Author's Note:

I should definitely be more devoted to this story, and I should definitely update it more regularly. Especially since this thing is two years old and the last time I updated this was in September… And I'm not even halfway through yet. Gruuuuh laziness, you slay me.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, though! You guys are so great, especially if you're still sticking with me after all this time, ha ha. Massive kudos and love goes out to Miss Hanamura, Sherbert-Lynne, Ayame Daemon, kingtransformo, Mistress of madness, NatKelly, VongolaShiro, iSayumix, Guest, and Kyu-Momo! This one's another request from our lovely Guest, who asked for a Christmas special. (And I'm putting it out now because I probably won't update again before Christmas. XD)

Twenty-Five Hours
a Persona 3/Portable (© ATLUS) fanfiction

The Twelfth Hour

Opening Song: "Her Morning Elegance" - Oren Lavie

The end of the world was so close.

But all Akihiko could think about was how he was going to spend Christmas Eve with his girlfriend. It seemed like such a silly thing to fret over, especially considering what they had looming ahead of them. All the same, it bothered him for the majority of the day, until he was forced to enlist in Junpei's aid.

"Wow, you're gonna be spendin' your first Christmas together, huh?" Junpei asked, whistling in admiration. "You know, at the beginning of the year, I totally thought it'd be me she'd be hooking up with…" Akihiko wasn't sure if Junpei was kidding or not, but he glowered at the underclassmen hard enough that he quickly apologized and retracted the statement. "W-well, why don't you take her out to dinner or something?"

"We always do that," he replied. Most evenings they spent together, it was at either at Hagakure or Wakatsu. It wasn't as though he minded (since he had many fond memories at both places), but this was Christmas Eve and he wanted it to be special. Aside from that, there was this small voice at the back of his head telling him that this could be their last Christmas together. December 31 would be here soon. "I feel like we should do something… different."

Junpei looks exasperated. "Seriously, Akihiko-senpai?"

"What?" Akihiko blinks, not understanding.

"You get more action than I do. Why are you asking me?"

Akihiko was a little more than embarrassed to admit that it was true. Junpei did spend most of his free nights sitting on the couch whining about not having a girlfriend, but at the same time Akihiko was also sure that Junpei understood this whole relationship thing better than him. Sure, he and Minako had been dating for a couple of months now, but she'd been his first everything. "Well, you read books and watch movies on this kind of thing," he reasoned with a bit of shame. (He still couldn't believe he was asking Junpei of all people.) "I just thought you could, you know, help me out." This was absolutely degrading.

At least Junpei was getting a kick out of it. "Wow, this is something… I never thought you'd becoming to me for help… It's like the world's been flipped upside down!" Akihiko let Junpei laugh and chortle, even if he just wanted to punch the guy in the throat. "Geez… Well, why don't you just ask her what she wants to do?"

"I thought girls liked being surprised?"

Junpei shrugged. "No one really know what girls actually like. I'm pretty sure girls don't know what girls actually like. You just gotta wing it, man."

"That's no help at all."

"Hey, I'm trying to figure out the mystery of the female as much as you are. We're all in need of advice."

Later that day, long after he left Junpei behind, Akihiko regretted not socking him, at least once, in the face.

Though he was as lost at the end of the day as he had been at the beginning, he sent Minako a text anyway. She replied with a very cheerful and excited answer, which made him feel even worse about the fact that he had no idea what they were actually going to do. When he went to pick her up at the end of the day, she greeted him with a grin. "Merry Christmas, Senpai!" she said as she jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. He spluttered, still unused to physical displays of affection (especially in public), but she pulled away unfazed.

"Careful, Minako. His fanclub might be on the prowl again, and we'd hate to lose you just a week before the big decision," Yukari teased.

Minako stuck out her tongue in response. "It's Christmas. I can be as clingy as I want." Her grin made it a little easier to ignore the stares directed in his direction. "Ready to go?"

"Hm, yeah." He glanced at Yukari, who raised an eyebrow at him, then at Junpei, who gave him a thumb's up. He turned his gaze to Minako. "Yeah, let's go." He took her hand in his, which brought a fond smile to her lips, and led her out of the school. "I, uh… I don't really know where we're going," he admitted sheepishly as soon as they passed through the gates. "I'm not really good at planning this kind of thing."

She laughed, though it wasn't mocking. "That's okay. I'm just glad I get to be with you."

Her frankness, as usual, brought a blush to his cheeks. "M-me, too."

Minako moved closer to him, crossing their arms slightly. "Let's just go for a walk."

"But you're freezing."

"It's okay. You're with me." He was sure he'd never get tired of hearing that.

So they wandered around aimlessly on Christmas Eve, taking the train back and forth as though they were travelers in a new land. They wandered outside Hagakure, visited the old couple at Bookworm, said prayers at the shrine, ran up and down the slides and played on the monkey bars. They traced and retraced their steps all across Tatsumi Port Island, recalling nearly forgotten memories and ones that were still fresh and new in their minds.

When they passed by the alley way behind Port Island station, where both of them were sure they could still see blood stains, Akihiko felt her fingers shudder between his. He'd always wanted to ask ("How close were you and Shinji?" "Did you ever have feelings for him?" "Did you love him?"), but part of him was still afraid and the other doesn't want to ruin what they're having right now. He just squeezed her fingers, giving her some reassurance, but when she looked up there are no tears in her eyes. The smile was bright in the red depths of her eyes, and in that moment he was so in love with her that all he could do was swoop down and kiss her.

They eventually found themselves in Paulownia Mall, which had been festively decorated with tall Christmas trees and colorful lights. After a long day of walking, Akihiko was more than compliant when Minako pulled him down onto a bench beside her. Instinctively, he wrapped an arm around her as she pressed close against him. "Geez, your ears are freezing," he said as she leaned her head to the crook of his neck. "Are you sure you don't wanna head back to the dorm? We can have some coffee."

"Maybe a little later," she said. He looked down at her hands, which she had intertwined. "It's kinda nice, just having the two of us here, you know? Everyone will be back at the dorm by now."

He nodded. They'd all be wanting to escape the cold, and Akihiko doubted that they'd get any time alone if they went back now. "I guess you're right." He stuck his hand into his pocket and his fingers brushed against something cold. Immediately, his pulse quickened when he thought about the present. Would she like it? Would she laugh at it? Would she even use it? Akihiko had bought it weeks ago and he was still second-guessing himself.

"Since we've all been running around like crazy, I haven't had you all to myself in a while," she said. "It probably sounds a little selfish since we have such a big thing to decide on, but…"

"No," he interrupted, "I understand." He pressed a soft kiss to the crown of her head, oblivious to the couples and frantic mothers running around them. She sighed softly, her breath fanning across the exposed skin of his neck. He swallowed thickly as he closed his eyes, and tried to just enjoy that moment. No words were ever needed between them; even if he loved talking with Minako, he expressed himself best physically. Coming up with topics and conversation had never been his forte, but being with Minako, everything came naturally. Everything felt in place.

Minako shifted against them, pulling away slightly. (He tried his best to hide his disappointment, but from the slight grin she wore he could surmise he failed.) "I, um… I got you something." Her cheeks flushed so brightly that they couldn't possibly be attributed to the cold air. It was unlike her to be this sheepish. "It's… It's really not a big deal or anything, and I had a lot of help from Bebe, but I, uh… W-well…" She pulled a small wrapped package out of her jacket and handed it to him. "Go ahead! Open it!"

Akihiko wasn't used to receiving presents, and he still hadn't become accustomed to the idea even if it was from his girlfriend. Something wrenched at his heart when he looked at this small, messily wrapped parcel in his lap. He didn't say anything as he unwrapped it and fiddled with the red ribbon, as he pulled out the crocheted scarf, as he felt the materials between his fingers. It didn't feel real, this hand made red scarf. His heart leapt.

Minako, who had been wordless beside him, fiddled with her hands in her lap. "S-so, do you like it…?"

"Minako, I…" His words caught in his throat, again. Anything and everything he wanted to say didn't register, again. Words had failed him, again.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her body flush against his. She gasped softly in surprise at the action, but easily fell into his embrace and buried her face against the cold skin of his neck. He could feel her heart beat through their clothes, shuddered with every breath she took.

"It's just a scarf," she mumbled teasingly.

Akihiko broke the embrace to grin lopsidedly. "Sorry. I just… I'm not really good with words." She giggled because it was the truest thing she'd ever heard. "Thank you, Minako." He hesitated for another moment before reaching into his pocket. He hadn't even bothered to wrap it. "I… I've never had to buy something like this before, so… I don't know if it's right or anything, but—"

"It's so pretty." Minako took the delicate little music box out of his hand. Her finger brushed against the cool material, traced the intricate patterns carved into it. Her face was unreadable.

"The lady told me you can use it to store jewelry," he explained. "I'll get something for you to put in it. Every year." He felt his neck heat up at the words, as she raised her eyes from the music box to him. He wished she'd smile or grin; her doe eyes made him wonder if he'd really messed up after all.

When she finally spoke up, her voice was soft. "This is literally the sweetest thing anyone has ever given to me. I…" She put her other hand over the music box, cupping it like it was some kind of priceless treasure. "Thank you so much, Aki."

From afar, they might have looked like two awkward teenagers on their first Christmas date, sitting on a bench and blushing.

In reality, they were just a boy and a girl who had found peace in the chaos.

Closing Song: "Fairytale" - Alexander Rybak

Akihiko and Minako still make my heart flutter. And so does Shinjiro, which is why he's in here not so subtlety, ha ha. Still taking requests and ideas for this drabble/one-shot set!

xx, der kapitan