I honestly didn't know how this would go but I did it. I'd like to thank all those readig this fic, keith921, and jhellou. It make me happy. I'm still hoping to know what you guys think. I seriously want to know so please do tell me what you think if you have time.

When Ryoji entered the classroom, the girls bombarded him with a thousand questions. "Why were you absent on your second day?" "Are you feeling better now?" "Did that girl do something to you when you were away?" "Was her cooking so bad that it poisoned everyone at your dorm?"

"Where did that come from?" Minako asked with a hint of displeasure in her voice. Though her smile was able to hide it in the eyes of her classmates, Shinjiro and Ken knew otherwise. The two could almost see the terrifying aura taking form around her. I not bad at cooking!

"We told the teachers you and Ryoji-san had an upset stomach from drinking spoiled milk," Ken said, trying to calm the girl down, and it worked. "I don't know how they go the idea that it was your cooking's fault."

Minako sighed and looked at the girls surrounding Ryoji with a mock bitter smile. "They must really hate me." She chuckled. "...I wonder if they hate me too..." Ken and Shinjiro watched her quietly as her lips curve downwards, slightly. When she realized what she said, she quickly tried to change the subject and divert their attention to something else. She desperately hoped that they didn't hear what she said.

Noticing her distress, Shinjiro patted her and walked pass her. He sat down on his seat and said, "I'll let you copy my homework." Minako laughed at this. "Are you kidding me?! If I need some help with my homework, which is unlikely to ever happen, I'll go ask Ken-kun."

Shinjiro glared at the girl. Minako tried to put on a brave front while inching closer to Ken. When she was completely behind the boy, she apologized to Shinjiro. At least she looks better now, he sighed before burying his head in his folded arms to sleep.

"Hey Ken," Minako said softly. Ken noted the lack of honorifics. It gave him a fuzzy feeling. "Do you think Mi- Kirijo-san hate me? Do you think your friends hate me too?" The faces of Mitsuru and the others always haunted her. Suspicion. Anger. She clenched her fist.

Ken looked at her kindly. "Why would you think that?"

"Well, A- the silver-haired old man looked really mad at me."

Ken covered his lips, he tried to kill the laughter he felt. "OLD MAN!"

"Ken, are you alright?" She peered at his face worriedly.

He took a deep breath to calm himself and nodded. "I'm not really sure what they feel, but I don't think they hate you. If it's any help, I can honestly say to you that I don't hate you." Ken smiled at her bashfully and looked away. "I actually want to be friends with you, Minako-san." The boy glanced back at the girl when she didn't say anything. He was surprised when he saw her stare at him in disbelief. Then the look on her face slowly soften and her eyes suddenly turned glossy due to the tears left unshed. Ken panicked. "Please don't cry. I'm sorry." She giggled then smiled at him warmly.

"Thank you, Ken."

"We're home, Koro-chan!" Minako opened her arms widely for the dog. She was waiting for him jump into her arms but when she opened her eyes she saw that the dog was licking Shinjiro's hand. "I guess he likes people who aren't so smart."

"Was that a go signal to lock you up in a dirty cell with no food?" Shinjiro gave her the face again making her flinch in fear. Please have mercy on me, she repeated in her mind like a mantra. "Quit hiding behind Ken, I was only kidding." Shinjiro slumped over the sofa followed by Ryoji who sat across him. Ken brewed coffee for himself while Minako excused herself and went to her room.

"If Ryoji-san knows Junpei-san," Ken began as he sat beside Ryoji, "does that mean you know him too? That the both of you are the same persons we knew back then?"

Shinjiro looked at Ryoji before turning to Ken. "I'll tell when the others are here. I don't want to repeat myself."

"Okay."

Minako leaned on her room's door. She took in the appearance of her room. It was simple and just the way she wanted it. It was exactly how her old room looked like. "It looks like Makoto's" was what she heard when they returned from the other world the other day - though she was barely conscious then, she was sure of what she heard.

"I thought I could handle it... I guess I can't." She walked to her bed and buried herself under the covers. She didn't bother changing her clothes. "What was I thinking?" Her tears fell. She struggled to keep her sobs. She trembled as she embraced her pillow tightly. What am I going to do?

Her soft sobs echoed around her room. Behind her door, Ryoji stood, listening to her. A pensive expression surfaced his face. He forced himself to do something but found himself unable to move an inch. "Why are you always keeping things to yourself..." he whispered before going back down.

"Where is she?" Shinjiro asked when he saw Ryoji. He poured some curry on a plate for Ryoji. Ken watched the two, waiting for them before he starts eating.

"She's not hungry," Ryoji said, avoiding Shinjiro's eyes. From Ryoji's actions, Shinjiro could tell that she was crying. That was how they, indirectly told, each other that she was in tears.

Ryoji took a seat. "Let's eat."

"Thank you for the food." They silently ate together.

Sunday came. Ken's seniors finally woke up. The boy was relieved to find out that they didn't forget anything except for how they made it to the other world and what happened afterwards. On the other hand, the other four who were rescued earlier that month regained their memory.

The three transfer students sat quietly as a group of persona-users stared at them. "Will this take long?" Ryoji asked, breaking the silence. "Because I think Minako-chan's hungry." This earned a jab at the side from the girl. "Sorry."

Mitsuru cleared her throat. Everyone's attention to moved from the three to her. "Before we begin," she said calmly, "who are you?" Though this was directed to the three of them, it seemed that the question was more for the girl who was wearing an unreadable smile.

"I am Minako Arisato, a high school student," Minako said with a slight hint of nervousness.

Mitsuru didn't like her answer. She frowned deeply and glared at the girl. "Who are you?" she repeated. Her tone was almost threatening.

Minako sighed. She was now serious. There was. "I am Minako Arisato. Field leader of NAT, formerly known as SEES."

Mitsuru slammed her fist on the table, causing the girl to flinch. "This is the last time I am going to repeat this question. Who are you?"

Minako eyes were wide with fear and devastation, but even so, she tried her best to maintain her composure. "I already told you," she said, her voice slightly wavering. Ryoji and Shinjiro were preparing to take the girl away from the place and from Mitsuru's frigid gaze.

Seeing her like this caused something to stir in the minds of the former member of SEES. "Mitsuru, stop." It was Akihiko. Fuuka walked over to the girl and handed out her handkerchief. "Are you alright?" Minako nodded and took the handkerchief. She held on to it like a lifeline.

Mitsuru tried again this time kindly. "I already told you," Minako answered. She could fell the tears stinging her eyes. What's wrong with me? "But you don't believe me."

"You weren't our leader." Junpei felt like he said something wrong but he still continued anyway. "We don't know you."

Whatever Minako felt, they have no way of knowing anymore. After taking a deep breath her eyes were no longer teary. Her face was once again masked by an unreadable smile. "Even if I tell you the whole truth... will you believe?"