Chapter 15: Minato's Date

6/11/09-Thursday

"Hey, wanna hang out?" The auburn-haired girl flashed her usual smile at the two. Junpei and Yukari stared at her worriedly as if they wanted to tell her something. In the end, they just sighed and pointed toward her twin.

Most of the students have already gone out, and those few who decided to stay behind were chatting and planning what they're going to do for the week, but as for Minato, he was alone in his seat, staring at nothing in particular. If he's not murmuring from time to time, you'd actually mistake him for someone afflicted with the Apathy Syndrome. Some of the teachers even asked him to go to the clinic, while the rest ignored him and felt that he was better off in such state than seeing him sleeping in class.

"... Oh... What's with him? Was it Fuuka-chan's cooking again?" Minako tilted her head as she watched her twin mutter to himself.

"No! It's because of YOU silly!" Yukari frowned in annoyance.

At those words, the auburn-haired female raised a brow in confusion. She turned to Junpei for an answer, who then turned to Yukari. She sighed and slammed her hands on the table which caught the other students' attention... except Minato's. The brunette then shot a glare at the bystanders, making them quietly turn back to their own businesses.

"How dense can you get?! He was like that ever since you came with us to investigate remember?" Yukari said in a low voice, though it was obvious that she was holding back.

"Eh...? But he was just fine yesterday..." she paused, "D-did senpai find out I was with you? Am I going to be kicked out of the dorm...?" Minako added.

Apparently, after returning home from the back alleys that other night, the group figured that it was better hide the fact that Minako was with them. In the first place, it was quite a push that they let her stay in the dorms, and if their seniors ever discover that because of it, she almost ended up in trouble, then they might just decide to kick her out. It was Yukari and Junpei who decided not to speak of it though.

"Naw, don't worry bout' that!" Junpei smiled patting her back which made her sigh in relief. Minako then turned back to Yukari looking worried.

"If it's not that... Then what...?" She continued, glancing toward Minato. He finally stopped muttering to himself and began packing up his things.

"You still don't get it? He's jealous!" Yukari sighed.

"Of...?" Minako added.

"Ugh... Just... Do something about it... We already tried what we can to cheer him up, but it looks like it's up to you to fix him..." She moaned, picking up her own bag. Junpei did the same, so did Minako who finally smiled, putting on a face full of determination.

"I still don't understand... But okay! I'll cheer him up, just you watch!" She grinned, making a peace sign with her hand before running after her brother who had just gone out.

The two watched as she ran off. It was Junpei who walked out first, but he suddenly stopped and turned to Yukari who stared at him with a suspicious glare. He smiled mischievously and opened his mouth.

"What're you waiting for? She told us to watch right? Let's go!"

Right after Minako caught up with Minato, she pulled him off in Wild Duck Burger, ordering the Peta-wac set for both of them. Meanwhile, in a blind corner, two shady figures ordered a light meal, hoping to eavesdrop on the twin's conversation. It was Minako talking most of the time though. She spoke about clubs, friends and food. Mostly food. Though, despite her attempt to create a cheerful and relaxing atmosphere, her brother was still in a daze, as if he didn't hear anything.

"I have to get her away from him... Minako... I... I don't want to see you like that again... I just..." he muttered to himself, soft enough that only he can hear himself.

"...And then, Akihiko-senpai treated me agai-" The girl paused and pouted, giving the boy a glare. As expected, he didn't seem to have noticed at all. "Hey! are you listening?!" Minako added in an irritated tone. There was a long pause between her words and Minato's reaction. He raised his head which revealed a slightly confused experssion, as if surprised to see her.

"Ah... M-minako? Since when were you-" before he finished, both of their attentions quickly shifted to the waitress who had just returned and placed down their orders.

In the end, the girl seemed to have forgotten the recent conversation and began gobbling up her meal. Her brother, on the other hand, started to eat quietly as he shifted his gaze toward her from time to time. However, every time he laid his eyes on her, he gave off a pained expression, which was never noticed by his female counterpart since all her attention was on eating. Every now and then, Minato would bite his lip and clench his fist tightly.

Meanwhile, their two shady friends quietly ate their shady looking meal in their shady little corner. They tried to listen to the conversation, but there really wasn't much. There's just Minako's gobbling up of food and Minato's frequent, random mumblings.

"Hey, what is he sayin'?" shady-Junpei asked. His companion, shady-Yukari shushed him and continued to listen for more. The male groaned and grabbed his meal. It was after he finished eating that the girl turned back to him. She grabbed her burger and spoke.

"Let's get this straight first alright? I'm just here to make sure and keep you out of trouble got it?" Yukari grumbled. "A-anyway... It's barely audible, but he's just mumbling stuff... I don't think Minako-chan could hear him... but he's been going on and on about... 'she'll regret it' or something" the brunette spoke flatly, taking a bite from her burger afterward. Her companion tilted his head and raised his brows.

"Oookaaay... now that you mention it... I remember him going on about 'I have to protect her, she will just get hurt again'" he answered in a monotonous tone, attempting to mimic Minato's voice. The girl sighed and took another bite from her meal. She paused and stared up the ceiling as if thinking of something.

"Hmmm... Are you sure you heard that right...?" she asked curiously, waving her burger around. Junpei nodded.

"Hey! Ya don't trust good ol' Junpei...?" the boy frowned.

"No Stupei! That's not what I meant!" she groaned, massaging her forehead. "Geez... What I meant was-"

Before she finished her words, the capped teen suddenly shot up with a soda on his hand. He pointed out the door and called out to the girl. "Hey, let's save all the thinking later, we gotta follow those two!"

With that, Yukari nodded and stood up herself, following the boy from behind. She took a final glance back at the now empty seat of the twins and muttered to herself as if in deep thought...

"What did he mean by 'again'...?"

The duo tailed the twins, who went through several stops along the way, mostly, to get something to eat. In fact, it was quite fascinating, seeing the girl gobble up food one after the other, while her brother ended up getting pulled everywhere with the blank expression of his.

The pair continued trailing them until they reached the arcades where Minako began to enjoy herself. Other than that, nothing special really happened. Minato just kept on staring at her from time to time while continuing on his strange mumbling. At some points, the oblivious girl would actually remember that she was with her brother and would attempt to get him to play. Not that it did any good as he was still stuck in a trance.

"Oh Minako... what are you doing...?" Yukari shook her head in dismay. She turned back to Junpei before continuing. "So what do you-" she paused, giving the boy a cold glare "Junpei, what are you doing...?"

"Huh...? O-oh... Err... I just remembered something... I have to check something out for a bit..." he answered while looking everywhere around the arcade. The brunette tilted her head, puzzled by Junpei's unusual response. He smiled wryly and waved at her before turning his back on the girl. Immediately, Yukari looked back at him, and at the twins, then back at the boy before running after her partner-in-crime.

"H-hey...! Don't leave me alone here!"

The sun had almost set, the twins sat together on the bench near the fountain in the mall area. Minako held a strawberry-flavored ice cream cone on her hand while her twin quietly stared at the soda on his. The auburn-haired girl would glance at him from time to time, feeling a rather awkward atmosphere between them. They had been together the whole day, but it was as if he wasn't with her the whole time. If he was the normal Minato, then he'd be... Well, still blank in terms of expression of his emotions, but nevertheless, smiling like an idiot on the inside, while pampering her with food. Maybe. At least that's how she imagines it.

Minako finished her cone and stood up with a sigh. She walked behind Minato, but he didn't react, as if he didn't notice that she had left his side. The boy was still in his usual trance...

"Minato-kun~" The girl called out in a playful tone, hoping to capture his attention. No response. "Minato-kuuun~" She called out again, but he still didn't budge. Minako pouted and stuck her tongue from behind him. She crossed her arms in annoyance. 'I can't believe nothing worked today...'

"Heey~Minatoo-kuun~" again, he didn't respond. Minako stomped her foot and puffed her cheeks. She always found his way of 'showing affections' annoying, but now that he's not even sparing her a glance... It was even more frustrating for some reason. When did it begin again? Not that she really cared... but they still kind of share a bond right? The girl closed her eyes and tilted her head... Hmmm...

"Jealous!"

Yukari's words rung in her head. Jealous? Of what? She paused again to think...

"ever since you came with us to investigate"

At that moment, Minako gave out an expression of sudden realization. Of course! He started acting like that ever since he saw her with her so-called 'onii-san'. That was the day Minato suddenly stopped waiting in front of her room in the morning to suddenly glomp her from behind; That was the day she stopped hearing his complaints about how she spends too little time with him; That was the day she practically stopped hearing anything from him... but why? Why would he be jealous of her 'onii-san'?

"...Ah... Ah!" Minako exclaimed, slapping her fist on her palm. A smile crept up her face before she let out a weak giggle. 'Oh you... THAT'S what you were jealous about?' she chuckled. The girl rubbed her hands together and cracked her knuckles. She breathed in some air before approaching her dear brother again. With a sadistic grin on her face, she whispered beside his ear.

"Onii-chaaan...~"she called out in a playful tone.

Again, no response.

'Hmm...? I can't believe that didn't work... I was sure that's what he was jealous about...' she frowned in defeat. 'I give up...' Minako turned her back on Minato and sighed.

"... What did you say...?" a soft voice called out. It was Minato. At those words, Minako turned to the boy and tilted her head.

"Umm... Onii-chan...?" she repeated with a tone of doubt. Minato turned his head toward her. His face had a soft tint of red.

"O-one more time..." he added weakly, sounding like a shy little child. For a moment, the girl was taken aback, surprised by this new expression his showing. She shook her head, and nodded.

"Minato nii-chan, let's go home~!" she smiled brightly.

"O-okay..." Minato replied obediently. He had a faint grin on his face, with his cheeks still burning red as he stood up from where he was seated. The blur-haired boy was smiling, or rather, he's trying to not smile, but he still was. To his sister, it was an amusing sight.

'Pfft- T-that was it...?' she thought as they walked home together... "He's simpler than I thought...!"

6/12/09-Friday

Junpei descended from the stairs. As usual, he woke up late and his uniform was quite a mess. Nothing to say about what little of his hair was left though as it was covered up by the usual cap. It was early morning, the smell of pancakes and fried eggs wafted in the air as he approached the dining room. There, he spotted two familiar faces sitting across each other. They were the 'polar opposite twins' as he calls them in his mind.

"Yo! You two are up early~" he waved at the siblings. They turned to him and greeted back. Minako with her usual energetic smile and Minato with his... smile? He was smiling. Wait. Minato? Smiling? Impossible! Well... Not really... But smiling as he greeted Junpei? Impossible...!

The capped teenager's jaw almost dropped, but shook his head and decided to leave it be. Just what kind of magic did Minako use? While Junpei tried to figure out what happened after he left with Yukari, Minako stood up from her seat after swallowing her final bite.

"See you in school! Junpei, don't be late, and onii-chan, make sure he's not. Bye!" she said before running off outside. Junpei just stared at her wide-eyed. After hearing the door click, his face stretched into a grin as he turned to his friend.

"Oho~ So that's what happened..." he chuckled. "Looks like someone just got promoted!" Junpei laughed, patting Minato's back. He just nodded, but he didn't wear his usual poker face. He was still smiling like a fool.

"But..." Junpei paused. "Didn't you tell me the other day when we were at detention, that Mi-chan was supposed to be the older- wha-!" before he finished speaking, Minato grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him down close to his face. Facing Junpei at a very close range, he spoke in a low voice, coupled with an innocent yet sinister smile.

"... And that will be our little secret... Got it...?"

This was still supposed to be released next week... but since I'll be starting thesis soon... I figured I should finish this up ASAP... so yeah :P

Though... cause of that, I wasn't able to recheck for one last time, so don't be afraid to comment for corrections (or suggestions, or reactions XP).

Aaanywaay... Not much of a date huh? Sorry Minato XD

Oh, and yes, Minato has officially been promoted to 'onii-chan' and will be called as such from now on ;)

Raise your hand if you expected that~;P

Either way... that's it for chapter 15~!

Coming up next~ Chapter 16~

Aaaaand here's some teasers~ :D

"You! W-why're you here?"

"My... You have such a strange girlfriend! Haha~"

'Who could be worse than Shinjiro-senpai...?'

ps. In case you don't know... Onii-chan/onii-san means big brother...

(on the side note, should I continue placing teasers for the upcoming chapters? Or would you rather not be (sort of) spoiled?)

Oh yeah, one more thing... if you want a better picture of what Crimson looks like, you can find a fanart of her at kira-tsume's Deviantart account ;)

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