Thank you for the reviews everyone :D This chap might be emo. Enjoy.


Minato teleported to the first floor of Tartarus. "Damn, that was some kiss." Minato muttered as he ended up on the ground floor.

"Minato!" Mitsuru hugged the battered Minato who just collapsed onto the ground.

"What happened?" Mitsuru asked while the others circled around him.

" I won, nothing else." Minato grinned. Sakura and Yukari gave Minato the dagger look, "Fuuka couldn't sense both of you for minutes. What happened?"

"Huh?" Minato made a surprised face and it came off really well, "Welp, the persona must have dozed off." He nervously laughed and stood up, "Let's go."

"Are you sur—" Yukari's sentence was cut off.

"The Dark Over is over." Minato fumbled over his words and quickly walked away. The team had no option but to follow him.

…..

"31 December." Minato muttered as he walked into his room, tired and broken. "Estimate time to heal… 20 hours." He winced as a sharp pain shot through his right arm which was horribly broken by Elizabeth.

He took off the shirt and looked at his body. Scars and blood was everywhere, "Oddly enough, 31 December is my birthday." Minato smiled, despite the situation.

He crashed onto bed, tired as hell. He quickly fell asleep on his warm bed. "I just hope this body of mine can last for a few months." He whispered.

…..

The days seemed to pass like normal. Even though, the 31th would be Judgment day literally. Minato opened his phone and cursed, "Shit! Christmas, I need to get a present for Mitsuru." He stood up from the desk, "Onwards to the Mall." He dragged himself out of school.

…..

"Sure, see you after school." Minato texted Mitsuru back. It was Christmas and just 7 days were left until Ryoji would be waiting for his answer.

Mitsuru stepped into Minato's classroom and everybody glared at them as the couple walked outside together.

The two stared in awe at the dazzling decoration on the Mall. Even someone like Mitsuru was gazing with delight at the spectacular exhibit put together.

"It's beautiful." Mitsuru said.

"I think you're beautiful." Minato smiled gently and Mitsuru blushed.

"Stop teasing me." She wined, "Lets sit here shall we?" Minato nodded.

Minato and Mitsuru sat down a bench. The air was cold but the usual dread which was usual as THAT day grew nearer wasn't there for now, mainly because Mitsuru had Minato right beside.

"Here." Mitsuru spoke softly, "I have a present for you." She reached into her bag which she was carrying. Minato watched with curiosity as she pulled out a large parcel.

Minato's eyes sparked, "Senpai? Is that really?" Minato whispered as Mitsuru placed a parcel on his lap, "It is, I'm sorry for not giving you the one I promised but this model is even better than mine." Minato looked like a giddy school kid as he stared at his present, "A Core i11." He looked at Mitsuru and embraced her, "Thanks!"

"No problem." Mitsuru blushed.

Minato pulled back and smiled, "I have a present for you too." He pulled something out his pocket. It looked like some sort of keys.

Mitsuru blinked in confusion as Minato handed it to her, "I got you a new bike which is currently waiting for you in the dorm's garage." Minato smiled.

"W-What? You shouldn't have." Mitsuru argued, "A bike is costly."

Minato still smiled, "The laptop is more expensive than that bike." He grasped her hand. "I know you're richer than God but please take it as my gift."

Mitsuru eventually sighed, "Alright." She pecked him on the cheek, "Thank you… Minato."

"No problem." Minato smiled.

The two spent the next few minutes in comfortable silence while holding hands. This was peaceful, moments like this made Minato fight… And very soon that fighting would be coming to an end.

"Minato?" Mitsuru asked, "Have you been thinking about New Year Eve's?" She whispered.

"Yeah, I'll be turning a year older." Minato smiled.

"That's your birthday?" Mitsuru asked with wide eyes, "But the report said that it was on 23rd Feb."

Minato gave a sad smile, "I wrote that myself, intentional." He looked towards the sky, "A lot of things have happened on my real birthday."

"First, I lost my parents on the same day and exactly one year after, I lost Hamuko." Unlike all the times, Minato's voice was calm and composed otherwise he always sounded like a helpless and shattered man while talking about Hamuko.

"And now, I'll be taking a decision which would doom our lives." Mitsuru's eyes flashed concern for her lover, "You're not worried are you?" Minato shook his head, resting it on Mitsuru's shoulder.

"Not at all, I'm free from the guilt that tormented me for 10 years. I have made my choice and I'll follow it to the end." Minato buried his face into her shoulder.

"Do you like this position Minato?" Mitsuru asked as she pushed his bangs away.

Minato gave a big smile, "Yeah, I always slept on Hamuko's shoulder and you remind me a lot about her."

"I'm glad." Mitsuru whispered as she ignored the stairs of the people.

"Let's spend a little more time and then head back to the dorm." Minato nodded, "Sure, empress."

After spending the whole time eating and laughing, the two walked back to the dorm. Both of them walked with caution, not to make the others wake up. Minato was about to walk towards his room until Mitsuru grabbed his wrist, her face blushing red.

"Can you come over to my room?" Mitsuru asked, looking around. Minato yawned, "Sure," He walked with her on the third floor. Mitsuru quietly opened her room and walked inside, opening the lights.

"Woah." Minato said in awe, he was never inside her room and now it looked like a lounge.

"Looks like a lounge right?" Mitsuru asked with a smile and Minato nodded, "No shit."

"You've never been here before right?" Mitsuru asked and Minato shook his head, "No but I was about to sneak in a few days ago and grab some of your pant-" Mitsuru clasped his mouth before he could complete the sentence.

"WHAT?" Mitsuru shrieked, "How can you do that?"

"Pervy side was taking control." Minato sighed, "But thankfully, it is a lot more controlled now." Mitsuru let go of his mouth and sat on the bed, she petted the spot next to her and Minato obeyed, sitting next to her.

She hugged Minato, "You know. You showed me a whole new life." Mitsuru whispered, "A life full of fun and surprises." She purred, "And most of all, your warmth."

Minato returned the hug, "My pleasure." Mitsuru smiled and kissed him."I know we might die fighting Nyx." She paused and blushed, "But, I don't want my life to end without spending a night with you."

Minato blushed like mad, "This seems familiar." He sighed inside, "4th time." He pulled Mitsuru closer, "Alright."

"I'm not good at romance." She admitted and Minato smiled, pushing her back on the bed. Mitsuru landed on her bed and Minato lied down next to her, "Don't worry… I love you Empress." He removed Mitsuru's ribbon.

…..

Minato spent time alone with Mitsuru.

Minato woke up and realized he was still in Mitsuru's room. He got up and looked at the clock, "6 days left." He whispered, "Just six days left." He shifted his gaze to the sleeping Mitsuru.

Minato cleared his mind and took a deep breath. Everything around him had changed. He used to despise Iwatodai, but when he returned here… Everything changed. He fought and nearly killed himself to protect the place he once hated.

Minato was different now, he had grown a lot stronger. Challenging and winning against Avatar of Powers was something he never expected. Sealing the evil side of humanity and last but not the least, freeing his soul from survivor's guilt.

"I died that day." Minato whispered as his eyes began to get wet, "That blasted day, I died along with Hamuko."

FLASHBACK.

Minato slowly stood up and saw his grandfather staring over him and Hamuko who died a few minutes ago. The paramedics were inspecting Hamuko who lied motionless in a bloody mess.

Minato's eyes were devoid of hope as he stood up from the wreckage. His body was tired and strained but he didn't care… He just died. Dead people don't feel pain right?

Minato stood up and Shirogane's wet eyes darted towards him. He was already devastated by losing Hamuko. "How can he withstand it?" Minato didn't cry instead, he just grasped Hamuko's hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Hamuko-nee… You left me too." Minato muttered without any emotion. A doctor came running towards him to inspect Minato but the child just began moving away.

"MINATO! Please wait." Shirogane begged, "You have to be cleared of any injuries." Minato shot him a blank look, "I'm dead gramps… Why would I need inspection?" He walked away aimlessly.

He glanced at his blood stained hands, "I have no life." He continued walking, "I lost everyone…. I don't have a soul…. I'm dead." He collapsed onto the ground from summoning his persona but stood back up, "Just like a living corpse."

He collapsed again from the strain but got up again, "Dead…. Just…. Like…. Hamuko-NEE!" Minato shouted the last word and he slammed his fists onto the ground, creating a crater.

"I love you, Minato." Yukari whispered.

"I don't want to think what would happen if you didn't come here bro." Junpei whispered.

"You're just like Shinji to me." Akihiko whispered.

"You're special Minato-kun." Fuuka whispered.

"I will always protect you." Aigis whispered.

"Minato-sama… I love you." Elizabeth whispered.

….

"Hamuko-nee." Minato sobbed in Hamuko's embrace who stroked her hair, "There, there." Hamuko kissed his forehead, "Let it all out Minato." Hamuko thought as Minato cried his eyes out.

…..

"Ugh." Minato snapped out of the daze and touched his cheek… It was wet…. He was crying. Tears came running down his cheek as Minato sobbed, "Damn it… They gave me my life back." He continued to sob, "Such wonderful people."

Minato kept sobbing until he felt someone wrapping him into a hug. Minato turned around to see Mitsuru who was awakened and was smiling at him.

"Let it all out." Mitsuru whispered and Minato buried his face onto her neck. Minato cried out as Mitsuru consoled him like a mother.

"T-Thank you." Minato sobbed, "Thank you, coming here was the best decision of my life."

"It was…. For all of us." Mitsuru kissed him on the forehead as Minato continued crying.

SMASH

Judgment Arcana Rank 9.