"And I just got the biggest scoop ever!" Junpei exclaimed.
"What would that be?" Yukari sighed. What was it with Junpei and gossip this year? There was yesterday, there was about Kanashi for the first day at school, and then today. What could be so interesting that he'd have to spread it around the mill this time?
"Well, I saw Minato and Nyx hanging out together really well today, looked as if the snap from yesterday from both sides was finally resolved or something," Junpei grinned.
"Oh really? That's good for them," Yukari nodded. "It wouldn't be good to have another fight between them like the last time. Whenever Minato's angry he just seems to tear everyone around him apart, even the people that aren't exactly involved in what's going on at that moment."
"Yeah, that is pretty true. The guy's got some sharp claws if he wants to snap at someone," Junpei nodded sagely.
"Junpei, don't you usually say something like that if you're talking about a girl?" Yukari asked.
"Everyone has hidden claws," he grinned.
"Who, even you?" Yukari deadpanned at the capped teen.
"Yuka-tan, that stings," Junpei said with a mock hurt expression as he pretended to clutch his shoulder in pain.
"Anyways… I wonder what changed between them. If you say that maybe it's because Minato's gotten over hating Nyx or something," Yukari said. "I think Nyx isn't that bad, but I wouldn't go as far as forgiving her yet."
"Eh, there's forgiving someone, and there's accepting somebody!" Junpei exclaimed. "You're just half a step closer to becoming an enlightened being!"
"Junpei, since when did you say anything smart?" Yukari's eyes widened after she took in Junpei's statement.
"I did? AHHHHHHH-" BOOM!
Yukari looked at the retreating figure of Junpei and flinched from the hard 'crash' sound that rang out when he collided with the wall. "I guess I spoke too soon…" she mumbled.
…
"So, what do you wanna do after school this time?" Minato asked Nyx.
"I'm not sure this time," Nyx replied. "I mean, I don't really have anything in mind…"
"Hm… oh, then do you wanna meet a good friend of mine?" he said after a few moments of thought. "She's really cute and sweet."
"Um… cute and sweet?" Nyx said sceptically.
"Yeah, she's just a little kid," Minato reassured. Why was he reassuring her about something like that?
"Oh," Nyx nodded. "It's just I couldn't imagine you being with a girl much younger than you or something like that…"
"What, can you imagine me with somebody who was older?" Minato snorted, enjoying the wide-eyed look on Nyx's face.
"Yes, I could. Like Toriumi Isako," Nyx blinked.
Minato froze and gave Nyx the same wide-eyed expression that she had but a few moments ago. "Oh. Riiiight. I almost forgot about that. I kinda wanted to forget about that…"
"Why?" Nyx asked innocently.
"Eh… well, it just got kinda awkward after I got stuck in that coma thingy," Minato rubbed the back of his head. "She hasn't been looking at me normally since after I came back from that coma…" Let us not mention the night before that.
"…Rated X material?" Nyx asked.
"Yes, that kind of material," Minato sighed. "Looks like you've really gotten the hang of using tact now haven't you?"
"Yeah… it kinda stuck after that. You can clearly see the difference between people that used tact and the people that don't," Nyx said, running her fingers through her hair.
"Oh? How?" Minato asked.
"You just need to look at Kanashi and Yashiro," Nyx answered simply.
"Oh yeah. They're kinda like… exact opposites, even though there are quite a few things similar between them as well, as much as they wouldn't want to admit it," Minato nodded.
"Or you could look at Kurow and Kanashi," Nyx said.
"Kurow's on… he's on a whole different level," Minato admitted.
"…yeah, you're right," Nyx agreed. "Oh Minato, you know how they say that opposites attract?"
"Yeah, I know that well," Minato nodded.
"I guess, Kanashi and Yahsiro would be like a classic example of that?" Nyx asked.
"Oh yeah," he nodded.
"But then what about the saying, 'birds of a feather flock together'?" Nyx continued. "Could you think of an example?"
Minato mulled it over for a few moments. "Well, now that I think about it, a lot of the really close friends are pretty different to each other," he said. "Although, the ones that are similar to each other usually end up liking each other a lot more than just friends."
"You mean like falling in love?" Nyx asked.
"Yeah, like falling in love," Minato smiled.
"What are you smiling about?" Nyx blinked.
"I'm just thinking about it," Minato nodded simply. "I don't know why, but for some reason, love makes people really happy. I don't know how or why it's like that though."
Nyx nodded. "I don't understand it either," she sighed.
"Heh, yeah," Minato chuckled. "Anyways, this is Naganaki shrine. I used to hang out here a lot when I wanted to get away from stuff."
"You seem to be hampered with a lot of things, aren't you?" Nyx commented.
"Yeah, but I'm kinda used to it now," Minato shrugged. "Started all last year, so I've had that much time to adapt and stuff."
"No, I mean how much do you think that I'm a burden on you?" Nyx asked, searching through Minato's eyes for a straight answer.
"I'm not really sure Nyx. But to be honest, I don't think you're really a burden anymore since I've been trying to get close to you and not pull myself away like I did before," Minato smiled, patting her on the head.
"Why are you patting me?" Nyx asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Why? You don't like it?" Minato tilted his head.
"Well, one, I'm not a kid," Nyx started. "Two, you're messing up my hair."
"One, I know you're not a kid," Minato grinned. "Two, your hair is totally fine. I bet you're just looking for a reason for me not to pat your head."
Nyx sighed. "Well, this is different," she mumbled.
"Why's that?"
"Well, I haven't really been pat on the head like this before," she answered stiffly, a gold tint starting to overtake her cheeks.
"There's a first time for everything," Minato chuckled. "Hey, you're blushing."
"You didn't think I would with what you were doing?" Nyx said stubbornly, trying to hide it.
"It's just a surprise seeing you like that," Minato smiled. "You look pretty cute like that…"
Nyx blinked. "Um… yes, thank you?"
Minato blinked also. Did he really just say that? "Uhuh, yeah…" he said awkwardly. "Anyways… Maiko-chan! Are you there?"
"Minato-nii?" a small voice addressed him.
"Hi Maiko," Minato smiled as the girl ran up to him. "I wanted you to meet another friend of mine."
Nyx looked upon the girl gently, feeling a sort of benevolence fall over her, similar to when she talked with Ken and Minato. Hm… somehow, Maiko reminded her of Hemera…
"Oh cool! Hello! What's your name?" Maiko asked cheerfully.
Nyx replied, "My name's Nyx. But you can drop the honorifics." Her cheerfulness was quite contagious… "What's yours?"
"I'm Maiko! Hey, has anyone told you that you look really, really pretty? It would be really cool if I could grow up to be that pretty when I'm older!" she smiled.
Nyx was quite used to that compliment by then, but somehow, she couldn't help but smile at Maiko when she said it. "Actually… yes, people have told me. And I'm flattered," she laughed a little.
"Heh, looks like you have a fan Nyx," Minato smirked at her.
"Shush," Nyx pouted at Minato. "You're going to make me blush again if you keep that up!"
"Hehe," Maiko giggled. "You're funny."
"I never really thought of myself as funny…" Nyx wondered aloud.
"Just take the compliment," Minato chuckled. "Anyways, how've things been going? Has Kanashi been hanging out with you a lot?"
"Yup! He always seems to bring some candy along when he comes," Maiko beamed.
"Have you been keeping water handy then?" Minato said with a concerned expression.
"Yeah, I have! And I've been thanking Kanashi every time he gives me something," Maiko nodded.
"That's good," Minato smiled.
…
Nyx and Minato passed by the rest of the day with Maiko before evening came, and she had to go home. "So, was that fun?" Minato asked.
"Yes," Nyx nodded. "She's certainly the bundle of energy, isn't she?"
"Yup," Minato agreed. "Maybe no thanks to the candy Kanashi's been giving her, but yes, she's fun to be around since her cheerfulness and energy are really contagious."
"Haha, I can agree with that," Nyx smiled. "Um… Minato?"
"Yeah? What's up?" he asked.
"Why did you call me cute?" Nyx said quietly, running her fingers through her hair continuously, as if she was becoming more conscious of Minato under his gaze.
"…Because you are," Minato said simply, although he himself didn't actually believe that he could say that to another girl, right to her face again. He could admit it in his mind, but he'd never say it aloud.
"I-I see…" Nyx mumbled, still finger combing her hair.
"Why do you keep doing that uh…?" Minato started, not quite sure how to put what he wanted to ask into words. "You keep trailing your fingers through your hair."
"No reason…?" Nyx said, quickly pulling hand away and straightening up abnormally.
"…you nervous?" he asked slowly, "Or um… embarrassed or something?"
"Yes, you keep saying these embarrassing things," she said, her words almost in a blur, but Nyx manages to slow down. "How is it that you so quickly came to good terms with me just like that, and I became so accustomed to you so like this?"
"You forget, I'm a Wild Card," Minato smirked. "I can get close with pretty much everybody. I just… I didn't put any effort into being friendly with you before so… I didn't at all…" he started to mumble as his confident face slowly fell into a saddened expression.
"That is right… Wild Card…" Nyx nodded slowly, as if she was contemplating something.
"What're you thinking about now?" Minato asked.
"I'm just thinking about it, you being a Wild Card," Nyx answered as they approached the stairs that led to the dorm.
"Oh?"
"If I find anything, I'll ask," Nyx reassured him.
"Well, alright then," Minato nodded with a slight smile.
AN: Hmph. Feeling kinda pissed. Box me yo thoughts and imma see ya guys later.
Eivexst: Good, I'm glad.
I don't have a luxury like that.
Yoshikunitsu: Indeed.
It's like a bon bon I guess. Sure.
Raidou: Diabetes again? And thanks.
JackFrostDoll: Haha. And Coke.
The events are all very close together, so yes, it is summer still.
And probably not. I don't see Nyx being able to mess chocolate up considering how smart and by the book I managed to make her.
Nights: I will.
I know. A Wild Fluff appeared.
There's been tension for almost 50 chapters now.
Sure.
Q/A SECTION
(Nyx) Convo 1: To Yoshikunitsu.
Nyx: …it's interesting. And soft to the touch. Take that any way you would.
As fate would have it, Minato can be an easy person to trust if he puts effort into try to be nice rather than abrasive and cold…
(Everyone that I'm bothered to answer as) Question 2: How do you feel about fluff?
Minato: It's nice.
Makoto: It's awesome.
Kanashi: I'd avoid it, but good fluff is fluff.
Yashiro: I avoid it otherwise I die a little inside while I read. Or I just die.
Kurow: Eh. I don't read fanfiction.
(Minato) Convo 3: To Anakin.
Minato: I've been able to do that for a while now…
Starfire: *grips brim of cap and throws out an Infinity item* …Um, you realise I'm a girl, right? Also, whatever did you throw that dangerous attack for?
(Kanashi) Convo 4: To Anakin.
Kanashi: Ehh… Probably the FB thing that happened. That was like a few months ago.
(Akihiko) Question 5: So do those things even taste any good, because I don't think those protein shakes would.
Akihiko: Well… I'm not really concerned about the taste, so I never thought about it.
(Aigis) Question 6: How do you feel about having a few new people in SEES?
Aigis: It is unusual having them around, however I feel that they should be able to take care of themselves.
(Nyx) Convo 7: To Technodude 458.
Nyx: *sighs and walks off, pinching the bridge of her nose*