8.

He had moved from this town for more than three years; in favor of pursuing academics. But there was a part in Akihiko's sub-conscious that always said it is wrong to leave it. Miki died here for thirteen years ago. Shinji willingly followed her three years ago. The most painful was the passing of his light after Shinji's death; the SEES's light.

Akihiko was not adaptable person. In fact, he was terrible at it. For years, he mourned Miki. For months, Shinji was something he always blames himself for. Until this precise second, he always thought if he did his job better their leader would not gone.

But the grey-haired man knew it is futile to continue thinking over it. Not that, he wanted to stop. He at least decided to carry the guilt all his life. Mitsuru would 'execute' him if she found out though.

The girl magnet allowed him a chuckle. His best friend was the only thing that glued him after Minako (hell, he can say her name) closed her eyes for the last time. The heartbreak was greater than he ever felt. His two precious persons were gone that year. Pardon him for breaking down.

Even now, three years going to four, he still felt like a shell of a man he has been before. His easy confidence, his ambition to keep fighting and protecting, his laidback charm; all of it was gone. Sometimes he pitied himself when he was not depressive about the death around him. He kind of wanted to go back to be that naïve senior who had all the respect and dreams.

Akihiko walked down the road he used to take to get back to the dorm. Every two weeks, he headed here just for visiting the only member who still living in that particular building. He was sure Ken was getting fed up from his routine visit (But, Ken was in that age where he loathed everything around him, too).

The ex-boxer champion tried not to be so nostalgic when he went through the front door. Ken was already there, sitting in his usual spot while facing the television. He flicked through the channel mindlessly, like he already thought there's nothing worth his attention.

"Hey." Akihiko didn't put much effort at the greeting. He sat down at another couch and put the take-out he bought at the table.

"Hn." Ken just continued frowning and picking the channel. He glanced at the food the older man bought. "What is it?"

"Some Chinese." Akihiko picked up his chopstick. Suddenly he felt ravenous, now that he was finally home.

Ken didn't give any comment. He kept flicking until he gave up and changed it to a music channel. With a man who liked silence more in this past three years, any noise was better than nothing. The current lady killer then walked to the kitchen to grab a plate for them and feed the resident dog.

"Koromaru!" Ken didn't have to wait long. His company was always present when he was home. The dog barked happily looking at his dinner. He licked Ken's hand for thanking him. "Great, now I must wash my hand."

Akihiko and Koromaru knew Ken actually like the affection.

Ken sat down in front of Akihiko to dig at his food. Silence followed them as they were getting busy with chewing and chomping. The grey-haired man spent this time to observe his younger part.

"How's school?" He asked after sometime.

"Fine." Ken was getting bored of this particular question his senpai would ask everytime he visit. "I am the top student." And you already know it, Ken thought.

"Mitsuru will be proud." Commented the boxer.

Ken ducked his head to hide the evidence of his blush. His adoration to the strict woman was an open secret. He was quite annoyed at the man for meeting the ice queen more often than Ken does. At least, he was often brought thing or passed the message from Mitsuru. But still, it made him annoyed.

"I'm done. " Ken really was. "I'm gonna head back to my room and study. Tell me when you decide to leave."

It was rude. But this was not the shortest time he bailed from the man. He really had to study for the exam next week and he had some homework. The real reason was Ken didn't want to linger around when Akihiko decide to visit her room again. The only room in the dorm didn't have any occupant every year. The room Ken had not visit yet, even after three years.

"Yeah, you do that. Good work." And the man was already spacing out before Ken left him.

Ken hated to be that depressed again.

9.

Minako was thanking every deity up there for their guidance that leading her to choose oil painting as her major. It was fun and she already knew how to do this. Her imagination and skills made her become one of favorite students. It was reassuring the girl who remembered nothing has found her place in this world.

If she was not doing some basic exercises and just painting for heck of it, she still often drew humanoid figures. Minako had her own tone, too; deep blue, midnight purple, and black in a grayish background had become her preference. She did not know why she imagines it. Theo said it was connected to her past that he reluctant to share.

"When it's time, you will remember."

The dick had audacity to say that. What if she never remembered a single thing? She quite wanted to meet with her friends from the past. And no one, she repeated, no one contacted her for a full year after she woke up. Was she a loner before or Theo was really kidnapping her?

"If your memories continue to be lost, I still be here and you also already have a new start."

His answer reassured her and made her thinking Theo was a total flirt. If she was any girl, she would totally fell for him for hearing that. Thankfully, those sentences only calmed her and made her throw something at him.

"Arisato-san, come here for a second!"

Minako quickly looked up to see one of her sensei calling her from inside a studio. The female sensei she was comfortable with, thanks god!, and not one of her perverted sensei. She gladly invited herself to the room.

"What can I help you?" Hopefully something interesting and required her responsibility, not just carrying message to another teacher.

Her sensei was a woman in her thirty who dressed in black shirt and yoga pants for flexibility. She didn't put any makeup but a red lipstick. Her hair was always put in a messy bun. Minako liked her for not giving a fuck for not dressing pleasantly for male's eyes. She couldn't do that. She cared about fashion.

"I am sure you know that the first years are required to participate in a showcase. Since I found that you do not have any difficulty learning this semester's material, would you mind helping me and a few other students to set up the showcase? You could decline if you are not up to it." Her sensei was able to say that without taking extra breath. It must be her experience in lecturing showed up.

Minako thought it for a while. She didn't have to, she already accepted it the moment she heard it. Something had nudged to search for more activities at the campus. She liked being busy. But she was reluctant to do so, because she had less time to spend around Theo. But this time, it was an order from her sensei, she will have to accept.

"I will be glad to assist." Minako tried to say it solemnly like Theo did all the time. That man was born in the wrong century. "Please inform me the time of meeting and such."

Her sensei seemed amused watching her act so suave. "Right. Just write down your phone number and mail here. I'll contact you later."

Minako who was giddy at the job she recently accepts, did just that. She continued to mimic Theo on her way out. "Then, I shall take my leave."

She bowed to her sensei like gentleman before finally giggled and waved at her sensei. "Bye sensei! Thank you for the opportunity!"

Her sensei just quirked a smile while watching one of the weirdest new student this year.

10.

The boss-woman was moving back and forth their specialized jet-plane. A long fur coat put over her tight black cat suit. Red hair was flowing menacingly as she moved impatiently. The clicking noise, which was coming from her boots, made almost all living being in the room nervous. A pair of calm and indifferent eyes observed the tense woman movement.

Kirijo Mitsuru grew weary of walking back and forth. She grumpily sat beside the owner of the indifferent eyes. She bit her thumb so she held back from shouting at all her coworker. A minute and two was her limit though.

"Why the hell he hasn't check in?!" Her shout was an effective device to make her employee work harder. A guy in front of computer with tracking device yelped like a girl before furiously typing or doing something with the computer.

In twenty years she lived, Mitsuru only allowed herself to curse when Akihiko's stupidity overwhelm her. The moment was indeed plenty; more if it related to fighting. She began to questioning her decision to recruit her best friend in her Anti-Shadow organization. But the guy was an irreplaceable asset.

"Why couldn't you track him already?!" The heiress once again yelled at the poor man in front of monitor. The man was shaking in fear.

"Um, uh, we couldn't." The glare he got for the answer made him reaching for the needed oxygen. "I, I mean, he, uh, the building he got in is surrounded by green light and maybe it's the shadows power blocking us. We haven't stumbled toward anything like this. So, it probably will be a while before we could track Sanada-san and his crew."

Mitsuru gave the man her coldest stare. "Work faster! He might be in need our help for all we know."

Before the furious leader could spew another hateful word, a hand poked her shoulder. Mitsuru stopped her tirade when she recognized the cold touch. The artificial eyes were staring at her.

"I am going in." She stated in not-so monotone voice.

"Aigis," Mitsuru moved her mouth to say something. She couldn't. "Be cautious. The shadows there are unlike everything we ever met. First and foremost, find Akihiko and get out. We'll dispatch another team to destroy it after we get your observation."

The anti-shadow suppression weapon nodded. She loaded more ammunition for her armed gun. Mitsuru handed her mission backpack.

"We'll give you two hour at the most to get out. Try to contact us. If we don't receive any communication, I'm calling Fuuka." The boss said her piece.

"Affirmative." The robot focused was already out there. She stepped out their fancy transportation to face her nemesis, the shadows.

Mitsuru worriedly watched her company invention walked out. She believed in her but the fear of losing her is always etched deep in her heart. Not only that, Akihiko was already out there, trapped in the shadow-infested building.

"Aigis," She called her desperately. The human like figure turned to face her. "Don't die."