."

"Really?"

"Yeah, But you were closed that day."

Sojiro thought to himself again. "Oh, I was out that day. Kinda have to go to the school." Takemi kept listening. "I have something that was a little bi-" *Jingle, Jingle*

Suddenly the bells from the door rang and a boy in a school uniform came in, clutching his bag…that seem to have moved a little.

"Sa-sakura-san, I'm-I'm back." Meekly saying that, the boy walked towards the stairs. Then he suddenly stopped in front of her and discreetly(glaringly) covered his bag that keeps shaking.

….

Then he finally noticed her staring.

….

"I swear, there's nothing in my bag."

"Oh, Okay."

….

The boy didn't move from his spot and kept staring at her.

"Uhhhhhh."

"Hey, Kurusu." Sojiro stood up and talked to him in a stern tone. "Don't go and disturb Doctor Takemi."

"Uhh, Umm, wait." Kurusu turned back to her again. "From that nearby shad-I mean clinic?"

'I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that.', "Yeah."

"Uhhh." The boy still holding his bag, said to her. "Ar-arisato-senpai said that he's sorry that he couldn't come for today's appointment."

"Oh, you two are friends?"

"Yeah." The boy nodded with a smile.

Takemi also nodded back. "Hm, Just a question, Did he really say that?"

"Yes."

….

"No."

"Figures." Takemi picked up her cup with a smile again.

"Bu-but", "Okay, Kurusu. Just get to the upstairs."

"Sorry." The boy quickly apologized the man. "Uhh, Excuse me." Saying that the boy again walks towards the stairs as Takemi watched over him.

'Opposites attract…What a load of crap.'

x-x

Moments Ago…

"Hey, One-eye, Are you sure Lady Ann's here?"

"Who?"

"Lady Ann!"

"…Who?"

"He means Takamaki." Ryuji shouted from beside.

"Oh, yeah." Minato peeked around the corner. "Some of the guards took her."

"Why is Takamaki-san here?" Akira said as they walked down the hallway carefully. "And senpai, why are you here?"

"I saw her trying to get here with the app.…So, I follow her.", '…And I didn't intervene this time.'

"The app? You mean the thing form Kurusu's phone?" Morgana asked them.

"No. It's in all of our phones. Both me and Arisato also has it." Ryuji answered back.

"How? And How did Lady Ann get that?"

"…I don't know." They finally reached the door Minato was leading them. Minato slowly opens the do-"Oh." He quickly closed it back.

"Senpai, What's wrong?"

"Uhhh," Minato collected himself with a cough. "The good news is Takamaki is here."

"Really!?" Akira said hopefully.

"The bad news is she's tied up and surrounded."

"What!?" Morgana shouted.

"And the worst news is-", "Damn it! *Bam*" Ryuji suddenly kicked the door open. "Hey, Kamoshida, you asshole! What do you think yo-Ehhhhhh…."

Akira and Morgana stared at the sight in front of them with mouth open.

"BaHhhhh." Minato walked over to Akira and took out the piece of cloth from his pocket. "Huh?", "Wipe yourself. You're bleeding.", "Oh."

"Oh My god, this is so Effed up.", 'What they are seeing and What Ryuji thought is Effed up is…let's just say, it's not something a Messiah should be describing.'

"Is this what he thinks of the girls from volleyball team?"

"Huh?" A man said to them and all their attention turned away from the scene before them. "You thieves again? How many times do I have to teach you guys your lesson?" Kamoshida says with an arrogant grin.

"You guys!?" Ann shouted towards them almost tears forming in her eyes. "What is this place really!? Why is Kamoshida here?"

"Oh, Hush, Hush. My lively slave." Kamoshida said with a sick grin turning towards Ann who's chained up on a cross. "We will have our fun after I deal with this…thieves." Kamoshida fully turns towards them.

'Calm down. Calm down.'

"Oh, Arisato. Nice of you to join us." Kamoshida said towards him. "Bold of you to come back here again after what you did."

'Calm down. The wildcard can handle this.'

"Let Takamaki go, You bastard!" Ryuji shouted from beside him.

"Oh, Shut up, Sakamoto. I don't have time to deal with you today." Saying that Kamoshida glared at him before it turned into a grin. "Wanna hear something interesting, Arisato?"

"Enough with your stupid mind games, Kamoshida! Let lady Ann go!"

"Hehhehehh." Ignoring Morgana, Kamoshida laughed loudly. "Shiho. Shiho Suzui."

'Calm…Down.'

"She's why you all are here, isn't it?" Kamoshida turned back Ann. "And Takamaki. That's why you also came here, right? For your 'Best friend'?"

"You bastard! Don't you dar-Um!?" Ann tried to yell at the man but suddenly the guards beside her raises their sword at her throat.

"Which is ironic…Because it's your fault that she jumped, you know."

"What?" Ann said in puzzle.

"You were so reluctant to throw yourself on me, I had her take your place. If you hadn't refuse me, All of this wouldn't happen. The girl would still be alive."

"uh…Uhh." Ann stared at Kamoshida with wide eyes.

"Hahahaha, Now that's a face I want to see."

"No!" Akira suddenly shouted. "No. It's not Takamaki-san fault." Akira tried to run towards them but Kamoshida stopped him.

"Take one more step and I'll kill her on the spot."

"Uhhh." Akira unwittingly backed down.

"Good. Now just stand back and enjoy the dismantle show."

"Dammit!" Ryuji cursed from beside him. 'What?'

"Please…Shiho." Ann said with tears flowing down.

"Maybe I'll start with her clothes, Hehhehehh."

'What?'

"Takamaki-san!" Akira ran towards her but the guards barred him again. "Takamaki-san!"

'What?'

"Arisato! Is there anything we can do!?" Minato didn't turn away from the scene before him.

'Why…Why is the same thing happening!?'

"Hey, Arisato!?"

Minato held his head. 'What…should I?'

"Is this… my punishment for what happened to Shiho….?"

'No! I can control my self.' Minato prepared to snap his fingers but stopped.

….

"Now, you see how dangerous your power is…How dangerous you are when you let your emotions get better of you?"

"Dammit." Minato took out something from his pocket and held it tightly. "Universe"

"Arisat-Wait, what is that!?" *Rawrrr!* A loud growling sound echoed throughout the place.

"What?" Kamoshida and all the others stopped and turned towards him. "What are you doi-What!?"

"Senpai!?", "Hey!?"

Minato pointed the gun that's seeping pitch black smoke at his head. 'I don't need to use my actual powers. I just have to trust the wildcard…Yeah, Just trust the wildcard.'

"Huuhh…Orpheus." *Bang!* The gunshot sound echoed throughout the place as Minato's eyes turns Blue.

"What the….", "Wait,…Persona?"

Orpheus once again materialized behind him, with it's mechanical body and with eyes glowing red.

Everyone didn't move from their spot, watching him with surprise.

"Kurusu…"

"Huh?"

"…Change to Kelpie and use Bufu towards the one on your left."

"Uh?"

"…Do it." Akira looked around in confusion before steeling himself. "Kelpie!"

Akira ripped his mask off and blocks of ice suddenly appeared on the shadow's face, propelling it right towards Kamoshida and the others.

"Ahh!" Kamoshida dodged and the shadow directly hit the wall and disintegrated into pieces.

"No way. It was the shadow's weakness?" Morgana said in surprise.

"…Wait, how do you know ice is that shado-", "Ask questions later, Sakamoto." Minato shouted in a…Kind of loud voice.

"Listen to me! Joker, Skull! You're on the front! Mona, Stay in the back. Don't let the enemy hit you. Use spells moderately but Don't waste your stamina!"

"What?", "Huh!?", "Huh?", "Hey, How do you know our codenames!?"

"Now!", "Yes, Sir!", "Wait, Aki-Joker, Don't just accept that!" Skull exasperatedly shouted to Joker, Although he also moved in position as Minato said.

"One-eye." Mona said standing in front of him. "I didn't know that you can use persona…And support one to boot. I hope you know what you're doing."

"….", 'Yeahhh, I don't know what I'm doing.' The fact is he knew next to nothing about navigating. Telling to use Bufu on Pyro-Jack is easy, but on the others? 'Doesn't matter. I will just memorize the whole compendium as soon as this is over.…But for now.' Minato looked straight towards the girl who's looking at them with wide eyes.

'For now…I hope…', "Joker. Focus on reaching Ann. Skull. Act as his vanguard. Mona. Round up the stragglers."

"Aye! Come on, Joker.", "You got it.", "I don't know what you just said, so I'm just gonna go and beat up whatever I see." Three of them ran towards the group of shadows.

'For now, I hope this is enough.'

Kamoshida stood up from the floor. "You dare still defies me!? Guards, Kill them all!"

'Wildcard…It's all on you.'

"Kill them All!"

x-x

Present

Minato pulled a piece of the bread from his hand and threw it towards the lake. *Bap*

….

The park remained silent again.

….

Minato pulled out another piece and threw it at the lake again. *Bap*

….

This time, someone's footsteps echoed out the place. Before long, a white haired beautiful woman with velvet blue dress reached the bench he's sitting on.

Then, without saying anything, the woman sat down beside him.

….

Neither of them made a sound for sometime.

….

"…Want a bite?"

"Weren't you just throwing that at the pond?"

Minato retracted his offered hand, took out another piece and threw it at the lake again. "It's a lake…Not a pond. And I dropped this on the way here. So, I'm just feeding it to the fish." *Bap*

….

Both of them got silent again.

Suddenly, Margaret asked a question. "Are the fish even here?" *Bap*

"How would I know? It's too dark. I can't see anything."

….

"Margaret…"

"Yes?"

"Have I met Chronos?"

Margaret jerked her head towards him. "Come again?"

"I feel like I had met him but…" *Bap* , "There's no such things as 'Feel like' for a god. I would've clearly remember if I met him."

Margaret stared at him for a moment before thinking to herself. 'So, he wasn't joking when he said he had never met Theodore.', "I see. It is not my place to say but, " Margaret turned back towards the lake. "I think there must be a good reason if a Messiah deemed fit to forget something."

"…Is that so?"

….

Minato just kept staring the lake even in the darkness.

"Why do you ask though?"

"Hm?" Minato slowly moved his head towards her. "You didn't…notice?"

"Notice what?"

Minato stared at her with his deadpan face. "I thought you guys aren't affected by…time."

Maragret stared him back in confusion. "I don't know what you're trying to say but…The hands of time affected us the same as mortals. It is the Velvet room that exists outside the boundaries of time."

"Oh…" Minato slowly nodded back. "Then, never mind." And turned back towards the lake.

The park got silent again.

….

"Makoto-sama, I…." Margaret trailled off. *Bap* "I noticed that you summoned a persona today." Minato's hand stopped in mid air. "Was the situation really that dire?"

….

Minato slowly let his hand down…then put it in his mouth. "You know what, I will just eat this myself."

"Makoto-sama."

"It was my fault." Minato slowly chewed the bread. "You could say I misread the situation."

Margaret didn't speak and listened silently.

"*Munch* , I tried to salvage the situation." Margaret didn't turn away from the blue haired boy. "I might have decided to not use my powers but…I have to call one at least to be able to heal them. And I tried to lead them towards a win." Minato pulled out another piece. "But, words alone can only go so far. And I might heal their wounds but…At one point they will become too tired."

Minato looked up towards the sky. "I still wondered, why was there so many shadows? They just don't stop coming. It was just one man. Why was there so many?"

Minato's face turned into a sad smile. "At that time, Millions of thoughts went through my head. 'What should I do?' Again and again, I asked myself. 'What should I do? Should I use my powers? Wasn't she not supposed to die? Or she would not only die if I used my powers? But if I used them, she would die…again. So, What was my role supposed to be? Should I save only the wildcard because that is my mission…Or should I save everyone because I'm the Messiah? And how do I even go with saving everyone?'."

Minato ate the piece of bread on his hand. "Heh, Millions of those come and go but I didn't get the answer." Minato let out a scoff. "Until the wildcard shouted, that is."

"Shiho, I'm so sorry."

"Takamaki-san, Don't give up." Joker slashed the shadow in front of him. "Suzui-san…Suzui-san would not want that."

"Ku-kurusu-kun?"

"We both know what Kamoshida did. And we both know it's not your fault." Akira blocked the attacks of multiple shadows.

"Don't blame yourself for doing the right thing!"

Minato watched from the back as Joker struggled with a lot shadows…before turning to Morgana. "Mona, go help Joker."

"Bu-but, then you would be left defenseless!"

"…Don't worry ab-…Just go."

"Even though we tried to get you out of here, you came back here on you own!" Joker dodged the attack and stabs the shadow, making it disappear in black smoke. "So, why are you giving in now!? Even though we are all here, why are you giving up!? Why are you letting that man do as he please!?"

"*Munch…*"

"…So, the girl awakened?" Margaret said from beside him.

"Hehh, turns out If I was patient even for a few minutes, I would not have to go through that twice or meet with Chronos." Minato said back letting out a soft laugh. "And turns out…" Minato's smile turned sad. "Even though I'm telling myself everyday that I don't belong here…At some point, I began to think that maybe…An imitation it may be…different people they may be…Maybe I could…I could laugh like I did back them. Maybe I could become something other than the Messiah."

….

"Every mornings, I wonder what am I even doing here? This is not my world. This is not my time. But, No matter how much I told myself that, I still can't able to accept the fact that…" Minato trailled off. "…That even without me, The wildcards and the others would find a way. Even without me, they would have find each other. Even without me, they would have fulfilled their purpose and life would goes on. I really don't need to always be there for them. But, I still can't accept the fact that…I have nothing to do with this world."

Maragret looked at him in his face. "…Are you questioning yourself because you let that girl die?"

"…."

"I will not say what you did was wrong or right but you are the Messiah. There shouldn't be no regrets for you."

"…."

"You could just healed her. And even if she died, you could just bring her ba-"

"Margaret," Minato interrupted her. "…Do you know why I sacrificed myself?"

Margaret looked at him confusedly before looking away. *Bap*

"It's not because I loved the humanity…they can go die for all I care." *Bap*

"It's not because I loved this world…love doesn't suit me anyway." *Bap*

"No, it's not for those selfless reasons." Minato turned towards Margaret, and said as they looked at each other in the eyes. "It's just because of a wish that I want to see their smiles again. It's just because of a selfish wish that I might become a memory for them…but I don't want them to become a memory of me." The two stared at each other in the dead of the night.

"You see, I doomed the whole universe with eternity of suffering so that…" Minato turned back. "So that they could keep smiling."

Margaret didn't say anything and kept looking at him.

"So, what rights this selfish god have to bring back a girl…just for her to suffer more, to the world she so hated that she tried to end it all herself?"

….

"What rights do I even have?" *Bap*

….

For a long time, Margaret kept looking at the blue haired boy.

"And does your wish have been fulfilled?" *Bap*

"…."

"Did you see their smiles?"

Minato said nothing back and just kept staring at the lake.

"…Margaret, I've been thinking…"

"Hm?"

Minato brought up the bread in his hand. "I've been both eating and throwing this away but it still hasn't gone yet. Just how big is this bread?"

….

"Huh?"

"Hehheheheh," Minato laughed a little as he got up from the bench. "Don't worry. I'm just being sentimental." Minato dusted himself. "I will still get back the velvet room and save Igor. So, you don't have to think of any other backup plans." Minato picked up his bag. "It's late. We should go back." Saying that Minato turned around, when Margaret suddenly grabbed his hand.

"…."

"…Why do you insist on doing this? Why do you insist on walking this path by yourself?"

"…." Without saying anything, Minato gently removed Margaret's hand.

….

"I went through my darkest time alone. So, I'm sorry if I act like I don't need anyone." Minato grabbed her arm back and pulled her up, making their faces close to each other. "But I don't. I really don't. Not anymore."

….

The standing and staring continued for sometime before Minato turned around and walked back.

Margaret didn't look away from Minato's back even as he walked away.

And Minato suddenly stopped.

….

"Caroline, there's a snake under you."

"What!? Whatwhatwhat! Get away! Get away! WAHHH!", "Wait, Caroline. Don't pus-Ahh!" Suddenly two little girls fell down from the slope behind them like a ball. *Bap!* Making a sound as they fell face first on the ground.

"Owwwww.", "Caroline, please get off me."

Theodore also came out from nearby bush, holding up two branches. "We've been found out?"

"Aheheh. Careful when crossing the road." Minato waved at them and continued his walk. "And don't let Caroline out of your sight."

"Why are you singling me out!?", "Ca-caroline, please. I'm getting crushed."

Margaret ignored her siblings and kept staring at the young Messiah who kept walking.

He walked away, without turning back.

He walked alone in the dark silent of the night.

I can hear his lonely cry as he walked farther and farther away from the ones he loved.

Never able to return home. Never able to fold his wings and rest.

Sister…I wonder, one day, will he open his lonely heart to me? I wonder if he can find a way to speak his heart to me?

I wonder if he can ever find someone…someone who knows what it's like to be alone?

x-x

The Next Day

"Okay!" Ryuji said looking at them. "Looks like we are all here. Come on! Let's go raid that castle. Kamoshida, watch out! Hahaha."

"Oh, Sakamoto." Ann said, sighing. "Why do you have to be so loud?" The boy kept boasting, pretending not to hear the girl. "Besides, not all of us are here."

"Huh?" Ryuji looked around and counted heads again. "One, two…Dammit, Arisato!" Ryuji took out his phone and furiously types the messages. "I hope, for his sake that he's not trying to make a cool entrance."

"Cool your head, Ryuji." Morgana said while licking his paws. "Even if he's here, we cannot go to the palace yet."

"Huh, Why not?"

"Oh. Hey, So, how were things yesterday? Are you two okay living together?" Ann asked towards Akira and Morgana.

"Oh, Ohhhhh. Of course, it's okay. Pwefff. I mean, What's there to be not oka-", "He got scolded by the owner.", "…Thank you, Morgana-san."

"Oh, Kurusu-kun, Are you sure you are fine?" Ann said in a worry tone. "If it's not fine, I'm sure Morgana can live in the streets just fine."

"Wha-what!?", "Thank you, Morgana-san."

"Hahahaha." Ryuji laughed pointing at Morgana. "You're gonna be hobo."

"Okay, Enough!" Morgana said as he stands up. "Listen to me, We can not wildly go inside that palace."

"Why? We are fine so far." Akira said turning towards the cat.

"So far, sure. But, what about in the long run? No. We can't half ass this now that Lady Ann is here." Morgana said acting like a commander although his focus is a little questionable. "We need better weapons, we need better equipments. And we need medicines for our fatigue and we need…Ahh, I think that's all we need."

"Oh, Just leave it to me for the weapons. I know a kick-ass place for that." Ryuji said with smug face.

"Wait, weapons?" Ann asked back. "Where would we get weapons?"

"Oh, Takamaki-san. You know the guns we were shooting before?" Akira asked the girl back. "They were not the real guns. They are model guns. But there, the shadows think they are real. So, they become real and that's why we shot real bullets."

Ann looked at him weirdly.

"…You can ask Arisato-senpai. He can explain it better than me."

"Speaking about him, when he's gonn-*Creak* , Oh he's here." Ryuji and the others turned around to the door. "Hey, Arisato. You're late!"

"Sorry, sorry." Minato closed the door behind him.

"No, Senpai. It's okay. Ryuji was just getting impatient." Akira said standing up from the chair. "But, what's wrong? Did something come up?"

"No. Nothing came up. I just don't want to come." Minato walked over towards them.

"Oh, Uhh. Okay. Hey, one eye." Morgana asked his question first. "Akira said that you knew the doctor from Yongen-Jaya."

"Yeah?"

"Great. So, can you ask her if you can buy medicine for our mission?"

"…Sure. Maybe." Minato said back.

"Wait, are normal medicines even gonna work?"

"It's a cognitive place. Of course it will…I think."

"That again!?"

"Great. So, it's all settled.", "No, it still isn't.", "Huh?" Everyone turned towards Minato.

"I have something to say about the palace."

"What's wrong?"

"…I'm not coming with you guys."

….

"Huuhhh!?"