17 December 2010

Yasoinaba, Amagi Inn

Daytime

"Alright. I take it back." Yukari announced as she and the others stood in the front lobby of the old-styled inn. "This place is amazing!"

"Doesn't it?" Fuuka asked as she pulled off her scarf. The cab ride from the train station had been a compact affair, with the four of them squeezing into a single vehicle with all their luggage barely fitting into the trunk. "But didn't Midori say she would meet is here?"

"She should be here," Aigis confirmed the meeting time as she scanned the foyer.

"I'm here!" Midori said as she came out of a door behind and beside the front desk at a rush. "I'm sorry! One of my juniors works here, and I had to check up on her." She let a foul expression cross her face for a moment before brightening up again.

After embracing her friends, Midori pulled them further into the lobby, where a warm fire, comfortable wooden floors, and an understated elegance that just took their breath away. Except for Aigis, who didn't breathe. "Welcome to Inaba!"

Chidori cracked a slight smile at Midori's enthusiasm. "Thank you."

"What?" Yukari faked being stunned at the emotion. "You smiled! You never smile!"

"Except for Junpei," Fuuka and Aigis said as one. Chidori's cheeks flushed a little at the accurate comment. "How are you?" Aigis switched her focus to Midori as she set down her bag.

"Oh, this and that," Midori started grabbing jackets and piling them all in one spot beside the luggage. "Winter finally arrived properly, and it turns out my old boots needed replacement. How was your trip?"

"Quiet," Yukari said as she took in the ambiance. "I heard one of the other teams came up this way last year. When they found out about this trip, they told me that they loved the place. I can see why."

"I only told Captain Rio..." Midori tried to figure out how that happened before giving up.

"Nanako not with you?" Fuuka asked as she drank in the warmth of the small fire-pit.

"With her friends," Midori replied. "Mana-chan is having a birthday party, and I don't need to hover."

"I will see to our room," Aigis said as she stepped away from the gaggle of girls. "Unless you already have?"

"Nah," Midori hadn't, given she wasn't that friendly with the staff, and wasn't about to take away that from Aigis' experience.

"So," Yukari said, "what's the plan for the rest of the day?"

"I'm going to show you all around town," Midori explained. "Last time people came up, they barely stopped to do sightseeing." She sent a disappointed glance at Fuuka and Aigis, the teal-haired girl shaking her head in rejection of the notion.

"Cool." Yukari agreed. "I'm not doing the practice thing, so Chidori and I get to enjoy the small town atmosphere."

Chidori said nothing, looking around.

"You miss him already?" Midori said quietly.

"I do..." Chidori said in return. "This is a bad idea. What if he gets hurt?"

Aigis returned at that moment, and put a hand on Chidori's shoulder. "He will not. Trust us, and trust him." To the others, "I have secured the room, and one of the employees is bringing out a trolley for us to put out luggage onto and carry to our room."

It look a little bit of wrangling, but soon the five of them had relocated to the private room for the four guests in one wing of the inn.

"And problems with the privacy, Aigis?" Fuuka asked, professional concern in her voice.

"None," the robot replies. "This room is visually secure, and we can hear people approach. I can change without concern."

"What did you tell them?" Yukari asked as she unpacked her own stuff. "I mean, did they ask why we needed privacy stuff for Aigis?"

"Nope!" Midori cheerfully supplied. "I told them, and they don't ask that sort of thing about their guests. They provided the extra changing screen," she pointed at the upright tri-fold, "and that was that."

"Are we having supper here, or at your place?" Fuuka inquired.

"Tonight, my place." Midori confirmed. "Tomorrow, here."

"Ah. Is the food any good?"

Midori's eyes turned vacant for a moment as she recalled the horrors practiced by the daughter of the owner. She shuddered. "Mostly, yes. If a girl names Yukiko offers anything, kindly reject it."

"We will," Chidori confirmed. "I am ready. Are we leaving, or staying here for now?"

"I can go." Yukari said, to which Fuuka and Aigis added their confirmation.

"Nice!" Midori said as she stood up. "I'll meet everyone out front." She stepped out of the room quickly to get her daddy's car from the parking lot.

Central Shopping District

Midori parked a block from the south side of the district. She had no interest in driving up the street itself with the snowfall and pedestrians. "We're here!" She announced as she shut off the engine and opened her door.

"I never expected you to be such a good driver," Yukari commented as she opened her door and got out, making room for Fuuka to wiggle her way to the door. Aigis and Chidori stepped out the other side.

"I'm not!" Midori objected as she checked around for people and traffic. "I just drive the delivery truck every week, and get other practice." She didn't bother locking the door, one of the benefits of living in a small town like Inaba.

"Hold on," Fuuka thought furiously. "I thought you had to be 18 to get a license."

Midori paused, guilty. "Eh... learning?"

"You should not be doing that," Aigis said sternly, worried that her friend might be punished. "You could be caught by a police officer."

Midori ignored that. "Yes, and Uncle Ryotaro is a police detective, and he's also been giving me lessons when my daddy couldn't."

"I do not approve." Aigis said.

Midori pouted. "No one else has a problem with it."

"Let her," Chidori interjected as she set her muffler on. "She will face the consequences of her actions should they arise, but I do not doubt her judgment."

"And watching you be so supportive of anyone not named Stupei astounds me to no end," Yukari threw out.

Chidori glared at her. "That was rude."

Yukari laughed. "And there you are! Back to normal." She stepped up beside Midori, turning away from Chidori to end their argument, such as it was. "So, small town. Nice scenery. I'm going to love taking pictures this weekend!"

"Daddy says the town council should encourage tourism," Midori replied, recalling her father practicing his arguments in front of her and Nanako. The young girl had no idea what he was talking about, and Midori was more concerned with presentation than substance. "We can't be a farming community forever."

Following Midori's lead, the gaggle of girls started walking along the street of the District, cutting across the gas station's lot in the process.

After showing them the bookstore and the metal-worker's store, Midori led them across the street. "And this is the Tatsuhime Shrine," she announced as she stepped across the threshold. "There is a fox who lives here, and while she's technically wild, she's also very nice."

As though summoned by it's mention, the fox jumped down from the nearby tree and bounded across the snow to Midori, who bent down and allowed it to climb into her arms. "Fox, this is Aigis, Fuuka, Yukari, and Chidori. Everyone, this is the Fox."

"Doesn't look wild to me," Yukari said, leaning in. "She's got a bandanna around her neck."

The fox jumped out of Midori's arms and ran up to the shrine proper. It circled around the donation box before sitting beside it, looking expectantly at the quintet.

"Really?" Midori said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Really?"

The fox barked in response.

"She says it is only polite for visitors to donate," Aigis said as she reached into her pocket for some change.

"Aaaannnd Aigis talks to animals. Right." Midori let her head fall. "How did I forget that?"

"You don't live with her." Yukari said. "But if the shrine is asking for it, I suppose." She walked up to the donation box and added some change besides Aigis' own coins. The other two girls followed suit, leaving Midori to stare at the fox.

"I blame you for this," she muttered.

The responded with another yip, which Aigis faithfully translated. "She says that you don't have to as she accepts your services instead."

"Yeah!" Yukari snapped her fingers. "This is the shrine you help out at, right? Never took you for the religious type."

"I'm not," Midori replied. "But I'm friends with the Miko, so I help." She pointed an accusing finger at the Fox. "And if you try to take advantage of my friends again, I'll tell Amane!"

The Fox's response needed no translation.

Komaki Residence

Evening

Supper was on the table, and those who ate were helping themselves when the front door opened unannounced.

"Midori?" Ryotaro called out from the front entryway. "Where are you?"

"Here!" She got up after taking a look to make sure Aigis had her most robotic parts covered. "What's up Uncle?"

"There's a small issue, and I need you to look after Nanako for the night, and maybe for the whole weekend," Ryotaro said as Nanako raced past him to jump into her big sister's arms.

"What?" Midori asked, worried, even as her guests stopped the meal to pay attention to what was going on.

Ryotaro sighed. "There's been reports of a bear in the hills nearby. Some newly-weds from Tokyo that are staying at the Amagi Inn encountered it while on a hike, and reported it when they got back. Because of that, the whole force is on alert, and we're going to be patrolling for it while an animal control officer shows up from out-of-town."

Midori didn't know why that meant that Nanako had to stay with her, and asked why.

"Because," Ryotaro paused as though trying to get the words out of his throat. "A wild animal means we need to be prepared for a worst-case scenario, and as a senior detective, I've been issued a rifle, just in case."

"A gun?" Fuuka asked. "Is it really that serious?"

"Oh, you must be her friends from the city," Ryotaro finally took a look past Midori for the first time. He sounded worried and tired. "I apologize, but if you girls were planning on taking in our surrounding wilderness, you'll have to cancel those plans. Stay in town." He let himself deflate. "Sorry. I don't need this stress right now."

"It's alright," Midori said as she set Nanako down. "Have you had supper yet? I kinda made more than I should."

"Not yet, and before you offer, there's going to be food at the station." Ryotaro handed a small bag that Midori recognized as Nanako's, and assumed it was clothes and such to her. "Thanks. And be careful. You see any wild animals, call the police immediately." He bowed to the girls. "Thank you all, and try to have a good weekend."

Once he stepped out, Midori set Nanako's bag down to one side of the living room before attempting to find a spot to sit at the table as Nanako had taken the only open spot – hers. "That changes things. Aigis, think you can keep an eye on that for us if we go out?"

"No," Aigis said. "Large scale overwatch like that is beyond my current capacities. And I am not optimized to watch for bears."

Midori finally made room between Chidori and Nanako, sharing her plate with the little girl. "Then we need an option."

"You're the local. Can't you think of something?"

"How much space do we need?"

"Ten to twenty meters," Aigis said. "It can be variable."

"What are you talking about?" Nanako asked as she tried to use chopsticks on rice.

"Practice space," Midori said.

"For what?"

"Things."

"Magical Girl things?"

Everyone at the table paused.

"Magical girls?" Chidori repeated, confused.

"Uh huh!" Nanako said with an exaggerated nod of the head. "Big sis is one, and she told me that you and you", she pointed at Fuuka and Aigis, "are as well!"

Yukari started laughing. "I thought you were joking!"

Chidori frowned. "Really?"

"Yep!" Nanako smiled before going back to eating.

Midori let her head fall down. "I was hoping she forgot..."

Yukari kept giggling. "Oh, that's rich!"

"I will put you into a frilly dress if you keep that up," Midori warned. "I'm serious about my lot in life."

"I remember this," Chidori said. "You cast me as a villain who was redeemed by love." She turned away from the others to hide her reaction.

"Oh, no!" Yukari objected. "I am not playing along with this!"

"You're all magical girls!" Nanako was so proud to meet such amazing people. "Can you show me?"

"No!" Yukari said, reigning in her objection to not make Nanako sad. "I've retired. You want that, talk to Midori."

"Can I play with Frosty, please?" Nanako turned to her big sister with pleading eyes. "Please?"

"I'm blaming you for this," Midori said to Yukari. "Not until after supper!", she turned to Nanako. "You know that!"

18 December 2010

Yasogami High School, Gymnasium

Morning

"Alright, doors secured." Midori announced as she re-entered the large building. "Just be glad that the teachers like me, and were willing to give me keys to the gym for practice over the holidays."

"We are," Aigis said as she examined the device she had set up in the middle of the gym. "are you ready?"

Midori looked at the machine that was supposed to generate an artificial Dark Hour field with some worry. "And we're not worried about Shadows, or something like that?"

"No," Fuuka replied. "Anyone without a Persona, or related power would be transmogrified if they were to enter, but other than that, there is no threats in all the times we've used it."

"There was that one incident over the summer when someone improperly activated it," Aigis said as she finished with the settings. "However, Mitsuru was on hand to deal with it."

"See!" Midori yelled, pointing at the device. "Dangerous! Shadows!"

"It was improperly activated by a person not qualified to operate the device," Aigis explained again. "I am neither."

Midori took a deep breath to calm herself. "Fine. Fine. But if we have to fight Shadows inside the Gym, I am going to be very disappointed in you."

For some reason, Aigis found the threat to be fare more effective than it should have been, had it come from anyone else. "It is ready," she said instead. "Activating... now."

A flick of a switch and a hemisphere 10 meters in radius jumped into existence. It was dark, and the colours inside of it were off, but it had no affect on Aigis, who still stood in the middle.

"We're not poking through the roof, Aigis." Fuuka said as she looked up. "We're good."

"Understood." The robot accepted as she stepped back from the generator. "Midori, you're first."

"Right, right. Silly me, being able to summon in the real world." She drew Frosty's card out of her pocket and summoned her Persona. "Alright Frosty," she knelt down to look him in the eyes. "Time to walk back and forth."

At her command, Frosty walked toward Aigis, moving from the 'real' world and across the threshold of the artificial Dark Hour. As it did, Fuuka looked at Midori for any sign of distress. "Well?" she asked.

"Weird. Like he's far away." Midori commanded Frosty to wave an arm, but the response was slow and sluggish. "It's hard."

"Well," Fuuka said, pleased. "That confirms that we can reach into variant space from the real world. She boldly crossed into the dark region. "Come on in, and we can practice some more."

"You mean you guys practice, while I set the bar, right?" Midori waited for Frosty to return to her, relaxing a bit as he crossed back to her side of the barrier. She picked him up, and with only a slight hesitation, walked through herself. "So, of the two of you, any ideas who is going to catch up to me faster?"

Fuuka and Aigis shared a look, but refused to answer.

Central Shopping District

Daytime

Yukari and Chidori walked along the street, taking their time to enjoy the open stores on the Saturday. Between them, holding their hands, was Nanako. After some discussion and pleading, they had agreed to babysit for Midori while she was with Fuuka and Aigis.

"Can we visit the Fox?" Nanako asked, looking up at her big sister's fellow magical girls. "She lives in the shrine!"

"We met her yesterday," Chidori said, remarkably patient with the little girl. "I don't see why not?"

"Ehh, you take her." Yukari said, letting go of Nanako. "I'm going to go check out that metal-worker's store. See if he has any charms, or something like that."

"Very well." Chidori agreed to this plan. "Come along," she tugged on Nanako's sleeve, and the two crossed the street to enter the shrine grounds, leaving Yukari to head up by herself.

In the shrine, Nanako quickly spotted the Fox, and pulled away from Chidori in order to announce her presence. "Hello Miss Fox!"

The fox in turn saw Nanako and waited patiently for the child to get to it before yipping in greeting.

"Who is it?" An unknown voice came from behind the shrine, and Chidori was about to greet the woman when the Miko emerged from the storage space behind the shrine-front. "Oh! Hello Nanako! How are you today?"

"I'm fine!" Nanako said as she picked up the Fox to carry her over to Amane.

"Hello," Chidori said, bowing once the Miko's gaze was upon her. "I am Yoshino Chidori. Forgive the intrusion, for I am watching over Nanako-chan while Midori-san is occupied."

"Yoshino?" Amane said, curious at the red hair. "Are you perhaps related to the singer, Harusawa?"

Chidori was surprised at the connection, remembering the encounter almost a year ago. "No, I am not, to my knowledge." She bowed in apology. "I am sorry for the confusion."

"Oh, don't be. I am Amane," the priestess accepted the apology. "Ah! I do recall Midori mentioning something about some friends coming up this weekend. You must be one of them."

"I am," Chidori said politely. "She has mentioned you as well, as a friend she helps."

"Quite a bit, I am not ashamed to say." Amane checked the donation box then Nanako and the Fox, who were busy chasing each other around the large tree in the front of the shrine. "Where is she, if I may ask?"

"She is practicing with Aigis and Fuuka at the high-school."

Amane's brow furrowed in concentration.

"They play tennis," Chidori said, filling in the obvious mental gap. "Training today. Leisure for them tomorrow."

"Ah! That is where I heard their names." Amane acknowledged. "I take it you are not a player?"

"I am, casually." Chidori replied. "It was... a choice I made at her urging before she moved here."

Amane recognized the results of Midori's personality affecting other people. "Well, come. I have a small area in the back. I can serve some tea, if you'd like. And Nanako as well."

"I would like that, very much."

Over at the Daidara Metalworks, Yukari was beginning to regret her choice. Apparently 'Metalworks' meant that there was an actual forge in the building, and that the elderly man was working it when she came in.

She watched him for a few moments before turning to examine his wares. Despite the heat, she found that the objects up for sale were all well made. The man obviously knew his trade. Poking at some of the smaller charms, she didn't notice when the sounds of the forge stopped, and the owner came up to talk to her.

"Hey there," he said, causing Yukari to jump in shock.

"Don't scare me like that!" She said, turning around to look up at the old man, with his cross-scarred face, and towel wrapped around his brow to catch his sweat. "Ohmygod, I'm so sorry!" She bowed in apology, only to be met with a laugh.

"Don't you worry about that, young miss! I'm Master Daidara, and you must be from out of town."

"I'm visiting a friend," Yukari said, bowing again. "And I came in to check your wares."

"Well then, go right ahead!" He walked back to the counter with the cash register. "Let me know if anything catches your eye. I make a lot of things, but if you want something commissioned, I'm all backed up until the new year."

"I'll keep that in mind," Yukari agreed. "I was just thinking of something small for myself. A memento?"

"Well, we don't really have a town mascot. Closest thing we got is the Fox that lives at the Shrine, but that's a religious thing."

"Ah. Well, if I spot something, I'll let you know."

"Of course!" Master Daidara pulled a bottle of water out from a small fridge under the counter and started to drink from it. "We take cash and plastic."

Yukari went back to browsing for a few minutes before deciding to purchase a small bird-shaped charm she could attach to her bag. It was polished metal, shimmering blue through green, and she absolutely loved it.

After she made the purchase, she stepped out of the store – only to be shocked by the change in temperature. "GAH!" She complained out loud as she hastily zipped up her parka and wrapped her scarf around her face. "Cold!"

" I hear ya," a high-school boy said as he walked along with a green-jacketed girl from up the street. "Why did you have to drag me out here, Chie? It's cold!"

"Don't blame me, Yosuke!", the girl retorted. "Just because you're a city-boy, who can't handle winter."

"Not cool," the boy, Yosuke retorted. "I said I was sorry, and I mean it!"

Yukari watched as the walked around her, keeping a smirk off her face. "Hey!" Chie replied annoyed. "You're the one who broke my disk. So you're gonna have to buy a replacement!"

"I'm sorry! Yeesh!"

"Have a nice day!" Yukari said as they walked away.

"You too!" The Chie said as she pushed Yosuke further away.

Putting the encounter out of her mind, she went is search of Chidori, perhaps to get her to buy a present for Junpei when they returned from their vacation.

Yasogami High School, Gymnasium

Afternoon

Aigis came out of the change room with her tennis clothes on, the thin cloth covering up her robotic limbs. "Do you require assistance?"

"I'm good!" Midori replied as she leveraged the last of the tennis nets into place. Once she slid the lock into place at the base of the support pole she stepped back to admire her handiwork. "Done!"

"Looks good," Fuuka said as she finished packing away the Dark Hour generator. They got a lot of information and practice out of it, and she was honestly glad that Midori cooperated so much with the testing and training. "And our stuff is packed away."

Midori glanced at her watch, then at the doors leading out of the gym. "They should be arriving in 15 minutes," she had their schedule memorized, and the afternoon was when her fellow team-mates would arrive for some casual practice with Aigis. Nothing serious, it was winter holidays after all.

"You should change," Fuuka suggested.

Midori looked down at her sweatpants and realized that she had just spent a couple hours practicing with Frosty. She probably should. "Right, on that." She passed by Aigis as she pulled out her racket and picked up her own bag with the spare clothes. "I'll grab a quick shower while I'm at it."

"You? Quick?" Fuuka teased. "If your friends arrive, we'll let them know."

"I may have lots of hair, but it's not like I'm going to spend an hour on it each day!" Midori responded maturely, blowing a raspberry at her friend. "I only spend 5-9 minutes and 5-9 seconds!"

After she had vanished into the change room, Aigis looked to Fuuka for guidance. "That is a joke, correct? She does not actually time herself like that?"

It took twenty minutes for the others to arrive.

"Snow!" Eri complained as she pulled off her jacket. "It started a while ago, had you, you know, waited like the rest of us to arrive." She accused her captain without hostility. "You didn't have to come ahead of time because of your friend, Aigis."

Midori accepted the punishment. "I apologize. I let Aigis lead the way." And then promptly threw Aigis up as the real culprit. "You see Kanako yet? Or Kohaku?"

"They were behind me," Eri explained.

"And I'm right here," Kohaku said as she entered the room. "And look who I found!"

Midori leaned over, towel still over her head, curious. "Yukari? Chidori? Nanako!"

"Quaint place you have here," Yukari said, taking in the change room. "Small though."

"Inaba is smaller than Tatsumi," Midori said. "Why are you here?"

"Big Sis had a bath without me?" Nanako pouted.

Midori knelt in front of her. "Big Sis was all smelly and needed it. Don't worry! We can have one tomorrow!"

"Alright," Nanako said sullenly. "You promise?"

"Promise!" Midori replied before returning her look to her other friends. "Well?"

"Wanted to see it," Yukari said. "Well, that and Chidori was thinking about joining in if she could. I would grab Fuuka and stay with Nanako-chi for a few more hours."

"Chidori?"

"It was an option." She said carefully. "Although I did not bring my clothes."

"You can borrow mine!" Kanako spoke up. "We're about the same size. I mean, it's not like Captain Midori's will fit!"

"That was uncalled for!" Midori objected. So what if she hadn't really grown in the past year and a half? She could still be the petite beauty, rather than something... what was the word... Amazonian? "Whatever. It's not like we're being serious about this anyways." She finished drying her hair. "Did you want a tour or something?" she asked of Yukari – who still hadn't let go of Nanako's hand.

"I'll be fine. It's not I'm going to get lost or anything."

"One more joke about the size of my school, and I'll... pour snow down your shirt!" Midori pointed a humorous finger at the archer. "Or I'll hold you down and get Aigis or Nanako to do that!"

"She's stronger than she looks!" Eri stage whispered. "Seriously! You'd never expect such power from her thin arms!"

"Gee, thanks." Midori accepted the praise with her usual aplomb. "I'll go grab Fuuka then?"

"Oh, I think I'll have a look at your gym first, then take her with us. Did you know there's this awesome place on that street, up from the Tofu place?"

"Aiya's? Yeah?"

"Great Food! I've got to show it to her!"

Everyone could agree to that.

Amagi Inn

Evening

Midori checked out the door leading to the back veranda. "Still snowing. I don't think it'll stop 'till the new year at this point."

"The weather forecast called for it to end before midnight," Aigis dutifully corrected her, thanks to her wireless connection to the internet. "It will warm up tomorrow."

Midori let her dreams waft away from her. "Well, given that the outdoor pool is out, are we going to try for the indoor one?" She looked around, though everyone knew that the final decision was up to Aigis, given her secret nature.

"We can try," she said. "Though I reserve the right to stay out if there is anyone else there."

The quintet filed out of their room and followed the posted signs to the interior heated bath. A quick check revealed that there was no one else in it, a benefit of being just off season.

"Ahhhh!" Midori moaned as she slipped into the hot water. "This is awesome..."

"That's right, you missed last year's trip." Yukari remembered before shaking her head sadly. "And that means you also missed out on the boys 'accidentally' staying past their allotted time. So be glad for it." For a moment, she treated Midori not as an equal, but as a younger girl who still needed protection from the outside world before reverting back to normal. "I wish we could have used the outside one though, that looked amazing!"

"Wasn't there a trip this year?" Midori asked, confused. "Didn't you go?"

"Oh? Yes. A field trip. But it wasn't as fun as last year." Yukari chose a spot and settled down, letting the heat seep into her bones. "Ohhh myyy..."

Aigis waded through the water to sit down beside Midori, using her as cover should someone come in. "Thank you again for your participation."

"You're welcome," Midori replied as she kept an eye on the others as well.

After a moment, when Aigis was convinced that Midori would not take the lead in their conversation, she pushed forward. "Midori?"

"Yes?"

"What should I do? After I am done High School?"

Midori didn't know how to reply to that. "What?"

"After I am done. Do I enter into University? I have scholarships offered to me for my athletics, and Mitsuru has made it clear that any funds required would be provided. It is not a matter of resources, but one of... intentions."

"Why are you asking me?" Midori kept her voice down to match Aigis' tone.

"Because you are my friend."

Midori mentally applauded Aigis' simple yet brilliant manipulation of her. There was no way for her to refuse such a request as she made no additional qualifiers to her reasoning. "Well, what do you want to do?"

"I... do not know. I know that I am – and will be – in the Shadow Hunters, but I wish to have an existence beyond that."

"Well," Midori tried to race ahead of Aigis, even though she hadn't thought about this at all herself. "What subjects are you good in?"

"Math, Physics, Chemistry, Gym. The physical ones, and the sciences."

"So, if you're going for an education, why not in that?"

"I have considered it, but I wanted a more.. human input."

"What? And you don't count?" Midori was offended.

"I... I wanted to talk to you." Aigis sounded hurt, leaving Midori the option to do something about it. So she shuffled a little closer to bridge the distance between them.

"Alright. I mean, I don't know how much help I can be," she admitted. "But I can try. You don't have to make a decision now. I mean, I hear about people taking a year after High School before going into University, so maybe that can be an option for you." She frowned, thinking about it for a moment. "I mean, you've been awake for less than two years right? Maybe you should get out and see the world a bit more."

"Like Akihiko?"

Midori buried her head in her hands. "No! Absolutely not!"

"Is there a problem?" Fuuka asked, seeing Midori's reaction to their private conversation.

"No! Just complaining about Akihiko-sensei." Midori spoke up, waving Fuuka off. "I'm serious," she said again in a more conversational tone of voice. "He just ran off for 'training' purposes, like he was in a Video Game, or something like that."

"I see," Aigis nodded. "Mitsuru was quite annoyed with him as well. I have no wish to cause her that distress."

"You know, you don't have to base your life around her." Midori didn't bother naming the source of her ire. "You are capable of making your own choices."

"I am, but I still owe her my continued existence."

Midori's eyes narrowed. "If you refer to her as 'Mother', I will hurt someone."

Aigis had no doubt she would try. "No. Not like that. She has her own ways of being supportive. Not like you."

Midori gaped before she realized that Aigis wasn't insulting her. "Of course! I'm far nicer. And more personable."

"You are," Aigis said. "I will take your advice to 'find myself' into consideration."

"I didn't say it like that, but yes. I think that's a good idea. Try your hand at some arts. Poetry even! I think you could be good at that, with the rhyming and all."

"You're rambling," Aigis warned Midori. "Are you tired?"

"Maybe a little. I don't have your stamina."

"Ah. Well, if you want to rest on my shoulder go ahead."

"Maybe I will."

19 December 2010

Junes Shopping Store

Daytime

Standing in front of the doors to the large mall, Midori felt some trepidation. "You don't really need me here for this, right?"

"Come on," Fuuka said as she crossed the threshold. "It's a store."

"Yeah, one that a lot of people don't like around here. And I have my image to maintain." Midori knew that a lot of people had entered into Junes since it had opened several months ago, but out of solidarity with the general feelings of the town, she had stayed out of it, even though it was a shopping center that was closer to her normal pace than anything else.

Yukari had enough of that and pushed Midori through the open doors and into the warm entryway that acted as an environmental lock. "Enough!" She said as she kept pushing, even though she knew that if she gave Midori any leverage, the smaller and younger girl could quickly overpower her.

Aigis ignored the byplay as she checked out the map of the store in front of them. "We need the third floor," she said. "There are elevators over there, and escalators there."

"Escalator," Yukari said, at home with their surroundings, even as Midori refused to let herself become comfortable. If anyone saw her here, she could truthfully state that she had been forced into this by her out-of-town friends. "Come on!"

Midori let herself be led up the moving stairs until they reached the floor where Chidori had insisted that they get something to commemorate their trip.

She had argued that there were better places than Junes of all things, but was swiftly overruled. "We are going, and that's final." Yukari seemed to take some pleasure in Midori's reluctance, and hid it poorly.

Once they reached their destination, Chidori took the lead, in so much as the others followed her around as she did her browsing of the store. Midori made no attempt to check things out, preferring her own sources for clothes, and custom made stuff for the right occasion.

Aigis, it seemed, shared her general disinterest, and came over. "There is something that I wish to speak of now that we are waiting."

"Sure!" Midori was glad for the distraction. "About what?"

"You missed the last update for your show."

"Um. What?" Midori couldn't place what Aigis was talking about before she remembered. "Oh no!"

Aigis nodded in understanding. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"Well, with Nanako and school and Frosty and Tennis..." Midori rambled on excuse after excuse before Aigis' impassive waiting took its toll. "I knew... I just..."

"You want to cancel the show."

"Yeah," Midori agreed. "There's no fun in it any more. I've moved past Dolly."

"Ah," Aigis said as she thought about it. "I think you should announce that, rather than let it drift away."

"Maybe," Midori said. "I mean, I like the show and all, but it takes a lot of time to put together a show, and every time I try to get the time, something else gets in the way." She sounded flat to herself. Talking with Aigis was always good, she could trust her friend.

"I would offer to help, but I don't have that skill," Aigis replied. "But if you think it's best, then I won't stop you."

Midori thought about it in silence. It was true that her show was being more and more an imposition than inspiration. Maybe she should just cut it out? It wasn't like she was going to throw all that equipment away, or lose all her skills in an instant. "I think you're right." She looked around as Fuuka and Yukari had Chidori cornered and were trying to convince her to try something or other on. "Hey!", she called out to get their attention. "Aigis and I are going up to the food court to get something to drink. Join us when you're done!"

"Sure!"

A few minutes later, Midori and Aigis were sitting under a covered section of the nearly-empty roof-top food court. The snow had caused most of the places to shut down, save those with heat from the stoves or ovens.

Sipping a hot chocolate, Midori looked out from the top of the largest building in town over the valley that Yasoinaba rested in.

"It's quiet," Aigis observed. "Not like Tatsumi."

"Little farming community in the mountains versus an active port city? I can't see the difference," Midori said with only a hint of sarcasm. "How did she take your report from last time?"

"It wasn't hostility," Aigis said in response. "Mitsuru is concerned about you, in her own way."

Midori grunted her disbelief. "She just wants Frosty."

Aigis tilted her head. "Not true. While she does appreciate the prowess you have displayed, there is more humanity in her actions than you give her credit for."

The human in the conversation bit back her first retort, that she knew more about humanity than Kirijo Mitsuru. "Did you think about what we talked about last night?"

"I did," Aigis accepted the change in subject with grace. "I still have not reached a conclusion."

"That's alright. It's hard for people who can't think as fast as you. I'll have to start next year as well."

"I have no doubt you will succeed."

"Thanks, Aigis."

They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Aigis spoke again. "There is something I've hidden from you, that after much consideration, I feel was a mistake."

Midori's stomach dropped out from under her. "Aigis?"

"Since I gained his... strength, there also came with it certain additional things that I was not fully prepared to understand at the time."

"Aigis?" Midori was suddenly scared. That Aigis would go away like Minato did. "You're scaring me."

"I did not mean that." Aigis looked at her with some confusion. "Can you explain what it means to have a 'Social Link' with someone in more detail?"

"Huh?" The subject matter was enough to completely derail Midori's thoughts. "I thought you knew... I mean, I wrote what I knew down after the end of March..."

"You speak better than you write," Aigis encouraged her friend. "And it's that, well, you know more about it than I do, even though..." She tripped over her own words. "Your Arcana is the Moon, and I have formed a Link with you, granting me power."

Midori was dumbfounded. "What."

"You are a source of power for me." Aigis confessed. "You represent an aspect of our power that I am gaining, and I cannot break that trust by hiding it from you, especially when you can help me with it."

"I.. buh... I have no idea!" Midori objected. "I mean, I got angry with Minato when I thought he was dating Yukari for the power up, but shouldn't you be talking to Igor about this?"

"I do not wish to impose," Aigis explained her rationale. "And I want to learn to stand on my own. You are a better person for that than Igor or Theodore."

"What? Not Elizabeth?"

"I have not seen her since the Abyss," Aigis confided. "And I doubt that they would be able to be as supporting as you are."

"Aww... Thanks, Aigis." Midori ruffled Aigis' hair for a moment. "So, what did you want to know?"

Yasoinaba Train Station

Evening

Midori helped carry the luggage off the taxi and onto the waiting cart. "You sure you can't stay another night?", she asked as she finished off the last of it. "I mean, I'm pretty sure I can make room at my place."

"That's alright," Yukari said with a smile. "We can always come up in the summer. When there aren't bears sniffing around town."

"I would like that," Chidori said quietly as she carried her own small bag. "We can bring Junpei next time."

"You would," Yukari teased even as Fuuka paid their driver and then rejoined them. "But that can be planned later."

Aigis seemed to agree. "Thank you for being a host to us, Midori."

"Oh! No problem at all." She was pleased to have more friends over. "You really should come again. Or maybe I'll take a week in the summer and come visit you?"

A small smile crept across Aigis' face. "I would like that."

"And let me know if you start anything new!" Midori commanded of Aigis, keeping in mind their rooftop conversation. "Friends share!"

"I will," Aigis replied with a smile. "I will talk to you next week then?"

Midori nodded. "Sure." She looked at the rest. "And don't be strangers, any of you!"

"We won't!" Fuuka agreed. Even Chidori seemed to take her offer seriously.

"Our train will arrive soon," Aigis informed everyone. "We should get ready."

Yasoinaba Police Station

Evening

Midori walked through the station, following the instructions the man at the front desk gave her. She found the designated room, and knocked.

"Come in." Ryotaro sounded tired as Midori slid the door open and stepped in. "Midori? What are you doing here?"

She held up the small bag in her hands. "Food!" She stepped over to where he sat, noting the rifle laying open on the table behind him, as well as the map that showed the bear sightings over the weekend. "Still haven't found it?"

"No," Ryotaro said. "Wait. Where's Nanako?"

"She spent all day playing out side in the snow with her friends," Midori explained as she set down the food. "Then after I saw off my friends, I collected her, took her home, had supper, took a bath, then tucked her into bed."

"That explains why your hair is stiff," the detective replied. "So you decided to come here, even though I said you shouldn't?"

"You've spent the entire weekend here," she replied. "I'm exercising my responsibilities as a responsible young woman to check up on you."

He couldn't muster the energy to argue. "There's going to be people arriving with helicopters in the morning," he popped the top off the home-cooked meal and stared wistfully at it for a long moment. "Once they're here, I can head home and sleep."

"Good," Midori agreed. "She misses you."

"I know," Ryotaro admitted with some remorse. "When's your father coming home?"

"Mid-week," Midori said, recalling the memorized calender to mind. "After that, he doesn't leave again until after the New year."

"Good to hear," her uncle said as he started to eat. "Truth be told, your cooking is better than what we get here. And if Adachi tries again, it'll be too soon. Man may be able to do wonders with watermelons, but he's a bachelor through and through."

Midori let his mouth and mind wander, recognizing the stress he was under. She didn't pay it much mind, instead letting her own eyes look about the room she had no doubt he had stayed in this entire time.

"You're looking at the rifle," Ryotaro's tone of voice changed to a more serious tone.

"I was?" Midori caught herself by surprise. She hadn't meant to, but the Evokers, her encounters with Takaya and the trapped SDF gave her more experience with that type of weapon than most people in Japan. Seeing one just laying around like that was not something she was used to.

"Probably the first one," Ryotaro spoke out of honest ignorance. "I know I was wary when I was being taught it at the academy." He shook his head at long forgotten memories. "You know what? Come over here." He gestured for her to join him, and she did.

"This is just a standard hunting rifle," he explained as he picked up the empty weapon carefully. "We keep them locked up when not in use, so don't worry." He handed it to Midori who took it without meaning to. It was lighter than the rifles used by the SDF, and far heavier than the Evoker she faked needing.

Then she realized what she was holding and let it drop from her fingers with a jump. "I'm sorry!" She said as it hit the table.

"Don't be," Ryotaro said as he picked it back up. "It wasn't loaded. And it's tougher than that."

"So why show it to me?" Midori asked.

"Because I didn't want you to be afraid of it," he replied. "Ah. I don't know how to say it, but I felt like you were wary of it."

"I'm not planning on joining the police, Uncle."

"Ah, such a pity. We could always use more pretty girls on the force." Ryotaro said, joking. "No, I just wanted you to know that it's nothing to be afraid of."

She didn't know how to respond to that. So she didn't. This was certainly not what she was expecting from a quick trip to drop off some real food and check in on her uncle.

"Well, thanks for the meal," he said as though sensing her hesitation. "I'll be home by tomorrow afternoon, after I've passed off everything to the Animal Control people."

Midori accepted that. "And if you're late, I'll be sure to find some way to punish you for it."

Ryotaro smiled. "I know you will."

Shin-Aomori Line

Evening

"So," Yukari said as she checked her camera one more time. "When do we tell Midori that I have embarrassing pictures of her napping on Aigis' shoulder from last night?"

Komaki Residence

Evening

It was over a month later, but Midori hoped that Yukari would enjoy her much-belated birthday present that she sneaked into her bags before she left.