Having nothing better to do I did this. Thanks to you guys for reading. Thank you to BananaMiss for favoriting or following. And to Rosalinda Lancaster Leonhart for the comment.
Rosalinda Lancaster Leonhart: They (Investigation Team) will appear soon. Though I'm still wondering how I can make them stand out more.
After Junpei teleported back with the two people they found on the previous floor, the group split up into three groups: Minako and Labrys, Yukari and Ken, and Shinjiro and Akihiko. Minako gave them directions to the location of their assigned person from the teleporter.
"Once you find them teleport back to the first floor," Minako said before they go their separate ways. "Also, there are three more on the floors above. Two of them are on the 59th floor, and one on the 63rd. The four of you-" She said looking at Yukari, Shinjiro, Akihiko, and Ken "-will handle the one on the 59th, while Labrys and I will handle the other one. We'll discuss the details later when we meet up at the first floor."
"Yes sir!" They all said to Minako simultaneously.
"Good, now move out."
"Minako-san is a really good leader," Ken said in admiration. Yukari turned to the young man and saw the look in his eyes. It was the look that he gave to Akihiko when he was still a child. She chuckled at the sight of it, making the male smile bashfully.
"We should've called Mitsuru-senpai so that we could have extra help," Yukari said. "But then again, we're already doing fine on our own thanks to her."
"If we finish on time we might make it to Yukiko-san and Kanji-san graduation party," Ken said happily. "I was really looking forward to what Mitsuru-san would do for them."
"Well, even if we make it, I think we'll be too tired to do much. We turn right here, right?" Ken nodded. "Alright... " After a few silence Yukari spoke again. "We should invite that girl, Ryoji, and Shinjiro-senpai," she suggested. "They'll be working with the investigation team in the future for who-knows-how-long so I think it's time we introduce them to each other."
"I agree. Oh, we found her Yukari-san." Ken picked the girl up. "A first year."
"That girl somehow reminds me of Makoto, you know?" Ken looked up and saw that Yukari was spacing out. "She seems so different from him but I can't help but to see him in her. That makes me like her."
"As much as that's good to hear Yukari-san, you should learn to like her for who she is, not her similarities with Makoto-san." Ken gave Yukari a solemn look. "For the time I've been with her, I can say that she's not a complete stranger. That she's someone we just don't remember."
"Maybe you are right, Ken..." A scene suddenly surfaced in Yukari's mind. A girl asking questions to a huge piece of stone.
"Why do they have to forget me?"
"So why'd ya take me?" Labrys asked Minako when they were a good distance away from the group. "You avoiding them because they're just like your friends."
"Not really," Minako said. She rotated her shoulders. "Actually, I'm really tired. You're the only one who seems to know, so there's no point in hiding it from you."
"How'd ya know I knew?"
"I see that calculating look in your eyes." Minako waved her index finger at Labrys' direction. "Aigis did the same thing to me when we were climbing Tartarus."
"Okay ya got me." Labrys smiled at her partner. "So why are you pretending that you aren't tired anyway?"
"I can't let them know that," Minako said wearily. "A leader should support her team even when she's tired. If I show them any weakness now they might lose all the energy to continue to move on forward. Plus, this no place where you can give up anytime you like. If we give up and leave now, who knows what will happen to those people? If we give up now, those people might die."
"I see... Well if you're really tired just hop on my back and I'll carry you."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'll have to think about it." Minako tugged her skirt and Labrys nodded understanding.
"Don't worry, no one will see ya," Labrys assured with a grin. "Besides, you've shorts under your skirt."
"Okay, okay." Minako looked away meekly and whispered, "when I can't stand anymore. And how'd you know that?"
"Secret... Found her." Labrys lifted the girl. "Now to the teleporter."
After a few minutes if silence Minako called Labrys. "Hey, Labrys?"
"Yeah?" Labrys tilted her head curiously.
"What exactly do you know about Shinji?"
Labrys stopped on her tracks and gave Minako a mischievous smile. "Are you scared I'd take your boyfriend from you?"
"What are you talking about? Shinji's my mother." Labrys just mentally face-palmed at the girl's reply. Maybe that's how Ryoji got busted. She's too dense.
Labrys sighed and continued walking. "All I know is that he died some years ago. That's about it." She glanced at the girl and saw that a frown appeared on the girl's face.
"Looks like I'm not the only one who's been forgotten," Minako muttered.
Akihiko and Shinjiro decided to have a competition on who could get to the person first. They were running neck on neck.
"Your old man body won't be able to win on this, Aki!" Shinjiro taunted. He was irritated at his albino friend for being so stupid. He was also irritated with himself for not backing down on their little race. He hates losing as much as he's annoyed stupidity.
"What did you just say Shinji!?"
"See? You can't even hear me!"
"Shut up, grandma!"
"No girlfriend since birth!"
"Like you're the one to talk," Akihiko spat.
They stopped running when they saw a wall. They turned left and right. "Which way are we supposed to go?" Akihiko asked.
"She said left." Shinjiro placed his hands on his pockets and started walking again. Akihiko took this as a sign that his friends no longer cared about their little race.
"Arisato's a good leader," Akihiko said calmly. Shinjiro just hummed.
"That tomboy is just as good as that blue-haired idiot," Shinjiro said blankly. "Both are acting recklessly both risked their lives to save the world. But there one thing that she did that he wasn't able to do."
"What?" Akihiko eyed him curiously. He took note at the sudden change of atmosphere.
Solemnity filled Shinjiro's eyes for a brief moment. "She was able to save me..." he said softly.
"What was everyone like from where you came from?" Akihiko asked when Shinjiro didn't continue.
"Almost the same as Makoto's world. Everyone looks and acts the same. And you, the same thing; you still look more like a fugitive than a cop." Akihiko's eye twitched ever so slightly. "Mitsuru is still a nag. Ken's not hostile to me. Junpei and Yukari doing the same thing they do now. And those guys from Inaba as rowdy as the ones here." Shinjiro smiled fondly.
"So you know them?"
"Yeah I know them, but it looks like they don't know me now... You know before all this I have my very own little restaurant. On every occasion, you guys would barge in demanding for a free meal. But then..."
Akihiko waited patiently. "You don't have to say it if you don't want to," he said when he noticed the drastic change in his best friend."
"They all forgot," Shinjiro continued, suddenly. "Those guys, the Investigation Team, they forgot everything about me. Then you guys... I don't know... I can't really describe how it felt. All I know is that I hate it so much. I mean who wouldn't feel that way when everyone you know thinks you're gone."
"Shinji..." Akihiko didn't know what to say to his friend. He pursed his lips and clenched his fist. For him to be talking like this... It must've been too much. Akihiko always knew his best friend was never the one to talk or express about his feelings. He always knew that his friend always kept things to himself. Shinjiro never even told him about how he was slowly killing himself with those pills. If Akihiko was younger he would just sit there and feel helpless, but now he was older, stronger, and wiser. He was determined to help and protect his friends.
"Found her." Shinjiro acted as if The conversation never happened and circled the unconscious person. "Shit, this girl's bigger than the guy we found."
"Welcome back!" Teddie greeted. Shinjiro and Akihiko, the last one's to arrive, didn't bother to reply. The girl they were carrying was not only taller than them, she was also heavier. Aigis decided to lend them a hand by taking the girl from them. The two looked at the blonde gratefully.
"You guy's sure took your time," Ryoji said with a smirk. Shinjiro and Akihiko just glared at him.
Minako clapped her hands twice, effectively getting their attention. "Okay now listen up. Aigis, Ryoji, and Teddie, You guys take them back to the dorm. We need a way for them to be taken to the hospital discreetly so as not to be rumored for kidnapping or whatever story people can think of."
"How are we going to do that?" Teddie asked.
"I was hoping that maybe you guys know someone who can do that. But if there's no one then I'm afraid we'll have to bother Mitsuru-senpai and ask for some help."
"I understand," Aigis said while nodding her head. "I am sure that Mitsuru-san would not mind if it is for the safety of others."
Minako smiled. "That's good to hear."
She continued giving instruction to the three. "After taking all of them there call for Mitsuru-senpai or someone from the hospital who knows of the situation. Two of you will have to return back here to serve as backup while the other one will stay at the dorm to keep an eye on them."
Minako turned to Junpei. "You're backup so you'll have to stay here. There aren't many shadows now but we still need to be careful." Junpei nodded.
"Now for the rest of you, I'll tell you where you can find them along the way. Make sure you listen carefully. Once you guys find them run back to the dorm. Is that clear?"
"Yes."
"Okay, then let's go." The six rushed to the teleporter to continue where they left.
"So..." Teddie looked at seven unconscious forms lying on the floor. Three female and four males. Two of the seven, obviously a whole lot bigger than the rest. Teddie shuddered at the thought of carrying one of the two. "It's kind of a long walk back. Maybe we could warp back to the dorm with this." Teddie snapped and in front of them appeared a vintage TV.
Aigis stared at the TV before sticking her head in it. Her head disappeared through the screen. After a few seconds, Aigis' left the TV. "This will lead us to one of the classrooms at Gekkoukan High School."
"Well,we have no choice but to carry them." Ryoji rolled his sleeves and prepared to lift one of the girls. "Hey Junpei, help me put this girl behind my back." Junpei grinned and did what he said. He gave Ryoji a thumbs-up and said, "Nice move, partner."
Teddie gasped and looked a the two with disapproval. "You perverts! Molesting girls in their sleep!"
"And what? They'll be safer in your hands?" Junpei smiled smugly when Teddie failed to retort.
Teddie pouted and decided to pick the smaller girl left. He stuck his tongue. "Let's go Ai-chan."
Aigis nodded and picked one of the males they've found. She carried him behind her back. After that she picked the larger two of the group and carried each like a tray. Her hands on their tail bone making them look like they're sitting on her began to running back to the dorm in full speed.
The three males watched in awe. "I wish I can be that strong," Teddie said before pondering on how he would put the other male behind his back.