Despite the exam, everyone was so excited about the Yakushima trip, especially Junpei. Well, you knew why. They're now on board the ship heading to their destination Yakushima. Sea wind blew against Haruka's face as she used her hand to shove her hair to the back. She let out a deep breathe, and then closed her eyes to feel the wind.
She was here now…unbelievable…she thought. She had to admit, having this once in a while was not that bad either. At least she felt relax at this moment. However, she knew danger was waiting for her on the island, and that Ikutsuki as well. She knew what the man planned under his sleeve. That made the trip sounded a bit uncomfortable.
"Haruka, what are you doing here?" Hamuko approached her from behind.
"…I could have asked you the same thing." Haruka watched Hamuko walked to her side.
"…It's so dead silence inside. Even Junpei-kun and Fuuka tried to lighten up the mood; it's just so…awkward." She dropped her face. "I couldn't stand it anymore."
"…I see." She felt the same, but hers was more toward Ikutsuki though.
"Whoa…the wind is so nice!" She cheered at the changing of mood. "Hey Haruka, I just can't wait to see your swimsuit look, you know?"
Haruka blushed and tossed her head to other side. "…Hamuko, you sounded like Junpei-kun. It's better not to stick with him that often."
Bursting out a small laugh, Hamuko enjoyed the red shade on her face. It made Haruka to turn away from her.
As she eying the sea, she found the land at the front became clear. Hamuko pointed and screamed "It's Yakusima, finally!" and everyone came out to the deck.
"Awesome! There it is! Ya-ku-shi-maaaa!"
"Whoa…so many tropical plants…!" Fuuka cheered out as well. "Take a look at that one…"
However, Yukari and Mitsuru simply let out another sigh, not even bother how beautiful the scene was. Fuuka sweat dropped, not knowing how to handle the situation. But then again, there's someone didn't bother about all this…
"I-It's totally amazing huh? Man, this is so awesome…I'm not even kidding!"
"Junpei-kun…" Fuuka smiled at the capped boy.
Hamuko and Minto exchanged a glance, both let out a smile. Luckily they got Junpei with them. Though he was not attentive enough, but for now they needed this the most. Ignoring the heavy atmosphere, Hamuko also cheered at the comfortable wind and beautiful sceneries.
"…"
Haruka carefully checked the island once they landed. She took a look at Hamuko and Minato, wondering if they aware of their back. She turned around; knowing 'that thing' was alerted at her appearance.
'That thing' already awakened…? I wonder if she remembers. Decided to let it aside, Haruka went with the others to Kirijo Mansion.
"Wow…"
"It's like we're in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Fabulous…"
"Welcome back, milady." The maids greeted the redhead as she stepped in.
"We won't be here long, but I'll be relying on you during our stay." Mitsuru said.
"And those must be your schoolmates, correct? Welcome to the Kirijo vacation home." One of the maids greeted the group politely by bowing and leaded them into the mansion.
The mansion was designed to make the guest comfortable and relax. No unnecessary luxurious decoration and design, but with comfortable painting and soft color furniture. The mansion was clean and in good order. It must be because of the maids who took care of the place.
As they walked into the mansion, a middle aged man came by. He had black short hair and carried a scary look. This might be impolite to say, but that's the first impression Hamuko had.
"Good to see you again." Mitsuru greeted the man. The man only nodded and left.
"Dude, talk about scary!" Junpei squeaked like a girl. "He's not gonna make us walk on the plank, is he?"
"Don't be stupid…" Minato shrugged.
After settled everything down, Junpei already ran for his babes and beach. They managed to get one person per room, girls on second floor and guys on third floor. Since the girls needed time to get changed, Minato and Akihiko went to the beach first.
"Hey, nice place, isn't it?"
"Yes senpai." Minato answerd with a plain nod, unsettling feeling lingered on his stomach.
"Hey what's wrong, Minato?"
"No…it's just…I've been here before." Minato looked at the sceneries around. A girl's figure appeared in his sight on the dock far over the left side. It gone when he winked at that, replaced by blue ocean.
"Really? You've been here before? You mean your childhood?" Akihiko chuckled. He just wouldn't understand, Minato knew. So he remained silence.
He didn't remember anything though, let alone talked about his childhood. Even if he did come here when he's a child, he wouldn't remember it at all. But still…there's still some possibility, huh?
"Oh hey, Junpei."
"Ooi, Akihiko-senpai and Minato! You're guys are late!" Junepi took off his sandals.
"What? The girls are yet here."
"Damn…there's nothing out there I can use as a marker…too bad. I was hoping for a good swim." Akihiko looked at the ocean, saying in disappointment.
"W-What's with that swimsuit?" Junpei looked down at Akihiko, who was wearing a tight swimsuit. "Dude, speedos…? That tight fit's nasty, man!"
"But they're better for swimming…"
Ignoring their arguing, Minato put on his earphone and listened to the music. He sat down on the bench and attempted a nap. It's better to listen to the boring arguing and then got mixed up.
"Oh hey, they're here." Junpei suddenly stopped arguing but looking at the opposite direction.
Aww…they're fast. I hope they can take it longer…with some groaning; Minato sat up from the bench and took the earphone down.
"Minato-kun!" All he saw was Hamuko running to his direction.
Yukari and Fuuka were together with her but in walking mode. She beamed down immediately by his side.
"What…?" Yukari raised a brow in suspicious.
"Say hello to contestant No. 1, Yukari Takeba! As you can see, she's chosen a bold design – quite unexpected!" Junpei acted like the swimsuit contest director. "It takes a lot of confidence to pull off a swimsuit like that!"
"W-What are you talking about Stupei!?" Yukari blushed madly.
"What's wrong Yukari-chan?" Fuuka approached from behind.
"Oh…and here we have the lovely Miss Yamagishi!" His face heat up. God…who knows what's in his mind? "…Wow, Fuuka, I had no idea you were so…I mean, you should wear swimsuit more often!"
"H-Huh!?" Fuuka gasped at the sudden compliment. As her face started to heat up, she quickly hid behind Hamuko, using her to shield her showing-too-much body. "T-That why I said…this doesn't suit me at all, Hamuko-chan!"
"What are you talking about Fuuka? You look good in this."
"Yeah come on, there's nothing to be embarrass about!" The pervert Junpei still making that kind of look. "Take a look at our leader! She is just…"
"Just…what?" Hamuko raised her eye brows.
"Dude, what do you say?" Junpei threw the ball to the cool boy.
"Why are you asking me…?" Minato shot him a dead glare. Minato scratched the back of his head, not knowing what to say. He could see Hamuko shifted her gaze to him and waited for him. She's wearing a pink ribbon bikini and that's just too much to lock his gaze on her. Not dare to look straightly, Minato trailed his gaze to other side. "Hmm…you look good on that, Hamuko."
Giggling as she observed his expression, Hamuko couldn't help but blushed. Inside her was as if a blossom flower – too sweet to explain.
"I have to say you really look good on that, Hamuko." Akihiko commented as he tried not to lock his gaze on her too much. Well, not only her though…
"And here our next contestant…"
Mitsuru walked down the path to the beach, following by Haruka at the back. Haruka however, hid behind the bushes when she almost there.
"Hmm? Is something wrong?" She asked, looked at them with question face.
Fuuka covered her face as a shade of shade flashed across. "Wow…senpai, you're so beautiful…"
"Yeah, your skin is flawless! Did you already put on the sunscreen?" As if nothing happened between, Yukari took out her own sunscreen.
"No…not yet…" Mitsuru flustered at the sudden compliment.
"Let me help you senpai!" Hamuko pushed Mitsuru to the bench near by.
"No, it's okay…I-I can do it myself…!"
Minato shrugged away the embarrassment and put on his earphone. Not wanting to recall too much on that night – the night he happened to see Hamuko's half naked body – he shook off the image that kept coming to his mind.
He lay down on the bench…for a second; he sat up again and looked around.
"Hey…where's Kamijou?"
"Now you talk about it…" Yukari said. "I haven't seen her since we out here."
"No worries Yukari-chan, she's here." After finished putting on the sunscreen, Hamuko stood up and walked to the bushes at their back. "I'm thinking…when are you going to hide?"
"No…w-wait a moment…"
"No more waiting. We're on the beach now."
"Just…no, I-I can't go out like that…"
That's definitely Kamijou…Minato sweat dropped. He knew the poker face girl would never be able to fight against their leader – in the term of strength.
"Come out already, Haruka!"
Haruka gasped as she suddenly lost balance and tripped over to the front. But thankfully, she didn't fall down. This was properly the first time she's being dragged out like that.
"Wow…"
"I can't believe it…"
Everyone stared at her with widened eyes. Matching her hair color perfectly, her swimsuit was in light purple color ribbon bikini – the same type with Hamuko, only with some difference in pattern of the ribbon. Her skin was pale, even paler under the sunlight. To Hamuko, Haruka was TOO striking – striking than her red eyes.
"Haruka-chan, you're beautiful…but your skin is…a bit too pale." Fuuka said with a soft smile.
"Yeah…I agree…hey Junpei, close your mouth up! Your saliva is dropping down!" Yukari almost gave the capped boy a kick on his face.
"S-Sorry! But…take a look at her Yuka-tan! I never thought about this before!" Junpei almost cried out. "It's just like a heaven, baby!"
"Stop that creepy smile, Stupei!" Then, a real kick sent the capped boy to the sea.
Haruka covered her body with her two arms, blushed madly.
"…Hamuko, you should really stay away from Junpei-kun."
Hamuko chuckled. "But you should come out often, right Minato-kun?"
"Why ask me…?" Minato sighed. "Be careful Hamuko, if you continue to sound like Junpei, you'll end up become like him…pervert Hamuko."
"I'm not! I just try to make some jokes!" Hamuko pulled of his earphone and swung it with her finger. "Minato-kun, we're here to have fun, so no earphone, okay?"
"That's my way to have fun."
She smirked. "Oh~? I think you'll need other refreshment, then? Yukari-chan!"
"Roger, leader!" The brunette answered with a mischief smile.
"Hey, what are you-"
His words then turned as a scream as he was pushed into the sea and sank. Water went into his throat, ears and nose as he struggled.
"…Damn."
"Dude…the girls are scary." Junpei tapped his shoulder and he wiped off the water on his face.
They exchanged a glance, both knowing what to do the next. The others laughed at them. They raised a brow, waiting for the chance to get revenge.
"Come on Haruka!" Hamuko pulled the poker face girl along.
"I-I don't know how to swim…"
"It's easy, don't worry!" Yukari also dragged her along. Fuuka followed behind them.
"We're here on our vacation…!" Her cheer turned to be a scream next second as Minato and Junpei grabbed her arms and threw her into the sea. "Waaaahhhh!"
"Serve you right." Minato shove his wet bang to the side, as if a winner.
"Next will be you Yuka-tan" Junpei pointed the brunette who jerked up as Junpei chased her up.
"S-Stop that Stupei!"
"Haruka-chan, wanna go together?" Fuuka gently asked the clearly trembling girl.
"…They make me feel scary." Haruka sweat dropped.
"…It's not like that…hmm?" Feeling someone grabbing their arms, Fuuka and Haruka looked to their side respectively, and found…
"No more escaping, Haruka!" The smirking Hamuko, and…
"…Sorry Yamagishi." And the sorry-looking Minato.
"No…No!"
"Ahhhh!"
The girls cried out of their lungs when Minato and Hamuko pushed them to the sea. Haruka coughed out some water that went into her mouth and nose while Fuuka wiping off the water on her face and hair. Their face turned red seeing Hamuko laughed at them. Nodding to each other as if sharing the mind, in the same time they splashed the water to the laughing auburn haired girl and the dazed cool boy – with full strength.
"Waahhh!" Hamuko nearly jumped up as the water suddenly splashed to her direction, and got hit directly. The cool boy on the other hand, doing nothing, in fact he couldn't do anything, again getting all wet.
"…" His bang was dripping water.
"…It's a paid back." Haruka glared at them.
"I agree with Haruka-chan." Fuuka nodded, trying to hold her laugh.
"Here I have my revenge!" Hamuko and Minato jumped into the sea along with Junpei tagging Yukari.
On the shore, Mitsuru and Akihiko both sat on the bench and watched. Mitsuru had finished putting on the sunscreen and getting a little rest here. Akihiko laughed at his juniors who acted like children.
"Not going to join, Akihiko?" Mitsuru asked.
"How about we go together?"
"Ooiii! Akihiko-senpai and Mitsuru-senpai! What are you waiting for!?" Junpei called them.
"Look, they're calling for us." Mitsuru smiled. "I guess we should go."
"Yeah."
While playing happily, Haruka felt something went different inside her. Something she never felt before. Was this what people called 'living'? If so, she felt it now. She's 'living'.
Water splashing on her face as Hamuko shoved the water to her direction, and she did the same to Hamuko. Junpei was crazy enough and kept splashing water on Yukari and Fuuka, making the two girls couldn't stand him and decided they should paid him back. Minato went back to the shore and rested with earphone on since he managed to snatch it back from Hamuko. Akihiko was doing his so-called training, and Mitsuru barely joined the team but would play with them once in while.
The beach filled with only their laughing voices and cheering. It's so lively and hilarious…Haruka thought. Had she been this happy before? Had she been this 'lively' before?
No, she's never. Hamuko and Minato again painted her life with another kind of color – the color of fun, the color of life.
However, within the happiness, she could feel something – something uncomfortable ran through her skin and spine to her head.
Someone was watching them. Such piercing, such sharp…
She tried her best to suppress the uncomfortable feeling and concentrated her mind on the game – to feel the life, didn't want to bother about it too much, for now.
The mansion had any kind of entertainment you could find or you wanted here. Like karaoke room, video games, spa room, even onsen also could find it here. It's full with whatever you wanted.
After getting back from the beach, everyone went to have a shower and waiting for the dinner to set up. They're still sometime left before the dinner, so Mitsuru decided to pay her father a visit first.
How long they've been sitting down and talk? Her father was always a busy man, and whenever she wanted to talk, he's unavailable. Carrying the business of family always pulling them away, although she knew how much her father loved her. But being not able to talk, she always felt lonely.
Her father had no time to spare for her, even for a little talk.
But still, she wanted to see him, wanted to talk to him. It's just that…no matter how much she wanted to talk to him, she couldn't tell him what she planned to speak to. That's making her felt fidget with herself.
"…Father, is me." She knocked the door, waiting for the respond.
"Come in, Mitsuru." The voice replied.
"It's been a while, father." There's nothing better than to see her father in good health. She smiled to show her relief. "I'm glad that you're in good health."
"…Our guests are residents of the dorm, I presume." Takeharu Kirijo leaned to the sofa and signaling Mitsuru to sit down.
"I'm sorry for bringing such a crowd…" She already knew it's rude to ruin her father's vacation, but then again, this was the only chance she could see him and spend more time with him.
"…It's nothing. But I have one question for you…did you accessed our data base?" He asked in deep voice.
"I…" Mitsuru flustered. She never thought that her father would know it this fast. She planned to get more information about the incident ten years ago after Yukari confronted her few days ago. With Fuuka's help, she managed to gather some useful information. But it's still too less to fully understood it. "Father, I want to know what happened ten years ago…I'm sorry I did it without inform you, but I need to know what happened in that incident in details."
"…I told you, none of the blame is yours, Mitsuru." Takeharu sighed. "You can always ask me if you want to know anything."
Mitsuru lowered her head, said nothing.
Of course she knew it. But it's too difficult to even talk to him, let alone to ask such painful thing – she knew it's a painful sin and memories her father was carried, so she did her best not to remind him anything about the incident. That's why she sought Fuuka's help.
Takeharu remained silence while observed his daughter's expression, knowing what's in her mind. For whatever reason, he knew how much she cared for him, despite they both didn't know how to tell each other the feeling.
"…Where are the others?"
"…They're resting."
"I see. After the dinner, call them all together. I have something to tell them…regarding the incident ten years ago."
"…Father!?" Mitsuru gasped.
"All of them deserve to know the reason the fight. It's my duty to tell them."
"Hey, you know why we're called to gather here?" Junpei said in whisper tone near Minato. The cool boy only replied him with a shrug. It even irritated him when he saw Ikutsuki was with them here.
Hamuko stayed as far as she could from Ikutsuki, as she pulled Haruka with her. All of them gathered in the room included Takeharu Kirijo after the sudden invitation. All of them carried a question look, not knowing for what they're invited here, only few persons knew it.
Haruka stole a glance at Ikutsuki. He wasn't smiling at all, but for some reason, Haruka swore he saw the crooked smile he performed on his face. It's just as if he's looking forward for the result his video would bring, and that brought another feeling inside Haruka's heart.
Low worthless creature…she thought darkly as her eyes narrowed. As expected, the video brought a huge respond from the team, especially from Yukari.
"So that means…my dad caused it all…?" Yukari asked in shaky voice. "So, that's why you're hiding this…?"
"No…Takeba…I…"
"I don't want your pity!" After leaving this, Yukari ran out from the mansion.
The room soaked in awkward. Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to do. Fuuka looked at the direction Yukari ran out, having worried the brunette.
"Hmm…shouldn't somebody go after her…?"
In unison, all of them shifted their gaze to the cool boy who looked almost none of his business. He looked back to them, and raised his brow to the auburn haired girl.
"…What's up?"
"…Go after Yukari, you dumb!"
"…Why me?" He groaned inwardly.
"I'll take care of here, just go!" Hamuko mentally cursed Minato for his dumbness. They all knew, he did hang out with the brunette recently! So who's better than him!?
"Yes…ma'am…" As voluntary, Minato stood up before any of them asked him to. "I'll go."
Hamuko let out a sigh. Shifting her position by sitting straight, she waited for someone to talk first.
"…I'm sorry to have all of you to bear the sin of Kirijo Family, but all I can do is relying on you who have the potential." Takeharu said in low voice.
"Please don't say that Kirijo-san. I'm with you and Mitsuru all the time." Akihiko, being the one already knew some of the incident, nodding firmly to the middle aged man and redhead.
Mitsuru let out a small smile. It assured her at least to have someone backed her up. Fuuka and Junpei exchanged a glance, and broke the silence.
"Count me in, senpai." Junpei scratched his head. "It's only us can do this right!?"
"Yes, Mitsuru-senpai…I'll help out. I want to help everyone, and this never changes since the day I joined."
"…Thank you, Iori and Yamagishi." Mitsuru looked at their leader who remained silence all the time. "What about you, Tsukikage?"
Hamuko looked to the direction of Ikutsuki, sharp and piercing.
"…Stop pretending you know everything!" Yukari shouted back. "You always so calm and cool, like you know everything, but you know nothing about me! Stop trying to make me feel better! You Mr. Perfect!"
Minato only stared at her with expressionless.
"Nothing ever fazes you…stop acting like you have all the answer!" She panted heavily. After letting out all the frustrated on him, she felt much better. However, guilty started to swallow her on the other side.
Minato lifted his head and watched the sky up ahead. Indeed he knew nothing about her. Saying something like 'it's not your fault' or 'it's not rue' was irresponsible. It's just a kind of beautiful words to cover the truth underneath. It's fake. However, we people lived in the world needed that wasn't it?
"I'm not trying to make you feel better or whatever. It's my true feeling that I hope to ease your sadness." He looked at her. "I know the feeling to be alone."
Yukari looked away. "…I'm sorry Arisato-kun. I should have known…you experienced the same as me…yet I still…"
Minato shook his head. "…I know nothing about you in fact. You're right…I shouldn't say those to you."
Yukari pursed her lips about to say something but when she saw his face, nothing could speak out. Why he had to show her that face?
"…Arisato-kun, can you tell me…now I think about it, I know nothing about you too."
"…Likewise. I know nothing about myself." He shrugged. However, his answer earned the brunette a glare.
"That's…impossible!" Yukari thought he was trying to evade the question. "How could you know nothing about yourself!?" Was it some kind joke?
"…What if I tell you…I don't remember anything in my past?"
"…Eh?"
"Hamuko and me…we share the same problem, which we can't remember our past since the day we came to Iwatodai." Minato turned to her. "Maybe you'll think this is an odious joke, so we decided to keep this as secret and pretend nothing."
"…You two…are enduring this all the times…?" Yukari could never imagine the cheerful Hamuko had this kind of pain in her. The fear of not remembering everything…started up new life in such circumstances…Hamuko, she didn't look like that at all.
"…So don't lose hope that early, Yukari."
"You mean…I should continue to believe in my father? But…"
"…Yukari, I don't trust that video in fact."
Yukari stared at him in widened eyes. "But…you mean senpai and her father was…lying?"
"No…not them."
"I'm sorry senpai, but first of all, I have a question." Hamuko looked at Ikutsuki. "From where you got this video, Ikutsuki-san?" She could see Mitsuru widened her eyes in question, but she ignored it.
"It's from the record of the Kirijo data base. He seemed to save it from avoiding it to lose."
"…Let me ask this straight…is this original record?"
Someone gasped in surprised. Hamuko could only guess by the voice which she believed it's from Fuuka. She stared sharply at Ikutsuki, waiting for the answer.
"Of course it's original. It's directly downloaded from the data base." Ikutsuki smiled, face darkened.
Hamuko twisted her brows. "…I'm sorry to say this, but I don't believe it. I don't believe the Dark Hour will go after defeating the twelve shadows."
"What…?" Junpei opened up his mouth in O shape.
"Why did you say that?" Akihiko asked her back.
Haruka watched Hamuko lowered her head, knowing she wouldn't be able to answer. After all, no one knew the answer.
She wanted to know too…how to erase Dark Hour and her existence without scarification? If so…then Minato-kun and Hamuko could have a better life…
"I don't know. I just have a feeling that…something worst will happen after defeating all of them. I…just couldn't help."
Ikutsuki's face obviously changed upon hearing that, but he quickly brushed it off and acted like usual.
"…Then, what do you want?" Mitsuru finally asked. "We'll still make it as our priority. If you're not agreeing us…"
"We'll still fight, senpai." The door opened and revealed Minato and Yukari. "We have our reason to defeat twelve shadows, after all. For now, we'll stick with you."
Hamuko nodded. "Yes…I'm sorry Mitsuru-senpai. But I think it'll be better to let you know our thoughts."
"It's alright, Tsukikage. I'm glad you're still with us." Mitsuru sighed.
"Me too. I'll still believe in my father, no matter what." Yukari declared.
Fuuka let out a sigh, glad that SEES still maintained in good shape.
"Then everyone, let's do our best."
"Hey, stop that long face alright?" Junpei rubbed his nose, grabbing Minato on shoulder.
Haruka watched this, neither agreed nor disagreed. To someone without the power of persona, her intention was not important. Eventually her attention was drawn to Ikutsuki who remained silence. She narrowed her eyes, knowing full well what's in his mind.
Ikutsuki stood up and excused himself. Haruka followed behind. Following him to the front of a lab, she stopped immediately.
"…What's that all about?" Inserting the code into the monitor, he asked in low voice.
"…" Haruka watched the door slid opened. "…Don't even dare to do something on her…or Minato-kun."
"You care about them, aren't you?" He narrowed his eyes. "They're dangerous. They'll be our hindrance somehow. Why not take them down before they did?"
"…The team has grown to attach to their power. Without the power of Wild Card, it's impossible to fight the twelve shadows."
The door closed back after some time. Ikutsuki adjusted his spectacle while leaning on the wall.
"…What else you're hiding?"
"…I told you what you need to know. The rest is none of your business." She replied coldly. "I warn you again…don't even dare to touch them. Or else I'll kill you."
Ikutsuki glared at her and watched her walked away. He cursed and inserting the code into the monitor again. Looking at the 'thing' in front of him, he raised a smile – a rather vicious smile.
…w..k…p…
Pl…wa…u…!
"Hmm…"
"Please…can you hear me?" A soft voice sounded beside her ear. Hamuko rubbed her eyes, having a hard time to recognize the voice.
"Who…?"
"It's me Pharos. Good to see you again."
Hamuko furrowed her brows. "Pharos? What do you want at this time?"
"Your friend's in danger. Don't you want to help her?" His face showed a hint of fluster which surprised Hamuko.
"Who's in danger…?"
Bang!
A loud bang jerked her up, almost causing her to fall down from the bed.
"W-What's that!?"
No more time to think about it, she ran outside of the room and checked it out. When she passed by Haruka's room, to her surprise, she couldn't find the poker face girl inside.
"Haruka…?"
"Hamuko! What had happened!?' Minato and the others also gathered around.
"I don't know…I heard the loud bang and when I was out, I couldn't find Haruka!" She looked around hoping to find any hint. As she searched through the room, she smelled ironic and…she seemed to step on something.
A bad feeling rose up. As if to reassure her fear, someone turned on the light and –
Under her feet was red liquid – the blood.
Immediately the team was alarmed.
"Haruka!"
Onsen is hot spring, in case someone doesn't know.