Short Story 1: Magician aftermath.
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April 11/09 01:30 Iwatodai Dormitory...
In a dark room on the top floor of the building, a young woman with red hair was sitting in the desk with the giant computer. She was wearing a white sleeveless turtleneck shirt and black pants. The woman was typing in her computer while occasionally picking up her pen to write down something beside her.
"Mitsuru."
The voice caused young lady to look up from her work and turn to the doorway, revealing a young man with short silver hair leaning on the door frame. The man was wearing a red v-neck t-shirt and white shorts.
"Akihiko." She replied back. "Are you still awake?"
"Nah." He shook his head. "I just woke to go to the washroom. Figured I'll walk a bit before turning back in."
"Hmm." The redhead nodded before turning back to the computer.
"Mitsuru, you should get some sleep." Akihiko says, standing up straight. "We still have school in the morning you know?"
"I know, but I can't figure this out." She sighs in frustration.
"Figure what out?" He raises an eyebrow and walks over to his friend.
"This." She says, pointing at a monitor.
It depicts two girls on the rooftop and a huge multi-armed shadow. One of the girl is knocked out and the shadow is advancing on the other one.
"You mean where that monster appears out of Inoue's persona?" Akihiko turns his head to Mitsuru. "Sure it's a bit frightening, but it least destroyed the larger shadow."
"While that is important as well, that's not what I meant." She shakes her head.
"Then what?"
"Here." She points again.
The video footage shows Hamuko, clutching a broken weapon next to the unconscious Yukari Takeba. The large shadow raises one of it's swords, preparing to strike the poor girl down.
All of a sudden, a large icicle flies from off-screen and in to the shadows' arm. The icicle severed the arm off, the shadow tried to raise another arm but more icicles flew from off-screen and pinned all of the monsters' limbs to the ground.
"Can you pan the camera around?" The silver haired teen asks. "We need to know where the ice is coming from."
Mitsuru shakes her head. "Unfortunately, the camera can't turn. Even if it can, the source of the ice probably too far for the camera to pick up in good detail.
"Still, it looks like the ice that you use." He suggested.
"Well, I did take a look at it." She nods. "It is similar to Bufu, but it's a lot stronger than what I can make."
"Really?" The teen turns to her in shock.
Akihiko knew Mitsuru when they were back in middle school. He didn't think there anyone stronger than her. Mostly because of the execution the gave him long ago.
"Yes, that is what worries me." She stops typing on the computer and folds her arms.
"What about that weapon then? The one made of ice?"
"I had it sent to the lab to be examined." She sighs. "By the time it got there though, the ice had already melted."
"What? How? It was a lot stronger than all the weapons we had available." He grabs a nearby chair and sits next to her.
"I don't know. Perhaps it ran out of energy, or possibly it was meant to melt like a time limit of some sort. All we know is that there are others with the potential as well, and they are very strong."
"One of them saved Inoue as well." Akihiko puts a hand on his chin. "Looks like she has a guardian angel watching over her."
"But did they help her because they want her to be safe? Or to keep her alive to use her?"
"There's also the fact that the guardian angel had guided her to destroy the shadow, instead of killing it himself." He agreed.
"This 'angel' of her's also told her where Takeba's evoker is. Meaning that they know about us."
"They know about that?" Akihiko raises his eyebrow. "Do you think it's someone from the Kirijo group?"
"Not likely." Mitsuru shakes her head. "We would have know about it if it was one of us."
"The real question is whether they are friendly or not."
"I don't think they are." The redhead spoke, turning to her friend. "If they were friendly, they would have come to us and work together."
"They still saved Inoue though." He countered.
"We don't know if that rescue that was for a pure intention." She argued. "For all we know, they could need her alive for something malicious."
"That doesn't explain why they made her summon her persona. If they only needed to alive, why would they not just destroy the shadow instead of helping her do it on her own?"
"They could be using her. Make her able to defend herself and get her to do their dirty work later on."
Akihiko didn't respond. He knew she had a point. They don't know a single thing about this garden angel. Even if they saved the girls, they could have terrible intentions for them.
"Still." Mitsuru continued. "The fact the did help her summon her persona means they do want Inoue to live on her own strength.
"What do you mean?"
"But, until we know who the person is or what their plans are. We can't fully trust them in the meantime."
"If we ever see them again." Akihiko added.
"That's true." She nods. "Unlikely as it is, they could have been passing by minding their own business when they came across us."
"That still means there is someone else with the power of persona." He says, pumping his fist. "If we could find them and convince them to join us, we have a powerful ally."
"If they could be trusted." She empathized.
"Right."
They both nod in agreement.
"Speaking of the transfer student." Mitsuru spoke. "I hear you have been involved with another one."
"Arisato? Yeah, we both agreed to be jogging partners in the morning."
"You didn't constantly bug him to do you right?" She throws him a mocking accusing glare.
He responds by backing up and putting up his hands up. "Whoa, not like that. I just brought up the idea and he accepted."
"Really now?" the redhead raises an eyebrow. "From an athlete's point of view, how good his he?
"He's actually pretty good." Akihiko smiles. "He's gets tired pretty early on, but he knows what to do to keep going."
"I'm more surprised that anyone can keep up with you at all." Mitsuru chuckles.
"I know!" he nods, not really getting what she meant. "Despite how out of breath he was, he was able to catch up and keep an even pace the whole time."
"He did? Was he an athlete as well?"
"Kind of. He told me that him and his father used to go exercising when he was young."
"Did he now?" Mitsuru shifted her body to become more comfortable.
"Yeah, they would do always do that until he lost his father 10 years ago and he stopped ever since."
"Then why start now?"
"He seemed a bit hesitant when he said this. Almost seems like he was stalling when he said this, so I don't know if I should say this." Akihiko scratched the back of his head.
"If it's an uncomfortable subject for him then I won't push." She relented. After all, she know about keeping things hidden from the public.
"No, he said it's fine. As long as it doesn't spread everywhere, he won't care."
"That does sound like him." The redhead smiled a bit. "We all have secrets to keep after all."
"Well, he said he wanted to honor the memory of his father. When he came back here, Arisato wanted to train as much as he can." Akihiko glanced out of the window. Even if it was for a second, Mitsuru could see a familiar expression etched on the boxer's face."He didn't want to run away from it anymore. So when he came back, he wanted to exercise again for him and his father."
"Huh. In memory of his father." Mitsuru gazes at the ceiling.
"His father must have been important to him." Akihiko stands up and stretches his arms.
"I glad to hear he's doing well."
"Huh? Did you know him?" He asked, with slight amusement.
"I did know him, not very much though." She looks back to Akihiko.
"Oh?" the silver hair teen sits down again.
"His mother was once a researcher that worked for the Kirijo group. He and his father would sometimes come by the lab to pick her up, when her shift was over. We would occasionally pass each other in the main building when I would visit my father, but we rarely talk."
"Really now? What was he like back then?"
"From what I heard, he is still the same quiet person he is today. I guess the only different thing now is that he's a bit less sociable then I'd remember." Mitsuru turns back to the computer.
"He was less sociable now?"
The redhead chuckles. "Honestly, I wouldn't have believed it as well. Had I not seen him myself."
Shirakawa Boulevard...
"Ah-choo!" Minato sneezed loudly.
The blue haired teen was in the washroom changing his clothes. His Partner Nyx, was in their hotel room.
"What?" Nyx's voice passed through the wash room door. "You getting sick already?"
"Sea water is very cold to humans, you know." He replied. "Especially in the middle of the night unprepared."
"Tch. You who wields the power of the universe, getting sick because of cold water." The goddess scoffs.
"You didn't really give me a chance to prepare myself for diving in the middle of the ocean for an hour." Minato rolls his eyes.
"So?" Nyx sighs. "I had to make sure all the blood come off. It's better to be thorough then be quick."
"You could've also dry us off by flying around for a while instead of immediately coming back here."
"Sure. Let us fly around for a while, increasing our chances of getting caught."
"Didn't you say It's better to be thorough then to be quick?" he retorts.
"I've also said that you getting covered in blood will complicate things as well. Would you rather be caught covered in water or blood?"
Minato stopped and look led at the counter where he put his possessions. He had to empty his pockets to make sure that the water didn't damage his things.
While the Alice card is fine and the container holding his loot remain safe, his wallet his soaked. He considers himself lucky that the yen notes don't tear easily in water, though the same can't be said to his last two items.
His other items were his mp3 and headphones. While he can easily replace them, it's going to a pain to get all the music that he lost and the fact that his headphones were a gift by an important friend of his that somehow travel through time with him.
He still can't figure out how that happened but he wasn't complaining. Still, he felt lucky that he forgot to charge his phone this morning and had to leave it behind before his trip to the tower.
"Couldn't you at least let me wring the water out of my clothes before we headed back to the hotel?" The young man sighed.
"…"
"Nyx?"
"Just be quiet and change your clothes already."
Iwatodai Dormitory...
Mitsuru continues her work, looking more information in the video footage. The room was silent other than the sound the sound of fingers typing on the keyboard and the writing on paper every once in a while.
"Did you talked to him?" Akihiko asks all of a sudden.
"Hmm?" There was a slight pause on Mitsuru's work pattern before she continued like nothing happened.
"When you saw him again, did you come up to talked to him?"
"No. We are both busy individuals, so we just passed by each other.
"But you want to talk to him again right?"
"Akihiko." She turns to the teen again. "What are you talking about?"
"Mitsuru. I know you long enough to know what you are thinking. You want to talk to him again but something is holding you back."
"Your mistaken, Akihiko." She crosses her arms. "Back then, our relationship were just acquaintances at best. Otherwise, we were just strangers most of the time."
"But-."
"Besides." She interrupted. "It's been ten years since we have seen each other. I doubt he would remember me now."
"I see." He says, lowering his voice. "That would make..."
"Akihiko?" the redhead looked at him with confusion.
He wasn't looking at her anymore. Akihiko was in a deep thought. His hand was placed onto his chin and started mumbling to himself.
He stands up all of a sudden, making Mitsuru jump in shock.
"You should rest a bit." He says, walking to the door.
"Akihiko?" She looks at him at confusion.
"It's nothing." The teen stops at the door frame. "I just remembered something, that's all."
"A-alright." Mitsuru answers awkwardly.
She turns back to the computer and continued to work.
10 years ago...
A young child with blue hair was leaning on the wall looking at the door. The boy the was sporting a blue navy school uniform, red tie, short black pants and navy blue shoes with white socks.
"What are you doing here?" The voice of the young girl caused him to turn right to face the source.
The young girl had red hair that was in a curly pigtails. She was wearing a white puffy blouse, red shirt, white stockings and brown shoes.
"Mitsuru Kirijo." The boy replies. "I'm just waiting."
"Waiting?" she tilts her head. "Waiting for your parents?
He nodded.
"Is your mother's shift not finished yet?"
"It is." He answers. "It's just that my dad wanted to talk to mom about something private and they asked me to wait outside for a bit."
"Oh. Are you waiting long, Arisato-kun?"
Minato shakes his head. "Just got out. Might take a while."
"Do you want me to stay here until they're done? " She asks.
The boy looked at her in confusion.
"I mean don't you get lonely waiting by yourself?"
"It's fine, Kirijo-san." He shakes his head again. "I'm used to it."
"Does it happen often?"
"No, but it takes a long time."
"I know how you feel." Mitsuru looks down. "My father is a very important man, so I know he can't be here all the time.
"But you visit him all the time though?" Minato raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." She nods. "But the meeting take too long, so I sometimes wait out alone as well."
"What about…" The boy stops speaking.
"About?" She looks at him with confusion.
"Never mind."
"Alright?" Mitsuru didn't look satisfied, but left it alone.
Being the daughter of a powerful group, Mitsuru has always been popular. While she is known by all her school there was no one close enough that she would consider a friend.
Minato wanted to tread carefully, in case is was a sensitive topic for her. Soon, he figured is would be a better idea not to ask about her friends. The boy took a deep breath before sighing.
"Do you want to wait for our parents together?" He asks.
"Huh?" The redheaded child looked up in surprise.
"You're going to visit your father tonight right?"
She nods in response.
"He's probably still in a meeting like you said, so it's better that we wait together so both of us aren't alone." He explained
"You don't mind?"
Minato shakes his head in response. Mitsuru perks up and walks up to him, until they are both standing at the wall. There was silence between them, but they are however used to it. Mitsuru being the young daughter of the Kirijo group and Minato being... Minato. However, the silence was getting to the young girl, so she decided to say something to the boy.
"What is your father like?" Minato asked something before she could even think of anything.
"My father is the best man who ever lived!" Her eyes gleamed with admiration. "Uh. I'm sure your father is a great man as well."
"It's fine."
Mitsuru thought that she was seeing things but for one moment, she thought she saw a tiny smile on his face.
"Do you always visit him?" The boy continued to ask.
"Yes." She nods happily. "Ever since mom died, he's been spending time with me as much as he can. Even though he is very busy, he did his very best to visit me as much as he can."
He nods.
"What's your father like?" She asks.
"My dad? He's-."
"Mitsuru." An older voice spoke out.
The two kids turn their head down the hallway to the source. An older man in his thirties, was walking towards them. He was wearing a grey suit, red tie and a black vest. The man has the look of bold, resolute and grizzled businessman that even made Minato widen his eyes for a split second.
"Father." The young girl replied and walked towards the older man.
Minato noticed that Mitsuru sounded a bit excited for a second.
"I was wondering where you were." Her father said, smiling a bit. "I didn't see you at the usual spot when I came out."
"That's because I was talking to him." She pointed at the quiet boy.
The man turn to the child with a stoic look and walked towards him with her daughter following behind.
"And you are?" The man said.
"Minato Arisato, sir." The young boy bowed politely.
"Arisato." The older man placed a hand on his chin. "You wouldn't happened to be a relative of Akemi Arisato right?"
"She is my mother." Minato stood up straight, giving the man a chance to examine the child.
"Yes." The black haired man spoke. "You do have her eyes alright."
The adult extended his hand to the kid.
"I am Takeharu Kirijo. I thank you for taking care of my daughter, Arisato-kun."
"It's my pleasure, Kirijo-san." Minato replied, grabbing Takeharu's hand and shaking it.
The older man noted how the boy in front of him is a lot more polite and formal than most children around his age.
"It's good to know that my daughter has a friend around her age here." The older gentleman commented, looking at two stunned faces. "Oh, am I mistaken?"
The two children looked at each other. The blue haired child had a face of confusion while the redhead looked away in embarrassment.
There was a moment if silence before one of them decided to speak up.
"We are." Minato answered.
Mitsuru looks at him in surprise. Minato gave her a small sheepish smile, as if he was apologetic for speaking out of line.
The young girl smiled in response.
"We are, father." She turns her dad.
"That's great." He replied, nodding his head. "It's fine that you want to spend time with me, but sometimes it's good be with others around your age as well you know."
"Father." The daughter groaned, looking away from them.
"By the way." Takeharu turns to Minato. "Where is your mother? I thought her shift ended a while ago, but I couldn't find her."
"I'm right here." A feminine voice spoke out.
All three turn to face the door Minato was standing across earlier. It opened up, revealing a women and a man walking out.
The man was wearing a dark brown overcoat, covering his body. He also had a fedora on his head, covering his black hair. His blue eyes glanced at the small boy before he smiles and nods at him.
The women was wearing the standard issue Kirijo lab coat. She had her long blue hair tied into ponytail and her glasses were over her steel colored eyes.
"Did you need me for something, Sir?" The woman asked, turning to Takeharu.
"It's not important." The older man spoke. "You just need to sign a form at Ikutsuki's desk before you leave."
"At his desk?" Akemi raised an eyebrow. "Sure, I'll be on my way."
Takeharu nods and turns to her daughter. "Let's go, Mitsuru."
"Right." She acknowledges her father and walks beside him.
Moments later, the young girl looks back at the family behind her.
While they were walking opposite from where she was going, the family were holding hands and the young boy had a big smile on his face. Like he didn't have a care in the world.
That was the last time she ever saw the child.
Present time...
Mitsuru had finished all of her work for the night. As soon as she put the last paper into a nearby folder, she leaned back on her chair and sighs.
Ever since her conversation with Akihiko, she couldn't help but remember when she first met with the mysterious blue haired kid.
"To think, the day we became friends is the day he lost his parents." She muttered aloud.
It wasn't until later that she heard about it. She did her best to find him, but it was too late. Arisato had already left town.
Mitsuru has considered looking for him but she thought better of it.
From what she heard of at school back then, Minato was an unusually bright child. Being able to have perfect scores on all test that he had. With his mother being a scientist and his father be a private investigator, Mitsuru just assumed that genetics played a part of it.
When she heard that Minato came back to Iwatodai, part of her was happy that he was back. However, another part of her was worried. She couldn't help but assume that he's back to find the truth about his parents. The young woman knows that he is intelligent and it is the only a matter of time that he would figure out that the Kirijo group would be behind it.
What would he do then?
Mitsuru knows what her group did, experimenting with shadows, creating the Dark Hour, Tartarus. All of it was the Kirijo group. Because if that, she felt guilt for her family and try's to do what she can to regain her family's honor.
The redhead knows she knows she will have to confront her former friend soon. The only problem is how it's going to play out…
A/N: Yo, been a while hasn't it?
I've been gone for five months and all I all to show is a short story, ain't I a huge douche?
To be fair, I did write two more actual chapters. The reason I didn't upload them because I was very busy (Lazy more like it) and I wasn't in a position edit them on a computer. (Have you tried editing large amounts of text on a phone? It's very messy.)
I was planing to upload something last month, but Dark Souls 3 came out and you could figure where my time went until now.
Well assuming everything goes to plan, the next actual chapter could be up within the week or so.