Chapter 9
Minato's Sick Day
Minato cursed himself for his stupidity and lack of judgment. Finals were approaching and he planned that SEES would dedicate themselves to studying. (Except Junpei, of course.) That meant no Tartarus for a whole week. For a week, every night was filled with Tartarus. Minato wanted to pull the team to the next barrier before finals, but they couldn't make it. Everyone was ready when they first started, but now on the day before reviews began, everyone was sick and tired. Minato cursed himself for the stupid idea of making his team tired the week before finals. They wouldn't have the energy to study because it was all wasted on fighting Shadows and climbing the bloodstained floors of Tartarus.
Minato was just as fatigued as the others. It was starting to get colder outside as well. He figured that he as coming down with a cold. He shuddered at the thought of having to go down to the nurse's office for that mystery potion. He shut his eyes. It was review week, but Minato didn't have the strength or the will to stay awake. Hopefully, Yukari was taking good notes because he would have to copy hers down later…
(- -)
-December 7, 2006, Thursday
Adachi Middle School, Class 8-C
After School
As Yukari was packing up her books, she stared at the empty seat behind her. He wasn't here again today. She sighed aloud without even thinking. This caused Junpei to raise his head and look at her.
"What's wrong?" He asked. He looked at where she was staring and a smirk passed his lips. "Missing your boyfriend, huh, Yuka-tan?"
She turned on him sharply and snapped, "Shut up! I told you before, Stupei! Minato and I are just friends!"
Junpei made a small, quick cough and in a low tone he muttered, "Wait two more years and try to say that again."
"What?"
"Nothing." He said quickly, noting the slight blush on her cheeks.
Yukari sighed again and said, "It's not like him to be absent from school for such a long time. He rarely missed school when we were younger. He had perfect attendance when we were in the third grade!"
Junpei pretended to yawn and in an apathetic tone, he said, "Oh, fantastic." He pointed to his right. "Instead of wondering where Minato is, why don't you ask his little sister? Her school is just down the road."
She grabbed her bag and started for the classroom door. "I think I'll do that." Junpei hastily grabbed his belongings and went after her.
"Oh, what a doting girlfriend you are!" Junpei called after her.
"I said shut up!" Yukari screamed. She whirled around, smacking Junpei in the face with her bag.
"Ow!"
(- -)
-December 7, 2006, Thursday
Courtyard of Minako's school
After School
"Huh? My brother?" Minako asked. "Oh, he's sick with a cold!"
"A cold?" Yukari asked.
"Yes, Yuka-tan. Minato has a cold." Junpei interjected. "Weren't you listening? Mina-tan just said it."
The girl glared at Junpei, but turned back to Minako, bringing herself down to eye level with Minato's sister. Junpei caught Minako's eye and mouthed, "She's crazy for your brother." He followed it with two thumbs up and a grin. The small girl didn't laugh, but she smirked slightly as she returned her attention to Yukari.
"Minako, I thought that Minato wouldn't miss school even if it was for a small cold." Yukari replied. "It's a week before finals as well. He never misses a day of review."
"But it was really bad this time! Ironically, he caught the cold because of his constant studying."
"What?"
Minako's face lightened up though as if she just got a brilliant idea. "I'll tell you more if you treat me to takoyaki or Wild Duck Burger!" she said.
"Wha-? Minako, you thief! You can leech of your brother, but why me, too?"
Junpei moved closer to Yukari and whispered conspicuously, "Get her takoyaki – it's cheaper!"
The small girl placed her hands on her hips and said, "I can hear you."
"That was the whole point, Mina-tan."
Yukari let out an impatient sigh and stamped her foot. "Fine, let's go get some takoyaki." She turned her heel, walking away swiftly.
"Yay!" Minako ran after Yukari and Junpei followed after, not wanting to be left behind.
(- -)
-December 7, 2006, Thursday
Iwatodai Strip Mall
After School
Arriving at the takoyaki stand at the Iwatodai Strip Mall, Yukari bought three – one for Minako, one for Junpei, and one for her. Yukari immediately regretted her decision to buy one for herself. She never really could finish all of it by herself, and whenever she went to buy takoyaki, Minato was always with her to finish what she couldn't eat.
Minako looked up at Yukari and spotted her frown. Her eyes twinkled with a mischievous flair and she said, "If you can't finish it, then I will take it home to my brother for you."
"What?" Junpei didn't look up from his plate, but he smirked. Minako's lips nearly revealed a smirk, but she turned it into an innocent smile. The older girl brushed off their smiles, the blush on her cheeks, and said, "Okay, so else did you want to tell us?"
"Oh, right. So anyway, I said before that my brother got sick when he was studying." Minako explained. "He said that his grades didn't look good to him, and he wanted to raise them up. He continued to ignore it and it got worse, almost to the point where he had gotten a fever and couldn't hear much in his left ear. Mom saw how bad it was getting and she kept him home."
"What an idiot." Junpei muttered. "He's already one of the top students in the class!"
Minako waved her hand and stuffed another takoyaki in her mouth. "It's for Gekkoukan." She replied while chewing. Yukari scolded her for talking with her mouth full. The small girl ignored the scolding and continued, "Minato wants to become the top student in the class. If Minato is the top student when he graduates next year, he will get a free scholarship to Gekkoukan."
"Provided by the Kirijo group, right?" Junpei asked. Minako and Yukari nodded.
"It's his dream to enter that school," Yukari replied, "and Gekkoukan only accepts those with talent and brains."
"Honestly…Minato is such an idiot…"
(- -)
-December 9, 2006, Saturday
Arisato Residence
After School
"Oh, welcome, Yukari and Junpei." Mrs. Arisato greeted as she opened the door. Mrs. Arisato is about four months pregnant now, both kids thought when they saw her. She was starting her third trimester, and the bump on her stomach was starting to get a lot more visible. For a mother who was working as a receptionist in a hotel (run by Kirijo), running a fourteen and seven-year-old around the house, pregnant, no doubt keeping her husband in check, cleaning the house, and cooking not only her family but also for three orphans, Yukari wondered how Mrs. Arisato could still look so cheerful.
"Come in out of the cold now." Minato's mother urged, pulling Yukari and Junpei inside. "It always gets so cold here in the city, but it doesn't snow. It's so disappointing." She noticed both of them were shivering slightly and said, "Would you both like something hot to eat?" She strode into the kitchen, and opened up one of the pots. A spicy smell rose into the air along with the steam stinging their olfactory senses.
"Mrs. Arisato, what did you make?" Junpei asked.
"Oh, this is Chili con carne! One of the cooks at the hotel had the recipe for it so he lent it to me when I asked!" Mrs. Arisato answered. "I cooked it the original Texas style, but I'm not sure if it turned out well. I made some for Minato as well. Hopefully, he'll feel better if he ate some."
"Oh." Yukari stepped forward, clutching a plastic container close to her body. "Speaking of Minato, I made him some chicken noodle soup."
Mrs. Arisato smiled softly. "You're so sweet, Yukari! I'm sure Minato will be grateful for the thought." Yukari blushed a little, and his mom's smile widened a little. She saw the blush and immediately suspected what was going on. She took the container from Yukari's hands and said, "I'll warm this up and have you take to Minato yourself."
"Yes, ma'am." Mrs. Arisato opened the container and poured its contents into a bowl and stuck it in the microwave. "How is Minato doing?"
"Still sick. He would get better if he would stop pushing himself to study." She answered. "I had to pry his computer from his hands, but no doubt, he picked it up again when I left the room."
"Sounds like something he would do." Junpei commented. He stared at the chili hungrily.
Mrs. Arisato noticed Junpei's stares and asked, "Junpei, dear, would you like to try the chili?"
"I, uh..."
Without waiting to hear the answer, Mrs. Arisato pulled out another bowl, scooped some of the chili into it, and pushed it towards Junpei with a spoon. "Consider this as your lunch."
"You are the best, Mrs. Arisato!" Junpei picked up the bowl and sat down at the table.
"Would like a bowl as well, Yukari?"
"Oh, no, I don't want to impose."
"Nonsense!" The mom forced Yukari to sit down next to Junpei and laid a bowl of chili in front of her. "I made a lot, so there is plenty for Minato, when Minako and my husband get home, enough to appease my baby and me, for dinner tonight, and for the Sanada kids and Shinjiro. Speaking of which…" She opened a cabinet and withdrew a plastic container and started filling it up.
"Shinjiro would probably be interested in the recipe so you should give that to him as well." Junpei replied as he munched on the chili. It was quite delicious. It was quite thick and the spices were strong. Both Junpei and Yukari were careful not to breathe in the smell directly so they would not be overwhelmed with the spices.
"Good idea." A few minutes later, Mrs. Arisato laid a tray on the table in front of Yukari. On it was the bowl of chicken noodle soup Yukari had made. "After you finish eating, you may take that to my son upstairs. And if he is at his computer again, tear it away and make him rest."
After finishing the delicious chili, Yukari took the tray upstairs with Junpei following behind her. They opened the door at the end of the hallway on the right side. Minato's room was always tidy, but today, it was unusually messy. Textbooks and papers were strewn about the room, littering the floor and his desk. Minato lay on his back on his bed, his upper body propped up by several pillows. On his stomach was his computer.
Minato turned his head to see his two friends in the doorway. "Hey…" he said tiredly.
"Minato, you are sick." Yukari said cautiously.
"I know."
"You should rest."
"I have no time for rest."
"Junpei, take the computer." Yukari ordered.
Junpei stepped forward and after expressing an apology, he pulled away Minato's laptop. Minato didn't have enough energy to fight back and he watched his computer slip through his fingers. Junpei shut it and laid it on Minato's desk. Yukari sat down next to Minato with the tray. She began feeding the sick boy the soup.
"You're an idiot, Minato." She said in a quiet voice.
"So my sister and my mom tell me." He shot back with a small smile.
Junpei scoffed. "You're an idiot. There, that makes four." He said bluntly.
"Much appreciated, Junpei."
About an hour of spending time with Minato, Mrs. Arisato later came in with a plate of freshly baked cookies. Junpei was just about ready to ask her to be his mom instead. After giving them the cookies, Mrs. Arisato took this as an opportunity to begin gathering the books and papers strewn around the room. She shoved them all, including Minato's computer into a chest and locked it up. Her son watched helplessly while she largely ignored his requests.
"I know all the parents in the city are nagging their children to study for finals this week, but I shall be different this time." She replied. "Minato, I'm begging you not to study and just rest so you may get well. What good is it for you to study and die before you even take the test?"
Yukari grinned and asked, "What will you do with the chest, Mrs. Arisato?"
"I'll let Minako handle it until after finals are over. That girl is has always been a light sleeper and she pays attention to detail."
She's got that right, Minato thought.
"Junpei, could you please carry this downstairs?"
"Sure."
Junpei picked up the chest and followed Mrs. Arisato out of the room. Yukari turned back to Minato and said, "You really should get some rest."
"Fine, I will, but only because my mom took all of my study materials." He said. "By the way, that soup was delicious. Reminds me of the last time I got sick."
Yukari scoffed and then sighed. "I remember. I kept messing the soup up."
"Really? It tasted fine to me."
"I was five! I didn't know how to cook then!" The girl laughed. "I messed up so many times, and left a mess in the kitchen. I didn't get it right until my mom helped me."
Minato rose from his pillows a little, moving slightly closer towards Yukari. The girl almost thought he was going to make a move on her until Minato said quietly, "Hey, Yukari. Let me borrow your textbooks."
She smirked slightly, pushing him back into his pillows. "Nice try, but no."
"I'll fail the finals if I don't study."
"Junpei will fail if he doesn't study.You will die if you do study." Yukari pulled away and was almost out of the door when she turned back and ordered Minato to stay in bed and sleep.
(- -)
-December 18, 2006, Monday
Adachi Middle School, Class 8-C
Lunchtime
The classroom door opened up and a student rushed inside announcing, "The test results are posted up now!" The student retreated back into the hall to pass the word on to everyone.
Yukari turned around in her chair and asked, "Should we go take a look?"
Junpei groaned, muttering something about "already knowing what he got on his exams." Minato agreed and began dragging Junpei with him as they all headed for the faculty office. Other students were rushing there, and without a doubt there would be a large crowd. In front of the office, students crowded around to find their grades. The three friends fought their way to the front for a plain view of the results.
Junpei pointed at his name and yelled, "I can't believe it! I got an average score!"
"Congratulations, Junpei! That's your best test score yet!" Yukari congratulated happily. "I can't believe you actually studied."
He puffed out his chest. "Yeah, well." He looked back onto the board and pointed at Yukari's score. "As always, you get above average, Yuka-tan."
Minato pointed at his name past his two friends. He silently stared at his grade and in a low voice, he said, "I didn't get the top score."
"Huh?"
"I'm in second place."
"Oh, I'm sorry Minato."
"Tough luck, dude. Maybe next time you'll be the top of the class. Hey! Look on the bright side! You moved up two ranks!" Junpei replied, slapping his friend on the back.
Minato's face cracked into a grin. "Yeah, you're right. There is always a next time. So where should we go after school?"
"We're doing something after school?" Yukari asked.
The three began heading back to their classroom so they could eat lunch and get on with the day. As they ascended the stairs to the third floor, Minato answered Yukari's question by saying, "Well, we have to celebrate Junpei and his highest score yet."
"Aw, you guys are making me blush!"
"Minato's right! We have to celebrate Junpei studying for once! I'm sure Minako, Miki, her brother, and Shinjiro would agree!"
"In celebration for my awesome grade, we should hit Club Mandragora tonight!"
"Shinjiro would kick your ass over that." Minato pointed out.
"It's always ramen with him." Yukari added.
Their conversation continued until classes started up again.
(- -)
Minato stirred when he felt a warm hand on his forehead. He looked up to see Yukari and Fuuka's faces hovering above him.
"Wow, you were completely out of it, Minato." Fuuka commented. "Is he always like this?"
"Yep. Junpei as well." Yukari commented, jerking her head towards the seat next to Minato's. Minato turned and saw his friend still sleeping. He was drooling a little as well. "You know, Minato, if you're sick, you should pay a visit to the nurse."
"I was thinking about that, but I don't want to try the "medicine" Mr. Edogawa has." The boy answered.
"Then you should just go back to the dorm early and sleep."
"Sleep, huh? It's not the first time I've heard that remedy before. It sounds like my dream all over again." Minato muttered. Both girls asked if he said something to which he denied. Junpei was prodded awake and the four of them went downstairs to buy their lunch.
Honestly, Minato didn't have enough strength to be scolded for not paying attention to his again. He just experienced it in his dream (or alternate universe? Minato didn't know what to call it anymore.). He knew what he was going to do tonight: sleep early.
MY. FINALS. ARE. OVER. :D I consider this chapter to be a double irony now. When I first started the chapter, I was sick, very much like Minato. As I close up this chapter, I was just finishing up my own finals. Thank goodness they are over. More Minato x Yukari fluff here. Honestly, I wasn't planning on it, but it just came out as I was writing. For the ending, I was thinking of having Minato's goal being achieved and becoming the top of the class, but I decided against it. Minato can't always get his way now, can he? I found it more realistic if he came close. And Junpei getting an average score on his exams! That was the grade that he got on his December exams in the game, so maybe he needs some achievement. :D
I'm not quite sure what the next chapter will be. I'll figure it out later. I thank you for the reviews left, and I also thank you for reading! It makes me happy when people read and enjoy my stories.