06 March 2010

Minatodai Dorm, 1st Floor Lounge

Evening

Closing the door behind her, the latch clicked shut far too loudly in the face of the deep abyssal silence that met her return. Mitsuru's feet felt like they were made of stone, her legs encased in concrete for all the weight they dragged her with. It was too painful, and she shied away from the questioning gazes that were directed at her.

It was the wrong thing to do as her rejection allowed the more perceptive residents of the dorm to read the truth in that moment. "I'm sorry." There was no sense in delaying the inevitable. She could only hope they would find in themselves the mutual strength required to face this.

"The Doctors couldn't..."

"NO! No! NO!" Yukari jumped to her feet and yelled in anger. "This is no time for joke! He was just exhausted! He was just tired, that's all!"

Midori reached up and tugged on her senior's sleeve. "Sit." She forced herself to keep her voice calm and stoic in the face of the inner and outer turmoil. Death in battle was one thing, she had long since found it in her heart to accept such things. But this was a far different foe, only no amount of Love or Justice could overcome – they could only be used to heal the wounds.

"NO! This is a bad joke senpai! How is he, really?" Yukari refused to recognize Midori's pull, her reddening eyes focused only on Mitsuru and the door behind her, hoping past hope that Minato would walk right into her arms.

Aigis placed a firm hand on her other shoulder. "Mitsuru would not lie to us. His vitals were failing as he was loaded onto the ambulance." She tried to be call, but the memory of not being allowed to go with Minato to the hospital filled her with heartbreak.

"No!" Yukari wrenched herself away from the two trying to hold her in place. "I have to see him!" She tried to manoeuvre past Chidori, whose own grip was more firm.

"That's enough." Unlike the others, her voice had a hard edge to it, and she refused to let go when Yukari tried to force her release. "I know what you're feeling. More than you know. But running away isn't going to help you." The redhead was trying to offer awkward sympathy towards Yukari's plight, but it fell flat. Turning to Mitsuru, she asked a question meant to make the reality of their situation more real. "Do they have a reason yet?"

Having changed her boots or something more indoor-appropriate, Mitsuru came close to Midori, offereing her own physical and mental support. "No. The autopsy is scheduled for later in the week." She took a hold of Midori's shoulders and brought one tear stroked face to another. "I'm sorry, Yukari. I really am. But he was just gone."

Yukari's legs gave out, Mitsuru catching her as everyone crowded around. Minato was dead, and there was nothing they could do.

08 March 2010

Gekkoukan High School, Tennis Court

After School

* whock *

Midori reached out to return the volley shot from Rio, the two of them alone on the courts on this day without an actual club meeting. The long swing sent the green ball on a sharp angle aoss the court, but Rio was already in motion and returned the ball by gently tapping it over the top of the net. Midori made a mad dive to get her racket under the ball, but it wasn't enough. The ball slapped the ground to end the game. "Match" Rio announced as she ducked under the netting to offer a hand to Midori as she got to her feet. "Are you alright?" She asked quietly as the two of them returned to the bench to rest and rehydrate. "You and Aigis have been completely out of it."

The memorial had been this morning, and the school was in a general state of shock. It was bad enough that one student had been murdered earlier in the year (even if he was a delinquent), but to have a student simply drop dead on graduation? It was enough to make the entire student body and faculty step carefully around everything. Already the rumour mill was exploding with the notion that during the time the school was closed before the next semester that there would be some priests doing exorcisms and blessings, just to be on the safe side.

Midori shook her head to hide the sudden rush to her face. "No. No. I'm alright. I'm more used to it than most. She remembered how Junpei had received nothing more than a private memorial, there being no body to inter. Officially, he was still 'absent' from school. "Please don't tell me you believe in the whole Cursed Dorm thing?"

Rio had to admit the truth. "Just a little. I mean, so may bad things happening this year, and all focused on that one Dorm. It has to be cursed."

Midori gave her an evil eye. "I suppose you'll add me to that list, right? Being attacked and sent to the hospital?"

Rio almost spat in shock. "Oh! Wait! You live there?"

"Yes." If she could have gotten away with it, she would have summoned Frosty and used him to make the air very chill with her annoyance.

"Oh, I'm so, so sorry." Realizing she needed to change the subject, she switched over to a person relevant to both of them. "How is Aigis taking this?"

"Poorly." Midori grimaced at the thought. "She had this huge crush on Minato, and even sat beside him in class for a semester." Putting her drink back in the bag, she stood up and stretched. "Have you picked a replacement for me yet?"

Rio shook her head in the negative. "Not yet. I kinda pinned all my hopes on you. You sure you can't stay?"

"No," Midori's regret was real. "I know how important my daddy's job is, and I can't just leave him alone like that. It's bad enough we've been living apart since August."

"Ah, one of those families."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Midori questioned hard. "What kind of family?"

Rio began to verbally backpedal. "No! Not what I meant! I just meant that I never took you as the kind of family who liked being apart!"

Huffing, Midori picked up her racket. "I talk to my daddy every Sunday, and even more often. Just because I had to move while my school was shut down doesn't meant I had to enjoy it."

"Sorry." Rio muttered, hoping to find a distraction she could use. Thankfully, one came up.

"Midori-san, Rio-senpai." Aigis greeted each of them. "There is no practice today."

"Hey Aigis. No, I needed to work off some of my frustrations." Midori said as she looked her senior up and down. "If you want, get changed and I'll rally against you."

Aigis considered the offer. "No, I don't think that will be necessary."

"Alright then." Midori accepted defeat with a slight slump of her shoulders. "I'll get changed and we can go back to the dorm. Unless there's something else you want to do?"

"No," Aigis responded curtly.

As Midori left, Rio patted the spot next to her, part inviting, part commanding Aigis to sit. She did so. After a moment, Rio spoke. "You don't have to be so harsh to her, you know. She's only trying to help."

"..." Aigis aborted her attempt to reply, instead using silence to defend her.

Rio recognized that Aigis didn't want to talk about this, but something in her told her to pry. It was more than just the desire of a person who wanted to get to know another, and to try to help them out. "Alright, what caused this?" If being discrete got her nowhere, it was time to push harder.

"I cannot say."

"Can't, or won't?"

"That is none of your concern." Aigis' voice grew a hard edge to it, enough to let Rio know that she had indeed overstepped herself.

"Hey!" Midori called out from the entrance to the school. "What were you two talking about?"

Needing a distraction, Rio blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "You both live in the Cursed Dorm!"

"The Minatodai Dormitory is not cursed." Aigis seemed almost annoyed at the implication. "What makes you say that?"

Rio was aghast. "How could you not have heard! Even Midori has!"

Raising her hand, Midori interjected with a defence for her dorm-mate. "Hey, let's be fair, I'm a lot more social than Aigis. She's only really started talking to people since February." She tried not to sigh. "But she still needs more work there" she muttered. Putting her hand down finally, she raised her voice to a normal conversation level and addressed Aigis directly. "Alright, short version. Because of Fuuka, Shinji, Me, Junpei, Minato and Chidori, people think our dorm is cursed and haunted."

"Wait!' Rio interjected. "Who's Chidori-chan?" This new information was far more interesting than a remorseful Aigis. Who knows, maybe even the two of them were connected!

"Oh... Ah! Chidori lives in the Dorm. I'm not allowed to say more than that." Midori quickly tried to shut down that particular line of questioning.

"I wasn't aware that we were allowed to talk about Chidori-san outside of the Dorm." Aigis said to slightly admonish Midori. Rio, realizing she needed to prod Aigis more than Midori about this mysterious resident of the Cursed Dorm strode off to one side to relax a bit and plan out how best to get more juicy information.

14 March 2010

Minatodai Dorm, 3rd Floor, Midori's Room

Evening

"Fuuka, pass me the packing tape please." Midori held closed the box containing the last of her costume designs with one hand, the other beckoning for the item she wanted.

Passing it over, Fuuka went back to folding spare sets of clothes, making sure that Midori had enough for her last couple weeks and a dedicated suitcase for packing them at the last minute. "Is this your new uniform?" She asked as she held up a brown dress. "Have you tried it on yet?"

Midori shook her head. "No, not yet. Daddy sent it to me, and I just haven't found the time."

"You should try it on!" Fuuka held out the dress eagerly. "Give it a fitting before you get to Inaba. Please?"

Sighing, Midori took the dress and moved behind her privacy screen. "When did you get so pushy?"

"Oh, I learned from the best." Fuuka shuffled some stuff out of the way as Midori changed. "Have you talked to Yukari lately? She's been keeping to herself a lot."

"She's been avoiding me too. Even Chidori has had trouble talking to her."

Sighing, Fuuka readied herself. "She's not taking this well at all. I was hoping she would have opened up to you or Chidori-san, given your... well..."

Midori popped her head around the side of panel. "What? Because I'm the most used to having friends die? That's not nice Fuuka. Even if it is with the best intentions. Pass me my sewing kit will you? This waist is a bit too tight."

"Sure." She found it and tossed it over the top of the screen. "So, what have you learned about your new school?"

"You mean, aside from it being in the middle of nowhere? The town is in a valley, and there's a separate school zone for the entire area. Mitsuru provided some information, but it's all quite dry. Just facts and numbers."

"Well, I think you'll do good there!"

"NO! They don't even have a high-speed internet connection! I'll have trouble with my shows!"

Fuuka laughed.

"Not FUNNY!" Midori yelled back. "How can I perform for my adoring fanbase when it'll take hours to upload even a small video?"

"It can't be that bad."

"Yes! It can!" Midori finally emerged from behind the screen and faced Fuuka. Who had a running camera in her hand. Instantly shifting into Dolly mode, Midori spun around on her toes, letting the hem of her dress float up. "Hey all! How'd'ya like my new school uniform? I told you I'm moving again, and this is what I'm going to wear for the next year. Don't you think it's cute?"

She smiled for the camera, allowing Fuuka to pan up and down. "But, because of everything that's happening, once this show goes up, It'll be at least a month before my next one." She pouted cutely, posing with one finger against her lips. "See you all later! Buh-Bye from Dolly!"

Breaking character, she glared at Fuuka. "Way to put me on the spot there." Taking a moment to examine her new school dress in a bit more detail, she was attracted to the checker-board pattern on the collar, and said as much to Fuuka.

"See! There's something to look forward too already!"

15 March 2010

Minatodai Dorm, 4th Floor Command Room

Evening

Mitsuru followed Midori into the room, closing the door behind her. "Take a seat."

"This isn't about school, is it?" She smoothed over the skirt of her new uniform, having been pressured into wearing it the entire day instead of her Gekkoukan uniform. The brown primary colouring contrasted with the lighter uniform. She had commented that the difference was one of earth and sky, and Chidori had agreed. Though she had noted that Midori looked better in lighter hues, what with her head being in the clouds and all that.

"No. It's not." Mitsuru sat down in the chair at the head of the table. "Aigis briefed me about your experiments."

"Oh. Oh!" She suddenly felt like she was under a magnifying glass. "So, um, I've been making recordings for Aigis." It was a half-hearted defence of her actions, and it showed in her speech and posture.

Sensing this, Mitsuru acted to alleviate her junior's fears. "No, you are not in any form of trouble. I wanted to congratulate you, Komaki-san, for your initiative and achievement." She leaned forward to bring herself closer to Midori, and to try and be less imposing. "You took it upon yourself to continue to expand your power and skill when all the rest of us could not. It doesn't matter your motivation; what matters is your results." She smiled. "I am proud of you."

Naturally, Midori was stunned. She just couldn't understand why Mitsuru would react like that. "Um... thank you?" she said as she bowed awkwardly. "I mean, Aigis helped too..."

"I understand you two collaborated, but in the end, it was your initiative." She paused to order her thoughts. "That's why I wanted to offer you again the opportunity to stay here in Tatsumi Port Island. With your power, I can better justify you staying here where we can conduct further research into Personas."

"No."

Mitsuru stopped, like the world had suddenly done something so inconceivable that mortal minds would rebel at it. And given she had fought the Appraiser, that was a high bar. "I'm sorry. What?"

"I've already thought about that. I've had weeks to think it over." Midori shook her head sadly. "I know I want to stay, but I know my daddy's job is important, and he wouldn't have asked me to come if it was avoidable."

"I accept." Mitsuru was prepared for this contingency. "I have to ask that you keep a record of your experiments and keep both myself and Aigis appraised of developments as they occur. I know you two are currently not talking, but that shouldn't affect your professional development."

Midori's mind failed to restart properly again. "You're not angry with me?"

"No? Why should I? If you feel I should be offended by your actions and keeping the information hidden from me, I cannot be, as we expected memory loss from the Dark Hour vanishing. Thus your actions in that time frame were well within reason."

"Oh."

"I just wanted you to know that. That I approve of what you did." Mitsuru smiled again. "Now, perhaps you can do me a favour?"

"Yes, Mitsuru-senpai?"

"Can I see Black Frost?"

22 March 2010

Paulowina Mall

Afternoon

The Sunday afternoon was passing quietly for everyone. Mitsuru wanted everyone out this day because she had some Kirijo Group contractors coming in to examine the building. Midori had wandered over to the mall in a fit of boredom. A lot of her fellow students were walking around, getting ready for the spring term. Most of her stuff had been shipped out yesterday, leaving her with the bare necessities for the last week.

She had to resist the impulse to shop for stuff. Then she'd just have to pack it up again.

Actually, now that she thought about it, picking up some going away presents would be a good idea. Something for Aigis for certain. And Chidori. And Akihiko. And Ken and Koro-chan. Maybe Yukari. Maybe Mitsuru. Standing up, she took in the stores and services offered. The more she thought about it, the more it really did look like a bit of shopping was in order.

24 March 2010

Minatodai Dorm, 4th Floor

Evening

Mitsuru welcomed the rest into the room. "I have a couple announcements to make with the end of the year coming up."

An uncaring Yukari waved one hand. "Sure, whatever."

Resolving to talk to Yukari firmly in private later, Mitsuru dropped the bad news. "The Dorm will be closed down."

"WHAT?" Midori's loud gasp overwhelmed everyone else's comments. "Well, alright, this doesn't affect me, but why?"

Aigis cocked her head. "With there being no further use for SEES, we should remove all trace of our existence."

"Aigis is correct. The dorms are being shut down to allow for renovations, we will be removing all the Dark Hour technology and support infrastructure." Mitsuru gestured to the bank of computers lining one wall. "I've arranged for new locations for everyone who is staying" - a look at Midori - " but there are a couple other announcements I have to make as well. First, Yoshino-san will be attending Gekkoukan for her last year. I expect you two, Yukari and Yamagishi, to make her welcome. She has a lot of catching up to do, and I trust in your abilities."

"Congratulations, Chidori." Akihiko smiled a little at that announcement. "I was wondering how long you were going to freeload around here."

"I wasn't a freeloader. I was technically a prisoner who aided SEES."

"You're a friend!" Midori argued against Chidori's self-depreciation. "And you'll have fun! You can join Aigis on the Tennis club!"

"Actually, that leads me to my final announcement." Mitsuru was a bit more morose for this. "Aigis has chosen not to continue going to school. She has chosen to return to the Kirijo Group labs."

"...!" Midori was struck speechless and Ken filled in the silence. "But why?"

"I no longer have any reason to stay, and as such, I have decided to finish my current enrolment and return to standby duty." Aigis didn't seem like she understood what she was doing, causing Midori to stand up and point a finger at her.

"That's not fair! You promised you'd do stuff!"

Aigis was apologetic. "I'm sorry. But while I want to, there is little to hold me here. It is better if I left."

"And when did you think to tell Rio and the others in the club? They were looking up to you to next year as a prospective star player!"

"I am sorry." Aigis tried to find a way to explain her decision to someone who had already made up her mind about things, but failed as Midori took the silence to simply get up and walk away from the meeting.