A/N: This chapter was very slow to write. Some writer's block is to blame for that, and personally I'm not very satisfied with it. I apologize for the lackluster quality.

Onward to review responses:

Deidara'sgirl19: The aim with Miki was to start gearing her towards having a tomboyish sort of character. Considering the only two people she's always with are both boys, she's gained an intense dislike for dresses, skirts, and anything she deems too "girly" (stuffed animals are an exception, obviously). I'm glad you like her character, though. Even though she's only mentioned a tiny bit in-game, I really wanted to figure out what kind of personality she'd have.

Rewritten Ennui: Miki had been kind of hanging around for the first few chapters, being only two years old, and it's really hard for her at that age. As far as how she acts, it's kind of still in development, but I really want to develop the character. The downside is that I'm just going to end up depressing myself in the end, and it's really not fair. I don't really want to write that part…

Anyways, here it is. Aki and Shinji have embarked into new territory- elementary school. What kind of things await them here? I don't know. This little segment will run a couple of chapters or so.

If I owned any part of Persona 3 and related stuff, then I wouldn't be writing this story. And Shinji wouldn't have been around for only one month.

Chapter 7

The Ones without Parents - I

Orphanage, 2nd Floor, Bathroom - Early Morning

Bow tie straight? Check.

Hair not as messy as yesterday? Check.

Shoes tied, and not to each other? Check.

Everything in backpack, and backpack on back? Check.

Akihiko beamed as he checked his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Everything from the top of his head to his shiny new shoes was perfect. His uniform had pressed to perfection- thanks to Suoh-san's hard work. He showed his teeth for a moment, although he had just brushed them just a few minutes ago. There was a small gap where a front tooth was missing, but that was okay. He still had the little bit of money in his pocket that was left behind when he placed it under his pillow a week ago.

When he climbed down from the stepstool a moment later, the door swung open, its squeaking hinges like nails on a chalkboard… well, if it was something he hadn't just seen on television. Akihiko's head snapped towards the doorway so fast his neck hurt, but it was he quickly dismissed it as nothing as a wide smile crept across his face.

Shinjiro stood in the entryway; his brown eyes unusually alight with fury. His usually shaggy hair, much to Aki's surprise, had been combed and brushed for once, and he was wearing the very clothes he hated- the uniform, pressed and all. Instead of the long socks and dress shoes Akihiko wore, Shinjiro had opted to wear shorter socks and sneakers.

"Hey, Shinji. What's up?"

"Shut up!" Shinjiro exploded. He ruffled his hair with his hands, muttering a string of indecipherable words under his breath (although Akihiko was sure one or two of them were things that would get him in trouble). "I HATE Suoh! Who cares about lookin' proper and stuff anyway? It's just school!"

Akihiko's head tilted slightly, watching as Shinjiro unbuttoned his jacket, fumbling with the fasteners and all but tearing off his bow tie. He then proceeded to toss the tie to the floor and step on it again and again.

"It's the first day, Shinji." The silverette tried to straighten his face, but to no avail. The brunette was not amused.

"Tch, I already know that." He shoved his hands in his pockets and kicked at the already crunched-up tie. "Let's just get this over with, Aki, Suoh's waitin' for us downstairs."

"You're scared, aren't you, Shinji?" Akihiko said, unable to contain his smile.

"Stupid. I ain't afraid of anything." Shinjiro turned away, but Akihiko could clearly see he was uncomfortable.

"Onii-chan! Shinji!"

Akihiko didn't know exactly when Miki had appeared in the hallway, but she regarded them with slight disgust as she pointed down the hall with her left hand while clutching her rabbit with her right.

"Suoh says to come downstairs or you'll be late for school," the girl said, cocking her head slightly as her gaze focused on Shinjiro. "Shinji, why are you crying?"

"I'm not cryin', Miki!" the boy snapped, taking off down the hall. Akihiko noted that he was rubbing at his face with a sleeve, and his sister didn't look the least bit convinced. Her large, curious gray eyes were on him now.

"Onii-chan, Shinji really stinks at lying."

Iwatodai Elementary School - Early Morning

They had heard of the word "self-conscious" from television, but didn't really know what it meant.

When Akihiko and Shinjiro arrived at the front gates of the building with Suoh, however, that was first word that came to their minds as more than several pairs of eyes gazed at them.

After all was said and done (greeting people, the Opening Ceremony, and all that other stuff), Akihiko and Shinjiro were standing at the entrance to the main lobby, gazing at Suoh as she put on her outside shoes.

"… And make sure you listen to your teacher… Don't make that face, Akihiko-kun; I'll remember her name eventually. I'll see you boys after school at the front gates, alright? Don't wrinkle your nose, Shinjiro, I'm not letting you two walk home by yourselves. Anyway, have a nice day, boys! Listen to your teacher and don't get into trouble!"

Before either boy could react, Suoh embraced Akihiko and ruffled Shinjiro's hair and trotted out the doors. Akihiko could tell without looking in a mirror that his cheeks and ears had turned pink. He turned his head ever so slightly to Shinjiro only to see that the brunette had buried his face in his hands.

"That woman… is milking this for all its worth," he muttered.

Classroom 1-C - Morning

Their classroom was near the end of the hallway on the west side of the school on the first floor, right by the gym. Their teacher was a bespectacled woman with black hair and eyes a few years older than Suoh, and she called herself Saito Eiko.

Akihiko and Shinjiro ended up with seats next to each other in the middle rows near the right side of the classroom. It was the first place Shinjiro sat, and Akihiko being Akihiko, merely sat beside him.

Contrary to Shinjiro's usually indifferent expression, he had an air of nervousness about him. Akihiko didn't dare say anything to him because the brunette would just call him an idiot and find some way to hide his face. He had tried to fix his hair after Suoh ruffled it, but he had quickly given up on that.

There were about twenty or so other students in the class; eleven other boys and the rest girls. There was a slight air of nervousness, but as morning classes went on, it seemed to have dissipated.

Before long, it was time for lunch. At once, the other students got into groups and started talking amongst themselves. Akihiko and Shinjiro pretty much stayed where they were, only venturing to retrieve the lunches that were prepared for them that morning.

"Shinji, you should really have some of these fried eggs, they're really good. Reiko-san really pulled out the stops, didn't she?"

"Whatever," Shinjiro replied flatly. "Stop talking with your mouth full, Aki. Food's flying out your mouth."

"Oh, sorry." Akihiko swallowed with a gulp and smirked.

Shinjiro wasn't amused. "Idiot."

They continued in silence until four girls approached them, their expressions wary. "Um, excuse me," one of them, a redhead with pigtails spoke up.

The boys turned to the trio, the silverette slightly curious, the brunette thoroughly annoyed.

"Hmm?" Akihiko's head tilted slightly, still chewing on some eggs. A few grains of rice were stuck to his face.

"What do you want?" Shinjiro sounded much ruder than usual.

The girls looked taken aback, but only for a moment. Another girl with short light brown hair spoke up this time. "You two came here this morning with Orphan Lady, right?"

"Orphan Lady?" Akihiko's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"You know, Orphan Lady. She's from that place where all the kids without moms and dads go," the third girl, who had long dark hair, said. "You live there, don't you?"

"What of it?" Shinjiro had given them his full attention now, glaring at them with arms crossed. "If you got something to say to us about it, then spit it out. If you don't, then bug off. Didn't anybody tell you it's rude to bother people when they're eating?"

The girls were dumbstruck. For a moment, no one said anything. Shinjiro went right back to eating his lunch, as though nothing had even happened.

"You're not a very nice boy," Pigtails said to him. "I'm telling Saito-sensei."

"Go ahead," the brunette told her. "I don't care."

When Pigtails puffed her cheeks and ran off, Akihiko was strangely reminded of Miki. Second Girl sighed and ran off after her, with Third Girl at her heels. The boys watched them go, and then exchanged looks.

"What's with those girls?"

"Be glad they're gone, Aki. At least now I can eat in peace."

"… Shinji, that wasn't very nice."

Several more kids in their class came up to them and attempted to ask them the same thing after school. Shinjiro refused to speak anymore, but his glare was enough to deter anyone else from bothering them. Instead of Orphan Lady, the kids in class 1-C were talking about Scary Boy and Weird Kid.

Akihiko didn't like it at all. People coming up to him and asking him stuff. It was worse than being stared at. And then they expected him and Shinji to answer them and got mad when they didn't.

Suoh gave them a warm greeting at the gates, just as she said she would, and they all walked back to the orphanage in silence. Neither boy would speak, but they could agree that their first day of school was nothing they thought it would be. It was a lot worse.

Orphanage, 1st Floor, Den - Late Afternoon

"Onii-chan!" Miki threw her arms around her brother as soon as he set foot inside. When Shinjiro stepped in after him, she all but squealed his nickname and hugged him too.

When she realized that neither boy had returned her greeting, she stepped back, looking at them with worry. "Onii-chan? Shinji?"

"They just came back from school, Miki-chan," Suoh said as she came in last and closed the door behind her. "Let them get settled in, okay?"

Miki could only nod in response, her mind working. When Suoh left the three of them alone, she started kicking her foot at the air and tugging at the bottom of her shirt as though trying to stretch it over her shorts. It was a habit she'd developed whenever she thought something didn't seem right.

"I'm sorry… Did Miki do something wrong?"

The boys immediately focused on her, eyes widened.

"What? Why are you apologizing?" Akihiko said, his voice unusually high.

"You didn't do anything." Shinjiro seemed mad.

"Then… then why didn't you say hi to me?" Miki made sure she was being heard now, speaking a little louder.

The boys went silent again. This just would not do, the lone girl thought. So she did what she best- she got fussy.

She stamped her foot and puffed out her cheeks. "Onii-chan!" she yelled. "Shinji!"

"Quit it, Miki, I'm not in the mood," Shinjiro commanded, silencing her at once. There was a look in her eyes that scared her, and she unconsciously backed away from them.

Akihiko got mad at him. "Shinji!"

"Can it, Aki. I ain't in the mood to talk to you, either. Just leave me alone." The brunette stalked out the front room, leaving the siblings.

Miki rubbed her eyes, trying to get rid of any tears. She didn't want either of the boys seeing them, she wasn't a baby. "Onii-chan, what's wrong with Shinji?"

"… Miki…"

"Yeah?"

"Um… you'll have to go play by yourself for a while. I really don't wanna talk, either."

"Eh? Why?" Miki couldn't believe her ears.

"Miki… please…" Her brother sidestepped her and left the front room as well, leaving her alone.

It would be a while before they told her just why they were being so crummy that day.