The Seventh Day

Date: September, Thursday 24th.

The storm was gone and the break from school was over. Students were now to return to class today. Most SEES members had already headed for Gekkoukan High, except Minato, who was waiting outside of Akihiko's door. Akihiko suddenly barged out, finally ready for school.

"Sorry, about that! L-let's go, Minato." Akihiko said, rushing out the front door with Minato so they could get onto the monorail quickly. Minato chuckled lightly as Akihiko dragged him. While the two were walking together as they entered the school's front gate, Minato and Akihiko were listening to the music on Minato's mp3. Akihiko was interested as to what Minato would listen to all the time. There was an earbud in Minato's right ear and Akihiko had one in his left ear.

"Whoa! I never heard of this kind of music. Sounds cool." Akihiko commented.

"Haven't you listened to music, Aki?"

"Well, never anything specific. I'd only hear what was around stores and inside buildings." Akihiko responded. Minato just laughed a bit with how Akihiko was in awe with song playing.

The two of them got near Minato's homeroom class when Minato had stopped playing his music. Akihiko was about to leave for his class on the next floor. The school had a fair number of people there, but it wasn't as crowded as it could get yet.

"Well, I better get to my class before the late bell rings." Akihiko said.

"And whose fault was that?" Minato chuckled.

"Sh-shut up. Heh, well anyway. See ya later." Akihiko said and gave Minato a light peck on his lips. All the students around the two gasped in shock as to what they just saw, but the boys didn't even seem to notice. Minato smiled as he waved to Akihiko as he ran up the stairs and waved bye to Minato. Minato went into his class and sat at his desk, Yukari and Junpei already at their own.

"I was wondering when you were gonna show up." Junpei said to him.

"Heh, I was waiting for Akihiko since he was running late this morning."

"You two really seem to be inseparable." Yukari remarked.

"Yeah, I still can't believe that you and Akihiko-senpai are a thing…" Junpei said.

"I know, it's great, isn't it?" Minato chuckled.

"I've never seen you so happy before, Minato-kun. Or happy at all, really…" Yukari said.

"It's because I finally have a reason to be." Minato began to blush lightly. The bell rang suddenly and the group's teacher walked in and started class.

It was now mid-day, and the bell for lunch break rang. When Minato stepped out of his class, and just as Akihiko said before, he was hurriedly making his way down the stairs to Minato.

"I said I'd be here right when the bell rings, didn't I, Blue Pup?" Akihiko said.

"You did, Aki. Glad to see how much you wanted to be with me." Minato answered.

"Of course I did." Akihiko said as he grabbed Minato's hand. They decided to go to the roof for their lunch break. Akihiko had pulled out an instant beef ramen bowl and Minato took out two bento boxes.

"Here, Aki. I made you this." Minato said as he handed him one of the bento boxes.

"Whoa, you made this?! Looks awesome. Thanks." Akihiko thanked.

"Well, it's because I noticed you usually eat something not so great for lunch and I wanted to make you something fresh nutritious." Minato said as Akihiko took a bite of one of the small slabs of meat.

"This is so good!" Akihiko praised. Minato laughed at little at Akihiko.

"Great. Then be sure you eat all of it, INCLUDING the vegetables." Minato said.

"Yeah, yeah, I will, mom." Akihiko mocked. The two laughed heartedly with each other.

After the two had finished, they stayed up on the roof talking to each other, passing the time for when the bell rings. They were holding each other's hands the whole time.

"It's nice seeing the sky clear and blue after that huge typhoon." Minato commented.

"Yeah, especially along with this great view of all of Port Island from up here. I'd see this view all the time when Shinji would skip class and fall asleep up here." Akihiko reminisced.

"Shinjiro-san does seem like a really good guy. Even if he doesn't show it. It's kind of like how I used to be." Minato said back.

"He really is. I was grateful to have him as a best friend when we were alone at the orphanage. Now I got all these great new friends. And even better, you to love, Blue Pup." Akihiko said as he rested his forehead against Minato's.

"And I got you, Aki." Minato smiled. They kissed each other when a second year student walked up onto the roof and noticed the two of them.

"Ugh, gross fags." He snorted. Akihiko got up and walked towards him to say something.

"Excuse me, but if you have any problems with it, you could just take up the issue with me." Akihiko said, cracking his knuckles with a loud crack coming from them along with a smirk across his face. The student just gulped as he turned pale and left the roof. Akihiko walked back to Minato and sat down.

"That was actually kind of funny." Minato said.

"The look on his face was pretty great." Akihiko chuckled.

"Though, we're probably gonna deal with more of that kind of shit for a while." Minato said.

"They can say what they want, but if they even so TRY to hurt you if I'm not around, I'm going to punch some teeth in." Akihiko grunted.

"I won't have anything to worry about as long as I have you." Minato said as he took hold of Akihiko's hand to give him a reassuring touch.

"Yeah, you're right. So, what do you want to do after school today?" Akihiko asked.

"I got Kendo practice today. I'm not sure if you want to do anything after that."

"Then how about I come by and watch you practice?" Akihiko suggested.

"Huh? Well if you really want to. I don't mind."

"You don't seem fond of the idea."

"I just figured that you'd have something better to do than watching me swing a stick sword around."

"I actually wanted to go to your Kendo tournament you had in the summer. But I thought that you'd think it was weird for only me to be there. I don't know how you went to so many of my boxing matches before without me noticing."

"Ancient Japanese secret, young Grasshopper." Minato mocked.

"Hey, I'm the older one here."

"And I'M the team leader."

"Tch. You moron."

"Maybe, but I'm YOUR moron." Minato said as he kissed Akihiko.

The final bell rang, and students were shuffling out of their classes, going home or to clubs. Minato left and went for the gymnasium, getting himself ready for Kendo practice. Minato was in his Kendo gear when Yuko came up to him.

"Oh, Minato-kun! I heard that you got really sick over the break. Are you feeling alright?" She asked.

"Yeah, thanks for the concern, but I'm all good now." Minato answered.

"I like your enthusiasm. Go for it, Minato-kun!" The team manager cheered.

Minato put down his mask and went towards one of the other ready team members to practice with. Minato was a little rusty from his inactivity, but still went ahead to give it his all. With every swing his partner made, he'd parry and counter. He deflected each swing that went at him and he'd move swiftly enough to avoid contact. And he'd deal a blow with every opening he saw. His training session with that one partner ended with Minato not getting touched one. It seemed as though his nightly adventures into Tartarus was applicable to his daytime activities as well.

Minato pulled his protective mask off, having drips of sweat run down his forehead and side of his head as he panted. He looked over to the side and he saw Akihiko standing in the audience stands. Minato smiled and walked over to him, picking up one of the towels that was near the rest of the equipment.

"Hey, I didn't notice you were here yet, Aki." Minato said as he wiped his head.

"Heh-heh. You were really in the zone out there. You looked like you were fighting a shadow." Akihiko chuckled.

"I'm just glad to be able to practice again. It was so dull doing nothing in the dorm."

"Well there was some 'special' stuff we got to do, at least." Akihiko smirked.

"A-A-Aki, there are SOME things we should keep to ourselves." Minato said, blushing lightly as he had an embarrassed smile in his face.

"You really are cute when you blush like that." Akihiko commented, knowing he'd stir up Minato again from that. Which it did. Minato was blushing even more. While the two were talking, members of the Kendo team were staring at them, confused as to what was happening. They have never seen Minato act that way before.

"I gotta get back to practice before coach gets pissed. I'll meet you at the school gates." Minato said to Akihiko, giving him a small peck on the lips.

"Love ya." Minato said as he walked away.

"Love ya, too." Akihiko returned. Minato put the protective mask over his head again as he walked, stopping when he noticed everyone looking at him oddly.

"…Uh, what?" He asked.

"Um… are you and Akihiko-senpai…?" Kazushi stammered.

"Yes." Minato said bluntly. Everyone became even more surprised. "Akihiko is my boyfriend."

"W-well that's not really important. Come on guys, back to practicing." Yuko commanded. The Kendo members went ahead and complied. About an hour or so later, the coach had dismissed everyone to go on home. Minato decided to hit the showers first, starting to feel uncomfortable from how much he had sweated. Before he got to the locker-room, he was stopped by Yuko.

"Um, Minato-kun? Can I ask you something?" The team manager asked.

"Sure, what is it?" Minato said back.

"You said that you and Akihiko-senpai were really a…you know. When did that happen, though? And were you always…"

"It happened during the typhoon when I was sick. Akihiko was the only one who decided to take care of me when I decided to tell him how I felt. And I only realized how I was this year, but I love Aki and only Aki." Minato answered, feeling bubbly inside for saying the last line like Akihiko did to the SEES members.

"O-oh. Okay. As long as you're happy." Yuko said, letting Minato go into the locker-room.

Minato walked in front of the school entrance, making his way to the school gates where Akihiko was waiting. He started to move faster to Akihiko since he was a little late.

"Sorry. It was my fault for making you wait this time, heh-heh. I decided to take a shower after practice and also someone wanted to talk to me." Minato said as he stopped next to his senpai.

"Don't worry about it." Akihiko said, noticing Minato's hair dripping a bit. "You actually smell really nice, right now."

"Heh, Thanks. Are you hungry, Aki? You wanna stop anywhere?"

"Sure. Want to get Hagakure?"

Both boys were at Hagakure, slurping up noodles and conversing.

"So, why did someone want to talk to stop at practice?" Akihiko asked.

"It was the team manager, she was just surprised about you and me and asked me about it."

"No one on the team bothered you about it, did they?"

"No, no. Of course not. You and Yuko would beat their ass if they did."

"Ok, good."

"Heh-heh. You know, it's really nice to hear you care about my well-being so much."

"Why wouldn't I care? It's my job as your boyfriend to protect you and keep you happy."

"Aw. You're really sweet, Aki."

It was now dark out. The two of them were on the street making their way to the dorm. They have been talking to each other since they left the restaurant, holding each other's hands, enjoying the other's company. They were just about to get to the door when some man suddenly sprang out from the nearby alley. He held up a handgun.

"Give me all your money and valuables, you punks!" The man demanded. "Don't make me say it again, you nasty faggots!"

"Okay, that's it!" Akihiko exclaimed. Akihiko lunged himself forward and grabbed the man, both struggling intensely. They were fighting for hold of the gun, when everybody suddenly heard an ear piercing 'BANG' from the gun. Akihiko looked to see where Minato was, but didn't see him anywhere. That is until Minato suddenly came from the side and slammed his fist into the mugger's face, making him drop the gun as well as fall onto the concrete with a loud thud unconscious. Akihiko was relieved to see Minato okay, but Minato was looking at him horrified.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Akihiko questioned. Minato just pointed at Akihiko's shoulder. Akihiko looked at his eight shoulder and noticed that it was pouring blood out. The SEES members inside the dorm heard the gun and rushed out. They saw Minato holding onto Akihiko, trying to keep him standing up since he was feeling faint from blood loss.

"Quick! We have to get him to the hospital!" Mitsuru exclaimed.

It was around 10:16 PM. Akihiko was taken into the Municipal Hospital. He was now waking from after passing out and also going through surgery. He started feeling a sharp pain in his shoulder from where he was shot. He heard some grunting from the side of the room. He looked over and saw Minato. He had fallen asleep at the chair he was sitting at. Minato sat upright and let out a relieved breath of air.

"You're alright, Aki! That's such a relief. The doctors that I could have gone back home and waited, but I didn't want to leave you." Minato said getting closer to Akihiko.

"You have no idea how relieved I am right now. I thought that it was you who got shot when I didn't see where you went." Akihiko let out a relieved sigh as well, a few tears starting to come from his eyes.

"W-what's the matter, Aki?"

"I was going to be so pissed at myself if I lost you right after I told you that I'd always be there to be the one to protect you." Akihiko said, trying to wipe away his tears, but kept coming forth. Minato went over and kissed Akihiko passionately.

"And you did protect us. Sure, it was a little stupid and rash of you to charge at the guy, but you still did well."

"Heh, I didn't think I'd end up being checked into a hospital so soon again."

"Don't worry. The doctor's said you'd be out in no time. Just don't strain yourself or anything. I'll be the one taking care of you this time." Minato said to him.

"This is just a flesh wound. I could walk it off." Akihiko said, sounding smug. Minato suddenly embraced Akihiko tightly. Akihiko grimaced a bit since his shoulder was still hurting, but returned the hug.

"Now I know how you felt was I almost got killed by shadows…" Minato whispered, starting to tear up himself. A few pitter patters fell on Akihiko.

"I'm sorry, Minato. I never wanted you to worry. And I'm supposed to be the one to keep you from crying."

"It could've been a lot worse, but I was still so scared."

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."