A/N: Something I made while waiting on New Year's eve...It reminds me of the New Year's eve in the game while being lovers with Ryoji...): Depressing...
Minako joined the other girls for a dip into the hot spring. Being abroad for ten years, Minako couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by it. Yukari had to pull her into the water.
"Isn't this relaxing?" Fuuka said. Yukari slouched.
"Yeah, to think that our leader pushes us to the limit during our exploration of Tartarus." Yukari said then grinned at Minako who felt guilty.
"I'm just following Junpei's advice." Minako mumbled. " 'When you're feeling great, that's the best time to go hike up Tartarus and kick some ass'...or so that's what he said."
"Don't listen to anything Stupei says."
"But it seems that Arisato had been feeling great ever since she met that transfer student." Mitsuru said. Minako wonders how on earth Mitsuru got whiff of that rumor.
"Say what?" Yukari said, annoyed. "Ugh, I hate him and his ego."
"What do you have against him?" Minako said.
"He is not good." Aigis said. Minako frowned.
"And to think he even asked Mitsuru-senpai out." Yukari said, looking at Minako. "Honestly, Minako deserves someone else better than him."
But Minako was looking at Mitsuru. Ryoji asked her out? Minako couldn't help feel inferior to Mitsuru since she is beautiful than her. There's even someone, a girl, who's infatuated with her. Fuuka noticed how Minako's cheery disposition drop at an alarming rate after hearing that and decided to change the subject. Minako didn't join them talk. Then Minako's head suddenly turned towards the rock when she heard a little splash.
"What was that?" Yukari said.
"I think there's someone else here apart from us." Minako said.
"Are you sure it's not just your imagination?" Mitsuru asked. Minako shook her head and had asked them to search for the source. Her intent to examine the rock was delayed by Yukari.
"Do you think it's a ghost?" Yukari said as she clung to Minako when they heard another splash.
"No." Minako replied. "Must be someone..."
"Oh, you think there are other customers here?" Yukari said, relieved. Then she called out but no one replied.
"Are you sure it's not a ghost...?" Yukari said.
"Ghosts doesn't make splashing sounds like that." Minako said, imagining a ghost play on the water like a little kid. For some reason, the thought of it made Minako chuckle inwardly.
"Then maybe we should head back. The others may have found some clue...Minako?"
Minako moved towards the rock. If she's not able to check that place out, she knows that she'd be restless for the rest of the week. She edged slowly around it, with Yukari waiting for the others to join her. Minako could hear hushed whisperings behind the rock.
"Do you see something?" Yukari called out but Minako held up a hand to silence her. Too much training in Tartarus made Minako to be an expert in hunting. Minako edged a little more, then silently peeped. She could see three pairs of feet.
"If she finds us, she'll execute us." Minako heard Akihiko's hushed voice.
"E-Execute?" Junpei's voice said. "This is all your fault, Ryoji."
"Me?" Ryoji's voice replied. "Why me?"
"Quiet down!" Akihiko said. "Honestly, why did I come with you guys..."
"We can just tell them when they find us that we forgot the time..."
"Like the hell that would work." Minako said, glaring at them. The three of them jumped in surprise.
"Wait! This is a misunderstanding!" Akihiko said, panicking. The other girls had come up behind Minako.
"Junpei?" Yukari said, scandalized.
"Akihiko-senpai?" Fuuka said, surprised.
"I'm going to execute you all!" Mitsuru yelled, her face red.
"It's nice knowing you all." Aigis said nonchalantly.
Despite of the commotion, Minako was looking at Ryoji. To think she considered to like him more than a friend...
"I'm sorry, Minako-chan." Ryoji said over and over as he followed Minako around. It was Saturday, and though there are no club activities, Minako seems to be really intent of looking busy.
"Can't you see I'm busy, Ryoji-kun?" Minako replied curtly. She entered the Student Council room even if there's no meeting that day.
"Minako-chan." Ryoji followed her into the room. "I'm sorry already...I didn't mean to..."
Minako ignored him. "This office is only for the Student Council members. Those who are not members should get out."
Ryoji looked at her sadly. "I was just...jealous of Junpei because he gets to see you in a bathing suit when you went to Yakushima...so I..."
"Mochizuki." Minako snapped. "I told you to leave, didn't I? If Hidetoshi-san comes around here, I'll be the one who'd be reprimanded."
Ryoji sighed heavily. He turned towards the door. "But you're still coming to meet me tomorrow, right?"
Minako didn't reply. Deep inside, she wants to meet up with him. But after all that happened at Kyoto, after their date there that is, who wouldn't bear a grudge or something?
Minako woke up early that Sunday. Thinking that it's better to ditch Ryoji rather than go out with him that day, she went down to the laundry to retrieve her clothes. As she stowed her dried clothings away in to her cabinet, her cellphone rang. Thinking it's just Ryoji calling her, she ignored it. After ten times of ringing, she finally answered it without looking at the name of the caller.
"I'm sorry Ryoji-kun, but I won't be able to come today. So why don't you invite your other girls to go out with?"
"And who the hell is Ryoji, Minako?" she heard her brother's voice answer her. "Is he the reason why you've been ignoring my calls?"
"Minato-nii." Minako said, surprised. "I didn't know it was you..."
"After ignoring me for a few days, that's how you'll greet me?" Minato reproached. "You didn't even call on our birthday."
Minako winced. "I'm sorry, nii. I was busy with things..."
"Busy rejecting boys, I see."
"Stop that, nii. It's your fault too. Why did you have to be my brother?"
"You and your incestuous little brain. You've been reading too much."
"I am not reading too much, brother dear."
"Oh well, since it seems like you're jealous of something, I'll be hanging up now."
"I'm not jealous!" Minako said, flustered.
"Yeah, yeah. Lie all you want. To think that I have competition in having my sister's attention..." Minato hung up. Minako only stared at her phone before setting it down.
"That idiot." she muttered as she resumed her chore of folding her clothes. Then her phone rang again. She answered it quickly, hoping to hear her brother's voice. Instead, it was Ryoji.
"Minako-chan?" Ryoji said. "Are you...really not coming today?"
Minako felt guilty when she heard his sad tone. Minako didn't reply to his question.
"Hello? Minako-chan?" Ryoji said.
"...I'm coming." Minako finally said. "But promise me one thing."
"Yes?"
"That I get to pick where we're going." Minako wanted to add "And that you won't ask anyone else but me" but thought of it being too possesive. They're just dating, and not in a serious relationship. And if her brother sees Ryoji as a competition, then that's all the better. She loves her brother more than anything else, and she wants to be special to her brother too. Minato never really shows any affection towards her, since he'd been thrown into their father's seat in the company after their parents died ten years ago. To think an eight-year old Minato running a big company on his own, it stirred a lot of controversies.
"That's alright." Ryoji said cheerfully. "I'd come and pick you up then."
"You look breathtaking as ever, Minako-chan." Ryoji beamed as he held out his hand towards her.
"I'd appreciate it if you'd stop your baseless flattery." Minako said, ignoring his hand. She walked towards the station, with Ryoji following behind her.
"Baseless?" Ryoji said, confused. "What are you talking about? You ARE beautiful."
Minako ignored him. For some reason, she regrets going out with him since Yukari will be raging on her when she comes back. But being in his presence makes Minako feel special, like when she's with her brother back then.
"Where do you want to go first?" Ryoji asked as they stepped out of the station. There's not much to hang out in Iwatodai, so Minako decided they'd go to Chagall. Once there, Ryoji tried to engage Minako in a conversation but Minako only sat there, drinking her tea. Ryoji gave up after thirty minutes and the two of them just sat there, drinking and immersed in their own thoughts.
Ryoji looked around and saw a man gave a boquet to the woman he's wooing. An idea popped into his mind.
"Minako-chan, you don't mind if I leave for a while?" Ryoji said. Minako looked at him critically.
"Oh, going to meet other girls?" Minako said. "Sure, go ahead."
Ryoji frowned at Minako's sudden hostility. "What made you think that I'm going to meet other girls when I'm with you?"
Minako didn't reply. Ryoji stood up, took her hand into his and kissed it.
"Like I've told you before, you're my dearest." he said. Minako felt herself blushing.
"I do not remember you saying that." she spluttered, though she vaguely feel that he did say it. Ryoji smiled at her sweetly. Finally, a breakthrough.
"Yes I did." Ryoji said as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I said it when I saw you in my dream some time ago."
Minako blushed crimson at his sudden display of affection. She could feel the stares of people around them, maybe even thinking that they're a couple who had a row and that Ryoji's trying his best to patch things up. It may be heart melting to those girls who fawns over Ryoji, but for Minako it reminded her of her brother who always kisses her forehead whenever she can't sleep back then.
"I'd be back quick." Ryoji said.