A/N: Argh, sorry taking so long to update this story... Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the scenario requests! First one will in a couple of chapters, had to wrap up the bit of drama left over.

I must thank you guys again for reviews and suggestions. Even if I don't get any, I'm still going to finish this story, no matter how long it takes. I'm writing about my two favorite characters, after all.

Also, writer's block is an f-ing pain. I'm sorry if this chapter isn't up to par with the others.

Lastly, several people did request a cameo by the protagonists. I can't quite say when that'll be, but it could be as soon as next chapter. I'm still planning, actually. ^^;

Persona Series and other related stuff belongs to Atlus.

Chapter 9

Lesson to Learn

The atmosphere around the three of them remained heavy and silent even after Akihiko's knee got better after a couple of weeks.

While the boys were slightly more civil with each other (they didn't talk, though) when Miki was around, she could still catch the occasional exchange of venomous glares before they turned away and pretended the other didn't exist.

As much as she loved Akihiko, the boy was around her way too much now. As soon as he got back from school, he proceeded to spend almost all his free time with her, and pointing out things in his homework that she would learn when she eventually started school.

While this was very nice of him, she saw Shinjiro sitting off by himself, pouring over his math homework, counting on his fingers for a moment before grunting and tossing his school things aside, books and all. As soon as Akihiko noticed this, he gathered up his own things, stuck them in his bag, and dragged Miki off to another room in the orphanage while glaring angrily at Shinjiro and ignoring the girl's protests.

After another few days similar to this, and she started to grow tired of it.

"Onii-chan, why are you mad at Shinji?" she asked while he tried to show her some more addition problems.

The silver-haired boy stared at her for a moment before closing his math book and putting it in his school bag. He completely ignored her question.

"Onii-chan," she pressed on, "how come you won't talk to Shinji?"

Once again, she was ignored. Akihiko pulled out his Japanese homework and exercise book. His expression looked as though he were trying not to let his anger get the better of him.

She inhaled deeply, preparing to yell to get his attention, but the annoyed look in his gray eyes stopped her.

"Quit it, Miki, I'm right here."

Pleased with herself, she smiled and proceeded to ask the exact same question she just spoke a minute ago.

"How come you won't talk with Shinji?"

"Can it wait until later?" The girl wasn't pleased to see her brother's eyebrows knitted together. "I'm busy."

At that point, it dawned on her; Akihiko was doing this on purpose. Was it because of that fight they had? It had deeply upset her to see them fighting, but that felt like such a long time ago now. She just couldn't see why they still weren't talking to each other. And there was no way she was going to get any answers from the silver-haired boy concentrating on his homework in order to avoid talking.

Silently, she hopped off his bed, looking back at him as he stared at her in complete shock, and headed towards the door.

"Miki, where are you going? I thought…"

"Since Onii-chan won't talk to Miki," the girl huffed, pausing for a moment, "Miki's gonna talk to Shinji."

There was a moment of silence, then Akihiko returned his gaze to his books; this time, he really did look angry.

"Fine then. Do what you want." His tone sounded just as intense and harsh as it could be.

Deciding to fume outside the room, Miki blinked back her tears as best she could and stomped outside the boys' room, slamming the door shut. She didn't care that he jerked his head back up at her when she did, but she made sure he heard her shrieking at the doorknob and kicking the door before running down the hall.

If he did see her tears, then she wanted him to feel bad.

Orphanage, 1st Floor, Kitchen/Dining Area - Daytime

His movements were mechanical at best.

Brushing some of his shaggy, dark brown hair from in front of his eyes, Shinjiro removed three eggs from the carton in the refrigerator, aware of the pair of eyes that watched him carefully.

Climbing onto a stepstool nearby, he set them down on the table and stared at them intently.

"I'll help you out with this one," Reiko's voice spoke from behind him. "I know you won't drop 'em, but I'm not too keen on you using a knife to break them."

The old woman was standing right next to him a moment later, cracking the shells on the edge of the bowl-slowly so he could see everything she did- and then using a whisk to beat them.

A girl would love to be standing here right now, but all of them were in another room, playing with their dolls. Mai would be running up the orphanage's phone bill again talking to her middle school friends again in the upstairs office.

Shinjiro was here now, and there was nothing any of them could do about it.

Being in the kitchen had an effect on Shinjiro he didn't quite understand. At first, he'd just sit and watch as Reiko prepared meals, but since the incident at the shrine, he felt the need to just… do something.

Obviously against her better judgment, Reiko handed him a small fruit knife (very sharp, but perfect for his hands) along with a few apples. The small band-aids covering the tips of some of his fingers and one bandage on his palm was more than enough to teach him how to not be clumsy with a knife, which was now kept in a locked drawer once Reiko discovered he'd been sneaking into the kitchen to peel apples when he got hungry.

He winced for the briefest of moments as Reiko's calloused fingers brushed against the bandaged palm; it still hurt when touched, and it was the most recent of those small wounds.

"You got all that, right?" the old woman was telling him as she stepped away. "Go get those onions and peppers I chopped up before. I was gonna leave it plain, but I think this one deserves a more 'Western' flair of sorts."

The brunette simply nodded, turning to the table behind him. As he reached for one of the bowls, he paused.

Was that… crying he was hearing?

Reiko had realized he was taking too long, because she asked him what the matter was. He completely ignored it, of course, and headed towards the kitchen door, swinging it open.

Standing against the wall opposite the entryway, he found the silver-haired four-year old, pigtails neatly combed as always, tugging at the bottom of her dress with one hand while hastily wiping away tears with the other.

All previous concentration and thought on his cooking lesson- if he could even call it one- was instantly pushed aside. He opened his mouth to speak the first thing that came to mind now, his voice slightly hoarse from lack of use.

"It's about Aki, ain't it?"

Miki nodded with a hiccup, and then proceeded to cling to Shinjiro's hoodie and weep into his shirt.

The boy's eyes widened, obviously taken aback by this. He could only awkwardly place a hand on the girl's shoulder before Reiko's shadow loomed over them.

"Come on in, then, you two. There are chairs you can sit at, ya know."

Some moments later, Reiko set down two plates of rice topped with half an omelet. Miki mumbled her thanks and tore into it immediately, flicking grains of rice everywhere and not caring if the egg had those green and red peppers she hated so much. If she had complained… well, the last thing she needed right now was a lecture, Shinjiro thought. Her brother, on the other hand…

The brunette looked down at his own half-empty plate. This was getting out of hand. Miki's tearful explanation of the previous exchange between her and Akihiko was making him feel angry, and he didn't really quite know why. He had to stand aside as Reiko led her to one of the chairs, taking the seat across the table from her. Nevertheless, he continued to look impassive as he slowly continued eating.

It wasn't until Reiko had stepped out the kitchen to get something that the young girl finally spoke.

"Shinji, are you mad at onii-chan?" Her expression was still sullen, and those large gray eyes of hers bore into him.

"No," he replied flatly, pushing his plate aside. He'd given up on finishing the meal he'd tried to help cook. Keyword there being "tried."

"Then how come Shinji won't talk to onii-chan?" Miki said, starting to sound distressed. "Miki tried to ask onii-chan, but onii-chan won't answer me!"

"Cuz Aki's actin' stupid."

"Onii-chan's not stupid!"

Shinjiro groaned, burying his face in one hand. Of all the times to be here alone with this little girl, this was definitely the worst. "I said he's ACTIN' stupid. S'cause of that thing at the shrine when… you know…" He trailed off, remembering those older kids that beat them up and tore Miki's favorite doll apart… His stomach twisted uncomfortably.

"Shinji? What'sa matter? Why are your hands balled up?"

The girl's voice broke his train of thought. Shinjiro unclenched his fingers, looking at them in mild surprise. He wasn't even aware he was doing so, then looked up at Miki, who stared back at him with concern. He averted his gaze immediately. "S'nothing…"

He started to get up, but he paused. "Miki."

"Hmm?"

"I… I'll talk to Aki. I ain't promising anything, though."

The smile had brightened her face as soon as the words tumbled awkwardly from his lips. "Really? Yay!"

She hopped off her chair, went under the table to the other side where he stood, and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his hoodie again. "Thank you, Shinji! You're the best!"

Miki was happily skipping out the kitchen a moment later when Reiko returned. One look at the brunette, and she could tell he looked way out of his comfort zone.

"She seems to have gotten outta her funk. You're getting better… 'Shinji.'"

Shinjiro glared at her, trying to gather what was left of his shattered composure. When he spoke, his voice was slightly hoarse like when he first spoke to Miki almost an hour ago.

"Better at what?"

"What do you want, Shinji?"

Akihiko was giving him an intense glare; he was not in the mood to speak to anyone right now. Shinjiro was not helping matters any for him.

"… To talk."

"Talk to Miki. She'll be more than happy to see you." Akihiko brought his book closer to his face, as though trying to escape into it to get away from the brunette.

"I saw her today. You made her cry again."

"So what? You gonna call me stupid like you always do?"

"… No."

The answer took the silver-haired boy by surprise. Gray eyes stared directly into brown; there was no hint of falsehood in them. He quickly recovered, however, and proceeded to bury his face in his book again. "… So, what do you want?"

The next thing he knew, Shinjiro had lifted the book from his hands and tossed it aside carelessly. Akihiko glared at him again, face contorted with anger.

"What'd ya do that for, Shinji?"

"Can't talk with that thing in front of ya." The brunette's tone didn't change the whole time. "So talk."

"About what?"

"Whatever."

Akihiko stared at him incredulously. "What kinda answer is that?"

"Just is. So talk."

There's a method to one's madness… at least that's how Shinjiro heard it from those stupid television characters.

And it wasn't even his idea; Reiko just said to try it.

"You've all been through a lot. Sure, you've both got the 'no parent' thing, but the major difference with you and Akihiko-kun is Miki-chan. Miki is not only his only sister, but all the family he's got left in the world. What you see as 'acting stupid', he sees as trying to protect the one thing he hasn't lost. Try to see things his way… I mean, you two are friends, right? Help him out, and he'll help you out, too. You'll see."

The hot-headed, silver-haired boy who always leapt before he looked and acted out whenever possible, kept plenty of things inside, too.

When that one small fact dawned on him, everything else he did made more sense all of a sudden.

Shinjiro and Akihiko weren't so different from each other after all.