The Other Chance
Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I do not own anything connected with Persona, Atlus or ancient deities used for cultural influence. I only own myself. Hoorah.
Chapter 2: First Day
April 7, 2009:
Akio stirred from his sleep. He checked the clock, just enough time to get ready. He had been so tired the night before he was still wearing his clothes form the day before. He rubbed his eyes and got up.
He changed into his new school uniform and proceeded to get ready for his day. Just then a knock at his door followed by a voice.
"It's Yukari. Are you awake?"
Akio remembered her and how awkward the night before was, mostly due to the "extra hour".
"Yeah, be right there," he called back to her. He heard voices other than hers beyond the door. Akio assumed she must have woken the monsters first.
'How nice of her,' he thought sarcastically to himself as he went to open the door. 'Nothing like my wonderful siblings to ruin my morning for me.' He opened the door and as he feared, the monsters stood behind Yukari chatting away.
Yukari at least greeted him with a warm smile. "Good morning. Did you sleep okay?" she asked.
He yawned and said, " 'bout as well as I always do."
Yukari look at him puzzled. Behind her, Minako smirked.
"Big bro has weird dreams, that all," she informed Yukari. "He's had them ever since we were kids. It's kind creepy," she said playfully.
It was true; ever since he was kid…well ever since their parents died, he had had these strange dreams. He couldn't always make them out but when he could they always so vivid it was frightening.
Last night was no exception. He dreamed about meeting a group of people in this very dorm for some reason or other but before he could find out why he had woken up.
It was not a fact he was proud of. Just something he had always lived with. He tried not to let it bother him but his sister always found the most embarrassing times to bring it up.
"Hey, hey, don't go giving her weird ideas about me," Akio quickly retorted.
He then grinned at his sister mischievously. "At least I don't moan in my sleep about things that'll never happen to me."
Minako immediately turned four shades of red. "Akio, you jerk!" she yelled before slapping him in the face. "You promised never to tell anyone about!"
"I never said that," he replied sheepishly, while rubbing his cheek.
Yukari just watched as they argued more, feeling really uncomfortable. Minato tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention and she looked at him for help.
"Don't worry this happens with them sometimes. Don't let it get to you." He was so calm and reassuring that Yukari almost forgot why she came to get them.
Amidst all the fighting, Akio noticed his little bro "putting the moves" on their new dorm mate. He inwardly smiled, proud of his little bro. A little jealous but proud nonetheless.
After the fighting ceased, Akio turned to Yukari and asked, "So, why'd you come and get me?"
Yukari, immediately snapping out of it, replied "Mitsuru-senpai asked me to take you to school."
Minako, finally calm, turned to face her. "Well, that's nice of her…Err…you, I mean. Nice of you…you know what I mean," she said, her usually peppiness returning.
"Yes, thank you." Minato chimed in.
"Are you ready to go?" she asked Akio again.
"One sec…" he said returning to his room. He grabbed his book bag and then his wooden sword, still in wrapped in the cloth, and slung it on his back again.
As he walked out Yukari noticed the cloth and informed him, "Ya know, clubs won't start recruiting for a while."
"I know but I figured I'd get a head start. Besides, never hurts to be prepared."
"Okay." She replied. "Then, let's go."
And with that they were off to their first day of school at Gekkoukan High School
They had to take the monorail to get to the school, which was on a man-made island barely off the coast of the city.
The trip was largely uneventful…with the exception of Minako finding several shops along the way that sold "such adorably cute stuff" that made Akio want to vomit.
They got off at Port Island Station and walked to the school from there. It was not a long walk but took time nonetheless. They soon reached the front gate.
As they did, Yukari spun around and said, "Well, here we are. Welcome to Gekkoukan High! You're gonna love it here!"
The siblings looked up at the school. Akio couldn't help but think, 'Yeah, as much as we loved the five other schools we went to over the last few years…damn.' He had to remind himself to think more positively.
He and his twin siblings had been shuffled between many relatives and gone to many different schools. While the twins were effectively monsters, the main reason they had to move so much was the Akio being overprotective of his siblings.
He even was expelled from a nice private school because he broke the nose of some douche that had been harassing Minako.
Naturally, the sibling refused to be separated and when one needed to move so did the others. It was a hard life but relying on each other was second nature to them.
Akio worried about this year most of all though. He would graduate this year. He didn't want to consider what he would do for the next year while he waited for his siblings to graduate.
He shook the fear from his mind and focused on getting inside and to his new life as a senior.
When they go inside Yukari said to them, "You're okay from here, right?"
It was Minato that answered. "Yeah, we can handle it. Thanks for the help in getting us here."
Minako and Akio also said a quick thank you before looking around. The halls were packed with students; most of whom were looking at the class assignment board.
Minato sighed as his siblings began looking around with sparkles in their eyes. Yukari giggled and Minato couldn't stop himself from smiling at her.
"You should go see your homeroom teachers first. The faculty office is right there to the left," Yukari said at last. "Make sure you all get there, okay Minato-kun?"
"Sure," he replied to her as she began walking away. Suddenly, she stopped and looked back to all of them and said, "About last night…" this got their attention and they all faced her. "Don't tell anyone what you saw, okay?"
They all exchanged a quick glance before nodding to her in unison. Yukari exhaled in relief.
"See ya later," she said, leaving them with a smile.
After she left, the siblings decided to go to the board and look for their names. After a few minutes of searching, their names were nowhere to be found.
"What kind of cheap school is this?" Minako said frustrated. "I know we're new but they could have at least put a notice up or something."
"Um, sis…" Minato said pointing to a small note that read:
Minako Arisato – Class F
Minato Arisato – Class F
Akio Arisato – Class B
"Of course they had to make it the smallest note as possible, didn't they…?" Minako frustratedly replied.
Before she could continue Akio lightly smacked her on her head. Rubbing her head she looked up at him.
"Are you gonna complain like that this whole year? And you wonder why you never make any friends." His comment earned him a kick in the shin from his "delicate" little sister.
"It'll be different this year…" she paused looking down, kind of sadly. "We'll be here a while, right? We'll have time to make friends this time…right?"
Akio inwardly kicked himself for his comment. Minako never had trouble making friends but just as she started to fit in, they always moved away.
She always left behind friends. Akio and Minato couldn't make friends fast enough to really be affected but Minako always found leaving to be difficult. Even if she never voiced it.
After a moment of awkward silence, Minato chimed in. "Yukari said we need to go to the faculty room to see our homeroom teachers."
Akio smiled at Minato. Sometimes, Akio felt that Minato was even more mature than he was…Well, only a little bit.
"Thanks, little bro. Let's get going." Minako began regaining her vigor, as she usually did, and they all marched to the faculty office.
After speaking with their homeroom teachers in the faculty office, the siblings were shuffled off to the Welcoming Ceremony.
At the ceremony, they were separated into their new classes. The principle droned on and on about student responsibilities and such.
During the course of the speech Akio noticed several students gossiping and decided to eavesdrop a little. It seemed they were talking about transfer students. Particularly, himself and his siblings.
They talked about how they had all arrived with Yukari. Some suspected that Minato was already putting the moves on Yukari, which wasn't exactly a lie but not true either. Others noted how "babelicious" Minako was and discussed the best way to approach her.
Akio had to restrain himself for that one. He tended to be overprotective of his little brother and sister but starting a fight was a good way to end their school careers early. And there was no way he'd let that happen again.
The last few times he defended his sister honor he had broken one guys nose, another's leg and arm, and one unfortunate bastard had his kidney broken. Akio didn't think it was possible until the family pressed charges. So…Fact: Kidneys can be broken.
Suddenly, a gruff teacher snapped at the kids to be quiet and they did so. But Akio knew it wasn't over.
'Rumors always spread fast in high school,' he thought, 'And rumors like this won't be dying down anytime soon…damn.'
After the ceremony, the siblings went to their respective classes. Akio ended up in the same class as Mitsuru, meanwhile the twins were in the same class as Yukari.
Beyond a simple greeting from Mitsuru, Akio's class was utterly boring and fell asleep midsentence while talking to his classmates.
Needless to say, Akio's class went by without a hitch but meanwhile the twins met someone new.
Minato and Minako sat next to each other in the middle of the class room. Class had ended for the day and they began packing their things when a young man in a baseball cap walked up to them.
" 'Sup, dudes?" he said to them. The two immediately turned to stare at their new classmate but he only laughed. "Haha, you guys look like a deer in headlights."
Minato, a little irritated, was the first to speak. "Do you want something?"
The cap wearing kid scoffed at the remark. "Oh, come on. Let me introduce myself, at least."
Minato and Minako relaxed a bit, he seemed genuinely friendly. He smiled at them and said, "I'm Junpei Iori. Nice to meet ya."
"Nice to meet you," Minato replied. "I'm Minato Arisato and this is my sister Minako."
"Hello," Minako said waves to him happily.
"I transferred here when I was in 8th grade. And I know how tough it is being the new kid…" Junpei continued. "So I thought I'd check up on you two, make sure you weren't freaking out on your first day."
"At it again, huh?" Yukari said walking over. "You'll talk to anyone that'll listen, won't you?"
"Hey, I resent that." Junpei said glancing at Minako. "I just wanted to be friendly," he said grinning a little.
Now it was Yukari who scoffed. "Honestly, is there any girl you wouldn't hit on? Did you ever think you might be bothering someone," she said looking at Minato.
"What? But, I was just bein' friendly," retorted Junpei.
"Besides," Minato jumped in, "My sister can take care of herself. Isn't that right?"
Minako smiled wide, "Yup, no need to worry about me. If any guy gives me trouble I'll just smack him around 'til he can't see straight." She looks to Yukari. "But thanks anyway. We girls need to stick together. Girl power!" she said while fist pumping.
Yukari giggled as she replied, "If you say so. Anyway, some coincidence that we'd be in the same homeroom, huh?"
"Maybe it's fate," Minato offered.
"Yeah, right! Like chance meetings really do pan out into something more. You're such a geek." his twin retorted.
"I don't know," Yukari replied. "It's kind of nice to make a friend. So, yeah, I-I'm glad we ended up in the same class, too."
Minako noticed how her twin acted around Yukari. Minato always was slow with girls, which gave her plenty of time to think of ways to ruin his life, or at least his love life. But for once she decided to let it go.
After all, Minato was a shy kid. He just hid it with his incredible anti-social-ness that made internet nerds look like porn stars.
Before she could question the sanity of that thought Junpei rejoined their world. "Um, hello? Did you forget I'm in this class too? C'mon, lemme in on the fun!"
Minako inwardly laughed. Having someone desperately trying to talk to them was somehow amusing. She loved the power the female body had over men.
Junpei looked at Yukari and Minato and said, "By the way, I heard you two came to school together…is there something going on?" he said grinning wide.
And Minako felt her power slipping.
"What? People are already talking about that!" Yukari practically yelled. "Whoa, I was only joking," Junpei continued cautiously, "Is something really…"
"No! Nothing's going on. Nothing, understand." Minato hung his head slightly at her remark but only Minako noticed it.
"Okay, okay, I get it. I was only kidding," Junpei tried to reassure her.
After that Yukari went right up to the twins and whispered, "I almost forgot…"
She crept in a little closer. "Don't tell anyone about what we did last night." Again they nodded.
Junpei, however, overheard and stood mouth gaping open. "Last…night…" he barely got out.
"That came out all kinds of wrong," Minako said quickly.
Yukari furiously blushed as everyone began to look at them. "It's not what you think…" she tried to justify to them but people were already beginning to talk.
Yukari sighed deeply. "Well, I've gotta go take care of some archery team stuff. Behave yourself, you got that, Junpei?" And with that she quickly walked out of the room.
"Sheesh, what is she, your nanny?" Junpei scoffed.
Minako giggled, "Kind of" she continued to giggle to herself.
"Well, anyway. I was just trying to be friendly when I came over to talk to ya. If you ever have a problem, you can tell your ol' pal Junpei about it," he said as he slapped Minato on the back, causing the dark hair youth to grunt.
Minako giggled and replied, "Thanks, maybe we'll take you up on your offer." She gave him the most beautiful smile he'd ever seen in his life.
Junpei's smile brightened even more. "Heh, cool. Well, I'll be seeing you around, then." He then walked away happily.
Minako turned to her twin. "He's nice," she said happily. Minato scoffed at her, "That's because he didn't hit you."
"Oh, get over it!" the crimson eyed twin shot back, "If you don't grow a set soon you'll never be able to ask her out."
Minato jumped on that quickly, "What did you say?"
"Nothing!" remarked Minako smiling blissfully at him.
After school the twins found Akio waiting for them at the gate and began heading home. From behind them, Junpei came running.
"Hey, heading home?" he asked.
'No, we're gonna pace in a circle singing Kumbaya. Of course we're going home…damn.' Akio needed to be nicer with his thoughts.
"No, we're gonna stay here and play pretend like crazy folk." This came from Minato, who needed to be nicer with his actions.
Brothers will always be brothers.
"Don't mind him. You wanna walk home with us?" Minako offered.
Junpei, not bothered by Minato's comment, happily joined them. "So, who's this guy?" Junpei said indicating Akio.
"This is our big bro, Akio." Minako informed him.
Junpei took off his hat and bowed to Akio, something that threw Akio completely off.
"Nice to meet ya, Senpai," he said politely. Akio regained his wits and said, " 'Sup."
Junpei put his hat back on and they all began walking home together. The twins and Junpei chatted enthusiastically along the way. As they approached the station, Akio finally spoke up.
"So, who's friend are you?" indicating the twins. Junpei looked at him surprised.
"Both," he said smiling at the senior. Akio laughed a bit.
"How can that be possible?" he joked, "There's no way you could have befriended both of the monsters in one day. No way, no how."
This earned him a glare from Minako. "Hey! What does that mean, huh?" she fired at him.
"It pretty much explains itself. I'm impressed he can put up with the both of you. I know I can barely stand it." Akio retorted.
Minato sighed waiting for the coming apocalypse as his siblings began again.
"As if you're so much better," Minako scoffed, "You're more of a monster than either of us."
"Ya know, little sister, you'll never move on unless you accept the truth," Akio shot back.
As they continued to fight, Junpei watched silently. Suddenly, he erupted with laughter and the Arisato siblings turned to him, puzzled. Junpei struggled for air to speak.
"You guys…" he squeezed out through laughter. "You guys are awesome!" he finally spat out.
The siblings were dumbfounded by his sudden outburst. No one had ever complimented their arguments before. Akio took it as a sign of the coming apocalypse but remember that 2012 was a good three years off and signed in relief.
Meanwhile, Junpei finally caught his breath and smiled widely at them. "Seriously, we need to hang out more often," he said to the astonished siblings. "You guys need to act like this all the time!"
The siblings looked to each other for an answer but found none. Quickly giving up on that notion they headed for the monorail and proceeded home.
The rest of the trip home was entertaining. Junpei loved how they interacted with each other. It was kind of obvious that he didn't have many friends.
They parted ways with Junpei at their dorm but before he headed out he gave them his cell number and said they should hang out again sometime.
As they watched him go, Minako turned to her older brother and asked, "What do you think? He's not too bad, is he?"
Akio glanced at her puzzled. "He's an idiot."
Both Minato and Minako glared at him. Akio sighed, "I didn't say it was a bad thing. It's not a good thing but definitely not a bad thing."
Minako swiftly kicked him in the shin before entering the dorm with her twin. Akio stayed outside longer.
'Why do I think so highly of that guy?' he thought 'Must be déjà vu or something…damn.' And with that he followed his siblings into the dorm.
To Be Continued…
This was a fun chapter to write. I had find a way to make Junpei and Akio meet and what better than an awkward argument. Please R and R. Flames will be used to fuel the fire in my soul. Thanks again. Keep smiling.