Thank you to everyone that's read, favorited, commented, and followed this story! Every one of them has really meant a lot to me.
Here's chapter two of Open Doors: Introductions
"You're Minako?"
She didn't know what they had envisioned, but it seemed no one in the room expected Minato's twin to be the auburn-haired girl sitting before them.
"Yeah. It's nice to meet you all," the girl smiled at the crowd of people before turning back at the door and spotting Fujikage waiting patiently at the door. "Um, would you guys mind if I..." she pointed back at the man and an older girl with dark red hair smiled at her.
"Not at all, Miss Arisato. Just take your time."
Minako couldn't help but admire the striking elegance of this girl. She looked poised and graceful just sitting on her brother's crowded couch. "Thank you. I'll be back in a jiffy."
She got up and moved past Aragaki to get to her destination.
When she reached the bleach blonde he was smiling. "How much do I owe you Fujikage?"
He held his hands up, "You don't owe me a dime, Arisato. Your brother already paid me."
Her eyebrows shot up. "Really?"
He nodded. "Yup. We're square."
Still the girl fumbled for her wallet. "At least let me give you a tip. I know I wasn't the easiest person to deal with today—"
"Look," he began, cutting the girl off. "Just take this and we'll call it even." He held up a business card and placed it in Minako's hand.
"'Fujikage Aito..?'" she read.
"That'd be me," he smiled. "You can buy me a coffee or something sometime." He offered the girl a mock salute before quickly turning around and dashing out the door. "Later, Minako!"
The girl scrambled after him, but by the time she'd looked down the hall the only sign of him was the hum of the elevator running. Sighing, the girl took a look at the card once more, noting a scribbled phone number and email.
A blue head poked out of the doorway and into the hallway. "Minako, do you want to put your stuff away first or meet everyone?"
"Oh! Minato!" Minako covered the paper on reflex. "Hey! Um...we could do introductions first? I don't really think your friends would want to wait around for me to unpack everything."
Her twin shook her head seriously and smiled. "No, no, it's fine Minako! You can take all the time you want—"
A man with sporting a blue baseball cap and goatee came behind her brother and clapped a hand over his mouth. "Ignore your brother, Mina-tan, some people need to leave soon."
Minako's eyes lit up at the appearance of a familiar face. "Junpei!" she laughed, moving forward to embrace him.
"Hey Mina-tan," he chuckled, leaving her brother in favor of the hug. The gesture was familiar and warm.
When they drew apart she gripped his arm and gave him a smile. "Have you gotten stronger?"
Junpei smirked right back. "Glad my hard work didn't go to waste. Now I just need to impress an actual girl—Ow!"
Minako pinched his forearm. "What do you mean, an 'actual girl,' Mr. Iori."
"Nothing, nothing!" he pleaded until Minako relented.
"How long are you staying for this time?" Junpei whined as he pulled her back into the apartment.
"Forever," she smirked, "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Iori."
"Lord help me," he sighed as they rejoined everyone in the sitting room.
A girl with light brown hair and brown eyes cocked her head. "You two seem close," she noted.
Minako's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, sorry for not properly introducing myself. Like my brother said, my name's Minako and I'm going to be transferring in for the remainder of my schooling. I know this idiot," she pointed at Junpei, "because I visited my brother sometime last year and helped him practice some baseball when my brother was feeling too lethargic."
She looked back to the girl who had spoken. "I'm sorry that I didn't get the chance to meet all of you too."
The girl waved her off and smiled. "That's all right Arisato, I can't really put any blame on you when you've got Stupei hanging around you."
"Hey!" Junpei pouted, looking between the two of them. "Be gentle will you? Now I'll have the both of you on my back all the time. Stress is bad for my health, you know."
Minako laughed at her friend and the other girl just sighed and smiled before turning back to Minako. "I'm Yukari Takeba by the way. It's nice to meet you. I live downstairs if you ever need me." She nudged a thin girl with short teal hair beside her. "You're next."
The girl looked startled for a moment before meeting Minako's eyes and smiling. "I'm Fuuka Yamaguchi, a second year. I live with Yukari, so the same applies to me."
"Thanks!" Minako grinned. It'd be nice to have some girls in the building she could talk to.
Next came the elegant girl. "My name's Mitsuru Kirijo," she smiled.
"Wait. 'Kirijo?'" Minako echoed. "As in, the Kirijo's who basically own Tatsumi Port Island."
Mitsuru chuckled at the younger girl's reaction. "That would be my name. My father is the head of the company. I live upstairs and you're welcome anytime."
"T-Thank you," the girl stuttered. "It'd be wonderful to spend some time with you."
Mitsuru brushed back some of her curly red hair. "Same to you," she smiled before looking to the silver-haired man sitting beside her.
He smiled warmly and Minako returned the gesture. "I'm Akihiko Sanada, a third year. I live upstairs like Mitsuru. It's nice to finally meet you."
Minako gave the crowd a quizzical stare as they all laughed. "'Finally..?'" she asked.
"Minato could barely get through a conversation without getting super excited over your imminent arrival," Junpei poked Minato in the side and a pink blush dusted his cheeks.
"I wasn't 'super' excited," he muttered.
"Minato, man, you barely speak. Don't tell me you weren't super excited for Minako to get here."
He opened and closed his mouth a few times before getting up and walking into the kitchen. "I'm thirsty," he defended before retreating into the other room.
Junpei broke out into laughter and the others either followed or smiled at the ridiculous pair.
After the laughter died down, Minato peeped back into the room. "If any of you are finished, I have some old board games we can play."
Minako looked around the room at everyone, smiling. "I'm game if you guys are."
The rest of the group threw in nods or remarks of approval and Minato carried over a large box.
"Is that..." Akihiko began, "Monopoly?"
While half of the room sighed or groaned at the long game, Junpei rushed to Minato's side in a rush to begin.
"I don't know what the rest of you guys are jabbering about, but I know I can't wait to kick your sorry butts."
Evidently those were the wrong words to say in this group of people.
"Heh," Yukari first responded with a confident look and a chuckle. "I'm going to beat you after all, so why not?"
Mitsuru glanced at her watch, "My internship doesn't begin until later tonight, so I can play. Are you okay with staying?"
Fuuka and Akihiko nodded and Minato smiled, turning back to Junpei.
"I hope you're ready to eat your words from earlier," he laughed sinisterly.
Minako laughed at her twin's actions. It didn't seem like he was going to let Junpei's remark go anytime soon.
Everyone moved to the small coffee table to pick out their pieces and Minako quizzed herself on their names. Yukari, Fuuka, Mitsuru, Aki...Akihiko, and…
Her eyes caught on the movement of a figure retreating to the apartment's exit.
Shinjiro.
Minako had followed him on impulse. She wasn't even sure if anyone had noticed her leaving, but here she was, a few feet away and facing his back.
Her mind raced as she tried to conjure something to say until he decided to break the silence.
"Did you need something?" Shinjiro turned around to face the girl.
The girl's eyes widened. "No...not really," she admitted sheepishly. "I just thought it'd be nice to walk you downstairs."
The elevator doors opened behind him and he gave her a measured look before walking in.
Another moment passed.
"Well?" he asked, his voice gruff. "Are you coming?"
"R—Right!" she darted into the elevator, taking the place across from him.
Pressing the lobby button the two stood in silence before Minako plucked up the courage to speak.
"So," she began, eyeing the tall upperclassman. "What's your deal?"
"Excuse me?" he replied.
Nice one, Minako.
"You almost skipped out on the party today." She laughed nervously. "Trust me, I was there."
He met the girl's eyes for a few moments as if measuring her will to continue this.
After a few tense moments he sighed. "It's hot and I have a job to get to."
"...Right."
"So, how did you enjoy what Minato put together? I know if you were planning on staying longer he was going to order something for everyone to eat..."
There he was with that stare again. It didn't look disinterested, but tough and direct. It was almost intimidating.
Well it's a good thing she was up for a challenge.
Minako cleared her throat. "Regardless I hope you enjoyed yourself."
"It was all right," he replied before smirking. "Not as bad as I imagined it to be."
"The party?" Minako couldn't help but asking. "Or me?"
"You weren't half bad," he smiled again and Minako couldn't help but revel in her small success.
"You're kidding me. What lies have Junpei spawned?"
He didn't laugh, but simply shrugged. "Nothing really."
Another silence passed, but this time the elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open.
"See ya, Minako," he nodded before exiting the room.
Her mind ran a thousand miles a minute and before she knew it, she had taken a step forward. "Shinjiro!" she called.
He turned her way, a brow raised. "Yeah?"
"Do you want to come over later and help me unpack?" she asked.
"You want me to come over and help you unpack your stuff?" he repeated and her heart dropped.
She just asked him to help her with a chore hadn't she?
"If you don't want to that's fine, but if you do Minato mentioned that he had some furniture left to assemble and he told me you fixed up the room, so—"
"I'll do it, but you'll owe me." Shinjiro turned back around and started towards the door.
"...What?" the girl repeated, not quite believing her ears.
"I'll see you around 8 tonight. I'd rather not have you scratch up all the painting I just did." He paused a moment before continuing. "Besides, everyone around here has a pretty busy schedule. It'd be easier if I did it."
Aragaki turned back around and opened the front door.
"T—thank you!" Minako called out to him, and he raised his hand up in acknowledgement before the door shut behind him.
Minako backed into the elevator and hit the button for the third floor.
It wouldn't be wrong to say she cheered for herself behind the closed elevator doors.
If she could become friends with Shinjiro of all people, then she might not have such a rough time here after all.
"Fucking..." the brunette muttered as he read the instructions to the small dresser for what felt like the hundredth time.
Minako glanced over at the boy, her faith already fallen. "...You wouldn't be happening to have a better time with this than I am, would you?"
Shinjiro just sighed in response.
"Minato said he was going to get Junpei, right?" he asked.
"Yeah," she responded, hanging her head in disappointment. "I'm so sorry about this. I wasn't expecting all...this." She gestured at the pieces strewn before them.
They were supposed to be bonding. Not grieving over the goddamn chest Minato had bought.
She felt a slight touch on her shoulder and looked up.
Shinjiro looked at her, his usually intimidating expression soft.
"Hey...it's all right. It could be worse."
His words alone drew a small smile from her. "Really? Like what?"
"You could've scratched my paint job."
"It's a nice paint job."
"You're welcome."
Minako laughed and a smile graced Shinjiro's face.
Looking at him now, Minako couldn't help but think that maybe things did work out for the better.
Thank you for reading this chapter of Open Doors.
I'd just like to share some work that I've done on the storyboard of this story. From what I've planned out this will be a pretty long story. I plan on fleshing out Minako's friends and explore her relationships with different people.
That being said, while the first two chapters have had a bit of a focus on a certain pairing, this story will have multiple pairings and at this point Minako and Shinjiro are pursuing a platonic relationship. (That could change in the future though!)
I've also pretty much figured out what majors the characters in the AU are taking and other details. Would you guys be interested in seeing bios at the end of the chapters with the different character's ages, hobbies, and majors?
Anyhow, I'm happy you've read to the end! Please review and tell me what you thought of this chapter!
(Favorites and follows are also always much appreciated.)
- Miss Kai
