Aren't you forgetting someone...?

What's with that question? Man, you really need to loosen up!

Are you sure you're alright?

I'm fine... But I guess I'm skipping out today

W-what? You can't be leaving me with these two! Come on, one girl with two guys?

Chapter 5: Resolutions

4/10/09-Friday

"-ato..."

"Ngh..."

"Min-to-un..."

"Ugh...

"Minato-kun~"

The silver orbs revealed itself to the girl. She was smiling brightly as usual.

"You sleepy head!" The girl flicked her fingers on his forehead which was resting on the soft hospital pillow.

The boy was immediately brought there after the Dark Hour ended. He didn't receive any serious damage, but Mitsuru had him stay just in case of internal injuries. His vision was still blurry, but the mere thought of her being beside him made him feel relieved. She was out that night after all, and with that monster roaming around... what could've happened to her?

"Are you alright?" He suddenly shot up and grabbed her arms. She smiled painfully at him, which made him release his grasp. "S-sorry..." The boy muttered, bowing his head.

"Ha... It's alright. I'm the one who should be asking that... Glad you're fine though!" She paused and moved closer to his side. "Don't scare me like that... Yukari and Mitsuru-senpai told me you fell down the stairs while sleepwalking..." She stared at his eyes which were trying to avoid hers. He turned his back on her in confusion.

'What kind of reason was that...! They could at least make a cooler excuse...' He sighed feeling embarrassed. Minako giggled and turned away for a moment, her eyes were filled with regret.

'Sorry for leaving you out there...' She thought to herself. It felt like she was tricking him...

She knew the truth of that night. In fact, she knew more than anyone else. How she wished that she was actually ignorant of the events during the dreaded hour... just like that one day her innocence returned even just for a short period of time. No worries about carrying the world on your back, no worries about the imminent danger that lurks, no worries of how to prevent The Fall... but doing that would be like running away. The girl turned back to the young man and smiled gently.

She moved closer to him and whispered softly to his ears. "You'd better get well soon..." His usually void face showed surprise, coupled with a warm sensation of redness. "Hehe... Got ya!" They laughed together in the hospital room, forgetting about the Dark Hour in that short moment of peace...

4/18/09-Saturday

He was discharged from the hospital that Saturday night. Minako went to bed early (or so they thought), while he was called out in the 4th floor. There, Ikutsuki, Mitsuru, Yukari and a male student were seated on their respective places, waiting for him. The three were seated on sofas which surrounded an antique table. Ikutsuki was on the center, Mitsuru and the male student were seated beside each other on the right sofa. Across them was Yukari. They turned to the newcomer the moment he entered.

"Ah, There you are. I'm glad that you're okay. I wasn't sure what I'd do if anything had happened to you" The chairman sighed in relief. Minato nodded at him, showing that he's completely recovered. "The reason I asked you here is because I needed to talk to you. Please, have a seat" The Chairman smiled at him and pointed him out to the seat right beside Yukari.

The boy's eyes darted from the chairman, to Mitsuru and the stranger and finally, to the empty seat.

"Oh, before that. This is Akihiko Sanada, he lives here too" He turned to the silver-haired boy.

"How ya' doin'?" He smiled at Minato, the boy bowed to him in respect as he flopped on the soft furniture.

"Okay, let me start off by asking you this... Would you believe me if I said that a day consists of more than 24 hours?" Minato stared that the man with his poker face. He took in a deep breath and opened his mouth.

"I wouldn't believe you if you said a day only consists of 24 hours" His answer made the man chuckle, the others raised a brow at him.

"That's a surprising reaction" Mitsuru finally chuckled along with a man after a moment.

"I don't understand..." Yukari added, looking quite confused along with Akihiko.

"Scientifically speaking, it is 24 hours, but how are we to say it really is 24 hours all the time? Just like tonight. Time suddenly stopped. While sometimes, the sun rises later than it should and..." The boy continued speaking, the whole group stared blankly at him. For the first time he was talking a lot. Minato was a boy of few words, Yukari knew that, Mitsuru was familiar with it, so it was surprising seeing him talk this much. What's even more amusing was that he was speaking in a monotone voice the whole time. It was a sight to see. Or hear for that matter.

Meanwhile... In the command room, a shadow lurked, fidgeting with the controls. "Ah... This is it...!" She held up the black, rectangular object in triumph. Her bright red eyes sparkled at the sight of it. "Umph...!" The girl suddenly clasped her hand on her mouth.

She turned to the door. Nothing. She sighed in relief and let go of her mouth. "Now if I do this... and this... delete this... and..." She muttered, glancing at the door from time to time. She was tampering with the tape and the machine. Lucky for her, the boy was 'unintentionally' stalling everyone else with his 'lecture'.

"There!" She smiled, returning 'it' to where she picked 'it' up.

'Good thing I messed in here last time... I finally made use of that experience...' The girl made sure everything was back in place and that she didn't leave any evidence. Quietly, she tiptoed out the room and back into hers, tucking herself under the covers...

"...and that is why 24 hours is not accurate enough" The boy pointed out in a flat tone. His listeners were half-asleep, except for Mitsuru who listened attentively.

"You're an interesting one..." Mitsuru smiled and turned back to the oldest man who was already snoring. She cleared her throat which almost made the guy jump in surprise. He scratched his head and smiled in apology after realizing his little trip to dreamworld.

"As we were saying, your experience the other night... That's the Dark Hour – a time period hidden between one day and the next" The others who had drifted off finally returned to their senses after hearing the girl's clear voice. As for the blue-haired teenager, he wasn't surprised at all, but deep inside, thoughts were swirling. Thoughts of the night he arrived, the other night of the attack and... Their attempts of hiding this thing from him.

'I knew it something was up...' He sat straight and continued to listen. They explained to him that it happens every night, and only few people experience it.

"Normal people don't realize it, since they're all sleeping inside their coffins" The senior added which almost made Minato stand. They looked puzzled at his sudden reaction, but he got back to shape afterward.

"How about Minako?" He asked in a low voice. Everyone stared at each other, with Ikutsuki finally sighing.

"She doesn't have the potential" He shook his head. Minato sighed in relief. Although he wasn't sure if it's something to be happy or to be worried about. Sure, she's 'safe' from all this horror, but... It sounds rather unnerving that she's inside a coffin...

They further explained about the Shadows and what they do. The whole time, Minato held his pants tightly. The mere thought about the truth of the Dark Hour... but he could only think of one thing, or at least of someone - Minako. All these scary things were happening. She's not aware of it. She's innocent. He must protect her, the closest family he had left. Yes, the only met recently, but he already felt deep attachment for her. Sure he remembers the days of their childhood, but the past few days with her were already treasured memories for him. Memories he wishes to further collect... Minato listened to them, about the S.E.E.S., Persona-users and fighting Shadows. His silver eyes turned to Mitsuru after she stood up. The red headed girl took out a case and opened it in front of him. It contained a gun. It was identical to the one Yukari had that fateful night. Of course, he never had the chance to use it since 'she' stole it.

"What he's trying to say is, we want you to join us. We've prepared an Evoker for you. We'd like to you to lend us our strength" The senior pushed the case closer to him. The Evoker reflected in his eyes as he stared at it. There was a moment of silence.

"... But how could you tell that I have a 'Persona'?" He stared at the group. Mitsuru smiled and looked back at him calmly.

"If you don't they would've preyed on you. The Shadows. Also, you had consciousness that night. An ordinary person would be..." She turned away as if she was thinking of what to say. He nodded without waiting for the senior to finish her thought. He tried to show them that he understood the gist of it, from judging his now serious expression. He reached for the gun but suddenly paused halfway.

"Minako... What will happen to her?" He turned to Ikutsuki who smiled back at him.

"We'll be arranging for her room transfer-"

"No" The boy cut in the moment the chairman mentioned 'transfer'. They stared at him in surprise.

"I only came here for her. If she's not around, I'm going too" He answered in a cold tone. Yukari and Akihiko frowned at his answer.

"But this is for her own-"

"I understand... She can stay then" The man answered, cutting Mitsuru. She glanced at the adult worriedly, but he all he did was nod.

"She'll be safer in the presence of Persona-users don't you think?" the chairman added, clapping his hands. Minato let out a sigh of relief and slowly reached for the gun. His head throbbed and his hand shook. Something inside him kept nagging him that he shouldn't take it... but... Minako... Who would protect her...? That single thought clouded his mind. The boy paused and took a deep breath before finally wrapping the Evoker around his fingers. He stared intently at it, feeling its cold touch...

'I promise... I will protect you...'

"Speaking of which... What about the girl who stole my Evoker?" Yukari turned to Mitsuru. She looked troubled, hearing the question and closed her eyes.

"We'll investigate on that matter. For the mean time, try to find out what you can" They nodded at her answer.

"It would be great to have her on our team. She totally cornered that thing" Akihiko added, crunching his fists, his eyes were burning with excitement. Everyone returned to their respective rooms. Minato turned to look at the place they held their meeting. He held the Evoker tightly and went on his way.

'I'm sorry if I have to fool you all... Minako cannot change anything... But she can...' The girl pulled the cover of her bed over her head. It was a cold night. A dark, quiet, starry sky perfect for camping. She was not camping though. Instead, she was locked up inside her room. The girl sighed and finally pulled down the blanket, revealing her auburn hair and blood-red eyes. She stared blankly at the ceiling with thoughts of everyone important to her. Even 'he' was important already.

'I've only met him recently... But it feels like I've known him since birth...' The girl stretched out her hand and picked up the trinket from the drawer. She opened it up again revealing the mysterious picture.

'Then again... I AM supposed to know him since birth...' She chuckled, closing her eyes, falling into a deep sleep, after muttering the words...

"I promise... I'll protect everyone... I won't let them get involved in this..."

By that 'experience' it was tampering/watching the videos via hidden camera in the command room. They said it was broken... Ok, let's just say she learned a thing or two from Fuuka... And anyway... The hidden cameras weren't used much after the admission of FeMC/MC, so... She just did that just in case XD

-Persona 3 or any SMT series does not belong to me-