A/N: Hey all. I know it's been a really long time since I've last updated but I'm here to remind you that I haven't abandoned or given up the fic yet. Between finishing college for the year and a couple of other things, I haven't been able to spend as much time as I would've liked to complete this chapter. Also, after considering a very detailed review that pointed out and suggested several directions for the plot and character interactions, I've had to completely restructure the way I wanted to approach the Fall/Autumn arc and planning which way I wanted to go took up quite some time. So if you've been badly waiting for something new since the last chapter, I thank you enormously for your patience and apologize for the long delay.
Like the previous chapter, this is also a pretty delicate one since it involves more interactions between the main couple. I've actually decided to bring Minato and Mitsuru's date forward and done this for several reasons; the main one being simply because it's the right time. Or at least I think so anyway. Once the final Shadow fights draw closer and more complications arise, it's going to be harder to justify a reason for them to hang out. That's not to say there won't be moments in the future (there will be) but for the path that I want their relationship to take, getting through most of the first date material will be necessary. Regarding the material itself, I would like to give you a heads up that I've created an OC specifically for this chapter.
As it's the last chapter for 2015, I'd like to thank everyone who's been following the story and special thanks to those who have left reviews. I hope you're all still around and eager for more. For those who aren't and have stopped following, I'd like to thank you for checking out this fic and maybe giving it a follow or favorite.
So enjoy the update, have a good end-of-year break, and see you in 2016.
It was late in the afternoon when Junpei left Gekkoukan High and reached Port Island Station. While there was little to do at school after the final lesson, he hung around for the next hour and a half anyway. There was no reason to return to the dorm – Yukari was at archery practice so there would be no arguments, Kenji was busy asking Kanou-sensei questions regarding the week's Economics homework (that was utter rubbish as far as Junpei was concerned) and Minato was…
Well he was somewhere.
And Junpei knew that if he stopped by the game arcade in Paulownia Mall, he'd lose sight of what time it was. So instead, he took his time walking around the school, making small talk with classmates and admiring the autumn foliage.
The effect of the changing season hadn't turned the cherry blossom trees along the walkway to Gekkoukan High into deep shades of red just yet, but they were beginning to blush. And strolling through the walkway brought a certain sensation that Junpei never understood when he was a little boy watching couples and families stroll through routes dense with leaves dipped in vivid hues of orange, gold and crimson. It was a serene feeling, the kind where all your worries were washed away. He wondered if he could bring along the 'white bird' with him some day and enjoy a stroll like this when he spotted her sitting in the exact same place as she had before, drawing in her sketchbook.
"Hey, mind if I sit next to ya?" he asked, smiling as he approached.
The girl in the gothic white dress looked at him and nodded. For a moment, Junpei swore she had brightened at seeing him but decided he was imagining it. Just like how he imagined himself walking with her, hand in hand, in a park filled with cherry blossoms.
"So how's your hand?"
The girl held her right hand out and to his surprise, the cut had healed. In fact, there wasn't even a scar.
"How the heck did it…" he said, unbelieving of what he was seeing. "I mean, did it heal that quickly?"
The girl shrugged and resumed drawing. "Say Junpei, do you do anything that makes you feel alive?"
"Makes me feel alive? You mean like something that I really enjoy doing?"
"Not exactly. It's more of something that gives you a purpose."
Junpei thought hard. Was there anything that gave him a purpose in life? Apart from his newly found goal of establishing a relationship with this girl? He supposed there was always the story of the Dark Hour and fighting Shadows and how that renewed his motivation but, that was in the past. With the end in sights, he was content with playing his part for the team and not trying to butt heads with Minato over the role of field leader.
Still, it's the best thing that's happened to me and it did give me a purpose. But I can't tell her about all that crazy crap. She won't believe me. She'll think I'm an idiot and this whole thing is gonna be over.
"I don't really know," Junpei said. "I never thought about it too much before. But is that why you draw?"
"Maybe," the girl said. "I'm scribbling most of the time though and even I don't understand what I'm drawing sometimes."
The girl closed her sketchbook before Junpei could get a closer look at her 'scribbles'. Although her face was void of expression (she'd make for a tough opponent in a poker game), Junpei knew she was disappointed that he didn't have an answer.
Screw it. I like this girl and I want to make this work.
"Well I guess there's one thing that makes me feel like I'm really livin', he said. "It's when I get to play hero."
The girl raised an eyebrow. She didn't say a word and Junpei was confused as to whether she wanted to him to stop or keep going. Deciding it was the latter, he stood up and in his best attempt, mimicked the voice that would commonly be heard at the start of a Phoenix Ranger Featherman R episode.
"In the hidden and darkest hour of the night, unknown to all but a few, the chosen ones stand and fight back against the forces of evil! Among them is the legendary warrior, Iori Junpei, who fights to protect the world from these monsters!"
He chucked as he heard the words aloud and sat back down. "Well that's the general idea anyways." He looked at the girl and found that her expression hadn't changed. "Err, you're supposed to laugh."
"So, you and your friends fight alone?" she asked.
Junpei hesitated. Not only had she received his idiocy so warmly (see Yuka-tan, there are some people who can stand stupid skits!), she was also interested in what he had to say. Crap! What the hell do I do now? I can't tell her that we actually do what we do can I? "H-Hey, you know I was just jokin' right?"
But the girl didn't hear him.
"Interesting," she said. "You fight during a time that only you and your friends know about. Which means all your good deeds will go unnoticed and you won't be celebrated for protecting the world. I'm impressed. I never thought you'd be that kind of guy."
Junpei was stunned. He pinched his arm to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Ouch. Okay, I'm definitely awake. And she definitely believes what I'm saying. Oh man, can it get any better?
The girl moved closer and gazed at him the way a little girl would when her parents prepared to read her a storybook she hadn't heard before. "Tell me more."
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
"Alright. But you can't tell anyone or they'll think I'm crazy."
And he proceeded to tell the story he'd been told himself five months ago on a fine spring evening. The story that took his life, shook it like a bartender shaking a cocktail, and served him in front of a host of hungry Shadows with nothing but a katana and a fake gun for protection. Oh and don't forget to add in the side effect of some completely normal monster materializing when you placed said gun to the side of your head and pulled the trigger.
"That sounds pretty fun," the girl said when he finished. "What's your role in the team? You must be pretty strong right?"
Junpei hesitated again. He wanted to be honest with her but it was his one chance at being able to call himself 'leader'. To be able to say that he was better than Minato at something.
Even if it was a lie.
"Well as one of the strongest in our team," Junpei said, "I took charge. It's pretty tough being a leader but someone's got to. I mean, if it weren't for me, things would just fall apart."
"I see," the girl said, her lips almost curling into a smile. She closed her sketchbook as soon as she felt the smile coming so that Junpei's attention was diverted. "Thank you for sharing that with me Junpei. I had a lot of fun listening to you."
"Y-You did?"
"I did. I have to go now but I'll be back here tomorrow. So if you're free, come and drop by. I'd like to hear more of your stories."
Junpei grinned. "Sure thing…Uh…"
"Chidori," the girl said, standing up.
"Huh?"
"That's my name. Anyway, I'll be seeing you."
She once again walked away and Junpei watched her. Chidori eh? What a pretty name. But man I'm stoked. This is actually happening! I told her about all that crap and she didn't call me an idiot! Maybe I really do have a chance. The level of joy Junpei felt made him recall the first time he created that imaginary place in his mind where his father was completely sober. It was a place he'd constructed initially to escape his father's drunkenness but over the years, he'd added more and more things to the point where it was the happiest place on earth (go suck it Disneyland!). Knowing that he could confide in Chidori and not have her burst into some episode of how much of an idiot he was elevated his spirits and gave him hope that he could achieve anything and everything his father didn't.
Well maybe that's going a bit too far. At least I'm one step closer to where he is at.
As he stood up to leave himself, he saw Yukari and Mitsuru walking through the station. They were both carrying shopping bags and the former was talking animatedly. Curious as to what they had been up to and why Yukari wasn't at archery practice, Junpei called out to them. The two girls looked at each other for a moment – probably deciding whether it was a good idea to talk – shrugged, and then approached him.
"I thought you were at archery practice Yuka-tan," Junpei said.
"I was until the track and field team kicked us off the oval," Yukari said. "After their poor performance at the regional competition, they're going all out in training so that they'll do better next time. But it's no big deal. At least it gave me time to help out Mitsuru-senpai for tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? What's happenin' tomorrow?"
Junpei looked from Yukari to Mitsuru and then peered at their shopping bags. Inside were clothes and from the brand names on the bags, they were expensive ones too. "Does she have a fashion show to do or somethin'?"
Yukari turned to Mitsuru, resisting the urge to bring up Junpei's stupidity. "See, there's nothing to be worried about."
"I-I guess not," Mitsuru said.
"You know I'm just messin' with ya right?" Junpei said. "I know Minato asked you out senpai. Heck, I even told him to do so."
"No you didn't," Yukari said. "Minato did that by himself."
"He did. But I encouraged him."
"Whatever." Turning to Mitsuru, she said, "Either way, I'm sure he'll love the look we created today senpai."
Mitsuru blushed and avoided Junpei's grin. "I thought that was something that would remain between us."
"Oh, c'mon there's nothing to be embarrassed about," Yukari said. "You should be proud of being able to pull off something so different."
"There's a look?" Junpei asked, still grinning.
"Yes there's a look and no it's not for you. What are you hanging around here for anyway?"
"Yes Iori. Exactly what are you doing here?" Mitsuru asked.
Facing the inquisitive gazes of the two most popular (and attractive) girls in the school would have made any ordinary male student frightened. For Junpei, it was just the usual routine of the day.
"I was uh…meeting a friend," he said casually. "She already left."
Yukari raised an eyebrow. "She?"
"What? You guys, Fuuka, and Ai-chan aren't the only girls I know, ya know," he said.
Yukari and Mitsuru exchanged glances again and agreed to give him the benefit of the doubt. After advising him that he shouldn't stay out too late as there might be another excursion to Tartarus tonight, they left for the train platform.
Watching them go, Junpei felt a twinge of envy. He wasn't sure why the feeling arose all of a sudden. He'd already made up with Minato back at Yakushima so there was no reason to feel this way. Maybe it's what Yuka-tan said about how Mitsuru-senpai can pull off a look so different. Junpei wasn't one to argue with that statement as he'd seen firsthand just how true it was. Whether it was in a skin tight biker suit, a two piece swimsuit, or traditional cultural attire, Mitsuru could always find a way to make it work. Not only that, she even had Yukari helping her out in dress up as well as all the other things that remained a mystery to men.
Junpei clenched his fists tightly, his fingers biting into the skin of his palm. There was no reason to feel jealous. Minato was just one step ahead as usual. And while he had a girl whose features rivaled and on some occasions outperformed that of professional models, Junpei himself had a girl that was beautiful in her own way. A girl he could speak to and not feel bad about being an idiot. As he headed to the game arcade in Paulownia Mall, Junpei vowed that someday, he would be in the same place with Chidori as Minato was with Mitsuru.
The bustling noise of Saturday evening traffic along the streets of Iwatodai was muted when Minato put on his headphones. It had been a while since he turned the volume up to the point a passerby would catch some of the raging beats and doing so was refreshing. He wasn't sure if it was enough to make him blend in with the surroundings but he doubted that anyone would approach him or look at him twice. Why would they? He was just another music aficionado walking the streets with his headphones blaring. Nobody would think he was heading towards a designated area where he would meet Mitsuru.
Nobody, except for the members of S.E.E.S. of course.
Keeping the relationship a secret from them was impossible. He'd already told Junpei and Shinjiro of it and he was sure Mitsuru would have revealed something to Akihiko or Yukari by now. Even if she hadn't, Minato knew everyone had seen him and Mitsuru holding hands during the fireworks display and that was as badly camouflaged as an assassin who thinks himself incognito despite the fact that he is the only one in the crowd wearing a hood. However, none of them had objected to this relationship. In fact, they were all supportive of he and Mitsuru going out like this, that it was about time they tried to be something more than friends.
Minato supposed it was about time as well but what interested him more was his past with Mitsuru. How did they meet? What did they do together? Why did they drift apart? In the days following the summer festival, these questions were the sole focus of his thoughts and he hoped that by the end of tonight, he would have some answers. A part of him remained annoyed at Mitsuru for keeping this hidden so long though he knew it was the best decision she could make. After all, what would he make of a girl claiming to be his childhood friend as soon as he entered the dorm? Yes he had said that it would have piqued his interest in her even more but despite the impression she had made and despite how deeply smitten he was with her, he would have still remained cautious.
It can't be helped. Being reserved is who she is. I can't change that nor would I want to change that.
Rounding a corner and walking into Iwatodai Strip Mall, Minato let the beats consume his thoughts and scanned the people in the area. Other than the few groups of businessmen scurrying about, the small queue at the takoyaki stall – appropriately named 'Octopia' – and the young adolescents hanging around the escalators leading up to the train platform, there did not appear to be anyone that attended Gekkoukan High and adored Mitsuru like the way a puppy would its owner. Nor were there anyone Minato knew who despised him. He ascended the spiraling staircase to an upper level with more restaurants and boutiques, walked to the guard rail, leaned on it and double checked.
Nope. Nobody's around. Unless they're all eating inside.
Minato sighed. He had an idea of what going out with Mitsuru would be like but for every positive he could think of, there were an equal amount of offsetting negatives. The fact that he had an in with her (living at the same dorm contributed to this unfortunately) made it difficult to just enjoy spending time with her. Even for this outing, they had to leave the dorm separately and meet in front of Hagakure Ramen. While it would aid in preventing any lurking Gekkoukan gossipers from knowing about the relationship, it was still annoying that he couldn't even have a pleasant walk with her. He chuckled. The situation mimicked that of famous celebrities who were always subject to the paparazzi and public scrutiny. She was the Oscar-winning actress admired by all and he was 'that random guy' who happened to take the dreams of the dreamers and turn it into a reality. The link couldn't be any clearer and Minato found it so dreadfully amusing that he almost didn't feel someone tap his shoulder.
Minato switched off his MP3 player, hung his headphones around his neck, turned to see Mitsuru, and refrained from gaping as he met her gaze. "Wow. You look incredible."
"D-Do you think it's inconspicuous enough?"
Minato eyed her from head to toe. She looked exceptionally different than what he was used to seeing but this time, it wasn't her simple attire of a short blue-sleeved blouse and slim white pants that made her stand out.
It was her hair.
Instead of letting it down, she had tied it up into a long ponytail. It was a pleasant surprise to see yet another look though Minato knew this particular one was the work of someone else. Because apart from dressing in a yukata, Mitsuru never changed her hairstyle.
"Definitely," he answered, nodding. "Let me guess, this is Yukari's handiwork isn't it?"
"It is," Mitsuru said, adjusting her ponytail so that it all flowed down her right shoulder. "How could you tell?"
"Well, only she would be able to convince you to do your hair like that. But it looks great. The athletic look suits you."
Mitsuru's expression altered slightly and she looked out at the street below.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"No, it's just I remember you saying something similar when we were taking up kendo as children," she said, returning her attention to him.
"Really? I said something like that?"
Mitsuru nodded. "Something along the lines of how athletic I looked with a sword in hand. Listen, I know you have many questions but instead of asking me one by one, how about I just tell you our story? Would that be better?"
Minato considered her proposal. While he did want to ask the questions that were pricking his brain, he knew understanding everything would be easier this way. Besides, there was always time for questions later. "Sure. So, where would you like to go? Akihiko-senpai mentioned that you have an interest in the food around here but never got around to trying them out."
"Akihiko said that did he?" She chuckled. "Well he's not wrong. I've passed through here so many times over the years and have yet to walk into any of these restaurants."
"Not even with Akihiko or Shinjiro-senpai?"
"Not even with them. It's actually quite embarrassing." She looked over Minato's shoulder at the entrance to Hagakure and sighed. "Then again, they would always go there and rarely anywhere else. Tell me, is ramen really special?"
Minato grinned. "How about we go there and find out?"
Before Mitsuru could object, Minato took her hand and led her inside Hagakure. Slurping sounds and the aroma of pork broth greeted them as they entered the dimly lit restaurant. For a Saturday evening, the number of patrons was surprisingly low and Minato counted himself lucky that there were still several empty tables. He knew how busy Hagakure could become and if Shinjiro's anecdote was to be believed, then today was one of the rare occasions where the usual queue was absent.
"So this is what it's like inside," Mitsuru commented, surveying the restaurant as if it was another floor in Tartarus. "I had some sort of notion from the few peeks I had whenever Akihiko or Shinjiro came out but, never would I have thought it'd look like this." She frowned. "Or sound like this."
"There's a reason for all the slurping," Minato said. "C'mon, let's grab a seat."
He led her to one of the tables for two at the back of the restaurant and they sat down. He had contemplated sitting by the counter since it would have made for a deeper eating experience but decided against it. Those seats offered little to no privacy and were primarily for those who had to eat and leave within a few minutes. Sitting there would have been a rude gesture to all the patrons that would come later. And even if they didn't come, it wouldn't be possible to hear Mitsuru over all the slurping and calling out of orders.
Glancing at Mitsuru, he noticed she had taken the laminated menu off its stand and was studying it.
"Anything there that interests you?" he asked.
"I'm not too sure. They all seem to be equally appetizing." She looked at him, her red eyes searching his grey eyes for guidance. "What do you recommend?"
Minato shifted his gaze onto the menu momentarily and then returned his attention to her. "I'd say the house special. It's their most famous one. Not to mention the fact that Shinjiro-senpai's offered to cook all of us dinner if we can figure out that missing ingredient."
Mitsuru smiled. "Well I would like to see just how good a chef he is. Okay then. Let's order that."
Minato nodded and stood up. Before he could make it the counter however, a group of eight businessmen darted into the restaurant, sat by the counter and started placing their orders. Minato couldn't believe his timing was so impeccable but shook off his annoyance. It was customary to serve those sitting by the counter first and as eager as he was to hear Mitsuru tell her tale, he knew there would be plenty of time. Maybe it'll take the chef a little longer to cook and give us more time to talk. He kept that thought in the front of his mind and once it was his turn to place the order, the chef told him exactly that.
"My apologies sir but you'll have to wait until the next batch of soup is ready," the chef said. "It might be another...fifteen minutes before we can have your order done. Is that okay?"
Minato told him it was, returned to his seat and relayed the information to Mitsuru.
"Fifteen minutes?" she said. "Does it normally take that long to get the soup ready?"
"I guess so. I've never had to wait that long before though."
"Intriguing. You know, I would have thought this place would be more orderly like a proper restaurant and you'd be served by a waiter instead of having to queue at the counter. I mean, I understand queuing is the custom for fast food restaurants but not…" She gasped as she realized what she was saying aloud. "Ugh, listen to me ramble about my ignorance of the world. I'm sorry you had to hear that."
"Don't worry about it. It takes a couple of visits to fully grasp how this place works."
Mitsuru forced a smile. "Anyway, I suppose I should get started telling you everything I know about us."
"From the beginning?"
"From when we first met, yes. Are you ready?"
Minato straightened in his seat and prepared himself mentally for what he was about to hear. "I'm ready."
Mitsuru nodded, fixed her gaze onto him, and began to speak.
The hallway was bustling with students. School had just finished and for most kids, it was the time of day they couldn't wait for. The young girl with red hair however, thought otherwise. She was one of the very few, if not the only student who dreaded the end of school and it wasn't because she loved school or devoted herself to it. No, for Kirijo Mitsuru, going home was the worst part of her day because it was when she had to walk through the main hallway full of students and their parents, out the school doors and towards the black limousine parked by the entrance. It was when her peers saw how different she was to them. When they saw her for what she truly was. And her peers, well, they didn't like what they saw at all. Instead of seeing her as another student, they saw her as a spoiled, rich little girl whose family could hire chauffeurs to come pick her up in expensive limousines.
Now normally, this would not have been a problem. Every elementary school had a percentage of their student body consist of kids from wealthy backgrounds after all and disparity was commonplace. But this particular school Mitsuru went to wasn't a private one. It was public and it was home to a diverse range of children from different social statures. Rich kids, kids from the average middle class families, kids from broken families. Promising kids who had potential to go far and kids who were destined to work in average or low paying jobs. The school had them all, except the proportion was skewed against her. There was nobody like Mitsuru in the school and when there was, they didn't stay for long.
Mitsuru didn't understand why her father had agreed with her grandfather to continue her enrollment at a school where she was branded as the 'outcast'. Oh she had gone to both of them and told them of how she felt alienated but they had simply brushed it off as if it were another day in the business world.
"The world is full of shit," her grandfather had said once during dinner on a stormy evening. "It'll do everything it can to bring you down and as the future Chairwoman of the Kirijo Group, you must be able to live in the face of adversity all the time. As a girl," he shook his empty sake cup to emphasize 'girl' even further, "it is even more important that you understand this."
"Don't you think you're being a bit harsh on her?" Takeharu asked, watching his father pour himself yet another cup of sake.
Kouetsu drained his cup and slammed it onto the table. "I speak nothing but the truth! I treated you exactly the same way and look! You're fit to run the Kirijo Group once I retire. You know of the bullshit that the world throws at you and you know how to deal with it. If Mitsuru is to have any success in the future, she must be able to cope with difficulty now!"
The two continued to argue but by the time Takeharu turned to look at Mitsuru, she was already long gone. They both later found her in her room, sobbing into Kikuno's arms. The maid turned to look at them with a disappointed look and shook her head as she stroked Mitsuru's hair. Takeharu felt awful. Kouetsu on the other hand, just scoffed.
"Bah! I stand by my words and that's not going to change," he said before staggering off to his office.
After that incident, Mitsuru attempted to erase it from her memory by engrossing herself in learning as many things that interested her. The kendo lessons started. The French lessons started. She even had some exposure to Kirijo Group related matters, albeit it was limited to reading documents. All of this did nothing to alleviate the bullying and the scrutiny though. It just made it worse because the other kids soon envied her for what she could do. Those kids were limited to her class at first but after being announced at the school's weekly assembly that she had won first place in the junior division of a regional haiku competition, Mitsuru could feel the whole school rebelling against her. Luckily, the hate was short lived and it ended on one afternoon several days after the announcement.
That afternoon was the one where her life at this particular elementary school came to a close.
It was the one she would never forget.
And it was the one that changed her life forever.
"Those days must have been really tough for you," Minato said, glancing at the counter to see how many of those businessmen were still waiting for their order.
"They really were," Mitsuru said. "But now that I think back on it, my grandfather had a point. Had I not followed at least some of his advice, I don't think I would be capable enough to fulfill the responsibilities required of a future Chairwoman." She sighed. "The business world is tough as it is already. The fact that I'm a girl doesn't make it any easier."
"Hey, you're doing the best you can. In the end, I'm sure that's all your father can ask for. Right?"
"I suppose. He still expects a lot from me though." She shook her head lightly and her ponytail fell back into its usual resting position. "Anyway, this is getting off topic. Let me get back to the story."
The clock struck two-thirty in the afternoon and the bell chimed. That time of day had arrived again and while the other kids in the class rejoiced at the arrival of the magical hour, Mitsuru suppressed her resentment and robotically gathered her belongings. For her, it was another test to see whether she could endure the nightmare of exiting her classroom, walking through the hallway and out the school doors while being sharply eyed by kids who disliked her. Although there hadn't been any major issues this week (there actually hadn't been one in a while; the last incident was a couple of months ago where some kids had heard her speaking French and later mocked her accent) Mitsuru was eager to leave as soon as possible. She wasn't going to tempt fate into giving those bullies any chance to bully and with the weekend beginning tomorrow, she wanted to have as much time away from school as she could.
Placing the final notebook in her black leather shoulder bag, she overheard the gossip of two nearby classmates that were standing by their desks.
"Oh did you hear about that new student in Class 1B?" one of the girls asked.
"You mean the one with the really blue hair?" the other girl replied.
"Yeah that boy. I heard he's pretty weird. He keeps talking to almost everyone he sees."
"Does he want friends that badly?"
"I don't know but I thought I would just let you know in case he comes up to you."
That's right, Mitsuru thought. There's a new transfer student. Well, it's not like he's going to make my time here any better. He'll probably end up joining everyone else and try to make life even harder. With those thoughts in her mind, Mitsuru hoisted her bag onto her shoulder and left the classroom, mentally preparing for the nightmare that lay ahead.
At the same time Mitsuru was packing her belongings, a young blue haired boy strolled through the school's hallways in search of the girl who had won the regional haiku competition. He had spent the whole of today's recess asking if anybody knew where she could be found and when that failed, he had committed to himself to find her before the day was over. There was no way he was going to survive the weekend without meeting the author of such a beautiful haiku and despite what every student he'd asked has said about her – that she looked down on others because she was smarter than everyone else and could do things that nobody else could, that she was a snobbish spoiled little brat who used her talents to sit at the top of the student body as a dictatorial empress – he remained determined to meet her.
So what if she was smarter and more talented than everyone else? Wasn't that something to be celebrated? The boy had only transferred into this school at the start of the week but from his experience at other schools, he knew that the smart and talented generally attracted students who wanted to be just like them, not those who wanted to pull them down or treat them as outcasts. So for this Kirijo Mitsuru to have been described as a snob by almost everyone he'd asked, the boy was suspicious. Was she really what the school deemed she was? Or was she the ugly duckling? It was easy to hide the truth under a blanket of lies and the boy wasn't one to follow the flock of sheep that went with the general consensus. Nor was it in his nature to seek out people to talk with. He promised himself that he would change that though. After losing Minako, it was his sole goal to see her wish was fulfilled and fulfilled it will be.
He just had to find Mitsuru.
As he continued down the hallway, two students that were a year or two older than him emerged from the nearby classroom. The blue haired boy quickened his pace and intercepted them before they could leave.
"What do you want?" the twin-tailed girl asked.
"Yeah, we've got to get to cram school you know," her friend added.
"I just want to know if you know where I can find that girl who won the regional haiku competition," the boy asked. "I'd like to speak with her."
The twin-tailed girl scoffed. "Oh her. She probably left already in that car of hers. Why do you want to talk with her anyway? She's such a stuck up know-it-all and…"
And thinks she's better than everyone else and blah blah blah, Minato thought as he immediately dashed off to the hallway that led to the entrance. I've heard that enough times already. Now let's see if it's true.
Mitsuru walked through the hallway.
She expected to see a whole bunch of students and their unnerving stares the minute she left her classroom but instead, she came out to a fairly quiet hallway; the group of students that passed by were much older than her (they looked to be fifth or sixth graders) and had at least a sense of respect for the talented. Mitsuru wished that she had the ability to befriend them though she knew it would be futile. Those students wanted nothing to do with her because becoming friends with Mitsuru meant you were friends with the freak. And in a school where social status was the blood that ran in your veins, it was equivalent to intentionally pointing a gun to your foot and pulling the trigger.
But the wish was just a wish, and Mitsuru paid little heed to it. It was better to be alone. That way, she didn't have to worry about someone asking her what yesterday's homework was, or borrowing her stationery and forgetting to return it (it was actually better if she didn't see what happened to it).
Upon reaching the lobby where there were rows of shoe lockers, Mitsuru looked around and found that there was no student in the area that she recognized to be one of her harassers. She cast her eyes forward, beyond the school doors and saw several parents – mostly mothers – patiently waiting outside for their child to turn up or waiting in their cars. Besides them and the black limousine parked in one of the few loading zones, there was nobody outside that appeared ready to pounce on her like a jaguar pouncing on an unsuspecting prey. Mitsuru exhaled. This was good. She could write off another week to be–
"Well look who we have here," a mocking voice said from behind. "It's Miss know-it-all."
The small smile that began to form on Mitsuru's lips faded instantly and her heart thumped faster. Don't look behind you don't look behind you, Mitsuru thought. Just get out of here now and run to the limousine. Her brain had other ideas though and as if hypnotized, she turned around.
Standing smugly with her posse of friends was a girl known as Maya. She was a year older than Mitsuru, had curly blonde hair and had also participated in the junior division of the regional haiku competition. Instead of winning it like she had intended, she had placed second and being someone who thought herself above everybody else (at least in her grade and all the ones below it) the result didn't resonate with her at all. Her posse had a brainwashed look to them – a mix of boys and girls who believed that nobody except Maya was allowed to be pretty and smart at the same time.
"So where're you off to this time Miss Oh-I'm-So-Talented?" Maya asked, moving closer to Mitsuru. Her lackeys fanned out as she did so and formed a ring around Mitsuru, cutting off any chance of escape. "Gonna go have a tea party with all your friends? Oh wait! That's right, you have no friends! Sucks to be you!"
Mitsuru thought it was pretty stupid to announce the obvious and met Maya's haughty gaze with the best poker face she could conjure. "Well if all the friends I make turn out to be just like you, I think I'd prefer to be left alone. But thanks for pointing that out."
"What do you mean just like me? Are you trying to make fun of me you little snob?"
"I think that's what she's trying to do," one of the boy lackeys said, causing the rest to murmur in agreement. They had never seen anyone talk back to Maya before and seeing that it came from Mitsuru of all people made them nervous of how their leader would react.
"That's up for you to decide," Mitsuru said. "Now if you don't mind, I have to go." She turned around to leave but was blocked off by a trio of Maya's boy lackeys.
"Oh you're not going anywhere," Maya said. "What did you think you could insult me and just leave? Me, the smart and perfectly pretty–"
"Oh stop being so full of yourself," Mitsuru snapped, turning around to face her. She was growing tired of this exchange and wanted to be off. She had heard Maya advertise herself more times than she had walked through those school doors and if she were to hear it again…
It was a mistake to interrupt with such boldness however and while Maya's lackeys gasped in horror, Maya herself was furious. Her hands were clenched. Her face was reddening. Her lips were raised in a snarl. It looked as if she would erupt like a volcano any second but she calmed herself down at the last minute. The smart and perfectly pretty Maya poked fun at people oh yes she did, but it was her victims who'd blow their top at her, not the other way around.
"Alright sheesh, calm down. You don't have to be so mean," Maya said. "Honestly, didn't your parents teach you any manners?"
Mitsuru couldn't believe at what a hypocrite this girl was being and was about to point it out when Maya continued to ramble.
"I guess not," Maya was saying, "cause if they did, they would have at least been able to send you to a private school. Like how stingy is that? You're rich and your parents can only afford to send you here. I mean, it's not like there's anything wrong with that but your dad must be really stingy."
That comment set off a bomb in Mitsuru's head and she stormed towards Maya with blazing anger. These bullies could insult her all they liked but she would not stand anybody who berated her father. Before she could get within striking distance though, she felt something grab the collar of her blouse and pulled her back.
It was one of the lackeys.
"Let me go!" Mitsuru cried.
"Nuh-uh," the lackey said, using his free hand to grab the strap of the shoulder bag, take it off Mitsuru, and toss it to the two girls standing beside Maya. "You're gonna get what you're gonna get."
Mitsuru looked for any way she could escape the lackey's hold. She had considered elbowing the guy in the gut and thought after that, she could make a dash for the school doors. The plan was simple and she felt that she was quick enough to get there before they got her. She readied her arm to strike the lackey holding her collar then stopped. She didn't want to resort to violence. If she did, she'd be giving the green light for Maya to resort to violence as well and the whole fiasco would degenerate even further. Not only that, she would be just as low as Maya.
It's my only option though, she thought. I have to–
Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard Maya chuckle.
"Did you really think you could hurt me?" Maya said, walking until her face was inches away from Mitsuru's. "Me, the smart and perfectly pretty Maya. Well you can't. And since I've got you like this, I think it's time you learnt exactly what happens to people who beat me." Maya brought her arm back, readying a slap or punch, and was about to swing when a shout startled her.
"Hey! Leave her alone!"
Mitsuru directed her eyes to the source of this new voice and saw a young boy with the bluest hair standing several paces away from them. He wasn't any much taller than Mitsuru herself and for a moment, Mitsuru was confused. Who was this boy?
"Who are you?" Maya said as she turned around to meet the boy's determined gaze and eyed him. "Oh wait, I know you. You're that new kid everyone's been talking about. The guy who can't shut up. Look, this is none of your business so why don't you just run along."
"Um yeah, I can't do that," the boy said. He pointed at Mitsuru. "I'd like to talk to her you see."
"About what?
"Well…that's none of your business. So please get out of the way."
Mitsuru couldn't believe what she was hearing. While she was relieved that perhaps she wouldn't face the wrath of Maya, she was concerned for this boy. Did he know what he was getting into? Probably not since he hasn't been here long enough to know what Maya is capable of, she thought.
Maya smirked. "Boys, I think it's time we teach this runt a lesson." She clicked her fingers. "Get him."
Like a pack of hunting dogs who'd follow their owner into the depths of hell and back, Maya's male lackeys charged towards the blue haired boy. Mitsuru felt the lackey holding her collar let go and join the others in the attack, and watched with grim anticipation. If her past dealings with Maya taught her anything, it was that anybody who stood up to her henchmen often came home with a bunch of bruises and broken accessories. That fact was so wired into her mind that Mitsuru jerked when there was a loud thud on the floor. She looked up and saw that the lackey who'd been holding her had fallen over. She blinked several times to ensure that she was seeing what her eyes displayed in front of her and gasped.
The blue haired boy had somehow knocked down one of the lackeys and was in the process of doing the same to the other two. Mitsuru was stunned that the boy hadn't taken a hit yet and watched in pure amazement as he used his agility to trip the other two lackeys over. The scuffle, if it could even be called one, was over in a matter of seconds and once they were all down, Mitsuru looked to Maya, and saw a face in utter shock.
"So, may I speak with her now?" the boy asked.
"I-I'm telling on you!" Maya cried. She signaled for her two girl friends to get going and the three of them ran back down the hallway into the heart of the school.
Mitsuru watched Maya leave and then shifted her gaze to the boy, who had retrieved her shoulder bag and was now walking towards her. She still couldn't come to terms with the situation and as she studied him, she remembered the conversation she'd heard earlier between the two girls in her classroom. About how there was a new student in the school with blue hair who apparently spoke too much. Whether he did or not mattered not to Mitsuru though, because in her eyes, this boy was the only person to have helped her in a time of distress. This boy was…
"Me," Minato said.
Mitsuru nodded and leaned back in her chair as the cook placed the two bowls of ramen on their table. Once the cook walked away, Mitsuru inspected the bowl of ramen in front of her; the appetizing aroma of the soup wafting into her face.
"This certainly looks interesting," Mitsuru said. "Arisato, what's the etiquette here? Is there anything I should do?"
It took Minato a moment to realize that the story was on pause and he fumbled for an answer. "Well according to Shinjiro-senpai, we've only got five minutes before the noodles become overcooked so eat the ramen quickly. Oh and don't be afraid to make a lot of noise."
Mitsuru widened her eyes. "Make a lot of noise? But that seems so…"
"Primitive?"
"Yes. Oh well, I suppose it can't be helped. I don't want the noodles to be overcooked after all."
Picking up her chopsticks, Mitsuru attempted to slurp the noodles. Minato saw that she was hesitant in doing so (probably out of pride and because she didn't want to embarrass herself) and decided a demonstration was necessary.
"Here, just follow me," he said. He picked up his own pair of chopsticks, grabbed the noodles, and slurped.
Mitsuru widened her eyes as she watched Minato, shocked that people could eat in such an uncivilized manner. But for the sake of not wanting to disappoint Minato (and the chef, who had cast a suspicious glance in their direction), she tried her best to imitate his demonstration. To Minato's surprise, she imitated him very well, although it was still amusing to him to see her eat like this.
"What are you smiling at?" Mitsuru asked before slurping some more noodles.
"Nothing. How's the ramen?"
"The taste is quite unique. I thought it tasted somewhat strange at first but there's a subtle charm to it. I don't think I'll be able to figure out the ingredient Aragaki is looking for though." She then gave Minato a cheeky smile. "By the way, shouldn't you be eating instead of watching me? Those five minutes have to be up soon."
Minato blinked, glanced at his ramen and hurriedly resumed eating. Already he could feel the noodles losing their al dente texture and he regretted wasting time in watching Mitsuru eat. Eh, it was worth it, he thought. It's not likely we'll come back here anyways since she hasn't tried a lot of the things around this area.
Once they finished, they got up, paid at the counter and left Hagakure. Mitsuru had questioned why they had to leave so soon to which Minato told her that a ramen restaurant wasn't exactly the best place to linger once you finished your meal.
"I see," Mitsuru said as they walked down the staircase and onto the main strip of Iwatodai Mall. "It must be because of their fast turnover."
"Not exactly. It's more of a cultural thing," Minato said. He was still surprised that he had met Mitsuru by rescuing her from a group of bullies and badly wanted to know more. "So what happened after I sent off all those bullies?"
Mitsuru moved to sit on a nearby bench and gestured for Minato to do the same. "Well not long after that…"
Mitsuru looked at the boy who saved her. He wasn't exactly the brawniest of kids but if he'd been able to use his speed to his advantage, then she knew he either had some knowledge of self-defense or had dealt with bullies before.
"Are you okay Kirijo-san?" the boy asked, returning her shoulder bag.
"I-I think so," Mitsuru said. "But wait, how do you know who I am?"
"I read your haiku. It's the best haiku I've ever read and I wanted to meet with you so that I could tell you that."
Mitsuru didn't know what to say. This boy thought her haiku was great? And not just a display of talent that everyone else thought to be a demonstration of her superiority?
"You really think it's that great?" she asked.
"Of course. I'm Arisato Minato by the way." He extended a hand in an offer to hoist her up.
Mitsuru reached for it but before she could take it, Maya reappeared with her friends and several teachers. At the same time, Mitsuru's chauffeur entered the school (he was probably wondering why it took so long to just leave) and for the remainder of the afternoon and the few days following, it was a flurry of pointing fingers, throwing blame and having to resort to talks with the parents of all parties involved. It all went by very quickly for Mitsuru though, because she could only think about Minato and how he rescued her and thought so highly of her haiku. She wanted to know more about him and what motivated him to come to her aid. Because as much as her haiku inspired him, it surely it had to be more than just that. Mitsuru hoped that she could continue to see him and her hopes came true on the final day of the interviews.
"Now you must understand that I'm faced with a dilemma," the headmaster said, his hands clasped on his desk. "I really don't want to expel your daughter from our school because of the reputation she has built up for us by winning such a big competition. On the other hand, I don't want to have parents gossiping about such a fight taking place in our school and involving Mitsuru."
"I see," Takeharu said. He glanced over to where Minato and his parents were. The blue haired boy had already been pulled out of the school but it was his parents who had cancelled his enrollment. The headmaster had neither approved nor condemned his behavior that fateful day as Minato had, in a sense, done the right thing by standing up for others. But Takeharu knew that without this boy, something worse could happen to Mitsuru if she remained here until middle school. The bullying would definitely continue and she would continue to feel like an outcast. "Well I'm sorry to say this but I think I'll also cancel her enrollment. The risk of Mitsuru being bullied again is too high."
The principal nodded grimly and reached into his desk drawer. "I completely understand. Could you please sign these documents then?"
Once they were done and outside of the principal's office, Takeharu told Mitsuru that she would no longer be attending this school and he would instead send her to a private one like he should have from the beginning. Mitsuru had brightened considerably at this but then fell silent as she realized she wouldn't be with Minato.
"He won't be going with me will he?" Mitsuru asked.
"No. But you want him with you don't you?" Takeharu replied.
Mitsuru nodded and in that moment Takeharu understood that what his daughter needed the most was a friend. Someone who was close to her own age and could look after her while she was at school. It was a role that only Minato could fulfill and he knew for his daughter's upbringing, she needed to start making friends now. With this in mind, Takeharu turned to face Minato and his parents.
"I would like to thank you again for your support during this time," he said. "I understand that this mustn't be easy for you."
"We've been through worse," Minato's father said with a shrug. "This isn't the first time that we've had to change schools because of Minato."
"Really?"
Minato's mother nodded. "Now we're going to have to find another school in the area. Or perhaps even move again."
That was Takeharu's cue and before either of Minato's parents could say more, he quickly interjected. "How would you like for your son to attend the same school as the one I will be sending Mitsuru to? As a token of my appreciation for what he has done for my daughter, I will waive all expenses."
Both of Minato's parents were surprised at this and they looked at each other as if to ensure that they really heard what Takeharu said. Mitsuru gasped and ran towards Minato.
"Can he?" Mitsuru asked her father.
"Can I?" Minato asked his parents.
"I think it would be best if we speak with Kirijo-san first," Minato's mother said. She then gave Minato a wink and for him, that was as good as saying yes.
The discussion happened later that evening. Takeharu had taken them to one of Iwatodai's fine dining restaurants and talked about his offer; which school they would be attending, travelling arrangements and negotiating which expenses were to be waived. By the end of it, Takeharu felt that he had made the right decision in doing this and he noticed that the Arisatos were equally as satisfied.
Before long, both Minato and Mitsuru were attending the same school and while they weren't in the same class, they always looked for each other during recess. He would ensure that she wouldn't be bullied anymore and she would bring him along to the various after school activities she had; kendo being the one they most enjoyed. The year went by with a minimal amount of trouble until the day of the Kirijo Group incident. That was when Mitsuru's world was flipped upside down and her heart began to freeze.
"And here we are ten years later," Mitsuru finished.
The sun had faded completely now and the amount of traffic along Iwatodai Strip Mall was picking up. Already you could see groups of young adults going about their business – queuing outside bars, karaoke clubs and classy restaurants. Nightlife in Iwatodai wasn't anywhere near the level of large cities such as Tokyo but it was enough to impress someone hailing from a rural town.
"Whoa," Minato said, trying to process all the information. "I never thought that you and I had been that close."
Mitsuru smiled. "You have my father to thank for that. As well as my demands."
"You know, I'm actually quite surprised your father would do something like that. When I met him in Yakushima, he didn't seem to be that kind of person at all. "
"He can be quite intimidating sometimes. But no matter how strict he comes across, he always means the best for me. And for you as well. There's a reason why he went out of his way to have your saber forged with Damascus steel."
Minato could do nothing except return her smile with one of his own. "So how did we get separated?"
"I'm not entirely sure on the details but something happened to you on the night your parents died," Mitsuru said, her expression darkening slightly. "Once you regained consciousness, you couldn't remember who I was, who my father was, and everything that we did together. Your personality also changed. You weren't as friendly as before and you showed little emotion. It was as if you had become a shadow of your former self. My father and I were told that it could have had something to do with experiencing the trauma of watching your parents die but he doubted that was the case. Either way, he decided that for my own safety, he had to send you away. I had a big fight with him about that but in the end, I knew he was right. You weren't mentally stable and he was afraid that you may do something that would end up harming both of us." She gave him a concerned look. "I suppose everything I've told you still doesn't ring a bell does it?"
"No," Minato said, shaking his head. "All I can recall is moving to Iwatodai without my sister, a couple of fragmented images of the accident and then everything that happened between starting a new life at another school to now. I do believe everything you've said though. It helps explain a couple of things, like why using a sword feels so natural to me." Or why I care for you so much. He cut that thought from his mind. Don't say that! I know it's true but it's still just the first date. "Does anyone else know about this?"
"Just Akihiko. Keeping it from him was unavoidable since he suspected something after the first night we brought you to Tartarus. He said the way you fought with a saber mirrored the way I fought and I had no choice but to tell him."
"So that's why he was more enthusiastic than usual when we went jogging that day."
Mitsuru nodded. "I'm impressed that he's managed to keep it to himself for this long. I would say he's finally maturing but then he goes and does irrational things with Aragaki." She sighed and stood up. "Anyway, let's look around some more. The ramen wasn't as filling as I thought it would be and suffice to say, I'm still interested in trying more street food."
They left the bench and a few minutes later, they were standing in front of Octopia, the takoyaki stall. Minato wasn't sure whether he was more shocked at the fact that Mitsuru hadn't tried ramen or takoyaki but regardless, he was glad that he could witness Mitsuru's first time in trying these delicacies.
"I will have one takoyaki please," Mitsuru said to the lady in charge of the stall.
"Err, you do know that takoyaki isn't sold individually right?" the lady said.
"What? So I can buy a dozen at this low price?"
"That's right."
Watching this exchange reminded Minato of taking Elizabeth out to Paulownia Mall and he briefly wondered what else Mitsuru wasn't familiar with. Eating at a sushi bar? An okonomiyaki stall? A teppanyaki restaurant? There were probably more (which meant more opportunities for future dates) though his thoughts stopped short when Mitsuru returned with a small plastic box filled with a dozen pieces of takoyaki.
"I'm surprised that they're able to survive as a business," she said. "Is it even profitable to sell these items at such a low price?"
"Well this store's pretty popular and they have a good turnover. Each time I walk past, there's always a small queue. You mean you've never noticed how busy it can get?"
"I guess not." She laughed lightly and led him over to an area filled with tables and chairs that were reserved for customers of the strip of food stalls. "Now I'm not sure whether to be more embarrassed about this or the ramen."
Minato waved his hand as they sat down. "There's always a first time for everything. Besides, I'm sure you're well versed when it comes to business functions and the like. Those can be a nightmare for people like…well people like Junpei. So don't feel too bad about yourself."
Mitsuru forced another smile. "The problem is that I'm too well versed. To be honest with you, I haven't had an opportunity to sample street food like this. It's always fancy dinners or cocktail parties with businessmen I don't even know or care much for."
"You know a lot of people can only dream of a life like that."
"I know. But they don't realize or understand the burdens associated with it. Underneath all the money and materials is a layer of politics that I can't stand. My father would probably tell me to live with it but there are times when I just wish I could get on my motorcycle and ride to some far-off destination without telling anyone." She paused and then quickly added, "It's just wishful thinking though. My modest attempt at rebelling against my restricted life."
Minato took a moment to think about what to say. He didn't expect Mitsuru to open up like this and while he could tell her everything would turn out fine and she would be alright, what would be the point? It was a lie and he knew that she knew it was.
"Maybe we should do it," he said.
"What? Go for a ride?"
"Yeah. Just the two of us. We'll go wherever you want to go. Someplace out of the city I'll bet."
Mitsuru beamed and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. "That would be very fun but can you ride a motorcycle?"
"It can't be too different from riding a bicycle can it?" Minato said, shrugging.
"Oh it's very different. I think you'll have to sit on the back until you get your license."
"That's a shame. I was looking forward to being able to take you around."
And I was looking forward to being able to hold onto you, Mitsuru thought. She cut the thought and smiled sheepishly to ensure her expression didn't display her thoughts. Don't say that! It…It might be true but it's only the first date! "Don't worry. Once we're done with the final Shadows, I'll have plenty of time to teach you." She glanced downwards for a second, her eyes focusing on the small box in front of her, and then gasped as she remembered what they were supposed to be doing in the first place. "Um, Arisato, there's no special etiquette for takoyaki is there?"
Minato chuckled. "No there isn't. But we should definitely eat it now while it's still fresh."
Mitsuru nodded and they began eating. Minato noticed that she seemed to be enjoying it more than the ramen and he thought it was probably because there was no need to make loud slurping noises.
"I can't believe I've been missing out on food like this," Mitsuru said when they finished. "It's simple but absolutely delicious. I think I might have to come back here again."
Minato smiled. It made him happy to see Mitsuru happy and if there was anything he could've asked for on a date, it was this. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Still, I can't believe you haven't tried street food. I thought you would have, especially after meeting me ten years ago."
"I would have thought so as well but my father wasn't too fond of us wandering around Iwatodai without any sort of bodyguards. Also, you were more interested in the food our chefs cooked."
"No. Really?"
"Mhmm. You almost got sick the first time our families had dinner together because you tried to eat a helping of everything."
The image of himself as a six year old gobbling up expensive dishes in a dining room that looked eerily similar to the one in the Kirijo Mansion on Yakushima appeared in Minato's mind and he stifled a laugh. "I did that? Yikes. Now I feel like the one who doesn't know any etiquette."
"You were only six so you were forgiven for being so greedy. Although, neither of our parents needed to tell you that because your stomach did it for them." She gave him a mischievous smile and stood up. "Anyway, I think that should be enough stories for one night. You ready to go?"
Minato agreed (he was still embarrassed that he had acted like a man from the Stone Age in front of Mitsuru, her father and his parents) and they began to make their way back to the dorm. He was thankful that tonight had gone well and without any incursions by the Gekkoukan students who hated him and loved her. Setting up an outing like this was already hard enough due to Mitsuru's tight schedule and it would have been all too easy for them to ruin it.
"Say Arisato, can I ask you a question?" Mitsuru asked as they made a left turn into the almost empty street where the dorm was located. "It may be premature but it's completely hypothetical."
"Sure."
"What are your thoughts on marriage?"
Minato stopped walking and tensed. He hadn't expected something that serious to pop up on a first date, even if it was hypothetical. Well this date isn't really the first. We've had plenty of moments together. But for an official date…it's a bit early to be asking that isn't it?
"Well…I'd say it's…the result of love. I don't see why you would get married otherwise."
Mitsuru chuckled. "You're so straightforward."
"And you're not?"
She looked off into the distance of the street. "As a Kirijo, I've been taught not to let my emotions get in the way of making important decisions. So I see marriage as a social agreement between two consenting parties based on the mutual benefit of their association."
"That's the first time I've ever heard marriage being described that way."
"It's unconventional I know. But after seeing how well my parents' relationship turned out after their arranged marriage…I don't know. I don't consider them unfortunate." She looked at him with hopeful eyes." Love comes in many different forms right?"
Now it was Minato's turn to look down the street. "I suppose it does. But personally, I'd only get married to a person that I really love. No matter what other benefits it may bring, maintaining and developing the relationship comes first. If you can't make it work, then there's no point." He then gave her a small smile. "This is all hypothetically speaking right?"
"O-Of course. I was just curious since I've noticed that there are fewer books on marriage and family life than there are romance novels. Don't worry about it."
Her tone of voice sounded melancholic but Minato couldn't catch it over the wind, which was picking up in speed. Not wanting to linger out on the street any longer, they hurried to the dorm. When they entered however, the lobby was empty. Minato frowned. It was a strange sight to behold as normally there would be someone around; if there wasn't, Koromaru would at least be there to greet whoever came back. But the dog wasn't here. He glanced at Mitsuru, who was equally puzzled, and walked with her to the staircase. He didn't know why but he was expecting everyone to be upstairs, sitting on the couches by the vending machines and waiting to surprise them with party whistles, confetti and a banner that read How was the first date?
There was nobody waiting for them on the girls' floor though and it occurred to Minato that perhaps everyone had gone out to give them some privacy. But would they really still be out? At quarter to ten o'clock at night? Tartarus was a no go today so there was no reason to cut back on sleep when they needed all the sleep they could get. Maybe they're all already sleeping. It's either that or they took Koromaru for a huge walk. He shrugged off the thoughts and led Mitsuru to her room. Whatever it was that they were doing, he was grateful for their courtesy.
"Thank you for tonight Arisato," Mitsuru said when they were standing in front of the door to her room. "I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this date and once Takeba started throwing out ideas, I was nervous that I'd have to pretend to be something I'm not. I know this isn't the first time we've been alone together but there was something about being with you tonight that made me feel at ease. I could be more of myself around you and less of the girl people expect to see."
"It's not a problem at all," Minato said. "And thank you for telling the story of how we met. I'm sure it was something you wanted to get off your chest."
"Oh it was. Akihiko was even pestering me to hurry up and tell you."
Minato shook his head and smiled. That Akihiko. "Anyway, we should do this again. Maybe I'll take you to the beef bowl place next time. There isn't too much etiquette there."
"I'll have to get back to you on when I can make it but I'll be looking forward to it." She placed a hand on the door knob and turned it. "I'll see you in the morning."
Minato bade her good night and watched as she entered her room. He caught a glimpse of a peach colored wall, an elaborate white display cabinet and a white regal looking sofa before the door closed. He wondered for a moment what her room looked like, then pushed the thought aside. It was against dorm regulations for boys to enter the girls' rooms and besides, he had to respect her privacy. Regardless of how close they had been and how close they were now, Minato knew that came first.
What concerned him more however, was the brief discussion on marriage. The topic seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and the fact that Mitsuru had brought it up made it even more unusual because it was something he'd expect to hear from Yukari. Even then, it was much too early to be talking about marriage and what everyone's views towards it were. Minato thought hard to determine why she had brought it up as he descended the flight of stairs to the second floor and when he reached his room, he let the matter go. It was probably something Yukari had asked Mitsuru to bring up for whatever random reason (although to his knowledge, Minato felt that discussing marriage was something that should have been saved for future dates) and not anything too important. Feeling satisfied with that answer, he entered his room and closed the door.
In a room one floor above Minato's, Mitsuru flipped her phone open and checked her messages. There was one from Yukari, as expected, who asked how the date went but there was also one from Akihiko asking the same thing. She was surprised to find the boxer's message in her inbox and was about to reply when her phone beeped.
Who's sending me messages this late at night?
She navigated to the new message and her heart lurched at seeing the sender.
It was her fiancé.