Chap. 5 – Back to normal… I think.
June 13, 2010 = Tatsumi Memorial Hospital = After School
FUUKA YAMAGISHI
Right after we asked the nurse where Minato-kun's room was, we went straight to it. Minato was still unconscious, but a doctor said "Don't worry, he might wake up soon, also, his condition is stable, but it may take him a few days to fully recover from the blood loss."
"Oh thank goodness." Yukari-san said after hearing from the doctor that Minato was okay.
"Haha yeah, sure am glad the big guy's all right." Junpei-kun said relief evident in his voice.
"His vitals seem to be functioning at a normal rate." Aigis said
All four of us sat there silently for a moment, Minato's steady breathing audible because of the silence.
Then, we heard a knock come from the door. Aigis stood up to open it and once she did, a female doctor entered, but only came in as far as the door. "Uh, excuse me. I hope I'm not disturbing anyone, but can I talk to the four of you outside for a moment?" She said
We looked at each other and followed the doctor outside to not disturb the sleeping patient.
"Thank you. My name is Dr. Narima Takemitsu. I am one of the doctors who are currently examining your friend. He is Minato Arisato, correct? If I'm not mistaken, didn't he… isn't he… I'm certain I saw him rushed here just a few months ago… he was in a very critical state. From what I know, we weren't able to… save him." The doctor said, obviously uncomfortable by asking us this.
"Errr… yeah. You see, we don't know the answer either." Junpei said
"I see, (ahem) anyway, we did an overall check up on him just to be sure and we found that his brain activity is high, quite unusual for someone who's unconscious. So we presume that some Persona activity might be going on." She said
Really convenient to have a hospital nearby that's sponsored by the Kirijo Group. So now we don't have to worry about unnecessary information leaks and lots of explanations (or excuses) to ears that might misunderstand.
"Thank you for the information, Dr. Takemitsu." Aigis said
"No problem. It's my job you know." She said with a smile "Take care, all right? Our safety is in your hands."
We went back inside Minato's room after Dr. Takemitsu left.
"Man, this guy is such a sleepyhead." Junpei said pointing his index finger at Minato. "Hey, I don't know 'bout you guys, but I'm getting hungry. I'm just gonna check the vending machine for some snacks, anything you guys want?"
"How about… a BauerBar for the sleepyhead?" A voice said groggily.
"Minato!" All four of us almost yelled in shock.
"Ouch. Yes, it's me" Minato said cringing from the noise we created "Let me guess… this time, I slept for two weeks huh?"
"Two weeks? Nope. Just 2 days" Yukari said "You're improving!"
"Two days? Must be the reason why I feel so horrible." Minato-kun said. Now that he mentioned it, he still looked tired.
"I remember from before that Minato-kun slept for 3 straight days because of the typhoon that hit Iwatodai." Aigis said
"Hahaha, that's nothing. Minato slept for one straight week before." Yukari-san said
"Really? Must have been the time you were absent a lot huh?" Junpei said
"One week. Oh, I wonder whose fault that was…." Minato-kun in a teasing way at… Yukari-chan?
"If only you weren't injured…" Yukari said her voice was menacing and her eyes narrowed.
"Hahaha. I was just kidding!" Minato said "But, I really did think I was in heaven when I woke up… everything surrounding me was white, and there was an angel, right beside me, asking me if everything was okay…" He said with a wistful voice, but then he winked at Yukari and said "Psyche!"
Yukari-san opened her mouth but was too annoyed to actually say something. On the other hand, Aigis, Junpei and I were wondering what they were talking about…
"You said something about food didn't you, Junpei? Cancel my order; I forgot that I can't eat food at the wrong times. So why don't you go ahead and get yours, Hahaha leave me in this paradise." Minato said. Was he referring to the three of us?
"You playboy!" Junpei said, and he went outside to get some food at the vending machine.
"Do you feel fine, Minato-kun?" I asked, I noticed that he closed his eyes longer and more often than usual.
"Honestly, no. I feel horrible." He said "It's going to take some more time for me to get back on my feet…"
"Oh, excuuuse us, your Highness for disturbing your precious beauty sleep." Yukari said, in a joking manner, getting her revenge at Minato. I noticed though, that even if she was saying things in a joking manner, her eyes were very worried and serious.
"Cut it out. I'm serious." Minato-kun said narrowing his eyes at Yukari. "Did you guys figure out who or what those who attacked you were?" He asked, suddenly becoming the leader he was before.
"Unfortunately, we haven't." Aigis answered
The same question was bothering me as well. Who were those people and why did they try to kill us?
All of us were quiet for a moment, each thinking his or her own thoughts. And soon, Junpei entered carrying 4 BauerBars, 3 Cielo Mists and 1 Mad Bull.
"Are you going to eat all of that Junpei-kun?" I asked, wondering why he bought so many snacks.
"Well… that depends if you guys are going to get any of this… I brought some just in case you guys get hungry or something." He said "Hey Minato, we'll leave a few here okay? Minato? Minato!" Junpei-san repeated because Minato seemed deep in thought.
"Yeah. Thanks guys." Minato-kun said "Look. Sorry, but I'm really tired. G' night or afternoon or whatever time it is…" He said and fell asleep
"Heh. Look't him there, sleeping so peacefully. Guess there's no sense in us staying here now. We'll just be disturbances. Anyway, we have a test in History tomorrow too." Junpei said
And so we left Minato-kun sleeping there. Sleeping like a baby.
June 13, 2010 = Iwatodai Dorm = Evening, 6:30 pm
KOROMARU
The day has been quite fun with Ryoji-kun. Both of us served as the welcoming committee for the people who live in this dorm. Ken-kun greeted us with a happy face as well when he came home in the afternoon. Mitsuru-san greeted us with a smile as well but she was too observed in the new book she recently bought. Akihiko-san couldn't manage to hide the worried look he had on his face though. Junpei, Fuuka, Yukari and Aigis weren't home yet. And Ryoji-kun could cook really well for a shadow. Both of us spent the day watching TV or playing a few games like fetch and find me. But even though I had fun today, I couldn't ignore the tension in the dorm with those two who attacked us and Minato-kun in the hospital.
"Hey Koro-chan!" Fuuka-san greeted me as she and the others entered the dorm
"Only Koromaru? How 'bout me?" Ryoji said, hoping to be greeted by either Fuuka, Aigis or Yukari.
"'Sup Ryoji." Junpei said, fully knowing that Ryoji wanted to be greeted by a girl. And they all laughed. I barked since I can't laugh…
Evening, 8:00 pm
"Can I get everyone's attention?" Akihiko said and all of us gathered to hear what he had to say. "Just this afternoon, I was walking around Port Island Station, and when I saw that the movies there were not the type that I wanted to see, I walked around a bit more… As I was walking, I heard a person and his friend talking, I didn't mean to eavesdrop but the topic they were talking about…"
And he related the events that happened to him…
"What? Akihiko, why did you wait until now to tell us this?" Mitsuru exclaimed
"As I said, I only heard it this afternoon. Besides, I didn't want this to add to all the tension in this dorm. And it's just a rumor anyway…" Akihiko said in his defense.
"Rumors aren't actually reliable sources but sometimes they can be true." Fuuka said
"Well we can't do a thing about this right now, even if the rumor is true or not…" Mitsuru said
I barked in agreement with Mitsuru.
June 15, 2010 = Iwatodai Dorm = Morning
KEN AMADA
Today was Friday. The day before Mitsuru and Akihiko-senpai were going to go back to Tokyo University. This was also the day when we had the tryouts for the baseball team. I was dressed and ready for school. I went downstairs to eat breakfast and Koro-chan greeted me.
"Good morning to you too, Koro." I said as I rubbed his head with my hand.
"Hey, Ken. You're quite early today." Yukari-san told me
"Uh yeah. I have to go to school early today. Some things I have to do." I said with a smile
"Ahh… I see. Well then don't let me keep you!" She said and continued to eat her breakfast
I ate my breakfast and then ran all the way to school afterwards.
Gekkoukan School= After School, 4:00 pm
"Hey Ken! Over here!" A baseball team hopeful classmate of mine yelled.
"Hope we can get in!" He said as soon as I made my way to him. I nodded in agreement with him.
The new coach this year was tough. Much tougher than the previous one. So far, only the baseball captain last year and some of the members of last year's team made it. I nearly jumped out of my skin when the coach yelled "AMADA!"
I nervously made my way to the middle of the field and the coach yelled "LET'S SEE HOW WELL YOU CAN BAT! SOMEBODY THROW HIM A BAT!" I took the bat and held it tightly in the middle of the field. "AND LET'S SEE WHO WILL THROW THE BALLS…NIIMURA!" the coach yelled. And my baseball hopeful classmate stepped up.
So it was either me or him…
Niimura thrown the ball towards me, it was fast, but it was nothing compared to what shadows used to throw me. So I hit the ball with ease and it flew away. This went on until I was the one at the throwing end and Niimura was the one at the batting end.
"STRIKE ONE!"
"STRIKE TWO!"
"STRIKE THREE! YOU'RE OUT!"
I threw the balls as fast as I could. They were nothing compared to defeating shadows in Tartarus.
"OKAY! ALL THE SPOTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN! ALL YOU HOPEFULS JUST TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR! YOU ARE DISMISSED YA LAZY LOUTS! Kyahahaha!"
We ran out of there with the coach's booming voice at our tails.
"Hey, Amada-san. Wait up." A voice said once we got out of the field. I looked who was calling me, it was Niimura-san. "Great job back there. (pant) Hahaha. I didn't stand a chance against you."
"As coach said, there's always a next time." I said with a smile.
"Oh, Isn't that Aigis-san? She's really pretty…" Niimura-kun said with a smile on his face. "Man, you're lucky to live in a dorm with so many women…" And he left saying he had things to do.
Hehehe. If only he knew… Aigis-san, Koro-chan and Ryoji-kun was waiting for me in the school entrance. Koromaru barked as soon as I came near and then I patted his head, when I asked them what they were doing there, Ryoji-kun said "We just came here since we remembered that your dismissal is around this time. Mitsuru-senpai told us to go to Tatsumi Memorial Hospital again to check Minato for a bit. Talk about center of the spotlight…"
I just smiled at Ryoji-kun's fake jealously.
June 15, 2010 = Tatsumi Memorial Hospital = After School, 4:45 pm
RYOJI MOCHIZUKI
It's actually the first time I've been inside a hospital. The sharp smell of alcohol shot through my nose, making me sneeze. The sight of all the white was enough to make my head spin and the feeling of being surrounded by doctors and nurses rushing towards patients' rooms; some were carrying patients in wheelchairs and some doctors were talking to a few relatives. But there was also something else, a smell overpowering even that of alcohol, something that could not be hidden in the white walls of the hospital and something that could not be forgotten amidst the busy people… Death. It was more widespread compared to the much smaller feeling of hope among the people inside.
Aigis led the way as we walked towards Minato's room. Once we entered the room, we saw him sitting on his bed. The last time they checked it was June 13. Its June 15 now, must have been enough time for him to recover.
"Are you feeling okay now?" I asked him
"Yeah, good enough. They told me yesterday that I can leave tomorrow." Minato said
"Well about time if you ask me. You've been here for four… nearly five days" I said with a smile.
A doctor entered and talked to Minato about his wound and what he had to do and all that…
"Doctor, I feel fine now, can't I leave?" Minato said
"Mr. Arisato, you've only regained consciousness only two days ago. Leaving the hospital based only on how you feel is just not good." The doctor said "But if you think that you need a change in your surroundings, you can leave tomorrow."
"Hey, doc. If the only thing he needs is more rest, he has a bed in the dorm." I said
The doctor thought for a while then said,"Well… being in bed for five days straight can make you sore, you have a strong body and your dorm is not that far. I guess you can leave later but you need to return here for a checkup next week."
"No problem, doctor." Minato said
Fair enough. I bet he just wants to walk around and feel the fresh air again. He better, he has a lot of things to explain and take care of.
June 15, 2010 = Iwatodai Dorm = Evening
MINATO ARISATO
Out of the hospital at last! Everyone was at the lounge. They were staring at me like they couldn't believe I was real. I couldn't blame 'em, I couldn't believe they were real either.
"Minato, would you mind explaining how, er… you came back to life?" Yukari asked
"I don't know… I just woke up here in the dorm that night, when Ryoji and I saved you from those things." I said "Speaking of which, what were they?"
Akihiko-senpai told me of what he heard in Port Island Station
Another cult? And one bigger than the one Strega started…
"It's just a rumor so we can't really trust it." Ken said
"Yeah. But it's the only lead we've got." Junpei said "Besides, even if it was true, we couldn't really even do anything about it."
"What happened since March 31? It's June 15 now right?" I asked, curious
Then, they explained to me about a shadow-like thing attacking Yokohama, defeating things that were not shadows but looked very much like them, Student Council Elections, my other friends looking for me and everything in between. So much has happened since then… I missed so much.
"Oh hey, don't forget about the abyss of time!" Junpei said
They explained their journey in the abyss of time, when they were stuck in the dark hour, their pasts and their regrets… and Aigis inheriting my personas?
"Oh yeah, we also fought a shadow version of yourself." Akihiko said
"What?" I exclaimed. How is that even possible? And they all laughed. Did I say something funny?
They explained more about defeating Erebus, the husband of Nyx.
"Hahaha! You guys don't need me anymore do you?" I asked with a smile on my face
"Ridiculous! Defeating Erebus was very hard, but we still need you. Just look what happened the night before." Yukari said
Late Evening
After they explained everything that had happened in my absence, Mitsuru-senpai asked me about my plans for school.
"School? I don't know. Why do you ask senpai?" I said
"Because this was sent to the dorm" She said, handing me a fat envelope and a letter.
I opened the letter. It read:
Minato, how are you? Why haven't you been replying to your aunt's E-mails? And you didn't visit us this spring… You haven't been forgetting us have you? Anyway, inside the envelope is money for your tuition fee this school year and some money for your expenses over at Port Island. Hope you're taking care of yourself Minato, and visit us sometime okay? Be careful.
Your grandfather, Ajitama Arisato
The letter made me feel guilty. They would have been waiting for me at home without knowing that I would never be able to make it.
"Have you guys read this?" I asked them, waving the letter to make sure that they got my point. They shook their heads.
"Just thought that it would be… ya know, kind of insulting to your memory to read a letter addressed to you." Junpei said
Good point.
I looked outside, my mind preoccupied with thinking of my family.
"Anyway, what are your plans for this school year, Arisato?" Mitsuru-senpai asked me
I turned around and looked at her "I don't really know… study as a senior, I guess. My grandfather sent me money for this school year anyway."
"Oh, reminds me, to explain your absence, we told your schoolmates that you went overseas to study for your senior year." Fuuka told me
"How 'bout we just tell 'em that you came back 'cuz the lessons were too hard and that you missed us." Junpei suggested
"That won't explain why I don't know certain things that seniors are supposed to know." I answered
"I'm sure you can catch up in no time. Parlez-vous français? (Can you speak French?)" Akihiko-senpai said
"Pas vraiment, juste un peu." (Not really, just a bit)" I answered
Akihiko-senpai thought for a moment to digest what I told him and then said, "Really… well you seem to be good at it. So I've no doubt that you can pass as a transfer student, again."
The faces of Junpei, Yukari, Ken and Fuuka were confused and Mitsuru-senpai laughed then explained our conversation.
Speaking French? Non problème.
Author's note: As I'm sure you noticed, the stuff I wrote on this chapter were "talky", full of dialogue. I made it that way because I couldn't find a way to explain the story without making the characters talk among themselves. Anyway, this chapter serves more like a "bridge" to the other events that are going to happen. So, stay tuned!
Personaddict07