Minato sighed heavily. That few days ago was hectic, what with finding out that Yashiro and Kanashi actually had the potential to summon Personae and all, not to mention revealing the fact that he was resurrected after saving humanity from the utter mind-crushing force that was the Fall. Needless to say, he was getting more and more stressed by the day by the things that were happening around him. He was getting worried.

After all, his newest friends seemed to have a knack for getting into trouble, and it could've been only a matter of time before they were attacked, injured, or worse. Even if he knew that his friends could defend themselves just fine, he had a feeling that just being able to box or brawl your way out of a fight wasn't going to be enough to try and beat the threat that he knew was coming. After all, around school, more rumours of the Nyxist cult were spreading like wildfire and in greater portions. It wasn't any good news about them either; they were growing in popularity, and more promotions were starting to go out on their site.

However, what Minato thought was even scarier was the fact that people at school knew about the developments within the cult at all. It was supposed to be something kind of… secret, after all.

Wasn't it?

Minato shook his head. Stop with the doldrums won't you? He was supposed to have some semblance of happiness at all times. Well, of course, that was impossible, but he could try.

But for now, he had to deal with the shenanigans that were going on for the party. He was surprised that any of the developments for this on-the-fly party were going as fast as they were. At this rate, it would only take a couple of days and then everything could get ready. For Nyx that is.

He shook his head once more. Nyx, the other reason for his general misery. He had been trying to be nice to her, but of course… there was still that grudge, and it was something that had been haunting him for a while, and he had been trying his damn hardest to shrug it all off. But of course, a grudge for the one that basically ended his life and killed him was something to be expected.

It was irrational, and he knew that. And yet, he couldn't see Nyx any other way.

Minato had gone to great lengths to let him step outside his comfort zone; doing things for other people, including Nyx, that he hadn't done for many before. He was actually slightly surprised at how far he could go for someone that he cared about, in one way or another.

He was getting side tracked though.

He was supposed to be thinking about the preparations for the party not to stroke his ego or mentally complain about Nyx. Though those two options did at least seem more fun…

Minato was actually supposed to be going out to discuss what they were going to do for the party actually. And of course, Nyx couldn't really be at the party discussion since it was actually primarily for her. Of course, all of Minato's friends were going to be there, even the new guys; Yashiro and Kanashi. Well… mostly, but that was because the seniors weren't really involved in any of this. Ken and Koromaru were going to come though, so that was a thing.

He better get ready then.

He mused that it was getting warmer as the days were going by. Minato knew that summer was going to be coming soon enough, and he was still wondering what his summer was actually going to be like. At least, he figured that it was probably going to be very hectic, and not in the ways that he really would've wanted.

Oh well. Minato figured that he would just have to deal with it as things came.

Minato finally set off towards the Iwatodai strip mall with everything that he needed in his pockets. Apparently Nyx had also been pretty caught up in some internet shenanigans that yesterday, and it set her up to be awake until pretty late when she thought about it. It must've been some pretty intense thinking, whatever it was on.

"Hello Minato-kun," Chihiro said as she waved him over to the table that everyone was sitting at. They were sitting on benches around Octopia like they had said. It was mostly the girls for now and the people from SEES, sans the seniors. Yashiro and Kanashi were probably going to come so—

"Hello all you peons, Kanashi's in the hou-"

Yashiro promptly shot him a deadpan, earning him a smirk from the addressee.

"Kanashi's in the house mothercanuckers!" Kanashi said anyways, obviously not caring that Yashiro disapproved.

"Why am I friends with him…" Yashiro muttered quietly so no-one could hear him, as Kanashi sat down.

"Mothercanuckers?" Minato mumbled sceptically before electing just to shrug it off and wonder about it later. It wasn't the time or the place. "Anyways, looks like we're all here," he noted, looking around at all of the members.

"Yeah, so what are we here for again?" Kanashi asked with a nonchalant expression.

"We're supposed to be organizing a party for Nyx, since she's so much more closed off than some others," Yuko explained quickly. "It's also kind of… because of the fact that the mid-terms are over and stuff."

"Parties are nice I guess, but I don't really enjoy them much," Yashiro sighed. "You got any ideas yet?"

"I think so," Chihiro said. "I've already discussed it with Mitsuru-senpai, and so we were thinking that we could just have a small get together at the dorm; nothing overly fancy."

"I think that would be best, Chihiro-chan," Fuuka agreed. "It wouldn't be as much to prepare for, and we can still have the celebrations…"

Minato nodded his head slightly. He didn't mind of course, seeing as it was probably only the lobby of the dorm that they were going to be using. And it wasn't that bad of a space for those kinds of celebrations. There was a TV and a place for eating and everything. It was nice for having a lot of people gathering at the same time. But then again, it would have to be, considering it was a dorm intended to house many students at the same time.

"I think so too," Minato decided to voice his opinion, earning some nods among the group.

"Kanashi agrees," Kanashi said proudly. "It'll be easier to set up some surprises or whatever for the girl," he smirked devilishly, earning him a punch in the direction of his shoulder from Yashiro.

However, Kanashi merely stuck his fist out, and caught Yashiro's fist in an unexpected bro-fist. "Good luck with that!" Kanashi grinned.

"Think we can break skulls between those things?" Yashiro asked as he hesitantly pulled his fist away from the impromptu bro-fist.

"Probably could," Kanashi said nonchalantly.

Between most of the girls there was one thought: How are we stuck with them?

"Anyways…" Rio started, trying to look for a way to divert the situation. "No pranks would be a whole lot better."

"But pranks make everything better," Kanashi said defiantly, crossing his arms and turning his nose up.

"No they don't. I believe that a particular one that you have made and executed has greatly embarrassed Nyx and humiliated her," Aigis commented with an off-hand tone. "And from what I know, most evidence that has been left on the internet from activity on the web cannot be easily erased, or at all without destroying it."

Huh wha? That was the thought that Minato had.

"And that's why it's funny," Kanashi smirked.

Aigis merely sighed. It seemed that he truly was as stubborn as Nyx could make him out to be. Perhaps her demeanour towards Kanashi wasn't misplaced, but it was still something that Aigis couldn't approve of. She decided she would tell Minato about the prank later, and perhaps he could help her, as much as he disliked her.

…since when was Minato any kind of proxy to help Nyx solve every single problem that she encountered? How peculiar. She could have asked someone else to try and help Nyx, though Aigis supposed that it was because Nyx spent the most time with Minato, having things explained to her and such.

"No. Pranks, Kanashi," Yashiro glared at Kanashi who just glared back. It almost looked like they were ready to start another brawl, so…

"Kanashi, just small ones, we can't afford to have messes to actually clean up and stuff," Yukari sighed with a conceding tone.

"I think I can make do with that," Kanashi grinned. "So, is there anything else?"

After those shenanigans had occurred, the girls delegated the things that they needed to get for the party, and everyone went their separate ways.

"Minato-kun," Aigis said to Minato after everyone else had left. "I think I need to tell you about what Kanashi and I meant about the prank that he had pulled on Nyx…"

"What's up?" Minato asked cordially. The mood of the earlier conversation had been quite casual, so Minato had been able to get himself back into a fairly good mood during it all. After all, watching Yashiro and Kanashi was quite amusing… Probably more amusing than it should've been, but it worked to watch the two of them keep throwing glares, insults and bro-fists at each other.

"You see, yesterday, Kanashi had hacked into Nyx's Facebook account, and posted a humiliating message on Nyx's wall. As a result, there seems to be quite a lot of tension between the two of them, mostly from Nyx's side," Aigis explained. "I feel that if the situation gets out of hand, it could be dangerous. I've decided to help Nyx if Kanashi doesn't listen to reason, but I felt it would be best to inform someone else closer to her."

"You think I'm close to her?" Minato smiled slightly, his tone almost incredulous at the situation. "You think I can help her?"

"Yes. Minato-kun, you're still the closest to Nyx, even if you don't like her. I have to say that Nyx shares the same sentiments, however…" Aigis looked up at Minato with a worried expression. "She still needs help before someone could possibly get hurt."

Minato mulled it over for a few moments. Again, if he wasn't under any kind of pressure he would let Nyx go off on her own, however… because of those game-like rules, he had no choice but to help keep her safe. "Fine, I'll look after her if something happens," Minato sighed.

AN: Aaand we're back. To Minato. Party's coming up, so with that on the horizon, I think we can wait for some awesome shenanigans to happen.

Plz box me yo thoughts, I'd appreciate it!

Imma see ya guys later.

Nights: Of course. She's no blind character anymore, now that's been living in the human world for a bit longer.
Mmhm. They were fun to write. That is something I hadn't thought about… I dunno, if I get an opportunity then I'll do it.
Yeah! It's not going to be pretty, but of course, what war is?
Sure will.

Raidou: Thanks! Damn her character is fun, but hard to work with, so yeah. It's at least interesting. Keeping her in character is difficult, so I hope she's still as nonchalant as possible.
Sure will.

Yoshikunitsu: Haha, I hope so! It was difficult, but I think in the end, reading it is fun.
Ah, the fluff. I can't wait either, but of course… we move slowly around here. It's almost as if they're episodes of an anime with little events each chapter…
Haha, mysteries indeed. Who DID give Nyx her ipod and earphones?
Mmhm!

Eivexst: Yup! I thought it was time for a check up on her progress, and even if she doesn't know it… she's been making a lot more than she would ever admit. Haha, yeah. Yukari and Fuuka…
Oh really? I'd like to know your guess!
Hahaha, that is true. But she hasn't yet realized any true meaning behind liking 'friends' and what they actually are, so she still has a ways to go, but it's starting, slowly but surely.
Nah it's fine! I'm starting to think I'm bad at plotting out events mysteriously…

Reviewer Of All: Oh god, best review I've gotten in… ever. Basically.
*cough* Aaanyways, I'm glad you like the idea! It took a while to think about to make this work so yeah… Oh, he probably will, don't you worry.
Of course! Why would they anyways?
I know, Nyx IS a tough character to work with. She won't realize her own flaws until later, but she'll see soon enough.
Ah thanks. I'm kinda compulsive with that stuff. Yeah, I know that, and I seem to do better with third person anyways. I only use first person occasionally.
Yashiro will get his own bit of character development later, don't you worry!
I'm glad you like Kanashi! He was an awesome character to try and work out, and I enjoy writing him and his antics a whole lot. Well, I can tell that SOMEONE'S going to be happy about the fact that Kanashi is getting a lot of love. Funnier than JUNPEI!? Wow… Yeah, though I couldn't have made up his character alone. Without him, Kanashi wouldn't be the way he is: badass and proud troller with a touch of humour.
Yeah, I wasn't originally going to include this 'war' before but it just seemed way too perfect not to execute. Well, it looks like I'm succeeding with Kanashi at least.
I definitely won't. I want to get to the end with chapters trailing behind awesomely. Haha, good, because I didn't come up with the ass-ass-in joke myself. I couldn't think of it if I tried.
No way! I love long reviews!

Q/A SECTION

(Kanashi and Nyx) Question 1: What would you like to say to your haters?

Kanashi: Y'all must be so happy pointing fingers at me because of how much I'm a douche, but sooner or later you're just gonna end up where I am now. Pride easily overpowers a person sometimes, and when it does, you won't like people pointing fingers at you; you'll be pissed off like I am now. However, to the ass-ass-ins and all the other punk ass bitches that want to kill me… *flips them off* Y'all can kiss my ass!

Nyx: I do not care for them. They can live out the rest of their pitiful lives hating me if they would like.