I. Hate. Myself. Minako repeatedly slammed her head on her desk. She was extremely frustrated with herself. Not only was she not able to tell the truth to her friends, but also for backing down whenever the opportune time comes. She suddenly remembered what she did when all her dorm mates were all gathered around the table, having dinner.
~Flashback~
It was the day after Minako's day out with the Velvet Room Siblings. Minako, along with Aigis, Labrys, Ken, Ryoji, Shinjiro and Teddie, went back home together. The journey was peaceful despite the occasional death threats and war declarations between Ryoji, Shinjiro and Teddie.
"You guys mind stopping by the supermarket first?" Shinjiro suddenly asked. "I'm in the mood to actually cook something really decent tonight."
"If it for Gakky's heavenly, beary super delicious cooking, the I don't mind," Teddie said.
"For once," Ryoji said, "I agree with this blond pig. Sure, why not?"
"It seems the Mochi-" "MOCHI!" "-doesn't know the difference between a bear and a pig now," Teddie said with a rather dramatic expression. "Oh whatever shall we do!? His brain is probably shrinking by now! Oh, what if it's contagious!?" The blond started to walk to the girls while saying, "My beautiful princesses, you mustn't go near the beast or you'll-" He suddenly paused when Aigis poked him with a stick that came out of nowhere. Whenever Teddie would attempt to get any closer, Aigis would stab him with the sharp piece of wood.
"You have been standing too close to Ryoji-san," Aigis said as she gaze warily at the blond male. "I do not want Minako-san and sister to be infected by this disease, if it's ever true." The blonde android turned to Ken and Shinjiro and said, "Please move away from them. They are not safe to be around with."
"That's not very nice Aigis," Ken said before he turned away. His shoulders shook, it was obvious to all of them that his was holding in his laughter.
"Ai-chan," Teddie placed a hand over his chest, "you broke my heart into beary small pieces. How am I going to fix my heart? Wait, I know! I need to be kissed by the kindest person in the world, preferably good at cooking, cleaning, and all house chores."
"Then why dontcha you kiss Shinjiro-kun," Labrys suggested. "He fits the description perfectly."
"I was hoping for a girl," Teddie said thoughtfully. "But if it would heal my heart, I would gladly accept Gakky's kiss. Even if it might not be that good." He suddenly turned to Shinjiro, making the taller male shudder. "Please be gent-"
"Whoa there! No way I'm kissin you, you moron!" the pony-tailed male said. "Kiss Ryoji instead!"
"NO WAY!" Ryoji stared at Teddie and Shinjiro in fear. "I HAVE DREAMS SHINJI! DREAMS TO HAVE A CERTAIN GIRL TO BE MY FIRST KISS, AND WIFE, AND HAVE TWO KIDS WITH! THAT DREAMS!"
"The impossible dream..." Shinjiro and Teddie said simultaneously.
"Why you..." Ryoji inched closer to the two, menacingly.
Three of the saner members of the group laughed at the Shinjiro, Teddie an Ryoji. Somehow, when the three males are together, things becomes much more fun and light for the rest. The banter of the three made Ken forget of the stress due to the elections, and Aigis and Labrys of their mission. But the three were unable to make any positive effect on the female wild card who walked at the back of their group.
Go on, she thought. Tell them; it's not that difficult, right? Minako took a deep breath. Okay, I'm gonna do it.
"Guys," but when she looked up they were already too far ahead.
Aigis turned around when she noticed that the crimson-eyed wild card was no longer beside her. "Minako-san," she stopped and waited for Minako. The others were already crossing the street, to the supermarket.
I'll just tell them later.
"This whatsit-called is awesome," Labrys said.
I'll just tell them later, Minako told herself, mentally. They might choke if they hear the truth now. Yeah... She was now making excuses. When everyone was waiting for Shinjiro to finish preparing dinner she told herself that she'll just do it later because Shinjiro might accidentally cut or burn himself. Then when the food was served, she told herself the same thing because everyone might lose their appetite and the food that might go to waste. Minako hated herself more for avoiding what she wanted to do. The guilt of making her friends from the Velvet Room lie for her made her heavier.
"Hey," Shinjiro called while waving a hand in front of her face. "What's wrong? You barely touched your food." Hearing what the boy said, everyone left their food and turned their attention to her. They all knew that the girl wouldn't just leave her food for no heavy reason.
Everyone's looking at you now, the brunette thought. Now's your chance. Come on. She gulped and scratched her palms nervously, under the table. "You see... I..." They waited patiently for her to finish. "I DREAMED OF AKIHIKO-SENPAI IN BATTLE PANTIES!"
~End of Flashback~
Their dinner that time was almost ruined because Shinjiro, who was drinking, almost squirted a mixture of tea and saliva on their dinner. It was a good thing that he was close to the sink; if not, Minako would've have died of hunger that night. Still, Akihiko-senpai in battle panties would probably be really scary. Ever since she mindlessly told those words, the picture of her silver-haired senior in that revealing attire, never left her stopped slamming her head and rubbed her forehead to lighten the red spot that formed there. Find your happy place. As long as that's in your head, you'll never be able to sleep peacefully. Now I'm talking to myself in my head. AH! I need really need to tell them the truth.
"Ya sure you hadn't caught those two's stupidity?" Labrys asked.
"Yep... I'm still trying to erase a really horrible picture."
"I know what you mean."
I need to tell them. They have to know. But what if they end up turning their backs from me...? AH! She slammed her head again, but this time she didn't lift her head. She only did when Ms. Toriumi entered the classroom and started homeroom.
The Sunday morning before the elections for student council president came. Ken paced around the lounge while practicing his speech. When he realized that he can now say it word for word, he slumped down the sofa. He stared unseeingly at the ceiling. "Koro-chan, do yo think I should run as president again?" The dog just tilted his head. I'm not sure what I want now...
"Ken?" The boy turned his head to the source of the voice and saw Shinjiro standing by the kitchen, preparing his coffee. "Mornin'."
"Good morning, Shinjiro-san." The brunet watched as the older male walk back and forth the kitchen. His head suddenly started to throb. He leaned further into the sofa and massaged his temple. Something suddenly flashed in his mind, making him stop.
A bloody Shinjiro in the arms of his best friend. His arm stretched out to hold someone's hand. Whoever that someone was, Ken wasn't sure.
"Don't cry... M-"
"Hey Ken!"
"Huh?" The pain subsided. Ken breathed deeply before looking up. He saw Shinjiro staring at him, concern slightly visible on the older teen's stiff face.
"You alright?"
"Yeah... Yeah, I'm okay." What was that?
"If you say so... I'm makin' omelette, you want one?"
"Sure, thanks."
"Labrys said the guys from the Investigation Team are coming here after lunch."
"I heard too. The next full moon is close so I guess it's just right the we prepare." Shinjiro hummed to what the other said.
Ken looked back at the ceiling again. He thought about that memory. "Don't cry..." Did Shinjiro-san really said that...? Then he turned back to the teen who was making breakfast. Now that I think about it, I never really talked about it with him. I should at least say something to him.
"Good morning!" a person coming down the stairs yelled cheerfully. "And who is the lovely girl- oh..." Teddie paused when he saw Shinjiro wearing a pink apron, a spatula in hand. "Nevermind... Gakky, why are you up so beary early? Usually, Mina-chan watching Featherman Ranger wakes you up."
"I just happen to wake up early."
Teddie ran beside the pony-tailed male. They started having a conversation. Ken zoned them out and decided to rest his eyes until it's time for him to eat. Maybe later.
"Do you think that the shadows will be on the same floor?" Naoto asked.
"When we fought the emperor and the empress," Minako said, "they were together. So they'll probably be together this time around."
"I see. Should we go to the tower and perform a reconnaissance?" she asked her senior and the crimson-eyed girl. The two wild cards looked at each other, then to their comrades, before agreeing to the young detective's suggestion.
"We should go now," Yu said. "Now would be the perfect time to get to know are new friends." He smiled at Minako, the girl, in return, smiled back.
"Alright, let's go."
"So Satonaka-san and Narukami-san are like Shirogane-san and Akihiko-senpai?" Minako asked.
"Yep," Chie replied proudly, "We're detectives. But you don't have to call me by my family name. Just call me 'Chie,' okay?"
"Okay, Chie-san."
"Same for mine too," Naoto said. "My family name is mouthful."
"Alright. By the way, why can't Amagi-san come?"
"Yukiko has to go back to Inaba to take care of somethings at their family inn."
"She seems really diligent," the wild card said.
"You could say that again."
"So how do you think the boys are doing?" Rise suddenly asked.
"They are probably fine," Aigis said. She was somehow happy that Ryoji and Teddie were there. It is nice change to not have males around, she thought as she watched everyone chat while walking around. Even though they encounter shadows from time to time, the feeling of
The girls were all alone venturing the tower. They decided to form a group, leaving all the boys with each other. Yosuke complained that it wasn't fair. "How are he going to find our way back?" he asked when he realized that Rise, Fuuka, and Minako, the only one's who can navigate through the tower, were on the same group.
"Then we'll go first," Chie said. "We'll just show Rise and Fuuka-san around, then when we get back, the lot of you can have your turn while Fuuka-san guides you."
"This is no theme park!" Yosuke said in exasperation. "And don't just volunteer Fuuka-san!"
"Senpai didn't volunteer Fuuka-san," Rise said. "She volunteered herself."
"But-"
"Just let them go Yosuke," Yu said before the girls left. When they were gone, majority of the males sulked, while the girls chatted as they make their way toward the dead end.
"We're here." Fuuka said. She glanced around the blank, white room. "I wonder why it's like this before a full moon."
"Yeah," Labrys agreed, "it's strange... What's wrong Fuuka-san?" She asked when the teal-haired girl looked dazed.
"Whenever I come to this tower, I keep getting this strange feeling, like I'm being reunited with something. And whenever we leave, I feel like I'm still here, or at least a part of me... Do you guys get that feeling."
"Now that ya mention it, I keep gettin' the same strange feelin'."
Naoto held her chin, "How peculiar..."
BEEP! BEEP! "Oh," Aigis shut her alarm. "Our turn ends here."
"I just realized something," Yu said. "This is the second time that the girls left us with each other."
"Maybe they just want to hang out," Ken concluded. "Just girls."
"Maybe," Shinjiro agreed. "Or maybe they want to get away from these two perverts." He pointed at Ryoji and Teddie.
Ryoji's brow furrowed. "Shinji, I'm not a pervert. I just love to express my liking to women. And please, don't lump me with that bear."
"You're just jealous," Teddie said, "because I have better hair boy or bear form."
Ryoji didn't bother answering back. He looked back at the entrance, then the teleporter. "They should be here by now." and just on cue, the girls came out of the teleporter one by one. "Minako-chan!" He run to the with a on his face. But the beam soon melted to unease. He placed a hand on one of the girl's shoulders and one under her chin - this move earned a whistle from the males, but he ignored them. He scrutinized her face Again? But I thought it was gone! Her skin was paler compared to how it was before and her eyes were drooping from exhaustion. "I'll take her back home," he told them, "Teddie, lead them to the shortcut on the way back."
"Alright." The bear glanced at the crimson-eyed girl to see what's wrong. But before he could get a better look, she got on Ryoji's back and buried her face there. "Be careful."
"Are you awake Minako?" The raven-haired boy didn't hear an answer, but he felt the girl nodded her head. "I thought you can handle being in the tower now. What happened?"
"..."
"Minako?"
"Ryoji, would you hate me if I lie to you?" the brunette asked weakly.
The boy didn't answer immediately. He stared at the eternal moon on the sky. He imagined what it would feel like if when he finds out that the girl he admired lied to her. "I guess I would be hurt, but I could never hate you."
"From what your shadow said, it seems that you have an idea why I brought you here and what I've done."
"I'm not really sure what you did, but I'm sure that you're doing your best to fix things." Ryoji turned his head to look at the girl. His blue eyes met her own red, remorseful ones. "I know there are things you still haven't said to us. I know that you cry whenever you're alone. But despite knowing all those things, I still don't know how I can help you..." The boy returned his gaze to the path.
"I'm sorry Ryoji."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because I still can't tell you the truth..." And she fell asleep.
I think you guys realized that how little I write about the still-unnamed tower. Haha... sorry (._.) I no good with action. Anyway, please tell me if this is too anticlimactic or something. Also, thank you for all of you who read this, those who followed/favorited, and to those how reviewed.
Megami Tensei Emperatiz: I don't know what's happening to my head, but I sometimes I think that I can't bring her back to the how I pictured Minako in the game... Thanks for pointing that out. Most of the times I zone out while making this, so I make (super) many mistakes.
Asahar4: I sometimes think the truth will never come out. Hahaha... I feel like Minako is so frustrating orz (What the heck am I doing with her!?) She'll tell them in the future... maybe.
I'e been thinking of changing the title because I think I doesn't make sense. But I still can't think of anything appropriate. ~sighs~