Chapter 10: Tests, Shrine and Persona

5/10/09-Sunday

"So you're saying I lose my potential on days of the full moon?" The red-eyed girl slammed her fist on the table.

Igor simply grinned at the girl while the male attendant nodded at her. She sighed and massaged her temples before turning back to the old man. "About his awakening... Death... He was different. What's happening? Was it because I stopped him from summoning it on the first full moon?" She asked again with her face wrapped in a serious expression. Her eyes stared intently at the older man.

The attendant furrowed a brow and spoke in place of Igor. "I am afraid we are not in the place to provide such answers."

Minako glared at him. "Quiet, Theo. I'm not talking to you."

He flinched and fell silent.

"I understand your frustration, but we wish that you bear with us. Our sole purpose is but to assist you. Now, please, if you will... " Igor signaled for her to leave the place by gesturing at the exit. His voice didn't sound distressed or angry... but he did sound rather worn out.

With the girl coming to them and giving crazy, unreasonable requests... It was no wonder that he'd get mad... though he seemed to be more in a hurry than angry. It was the first time he's done this... She is a guest, right? Although, technically, she did force him to let her be one... Had it been Theo who asked her to leave, she'd ignore it, but since it's Igor...

"Please... Do not take this the wrong way. It is just that we are expecting another guest." He continued as if reading her thoughts.

The girl's confusion suddenly faded and she sighed in relief. For a moment there, Minako had thought that she'd be the first guest to experience the old man's anger. Not that she knew of any other guest anyway.

'Hold on... other guest...?'

"... Minato-kun, I presume?" She asked.

The two nodded at her. Minako sighed and finally stood up. At first it seemed as if she were getting ready to leave, but she suddenly came to a halt and crossed her arms stubbornly.

"I'm not leaving until you give me answers! Anything would do... please..." She demanded in a desperate tone.

The two residents looked at each other–Theodore with a furrowed brow and Igor with his trademark grin. Finally, the long-nosed goblin closed his eyes and opened his mouth.

"We have already provided all that you require during our first encounter but... very well..." He paused. "The answer which you seek is one that is forgotten, but not forever lost. Locked, but can be set free. A lie and yet the truth." Igor spoke in a mysterious tone. "Search the heart, find yourself, and cherish the moments, only then will the keys reveal themselves..."

Minako looked confused and pondered on it. That didn't make any sense to her. Why does he always have to speak in riddles? Seriously. They just make things more complicated than they should be...

From the look of it, she won't be getting any more information out of them other than that. In fact, she was already kind of pushing it with them... Then again, they were the only two who knew of her other existence... That is, her past and existence as the previous Great Seal. It was only natural that she'd take out all of her frustrations in the Velvet room.

'Now I kinda feel guilty...' She sighed to herself.

"… Thanks anyway..." Minako finally smiled and opened the exit. "Oh yeah. Don't tell Minato-kun about me..." She added before leaving.

'... Things keep piling up... I've already decided to do this... I can do it...!'

5/17/09-Sunday

'Igor... Elizabeth... The Velvet Room... Haven't seen that for some time now...'

He stared up at the hospital ceiling with a blank gaze.

It was an early Sunday morning, about a week after the full moon incident. During the time that he was asleep, the boy had dreamed about this blue room. The 'residents' there seemed to know him real well.

He closed his silver eyes in an effort to fall back asleep when a loud bang erupted from the door, making him turn to its direction.

"Good morning, Minato-kun~! I bet you're already awake?"

It was just the person he had wanted to see. Her reddish-brown hair, her crimson-red eyes and her bright smile... She was the perfect medicine for him. He was about to stand, but quickly stopped after feeling a strange pain throb from his backside. How long had he been out? What had happened? All he could remember was using the Evoker... and then... everything else was blank...

"How did you know I was awake?" He asked in a weak voice. It felt rather raspy.

The girl sat down on a chair beside his bed and set down a basket of red apples on the table beside him. She took out a bottle of water and offered it to the boy. There was no way he would refuse that.

"Erm... Cause we're tw- Coincidence?" She stumbled on her words.

If she were to say that it was because they're twins, then he's sure to preen from it... One way or the other... Minako just knew that she had woken up eight days after her awakening, so she had figured that it must be the same for him.

The boy was able to finish the whole bottle in one round. He turned back to the girl and gently smiled at her–much to her shock. She's not yet used to seeing his different expressions.

"... How long was I out...?" He finally asked.

The girl brushed through her bangs and avoided eye contact before answering.

"A week. Tomorrow's our test." She answered innocently.

The boy looked down with a solemn face. Minako stared at him. Something seemed wrong about the way he was acting... Suddenly, a sly smile emerged on the girl's lips. She turned to the boy and spoke in a sing-song voice.

"If you get in the top ten for the exams, I'll cook for you for a week~"

Upon hearing those words, the boy suddenly straightened up and grabbed her hands with a serious expression.

"DEAL. I'm looking forward to it...!" He answered with confidence.

But... Could he do it...? He was out for a week, he didn't study and he was always asleep in class... Well, in any case, that wasn't not the point... At least his mind was off of the Dark Hour now, right? Deep inside, Minako smiled for him...

"Good afternoon, Manager-san~!" She greeted cheerfully.

Today, Minako was wearing her casual clothes. But what was curious about her appearance was that she was carrying some sort of box-shaped object wrapped in pretty pink-colored cloth. The man she had greeted turned to her baggage and then to her cheerful face before smiling.

"Good afternoon to you too, Arisato-chan! I'm still very grateful for your help last time... What brings you here today?"

"Well~ Is Onii-san around? I kinda promised to treat him!"

"Oh, Aragaki-san? Hold on a minute. It's almost his break anyway." He waved at the girl and entered the kitchen. Discreetly, Minako peeked inside. And there was Shinjiro, wearing a pure white chef's outfit–complete with a toque.

'Ohoho~ What's this~? The tux was something... but this is cute too! Now... If only I can get him in a swimsuit...' The girl thought with a wicked grin on her face. In her mind, she was already beginning to formulate ideas for her devious plans...

Apparently, Minako had quite a habit of dressing up her members in different costumes for Tartarus explorations back when she had been the field leader for SEES. From maid outfits to swimsuits... they just couldn't say no, especially since her arguments had been valid. Two of her usual victims were Shinjiro, who (somehow) could never say no to her requests, and Akihiko, who was honestly made to believe that the outfits increased his fighting prowess...

As she reminisced about her own past, the manager continued speaking with Shinjiro, most likely informing him that it was break time. The boy nodded and took off his attire, changing back into his usual pea coat. He headed out of the kitchen and almost bumped into the small figure patiently waiting just outside.

"Hi!" His face flushed red in surprise upon seeing the girl.

He was completely caught off-guard... He quickly looked around and pulled down his beanie while he forcefully dragged her out of the restaurant.

"What are you doing here!?" He asked gruffly, making the girl pout at him before immediately smiling back. She shoved her baggage into the boy's arms. It was warm.

"I promised to treat you, right~? So here I am!" Minako winked at him.

Shinjiro inspected the 'thing' that she had handed him. It smelled like food. Yup... Definitely a bento...

"That's not what I meant, you idiot... I mean, why the hell are you here? It's Sunday and... what's with this...?"

"I have a sharper attention than you think! Now, c'mon, you don't wanna waste good food, right?"

This time, it was the girl who dragged him. He could've gotten free of her since he was physically stronger...

But he didn't.

Soon, the two arrived at the shrine and Minako pointed out a spot under the tree. Shinjiro paused, but his hesitation was ignored as she dragged him, yet again, towards it.

"Tch... You shoulda at least told me beforehand..." He muttered under his breath, but Minako heard him and giggled, making him feel rather embarrassed again. It seems like no matter what, he'll always feel embarrassed around her...

"How could I...? You never gave me your number." She stared at him suspiciously when he suddenly turned away from her. "... Don't tell me... You don't have a phone...?"

She hit the nail right on the head.

"I don't need any of that shit." He defended himself.

She couldn't help but laugh at him, making him feel rather foolish. But really, even if he did have a phone, it wouldn't have much use. The only contact he had was Akihiko... and that guy could be pretty annoying sometimes... Thus, owning a phone was unnecessary. In fact, it may even turn out to be a burden.

"Just shut up and eat." He finally spoke and took out the lunch box.

Minako had a hard time stopping her laughter. It's wasn't really that funny, but...

'Hahaha! He's so cute...!'

She had brought three boxes that day. One had fish and rice, the other had chicken and the last one had omelet; all three had similar vegetable side dishes of carrots and corn. It was a simple meal in all actuality. Minako took the omelet while Shinjiro took the fish and they began eating.

"... Did you really make this?" He said, staring at the food.

"Hm? Of course! I woke up early just to do it~!" She smiled, picking up her chopsticks.

"Heh... The way you arranged them... looks as if it was done by a six-year-old." He chuckled, teasing the girl.

True enough, it was a mess... in fact, it looked as if she simply shoved everything into the container.

"I-It's the taste that counts, okay...?!" The girl blushed as she puffed out her cheeks.

"Whatever you say..." He smirked before continuing to eat.

The two continued to talk about stuff as they ate though... technically, it was actually Minako who did all of the talking. She told him about her clubs, her silly brother and her friends. During the whole time, he simply stayed quiet and listened with an unchanging expression... Still, at times, he seemed to give off a sad expression...

"Your parents are gonna freak out if they discover that you're hanging out with someone like me, y'know." Shinjiro suddenly spoke after picking up a carrot. The girl quietly watched as he shoved it in his mouth.

"My mom and dad are gone." She finally answered after swallowing her food.

His eyes widened at her response.

"Ugh..." He kept quiet, feeling guilty for bringing it up.

Now that she mentioned it, when she had said that everyone back home was busy, he had thought that she meant her parents were always busy when in fact...

"Hey! Don't worry about it! I'm all over it." She chuckled before taking another bite. "It's not like I live alone! My dormmates are all nice... even if they're always busy... besides..." She paused for a while and put down her chopsticks. Minako drew closer to the male and continued. "Onii-san is here for me!" Minako's words shook him up inside and his face burned up in a bright tint of red.

"S-Shut up and just eat!" He tried hiding it with the lunch box.

The girl giggled at his reaction.

"Yes, yes... You said that already..." She giggled again and returned to her position before picking up her chopsticks to resume eating.

There was a short awkward atmosphere around them when a certain someone suddenly stole both of their attentions–a white fur ball was approaching them. His red eyes resembled Minako's in all their brightness. At the sight of the canine, the girl's equally crimson-colored eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Koro-chan! I missed you, buddy!" She held out her arms, readying herself to be glomped by the dog.

At first, he hesitated. Koromaru didn't know her... but she did seem nice... And so, he glomped her anyway. His nuzzled her affectionately while wagging his tail.

"Want one~?" She picked up a piece of chicken and offered it to the canine, who accepted it happily.

Shinjiro watched as Minako enjoyed herself with the dog.

"You know each other?" He finally spoke.

Minako's expression froze. It looks like she had gotten a bit carried away. She wasn't supposed to know him... Good thing dogs can't speak.

"Ah... Er... Kinda...?" She answered, avoiding the male's eyes.

He merely shrugged. At least she had forgotten about their conversation a moment ago.

Time flew by so fast that the two barely noticed that break was almost over. Shinjiro helped her with the cleanup and packed away the boxes as they readied themselves to leave.

"Hey... I can't come this Wednesday... I have an exam... So don't wait for me, okay?" She smiled while waving at her companion just as he was about to return to work.

"Tch. Not like I'm gonna wait there like an idiot... " He chuckled while the dog sat in a corner, wagging his tail happily.

"Who knows... You might..." She added, up and ready to go back to the dorms. "Oh, and expect to see me on Sundays from now on!" She giggled, patting the dog's head and smiling at him before running off, waving her final goodbye for the day.

"What am I? A babysitter...?" He sighed with a faint smile on his face before walking his way back to Wakatsu...

5/18-23/09 - Monday-Saturday...

During the following days, Minako simply reviewed a bit for the up and coming exams–mostly on what she knew would be on them. As expected, she answered everything easily! And what was more was that she could now answer those that she had previously made a mistake on. Of course, during the Dark Hour, she had also continued exploring Tartarus in order to stay in shape and clear up the floors for everyone else whenever they decide to explore it. Even with the defeat of the Emperor and the Empress, only the first half of the Arqa block was currently available... Again, they won't be expecting any guardians this time around.

As for Minato... He took the test calmly. No one knew if he really did a secret study routine going on since he had locked himself up in his room every time that he had the chance to.

Junpei always claimed that he was studying though everyone doubted that. Like Minato, he was cooped up in his room the whole time. Whether he was studying, sleeping or playing games, no one knew... Regardless, whenever the blue-haired boy was around, there would be some sort of tension in the air... as if he were avoiding their suspended leader. Yukari and Minako couldn't do anything about it though since they couldn't disturb him in his 'study'.

5/23/09-Saturday, Dark Hour

"Arisato. Are you ready?" The elegant redhead asked that night. Besides her was Ikutsuki and to his left was Akihiko.

The small group was right outside of the dormitory, which would serve as their testing area–complete with special equipment surrounding them. Some of the machines were connected to the boy by wires on his hands, wrists, arms and waist. They were programmed to scan him for different parameters such as the condition of his Persona whereas others were designed to suppress him in case something were to happen again. It was to be used as a last resort though.

Minato nodded his head confidently with the Evoker in hand. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The boy could feel the cold touch of steel press against his head and, even though he knew that it was not a real gun, he couldn't help but feel nervous. It felt so real. Although it wasn't really his first time, it might as well be since the first was a disaster... No one told him the whole story though. All they said was that he had lost control. No one informed him about the part where he almost got Yukari and Mitsuru hurt...

'I don't feel it anymore... This shouldn't be bad...' At that thought, his trembling fingers began to relax. He opened his silver eyes and pulled the trigger at last...

"PERSONA!"

The familiar sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the sickly green night. The harp-wielding humanoid figure appeared behind him. So far, so good... No pain or anything... Orpheus just floated there, doing nothing, much to everyone's relief.

"Arisato, try attacking." Mitsuru commanded, pointing to a machinery.

It looked like some sort of steel plate with an antenna on top and it was connected to a green screen about the size of the ones in the command room. As of now, it was a blank screen. The blue-haired boy nodded and commanded his Persona to perform Agi. As soon as the blast hit the plate, information began showing onscreen and his Persona disappeared as well.

"Very good." Ikutsuki nodded and approached the screen, followed by Mitsuru from behind. Akihiko approached Minato and patted his shoulder.

"So, how does it feel?" The silver-haired senior asked.

"... Nothing in particular." He answered with his usual calm expression.

Akihiko smiled and gave him a weak punch in the shoulder.

"Good then. Don't force yourself... Your sister will worry about you." He added, clenching his fist.

"I know..." Minato simply nodded at the senior, still with a blank expression in his face.

Akihiko gave him a faint smile as they stared at each other. Although the blue-haired boy looked back at the senior without any expression, he was inwardly curious about his upperclassman's actions.

"You know... I had someone important to me too... but I wasn't strong enough to protect her..." The silver-haired boy finally spoke, breaking the silence of the night. Mitsuru and the Chairman were still busy analyzing and taking down information from the machine and thus they failed to pay attention to the two. "I don't want you to repeat the same mistake I made... So you have to promise to become stronger... for her sake."

Minato kept quiet as usual and closed his silver eyes for a short moment before turning his gaze to the pale moon.

"... You don't have to tell me that... That was my resolution ever since... that night..." He wore a sad smile as he spoke. The blue-haired boy turned back to Akihiko, still holding that smile on his face. "Even though she might not remember me... I will fight for her..." He shook his head and faced the boxer with eyes full of determination. "No... For everyone..."

"Tch... I guess it was the right choice to pick you as the leader after all..." The senior nodded to himself.

Silver eyes widened in surprise at his words.

"... I'm... still the leader then...? Even after what happened?" His asked in a low and unsure voice.

Akihiko turned to him with eyes brimming with confidence. "As Mitsuru have said before, you have what it takes to be a leader... Your resolution to protect... That is what makes a good leader... though that doesn't mean we're lifting your suspension just yet."

Minato laughed dryly at his senpai's comment and turned away from him without uttering another word. Akihiko simply grinned in response. Even without speaking, it felt as though they fully understood each other... The cold night was wrapped in silence. Only the sounds of the machinery and the murmurs of the other two could be heard.

A minute later, the redhead turned to Minato and headed his way with a small grin on her face.

"The results show stability so far, even better than we had hoped... but we will be continuing our tests just to make sure." She smiled at the boy. "From what we know thus far, you'll be back in action in due time." The senior added.

Minato smiled at her, much to her surprise... Did something happen to him...? She shrugged and turned to Akihiko, who spoke to her about the field leader's position. Ikutsuki proceeded with continuing the tests while the two talked throughout the night...

Yeah... It's dull and all... Not much stuff happening...

In any case... if anyone's going ooc, just tell me... I'll try to make adjustments XP

To be honest, before I started making this fic, that's one of my biggest worries ^^"

So... yeah... would be a great help to get suggestions on that if any XD

ps. Didn't re-check this after my final edits... so yeah. Don't be afraid to message me if you find mistakes ;P

-None of Persona 3 or SMT series belong to me-