Chapter 3: Unavoidable Battle
"Interesting choice. Defaulting to his normal power rather than relying on an outside source too heavily. It looks like our friend has some pride in his own abilities."
"Pride that will get him killed. If he must borrow the power of another to survive, then he just needs to use it. Not using it is suicidal. If he'd used that skill a second later, he would have died."
"Igor. Do you know the special properties of that... Kamui?"
"It increases his strength and speed while also being able to adjust its shape, size, and form. Simple."
"Tell me, what do you think the negative effects are of wearing clothing that is housing Death incarnate? If you take into account how close "Ryoji" is tied to Nyx and those monstrous Shadows, then surely there must be a threat somewhere in wearing those clothes? Could our friend be in danger at this very moment?"
"...Calling him a friend, calling him by his first name like that... Stop. You and I both know it's just an act."
"Is it? How do you know that, Igor?"
"..."
"Anyway, back to the topic at hand, it appears that thirty two years trapped in a scarf has done wonders to Ryoji's human personality he adopted from Minato so long ago. I wonder, what's going on in that creature's head?"
An explosion.
Flames burst forth, swallowing the house in an instant.
Ash was floating gently through the air, settling on her clothes and hair.
Everything was burning to the ground.
She fell to her knees, tears raining from her eyes.
"Dad..."
The fire roared in response.
Scissor Blade in hand, Ryuko could do nothing but watch.
"DAD!" She screamed with every single breath of her left in her lungs.
Ryuko's eyes snapped open to find that she was not in fact in front of her old house. No, that was just a dream. The same dream she'd been having for six months. Ryuko was lying under the covers of a bed, staring at a rather unfamiliar ceiling. Light was flowing into the room through the nearby large windows that were easily twice her size. The room had a large red carpet in the middle, and her bed was a queen-sized, red-covered bed with an equally red canopy above it. Off to the side was a large cabinet that Senketsu was hanging on, his eyes closed. Ryuko was wearing a very unfamiliar set of pajamas at the moment. In the middle of the room was a large, wooden table with four chairs surrounding it and a fireplace was located at the opposite end of the room. To her right was a wooden door with a very expensive looked door knob. Hell, the whole door knob was a diamond!
'Where am I?' Ryuko thought as she rubbed her head, trying to remember exactly what had happened. She'd fought alongside that weird quiet man who then turned out to be not quiet, beat the shit out of the Boxing Club captain, challenged Satsuki, and then...
She must have passed out. Senketsu was sucking her blood the entire time. She must have spent too long wearing him. Damn it! Right when she could finally challenge that uppity bitch, she had to pass out from her own weakness!
All of a sudden the door opened. Through it stepped in Minato, holding a notepad and pencil. He waved at her with a smile, grabbed a chair from the table and pulled it over beside her bed. Upon sitting down it, Minato revealed to her what he'd written on the notepad.
"Hello. You're at my house. I healed you with one of my powers. Mako wanted to take you to some back alley doctors, but I didn't trust them. Still, she did dress you in that outfit. I claim no responsibility for anything she did to your body. Anyway, you don't seem to have a home of your own, so feel free to take up a room. This place is too big for me anyway."
Ryuko cocked an eyebrow. "Okay... What's the deal with you writing like that? You were talking just fine the other day," she asked. Sure, she had a crap ton of questions for this weird kid, but if she didn't ask now, then this whole notepad thing would bother her for the entirety of their "conversation". She'd already been having a strange couple of days. Mako, this kid, Senketsu, and that Satsuki bitch were all shining examples of just how weird her life had become. She kinda missed the days when she only had to worry about punks in school and her dad ignoring her. However, she couldn't go back to that life. Not anymore.
Minato quickly scribbled down an answer and showed it to her. It read, "Multiple reasons. First being that I am terrible at talking to new people and, since you have questions, this is the best way for me to answer them. I'm more of a listener than a talker. Also, to clarify, that wasn't me talking when the scarf activated. That was my friend. He's a horrible pervert that should die a thousand deaths."
"So... your Kamui is that weird ass scarf and, when you wear it, it talks through you?" Ryuko asked. Minato nodded. Ryuko sighed tiredly. This guy had to be, out of all the people she met so far, one of the weirdest. And she had a feeling he'd only get weirder.
"Anyway, tell me how you got that thing and everything you know. Truth is that I came here to find the one who killed my dad. She has a Scissor Blade like me. I think it's that prissy Satsuki, but I don't know. You seem like you have an idea as to what's going on, so go on and tell me," Ryuko said, crossing her arms impatiently. Minato just flipped through the notepad to a pre-written section.
"Why should I tell you?"
Ryuko's anger flared up suddenly. What the hell was with this kid? "How about this? You tell me, and I don't kick your ass?"
Minato turned to another pre-written section.
"You don't have Senketsu on, I'm at full power, and you're in my house. Bitch, I could rape you." Ryuko's jaw dropped at his words. She tried to sputter a reply or do something, but then he just simply turned to the next page.
"That was a joke. I wouldn't do that. But seriously, my story is long. If it were a video game, it would be at least seventy hours long. Without side quests. Just know that I'm on your side and I'm trying to save the world a second time. First time was fairly successful. If it wasn't, you wouldn't have been born."
"I... Whatever. I'm not even going to try to make sense of that," Ryuko said with a disappointed sigh. One person. She'd met one person who seemed to have an idea as to what everything was...
"Um... Look... Mikisugi... the teacher... He could, you know, tell you some stuff. I... I don't know what I can and can't tell you," Minato then promptly shut up, his face quickly turning red. Talking to people he didn't know very well had always been hard. It was even harder know that he had seen Ryuko in that... outfit. More than anything though, he was embarrassed that he could still not talk to her properly. Sure, he was brave and intelligent, but he sorely lacked people skills. Something in him told him this wasn't always the case, but it was now. And the image of her dressed in Senketsu kept flashing in his mind every time he spoke.
"Thanks," Ryuko said, a grin spreading across her face. Finally she was getting somewhere. Then she noticed just how bright red he was becoming. "You okay, kid?"
"Talking... is hard," Minato replied, trying to push the image of her in that outfit out of his brain. It was really, really hard. He'd seen just about everything about her there was to see.
"Eh. You get used to it," Ryuko said with a shrug. Overall, she didn't feel like he was a bad person, but Minato was a very shy kid. Probably inexperienced with being put in this position. If he has some information, he probably hasn't had it for very long. Probably didn't even know what to do with.
"Ah... I'll leave you to change. I made breakfast. Down the hall, third door on right," Minato said quietly as he left the room.
Ryuko smirked. It was a pretty nice room.
Minato fist-pumped as he left the room.
Conversation survived!
After changing, Ryuko left her room and stepped onto the soft carpet. The immediate thing she noticed was that the majority of the house was colored in shades of blues. It seemed her room was an exception to the rule. Blue, velvet curtains framed the windows, the walls were painted a dark blue, and the carpet was a very light blue that matched the curtains.
Ryuko walked through the long hallway, her footsteps muffled by the thickness of the carpet. There were numerous doors lining the hall. It looked like her room was at the very end of the hall. She could see it end and open up into a larger room further down, but the angry growl of her stomach drew her immediately to the room Minato had mentioned. She opened to see the boy sitting at a table big enough for four (rather small considering the size and grandeur of what she believed to be a mansion). The room itself had the standard kitchen commodities. Fridge, stove, oven, microwave... and this table was just thrown in there. There was probably a large dining room somewhere, but Minato chose to eat here. Was he the only person in this house?
Minato wasn't facing her. He was looking out the sole window in the kitchen, one that he had placed the table directly in front of. He had headphones on and didn't hear her, but he did have a plate of uneaten bacon and eggs in front of him and another plate with the same opposite of him. She was about to call out to him when she finally noticed he was singing very, very softly.
"You may rest in my hands as I watch over you tenderly.
I remember about you, how you laughed, how you cried, how you got angry.
I will never, ever forget about you, until my life is exhausted.
At the intersection, I heard a voice similar to yours I turn back,
Then look up at the sky, fighting back tears that nearly spill.
Believing that I can indeed meet you again tomorrow (someday), I grow lost alone
On a rainy night (on a sunny morning), I keep waiting for you
I won't forget about you; I dashed through the night.
At the bright and shining moment, I was together with everyone.
Without knowing that it was an irreplaceable time, I carried on.
Now I simply try to reminisce dearly, I will embrace the feeling.
You were definitely by my side back then.
At all times, at all times, at all times, you were laughing right next to me.
Even if I lose you, I'll recover you, I will never leave you."
"Ha... What a stupid song. ᵂʰᵃᵗ ᵃ⋅⋅⋅⋅ˢᵗᵘᵖᶦᵈ ˢᵒᶰᵍ⋅⋅⋅" She heard Minato say those words softly after he finished singing. It was so quiet she could a single drop of water hit the table. A tear? She breathed in to say something, but her mind went blank. How was she supposed to comfort somebody else? She'd never had to. She'd always fought kids her age. She'd been the one that had to deal with loss...
"Oh, Ryuko? Please, come in," Minato said as he turned to face her, pulling off his headphones as he did so. His face was clear of tears, though she noticed the trail one had left behind.
"Minato... are we alone here? Where are your parents?" Ryuko asked as she moved to take a seat. He nodded.
"I guess I don't really... need that stupid notebook to tell you that," Minato said as he turned away from her. It would be easier to say if he didn't look at her. It would be easy. He just had to keep telling himself that.
"...Both parents died in a car crash when I was six. There was an explosion. It caused it. Dad lost control of the car. I lived, they died. That's all you need to know. I have no other family," Minato said as briefly as he could.
"My dad died six months ago. I had no mom. It sucks having no parents," Ryuko said as she plopped down in front of him and picked up her fork. "But I know my dad was killed. I can take revenge. At least you don't have to worry about that." Ryuko almost winced at her own words. Talk about rough. She really did have no experience comforting people. Feeling bad about that, Ryuko added, "At least us orphans have each other, right?"
A shadow of a smile passed Minato's face. He could feel the barrier between them fading. The barrier that made it so hard to talk to her. Ryuko seemed like a very easy to talk to girl. With the lessening of that tight feeling in his chest, he breathed easier. He could do this.
"Thanks. As for your questions... I can at least tell you this: I haven't lied to you so far. A long time ago, the world really was in danger, so I had to help save it. My current power came about because of it," Minato explained.
"Really?" She asked skeptically. "Why haven't I heard about it?"
Minato smiled.
"Because I didn't fail."
Satsuki kept eyeing the profile of this kid.
Minato Arisato.
He was a mystery. At first, it was simple enough to consider him as a pawn of the Kirijo Group coming to evaluate her school. The cover of him being the adopted son of a stockholder of Revocs was transparent enough for Satsuki to spot it, but she still allowed him the mansion. She thought she would benefit from having him so close to her headquarters. But now...
She wasn't so sure. He joined the Kendo Club immediately, placing himself even further under her control. Why? What was the reasoning behind this? And why do it if he were to only defy her later? The boy still is in the Kendo club. He didn't quit. Was this a one-time interference? Was it possible this kid was working alone?
And where did he get that Kamui? Junketsu and Senketsu were supposed to be the only ones!
'...Is it even a Kamui?' Satsuki thought before immediately regretting it. If this was something else, something made of Life Fibers that wasn't a product of Revocs...
Satsuki raised her tea to her lips and drank slowly, trying to wrap her mind around the possible disaster. Life Fibers not originating from Revocs could only spell disaster for every single one of her carefully laid plans. When she finished her tea, she placed it on the lone table next to her.
'Perhaps I need to test the boy. See what I can find out. Find his limits, his weaknesses, and his allegiance,' Satsuki thought with a small smile. It wasn't the most eloquent of plans, but she required information. Information that could only be gathered by observation. At the very least, she could always destroy his Kamui and not have to deal with it. Though she'd much rather use him instead.
Girls' Tennis Club Omiko Hakodate had just been given a Two-Star Goku Uniform and Mako Mankanshoku missed the Tennis Club yesterday. That would be enough to keep Matoi busy.
"Ryuko! You're alive! I thought you were dead when you fell like that and I tried to bring you to my Slum Castle where my family is because we're back alley doctors!" Mako exclaimed as they met at the gates of the school. Minato had walked Ryuko there himself. His home was surprisingly close to the school. To be honest, living in the slums might have made him stick out less, but being close to the school had its advantages. He would have ended up sticking out one way or another.
"I'm alright, Mako. I'm glad you're okay too," Ryuko said with a smile.
Minato was about to say something as well when he noticed a flurry of tennis balls headed right for Mako's face. Using some impressively quick reactions he leapt forward and pushed Mako the ground, the tennis balls flying harmlessly overhead before drilling a few dozen holes in one of the walls of the school.
"Kyaaa~! What are you doing to Mako's pure and innocent body?! I haven't even kissed a person yet! You're supposed to ask me out on a date fi—"
"Mako. Quiet," Minato said as he stared her right in the eyes. She shut her mouth and gulped before nodding, a blush creeping across her face. Satisfied, Minato stood up and glared at the direction of where the tennis balls came from. Ryuko was already directing her anger towards the person standing there.
With an entire team of tennis players behind her, long blond twin tails snug beneath her Two-Star hat, and a smile with some painfully spiked teeth, the Girls' Tennis Club Captain Omiko Hakodate laughed as she hefted her giant red and black tennis racket. Like her teeth, the racket was spiked as well. Over her right eye she had a scope of some sort, improving her accuracy to a degree that could most certainly be called unfair. "Impressive reactions, transfer student. But stay out of this. This is none of your business. Club member Mako Mankanshoku has failed to fulfill her club obligations and—"
"Boring," Minato said as he helped Mako to her feet, completely ignoring what Hakodate was saying. He just wanted to get to school, do some Kendo Club, and then finally join that Music Club.
"You're just going to walk away? She could have killed Mako! And you know they're going to keep bothering her! Why don't we just deal with her now?!" Ryuko exclaimed.
"Bad idea. She picked this spot. She has the advantage. I don't know about you, but I'd rather fight her in an area I choose," Minato said as he walked towards the tennis players, Mako in one arm and his Evoker to his head. Hakodate grinned that slasher grin as she and the rest of the tennis players launched another wave of tennis balls at them. However, before they got hit, a figure quickly appeared before them and then the duo disappeared. Minato had fought many Arcana Shadows and each time he was at a grave disadvantage because they choose the location. If he could fight the Priestess out in the open or the Lovers in the middle of Tartarus, it would have made the fights a lot easier. He fully intended to learn from his past and take advantage of what he could this time around.
"W-What?!" Hakodate exclaimed. The hell was that?! Was that speed?!
Minato and Mako appeared on the other side of the group, just out of the range of their tennis balls.
It was a good thing he taught Trafuri to Messiah.
Meanwhile, Ryuko's jaw dropped.
She didn't know whether to be impressed or angry that he just walked out and left her behind like that.
"Ryuko, come and join us! Don't fight them now! Choose your battles, don't let them choose you!" Minato called out, very glad he felt close enough to her to talk at least semi-normally with her. At least now he could explain things.
Aaaaaand Ryuko ignored him.
"Alright. Let's go, Senketsu! Screw what Minato said! We have enough strength to kick their asses!" Ryuko exclaimed.
No response.
Ryuko started hitting Senketsu.
"Oi! What's wrong?! Come on, we can't let ourselves be shown up like that!"
No response.
Enraged by how dismissive Minato was towards her, Hokodate immediately turned her anger on Ryuko Matoi. Which was, to say the very least, a very big problem for Ryuko.
"Wake up, dammit!" Ryuko shouted as she pulled and hit her uniform.
Then the next wave of tennis balls hit her, their force knocking her clean over the side of one of the walls and into the water below.
Slowly, she drifted down into the sewers...
Only to be found by a man named Mikisugi.
Perhaps fighting them in a different area would have been better...
Before class started, Minato decided to quickly stop by the Music Club. At the very least, he could join and come by when he didn't have Kendo. However, the second he opened the door he was blasted away by a cacophony of sounds and noises. His back slammed hard against the wall, nearly knocking him unconscious right on the spot.
"Hold it! Stop!" A female voice ordered. Out stamped the leader of the band, the Non-Athletic Committee Chair, Nonon Jakuzure. As soon as she spotted Minato, her face twisted into a scowl. What the heck was the transfer student doing here? Come to fight her after openly interfering yesterday?
"What the hell do you want?" She asked him, eyeing him suspiciously. Minato pushed himself to his feet and brushed himself off.
"To join," Minato said. Nonon's eyes visibly widened in shock, giving him time to press his advantage. Minato suddenly bowed to his waist, confusing her even more. "I can play piano, have some minor experience singing, and I am capable of percussion as well. Please let me join."
Nonon recovered and cocked an eyebrow at him. "Why?"
"Isn't it normal to join school clubs? Why not join when I can play? I like making music," Minato responded. It was a good thing he could see this girl as an enemy. Rather, an obstacle to his ultimate goal. If it weren't for that, he'd have a much harder time talking to her. As it was now, talking to her was the same as talking to a wall that could talk back. N-Not an attractive girl.
Nonon still eyed him suspiciously, but she really didn't see the harm in letting him join. Once he did, she had all the rights in the world to punish him if he disobeyed her or went against her club. In fact, Minato joining the club only benefited her. This is what confused her. People called her "The Snake" and, even though she hated the nickname, she had to admit that she fit it to an extent. However, this kid seemed too sneaky. Like he was planning something big by joining all these clubs. Sure, Kendo club she could understand, it made people stronger, but Music Club? Only people with a sense of taste would want to join this club. And after that hilarious penis monster the kid summoned the other day, she figured he'd have no taste whatsoever.
"Fine. Come in," Nonon said as she turned around and walked in. Minato followed, but stopped at the door, an imperceptible smile forming on his lips.
'You're really manipulative now, aren't you?' Ryoji asked, with a frown in his voice.
'"Now"?' Minato answered back mentally. He was finally getting back into the swing of things. Apparently, while he didn't seem to have full-on Social Links, he could reestablish his connection to the Arcana. He didn't know what it did exactly, but he felt stronger last time it happened. He had no real way of confirming that without causing a mess, though. So, Minato was going to join these clubs, bring himself closer to the real enemy, reestablish Social Links, and then attack from the shadows. Once he reached a position of some renown, he could start really destroying the school from the inside. Let Ryuko be the outside distraction. Getting his name out earlier with the boxing ring only helped people notice him. He wanted them to want him on their side.
In the past, Minato had to constantly change himself for Social Links. If he wasn't manipulative back then, then he sure as hell could afford to be manipulative now. These people were brutal and they controlled the school with fear and overwhelming power. Unfortunately for her, Satsuki failed to realize the downfall of every tyrant king. It wasn't the outside forces that were the most dangerous.
It was the threat within their walls.
"Hurry up!" Nonon shouted as she grabbed him roughly by the front of the shirt and pulled him into the room.
"You awake, Ryuko?"
She groggily opened her eyes, the warm light already making her want to go to sleep. She was on somebody's couch with a blanket over her. How did she get here? Didn't she fall into the water? Who rescued her? This place was too small to belong to Minato.
She slowly sat up, noticing the figure looking out the window across from her. The teacher, Mikisugi... That's right. Minato said to talk to him.
"It's you... Minato told me to talk to you. Said I'd get my answers from you," Ryuko said.
"Oh, did he now? I see. Made the right choice on that decision. Yes, I am Aikuro Mikisugi. Welcome to my humble abode," Mikisugi said with a grin as he turned to lean against the wall and face her.
Just then, part of the blanket fell away, revealing Ryuko's bare shoulder. With a panicked expression, she looked around the room for Senketsu. Thankfully, it was just hanging not too far away.
However... for her to be naked... in this strange man's home...
She suddenly appreciated Minato a lot more. At least he let Mako change her and gave her food.
"Hang on, you didn't undress me, did you?!" She exclaimed, panicked.
"Yes, I thought I'd teach you a few things... about your body..." He said as he pushed himself off the wall and began to walk towards her.
"You perverted son of a bitch!" Ryuko shouted as she sprang up and tried to punch him, barely holding on to the blanket with her other arm. Mikisugi dodged sideways and flipped his head up, letting the blow go right past his chin and neck before circling around her and throwing three needles into her back.
Ryuko's body suddenly froze.
"Wait, what?! My body won't move!" She exclaimed, even more panicked. Was this the end?! Would this son of a bitch be the one to punch her v-card?!
"Anesthetic acupuncture. You need to calm down. Since Minato recommended me, and I do feel honored by that, I'll try to explain at least a little bit more than I had planned. But first, you seem rather hot-blooded, so I think I'll draw some," Mikisugi said as he pulled a syringe from his jacket pocket.
"N-No, stay away! I hate needles!"
Long story short, Mikisugi drew blood from her, used it to wake up Senketsu and then explained that Senketsu needed blood to activate. Kamuis were made by her father and far surpass Goku uniforms in terms of power. The explanation took a little while, but Ryuko got the gist of it. However, she still didn't get all the answers she needed.
"What about Minato?" She asked as Mikisugi removed the acupuncture needles from her. She'd calmed down considerably more than she normally would have only because the kid recommended she talk to Mikisugi. So, at the very least, she could hear him out. However, that still left the mystery of the kid himself.
"That kid... He's lost a lot and is also trying to take down Honnouji Academy. I don't know much about his power, but he's somebody who shouldn't be here. Try to go easy on him," Mikisugi said, a gloomy expression coming across his face.
'Minato... What did that bitch take from you?' Ryuko thought, silently cursing Satsuki. If he lost his family in a car accident, then what did Honnouji Academy do to provoke him into attacking it? Was he just some warrior for justice?
"Anyway, don't worry about him right now. You need to master that Kamui and beat the Tennis Club captain if you want to have any chance of defeating Satsuki," Mikisugi said.
An alarm suddenly started blaring, alerting the student that classes were starting soon.
"Time for class! Take this!" He exclaimed as he tossed her a red glove. "It's a Seki Tekko. It should make it easier to awaken Senketsu."
"Fine," Ryuko responded. "I'll go pound this girl into the dirt. But after that, you're going to tell me everything you know."
"Deal."
Minato was not in the best position right now.
"Uh, class is starting. May I please go now?" He asked Nonon with the saddest expression he could muster. Unfortunately, Nonon didn't intend to let him go.
Hence why she was using him as a bench while she conducted the Music Club.
"Shut up, newbie! You haven't finished your initiation! This is how we teach newbies respect in the Music Club! I am on top of you! And Lady Satsuki is on top of me! Remember that!" She exclaimed as she crossed her legs. Minato was on his hands and knees trying to be the best bench possible for the sake of his future plans. However, the worst part about him being submissive to her wasn't the pressure and weight of her. Nonon was actually pretty light. Rather, the thing he couldn't get over was the fact that her butt was touching his back! It was so soft~
'Don't resist the booty.'
'Masochism can be an admirable trait as well, Minato!'
And Ryoji kept saying stupid stuff! Minato's goal was to just get close to her and closer to Satsuki, so he could destroy the school from the inside-out! He didn't plan on this!
Meanwhile, Nonon was having the time of her life. This whole "initiation" thing was bullshit, but the guy did disrespect Satsuki and tried to rebel. Plus, since he decided to join the Music Club, Nonon could afford to be a little forgiving. So, instead of letting Gamagori take care of the twerp, she'd just use a lighter form of punishment.
Also, her chair broke.
BUT THAT WAS BESIDE THE POINT!
It wasn't like she was too lazy to order a new one. And, while Nonon wouldn't call herself a sadist, she was having a good time making the kid squirm.
Minato's hand clenched into a fist.
He was getting tired of this.
The final bell rang, indicating he was now late to class.
But Nonon didn't care.
However, Minato endured.
He was so tempted to just use Helel's Morning Star attack to wipe the Music Club out, but then he'd lose any chance of ingratiating himself with them. He had to endure. If it was going to have to be like this, Minato would just have to wade through waves of shit like this and keep going until he could get to that little shit queen that sat on top of the shit pile. Then he'd use her as a springboard to reach Ragyo. After that, he could finally rest.
Minato was tired already. He didn't want to come back to this world.
He didn't want to be revived. Hadn't he already given enough?
"Miss Nonon, if you don't intend to let me go, then you're breaking the rules. You're not the Disciplinary Committee, right?" Minato said, hoping that would influence her enough. The Elite Four seemed to take all the rules seriously. And from what he'd overheard from some students about Nonon Jakuzure, she was the closest to Satsuki. Nonon wouldn't want to step on Satsuki's toes by breaking the rules. It would only harm discipline in the long run. Nonon huffed and crossed her arms.
"You're no fun," Nonon said as a pout. Then, suddenly she grinned. "How about this? Make me get off you."
'Ooooh. Now you're asking for it.'
'I got you, man. Though it's a shame to interrupt this, we might as well end this now.'
The scarf around Minato's neck ignited into black flames, constricting his vocal chords and making him say the activation phrase once again.
"Life Fiber Evocation: Kamui Aibetsu!"
After being quickly covered in a black aura of energy, it dispersed, leaving Minato in Aibetsu's awakened form. However, this time there was a rather odd ring above his head. It seemed to be some sort of halo... Since when was this part of his outfit?
'Made some adjustments to it. Last time, we could only punch. This time, that Halo should be able to act in place of your Evoker.'
Minato grabbed the halo and saw that the entire inside of the thing was lined with small gun barrels. Looked like he'd still have to shoot himself in the head to get power. Great. He blamed the Kirijo Group for this brilliant idea.
'Downside is that using a Persona in this form will decrease how long we can keep it up. The stronger the skill, the more drastic the reduction in time. Try to manage how much time we have left.'
Minato nodded as he pushed himself up to his fe—
"Three-Star Goku Uniform: Symphony Regalia Grave!"
"Oh shit!"
Ryuko didn't see Minato in class for some reason. Odd.
Where could he have possibly gone?
"Ryuko! Did you see what happened earlier?! I teleported! Like vroooom zooom! There one moment, gone the next!" Mako exclaimed, still excited from the events of the morning. Ryuko still had no idea how the hell Minato did that, but it was probably part of those "powers" he mentioned.
Then Mikisugi entered the room, Mako fell asleep, and the daily routine started. After class, the Tennis Club would probably kidnap Mako and try to punish her. They'd probably get away with the first part, but Ryuko sure as hell wouldn't let them get away with the second part.
Minato was currently being crushed.
By a music mech.
Of course, he only saw metal, so he didn't fully grasp the sheer ridiculousness of the situation he found himself in.
However, the crushing only lasted about a few seconds.
Then the heavy weight on his back vanished and he could feel Nonon's soft behind once more.
'Admit it. You like it... Closest you've been to a girl in over thirty years, right?'
'I swear, Ryoji, that if I listened to you, I'd be a harem protagonist. I'd rather not have the hassle, thank you very much.'
Minato was about to stand up when Nonon sighed and, surprisingly enough, got off his back of her own volition.
"There, you understand that you're below us?" Nonon said, sounding rather disinterested. It was as if her heart wasn't behind those words, but Minato wasn't paying attention to that. To be crushed like that and then not even given a chance to fight back?
'This bitch keeps underestimating me...'
'Dude, anger management. No need to lose your cool, man. Did coming back from the dead really mess with your head that much?'
"Fine. I understand," he said, keeping his cool on the outside as he let Ryoji deactivate Aibetsu.
'I have an idea. You're trying to get close to them in order to betray them. You and I both know of a certain individual we can take inspiration from.'
'Ikutsuki...'
Ikutsuki, the silly, cheerful, pun-cracking chairman who was the supervisor of SEES had deceived everybody back then. He'd manipulated them and Strega in order to bring about the end of the world. It was Ikutsuki's fault that the world had gotten so bad that Minato had to give up those thirty-two years. But now, he had to do the exact same thing Ikutsuki did. Get close to them, and then betray these people. He was doing it to save the world. But then again, wasn't that Ikutsuki's exact same reasoning?
Minato was then suddenly pulled to his feet by Nonon and placed before her, the strength of her Goku uniform making him weigh less than a stuffed doll to her.
"Let me make something straight here. You're the first guy to want to join the Music Club. Most people go straight to Kendo or one of the sports committees. They want strength. Girls come here because they can't do the athletics. They just smile and play their instruments and do whatever I tell them to do. They don't actually like it here, but the penalty for quitting is... too much for their cute little bones to handle. And you're telling me that you not only want to join the Music Club, but you like to make music? Can you even imagine how suspicious that sounds, moron?" Nonon said, her arms crossed.
'Channel Ikutsuki... I can do this. It's just another mask. Just another mask. I know who I am.'
Minato had worn many masks in the past. He was the hot-blooded warrior, the compassionate older brother, the brave food taster, the intelligent head of class, the crude businessman, the law-abiding Student Council member... He'd put on so many faces. He was an ever-changing puzzle, a cipher that adapted itself to fit the situation. This was just another one. Just another mask. Just another persona.
Minato spotted a piano in the far corner of the room and stretched as he walked over to it. As he walked, a somewhat teasing grin spread across his face and he said, "No, no, no, non. For me, it doesn't seem suspicious at all. But this place focuses on strength, apparently. Pity, oh such a pity. But while you call yourself a Music Club, you seem to be more of a marching band. And you're the conductor, the leader of the band, so this should be your forte. You know that it's not easy to keep everybody in working order, so you use fear. Fear and oppression. Your members feel like they have to be good. Tell me, what's the point of a Music Club if you only play because you're obligated? It doesn't sound fun at all, no no no non."
Minato reached the piano and sat down. The grin was stuck to his face and he could feel his emotions shifting to fit this new attitude. He was becoming more convincing by the second. It was a mask, and he was the actor behind it, but, like any good actor, he had to become the mask. He needed to get closer to the core of Ikutsuki's personality than ever before.
"The hell are you going on about? Answer my question, idiot," Nonon responded with an angry huff.
Minato began to play. It was the theme he had always heard in the Velvet Room. Calm, soothing, and made long speeches just that much more bearable.
"How clef-er. I'll get to it, non. Anyway, I knew the man who led the Music Club of my old school. He loved music. He also loved helping people and had the potential to be a doctor. He chose doctor in the end, but his kind and lovable nature made everybody in the Music Club excited to be there. It was a wonderful school environment! It was a place to relax and do what you love without getting into treble. This Music Club..." Minato looked around the room. Students in band equipment lined up like soldiers, instruments perfectly place off to the sides if they weren't in the hands of students, and a special podium all for Nonon to hog. He pouted. "This Music Club isn't fun, is it?"
"S-So what if it's not fun! We need to be at our best for competitions! And what's with the bad music puns?!" Nonon retorted, though he could barely see a small upturning of her one of the corner of her lips. Huh. Puns do work. She must be confused. Angry, but also wanting to laugh... What would that feel like?
Minato looked at her and sighed.
"These jokes always fall flat," Minato said with an exaggerated shrug as he said yet another music pun. "You're not really in tune with the musical scene, are you? And isn't working together to create a beautiful sound the point of a band? If you force everybody to play, you get a harsh, unified noise. Like an army. No originality. A marching band needs energetic members, not marching drones. What I'm trying to say is that we've really got to guitar act together. I like music. I want other people to like music. Do I really need any other reason to join?" Minato said, finally finishing his long-winded lecture. Just like Ikutsuki, he wouldn't shut up. His throat was actually sore from over-use. He would have to switch back to the notebook very soon.
"You bring up some valid points... Fine! You can be our first male member, but on the one condition that you don't actively go against our, and Lady Satsuki's interests! And if you think you can improve our already magnificent sound, then go ahead and try! But I'll prove you wrong, moron!" Nonon declared. Minato stood from the piano and bowed gratefully to the girl. He got a foot in the door. After his interference with the match the other day, his relations with the Kendo club would be strained. He needed this connection.
Minato took out his notebook and pen and began to write.
"Aren't you going to say something? Like "Thank you, Jakuzure-sama?"" Nonon said impatiently. Minato merely raised a finger, telling her to wait for a moment as he walked over to her. With a small flourish, he showed her what he wrote.
"It seems my voice had built up with a crescendo, but then went mute."
Finally, Nonon laughed.
And the tired Minato stepped away from the Ikutsuki persona he wore as he exited into the hallway. It was a tough battle, but he'd made some progress.
Barrage after barrage of tennis balls slammed into the poor girl tied to the post in the tennis courts. Surrounded by tennis players, this was her punishment. Sanageyama was observing the efforts of the tennis club. Now that Hakodate had been given a Tennis-spec Two Star Uniform, the tennis club would definitely not lose to any of the other schools out there. Subjugating the others would be a breeze. However, there was something else weighing on his mind today. After briefly checking up on their progress, Sanageyama left them. He had another matter to attend to.
As soon as he left, Ryuko Matoi appeared, blocking the tennis balls with the guitar case that held her Scissor Blade. She could now activate Senketsu at will and had the power to wipe the floor with the Tennis Club. Perhaps, if Sanageyama had remained there, he could have forced her into a tennis match with Hakodate, putting Ryuko at a distinct advantage.
But he did not.
Ryuko soundly and swiftly beat the Tennis Club captain at close range. In terms of defense, she was worthless. In terms of offense, Ryuko didn't stay still long enough to get hit. She thrashed them thoroughly and without hesitation. Now she just had to find Minato and head home to his mansion.
From up high, Satsuki Kiryuin watched with more than a small measure of satisfaction. Ryuko was most certainly a threat, but if Satsuki's current plan was to play out, she needed to not interfere at this juncture. After all, Hakodate wasn't meant to fight Ryuko and win. She was just an obstacle used to test the girl's potential.
If Ryuko ever got out of hand, Satsuki could simply eliminate her in an instant.
However, another idea popped in her head. It would be last minute, but she could do a quick switch with one of her plans. It would be worthwhile to see the outcome of this. Even if it completely failed, she would still get more information to work with. With this plan in mind, Satsuki pulled out a phone from her pocket. She needed only to make a quick call.
Minato had simply planned to attend Kendo after class. Music Club early in the morning, then school then Kendo. That was his goal, however...
There was a sign on the door of the Kendo Club.
"Traitor Minato,
You have dishonored the Kendo Club by going against us.
However, I am not without forgiveness.
I shall give you a test.
Come to the main courtyard in thirty minutes.
From,
Uzu Sanageyama"
Minato sighed in relief. He could fix relations here and make the rest of his life just so much easier.
However, thirty minutes later, Minato understood this would be no simple test.
Stretching hundreds of feet into the air were two platforms supported by steel girders. A crowd had already gathered below, and they parted ways as Minato approached. With a sigh, he let himself be guided to the nearest platform. He was forced to remove his shirt and valuable Shoes of Light and was handed a simple bokken. Then he was hurried along up the ladder and towards the top. They tried to take his scarf as well, but it burned them whenever they touched it. Ryoji wasn't planning on leaving Minato alone for this fight.
Yes.
This was a fight.
Hundreds of feet up, the cold winds thrashing his weak body, Minato still climbed. He was not a strong man. He beat a One-Star by cheating with his Shoes of Light and using his experience. Now, he had no Shoes of Light, no special weapons (he resolved to always keep at least one in his school bag), no Evoker... Just him and his scarf.
'I got a bad feeling about this.'
Minato couldn't help but agree. Somehow, it seemed the sky was even darkening the higher he went. Minato had to stop a few times to rest, the climb taking a considerable toll on his body. It was cold. He could have activated Aibetsu, but then he'd have less time in whatever fight was awaiting him at the top.
Breathing heavily and coated in sweat, he reached the top only to find...
Nobody. There was nobody there. His ladder came up to the middle of a round platform. The platform opposite him was also rounded and both had a six-foot diameter. It wasn't a lot of space, but it was enough. While waiting for his opponent, Minato sat down and closed his eyes. He could finally rest. Up even higher was Satsuki's perch, and he could almost see the glow she gave up there, staring down at him.
He ignored her.
Minato organized his thoughts.
Some people he had once known were dead.
He was forced into this world to help those that still lived.
He didn't know how.
Ryoji was now a sentient scarf, and was weirdly off from his usual personality at certain instances.
He was to work with Ryuko if he could, as she seemed important. She was also kind. Rough, but kind. If people like her and Mako still existed, this world was worth saving.
The Wrestling Club Captain was not at school, so she had likely "gone missing" after siding with him. Satsuki may have taken her hostage as a back-up plan.
Shadows still existed. Hence the need for the Shadow Operatives.
Music Club had accepted him.
Kendo was testing him.
What did Satsuki think of him?
Mikisugi was shady.
And Minato didn't know what happened to the rest of the Shadow Operatives.
Anyway, no matter what happened, he only needed to defeat the opponent that stood in front of him. That was all. Minato opened his eyes as he heard the scrambling up the ladder.
However, the person that climbed to the top wasn't Sanageyama like he expected.
It was a very confused looking Ryuko Matoi.
Minato sighed. So he had to prove his loyalty like this, then?
"M-Minato? What's going on here? I was told I take down one of the Elite Four bastards up here. Did they trick you too?" Ryuko asked as she looked around for any sort of hidden traps before glaring up at Satsuki. Her face was slightly red from the embarrassment of seeing him shirtless, but she didn't comment on it. Minato slightly nodded, causing Ryuko's shoulders to relax slightly. Ryuko sighed in relief.
"Okay. Good. Let's show them that we're not going to fight and just head down," Ryuko said with a smile as she moved towards her ladder. She looked back at Minato once. Once was all he needed.
"ˢᵒʳʳʸ, ᴿʸᵘᵏᵒ⋅ ᴶᵘˢᵗ ᵗʳᵘˢᵗ ᵐᵉ ᵒᶰ ᵗʰᶦˢ⋅" He tried to speak, but his voice was tiny. The winds from high up wiped away what little sound he made. Regretfully, Minato stood to his feet and held the bokken in front of him. He only hoped she could see the true intent of his actions in his eyes. Yeah, right. Like that really happened.
Ryuko's eyes narrowed. "A trick, huh? I don't know what they are doing to you, but we can beat it together. Just climb down. We don't need to fight."
Minato shook his head. They needed to.
Ryuko pulled out her Scissor Blade from the guitar case on her back. Minato smiled. He didn't have to win. He just had to fight. However, if he didn't win, then he could not get his strength acknowledged. He already made a promise when he joined Music Club. He couldn't break it in the same day. He was doing this for a purpose.
Concentrated, Minato tried to form a battle plan. He needed to wear Aibetsu. Ryuko's physical strength, from the small amount he had seen, was more than enough to wipe him out in a single blow. Even if Aibetsu strengthened him, two hits would have to be the max he could allow.
His scarf flared up into black flames and he quickly donned Aibetsu. In response, Ryuko grabbed part of this new glove she was wearing and pulled it, activating Senketsu. Minato's vocal chords were too thrashed for even Ryoji to use them and using a healing spell to explain the situation would only draw suspicion. He didn't do it earlier because his SP could not recover without rest due to his lack of recovery items. Now it would just lessen the time he had to fight and cause him to lose the progress he had made so far. He already made a mistake by nodding earlier.
'Before I can go any further, I must destroy my association with Ryuko. I'd rather this come sooner than later. It's more than likely I'll have to fight her several times in the future if I don't crush her now.'
"Minato, you don't have to do this. Don't you want to take down Honnouji Academy? We can find another way! I thought we were allies!" Ryuko exclaimed indignantly. Minato simply raised his hand and two fingers with it.
Two.
Two ways to destroy Honnouji Academy.
However, Ryuko could not understand.
She could not understand why a man who healed her and even made her breakfast was now deciding to fight her. She didn't understand why he didn't say anything when he seemed to find talking to her easier now. She didn't understand why he raised two fingers like that. What was he trying to tell her? The two of them had to fight?
She knew at least that he was being tricked or forced into it in some way. It was a small nod, but she understood. He hadn't been preparing to fight her. Given the bokken he held, he probably expected to fight somebody from Kendo. Yet, even though it was Ryuko who showed up, Minato still intended to fight. Still, she thought his resolve would be strong enough that he wouldn't let any tricks stop him from taking down Honnouji.
Unfortunately, it looked they both had to fight.
Ryuko did not know much about him, but he did not seem like a bad person. Hell, if he wanted her dead, he could have just not healed her or smothered her in her sleep or poisoned her food. No, Minato was not a bad person.
But she still had to fight him. Perhaps it was inexperience, perhaps it was stupidity, but she wouldn't walk away from this fight. The sight of him with that bokken got her blood rushing. She wanted to fight him. She wanted to see how strong he was. She wanted to find out her own strength.
"Be careful, Ryuko. He has a Kamui too. It's entirely possible he has moves he has yet to show us,"Senketsu warned. Ryuko nodded.
"Don't worry, Senketsu. You may as embarrassing as fuck, but you give me a hell of a lot of power!"
So, without further ado, she charged forward and jumped towards his platform.
She swung her Scissor Blade downwards towards him, but the strange halo immediately reacted with a small pulse. In front of her appeared a sight so horrible that she never wanted to see it again.
Mara, the monster of genitalia blocked her path. She swung her sword down upon the creature, but a shield repelled her blade, leaving her wide open for Minato to leap over the creature and fall upon her, sword pointed to the ground. Ryuko barely recovered in time to jump back to her platform. In an instant, the bokken was shattered. Minato threw it to the side expressionlessly as he took up a boxing position, jumping from one foot to another.
'This guy doesn't even flinch when he messes up, huh,' Ryuko thought with a frown. He was clearly experienced. If he did save the world like he said, then he must have fought a lot. Way more than Ryuko had. Before this, she just fought punks in middle school. The people here were a whole other level, but she could handle them with Senketsu. Yet she heard that Minato defeated a One-Star without Aibetsu. He was an opponent of another level.
What Ryuko could not have known was that the fight was only possible because of Minato's Shoes of Light. So, while overestimating his strength, Ryuko resolved to fight him with everything she had.
The halo descended again and Ryuko brought up her sword in defense instead of charging in. Last time, he had a shield. He could pull the same thing. The time to strike would be immediately after he used this skill. It could possibly be an attack this time.
A gigantic, six-winged angel appeared before Minato. Ryuko gulped at this unexpected sight. He had more than one?!
"Ryuko! Watch out!" Senketsu exclaimed suddenly.
Mako was visibly upset from her position below the platforms. They broadcasting the entire thing from giant televisions below the platforms that they conveniently took out once Ryuko had already reached the top.
Ryuko and Minato were fighting!
This wasn't right!
They were friends and friends don't fight!
However, from below, she couldn't do anything! She couldn't get in the middle! She'd lose her life!
Wait! They wouldn't hurt her!
Nodding to herself in satisfaction, Mako started to climb up the ladder to the platform Minato was on. She just had to convince him!
Then a streak of light descended from the sky like lightning.
'Two? That matches the description of that one Persona-user. However, he was thought to be unique. There was another?' Satsuki was puzzled. If there were two of these people, then why not use both in the initial conflict? Certainly, a trump card had its merits, but why send it to her? It didn't make any strategic sense.
Unless they wanted the boy to infiltrate her ranks and betray her.
Still, even if that was the case, Satsuki remembered an old saying.
'Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.'
Then a light that could almost match her own brightness flew down from the sky.
Ryuko couldn't react in time. It was too unexpected. Too fast. She barely moved forward when Senketsu called her name, and that small movement before the attack probably saved her life.
A beam of light shot down on her platform, causing a blue explosion of light that sent her flying towards Minato. Minato's Aibetsu was already starting to fade away, but with the last few moments of time left he caught her stomach with his fist, using her momentum and his strength to deal damage. Before Aibetsu disappeared completely, the halo descended one more time, but nothing seemed to happen.
Ryuko fell to the ground of the platform, coughing up blood as Senketsu returned to normal. Ryuko's strength no longer seemed to be enough to keep him functioning. However, shakily, she stood to her feet, clutching her Scissor Blade tightly. She was already covered in wounds from the previous attack and, had she dared to look behind her, she'd see that the entire platform she had been on now no longer existed. It appeared Minato had been trying to finish the fight as quickly as possible.
But he had underestimated Ryuko's toughness. Now both of them had no special powers.
"Like hell I'm going to be taken out in one hit!" Ryuko said as she slammed her Scissor Blade into Minato's side.
...Or so she thought. Her injuries slowed her down too much.
Minato had dodged under her attack and stepped away, picking up the remains of the bokken. There was only one foot of wood past the hilt, but he seemed satisfied with it. With a smaller than small sword, Minato raised it in challenge.
He wasn't giving up yet.
Ryuko was just fine with that. Her Scissor Blade would cut through his bokken in half!
He slashed at her with his bokken, and she fully intended to meet his sword head on. With one swing she cleaved through the sword and throu—
Then Minato disappeared.
Ryuko was confused for a moment, leaving her wide open.
Then she felt a strong force push against her stomach, in the same place where she'd been hit before.
She looked down to see Minato tackling her abdomen.
Oh.
He'd let go of his sword and dropped low, into her blind spot.
The force from the tackle knocked her and Minato from the platform.
And so they fell.
Minato glowed with a golden light as Victory Cry activated. He'd won, and switched to Messiah shortly before Aibetsu dissipated.
Then Minato dug into his pants.
And pulled out his Evoker.
Hey, he needed to hide it somehow, right?
Minato didn't notice it at the time, but an almost invisibly thin, black line appeared on the side of his neck.
A/N: So, I'm back. My laptop broke. Twice. Lost everything on it. Work plus that set me back a lot, so I took some time to re-plan some things and relax. Anyway, stuff happened in this chapter. It was much more serious than the previous one, I know, but this much was necessary. As for why Minato didn't use his Evoker at the start of the battle... There is a legitimate reason for it. Find out next time!
But on a seriously unrelated note, screw work. I gets money, but I feel like I lose so much more in return ^_^' Expect M1N470 update soon, followed by Empty Sea and then hopefully something else. I dunno. I'll figure it out.
OH!
And I started doing Let's Plays. Look up KingofZeroX on Youtube. Also make sure to check out the podcast and Let's Plays I do with Casey W, Kenchi618, and Slicerness on the Fandom Flux channel on youtube :)
You don't have to check any of this stuff out, but I think self-advertising in my own stuff is an obligation. If I don't self-advertise, who will?
Me.
Waaah!? Who are you?!
Question of the Chapter: How are you guys doing? Been a while since I wrote something and uploaded it.
REVIEW, FAVORITE, FOLLOW! Pretty please with the power of MUSIC?!